Over the Beach: The Air War in Vietnam

by Zalin Grant

" The Right Stuff without the hype, Yeager without the ego."― Washington Post Book World "While the jet-jockey competitiveness, the undercurrent of fear, the victories and foul-ups of jet sweeps have been described many times, few such chronicles have done it so grippingly and with such a ring of accuracy. Mr. Grant explores the emotions felt not only by the men in battle but by the wives and others left behind, and the questions the war raised in their minds. To put in larger context the war's impact on individual participants, the author periodically reviews the high-level struggles over how to fight the air war. "What is most impressive is to find an analysis so clearly stated, so seemingly on track in locating the weak spots in the policies of various political and military officials....Written in a straightforward yet stylish prose, Over the Beach carries tremendous conviction."―Richard Witkin, New York Times Book Review

Genres: History, Aviation, Military Fiction, War, Nonfiction, Military History

320 pages, Paperback

First published October 1, 1986

About the author

Zalin Grant is a journalist, author, editor and publisher. Although he is an American, he has lived for many years in France, in the ancestral village of his wife, Claude. Mr. Grant joined the U.S. Army after college, and after training as both an infantry & intelligence officer, was sent to South Viet Nam. After his military service, he worked as a war correspondent for Time magazine, and later for The New Republic. He spent a total of five years in Indo-China during the war, and has written four non-fiction books and one novel about that conflict. One of those books, 'Facing The Phoenix: The CIA and the Political Defeat of the United States in Vietnam', is widely considered to be one of the best works ever written on the wars in Indo-China. Zalin Grant is a co-founder, and serves as Editorial Director, of Pythia Press.

Reviews

[Hans · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book tells the story of the air war over Vietnam as seen through the experiences of one naval fighter squadron, VF-162.

It is not a blow by blow, mission by mission description of what the pilots did, but it covers the pilots and their experiences during the war. Part of it also covers the role that USS Oriskany, the aircraft carrier from which VF-162 flew its missions, played during the Vietnam war. What was it like to be a pilot flying over Vietnam, landing on an aircraft carrier in rough seas, bad weather or at night.
As ususal, a group of men put together, especially fighter pilots put together, will contain a number of characters. As was obviously the case with VF-162.

But we also get to read how their home front experienced the war, their men being away flying dangerous missions, some of them not coming back. The book also covers the fate of the POW's and how they suffured from torture etc.

Overall the book does a great job telling this all encompassing story of just one of the many naval squadrons operating from Yankee Station.

[N.N. Heaven · Rating 4 out of 5]

Over the Beach: The Air War in Vietnam by Zalin Grant is a brilliant close-up look at the air war by a reporter who covered a fighter squadron (#162 USS Oriskany). During the war and in post war interviews, he brings us an honest, open and realistic feel to a complicated, dangerous and often overlooked part of the Vietnam War. Excellent book.

[Renee · Rating 4 out of 5]

As is often the case when I find an author I like I get everything he has done. This is a really well done book about the Navy flyers in action out of Yankee Station into Vietnam. One of the things I like about this work is that Grant not only takes one into the minds of the pilots and the carrier crews, but he brings in the families and wives back in CONUS, waiting. There are many, many good books about Vietnam, most focus on the ground forces and some on significant air battles, Grant takes it to a whole other level and really pulls out the feel of pilots in the combat mission over the beach from off of the carriers.

His narrative style is easy and enjoyable to read, he captures that time in our history well and lays it out clearly. Great author, great book. Đây là một cuốn sách thú vị. Ông Grant là một nhà văn tốt. Tôi khuyên bạn nên cuốn sách này.

[Matt · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved every word of this book. Awesome.

[Dwayne Coleman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Heartbreaking account of the price paid by naval aviators during the Vietnam War, this book left me sad and angry.