US Military Aviation

The adventures of Buck Danny which take place during the 80s through today are both related to US Naval Aviation and US Air Force scenario. Buck Danny, Sonny Tuckson and Jerry Tumbler are involved in a tangle international emergency due to the alliance between some international terrorists groups and the criminal organisation lead by Lady X which have been able to steal two nuclear weapons. The three pilots are thus witnesses of the fake disertion of a Russian MIG-29 pilot, and involved in strategic reconnaissance missions with SR-71 and TR-2 spy aircraft. The former Soviet Union, Bosnia, Central America and Korea are some of the theaters where these new adventures take place. Buck Danny and his friends are flying in the most advanced aircraft like the F-14 Tomcat, F-16 Fighting Falcon, F-18 Hornet and the new F-22 Raptor.
BUCK DANNY#41 MISSION APOCALYPSE (MISSION APOCALYPSE) J.-M. Charlier, F. Bergese
Most of the novel follows two separate plots, one for the protagonists and one for the villains. The former - Buck Danny, Jerry Tumbler and Sonny Tuckson - are now pilots on the U.S.S. John F. Kennedy and have recently transferred to flying F-14 Tomcats. The trio of pilots is temporarily reassigned from their training exercises in the Caribbean, to represent the United States at an air show in the fictional Central American nation of Managua. Meanwhile, Interpol and U.S. intelligence have been observing an increase in criminal actions throughout the world, which they believe are being committed by the same people. They are revealed to be an anti-capitalist terrorist organization, which steals three nuclear weapons from the U.S. Air Force during the novel and plans to use them to wipe out an upcoming trade summit in Cancun, hosting all the major world leaders outside of the Eastern Bloc and China. The two plot lines are joined at the end of the novel, when the terrorists - having hired Lady X, the heroes' nemesis - succeed in stealing two of the three F-14s in Managua, which they intend to use as a delivery system for the bombs (the F-14 being the plane best capable of penetrating the security screens that will surround the conference). Buck Danny is ordered to Washington to give his report of the events.

This story was the first in "Buck Danny" not to have been drawn by Victor Hubinon because of the artist's death in 1979. Instead, Charlier chose younger artist Francis Bergèse, who was himself a longtime fan of Buck Danny as well as a former military pilot, to work with him. Bergèse has provided the drawing for every novel since, and was also left in charge of the story after Charlier's death.

Bergese in this first adventure already shows his outstanding talent to represent in a very accurate way both the aircraft, Ships and the flight equipments. Some specific elements and representations also attested the meticulous research performed by the artist.

BUCK DANNY#42 LES PILOTES DE L'ENFER (THE PILOTS FROM HELL)
J.-M. Charlier, F. Bergese

Following the events of the previous novel, the President of the United States (Ronald Reagan) is contacted by the terrorists. Identifying themselves as the International Federation of Armed Revolutionary Groups, they demand the release of all terrorists currently held in NATO countries, or they will deliver the F-14s and nuclear weapons to the Soviet Union. Instead, the President decides to stall for time while the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) and other NATO services try to locate and neutralize the IFARG base. Danny, however, believes the terrorists' demand may be a feint and that the terrorists could be planning to actually use the weapons on a target in the Western Hemisphere. CIA is skeptical, but Admiral Walker allows Danny and Tuckson nine days of shore leave, during which they rent a private aircraft and systematically overfly the deserted islands in the Caribbean where the terrorists may have hidden the Tomcats. Meanwhile, there is dissension in the terrorists' ranks when one of their Mexican members, Juan, expresses his concern for collateral damage from the operation. In order to preserve cohesion within the group, the terrorists allow him to escape on a booby-trapped raft, thus Juan dies at sea far from the eyes of his friends. However, his body is found by Danny and Tuckson, who also find a message warning them of the IFARG's true plans. But one of the terrorist Tomcats appears and destroys their plane, along with all their communications equipment, leaving them stranded on a deserted cay and out of contact with the world.

In these adventures several US NAvy aircraft on duty during the 80s are well depicted like for instance the Tomcat, Corsair, Viking and the helicopters Sea King and Sea Stallion. Bergese Respect to the previous stories also represents in correct way the aircraft squadron marking and the relevant Carrier Air Wing tail code.

