War for the Hell of It cover art

War for the Hell of It

A Fighter Pilot's View of Vietnam

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War for the Hell of It

By: Ed Cobleigh
Narrated by: Eric Martin
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About this listen

Ed "Fast Eddie" Cobleigh served two tours of duty during the Vietnam air war, logging 375 combat sorties in the F-4 Phantom fighter/bomber.

In War for the Hell of It, Cobleigh shares his perspectives in a deeply personal account of a fighter pilot's life, one filled with moral ambiguity and military absurdities offset by the undeniable thrill of flying a fighter plane. With well-crafted prose that puts you into his Phantom's cockpit, Cobleigh vividly recounts the unexplainable loss of his wingman, the useless missions he flew, the need to trust his reflexes, eyesight, aggressiveness, and his survival instincts in the heat of combat. He discusses the deaths of his squadron mates and the contradictions of a dirty, semi-secret war fought from beautiful, exotic Thailand. This is an unprecedented look into the state of mind of a pilot as he experiences everything from the carnage of a crash to the joy of flying through a star-studded night sky, from the illogical political agendas of Washington to his own dangerous addiction to risk.

Cobleigh gives a stirring and emotional description of one man's journey into airborne hell and back, recounting the pleasures and the pain, the wins and the losses, and ultimately, the return.

©2016 Ed Cobleigh (P)2016 Ed Cobleigh Air Forces Armed Forces Military Transportation Vietnam War Aviation War Warrior US Air Force Haunted Ghost

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All stars
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Excellent book, well written and excellent narration. thoroughly enjoyed it. An honest account, straight from someone who was there and done it, no going-ho stuff. Would recommend. 😃

Excellent book !

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its a slow book, it feels as if to be building towards something but it never comes.

slow

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Very well written and performed. Great story with some funny and thought provoking moments of an experienced fighter pilot's 2 tours during the late 68-72 bombing halt. Most missions flown over Laos, many at night.

Not adrenaline fueled but fully authentic

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I don't often bother leaving reviews, but I couldn't not for this book. I'm not overstating it by putting this story (or rather, collection of stories) up there in terms of thoughtful, insightful and moving accounts of the Vietnam war, with Tim O'Brien's "What They Carried". From me, that is ultimate praise.
Fast Eddie manages to weave a loose narrative of the arrogance, skilfulness and intelligence of the fighter pilot, while bringing the emotionality, fear and ridiculousness of the war to the fore.
Cobleigh is a hell of a writer first and foremost, with a humour to his writing that is irresistible. I got in my car every morning looking forward to his next jape, stream of consciousness or tragedy. And if you know anything about the air war in Vietnam you'll recognise a few famous but unnamed characters.

only 5 stars, because I can't give it 6

a surprisingly funny and moving account

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I have read many many autobiographies of pilots, mostly of ww2 rather than more modern conflicts like this. This book stands out. I really got a sense of what it was like to live on the base, to fly the missions and of what the author was thinking. the author was humble and open and honest. i think its really well written and verging on poetic at times. the narrator was good too. There's no jet on jet dogfighting and this isn't a complete chronological narrative of the pilots career but I think it's a very good book and I came out really liking the author.

my favourite audio book.

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I really enjoyed this book. It is more than a fighter pilot's stories in the air as it does much more. It goes on to explore the author's personal thoughts about the reasons and rationale for the war and also relates some wonderful stories of his experiences in Thailand. His description of his Thai beef salad lunch is wonderful. I also particularly enjoyed his description of the landing of a Skyhawk on the deck of an aircraft carrier at night as seen from a USAF pilot's perspective. Overall a very enjoyable and engaging book.

Interesting and entertaining

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Haunting and powerful reflections on his experiences as a fighter pilot. Very evocative writing conjures up vivid pictures which stay in the mind. Very well read.

vivid and evocative

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A very in-depth writing of his experience. Tends to focus on everything and anything. Narration can be a bit monotone and at times irritating.
It’s more of a pilots psychological monologue regarding alcohol and the need for sex, more than anything.

Perhaps too in-depth

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