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Book publishers can't react to current events as quickly as newspapers and magazines, of course, so it's a remarkably fortuitous coincidence when a book comes into print covering a subject that has entered the news unexpectedly. In April 2001, a hostile aerial encounter over international waters forced an American military crew to land its damaged surveillance plane on the Chinese island of Hainan, prompting a nail-biting hostage crisis and hurting relations between the United States and China. Just weeks after this event, Larry Tart and Robert Keefe offered The Price of Vigilance, a historical treatment of airborne reconnaissance during the Cold War--plus a lengthy, hot-off-the-press introduction that describes exactly what happened over the South China Sea and why. This late addition, in fact, may be the most useful and interesting section of The Price of Vigilance. The rest of Tart and Keefe's book describes how airborne reconnaissance operations "played a major role in avoiding armed conflict with the Soviet Union during the Cold War, but at a grave cost in American lives." The authors count 264 Americans dead or missing from engagements with the Soviets, Chinese, North Koreans, North Vietnamese, and Cubans. They pay particularly close attention to the destruction of an Air Force C-130 SIGINT in 1958, over Armenia: "Without even time for a mayday call, 17 men, the majority of them in their late teens or early 20s, had been blasted out of the sky and burned to cinders." They go on to describe how security concerns prevented the Air Force from telling the relatives of these crew members much about what had happened: "The families waited almost four decades before finally learning a few scant details about what happened to their loved ones on that fateful afternoon."
Some readers may consider The Price of Vigilance an aerial version of Blind Man's Bluff, the bestselling story of Cold War submarine espionage. The storytelling, frankly, isn't as good, but The Price of Vigilance nevertheless shines a welcome spotlight on a poorly understood aspect of the Cold War. --John J. Miller
Book Description
The recent forced landing of a U.S. Navy EP-3 surveillance aircraft on Hainan Island after aerial harassment by Chinese fighters underscores that the dangers of the Cold War are not behind us. Reconnaissance-intelligence gathering-has always been one of the most highly secretive operations in the military. Men risk their lives with no recognition for themselves, flying missions that were almost always unarmed and typically pose as weather survey or training flights. Now the true stories of these brave young men can at last be told. Larry Tart and Robert Keefe, former USAF airborne recon men themselves, provide a gripping, unprecedented history of American surveillance planes shot down by China and Russia-from the opening salvoes of the Cold War to the most recent international standoff with China.
Appearing here for the first time are many crucial documents, ranging from formerly highly classified U.S. files to conversations with Khrushchev and top secret reports from the Russian presidential archives. Along with previously unreleased military details, this meticulously researched book includes MiG fighter pilot transcripts and interviews with participants from both sides-including survivors of downed American planes. From the Baltic to the Bering Seas, from Armenia and Azerbaijan to China, Korea, and the Sea of Japan, these gripping accounts reveal the drama of what really happened to Americans shot down in hostile skies.
The Price of Vigilance brings to life the harrowing ordeals faced by the steel-nerved crews, the diplomatic furor that erupts after shootdowns, and the grief and frustration of the families waiting at home-families who, most often, were never told what their loved ones were doing. Armed with the results of recent crash-site excavations, advanced DNA testing, and the reports of local witnesses who can finally reveal what they saw, Tart and Keefe have written a real-life thriller of the deadly cat-and-mouse game of intelligence gathering in the air and across enemy borders.
The centerpiece of the book is the fate of USAF C-130 60528 and its crew of seventeen, shot down over Armenia on September 2, 1958, with no known survivors. Tart and Keefe also vividly describe other shootdowns, including the tense stand off between the U.S. and China after an American reconnaissance aircraft was forced to land on Hainan Island in April 2001.
The Price of Vigilance pays moving tribute to the courage and patriotism of all the U.S. Air Force and U.S. Navy crews, including those captured and the more than two hundred who never returned. Larry Tart and Robert Keefe wish to publicly acknowledge to the families, and to the nation, that we will never forget their sacrifice.
From the Hardcover edition.
