Sea Stories of a U.S. Marine Book 4 Harrier - Paperback

by W. R. Spicer (Author)

Book 4 of Sea Stories of a U.S. Marine relates an historic period in U.S. Marine Corps Aviation, the first "Off The Shelf" procurement of a major weapons system from a foreign country, and the introduction of the first operational V/STOL (Vertical/Short Takeoff or Landing) aircraft in the United States arsenal. The story is related through the eyes of our pilot and family from books 1, 2, and 3. His writing style again puts the reader in the cockpit with him as he learns the intricacies of flying a V/STOL aircraft. His selection and assignment to the HARRIER PROGRAM weaves him, his family, and fellow pilot's careers into the fabric of Marine Corps Aviation history. He details the Corps relentless efforts to assimilate a totally new aircraft for the Marine Corps Air Ground Team, a totally new aerodynamic concept and the turbulence such a radical change creates. The author describes how the Marine Corps carefully selected pilots with highly varied backgrounds who would and did risk everything to "Prove the Concept". Those pilots solidified the V/STOL era of Marine Corps operations ashore and afloat so well with the initial aircraft the AV8A HARRIER that more than forty years later, the follow on aircraft AV8B HARRIER II is still in active service as the primary close air support aircraft in the USMC.

Author Biography

W.R. Spicer is a retired Lieutenant Colonel, United States Marine Corps Harrier Pilot. This is his fourth book in his series, Sea Stories of a U.S. Marine. His career experiences span from enlisted infantry Marine in Vietnam through Harrier Squadron Commander and includes a unusual assignment as an exchange officer with the Royal Navy and Royal Marines and found him involved "On Her Majesty's Service."