Looking down the corridors : allied aerial espionage over East Germany and Berlin 1945-1990 /$c Kevin Wright and Peter Jefferies; foreword by Air Vice-Marshall Mike Jackson CB FRAeS, RAF (Retd)

This is the only book, written by experts with first-hand knowledge, to examine in detail the clandestine reconnaissance operations over East Germany during the Cold War era. Between 1945 and 1990 the wartime Western Allies mounted some of the most audacious and successful photographic intelligence collection operations using their freedom of access to the internationally agreed airspace of the Berlin Air Corridors and Control Zone that passed over a large area of East Germany. The operations were authorised at the highest political levels and conducted in great secrecy used modified transport and training aircraft disguised as normal transport and training flights exercising the Allies’ access rights to Berlin and its environs. For nearly 50 years these flights gathered a prodigious amount of imagery that was analysed by intelligence analysts to provide the western intelligence community with unique knowledge of the organisation and equipment of the Warsaw Pact forces. Using recently declassified materials and extensive personal interviews with those involved at all levels this book provides, for the first time, a detailed account and analysis of these operations and their unique contribution to the Cold War intelligence picture. The Only Book To Examine Berlin Operations In Detail, Written By Experts With Extensive First-hand Knowledge Between 1945 And 1990 The British Government Mounted Some Of The Most Successful Intelligence Operations Of The Cold War. Conducted In Great Secrecy, Aircrews Flew Specially Modified Light Transport And Training Aircraft To Gather Intelligence On The Soviet And East German Military Targets That Surrounded Berlin. The Air Corridors Comprised Three Regulated Airways For Civil And Military Air Traffic Of The Western Allies Between West Berlin And West Germany Passing Over East Germany's' Territory. Operating Under The Guise Of Transportation And Training Flights, They Exercised Their Right Of Access To Berlin Along The Corridors And Over The City To Gather Huge Amounts Of Imagery For Nearly 50 Years. Together With Their French And U.s. Counterparts, These Flights Provided The Western Intelligence Community With Unique Knowledge Of The Organization And Equipment Used By Warsaw Pact Forces. For The First Time, Using Recently Declassified Materials And Extensive Interviews With Those Involved, This Book Provides A Detailed Account And Analysis Of These Operations And Their Unique Contribution To The Cold War Intelligence Picture. Conducted in great secrecy, aircrews flew specially modified transport and training aircraft along the Berlin Air Corridors and Control Zone to gather intelligence on Soviet and East German military targets in the German Democratic Republic and around Berlin.