May, 1985 - The world is on the brink of a third global conflict after an American destroyer is sunk in the Persian Gulf. The eight RAF Harrier pilots of Shadow Flight are highly trained and motivated. But are they ready for the first twenty-four hours of conflict that awaits them? As the flight starts to take losses, their leader must walk a careful line between preserving his men and completing his assigned missions. By mid-morning, the Soviet 3rd Shock Army is perilously close to taking Hanover and advancing over the Weser River by nightfall. NATO's strategy for NORTHAG hinges on slowing the Russians at all costs. But with many of the NATO airbases in West Germany destroyed in the early hours of the conflict, it's up to the RAF Harriers to do the hard work of keeping the Soviets at bay. Meanwhile, the clock is ticking - can NATO air power recover in time to make a difference?Harrier Air War: 1985 tells the story of James "Shadow" Hartley and the men in his RAF Harrier flight during the first day of World War III in Central Europe. The story is based on research conducted into the history of the Harrier's performance during development as well as in the Falklands conflict.

The story was also informed by books written by Harrier pilots and their experiences with flying the aircraft. Several aspects of the story include insights gleaned from Alfred Price's "Air Battle Central Europe", a classic written in the 1980s about NATO's air strategy and tactics during the late Cold War.This book is part of the ongoing Tales of World War III: 1985 series but it is not necessary to read the other books in the series to enjoy this one.