What do you think?
Rate this book
Turn and Burn: A Fighter Pilot’s Memories and Confessions
In “Turn and Burn” the author takes the readers with him in the cockpit as he shares the fulfillment of his boyhood dream and some of his most memorable adventures and misadventures during a twenty-four year flying career as a fighter pilot, both in combat and peacetime. Share the author’s emotions when being surrounded by enemy anti-aircraft flak, when having to crash land twice, during occasions when the aircraft’s response was violent and uncontrollable, when having a large turkey buzzard crash through the windscreen into the cockpit when the aircraft was 200 feet off the ground and traveling nearly 600 mph, just to mention a few of those memorable occasions the author shares.
Along the way, the readers are given vivid accounts of the joys and delights, the fears and terrors, the frustrations and fulfillments, the thrills, intensity, and humor involved in the fighter pilot’s unique life, and the special and inseparable bond that exists in the fighter pilot community. The author’s account is also deeply personal as he shares his opinion of the top leadership, both civilian and military, during the Vietnam War. His criticism is shared by the vast majority of those who fought in that war, and includes the leadership’s lack of understanding of the enemy, a prime requisite when going to war, their lack of will to do what was necessary to win, a prime requisite when going to war, and worst of all, their unconscionable willingness to allow the U.S. military to suffer substantial losses in personnel and resources by fighting a war they were not allowed to win.
The author’s pride in being part of the fighter pilot community can be summed up by the final phrase of a poem about military aviators written by an unknown author that goes, “Because we flew, we envy no man on earth."
About the Author:
Darrell Ahrens is a former U.S. Marine, Air Force fighter pilot and operations staff officer, high school teacher, and pastor. He holds degrees from Chapman University, Boston University, and Fuller Theological Seminary, as well as diplomas from the Armed Forces Staff College, the Air War College, and the National Defense University.
Along the way, the readers are given vivid accounts of the joys and delights, the fears and terrors, the frustrations and fulfillments, the thrills, intensity, and humor involved in the fighter pilot’s unique life, and the special and inseparable bond that exists in the fighter pilot community. The author’s account is also deeply personal as he shares his opinion of the top leadership, both civilian and military, during the Vietnam War. His criticism is shared by the vast majority of those who fought in that war, and includes the leadership’s lack of understanding of the enemy, a prime requisite when going to war, their lack of will to do what was necessary to win, a prime requisite when going to war, and worst of all, their unconscionable willingness to allow the U.S. military to suffer substantial losses in personnel and resources by fighting a war they were not allowed to win.
The author’s pride in being part of the fighter pilot community can be summed up by the final phrase of a poem about military aviators written by an unknown author that goes, “Because we flew, we envy no man on earth."
About the Author:
Darrell Ahrens is a former U.S. Marine, Air Force fighter pilot and operations staff officer, high school teacher, and pastor. He holds degrees from Chapman University, Boston University, and Fuller Theological Seminary, as well as diplomas from the Armed Forces Staff College, the Air War College, and the National Defense University.
225 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 26, 2020
203 people are currently reading
87 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews
March 31, 2021
I received this book free from the publisher for agreeing to do a review. This book feels difficult to review, because while Darrell Ahrens' memoir of his experiences in pilot training and in various situations while serving in the military are relatively interesting, the book is organized in what feels like disjointed chapters. Unless you're a pilot, some of the technical jargon also is a bit challenging to muck through, and overall, the stories of his military engagements, like in Vietnam, are a short whirlwind where you're left without much context....you just get to be in the cockpit with him. If you are not familiar with various battles etc., you will be lost. He also relates a lot of his experiences and surviving close calls to his religious beliefs, and while that's fine and I don't decry his beliefs, I can't help but think about the pilots in combat or in training that didn't make it somewhat being relegated to maybe not having as good of a relationship with God. I don't know. The book was a bit tough to get through for me. I read lots of memoirs and in particular love Vietnam memoirs, but I was left a bit empty after this one. I'm giving it 3 stars because I think there are going to be some people who really love it, but it just didn't do much for me.
January 31, 2021
‘Still, often, I travel back in time on the wings of memory…’
Author Darrell J. Ahrens earned his degrees from Chapman University, Boston University, and Fuller Theological Seminary and has served as a US Marine, Air Force fighter pilot and operations staff officer, a high school teacher and a pastor! He bonds all of these experiences in this interesting and involving memoir, sharing his experiences as a fighter pilot so vividly that reading the book offers the sense of being his co-pilot!
The spectrum of Ahrens career is rich and provides a landscape of personal responses to both the exigencies of war and the sagaciousness of life beyond combat into the arena of teaching and ministering. An example of how the author cares about his readers is evident as he defines the title of this book: ‘Turn and Burn’ is fighter pilot jargon that refers...’to the most violent flying, with both the jet and the pilot operating at maximum testosterone levels.’
