My Dad is trying to locate an early Pitt adventure, it is the one he first read which got him hooked on Clive Cussler. I think this may be the only book he doesn't have a copy of as well.

The general plot outline is:
Pitt was still in the air force and not yet with NUMA. Sandecker was being targeted by the baddies and Pitt saved Sandecker by shooting down his plane.

Can anyone shed some light on which book this is?

Thanks for your help!

First of all, welcome to the forum! beer:

I believe your dad is referring to Deep Six. Here is an excerpt from the book ;

"Rank of major. Excellent record in Vietnam." He hesitated, a strange inquisitive look growing on his face. "I see here you'received a commendation for destroying one of our own aircraft."

"Perhaps I should explain that," Sandecker said, "since I was on the aircraft Dirk shot down."

"I realize we're pressed for time, but I'd be interested to hear that tale," said Oates.

Sandecker nodded agreeably. "My staff and I were flying on a twin turboprop transport from Saigon to a small coastal port north of Da Nang. Unknown to us, the field we were supposed to land on was overrun by North Vietnamese regulars. Our radio malfunctioned and my pilot was unable to receive the warning. Dirk was flying nearby, returning to his base from a bombing mission. The local commander directed him to intercept and alert us by whatever means available." Sandecker looked over at Pitt and smiled.

"I have to say he tried everything short of a neon sign. He played charades from his cockpit, fired several bursts from his guns across our nose, but nothing penetrated our thick skulls. When we were on our final landing approach, coming in from the sea toward the airstrip, in what has to be a rare exhibition of precision aerial marksmanship, he shot out both our engines, forcing my pilot to ditch our plane in the water only one mile from shore. Dirk then flew cover, strafing enemy boats putting out from the beach, until everyone was taken aboard a Navy patrol vessel. After learning that he saved me from certain imprisonment and possible death, we became good friends.

Several years later, when President Ford asked me to launch NUMA, I persuaded Dirk to join me."

Hi Aussiebloke, welcome to the forum! What part of Aussie are you in? I used to live in Kalgoorlie in WA but am back home in Godzone - New Zealand :-)
As for the plot you mentioned, I could be wrong but I don't think there is actually a book that portrays this story. I have just finished a reread of Pacific Vortex as it has been years since I last read it. There is a bit in there where Pitt tells someone that he met Sandecker when he shot him down over the South China Sea (not quite sure how he "met" him if he was shooting him down but you get the idea). Sandecker tells him in PV not to forget that he is still on the active list in the air force with the rank of Major although by this time he is already Special Projects Director at NUMA. The first DP book published introduces Pitt as a Major but again he is SPD at NUMA. I think the story that Pitt shot down Sandecker is just a backstory to give the characters a history.
Of course I could be wrong (its been known to happen) in which case I've missed a book! Best thing for your Dad to do would be to grab a set of the DP books and start rereading - can't go wrong with that plan. :P

Thank you both Dirk and Maeve for your input. I have let my Dad know that he needs to re-read Deep Six. He is very grateful to you both for your information.

Maeve, we live in Brisbane in the nice warm sub-tropical weather. My Dad has visited Kalgoorlie a few times, most recently in May last year. He is a big fan of the more remote parts of Australia.

I will let you know once he finishes it if this is the story he remembers.

Thanks again.

From memory I think the shooting down of Sandecker by Pitt is alluded to in several books but perhaps not in the detail provided by Tony.

I was born in Kalgoorlie!!!! :lol: :lol:

Welcome, Aussiebloke.

beer:

Andy

HI Aussie bloke, there is another big Clive Cussler fan that lives in Brisbane. He is known as Podge on the forum. Wonderful library and every Cussler book and interesting Cussler items. Might be worth your time to shoot him a PM.

If Deep Six is a book you need I can throw it in with the books I'm fixing to mail to him, just let me know.

Hi Andy and Empress!

Thanks for your input and offers, I am touched by your generosity.

We do have a copy of Deep Six, my Dad has many books he has collected over the decades and enjoys re-reading them. Some are very well thumbed but luckily the Cussler books are all still in pretty good condition (some are just a bit old). I believe there is only two Cussler books he doesn't have a copy of, one is one of the non-fiction books, he has read it and he does own the other two, the other is the children's book. No guarantee that he doesn't end up with a copy of that one at some point!

Thanks again for your help!

Garry