In these new adventures Lady X is still represented with the dark haired look even if her general aspect is modified in a much modern style. She also expanded her illegal activity in this case connected with a group of international terroristes organized and financed by Von Grodtz a misterious albino who more likely was a member of a German terrorist group.

The story LES PILOTES DE L'ENFER has been also reprinted in a limited edition album with a diferent cover

BUCK DANNY#43 LE FEU DU CIEL (FIRE IN THE SKY)
J.-M. Charlier, F. Bergese

The novel opens with Danny and Tuckson being rescued from the cay by a Cuban frigate, which, made suspicious by the presence of American aviators in the area, takes them both prisoner. The Americans, in desperation, force a brig break and are rescued shortly thereafter by a helicopter from Guantanamo Naval Base. They are then put in touch with Admiral Walker of the Kennedy and report what they have learned. Walker orders them back to the ship and places it on nuclear alert, but the President is due to land in a few hours and the summit can no longer be called off. Reagan, once informed of the crisis, arranges for the media to delay news of his arrival by one hour; this allows the Kennedy to evacuate the leaders from Cancun, and to position its fighters to intercept the terrorist planes. When the IFARG, hiding in the Exuma islands, receive the delayed news of the President's arrival in Cancun, they launch the final phase of Operation Apocalypse, and release their F-14s carrying one nuclear bomb apiece. The F-14s approach Cancun by using Cuban airspace for cover, but are detected by an American AWACS. In reaction, they split up with one turning north to attack Cape Canaveral, and one continuing towards Cancun, forcing the Kennedy's fighters to split up. Danny and the squadron's F-14s shoot down the first aircraft over Florida. Tumbler, flying an A-7 Corsair, tries to intercept the second one near Cancun but his older missiles are insufficient; instead, he crashes his fighter into the enemy, barely managing to eject before the explosion. With Operation Apocalypse foiled, Lady X and the remaining terrorists evacuate their base and flee to safety. Danny, Tumbler and Tuckson receive the thanks of a grateful President Reagan, and will receive the Congressional Medal of Honor for their part in stopping the nuclear attack.

The scenario of "Nuclear Alert" is filled with real-life events and characters from the 1980s. First among these is the rise of international terrorism; the fictional group IFARG is reported as being inspired by the real-life Provisional Irish Republican Army, Baader-Meinhoff Gang, Red Army Faction and Islamic Jihad Organization. President Reagan is also a regular character in these adventures making him the second American president featured in the Buck Danny novels, as John F. Kennedy had previously appeared in the 1962 novel LES VOLEURS DE SATELLITES. Finally, the Cancun trade summit targeted by the terrorists was an actual event, taking place from October 21 to October 24, 1981.

Even if almost perfect and very accurate these stories still show some technical errors like for instance the representation of the Afterburner in the A-7E Corsair or the Flight helmets used by the Sea King pilots which were not of the type used on the US Navy helicopters during the 80s.

BUCK DANNY#44 LES AGRESSEURS (THE AGGRESSORS)
J.-M. Charlier, F. Bergese

An American radar aircraft performs his routine mission over the Bering Strait. But the quiet day on board the AWACS aircraft is interrupted this time, because the radars of the aircraft pick up a signal. It is an object that moves rapidly from west to east. The AWACS crew has no doubt, it's a low-flying jet.
A Russian aircraft is stabbing the border. The Alaskan Air Command and Elmdorf AFB in Anchorage are notified immediately.

SUMMARY TO BE WRITTEN

TOUT BUCK DANNY#14 and SPECIAL ALBUMS 2017 LES OISEAUX NOIRS Part 1 (THE BLACK BIRDS)
J.-M. Charlier, F. Bergese

It’s 1989. Buck Danny, Jerry Tumbler and Sonny Tuckson are flying in a civil airplane to Air Force base Kadena in Japan. After their arrival the 3 pals have an appointment with the commander of the Air Force base Kadena. Buck Danny is allocated to the spy plane U-2 and Jerry Tumbler as well as Sonny Tuckson have to fly in a SR-71 spy plane. their duty is to fly high-risk espionage missions in the northeast part of the USSR.

Their commander will be Colonel Fawcett. After this introduction, the trio meet the other members of their squadron. After some training flights Sonny wants to know the Japanese customs, but his intention is not without problems. At the same time, at a height of about 400 kilometres, the US spy-satellite KH-11 is flying above earth. This satellite notices some abnormality in Siberia. The Russians have invented a new secret weapon that could change the course of history...

