When Pigs Flew (Hardcover) by Paul Cardinal

Everyone says Pete Cardinal sounds just like John Wayne on the radio. People who have never seen him are often surprised to meet a six-foot mustang lieutenant instead of a six-four admiral. Leaving San Diego with just a year to go before retirement, he's headed to a cushy desk job in Memphis. Or so he thinks...

Pilots Jerry and Psycho are just getting a handle on their secret mission's special weapons and tactics when a crash landing ruins their day. Also ruined is the career of the guy who put bad fuel in their plane as well as Pete's plan for an easy year in Memphis. Bidding his family a hasty goodbye, he heads for a bay in Vietnam where he isn't sure he will live to see tomorrow. With Pete's support from the mother ship, Jerry and Psycho can focus on their mission, eliminating North Vietnamese supply boats using an obsolete seaplane meant for hunting submarines.

In this military tale, things that actually happened meld with war stories (things that might have happened) to bring to life a little known episode from the Vietnam War.