A 10 Attack
A valentine for one of the ugliest, even though most incurably effective, warplanes ever built–as well as for the men who flew them for the duration of the Desert Storm campaign. Drawing on consultations with over one hundred A-10 pilots who served in the Persian Gulf for the duration of the 1990-91 hostilities, Smallwood (himself an aviator and Korean War vet) offers riveting perspectives on aerial combat. Setting the stage with an informative briefing on how, in the 70′s, the Air Force invented the A-10 (a.k.a. “Warthog”) as a means of at the bottom of impose a curfew troops with massive firepower, he moves into subjective vignettes detailing the ways in which so-called “hog drivers” and their commanders whiled away the weary hours of the cool before the storm in Saudi Arabia’s inhospitable clime. At the heart of his narrative, but, are bright accounts of how A-10s accomplished their tank-busting missions and then a excellent deal of once the battle was joined. Tasked, amongst other objectives, to take out missile launchers and artillery locatings far behind the front lines (assignments commonly reserved for jet fighters), the slow-moving, to a fantastic extent armed Warthogs were credited with over half the bomb harm inflicted on Iraqi forces and installations. Employing improvisational tactics, A-10s also flew reconnaissance and helped in rescues of coalition pilots; they even scored air-to- air kills, downing a couple of rival choppers. Indeed, the plane’s ungainly Gatling-gun platform performed so well that pilots demanded their craft be redesignated “RFOA-10” (for “reconnaissance/fighter/observation/attack”).
“An absorbing tale of how a decidedly hideous duckling became a military hero of numerous consequence.” —Kirkus Reviews
- Amazon Sales Rank: #257164 in Books
- Published on: 2005-09-30
- Original language: English
- Number of items: 1
- Dimensions: .63″ h x 5.08″ w x 7.82″ l, .47 pounds
- Strip: Paperback
- 268 pages
From Publishers WeeklyThe A-10 is a slow, stick-and-rudder airplane built around a Gatling gun competent of firing 4000 rounds a minute. It is an hideous beast (thus it is nickname: Warthog), but “hog drivers” reckon highly of it because of it is capacity to stay aloft after absorbing yucky punishment from rival aircraft. Smallwood, who interviewed 143 of the pilots who flew the A-10 in the Gulf War, here presents an exhilarating, fact-packed narrative that conveys the aroused as well as the technical/tactical distinct features of the Warthog crusade for the duration of Desert Storm. In the war’s primary period, A-10 squadrons carried out a precise preemptive venture versus targets that could affect the outcome of the allied impose a curfew campaign. Throughout that four-day operation, A-10s provided close air aid for furthering coalition forces and decimated two Republican Guard divisions. The Warthogs flew an intermediate of 193 missions per day for 42 days and are credited with demolishing at least half of the Iraqi armor. Six Warthogs were lost. Two pilots were killed. A valuable addition to air-war literature. Military Book Club main selection. Copyright 1993 Reed Business Information, Inc.
From Kirkus ReviewsA valentine for one of the ugliest, even though most incurably effective, warplanes ever built–as well as for the men who flew them for the duration of the Desert Storm campaign. Drawing on consultations with over one hundred A-10 pilots who served in the Persian Gulf for the duration of the 1990-91 hostilities, Smallwood (himself an aviator and Korean War vet) offers riveting perspectives on aerial combat. Setting the stage with an informative briefing on how, in the 70′s, the Air Force formulated the A-10 (a.k.a. “Warthog”) as a means of at the bottom of impose a curfew troops with massive firepower, he moves into subjective vignettes detailing the ways in which so-called “hog drivers” and their commanders whiled away the weary hours of the cool before the storm in Saudi Arabia’s inhospitable clime. At the heart of his narrative, but, are bright accounts of how A-10s accomplished their tank-busting missions and then a lot of once the battle was joined. Tasked, among other objectives, to take out missile launchers and artillery locatings far behind the front lines (assignments in general reserved for jet fighters), the slow-moving, to a fantastic extent armed Warthogs were credited with over half the bomb harm inflicted on Iraqi forces and installations. Employing improvisational tactics, A-10s also flew reconnaissance and helped in rescues of coalition pilots; they even scored air-to- air kills, downing a couple of rival choppers. Indeed, the plane’s ungainly Gatling-gun platform performed so well that pilots demanded their craft be redesignated “RFOA-10” (for “reconnaissance/fighter/observation/attack”). An absorbing tale of how a decidedly hideous duckling became a military hero of numerous consequence. (Nineteen photos, map–not seen) (Main Selection of the Military Book Club) — Copyright ©1993, Kirkus Associates, LP. All rights reserved.
Review- “Exhilarating, quick-paced narrative.” -Publishers Weekly
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19 of 20 people found the following review helpful.
Very well written and informative – hard to place down By SD TX I got this book because my son has recently been assigned to train in an A-10. I was very impressed with Mr. Smallwood’s writing style. He manages to convey the excitement, danger, and novelty of the A-10′s mission and the immense dedication of the courageous and courageous pilots who flew in the Gulf War. I learned much of the “lingo” used by the “Hog Drivers” so if I hear it in the future I’ll know. I’m pleased to learn that my son will be flying in such a tough apparatus. I now call the A-10 the “Guardian Angel” of the impose a curfew troops. Please convey my appreciation to Mr. Smallwood for his brilliant work. S. Doyle Houston TX
11 of 11 people found the following review helpful.
Read it – it’s as simple as that READ IT! By A This is an briliant book, even if you don’t like the A-10 (which I like). It tells that tale of how a hideous, slow plane became a swan during the Gulf War. You get an understanding of how it must have been to glide the Hog, on missions it wasn’t designed for. As I said earlier, if you have just the smallest interest in aviation, you have to read this book, and if you like the A-10 – well then you MUST read this book.
11 of 12 people found the following review helpful.
A Must-Read for Hog fans! By A I am a former Comm/Nav troop from the 76th that got out before the Gulf War. This book really helped me see what our planes did over here when all the news footage and other specials only show other bases! It was fantastic to “hear” from people I knew on their experiences! I couldn’t place the book down!
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