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Call-Sign KLUSO: An American Fighter Pilot in Mr. Reagan’s Air Force
Eagle pilot Rick "Kluso" Tollini's life has embodied childhood dreams and the reality of what the American experience could produce. In his memoir, Call Sign KLUSO, Rick puts the fraught minutes above the Iraqi desert that made him an ace into the context of a full life; exploring how he came to be flying a F-15C in Desert Storm, and how that day became a pivotal moment in his life.
Rick's first experience of flying was in a Piper PA-18 over 1960s' California as a small boy, and his love of flying through his teenage years was fostered by his pilot father, eventually blossoming into a decision to join the Air Force as a pilot in his late twenties. Having trained to fly jets he was assigned to fly the F-15 Eagle with the "Dirty Dozen," the 12th Tactical Fighter Squadron, at Kadena AB, Japan before returning Stateside to the 58th Tactical Fighter Squadron "The Gorillas." Throughout training, Reagan's fighter pilots expected to face the Soviet Union, but Rick's first combat deployment was Desert Storm. He recounts the planning, the preparation, and the missions, the life of a fighter pilot in a combat zone and the reality of combat. Rick's aerial victory was one of 16 accumulated by the Gorillas, the most by any squadron during Desert Storm.
Returning from the combat skies of Iraq, Rick continued a successful fulfilling Air Force career until, struggling to make sense of his life, he turned to Buddhism. His practice led him to leave the Air Force, to find a new vocation, and to finally come to terms with shooting down that MiG-25 Foxbat in the desert all those years before. Most importantly, he came to a deeper understanding of the importance of our shared humanity.
Rick's first experience of flying was in a Piper PA-18 over 1960s' California as a small boy, and his love of flying through his teenage years was fostered by his pilot father, eventually blossoming into a decision to join the Air Force as a pilot in his late twenties. Having trained to fly jets he was assigned to fly the F-15 Eagle with the "Dirty Dozen," the 12th Tactical Fighter Squadron, at Kadena AB, Japan before returning Stateside to the 58th Tactical Fighter Squadron "The Gorillas." Throughout training, Reagan's fighter pilots expected to face the Soviet Union, but Rick's first combat deployment was Desert Storm. He recounts the planning, the preparation, and the missions, the life of a fighter pilot in a combat zone and the reality of combat. Rick's aerial victory was one of 16 accumulated by the Gorillas, the most by any squadron during Desert Storm.
Returning from the combat skies of Iraq, Rick continued a successful fulfilling Air Force career until, struggling to make sense of his life, he turned to Buddhism. His practice led him to leave the Air Force, to find a new vocation, and to finally come to terms with shooting down that MiG-25 Foxbat in the desert all those years before. Most importantly, he came to a deeper understanding of the importance of our shared humanity.
- GenresMemoir
192 pages, Hardcover
Published March 23, 2021
34 people are currently reading
55 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
July 13, 2024
"A war machine is a dangerous thing. Once it is wound up tight like a clock spring, something has to give. The saying about releasing “the Dogs of War” is so true. You’re never going to be able to round them up or call them back afterwards … that decision is final. I know now that the war machine should only be unleashed in the most drastic cases of national emergency."
Rick Tollini charts his life and career in the Air Force and how he advance to some of the highest levels of responsibility that a fighter pilot can aspire to (and still stay in the cockpit). His career took him to air bases (and training centers) around the globe and eventually had him leading a squadron in the Middle East during “Operation Desert Storm,” the allies response to the aggression of Sadam Hussein.
His descriptions of fighter pilot training and action (the action doesn’t begin until you get through about two-thirds of the book) are riveting and detailed. See below:
"A fighter pilot not only has to know how his own jet can perform, but also the performance capabilities of the adversary. Then, he has to be able to assess quickly what the bandit is doing with his airplane (in relation to your own), all the while maneuvering at 5-Gs to 9-Gs, and sometimes twisted around looking almost directly back behind your own jet (like Linda Blair in The Exorcist). Next, but within milliseconds, he has to make a determination of what is the best counter maneuver (among several options), and even then, perfectly max perform his own jet to fly that maneuver, and while doing so simultaneously start the assessment process again, continuing until the outcome is decided."
