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Basher Five-Two: The True Story of F-16 Fighter Pilot Captain Scott O'Grady
U.S. Air Force Captain Scott O'Grady was shot down in his F-16 over Bosnia while helping to keep the peace. The plane exploded, and Captain O'Grady fell 5 miles to the ground below. In exciting detail, Captain O'Grady tells how he evaded capture and how, with little water and no food, he was able to survive on his own in enemy territory.
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First published May 12, 1997
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 63 reviews
March 4, 2019
I remember this happening and being terrified for this naval aviator. I loved reading the book because it was recounted by O’Grady himself. It was an easy and enjoyable read and included how he survived for 6 days by eating such things as grass and ants. Poignantly, he described the angst he experienced, imagining how worried his parents and sister were after it was determined that his plane had been shot down. The story was factual and poignant at the same time.
April 17, 2017
This is the true story of a military pilot who was shot down into enemy territory. It tells how he survived for 6 days with very little food and water, how he avoided the enemy capturing him, how his faith helped him get through it, how his family did not give up hope, and how he was finally rescued. It is a heroic story full of adventure and interesting lessons on survival. My 14 year old son and I both really enjoyed it.
February 10, 2025
This book was part of my daughter's Notgrass history curriculum for school. Given that it had some military jargon in it that I was familiar with, she and I chose to read it together as a read-aloud. Overall, this was a fantastic family friendly book which gave you a brief glimpse into the life of a brave American serviceman, who was shot down over enemy territory, used the survival skills he'd learned in training, and successfully evaded being captured by the enemy. You also see the efforts made by multiple services to secure the safe recovery of one of their own and the special bond that was forged due to the experience. For a book that was only 133 pages long, it packed an emotional punch for anyone who has served in the military or anyone who has respect for those who willingly serve this great country.
March 30, 2020
Inspiring! Great family read aloud.
April 29, 2019
I recently saw the movie "Behind Enemy Lines," somewhat based on the story of Scott O'Grady, who was shot down over Bosnia and evaded capture until he was rescued. I say "somewhat based" because in looking up the facts of the movie, I discovered Scott O'Grady sued over this movie because he said it was obviously his story, but inaccurate and portrayed him in a way he did not want to be portrayed. I was curious, so read his autobiography to learn the facts. It was interesting to learn that he particularly objected to all the cussing in the movie. Scott O'Grady does not use profanity and is a devout Christian. It was fascinating to read about flight, the capability of the plane he flew, the equipment each pilot carries for survival situations, and his trained expertise in survival and planning. I was also impressed with the effort the military put forth to locate and save one individual. When he went missing, he was not written off as expendable. The military continued to send surveillance flights over Bosnian territory trying to locate him or pick up a signal from his radio equipment. It was nearly a week before they identified that he was still alive, yet they kept searching in the interim. Commendable, "no man left behind."
January 23, 2020
Excellent Book About an Incredibly Brave Survivor
Note: I do not recommend the Kindle version as there are many typos, especially the word “I’d” appears in the text as “Fd.” The pictures are also not as clear as in the print edition. Get the print edition for sure!
This is a must read for all American children. It has fascinating details about F-16s and am incredible man who was willing to give everything for our country but even more important shows a man who fought hard to survive and remembered God in his time of intense difficulty after his plane was shot down by a missile in Bosnia. I read this as a kid and remembered that it had an impact on me but didn’t remember the details. My kids, especially my boys, 11 and 9, really enjoyed reading this with me as a read aloud. It was a great way to introduce stories of the amazing military men and women who are truly willing to give their lives for our freedom.
Note: I do not recommend the Kindle version as there are many typos, especially the word “I’d” appears in the text as “Fd.” The pictures are also not as clear as in the print edition. Get the print edition for sure!
This is a must read for all American children. It has fascinating details about F-16s and am incredible man who was willing to give everything for our country but even more important shows a man who fought hard to survive and remembered God in his time of intense difficulty after his plane was shot down by a missile in Bosnia. I read this as a kid and remembered that it had an impact on me but didn’t remember the details. My kids, especially my boys, 11 and 9, really enjoyed reading this with me as a read aloud. It was a great way to introduce stories of the amazing military men and women who are truly willing to give their lives for our freedom.
