Angles of Attack: An A-6 Intruder Pilot's War [Mass Market Paperback]

Peter Hunt (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 27, 2002

From the carrier launch in total darkness to the gut-dropping rolls through enemy antiaircraft fire, Peter Hunt puts you in the pilot’s seat for the flight of your life.

Moments after Desert Storm began, bomber pilot Pete Hunt was in the air over the Persian Gulf. Hunt saw it all, and this is his electrifying account. Tested to the max, flying all night, every night for weeks on end, Hunt executed dozens of missions—from carpet bombing to dropping deadly five-hundred-pound cluster bombs with pinpoint precision; from supporting Marines on the ground to bombing fleeing Iraqis along the blood-soaked “highway of death.”

His A-6 jet was a wide-open target for the blazing antiaircraft fire streaking up to destroy it. Escaping this deadly blizzard of fire made setting the A-6 back down on a little deck in a big ocean seem almost easy. But Hunt, like the rest of his squadron, the VA-145 Swordsmen—honored as the premier Attack Squadron in the United States Navy for 1991—was just doing his job: keeping America free.

Editorial Reviews

From the Inside Flap

From the carrier launch in total darkness to the gut-dropping rolls through enemy antiaircraft fire, Peter Hunt puts you in the pilot?s seat for the flight of your life.

Moments after Desert Storm began, bomber pilot Pete Hunt was in the air over the Persian Gulf. Hunt saw it all, and this is his electrifying account. Tested to the max, flying all night, every night for weeks on end, Hunt executed dozens of missions?from carpet bombing to dropping deadly five-hundred-pound cluster bombs with pinpoint precision; from supporting Marines on the ground to bombing fleeing Iraqis along the blood-soaked ?highway of death.?

His A-6 jet was a wide-open target for the blazing antiaircraft fire streaking up to destroy it. Escaping this deadly blizzard of fire made setting the A-6 back down on a little deck in a big ocean seem almost easy. But Hunt, like the rest of his squadron, the VA-145 Swordsmen?honored as the premier Attack Squadron in the United States Navy for 1991?was just doing his job: keeping America free.

About the Author

Peter Hunt was born in Northport, New York, in 1962 and joined the United States Navy in 1985. After pilot training he was transferred to Naval Air Station Whidbey Island, Washington, to fly A-6 attack jets. During his active duty, he flew 2,180 hours, 45 combat missions in Operation Desert Storm, and made 450 carrier-arrested landings. He completed three deployments of six months each to the Western Pacific, Indian Ocean, and Persian Gulf: two on the U.S.S. Ranger, and one on the U.S.S. Kitty Hawk. He left active duty in 1995 and currently lives in Washington State with his wife and two children. Hunt now works as a pilot with one of the world’s largest airlines.

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Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 384 pages
• Publisher: Ballantine Books (August 27, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0345451147
• ISBN-13: 978-0345451149
• Product Dimensions: 7 x 4.7 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.9 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (12 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #762,357 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Peter Hunt was born in New York and spent six years of his childhood in Athens, Greece where he made his memorable first dive in 1979. Although barely midway through a scuba training course and not yet certified the prospect of catching Greek spiny lobster for dinner was too tempting for Hunt to ignore. Unfortunately, this meant diving with borrowed, unfamiliar equipment and going to 110 feet deep, far beyond a safe depth for a first dive. As a consequence, Hunt ran out of air and was forced to share a single regulator with his buddy as they slowly ascended to the safety of the surface. The incident instilled in Hunt a far greater respect for diving and an understanding of the importance of training and experience. Hunt worked for the next five years of high school and college as a dive master on two separate New York charter boats and as an assistant instructor at a local dive shop. By the time he left New York, Hunt had dove extensively on many of the wrecks off Long Island, including the Andrea Doria.

Peter Hunt graduated from Brown University in 1985 before joining the Navy and training as an A-6 Intruder attack pilot. He completed three aircraft carrier deployments to the Persian Gulf, Indian Ocean, and Western Pacific during ten years of military service. After leaving the Navy, Hunt continued to fly as a pilot for a major international airline until being diagnosed with Parkinson's disease in 2005 at age forty-three. He is trimix certified, a PADI Divemaster, and has made over 1,000 dives in a wide variety of locations around the country and the world. Hunt holds a Masters Degree from the University of Washington, lives with his wife and two children on Whidbey Island, and still dives despite the progression of Parkinson's disease. He hopes to continue diving a bit longer and to keep the memories forever. His first book, Angles of Attack (2002), is a pilot's account of combat operations during the first Gulf War.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Hook - Journal of Carrier Aviation Book Review, February 6, 2003

By 

Peter Mersky (San Diego, CA, United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Angles of Attack: An A-6 Intruder Pilot's War (Mass Market Paperback)

Angles of Attack: An A-6 Intruder Pilots War; Peter Hunt; Ballantine Books, New York, N.Y., 2002; softcover, 368 pages, illustrated. ....
This newest Gulf War memoir is excellent; it really does put the reader in the cockpit. Like the A-7 Corsair, its stablemate in the Navys attack community, the A-6 Intruder flew its final combat sorties in the six-week action that ousted the invading Iraqis from Kuwait. Intruder squadrons flew from all six carriers deployed during Desert Storm (as well as two Marine Corps shore-based squadrons), and one A-6 aviator tells a story that covers the buildup of Desert Shield and the nightly launches that devastated Iraqi naval and land assets.
Peter Hunts enthusiastic account is one of the best of the type this reviewer has read in recent years. The focal point of the book is, of course, his experience flying 45 combat missions with VA-145 and the close bond with his bombardier-navigator (BN). The descriptions of the prewar activities as the squadron, air wing and carrier prepare to deploy give a fine insiders view of carrier aviation. The work ups are described in detail that might at times slow the story, but Hunt carries the story well with the result that these portions are well worth the readers time. Hunt tells what it was like flying combat from one of the Navys oldest carriers, USS Ranger (CV-61).
Peripheral areas like a port call in the Philippines, the loneliness of Christmas Eve at sea  he decides to sort out his personal survival items  and thoughts of family so far away are some of the most appealing aspects of Hunts work..
The author and his BN participated in the Battle of Bubiyan, which saw the destruction of several Iraqi navy PT boats that eliminated that threat. They also flew during the last major attack on Iraqi units along the so-called highway of death as the invaders torched the Kuwaiti capital and tried to flee.
Though a rather large paperback, the writing flows well and the author has a nice, personal style. Unfortunately, the book concludes on a sour note because of his dissatisfaction with the post-war Navy, the impact of the Tailhook scandal and the resulting rot from within. Family separation also plays a hand in his decision to leave, as does the demise of the A-6 community, with no replacement after the A-12 debacle. Nonetheless, Angles of Attack is a fine effort that tells the story of one of the Navys stalwart aviation communities during its last combat deployment.
Peter Mersky

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Interesting book about fighting Desert Storm from the air, November 26, 2002

By 

David Traill (Stuart, FL United States) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Angles of Attack: An A-6 Intruder Pilot's War (Mass Market Paperback)

There aren't a lot of books by former naval avaitors about flying and fighting during Desert Storm. This book is also rarer since the platform he flew, the A-6 Intruder, has been retired despite several advantages over its replacement, the F/A-18. The book describes the working up period prior to deploying to the Arabian Gulf, shipboard life, as well as the buildup and actual fighting done during Desert Storm from his carrier. The wrting isn't as gripping as a professional writer would do, but nonetheless is an authentic account from a unique source. Overall, I was gald to have had the opportunity to learn more about what makes combat and naval aviation so much more different than what land-based forces go through. As a book to throw in your bag for a weekend reading source, this will be fine.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Outstanding "inside" look at a pilot's view of Desert Storm, October 5, 2002

By 

Ms Tracy Quiring (St Cloud, MN USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Angles of Attack: An A-6 Intruder Pilot's War (Mass Market Paperback)

Title of this review says it all. The only reason I wanted to post another review of this book is to just add another 5 stars-it's that good.

This book should become a classic-alas, I fear it will be overlooked by most, and that will definately be their loss.

I kid you not-I've read most of the first person accounts of aerial combat, from all periods, and this one is right at the top of the list.