Good Books on Helicopters in Vietnam War?
Paul V. Heinrich
I have just finished Gerry Carroll's "North S*A*R".
Are there other good novels about the helicopter pilots
and their aircraft who were involved in the Vietnam War?
If so, what would people recommend as the best 5 or so?
What would be some memoirs or histories that accurately
describe what it was like to pilot helicopters such as
Hueys or Jolly Greens in Vietnam? For example, in case of
the Jolly Greens, the HH-3E, all I can find are either
just dry technical specifications or just say they were
used in certain roles in books with next to nothing on the
Internet.
There are so many books about the Vietnam War, it is hard
for a novice, e.g. me, to know how to sift the wheat from the
chaff. I chose "North S*A*R" simply because of Tom Clancy's
forward and that the author was an experienced veteren. I
picked up a copy of Mark Berent's "Rolling Thunder" for much
the same reasons for fiction concerning other aspects of the
air war in Vietnem.
Sincerely,
Paul V. Heinrich All comments are the
hein...@intersurf.com personal opinion of the writer and
Baton Rouge, LA do not constitute policy and/or
opinion of government or corporate
entities. This includes my employer.
"Go. Profit from exile. To see, listen, walk, pause beside
wisemen; question savages and madmen; and listen to stories.
It is always pleasant and, sometimes, improves you."
- Jean C. Carriere in his play, The Mahabharata, based upon
the Indian epic classic, the Mahabharata
Stan Klemanowicz
Paul V. Heinrich wrote:
>
> I have just finished Gerry Carroll's "North S*A*R".
> Are there other good novels about the helicopter pilots
> and their aircraft who were involved in the Vietnam War?
> If so, what would people recommend as the best 5 or so?
>
Naval Institute Press. Still available for about $30. It covers every
chopper used during the war and includes interviews with those that
flew them.
Stan
Christopher Weeks
Probably the best, in my opinion, is _Chickenhawk_ by Robert
Mason (he was a UH-1 pilot with the 1st Air Cav, around 1965-1968), which
should be easy to find in most bookstores. There's also _Low Level Hell_,
by Hugh Mills, a loach pilot. He was also the key figure in the
Squadron/Signal _Gunslingers in Action_ book.
There are several others that have recently appeared in paperback,
easily found in most big bookstores.
Matt Clonfero
"Paul V. Heinrich" <hein...@intersurf.com> wrote:
>What would be some memoirs or histories that accurately
>describe what it was like to pilot helicopters such as
>Hueys or Jolly Greens in Vietnam? For example, in case of
>the Jolly Greens, the HH-3E, all I can find are either
>just dry technical specifications or just say they were
>used in certain roles in books with next to nothing on the
>Internet.
`Chickenhawk.' Sorry, but I can't remember the authors
details. IMHO an excellent account of a UH-1 driver
in Vietnam.
Aetherem Vincere
Matt.
--
================================================================================
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Martin Sagara
Paul V. Heinrich (hein...@intersurf.com) wrote:
: I have just finished Gerry Carroll's "North S*A*R".
: Are there other good novels about the helicopter pilots
: and their aircraft who were involved in the Vietnam War?
: If so, what would people recommend as the best 5 or so?
There is a book titled "Flying Army" (now out of publication
I believe) that covers the history of U.S. Army aviation.
This book is one of the few to offer detailed coverage of
this subject and it includes a very good section on US Army
helo operations in Vietnam.
Martin Sagara "Never before have so many,
Research Associate understood so little,
Wings Over The Rockies Air and Space Museum about so much"
Hangar No. 1, Old Lowry AFB
Denver, Colorado USA James Burke speaking about
(303) 360-5360 technology in "Connections"
msa...@rmii.com
Visit our web site at http://www.dimensional.com/~worm
Steffers
Hi,
A good book if you can find it is: Vietnam Choppers helicopters in battle
1950-1975 by Simon Dunstan
it is an Osprey book from 1988, so look around if you can find it
--
Rick Steffers
rick...@udel.edu
cheyenneah56@geocities/com
"The only easy day was yesterday"
U. S Navy S.E.A.L.s creed
"HOOYAH!!!"
http://www.arista.nisa.com/steffers/rick1.htm
Wentflyin
> Probably the best, in my opinion, is _Chickenhawk_ by Robert
>Mason (he was a UH-1 pilot with the 1st Air Cav, around 1965-1968), which
>should be easy to find in most bookstores. There's also _Low Level Hell_,
>by Hugh Mills, a loach pilot. He was also the key figure in the
>Squadron/Signal _Gunslingers in Action_ book.
I whole heartedly agree with Christopher. Both "Chickenhawk" and "Low
Level Hell" are truly excellent books. Both of these books scared the
hell out of me as I was reading them and I couldn't put them down.
KDJALOHA
I noticed you specifically asked about novels. "Chicken Hawk" is not
actually a novel but is a well written, novel style, memoir. A novel in
the same vein is "CW2." Both are good books, easy and interesting
reading.
There is a great deal of non-fiction on the subject and, fact being
stranger than fiction, are often as well written. "VIETNAM: The
Helicopter War" is a good example.
My personal favorite is "Winged Sabres" from Stagpole Books 1988. The
author, Larry Johnson, does a very good job of covering a great deal of
information in a realatively small book. All US Air Cav units in Viet Nam
are discussed. Every aspect of recon helicopter operations is addressed
including flight uniforms and unofficial policies which would also apply
to assault helicopter and assault support (now medium) helicopter
operations. Of course I may be prejudiced since my wife, who must love me
very much, bought me a copy while we were assigned to a US Cavalry
Squadron in 1994-1996.
Keith
"There is no problem wich cannot be solved with a properly sized, shaped,
and fuzed charge of high explosive" -- Infanfantryman's Axiom
Opinions are my own based on open source documents and do not necessarilly
reflect official policy.
John Hairell
>My personal favorite is "Winged Sabres" from Stagpole Books 1988. The
>author, Larry Johnson, does a very good job of covering a great deal of
>information in a realatively small book. All US Air Cav units in Viet Nam
>are discussed. Every aspect of recon helicopter operations is addressed
>including flight uniforms and unofficial policies which would also apply
>to assault helicopter and assault support (now medium) helicopter
>operations. Of course I may be prejudiced since my wife, who must love me
>very much, bought me a copy while we were assigned to a US Cavalry
>Squadron in 1994-1996.
Larry "Hank" Johnson's book on the origins of the Air Cav and their use in
Vietnam is now sadly out of print. It is by far the best book on the subject,
and contains much info, dug out in over 10 years worth of research. It is
worth hunting this book down.
John Hairell (jhai...@pop200.gsfc.nasa.gov)