Stay in aviation long enough and you'll here just about every type of story.
The classic beginning to an army aviator tale begins with. "This is no
....." I listed these books here to help you narrow down your search for
some good reading material. All of these books seem to be interesting. I haven't
read them all but I'm working on it — one book at a time. Their are five pages
of books. Should you know of an interesting book that is not listed,
email me and let me know about it.
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Gunbird Driver: A Marine Huey Pilot's War in Vietnam (Blue Jacket Bks)
| Author: |
David A. Ballentine |
| Format: |
Hardcover: 256 pages |
| ISBN: |
1591140196 |
| Publisher: |
Naval Institute Press |
| Pub. Date: |
15 October 2008 |
| Edition Desc: |
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Book Description: — Ballentine recalls his experiences as a young pilot flying an armed UH-1E with Marine Observation Squadron Six in Vietnam. Like any good war memoir, parts of the book are deadly serious, while others are filled with thrilling, often humorous descriptions of squadron life during the early stages of the war. The book provides little-known details about the missions, operations, and living conditions at Ballentine's base in Ky Ha, shortly before the Tet Offensive. Update: 081201 |
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US Helicopter Pilot in Vietnam (Warrior)
| Author: |
Gordon Rottman |
| Format: |
Paperback: 64 pages |
| ISBN: |
1846032296 |
| Publisher: |
Osprey Publishing |
| Pub. Date: |
17 June 2008 |
| Edition Desc: |
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Book Description: — One of the most enduring and vivid images of Vietnam is the helicopter. There is little doubt that the helicopter revolutionized warfare and how the war in Vietnam was fought. Helicopters lifted troops, supplies, material, equipment, and vehicles. They conducted visual reconnaissance, command and control, medical evacuation, artillery spotting, fire support, and countless administrative tasks. The 40,000 pilots were the men behind this revolution.
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LBJ'S HIRED GUN: A Marine Corps Helicopter Gunner and the War in Vietnam
| Author: |
John J. Gebhart |
| Format: |
Hardcover; 384 pages |
| ISBN: |
1932033653 |
| Publisher: |
Casemate |
| Pub. Date: |
November 2007 |
| Edition Desc: |
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Book Description: — Many Vietnam memoirs have appeared in recent years, but not a single one has the humor, pathos, poignancy, and often sheer hilarity of John J. Gebhart's riveting LBJ'S Hired Gun. As Gebhart tells it, he was a "smart-mouthed college boy" who joined the Marines to see the world and "dust a few black pajamas for Uncle Sam."
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To The Limit
| Author: |
Tom A. Johnson |
| Format: |
Paperback, 416 pages |
| ISBN: |
0451222180 |
| Publisher: |
NAL Trade |
| Pub. Date: |
02 October 2007 |
| Edition Desc: |
Reprint edition |
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Book Description: — During the Vietnam War, one out of every eighteen helicopter pilots never made it home alive. At age nineteen, Tom Johnson flew in the thick of it, and lived to tell his harrowing tale.
Johnson piloted the UH-1 "Iroquois"-better known as the "Huey"-as part of the famous First Air Cavalry Division. His battalion was one of the most decorated units of the Vietnam War, and helped redefine modern warfare.
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Vietnam Air War
| Author: |
Erhard Konerding |
| Format: |
Paperback, 116 pages |
| ISBN: |
0913337633 |
| Publisher: |
Southfarm Press |
| Pub. Date: |
04 July 2007 |
| Edition Desc: |
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Book Description: — The Vietnam War saw the use of aircraft on an unprecedented scale. The helicopter particularly, came into its own use in a variety of roles. American airman fought bravely, often at the cost of their lives, whether bombing the North or South, directing artillery fire and bombers, flying fighter cover, rescuing downed aircrew or ground troops, airlifting men and cargo in dangerous areas or quietly resisting as prisoners of war.
