The Intruders (novel)
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| Author | Stephen Coonts |
|---|---|
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Genre | Techno-thriller novel |
| Media type | Print (Hardback & Paperback) |
| ISBN | 1-59114-128-1 |
The Intruder is a 1994 novel by Stephen Coonts.
Plot
After two combat cruises, Grafton is now a flight instructor on a naval base. During a visit to his girlfriend Callie, he has an argument with her father, who's anti-war. Distraught, Grafton is later involved in a bar brawl with another man who's anti-war. His shore duty is cut short and he is sent on another cruise with a USMC A-6 squadron.
Grafton witnesses accident by accident, some with fatal results. A faulty arresting cable, an in-flight fire, landing at night in bad weather, a cold shot, and lightning strike his aircraft. Grafton is thinking about quitting the Navy but eventually makes up his mind to stay.
The book ends when Grafton is shot down by a weapon smuggler and is captured. He and his BN survive, albeit injured and escape from their captor.
Characters
- Jake “Cool Hand” Grafton – Naval aviator, protagonist.
- Le Beau; Grafton's BN, an ex marine recon officer.
- Real McCoy; Navy landing ship officer, also A-6 pilot.
- Callie – Grafton’s girlfriend. Repeated character.
Aircraft appearing/mentioned
- The Grumman A-6 Intruder. A two-man, twin-engine bomber flown from aircraft carriers. The Intruder uses sophisticated electronics to find and attack targets in bad weather and/or at night—
- The F-4 A two-man, twin-engine fighter bomber flown from aircraft carriers.
- The A-7 one-man, carrier-borne, light bomber.
- The A-5 A two-man, twin-engine, carrier-borne, reconnaissance aircraft.