Book Excerpts

USAF Retired Lt/Col Jack L. Drain

“On my fiftieth mission I was in plane No. 1, and the other plane was No. 2. We each had Gatling guns and 250-pound bombs. We released the bombs on the first pass and then made several passes with the guns."

“When I pulled off from the last pass, I headed toward the sea as a line of shells popped up right in front of the aircraft. We took one in the right wing. I knew it was bad when lights began flashing amber and red in the cockpit. I fire-walled the throttles in afterburner and climbed out toward the sea to eject, because I was pretty sure we couldn’t stay in the air."

“Somehow we managed to get the plane back to Danang. I’ll never know how. When we got out, we saw a hole 36 inches long and 29 inches wide dripping fuel and hydraulic fluid. There were also dozens of smaller holes all over the fuselage. I added another cluster to God’s Distinguished Flying Cross, because it belonged to Him. I just considered it on loan to me.”


Come with us now on this fascinating journey of world-spanning travels, close calls, and military intrigue—it’s a journey you won’t soon forget!


Order your copy of Life on a Short Fuse today!