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Above Average: Naval Aviation The Hard Way
Revised and updated version! STEPHEN COONTS, NY Times best-selling author of Flight of the Intruder -- “D. D. Smith's personal memoir of his years in naval aviation is more than a ‘I was there’ tale. He captures the myriad of challenges that was Naval Aviation before the Vietnam War. When I arrived in the fleet, D. D. Smith and his compadres were the squadron execs or COs who led us nuggets into the inferno of Vietnam… A huge tip of the hat to D.D. Smith. This book will appeal to every naval aviator or NFO of whatever era. Highly recommended.” But the book is much more. It is a cleverly written and refreshingly honest story of the author’s life and times as he fights his way from rural Minnesota to the blazing skies over North Vietnam. Commander Smith flew 138 combat missions and made more than 800 carrier arrested landings. As the Navy’s first Chief Test Pilot, his tests in the F-14 led to the first EVER flat spin in a Tomcat – and it nearly killed him. No swaggering bravado here; this is a fresh, insightful look at life, luck and guts – in Vietnam and beyond.
358 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 26, 2018
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June 6, 2024
A memoir.
The author went from a Minnesota boy to an Navy aviator
who flew 33 types of aircraft in his Naval career! He
explained the job of a 'wingman' & Navy slang IE 'nugget'
& 'flat hat' & "combat limited.' At times he became too
technical. Much of his early career was landing/ taking off
from an aircraft carrier as an attack pilot. And chief test
pilot, XO & CO (the last 2 on a carrier).
He recounted several events as an attack pilot in Vietnam,
where he just missed being killed. He described weather
conditions in Vietnam as hazy & windy and in No. Vietnam
had at times a 'milk bowl' condition where a pilot could not
see the horizon, resulting in him being unable to tell up
from down.
The pilots had to carefully calculate fuel consumption,
which the Navy measured in pounds, not gallons of fuel.
The author had a close call where he had just enough
fuel to spare, to land in Malta. He lost radio contact and
the catapult on the carrier, had caught his fuel tank, causing
him to lose fuel.
I am grateful for the sacrifices the author & all military
veterans made to keep us in the US safe.
The author went from a Minnesota boy to an Navy aviator
who flew 33 types of aircraft in his Naval career! He
explained the job of a 'wingman' & Navy slang IE 'nugget'
& 'flat hat' & "combat limited.' At times he became too
technical. Much of his early career was landing/ taking off
from an aircraft carrier as an attack pilot. And chief test
pilot, XO & CO (the last 2 on a carrier).
He recounted several events as an attack pilot in Vietnam,
where he just missed being killed. He described weather
conditions in Vietnam as hazy & windy and in No. Vietnam
had at times a 'milk bowl' condition where a pilot could not
see the horizon, resulting in him being unable to tell up
from down.
The pilots had to carefully calculate fuel consumption,
which the Navy measured in pounds, not gallons of fuel.
The author had a close call where he had just enough
fuel to spare, to land in Malta. He lost radio contact and
the catapult on the carrier, had caught his fuel tank, causing
him to lose fuel.
I am grateful for the sacrifices the author & all military
veterans made to keep us in the US safe.
August 13, 2019
I enjoyed this book – most particularly the flying aspects. I am a life-long devotee of Naval Aviation and the flying parts of this book are the draw for me. Smith tells us a lot about flying the A-4 Skyhawk and the A-7 Corsair II – in both of which he amassed the majority of his hours. He flew two combat tours during the Vietnam War and his accounts of those deployments are griping, as is his account of the spin test in an F-14 Tomcat that he very nearly did not survive. He intersperses the flying with personal accounts - a personal history that is interesting, illustrative of the sacrifices that career aviators make, and humanizes the author. This aspect of the book is interesting, but frankly less so than the flying. Smith’s observations on the war, the absurdity of the micromanagement by higher command, and life aboard a deployed aircraft carrier are honest, objective and well founded. The Vietnam War was not a mistake, but it’s prosecution was – forbidding strikes against SAM sites, supply ports, airfields lined with MIGs or defensive facilities unless fired upon are examples of the travesty of the manner in which the war was run.
