
From F-4 Phantom to A-10 Warthog
Memoirs of a Cold War Fighter Pilot
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Narrated by:
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Jeff Bolton
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By:
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Steven K Ladd
About this listen
Fighter pilots! Images of Baron Manfred von Richthofen and Eddie Rickenbacker in the Great War, Johnnie Johnson, Robert Stanford Tuck and Richard Bong in the Second World War, or Robin Olds in Vietnam, all spring to mind. Volumes have been written about them, past and present. Understandably, most of these revolve around the skill, cunning and bravery that characterizes this distinctive band of brothers, but there are other dimensions to those who take to the skies to do battle that have not been given the emphasis they deserve—until now.
You do not have to be an aviation aficionado to enjoy Colonel Steve Ladd’s fascinating personal tale, woven around his 28-year career as a fighter pilot. This extremely engaging account follows a young man from basic pilot training to senior command through the narratives that define a unique ethos. From the United States to Southeast Asia; Europe to the Middle East; linking the amusing and tongue-in-cheek to the deadly serious and poignant, this is the lifelong journey of a fighter pilot.
The anecdotes provided are absorbing, providing an insight into life as an Air Force pilot, but, in this book, as Colonel Ladd stresses, the focus is not on fireworks or stirring tales of derring-do. Instead, this is an articulate and absorbing account of what life is really like among a rare breed of arrogant, cocky, boisterous, and fun-loving young men who readily transform into steely professionals at the controls of a fighter aircraft.
From F-4 Phantom to A-10 Warthog is a terrific listen: the legacy of a fighter pilot.
©2021 Steven K Ladd (P)2021 Pen and SwordListeners also enjoyed...
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Beginning on August 17, 1942, American heavy bomber crews of the Eighth Air Force took off for combat in the hostile skies over occupied Europe. The final price was staggering. 4,300 B-17s and B-24s failed to return; nearly 21,000 men were taken prisoner or interned in a neutral country, and a further 17,650 made the ultimate sacrifice. Luck of the Draw is more than a war story. It’s the incredible, inspiring story of Frank Murphy, one of the few survivors from the 100th Bombardment Group, who cheated death for months in a German POW camp.
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Personal Accounting that the Narrator Destroyed
- By David Sajben on 03-09-23
By: Frank Murphy, and others
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Going Downtown
- The US Air Force Over Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia, 1961–75
- By: Thomas McKelvey Cleaver
- Narrated by: Christopher Ragland
- Length: 15 hrs and 59 mins
- Unabridged
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The involvement of the US Air Force in the Southeast Asian Wars began in 1962 with crews sent to train Vietnamese pilots, and with conflict in Laos, and finally ended in 1972 with the B-52 bombing of Hanoi, though there were Air Force pilots unofficially flying combat in Laos up to the end in 1975. The missions flown by USAF aircrews during those years in Southeast Asia differed widely, from attacking the Ho Chi Minh Trail at night with modified T-28 trainers, to missions “Downtown,” the name aircrew gave Hanoi, the central target of the war.
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A succinct overview
- By Snippersly on 04-18-24
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China's World View
- Demystifying China to Prevent Global Conflict
- By: David Daokui Li
- Narrated by: David Shih
- Length: 8 hrs and 51 mins
- Unabridged
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Writing in response to the growing anti-Chinese sentiment and alarmed by the threat of war, Dr. David Daokui Li pulls from his wealth of firsthand experience to demystify contemporary Chinese society and advocate for understanding between China and the West. In this urgently needed and fascinating book, he explains the inner workings of a rising superpower to help the world understand how it works-and how to work with it.
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The spirit of this book is critically important.
- By Mike Turner on 06-21-24
By: David Daokui Li
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The Hunter Killers
- By: Dan Hampton
- Narrated by: John Pruden
- Length: 11 hrs and 51 mins
- Unabridged
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A gripping chronicle of the band of maverick aviators who signed on for the suicidal, dangerous top-secret "Wild Weasel" missions during the Vietnam War - which used controversial and revolutionary tactics to combat Soviet missile technology - from New York Times best-selling author Dan Hampton.
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False Advertising
- By Stephen Ford on 08-31-15
By: Dan Hampton
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Operation Pineapple Express
- By: Scott Mann
- Narrated by: Lt. Col. Scott Mann
- Length: 10 hrs and 34 mins
- Unabridged
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In April 2021, an urgent call was placed from a Special Forces operator serving overseas. The message was clear: Get Nezam out of Afghanistan now. Nezam was part of the Afghan National Army’s first group of American-trained commandos; he passed through Fort Bragg’s legendary Q course and served alongside the US Special Forces for over a decade. But Afghanistan’s government and army were on the edge of collapse, and Nezam was receiving threatening texts from the Taliban.
