• The Hunter Killers

  • By: Dan Hampton
  • Narrated by: John Pruden
  • Length: 11 hrs and 51 mins
  • 4.6 out of 5 stars (582 ratings)

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The Hunter Killers  By  cover art

The Hunter Killers

By: Dan Hampton
Narrated by: John Pruden
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Publisher's summary

The Extraordinary Story of the First Wild Weasels, the Band of Maverick Aviators Who Flew the Most Dangerous Missions of the Vietnam War

A gripping chronicle of the band of maverick aviators who signed on for the suicidal, dangerous top-secret "Wild Weasel" missions during the Vietnam War - which used controversial and revolutionary tactics to combat Soviet missile technology - from New York Times best-selling author Dan Hampton.

On July 24, 1965, Soviet advisors to North Vietnam launched an SA-2 surface-to-air missile (SAM), blowing an American F-4 Phantom out of the sky - the first of several kills using this menacing system. To counter this new weaponry, stunned Pentagon officials created a classified program - "Wild Weasel I" - pairing experimental equipment with a highly select group of electronic warfare officers and fighter pilots to combat this deadly threat. The men who did this became the "Hunter Killers" - and it is time to know their names.

Fifty years later Dan Hampton provides a cockpit view of this highly classified military program that was a radical departure from conventional fighter jet tactics. These courageous, daring, and skilled warriors risked their lives to fight the SAMs and save their brother aviators.

Using firsthand accounts and declassified documents from both sides of the conflict, The Hunter Killers takes listeners into the skies and up close to the bloody duels that left half the Weasels dead or captured. At its center are the men who risked everything to fight the most dangerous antiaircraft weapons the world had seen.

Acclaimed Texas historian Stephen L. Moore's Texas Rising, the official companion to the epic History series of the same name, brings to life the violent Texas frontier and the Rangers' heroic deeds during the Texas Revolution. Texas Rising is an unforgettable history of this iconic band of fighters.

©2015 Ascalon, LLC (P)2015 HarperCollins Publishers
  • Unabridged Audiobook
  • Categories: History

What listeners say about The Hunter Killers

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False Advertising

What disappointed you about The Hunter Killers?

I was looking forward to a history of the wild weasels, and instead I got a "fighter pilots" history of the Vietnam War with only brief stories from the weasels interspersed. Johnson, and McNamara bad, general's bad, some fighter pilots good.

Vietnam was a complicated war, and the treatment it was given in this books was cursory at best. Even more disappointing was the very brief story of the weasels. These were brave men who were struggling the technologies cutting edge. I wanted to see their story fleshed out more. For example, he retells the story of the first SAM kill by a weasel, and then as an after thought it was mentioned that only a few pilots from the first group of weasels in Vietnam successfully completed their tour. The story gives the impression that they've got the problem solved, and then afterwards you find out that there was a very low survival rate.

In summary, I wanted a history of the Wild Weasels, and not a history of the Vietnam War with some Weasel stories.

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20 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

A Wild Weasel Primer

Any additional comments?

This is an excellent book for someone who has little or no previous knowledge of the Vietnam War in general or the Wild Weasel mission in particular. If you are well versed on those topics, you might be a bit let down. Easily half the book is devoted to historical background and explaining technical topics.The remainder are the 'war stories' (which is what I wanted to hear). I'm not at all saying that this is a bad book, it was just hamstrung a bit by all the background information, which may be helpful for most listeners--just not this one..

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5 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars

Half aviation, half Vietnam Era politics

Overall a good book on wild weasel operations in Vietnam. The author opens the book explaining the necessity of delving into Vietnam Era politics to properly frame the wild weasel operations. I personally found the extensive political information tiring and excessive. The aviation related parts were interesting and well written. An informative and interesting book overall but not one I'd listen to again.

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4 people found this helpful

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    2 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars
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    2 out of 5 stars

History lesson on electronic countermeasures.

What disappointed you about The Hunter Killers?

If you want a history lesson on the evolution of air warfare over Vietnam utilizing electronic countermeasures this book is for you. If you are wanting to listen to adrenaline pumping stories of air combat by those who fought, this book will leave you dissapointed. Having a background in Electronic Countermeasures (ECM) I was easily able to follow the history lesson. If you have no background in ECM, radar, or avionics you might find this book overwhelming with details.

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3 people found this helpful

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    3 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars

Too much political lectures and descriptions. Not enough description of the actual combat and survival of aircraft .

Needed a little less talk about politics, and a lot more talk about combat and survival from pilots viewpoints .

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2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Great follow up to Viper Pilot

Great book, well researched and dialogue takes you inside the cockpit for multiple frenetic flights over the Vietnamese countryside. Hampton is effective in relaying an intricate story.

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2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Great listen and masterfully read.

I love the narrator, he really sucks you into the action. Great listen and recommend to anyone that enjoys listening to combat missions and war time stories.

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2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars

More of a history of the Vietnam War than flying

It was more of a history of the Vietnam War then a Wild Weasel book.

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Great story!

Excellence stories of the wild weasels and their role in the conflict in Vietnam. The material was very good the narrator was excellent and the whole theme of the book was very interesting. one thing I felt was political history throughout the book that did not pertain to the story directly. I believe one that reads the book will come away encourage because of the bravery and courage of the men of who flew the wild weasels.

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars

Goes beyond Wild Weasel experience in Viet Nam

Would you listen to The Hunter Killers again? Why?

Yes, but was expecting more specific treatment of Wild Weasel. General perspectives on the war are thoughtful and even handed.

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