Download Description
The recent forced landing of a U.S. Navy EP-3 surveillance aircraft on Hainan Island after aerial harassment by Chinese fighters underscores that the dangers of the Cold War are not behind us. Reconnaissance-intelligence gathering-has always been one of the most highly secretive operations in the military. Men risk their lives with no recognition for themselves, flying missions that were almost always unarmed and typically pose as weather survey or training flights. Now the true stories of these brave young men can at last be told. Larry Tart and Robert Keefe, former USAF airborne recon men themselves, provide a gripping, unprecedented history of American surveillance planes shot down by China and Russia-from the opening salvoes of the Cold War to the most recent international standoff with China. Appearing here for the first time are many crucial documents, ranging from formerly highly classified U.S. files to conversations with Khrushchev and top secret reports from the Russian presidential archives. Along with previously unreleased military details, this meticulously researched book includes MiG fighter pilot transcripts and interviews with participants from both sides-including survivors of downed American planes. From the Baltic to the Bering Seas, from Armenia and Azerbaijan to China, Korea, and the Sea of Japan, these gripping accounts reveal the drama of what really happened to Americans shot down in hostile skies. The Price of Vigilance brings to life the harrowing ordeals faced by the steel-nerved crews, the diplomatic furor that erupts after shootdowns, and the grief and frustration of the families waiting at home-families who, most often, were never told what their loved ones were doing. Armed with the results of recent crash-site excavations, advanced DNA testing, and the reports of local witnesses who can finally reveal what they saw, Tart and Keefe have written a real-life thriller of the deadly cat-and-mouse game of intelligence gathering in the air
Customer Reviews:
Proud Memories.......2006-07-14
THE PRICE OF VIGILANCE was very meaningful to me. It refreshed many memories I have of those day when I flew from Det.1,6911th RGM in Europe, Yokota, and Kadina AFB's in Japan, and Danang and Camron Bay , Vietnam. I am also glad that I can now better answer the question "What did you do in the Air force?". Thanks again to the authors for some proud memories.
Braxton Lockett
A good insight into a little known arm of NSA.......2006-07-11
As one of those impressionable youngsters who heard JFK's inaugural speech and foolishly thought he meant it, I was naive enough to join the Air Force and volunteer to "pay any price, bear any burden" yadda, yadda. This led me to nearly two years in various NSA sponsored schools from language, crypto analysis, and other skills and many assignments around the globe as a member of various USAFSS squadrons including those detailed in this book. Reading this book brought back many memories of long hard days and lots of adrenaline filled hours making sure we had the best possible insight into what the Soviets and their fellow enemies of freedom were up to and capable of to keep them from being able to pull off Khrushchev's vow to "bury" Western Civilization.
Much of this book focuses on specific airborne missions, out of probably hundreds of thousands flown since the beginning of the cold war, up to and including the ongoing missions flown today. It also deals with other divisions of NSA, such as ASA (Army) and NSG (Navy) but not in as much detail as USAFSS (security service) missions. (All of which have been renamed over the years)
This book does not get into as much detail as Bamford does in his books about NSA, but it isn't politically driven, as much of his material has become over the years.
While I gave this book five stars, it really could have used a serious editor to excise at least 50 pages worth of redundancies, but the book rates a good review because it covers a lot of information that is little known by the general public, and does not reveal any secrets which could damage national security as is done by some newspapers every day.
Much of the technology has changed since the authors of this book left the military, but from a historical perspective, it shows that technology is only a part of the process, and in many respects, the technology has advanced at the expense of the analysis aspects of the communications intelligence (comint) and signal intelligence business. And as the agencies such as NSA and CIA have become populated by partisan bureaucrats with a political agenda, we are actually far too often not as well served today as we were decades earlier by the men who gave their lives in a more idealistic time.
This book honors the fact that these were all men who voluntarily put themselves in harm's way, and shows they were real people and not part of the some military machine that was "loathed" by a certain ex-president who dodged the draft and never wore a uniform of any branch of the service.
VERY detailed.......2003-07-23
"The Price of Vigilance" would probably be a great PhD dissertation in military history. The reporting is very detailed, and the analysis seems to be objective. The last 50 pages of the book are appendices, reference notes, and an index. Included are many excerpts of letters, reports, and interviews. These excerpts give the book a human touch and help liven up the at-times monotonous recitation of facts and timelines.
The first chapter of the book was written after most of the manuscript was complete, as a review and partial analysis of the EP-3E incident on Hainan Island, China, in April 2001. The book went to press before the plane was returned to the U.S., but the authors comment on changing attitudes in the world of airborne surveillance as compared to the height of the Cold War.
If you're a SERIOUS student of surveillance activities in the the Cold War, you'll find this to be a worthy textbook. More casual readers will probably have trouble getting all the way through.
You done good, Larry, Trish Schiesser, Chula Vista, CA.......2003-06-22
The Price of Vigilance is one of the most informative and historical books of the Cold War that I have had the pleasure to read. I have used this book for researching my own book, THESE GUYS, to come out in about 18 months. The unit 6901st in Zweibrucken (West Germany at the time of Cold War) is mentioned many times, which is difficult to find, if at all. The transcript of MIG Pilots shooting down our C-130 - tail # 60528 is hair raising. This is reality. This is military history at it's best. Writing is superb!Citations are as good as the book! Well done, Larry Tart and Bob Keefe. I salute you.
A lot of Detail.......2002-04-24
Timing is everything in life; the main reason I bought this book was timing. The China / U.S. spy plane midair crash and forced landing had just wrapped up and was still in the general media when this book came out. It sounded interesting and timely so I picked it up. The book covers every signal intelligence flight that was lost during the years of the cold war with primary focus on Europe and the USSR. The authors also included a chapter on the recent China / U.S. incident. I found that the recent events were the most interesting and best-written part of the book.
