Hostile Skies

by David H.S. Morgan

David Morgan reveals what it is really like to be a jet fighter pilot in this vivid memoir from the Falklands War. In 1982, David Morgan was an RAF officer, on secondment to the Royal Navy, when the Argentine invasion took place. He flew in the first British air strike against the enemy positions around Port Stanley, the raid memorably described by BBC reporter Brian Hanrahan who "counted them all out, and counted them all back." But three out of 30 British pilots were killed during the first week. Morgan was first on the scene at Bluff Cove, where Argentine jets had bombed the landing ships Sir Tristram and Sir Galahad, with great loss of life. He and his wingman pounced on four enemy Skyhawk he shot down two, his wingman hit the third; the fourth managed to escape after jettisoning his weapons and drop tanks. David Morgan was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross for his bravery in 1982. He is also credited with downing several helicopters as well as pressing home ground attack missions in the teeth of heavy anti-aircraft fire. After the war, he met one of the Argentine pilots he fought, who had had him in his sights but discovered his guns were jammed. David Morgan is also a published poet and his writing style elevates his story above that of most other war memoirs. He includes heartfelt letters he sent back to England to his wife, his young children, and his former mistress. He had confessed to his affair just as the fleet sailed, and writes very movingly of the difficulty in rescuing personal relationships while sent to war the other side of the world. This intimate account of one pilot's war combines the adrenaline rush craved by every would-be Top Gun pilot with deeply sensitive reflection.

Genres: History, Aviation, Military History, Nonfiction

320 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2006

Reviews

[Spad53 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hostile skies
This is a book I’ve wanted to read for years, I finally found it rather surprisingly on Bokus a Swedish site, but it turned out that they have a new method of encryption called .lcpl. Which means that it can’t be transferred to a mobi, I could only read it on Thorium computer reader or bokus own reader on android. It seems you can still buy books in Swedish and they will work on a Kindle, but not English books. Weird! And irritating. So I read it on my telephone which is a very inferior way of reading a book.
It’s the third book on Harrier operations in the Falklands that I’ve read, all three have problems. This one mostly because of his adventurous love life, which I’d prefer not to read about, I didn’t think much of the poetry either. On the other hand, the flying descriptions, and the air battles are amongst the best I’ve ever read, absolutely enthralling and very well written.
It’s good to have completed the trio, and they are all three unanimously critical of Royal Navy and RAF command. They are also nicely consistent between the three books, I like that they all match up.
I wish pilots would understand why people read their books, I used to have a good friend who was an ex-fighter pilot, he flew SAAB J-29 Tunnan, he was very much the same, wonderful when he was talking about aircraft, but always going on about his wives and love affairs, I guess it’s a fighter pilot thing, but I wish pilots would understand why people read their books, it’s the romance of flying we want, not the other kind!
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Here is a photo of a Harrier GR.3 taking off from a ski-jump (as later fitted to HMS Hermes) from Farnborough 1978.

[Sindre · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the better war memoirs I've read! The author, who flew Sea Harrier fighter jets from the HMS Hermes during the Falklands War of 1982, captures brilliantly the personal experience of fighting a war no one knew was coming. Unlike many other books on the subject, this one deals exclusively with the author's own experience, and does not detail the war itself in any way other than small references relevant to his own story. Manages to above all capture the human side of the war, both in its best and most horrible guises.

Highly recommendable book on a relatively forgotten subject

[John Voyce · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book; a honest, personal and enthralling account of an RAF pilot’s account of the air battle over the Falklands. He does not glorify war but honestly tells the reader how it felt to mash the indented red button. His take on naval life, from the light blue point of view, adds a different tone that other books don’t. As we prepare for the 40th anniversary of this conflict this book is a great way to remember and reflect.

[Kmag54 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very engaging

Well written and thoughtful account of life aboard and combat. A bit of less-than-interesting infidelity details and verbatim letters, but overall a decent tome. Some highlights of poetry are notably proffered that appreciably help to describe the emotions of life and loss in mortal combat, which the author describes vividly. Scenes of pre and post-war events are also done well and I certainly feel enriched by reading David Morgan's heartfelt account. Well done and with honor to country served.

[Anna · Rating 5 out of 5]

#libbyapp
#audiobook
#read22in2022challenge
Dewey 997.11

A piece of history I've lived through, so means something to me.

A fascinating read.
Written from David Morgan's diaries.
A definite recommendation

[Carter Rise Sr · Rating 2 out of 5]

Some interesting stuff, but the author is too much of a narcissist to make this a good read. I read this after reading Sharky Ward's book as I wanted to get a feel for the air war from the other carrier, but this was apparently written as some sort of therapy exercise. Wasn't worth my time.

[Gareth Owens]

Excellent and very honest account of a Sea Harrier pilot's experiences in the Falklands War, including how the loss of friends and shooting down enemy aircraft affected him personally. A good read.

[Hugo Baptista · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nice Book! Gives you a good ideia of what a fighter pilots life is all about. Best sentence of the book : " Why does Maggy Thatcher not wear miniskirts? Because her balls would show! "

[Tommo Guchi · Rating 4 out of 5]

I always enjoy reading the perspectives of the people involved in these wars. Reading Nigel Ward’s book beforehand left this to be a bit of a chew to get through at times and without making a judgement on ‘the author’ himself, David perhaps didn’t sell himself in the best light. However, he did a sterling job in his time at the Falklands. There’s details I may have left out but the conflict could have been much different without him there.

[fred jones · Rating 5 out of 5]

A detailed, emotional and stark account of a Sea Harrier pilot in the Falklands War. Covering the conflict from task force departure to return, a wide range of combat missions, incidents, accidents, losses and the life of a pilot aboard HMS Hermes. The writing is entertaining and the combat and its effects emotionally described. Narration by Peter Kenny is excellent, bringing the account to life. Highly recommended.

[Phillip Lloyd · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really enjoyed this, I had been meaning to read this for sometime.

A very honest and personal account of the War, well written and flowed very well too.

Mogwi seems a great bloke, a superb pilot and a man you would want in a fight with you (and possibly the bar afterwards).

[Diego · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excelente libro es un relato increíble de un piloto de combate en medio de una guerra con su responsabilidad de cumplir las misiones y sus problemas mentales a raíz del conflicto de Malvinas se nota lo mucho que lo afecto haber derribado a los dos A-4 el ocho de junio.

[Dave Monds · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic memoir

[Jeffo · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very enjoyable. Good account of the Falklands war.

[Jesper Jorgensen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another fine personal account from the Falklands War.
Like it for the authors low key story telling with funny little anecdotes as well as accounts of the tragedies and human loses in the conflict.
Leaving you in no doubt that war is a serious and dangerous business and a mental strain to anyone.

[Rob · Rating 4 out of 5]

Quite thought provoking.