Operation Burnt Horizon

This is the story of a group of elite pilots fighting a secret air war in Vietnam, flying Cessna O-2s and Bronco OV-10 turboprops. They flew as low as they could go. They were the eyes and ears of the fast jets that rained death and destruction on enemy positions. The Forward Air Controller played a key role during air raids – he knew where the targets were, where his own troops were, and made life-or-death decisions in a split second during combat. The experiences of the low and slow-flying air controllers and the associated risks provided a unique bird's-eye view of the entire course of the Vietnam War.

Tom Yarborough, who flew 1,500 combat hours, took constant, significant, and exciting risks. A member of the top-secret 'Prairie Fire' unit, he became one of the most frequently shot-down pilots flying out of Da Nang, undertaking a series of dangerous and secret missions in Laos. In this adrenaline-fuelled diary of heroism, danger, and wartime brotherhood, the reader flies in the cockpit with Tom Yarborough. Tom participates in rescuing downed pilots, destroying enemy positions, and in dramatic, extensive missions directly over the heads of the People's Army of Vietnam soldiers. He is an example of the dedication, courage, and skill of the pilots who take the war into the enemy's rear.

Colonel Tom Yarborough, a retired USAF officer, served in the Air Force for thirty years in various flight and staff roles. During two tours in Vietnam, he served as a Forward Air Controller. He has received thirty military decorations, including the Silver Star, the Distinguished Flying Cross, the Purple Heart, the Air Medal, and the Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry.

The book was first published in 1990, and this classic work of war has now been revised and expanded by the author with about 50,000 words and previously unpublished photographs. It received a gold medal for BEST MEMOIR from the Military Writers Society of America in 2014.