Rolling Thunder

by Mark Berent

Book Overview

They were America's brave men-seasoned veterans and young daredevil pilots with dreams of glory in the air: Court Bannister, an Air Force captain overshadowed by his famous father, driven to prove his worth to his comrades-and himself; Toby Parker, the brash first lieutenant who gambled his innocence in the flames of war; Wolf Lochert, the Special Forces major who ventured deep into the jungle to rescue a downed pilot-only to discover a face of the...

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0399134395
• ISBN13: 9780399134395
• Release Date: May 1989
• Publisher: Putnam Publishing Group
• Length: 382 Pages
• Weight: 1.45 lbs.

Customer Reviews

Storm Flight

I had been there. 1962 1964. Had we had Storm Flight then A whole lot of lives would not have been lost. I am sorry I left (1965). I lost a lot of very good friends. Air Force and Army alike.Yet they did get the job done. I am proud of each and everyone of us, that served. God Bless America

Best Vietnam Air War read

I've read a number of books on the Vietnam War -- fiction and non-fiction. Rolling Thunder is one of the best. This book is the start of a five book series that covers the Vietnam war pretty much from the big American buildup era of 1965 to our last big air battle -- Linebacker II. For a novel, Rolling Thunder reads like a memoir, and I guess that's because it partially is one for Berent. His descriptions of air combat are authentic and edge of your seat type stuff. But it is the interactions of the fighter squadron and the wing and big Air Force politics that makes this book a great read. Rolling Thunder starts with the death of a pilot that was flying with Court Bannister (the hero of these books). The other pilot is not a particularly good stick (or pilot as fighter jocks call them) and manages to prang his F-100 all over the jungle. For Court that's bad, not because he loses a squadmate, but because the guy's a powerful generals son. The series follows Bannister around for the next seven years and through the last book -- Storm Flight, which ends the war with the Linebacker attacks on N. Vietnam. Berent manages to weave all the elements of Vietnam -- Saigon dangers, Air Force fighters, Special Forces ground combat and political intrigue in Washington -- all into one story. The only complaint I had with the series is the inclusion of the obligatory romance in Thailand or some RR spot in every book. The romance element wasn't as entertaining to me, but they are always brief interludes and then its back to work and war. If you don't know much about the war in Vietnam or the Air Force read these books. They are a good education and entertaining.

The best Vietnam Air War Author

I have read most of Mark berent's books and they are without a doubt the very best. I know that thye are based in part for sure of real events that took place. Rolling Thunder makes reference to several people and events that I know for a fact did occur, such as the person from the 354'th who shot back at a ship , the Turkestan in Cam Pha and got hauled into a court martial trial along wioht the C.O. The names and some of the story regarding that were changed. Berent makes you feel like you are there along with those guys that busted their butts to fight a war that they were not allowed to win. He has a way of creating characters and other things that are truly realistic, flight line up cards, Frag order etc. IT is very hard to start one of his novels and put it down. THe only bad thing is that you realize tha tyou are almost done reading before long. His knowledge of airplanes and creating a scen for the reader is unmatched by any writer that I know of. I've read all of the books I own several times.

Top Read

A great read for air combat fans.... Berent knows his stuff and more importantly knows how to weave a plethora of technical info into a gripping storyline. Higly recommended.

The Real Thing

So true, you just know that the author lived the setting and life. The story is dramatic without being smarmy, or ridiculous. A great read -