Smith offers extremely interesting and perceptive observations on squadron command and control differences between the US Air Force and the US Navy, practices and principles. He flew a wide variety of aircraft under a wide variety of conditions and missions. I would dearly love to have been able to read more about the aircraft, their characteristics and what it was like flying them. He does so beautifully with regards to the A-4 and the A-7, much less so with the F14 and the F-4 – and little at all on the many other aircraft cited in the book. It was the flying that drew me to this book, and although CDR Smith’s family history is interesting and engaging, frankly it is more flying I would like to have seen included.
Smith offers extremely interesting and perceptive observations on squadron command and control differences between the US Air Force and the US Navy, practices and principles. He flew a wide variety of aircraft under a wide variety of conditions and missions. I would dearly love to have been able to read more about the aircraft, their characteristics and what it was like flying them. He does so beautifully with regards to the A-4 and the A-7, much less so with the F14 and the F-4 – and little at all on the many other aircraft cited in the book. It was the flying that drew me to this book, and although CDR Smith’s family history is interesting and engaging, frankly it is more flying I would like to have seen included.
July 6, 2023
If your into naval aviation or aviation in general you’ll enjoy this read.
Read
June 30, 2023MWSA Review
Above Average: Naval Aviation the Hard Way soars above the typical "there I was..." first-hand account of a Navy flier's life and service. The account follows the conventional timeline beginning with the author's childhood in Minnesota and following his 20-plus year flying career that culminated with his tours as the Navy’s chief test pilot.
Most memoirs published by military fliers provide a detailed account of the writer’s professional service, usually enlivened by personal stories and accounts of wartime exploits, harrowing or otherwise. Reading Above Average, however, is like sitting at an Officers’ Club table littered with empty beer bottles, listening to the author’s sea stories.
This autobiography hits all the traditional milestones, starting with a nomadic childhood and youth that encounters the life-changing opportunity of the NAVCAD program. The narrator’s career as a Naval Aviator includes combat deployments in the crucible of Vietnam and later sea tours leading to the professional challenge of serving as a test pilot. Detailed incidents in the flak-filled skies over North Vietnam are balanced with even more harrowing accounts of near-death flight test experiences.
While the author always treats the demands of flying and flight test with absolute sincerity, he never takes himself too seriously. He emerges from his two decades of Naval service as one who understands that he is lucky to be alive and grateful for the opportunities he has encountered. The result is an account of a remarkable lifespan that afforded him the chance to accomplish what John Gillespie Magee described: “a hundred things you have not dreamed of.”
Any reader looking for a glimpse into the life of a naval aviator and jet pilot will enjoy the story of this man’s life and will easily be able to ignore the broken hyperlinks and minor editorial shortcomings of the publication.
Review by Peter Young (June 2023)
Above Average: Naval Aviation the Hard Way soars above the typical "there I was..." first-hand account of a Navy flier's life and service. The account follows the conventional timeline beginning with the author's childhood in Minnesota and following his 20-plus year flying career that culminated with his tours as the Navy’s chief test pilot.
Most memoirs published by military fliers provide a detailed account of the writer’s professional service, usually enlivened by personal stories and accounts of wartime exploits, harrowing or otherwise. Reading Above Average, however, is like sitting at an Officers’ Club table littered with empty beer bottles, listening to the author’s sea stories.
This autobiography hits all the traditional milestones, starting with a nomadic childhood and youth that encounters the life-changing opportunity of the NAVCAD program. The narrator’s career as a Naval Aviator includes combat deployments in the crucible of Vietnam and later sea tours leading to the professional challenge of serving as a test pilot. Detailed incidents in the flak-filled skies over North Vietnam are balanced with even more harrowing accounts of near-death flight test experiences.
While the author always treats the demands of flying and flight test with absolute sincerity, he never takes himself too seriously. He emerges from his two decades of Naval service as one who understands that he is lucky to be alive and grateful for the opportunities he has encountered. The result is an account of a remarkable lifespan that afforded him the chance to accomplish what John Gillespie Magee described: “a hundred things you have not dreamed of.”