"“CITGO 21, we have your Navy package coming out southbound, and we also have bandits about 100 miles north. Bandits appear to be in pursuit.” It was the last part of that transmission that got my heart pumping a little bit faster. “Bandits? Airborne? … in pursuit?” I knew we had a tasked mission to stay on orbit, but I still had to ask, “CITGO 21 copies. Let us know if you need us to commit [engage the enemy].” The response from AWACs was immediate, “CITGO 21, Commit!” WOW! From a routine mission to a commit against Iraqi fighters. Things were about to happen very quickly, with nothing to fall back on except teamwork and experience."
As my GR Friend, Debbie W. would put it:
Pros:
- Tolini gives us a lot of the desired tactical descriptions that we expect from a successful fighter pilot
- Anyone interested in the use (both strategic and tactical) of the F-15 “Eagle” will benefit from reading this
- His criticisms of Department of Defense's changes in training, supervision and strategy are well-worth considering
Cons:
- In an attempt to be “honest” and forthright, Tollini shows us how remote he was (is?) as a husband and father
- The title offers only confusion since the time under Ronald Regan’s Presidency is not significant to this memoir
- There is a lot of bulk to this memoir with repetition that should have been edited out
A final thought from the author:
"I felt compelled to raise the flag of caution to my fellow warriors, some of whom I still help train, to the potential dangers that lay ahead for the air superiority community if we continue on the slippery path of becoming dependent on technology versus hard-earned expertise in tactics and operations."
3.5*
Rick Tollini charts his life and career in the Air Force and how he advance to some of the highest levels of responsibility that a fighter pilot can aspire to (and still stay in the cockpit). His career took him to air bases (and training centers) around the globe and eventually had him leading a squadron in the Middle East during “Operation Desert Storm,” the allies response to the aggression of Sadam Hussein.
His descriptions of fighter pilot training and action (the action doesn’t begin until you get through about two-thirds of the book) are riveting and detailed. See below:
"A fighter pilot not only has to know how his own jet can perform, but also the performance capabilities of the adversary. Then, he has to be able to assess quickly what the bandit is doing with his airplane (in relation to your own), all the while maneuvering at 5-Gs to 9-Gs, and sometimes twisted around looking almost directly back behind your own jet (like Linda Blair in The Exorcist). Next, but within milliseconds, he has to make a determination of what is the best counter maneuver (among several options), and even then, perfectly max perform his own jet to fly that maneuver, and while doing so simultaneously start the assessment process again, continuing until the outcome is decided."
"“CITGO 21, we have your Navy package coming out southbound, and we also have bandits about 100 miles north. Bandits appear to be in pursuit.” It was the last part of that transmission that got my heart pumping a little bit faster. “Bandits? Airborne? … in pursuit?” I knew we had a tasked mission to stay on orbit, but I still had to ask, “CITGO 21 copies. Let us know if you need us to commit [engage the enemy].” The response from AWACs was immediate, “CITGO 21, Commit!” WOW! From a routine mission to a commit against Iraqi fighters. Things were about to happen very quickly, with nothing to fall back on except teamwork and experience."
As my GR Friend, Debbie W. would put it:
Pros:
- Tolini gives us a lot of the desired tactical descriptions that we expect from a successful fighter pilot
- Anyone interested in the use (both strategic and tactical) of the F-15 “Eagle” will benefit from reading this
- His criticisms of Department of Defense's changes in training, supervision and strategy are well-worth considering
Cons:
- In an attempt to be “honest” and forthright, Tollini shows us how remote he was (is?) as a husband and father
- The title offers only confusion since the time under Ronald Regan’s Presidency is not significant to this memoir
- There is a lot of bulk to this memoir with repetition that should have been edited out
A final thought from the author:
"I felt compelled to raise the flag of caution to my fellow warriors, some of whom I still help train, to the potential dangers that lay ahead for the air superiority community if we continue on the slippery path of becoming dependent on technology versus hard-earned expertise in tactics and operations."