Ahrens’ memoir reads like a conversation on a porch swing, those now rare accoutrements of yesterday that provided a setting for insightful sharing of thoughts and memories, and that technique makes this book a thoroughly enjoyable read. As he takes us through reflections of his childhood and his decision to share his history with his family, into his career steps, a man of warmth, gentle humor, and solid philosophy and faith becomes visible. The aspects of his three-pronged career – flying, teaching, and ministry – add to the overall impact of his reflections.
The multifaceted experiences of Ahrens’ fighter pilot history are especially memorable to those of us who also served in the military in the Vietnam War: battles in the air and on land were related, and the author makes them visual and palpable. On that level alone the book is an exciting reading experience. But the lasting impact is the manner in which he extends his memories into some very solid observations about the mechanics of war, the state of education, the need for faith, and the importance of sharing a life as an invitation for introspection. Adding photographs and color emblems that denote periods of time add greatly to the ambience of this impressive chronicle. Highly recommended for a very broad audience.
Author Darrell J. Ahrens earned his degrees from Chapman University, Boston University, and Fuller Theological Seminary and has served as a US Marine, Air Force fighter pilot and operations staff officer, a high school teacher and a pastor! He bonds all of these experiences in this interesting and involving memoir, sharing his experiences as a fighter pilot so vividly that reading the book offers the sense of being his co-pilot!
The spectrum of Ahrens career is rich and provides a landscape of personal responses to both the exigencies of war and the sagaciousness of life beyond combat into the arena of teaching and ministering. An example of how the author cares about his readers is evident as he defines the title of this book: ‘Turn and Burn’ is fighter pilot jargon that refers...’to the most violent flying, with both the jet and the pilot operating at maximum testosterone levels.’
Ahrens’ memoir reads like a conversation on a porch swing, those now rare accoutrements of yesterday that provided a setting for insightful sharing of thoughts and memories, and that technique makes this book a thoroughly enjoyable read. As he takes us through reflections of his childhood and his decision to share his history with his family, into his career steps, a man of warmth, gentle humor, and solid philosophy and faith becomes visible. The aspects of his three-pronged career – flying, teaching, and ministry – add to the overall impact of his reflections.
The multifaceted experiences of Ahrens’ fighter pilot history are especially memorable to those of us who also served in the military in the Vietnam War: battles in the air and on land were related, and the author makes them visual and palpable. On that level alone the book is an exciting reading experience. But the lasting impact is the manner in which he extends his memories into some very solid observations about the mechanics of war, the state of education, the need for faith, and the importance of sharing a life as an invitation for introspection. Adding photographs and color emblems that denote periods of time add greatly to the ambience of this impressive chronicle. Highly recommended for a very broad audience.
March 10, 2024
A fantastic book as fighter pilot memoirs go! Ahrens’ book is a thrilling and captivating read that offers a unique insight into the life of a fighter pilot. From the adrenaline-fueled dogfights to the quiet moments of reflection, Ahrens takes readers on a rollercoaster of emotions as he shares his experiences in the cockpit. One of the things that really stood out to me about this book is Ahrens’ candid and honest writing style. He doesn’t shy away from sharing the highs and lows of his time as a fighter pilot, and his sense of humor and humility shine through on every page. Whether he’s recounting a particularly harrowing mission or reflecting on the camaraderie among his fellow pilots, Ahrens’ storytelling is engaging and relatable. Another aspect of the book that I found particularly compelling was Ahrens’ descriptions of the technical aspects of flying. As someone with little knowledge of aviation, I appreciated the way he explained complex maneuvers and terminology in a way that was easy to understand. It added an extra layer of depth to the book and made me feel like I was right there in the cockpit with him. Overall, "Turn and Burn" is a riveting read that will appeal to anyone with an interest in military history, aviation, or just a good old-fashioned adventure story. Ahrens’ passion for flying and dedication to his craft shine through on every page, making this book a must-read for anyone looking for a thrilling and insightful look into the world of fighter pilots.
January 20, 2021
I appreciated receiving a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Turn and Burn is a memoir of Ahrens' career as a fighter pilot, from his initial training through flying fighter jets in everything from combat missions to air shows. Although Ahrens discusses some combat missions, it's more of a behind-the-scenes look at what's involved in a pilot's career, revealing much that I didn't know, especially about how dangerous the non-combat flights are, to say nothing of the combat missions in North Vietnam and Laos.
The problem with this book is that it's unclear who would find it wholly interesting other than the author. The flight stories seem almost lifted from a debriefing report, full of technical details and pilot jargon. I have played enough flight simulator games and read enough books that I could understand enough of the terminology to comprehend most of it, but anyone who hasn't would be totally lost. Also, the report-style writing renders thrilling aerial adventures dry and matter-of-fact, stripping a lot of the excitement from them. And while these technical stories and turn-by-turn action might be of great interest to fellow pilots, less than half of the book - which is only 225 pages long - is about flights. A lot of the book is basically a travelogue, as Ahrens tells anecdotes about trips and tours in various foreign countries, and the remaining parts are about Ahrens' family and his Christian faith and his pre- and post-pilot life. It's too technical and jargon-y for a general audience and too much memoir for someone looking for a book about fighter combat, especially because Ahrens’ life isn’t very amazing or interesting outside of his exciting career.
