Flying at high speed and low level, RCAF pilot Allen French was at the sharp end of potential nuclear bombing missions during the Cold War.

Born at the dawn of the baby boomer era, Allen delves into his early inspirations, his father's service in the Royal Canadian Air Force, and the pivotal moments that led him to join the Air Force.

From training on the Canadair CT-114 Tutor to flying the iconic F-86 Sabre and CF-104 Starfighter, Allen shares firsthand accounts of Cold War tensions, nuclear deterrence strategies, and the challenges of high-speed, low-level navigation across Europe.

Around 50% of over 200 Canadian Starfighters were lost in accidents. You’ll hear about Allen’s near-death experience at a West German airbase and many other personal anecdotes that bring history to life.

Thanks to Bernardo Scheliga who put me in contact with Allen. He and Allen are volunteers at the Canadian Museum of Flight. You can find details here  https://canadianflight.org/

Episode extras https://coldwarconversations.com/episode369

All our air power episodes in one convenient playlist https://open.spotify.com/playlist/4QVY3bWNLFSd62iBkPzRh9?si=31342ec59eb54762

The fight to preserve Cold War history continues and via a simple monthly donation, you will give me the ammunition to continue to preserve Cold War history. You’ll become part of our community, get ad-free episodes, and get a sought-after CWC coaster as a thank you and you’ll bask in the warm glow of knowing you are helping to preserve Cold War history.

Just go to https://coldwarconversations.com/donate/

If a monthly contribution is not your cup of tea, We also welcome one-off donations via the same link.

Find the ideal gift for the Cold War enthusiast in your life! Just go to https://coldwarconversations.com/store/

Support the project! https://coldwarconversations.com/donate/

Follow us on Twitter https://twitter.com/ColdWarPod

Facebook https://www.facebook.com/groups/coldwarpod/

Instagram https://www.instagram.com/coldwarconversations/

Youtube https://youtube.com/@ColdWarConversations

Love history? Join Intohistory https://intohistory.com/coldwarpod

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices