Black Aces High: The Story of a Modern Fighter Squadron at War

by Robert K. Wilcox

Book Overview

In 1999, when Serbia attacked the small country of Kosovo, the USS Roosevelt was steaming through the Mediterranean. In a matter of days, thirty pilots-veterans and rookies alike-were about to become the lethal tip of a fast, furious, high-tech knife. And the Black Aces Squadron VF-41-a team of mechanics, technicians, electronic warfare specialists-would plunge their weapon into the heart of the enemy... This extraordinary book takes us into the world...

• Format: Mass Market Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0312997086
• ISBN13: 9780312997083
• Release Date: March 2004
• Publisher: St. Martin's Press
• Length: 336 Pages
• Weight: 0.40 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.8" x 4.2" x 6.9"

Customer Reviews

Revealing Account of a Modern Fighter Squadron

Black Aces High is an unusual book but a terrific one. Usually books about fighter squadrons give a lot of technical detail about airplanes and how they fight. Well this one does too. But that?s not the emphasis here. The emphasis is on the flyers, who they are and what they go through in a modern fighter squadron. The Black Aces fly off the USS Roosevelt. Their fighter is the aging F-14 Tomcat, still pound-for-pound one of the greatest fighters ever made. Their assignment was Kosovo, a precurser to Afghanistan and Iraq. We meet them, learn the problems they are facing, and then go to war with them. War is scary and the Aces are full of trepidation. But the core of officers mustered by and including skipper Joey Aucoin leads by example. There is a great group of younger aviators too. This is a war diary. It shows you what really goes on in a navy fighter squadron. They?re not all flag-waving heroes. But they get the job done. And its a tough dangerous job. Even the reluctant step up, which is the true definition of a hero. This story is a credit to the fighting men America produces.While there is a lot of shouting about how to do it, they are not going to be denied. The Black Aces subsequently led the bombing in Afghanistan and were later deployed to Iraq. Buffs as well as novices will enjoy this realistic view - Barry Pitts, So Cal.

I was there

I just finished reading Black Aces High and thought it was outstanding. I read the entire book in one sitting and it was fantastic. I was an F-18 pilot on that cruise and while the book concentrated more on the Tomcat than the Hornet, it accuratly portrayed the the missions and development of some fairly advanced tactics in SCAR. The action in Kosovo was much more intese than Iraq. In addition I was pretty close to most of the guys in the book and he really captured their personalities. Sometimes the truth needs some embellishment to make an interesting story. However, this book was right on the mark, had no embellishment and was captivating. Reading about the strikes in which I participated and the antics of squadron life brought back some great memories. Every squadron had a cast of characters that are pretty funny, but the VF-41 had a lot of larger than life personalities. If you want an accurate portrayal of a squadron at war and the thoughts which pass through pilot's heads during combat, this is a great book. Sincerely, Kurt McClungLCDR USNVMFAT-101 (exchange F-18 instructor with the Marines)

The Real Deal

Once in awhile a book comes along that cuts through all the hype and gets to the truth. Robert K. Wilcox?s BLACK ACES HIGH is that kind of book. Shunning adulation and geewhiz approaches to our aviators on carriers, Wilcox takes us into the heart of a modern fighter squadron as it flys and fights over Kosovo, an important but somewhat forgotten conflict for our forces. However, the Black Aces paved the way for what was done in Afghanistan and what will be done in future airwars. The squadron is preparing to fight in Iraq. But in Kosovo, the Black Aces are thrown in to fight a war dictated by other people. The Black Aces have to learn on the job. The dangers are everywhere. They innovate, fight their fears, come up with new ways of hunting and killing. They don?t have the benefit of ground spotters so must learn, almost like detectives, how to find their enemy, which is hidden and cunning. They end up being prime factors in the capitulation of the Serbian forces. Most importantly we learn in this book how the members of the squadron relate to each other and function as aerial fighters. It is fascinating to get behind the closed doors of a fighter squadron and see what really goes on. We see the personal lives of the pilots and air crews. There is even a love story. They are Americans to be proud of.This is a must read for anyone who wants to see and understand how a carrier fighter squadron functions today in this Age of Terror. This is the new right stuff.

Top Notch

Robert Wilcox is an extremely talented military aviation writer and Black Aces High is another great effort. This is a story of a rundown squadron with low marks and low moral that is transformed into the top bombing squadron in the US Navy. When a new and determined CO, with the unfortunate call sign, Joey, takes over the squadron, he recruits the best senior pilots he can find and a handful of talented maintenance chiefs. Reminiscent somewhat of the story 12 O'clock High, Joey changes the attitude and commitment of the squadron by keen leadership, attention to detail, and care and concern for the men under him. Flying old F-14A Tomcats, recently configured as bombers, VF-41 heads in harm's way aboard the USS Roosevelt for combat duty over Kosovo. The reader gets the inside story as the pilots learn their trade through trial and plenty of error. The book is candid and reveals the squadron's early failures, frustrations and tension. From launching into storms and rain, dodging SAMs, AAA, mountain peaks, and, sometimes, the rules, to landing low on fuel, scared and exhausted, the reader is in the cockpit for all the action. Based primarily on interviews with the participants, Wilcox does a great job building the tension and developing the story. A super accolade to the author for his recognition that the reader knows what an aircraft carrier is. Understanding that carrier aviation has been around for 80 years now, we do not suffer through a yet another cook's tour of the ship, explaining that different colored shirts on the flight deck do this or that, what an LSO does, how a catapult works, what a mirror landing system is and all the other tedium that most naval writers drag readers through. If you read about baseball, you don't expect an explanation of what a pitcher does, where a batter stands, how many are on the team, etc. Thank you Mr. Wilcox, you rate 5 stars just for this! Without Allied ground forces to call out targets, the Black Aces learn how to use LANTIRN, FLIR, and TARPS systems (and a cool, new IZLID system) to hunt out an elusive Serbian military at night in bad weather. This is not Desert Storm tank plinking, but down and dirty hunting and killing among the trees. We learn these systems are not fool proof and every bomb drop is not a CNN highlight film. Its hard, its dangerous, and it takes a determined effort to get it right. Many pilots are unconvinced they can do the job and the rules of engagement, lack of information sharing among forces, and tonnage drop requirements are uncomfortably reminiscent of Vietnam at its worst. But leadership, determination, courage, and that unique quality of American innovation turn the tide. These guys soon become skilled and terribly efficient in what they do. Both Wings of Fury and Scream of Eagles are excellent. Put Black Aces High on your bookshelf right next to them.

The Inside Scoop

This is the best book I've read about cutting-edge American airpower; tactics; strategy; day-to-day operations; and the makeup of good people who make the whole thing fly.