Apache: Inside the Cockpit of the World's Most Deadly Fighting Machine

by Ed Macy

Apache Macy, Ed

Genres: Military Fiction, Nonfiction, War, History, Aviation, Military History, Biography

374 pages, Hardcover

Published September 1, 2008

Reviews

[awesomatik.de · Rating 2 out of 5]

Ich bin zwar Pazifist aber schon immer ein Fan von Kriegsmemoiren. Ich habe mich schon durch sämtliche Kriege und Abteilungen gelesen von Luftwaffe bis zur Marine. Hubschrauber-Piloten waren bislang noch nicht dabei.

Umso gespannter war ich auf Ed Macys "Apache".

Tja, Schade. Nach den überschwänglichen Bewertungen hatte ich mir wirklich mehr davon versprochen.

Es ist schon interessant zu lesen wie so ein Apache-Hubschrauber funktioniert aber darüber hinaus hat das Buch nicht viel zu bieten.
So richtig mitreißend schreibt Macy leider nicht. Stattdessen bekommt man einen Mix aus semi-interessanten Missionsbeschreibungen und einen Einblick in den täglichen Blödsinn, den Soldaten so in ihrer Freizeit machen.

Hinzu kommt, dass Hubschrauber-Piloten naturgemäß immer eine gewisse Distanz zum tatsächlichen Geschehen am Boden wahren. Und so wollten sich bei mir einfach keine echten Emotionen einstellen.

Klar, muss es extrem beeindruckend sein so eine Höllenmaschine fliegen zu können. Dazu in einer außerirdisch wirkenden Umgebung wie dem Hindukusch aber in geschriebener Form hat es für mich nicht funktioniert.

Die zentrale Mission ist eine Rettungsaktion in einer Taliban-Hochburg. Leider ahnt man von Anfang wie die Sache ausgehen wird. Zudem gibt die Mission unfreiwillig Einblicke in die teils desaströse Organisation der Streitkräfte vor Ort.

Und dafür, dass Ed Macy den Apache Hubschrauber als eine der effektivsten und furchterregendsten Waffensysteme beschreibt, hält sich die Wirkung doch stark in Grenzen.

Immer wieder beschreibt er, wie sie auf ihren Missionen Hellfire-Raketen und andere Munition im Wert von Millionen Pfund auf die Feinde schießen, die sich davon weitestgehend unbeeindruckt zeigen.

Da passt es zusammen, dass die Toten in den eigenen Reihen nicht selten aus friendly fire Vorfällen resultieren (ohne, dass ich das jetzt den Soldaten ankreiden möchten).

Man braucht sich nur die aktuelle Lage in Afghanistan anzuschauen. Zehn Jahre nach Ed Macy's Einsatz ist sie prekärer als je zuvor.

Tausende Menschen haben ihr Leben gelassen, Milliarden von Euro wurden verpulvert und rein gar nichts hat sich geändert. Das lässt die vermeintlichen Erfolge der Hubschrauber-Flotte in einem anderen Licht erscheinen.

Ed Macy ist mit Sicherheit ein hervorragender Pilot und mutiger Soldat aber mitreißende Kriegsmemoiren sehen anders aus.

[Michael Alexander · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love technology, and the military has some of the best of it. The Apache has always been one of my favorite aircraft, it's ugly and it's brutal. This book does a really good job of getting you up close and personal with the machine.
One of the first things I realized when I started this book happened to be a pleasant surprise. This book is written by a British pilot and follows the British military. The Apache has so long been a symbol of American air superiority I just assumed the book was by an American pilot. It was great to see this other perspective.
The author does a great job of getting into the nuts and bolts of flying the aircraft, but never gets too dry with technical details. He also does a great job of describing the combat, having been there first hand.
Finally, the last third or so of the book covers a rescue mission the author was part of, and it's really one of the more exciting and suspenseful things I've read. Doubly so knowing that it all actually happened.
A great read.

[James · Rating 4 out of 5]

The first half of this book gives a good overview of the history of the Apache within the British Army from the view of one of its first pilots. You gain an insight into not only how difficult it is to fly the multi-million pound piece of hardware, but also the extra demands that are put upon the pilots with the exhausting daily routines that the pilots have to undertake while in Afghanistan within 2006. You gain a valuable insight into the mindset of the British Army aviator - the dedication, the drive to excel, and how much a good sense of humour is really needed to keep going. The author relates this in a matter of fact way without any political grandstanding - he is there doing his job, believing that he is doing something to help the average Afghan, trying to make sure that he and his colleagues get the best chance possible of getting home safely.

