2007-12-16 Arguably the finest account of 'going north'

I am delighted to see this book reprinted, I searched for a second hand copy for many years and was not disappointed when I finally got hold of one.

I have read most of the pilot accounts of the Vietnam war, and been able to cross reference Jack Broughton's account with those of people who flew with him, this, to my mind is the finest. Only the legendary Pak Six compares, though 100 North and Ed Rasimus's books are very good.

Understandably angry at the political mismanagement of the war and incompetence of many senior 'career' officers, Broughton pulls no punches but backs up his points with sound military arguments, as one would expect from the highly competent deputy leader of an F105 wing.

You really are in the cockpit with him on the missions, perhaps none more telling than the abotive attempt to rescue downed 'Weasel' pilot and Medal of Honor winner Leo Thorsness.

Sadly Jack Broughton fell just short of achieving his target of '105 North in a 105', the USAF court martialled one of their best and destroyed his career, (for protecting two of his pilots who returned fire on a Russian freighter in Haiphong. The USAF acted in just as inept a manner as their failure to put Olds in command of dogfight training on his return from Vietnam, as usual the kiss ass brigade won out.

Going Downtown is also a good read, but very much a retread of Thud Ridge, with the court martial added in.