Viper pilot
Subtitle: the autobiography of one of America's most decorated F-16 combat pilots
By: Dan Hampton
Publisher: William Morrow
Published: 2012
Place of publication: New York, NY
Language: eng
Number of pages: 337
ISBN-13: 9780062130358; 9780062130341; 9780062130365
Subjects: United States. Air Force; Persian Gulf War, 1991; United States; American Personal narratives; American Aerial operations; F-16 (Jet fighter plane); Electronic warfare aircraft; Fighter pilots; Iraq War, 2003-2011; Biography
Description: From 1986 to 2006, Lt. Col. Dan Hampton was a leading member of the Wild Weasels, the elite Air Force fighter squadrons whose mission is recognized as the most dangerous job in modern air combat. Weasels are the first planes sent into a war zone, flying deep behind enemy lines purposely seeking to draw fire from surface-to-air missiles and artillery. They must skillfully evade being shot down--and then return to destroy the threats, thereby making the skies safe for everyone else to follow. Today these vital missions are more hazardous than direct air-to-air engagement with enemy aircraft. Hampton's record number of strikes on high-value targets make him the most lethal F-16 Wild Weasel pilot in American history. Hampton spearheaded the 2003 invasion of Iraq, leading the first flight of fighters over the border en route to strike Baghdad. In the war that followed, he earned three Distinguished Flying Crosses with Valor. With manned missions rapidly giving way to remote-controlled UAV drones, Viper Pilot may be the last memoir by a true hero of the skies.--From publisher description.
Notes: Includes index.
Table of contents: title: Prologue: Angel of death; title: YGBSM; title: Cold war and hot times; title: The elephant; title: Fly like an Egyptian; title: Patchwearer; title: Intermission; title: Shock and awe; title: "ELI 33"; title: Sandstorm; title: The valley of the shadow; title: Sambush; title: Endgame; title: Epilogue; title: Glossary; title: Map of iraq.