Punk's Wing

April 14, 2003
This superb novel of contemporary naval aviation by former fighter pilot Carroll (Punk's War) finds Lieutenant Rick "Punk" Reichert training new pilots. One of his most memorable trainees is Lt. Evelyn Greenwood, who earns the call sign Muddy when she taxis an F-14 Tomcat off a runway. A powerful female senator has made it her mission to see that Muddy becomes one of the few women to complete the training, but the senator and her entourage of aides and journalists only succeed in giving Muddy and Punk a headache. Punk's troubles escalate when his best friend dies during a training accident and his engagement breaks up. Despite these somber goings on, Punk and his trainees keep the narrative lively with their frequent boozing, partying and wisecracking. On September 11th, however, the laughs subside and the action begins when Punk and his cohorts are shipped off to fly against the Taliban. Carroll's fictional account of the aerial attack will set readers' adrenaline and testosterone racing, and his depiction of Muddy's introduction to combat (and her subsequent discovery that she can do it) is a poignant touch. With the public's renewed focus on the men and women serving in the military, this top-flight tale should have widespread appeal.