I finished reading "Hostile Skies" and I leave my comments because it is a book of three lucas and maybe this will help you decide to buy or spend that money on another book or something else. We all know Sun Tzu's phrase "If you want to know how you
did in the war, ask your enemy" Well, this is a book written by an English pilot.
With all that this implies and where it is quite difficult to be objective because there are many stories difficult to digest. It is a very well balanced book between the account of the actions and the feelings of Morgan himself. That he includes many letters to his family as well as to a former lover at first baffles, but then he makes much more sense by showing without any qualms his fears, fears, tiredness and the desire for everything to end as quickly as possible.
For Morgan as for the rest of the pilots, the war was a
job. An annoying, tiring and very dangerous job. Concepts such as patriotism, commitment or loyalty to their Queen are not mentioned on any page of the book, marking very clearly the substantial difference in values between our pilots and the English.
Some of the accounts of the attacks and the shoot-downs are
crude. Hurt. Morgan has not been deprived of anything, nor of venting the countless failures of the Sea Harrier, the lack of coordination in many missions or the little experience of some English pilots. The fear of the Exocet, the attacks of our aviation and the anti-aircraft defenses of Puerto Argentino are a constant.
There is abundant information of the attacks, tactics, strategy even technical data that allow to know very in depth the Sea Harrier as the weaponry
used. It touches on some sensitive issues with the filming of some shootdowns, the attack on The Narwal, the Condor air base or the effect of the Beluga bombs.
In short, a book that is different, difficult and hard for us but that allows us to revalue the actions, courage and heroism of our pilots, who were very close to complicating "the work" for the
English. And very close as perhaps in no other English book is reflected.
- [img]data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7[/img]
Reactions:
Patacón, JACKAL, Tupaca and 12 others
collaboratorAs Harrier pilots I read three books: Morgan's, Ward's and Pook's.
I share that Morgan's seems the most "experiential", in the sense that he relates both the actions of war and his own feelings, even going so far as to whitewash his personal "inner front" (lover). It also details some post-war aftermath for him.
The account of the actions of 8 June is very hard for us. I thought it was very good, if you want to read experiences from somewhere else.
I also thought pook's was pretty good. He is less passionate than Morgan, but relates quite well his involvement in the war.
And Ward's... His fame precedes him. He is quite superb, hyper critical of the RAF. If you manage to get the whole facet out of your ego, it's also worth reading.
- [img]data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7[/img]
Reactions:
trench foot and spirit666
Morgan is the wretched one who in the account of the fighting on June 8, indicates that when he saw the destruction of the Foxtrot boat, he wanted to kill the pilot because he deserved it and when he saw the ejection of this, I wish he was not saved?
Or I'm wrong???
Thanks
- [img]data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7[/img]
Reactions:
Catk'pla said:
Morgan is the wretched one who in the account of the fighting on June 8, indicates that when he saw the destruction of the Foxtrot boat, he wanted to kill the pilot because he deserved it and when he saw the ejection of this, I wish he was not saved?
Or I'm wrong???
Thanks
By training and belief no Argentine pilot has made public his thoughts and feelings when attacking a frigate or destroyer. That doesn't take away from the fact that several had in mind to "collect some outstanding debt" for a colleague who was no longer there.
Such is
war. Of all the worst, the worst.
- [img]data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7[/img]
Reactions:
ARGENTVS, Cyclist and trench foot
k'pla said:
Morgan is the wretched one who in the account of the fighting on June 8, indicates that when he saw the destruction of the Foxtrot boat, he wanted to kill the pilot because he deserved it and when he saw the ejection of this, I wish he was not saved?
Or I'm wrong???
Thanks
which pilot is the one that ejects? velazco ?
greetings
I think it was the Ten Arraras
- [img]data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7[/img]
Reactions:
Cat
collaborator
collaboratorFerTrucco said:
As Harrier pilots I read three books: Morgan's, Ward's and Pook's.
I share that Morgan's seems the most "experiential", in the sense that he relates both the actions of war and his own feelings, even going so far as to whitewash his personal "inner front" (lover). It also details some post-war aftermath for him.
The account of the actions of 8 June is very hard for us. I thought it was very good, if you want to read experiences from somewhere else.
I also thought pook's was pretty good. He is less passionate than Morgan, but relates quite well his involvement in the war.
And Ward's... His fame precedes him. He is quite superb, hyper critical of the RAF. If you manage to get the whole facet out of your ego, it's also worth reading.Beyond the combat of June 8, our Military Airmen were attacking, it was them or us.
What if it has NOTHING of chivalry was the attack on the Narwal.
The insanity that these two SHR had, one of them commanded by David Morgan, with an unarmed ship sailing at very few knots... they could have been approached by the British Sea King, as they eventually did.
- [img]data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7[/img]
Reactions:
FerTrucco and BIGUA82