Palace Cobra: a Fighter Pilot in the Vietnam Air War

Brief Description: Picking up where the acclaimed "When Thunder Rolled" leaves off, the author pens a riveting memoir of his service as an experienced combat pilot in the waning days of the Vietnam War. photos. Martins Press. Review Quotes: " Rasimus' s story reads as though it happened yesterday, with all the fear, bravado, and frustration... the result may be the best comparison of F-4 and F-105 performance and tactics ever written." -- "The ""Washington"" Post Book World" " This is brilliant writing that could be done only by an intelligent pilot who was there in the thick of combat and has since spent considerable time reflecting on the meaning of war, patriotism, and comradeship. A superb story and another triumph by Ed Rasimus." ---Walter J. Boyne, author of "Operation Iraqi Freedom: What Went Right, What Went Wrong, and Why" " The American taxpayer got double value from Ed Rasimus. He volunteered for combat in 1968 and again in 1972 (the subject of this wonderful book). Now, in retirement, he joins Saint-Ex and Ernie Gann as a masterful spinner of books about flying and survival." ---Daniel Ford, author of "Flying Tigers: Claire Chennault and the American ""Volunteer Group" " Ed Rasimus is the real thing, a fighter jock who saw his war from the cockpits of both primary fighting aircraft that flew the hairy missions over Hanoi, the Thunderchief and the Phantom. Ed is one of those unique air warriors who are both hero and author---and he' s damned good at both endeavors." ---Tom " Bear" Wilson, author of "Termite Hill" " Put on your G suit and helmet as Ed Rasimus once again takes you into white-knuckle, SAM-dodging combat. . . . Rasimus takes you behind the scenes into the myriad of details of a combat fighter pilot' s Vietnam air-war tour of duty, on and offbase. Further, he sums up those air warrior days as those when patriotism was a virtue and courage expected." ---Mark Berent, author of the Rolling Thunder series " This book by American fighter pilot Ed Rasimus is not another ' And there I was' story. To those of us who were there, it sweeps back vivid memories, bringing the past into sharp focus and evoking a deep sense of brotherhood for those with whom we worked and fought. For the history buffs, this is as real as it gets without your having been there. For the citizen who has the slightest bit of interest in that faraway place and time, read, think, and be proud and grateful that your nation produces men like these." ---Robin Olds, Brigadier General (Ret.), USAFJacket Description/Back: "Picking up ""where his acclaimed" When Thunder Rolled" left off, "Palace Cobra "is the story of Ed Rasimus's return to Vietnam to fight a war that many Americans tried to forget " "RASIMUS IS THE REAL THING."?Tom "Bear" Wilson, author of "Termite Hill"""When F-105 pilot Ed Rasimus completed his 100 missions over Vietnam, he returned stateside to a normal life: sitting at a desk and teaching student pilots. Two years later, he volunteered to go for a second tour of duty. Determined not to die in a losing cause, and relentlessly searching for that next adrenaline rush, Rasimus and the other F-4 Phantom pilots continued the ferocious air war in the North--dodging SAMs and gunning for MiGs--and routinely cheated death. "BRILLIANT WRITING THAT COULD ONLY BE DONE BY AN INTELLIGENT PILOT WHO WAS THERE."--Walter Boyne, author of "Operation Iraqi Freedom"When America finally got serious about ending the war, Rasimus and the other pilots put it all on the line, pounding Hanoi with everything they had, and flying above POW camps to let the troops know they were not alone. Gripping, earnest, and unforgettable, Rasimus's combat memoir is, in the end, a heartfelt tribute to those who never made it back. "READ, THINK, AND BE PROUD AND GRATEFUL THAT YOUR NATION PRODUCES MEN LIKE THESE."--Robin Olds, Brigadier General (Ret.), USAFBiographical Note: ED RASIMUS flew more than 250 combat missions during the Vietnam War in F-105s and F-4s, earning the Silver Star, five Distinguished Flying Crosses and 20 air medals. He is the author of the critically-acclaimed memoir "When Thunder Rolled." He lives in Whitesboro, Texas. Review Quotes: "Rasimus's story reads as though it happened yesterday, with all the fear, bravado, and frustration the result may be the best comparison of F-4 and F-105 performance and tactics ever written."--"The ""Washington"" Post Book World" "This is brilliant writing that could be done only by an intelligent pilot who was there in the thick of combat and has since spent considerable time reflecting on the meaning of war, patriotism, and comradeship. A superb story and another triumph by Ed Rasimus." ---Walter J. Boyne, author of "Operation Iraqi Freedom: What Went Right, What Went Wrong, and Why" "The American taxpayer got double value from Ed Rasimus. He volunteered for combat in 1968 and again in 1972 (the subject of this wonderful book). Now, in retirement, he joins Saint-Ex and Ernie Gann as a masterful spinner of books about flying and survival."---Daniel Ford, author of "Flying Tigers: Claire Chennault and the American ""Volunteer Group" "Ed Rasimus is the real thing, a fighter jock who saw his war from the cockpits of both primary fighting aircraft that flew the hairy missions over Hanoi, the Thunderchief and the Phantom. Ed is one of those unique air warriors who are both hero and author---and he's damned good at both endeavors." ---Tom "Bear" Wilson, author of "Termite Hill" "Put on your G suit and helmet as Ed Rasimus once again takes you into white-knuckle, SAM-dodging combat. . . . Rasimus takes you behind the scenes into the myriad of details of a combat fighter pilot's Vietnam air-war tour of duty, on and off base. Further, he sums up those air warrior days as those when patriotism was a virtue and courage expected." ---Mark Berent, author of the Rolling Thunder series "This book by American fighter pilot Ed Rasimus is not another 'And there I was' story. To those of us who were there, it sweeps back vivid memories, bringing the past into sharp focus and evoking a deep sense of brotherhood for those with whomLMarc Notes: Originally published in hardcover in 2006. Review Citations:

Reference and Research Bk News 08/01/2006 pg. 62 (EAN 9780312353568, Hardcover)

Contributor Bio:  Rasimus, Ed Ed Rasimus is a retired USAF fighter pilot whose books on the Vietnam air war include "When Thunder Rolled" and "Palace Cobra". He flew more than 250 combat missions during the Vietnam War in F-105s and F-4s, earning the Silver Star, five Distinguished Flying Crosses and 20 air medals. He lives in Whitesboro, Texas.