Ghosts of Baghdad: A Marine Cobra Pilot's Story of Combat Leadership
January 22, 2026
In this episode, Colonel Eric F. Buer, USMC (Ret.), takes listeners inside the cockpit of the AH-1W Super Cobra during the opening days of Operation Iraqi Freedom. A decorated Marine aviator, squadron commander, and author of Ghosts of Baghdad, Buer shares raw insights into leadership under fire, the chaos of OIF’s early missions, and the human cost of commanding Marines in sustained combat.
In this episode of the Naval Aviation Ready Room podcast, host Ryan Keys welcomes Colonel Eric F. Buer, USMC (Ret.)—a Marine Cobra pilot, former commander of HMLA-269 “The Gunrunners,” Distinguished Flying Cross recipient, and author of Ghosts of Baghdad.
Buer spent more than 26 years in the Marine Corps, accumulating over 4,000 flight hours and 363 combat missions, including the intense early days of Operation Iraqi Freedom. He served across five tours with HMLA-269, later commanding MATSG-21 in Pensacola, where his leadership shaped the pipeline for thousands of Marine aviators and support Marines entering the fleet.
In this wide-ranging conversation, Buer revisits the opening nights of OIF—navigating sandstorms, flying blind in a near-zero-visibility battlespace, and supporting Marines fighting through the brutal Battle of Nasiriyah. He explains how his squadron innovated by splitting aircraft across ship and shore, enabling rapid reconstitution and record-breaking sortie generation. His firsthand stories reveal the cognitive and emotional realities of combat flying: fear, responsibility, split-second decision-making, and the unfiltered humanity behind every mission.
Buer also explores the nuanced relationship between Huey and Cobra communities, the evolution of Marine light-attack aviation, and the leadership lessons gained throughout his career. He discusses his book Ghosts of Baghdad—written to preserve the stories of his Marines—and his follow-on works, including a new manuscript and a developing miniseries adaptation.
This episode gives listeners an unvarnished, deeply human look at modern combat aviation, the Marines who fly into danger, and the leaders who carry the weight of bringing them home.
What You’ll Learn
- How Cobra gunship teams operated during the opening days of Operation Iraqi Freedom
- Why the Battle of Nasiriyah was one of the deadliest fights for the Marine Corps since Vietnam
- How Buer’s squadron generated more combat sorties than any other aviation unit in-theater
- What it’s like to lose confidence in flight—and regain it—under real-world combat conditions
- Why leadership in combat depends on communication, humility, and accountability
- How HMLA squadrons balance attack (Cobra) and utility (Huey) missions as a single team
- How logistics and ship-based aircraft reserves kept Marine aviation alive during OIF
- Insights into writing Ghosts of Baghdad and adapting it for a potential TV miniseries
- What young aviators must understand about combat, resilience, and responsibility
Highlights & YouTube Chapters
[00:00] Intro – Meet Colonel Eric F. Buer, Marine Cobra Pilot & Author
[01:18] 26 Years in the Corps: From Flight School to MATSG-21 Commander
[02:09] Running the Entry Pipeline for All Marine Aviation
[03:17] Why He Wrote Ghosts of Baghdad
[04:34] Capturing the Chaos and Humanity of 2003
[07:01] The Opening Night of OIF: Sandstorms, Zero Visibility, Total Chaos
[10:12] “I Don’t Know If I Can Do This Again” — Losing and Regaining Confidence
[13:11] Logistics Wins Wars: Splitting Aircraft Between Ship and Shore
[14:50] How MAG-29 Became the Only Marine Air Group in Iraq
[17:03] Hueys & Cobras: A Single Community with Different Strengths
[22:10] The Reality of Weapons Employment & Combat Fatigue
[28:35] The Distinguished Flying Cross: What Really Happened in Nasiriyah
[36:11] Preparing for Follow-on Deployments & Sustained Combat
[38:00] Teaching Strategy & Leadership at National War College
[43:32] Becoming a National Security Commentator
[45:15] Book Two & the Upcoming Screen Adaptation
[47:21] Final Thoughts: Leading Marines in the Fire
[01:18] 26 Years in the Corps: From Flight School to MATSG-21 Commander
[02:09] Running the Entry Pipeline for All Marine Aviation
[03:17] Why He Wrote Ghosts of Baghdad
[04:34] Capturing the Chaos and Humanity of 2003
[07:01] The Opening Night of OIF: Sandstorms, Zero Visibility, Total Chaos
[10:12] “I Don’t Know If I Can Do This Again” — Losing and Regaining Confidence
[13:11] Logistics Wins Wars: Splitting Aircraft Between Ship and Shore
[14:50] How MAG-29 Became the Only Marine Air Group in Iraq
[17:03] Hueys & Cobras: A Single Community with Different Strengths
[22:10] The Reality of Weapons Employment & Combat Fatigue
[28:35] The Distinguished Flying Cross: What Really Happened in Nasiriyah
[36:11] Preparing for Follow-on Deployments & Sustained Combat
[38:00] Teaching Strategy & Leadership at National War College
[43:32] Becoming a National Security Commentator
[45:15] Book Two & the Upcoming Screen Adaptation
[47:21] Final Thoughts: Leading Marines in the Fire
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