Any reader looking for a glimpse into the life of a naval aviator and jet pilot will enjoy the story of this man’s life and will easily be able to ignore the broken hyperlinks and minor editorial shortcomings of the publication.
Review by Peter Young (June 2023)
July 4, 2019
I know you! As a friend.
As a military history buff, I prefer first-person accounts of lives that begin with a beginning, middle and - well, not necessarily end, but conclusion. CDR Smith delivers. I hope his “end” is far ahead, because I regard him as a friend, whom I’ve followed from Minnesota farm to chief of the Navy’s test pilot school. In between, he’s confided in me the progression, advancement, cold sweats, mistakes, defeats, disappointments, and, in the end, victories. I followed it all, fascinated, and, in the end, satisfied with a thoroughly entertaining read.
At my age, I will never have the opportunity to meet CDR Smith, but I hope you will, if only through the medium of his book.
As a military history buff, I prefer first-person accounts of lives that begin with a beginning, middle and - well, not necessarily end, but conclusion. CDR Smith delivers. I hope his “end” is far ahead, because I regard him as a friend, whom I’ve followed from Minnesota farm to chief of the Navy’s test pilot school. In between, he’s confided in me the progression, advancement, cold sweats, mistakes, defeats, disappointments, and, in the end, victories. I followed it all, fascinated, and, in the end, satisfied with a thoroughly entertaining read.
At my age, I will never have the opportunity to meet CDR Smith, but I hope you will, if only through the medium of his book.
November 23, 2023
Old school Naval Aviation
This is what I remember when I think about my Father LCDR Robert D Kern. Like DD he is from the same era and many of the same experiences and career in the US Navy. It's hard to get these Vietnam Naval Aviators to open up and tell their stories and exploits especially Their kids. I know I learned everything and more about my father after I joined the Navy myself from my Dad's old shipmates of course many of these shipmates were now Captains and Admirals but at least I finally learned about my Dad. My Father is now gone but now a lot of these Vietnam Naval Aviators are writing Their stories and we can all learn about them. Respectively MJ Kern AVCM NAC/AW US Navy Retired
This is what I remember when I think about my Father LCDR Robert D Kern. Like DD he is from the same era and many of the same experiences and career in the US Navy. It's hard to get these Vietnam Naval Aviators to open up and tell their stories and exploits especially Their kids. I know I learned everything and more about my father after I joined the Navy myself from my Dad's old shipmates of course many of these shipmates were now Captains and Admirals but at least I finally learned about my Dad. My Father is now gone but now a lot of these Vietnam Naval Aviators are writing Their stories and we can all learn about them. Respectively MJ Kern AVCM NAC/AW US Navy Retired
October 2, 2025
Naval Aviation
I greatly enjoyed this book, as it brought back many memories of my service time in Naval Aviation. I was stationed in some of the same places as the author, such as Cecil Field, NAS JAX, Guantanamo, Oceana, Norfolk NS. I also spent many months on the aircraft carriers, USS Independence, USS Franklin D Roosevelt as a member of Fighter Squadron VF 11 (Red Rippers). My squadron had the F8U Crusader of which I was a plane captain and spent many hours maintains that beautiful plane. The author’s brilliant description of his exploits had me along for the ride. I would love to see more books like this one. Great job and thank you for your sacrifices in keeping our country safe and free.
I greatly enjoyed this book, as it brought back many memories of my service time in Naval Aviation. I was stationed in some of the same places as the author, such as Cecil Field, NAS JAX, Guantanamo, Oceana, Norfolk NS. I also spent many months on the aircraft carriers, USS Independence, USS Franklin D Roosevelt as a member of Fighter Squadron VF 11 (Red Rippers). My squadron had the F8U Crusader of which I was a plane captain and spent many hours maintains that beautiful plane. The author’s brilliant description of his exploits had me along for the ride. I would love to see more books like this one. Great job and thank you for your sacrifices in keeping our country safe and free.
December 16, 2021
I learned a lot!
