The quality of the book from P&S is very good. The map outlining the operational theatre of Northern Ireland is clear and the text very readable. The author has provided a very comprehensive bibliography that provides a significant array of websites, primary source documents and further material for the interested reader. This book is a good starting point from which to examine the nature of air operations in an asymmetric and first world environment.

Read the full review here

The Military Reviewer

Acknowledged at the end of author article 'Tough as old boots'

FlyPast, October 2019

Steven Taylor, a journalist by background, is to be commended for assembling a coherent narrative where so much of the documentary evidence remains classified. Two chapters set the scene for the use of airpower in Ireland, and how the situation developed where the IRA could deny the roads to the Army. He also highlights the IRA’s quest for countermeasures, such as heavy machine guns and surface to air missiles, used with varying degrees of success – even attempting to hijack a civilian helicopter to form a putative “Irish Republican Air Force”.
The linear narrative is well written and flows well.

Society of Friends of the National Army Museum

This well-researched and often riveting account is illustrated by 17 black and white photographs.

Aviation News, November 2018

Article: 'British Army wanted armed helicopters on Tyrone border in 1973' as featured by

Tyrone Herald, 12th November 2018

Author article 'Mutiny!' as featured by

Military History Monthly, November 2018

Written in a highly readable and concise style by freelance journalist Steven Taylor, the narrative rattles along, and numerous first-hand accounts provide a dramatic flavour of what it was like to be part of “the UK’s Vietnam”.

The Aviation Historian, issue no.25 – reviewed by Nick Stroud

Listed in the 'First Flush' feature

Books Ireland, September/October 2018

Having, over many years, researched and written about military aviation in Northern Ireland, I very much looked forward to reading this book. The sub-title sets out its scope with clarity - Britain’s Air Arms and the ‘Bandit Country’ of South Armagh, Operation Banner 1969-2007.

Aircrew and ground personnel from all three Services tend to remember their time in the Province as, in the main, fulfilling and enjoyable. Aldergrove was widely accepted as one of the best messes as regards catering and had a lively (if somewhat geographically restricted) social life. There was plenty of flying in fairly challenging weather, many tactical lessons had to be learned, with spares and technical support not normally being an issue (though it was claimed that the Wessex, for example, needed only a swift bang with a hammer in the right place to sort out most defects and that you only needed to worry if there were no oil leaks visible). There was also the feeling that there was a real job to do and one which could not be done without the hard won expertise of the helicopter crews. All in all it was as much satisfaction and indeed fun as could be expected in a ‘small war’. Though it always had to be remembered that for those serving on the ground, patrolling city streets and country roads, laying up in covert observation hides or waiting in a cold, wet, dark and muddy field to be extracted by air, it was more deadly than fun.

As this book amply demonstrates there was a definite specific threat, as PIRA had a great ambition to shoot down which was so often termed in the Republican press as a ‘British Army helicopter’ regardless of if being RAF, AAC or FAA. The key incidents and weapons are all described in sufficient detail. This ground-to-air threat was by no means as high as would be encountered in hot and dusty places in the 21st century but dealing with it certainly concentrated minds, developed skills and was useful preparation for what was to come over Iraq, Afghanistan and Libya.

The author’s concise introduction in the chapter ‘Troubled Times’ is excellent in setting the scene and context between 1919 and 1969. The only minor point of detail I would make here is that 105 and 106 Squadrons began operational patrols in the spring of 1918 and were equipped with RE8s until the end of the year. He then turns to the meat of the book – South Armagh – Bandit Country – a small geographical area with beautiful scenery but highly dangerous to the non-local. To put this in context, despite growing up in Co Antrim, I only visited South Armagh by helicopter (Chinook, Lynx and Gazelle) during the whole 38 years of Op Banner. Neither I nor my family, not anyone else in their right mind with any connection to the Security Forces would have gone there sightseeing. The author sketches in the historical background and explains just why South Armagh is different even for Northern Ireland and will help the reader to a better understanding of the Irish Question – though one point that could have been drawn out more is that the existence of the border was not only an advantage for PIRA tactically but also economically, as without a border there would have been no highly profitable smuggling of fuel, cigarettes and livestock. In reading this account you are left in absolutely no doubt that PIRA in ‘Bandit Country’ was very well-organised, motivated and skilled. It was interesting to learn that the term was coined by Secretary of State Merlyn Rees in 1975. The malign influence of supporters in the USA and the Libyan Government is also described as also are the countermeasures by the FBI, the RN and the Irish armed forces.

Bearing in mind that much material is still highly sensitive, that a terrorist threat still exists and that the author limits his scope to one particular geographic part of the conflict, this is a timely, informative and accurate account. It is well-researched, very readable and concise. I certainly learned new facts and details about incidents during Op Banner, such as the dropping of CS gas canisters on rioters at Long Kesh and the IRA’s hijacking of civilian aircraft in unsuccessful efforts to carry out bombardment from the air.

A small quibble would be the author’s reference to DS10 in MOD as ‘liaising between the Army and the British Government’. I worked in a DS branch and we regarded ourselves as the Civil Service jam in the sandwich trying to make sense of the wilder ambitions of the military and politicians alike.

The concluding section ‘Operation Banner: an analysis of the air war’ is excellent. It certainly makes me repeat a call which I have made many times to deaf official ears – an appropriate Battle Honour should be added to the relevant Squadron Standards.

Guy Warner, Aviation Historian

As featured in

Daily Express 1/7/18

Article: 'Battle for skies of south Armagh' as featured online by

News Letter, 30th June 2018

Article: 'Government feared gun choppers would make NI new Vietnam' as featured by

Sunday Life, 8th July 2018

Article: 'New book looks at helicopters used during NI conflict' as featured by

News Letter, 30th June 2018

Author article SWALLOWS OVER THE PROVINCE as featured by

Fly Past, July 2018