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Persian Tomcats
The year is 2003, and the United States is in the midst of its invasion of Iraq. Watching from across the border, The Islamic Republic of Iran is very interested in the activity. The Iranians see an opportunity to seize control of Iraq from the Americans and quell a centuries-long border dispute. They intend to conquer Iraq once and for all, but first, they must force out the Americans. To do so, they begin gearing up their F-14 “Persian Tomcat” fighters with a new weapon. Using these fighters, purchased from the U.S. decades earlier, will Iran find success? Not if the USAF 55th Fighter Squadron “Shooters” has anything to say about it.
A story about piloting and maintaining the F-16 Viper, we join First Lieutenant Victoria “Shirley” MacMillan as she completes the USAF F-16 “Basic” course, becoming a full-fledged “Viper Driver.” She is assigned to the Shooters at Shaw Air Force Base, where she meets Staff Sergeant Christopher Gray, an aircraft maintainer in the 55th Aircraft Maintenance Unit. The two of them play key roles in the conflict to come, attempting to stop Iran’s Persian Tomcats.
Join the pilots and aircraft maintainers of the U.S. and Iran as they navigate the “choreographed chaos” of flight line operations. Additionally, follow along as the pilots of both countries experience the beauty, exhilaration, and dangers of flying high-performance jet fighters.
While flying fighter jets is an exhilarating, dangerous profession, performing maintenance on them is difficult and sometimes overwhelming. Without the professionalism and dedication of the aircraft maintainers, the pilots would never be able to take to the skies. This story illustrates the special bonds that form between pilots and their maintainers, as one cannot perform their job without the other.
A story about piloting and maintaining the F-16 Viper, we join First Lieutenant Victoria “Shirley” MacMillan as she completes the USAF F-16 “Basic” course, becoming a full-fledged “Viper Driver.” She is assigned to the Shooters at Shaw Air Force Base, where she meets Staff Sergeant Christopher Gray, an aircraft maintainer in the 55th Aircraft Maintenance Unit. The two of them play key roles in the conflict to come, attempting to stop Iran’s Persian Tomcats.
Join the pilots and aircraft maintainers of the U.S. and Iran as they navigate the “choreographed chaos” of flight line operations. Additionally, follow along as the pilots of both countries experience the beauty, exhilaration, and dangers of flying high-performance jet fighters.
While flying fighter jets is an exhilarating, dangerous profession, performing maintenance on them is difficult and sometimes overwhelming. Without the professionalism and dedication of the aircraft maintainers, the pilots would never be able to take to the skies. This story illustrates the special bonds that form between pilots and their maintainers, as one cannot perform their job without the other.
471 pages, Kindle Edition
Published March 1, 2022
5 people are currently reading
3 people want to read
About the author
Mitchell Boling
8 books5 followersMitch has discovered a new passion for writing. He has published six books to date, three in non-fiction and three in military fiction. Leadership: A View from the Middle was published in 2019, and Leading from the Middle: Teachers and Coaches was published in 2021.
His debut novel, Persian Tomcats, was published in early 2022. Working quickly, he followed it up with its sequel, The Last Persian Tomcat, published in November 2022.
He finished the trilogy he calls “Shooters Roll” with the third novel, Persian Dragons, in 2023. In 2024, he added another non-fiction book, On Writing a Book: The Mechanics Behind It.
Mitch took a break from writing books and, in late 2024, turned to screenwriting, adapting Persian Tomcats into a screenplay titled Shooters Roll. He followed it up quickly with his second adaptation, Shooters Roll Again, basing it on his second novel. He also wrote a short screenplay, Best Ride Ever.
In mid-2025, he began thinking about his seventh book and got to work on Alarm Blue, which was released as the fourth story in the Chris and Victoria series in early 2026.
His debut novel, Persian Tomcats, was published in early 2022. Working quickly, he followed it up with its sequel, The Last Persian Tomcat, published in November 2022.
He finished the trilogy he calls “Shooters Roll” with the third novel, Persian Dragons, in 2023. In 2024, he added another non-fiction book, On Writing a Book: The Mechanics Behind It.
Mitch took a break from writing books and, in late 2024, turned to screenwriting, adapting Persian Tomcats into a screenplay titled Shooters Roll. He followed it up quickly with his second adaptation, Shooters Roll Again, basing it on his second novel. He also wrote a short screenplay, Best Ride Ever.
In mid-2025, he began thinking about his seventh book and got to work on Alarm Blue, which was released as the fourth story in the Chris and Victoria series in early 2026.
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
November 19, 2022
🇺🇸 ⭐️ SIMPLY OUTSTANDING ⭐️ 🇺🇸
This is an OUTSTANDING first novel by an author who has lived it, been there done that. I was so impressed with the way Mr. Boling portrayed the aircraft maintainer’s and crew chiefs, as they are. I was a fighter crew chief in the Air Force for 12 years, HE GOT it RIGHT !! I found myself smiling and reminiscing. This was a great military aviation first novel, enjoyed it so much I’m starting book #2 in this series RIGHT NOW! ⭐️⭐️WELL DONE MR BOLING⭐️⭐️
This is an OUTSTANDING first novel by an author who has lived it, been there done that. I was so impressed with the way Mr. Boling portrayed the aircraft maintainer’s and crew chiefs, as they are. I was a fighter crew chief in the Air Force for 12 years, HE GOT it RIGHT !! I found myself smiling and reminiscing. This was a great military aviation first novel, enjoyed it so much I’m starting book #2 in this series RIGHT NOW! ⭐️⭐️WELL DONE MR BOLING⭐️⭐️
March 15, 2026
Solid Military Aviation Fiction
Very good novel on a hypothetical matchup of the US and Iran, set shortly after 9/11.
Excellent introduction to the acronyms of modern aerial combat, with a focus on personal interactions in combat. Well worth the read.
Very good novel on a hypothetical matchup of the US and Iran, set shortly after 9/11.
Excellent introduction to the acronyms of modern aerial combat, with a focus on personal interactions in combat. Well worth the read.
November 19, 2022
Really enjoyed learning more about the people who sacrifice their lives for our country. Great novel, looking forward to reading the sequel. Boling is a wonderful story teller!
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews