Synopses & Reviews
A riveting account of a modern fighter squadron at war and the exploits, triumphs, and traumas of its pilots.
The Black Aces. Their courage, ferocity, and instincts made them legendary in military aviation. Flying F-14 Tomcats, they played as much a part in recent US operations in Kosovo as did any air squadron in the theater, air force or navy, and probably more. Because of its superior performance, sophisticated equipment and the two-man crews who took it upon themselves to do something extra, the Tomcat and its aviators distinguished themselves over and over.
Forced to locate Serb fighters operating covertly in a mountainous land much like Afghanistan, with almost no help from ground spotters, VF-41 pilots and backseaters spearheaded new methods for the navy to pinpoint, identify, and destroy enemy troops and weapons. These were tasks that fighter crews had seldom had to do before. The Aces had to break rules and frequently go in harms way in order to be successful. And they performed so well that for the first time in aviation history, a fighter squadron - theirs - was awarded The Wade McClusky Trophy, the navy's premier bombing honor. The award, named for a World War II dive bomber pilot and post-WorldWar II admiral, had been won previously only by bombing squadrons.
Robert Wilcox spent two weeks with The Black Aces aboard the aircraft carrier, USS Roosevelt and here provides a long-awaited, never-before-seen glimpse into the world of a modern navy fighter squadron. Wilcox takes readers into the cockpits as the pilots go out and attack targets while avoiding anti-aircraft weaponry. He takes us into the war room as they plan their strikes and into their cabins as they contemplate the danger they are facing. And the reader can't help but worry for these men as they head off into battle, can't help sitting on the edge of the seat as they try to land at night, in a rainstorm, with waves crashing against the ship, and can't help ducking with them as they dodge missile attacks. And in the end, it is impossible not to feel for these aviators as they question their own courage, or to cheer for them when they finally return safely.
i3797Black Aces High is a story of fear and courage, mishap and success, fighting spirit and military innovation. It's a human story that goes behind the smiling, sunglass-wearing facade of aviators flashing a "V", the sterile, slow motion target video that has become a staple of Pentagon briefings, and the rock 'n' roll cowboy image of fighter crews seen in the
movies. Instead, it is a story that shows who these aviators really are and what they do beyond what we know, a story which probably will be repeated again and again as our carriers continue to be deployed in the new, 21 century war our nation is fighting.
Review
"
Black Aces High should be required reading for every American in the Age of Terror."
-Stephen Coonts, author of America
"Action-packed descriptions of modern air combat combined with detailed tactical analysis: an intriguing account for general readers as well as valuable for military specialists."
-Kirkus Reviews
"A unique look at the inner workings of naval aviation through the prism of an F-14 Tomcat fighter squadron. Although it is an exciting book, this is not a techno-thriller. This is a book about the reality of war and the reality of the men and women who engage in warfare in the air."-Proceedings
"A fast-moving look behind the scenes."-Publishers Weekly
"Tailored to the lay reader as well as the military buff, this book is...a concise, readable analysis of a contemporary military conflict and the people who carry out the missions."-Library Journal
Synopsis
The Whole World Was Watching
The Black Aces Were Taking Off
And Warfare Would Never Be The Same...
In 1999, when Serbia attacked the small country of Kosovo, the USS Roosevelt was steaming through the Mediterranean. In a matter of days, thirty pilots-veterans and rookies alike-were about to become the lethal tip of a fast, furious, high-tech knife. And the Black Aces Squadron VF-41-a team of mechanics, technicians, electronic warfare specialists-would plunge their weapon into the heart of the enemy...
This extraordinary book takes us into the world of Naval aviation in action: the training, launching, dog-fighting and the feeling of a multi-million dollar F-14A Tomcat pushed literally to its breaking point. From a harrowing account of a pilot's ejection from an exploding plane to the deadly cat-and-mouse games the F-14s played with deadly enemy forces on the ground, BLACK ACES HIGH straps us into the cockpit, hurtles us through SAM-laced night skies, and goes behind the scenes to meet the flesh-and-blood men and women whose skill and courage reinvented warfare-just when we needed it most...
"A great account of a modern fighter squadron at war." -Virginian-Pilot
"An invaluably updated portrait of all U.S. naval aviation." -Booklist
Synopsis
In 1999, when Serbia attacked the small country of Kosovo, the USS Roosevelt was steaming through the Mediterranean. In a matter of days, thirty pilots-veterans and rookies alike-were about to become the lethal tip of a fast, furious, high-tech knife. And the Black Aces Squadron VF-41-a team of mechanics, technicians, electronic warfare specialists-would plunge their weapon into the heart of the enemy...
This extraordinary book takes us into the world of Naval aviation in action: the training, launching, dog-fighting and the feeling of a multi-million dollar F-14A Tomcat pushed literally to its breaking point. From a harrowing account of a pilot's ejection from an exploding plane to the deadly cat-and-mouse games the F-14s played with deadly enemy forces on the ground, BLACK ACES HIGH straps us into the cockpit, hurtles us through SAM-laced night skies, and goes behind the scenes to meet the flesh-and-blood men and women whose skill and courage reinvented warfare-just when we needed it most...
About the Author
Robert Wilcox is a former air force information officer and the author of
Wings of Fury, Scream of Eagles, and other books. He lives in Los Angeles with his wife where he also writes television and movie scripts. His website can be found at WWW.ROBERTKWILCOX.COM