I spent 27 years in the USN, at a job of controlling F4s, A7s, F8s, and the great one, the Tomcat! I used to link the F4 between the plane and the ship, and could control his actions by computer to computer. When the F14 hit the fleet, it was so advanced it cut down on what it needed from us. I was privileged to control by link the Cat off the coast of Iran. They were so good, made our job so easy. From Tomcats, I heard JUDY at great ranges.
Excellent reading, enjoyed it and thank you for an excellent book.
I spent 27 years in the USN, at a job of controlling F4s, A7s, F8s, and the great one, the Tomcat! I used to link the F4 between the plane and the ship, and could control his actions by computer to computer. When the F14 hit the fleet, it was so advanced it cut down on what it needed from us. I was privileged to control by link the Cat off the coast of Iran. They were so good, made our job so easy. From Tomcats, I heard JUDY at great ranges.
Excellent reading, enjoyed it and thank you for an excellent book.
November 3, 2018
A very well written biografi over the navy life as a fighter pilot
And well described the Vietnam war. I learned at couple of thing I did not know in that respect .
I used to be an Airforce pilot in the RDAF and
Flew the F-100 and F-16 during the Cold War
I is an exelent book on airwarfare and the personal considerations you had to deal with
Thank you so much for sharing your wonderful experience and especially the spin tests as described .
Good luck to you sir .
And well described the Vietnam war. I learned at couple of thing I did not know in that respect .
I used to be an Airforce pilot in the RDAF and
Flew the F-100 and F-16 during the Cold War
I is an exelent book on airwarfare and the personal considerations you had to deal with
Thank you so much for sharing your wonderful experience and especially the spin tests as described .
Good luck to you sir .
January 13, 2019
Finally
A clear statement of the affect a biased media has on the memory of the Vietnam war. I lost friends and watched the unwashed protesters , reeking of dope smoke, whine and spit , taking time out only to pick up their welfare checks and check their crops. My father in law was a naval aviator in that war......and his frustrations with Johnson and McNamara mirror yours..thousands of needless deaths on both sides. Sierra hotel read
A clear statement of the affect a biased media has on the memory of the Vietnam war. I lost friends and watched the unwashed protesters , reeking of dope smoke, whine and spit , taking time out only to pick up their welfare checks and check their crops. My father in law was a naval aviator in that war......and his frustrations with Johnson and McNamara mirror yours..thousands of needless deaths on both sides. Sierra hotel read
January 25, 2020
From Navcad to another
DD you were a couple years ahead of me, you ended up doing everything I dreamed of doing, with a few exceptions, the flat spin one of your experiences I can do without. I need to send a hardcopy to my son, an Air Force puke, now a Captain at SW. I highly recommend reading your story, well told Commander Smith, fair winds and following seas. So people, heed me, you want to read a good read about Naval Aviation, here’s a page turner.
DD you were a couple years ahead of me, you ended up doing everything I dreamed of doing, with a few exceptions, the flat spin one of your experiences I can do without. I need to send a hardcopy to my son, an Air Force puke, now a Captain at SW. I highly recommend reading your story, well told Commander Smith, fair winds and following seas. So people, heed me, you want to read a good read about Naval Aviation, here’s a page turner.
September 14, 2020
Very interesting book
Remarkable story of a career naval aviator and his love affair with jet fighters during a period of significant technological growth, especially in electronics. I was particularly interested in his story because I also served on aircraft carriers during his early years as a Navy pilot. In some ways his naval career was unusual in its scope, and I was fascinated by his story.
Remarkable story of a career naval aviator and his love affair with jet fighters during a period of significant technological growth, especially in electronics. I was particularly interested in his story because I also served on aircraft carriers during his early years as a Navy pilot. In some ways his naval career was unusual in its scope, and I was fascinated by his story.
June 21, 2024
A story of hard work, dedication, and earned success.
It was a privilege to read this tome of a navy life well lived. After spending two years of my life at sea on a navy super tanker, I can say I am aware of much of what the story held. Being on the Cuban Blockade and working with the Enterprise during night operations is like nothing you can imagine. Launching and catching armed jet fighters at night is a scene that will be with me the rest of my life.