September 9, 2016
This is part of my 10 year old daughters History/Literature curriculum (Veritas Press 1815 to Present). I'm reading through the books with her for discussion.
Admittedly I wasn't looking forward to reading this. However, I was pleasantly surprised. I appreciated the explanations of military and aviation lingo in layman's terms. Now you could ask me about F-16's and military survival skills and I might be able to have a decent conversation!
Lastly, I appreciated the book length (a smaller chapter book around 100 pages), which allowed me to read it in one sitting rather quickly. And, the book "stuck to the facts" which was nice. It seems like many books this style are flowered with unnecessary information.
Good read!
Admittedly I wasn't looking forward to reading this. However, I was pleasantly surprised. I appreciated the explanations of military and aviation lingo in layman's terms. Now you could ask me about F-16's and military survival skills and I might be able to have a decent conversation!
Lastly, I appreciated the book length (a smaller chapter book around 100 pages), which allowed me to read it in one sitting rather quickly. And, the book "stuck to the facts" which was nice. It seems like many books this style are flowered with unnecessary information.
Good read!
May 11, 2020
To be honest, this book wasn't my cup of tea, but my eleven year old son liked it. Scott O'Grady tells the story of being shot down over Bosnia in 1995 in a straightforward way, never romanticizing the situation. He says several times that he was no hero, just a survivor, and credits the literal dozens of marines who risked their lives to save him. This is a great non fiction read about a little known part of history. Middle school boys will find it an easy, engaging read.
April 30, 2021
This book was a quick read, but was absolutely amazing. Love the real-life account of this story, and his description of the burning, falling plane made me catch my breath like I was there in that cockpit with him. Held my attention the whole way through.
September 13, 2024
A well-written true story. It is important to read books like these because they remind us how good we have it and how free us Americans really are.
“God bless the USA”.
“God bless the USA”.
January 6, 2026
I have always been fascinated by aviation, and this book has deepened that fascination. Scott O’Grady, the book’s author, was a fighter pilot who accumulated more than 1,300 military flying hours, including over 1,000 in the F‑16 with the U.S. Air Force Reserve.
He belonged to the Triple Nickel fighter wing, patrolling the skies over Bosnia. Their job was to monitor the military pulse of the warring factions at that time—the Serbs, the Muslims, and the Croatians. “Basher‑Five‑Two”—Scott’s call sign—described their mission simply as pushing hostile aircraft out of the skies so they couldn’t strike each other. Thus, a sort of “no‑fly zone” was enforced.
Neither the Serbs, the Muslims, nor the Croatians wanted the Triple Nickel there. Yet NATO didn’t care about their wishes, and the pilots welcomed the opportunity to keep the F‑16s in motion and themselves sharp. Before Scott O’Grady reached the climax of his narration—his being shot down—he dwelt on aircraft details, flying habits, and technique. For me personally, the book’s core lay in that particular part. All those “petty details,” usually hidden in the devil’s identity, were brought to the forefront thanks to Scott’s courtesy.
Take G‑force, for example. If you’ve ever wondered how it feels, you’d learn that on a roller coaster, during a steep plunge, it’s possible to experience three Gs. In an F‑16, however, rapid acceleration and sharp turns can mean pressures up to nine Gs. If someone weighs 100 pounds normally, under 9 Gs it’s as if he weighed 900 pounds. Picture this—and you may start barfing right away.
Another fascinating fact: every fighter pilot carried a special note from the U.S. government, printed in eleven languages (including Serbian and Serbo‑Croatian), promising payment to anyone who hid a downed pilot from the enemy.
The hour of reckoning dawned upon Scott when fate struck at Aviano time. Basher‑Five‑Two suddenly found himself in somebody’s deadly sights. Either a projectile or a missile—insert the inventory in question—hit the aircraft. To skip the lamenting, it’s enough to say it was like being rear‑ended by an 18‑wheeler with a rocket tied to its grill. Basher‑Five‑Two had nothing left to do but PULL THE EJECT.