Ahrens could turn this book into two better books. He could focus on the training and missions and his decisions, actions and results and talk about the lessons learned from each event and how they made him a better fighter pilot. Alternatively, he could make the book more about the “Life of a Fighter Pilot” and talk about the challenges of raising a family as a fighter pilot (alluded to, but not discussed in detail), the relationships with officers, flight crew and fellow airmen, and how he is able to reconcile his deep Christian faith, which he mentions throughout the book, with his passion for a career involving the strafing and bombing of his fellow man.
In other words, as a book of war stories, there's not that much here. And as a memoir, it's pretty superficial. He doesn’t question why he believes “the Good Lord” decided to save him from the massive fireball caused by blowing up a bunch of North Vietnamese with a well-aimed bomb, for instance. And a discussion about his decision to become a pastor after his career precedes a simplistic and hawkish discussion about the Vietnam War in which he opines that the reason why we didn't win the War was that we didn't bomb aggressively enough and that we should have flattened North Vietnam to force them to surrender. The incongruity between the repeated assertions of the importance of his faith, which forbids killing, and his eager volunteering to participate in bombing campaigns, is never examined. His biggest regret is not the hundreds of people he undoubtedly killed, but rather that he didn’t get to kill more civilians by dropping bombs on the non-military targets whose destruction he believes would have helped win the war. I am not criticizing Ahrens for flying bombing missions, but rather questioning why he doesn’t consider how they aligned with his oft-professed faith.
In summary, there were a lot of interesting things in this book and Ahrens relays some amazing tales from a very exciting career with crash landings and near misses in fiery combat missions, but there was not much introspection here, and Ahrens is clearly a better pilot than he is a narrative writer.
Turn and Burn is a memoir of Ahrens' career as a fighter pilot, from his initial training through flying fighter jets in everything from combat missions to air shows. Although Ahrens discusses some combat missions, it's more of a behind-the-scenes look at what's involved in a pilot's career, revealing much that I didn't know, especially about how dangerous the non-combat flights are, to say nothing of the combat missions in North Vietnam and Laos.
The problem with this book is that it's unclear who would find it wholly interesting other than the author. The flight stories seem almost lifted from a debriefing report, full of technical details and pilot jargon. I have played enough flight simulator games and read enough books that I could understand enough of the terminology to comprehend most of it, but anyone who hasn't would be totally lost. Also, the report-style writing renders thrilling aerial adventures dry and matter-of-fact, stripping a lot of the excitement from them. And while these technical stories and turn-by-turn action might be of great interest to fellow pilots, less than half of the book - which is only 225 pages long - is about flights. A lot of the book is basically a travelogue, as Ahrens tells anecdotes about trips and tours in various foreign countries, and the remaining parts are about Ahrens' family and his Christian faith and his pre- and post-pilot life. It's too technical and jargon-y for a general audience and too much memoir for someone looking for a book about fighter combat, especially because Ahrens’ life isn’t very amazing or interesting outside of his exciting career.
Ahrens could turn this book into two better books. He could focus on the training and missions and his decisions, actions and results and talk about the lessons learned from each event and how they made him a better fighter pilot. Alternatively, he could make the book more about the “Life of a Fighter Pilot” and talk about the challenges of raising a family as a fighter pilot (alluded to, but not discussed in detail), the relationships with officers, flight crew and fellow airmen, and how he is able to reconcile his deep Christian faith, which he mentions throughout the book, with his passion for a career involving the strafing and bombing of his fellow man.
In other words, as a book of war stories, there's not that much here. And as a memoir, it's pretty superficial. He doesn’t question why he believes “the Good Lord” decided to save him from the massive fireball caused by blowing up a bunch of North Vietnamese with a well-aimed bomb, for instance. And a discussion about his decision to become a pastor after his career precedes a simplistic and hawkish discussion about the Vietnam War in which he opines that the reason why we didn't win the War was that we didn't bomb aggressively enough and that we should have flattened North Vietnam to force them to surrender. The incongruity between the repeated assertions of the importance of his faith, which forbids killing, and his eager volunteering to participate in bombing campaigns, is never examined. His biggest regret is not the hundreds of people he undoubtedly killed, but rather that he didn’t get to kill more civilians by dropping bombs on the non-military targets whose destruction he believes would have helped win the war. I am not criticizing Ahrens for flying bombing missions, but rather questioning why he doesn’t consider how they aligned with his oft-professed faith.
In summary, there were a lot of interesting things in this book and Ahrens relays some amazing tales from a very exciting career with crash landings and near misses in fiery combat missions, but there was not much introspection here, and Ahrens is clearly a better pilot than he is a narrative writer.
January 3, 2021
Disclaimer: I received this book free if I would review.
In general, I enjoyed this book. The author certainly fulfilled the subtitle: A Fighter Pilots Memories and Confessions. Throughout the book he relayed personal experiences, in roughly chronological order, about the planes he flew, the training received, tours of duty endured and the mistakes he made. Although written in simple prose, there were moments when he lost this non-pilot with technical descriptions of flying techniques and equipment.
