A Jake Grafton Novel (Jake Grafton Novels) - Flight of the Intruder

Historical fiction based on events in which I participated. That fact probably skews my opinion, but I thought it worked well in the balance between history and fiction. The characters were types that I knew while involved in these events.

You have to have a strong pilot background to really get into this book. The author goes into very deep detail about flying this Jet. Too lengthy details for me. I am over half way through this book and still can't figure out how it will end or if it even does.

Flight of the Intruder, by Stephen Coonts (read 7 Oct 2016) The author was a Navy pilot in the Vietnam War and after the war he went to Colorado U. law school. This is his first book, published in 1986, and he has since publshed some 36 books! I found this book often exciting and it seemed authentic--the great amount of technical talk convinced me that the author knew lots of things but detracted a bit from the flow of the book. The events were somewhat at times not very likely but the behavior of Navy men on liberty reminded me of my knowledge of Navy life over 60 years ago. There is a lot of spine-tingling events and probably the attitude of some of the fictional characters accurately reflected what may have been an attitude of many men in Vietnam in 1952, controversial as it was. I liked the book enough that I plan to read the book which is its immediate sequel, The Intruders, just to see what Jake Grafton did after the serious difficulty the book ends with.

Fans of Stephen Coonts' Jake Grafton series may enjoy the first of the series. We meet Grafton as a Navy pilot in Vietnam.

This differs significantly from later Grafton episodes, being about war rather than espionage. Truer to life, this is more of a writing job than some of Coonts' later novels, which excel as page turners but are more two-dimensional. Jake Grafton in later books plays straight man and Mission Control to arch and enjoyable characters like Tommy Carmellini and Zelda Hudson. Here, we find out who he really is. This book was assigned reading for Naval pilots, and you can see why: its unsparing realism sacrifices little to entertainment. The terror of pilots who brave catapult launches, land crippled planes on storm-tossed aircraft carriers at night, dodge SAM missiles and carry on despite comrades' deaths, is palpable, and their courage in the face of it is inspiring.

In later books Grafton is often characterized as one cool, bad dude, but that is told rather than shown and not always convincing. Grafton in his later career is mostly an officer and a bureaucrat detached to direct sensitive spook missions. Others get the action while he gets into and out of a scrape or two along the way.

Here, though, he faces violent death every day, and we see why his buddies dub him "Cool Hand".

The Vietnam war has, not surprisingly, been avoided as a setting by most action writers, a loss to the reading public. The perspective of those who, like Coonts, actually fought this war has too often been MIA, with war opposition becoming the conventional wisdom and drowning out the vets' perspective.

Grafton and his fellow pilots must risk their lives for what is by late 1972 a discredited cause. The diplomats are trying desperately to keep it from becoming a lost one as well, but the "peace is at hand" mentality causes them to designate only low-value bombing targets, apparently to avoid scotching the impending peace deal. When Grafton's bombardier dies bombing a cluster of trees under which trucks may be parked, Grafton becomes embittered, his faith in the mission, the military and its civilian leaders shaken. He considers going outside orders to strike at the enemy. On the way to his choice, he grapples with what it means to kill faceless people from the air, meanwhile observing the foibles and weaknesses of fellow pilots who lose their nerve or belief in the war.

Grafton meets future wife Callie while on liberty in Hong Kong. While later in the series they become staid and boring, here they are two young people falling in love in an exotic setting, with Grafton's life on the line and his future in doubt.

Coonts has been praised for being to aircraft carriers what David Poyer is to destroyers and Tom Clancy to submarines. The detail is superior. When Grafton lands at the end of a mission, you feel nearly as drained as he does.

It's a first novel. It's not perfect, it drags at times, but a serious literary effort in the military fiction vein and well worth finishing.