An average reader hardly knows that an F‑16 catapult rockets you through the sky at 500 miles an hour, tossing you into 100‑mile‑per‑hour gale‑force winds. The G‑forces you pull, which can run up to twenty, might damage your spinal column; you could lose a leg or an arm if not sitting properly when you eject; or the canopy might fail to open above you. To survive the ejection is only to be halfway out of the woods.
Next, the narration recalls Rambo’s adventures in the outskirts of Hope—iodine tablets to purify dirty water, finding a good hiding spot (or “hole‑up” site, as the military called it), short “combat naps,” and food like squirrels and birds just out of reach.
So, read the book, live through it, and enjoy the happy‑ending SAR (search‑and‑rescue) procedure performed by the U.S. Marines. Scott was struck by how young they were—their average age was nineteen.
I repeat: just try to zone out, jam all hostile radars and other distractions, and enjoy reading the book.
He belonged to the Triple Nickel fighter wing, patrolling the skies over Bosnia. Their job was to monitor the military pulse of the warring factions at that time—the Serbs, the Muslims, and the Croatians. “Basher‑Five‑Two”—Scott’s call sign—described their mission simply as pushing hostile aircraft out of the skies so they couldn’t strike each other. Thus, a sort of “no‑fly zone” was enforced.
Neither the Serbs, the Muslims, nor the Croatians wanted the Triple Nickel there. Yet NATO didn’t care about their wishes, and the pilots welcomed the opportunity to keep the F‑16s in motion and themselves sharp. Before Scott O’Grady reached the climax of his narration—his being shot down—he dwelt on aircraft details, flying habits, and technique. For me personally, the book’s core lay in that particular part. All those “petty details,” usually hidden in the devil’s identity, were brought to the forefront thanks to Scott’s courtesy.
Take G‑force, for example. If you’ve ever wondered how it feels, you’d learn that on a roller coaster, during a steep plunge, it’s possible to experience three Gs. In an F‑16, however, rapid acceleration and sharp turns can mean pressures up to nine Gs. If someone weighs 100 pounds normally, under 9 Gs it’s as if he weighed 900 pounds. Picture this—and you may start barfing right away.
Another fascinating fact: every fighter pilot carried a special note from the U.S. government, printed in eleven languages (including Serbian and Serbo‑Croatian), promising payment to anyone who hid a downed pilot from the enemy.
The hour of reckoning dawned upon Scott when fate struck at Aviano time. Basher‑Five‑Two suddenly found himself in somebody’s deadly sights. Either a projectile or a missile—insert the inventory in question—hit the aircraft. To skip the lamenting, it’s enough to say it was like being rear‑ended by an 18‑wheeler with a rocket tied to its grill. Basher‑Five‑Two had nothing left to do but PULL THE EJECT.
An average reader hardly knows that an F‑16 catapult rockets you through the sky at 500 miles an hour, tossing you into 100‑mile‑per‑hour gale‑force winds. The G‑forces you pull, which can run up to twenty, might damage your spinal column; you could lose a leg or an arm if not sitting properly when you eject; or the canopy might fail to open above you. To survive the ejection is only to be halfway out of the woods.
Next, the narration recalls Rambo’s adventures in the outskirts of Hope—iodine tablets to purify dirty water, finding a good hiding spot (or “hole‑up” site, as the military called it), short “combat naps,” and food like squirrels and birds just out of reach.
So, read the book, live through it, and enjoy the happy‑ending SAR (search‑and‑rescue) procedure performed by the U.S. Marines. Scott was struck by how young they were—their average age was nineteen.
I repeat: just try to zone out, jam all hostile radars and other distractions, and enjoy reading the book.
