{"product_id":"the-supersonic-bone-kenneth-katz-9781399020299","title":"The Supersonic Bone: A Development and Operational History of the B-1 Bomber","description":"When the B-52 Stratofortress entered operational service with the US Air Force in 1955, work was already underway on defining its successor. The B-70 Valkyrie, a Mach 3 jet bomber, was one option. Although two XB-70A prototypes flew, the B-70 never went into production. Out of the subsequent Advanced Manned Strategic Aircraft program came the B-1A bomber, which flew at high speed and low altitude to evade enemy air defenses. The B-1A was cancelled in favour of fitting the B-52 with cruise missiles. The B-1, known as the BONE, was revived in 1981 as the improved B-1B to boost American military power and be a symbol of American strength at the peak of Cold War tensions. The B-1B entered service in 1986 with several deficiencies. The resolution of most of these issues coincided with the end of the Cold War.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eAfter the Cold War, the B-1B lost its primary nuclear mission but remained relevant by transforming into a high-speed, long-range, high-payload delivery platform for conventional precision-guided munitions. The first combat use of the B-1B was in 1998 in Iraq. The BONE has proved a highly effective combat aircraft in Afghanistan, Iraq, Libya, Syria and the former Yugoslavia.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThis superbly researched and illustrated book traces the BONE's long development and operational history in fascinating detail.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eAuthor:\u003c\/b\u003e Kenneth Katz\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eISBN-10:\u003c\/b\u003e 1399020293\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eISBN-13:\u003c\/b\u003e 9781399020299\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublisher:\u003c\/b\u003e Pen and Sword Aviation\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eLanguage:\u003c\/b\u003e English\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublished:\u003c\/b\u003e 12\/11\/2025\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePages:\u003c\/b\u003e 392\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eFormat:\u003c\/b\u003e Paperback","brand":"Kenneth Katz","offers":[{"title":"Paperback","offer_id":47579720253695,"sku":"9781399020299","price":34.95,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0662\/2982\/9887\/files\/img_5c507a97-b85e-45a2-9713-15e3cbb55c60.jpg?v=1763876180","url":"https:\/\/www.whiterainbookhouse.com\/products\/the-supersonic-bone-kenneth-katz-9781399020299","provider":"WR Book House","version":"1.0","type":"link"}