Customer Reviews

Rampant Raider: An A-4 Skyhawk Pilot in Vietnam

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Thus far there have been precious few memoirs written by Yankee Station attack or fighter pilots. Thankfully we now have Stephen Gray's marvelous chronicle of flying combat over North Vietnam with the 'Rampant Raiders' of VA-212. Gray's book is not only a spellbinding, enjoyable memoir of the life of a Naval aviator circa 1967-69 but also literate and readily accessible to boot.

Initially serving as an EM flying in Sea King anti-submarine helos, Gray applied for the NavCad program and eventually trained to be a Douglas A-4 Skyhawk pilot. The first part of Gray's book details the training he underwent that transformed him into an attack pilot. He has a marvelous way with words. His descriptions of aviation tactics, weapons and training could have been full of 'pilot talk' but instead are simply and clearly presented. You don't need to have an aeronautical background to enjoy this book.

In January 1967 Gray, still green behind the ears, found himself assigned to Attack Squadron 212 led by the legendary Homer Smith. VA-212 was part of Air Wing 21 on board BonHomme Richard. Once on Yankee Station Bonnie Dick's air wing started flying the first missions of what became a record-breaking cruise. Flying more sorties than any other carrier air wing, Air Wing 21 dropped six million pounds of ordnance and downed a record number of North Vietnamese MiG fighters. The cost was heavy: fifteen pilots killed or captured, two of them from VA-212 including Homer Smith.

Gray's descriptions of that record-breaking cruise are gripping and well-done. He takes the reader inside the cockpit to give an intimate view of air combat.

Gray ends the book with BonHomme Richard returning stateside. Presumably there's a volume 2 in the wings covering his second Bonnie Dick cruise. One hopes so!

In summary, I can't remember when I have read a better written combat memoir than RAMPANT RAIDER. If you want to know what it was like to fly combat over North Vietnam circa 1967, buy this book. It's a great piece of writing; I'd give it six stars if that was allowed! Bravo Zulu, Mr. Gray!

Great book on the small deck carrier war. My Father flew from Bonny Dick in this era so was extremely interesting to me. Easy reading found it hard to put down.

I have always had an interest in the Vietnam War since I visited the country in 1995 with the Semester at Sea program. I was lucky to be one of the first groups of American students allowed to visit since the war. It was a mystery to me... It piqued my interest on how much the war impacted my parents' era, but more so, helped me begin to understand what it meant for my Grandfather to be a part of the war. My Grandfather was Captain of the USS Bon Homme Richard while Mr. Gray was aboard. I was recommended his book to get a better understanding of the war and the life of a pilot. I learned so much and especially loved reading about the pilot's lingo, living aboard the carrier, views on the combat missions, and also about how it felt to be in the war. I always ask my Grandfather questions about Vietnam and this book helped describe that world in a way I could relate. I am grateful to have a better understanding and have even more respect for all of those that have served our country. (My Grandfather has also written a book about his WWII submarine experience - Luck of the Draw by Captain C. Kenneth Ruiz).

I went through basically the same training as Steve Gray but in 1968-1969 and ended up flying a P-3 Orion instead of a tactical air (TACAIR) aircraft. Nevertheless, after 22 years as a Naval Officer and Aviator, I still love to read about the Vietnam exploits of both Navy and Air Force flight crew. I've read just about every book out there about F-105's (The THUD). Additionally, if you liked this book, read "Over the Beach"...a similiar account about an F-8 squadron aboard the USS Oriskany in 1966. That said, I'd have written this book differently. Stephen goes, I think, into far too great detail about his navy training - it takes up about half the book. While I found it very interesting, accurate and full of familiar memories, I'm not sure the non-Naval Aviator will find this part of the story very captivating. But that is just an opinion. Also, as I put the book down after reading the last page, I wished Stephen had continued on to cover his second combat tour the following year. The book is less than 300 pages and Stephen writes well....wish he had hung with it. I really didn't want the book to end - and that is a high compliment.

