MAGNUM! THE WILD WEASELS IN DESERT STORM: The Elimination of Iraq's Air Defence [Hardcover]

Brick Eisel (Author), James A Schreiner (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 1844159078 | ISBN-13: 978-1844159079 | Publication Date: August 2009

This book is based upon a journal Jim Schreiner kept during his deployment to the Persian Gulf region for Operations DESERT SHIELD and DESERT STORM. Building upon that record and the recollections of other F-4G Wild Weasel aircrew, the authors show a slice of what life and war was like during that time. The pawns in the game, the ones that had to actually do the fighting and dying were the hundreds of thousands of men and women who left their homes and families to live for seemingly endless months in the vast, trackless desert while the world stage-play unfolded. To them, the war was deeply personal. At times, the war was scary; at other times, it was funny as hell. Usually, if you survive the former, it turns into the latter.

REVIEWS

"This is an absorbing and informative book, combining technical topics with amusing and authentic verbatim accounts of operational experience, enhanced by copious and informative appendices. Recommended."

The Journal of the Royal Signals Institution, Vol XXVIII, Summer 2009, No. 1.

"... a from- the- trenches view of the tactics, dangers, success, failures and annoyances of daily life... a very personal tale, a look inside the mind and cockpit..."

Air Power History, Spring 2010

"...chronicles the exploits of the authors as they deployed, fought, and returned home from Desert Shield/Desert Strom...a great read..."IPMS, 04/2011

Product Details

• Hardcover: 272 pages
• Publisher: Pen and Sword (August 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1844159078
• ISBN-13: 978-1844159079
• Product Dimensions: 9.8 x 7 x 1.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.4 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #702,991 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars There I was..., October 25, 2009

By 

Edward Ballanco "Chief, Society of Wild Weasels" - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: MAGNUM! THE WILD WEASELS IN DESERT STORM: The Elimination of Iraq's Air Defence (Hardcover)

If you want to know what it was like dueling with surface to air missiles in the skies above Iraq, this is a book for you.

Brick Eisel and Jim Schreiner did a great job describing what it was like fighting to gain and maintain air supremacy in Desert Storm. Magnum introduces you to the people and puts you in the cockpit of the venerable F-4G Wild Weasel where you will experience the hours of boredom frequently interrupted by moments of sheer terror while engaging SAMs, AAA, enemy fighters, and scuds. You will experience the Wild Weasel challenges - planning a campaign using theoretical employment concepts while trying to convince the non believers that it would really work; then, evolving airpower tactics and ultimately revising air power doctrine as they executed an intense campaign. They say that all good war stories start out with, "There I was..." and this one does just that through Jim Schreiner's first hand accounts. From someone who has "been there and done that" this is a must read!

"Victor" Ballanco

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars something original, December 6, 2009

By 

Mr. Bernard Latreille (France) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: MAGNUM! THE WILD WEASELS IN DESERT STORM: The Elimination of Iraq's Air Defence (Hardcover)

More than interesting! We believe we live with these crews, manning the last of the true Weasels. Technically interesting, but very spirited as far of the conditions of this war are discribed. Recommanded!

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Super-Class Air Tactics, October 6, 2009

By 

oldtora (USA) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: MAGNUM! THE WILD WEASELS IN DESERT STORM: The Elimination of Iraq's Air Defence (Hardcover)

I am merely a general reader; not a pilot. I enjoy reading about clever air tactics because the tactics must consider all directons of sight and fast speed. Two famous super-class air tactics are the wild weasels vs sams, and the "mig trap" devised by Robin Olds and the wolfpack. This is a large, comprehensive book about a pilot's wild weasel service during the first Iraq war. Not only do we have the actual pilot's first person story, but there are many informative asides, excellent colour and black and white photos, and even appendices. The book is worth its price for anyone who enjoys studying tactics, the F4, or the actual pilot's very interesting and well-written story. Another excellent book is First In, Last Out: Stories by The Wild Weasels.