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Rattler One-Seven
| Author: |
Chuck Gross |
| Format: |
Paperback, pp. 248 |
| ISBN: |
1574412213 |
| Publisher: |
University of North Texas Press |
| Pub. Date: |
August 2006 |
| Edition Desc: |
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Preview: — Rattler One-Seven puts you in the helicopter seat, to see the war in Vietnam through the eyes of an inexperienced pilot as he transforms himself into a seasoned combat veteran. At the age of twenty, Chuck Gross spent his 1970-71 tour with the 71st Assault Helicopter Company flying UH-1 Huey helicopters. He inserted special operations teams into Laos and participated in Lam Son 719, a misbegotten attempt to assault and cut the Ho Chi Minh Trail, during which his helicopter was shot down and he was stranded in the field. Update: 070417
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The War Above the Trees
| Author: |
Ronald Carey |
| Format: |
Paperback: 414 pages |
| ISBN-13 |
978-1412035033 |
| Publisher: |
Trafford Publishing |
| Pub. Date: |
06 July 2006 |
| Edition Desc: |
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From the Publisher— "The War Above the Trees is the story of the air crews flying support to the men of the 4th Infantry Division during Operation Wayne Grey in March and April of 1969. This is a day by day account of what happened as seen through the eyes of a young crew chief. It includes After Action Reports and eyewitness statements of both air crew members and infantry personnel which were on the ground. Update: 081201
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To the Limit
| Author: |
Tom A. Johnson |
| Format: |
Hardcover |
| ISBN: |
1597970018 |
| Publisher: |
Potomac Books, Inc. |
| Pub. Date: |
May 2006 |
| Edition Desc: |
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From the Publisher— "Helicopter pilots in Vietnam kidded one another about being nothing but glorified bus drivers. But these "rotor heads" saved thousands of American lives while performing what the Army classified as the most dangerous job it had to offer. One in eighteen did not return home. Update: 070417
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Without Parachutes
| Author: |
Jerry W. Childers |
| Format: |
Paperback, 192pp |
| ISBN: |
1420882589 |
| Publisher: |
Authorhouse |
| Pub. Date: |
December 2005 |
| Edition Desc: |
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Editorial Reviews
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Loach!
| Author: |
Wayne Mutza |
| Format: |
Hardcover, 144pages |
| ISBN: |
0764323431 |
| Publisher: |
Schiffer Pub Ltd |
| Pub. Date: |
October 2005 |
| Edition Desc: |
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Editorial Reviews— Don't be fooled by the small size of the H-6/Model 500 helicopter. In the scout role in Vietnam, OH-6As and their aircrew became legends for their high-risk work. In addition, the reader is treated to an entire chapter devoted to the Little Birds of Special Operations. Also included are appendices with factual data, and more than sixty emblems. Update: 070417
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Snake Pilot
| Author: |
Randy R. Zahn |
| Format: |
Paperback, 302 pages |
| ISBN: |
1574886118 |
| Publisher: |
Potomac Books Inc. |
| Pub. Date: |
07 October 2005 |
| Edition Desc: |
New Ed edition |
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Editorial Reviews— Based on audiotapes he recorded during the war and sent home to his family, Randy Zahns Snake Pilot recounts his experiences flying AH-1 Cobra helicopters during the Vietnam War. First deployed in Vietnam in 1967 and loaded with a formidable arsenal of weaponry, the Cobra was the first helicopter designed from inception as an attack aircraft. It dramatically changed the nature of the war in Vietnam by offering the Army, for the first time, its own powerful and highly accurate weapons platform for close-air-support missions.
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Chopper: A History of America Military Helicopter Operations from WWII to the War on Terror
| Author: |
Robert F. Dorr |
| Format: |
Hardcover, 336pp |
| ISBN: |
0425202739 |
| Publisher: |
Berkley Hardcover |
| Pub. Date: |
July 2005 |
| Edition Desc: |
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From the Publisher— Real-life stories from the pilots and the passengers. From its first use in military operations, during a rescue mission behind enemy lines in 1944, the helicopter changed the face of aviation-and the face of warfare. Whether they are bringing supplies and medical help or coming to the rescue of trapped soldiers, the modern battlefield could not function without them. Update: 070417
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Night Stalkers: 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment (Airborne)
| Author: |
Fred J. Pushies |
| Format: |
Paperback, 128pp |
| ISBN: |
0760321418 |
| Publisher: |
MBI Publishing Company LLC |
| Pub. Date: |
June 2005 |
| Edition Desc: |
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From the Publisher
Night Stalkers: 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment (Airborne)
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AH-64 Apache Units of Operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom
| Author: |
Jonathan Bernstein |
| Format: |
Paperback, 96pp |
| ISBN: |
1841768480 |
| Publisher: |
Osprey Publishing, Limited |
| Pub. Date: |
June 2005 |
| Edition Desc: |
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From the Publisher
Thrust into action following the declaration of the War on Terror in the wake of the September 11th, 2001 attacks, US Army Apache units have been at the forefront in the fight against Taleban and al-Qaeda forces in Afghanistan, followed by the conflict in Iraq. The Apache is still involved in operations in both Iraq and Afghanistan, and this volume details the campaigns in both countries through the experiences of AH-64 crews.