3.5*
March 24, 2024
A book with some interesting comments on social activities, including a creative use of blowdarts in Thailand that perhaps wouldn't have made it past the editors of some publishing houses.
Call-Sign Kluso is otherwise a pretty "conventional" biography in that formative events are emphasised in the character creation of the author.
I am not sure if I made an audible or even silent vow that night, but after the Goofy penlight incident I decided I would never lose something truly important to me again. EVER. As a young adult, I would always check and double check to make sure I had my important possessions with me, like my wallet, or car keys, or whatever else I considered irreplaceable. This tendency probably developed into an almost obsessive-compulsive condition in my personality, but one that I think would pay dividends later in my life and in this book. Having a fluid mental “checklist” is an important part of being a fighter pilot.
It does make the story come off as pretty dry and old-fashioned, but Tollini's writing style (and openness for "blue" stories) makes it bearable. The party lifestyle in South East Asia does make me wonder if this laxity pre-saged the navy's "Fat Leonard" scandal.
In terms of combat insight, while this mostly comes later in the book, I would say it is valuable. He's aware that Reagan didn't pull the US military into the 80s from nowhere, which is nice to read in terms of realism. The use of the OODA loop is confirmed, and I enjoyed learning about planning and sorties for Desert Storm as Tollini is pretty easy to follow. His criticisms as to reforms for personnel recruitment, training and retention feels more informed than Dan Pedersen's "ripped from the headlines" complaints about the F-35 in Topgun. Tollini defends the Air Force's heavy reliance of "uppers" and "downers" in combat theatres - I can't make a call on that, but it is useful to get a first hand perspective.
Four stars overall, albeit that reflects that the market isn't that crowded and guys like Hampton tend to over-egg the pudding in comparison.
Call-Sign Kluso is otherwise a pretty "conventional" biography in that formative events are emphasised in the character creation of the author.
I am not sure if I made an audible or even silent vow that night, but after the Goofy penlight incident I decided I would never lose something truly important to me again. EVER. As a young adult, I would always check and double check to make sure I had my important possessions with me, like my wallet, or car keys, or whatever else I considered irreplaceable. This tendency probably developed into an almost obsessive-compulsive condition in my personality, but one that I think would pay dividends later in my life and in this book. Having a fluid mental “checklist” is an important part of being a fighter pilot.
It does make the story come off as pretty dry and old-fashioned, but Tollini's writing style (and openness for "blue" stories) makes it bearable. The party lifestyle in South East Asia does make me wonder if this laxity pre-saged the navy's "Fat Leonard" scandal.
In terms of combat insight, while this mostly comes later in the book, I would say it is valuable. He's aware that Reagan didn't pull the US military into the 80s from nowhere, which is nice to read in terms of realism. The use of the OODA loop is confirmed, and I enjoyed learning about planning and sorties for Desert Storm as Tollini is pretty easy to follow. His criticisms as to reforms for personnel recruitment, training and retention feels more informed than Dan Pedersen's "ripped from the headlines" complaints about the F-35 in Topgun. Tollini defends the Air Force's heavy reliance of "uppers" and "downers" in combat theatres - I can't make a call on that, but it is useful to get a first hand perspective.
Four stars overall, albeit that reflects that the market isn't that crowded and guys like Hampton tend to over-egg the pudding in comparison.
September 21, 2024
Interesting and highly readable story of an F-15 pilot who flew and fought during Operation Desert Storm. Tollini runs through his early life and career leading up to his fabled shooting down of a MiG-25 Foxbat in January 1991. Apparently, several inaccurate accounts of the engagement have been told over the years, which prompted Tollini to write this book in an effort to clear up the story.