The second half of the book is the real explosive section which details the first two missions in a major offensive against the Taliban in Helmland province. During the second mission a Marine goes missing in action and what follows is the most daring rescue undertaken by the British armed forces since the siege of the Iranian Embassy in the 1980s. The account is fantastically written and you can feel every ounce of frustration and shot of adrenalin that the pilot feels. After reading this you will have gained a real insight into the bonds between members of the armed forces and that the phrase 'no when gets left behind' really means just that.

[Bec · Rating 3 out of 5]

Apache is a hard one to rate for me. I loved the last 100 pages of the book, and a lot of it was interesting, but it didn't really push my buttons. I know a lot of people have really loved this book, and I have been recommended it both online and offline, because I do read a lot of military fiction and non-fic. One reason I think I didn't appreciate it as much was that helicopters simply don't interest me. I have no idea why, I can appreciate their unbelievable engineering and the skills the pilots have, but I find the same with aircraft - things that fly just don't excite me. I seem to love all things naval - boats, submarines, canoes; and infantry is where my heart really lies.

It was a good experience reading this, and I am glad that I finally finished it (work and uni have been particularly crazy this past month). The last 150 pages went down in a single night, and I was so interested in the last battle, that I didn't want customers to walk into the store! The heroics that these men and women display is amazing.

I feel kind of like a bad person for not thinking this was the best non-fiction account in the world, but what I am simply saying was that it didn’t engage with me like it has to other people. I can see that to other people it is an amazing piece of work, but to me, there was too much speaking about the machine.

[David Roberts · Rating 5 out of 5]

The book I read to research this post was Apache by Ed Macy which is an excellent book which I bought from a carboot sale. Whether you agree with the war in Afghanistan or not this book which is mostly about the rescue of a marine who was captured by the Taliban and had to be rescued from a huge compound is fantastic. I personally think the war there is too much like another Vietnam War. The mission in this book used 2 Apache AH64 Mk1 helicopters which were British attack helicopters. The British took the Apache AH64-D & asked Westland what they could do with it. One problem with the American version was it was only lightly armoured to save on weight. The English version which was the second most expensive machine in the RAF to the Eurofighter Typhoon, was given a 30% more powerful engine that enabled it to be more armoured. Its engine was twice as powerful as a formula 1 engine. It was given folding rotor blades to allow it to be stored on aircraft carriers. It was given even more weaponry. It was given an automatic de icer that allowed it to be used in the arctic. Before that the RAF had lynx helicopters but they were just general use helicopters. It's the most advanced helicopter in the world & probably the most deadly. Before undertaking the mission in the book the task seemed so impossible, the pilot told his family he was unlikely to come back alive. It's a great book.

[Jon Koebrick · Rating 4 out of 5]

Apache started a little slow and was a bit of an initial challenge to read the British armed forces terms as an American. The book really took off about 30 pages in and was hard to put down. The descriptions of the Apache helicopter and the battle situations were excellent. Recommended reading for aviation enthusiasts, fans of first person military narratives and technology. A great bargain from Book Bub.

[TheIron Paw · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow! Two level 5 books in a week. This non-fiction book not only provides an excellent description of the operation of Apache gunships in Afghanistan but also reads like a military techno-thriller in describing the rescue of a downed marine at Jugroom Fort. You don't get more exciting non-fiction than this.

[Andrew Shapter · Rating 4 out of 5]

Again, set politics and opinion of the war aside and read as an account of a combat pilot's time in Afghanistan, culminating in the unorthodox rescue mission of a fallen Royal Marine.
The technical aspects of flying and of the AH-64 itself were well over my head but that just made me appreciate the skill level these guys and girls have all the more. Be sure to look up the YouTube videos as well, regarding the rescue of Cpl Ford...

[Mark · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a gripping book recounting the exploits and heroism of a British Warrant Officer Pilot during a tour of duty in Helmand Province in Afghanistan. The book reveals a lot about what exactly is going on on the ground in Afghanistan and why. There is a lot of geeky technical detail about the sophisticated and lethal Apache helicopter. The book focuses on the boy's own antics and adventures of Macy and his comrades and a number of particularly heroic and daring sorties. It is an exciting and fascinating read - not great literature, but if you like a little adventure and want to get a feel of what it might be like to fly a £ 40 M state of the art attack helicopter then this is worth a read.