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Helicopters: An Illustrated History of Their Impact
| Author: |
Stanley S. McGowen |
| Format: |
Hardcover, 300pp |
| ISBN: |
1851094687 |
| Publisher: |
A B C-CLIO, Incorporated |
| Pub. Date: |
May 2005 |
| Edition Desc: |
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From the Publisher
Helicopters: An Illustrated History of Their Impact covers the development of helicopters from the first successful machines in the early 1900s to their current status as a key component of combat planning around the world. This revealing volume shows how an often denigrated machine became an essential military asset around the world, as well as an important tool in a number of areas.
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Fire from the Sky
| Author: |
Richard Knott |
| Format: |
Hardcover, 256pp |
| ISBN: |
1591144477 |
| Publisher: |
Naval Institute Press |
| Pub. Date: |
April 2005 |
| Edition Desc: |
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From the Publisher
This is the dramatic history of the HAL-3 Seawolves, the U.S. Navy's first and only helicopter gunship squadron of the Vietnam War. The squadron was established "in country" to support the fast, pugnacious river patrol boats of the brown water navy.
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1ST Air Cavalry In Vietnam: The First Team
| Author: |
Simon Dunstan |
| Format: |
Paperback 96 pages |
| ISBN: |
0711030421 |
| Publisher: |
Ian Allan Publishing |
| Pub. Date: |
November 02, 2004 |
| Edition Desc: |
1st Edition |
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Book Description
On 1 July 1965 the 1st Cavalry Division (Airmobile) was officially activated and was ordered to Vietnam beginning 28 July 1965. In a matter of three and half weeks the newly formed division, with 16,000 men and 434 helicopters-Chinooks (CH-47s), Flying Cranes (CH-54s), Mohawks (OV-1s), UH-1s and OH-13s-was prepared to enter combat. Within 90 days of becoming the Army's first airmobile division, the 'First Team' was in combat as the first fully committed division of the Vietnam War.
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Seawolf 28
| Author: |
A. J. Billings |
| Format: |
Paperback 430 pages |
| ISBN: |
1594572992 |
| Publisher: |
Book Surge Publishing |
| Pub. Date: |
July 08 2004 |
| Edition Desc: |
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Editorial Reviews
Seawolf 28 Summary An exciting action filled novel of one of the top decorated naval aviators of the Vietnam era brings the reader a dramatic story of a twenty-two year career of a Navy helicopter pilot. By the end of the Vietnam War he was a four tour veteran with well over 600 missions and the recipient of more than thirty-nine citations, including the Silver Star and Distinguished Flying Cross.
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Rattlers and Firebirds
| Author: |
Chuck Carlock |
| Format: |
Paperback, 292pp |
| ISBN: |
1930566425 |
| Publisher: |
Smithfield Press |
| Pub. Date: |
April 2004 |
| Edition Desc: |
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Preview...
This book recounts the Vietnam combat action of a helicopter assault company known as the Rattlers and Firebirds. From 1964 to 1971, hundreds of men served twelve-month tours, participating in some of the fiercest combat ever entertained by American forces. Unlike previous wars, these men lived in constant danger, effectively on the front line for the entire twelve-month tour.
