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Dave Forster
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Listening In: Electronic Intelligence Gathering Since 1945 Hardcover – September 11, 2014

by Chris Gibson (Author), Dave Forster (Author)
4.7 4.7 out of 5 stars 28 ratings
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As WWII closed, the Air Staff decided to preserve the UK's electronic intelligence (ELINT) expertise, resulting in the formation of the Radio Warfare Establishment and later the Central Signals Establishment. A tentative ELINT program was commissioned in 1946 using a small number of Lancaster and Mosquito aircraft specially modified for the task and as relations with the Soviet Union deteriorated, interest focused on the growing Soviet air defense system, with the 1948 Berlin crisis resulting in the first major ELINT program against the Soviet Union's air defenses.

During the mid-1950s the Washington and Canberra were introduced as interim ELINT platforms and proposals were made for the use of V.1000, the Shackleton and the Comet for this new and dangerous branch of warfare, often requiring flight close to, or over, hostile territory. Operations against Indonesia and China, and worsening relations with Iran, increased the importance of ELINT operations during the 1960s and 1970s and in the quest for more capable aircraft, the Comet 4 was passed over in favor of the Nimrod.

ELINT aircraft proposals including the VC-10 and Airbus are covered, while Listening In also details operations in the Falklands, Iraq, Kosovo and Afghanistan as the authors draw together, for the first time, a mass of unpublished material to describe the evolution of the secretive ELINT aircraft, their equipment and operations. The story is bought right up-to-date with Project Helix and the controversial decision to scrap the almost complete Nimrod MRA.4 fleet and instead acquire the EC-135R Rivet Joint.

A highly detailed work illustrated throughout with over 180 photographs and drawings, Listening In tells the full story of this secret world and it's aircraft (both actual and proposed) and is a natural companion to Chris Gibson's best-selling Vulcan's Hammer and Battle Flight.

Previous page
  1. Print length
    176 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publisher
    Crecy Publishing
  4. Publication date
    September 11, 2014
  5. Dimensions
    8.3 x 0.38 x 11.7 inches
  6. ISBN-10
    1902109384
  7. ISBN-13
    978-1902109381
  8. See all details
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Editorial Reviews

About the Author

In 1978 his interest in aircraft took Chris Gibson into the Royal Observer Corps where he represented his group, area and country in aircraft recognition competitions between 1980 and 1991. On the standing down of the ROC in 1991, Chris began researching historical aviation and has written several books on un-built projects, particularly guided weapons.

Dave Forster has been researching Elint and other intelligence subjects for the last 20 years with particular interest in electronic warfare systems. Dave’s interest in avionics and their development have led him to cooperate with a number of authors, with his specialist knowledge of the history and technology of the field making him a valued contributor. This has led him to research many of the more technical and scientific aspects of the RAF history including Elint, radiological sampling and navigation systems.

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Crecy Publishing (September 11, 2014)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 176 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1902109384
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1902109381
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 2.42 pounds
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 8.3 x 0.38 x 11.7 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.7 4.7 out of 5 stars 28 ratings

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Dave Forster

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Customer reviews

4.7 out of 5 stars
4.7 out of 5
28 global ratings

Top reviews from the United States

Tucson Tom
5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent read on the post WWII electronic intelligence war.
Reviewed in the United States on December 12, 2014
Verified Purchase
Excellent detail and an essential read for people interested in the Post WWII and Cold War period.

If you are interested in the intelligence gathering that took place in the second half of the 20th Century, then you need this book.

Although it is written from the British perspective, there is also a section on the loss of the RB-57F of December 1965.

Goes with the "Big Safari" book by Bill Grimes.
6 people found this helpful
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Stephen F. Zink
5.0 out of 5 stars A Military Aircraft Historian's Great Find!
Reviewed in the United States on January 6, 2015
Verified Purchase
A really eye opening history of the RAF's Elint a/c from WWII to the present.
4 people found this helpful
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Mark Lincoln
5.0 out of 5 stars Five Stars
Reviewed in the United States on February 18, 2016
Verified Purchase
Very enlightening.
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Amazon Customer
1.0 out of 5 stars Poor book.
Reviewed in the United States on August 13, 2017
No interesting information about the real and more important electronic equipment inside of this airplanes.
This book only show us a bit of elint equipment, almost nothing.
The book don't have any color profile, plates, of the planes who carried this spy missions.
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Top reviews from other countries

Pere P
5.0 out of 5 stars Alfa_radiofaro
Reviewed in Spain on October 26, 2016
Verified Purchase
Fantastic documentation. Nice photographs. A very detailed description of equipment and technical details. The narration of events is complete and very readable. Highly recommended.
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John C
5.0 out of 5 stars Superb: The Definitive Volume on RAF Elint.
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on June 25, 2016
Verified Purchase
If you have any interest in RAF Elint this is a well-researched, superb, informative book. I served in the RAF at the end of the cold war period, and for the years of the 2 Gulf wars, Balkan conflict and Afghanistan. I was well aware of the existence of the Nimrod R1 aircraft of 51 Sqn, and was fascinated and tantalised by their clandestine role. This was in fact my main reason for buying this book.

This book, amongst its many other chapters in the RAF Elint story, sheds some light of the activities of 51 Sqn, its aircraft, and their value (and that of their predecessors) to our military operations and our national security in the Cold War and beyond.

The book is bang up to date with a short section on 51 Sqn's new Air Seeker aircraft which have now replaced the venerable Nimrods, and will ensure that our Elint capabilities remain at the forefront. They truly serve who also watch and listen!

Very highly recommended indeed, with lots of pictures as well as a clear text.
3 people found this helpful
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DaveyDoo
5.0 out of 5 stars A good read if you're interested in this sort of thing
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on October 21, 2014
Verified Purchase
A good read if you're interested in this sort of thing. It gives an interesting take on the selection of the comet airframe for use in the Nimrod project. I'd always thought that the VC10 would have been the better choice.
2 people found this helpful
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J. Hayden
5.0 out of 5 stars Well recommended.
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on September 27, 2014
Verified Purchase
A well researched and well written book on a very niche area of interest. It does cover, in depth just that one area of RAF operations, and I learned a lot about the subject. Well recommended.
3 people found this helpful
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Mr. F. A. Grant
4.0 out of 5 stars Very well researched and scholarly. The book provides a ...
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on January 24, 2015
Verified Purchase
Very well researched and scholarly. The book provides a lot of new information not previously available outside the select few who worked on the various projects down the years.
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