[John Whelan · Rating 5 out of 5]

THis is a great book written by a veteran Warrant Officer on his last tour and you get the strong impression he has told it as it is without any worries as to how it might affect his future military career.

Lots of technical details for the Boys and also very strong on the military characters familiar to anyone who has served in the Army.

It was a surprise to me how much combat the Apache pilots were involved in and the expenditure of ordnance at a frightening (and expensive) rate.

If you dont want to join the Army Air Corps and fly these awesome machines after reading this book then pop down to the health centre and have somebody check to make sure you still have a pulse !

[Alan McDermott · Rating 4 out of 5]

I bought this book because I love all things military, and it wasn't until I got it home that I realised it was a true story (bit of an impulse buyer, I guess). As I started reading it I found a lot of technical information which for me was fascinating, but I craved some action. This came soon enough and was very descriptive. However, what got me about this book was the attempt to rescue Mathew Ford. I won't say how it ends, but I read the second half of the book in a single night. Can't recommend it enough.

[Joker · Rating 2 out of 5]

Książka tak właściwie liczy ~ 260 stron i autor jest Brytyjczykiem. Zaskoczenie? Dla mnie tak, gdyż takowe wspomnienia z wojen to domena ludzi za wielkiej kałuży. Pilot, a właściwie były spadochroniarz służył już podczas wojny w Jugosławii i w Afganistanie nie był pierwszy raz. Pisze trochę o dzieciństwie, swojej żonie (tego jest trochę za dużo) i szkoleniu (to akurat jest ciekawe). Opisy z misji to nie taka zwykła rąbanka (np. Hellfire ma swoją wytrzymałość na drgania i po tym czasie musi iść na "przegląd"), chociaż ostania misja to a la Rambo, a później to życie w cywilu.

[Florence · Rating 5 out of 5]

Not my usual type of reading, but I thoroughly enjoyed this book, which takes you right into the cockpit with these highly trained pilots. I found myself breathless and holding tightly on (to the book) throughout the different bursts of action.
Well worth a read, especially for those who wouldn't usually follow army/military topics.
Great book!

[Marco · Rating 5 out of 5]

I don't often give five stars to a book, but this probably was my best book of the year (possibly competing with Wool, although that's so different it doesn't count :))
The amount of detail while still keeping it interesting was impressive. But what most impressed me was that this was a real live account from an apache combat mission that ACTUALLY HAPPENED!
It blew me away... awesome read!

[J · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great story that is very well written. Loads of interesting technological description on the Apache helicopter, its weapon systems and the war in Afganistan.

[Druss · Rating 5 out of 5]

The blurb had it right. This is an edge of the seat read. A very brave man.

[Czytalski · Rating 5 out of 5]

Pancerna bestia
AH-64 Apache to najnowocześniejszy śmigłowiec bojowy. Aby nim latać trzeba być najlepszym i ten zaszczyt spotyka tylko nielicznych wybranych. "Pilot Apacza" to historia jednego z nich - żołnierza brytyjskiego lotnictwa wojsk lądowych.

"To wrednie wyglądająca bestia. Ujrzawszy go, wiesz od razu, że nikt nie zrobi z niego cywilnej wersji śmigłowca nadzorującego ruch drogowy w godzinach szczytu. Spacerujący dokoła Apache obserwator odnosi wrażenie, że przy jego konstrukcji zabrakło projektanta i że zgraja facetów z zawiązanymi oczami złożyła do kupy stos elementów posiłkując się klejem i taśmą klejącą. Łopaty śmigła zwisają, kadłub przysiadł, stercząc ku górze pod prawie absurdalnym kątem, a zewsząd wystają jakieś części. Ale wszystko to jest zwodnicze; Apache jest jednym z najlepiej zintegrowanych systemów broni na świecie." - Artur Goławski.

