Have You Read? Flying Warrior

Author Jules Harper, beginning at age 12, takes the reader through the unique process of becoming a naval aviator. He tells the tales from his first landing on an aircraft carrier to his experiences as a brand-new pilot in a combat squadron, having replaced a naval aviator who had been killed in a carrier accident. He also describes some of the pranks that were played on him as a rookie on the road to becoming a flying warrior.

Harper survived two combat tours aboard the aircraft carrier USS Kitty Hawk from 1966–1968 and was shot at daily by enemy fire, all while completing 200 combat missions over Vietnam. Describing his first mission to his last, Harper is sometimes entertaining but always heartfelt, and the reader senses both the comradery that the squadron pilots felt for each other and the sadness, as many were lost during the war.

As a certified nuclear weapons delivery pilot, Harper talks about the Cold War reality with Russia and how we were lucky to survive that time in history. During missions over Vietnam, he describes his squadron mates as consummate professionals. Operating as a team, their precise bombing raids decimated numerous North Vietnamese targets while sparing human life.

When on liberty, they were able to temporarily escape the hell of war, enjoying games like “Dead Bat” and “Airplane,” which the author lays out for the reader to clearly envision.

Harper was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross, Air Medal, 20 Strike Flight Air Medals, and many other accolades. After reading this book, you’ll have a new understanding and appreciation about the warriors who protect not only their comrades in arms but the defense of our nation as well.—Reviewed by Michelle Allen

This article was originally published in the March 2017 issue of Air Line Pilot.