Review of Top Gun:An American Story


 

Topgun: An American story.

320 pages; c2019

This book is told from the perspective of one of the founding members of the Topgun training program for naval aviators. As most stories go it starts with his household and upbringing and such, moves into his joining the navy, his early career as an aviator and his experiences over Vietnam. 
It ends with him retiring after commanding his own aircraft carrier. 
The book is interesting with a ton of names mentioned for recognition and history but it weighs it down a bit. 50 years later the audience doesn't care that much about who was the hotest stick in your squadron. 
It does have a nice first hand discussion about the air war in Vietnam and the politics behind who they could and could not bomb. It also has some nice first hand accounts of some of the military actions that have taken place over the years. 
It also discusses some of the classic naval fighter jets they have implemented over the years especially focusing on the F-4 phantom and then the F-14. And yes, he does discuss the movie and what it got right and wrong.  
Although the book is about the training program, there is enough background and side story to make it more interesting than just that. 
If someone likes military history, naval aviation and historical fighters this is a great book. If someone is looking for high action and Tom Clancy style fight scenes they will find it a bit boring. 

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