SUMMARY TO BE WRITTEN

The comemorative SPIROU cover dedicated to Michael Charlier after his death

SPECIAL ALBUMS 2017 LES OISEAUX NOIRS part2 (THE BLACK BIRDS-OPERATION CHECKMATE)
P. Buendia, F. Zumbiehl, A. Le Bras

Following the failure of Buck Danny's first mission (read the previous volume), the military staff decides to launch a second one, this time with Jerry Tumbler flying a specially equipped SR-71 Blackbird. As the Soviets were warned by spies, this mission from Jerry Tumbler appears to be unsuccessful also. For Buck Danny and his friends, this means a very big setback. The Sovjets have a space combat system that is now fully operational and is set to destroy all American military satellites.

SUMMARY TO BE WRITTEN

BUCK DANNY#45 LES SECRETS DE LA MER NOIRE (THE SECRETS OF THE BLACK SEA)
J. De Douhet, F. Bergese

It is the end of the Cold War - supposedly the era of glasnost and perestroika. The Soviet Union is about to come apart at the seams. Buck Danny is sent as an observer and adviser to help the Russian army deal with its arsenal of nuclear weapons and some of its rogue units. But old Communist habits die hard, and some of the Red Army hardliners have other plans. The pilot finds himself over the Black Sea, where he locates some unusual prototypes.

SUMMARY TO BE WRITTEN

A presentation image dedicated to the album LES SECRETS DE LA MER NOIRE

In a special edition of the album LES SECRETS DE LA MER NOIRE has been included a very interesting map with the geographical locations and the Buck Danny trip as described in the story

Another beautiful cover for a black and white special edition of the album LES SECRETS DE LA MER NOIRE

BUCK DANNY#46 L'ESCADRILLE FANTOME (GHOST SQUADRON)
F. Bergese

Bosnia, 1995. Serb forces are encircling Sarajevo and defying UN peacekeeping troops, even shooting at patrolling US Navy fighters. International politics keep American hands tied. After Tuckson disobeys orders and attacks a Serb position, he is disciplined by being sent to a secret base, where other pilots from the US military (including Buck Danny and Sonny Tuckson) are training for a mysterious mission in unmarked planes. But this Ghost Squadron is not the only unofficial fighting force in the area.

SUMMARY TO BE WRITTEN

BUCK DANNY#47 ZONE INTERDITE (NO-FLY ZONE)
F. Bergese

Buck Danny, with his friends and fellow pilots Sonny Tuckson and Jerry Tumbler, has been reassigned from his US Navy carrier to train Managuan Air Force pilots to fly their newly delivered F/A-18 Hornets. However the US government suspects the country to be the source of illegal drugs and requests that the pilots attempt to over fly a suspiciously anonymous airfield in the middle of the country and report back on what they see.

However the three friends soon discover that the airfield is in the centre of a no-fly zone that their Managuan trainees refuse to violate. Hiring a civilian Beechcraft 35 Bonanza propeller plane they fly into the area as tourists, however anti-aircraft fire and a MiG-23 Flogger jet fighter soon prove to them that their presence is not welcome.

SUMMARY TO BE WRITTEN

A presentation image from SPIROU 2903 (1993) dedicated to the new Buck Danny adventures

BUCK DANNY#48 TONNERRE SUR LA CORDILLERE (THUNDER ON THE CORDILLERA)
F. Bergese

Managua is on the verge of civil war. Arrested by order of President Sanchez, Buck Danny and his friends have managed to convince the pilots of the Managuean Air Force that their nation’s leader is in the pockets of drug cartels. With the assistance of the unit they’d come to train, Buck escaped to request assistance from US authorities. Meanwhile, Sonny and Tumb will have to help their rebel allies fight back loyalist forces and Lady X’s mercenaries.

SUMMARY TO BE WRITTEN

BUCK DANNY#49 LA NUIT DU SERPENT (NIGHT OF THE SERPENT) F. Bergese
An American pilot is shot down at the border between North and South Korea. While his colleagues cover up the whole incident so as to avoid a diplomatic disaster, Buck Danny is in charge of bringing the pilot back to the US. In the heart of the hostile jungle, a lethal game of hide-and-seek begins in order to find the American pilot before the North Koreans.