300 Missions Over Vietnam - An F-100 Pilot's Account with Letters Home

In this vivid account, a young F-100 pilot describes his life in a fighter squadron in the peak year of the Vietnam War. Through commentary and 72 letters written to loved ones back home, this work details combat operations, mission briefings, flight protocols, tactics and targets. It speaks of dangers faced--enemy fire, harsh weather and unforgiving terrain--as well as the brutal fury and inspiring beauty of nature in a land far from home. Presenting the human side of war, the author depicts a world of exhilaration, despair, deep melancholy, loss and longing.

List of contents

Table of Contents

Acknowledgments

Preface

Introduction

One-Beginning

Two-Troops in Contact

Three-Settling In

Four-Bullpup Training

Five-Attacked

Six-Just a Routine Combat Sky Spot Mission

Seven-Bombing Halt (or "Who the hell is Richard?"

Eight-Anticipation

Nine-Hawaii

Ten-Battle Damage

Eleven-Ho Chi Minh Trail

Twelve-Times Are Changing

Thirteen-Loss

Fourteen-Looking Ahead (or Slipping Away?)

Fifteen-George

Sixteen-Fini and Home

Epilogue

Military History of Stewart E. Cranston

Bibliography

Index

About the author

Stewart Cranston flew 514 combat flying hours while serving as an F-100 fighter pilot in Vietnam. A graduate of the Air Force Test Pilot School, he continued flying high performance airplanes throughout his career. Over his 34 years of service to his country, Lt. General Cranston accumulated over 3900 flying hours.

Product details

• Authors: Stewart Cranston
• Publisher: Ingram Publishers Services
• Languages: English
• Product format: Paperback / Softback
• Released: 07.07.2025
• EAN: 9781476697772
• ISBN: 978-1-4766-9777-2
• No. of pages: 215
• Illustrations: Raster,schwarz-weiss
• Series: Voices in American Military Aviation
• Subjects: Non-fiction book > History > Miscellaneous; Vietnam, Postwar 20th century history, from c 1945 to c 2000, military history, Air forces & warfare, c 1960 to c 1970, Air forces and warfare, Military history: post-WW2 conflicts, c 1955 to c 1975 (Vietnam War period), Vietnam War, HISTORY / Wars & Conflicts / Vietnam War, HISTORY / Military / Aviation & Space