Gary Foster

An interesting read about one of the most versatile jets in US history. The author does a nice job covering one particular plane that was shot down from all perspectives - the pilots, the Vietnamese that shot it down, and even the engineer that designed the Phantom. The story is fairly mild as military stories go, but it is juxtaposed with a surreal account of a modern day visit, where the pilots return to see their POW prison, the place they were shot down, the museum that now holds their plane, and even visit the homes of the people that shot them down. It avoids any deep reflection upon the war aside from the frustration of difficult bombing missions, instead he focuses on a light, enjoyable vignette of the roles a few people (and a jet) played in a small event in that war.… (more)