fourfax

Tim McLelland writes:

I am currently in the process of writing a major new book for Ian Allan Publications (an international aerospace publisher) which explores the development and operational use of the Harrier. As part of the book’s coverage I would obviously like to include some information on No.4 Squadron’s association with the aircraft. Could you please advise me if it would be possible to be put into contact with any former Harrier air crews so that I could forward a set of questions for them to answer on Harrier flying? This would enable me to write-up a suitable account for the book. Answers could be in the form of written or tape-recorded responses, whatever is most convenient for them. Likewise, I would be more than happy to supply a copy of the proposed text when completed, for approval. Also, if any former 4 Squadron people have any photographs which I could use in the book, that would be a great help.

If you flew the Harrier on IV(AC) Sqn then Tim may be in touch. If you’d like to contact him directly with your yarns then you can find him at “tpmclelland” at “yahoo.co.uk”

The Jever Steam Laundry has its own website. Lots of stuff there on IV(AC) Sqn at Jever and the people on the Sqn at the time.

Worth checking out…

Robin Olds

I received this email from Monica at St. Martin’s Press:

Wanted to make you aware about this book we recently published. The long-anticipated memoirs of the greatest fighter pilot in American military history, Robin Olds. By Robin Olds with Christina Olds and Ed Rasimus Visit the link below for reviews, excerpt, Q&A and photos of the book. Enjoy! Monica, St. Martin’s Press http://us.macmillan.com/fighterpilot

From the blurb:

The widely anticipated memoir of legendary ace American fighter pilot, Robin Olds. Robin Olds was a larger-than-life hero with a towering personality. A graduate of West Point and an inductee in the National College Football Hall of Fame for his All-American performance for Army, Olds was one of the toughest college football players at the time. In WWII, Olds quickly became a top fighter pilot and squadron commander by the age of 22—and an ace with 12 aerial victories. But it was in Vietnam where the man became a legend. He arrived in 1966 to find a dejected group of pilots and motivated them by placing himself on the flight schedule under officers junior to himself, then challenging them to train him properly because he would soon be leading them. Proving he wasn’t a WWII retread, he led the wing with aggressiveness, scoring another four confirmed kills, becoming a rare triple ace. Olds (who retired a brigadier general and died in 2007) was a unique individual whose personal story is one of the most eagerly anticipated military books of the year.

The book has been co-authored by Ed Rasimus who flew the F-105 Thunderchief and the F-4 Phantom on active duty in Vietnam. I’ve read both his books – When Thunder Rolled and Palace Cobra – and they’re both excellent. I’ll be buying Fighter Pilot.