"Thud Ridge" is still the best book on the air war in Vietnam after almost 40 years. First published in 1969 while the war was still going on, this book addresses both the bravery of the F-105 pilots specifically, and the cowardice of the political and military leadership that sacrificed American lives pointlessly. A true patriot, Colonel Broughton explains the challenges of flying "downtown" to the most heavily part of North Vietnam in terms of both his duty as a professional military officer and as a savvy flying leader. He was a demanding boss, but clearly supported his subordinates to the hilt: as a former US Air Force pilot myself, what I can say assuredly is that the military needs more men like Colonel Broughton.

The book is fast paced and grimly descriptive. The accounts of specific missions are both frightening and informative, but none can rival chapter nine, "The Longest Mission," a disaster that cost the Air Force Medal of Honor Winner Leo Thorsness, Harry Johnson, Bob Abbott, and Joe Abbott. Most infuriatingly, some of these men could have been rescued if not for the incompetence of the controlling agencies and the outdated rescue resources available. The entire book is aided greatly by Broughton's foresight to bring a tape recorder with him to capture the action as it occurred: the account of this mission would be greatly diminished without these tape transcripts. Since this book was written while the war was ongoing it is interesting that after a pilot was shot down, Broughton normally had no way of knowing his fate. Leo Thorsness, for instance, made it back after years of torture as a POW; I sincerely hope that a biography of this American hero is forthcoming at some point.

Colonel Broughton has written two more books following this one, "Going Downtown" and "Rupert Red Two," both of which I also highly recommend. His later books are slightly more polished than "Thud Ridge," but no book can touch this book for contemporaneous action and honest critique of the air war in Vietnam.

"Thud Ridge" should be mandatory reading for all officers in the military and all members of the civilian leadership, who in this case were quick to commit American lives to the cause, but strangled the combatants with asinine rules imposed by academic and political wonks who knew nothing of aerial warfare or the ramifications of their decisions. In "Thud Ridge" Broughton singles out the administration of Lyndon Johnson, and particularly Secretary of Defense Robert McNamara and his feebleminded policy of "gradualism" for well-deserved scorn. We should never allow a war to be administered again: it must be fought, and the effort must be led by men like Colonel Broughton.

Colonel Broughton: Thank you for your service, and thank you for your books. We should never forget the lessons they contain.

great book, first read it while i was stationed in Viet Nam...still one of the greatest books ever written on viet nam

One of the very best military aviation memoirs I have ever read. This book is one of the cornerstones of my book collection and one of the few books I have read more than once. Filled with action and fantastic storytelling, it is a real page turner that is filled with exciting and poignant moments. I also recommend "Going Downtown", which was also written by Mr Broughton.

I first read a paper back version of this ten odd years ago on the long haul flight between the US and Australia, I think I must have lost something in the latter part of the read on the flight, perhaps through ( wine?) tiredness. Anyhow after reading a number of other great books on Thunderchief operations in Vietnam of late I decided to re visit Jack Broughtons book and to say I was gripped be enormity of it is an understatement. Even as an ex military pilot I guess I never fully appreciated the real tough decisions that the leaders had to make...stay on top and risk being thumped by MIGs and SAMS of go below and get fried by flack and SAMS. The part of book where Jack describes the eventfull Sunday is probably the best "tell it like it was" aerial drama I have read.., not to mention how he managed to drag a badly shot up Thud back to an emergency strip...and fighting a war with his hands tied behind his back due to the rules of engagement,enthralling stuff. The only criticism I have is that there were not enough photographs of the other key characters in his story

Col. Jack Broughton's "Thud Ridge" was one of the first books I ever read on the Vietnam War. I read it in middle school back in the mid-1980s and, while I forgot many of the stories he told in his book, the stories of the high-level military and political micro-management and mismanagement of the war were not forgotten. The book is much more than that, though: it is full of great stories of everyday heroism among the Air Force pilots who flew missions over North Vietnam.

Col. Broughton was an F-105 "Thud" pilot and a senior officer in his wing during the bomber offensive against North Vietnam. The book was originally written while the war was still ongoing, so many of his stories are unfinished (it was unknown if the lost pilots were killed in action or captured), and Col. Broughton wrote from the perspective of "here's what we need to be doing to improve and win this war."

While Col. Broughton clearly has an axe to grind against the superiors in the Air Force and in Washington, D.C., who caused needless waste and loss of life, this book really shines as a memoir of the tough combat in the skies over North Vietnam. Col. Broughton methodically describes how his air wing functioned, how new pilots were brought into the wing and trained for combat, and how they also had to work hard to convert their airbase in Thailand from an airstrip in the jungle into a functioning combat base. And the stories of the daily life-and-death struggle in the air against enemy MiG fighters, surface-to-air missiles, and anti-aircraft guns are some of the best ever written.

