Great Jones - Shop now
Kindle Unlimited
Unlimited reading. Over 4 million titles. Learn more
Read for Free
OR
$2.99 with 83 percent savings
Digital List Price: $17.99

Promotions apply when you purchase

These promotions will be applied to this item:

Some promotions may be combined; others are not eligible to be combined with other offers. For details, please see the Terms & Conditions associated with these promotions.

Sold by Amazon.com Services LLC.
You've subscribed to ! We will preorder your items within 24 hours of when they become available. When new books are released, we'll charge your default payment method for the lowest price available during the pre-order period.
Update your device or payment method, cancel individual pre-orders or your subscription at
Your Memberships & Subscriptions
Kindle app logo image

Download the free Kindle app and start reading Kindle books instantly on your smartphone, tablet, or computer - no Kindle device required.

Read instantly on your browser with Kindle for Web.

Using your mobile phone camera - scan the code below and download the Kindle app.

QR code to download the Kindle App

Hawkeye: The Enthralling Autobiography of the Top-Scoring Israel Air Force Ace of Aces Kindle Edition

by Giora Even-Epstein (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
4.5 out of 5 stars 225 ratings
A fast-moving account that details Even-Epstein’s experiences particularly in the intense conflicts of 1967, the Six Day War, and 1973, the Yom Kippur War.

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.

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. 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.

“A book filled with stories about his time as a paratrooper and jet pilot that keeps you on the edge of your chair.” —AviationBookReviews.com
Previous slide of product details
  1. Print length
    191 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publisher
    Grub Street Publishing
  4. Publication date
    December 11, 2020
  5. File size
    39.6 MB
  6. Page Flip
    Enabled
  7. Word Wise
    Enabled
  8. Enhanced typesetting
    Enabled
Next slide of product details
Due to its large file size, this book may take longer to download

Editorial Reviews

Review

"I had high hopes for this book, and it did not disappoint. Hawkeye is not just an autobiographical collection of “'here I was' war stories (though there are plenty of those), but also touches on the history of the state of Israel, its conflicts with Arab neighbors and Israel Air Force (IAF) training and tactics."
Aviation History Magazine

"This book is highly recommended for readers interested in air-to-air combat or Israel’s wars."
Air & Space Power History

About the Author

Brigadier General 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 enroll in the IAF pilot training program 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.

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B09HVWD5ZN
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Grub Street Publishing (December 11, 2020)
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ December 11, 2020
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 39.6 MB
  • Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 191 pages
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.5 out of 5 stars 225 ratings

Customer reviews

4.5 out of 5 stars
225 global ratings

Review this product

Share your thoughts with other customers
Write a customer review

Customers say

Customers find the book to be a great read, with one mentioning it's a fact-filled narrative. They praise the extraordinary fighter pilot portrayed in the story.

AI-generated from the text of customer reviews

Select to learn more

7 customers mention "Readability"7 positive0 negative

Customers find the book to be a great read, with one customer noting it's a fantastic job by the author.

"One of the great stories of aviation and fighter pilots. I enjoyed the book immensely and was fascinated to learn the history and tactics of the..." Read more

"...Now I know the real story. Good reading. I’m" Read more

"A very interesting book about an amazing career he had. A must read for anyone interested in the IAF, a easy an pleasurable book to read." Read more

"...I read the entire book in one-day and thoroughly enjoyed “wasting the day.”" Read more

6 customers mention "Story quality"6 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the book's stories, with one highlighting its fact-filled narrative and another noting its inspirational tale of perseverance.

"...A wonderful life story of one of the greatest aces of all time." Read more

"A very interesting book about an amazing career he had. A must read for anyone interested in the IAF, a easy an pleasurable book to read." Read more

"What we all wanted to be when growing up. Only better. A history of courage and determination...." Read more

"An interesting story but the author's prose style is disjointed...." Read more

3 customers mention "Era"3 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the era depicted in the book, highlighting Hawkeye's status as an extraordinary fighter pilot.

"One of the great stories of aviation and fighter pilots...." Read more

"...fact filled narrative in the forest person of the most successful combat pilot of the jet era...." Read more

"The life of an extraordinary fighter pilot...." Read more

Top reviews from the United States

  • David
    5.0 out of 5 stars A truly Amazing and Exciting Story
    Reviewed in the United States on September 18, 2024
    Verified Purchase
    One of the great stories of aviation and fighter pilots. I enjoyed the book immensely and was fascinated to learn the history and tactics of the Israeli Air Force. A wonderful life story of one of the greatest aces of all time.
    Helpful
     Report
  • Jerome Berman
    4.0 out of 5 stars from Jerome Berman
    Reviewed in the United States on March 4, 2024
    Verified Purchase
    I lived in Israel from 1972 till 1974, during the Yom Kipper war many of my acquaintances were called to duty. Some did not come back. It was a miracle for Israel to recover and win the war. I heard of the problems the Air Force had against Sam missiles. Now I know the real story. Good reading. I’m
    Helpful
     Report
  • Amazon Customer.
    5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent book
    Reviewed in the United States on September 28, 2023
    Verified Purchase
    A very interesting book about an amazing career he had. A must read for anyone interested in the IAF, a easy an pleasurable book to read.
    One person found this helpful
    Helpful
     Report
  • Amazon Customer
    5.0 out of 5 stars A PILOT
    Reviewed in the United States on October 28, 2023
    Verified Purchase
    What we all wanted to be when growing up. Only better.
    A history of courage and determination.
    A pleasure to read, for those of us who never made that dream a reality.
    One person found this helpful
    Helpful
     Report
  • J. Vergara
    3.0 out of 5 stars A Good Book for 3 Stars
    Reviewed in the United States on March 31, 2021
    The book was GOOD, but Not for 4 stars, even less for 5 stars.
    I was tented three times to put this book down and let it crash and burn.
    The history of the wars was interesting, but it needs a bit more strategic background.
    I think this book would have been great if it makes the reader feel inside the story's cockpit. It did not achieve that with me. The story has potential, and I think it needs a good professional writer on war stories.

    However, the story and information are good (No well told, in my opinion). You will learn about the pilot and his mission. Do not let my comments turn you off about this book
    3 stars
    One person found this helpful
    Helpful
     Report
  • Timothy Z. Jensen
    5.0 out of 5 stars great read albeit disjointed
    Reviewed in the United States on January 3, 2023
    Verified Purchase
    An interesting story but the author's prose style is disjointed. He'll be telling a vignette then go off on a tangent about some person then not always come back to what he was telling. Either way I learned some new things about history and the air war in that time/place.
    Helpful
     Report
  • Luis Olaguibel
    4.0 out of 5 stars first rate personal account from the worlds leading jet ace.
    Reviewed in the United States on January 17, 2024
    Verified Purchase
    We see fact filled narrative in the forest person of the most successful combat pilot of the jet era. In an air force with a great reputation he had a haughty reputation in it. He was accepted into the air force and After having completed his military service with 5 years in the paratroops.
    Amazing trajectory from kibbutz life to air combat top scorer to airline captain.
    Unique
    Helpful
     Report
  • Harold Osburn
    5.0 out of 5 stars touching
    Reviewed in the United States on April 26, 2023
    Verified Purchase
    An inspirational story of perseverance. Anyone that dreams should read this book, to help understand how not to give up.
    One person found this helpful
    Helpful
     Report

Top reviews from other countries

Translate all reviews to English
  • Martin C.
    5.0 out of 5 stars A real Hero
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on May 16, 2024
    Verified Purchase
    US aircraft, Israeli mtm fittings for use and Israeli fighter pilot superiority Not for nothing did this man overcome certain difficulties in become a Jet fighter top Ace. I believe he still holds the record.
    The west is grateful to have the Israeli Air force on it's side.
    Report
  • Amazon Customer
    5.0 out of 5 stars Ottimo!
    Reviewed in Italy on December 12, 2021
    Verified Purchase
    Ottimo!
    Report
  • Sandesh Kanchan
    5.0 out of 5 stars An absolute treat to read
    Reviewed in India on September 4, 2022
    Verified Purchase
    "Hawkeye" is the fast paced biography of this little boy from Kibbutz Negba in Israel who fell in love with the skies and went on to become the world's highest scoring Jet Ace - Brigadier General Giora "Hawkeye" Epstein.

    It was an absolute joy to read the great man's biography, especially the chapters in which he vividly describes each of his 17 air to air kills and a few that got away.

    On September 1, 1969, Giora "Hawkeye" Epstein was flying Mirage IIICJ Tail No. 159 of No.101 "First Fighter Sqdn" , Israeli Air Force when he shot down an Egyptian Air Force Su-7 - which he has narrated in detail in his book. He went to have 17 confirmed air to air kills to his credit wile flying Dassault Mirage IIICJs and IAI Neshers of the Israeli Air Force - the highest scoring modern jet ace.
    Customer image
    Sandesh Kanchan
    5.0 out of 5 stars
    An absolute treat to read

    Reviewed in India on September 4, 2022
    "Hawkeye" is the fast paced biography of this little boy from Kibbutz Negba in Israel who fell in love with the skies and went on to become the world's highest scoring Jet Ace - Brigadier General Giora "Hawkeye" Epstein.

    It was an absolute joy to read the great man's biography, especially the chapters in which he vividly describes each of his 17 air to air kills and a few that got away.

    On September 1, 1969, Giora "Hawkeye" Epstein was flying Mirage IIICJ Tail No. 159 of No.101 "First Fighter Sqdn" , Israeli Air Force when he shot down an Egyptian Air Force Su-7 - which he has narrated in detail in his book. He went to have 17 confirmed air to air kills to his credit wile flying Dassault Mirage IIICJs and IAI Neshers of the Israeli Air Force - the highest scoring modern jet ace.
    Images in this review
    Customer imageCustomer imageCustomer image
    Report
  • Mr. Kane A. Davidson
    4.0 out of 5 stars Stubbornness can get you far
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on April 28, 2021
    Verified Purchase
    Not a techo-thriller, so don't expect too many details of air to air action, despite this guy having a taste for blood. Giora wanted to fly combat aircraft and joust with the enemy, at the expense of a staff job which would have brought him greater seniority. I'm glad to get inside his head, although disappointed the various technical merits of different platforms were not explained more closely. All respect to Giora - he as a shark - a sniff of blood, and you are gone.
    Report
  • irishpropheticart
    5.0 out of 5 stars Love reading about the "Jet Ace of Aces"
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on January 14, 2023
    Verified Purchase
    Very good book and excellent translation from Hebrew to English.Wish the General had gone into more detail about his aerial combat but the good note as he pointed out in the book,the History Channel covered him in detail with excellent graphics on his aerial combat in the series " Dogfights". I highly recommend that show " Dogfights" Superb!
    Report

Report an issue


Does this item contain inappropriate content?
Report
Do you believe that this item violates a copyright?
Report
Does this item contain quality or formatting issues?
Report