OT: Best Pilot account of the War in Vietnam (or any war)

[heywooood]

In light of the new F-4's available to FSX'ers via Milviz and SSW - this is an almost mandatory read.
If you buy it or pick it up at the library as I did, you will read it twice...guaranteed

https://www.amazon.com/Phantom-Over-Vietnam-Fighter-Pilot/dp/0891415998

 

[rpetty]

Heywoood, I couldn't agree more! I read Trotti's book quite a few years ago and it certainly made an impression on me. When ever I think of F-4's over Vietnam I think of Trotti's VMFA-314 squadron. His book takes you step by step through the preparations for a mission, start of the F-4, its systems, tactics used against SAM's and MiG-21's, and various mission profiles. Really a great read!!

Another good one is anything by Ed Rasimus, especially if your into USAF operations in the F-4 and F-105 over Vietnam. When Thunder Rolled and Palace Cobra are very good books (Rasimus passed away a few years ago).

And if your looking for a free book that covers USAF operations over Vietnam in F-4's try Sierra Hotel from the USAF collection available here: http://www.afhso.af.mil/shared/media/document/AFD-100929-043.pdf

Great era of American aviation history!!

 

[heywooood]

hey thanks for the steer wrt Sierra Hotel...
yes - I was very impressed by the casual yet gripping way Trotti delivered his account..both on the flying and the disposition of the war effort, even as he tried to focus on the job.

For virtual pilots there is great information in this book, proper use of comms, inflight refueling, tactics for proper set up on the bombing runs specific to ordinance and to minimize the danger of AA fire.
I actually read it twice before setting it down.

Thanks, rpetty - I'll look for the books by Ed Rasimus too.

 

[William Njurmi]

Don't forget Jack Broughton's Thud Ridge and Going Downtown.

 

[awstub]

All great reads.

These sites are free and worth checking out:

http://mofak.com/

http://www.flitetime.net/

 

[Bjoern]

+1 for "When Thunder Rolled".

I hear his other book is a bit on the political side and not as well written though.


Sierra Hotel is a great read. On the short side, but the price is just right.
Would love to read or watch more about DACT in the F-4, but it's just too much of a niche, I guess.


For a mixed bag of accounts from multiple sides during WW2: Sims' "The Fighter Pilots".

 

[PRB]

Just finished this one. Excellent account of the development of the "Wild Wiesel" program and the tactics they used.

 

[Daveroo]

sometimes i wonder about myself,i looked at the cover of "Phantoms over Vietnam" and thought...hmmm ive seen that cover,looked up at one of my bookshelves and there it is.i bought it probably when it first came out,and the binding is still brand new,never been read...bad bad me.

 

[Victory103]

Big thanks guys for the title ideas, I did the same for the AS F-14 thinking I had every book out and found out I was missing some good ones! One can read all the flight manuals, but getting a 1st person perspective really helps in the flightsim world.

 

[COBS]

My personal favorite is ,

Rolling Thunder,
Steel Tiger,
Phantom Leader,
Eagle Station,
Storm Flight.


Author ;
MARK BERENT served in the Air Force for over twenty years, first as an enlisted man and then as an officer. He has logged 4,350 hours of flying time, over 1,000 of them in combat. During his three Vietnam tours, Berent earned not only the Silver Star, but two Distinguished Flying Crosses, air medals, a Bronze Star, Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry, and Legion of Merit.

It's actually 5 books that are in chronological order each is about 300 or so pages , so total roughly about 1,500 pages .

It will put you in the cockpit in that conflict , a superb read .

Cheers
karol