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No Escape Zone
On 16th April 1994, Nick Richardson was shot down over the beseiged Bosnian Muslim town of Gorazde, his plane hit by a surface-to-air missile. NO ESCAPE ZONE is the story of Richardson's journey to the Bosnian theatre of war and his descent into the hell of the war-torn Balkans. It recounts in graphic detail the rigorous training as his aircraft carrier HMS Ark Royal steamed full tilt to the Adriatic, his missions over Bosnia and the dramatic shootdown itself. But that was merely the beginning. Picked up by Muslim forces, he rapidly learnt that nothing was what it seemed in the former Yugoslavia. When the Serbs stormed Gorazde, Richardson - now teamed with a crack SAS unit - found the Muslims turning against them. A dangerous escape became their only option, because capture meant almost certain death. An action-packed narrative in the bestselling tradition of Sabre Squadron and TORNADO DOWN, Nick Richardson's first-hand account of his breakout from the besieged town is one of the most gripping, untold escape stories of the modern era.
336 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2000
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
May 25, 2023
This was well written, from an educated and intelligent pen. It kept me reading and turning pages. However, it was standard modern era warfare experience; nothing really new was added to the genre, except perhaps the geographical theatre. Set during the Bosnian war of the early 90s, it is a war I knew little about and had, in fact forgotten it had even taken place.
As ex militarily, I found the telling of day to day life in the armed force interesting, and the matter of fact descriptions of flying the Harrier akin to popping to the shops in the car for a pint of milk. I suppose anything becomes routine eventually.
Overall, a good story, well edited and written.
As ex militarily, I found the telling of day to day life in the armed force interesting, and the matter of fact descriptions of flying the Harrier akin to popping to the shops in the car for a pint of milk. I suppose anything becomes routine eventually.
Overall, a good story, well edited and written.
December 30, 2024
Great book. First hand encounter of one man’s plight after being shot down during a mission during the Bosnian conflict.
If you like military action books that are true events then worth a read.
If you like military action books that are true events then worth a read.
March 11, 2012
Actually this wasn't so much a 'slow' start as a technical one full of aircraft and training/operational detail that might not be to the taste of everyone who buys a book which is advertised a 'gripping escape story.'
I am quite interested in the 'training' side but have to admit to skim reading some of the first part of this book. However, having read 'Tornado Down' and 'Bravo Two Zero' which are also stories of surviving in enemy territory I was not disappointed by this account and admired Nick Richardson's straight forward, unassuming style.
This is quite a roller coaster of a book because the second part is a breathtaking account of a pilot wrenched from his technological world and finding himself alone in a desperate, war torn place where it is difficult to even distinguish friend from enemy.
Maybe the title/ blurb is a little misleading but for anyone who is a fan of this kind of true-life account 'No Escape Zone' is a must read.
I am quite interested in the 'training' side but have to admit to skim reading some of the first part of this book. However, having read 'Tornado Down' and 'Bravo Two Zero' which are also stories of surviving in enemy territory I was not disappointed by this account and admired Nick Richardson's straight forward, unassuming style.
This is quite a roller coaster of a book because the second part is a breathtaking account of a pilot wrenched from his technological world and finding himself alone in a desperate, war torn place where it is difficult to even distinguish friend from enemy.
Maybe the title/ blurb is a little misleading but for anyone who is a fan of this kind of true-life account 'No Escape Zone' is a must read.
April 19, 2014
This is without a doubt the best memoir I've read regarding the 1992-1995 Bosnian War.
Written by Nick Richardson, a Sea Harrier FRS1, it covers the lead up to 801 Squadron's NATO deployment on Ark Royal to the Bosnian theatre and his subsequent ejection & escape from Bosnia after being hit by a surface-to-air missile fired by the Army of Republika Srpska (Bosnian Serb Army, of the then Serbian Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina).
The writing is straight forward yet gripping, first starting with details of Squadron life, some technical background on the Sea Harrier FRS1 (which is presenting in an informative, yet interesting manner) and a general backgrounding of events leading up to his deployment on the Ark Royal light aircraft carrier.
Well worth the read if you're interested in any or all of the following: the Bosnian War, the Sea Harrier FRS1, escape memoirs, first hand military accounts, general military history.
Written by Nick Richardson, a Sea Harrier FRS1, it covers the lead up to 801 Squadron's NATO deployment on Ark Royal to the Bosnian theatre and his subsequent ejection & escape from Bosnia after being hit by a surface-to-air missile fired by the Army of Republika Srpska (Bosnian Serb Army, of the then Serbian Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina).
The writing is straight forward yet gripping, first starting with details of Squadron life, some technical background on the Sea Harrier FRS1 (which is presenting in an informative, yet interesting manner) and a general backgrounding of events leading up to his deployment on the Ark Royal light aircraft carrier.
Well worth the read if you're interested in any or all of the following: the Bosnian War, the Sea Harrier FRS1, escape memoirs, first hand military accounts, general military history.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews