The biography of a navy fighter pilot who started out from immature, shaky beginnings. He found himself in the navy while growing up during Vietnam. He was the first to shoot down two enemy airplanes and flew 350 combat missions during three deployments aboard USS Kitty Hawk. The ledger he kept will bring you right there with him as he recounts many of those more than exciting missions including being shot down near Hanoi. He flew F4 Phantom to 85,000 feet during operational test flights at the McDonnell-Douglas factor in St Louis. Later at VX-4 in Pt Mugu, California he tested the F 14 Tomcat and flew the MiG 21 from Area 51. He went on to command a Fighter Squadron from USS Midway home-ported in Japan and then went on to be Flight Leader and Commanding Officer of the Blue Angels. He went on to Command the aircraft carrier John F Kennedy.
Denny Wisely found himself in the navy during the Vietnam war. He was the first to shoot down two enemy airplanes and flew 350 combat missions during three deployments aboard USS Kitty Hawk. His ledger will account many of those exciting missions including being shot down near Hanoi. He flew F4 Phantom to 85,000 feet during operational test flights at the McDonnell-Douglas factor in St Louis. Later at VX-4 in Pt Mugu, California he tested the F 14 Tomcat and flew the MiG 21 from Area 51. His commands: Fighter Squadron from USS Midway home-ported in Japan, Flight Leader and Commanding Officer of the Blue Angels, Command the aircraft carrier John F Kennedy.
I really loved this book. Having been stationed on USS Kitty Hawk in the 80's, I recovered many memories of that time. I enjoyed my Navy time and loved remembering.
RADM Wisely is a man who has had the good fortune to have seen and done a great many things. A true American who graciously shares his many adventures in the U.S Navy from that of a lowly aviation cadet all the way to the top, an admiral. He tells (often in great detail) many cool stories from the cockpit. From flight training to air to air combat in Viet Nam , test flying the (then) New F-14 Tomcat to commanding the Blue Angels; he's practically done it all!
He tells one story about flying at an air show, as Blue Angel #1- in Salinas, California. This struck a particular chord with me as I attended that air show. I was all of fifteen and had never seen the Blues perform before. It was also the one and only time I'd had the opportunity to see the little A-4 Skyhawk in flight. Neither disappointed! I still have the official Blue Angels program from that season. I've held in to it, all these years. At one time, I had the whole team (#1 thru #8)...memorized, much like a football fan commits to memory the starting lineup of his favorite team. So, when I came across a book about naval aviation and saw that the authors name was Denny Wisely, I knew immediately two very specific things:
1._This was the same RADM Wisely who as a Commander, led the Blues in the '81 season, at a show I was lucky enough to attend, and...
2. This man had a whole bunch of cool stories to tell! Oh, and I wasnt disappointed and neither will you! Just read this book, Will ya? 😉
Denny Weisley’s career is a fascinating progression from wise-ass teenager to gold-braid Admiral in the US Navy. From fighter jock to command of a massive CVN, The John F. Kennedy.
Not bad, huh?
Moreover, his narrative is engaging and fast-paced, which keeps you wanting to see what’s next. Apart from a few potholes, the answer is “upward.”
Like naval aviation? Vietnam history? Blue Angels lore?
Read this book.
PS Hope I spelled his name correctly. He deserved it.
What an amazing story. Like he says at the end of the book , this could only happen when it did in the USA. From enlistment to retirement a book that is well worth reading, all the way through.
What a great book! Full of action and very well written to say the least. As a carrier Aviation Ordnanceman during that same timeframe, it felt like I was back On the carrier. Great job Denny, glad I selected this read!