Powyższy cytat nie jest fragmentem książki, ale bardzo dobrze oddaje czym jest Apache - zaawansowaną technicznie bronią, w której nic nie jest przypadkowe. Autor wielokrotnie podkreśla, że w trakcie lotu trzeba się całkowicie poświęcić kierowaniu maszyną - ilość informacji jaka jest przekazywana na pięciu wyświetlaczach oraz wizjerze hełmu jest ogromna. W trakcie treningu piloci uczą się rozstrajać połączenie między oczyma, tak aby każde z nich ogarniało swoją część danych odrębnie.
Ed Macy opisuje swoją drogę od momentu wstąpienia do wojska do chwili kiedy zakończył swoją zmianę w Afganistanie - co jest ciekawe, gdyż kiedy on rozprawiał się z talibami w prowincji Helmand, mniej więcej w tym czasie porucznik Sean Parnell i jego "Pluton Wyrzutków" walczyli z nimi na wschodzie, a sierżant Paul Graham "zamawiał" bomby w tej samej prowincji. Mamy więc możliwość spojrzenia na ten sam konflikt z kilku perspektyw.
Oprócz opisywania cyklu szkoleniowego oraz typowych zadań w trakcie misji, autor poświęcił dużo miejsca relacji z dwóch szczególnych misji. Pierwsza z nich to rajd na jeden z punktów zbornych dla talibskich ochotników. Jednak to ta druga była znacznie ciekawsza. Podczas szturmu na bastion terrorystów piloci apaczów musieli wykonać bardzo ryzykowną misję ratunkową. Plan był naprawdę szalony, a jego niepowodzenie mogło skutkować poważnymi stratami.
To co jest rzadko spotykane w tego typu lekturach to informacje finansowe. Dowiadujemy się, że koszt jednego śmigłowca to około 80 milionów funtów (około 400 milionów złotych), a Ed jest pierwszym brytyjskim pilotem śmigłowca, który zużył amunicji za ponad milion funtów. Pokazuje to ogrom kosztów jakie poniosła koalicja w trakcie walki w Afganistanie.
Walka to jednak nie wszystko czym zajmują się żołnierze. Mają też dziwne pomysły. Kto czytał "Niełatwy dzień" powinien pamiętać "Berło władzy". Tutaj takim gadżetem jest "Rocco", - zdjęcie znanego aktora filmów dla dorosłych Rocco Siffrediego. Ponadto śmigłowce zostały nazwane imionami znanych pań z tej branży.
Uzupełnieniem historii są dosyć szczegółowe schematy budowy helikoptera, mapa z opisem działań w trakcie rajdu na punkt zborny oraz spora ilość kolorowych zdjęć, wśród których znajduje się również "Rocco".
Duży plus należy się dla tłumacza Bartosza Szołuchy, który, gdy to było możliwe, w przypisach podawał odniesienia do polskich odpowiedników np. informacja o SAS wskazywała dodatkowo na GROM. Jest to rzadkość i tym bardziej cieszą takie rzeczy.

Dla pasjonatów latających maszyn mocno polecana pozycja.

[Mr N P Leversuch · Rating 5 out of 5]

I rarely award 5 stars to a book, but this one deserves it, a very good read.

The first part of the book is what you would expect of this type of book. It outlines how the author ended up as an Apache pilot and a description of the pressures and stresses of operating in Afghanistan. If that was all the book was, it would still be a good read.

However, the last part of the book describes the author’s experience in attempting to rescue a Royal Marine from Jugroom Fort and this section raises the bar to a whole new level of intensity. It becomes an unputdownable book that must be read in one continuous session. It turned it into my book read of the year!

This section of the book outlines all that is best as well as the worst of what people are capable of achieving.

The use of modern communication to allow senior members of the military in the rear to make strategic decisions, separate from the emotion of the moment at the front line, may in theory be a good idea. It may even be good in practise in many situations. However, this example shows how the ability to interfere with decisions made by commanders at the front can, at best, be counterproductive.

This book outlines how when decisions need to be made urgently in time critical situations, the reality is that away from the exposure to the pressure of the front line, commanders can take too long to reach a decision. As it works up the chain of command decisions can be made, then countermanded and the countermand itself countermanded or replaced by a third alternative decision. This results in intense frustration for the troops at the front as they see the time to take effective action being frittered away.

In essence a bad decision taken in a timely manner, would be better than the right decision taken when it is too late to be capable of being implemented.

The previous paragraph covers the situation at the fort. The delay gave time for the Taliban to regroup and reinforce the fort, and at the same time the delay caused the helicopter fuel state to become progressively more critical – and of course the chances of the wounded soldier surviving decreased with each minute of delay.

The book does highlight how in real life there are very few binary choices, and multiple differing opinions can all be true and equally valid at the same time. The colonel surely was correct that it was madness to hazard 2 expensive helicopters and 8 people on a very high-risk rescue mission. Equally the brigadier was correct that if there was a chance to rescue the soldier, then the risks involved had to be accepted, if only for the morale of soldiers in future fights who would know that they could rely on unconditional support.

