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Jack Locke #1
The Warbirds
Libya attempts to shoot down an American C-130 on a mercy mission over the Sahara. The Air Force responds with F4-E Phantoms based in Egypt. Jack Locke, a fighter jock as good as he is cocksure, downs a Libyan MiG and an international crisis erupts, forcing the Wing to relocate to England. Colonel Anthony “Muddy” Waters must find a way to revitalized the wing and ready it for combat. Driving them hard is the Air Force’s hard-nosed chief of staff, General Lawrence “Sundown” Cunningham. Suspecting the Middle East is about to explode again, he wants a finely tuned fighting machine available for quick deployment. As the wing begins to show that it can fight, a war flares in the Persian Gulf when Iran makes a grab for the Saudi Arabian oilfields. The wing is quickly deployed to the Persian Gulf near Kuwait and, in some of the most convincing depictions of aerial combat in modern fiction, stops the Iranians. But a price must be paid for peace, and the 45th is hung out to dry in an “Arab Solution.” Muddy Waters and Jack Locke must lead their wing in a desperate withdrawal from the Persian Gulf.
351 pages, Hardcover
First published February 24, 1989
241 people are currently reading
272 people want to read
About the author
Richard Herman
36 books50 followersAlso publishes as Richard Herman Jr.
Richard Herman was a member of the United States Air Force (Weapons System operator) for twenty-one years, retiring in 1983 with the rank of major. He is the author of ten previous novels, including The Warbirds, Power Curve, Against All Enemies, Edge of Honor, and The Trojan Sea, all published by Avon Books.
(source Harper Collins)
Richard Herman was a member of the United States Air Force (Weapons System operator) for twenty-one years, retiring in 1983 with the rank of major. He is the author of ten previous novels, including The Warbirds, Power Curve, Against All Enemies, Edge of Honor, and The Trojan Sea, all published by Avon Books.
(source Harper Collins)
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Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews
July 13, 2023
A fighter pilot's book!
One of the key warbirds listed in this book was aircraft 512, also the squadron designation of an American squadron at Ramstein Airbase in Germany. Author Dick was a member of the squadron and I was a pilot in the squadron for 3 years, flying the F-4 Phantom. Dick spins a great tale in his first book of a series. I first read this book in 1992 and didn't stop reading until 3 a.m... This is my 2nd reading and I was equally impressed. Dick writes in the manner of Tom Clancy... Time for me to reread the rest of his series!
One of the key warbirds listed in this book was aircraft 512, also the squadron designation of an American squadron at Ramstein Airbase in Germany. Author Dick was a member of the squadron and I was a pilot in the squadron for 3 years, flying the F-4 Phantom. Dick spins a great tale in his first book of a series. I first read this book in 1992 and didn't stop reading until 3 a.m... This is my 2nd reading and I was equally impressed. Dick writes in the manner of Tom Clancy... Time for me to reread the rest of his series!
November 6, 2023
The Warbirds
I enjoyed the book. I felt like I was one of the characters. I was amazed of the way the officers taught. General Cunningham left others to fill in wht he was saying. He was pictured as a resourceful man and damn to the person to question him. I felt at awe picturing him. Well done book. Please check it out.
I enjoyed the book. I felt like I was one of the characters. I was amazed of the way the officers taught. General Cunningham left others to fill in wht he was saying. He was pictured as a resourceful man and damn to the person to question him. I felt at awe picturing him. Well done book. Please check it out.
September 3, 2019
An absorbing read
Once you start this book its hard to put it down.It makes you fall in behind the fighting forces, and confirms all ones predujices about the hierarchy and politicians (not sure how fairly). on the other hand 'they' deserve it.
Once you start this book its hard to put it down.It makes you fall in behind the fighting forces, and confirms all ones predujices about the hierarchy and politicians (not sure how fairly). on the other hand 'they' deserve it.
August 13, 2020
Superb
A wonderfully told story. I enjoyed every page. Filled with emotion & enough detail to make it real. I couldn’t put it down.Only one comment.. whoever edited this superb story.. needs lessons. The fact that the story was so good saved the day.
A wonderfully told story. I enjoyed every page. Filled with emotion & enough detail to make it real. I couldn’t put it down.Only one comment.. whoever edited this superb story.. needs lessons. The fact that the story was so good saved the day.
November 13, 2020
Herman at his best.
I have enjoyed every book I've read authored by Richard Herman, this one is no different. Action, emotion, and courage combined, making for a powerful story of men in our armed forces.
I have enjoyed every book I've read authored by Richard Herman, this one is no different. Action, emotion, and courage combined, making for a powerful story of men in our armed forces.
January 30, 2021
Number One In Every Respect
This is the best fighter pilot book I have ever read. Outstanding story with incredible action, descriptions, locations, characters, and loads of bravery and honor. It simply does not get any better than this.
This is the best fighter pilot book I have ever read. Outstanding story with incredible action, descriptions, locations, characters, and loads of bravery and honor. It simply does not get any better than this.
October 19, 2023
Outstanding
A realistic and extremely well sell written account of a fictional battle fought by brave men and women of the Air Forces. The characters Richard Herman has shown us are believable and your emotions will come into play as you read their story. Great Read!!
A realistic and extremely well sell written account of a fictional battle fought by brave men and women of the Air Forces. The characters Richard Herman has shown us are believable and your emotions will come into play as you read their story. Great Read!!
July 21, 2025
2nd time read. I found that the climactic air action sections were not as "seat of your pants" that I remember. Perhaps I'm getting too old or perhaps other authors do it better. I'll see as I have quite a few to re-read
August 31, 2017
Excellent reading
like most of the reviews it was hard to it this book down. I highly recommend it. Great reading anytime.
like most of the reviews it was hard to it this book down. I highly recommend it. Great reading anytime.
