The Breaks of Naval Air

This book is a collection of mostly light hearted stories about tactical Naval Aviation off aircraft carriers in the 1960’s and 1970’s. It is not a history, per se, nor is it like one of the many fine, factual, first person accounts of by other Naval Aviators. The author’s impulse was to capture a snapshot of that culture and experience through both oral tradition—stories told by aviators that were too good to be lost; and his own experience. Thus was born Youthly Puresome and his passage through the various Breaks of Naval Air. Depicting the experiences of a typically irreverent young Naval Aviator, these stories stir memories of similar experiences in all who have flown Navy jet aircraft from the decks of aircraft carriers or from bases ashore. While the hardware may be different, these tales should resonate with other services, and the characters and life its ownself be familiar with those that know and love them.

Beginning in the Fall 1991 issue of The Tailhook Association’s quarterly publication, The Hook magazine, until Fall 2011, a series of these stories were published under the title: “The Further Adventures of Youthly Puresome.” Youthly is the alter ego of Jack Woodul, a native of New Mexico who went through the Navy’s Training Command in the early ’60s and earned his Naval Aviator’s wings. He flew the A-4 Skyhawk in Vietnam, and after leaving active duty continued to fly F-8 Crusaders and F-4 Phantoms with the NAS Dallas Reserves. When not bagging flight time in gray jets, he was an airline pilot in “real life.” Now retired, he continues to fly and write about light airplanes and ranch life.

“The Further Adventure of Youthly Puresome” series led to an Outstanding Sea Story award by Fighter Squadron 201 in 1988; the 1994 Hook Magazine Contributor of the Year award; and a 1998 Tailhook Association Lifetime Achievement Award.