What would have made this a memorable book is a narrative about Darrell J. Ahrens, the man. He describes himself as a fighter pilot. I have a sense of the self-confident, perhaps arrogant, pilot but how about the guy with a wife and children who “returned” to his faith and became a teacher and Lutheran Pastor. Indeed, the only time I really sensed passion was the last chapter in which he opined on the errors made in conducting the Vietnam War. I’m not sure this fit with the general tone of the book and would have left it out. But since he did he would have better served by amending one or more of the chapters spent describing his tours in Vietnam.
All in all, a short, pleasant book.
In general, I enjoyed this book. The author certainly fulfilled the subtitle: A Fighter Pilots Memories and Confessions. Throughout the book he relayed personal experiences, in roughly chronological order, about the planes he flew, the training received, tours of duty endured and the mistakes he made. Although written in simple prose, there were moments when he lost this non-pilot with technical descriptions of flying techniques and equipment.
What would have made this a memorable book is a narrative about Darrell J. Ahrens, the man. He describes himself as a fighter pilot. I have a sense of the self-confident, perhaps arrogant, pilot but how about the guy with a wife and children who “returned” to his faith and became a teacher and Lutheran Pastor. Indeed, the only time I really sensed passion was the last chapter in which he opined on the errors made in conducting the Vietnam War. I’m not sure this fit with the general tone of the book and would have left it out. But since he did he would have better served by amending one or more of the chapters spent describing his tours in Vietnam.
All in all, a short, pleasant book.
April 16, 2021
( Format : Audiobook )
"I never claimed to have the market on smarts."
This is the accounting of Lt.Colonel Darell 'Curly' J.Ahrens' life as a fighter pilote, from his youthful love of military figures and his intensive reading about World War II, through a period in the Marines, marriage and family (very brief), and the trainings, 'planes and flying experiences, both civic and wartime. His love of flying comes through very strongly and there are passages which read as exciting as any action thriller.
Straightforwardly written, the author interspersed his life story with personal experiences which in part illustrate his thoughts at the time but, more importantly, break up the linear account with anecdotes which are exciting, amusing or both, keeping the reader's attention focused. Altogether, he comes over as the dashing, rule breaking, devil may care, charming but superior pilot of war story fame, and one who carries his belief in God with him. There are some aspects I personally find a little incongruous, like confining all mention of his wife and children to a single, short chapter. Why include them at all as they are obviously not really part of this story? Or why not give mention of them in an introduction or epilogue?
Eric Jason Martin is the narrator of Turn and Burn and he performs with lerfection, his very pleasant to hear voice well paced and modulated. He reads all with a hint of wry humour and is easily identifiable as his first person counterpart.
My thanks to the rights holder of Turn and Burn, who, at my request freely gifted me with a complimentary copy via Audiobook Boom. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book. And as a personal memoir to leave for future family generations, the author's stated intent, he has more than succeeded - he has brought that fragment of his life alive.
"I never claimed to have the market on smarts."
This is the accounting of Lt.Colonel Darell 'Curly' J.Ahrens' life as a fighter pilote, from his youthful love of military figures and his intensive reading about World War II, through a period in the Marines, marriage and family (very brief), and the trainings, 'planes and flying experiences, both civic and wartime. His love of flying comes through very strongly and there are passages which read as exciting as any action thriller.
Straightforwardly written, the author interspersed his life story with personal experiences which in part illustrate his thoughts at the time but, more importantly, break up the linear account with anecdotes which are exciting, amusing or both, keeping the reader's attention focused. Altogether, he comes over as the dashing, rule breaking, devil may care, charming but superior pilot of war story fame, and one who carries his belief in God with him. There are some aspects I personally find a little incongruous, like confining all mention of his wife and children to a single, short chapter. Why include them at all as they are obviously not really part of this story? Or why not give mention of them in an introduction or epilogue?
Eric Jason Martin is the narrator of Turn and Burn and he performs with lerfection, his very pleasant to hear voice well paced and modulated. He reads all with a hint of wry humour and is easily identifiable as his first person counterpart.
My thanks to the rights holder of Turn and Burn, who, at my request freely gifted me with a complimentary copy via Audiobook Boom. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book. And as a personal memoir to leave for future family generations, the author's stated intent, he has more than succeeded - he has brought that fragment of his life alive.
December 12, 2020
Lt Col Ahrens writes a fascinating collection of vignettes here to provide an interesting perspective on not only the combat sorties of a Vietnam Era pilot but many of the less well recorded training and non combat missions. Lt Col Ahrens demonstrates a clear and unwavering faith as a thread which ties his stories and journeys togethr ehich, although not my own Christian interpretation of gospel, I can respect how it grounds his journey. Written in an easygoing style, Ahrens provides enough technical details in his recollections to establish his bona fides, but doesn't go beyond that to confuse or bore the lay reader. His choice to present the book as a collection of vinginettes makes this an enjoyable read, almost conversational, and you can almost hear his voice, your head as if this is an armchair conversation of his recollections.