This excellent memoir is one of the best Vietnam accounts ever written.

Col. Jack Broughton's "Thud Ridge" was one of the first books I ever read on the Vietnam War. I read it in middle school back in the mid-1980s and, while I forgot many of the stories he told in his book, the stories of the high-level military and political micro-management and mismanagement of the war were not forgotten. The book is much more than that, though: it is full of great stories of everyday heroism among the Air Force pilots who flew missions over North Vietnam.

Col. Broughton was an F-105 "Thud" pilot and a senior officer in his wing during the bomber offensive against North Vietnam. The book was originally written while the war was still ongoing, so many of his stories are unfinished (it was unknown if the lost pilots were killed in action or captured), and Col. Broughton wrote from the perspective of "here's what we need to be doing to improve and win this war."

While Col. Broughton clearly has an axe to grind against the superiors in the Air Force and in Washington, D.C., who caused needless waste and loss of life, this book really shines as a memoir of the tough combat in the skies over North Vietnam. Col. Broughton methodically describes how his air wing functioned, how new pilots were brought into the wing and trained for combat, and how they also had to work hard to convert their airbase in Thailand from an airstrip in the jungle into a functioning combat base. And the stories of the daily life-and-death struggle in the air against enemy MiG fighters, surface-to-air missiles, and anti-aircraft guns are some of the best ever written.

This excellent memoir is one of the best Vietnam accounts ever written.

I ahave read this book many times over the years and the story that Col. Broughton tells is what really happened in the skies of N. Vietnam, not what you may have heard on the news or read in a paper. He tells in detail the fallacy of Johnson's and McNamar's stupidity in waging war and their completely ignorant use of air power, not to mention the rules of engagement. THis is absolutely a book that should be read by anyone interested int the Vietnem War. The book alludes to what happened to Col Broughton because of two of his Majors, and the total lack of care by those Generals in command of 7th and 13th Air Force, who ended up hangin him out to dry. His follow up book details this story and is also a book not to be missed. THis book alonf with "Going Downtown" should be made into a movie. Col Broughton was an American Hero in every sense of the word, and a fighter pilot's pilot, and he was let down by the leadership of the very arm of the service that he pledged his loyalty to. He was also the leader of the early Thunderbirds.

I ahave read this book many times over the years and the story that Col. Broughton tells is what really happened in the skies of N. Vietnam, not what you may have heard on the news or read in a paper. He tells in detail the fallacy of Johnson's and McNamar's stupidity in waging war and their completely ignorant use of air power, not to mention the rules of engagement. THis is absolutely a book that should be read by anyone interested int the Vietnem War. The book alludes to what happened to Col Broughton because of two of his Majors, and the total lack of care by those Generals in command of 7th and 13th Air Force, who ended up hangin him out to dry. His follow up book details this story and is also a book not to be missed. THis book alonf with "Going Downtown" should be made into a movie. Col Broughton was an American Hero in every sense of the word, and a fighter pilot's pilot, and he was let down by the leadership of the very arm of the service that he pledged his loyalty to. He was also the leader of the early Thunderbirds.

Well-written. Interesting. One of the better chronicles of the Vietnam Air War. It's a sad book, too. When you consider how the government and American People conspired to send its sons to war and tied their hands in the actual combat. It was the worst kind of treachery that demands: You go and fight, and I'll hold your coat, your horse, and your weapon.

My only problem with the book is there is too much combat action. Over-kill. It ruined the balance and the mix.

The first thought that comes to my mind regarding Thud Ridge, is the incredible candor and the vivid unit-level challenges that Col Broughton brings forth in his book. The reader is quickly drawn into the day-to-day challenges of the F-105 mission and Col Broughton lays a solid foundation for most readers to follow and understand the nuances and terminology that surrounds military life and the aviation community.

This is certainly a story that needed to be told. Understanding the North Vietnam aerial campaign opens the readers mind to the severe targeting limitations imposed on the pilots in conducting their daily missions. Unfortunately, countless aviators lives were needlessly put into harms way and Col Broughton honorably portrays the cost in lives of his friends and fellow aviators to his readers.

The heroism of the Thud aviators and their naval counterparts rank high on the list of all time achievements in combat. The Silver Stars and Air Force Crosses reinforce the level of valor that these aviators displayed in the Hanoi region. Moreover, the risks incurred of ejecting over cannibal territory and heavily occupied NVA regions help portray just how couragous these aviators truly were.

I'd recommend this book to military professionals and to military historians. The general populous will benefit from the overall story, but many of the key details learned only from adaptation to military duty, may be lost. Nevertheless, the point will get across to all readers.

Weakness: The book needs editing. There are several out of place words that do not make grammatical sense, but are easily passed over if recognized and quickly translated.