Steve is not a self acclaimed hero. He is a typically well trained A-4 Skyhawk pilot who speaks innocently and honestly of pre-flight and inflight fear and gives credit to his squadronmates while taking none for himself. I found his attitude refreshing and if his account in this book is true, he would make my hero list.

If you went through naval aviation pilot/NFO training in the 60's or 70's (or if your Dad did), read this book!! I promise you will be glad you did.

This is a well written, factual and interesting book. As a member of the Ramant Raiders at the timing of the book, it brought back many, many fond memories of the people and events that took place. I recommend this book to anyone interested in Naval aviation and what was required to become an A4 pilot in Viet Nam.

It is not by accident that The Naval Historical Society has chosen to pick this book for publication. Riveting, hard hitting, and as worthwhile time spent as anything read in decades. Not for the pacemaker impaired !

Rampant Raider: An A-4 Skyhawk Pilot in Vietnam

Like Steve Gray, I went through the exact program approximately a year later and made the 1968 Bonnie Dick cruise in a sister A 4 squadron and knew him. Though the book is an accurate account at that time of the syllabus from OCS, primary, basic, advanced jets, the RAG, SERE school and even combat, I found the book loaded with unnecessary minutia i.e, as if written by a reporter following Steve around as to what time chow was served, details of the O course, pages of technical data on the pressure chamber, number of fuel cells in the F-11A and fuel selection switches including cockpit switcholgoy, weapons data and tactics beyond necessary for most readers or most navy pilots.

I even found myself skimming pages. Though perhaps worthwhile as a keepsake, it includes a lot of meaningless info, like the A-4 LABS gear, nukes release shape profiles etc. Rampant Raider sorely ignores in many ways the actual flavor of what the Navy flight program and squadron life was about including shipboard life especially "ready room" life and liberty along with it's humor.

On several occasions Steve makes reference to the term "College Boys" versus NAVCAD/prior enlisted which is used by Marine DI's and not between fellow students and officers is unfortunate and sophomoric. Unfortunately Steve fell into what can be referred to the as the typical NAVAD persecution syndrome. Having several former NAVCAD's in our squadron, one got tired of their continued whinny NAVCAD junior birdman complex...like get over it you're a Naval Officer now, we're on the line in combat lets move on. Quite obviously Steve to this day and not fully recovered.

It seemed Steve was far more interested in preparing a quasi NAVAIR manual for a NATOPS quiz? There was a saying, if you had trouble falling asleep just pick up your NATOP's (aircraft) manual and within 10 minutes you'll be out. I found that to be true reading Rampant Raider. Writing a memoir is a balance and it's not all about the syllabus and aircraft systems and technical data. Though the book in a technical sense is accurate and well done in that respect, personally I felt the human element and personal interplay was lacking and in many ways far more relevant.

If you're interested in being a Navy or Marine pilot, I would suggest two books that better capture the real flavor of navy pilots and the flight program, "Flights of Passages" by Samuel Hynes and "Bogeys and Bandits" by Robert Gandt. One, the WW II exploits of marine fighter pilot from training to combat in the Pacific and the other of an F-18 RAG class. Having been there in between time wise, the trails and tribulations haven't changed much other than the aircraft, and what sets Naval Aviation apart is far better captured in these two books and enjoyable reads.

Dennis

As a ship mate of D. Mayhugh "A Veteran" and Mr. Gray, I want to say that the book was outstanding. Having served in VA-212 from Aug. of 66 to July of 69 as a Plane Captain and Line P.O., I want to say that it is very representative of the times and events that took place then. Very good reading.

The item arrived within a few days and was in the condition that it was described or better, very happy with there service.

The author provides such detail that you really cannot escape the feeling of being part of the story. The amount of detail relative to Naval aviation is the best I have read in any book. The NAVCAD program (two years of college or GED equivalent) is currently suspended and there are few aviation spots left compared to this timeframe but Gray certainly was a top Naval pilot so its easy to see why he made aviation his career. I could not put this book down and read it in two nights it's that captivating in both content and style so for those interested in Navy Air during the Vietnam war its got my top recommendation. My hat is off to these men as risked their lives everyday and flew into the most heavily defended airspace known in history then or now. Read this book and you will not be disappointed.