"Flight of the Intruder" tells the story of Jake Grafton, a young naval aviator respected by his peers but slowly coming apart under the pressures of flying extremely hazardous yet useless missions over hostile territory in Vietnam. (Though carrying more ordinance than any other carrier-based airplane, none of the A-6's weaponry is for defense, and no sidewinders or cannon-shells ever arm the plane). Though the communist north would be hurt by air strikes against its power stations, air fields and harbors, and despite America's capacity to simply erase the country from the map using nuclear weapons, Intruder pilots are sent to fly through heavily defended airspace to bomb probably non-existent targets like "suspected truck parks" and ammo dumps. It's on one of these meaningless missions that Grafton's navigator is killed, and the novel begins with Jake confronting the futility of the war, especially in light of the politically imposed restrictions which put more meaningful targets firmly off limits to Yankee fliers. Short a navigator, Grafton is paired with rotating fillers until being firmly hitched up to the mysterious "Tiger" Cole. While Grafton is one of the Navy's best aviators (shipmates call him "Cool Hand"), Cole has amassed years of experience above him. Between the two of them, their frustration mounts until they plan the inconceivable - an unauthorized bombing of the North's communist party HQ in Hanoi. Resolving to keep the mission a secret, they both know that their discovery is inevitable and that they will have to answer for their actions.
"Intruders" is easily the greatest novel written about the air war over Vietnam, or anywhere. Coonts creates highly fleshed characters like the laconic Cole, Camparelli, the dedicated CAG, "Razor", "Boxman" and of course, Grafton himself. As a "technothriller" "Intruder" also excels not only on Coonts' thorough knowledge of the A-6 airplane but also his unique ability to work his knowledge into an excellent plot (and not the other way around as you'll see on just about any similar book). What really sets this book apart from similar stories about the airwar is its brave treatment of the political realities of the war - though we've been prepped to despise the Byzantine regulation of the war, the ultimate court battle our heroes face isn'tr afraid to look at the issue from both sides. Grafton's superiors, who'd be clueless buffoons in other books, are allowed to be dedicated and highly experienced officers here. Grafton, on the other hand, is no hero, something Cool-Hand himself would be the first to admit to you. Priceless dialog and a climax that is none-too-pat round out this novel. Avoid the rip-offs (and the movie while you're at it).

This is the story of navy attack pilots during the war in Vietnam. It is also the story of one particular pilot, LT Jake "Cool Hand" Grafton, an A6B Intruder pilot flying off the coast of North Vietnam as part of the Tonkin Gulf "Yacht Club."
This is a first novel by a writer who lived the experiences of his fictional character. When I first read this book about the time the hardcover was first published, I felt as if I was in the ready room with Grafton, Boxman, Razor and the others being briefed before "going downtown" to bomb Hanoi.
The feel for time and place is all here. The descriptions of the life aboard a carrier on station, the shore leave in Subic Bay and Olongapo City all ring true according to my navy veteran friends. As I read, I felt as if I could have been one of the characters Stephen Coonts wrote about.
For a debut novel, this one was extrememly well done. It was the entrant to a series that I hoped Coonts would write, and subsequently did. I like Jake Grafton because he is a man all of us could only hope to be. Most of all, he is a man of honor and integrity and this is demonstrated when he decides to put his career (and freedom) on the line by going after a target "downtown" after President Johnson has called a bombing halt over Hanoi and Haiphong.
Another wonderfully drawn character is LCDR Virgil Cole, Jake's B/N (bombardier/navigator). Cole has seen combat before and has the Silver Star. He trusts no one but himself but, does his job magnificently. In the movie version, the casting for this character was brilliantly handled when Willem Dafoe played the part to perfection. Although the book and the movie differ at the end, the characterization was true to Mr. Coonts' intent, in my opinion. Jake and Cole became a team and stuck together in thick and thin. Their friendship and loyalty to each other was proven when they went after their downed squadron commander, CDR Camparelli, were shot down themselves and had to survive. The two, who are bound by a well-defined sense of honor, keep their commitments to each other and their squadron.
Although Coonts the writer was also Coonts the lawyer at the time he wrote the novel, he introduces a question of military ethics and obedience when the navy investigates Grafton's and Cole's unauthorized mission against the North Vietnamese capital. Senator Fred Dalton Thompson of Tennessee, in one of his supporting screen roles, does an effective job as the navy Staff Judge Advocate arguing that control of the military must remain in the hands of civilians and elected officials if the United States is to avoid the dangers of military control of the government. Again, this actor turned politician mirrors exactly Mr. Coonts' character in the novel when he and other senior officers attempt to determine the fate of the two aviators who flew side by side in that wonderful Grumman attack aircraft.
Stephen Coonts' wrote a novel that begged for a sequel or a series. I am sure that most readers clamored for more of Jake Grafton after reading this book. I know I did. This book proves that Mr. Coonts is a man of many talents. After all, he flew the Intruder, came home to become a successful lawyer and then launched a very successful career doing something he really likes namely, writing popular novels. Even though I first read this book almost 11 years ago, I finally got the chance to thank the author for all the hours of reading enjoyment he's given me. I'd also like to thank him for his service in Vietnam and in the reserves from which he retired not so many years ago.
BZ CDR Stephen Coonts USNR (ret) and thank you!

