Night Attack-How We Won the Cold War Series

Many people do not realize how much sacrifice our military members dedicate to protect America from our enemies. This is just as true today as it was in 1958 when I was a lieutenant junior grade in the U S Navy assigned to USS Bon Homme Richard, CVA 31, and flying in the western pacific as an all-weather attack element of the 7th fleet. I woke up most mornings on the eight month cruise wondering if this would be the last day of my life. This is based on a true story but the names and certain incidents have been changed. Aircraft carriers are part of America’s strategy of massive retaliation designed to prevent nuclear war. VAAW 35 is one squadron assigned to every carrier whose duty it was to deliver atomic bombs against enemy targets if the president makes the decision to enter a nuclear war. Ltjg Smith and the Smith Crew are chosen to fly the first nuclear attack in World War III. This book describes the fictional briefing, launch and surprise attack from a low altitude bombing maneuver. The weapon carried by this single engine AD5N Skyraider is five times the power of the atomic bomb dropped on Hiroshima to end World War II. This bomb is designed to be delivered by a low altitude bombing system which starts the bomb run at 100 feet to carry out a surprise attack. Delivery of an atom bomb in a prop plane from 100 feet is pretty dangerous. This and many other hazardous, even fatal incidents, are described as Det Echo pursues its duties in WestPac. Duty, fear, courage, separation from home and family, danger, and patriotism are all themes described in Blue February, a particularly rough month for the Smith Crew and their shipmates. Once you start, you won’t put it down. https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/528786

Bobby Smith grew up in North Texas. He had planned to go to Rice Institute since the seventh grade. It was the number one school in Texas and in those days everyone attending was on a tuition scholarship. Even so, Bobby’s mother, a devout Baptist was opposed. She wanted him to stay home and attend Midwestern University, just on the outskirts of town. “Rice is full of heathens and Jews,” she said. Even so, Bobby was accepted into Rice and got a NROTC scholarship to boot. High school though was not his entire life. Bobby fell in love with Julie Wilson, the prettiest girl in the high school and the sister to the city’s most famous football family. Despite intense efforts, Bobby left for college a virgin. At Rice, he became friends with Gordon James, another NROTC midshipman, who was a client of the boarding house where they both lived and ate their meals. Gordon was a charismatic guy who liked to discuss all he knew about sex with anyone who would listen. Bobby Smith was eager to listen to what he called Sex Ed 101. At the end of school, 1953, Gordon headed for his second summer of NROTC training and Bobby his first. While being transferred in a Navy cargo plane from Corpus Christi, Texas to Norfolk, VA, Gordon was killed along with 40 NROTC students and the plane’s crew. Bobby got the news while he was walking guard duty for the USS Missouri while they were in Panama for a four day port visit. This was the first of many navy flight accidents that Bobby Smith would experience in the next several years. This is a true story but the names have been changed to protect the privacy.

This story tells about the dangers that young pilots face in their training to become professional pilots flying off carriers in pursuit of our strategy for national defense. ”Courage is not the absence of fear, but rather the judgment that something else is more important than fear.” Navy Wings describes the fear and the courage that Naval Aviators face in their training to become Attack Pilots. Navy Wings is a fictional account of my autobiography in training to become a Navy Attack Pilot. This story describes the challenges I faced in preparation for flight school while attending NROTC training at Rice University. No training is complete without young love, first sex, and developing a life-time relationship with my current wife. “Hours and hours of sheer boredom, interrupted by moments of stark terror.” You won't be able to put this story down and to complete the other stories in the series: “The Man in White,” and “WestPac”.

This is my true autobiography but fictionalized to protect the privacy of my navy friends and their families. In 1957 when I got my Navy wings, I was ordered to All Weather Attack Squadron 35 in Coronado, CA. This ebook describes the challenges and dangers we faced in training to be able to pass an Operations Readiness Inspection. Once certified, we were transferred to the 7th Fleet in West Pac where we are placed on duty to carry out the orders of the president of the United States. Our training includes danger, and death. It explores issues that rookie pilots face--the order to deliver an atomic bomb on a major city. Another of my best friends from Rice is mysteriously lost at sea and never recovered. An air crewman is hit by a rotating propeller and killed, spilling blood and brains all over the flight deck. My second child is born just five days before I leave on an eight month cruise to WestPac leaving my wife alone to raise two babies for an extended period. Danger, excitement and challenges, big lifetime challenges, await you on every page. You won’t be able to put it down--even if you are opposed to war and especially nuclear war.