Description

Sherman Lead is the gripping story of a year flying the F-4 Phantom in combat during the Vietnam War, told through the eyes of a US Air Force fighter pilot. Operating out of Ubon Royal Thai Air Base, Thailand in 1968–69, Gail Peck and his squadronmates were tasked with flying combat missions into North Vietnam and Laos at this time as part of Operations Rolling Thunder and Steel Tiger.

The F-4 was heavily involved in the air-to-ground mission at this time, with targets being well defended by enemy anti-aircraft artillery and surface-to-air missiles. Gail Peck's arrival in-theater coincided with the beginning of electro-optical and laser guided "smart" bomb combat operations. There were periods of fierce combat interspersed with lulls and the fighting was intense and unforgettable to those who participated. Some men lived through it, and others died without a clear understanding of why.

Written by a pilot who flew near-daily combat missions, this engrossing book is the story of one man, his colleagues, and his machine--the mighty F-4 Phantom--at war.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgments /Foreword /Introduction /Prologue /1. So how did we get mixed up in Vietnam? /2. Getting into fighters /3. Ubon Royal Thai Air Base, Thailand, the 433rd TFS and a Taste of Combat with Electro-Optically Guided Bombs /4. Party Suits and Howdy Hats /5. Dumb Bomb Combat Almost Every Day /6. Snakes and Lizards and Golf /7. Night Combat with Brian McMahan and Norm 'Phenius' Fogg /8. Christmas Day 1968 – a Combat Mission and then Christmas Dinner with the Grays /9. Laser-Guided Bombs /10. A Bad Night – Sherman Lead is Down /11. The Club, R&R and LBFMs /12. Silver Star Mission /13, Plain de Jars and the area known as Barrel Roll /14. Jeb Stewart is Down /15. Paul Bannon and Peter Pike – Down /16. 'Poppa Wolf', Ray Battle, Brings One Home /17. Men on the Moon /18. A Broken Jaw, a Cancelled Assignment and a 'Dear John' Letter /19. Sherman Lead Repatriated – At Last /Postscript /Index

Product details

Published Mar 05 2019
Format Hardback
Edition 1st
Extent 304
ISBN 9781472829375
Imprint Osprey Publishing
Illustrations 32pp plate section in colour and black & white
Dimensions 234 x 153 mm
Series General Aviation
Short code GNA
Publisher Bloomsbury Publishing

About the contributors

Author

Gaillard R. Peck, Jr

Col. (Ret.) Gaillard R. Peck, Jr was a career offi…

Resources

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