Wingman at War

WINGMAN AT WAR is a first-hand, earnest, exciting, and heartfelt journey into the cockpit and beyond of a talented young fighter pilot suddenly called into combat without prior notice or fanfare. Derived from a personal journal kept completely secret from the world until now, the author Matt "Boz" Beals, takes the reader on a flight of a lifetime as the youngest F-15C Eagle pilot flying combat in the Persian Gulf War.

Raw, unencumbered, and without agenda, this brand-new mission ready wingman tells the remarkable story of deploying, flying, fighting, and winning the air war over Iraq during OPERATION DESERT STORM. Detailed, real-time accounts of MiG kills, surface-to-air missile engagements, lethal anti-aircraft artillery, fiery explosions, harrowing airborne encounters, and near-death experiences in the skies over Iraq keep the reader engaged throughout. Mixed with a humor, refreshing exuberant honesty, and the perspective that only a 24-year-old fighter pilot can uniquely offer; the author, Boz, passionately brings to life the good, the bad, and the ugly of combat operations out of Incirlik Air Base, Turkey and OPERATION PROVEN FORCE as no other account previously has.

Victories won, mistakes made, lessons learned, heartaches endured, frustrations voiced, and celebrations had; nothing is off limits in this behind-the-scenes look at flying in the combined air superiority super squadron that affectionately became known as the "War Dogs." Faith, teamwork, leadership, mentorship, and action galore are presented with clairvoyant historical perspective and epic life quotes that jump off the pages in this vibrant, in-the-moment account. The action is non-stop with something inside for every reader to thoroughly enjoy as if they were in the cockpit and beyond with "BOZ."

There has never been a more accurate, first-hand account of the events that framed OPERATION PROVEN FORCE out of Incirlik AB, Turkey from pre-deployment to intense combat operations, to post war victory and re-deployment. Start to finish the action does not stop, and who better to give perspective on it all than the lone fighter pilot Lieutenant the 32nd Tactical Fighter Squadron "Wolfhounds" called upon to join the fight in hostile skies over enemy territory - a WINGMAN AT WAR.

“Without a battle at hand a true warrior would surely die;
therefore, he must forever find a new war to wage.”

Matthew “Boz” Beals, 1Lt, USAF

Wingman (noun)
1. A pilot who supports another in a potentially dangerous
flying environment, flying just outside and behind the
wing of the leading aircraft in a flight formation, to provide
protective support. An aviator subordinate to and in support
of the designated flight leader; also, the aircraft flown in
this role.
2. A friend who supports you. A person who helps, guides, or
supports another.

“The wingman is absolutely indispensable. I look after the wingman.
The wingman looks after me. It’s another set of eyes protecting you.
That’s the defensive part. Offensively, it gives you a lot more firepower.
We work together. We fight together. The wingman knows what his
responsibilities are and knows what mine are. Wars are not won by
individuals. They’re won by teams.”

Lt Col Francis S. ‘Gabby’ Gabreski, USAF (28 aerial victories in WWII
and 6.5 over Korea)