February 27, 2024
Basher Five-Two is an inspiring and exciting autobiography written by an F-16 fighter pilot Scott O’Grady. He talks about his time spent in Bosnia, after being shot down during a normal flight procedure. He had to evade enemy forces while trying to make contact with any allies to try to be rescued. While being on the run, he has to find ways to survive and make due with what he has. Being stranded in enemy territory with no way to contact his allies or obtain food, he has to survive with what little materials he has. Over the course of multiple days, he moves throughout the land while trying to find places to hide and things to eat and drink. All of this is happening while he still has to try to make contact with people who can rescue him.
The book is not a very long read and does well to keep from dragging on. It keeps you hooked the entire time and is very detailed and informative. The details in the book are very good at making you almost feel like you can see what is happening. It gives you a point of view through the eyes of someone going through a situation that very few people experience. The book gives you many details to help you understand what is going on and to experience their thoughts and feelings. A part of the book that was very enjoyable was that it was not incredibly long. It could be very easy to make it a much longer read but leave more details that might not be as entertaining to the reader. The text is simple and to the point, and keeps the reader engaged throughout the story. The story is also organized well and easy to keep track of what is happening. It has relatively short chapters that keep building. Overall, the book is very exciting and keeps the reader engaged until the very end.
The book is not a very long read and does well to keep from dragging on. It keeps you hooked the entire time and is very detailed and informative. The details in the book are very good at making you almost feel like you can see what is happening. It gives you a point of view through the eyes of someone going through a situation that very few people experience. The book gives you many details to help you understand what is going on and to experience their thoughts and feelings. A part of the book that was very enjoyable was that it was not incredibly long. It could be very easy to make it a much longer read but leave more details that might not be as entertaining to the reader. The text is simple and to the point, and keeps the reader engaged throughout the story. The story is also organized well and easy to keep track of what is happening. It has relatively short chapters that keep building. Overall, the book is very exciting and keeps the reader engaged until the very end.
Read
November 28, 2020I loved how this book was actually a real story of scott o'grady. I think I would read this again. I think this book was a little hard to read. I do not like books that go into a lot of detail. I got this book from my uncle who was also in the air force so It was cool how they both could teach me things about the air force. The moral of the story is never give up no matter what. The actual story is about captain scott o'grady who was flying over france when he was shot down by a missile and landed on a small island and had to stay undercover until he could contact others around him so he went like 3 weeks just wandering around in a forest waiting for anyone to help him. He had a radio and some survival items like a flashlight, a filter bag, a tarp and a flare plus a radio. But other than that there was nothing so later after like 2 weeks (more or less) he got a response from the radio after he send out a signal after a few more days he got some more responses again and this time he was able to communicate with the people on the other end of the line and they were able to find a place for both scott o’grady and the air force (a squadron) to meet at a specific point in a clearing so that same day he ran to the clearing and the squadron was waiting for him the they took him home. One way this story majorly changed me was how determined captain scott o’grady was to get home. I respect that.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 18, 2019
In 1995, Scott O'Grady was a U.S. Air Force pilot patrolling the no-fly zone over Bosnia when his plane was hit by a Serbian missile. He managed to eject and land unharmed in enemy territory. For nearly a week he stayed hidden during the day and made slow advances at night, all the while evading the enemy and hoping to make radio contact with the U.S. military. When a pilot finally heard his call, a large NATO team of fighters and helicopters went in and rescued him. During the publicity storm that followed, he was humble and made it clear who the real heroes were.
Eastern Europe is not a part of the world that Americans know much about. In fact many people don't realize the US played any role in the civil war that occurred in that region in the 1990s. Even though kids won't know about the war, it's a perfect book to give them a glimpse of military service and the oath our servicemen make to their country. Kids with a strong interest in military service will really enjoy this true story. There is some military talk describing the mechanics of the F-16 fighter which was the least interesting part for me, but may be just what some kids crave.
Eastern Europe is not a part of the world that Americans know much about. In fact many people don't realize the US played any role in the civil war that occurred in that region in the 1990s. Even though kids won't know about the war, it's a perfect book to give them a glimpse of military service and the oath our servicemen make to their country. Kids with a strong interest in military service will really enjoy this true story. There is some military talk describing the mechanics of the F-16 fighter which was the least interesting part for me, but may be just what some kids crave.