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amazing, uplifting, heart wrenching
- By Lisa L. Weinley on 09-13-22
By: Scott Mann
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The Longest Minute
- The Great San Francisco Earthquake and Fire of 1906
- By: Matthew J. Davenport
- Narrated by: Traber Burns
- Length: 17 hrs and 19 mins
- Unabridged
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At 5:12 am on April 18, 1906, a 7.9 magnitude earthquake struck San Francisco, catching most of the city asleep. For approximately forty-eight seconds, shock waves buckled streets, shattered water mains, collapsed buildings, crushed hundreds of residents to death, and trapped many alive. Matthew Davenport draws on letters, diaries, unpublished memoirs, and previously unearthed archival records, as well as interviews with engineers and geologists, to combine history and science to tell the dramatic true story of one of the greatest disasters in American history.
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History told from those who survived
- By BamaState on 12-26-23
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The King's Assassin
- The Secret Plot to Murder King James I
- By: Benjamin Woolley
- Narrated by: David Timson
- Length: 12 hrs and 17 mins
- Unabridged
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An absorbing account of the conspiracy to kill King James I by his handsome lover, the duke of Buckingham, a historical crime that has remained hidden for 400 years....
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Wonderful read!
- By LaDonna on 10-26-24
By: Benjamin Woolley
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Nam-Sense: Surviving Vietnam with the 101st Airborne
- By: Arthur Wiknik Jr.
- Narrated by: Todd McLaren
- Length: 11 hrs and 53 mins
- Unabridged
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An honest tour of the Vietnam War from the soldier's eye view... Nam-Sense is the brilliantly written story of a combat squad leader in the 101st Airborne Division. Arthur Wiknik was a 19-year-old kid from New England when he was drafted into the US Army in 1968. After completing various NCO training programs, he was promoted to sergeant "without ever setting foot in a combat zone" and sent to Vietnam in early 1969. Shortly after his arrival on the far side of the world, Wiknik was assigned to Camp Evans, a mixed-unit base camp near the Northern village of Phong Dien.
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A very good view of the war from a grunt's view.
- By Frank B. Smith on 07-16-19
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The Women with Silver Wings
- The Inspiring True Story of the Women Airforce Service Pilots of World War II
- By: Katherine Sharp Landdeck
- Narrated by: Gabra Zackman
- Length: 10 hrs and 53 mins
- Unabridged
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When the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor in 1941, Cornelia Fort was already in the air. At 22, Fort had escaped Nashville’s debutante scene for a fresh start as a flight instructor in Hawaii. She and her student were in the middle of a lesson when the bombs began to fall, and they barely made it back to ground. Still, when the US Army Air Forces put out a call for women pilots to aid the war effort, Fort was one of the first to respond. She became one of just over 1,100 women from across the nation to make it through the Army’s rigorous selection process and earn her silver wings.
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To Remember
- By erica skipton on 05-11-20
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Way of the Reaper
- My Greatest Untold Missions and the Art of Being a Sniper
- By: Nicholas Irving, Gary Brozek
- Narrated by: Jeff Gurner
- Length: 7 hrs and 7 mins
- Unabridged
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Way of the Reaper is a step-by-step accounting of how a sniper works, through the lens of Irving's 10 most significant kills - none of which have been told before. Each mission is an in-depth look at a new element of eliminating the enemy, from intel to luck, recon to weaponry. Told in a thrilling narrative, this is also a heart-pounding true story of some of the Reaper's boldest missions, including the longest shot of his military career on a human target of over half a mile.
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Listen to this book!
- By JLS on 08-16-16
By: Nicholas Irving, and others
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Into the Cold Blue
- My World War II Journeys with the Mighty Eighth Air Force
- By: John Homan, Jared Frederick - contributor
- Narrated by: Eric Torres
- Length: 8 hrs and 10 mins
- Unabridged
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A born daredevil, John Homan joined the Army Air Forces after the Pearl Harbor attack. By 1944, he was co-piloting a B-24 Liberator over Nazi Germany, raining death and destruction on the enemy. This first-person account of his harrowing missions—chronicling deadly flights through skies of red-hot flak bursts and airmen bailing out with parachutes aflame—will leave listeners staggered by the determination and grit of World War II aviators.
