100 Missions North/a Fighter Pilot's Story of the Vietnam War [Hardcover]

Kenneth H. Bell (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 1993

In 100 Missions North, Ken Bell recounts the harrowing sorties that he and his comrades flew in F-105 Thunderchiefs, the famous "Thud", in 1966-67, when pilots faced a 50 percent loss rate. What was it like to face these odds day after day? We learn that men sustained by faith in each other and joined by the unique bonds of combat can overcome anxiety, fear, and even terror to achieve common goals.

--This text refers to the Paperback edition.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Bell, a retired Air Force brigadier general, offers an engrossing account of his missions against heavily defended targets in North Vietnam at the controls of an F-105 fighter-bomber. His powers of description are outstanding: air-combat buffs will thrill to his knuckle-whitening recall of the 1966-1967 action as he searches for ways to confuse the defenses (MiG fighters, surface-to-air missiles, anti-aircraft fire) and deliver bombs at night in bad weather. Bell also recounts his between-missions experiences, which include his abduction by a band of Thai thugs and various R&R adventures. His is the first air-combat memoir from the Vietnam War to describe the intense and unpredictable social life of Air Force pilots on a Southeast Asian base--in this case the Takhli Royal Thai Air Force Base north of Bangkok, where the 355th Tactical Figther Wing was stationed.
Copyright 1993 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Review

"An engrossing account . . .His powers of description are outstanding: air-combat buffs will thrill to his kucnkle-whitening recall." -- Publishers Weekly

"An extraordinary tale . . .Highly recommended." -- Booklist --This text refers to the Paperback edition.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 288 pages
• Publisher: Brassey's Inc (April 1993)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0028810120
• ISBN-13: 978-0028810126
• Product Dimensions: 9.4 x 6.5 x 1.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (27 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #699,039 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

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38 of 38 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Tales of Air War in Vietnam, May 8, 2003

By 

Scott Keeton (Acworth, GA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: 100 Missions North: A Fighter Pilot's Story of the Vietnam War (Paperback)

It seems to me as if stories about the U.S. foot soldier in Vietnam abound, but the Vietnam War was also a war Americans fought fiercely in the air. It stands to reason then that the chronicle of the F105 fighter pilot, who flew the most harrowing missions and suffered the greatest losses, is one of the more significant, albeit under-appreciated, tales worthy of telling. As such, Ken Bell's 100 Missions North is an excellent place to dig in to the subject to appreciate a unique, by-gone perspective. Bell's first-hand account of the 100 missions he flew as a Thunderchief pilot over north Vietnam in 1966-67 provides a superb, three-dimensional picture of his life at Takhli Royal Thai Air Force Base north of Bangkok, Thailand, one of two primary facilities for F105s during the war. Aside from the fact that Bell was a major at the time and thus missed out on the opportunity to live dorm-style in a hooch with lower-ranking officers, his story in many ways typifies the life of an F105 pilot of this era. Although his is not the only first-hand account of the F105 pilots' experience, it may be the most satisfying.

Thud Ridge, Jack Broughton's account of his tour, for instance, although essential as a piece of F105 fighter pilot history, is not a straightforward chronological account of his experiences. Instead, Broughton picks and chooses subjects for each chapter, so although there is something of a running narrative, the text skips around a bit. Not a big problem but it can be confusing unless you've been a member of a fighter wing. Therefore, I would also say Broughton seems to be writing more to a limited audience, the fellow fighter pilot as well as the military enthusiast; hence, although a good book regarding its subject, Thud Ridge is more for those already with a base knowledge of air war and squadrons.

Another top-notch book but with a broader appeal than Thud Ridge is G.I. Basel's Pak Six. Basel's book is quite an enjoyable read. He turns a nice phrase, recounts interesting stories, and is easy to follow and understand. Basel also has a good sense of humor that helps the outsider appreciate the F105 fighter pilot mentality. Why then is Pak Six not the first book to pick up on the F105 pilot experience? Length! Pak Six has about half as many pages as 100 Missions North. In spite of the fact that Basel's book was a pure pleasure to read, and I finished it in about two days, it nonetheless gets into and out of its subject too quickly. It's good to leave the reader wanting more, but I wanted much more.

It was after I read these two books that I came across 100 Missions North. Bell's book is the one I wished I'd picked up first. At 300 pages, it provides a detailed, nicely paced, chronological account of the 100 missions he flew. Although he doesn't literally account for all 100 missions, Bell presents the highlights of his most significant missions and discusses life outside the cockpit as well. Like Basel, he is easy to understand and can tell a good story, and like a seasoned writer, is not embarrassed to confess his fears and mistakes while flying missions. Likewise, he provides honest observations about the world and people around him during his tour.

For anyone interested in this side of the Vietnam War, all three books are a must, and certainly, all three offer something unique that in total present a thorough picture of what it must have been like to be there, a subject of particular interest to me since my father was there too, but he's no longer around to recount his experiences. Of the group, 100 Missions North is the most well-rounded regarding its subject and is certainly a worthy place to begin getting a grasp of life inside the cockpit while flying bombing missions into a region reputed to be the most heavily defended in the history of warfare.

23 of 23 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Overview of Life in an F-105 Squadron, November 27, 2003

By 

Robert I. Hedges - See all my reviews
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This review is from: 100 Missions North: A Fighter Pilot's Story of the Vietnam War (Hardcover)

Much is made of the 50% loss rate of Thud crews during Vietnam, and certainly there is plenty of information about combat losses in Ken Bell's book, but the great thing about this book is its macro description of life in a tactical fighter squadron in Vietnam in the fierce 1967-1968 time frame.

I am a long time fan of the F-105 and have read most of the books available about the F-105 and combat in SEA. This book is an interesting one as it is seen through the eyes of a Major (an experienced, mid-level officer) as opposed to Jack Broughton's classics 'Thud Ridge' and 'Going Downtown', which are written from the higher level viewpoint, and the new classic 'When Thunder Rolled', by Ed Rasimus, who went to the Thud (and Vietnam) as a Lieutenant right out of Pilot Training. As such, Bell's '100 Missions North' is right in the middle. If you have the time I would read all three authors, as in combination, you can get the best composite viewpoint.

Bell's writing is strongest in describing everyday events and life in the squadron hooches. I think there is more tactics and flying specific information in the Broughton and Rasimus books (which I love), but Bell is able to make anyone (even someone not familiar with the military, the F-105, or Vietnam) feel like they are right there.

This book should be on the bookshelf of everyone with an interest in military aviation, especially if you happen to love the F-105.

14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars One of the best, January 11, 2004

By 

Steve Dietrich (Santa Ynez Valley and Santa Monica CA, United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: 100 Missions North: A Fighter Pilot's Story of the Vietnam War (Paperback)

Ken Bell has done an great job of communcating both the story of those who sacrificed so much over North Vietnam and the feel of being there.

For the first time since aircraft went to war Hollywood chose to virtually ignore the drama and terror of the air war in Vietnam. There are no classic movies which will endure for future generations. We are left only with some excellent written accounts of the conflict.

Although I read and enjoyed When Thunder Rolled and a number of other books on the air war in Vietnam I would rate this at the top of the class. Bell not only tells the story but also the emotions from the highs to the lows.

Highly recommended