Although Tollini's war story is riveting, I found the earlier parts of the book much more interesting. His details of the training and pilot culture in the Reagan years lend a unique perspective on this time and place in post-Vietnam America.
The later chapters seem to drag on a bit and though I understand and respect Mr. Tollini's desire to talk about his own personal spiritual philosophy, it felt a little jarring and out of place. Overall, an excellent read.
Although Tollini's war story is riveting, I found the earlier parts of the book much more interesting. His details of the training and pilot culture in the Reagan years lend a unique perspective on this time and place in post-Vietnam America.
The later chapters seem to drag on a bit and though I understand and respect Mr. Tollini's desire to talk about his own personal spiritual philosophy, it felt a little jarring and out of place. Overall, an excellent read.
January 3, 2024
I’d like to say that I enjoy the fighter pilot books that have lots of “when I was five, I did this, etc.” And I do and I can respect the whole life story. And this one was a good one. But… I’m a fighter pilot/ air combat nerd, so those are the moments I’m far more vested in. Author even makes a joke about this fact at the beginning, stating just skip to chapter 8. I didn’t, but I get the sentiment. Still was an enjoyable read and a class author, having emailed about hearing him on a podcast, etc.
So I highly recommend.
So I highly recommend.
January 8, 2022
A heartfelt reflection of the challenges fighter pilots face both in peace and in war.
April 12, 2022
A fighter pilots personal journey. Some parts were hard to follow. Guess you have to have the SA (situational awareness) of a fighter pilot.
September 29, 2021
Rick Tollini, Author
Call Sign Kluso
Casemate, ISBN 978-1-61200-981-0
Non-Fiction –Air Force, pilots, pilot training, California, Texas, Desert Storm, relationships, family
194 pages
September 2021 Review
Reviewer-Michelle Kaye Malsbury, BSBM, MM
Review
Author of Call Sign Kluso Rick Tollini is also the central figure in this noteworthy epistle on Desert Storm. He grew up in Northern California and proudly served in the USAF as a career officer and fighter pilot. He says about this book, “I want the reader to recognize the common bonds of our humanity, regardless of what we end up doing as our “life’s work.”” (2021, p.8)
Regarding history Tollini offers the following to which I agree. “Not all of this history is positive ... it couldn’t be, it shouldn’t be. A life without struggles or challenges does not lead to personal growth. The hard ground we fall on is also the same firm foundation we use to push ourselves back up and continue on. The difference in outcomes lies in how we view life’s hardships, whether with resentment and bitterness, or with a sense of gratitude for the place we have arrived, along with the determination and confidence to overcome anything life throws our way.” (2021, p.8)
Rick says, “My hope, though, is that readers can make a correlation between my life and their own, seeing the similar obstacles and disappointments along their individual journey with a more affirmative glow of appreciation. I am fairly confident that my episodes of greatest struggle and challenge ended up being the times of utmost personal growth.” (2021, p.8)
On page 11 (2021) Risk speaks about his early days of learning to fly the Piper PA-18 Super Cub with his father who was a private pilot. As you may imagine he was scared and gleeful at the same time. This was exacerbated by the fact that he was a pretty motion sick child. Would he manage not to puke? He was too enthused to think about that once they took to the air. He felt like a bird.
Tollini talks about growing up in the 60’s, 70’s and 80’s. Fondly, he recalls the great new shows that dominated the newest innovation in technology, the television, watching the Ed Sullivan Show when the Beatles invaded America, the long hair that was popular at that time and that his father disliked, and the fun he had with friends prior to embarking on his life-changing USAF career. He notes that his family was dysfunctional despite the good times they all had and that it took him years to recognize that this was the case. I think lots of us can identify with this.
