Rocco's gonna get you (Apache - Ed Macy)

Member Name: robvr6

Product:	Apache - Ed Macy
Date:	14/07/09 (33 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: great book, great story, excellent extras, very well written

Disadvantages: Truely none

The Blurb -
The Man - Ed Macy (elite pilot)
The Machine - Apache AH MK1 (The worlds deadliest fighting machine)
The Mission - Inpenatrable enemy fort, 200 Taliban, 1 Marine MIA

Apache is the bestseller from Ed Macy, a veteran Apache pilot in the army air corps (656 Squadron) who left the army in 2008. according to the official figures he lists in the book, he flew a total of 3,930 hours, of which 645 were in the apache.

The book covers the historic and much publicised 'Jugroom Fort' episode, where Matthew Ford, a Royal Marine Commando, lost his life fighting for his country, as well as many other missions, and the build up and aftermath of serving in Afganistan.

Ed Macy has a very easy to read writing style, and even though most books about pilots seem to endlessly state things like 'we took a heading of x and flew at x feet for x long....' to bump up the word count, he doesn't. What Ed does do is give a blow by blow account of his doings and goings on in the Helmand province with great detail and excellent prose. being as this is a true story, i was expecting it to be a little beefed up as though to make him sound or appear to be braver etc.

He didnt. Within a few pages of this book i was totally entertained by his realism, and willingness to be honest about things that happened, along with his very good descriptive writing that kept some extremely complicated battles easy to visualise.

In the book we get the usual tech stuff about the Apache gunship, and its differences to the american version of the same ship, and for once its nice to know that the Brittish version is a cut above, and can out perform the US counterpart. We also hear endless praise for the 'groundies', or ground crews, without whom the ship would never fly; And Macy makes a point of stating this very clearly.

There have been a few books in recent years about the apache and its pilots but for me this one really stands out, as it has been written by one of the actual pilots that attempted the Jugroom Fort rescue, and not just an apache pilot (if there is such a thing as 'just an apache piloy') talking through what he heard had happened.

I cannot reccomend this book highly enough, as it highlights so many different aspects of modern warfare and the moral implications, as well as the red tape that binds our armed forces when they are trying to do their jobs. It is a real eye opener for those that know nothing or very little about the war in Afganistan, and for those that do know what is going on, it is still an exciting read.

The new paperback of this book, has also got links to some great online footage that has now been declassified, and adds to the overall feeling of the book, and helps those who have difficulty visualising events to do so.

As well as the hard hitting story, it is indespersed with the comedy and comraderie that makes our armed forces what it is, and the appearance of 'Rocco' the unofficial mascot of 656 Squadron, is fantastic (you will have to read it to find out what i mean).

A fantastic all round book, with great additional features, such as online extras, and photos within the book.

Summary: Beg borrow or buy this book!!