Hamfist Over Hanoi

by G.E. Nolly

Air Force pilot Hamilton “Hamfist” Hancock thinks he has left the Vietnam War behind him, after completing a hazardous tour of duty as a Forward Air Controller (FAC) flying over the Ho Chi Minh Trail. He is based at Yokota Air Base, in Japan, and becomes comfortable flying generals and other VIPs around Asia in his Sabreliner executive jet. He is adjusting to his new marriage, and aside from the stress of TDY assignments, life is placid.

But the war returns with a vengeance when Hamfist suffers a personal loss at the hands of the North Vietnamese. Hamfist knows that the only way he can find inner peace is to go back for another combat tour, to try to bring the horrific war to a speedy end. And this time, he will fly a fighter, the top-of-the-line F-4 Phantom II.

Hamfist checks out in the F-4 and arrives at his base in Thailand just in time for the start of Operation Linebacker, the bombing offensive over Hanoi. He soon finds himself flying over the most heavily defended area in the world, dodging Surface-to-Air Missiles (SAMs) and dueling with enemy aircraft, the vaunted MiG-series fighters. And along the way he has picked up two new goals: completing 100 missions over North Vietnam and defeating a MiG in aerial combat.

Only time will tell if Hamfist will achieve his 100 missions, score a victory over a MiG and, most important, help end the war.

Genres: Military Fiction

420 pages, Unknown Binding

First published December 12, 2012

Reviews

[Toni Osborne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Book #4 in The Air Combat Adventures of Hamilton “Hamfist” Hancock

The narrative is a vast memoir of everything that happened to the author during his tours of duty as a U.S. Air force pilot in Vietnam. Taken from actual events Mr. Nolly tells his story in his own words and has enhanced it somewhat to carries his readers along with him as if we were a co-pilot. If you like anything about flying fighters you certainly will devour this book.

1972, Hamfist is back in action and now flies an F-4 Phantom at the start of Operation Linebacker, the bombing offensive over Hanoi. The book contains a heavy load of information on how to fly an F-4 fighter and has a lot of acronyms to go along with the narrative (a glossary of terms is at the end of the book). The author does not mince his words in this meat and potatoes conduct of the air war in Vietnam. The Rules of Engagement put many restrictions and was terribly frustrating for the pilots. Flying over the most heavily defended area in the world, dodging Surface-to-Air Missiles (SAMs) and dueling with enemy aircraft, the vaunted MiG-series fighters is what this book is all about. Hamfist was the last pilot to complete 100 missions over North Vietnam.

Mr. Nolly doesn’t have much respect for antiwar protesters, conscientious objectors, or for Jane Fonda, who gets a two-page rant in which she is called a traitor and compared to Tokyo Rose. I highly understand his point of view. At the time men had no choice, they were drafted into the war. The war dragged on and people ( parents, siblings, friends, wife and children) wanted their men back home…so they took to the streets…..I highly understood them also…..

Of course this book is not for everyone. I particularly liked the action, it is exciting and very well-done, I did feel being part in the daily activities of an ace pilot who flew airplanes in the Vietnam War.

[carl l curtis · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fast

This book was very interesting to me and was fast moving from one event to the next. Great book to read about the needs of war.

[Mark Perez · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great read

Written like you were right the , entertaining anyone with any interest in aviation will love this. Couldn't put it down

[Stanley McShane · Rating 5 out of 5]

We've all watched "Top Gun" 80 times and wondered what it was like to be in one of those things, blazing through the skies, performing dips and rolls, "yoyo's". Some of us thought we'd like to be up there with them....including me. Reading this book has given me the WSO seat; tho there were times I wondered about the wisdom of being there. Pulling more than 5 G's, whether accidentally or not, would have been one of those moments. My Navy hubby fortunately was not sent to 'Nam, tho he served during that era and thankfully after some time I was able to join him both in Japan and Taiwan. Reliving those times, that part of the world, those people and events (Hanoi Jane) brought back so many memories. Perhaps the only thing Hamfist was denied in his experience (or perhaps that is recounted in another book) was the appearance of a Bob Hope show. Historical times! As with any super sophisticated machine, these aircraft took many hours of flight time in all conditions to get to know what the plane was telling you--and every nuance was important. Was Hamfist an exceptional pilot? Perhaps not--but certainly any pilot in those planes under those conditions were exceptional men. I'm still over-awed. Great book--the Viet Nam generation should read it--the baby boomers should read it--the Gen X and Gen Y should read it--but more importantly, this generation should read it. Freedom isn't free.

[K Van · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is riveting!!

This book takes me back to my flying experience in the Vietnam war. Once you start reading it, you can not put it down. I gives a realistic description of flying as it existed then!! Super good read!!!

[Derek McCabrey · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was attracted to this book by its title and cover, being an aviation enthusiast. The subject is 'one man's account of life in the USAF and flying its aircraft on missions in the Vietnam war'. It could have, of course, been easily be dismissed as another piece of 'US flag waving', but the book certainly is not that by any stretch of the imagination. It is a largely dispassionate account yet is anything but boring. The United States is presently going through some soul-searching about its role in the war but this account, being very personal, deals with the war in terms of the pilot's personal and operational life. There is no political diatribe to be found here, just an account of what it was like to be a part of the USAF and to fly missions in the war. It is chock full of anecdotal detail that would please the avid aviation enthusiast or historian; G.E. Nolly adding another piece of jigsaw to the Vietnam picture. But it is only when you read the biography of the author that you realise that G.E.Nolly has pulled off a small miracle - taking a complicated, potentially highly technical and narrow subject and making it into an account which is easy on the eye, very entertaining and enjoyable and keeps the reader's interest to the very end.

[Garth Mailman · Rating 4 out of 5]

The third in this trilogy of books as Ham trains to fly F-4 fighter jets we are exposed to the more highly technical jargon then ever before. Unless you have some understanding of avionics most of this language will be well over your head. The author isn’t afraid to go into mundane details like the line-up to use the facilities before flight-ops, even 25-year-old hot-shot fighter pilots can’t hold it indefinitely. When flying at Mach 2 things can go terribly wrong terribly fast. Minor slip-ups can become major screw-ups rather quickly. Although the book may be told from the chief protagonist’s point of view he freely admits to being an average fighter pilot and cops to the successes that were pure dumb luck. If you can get past the air force jargon this is a great read.

[Tanya Watt · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyed it, yet again!

I have read all three books in the Hamfist Trilogy, and just like the first two books… I loved it!

It’s full of action and adventure as you follow Hamfist through his missions. G.E. Nolly knows how to keep you engaged throughout the entire book, and he even adds a little romance for us ladies… Thank you!

I recommend the Hamfist trilogy to anyone who’s looking for a little adventure in their life, but also wants to keep their feet firmly on the ground.

[Wendell H Howell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very good read

A little bit more detail than I like but written with a very nice flow. Also very informative about a key time in American history. These guys and gals are every bit a great generation as those in WWII

[Warren Nakisher · Rating 2 out of 5]

Typical Nolly Book

If you are in to reading a fighter pilot's personal diary from a part of his assignment in Vietnam. There is no story or change / growth in a protagonist. This is simply a diary entry for select days during

[Bettie · Rating 4 out of 5]

really 4.4 stars read almost like a pilot's diary in Vietnam war. not too technical, but informative and enjoyable. Will read others by this author.

[Ginny Queior · Rating 4 out of 5]

Technical Read

Very good read, but a bit technical with Air Force plane jargon. Gave it the rating I did because of it.

[ben · Rating 3 out of 5]

Over all a good time waster.

Was a little slow and not as much detail but an over all good day waster. Hope author picks it up in next book. Which I will read.

[Jack Lake · Rating 4 out of 5]

good book. highly technical

I really enjoyed this book. highly technical, but it kept my interest.
I know nothing about avaition, but loved the book. hope you do too.

[Leon Olivier, Jr · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great story.

liked the book and would recommend but plot was predictable. More behind the scenes in later chapters. Will read others in series.

[G.E. Nolly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reviewed by author.