A former U.S. Marine fighter pilot provides an insider's perspective in a study of the Marine air support missions in the skies over Iraq, offering firsthand accounts of life in the cockpit during these perilous combat missions.

Introduction -- Marine aviation primer -- The MEF -- Staging for war -- Operation Southern Watch -- Harrier carrier teamwork -- Cobras in the attack -- Hornets get into the fight -- Harrier strike -- Rockets and bombs and guns, Part I -- Rockets and bombs and guns, Part II -- Rules of engagement and command and control -- Tomato man -- Cobras over An Nasiriyah -- Huey shootout over An Nasiriyah -- The FARP -- Going long -- The storm -- Hercules in Iraq -- The prowler -- A million ways to die -- Convoy escort -- Fuel bladder rodeo -- Napalm -- Precision strike -- POW rescue -- The son goes back to the fight -- Destruction by FAC(A) -- CAS on Highway 6 -- "We're not going to get shot up ..." -- CASEVAC -- Lost heroes -- The pioneer -- Death on the Diyala -- Al Basrah adventure -- Gunning down the Fedayeen -- Fight for the palace and mosque, Part I -- Fight for the palace and Mosque, Part II -- Cobra down -- Realization -- Afterword.