It was a privilege to read this tome of a navy life well lived. After spending two years of my life at sea on a navy super tanker, I can say I am aware of much of what the story held. Being on the Cuban Blockade and working with the Enterprise during night operations is like nothing you can imagine. Launching and catching armed jet fighters at night is a scene that will be with me the rest of my life.
September 16, 2024
Great book. Made a Surface Officer feel just like he was in the cockpit.
I liked the details about flying and the airplanes.
I was a destroyer weapons officer in the navy in Vietnam-north of the DMZ on shore bombardment missions. I enjoyed reading about the war from an aviators point of view.
My dad was a meteorologist a Pax River when I was in high school. The original seven astronauts were in test pilot school and I met some of them. I enjoyed your stories of them.
I liked the details about flying and the airplanes.
I was a destroyer weapons officer in the navy in Vietnam-north of the DMZ on shore bombardment missions. I enjoyed reading about the war from an aviators point of view.
My dad was a meteorologist a Pax River when I was in high school. The original seven astronauts were in test pilot school and I met some of them. I enjoyed your stories of them.
November 24, 2018
An unequal read
I have read many naval aviation autobiographies and this is in my top 3 to date. Once you start reading it you'll have a hard time putting it down. Top gun is my favorite movie and right away I recognized the flat spin that killed Goose even before DD disclosed it.
I have read many naval aviation autobiographies and this is in my top 3 to date. Once you start reading it you'll have a hard time putting it down. Top gun is my favorite movie and right away I recognized the flat spin that killed Goose even before DD disclosed it.
February 8, 2020
NAVAIR
I was raised in Naval Aviation and I was 13 years old when my Dad got orders to NAS Pensacola from NAS Cecil Field in Jacksonville Florida.
NAS Pensacola was my playground and I knew it like the back of my hand.That was 1968 and I remember all the NAVCADS marching everywhere. The flight training was day and night. All those guys working so hard to get those wings of gold.
I was raised in Naval Aviation and I was 13 years old when my Dad got orders to NAS Pensacola from NAS Cecil Field in Jacksonville Florida.
NAS Pensacola was my playground and I knew it like the back of my hand.That was 1968 and I remember all the NAVCADS marching everywhere. The flight training was day and night. All those guys working so hard to get those wings of gold.
May 8, 2020
Really?!DID SOMEBODY live through that?
My flying through "recreational air" bears almost no resemblance to what this man has survived.Maybe the flying a low performance sailplane was supposed to let him have a look at gentler ways to do it. And he can write, too. Hats of and better him than me. Awesome job and hats off. Now go back to bridge.
My flying through "recreational air" bears almost no resemblance to what this man has survived.Maybe the flying a low performance sailplane was supposed to let him have a look at gentler ways to do it. And he can write, too. Hats of and better him than me. Awesome job and hats off. Now go back to bridge.
June 22, 2020
Well-written book about Naval Aviation and the exciting flying machines they fly.
As a fellow Naval Aviator, I can attest to everything that D.D. Smith has written. The book is written very well and even non-pilots can live vicariously through his stories. If you like to read adventure stories, you'll enjoy this book.
As a fellow Naval Aviator, I can attest to everything that D.D. Smith has written. The book is written very well and even non-pilots can live vicariously through his stories. If you like to read adventure stories, you'll enjoy this book.
December 13, 2021
Mesmorizing from start to finish
A great read about a great hero whom served his country in more ways than one. I served in the US Navy as an enlisted man and this was great insight into the life of an officer and a pilot that was way beyond interesting. I really enjoyed this book.......
A great read about a great hero whom served his country in more ways than one. I served in the US Navy as an enlisted man and this was great insight into the life of an officer and a pilot that was way beyond interesting. I really enjoyed this book.......
July 7, 2022
Forever Fly Navy
That was the motto that inspired me to join the USNavy!
What a ride of my youthful days. Your book explained with many details the lives of most Naval Aviators experienced and kept me in the back seat for the duration.
Thanks for sharing your story. I hope to see more of your stories in the near future.
That was the motto that inspired me to join the USNavy!
What a ride of my youthful days. Your book explained with many details the lives of most Naval Aviators experienced and kept me in the back seat for the duration.
Thanks for sharing your story. I hope to see more of your stories in the near future.
August 6, 2022
Great read!
I was in the Navy from 1968-73 and made two WestPac deployments to Vietnam. I was in VF-92, a Fighter Squadron embarked on USS Constellation.
I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book and look forward to other books authored by D.D. Smith.
I worked in Maintenance Control.
Phil Hanley
I was in the Navy from 1968-73 and made two WestPac deployments to Vietnam. I was in VF-92, a Fighter Squadron embarked on USS Constellation.
I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book and look forward to other books authored by D.D. Smith.
I worked in Maintenance Control.
Phil Hanley
March 4, 2024
great read
The picture on the cover pulled me in…. I spent 20 years working on A4s in the Marine Corps. DD did a great job relating the changes that occurred in Naval Aviation during the period in which he served. He managed also to pull in politics, the economy, Vietnam and other issues of the time.
The picture on the cover pulled me in…. I spent 20 years working on A4s in the Marine Corps. DD did a great job relating the changes that occurred in Naval Aviation during the period in which he served. He managed also to pull in politics, the economy, Vietnam and other issues of the time.
October 29, 2018
The story of naval navigation from early youth to retirement.
Every youngster dreams of going to sea and seeing the world.but to do it from the cockpit of a us navy FIGHTER aircraft is a dream come true.
J.l.griswold usn ret.
Every youngster dreams of going to sea and seeing the world.but to do it from the cockpit of a us navy FIGHTER aircraft is a dream come true.
J.l.griswold usn ret.
January 25, 2019
Well written account of life as a Naval Aviator
A really entertaining and informative story. The life and times of a guy who loved to fly and who worked hard to achieve tough goals.
A really entertaining and informative story. The life and times of a guy who loved to fly and who worked hard to achieve tough goals.
February 15, 2019
I have read dozens of Vietnam autobiographies. This one is different as it has the whole story of a Naval career.
Not just Vietnam but an entire adventurous and exciting two decades in the U.S. Navy
Way Above Average. Thank you for you service and sacrifices.
Not just Vietnam but an entire adventurous and exciting two decades in the U.S. Navy
Way Above Average. Thank you for you service and sacrifices.
April 16, 2019
Great 1st person account
Great description of the flying during Vietnam era. Test flight stories were great to read. My career was later but built on aviators like Cdr Smith. Fun quick read.
Great description of the flying during Vietnam era. Test flight stories were great to read. My career was later but built on aviators like Cdr Smith. Fun quick read.
April 17, 2019
The best aviation book I have read!
The story of the F14 spin test is absolutely riveting. I was a subcontractor to Grumman on the program so particularly meaningful to me. The book should be mandatory reading for anybody with any interest in aviation.
The story of the F14 spin test is absolutely riveting. I was a subcontractor to Grumman on the program so particularly meaningful to me. The book should be mandatory reading for anybody with any interest in aviation.
June 26, 2019
Excellent Reading
As an retired Air Force officer, reading this book made me glad I turned down the Navy commission. Kudos D.D. for serving your country and the many sacrifices you made during your career.
As an retired Air Force officer, reading this book made me glad I turned down the Navy commission. Kudos D.D. for serving your country and the many sacrifices you made during your career.
December 5, 2019
Great summary that is full of fact and emotion. Great history read.
This is a real story and written to feel the events. I lived this life and this is real down to the personal level. Thank you for reminding me of what I have in service to be Navy.
This is a real story and written to feel the events. I lived this life and this is real down to the personal level. Thank you for reminding me of what I have in service to be Navy.
March 15, 2020
Aviation stories are my favorite and this is one of the best.
A realistic look at a full career as a Navy pilot. Not a lot of bravado, just a really good story about a guy who loves airplanes and a life well lived.
A realistic look at a full career as a Navy pilot. Not a lot of bravado, just a really good story about a guy who loves airplanes and a life well lived.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 50 reviews