Cobra Combat by Robert E. Case is one of the best books I have read this year. It takes the reader from the beginnings of the Army Air Corps to the emergence of sound-breaking jets and beyond.
From the beginning, the author takes you through a quick tour of his life and how he looked forward to being a pilot but had a few stumbling blocks along the way. He describes his escapades in flight school and at other bases and the fun and frolic they enjoyed while in training.
The book is very detailed, for example he always mentions the date so the reader is always aware of the time-frame of that particular incident.
The excitement builds as Lt. Col. Case describes the close calls, the skirmishes, the sorties and bombing runs that he and the flight had gone through. Day after day, the danger was there every time they took to the air and the author takes the reader along as his co-pilot. The author keeps you on the edge of your seat with dramatic recounting of the dangers that faced those pilots from all sides when they were flying and even some on the ground.
One particular time, he was on R&R (rest and relaxation) and met up with a pilot who he recognized. The man did not seem well, so the author talked him into going to the hospital. He did, and while waiting for the doctor, the man attacked a nurse. He was clearly shell shocked or battle scarred of some sort.
These and many other such events the author describes in vivid detail. There is the fear, the anguish, joy and sorrow that he felt as he continued his heroic acts as a Cobra pilot.
This book is a very well written and moving story told by a man that was both a heroic pilot and a true American patriot. He keeps the reader on the very edge of his seat while bringing him on a ride that he will never forget.
Cobra Combat by Robert E. Case is a very good general audience book that I would recommend to the whole family and in today’s day and age that is a rarity. I gave it my very highest rating, an A+ rating; I would like to see it listed in the New York Times as one of its top ten. It deserves that honor.
