Blown Slick: Stories of the Last 12 Months of the Air War Over Vietnam, (Paperback)

This book was originally intended for a small group of former squadron mates, a few friends and family. Early private publication and sale of all 100 books ordered indicated the stories and excellent art work might be saleable on a larger scale. (Including discussion with John Stone.)<br>Blown Slick has historical, technical, and operational mission descriptions similar to the above but approaches the USS Midway's operations in the Gulf of Tonkin from a different approach. Chapters are individual stories but when taken in whole present a perspective. History is there but it is intended to provide a framework for a "jigsaw-like" view of the air war in the '72-'73 time frame. That final year is similar but with a great many differences from the Operation Rolling Thunder period. <br>Wanted enough tech/op stuff that the bubbas -would look back and remember when we were "god's gift in speed jeans," and smile a bit ya know? But I also wanted family, friends and folks that just like flying stuff to get a taste of the whole aviation-in-wartime environment - our own personal bubbles. That meant pictures and the illustrations by Peter Chilelli are superb. As example the Phu Ly Bridge work used real RF-8 stuff from Skip Leonard as background. <br>War stuff is there but hopefully so is the laughter, silly s..t, and most of all the deep friendships. Co-author Dave Kelly wrote really well from "an in the cockpit" viewpoint. Indeed, for me, if you step back just a bit, let the Intruder specific stuff kinda slide to the side, his chapters provide the perspective of combat flying whether you were a Phantom, Corsair or Crusader aviator, or also AF or USMC -talent to describe what we all saw and felt.<br>Part of our day-day was that we had to compartmentalize to focus in the manner necessary to survive combat and day and night traps, but whether admitted out loud or not, there were a lot more pieces to our personal bubbles - a key one being the "tin gods with their STEEL MAGNOLIAS." <br>I hope readers will see a more nuanced representation of us guys in speed jeans. We certainly blew a few things slick and we most certainly got blown slick ourselves on occasion

• Blown Slick: Stories of the Last 12 Months of the Air War Over Vietnam, (Paperback)
• Author: Ed Beakley
• ISBN: 9798234038128
• Format: Paperback
• Publication Date: 2026-08-17
• Page Count: 248