The number of U.S planes that were either shot at or shot down shocked me by the Russians. I was disappointed by the book dust jacket and the mention that the book would go into more detail about how these flights played a major role in avoiding armed conflict with the Soviet Union during the Cold War. There did not seem to be a lot in the book to back this up, what did the USSR do different because these planes were in the air other then to put together a campaign to harass them.
The book is very detailed and well researched with all most too much detail. I was interested in the full story, but the book just overloaded me with so much detail I felt like I was getting a military briefing by the crew. Because of the many details and the dry writing, the book can drag a little in parts. It is interesting and if you are interested in the topic you will find value.
Book Description
This digital document is an article from Harvard International Review, published by Harvard International Relations Council, Inc. on January 1, 2002. The length of the article is 1407 words. The page length shown above is based on a typical 300-word page. The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Digital Locker immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web browser.
Citation Details
Title: Clandestine Air War: The Truth Behind Cold War US Surveillance Flights. (Review Essays). (book review)
Author: James Bamford
Publication:
Harvard International Review (Refereed)
Date: January 1, 2002
Publisher: Harvard International Relations Council, Inc.
Volume: 23
Issue: 4
Page: 86(3)
Article Type: Book Review
Distributed by Thomson Gale
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The British Empire in Colour
Stewart Binns
Manufacturer: Carlton/Andre Deutsch
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ASIN: 1842225170 |
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In Visions, physicist Michio Kaku looks to the future and guides the reader through the science of this new centuty.
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Quitting is Not an Option
Rosalind, Jones Larkins
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Have you ever been caught up in a downward spiral, not knowing how you could ever reverse it? Have you ever been controlled by addiction, desperately wanting to make your own choices, but knowing the cravings would dictate whether or not you did the right thing? Have you ever felt rejected and alone with no one to turn to? Have you ever wanted to give up? Rosalind Jones Larkins' is an overcomer. Through rejection, abuse, molestation, prostitution, addiction, a failed marriage, and more, she persevered, working her way through college and ultimately living on welfare to finish her education and get her law degree. No matter how difficult things got, Rosalind knew without out a doubt she had to keep moving forward because quitting was not an option. " Quitting Is Not an Option is a book about a powerful, yet humble woman. It is a story about changing and transforming your life against all odds. And underneath everything is a story about a woman's walk with God." Brenda Breaux BMB Consulting Firm "My mother is a true survivor. Because of her belief that Quitting Is Not an Option, I don't have to struggle, my children won't have to struggle and my children's children won't have to struggle. I thank God that the generational curse has been broken! 'Her children arise and call her blessed.' Proverbs 31:28" Ronnique Jones
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This book includes Janowitz's seminal work, The Military in the Political Development of New Nations, with additional new analysis of Latin American nations and of the increasing significance of paramilitary and police forces in authoritarian regimes in developing nations.
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Given the many important developments in Sino-American relations in the past decade, there is a desperate need for a succinct, historically grounded assessment of the increasingly contentious and complicated relationship between these two giants of the world stage. This classic text by one of America's leading diplomatic historians analyzes the concerns and conceptions that have shaped U.S.--China policy -- as well as of their important consequences.
In its first three editions, America's Response to China set the standard for introductions to this important topic. This 4th Edition is the most up-to-date work on the subject. Starting with a discussion of the mercantile interests of the newly independent American colonies and ranging through the dramatic causes and effects of the Tiananmen Square Massacre, America's Response to China, 4th Edition continues into the Bush and Clinton years, utilizing material available only in the last five to ten years. With equal parts trenchant analysis and insightful synthesis, Warren I. Cohen provides an excellent summary of U.S.--China relations on the eve of the twenty-first century.
Customer Reviews:
It was good........2005-10-01
I thought this book was good. I disagree with the other customer review.
I enjoyed it. Clinton was very strong.
(...)
very informing and fun to read!.......2001-02-01
this book tells about the relations with china and the U.S. about their crazy relationship but don't buy this book it is not as good as you think okay so what are you waiting for go out and but it. just make sure you don't buy it!
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America's Response to China (America & the World)
Warren I. Cohen
Manufacturer: John Wiley & Sons Inc
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America's Response to the China - Taiwan Talks: Encourage But Don't Interfere
Harvey Feldman
Manufacturer: The Heritage Foundation
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Release Date: 2002-01-01 |
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This digital document is an article from The Weekly Standard, published by Thomson Gale on April 19, 2006. The length of the article is 968 words. The page length shown above is based on a typical 300-word page. The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Digital Locker immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web browser.
Citation Details
Title: China's Emerging Military; A new report studies how the Chinese are developing their military in response to America.
Author: Christian Lowe
Publication:
The Weekly Standard (Magazine/Journal)
Date: April 19, 2006
Publisher: Thomson Gale
Page: NA
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Alabama Wildlife: Imperiled Aquatic Mollusks and Fishes, Vol. 2 ((Alabama Wildlife)
Manufacturer: University Alabama Press
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FISHES OF ALABAMA
ASIN: 0817351310 |
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