So I Bought an Air Force: The True Story of a Gritty Midwesterner in Somoza's Nicaragua Paperback – August 6, 2013

I was really looking forward to reading Will Martin’s “So I Bought An Air Force…” hoping to gain an insight into the recovery of the Costa Rican and Nicaraguan warbirds and I was not disappointed. Not since John Dienst and Dan Hagedorn’s “North American F-51 Mustangs in Latin Air Force Service” (1985) have warbird enthusiasts had such a great behind-the-scenes look at Mustangs south of the border.Martin’s tales of shady people, corrupt officials, and mechanics working to a different standard were balanced with people who came to his aid just in the nick of time. On his journey to recover the fleet of Mustangs, he certainly met the right people at the right time. My heart went out to Martin’s long suffering wife and kids who had to deal with his long absences from home and the constant possibility that he may never return, lost in the jungle having gone down in an unreliable or ill-prepared World War II warbird.The tales of his forced landings and the total loss of a number of Mustangs – N6153U (possibly 44-63655), N6162U (pos. 44-63649), and N6170U (pos. 44-73193) – and Thunderbolts – N6148U (pos. 44-88548) – can be seen in the more than 60 color photos shot by Martin during his travels. The author’s ability to prevent more aircraft from being lost is directly related to his pre-flight attention to detail and the knowledge he gained from other experienced pilots willing to share their knowledge.If I have one comment, “So I Bought An Air Force” could have benefitted from a serial number list of the aircraft recovered and where they are now. Maybe that could be added to the book’s website?Congratulations to Mr. Martin for a fine book. This volume is a great addition to the Mustang’s historical record.Nicholas A. VeronicoAuthor: “Hidden Warbirds: The Epic Stories of Finding, Recovering, and Rebuilding WWII’s Lost Aircraft”

This book was recommended to me by a friend, and it was great! I have always had an interest in aviation history, and I also studied International Business in college, with a focus on Latin America. So I Bought an Air Force combines both of those areas perfectly! So much, at least that I've read, about aviation tends to deal with wartime aviation, or the research and development of new types of aircraft, but planes have a much longer life, and it was so interesting to read about the complicated business of buying and selling former military planes in Cold War Latin America. The book also give valuable insight into Latin American business culture, and the Cold War tensions in the area, especially the complex issue of United States-sponsored governments like Somoza, which were anti-communist, but also upheld some brutal practices.For all of it's valuable lessons about history and aviation, the book is very enjoyable and reads like a novel. Mr. Martin's writing style and perspective are very easy to relate to. The story is engaging and difficult to put down. I'm so glad that I read this book, and I am going to get both my sister and my dad a copy for Christmas because I know they will love it!

A very interesting book about the famous P-51 Mustang. Interesting reading, I have really enjoyed the book.

This is one of those books that has adventure, history, great pacing and interesting characters all rolled into one. And, although it reads like fiction (i.e. like an adventure novel), it's nonfiction! I think that's the best kind of nonfiction, actually --- where you feel like you're learning things but you're having a great time with the story.I wound up learning a lot not just about airplanes, but about how one man was able to bravely negotiate his way through a lot of obstacles (and danger) in order to succeed. And, even though I was pretty sure that everything was going to turn all right in the end (no spoilers, though!), I was pretty worried at times. To me, that makes for a great book.I believe that if you know sometimes about airplanes, this book holds a lot of appeal. However, even if you know nothing about planes, this is a fast-paced book that reads like an adventure, and also gives you a lot of information about Nicaragua in the 1960's, as well as how daring this guy was to go into business this way. It's an engaging story with a lot of heart.

this is a hoot. one of our favorite dictators, somoza, was given e new fleet of jets, so he put the old one up for sale. will martin and his brother-and will's wife, pat-went for it. everything you can imagine went wrong-incompetent mechanics, corrupt friends of the boss, pilots who didn't show up, planes that wound up ditched on the beach, buyers who didn't pay-you name it. remember that all this happened 50 years ago, and if will hadn't been a crack pilot himself and almost totally unflappable he and his team would have disappeared into the night. will obviously kept a very exact journal, so you're there with him day by day. it'a terrific read. enjoy.conflict of interest note: will and i are old friends, but not that old. i knew nothing about this adventure until i read the book

I read the "critical reviews" from the people sitting in the left-hand corner of the big picture. Ignore them. This story is one of the most exciting aviation exploits I've read in years. There are many aviation lessons to be learned through this reading. Yes, there is much "between the lines" not told. However, anyone that knows anything about Nicaragua, or wants to know, will understand how this really is a true story. Aviators sometimes say, "It's better to be lucky than good". In this case, Will was lucky he WAS good! He knew his numbers and his limitations. Read and heed, they say.

Was a good read but felt I was reading the same stuff over and over. Quit repetitive

As one who has had a lifetime interest in warbirds I found the story fascinating. Most of us know the history of the old warplanes we see at airshows today but reading about how they came to America is interesting. The author is not the only person to import these planes but I do not know of any book so detailed as this. A great read and I did not put it down until I was finished.

Una testimonianza personale, molto ben scritta e illustrata, di come si volava e ci si muoveva mezzo secolo fa. Nonostante i buchi logici - perché portare gli aerei in volo, perdendone molti per incidente, anziché via mare? - un racconto molto interessante per gli appassionati. Belle anche le foto.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book! Pretty amazing adventures Will Martin had in getting all those warbirds back into the U.S.

Amazing book