Flying Through a Nuclear Cloud (Hardback)
Twenty Years on the Frontline During the Cold War
Imprint: Air World
Pages: 240
Illustrations: 16 mono illustrations
ISBN: 9781036142520
Published: 2nd February 2026
(click here for international delivery rates)
Order within the next 7 hours, 29 minutes to get your order processed the next working day!
Need a currency converter? Check XE.com for live rates
Flying Though a Nuclear Cloud is the unusual story of a frontline navigator who flew on Canberra, Shackleton and F4 Phantom squadrons between 1954 and 1974. It also reveals his involvement with nuclear weapon testing in 1956 and 1958. It was during his time on Canberras that, in 1955, volunteers were called for ‘An Interesting Overseas Tour’. Robin Adams put his hand up. The task was to collect samples resulting from nuclear explosions. This, however, was only revealed to the volunteers after they had arrived in Australia.
On 19 June 1956 that Robin, then the navigator of Canberra WH976, took off from the RAAF Perth. Along with his pilot, Don Clelland flew through and sampled the second and largest nuclear test under Operation Mosaic – both explosions taking place at the Montebello Islands.
In 1957 Robin joined Coastal Command flying the Avro Shackleton. After this interlude, a year later he was back nuclear testing. This time it was at Christmas Island in the Pacific, with the awesome megaton H bombs of Operation Grapple Z. His task was to collect weather data and clear shipping from the potential danger areas. From 1963-1966 Robin was on 31 Squadron which, equipped with Canberra PR.7s, was stationed in Germany and tasked with day and night low-level photo reconnaissance. It was during this time that he was involved in a serious aircraft accident following a single engine approach at night.
By 1969 the front-line days were over for the Canberra, and Robin was posted onto the F4 Phantom as a Flight Commander on 14 Squadron. The squadron's primary role was all-weather tactical nuclear weapon delivery to targets in East Germany, secondary roles being ground attack and air defence. Crews stood Quick Reaction Alert for twenty-four hour stretches, twice a month, in a hut, with a nuclear weapon loaded on the aircraft parked outside. Robin’s nuclear journey had gone full circle.
Register or Login now to post a review!
Competition as featured in
RAF News - Friday, May 15th, 2026
"I've now finished your book, and I think it's fantastic. Your experiences in the RAF during that particularly interesting time of the early cold war are truly an eye opener. It's a great read"
Reader Review
"... just to say how much I enjoyed your book; digested in 4 longish helpings. A very good mix of aviation, adventure and some lovely anecdotes."
Reader Review
"A good read; light and not too technical . Well done."
Reader Review
"A fascinating account of Cold War tests and RAF operations."
Aviation Classics Monthly - April 2026
"A cracking title that the author has written in a lovely conversational style which makes it a light and entertaining read, you could almost imagine being sat in a pub listening to Robins recollections of a very interesting career in the RAF. Definitely worth a look for those interested in Cold War subjects, Canberras, Shackletons and nuclear testing."
The Aviation Enthusiast Book Club
As featured by
The Scottish Military Vehicle Group - The Despatch, Spring 2026
4 stars
Army Rumour Service Book Forum
"It is a useful history of an aspect of the Cold War that is beginning to pass out of memory and into recent history. I would recommend it to the general reader and those with a specific interest in RAF operations during the Cold War and the RAF’s involvement with the Nuclear Test programme."
Read the full review here
As featured by
Military History Research Group
"This book contains the reminiscences of an RAF navigator who was (un?) lucky enough to have been involved with Britain’s nuclear testing programmes in Australia and the Pacific. Unlike many others, he survived the effects of radiation exposure whilst flying Canberras to gather samples from the stalk of a nuclear mushroom cloud and went on to fly operationally with Coastal Command on Shackletons and Phantoms in RAF Germany. It gives an engaging insight into the attitudes to safety and service flying from the ‘shop floor’ of squadron life in the 1950s, 60s and 70s, both at work and outside of his rear seat ‘office’. It also provides the author’s personal views of what he considers to be design and operating failings of the Canberra that affected its single-engine handling at low-level that led, in his opinion to more than a few unnecessary deaths in service. A recommended read reflecting RAF life of the time."
Aviation World
About Robin Adams
ROBIN ADAMS was born in Wendover, Bucks. In 1955, Robin, by then an RAF navigator who-later-served on front line Canberra, Shackleton and F4 Phantom squadrons during the Cold War, volunteered for ‘An Interesting Overseas Tour’. That mission was to collect samples from nuclear explosions by flying through the nuclear cloud shortly after detonation. This took place on 19 June 1956. His next posting was with Coastal Command flying Shackleton aircraft involved in the testing of thermonuclear hydrogen bombs on Christmas Island. After this, he joined 31 Squadron, a successful reconnaissance squadron, winning several NATO competitions. Robin was then redeployed as a reconnaissance instructor before being posted to fly F4 Phantoms on 14 Squadron as a Flight Commander with the rank of Squadron Leader. The squadron's primary task was nuclear weapon delivery with secondary roles of ground attack and air defence. On leaving the RAF Robin entered industry and lastly served in the intelligence world. Robin now lives near Reading.
Pen and Sword Books
About Us | Contact Us | Delivery Information | Privacy Policy | Cookies | Affiliates | Terms and Conditions | Backlist | Mailing List | Reward Scheme | Review Request
© Pen and Sword Books Limited 2026. Registered in England No. 2527258.
Registered Office: 47 Church Street, Barnsley, S70 2AS.