Phantom Reflections

by Mike McCarthy

- Hair-raising descriptions of aerial combat as seen from the cockpit of a fighter jet - Thoughtful reflections on what it meant to fight in Vietnam As the Vietnam War raged thousands of miles away, Mike McCarthy completed his flight training in the United States, eager to get into the war and afraid it would end before he could participate. He needn't have worried. By 1967, he was flying his F-4 Phantom II fighter with the U.S. Air Force's 433rd Tactical Fighter Squadron, also known as Satan's Angels. Before his tour ended, McCarthy completed 124 missions during the intense air war over North Vietnam and Laos and earned the Distinguished Flying Cross. His memoir recreates the horror and exhilaration of air combat.

Genres: Military Fiction

240 pages, Paperback

First published December 30, 2006

Reviews

[Jason Young · Rating 5 out of 5]

A bit repetitive toward the end as he reiterated things, but a very well told memoir and structured excellently.

[Jack Hwang · Rating 4 out of 5]

Don't expect to find a hot shot like "Maverick" in this book of thoughtful reflections. McCarthy is as conservative as he claims. Some of the moments and reflections do really well to compensate his sometimes repetition.