Feet Wet: Reflections of a Carrier Pilot (Schiffer Military History) [Hardcover]

Paul T. Gillcrist (Author)

Book Description

Series: Schiffer Military History | Publication Date: June 1, 1997

Paul Gillcrist was a navy carrier pilot for almost thirty years, from the early days, of flying propeller planes from straight deck carriers, to the days of high-tech, lethal ""teen"" jets and supercarriers. In his remarkable career - from ""nugget"", to comp

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

Admiral Gillcrist's 33-year career parallels the development of postwar naval aviation and its revolutionary use of jets aboard aircraft carriers. His memoirs are filled with flying stories (his own adventures and those of his shipmates) of hairsbreath escapes and occasional tragedies, all proving something we already knew; this is dangerous work. There is also history on postwar carrier developments in general, and on how naval aviation adapted to the challenge of the Vietnam War. While some subject background would aid the reader in understanding this capably and enthusiastically written history, it is still a remarkable window into the high-pressure world of the carrier pilot. For those closer to the field, the account rings with absolute authenticity.
- Mel D. Lane, Sacramento, Cal.
Copyright 1990 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 368 pages
• Publisher: Schiffer Publishing, Ltd.; 2nd edition (June 1, 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0764302841
• ISBN-13: 978-0764302848
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 5.9 x 1.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.7 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (16 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #675,809 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Highly readable, entertaining account!, September 24, 2003

By 

Carl C. Nelson (Thompson Station, TN USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

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This review is from: Feet Wet: Reflections of a Carrier Pilot (Schiffer Military History) (Hardcover)

Rear Admiral Paul Gillcrist, USN (Retired), gives an account of his 33-year Navy career from training in a radial engined SNJ to combat in Vietnam to his final carrier trap in a supersonic F-14A Tomcat. The book is presented in an anectodal form, like an old salt spinning his yarns for a fascinated audience.

Gillcrist's memoir has several high points. One of the most interesting parts of the book is how the Navy transitioned from a propeller-driven fleet to a jet-plane, supersonic navy. He gives a good layman's discussion of the three important advances required for jet carrier aviation: the angled carrier deck, the powerful steam catapult, and the optical landing system (aka "the meatball" or "the ball").

His accounts of two ejections (one of which left him in recovery for sixteen months) are harrowing. Some stories are laugh-out-loud funny, like the one about a pilot landing on the wrong carrier and his grace and humor dealing with the inevitable ribbing. It's easy to devour this book, and wish you had a story of your own that was half as good as only one of Gillcrist's!

What impresses me most is Gillcrist's complete lack of egotism. It's hard to write one's memoirs and not come across as at least a little self-promoting, but he pulls it off in grand style. Gillcrist is humble, and loves naval aviation enough to make it the star of the book. His account of his last trap on a carrier is Gillcrist at his most humble; it's a sad goodbye indeed.

The biggest fault of the book is its episodic format. That format worked wonderfully in Gillcrist's book "Tomcat! The Grumman F-14 Story," which was heavy on the pictures but the text was effective and authoritative as well. In "Feet Wet" the stories don't have the narrow-subject connection that "Tomcat!" does so it feels disjointed and jumpy at times; mere vignettes instead of threads in a grand story. It's easy to get the feeling that these are stories that Gillcrist would tell you over a few beers--you'd love the stories but not have too much of an idea about the man or the hows and whys of his profession.

But then again, how many times do you get to have a few beers with a man who's "been there, done that" like Admiral Gillcrist?

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars "Real Life" Top Gun Adventure, August 21, 1998

By 

[e-mail] (Brunswick, Maine) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Feet Wet: Reflections of a Carrier Pilot (Schiffer Military History) (Hardcover)

If you like adventure, you'll enjoy this book. If you enjoy flying, you'll love this book. If you turn your head in the direction of the sound of a plane flying overhead, you need to buy this book now! Be careful however not to start reading this book late at night. You may not get any sleep, because you won't put it down.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Entertaining, fun, exciting, and accurate, November 8, 2005

By 

Tommy Callahan "Tommy" (USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Feet Wet: Reflections of a Carrier Pilot (Wings of War) (Hardcover)

What a read. I had trouble putting it down. This is a captivating book by a true American HERO. From blackouts to stalls, ditching and bailing, this is a man who went through and helped to create the evolution of U.S. Navy Carrier Operations. This is a true fighter pilot, and a former "Top Gun". I consider it to be an honor to have also attended the U.S. Naval Academy, particularly with people like Admiral Gillcrist as a model for my behavior.

Thank you Admiral for providing such an entertaining book, and thank you especially for serving our Country in such a galant manner.