I am a voracious reader. Every once in a while I stumble across a book that really grabs me.
I just finished one of those, one of the best books that I have read for quite some time.
The author, Kevin Miller, is a retired Navy Captain (O-6), was a pilot flying on aircraft carriers. He has written a number of books, I just discovered his writing in his novel The RavensRaven One, about a Hornet squadron whose nickname was The Ravens, deployed to the middle east.
Great book, great plot, characters that come alive, and Captain Miller knows how to use the English language. None of the gross errors that annoy me when I read a novel about aviation that is full of technical errors -- this author knows what he is talking about and his writing shows it.
I'm hooked, I will be looking on Amazon for more of his books to download to my Kindle.
Highly recommended! Some of the Navy and Marine airmen on the forum might enjoy this -- Mojojojo, Rhino, TailHook (who did I miss?).EDIT: OOPS! Correction. The title of this book, the first in a series, is Raven One, not The Ravens as I erroneously stated.
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September 15, 2019, 07:05 PM
RHINOWSO
Thanks, I've been into space history books lately but may check it out when I have time.
September 15, 2019, 07:24 PM
V-Tail
quote:
Originally posted by RHINOWSO:
Thanks, I've been into space history books lately but may check it out when I have time.
You were TomCat WSO?
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September 15, 2019, 07:29 PM
mojojojo
Can’t tell you how many fictional aviation books (especially Naval Aviation) I’ve given up on as they’re so inaccurate or technically deficient. Kinda why I don’t enjoy Top Gun - too much suspension of reality.
The two fictional books I’ve found that come closest to capturing the reality of flying are Flight of the Intruder and Ghostrider One (although the chapter describing the strike against a Russian fleet in a thunderstorm in the book The Intruders really describes bad weather formation flying very well).
Thanks V-tail! I’ll give this one a look!
Icarus flew too close to the sun, but at least he flew.
September 15, 2019, 07:33 PM
V-Tail
quote:
Originally posted by mojojojo:
Can’t tell you how many fictional aviation books (especially Naval Aviation) I’ve given up on as they’re so inaccurate or technically deficient. Kinda why I don’t enjoy Top Gun - too much suspension of reality.
The two fictional books I’ve found that come closest to capturing the reality of flying are Flight of the Intruder and Ghostrider One (although the chapter describing the strike against a Russian fleet in a thunderstorm in the book The Intruders really describes bad weather formation flying very well).
Thanks V-tail! I’ll give this one a look!
Yes, I read Flight of the Intruder quite a few years ago. I did enjoy it.
If you're Amazon Prime with Kindle Unlimited, there are a few of Captain Miller's books available to borrow at no cost. I just downloaded the second and third books in the Ravens series, I'm going to sign off the forum now, and start reading.
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September 15, 2019, 08:14 PM
Tailhook 84
Thanks V-Tail. I did a quick search and it seems Capt. Miller has found his niche in life after the Navy. Lots of good reviews on all of his books. I'll check them out.
"The Truth, when first uttered, is always considered heresy."
September 15, 2019, 08:38 PM
RHINOWSO
quote:
Originally posted by V-Tail: You were TomCat WSO?
Tomcat RIO, Rhino WSO - although by the time I did the F-14 we were essentially WSOs.
quote:
Originally posted by mojojojo: Can’t tell you how many fictional aviation books (especially Naval Aviation) I’ve given up on as they’re so inaccurate or technically deficient.
Apparently he’s rather unusual, he flew F16’s in the USAF then moved to USN F18’s. I think he’s currently in the reserves now flying T38’s in an aggressor squadron, as well as flying right seat for some major US Airline, and also as a Sheriffs Deputy in Louisiana. I ran across him on YouTube, he’s doing tons of interesting videos.
Edit to add: Ernest K. Gann who wrote Fate is the Hunter. ExcellentThis message has been edited. Last edited by: OKCGene,
September 15, 2019, 10:47 PM
sleepla8er
.
Another really good book is called, "Wildcats to Tomcats" by Captain Richard "Zeke" Cormier (WWII, Korea, & Blue Angels CO), Captain Wally Schirra (Test Flights & Space), and Captain Phil Wood (Vietnam).
They share their overlapping careers across 40 years of Naval Aviation during different eras.
Captain Cormier talking his career and the book:
Captain Wood talking about earning the Distinguished Flying Cross on the Haiphong Harbor Raid during Vietnam:
September 15, 2019, 11:21 PM
Modern Day Savage
No experience as a military aviator but as a guy with civilian flying under his belt I've always enjoyed Flight of the Intruder.