I won’t add any more detail as I don’t want to spoil the suspense of reading the book, but read it, I would be surprised if you are disappointed.

[Chad Manske · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ed Macy’s “Apache: Inside the Cockpit of the World’s Most Deadly Fighting Machine” is an electrifying plunge into the chaos and camaraderie of modern aerial warfare. Macy, a decorated British Army Air Corps pilot, tosses you into the heart-stopping world of Afghanistan’s Helmand Province—where the thunderous rotors of the Apache attack helicopter slice through both desert heat and relentless enemy fire. From the very first page, the book crackles with urgency, every paragraph propelled by Macy’s spare, soldier’s prose and the unblinking candor of a man who has faced death with only a sheet of armor and his resolve for protection. What sets “Apache” apart isn’t just the torrent of action—though Macy describes with white-knuckle detail his squadron’s desperate rescue of a stranded Royal Marine, a mission hailed as one of the most daring in recent history. It’s the brilliant juxtaposition of adrenaline-fueled sorties and the suffocating tension of waiting, of close calls and technical wizardry, and of the emotional heft borne by men who know the line between life and death is measured in milliseconds. The technical demands of wrangling a computerized, multimillion-pound war machine are laid bare alongside accounts of dark humor, fear, and the unwavering brotherhood that knits Macy and his crew together. Macy doesn’t flinch from the psychological toll. As rockets roar and hellfire missiles streak into the horizon, the stakes are intensely personal—each decision carries the weight of comrades’ lives. He exposes the exhaustion, the frustrations, the cold sweat before dawn, and the pride and sorrow tethered forever to the cockpit. The writing is brutal, clear, and human, refusing to romanticize the realities of combat. Macy’s voice is one you trust: unsentimental, proud, and—most importantly—honest. “Apache” isn’t simply a book for military buffs or aviation geeks. It’s for anyone who wants to understand the raw courage, relentless innovation, and deep humanity forged in war’s crucible. Fierce, immersive, and unforgettable, this memoir leaves the taste of rotor dust and gunpowder on your tongue—and lingers long after the final landing.

[Michał Hołda · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was having fun, like them. When they choose nicknames for themselves. Geting familiar and smiling like while resting in pub with them could be.

The book takes place in Afghanistan. And goes through two operations in 2007 of Operation Herrick.

Operation Glacier one, at Koshtay fortece

military failure, despite the application of huge firepower and considerable personal bravery. The fort had been under surveillance for two months and was thought to contain high-value Taliban leaders.

and

Operation Glacier Two: This mission attempts to recreate the assault on Jugroom Fort. (attemt to rescue Lance Corporal Mathew Ford)

With this scene in the book:

100 degrees from plane, two kalashnikovs started to shoot. ... Walls smashed. Shockwave throws Geordie meter away, sideways. After that another part of the war brokers. Red-hot shards splash throgh mteer deep hole in the wall. Missing them by centimetre, literally .

Geordie experieced humming in the ears and he has plenty of rubble in his mouth.

-Jesus, what was that? RPG? ten RPG?

Sound moved in speed of 343 meters per second. So just after 3 second he has heard Apache helicopter shooting from its gun. Fuck, they shoot at us!
-What the fuck is happening?! - shouted Hearn
-Firing, for fuck sake! -shouted Geordie.

They didn't thought possible to run faster, but they did.

- FOG, direct hit ! Beautiful shot ! Keep it up ! -Billy has said.

Now Billy started counting, On clock it was 10:00:55, Jesus, almost two and half minutes on the ground. Times up.- We have to run.
One more action like this and we can forget moskit, that they're feared so much. Now two of them wait for them just here, on their doorstep.

[Robert Johnson · Rating 5 out of 5]

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ A Fascinating Look Inside the Apache

I picked up Apache because I’m a military history aficionado, and it happened to be available at the library. I expected something technical and interesting, but I ended up learning far more than I anticipated. This is not just a book about a helicopter. It’s a memoir of Ed Macy’s journey into the Apache program and his experiences flying combat missions in Afghanistan, and it was absolutely fascinating.

What surprised me most was how vivid the storytelling is. Macy has a rare ability to place you right in the pilot seat, feeling the tension, the precision, and the adrenaline of every mission. He explains the Apache in a way that makes the complexity accessible without ever slowing the book down.

