Grumman E-2 Hawkeye

by Dave Parsons

Since its debut in 1964, the Grumman E-2 Hawkeye has been the "eyes of the fleet." An all-weather, aircraft-carrier-based tactical Airborne Early Warning aircraft, it has staunchly served the U.S. Navy from the Vietnam War to todays global war on terror, directing land attack and combat air patrol missions and conducting carrier-based air strikes against North Vietnam, terrorist-related Libyan targets, flashpoints in the Persian Gulf War, and now, enemy sites in Afghanistan and Iraq. Called the "Hummer" because of its distinctive twin-turboprop engine sound, and "Super Fudd" because it replaced the E-1 Tracer "Willy Fudd," the rugged naval aviation warrior has earned a loyal following and a steadfast reputation in the ranks of the U.S. Navy and abroad. This book celebrates the redoubtable Hawkeyes more than four decades of service. Written by a naval aviator with firsthand knowledge of his subject, it features anecdotes and commentary from the aircrafts flight crew, alongside remarkable color photographs of the Hawkeye at work and at rest with the embarked carrier air wings that rely upon its "electronic eyes."

160 pages, Hardcover

First published December 30, 2008

About the author

An avid reader, his private collection exceeds 2000 books, which are constantly being augmented with new additions.

Commissioned into USMC via PLC Program, but later transferred to Navy to fly F-14 Tomcat serving with VF-101, VF-102 and VF-32 and in the Office of Chief of Naval Operations as the Air-to-Air Missile Requirements Officer before retiring. Also served as Editor of Approach Magazine at the Naval Safety Center where he honed his writing, editing and photography skills.

He has written dozens of articles for numerous magazines from Air & Space and Flight Journal to Naval Aviation News and his images have appeared on the cover of Aviation Week, Proceedings, All Hands, Approach, Mech, Armed Forces Journal, Seapower, Wings of Gold and Airpower.