Synopsis
In the winter of 1972, after many years of armed conflict in Vietnam, President Nixon ordered Operation Linebacker II, the most massive aerial bombing campaign since the end of World War II. In this successful effort to end the Vietnam War, B-52s were sent from Thailand and Guam to attack key targets in North Vietnam that would force the North Vietnamese to capitulate. The primary targets were located in Hanoi and Haiphong, North Vietnam, which were the most heavily defended cities in the history of aerial warfare. Yankee Air Pirates tells the story of this campaign through the eyes of Spike, Bulldog, D-Kid, and the many other crewdogs (as B-52 crew members referred to themselves) who flew the massive Stratofortress on these dangerous missions. In the eleven nights of bombing, fifteen of the huge planes were shot down. Five of the aircraft made it to safety in Thailand before ejecting, and ten went down over Hanoi. Of the 61 crewdogs that went down over Hanoi, thirty-two were captured and later repatriated. The other 29 gave their lives. Who were these crewdogs? In the air, they were serious professionals. They were wise beyond their years, educated by experiences that most will never know. On the ground, they were rowdy, undisciplined, hard-drinking misfits. They were heroes in a time that many at home refused to recognize their heroism, and they were patriots when patriotism was a bad word in America. Most importantly, they were eager to do everything they could, including risking their lives, to end the war and free the prisoners so everyone could go home to their families and friends. Yankee Air Pirates is at times hilarious, moving, thought provoking, and insightful, but it is always entertaining. Whatever you think of any of the wars this nation has fought, Yankee Air Pirates will make you proud to know the men and women who have fought those wars for the rest of us.
About the Author
CK McCusker was born in Chicago but raised in Connecticut. He went west for college to the University of Arizona, graduated, and was applying to law school when his draft board informed him that wouldn't work. He applied for a commission and flight training in the Air Force and, miraculously, was accepted. He then went through the training for 18 months that led to his commission as a 2nd Lieutenant and his Wings as a navigator. He was assigned to B-52's and flew over 100 combat missions in Vietnam, including Operation Linebacker II. After his service, he joined General Electric and went through an 18 month management program which led to senior sales and marketing management positions in the following 12 years at GE. He remained in the corporate world in senior management positions until he began his entrepreneurial career in 1993. He began writing Yankee Air Pirates at the insistence of an old friend while still working full time. Five years later, after writing nights and weekends, it came to reality with the great help of his publisher, Deeds Publishing in Atlanta. Mr. McCusker resides in Scottsdale, Arizona with his wife of 40 years and has three married children, two sons and a daughter, and a new grandson. In 2010 he left the business world and became a full time author. He finally reached his "dream" job.
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