Red Eagles: America's Secret MiGs (General Aviation) (Hardcover)

~ (Author), General J. Jumper (Foreword)
Key Phrases: weapons school, buck fever, evaluation flight, Osprey Publishing, Air Force, Red Eagles (more...)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

This is an engaging combination of an adventure story and a case study in military reform. The Vietnam War showed the U.S. Air Force's neglect of air-to-air combat training in the belief that it was outmoded by nuclear war. Repairing that damage required a training system using Soviet bloc planes as well as air-combat tactics. Davies, a freelance expert on military aviation, explores fresh sources to begin telling how the U.S. acquired the aircraft, put them into flying condition and established a top-secret program that gave generations of young pilots something approaching experience in the realities of dogfighting. Davies eloquently describes the forceful, colorful personalities at the sharp end of this high-risk maverick operation. The book provides a perceptive analysis of the strengths and weaknesses of mid-generation Soviet MiGs that significantly expands understanding of the Arab-Israeli and Indo-Pakistan encounters involving those aircraft. Davies's major achievement is his demonstration of the Red Eagles' role in facilitating the USAF's development into a potent instrument of air supremacy that remains important even in the current era of antiterrorism. (Sept. 23)
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Review

"Davies' Red Eagles is a fitting tribute to [the pilots who died flying the Mi-Gs], and to all those who flew and supported the MiG training effort. His is a wonderful tale, superbly told, unveiling one of the last great unknown cold war stories." -Richard P Hallion, Air & Space (March 2009)

"...a notable achievement ... a powerful survey." -California Bookwatch, November 2008

"...the book benefits from recently declassified information. ...[The stories of] over 30 pilots and crewmen that participated in the unit ... makes [for] an interesting read." - Air Classics

"Every once in a while, one runs across a book that simply sucks one into the story from page one until the end of the book. This is one of those ... So good is this book that if you buy only two or three aviation books a year, this one needs to be one of those." -Scott Van Aken, modelingmadness.com (October 2008)



"This is an engaging combination of an adventure story and a case study in military reform...Davies' major achievement is his demonstration of the Red Eagles' role in facilitating the USAF's development into a potent instrument of air supremacy that remains important even in the current era of antiterrorism."- Publishers Weekly (July 2008)

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 352 pages
• Publisher: Osprey Publishing (September 23, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1846033780
• ISBN-13: 978-1846033780
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 6.1 x 1.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.6 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (28 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #38,738 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An excellent read!, October 13, 2008

By	JHB - See all my reviews

Steve Davies has shined a light into one of the many dark corners that still remain after the end of the Cold War, and was able to tell a story that needed to be told. A fascinating look into one of those "black programs" that was arguably worth every penny the Department of Defense spent on it.

26 of 33 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars I was there!, September 26, 2008

By	FRANK "PACO" GEISLER (leesburg, florida United States) - See all my reviews

I'm Bandit #35 in the book! I was a Red Eagle pilot in the 4477th TES and am featured in the book. I flew 500 MIG 21 sorties in support of Project: Constant Peg. I just finished reading the book and it's factual! Must read. Col (Ret) Frank "Paco" Geisler

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Outstanding look at a dark little secret-, October 2, 2008

By	James Atkins (Twentynine Palms, CA USA) - See all my reviews

This book is simply outstanding. Davies has seemingly talked to everyone of consequence in the Constant Peg program and gotten an incredible story down for the first time anywhere. This is a must book for anyone interested in American military aviation and the REAL story and rationale behind the Nellis AFB Aggressors and Top Gun. Also, he stresses just how difficult it is to keep planes flying when you don't have the owner's manual!!!