Stephen Coonts does so well writing about Naval Aviation simply because he lived it! Naval aviation was "his thing" for many years, and of all of his writings, with the exception of his non-fiction book titled "Cannibal Queen" (about flying around America in an old restored Boeing Stearman biplane with his then 14-yr. old son), this novel was one of his very best. It starts off with a bang and never lets up to the very end! This is one story you'll never get tired of reading over & over again - especially for those who possess a love of military aviation!

I loved this. Typical of many such "war books", the author writes from his own experience. Sometimes written from the experience of a submarine commander, or an F-86 Sabre fighter jock,--- in this book, the hero flies a carrier based A-6 attack bomber (as did the author during the Viet Nam years). I differ with the reviewer that disliked the technical details. I found them fascinating. The complications of carrier based flight, the "routine" of bombing runs over North Viet Nam, and the unrelenting quiet enemy . . . fuel consumption. A study of a complicated war seen narrowly from the seat of a combat aircraft. The author also puts you in his seat, experiencing the sudden unexpected loss of co-workers - a reality of war. Not a perfect novel, but I found it to be an informative and well-executed adventure novel, from a credible author, that easily achieved "hard-to-put-down" status. If you start it, you'll finish it.

This is Stephen Coonts' first book, published in 1986. The setting is the Vietnam War in 1972, at a time when the war was still raging but negotiations were under way and it was clear that the USA was going to pull out sooner or later.

The "hero" of the story is Jake Grafton, in some ways Stephen Coonts' alter ego. Jake is a U.S. Navy pilot flying missions over Vietnam in an A6 Intruder, a carrier-based attack bomber. This is exactly what Stephen Coonts himself was doing at that time, making the book somewhat autobiographical. It also makes the story and the descriptions sound totally authentic.

The strength of the book is this authenticity and the fact that Stephen Coonts has strong feelings and opinions about how the Vietnam War was being fought. These feeling and opinions are presented via the characters, especially Jake Grafton.

Jake Grafton is portrayed as a very real person with very real conflicts and problems in his life.

On one hand Jake is proud to be a warrior fighting to defend his country. On the other hand he is disgusted by the mass killings that his bombings cause, and hates what he is doing.

On one hand Jake believes in the warrior code of "keeping the faith" with his fellow warriors and his superiors in the military. On the other hand he feels that the U.S. military has been betrayed by the political leaders who are the highest command in a democratic country's military hierarchy.

The missions that Jake flies are extremely dangerous. First he has to dodge flak and missiles over Vietnam while flying so low he risks hitting the ground, and then he has to return "home" to a dangerous carrier landing at night in bad weather.

The ultimate paradox in Jake's life is that he is so brave and self-controlled that he has been given the call sign "Cool Hand". But at the same time he is suffering from so much stress that he has developed palsy, a tremor in his hands.

The descriptions of the combat operations are fantastic. Stephen Coonts really brings to life the hell of flying through flak and dodging missiles and the terror of night-time carrier landings in miserable weather. At the same time the book also contains great descriptions of the joys of flying when the weather is beautiful and no dangers are being faced. Stephen Coonts' love of flying and his real-life experiences during the Vietnam War are what makes the book really appealing.

The only real criticism I have is that there is a major plot element that is a mistake. Jake decides to bomb a target in Hanoi in violation of orders. This is unnecessary from the literary point of view - the book would have been better without this escapade. It is also a mistake from the point of view of the characters - Jake doesn't really seem like someone who would do such a dumb thing.

A few final notes:

The book is currently out of print, but is well worth looking for in used book shops or on the Internet.

This book was the first in what became a series of ten "Jake Grafton" books written by Stephen Coonts, many of which I recommend. I especially like "The Minotaur" (1989) and "Liberty" (2003).

A movie was made based on this book. It's fairly good, although the editing is a bit uneven.

In summary, a very good first book, and a good start to an interesting series of books, many of which I recommend.

Rennie Petersen

Stephan Coonts, the author of Flight of the Intruder, wrote an excellent book that thoroughly captivated me. This work of historical fiction was acout; Jake Grafton, whose bombardier gets shot during a bombing run, wants to hit a target of his choosing that will really hurt the enemy. However it is against protocol. It shows insight to a navy pilot's life while tour of duty and had excellent, thrilling flight scenes, along with, a captivating story line. I gave Flight of the Intruder four stars; because it had some dull parts. If you are a reader looking to read this book, I would strongly recommend it if you are interested about the Navy, or like stories involving airplanes.