January 31, 2019
What a story! Basher Five-Two follows the true events of Captain Scott O'Grady's ordeal being shot down over Bosnian airspace during a peace keeping mission and the ensuing days leading up to and following his historic rescue. The story is all the more powerful because it is told in the first person by this military hero himself, allowing the reader to see and feel exactly what the survivor endured, including all of the feelings of desperation, courage, and enduring faith--both in God and in his fellow comrades.
I especially appreciate that this book is written for youth. Very few military narratives of the late 20th century are available for children. If read aloud, children as young as second or third grade can appreciate this story, but the writing is aimed at the middle grades (my ten-year-old son loved it). That being said, the story is incredible and an interesting read for teens and adults as well. I highly recommend it.
I especially appreciate that this book is written for youth. Very few military narratives of the late 20th century are available for children. If read aloud, children as young as second or third grade can appreciate this story, but the writing is aimed at the middle grades (my ten-year-old son loved it). That being said, the story is incredible and an interesting read for teens and adults as well. I highly recommend it.
August 20, 2021
This memoir of an Air Force pilot shot down in hostile territory is aimed at a YA market, but has enough technical detail and interior reflection to appeal also to adults. Michael French, the co-author with Scott O’Grady, the rescued pilot, has done a fine job of taking the pilot’s experience and shaping it into a story. Includes photos of the pilot’s childhood (not so interesting) and of the plane he flew (interesting) and the crew that plucked him out of hostile territory in Bosnia ( very interesting).
The last ten pages or so cover the publicity explosion that Scott O’Grady faced after his rescue. The first phone call he received after his rescue was from then-President Bill Clinton, eager for positive news he could be part of. This says more about our peculiar media-driven society than perhaps O’Grady intended.
The last ten pages or so cover the publicity explosion that Scott O’Grady faced after his rescue. The first phone call he received after his rescue was from then-President Bill Clinton, eager for positive news he could be part of. This says more about our peculiar media-driven society than perhaps O’Grady intended.
June 3, 2021
This was assigned reading for my 6th-8th grade co-op class. I get to lead the discussion, and am glad for the opportunity to re-read this well-written story of one man's survival and rescue from hostile territory. O'Grady focuses on who the real heroes are - and it isn't necessarily who you think from the cover of the book. :)
April 6, 2022
Read to my kids (ages 9-13) to to along with our homeschool study of US government, when we focused on the military. Short, intense read with a unique glance into an air force pilot's life, as well as his ordeal behind enemy lines, and amazing rescue. My husband and father-in-law enjoyed listening in when they could.
July 7, 2022
I loved him as a person and his story was pretty amazing, but the writing was very tactical heavy and lacking mission details I would've liked to know from hindsight evaluation. Great story, OK writing.
May 21, 2023
Amazing faith and courage
This story of a soldier in a desperate situation showed how knowledge, love, courage, and faith can help us survive. His humility is a great example to follow.
This story of a soldier in a desperate situation showed how knowledge, love, courage, and faith can help us survive. His humility is a great example to follow.
September 17, 2017
I'm a little older than the target audience for this book, but I was interested in his story. I'm impressed with his survival skills and I agree with him, that God brought him through that ordeal.
March 11, 2021
I enjoyed this real life story.
May 20, 2022
A great (and vey humble) telling of his experiences.
May 28, 2022
The kids loved this! I enjoyed it, too!
September 12, 2023
Vey interesting book would reccomend
December 8, 2023
Quick read. Quite inspiring! I remember when his plane was shot down. He is quick to call himself a survivor and not a hero. Humble and god-fearing man.
April 24, 2024
Great for reluctant readers-- especially boys. My students love it.
September 19, 2024
We loved this book. Perfectly written for the boys. Good story and interesting.
October 17, 2024
My least enthusiastic reader read and enjoyed this- and then wanted me to read it, too.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 63 reviews