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Wings of War #3
Phantom Leader
The Vietnam War comes to life through the American eyes of a stranded pilot, a POW, a general behind the lines, and others
414 pages, Hardcover
First published May 1, 1991
71 people are currently reading
115 people want to read
About the author
Mark Berent
24 books32 followerssource: BN Nook Store
Meet the Author
MARK BERENT
Lt Col Mark E. Berent, USAF (Ret), was born in Minneapolis, Minnesota. He graduated from Cretin High
School and attended St. Thomas College in St. Paul, Minnesota. Later he graduated from Arizona State University under the Air Force Institute of Technology program with a Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering.
Lt Col Berent began his Air Force career as an enlisted man, then progressed through the aviation cadet program. He attended pilot training at Columbus Air Force Base, Mississippi and then Laredo Air Force Base, Texas flying the T-6, T-28 and T-33 aircraft and then moved on to F-86s at Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada. He served on active duty for 23 years until retirement in 1974. He began his operational flying career in the F-86 and F-100 flying at various posts throughout the United States and Europe. He later served three combat tours, completing 452 combat sorties, first in the F-100 at Bien Hoa Air Base, South Vietnam, the F-4 at Ubon Royal Thai Air Base, Thailand, and then in Cambodia for two years to fly things with propellers on them and through a fluke in communications timing, to personally run the air war for a few weeks.
He has also served two tours at the United States Space and Missile System Organization (SAMSO) at Los Angeles, California working first in the Satellites Control Facility and later as a staff developmental engineer for the space shuttle. In his expansive career he has seen service as an Air Attaché to the United States Embassy, Phnom Penh, Cambodia and also as Chief of Test Control Branch at the Air Development and Test Center at Eglin Air Force Base, Florida. He also served as an instructor at the Air Force's Squadron Officer School.
During his flying career he has logged over 4300 hours of flying time, 1084 of those in combat missions in the F-100, F-4, C-47 and U-10 over North and South Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia. He has flown 30 different aircraft.
His decorations include the Silver Star, Legion of Merit, Distinguished Flying Cross with one oak leaf cluster, Bronze Star, Air Medal with twenty four oak leaf clusters, Vietnam Cross of Gallantry, Cambodian Divisional Medal, and numerous Vietnam Campaign ribbons. He completed jump school with the Special Forces. Later, he jumped with and was awarded Cambodian paratrooper wings. He also flew with and received Cambodian pilot wings.
After leaving the Air Force he lived in Europe to establish and direct international operations for the sale of spares for combat aircraft. He has flown many foreign aircraft such as the Swedish Viggen and Royal Air Force Jaguar and Hawk. He also established Berent and Woods Inc, a firm that managed many aviation related activities.
Over the years he had published numerous articles for such publications as Air Force Magazine and the Washington Times and for 18 years wrote a monthly pilot/reporter column for the Asian Defense Journal. Under the name Berent Sandberg he and Peter Sandberg collaborated on three novels. He now has five Vietnam air war flying novels in print, Rolling Thunder, Steel Tiger, Phantom Leader, Eagle Station, and Storm Flight.
Berent states it is never too late for any endeavor: he published the first of his five books at age 58, ran his first Marathon at 59, bought a T-6 warbird and flew in airshows at 64, and rode in his first cattle roundup in Montana at 74.
Meet the Author
MARK BERENT
Lt Col Mark E. Berent, USAF (Ret), was born in Minneapolis, Minnesota. He graduated from Cretin High
School and attended St. Thomas College in St. Paul, Minnesota. Later he graduated from Arizona State University under the Air Force Institute of Technology program with a Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering.
Lt Col Berent began his Air Force career as an enlisted man, then progressed through the aviation cadet program. He attended pilot training at Columbus Air Force Base, Mississippi and then Laredo Air Force Base, Texas flying the T-6, T-28 and T-33 aircraft and then moved on to F-86s at Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada. He served on active duty for 23 years until retirement in 1974. He began his operational flying career in the F-86 and F-100 flying at various posts throughout the United States and Europe. He later served three combat tours, completing 452 combat sorties, first in the F-100 at Bien Hoa Air Base, South Vietnam, the F-4 at Ubon Royal Thai Air Base, Thailand, and then in Cambodia for two years to fly things with propellers on them and through a fluke in communications timing, to personally run the air war for a few weeks.
He has also served two tours at the United States Space and Missile System Organization (SAMSO) at Los Angeles, California working first in the Satellites Control Facility and later as a staff developmental engineer for the space shuttle. In his expansive career he has seen service as an Air Attaché to the United States Embassy, Phnom Penh, Cambodia and also as Chief of Test Control Branch at the Air Development and Test Center at Eglin Air Force Base, Florida. He also served as an instructor at the Air Force's Squadron Officer School.
During his flying career he has logged over 4300 hours of flying time, 1084 of those in combat missions in the F-100, F-4, C-47 and U-10 over North and South Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia. He has flown 30 different aircraft.
His decorations include the Silver Star, Legion of Merit, Distinguished Flying Cross with one oak leaf cluster, Bronze Star, Air Medal with twenty four oak leaf clusters, Vietnam Cross of Gallantry, Cambodian Divisional Medal, and numerous Vietnam Campaign ribbons. He completed jump school with the Special Forces. Later, he jumped with and was awarded Cambodian paratrooper wings. He also flew with and received Cambodian pilot wings.
After leaving the Air Force he lived in Europe to establish and direct international operations for the sale of spares for combat aircraft. He has flown many foreign aircraft such as the Swedish Viggen and Royal Air Force Jaguar and Hawk. He also established Berent and Woods Inc, a firm that managed many aviation related activities.
Over the years he had published numerous articles for such publications as Air Force Magazine and the Washington Times and for 18 years wrote a monthly pilot/reporter column for the Asian Defense Journal. Under the name Berent Sandberg he and Peter Sandberg collaborated on three novels. He now has five Vietnam air war flying novels in print, Rolling Thunder, Steel Tiger, Phantom Leader, Eagle Station, and Storm Flight.
Berent states it is never too late for any endeavor: he published the first of his five books at age 58, ran his first Marathon at 59, bought a T-6 warbird and flew in airshows at 64, and rode in his first cattle roundup in Montana at 74.
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
October 19, 2015
Mr. Berent continues his series on the Viet Nam was as seen through the eyes of Court Bannister, Wolf Lochert and Toby Parker. The overall plot features Court being tasked to develop an F-4 squadron to locate targets on the Ho Chi Minh trail during night time hours as the Tet Offensive develops. Good read.
April 9, 2022
Another great book in the series. Continues the story of the main characters. Good as a stand-alone or in sequence. Definitely recommend.
July 26, 2017
Continuing the story begun in "Rolling Thunder" and "Steel Tiger," Berent draws us deeper into the minds of his three main characters, Air Force and Special Forces men in combat in the midst of the Vietnam conflict. Other characters emerge as well, including POW's in the infamous Hua Lo prison (the "Hanoi Hilton").
Filled with stirring action and impressive technical detail, the book depicts courageous men who continue to strive for excellence even when the commands coming down from Washington seem bewildering at best and disastrous at worst. Even as these men display great valor and skill, we are privy to their vulnerabilities, expertly kept hidden in order to keep themselves fit for combat.
While there were a few instances in which descriptions were lifted verbatim from earlier volumes, the writing here was more assured than ever. The characters were allowed to breathe, portrayed with greater depth, a choice that made them all the more authentic. I have already begun the next volume in the series, wanting to know how these people get through the experiences ... or do not.
Filled with stirring action and impressive technical detail, the book depicts courageous men who continue to strive for excellence even when the commands coming down from Washington seem bewildering at best and disastrous at worst. Even as these men display great valor and skill, we are privy to their vulnerabilities, expertly kept hidden in order to keep themselves fit for combat.
While there were a few instances in which descriptions were lifted verbatim from earlier volumes, the writing here was more assured than ever. The characters were allowed to breathe, portrayed with greater depth, a choice that made them all the more authentic. I have already begun the next volume in the series, wanting to know how these people get through the experiences ... or do not.
July 7, 2024
Some really engaging parts and some really dry parts. There's a lot of technical jargon describing the different kinds of planes and engines, and the guns that they use which is kinda hard to get through. But the overall storyline is pretty compelling. You've got air force pilots in the Vietnam war, and their experiences shed light on how the government really kept them from being as effective as possible, because they wouldn't commit to the war and made a ton of regulations that hindered the fighters. Lots of characters to keep track of which makes it kinda confusing sometimes.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 8, 2014
Installment #3 in the Rolling Thunder(fact based, fictional)series following the exploits of Court Bannister (fighter pilot), Toby Parker (FAC pilot), and Lt Col Wolf Locert (Special Forces) in Southeat Asia in the mid-60s. This installment, among other things, follows the Court-Martial of Wolf for murder, and the capture and imprisonment of Maj "Flak" Apple in the Hanoi Hilton. Interesting reading if you were in the military during the mid-60s, especially if you were in SEA at the time. To others, the acronyms and jargon may appear confusing.
July 31, 2013
Great storyteller, Mr. Berent weaves several plot lines into an amazingly readable book. His personal military experience gives the reader insights into the bravery of the men fighting the war, the stupidity of the politicians too arrogant or chickenshit to relinquish control, and the complexities of the Vietnam era. I simply could not put it down.
May 2, 2014
A must read if you like action packed.
this book will keep your attention. The writer fills each page with events that makes it hard to put this book down. Great transition between characters.
this book will keep your attention. The writer fills each page with events that makes it hard to put this book down. Great transition between characters.
August 17, 2015
I was not there but I talked to a lot of vietnam vets after the war. The endorsements are correct. This series tells it like it really was. I highly recommend this book and the series to anyone that likes war stories. but beware, you may not be ready for how much real adventure is real life.
November 16, 2014
The Saga Continues
I have been so wrapped up in this series that I am reading nothing else. Now for Number 4. Great!
I have been so wrapped up in this series that I am reading nothing else. Now for Number 4. Great!
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August 9, 2015re read of an excellent book about the air war in Vietnam
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews