The Squadron Shelf
BogiDope team,
A group like this is always on the hunt for new knowledge and expanded horizons. I would be willing to bet there are a lot of readers in the group. This discussion thread can serve as the “squadron shelf” where you can leave your aviation/military book recommendations or stop by for your next read. Title/author works great; if you can give a one-sentence summary even better.- 15 Replies
I’ll go first: “A Nightmare’s Prayer”. Great account of the first USMC Harrier unit to stand up ops at Bagram in 2002.
Boyd: The Fighter Pilot Who Changed the Art of War by Robert Coram
This book was an awesome deep dive into old-school fighter culture and the behind-the-scenes politics that shaped some of the most iconic jets still flying today, including the F-15, F-16, and B-1. It really highlights the value of doing your homework and being prepared, but maybe even more so, it shows the importance of treating other with kindness and respect. Boyd was probably one of the most influential figures the Air Force ever had, but he spent most of his career fighting uphill battles, partly because he practically insisted on being difficult to work with. It’s a fascinating mix of a brilliant mind and a complicated human and left me thinking about what it means to be a leader and what I want my legacy to be when all is said and done.
The Unsubstantial Air by Samuel Hynes, about American fighter pilots in WW1, was really good. He flew TBMs in WW2 and you can definitely tell it’s a book written by a pilot who really understood why they did what they did. Into the Teeth of the Tiger by Donald Lopez is another good WW2 one, he flew in China. An Officer, Not a Gentleman by Mandy Hickson covers her training and time as an RAF tornado pilot, really great descriptions of fast low-level flying. For non-military aviation Success on the Step, which is a history of Kenmore Air, is amazing—they have done some absolutely insane mountain flying and bush flying around the northwest. Not in print anymore but you can find it pretty cheap on eBay. For non-aviation military The Junior Officer’s Reading Club by Patrick Hennessy is one of the best accounts I’ve read of early 21st century war(s) from the non-SOF ground troops side.
A couple of my favorite books in the last couple years are Across the Fence and On the Ground by John Stryker Meyer. John is a Vietnam-era Green Beret. These books are about the cross-border operations conducted by MACV-SOG during the 8-year secret war during Vietnam. MACV-SOG, or SOG for short, primarily operated by sending small teams, usually 6-10, of American SF and their indigenous counterparts. They would operate in Laos, Cambodia, and North Vietnam doing recon, wire taps, POW snatches, etc. along the Ho Chi Minh trail. The stories are absolutely insane. These small teams often engaged against enemy forces numbering hundreds and thousands. Time and time again, they found a way to extract. In large part to the air assets providing cover for them. SOG often used Marine Corps and Army gunships, and the A-1. Very cool to learn how significant this CAS was to their survival. If you are ever at WPAFB for FC1, make sure to stop by the National Museum of the US Air Force because in the Southeast Asia conflict hangar there is some awesome history about this secret war and they actually have some aircraft on display that were in-service providing the support. John Stryker Meyer has also appeared on a handful of episodes of Jocko Podcast where he goes into more detail of these crazy stories.
https://www.amazon.com/Across-Fence-John-Stryker-Meyer/dp/0983256705
The Fighter Pilot’s Fighter Pilot!
Robin Old’s memoir is a must-read!
Boyd: The Fighter Pilot Who Changed the Art of War.
This book is my absolute favorite. This was the inspiration for me wanting to become a fighter pilot and one of the best reads ever!
Skunk Works: Ben Rich
This is an incredible read on the more behind the scenes on what it takes to make some of the most advanced aircraft ever! It’s a memoir about Ben Rich who was second in command of Skunk Works during the creation of the F-117, U-2, and A-12 (SR-71). Highly highly recommend!
Cage,
I loved this Skunk Works book as well. Crushed this read in about two weeks during a quarantine during COVID on the ROK.
Pil Sung!
SIC,
yeah same here, it drew me in and dove through it too!
Gotta Have Thud Ridge!
I love this book because it really captures the crazy, catch-22 aspects of being a tiny part of a huge war machine. The “I can’t believe we’re doing this” moments are timeless.
https://www.amazon.com/Thud-Ridge-Jack-Broughton/dp/1888237090
This discussion is getting really good boys. This one is quickly becoming my favorite forum to check in on. Candidates, I am calling you dudes out! BD Instructors only ones reading books around here!? lol
Pile On!
Bury Us Upside Down,
Another unreal book about the fast FACs (Forward Air Controllers). Incredible stories of the “Misty” FACs in Vietnam. This book really brings the culture and reality of being a combat fighter pilot into focus.
Shout out to #Husky on this one and all the other counter land bubba’s humping it across the FLOT.
I really enjoyed Dan Hamptons “Viper Pilot” and “Lords of the Sky” and often go back to reread them! The first is about he’s journey to becoming a fighter pilot in the f-16, and he’s experiences as a wild weasel. The second is about the journey of fighter aviation as it has changed and progressed throughout the decades since WW1. I hope everyone enjoys them as much as I did!
Another entry for the shelf: A Dawn Like Thunder. These dudes truly had guts. Flew underpowered airplanes laden with a torpedo on wave-top attacks against Japanese battleships. A great memoir of how to prepare to deal with horrendous combat losses.
https://www.amazon.com/Dawn-Like-Thunder-Torpedo-Squadron/dp/0316056537
Another good one for the shelf. Always good to know where you come from. The Lafayette Escadrille was the peak of volunteerism in a time of war. A note about the author: Tim Murphy is a lifetime Viper driver, and incredible combat leader. He led a squadron to CENTCOM at the height of ISIS and dropped more munitions than any F-16 unit in history.
Another good one! Fighter pilots hunting Yamamoto in the Pacific.
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