The book is also thrilling on an emotional level. I felt excitement, admiration, and a deep respect for the pilots and crews who take on these missions. One of the most extraordinary parts of the book is Macy’s account of the operation that earned him the Military Cross. His Apache was used in a rescue attempt under direct fire, with Marines strapped to the helicopter’s wings as he flew into a Taliban-held fort. It’s one of the most daring and skillful flying operations described in any modern military memoir.

I would absolutely recommend Apache. It’s exciting, well-written, and filled with insights you won’t find anywhere else. Whether you’re interested in aviation, Afghanistan, or military history in general, this is a standout book.

[Jason · Rating 5 out of 5]

Accounts by soldiers are a mixed bag; there's nothing like actual first-hand combat experience, but fighting and writing are very different disciplines, and the intensity can get lost in amateurish prose.

This most definitely isn't the case with Ed Macy's "Apache". I didn't have high hopes going in, but I was immediately transported into his world, which for most intents and purposes is his cockpit, and after a short while just couldn't put it down. This book is right at a perfect sweet spot between military document and emotional memoir; Army communications and slang are faithfully reproduced, but here, unlike in other accounts, it doesn't seem stilted or porn-y.

Overall this book is an expert job, and nowhere is this more so than in the pacing. Elton (which is his squadron nickname -- and how he gets it is both terrifying and hilarious) picks exactly the correct combination of actions to get the reader used to patterns in action execution, then cranks the scale and consequences toward the end.

A rollercoaster ride which gets my highest recommendation. Read it even if you don't like military accounts.

[Big Bertha · Rating 5 out of 5]

An amazing and totally compelling read. The Apache Helicopter is without doubt an amazing and scary piece of military equipment and the description of its abilities and the commitment needed to master it were well written without going overboard on the technical detail.

I found this book really difficult to put down, it had plenty of action and adrenaline fuelled battles but it wasn't all about the glory of war, it also tells of the tough decisions, the frustrustions and the mistakes that were made too.

I really liked the humour and camaraderie but what moved me most was the bravery of those on the ground and in the air who put their lives on the line day after day.

Reading about the daring rescue mission that involved strapping Royal Marine volunteers to the side of the Apache and flying them into enemy territory to recover a fallen soldier brought a lump in my throat, the risks both air and ground troops were prepared to take for one of their own made me feel very humble and incredibly proud to be British.

An amazing read from start to finish, totally recommended.

[Matty · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a gripping read. As mentioned it follows a British unit with all the slang and typical British humor that goes with it . Quite refreshing for these types of books which are normally full of American bravoure. It even mentions a few actions by the Dutch in Afghanistan. The book is a good balance between suspense and education on anything from the helicopter, the team dynamics the military workings and slang and the situation in Afghanistan. The actions are described in good detail and it keeps the suspense going. I really enjoyed this book and if you are big on military technology, situational leadership and team dynamics this is a really good read!

[Outsider 959 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Très bon livre, témoignage d'un pilote anglais d'Apache en Afghanistan...
On perd un peu de ce côté ostentatoire américain pour le flegme et la précision britannique.
Le livre est autant pour les mordus d'aviation, parlant des ROE, de mécanique et de la formation pour être pilote mais cachant aussi une histoire digne d'un film d'action, 100% réelle et documenté.
Un regard plus nuancé sur la guerre d'Afghanistan

[Thomas Eyre · Rating 5 out of 5]

As real as it gets

Ed tells his story in the style of the best sellers. There is plenty of heart-stopping type of action you will read in a Lee Child, or Tom Clancy thriller, but with one essential difference, Ed Macy's story is true.

Amazing, and I take my hat off to all allied troops in all branches of the armed forces, thank you for your service.

[Tom · Rating 5 out of 5]

A really interesting story of what it was like to be a British Apache pilot in Afghanistan. The stories were engaging and did a good job of bringing the reader along. The one quirky thing for me was that I listened to the audiobook with an American reader. It was still good, but it would have been better with a British voice.

[Paul · Rating 3 out of 5]

"All Quiet on the Western Front" this is not. I am horrified by the naked glee of killing people. I guess that's what happens when soldiers are not drafted but self-selecting. No one's there against their will so obviously they all want to do it and seams like most of them enjoy it.

[Sam Ward · Rating 4 out of 5]

As a veteran, I can tell that the publisher added things to make certain stories sound better but that wouldn’t happen in the British Army - which is a shame because the rest of the book is brilliant

[Scott Watkins · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really cool story about an event in Afghanistan that I hadn't heard about before. Lots of great technical detail about the Apache for aviation nerds. Good enough that I'll even forgive him for being a Brit!