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Crusader!: Last of the Gunfighters (Schiffer Military/Aviation History)

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Excellent aircraft history
I Cannot Recommend This Book Highly Enough

Crusader!: Last of the Gunfighters (Schiffer Military/Aviation History)
Paul T. Gillcrist , and John H. Glenn
Manufacturer: Schiffer Publishing
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0887407668

Book Description

Once known as the "Last of the Gunfighters", the Vought F-8 Crusader has since become a legend in the histories of the U.S. and French navies, as well as a scourge in the skies over North Vietnam in the late 1960s! CRUSADER! is a vital oral history of one of the most controversial fighter planes in carrier aviation. A key to the authenticity of this story are the author's personal interviews with sixteen of the seventeen living Crusader pilots who became MiG killers in the Vietnam air war. His analysis of their aerial engagements over North Vietnam from 1965 to 1973 contains some startling surprises, as well as a validation of many of the tactical lessons learned from World War II and Korea. CRUSADER! also contains personal accounts by F-8 speed record holders such as U.S. Marine Corps Major (now Senator) John Glenn and Captains Bob Dose and "Duke" Windsor. Other aviation records held by the Crusader, (not so enviable) are told, in anecdotal form, for the first time by the author, an F-8 driver and participant in some of them! Colorful, and sometimes humorous, accounts of events involving the F-8 and "Crusader Drivers" abound in this chronicle of carrier aviation covering the three decades when this remarkable airplane was an important element of the U.S. Navy's carrier strike forces. Rear Admiral Paul T. Gillcrist commanded a fleet Crusader squadron, then a carrier air wing and finally, as a flag officer, became wing commander for all Pacific Fleet fighter squadrons. During his fleet squadron command he completed three carrier deployments to the Tonkin Gulf and flew 167 combat missions in the Crusader for which he was awarded seventeen combat decorations. The author of FEET WET, Reflections of a Carrier Pilot (1990) and TOMCAT, The Grumman F-14 Story (1994), Admiral Gillcrist is well qualified to write the story of the Crusader!, over 200 color and b/w photographs, 8 1/2" x 11"

Customer Reviews:

Excellent aircraft history.......2006-08-18

A "must read" for anyone who appreciates the F-8 (or wants to) or just loves military aviation. A thorough history of this amazing airplane and those who flew it through a collection of great first-hand fighter pilot's stories. Some are told from the author's own experience and many more from other Crusader pilots interviewed by the author. For example: John Glenn's record-breaking flight in his own words, along with many accounts of Vietnam MiG encounters. I loved this book and plan on reading much more by this author.

I Cannot Recommend This Book Highly Enough.......1998-09-24

This is a fantastic collection of pilot's stories dealing with the "Last of the Gunfighters" the Vought F-8 Crusader. Rear Admiral Paul T Gillcrist has 2000 hours of Crusader time and his impressive knowledge and affection for the aircraft is very apparent throughout. The first part of the book arms the reader with background knowledge of early jet carrier operations as well as the story of Crusader speed records. The bulk of the book deals with the experiences, both harrowing and amusing, of numerous Crusader pilots including fascinating interviews with each pilot to shoot down a MiG in the aircraft. The final chapters give the author's expert analysis of the air war in Vietnam, and an overview of the use of the aircraft by the French Navy, the Naval Reserve and NASA. The book does not suffer from the shortfall of other books in that it is very skilfully written so that a layman can imagine theirself in the thick of the action. After reading this book you are left with a great respect for the men of the US Navy and Marine Corps who flew and fought in the Crusader and operated the aircraft from small aircraft carriers. As a commercial pilot I can only wonder how I would cope with landing a Mach2 airplane on a small heaving 27C carrier deck at night. To these men it was routine. Anyone who is remotely interested in aviation will find this book a great asset to their collection and I cannot recommend it highly enough

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A Gunfighter from MiG Alley Reviews

Last of the Aerial Gunfighters
Paul Corrigan
Manufacturer: Sabre Pub
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Contemporary | General | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

Action & Adventure | Genre Fiction | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 0974379204

Book Description

A story of air combat in Korea and the experieces of a young fighter pilot and his wife as Ensign John Sullivan flies jets first off the obsolete straight-deck aircraft carriers, and then joins his USAF comrades to engage the Russian pilots in MiG Alley over North Korea. He becomes an Ace with five kills but is shot down over enemy territory on his 100th mission.

Last of the Aerial Gunfighters is an epic, earthy story of fighter pilots. The stark reality of living in harm's way make the novel an excellent read for those who want to relive or examine what makes pilots tick. It puts the reader in the cockpit in the early days of jets when pilots still flew the airplane - and not the computer.

A love story is woven around the combat events as lonely separation tempts both John and his wife, Sylvia. On R&R in the Japanes Alps, John meets Sandra, a nurse from Tokyo. It's love at first sight, but Sandra won't sleep with a married man. Later Sandra saves his life after he escapes from North Korea.

Testimonials by -
Dr. Richard Hallion,
Aviation Author & recent Chief, Air Force History.

Vice Admiral Dutch Schoultz, USN (Ret)
Former Commander, Naval Air, Pacific Fleet

Vice Admiral Robert Dunn, USN, (Ret)
President, Naval Historical Foundation

Customer Reviews:

A Gunfighter from MiG Alley Reviews.......2004-11-11

A well written story about a Naval Aviator flying F-86s with the Air Force in Korea. This is a truly enjoyable book that brings you the thrill of victory in MiG Alley accompanied by all the disappointments, heartaches, and romantic challenges along the way. It's a great story and you will be sorry there are not a few more chapters when you finish reading it.
Major General Boots Blesse, USAF, Retired
Korean War ace with ten kills in MiG Alley
Author: Check Six & No Guts, No Glory

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