Hawkeye

Discover the riveting autobiography of Giora Even-Epstein, a legendary figure in the annals of military aviation, known affectionately as 'Hawkeye' for his extraordinary vision surpassing 20/15. This hardback memoir, filled with gripping stories and detailed accounts, vividly recounts his exceptional journey from a young boy on an Israeli kibbutz to becoming the highest-scoring jet-mounted ace in history. With a remarkable tally of seventeen confirmed aerial victories, Giora flew the iconic French Mirage III during pivotal moments like the Six Day War of 1967 and the Yom Kippur War of 1973. His candid reflections on confrontations against Arab MiGs and Sukhoi jets transport readers into the cockpit, experiencing air combat's intense thrill firsthand. This book not only chronicles his triumphs but also his incredible resilience in overcoming challenges, including rebuffs from flight training due to a heart defect. With his engaging narrative style, readers will learn about his friendships with renowned fighter pilots, his trajectory through different squadrons, and his return to the skies in an F-16, showcasing a spirit of perseverance and dedication to his dreams and country. A must-read for aviation enthusiasts and history buffs alike, this autobiography serves as a testament to one man's unwavering commitment in the face of adversity and the drive that propelled him to the skies.

Author: Giora Even-Epstein Publisher: Grub Street
Bind: hardback
Dimensions: 156 x 234 mm
Pages: 192
Publication Date: 20-11-2020

For more than thirty years, Giora Even-Epstein flew fighters for the Israel Air Force, achieving recognition as a highly skilled military aviator and the highest-scoring jet-mounted ace with the most number of confirmed victories in the French Mirage. Having overcome numerous hurdles just to learn how to fly, he went on to compile a record of Arab MiGs and Sukhoi kills that bettered any other combat aviators’ tally in the entire world. This fast-moving autobiography details his experiences particularly in the intense conflicts of 1967, the Six Day War, and 1973, the Yom Kippur War. The reader shares the cockpit with him as he describes every action he undertook with 101 and 105 Squadron, including the greatest jet-versus-jet air battle in history with four MiG-21 kills in one engagement. His final score was seventeen aerial victories. After his last battle he became commander of the First Jet Squadron, 117, began civilian flying, retrained to command 254 MMR Squadron in the 1982 Lebanon War, and flew the F-16 at the age of fifty before retirement. Along the way he met numerous fighter pilot legends such as Douglas Bader, Al Deere, Pierre Clostermann and Randy Cunningham. Affable and enthusiastic, Giora gained the nickname ‘Hawkeye’ because of his amazing vision of more than 20/15, enabling him to pick out enemy aircraft long before his squadron mates. His story is of one man’s unfaltering dedication to his dreams and his country. As the leading jet ace it is one well worth telling and, critically, it can be told in his own words. Giora Even-Epstein was born in 1938 on an Israeli kibbutz and spent his early years in agricultural schools. He became fascinated with military aircraft and the aces who flew them. He desperately wanted to fly the French Mirage III but was turned down for flight training because of a heart defect. He tried again, was turned down again, but was incredibly accepted as a paratrooper. After 500 jumps, he tried again to enrol in the IAF pilot training programme and was accepted, eventually gaining his wings to fly and fight during the critical periods of the Israel Air Force’s combat history. In 2019, after years of retirement, he was promoted to brigadier general and today lives peacefully in Tel Aviv.