Over the Beach: The Air War in Vietnam

This was a good book that mostly follows the F-8 Crusader pilots of VF-162 "The Hunters" on the USS Oriskany during two tours in Vietnam in 1966-68.It reads sort of non-linearly in that it jumps around between the stories of the different pilots in the squadron and intertwines them all together. The book also includes the story of an A-4 pilot who was on the Oriskany during this time, and it includes the story of his wife back in the States, both of which are also intertwined in amongst the stories of the F-8 pilots."Over The Beach" is great when it shows you who these pilots are and how they deal with performing their duties in their squadron. When they're not flying, a lot of the pilots party hard and drink heavy, some have affairs, and others are deeply religious and committed. The management of all these different personalities by the commanding officers becomes very interesting, especially when one pilot seems to shirk his combat duties and others start resenting him.I wanted to like this book a lot, but it unfortunately detours a lot to the wife of the A-4 pilot. My question is, why not follow a wife of one of the pilots from VF-162? In my opinion it would have served the book better to just stay focused solely on the pilots and wives of "The Hunters" because that is the real story of this book.I have the 2005 paperback edition and except for the exceptional F-8 photo on the front cover, there are no photos included, and it really could've used some to help tell the stories. A great visual supplement I recommend is Osprey's "F-8 Crusader Units of the Vietnam War" which has several photos and illustrations of the aircraft and pilots of VF-162, including a squadron photo from 1967 where you can put faces to the names of the pilots.Overall this was a good read and a great look into an F-8 fighter squadron on Yankee Station.

As a writer of this time period myself, with  , I found Over the Beach a compelling tale. Grant finds a way to write the truth about the airwar, packing a punch of reality, yet weaving the story with genuine emotion. He tells the pilot's tales with honesty, zeroing in on their true emotions. Heady egoism juxtapositioned with abject fear and horror. He addresses the conflicts of dutiful patriotism with skeptical resistance of the expected duties.I loved it! So many military accounts are written dry, void of true emotion. Zalin Grant has a knack for illuminating the true inner stories of the war. Conflicted expectations. The frustrations of the pilots. The inevitable, horrific mishaps that cost lives during wartime. Even more important, he includes the unsung virtues and actions of the Navy wives. All of the desperate, anxiety-rife waiting. The frustration at an administration who expected dutiful silence.What a fanstastic and realist account of the air war in Vietnam. It's not only a strong read, it is a MUST READ.

The author effectively caught the "flavor" of a Navy fighter squadron during the war in Vietnam. The strengths and weaknesses of the members if the squadron is accurately portrayed, as is similar traits of some of ther wives. The book is primarily about courage and fear, professional jealousy and dedication. The flying details are not overly technical, so the book will appeal to a broad spectrum of readers. Anyone interested in the reality of Naval Aviation will be captivated by "Over the Beach."

I especially enjoyed this book as I was there flying F-8 Crusaders and knew most of the pilots.

I was on the USS Oriskany for eight months of the years described by Mr. Grant. His insights are educational. A lot more took place than I was privy to. It was enjoyable reliving that part of my life from someone else's perspective.

If you are looking for a first hand account of aerial combat in Vietnam, this is not your book. If the bureaucracy and politics of the war are interesting to you, then you might like it.

Having served on the same ship it was great to hear what really went on in the ready rooms and over the beach.

My father served on the Oriskany as a Navy fighter pilot during the cruise described in the book. He described it to us as the closest description to being there. One of my siblings has his copy, but I am keeping it as part of our family's history.

Very informative book and a good read, as the book says "The right stuff without the hype and Chuck Yeager without the arrogance.A great story on what was a very difficult time in US history which brought out the courage and the frustrations of aircrew unable to acheive their goals because of government interference in restriction of key targets and the major loss of aircraft and aircrew from tight knit communities on board the Oriskany while on China station.

A really first rate account of the US air war against North Vietnam in the 1960s and 70s. Many quotes from veterans, and detail on operational procedures - well worth a read.

Zalin Grant, reporter de guerre US travaillant pour le magazine Times a commencé, au début des années 1970, à collecter les témoignages de pilotes de la VF-162. La VF-162 fut une unité équipée de F-8 Crusader, et qui effectua plusieurs tours d'opération dans le Golfe du Tonkin lors du conflit Vietnamien.Ce n'est qu'en 1986, après avoir revu un bon nombre des protagonistes, que l'auteur sort un ouvrage relatant les souvenirs. Le présent livre est une réédition de 2005.Point d'illustrations ! Une seule carte, basique, détaillant la découpe du Vietnam du Nord en zones aériennes. Ce n'est pas dramatique. L'essentiel du livre reste dans son découpage, non chronologique et non-thématique, et la répartition des récits mâtinés de souvenirs et de réflexions de la part des acteurs. Les pilotes de la VF-162 ne sont pas les seuls intervenants : il y a également la veuve de l'un d’entre eux qui parle de sa "vie" en tant que femme de pilote.

Very interesting book about air war in SE and it's repercussions in the families of those who fought in it. Recommended to everyone interested in such matter.