Fighting Aardvarks and Eagles: Building a Multi-role Fighter Pilot One Mission at a Time

by Terrance John Mccaffrey III

Born on an US Air Force Base in the 1960s during the middle of the Vietnam War, a set of circumstances combined to create a young man with an internal desire and drive for a singular goal – to fly. He didn’t know exactly where that desire came from, but it was no doubt influenced by the signs around him as his father introduced him to the sight of jet fighters in the form of a mobile over his bed, and “the sound of freedom” at air shows as a lad.

The story begins with the author’s first realization that he wanted to fly, and to live in Colorado – a place he had never been – inspired by his father’s Air Force service and his love for aircraft and travels. These experiences led the author to follow a path leading from specialization to broad experiences that created a truly unique aviation career.

A unique insight into a young high-school graduate who moves to the USAF Academy and learns to be an Air Force officer and a pilot. It explores the development of a fighter pilot in the world’s best Air Force at the peak of its powers, flying missions in Operation DESERT STORM, followed by 10 years of deployments for Operation SOUTHERN WATCH over Iraq, and then living in the aftermath of 9-11 and the changing world of the Global War on Terror. It follows him as he discovers what is it like to serve in the USAF for a 30-year span that moved from the relative security of the Cold War to the insecurity created by vacuums of political power that continue today. The reader experiences a USAF career by riding along with the author and his family through 19 home moves all over the world, discovering what is it like to progress from combat pilot to leading major organizational change as the US military began to refocus in a new age of politics, fragile peace, and uncertain economic future.

336 pages, Hardcover

Published March 21, 2022

Reviews

[Chad Manske]

An all-American story of a boy who would become a quintessential fighter pilot and combat hero! The memoir of “Marco” McCaffrey (you’ll have to read to learn how he got his call sign) is historical, compelling readable and humorous. From his birth on an Air Force base and hearing his first fighter jet engine, Marco would attend and graduate from the US Air Force Academy, and qualify in the F-111 where shortly thereafter he would fight in Operation Desert Storm and earn the Distinguished Flying Cross, go on to teach future fighter pilots fighter fundamentals, transition from an air-to-mud master to an air-to-air apprentice—then master. Other assignments would include staff, command and professional military education, as well as showcasing the love and growth of his family every step of the way. Sufficient descriptions for those who don’t speak military, aviation enthusiasts and others alike, will enjoy this memoir of a patriot who lived the American dream. Insider fact…Marco was a classmate of mine at Air Command & Staff College, and the School of Advanced Airpower Studies!

[Cam Torrens]

I loved this book! I might be biased because I learned to fly on the same flightline and in the same pilot training class as "Marco" McCaffrey, but that won't stop me from telling everyone about this great read!

"Fighting Aardvarks and Eagles" is an intimate look into the life of an Air Force officer driven by a childhood dream to fly. Spanning a 30-year military career, this rip-roaring tale takes readers from the author's early inspirations and training at the US Air Force Academy to his experiences flying combat missions during Operation Desert Storm and navigating the evolving challenges of the post-9/11 world.

Here's my favorite part--McCaffrey moved 19 times during his career and I dare you to find any assignment he didn't like. His story balances unrivaled optimism about our country, our Air Force, and our youth, while still providing unreserved opinions about the inevitable things our various bureaucracies continue to get wrong.

A unique perspective on the life of a fighter pilot and the personal and professional sacrifices required to serve during times of global uncertainty. Makes me want to do it all over again with Marco in the lead. "Two's in!"

[Lynesroma]

If you want to understand why the United States has the most powerful Air Force in the world, read this book. Colonel Marco McCaffrey USAF (Ret) details a soaring arc from his days at the USAFA to his final tour molding future Air Force officers. Marco’s clear prose puts the reader in the cockpit as well as the ready room, the flight line, the training pipeline, in combat missions in Southwest Asia, in the schoolhouse, and in the upper echelons of the US Joint Force. Throughout he paints a clear picture of how and where US AirPower is created and maintained. Throughout his journey he masters a number of critical skills from the tactical to the strategic. A must read for any aspiring US aviator or student of AirPower. Highly recommended!