Lt Col Ahrens does well to not embellish his tales too much beyond the scope of his own experiences, and only beggs the audiences forgiveness for one chapter to inject his own larger political/social thoughts into the larger ramifications from his experiences. Although I don't always agree with his conclusions or the facts he insinuates, he does take care to call out that this is his perspective, shaped by the described experiences, and I appreciate the opportunity to get to learn from this faucet of Air Force history through his eyes.
Overall a very digestible and interesting read that should be considered by both Air Force and Vietnam buffs for providing a different perspective than many other combat forward works out there.
Lt Col Ahrens does well to not embellish his tales too much beyond the scope of his own experiences, and only beggs the audiences forgiveness for one chapter to inject his own larger political/social thoughts into the larger ramifications from his experiences. Although I don't always agree with his conclusions or the facts he insinuates, he does take care to call out that this is his perspective, shaped by the described experiences, and I appreciate the opportunity to get to learn from this faucet of Air Force history through his eyes.
Overall a very digestible and interesting read that should be considered by both Air Force and Vietnam buffs for providing a different perspective than many other combat forward works out there.
December 20, 2020
As Vietnam era veteran, I enjoyed reading about Lt. Col. Aherns adventures, misadventures, and reflections on his military career. It was like “old home week” as we say in Army. Veterans from the 60s, 70s and even 80s will enjoy this book because his experiences, insights and opinions will likely align with your own. Air Force fliers of that era will probably like it even more.
He shares combat experiences with the reverence and humility of a true warrior. The fun and camaraderie we experience when we serve is there alongside the deep respect for our fallen. He touches on politics and the warrior viewpoint. He is no radical but shares his solid Christian and American values.
I found the author very good at explaining his internal experience to his external experiences. I’ve never flown in a military jet fighter but he explained the experience with enough detail to pull me into the cockpit but not so much detail that I lost interest.
“The cockpit of a fighter aircraft,” he said, “is a place of self-discovery where one is faced with the stark reality of one’s capabilities and limitations.” He was forthcoming on both. Although, Lt. Col Aherns wrote these recollections for his grandchildren, I felt privileged to share them.
I was gifted this book by the publisher but the opinions are my own. I do intend to share this book with some of my military buddies.
He shares combat experiences with the reverence and humility of a true warrior. The fun and camaraderie we experience when we serve is there alongside the deep respect for our fallen. He touches on politics and the warrior viewpoint. He is no radical but shares his solid Christian and American values.
I found the author very good at explaining his internal experience to his external experiences. I’ve never flown in a military jet fighter but he explained the experience with enough detail to pull me into the cockpit but not so much detail that I lost interest.
“The cockpit of a fighter aircraft,” he said, “is a place of self-discovery where one is faced with the stark reality of one’s capabilities and limitations.” He was forthcoming on both. Although, Lt. Col Aherns wrote these recollections for his grandchildren, I felt privileged to share them.
I was gifted this book by the publisher but the opinions are my own. I do intend to share this book with some of my military buddies.
January 11, 2021
I put this book between four and five stars because it pulled me in the further I read. I love the author's purpose for writing - as a memoir to be read for his grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and great-great-grands. They will be very proud of him.
The book was written with humor, humility, truthfulness, and wisdom. Ahrens was a Marine who then entered the Air Force to become an exceptional fighter pilot. He shared his mishaps and mistakes, and he learned from those to excel at flying. Moving from a chapter on learning to fly each fighter jet to a chapter on being a fighter pilot in the war in Vietnam eased me into the culture of fighter pilots. He was always willing to share about the different countries in which he was stationed.
I loved his simple way of telling his story and I, at times, felt as if I was one of his kids, learning to know his history, his heart, and his passion. For a fighter pilot, he was just so down to earth in his story telling.
The last chapters included his opinions about the Vietnam War and War on Terror. I greatly appreciate his insights, especially of the Vietnam War. These last chapters are why I included wisdom as a description of his writing. While you may not agree with his conclusions, or even beliefs, you will hear the story from someone who lived it.
I did receive a copy of the book in exchange for my review.
The book was written with humor, humility, truthfulness, and wisdom. Ahrens was a Marine who then entered the Air Force to become an exceptional fighter pilot. He shared his mishaps and mistakes, and he learned from those to excel at flying. Moving from a chapter on learning to fly each fighter jet to a chapter on being a fighter pilot in the war in Vietnam eased me into the culture of fighter pilots. He was always willing to share about the different countries in which he was stationed.
I loved his simple way of telling his story and I, at times, felt as if I was one of his kids, learning to know his history, his heart, and his passion. For a fighter pilot, he was just so down to earth in his story telling.
The last chapters included his opinions about the Vietnam War and War on Terror. I greatly appreciate his insights, especially of the Vietnam War. These last chapters are why I included wisdom as a description of his writing. While you may not agree with his conclusions, or even beliefs, you will hear the story from someone who lived it.
I did receive a copy of the book in exchange for my review.
December 5, 2020
Review of "Turn and Burn: A Fighters Pilot's Memories and Confessions" by Darrell J. Ahrens
I have read numerous books within this specific genre and to the best of my recollection found this book to be one of my favorites. I felt that the method the author used to “break-up” his life and career path with the insertion of actual combat experience and other flying experiences made the book more interesting and held my attention better than the basic “step-by-step” progress through life used by many authors. As a retired member of the U.S. Navy within a couple of years of his period of service somewhat reminiscent of some of my experiences in the area of military “policies” as a enlisted member; needless to say though not to the same degree of possible consequences. Since I agree totally with his comments in the Chapter Thoughts and Comments on War I definitely found it refreshing.
I was introduced to this book by an email from Katrina at Goodreads giving me the opportunity to receive this book in my preferred format to read and review. Since I have an Amazon Kindle Unlimited membership I was reading it within a few days of receiving the email.
I have read numerous books within this specific genre and to the best of my recollection found this book to be one of my favorites. I felt that the method the author used to “break-up” his life and career path with the insertion of actual combat experience and other flying experiences made the book more interesting and held my attention better than the basic “step-by-step” progress through life used by many authors. As a retired member of the U.S. Navy within a couple of years of his period of service somewhat reminiscent of some of my experiences in the area of military “policies” as a enlisted member; needless to say though not to the same degree of possible consequences. Since I agree totally with his comments in the Chapter Thoughts and Comments on War I definitely found it refreshing.
I was introduced to this book by an email from Katrina at Goodreads giving me the opportunity to receive this book in my preferred format to read and review. Since I have an Amazon Kindle Unlimited membership I was reading it within a few days of receiving the email.
September 13, 2022
One of the best written memoirs I've seen.
The author is clearly well educated with some background spent in education, as this was as well written, composed, and organized of a memoir as I've ever seen. The author had far more military and flying experience than the have the authors of most memoirs I've read, but he remained modest (or at least as modest as a fighter pilot can be) and only included the best of his anecdotes. I have no doubt he left out hundreds of stories that he could have included if he'd wanted to clutter the narrative.
He reminds me somewhat of a couple of university Air Force ROTC instructors and pilots from my distant past. It was enjoyable, as it helped me remember and relive a few of my own experiences, from what now feels like another life as it was so long ago. He wrote this memoir primarily for the benefit of his own descendants and made me realize that perhaps it's time for me to do the same, as my kids have repeatedly encouraged me to do.
The author is clearly well educated with some background spent in education, as this was as well written, composed, and organized of a memoir as I've ever seen. The author had far more military and flying experience than the have the authors of most memoirs I've read, but he remained modest (or at least as modest as a fighter pilot can be) and only included the best of his anecdotes. I have no doubt he left out hundreds of stories that he could have included if he'd wanted to clutter the narrative.
He reminds me somewhat of a couple of university Air Force ROTC instructors and pilots from my distant past. It was enjoyable, as it helped me remember and relive a few of my own experiences, from what now feels like another life as it was so long ago. He wrote this memoir primarily for the benefit of his own descendants and made me realize that perhaps it's time for me to do the same, as my kids have repeatedly encouraged me to do.
December 12, 2020
As a "Cold War" Army veteran and certified military history nut, I devour a good military read. I truly enjoyed reading this first person account of an honorable military pilot. His easy, personable writing style had me joining him in the cockpit....longing for that feeling of power and elation. I grew up with most of the jets mentioned in this book and had the honor of sitting in the WSO seat of a F4 at Andrews where my Uncle worked maintenance. I fondly recall them all as beautiful birds of prey. I can relate to experiencing foriegn cultures, having served in Italy and traveling Europe and Turkey. As the author says, "you need to go". I can also relate to Faith. God has been there for me so many times because He had a better plan. Read the book and prepare to slip the surly bonds of earth. Salute LTC!!
(P.S. I agree with your assessment 100%).
I received this book as a gift in exchange for my review.
(P.S. I agree with your assessment 100%).
I received this book as a gift in exchange for my review.
January 17, 2021
In Turn and Burn, we see a glimpse of what it was like for the author to fly many different fighter jets during his career in the military. No wonder so many pilots died with the many airplane parts that mis-functioned, inexperienced pilots, weather, and being targets of the enemy.
“The fighter pilot courts death on a daily basis. It is a place where one feels more alive than at any other time.” He sees, does, and goes where few others do. says the author. He elaborates on the bond the airmen feel for one another, and also shows his disgust for being in a war that the object didn’t seem to be to win.
My husband also read the book and he loved his detailing of the various aircraft that he flew. He was impressed with the boldness of the pilots and the risks they took, also the bravery of the rescuers that put their life on the line for downed pilots. I received a copy of the book in exchange for my review.
“The fighter pilot courts death on a daily basis. It is a place where one feels more alive than at any other time.” He sees, does, and goes where few others do. says the author. He elaborates on the bond the airmen feel for one another, and also shows his disgust for being in a war that the object didn’t seem to be to win.
My husband also read the book and he loved his detailing of the various aircraft that he flew. He was impressed with the boldness of the pilots and the risks they took, also the bravery of the rescuers that put their life on the line for downed pilots. I received a copy of the book in exchange for my review.