Rick attended San Jose State University’s (SJSU) Aeronautics Department studying to become a pilot where found out that none of his flight time with his father counted toward his pilots license because his father was not a certified flight instructor. When he graduated he had his license and also a certification in FAA Airframe and Powerplant Mechanics. While working on this he also got his first taste of teaching.
Post-graduation he married Geri whom he had dated while attending SJSU. That marriage was very short-lived. However, Geri did introduce him to his next wife, Sako. They are still married and it is now thirty years later. Bravo to them!
Later, he ran into an old friend from his flight training days at SJSU and he was in the Air Force. This friend told him all of the things he was doing out of Officer Training School (OTS) and he was intrigued. His friend was flying really big birds and he was a bit envious. A few months later Rick did the same, he joined the Air Force and was placed into OTS. From this moment forward his life changed dramatically.
I found this a fun and interesting read. I believe you will too.
Call Sign Kluso
Casemate, ISBN 978-1-61200-981-0
Non-Fiction –Air Force, pilots, pilot training, California, Texas, Desert Storm, relationships, family
194 pages
September 2021 Review
Reviewer-Michelle Kaye Malsbury, BSBM, MM
Review
Author of Call Sign Kluso Rick Tollini is also the central figure in this noteworthy epistle on Desert Storm. He grew up in Northern California and proudly served in the USAF as a career officer and fighter pilot. He says about this book, “I want the reader to recognize the common bonds of our humanity, regardless of what we end up doing as our “life’s work.”” (2021, p.8)
Regarding history Tollini offers the following to which I agree. “Not all of this history is positive ... it couldn’t be, it shouldn’t be. A life without struggles or challenges does not lead to personal growth. The hard ground we fall on is also the same firm foundation we use to push ourselves back up and continue on. The difference in outcomes lies in how we view life’s hardships, whether with resentment and bitterness, or with a sense of gratitude for the place we have arrived, along with the determination and confidence to overcome anything life throws our way.” (2021, p.8)
Rick says, “My hope, though, is that readers can make a correlation between my life and their own, seeing the similar obstacles and disappointments along their individual journey with a more affirmative glow of appreciation. I am fairly confident that my episodes of greatest struggle and challenge ended up being the times of utmost personal growth.” (2021, p.8)
On page 11 (2021) Risk speaks about his early days of learning to fly the Piper PA-18 Super Cub with his father who was a private pilot. As you may imagine he was scared and gleeful at the same time. This was exacerbated by the fact that he was a pretty motion sick child. Would he manage not to puke? He was too enthused to think about that once they took to the air. He felt like a bird.
Tollini talks about growing up in the 60’s, 70’s and 80’s. Fondly, he recalls the great new shows that dominated the newest innovation in technology, the television, watching the Ed Sullivan Show when the Beatles invaded America, the long hair that was popular at that time and that his father disliked, and the fun he had with friends prior to embarking on his life-changing USAF career. He notes that his family was dysfunctional despite the good times they all had and that it took him years to recognize that this was the case. I think lots of us can identify with this.
Rick attended San Jose State University’s (SJSU) Aeronautics Department studying to become a pilot where found out that none of his flight time with his father counted toward his pilots license because his father was not a certified flight instructor. When he graduated he had his license and also a certification in FAA Airframe and Powerplant Mechanics. While working on this he also got his first taste of teaching.
Post-graduation he married Geri whom he had dated while attending SJSU. That marriage was very short-lived. However, Geri did introduce him to his next wife, Sako. They are still married and it is now thirty years later. Bravo to them!
Later, he ran into an old friend from his flight training days at SJSU and he was in the Air Force. This friend told him all of the things he was doing out of Officer Training School (OTS) and he was intrigued. His friend was flying really big birds and he was a bit envious. A few months later Rick did the same, he joined the Air Force and was placed into OTS. From this moment forward his life changed dramatically.
I found this a fun and interesting read. I believe you will too.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews