On February 15, 1991, Captain Steve Phillis was leading his wingman, Lieutenant Rob Sweet, on their thirtieth combat mission of Desert Storm flying the A-10 Warthog. They were tasked with attacking Iraq's vaunted Medina Division of the Republican Guards—by far their most dangerous mission of the war.
Near the end of their attacks, Rob was forced to eject from his aircraft and began a five-minute parachute ride down to the troops he and Steve had just finished bombing. Steve, an experienced combat search and rescue pilot and distinguished graduate of the Air Force Fighter Weapons School, immediately sprang into action to save the life of his wingman. After spending three minutes and forty-five seconds circling Sweet, Steve's A-10 was hit by an enemy surface-to-air missile.
Five Nickels: True Story of the Desert Storm Heroics and Sacrifice of Air Force Captain Steve Phillis is a love story. Steve loved his family, fiancée, fellow fighter pilots, country, wingman, and life. Yet he was willing to risk them all to fight—and if necessary, die—for what he believed in. Steve's story—from Rock Island, Illinois, to the Air Force Academy, to his life as an A-10 fighter pilot—is the stuff of heroes.
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"This is the true story of the Desert Storm Sacrifice of Air Force Captain Steve Phillis. Steve loved his family, fiancee, wingman, country fellow fighter pilots, and life. In February, 1991, Captain Steve Phillis was leading his wingman, on their 30th combat mission of Desert Storm. They were tasked with flying the A-10 Warthog. It was their mission to attack Iraq's vaunted Medina Division of the Republican Guards - by far their most dangerous mission of the war.
Near the end of their attacks, Rob was forced to eject from his aircraft and he then began a five-minute parachute ride down to the troops he and Steve had just finished bombing. Steve, an experienced combat search and rescue pilot and distinguished graduate of the Air Force Fighter Weapons School, immediately sprang into action to save the life of his wingman. After spending three minutes and 45 seconds circling Steve's A-10 was hit by an enemy surface-to-air missile. This is a detailed version of the events of that day. I enjoyed this book. "
—
JM (5 out of 5 stars)