December 2, 2020
I thought That I would enjoy the book because I am a veteran and love reading factual military encounters. I had difficulty finishing this book. First, it was written on a elementary level. Although I am not a good writer, I can tell when a book is written on a fifth or sixth grade level. Second, it was totally disjointed. The author mentioned in the beginning factors in regard to chronology but it had “zero” flow. Third, even though written at an elementary level at times it was so technical it was hard to read. So hard, that I found myself skipping pages.
Having given three reason why the book was not a great read, I will admit an admiration for the author. His service is appreciated. However, many of his adventures were nothing more than boondoggles.
In conclusion, I doubt there will be many who will finish this book.
Having given three reason why the book was not a great read, I will admit an admiration for the author. His service is appreciated. However, many of his adventures were nothing more than boondoggles.
In conclusion, I doubt there will be many who will finish this book.
January 24, 2021
Turn and Burn by Darrell Ahrens is a must read for those of us who appreciate military history, technology and combat experiences. Ahren's style is engaging and conversational. The author, like most true heros, projects a strong sense of integrity, humility and introspection. Unlike many works within this genre, the author minimizes combat drama. Although this book provides plenty of colorful action, the story is predominantly an inspirational journey of a young boy's life long aspiration to become a fighter pilot. The focus is on the chronology of trials, sacrifices and accomplishments along the way. The first ninety percent of this book is clearly written for those of us who love this genre. The last ten percent is a must read for everyone who are concerned for the future of The United States of America.
March 4, 2021
An excellent book. Well written, well laid out. Here is an author not afraid to speak his mind !
Found myself wanting to skip jobs so I could return to reading it. If you love flying in any way shape size or form, get this book and read it.
Darrell...Where you told us about the "Rambo" Gent who became "Green at the Gills" on almost straight and level flight and contrasted it with the slip of the girl that you put thru rolls, immelmans, 7 G turns and every thing you could possibly throw at her and she kept saying...... Yes Yes, I love it... please Can you do it again !!!!!!!
Darrell Ahrends... I compliment you on this superb book. I particularly liked the fact that throughout the book you emphasised your beliefs.... pretty rare these days. Thank you for giving me these hours of reading pleasure.
Albert
Found myself wanting to skip jobs so I could return to reading it. If you love flying in any way shape size or form, get this book and read it.
Darrell...Where you told us about the "Rambo" Gent who became "Green at the Gills" on almost straight and level flight and contrasted it with the slip of the girl that you put thru rolls, immelmans, 7 G turns and every thing you could possibly throw at her and she kept saying...... Yes Yes, I love it... please Can you do it again !!!!!!!
Darrell Ahrends... I compliment you on this superb book. I particularly liked the fact that throughout the book you emphasised your beliefs.... pretty rare these days. Thank you for giving me these hours of reading pleasure.
Albert
May 25, 2021
Obviously not everyone will enjoy this book, but as someone who had spent his early years in the military I think this storyline speaks volumes as to our great nation and. it's fighting forces
I was a army "brat" growing up. I joined the navy to get away from the army. I became a "hospital corpsman" then I was ordered to the Fleet Marine Corp.
I was a field medic with the marines during Vietnam. After discharge I joined the Alabama Air National Guard. While in the guard I was called to activate duty for Dessert Shield/Dessert Storm. I retired out of the Air Guard. You can see how I can appreciate this story.
I was a army "brat" growing up. I joined the navy to get away from the army. I became a "hospital corpsman" then I was ordered to the Fleet Marine Corp.
I was a field medic with the marines during Vietnam. After discharge I joined the Alabama Air National Guard. While in the guard I was called to activate duty for Dessert Shield/Dessert Storm. I retired out of the Air Guard. You can see how I can appreciate this story.
February 12, 2021
An informative and inspirational book that changed the way I think of fighter pilots. At times the author's description of being in the cockpit, flying into a beautiful day, are lyrical and I felt like I was soaring with him. Then he tallies the numerous pilots lost in Vietnam and it's heart wrenching. Please note that this book was written to chronicle his life as a family memoir, so don't be discouraged by the early chapters; the further you read the more interesting the book becomes. I received my copy as a gift from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
September 11, 2021
Excellent, one of the best I have read.
I usually don't care for books like this, but the author/pilot hit the bullseye on maintaining this readers interest from start to finish. Being 75 years old, a 27 year Navy veteran, that had the privilege of controlling fighter aircraft, I found every chapter interesting and very well explained so the novice reader would understand. He pointed out his screwups, which many an author never does, he points out his love of flying and the ability to keep the reader interested.
I usually don't care for books like this, but the author/pilot hit the bullseye on maintaining this readers interest from start to finish. Being 75 years old, a 27 year Navy veteran, that had the privilege of controlling fighter aircraft, I found every chapter interesting and very well explained so the novice reader would understand. He pointed out his screwups, which many an author never does, he points out his love of flying and the ability to keep the reader interested.
October 19, 2023
I'm a bit surprised by the ratings for this book.
I found his constant God preaching difficult to listen to.
Every bit of fortune or coincidence was down to god.
For me it ruined the book.
On top of that the narrative is all over the place.
This is his life story with the odd war tale thrown in willy-nilly.
I've read/listened to around 10 Vietnam memoirs now and this was the least enjoyable by some margin.
I found his constant God preaching difficult to listen to.
Every bit of fortune or coincidence was down to god.
For me it ruined the book.
On top of that the narrative is all over the place.
This is his life story with the odd war tale thrown in willy-nilly.
I've read/listened to around 10 Vietnam memoirs now and this was the least enjoyable by some margin.
December 13, 2020
The book in of itself was good. I think as a novice about aviation some of the terminology used needs either an index with explanations or some terms the average person can understand. Also inputting out of sequence events in the chronological order of the book made it a little harder to follow the accurate time of events.
December 14, 2020
This is a good recalling of Lt Col Ahrens' memories of flying combat jets. He also recounts his feelings on war and, most impressively, his faith experiences. Well written and recommended.
May 27, 2021
Perspective personified
This reads like I was sitting in the same room as the author, listening to him describe his experiences. Very enjoyable and honest.
This reads like I was sitting in the same room as the author, listening to him describe his experiences. Very enjoyable and honest.
July 1, 2021
Great read
This took me back fifty years to my year in UPT AT MOODY AFB. I too miss those days doing what most others could only dream about.
This took me back fifty years to my year in UPT AT MOODY AFB. I too miss those days doing what most others could only dream about.
August 5, 2022
a great fighter pilot story
Col Ahrens tells like it is in the fighter pilot world!! Great stories from the sky and the military. Read on!
Col Ahrens tells like it is in the fighter pilot world!! Great stories from the sky and the military. Read on!
December 27, 2020
I was provided a free copy of this book through Goodreads for review. I was glad to review it, as I am also a retired Air Force Lieutenant Colonel and am about nine years junior to the author in dates of service and a B-52 and B-1B navigator, not a fighter pilot.
This book does not only contain war stories, and they are good ones, but is also a personal history and faith statement. It will be best appreciated by the family members for who it was originally intended, but also by military members of all services who take pride in the things they have done and the comradeship with the people they knew.
While the author maintains a 'just the facts' perspective for most of the book, he devoted a full chapter (#28) to his personal views on the Vietnam War and the current war on terror operations. I don't agree with many of his conclusions, but they are heartfelt and well presented.
There is humor in the book. My wife particularly enjoyed the vignette of the author's wife's driving experiences in Italy, as they matched her memories of driving in and around Madrid during the late seventies while I was assigned to the 401st TFW and 625 MASS Command Post Torrejon AB, Spain.
All-in-all, this is a good, quick read. Flyers will like it, though a general audience may become bored with specifics about aircraft and multiple peacetime and wartime missions.
This book does not only contain war stories, and they are good ones, but is also a personal history and faith statement. It will be best appreciated by the family members for who it was originally intended, but also by military members of all services who take pride in the things they have done and the comradeship with the people they knew.
While the author maintains a 'just the facts' perspective for most of the book, he devoted a full chapter (#28) to his personal views on the Vietnam War and the current war on terror operations. I don't agree with many of his conclusions, but they are heartfelt and well presented.
There is humor in the book. My wife particularly enjoyed the vignette of the author's wife's driving experiences in Italy, as they matched her memories of driving in and around Madrid during the late seventies while I was assigned to the 401st TFW and 625 MASS Command Post Torrejon AB, Spain.
All-in-all, this is a good, quick read. Flyers will like it, though a general audience may become bored with specifics about aircraft and multiple peacetime and wartime missions.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 20, 2024
Being the wife of an Army helicopter pilot, I was excited to check out Turn and Burn and get in the mind of an aviator. Lt.Col. Ahrens starts with a noble goal of compiling his memoirs for his children and grandchildren for generations to come. Like anyone who has lived an exciting and fulfilling life the author does not always have perfect memory, but he is honest in his failures of memory and, in my opinion, this does not detract from his stories.
The style of writing is much like what you would expect of a military officer: direct, un-flowery, and concise. However, the Lt. Col does allow him some sentimental acknowledgements. Overall, I enjoyed his insights into the life of a career fighter pilot in the US Air Force.
The only issues I had while reading the book were the punctuation issues (a period where a space should be, missing commas, or comma splices), which are due to poor editing and are no fault of the author.
I would recommend this book to someone interested in learning more about the inner workings of the Air Force (& particularly, the role of fighter pilots) in the Vietnam War and in collaboration with other NATO aviation units.
*I received a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.*
The style of writing is much like what you would expect of a military officer: direct, un-flowery, and concise. However, the Lt. Col does allow him some sentimental acknowledgements. Overall, I enjoyed his insights into the life of a career fighter pilot in the US Air Force.
The only issues I had while reading the book were the punctuation issues (a period where a space should be, missing commas, or comma splices), which are due to poor editing and are no fault of the author.
I would recommend this book to someone interested in learning more about the inner workings of the Air Force (& particularly, the role of fighter pilots) in the Vietnam War and in collaboration with other NATO aviation units.
*I received a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.*
Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews