Travel For Aircraft Bookshelf – Night of the Bear by Alan Cockrell and Richard Hess

Alan Cockrell and Richard Hess have written a thriller novel revolving around nuclear armageddon within the United States that can end with Russian domination using one surgical operation. Is such precise operation plausible? Yes, and scarily so! How to take out all the U.S. civilian and military leadership authorized to launch a retaliatory nuclear strike? Somehow, this would mean POTUS (the U.S. President), the Lone Survivor, and the Doomsday plane currently on patrol. The Doomsday plane is the USAF’s E-4B Nightwatch (a Boeing 747 tailored to be an advanced airborne command post). Mobile ground targets and a moving airborne target have to be eliminated within minutes of each other—how can this be potentially possible? The authors have gamed out a plan that is plausible, does not rely on super agents, unrealistic personalities, or an overly imaginative chain of events.

Cockrell and Hess are the authors to conceive and game this scenario since both are retired military aviators, familiar with flying within U.S. airspace as well as internationally, especially on long-range ferry missions. Long-range flying and entering U.S. airspace with nuclear weapons—check. Night of the Bear envisions professional military men flying a pair of Tupolev Tu-95 [code named: Bear] strategic bombers with each deploying a pair of Kh-55 [code name: Kent] cruise missiles. Four nukes to eliminate U.S. political leadership as well as cause general mayhem and confusion for Russia’s president to take advantage of—check.

A plan to neutralize the Nightwatch aircraft on patrol while in flight and within a window of opportunity measured in minutes? This requires knowledge of ATC (Air Traffic Control) procedure and personnel—check. Does the plan work? Does the plan fail? Do the Russian aircrews have to E & E (evade and escape)? No giving away the plot any further here!

Not only does this novel depict a reasonable series of events, but the authors also fill the story with context, using current political events as well as being aware of cultural differences. The scenario in Night of the Bear has been more than well thought out. Readers will appreciate the knowledge of flight procedures, as well as nuclear weapons handling and their release authorizations. Readers may also appreciate the predictable nature of military minds over political ones. Mostly, readers will appreciate this novel’s thrilling telling of a creative plan to change world history.