The classic debut novel of the Coonts/Grafton series will make you grit your teeth and hold on to the seat of your pants as you fly through the trials and tribulations of being a carrier pilot in the Vietnam Conflict. As you read you begin to understand Grafton as if he were real and feel anything and everything that the characters experience like the loss of a shipmate and best friend to a man dying so others could survive. If you want a more exciting ride than this you'll have to be strapped to the nose of a bullet

This excellent novel took place in Vietnam. As a controversial time for our country, Coonts captured this theme well. The protagonist, a humble, but typical flying ace, Jake Grafton became sick of the war. He was frustrated with losing friends for a cause he didn't understand. He eventually pairs up with a hotshot navigator/bomber, and they fly up to the "no-fly zone" of Vietnam, (Hanoi) to bomb something "important" for a change. Something worth "going for." The ensuing plot is accented by a casual romance with an American girl Jake met in Hong Kong, which eventually develops as a substitute family/friend during the war. Many flying sequences are included, and the majority of the novel is in a combat naval context.
Stephen Coonts' first novel, Flight of the Intruder, was superb. A Vietnam flyer himself, Coonts depicted historic naval aviation very accurately and compellingly. Not only did he include accurate and detailed facts about the technological aspect of carrier aviation, but a unique and flowing writing style that captures the reader. His beautiful and simple descriptions of the sky, the sea or flight were powerful and intriguing. Action-packed, well-paced, and worthwhile plotline and cast made this novel the best seller that it was. Anyone at all interested in the military or Vietnam would find this novel to be thought provoking and meaningful.

I think that this is quite possibly my favorite book. Jake Grafton's experiences are so vividly told that one believes that he were there over the skys of North Vietnam. Flight of the Intruder satisfied my expectations for technical flight information as well as being a seat of your pants action thriller. I have read many aviation style novels since reading Flight of the Intruder, but I always come back to it as an example of how this type of book should be written.

I just discovered Stephen Coonts' books recently. "Flight of the Intruder", which was his fist novel was excellent.

I found the main character Jake Grafton to be really interesting and intriguing.

The flight scenes in this book were awesome, and had me sitting on the edge of my seat in suspense.

This was a great start to the series, and I plan to read them all!

Happy Reading!

I'm interested in the Vietnam War and air operations, so the book had the right setting. I enjoyed the detaield description of the air planes, carrier, and air operations. The story was ok, nothing special. The movie was far better. The author didn't create interesting characters, nor was I riveted to the book.
For those who are not particularly interested in air operations you will probably be bored with much of the detail and find yourself skimming many sections.
Overall I though the book was fair, but you can save yourself some reading and see the movie instead.
For a great book on the Vietnam Air war try either book by Marshall Michel :
The Eleven days of Christmass
Clashes: Air COmbat over North Vietnam
for a book on naval air combat during Vietnam try
On Yankee Station by Tillman

Stephen Coonts, a formal Naval Aviatior himself, out does just about everyone who has ever written on the subject in Flight Of The Intruder.

Grafton is a perfect character, you see his faults, love his nuances, and cry as he sees shipmates die.

Kyle Harms

In this great war thriller pilot Jake Grafton gets fed up qith bombing useless targets when his bomber Morgan McPherson is killed while they are bombing a suspected truck park. He and his new bomber, Tiger Cole, decide to bomb Hanoi itself in order to end the senseless war. They do so and are reprimanded. Then Grafton and Cole are sent on one more mission, but they are shot down...you'll love this one! If you like it I also recommend Under Siege.

This is a riveting book on tape. The listener hears every squawk and key of the radio for each mission flown. The listener may want to stay on the Interstate Highways and set the cruise control to the posted speed limit.

Steven Coonts takes every would be fighter pilot on a ride not soon forgotten. The story is fast moving and covers the techinal aspects of flying today's high tech war planes in such a way that even a student pilot would feel right at home in the cockpit of the Navy A-6 Intruder. The combat missions are fierce and realistic to the point the listener dosen't relax until Jake Braxton lands safely on the Aircraft Carrier deck after each flight.

Stephen Coonts, former US Navy Intruder pilot in Vietnam, took his experiences and turned them into great fiction. This classic should stand alongside Where Eagles Dare or The Eagle Has Landed, A real classic about a controversal war. The first of the Jake Grafton series of novels is still the best.

Highly recommended.

This was an interesting read. Coonts really got into the emotions of the pilot. But dont think this is a touchy-feely book, there is enough action to rival Ludlum. Instead of just the hero side, the author gives you the whole picture.