Top Cover for North America: Protecting America from the Soviet Threat

In Top Cover, Petitmermet tells a nail-biting story of American fighter jets coming face to face with Russian pilots in Tu-95 Bear H and G bombers testing the United States' resolve and ability to intercept their aircraft flying toward U.S. and Canadian airspace. He also recalls the difficult day-to-day operations at the frigid air station. At one point during his tour from 1988 to 1989, temperatures plummeted to minus 70 degrees. The runway started coming apart, buildings and vehicles froze up, and generators were failing.