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My Father Journey
- By Charlie on 08-24-24
By: John Homan, and others
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Fighter Pilot
- The Memoirs of Legendary Ace Robin Olds
- By: Robin Olds, Christina Olds, Ed Rasimus
- Narrated by: Robertson Dean
- Length: 17 hrs and 2 mins
- Unabridged
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A larger-than-life hero with a towering personality, Robin Olds was a graduate of West Point and an inductee in the National College Football Hall of Fame for his All-American performance for Army. In World War II, Olds quickly became a top fighter pilot and squadron commander by the age of 22—a double ace with twelve aerial victories. But it was in Vietnam where the man became a legend.
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Top Notch Audiobook
- By R. A. Frank on 10-08-10
By: Robin Olds, and others
What listeners say about From F-4 Phantom to A-10 Warthog
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- Steve Hillman MD
- 06-14-23
From the son of a fighter pilot…
When I told his family of his Silver Star earned as he single-handedly attacked a flight of 5 FW-190’s killing 2, strafed convoys of German soldiers, was shot down in the flight of his Ace kill, and escaped twice as a POW, I saw the faraway look in the fading 90 year old eyes of my P-49 fighter pilot father. He also became a Colonel, as did the author.
His story tells the same story, in a different-yet same war.
Salutations to you both!
Gods blesdings,
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- Rick B
- 06-15-23
Throw a nickel on the grass!
This is a very personal audio concerning the career of Steven Ladd and his life in the US Airforce. From the advanced F4 Phantom war machine with it's tactical technologies to the not so advanced A-10 Warthog that had the most awesome armament for close battle support at the time. You will be thoroughly introduced to both technologies and how they compare. Be prepared to laugh and maybe even shed some tears as his story drives to it's conclusion. The epilogue to me created a memory that won't be forgotten. During his time throughout his career, he was supported by his wife Elaine, who he gives credit for allot of his success. The epilogue is actually written by Elaine and it is a powerful tribute to those who have severed and protected the US and her allies over the decades. I highly recommend this audio book, and hope that it gives you a strong appreciation for all those who have sacrificed for our freedom and continue to do so. Remember throw a nickel on the grass, you will understand why.
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- Dubl
- 06-26-22
Absolutely amazing
The life of Steven Ladd is filled with twist and turns far travels while being a fighter pilot during the height of the Cold War. He masterfully tells the story of fighter pilots and their tight knit community
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- Rachel B.
- 04-10-24
Ghost to pigs
This has been a great, enjoyable book. Like life, the end came before I was ready. Highly recommend for aviation lovers, or once and future pilots.
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- David H Milton
- 07-09-22
A 28 year history of Air Force fighter duty.
Lucky indeed to have lived a dream for the duration of a 28 year career in the United States Air Force, Colonel Steven Ladd gives a look into the community of the best of the best. well written, well narrated, and a life well lived.
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- Randy
- 03-30-22
What an excellent book!
Having read countless fighter pilot biographies through the years, this book ranks at the top of the list! Through my professional career working with the USAF, i have encountered many a pilot and can count more than a few as dear friends. Listening to Steve’s book vividly bring all of my fighter pilot buddies to mind as well as his excellent and dare i say it humorous recollections of the well meaning antics that can “sometimes” take place when fighter pilots gather. The book also features excellent narration from someone who is as enthusiastic about the book as the author. Great read!!!!!
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- barbara s cavuoti
- 11-09-22
Awesome and accurate!
Incredible story - on target - read by a master! Harsh but unfair… exactly as a fighter pilot would want it. Apple Korn for all my friends.
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- Bernard Lenrow
- 04-17-22
The best overall fighter pilot memoir I have read.
Steve Ladd didn't make this book about his daring exploits. in fact, he didn't describe any of his sorties in Vietnam despite flying over 150 missions there. he chose instead to make this book about his 28 year journey as a fighter pilot. he had the good fortune to attain the rank of Colonel with few staff assignments, and rose to run the largest air combat unit in Europe while still flying missions.
The narration was first rate despite occasional audio quality problems.
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- Anita Breland
- 06-28-22
A great review of fighter pilot life.
I loved this book, I was 5 years behind Lad in the USAF, and really enjoyed his story.
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- Tony Z
- 05-19-22
Good Book, a little more action please
I liked the book, but I would have liked a bit more combat action, to go with what is there.
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