I've got a metric ton of books already queued up for what little reading time I have available...
...but I caught an interview with the writer and one of the fighter pilots of the book Devotion: An Epic Story of Heroism, Friendship, and Sacrifice and the true story of the U.S. Navy's first black fighter pilot, his friendship with a white squadron mate, and the heroic act performed while they defended Marines at the Chosin Reservoir during the Korean War. The story relayed in the interview was so interesting and moving it convinced me that it is a book worth reading someday.
the true story of the U.S. Navy's first black fighter pilot
In the Raven series, the books by Captain Miller that prompted me to start this thread, the protagonist (who is the skipper of a Hornet squadron in the second book, that I just started reading last night), is a black man, but the story line does not make a big deal of that, it's sort of like an "oh, by the way . . ." thing that's mentioned in passing, other than it being brought up by the XO of his first squadron who was an asshole and was fired by CAG. (That's one of the longest sentences I have written!)
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September 16, 2019, 07:14 AM
fgwilliams1
quote:
Originally posted by RHINOWSO: Thanks, I've been into space history books lately but may check it out when I have time.
Check out the Blue Gemini series by Mike Jenne. Fiction but with a lot of historical detail.
GW.
September 16, 2019, 09:52 AM
12thwisconsin
I'd like to plug Bloody 16-its a history of CAW 16 during its deployments in Vietnam in 65,66, and 67 aboard the Oriskany. My Dad was an A4 pilot in VA-164 Ghostriders on the 65 and 66 deployments.
September 16, 2019, 10:46 AM
RHINOWSO
I'm not done with the first book, but about 1/2 through.
While there are some things fictionalized, it definitely gets a lot of the 'feel' right for carrier operations.
September 27, 2019, 08:50 AM
Modern Day Savage
quote:
Originally posted by V-Tail: I am a voracious reader. Every once in a while I stumble across a book that really grabs me.
I just finished one of those, one of the best books that I have read for quite some time.
The author, Kevin Miller, is a retired Navy Captain (O-6), was a pilot flying on aircraft carriers. He has written a number of books, I just discovered his writing in his novel The RavensRaven One, about a Hornet squadron whose nickname was The Ravens, deployed to the middle east.
Great book, great plot, characters that come alive, and Captain Miller knows how to use the English language. None of the gross errors that annoy me when I read a novel about aviation that is full of technical errors -- this author knows what he is talking about and his writing shows it.
I'm hooked, I will be looking on Amazon for more of his books to download to my Kindle.
Highly recommended! Some of the Navy and Marine airmen on the forum might enjoy this -- Mojojojo, Rhino, TailHook (who did I miss?).EDIT: OOPS! Correction. The title of this book, the first in a series, is Raven One, not The Ravens as I erroneously stated.
V-Tail, as you recommended Raven One I thought you, and perhaps others, might like this Fighter Pilot Podcast interview from last year. This FPP episode is mostly about what fighter pilots do in civilian life after their service in the military, but the expert interviewed is the book's author, Kevin (Hozer) Miller.
He is the "real deal" and has both extensive U.S. Navy experience as well as an interesting and varied civilian background. As each FPP starts out by answering various listener's questions, there are several interesting tidbits discussed on the flying, combat equipment, and life style also.
The next 2 books in the series, "Declared hostile" and " Fight Fight" are just as good.
quote:
Originally posted by V-Tail: I am a voracious reader. Every once in a while I stumble across a book that really grabs me.
I just finished one of those, one of the best books that I have read for quite some time.
The author, Kevin Miller, is a retired Navy Captain (O-6), was a pilot flying on aircraft carriers. He has written a number of books, I just discovered his writing in his novel The RavensRaven One, about a Hornet squadron whose nickname was The Ravens, deployed to the middle east.
Great book, great plot, characters that come alive, and Captain Miller knows how to use the English language. None of the gross errors that annoy me when I read a novel about aviation that is full of technical errors -- this author knows what he is talking about and his writing shows it.
I'm hooked, I will be looking on Amazon for more of his books to download to my Kindle.
Highly recommended! Some of the Navy and Marine airmen on the forum might enjoy this -- Mojojojo, Rhino, TailHook (who did I miss?).EDIT: OOPS! Correction. The title of this book, the first in a series, is Raven One, not The Ravens as I erroneously stated.