Peter Mersky Libri

Seeing considerable combat in the nearly 50 years since its service introduction, the Skyhawk was involved in the Vietnam War (1955-1975) from the very beginning. Navy and Marine Corps A-4s quickly established a presence in Southeast Asia, flying from aircraft carriers and land bases in South Vietnam in thousands of sorties against the entrenched communist forces from Hanoi to the communist supply lines along the Ho Chi Minh Trail. This book includes details of missions including the siege of Khe Sanh, Lam Son and the contentious invasion of Laos and Cambodia in 1971 and gives a fascinating account of the variety of missions pilots were asked to perform. These operations were not without risk, and large numbers of A-4s were shot down and their pilots killed or, like Edward Alvarez, imprisoned as POWs for up to eight years in appalling conditions

Boris Senior, though not widely known outside Israel, played a crucial role in establishing the Israel Air Force (IAF) and during the 1948 War of Independence. His dedication earned him deep respect from those aware of his contributions, especially after surviving a near-fatal shooting down while serving in the Royal Air Force in 1945. After World War II, Senior joined the Irgun to combat British control in Palestine, initially engaging in covert operations. With the outbreak of the 1948 War of Independence, he returned to combat, flying diverse aircraft, including the Spitfire and a Beechcraft Bonanza. He self-funded the purchase of supplies and aircraft, undertaking perilous missions to deliver them to Israel. His relentless efforts in creating an air defense system for the nascent state laid the foundation for the modern IAF. Throughout his experiences, Senior has maintained a profound understanding of the ongoing complexities in the Middle East, particularly between Israel and its neighbors. Now in his senior years, he hopes for a resolution to the enduring conflicts that have led to countless casualties on both sides, decades after his pivotal role in launching the IAF.