April 17, 2019
Excelent book!!
A fast moving story that you can't put down. Well written exciting story. Keep you up all night. Will want to read entire series.
A fast moving story that you can't put down. Well written exciting story. Keep you up all night. Will want to read entire series.
July 11, 2020
Really enjoyed this USAF action thriller. A fast read.
January 8, 2021
Exciting
As an air force guy who served with men just like I this book it's a fun adventure into my past
As an air force guy who served with men just like I this book it's a fun adventure into my past
August 20, 2021
I’ve read the paperback more than three times. I just cannot let it go so when I bought a Kindle, guest what I downloaded? Yup! the same novel! The novel really tingled my love for the F4 Phantom.
July 17, 2023
Action Action Action
Fast pacing action with excellent character development.
Love the high tech and research that went into writing a very believable storyline
Fast pacing action with excellent character development.
Love the high tech and research that went into writing a very believable storyline
July 3, 2025
A tad dated, but excellent.
October 7, 2023
The Warbirds, Richard Herman, Jr (military fiction)
Jeff Book Review #171
A 1989 Air Force fiction in a Tom Clancy style, "The Warbirds" begins with a superstar F-4 fighter pilot rescuing a food relief cargo plane from ill-intentioned Libyan MiGs.
The Cold War feel and scenes from the perspectives of Warbird's participants are written well, but it has kind of a meandering unfocused plot as it moves from player to player. And like a lot of other military fiction novels, Warbirds' pacing is stifled by repeated conferences and debriefings and after-action investigations whose only conflicts are nervous participants getting yelled at by overbearing superiors. A lot of that in this one.
The second half improves when there are some Russian / Iranian shenanigans going on in the Middle East and the pilot and his comrades go into combat. Spoiler alert: not everyone makes it out alive.
Verdict: Herman wrote with authority and accuracy with regard to late-1980's Air Force life and combat, but the stakes didn't feel authentic to me for some reason, and I had trouble finishing it.
Jeff's Rating: 2 / 5 (Okay)
movie rating if made into a movie: PG-13
Jeff Book Review #171
A 1989 Air Force fiction in a Tom Clancy style, "The Warbirds" begins with a superstar F-4 fighter pilot rescuing a food relief cargo plane from ill-intentioned Libyan MiGs.
The Cold War feel and scenes from the perspectives of Warbird's participants are written well, but it has kind of a meandering unfocused plot as it moves from player to player. And like a lot of other military fiction novels, Warbirds' pacing is stifled by repeated conferences and debriefings and after-action investigations whose only conflicts are nervous participants getting yelled at by overbearing superiors. A lot of that in this one.
The second half improves when there are some Russian / Iranian shenanigans going on in the Middle East and the pilot and his comrades go into combat. Spoiler alert: not everyone makes it out alive.
Verdict: Herman wrote with authority and accuracy with regard to late-1980's Air Force life and combat, but the stakes didn't feel authentic to me for some reason, and I had trouble finishing it.
Jeff's Rating: 2 / 5 (Okay)
movie rating if made into a movie: PG-13
September 9, 2016
Terrific, Authentic Warbird Story!
Hopefully non-veterans and non-profits appreciate the authentic action-packed scenes and descriptions throughout this riveting, action-packed story. Despite the frustration of politics and egos of "wanna-bees," the battles continued and those who earned fought were recognised. Excellent aviator warrior story.
Hopefully non-veterans and non-profits appreciate the authentic action-packed scenes and descriptions throughout this riveting, action-packed story. Despite the frustration of politics and egos of "wanna-bees," the battles continued and those who earned fought were recognised. Excellent aviator warrior story.
September 30, 2013
A fun story. Very much reminiscent of Red Storm Rising, Team Yankee, Sword Point, etc. Great characters. They weren't just letters on the page, although as a former Army enlisted man, I would have appreciated a little more fleshing of the enlisted personnel of the 45th TFW.
February 11, 2015
Read it with a friend's recommendation. It wasn't bad, per say, but it wasn't good either. Certainly not as exciting as my friend lead me to believe. Not to mention the ending just kind of...happened. Overall, it felt very anticlimactic.
September 5, 2015
Richard Herman's first novel featuring F4s (Herman flew F4s, so he knows the aircraft) in combat against Iranian forces.
Very well written and as much character driven as aerial combat driven.
Fans of aerial combat scenes will enjoy this one.
Very well written and as much character driven as aerial combat driven.
Fans of aerial combat scenes will enjoy this one.
May 16, 2016
2nd time I have read this book and it remains one of my very favorite Military Aviation thrillers. His character development is very good and I can't wait to watch them grow as I read all of his books in order.
March 1, 2009
Duty-Honor-Country...enjoyable techno-military-thriller along the lines of "Red Storm Rising"...compelling characters...plenty of action during a confrontation in the Mid-East
April 25, 2010
A provoking reminder of my 23 years in the Air force from 1960-1983 and my two tours supporting F105 Aircraft Maintenance in Southeast Asia during the Vietnam War.
December 21, 2017
Very good war story. Read it. It's a page turner.
January 7, 2013
A great book, one of my favorites. I read it when it first came out, and recently revisited it. As fun and as timely as it was 20 plus years ago.
July 13, 2016
Herman does not disappoint
May 6, 2020
Richard Herman writes great USAF action stuff, this one with F4s and C130s where the Jocks take on great odds with well written take-you-there action.
Sky cowboys...
Sky cowboys...
April 17, 2020
Hooked from the first page. This book has it all. Ive yet to find a book series I've enjoyed more than this.
Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews