Profusely illustrated with b/w photography throughout, "C-130 Hercules: A History" is a welcome and unreservedly recommended addition to personal, professional, community, and academic library American Military Aviation collections and supplemental curriculum studies lists.

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Midwest Book Review

Featured in

Recensioni, October 2022 - JP4 Aviation Monthly

What impresses most is the wide range of missions flown by the C-130. Even if you just looked at its time as a transport aircraft we find it serving in Vietnam, supporting anti-arctic exploration, carrying out disaster relief in the Pacific or supporting the coalition during the wars in Iraq. However the C-130 has also been used as a combat aircraft, most famously as a gunship starting in Vietnam, but also as an ECM aircraft, on psychological warfare duties, and even as a rather impromptu bomber! This book also covers the C-130’s service with Australia, New Zealand and Great Britain.

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History of War

This book will be of great interest to aviation enthusiasts and modelers alike.

Highly recommended.

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Indy-Amps

Martin Bowman has managed to collect a stunning selection of images to support each chapter, which really brings the book to life. The anecdotes and stories are also well researched and give the book a lot of authority.

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Airport Spotting

Bowman certainly captures the excitement of one of the more successful military aircraft of all time.

Flightpath - reviewed by Takis Diakoumis

British aviation historian Martin Bowman has produced an engaging retrospective on the long-lived and ubiquitous C-130 Hercules tactical airlifter...

... this book is an invaluable reference on one of history's most significant transports.

Aviation History magazine, November 2018 – reviewed by Philip Handleman

A welcome new book on 'Fat Albert' probably the most successful military airlifter ever built.
The interesting text is accompanied by over 250 photographs.

Military Vehicle Trust

A history of an aviation great, from the pen of a popular and well-established author of aviation history. This new book contains a great many outstanding images, mostly in full colour through the body of the book. As always the author has impeccably researched his subject – Much Recommended.

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Firetrench

As featured in

RID, December 2017

★★★★★ This, quite exceptional book by Martin Bowman provides all those with an interest in the complete history of the aircraft as we learn of those early days, ongoing developments and the various roles undertaken. These include; airborne assault, military transport, in-flight refueling, civil aircraft, flying hospital, humanitarian roles, fire-fighting tankers and even gunships (to name some!).

It is a richly illustrated book with plenty of colour and B&W images on the majority of pages. These include a wide cross-section of exactly what the reader will expect to find and do much to support a story that is well-told throughout. Altogether, it is an excellent product and one which will stand the test of time – although we are also informed it is a story which is not yet over!

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Ned Middleton, Amazon Reviewer

As featured in competition

Pathfinders International, October 2017

We regularly have squadrons of Hercules flying over North Norfolk, sometimes I even manage to get some shots if they're overhead whilst I'm out with Skipper the dog and have my camera with me - these majestic aircraft are a sight for sore eyes, and Martin's technical and informative look at their creation and use is absolutely fascinating. An iconic aircraft gets Martin's VIP treatment in this wonderful book.

Books Monthly

A very interesting and well written book on an aviation legend.

Amazon review by freelancer Marco de Montis

The previous details notwithstanding, this volume is likely to appeal to all and anyone who has been associated with the C-130 in whatever capacity, with Vietnam-era C-130 aircrew in particular likely to find some of the content nostalgic. Those with a more-general interest in the type may also find the volume worthy of their attention. The colour photographs may be of use to both aircraft and military modellers.

NZ Crown Mines