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Vietnam Choppers: Helicopters in Battle, 1950-1975
| Author: |
Simon Dunstan |
| Format: |
Hardcover, 208pp |
| ISBN: |
1841767972 |
| Publisher: |
Osprey Publishing, Limited |
| Pub. Date: |
2003 |
| Edition Desc: |
1st edition |
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Book Description
The Vietnam War proved the combat potential and capabilities of the modern helicopter. The combination of swiftly deployable attack helicopters, such as the AH-1G Cobra, and more robust transport aircraft in medical evacuation, fire support and fire suppression roles, allowed for a revision of battlefield tactics. This long-awaited revised edition of Simon Dunstan’s classic reference work provides a comprehensive guide to the many models employed during the war and the tactics used.
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Pucker Factor 10: Memoir of a U. S. Army Helicopter Pilot in Vietnam
| Author: |
James Joyce |
| Format: |
Paperback, 212pp |
| ISBN: |
0786415576 |
| Publisher: |
McFarland & Company |
| Pub. Date: |
April; 2003 |
| Edition Desc: |
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From the Publisher:
The author was drawn into the Army through ROTC, and was trained to fly helicopters in combat over Vietnam. Through this book, the author relives his experiences flying and fighting, with special attention given to the pilots' day-to-day lives - such as the prankish smoke bombing of Disneyland, the nickname for a United States Army-sponsored compound for prostitution. |
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Dustoff: The Memoir of an Army Aviator
| Author: |
Michael J. Novosel |
| Format: |
Paperback, 384pp |
| ISBN-10: |
0891418024 |
| ISBN-13: |
978-0891418023 |
| Publisher: |
Ballantine Books, Inc. |
| Pub. Date: |
April 2003 |
| Edition Desc: |
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From the Publisher:
The only thing that the air force was willing to give reserve lieutenant colonels like Novosel to fly, however, was a desk. Resigning his commission, he approached the army, which decided that flying dustoffs in Vietnam was a perfect job for this aviator. With two tours, 2,038 hours of combat flight, 2,345 aerial missions that evacuated 5,589 wounded, and a Congressional Medal of Honor, it’s easy to see that Novosel is an American war hero.
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U.S.Navy Seawolves: The Elite Hal-3 Helicopter Squadron in Vietnam
| Author: |
Daiel E. Kelly |
| Format: |
Paperback: 288pp |
| ISBN: |
034545510X |
| Publisher: |
Random House, Inc. |
| Pub. Date: |
October 2002 |
| Edition Desc: |
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From the Publisher:
Seawolf Dan Kelly describes the origins of this extraordinary outfit. Put through a training program unlike any other, these men emerged to perform unparalleled feats of courage. The stories of these elite warriors capture America's real heroes in all their guts and glory, and demonstrate why the Seawolves are known as the most successful and most decorated unit in the Vietnam War.
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Xin Loi, Viet Nam
| Author: |
Al Sever |
| Format: |
Hardcover, 368pp |
| ISBN: |
0971429626 |
| Publisher: |
Quiet Storm Publishing Group |
| Pub. Date: |
July 2002 |
| Edition Desc: |
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Synopsis:
In Xin Loi, Viet Nam, Al Sever recounts his experiences during his tours and should be applauded for his honesty and his willingness to tell the absolute truth. This book will shock you and show you the reality of what our young soldiers faced.
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Rescue Pilot
| Author: |
Dan McKinnon |
| Format: |
Paperback, 280pp. |
| ISBN: |
0071391193 |
| Publisher: |
McGraw-Hill Professional |
| Pub. Date: |
May 2002 |
| Edition Desc: |
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From the Publisher:
Within the pages of Rescue Pilot, Naval aviator Dan McKinnon brings to life the dramatic at-sea helicopter rescues he participated in during his anything but peaceful "peacetime service" in the United States Navy from 1956 through 1959.
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Chariots of the Damned
| Author: |
Mike McKinney |
| Format: |
Hardcover, 224pp. |
| ISBN: |
0312291183 |
| Publisher: |
St. Martin's Press, Inc. |
| Pub. Date: |
June 2002 |
| Edition Desc: |
1ST US |
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From the Critics:
The sensationally titled Chariots of the Damned: Helicopter Special Operations from Vietnam to Kosovo documents death-defying chopper-based Special Ops rescue missions.
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Angel's Wing: A Year in the Skies of Vietnam
| Author: |
Joseph R. Finch |
| Format: |
Paperback |
| ISBN: |
0910155453 |
| Publisher: |
Bartleby Press |
| Pub. Date: |
March 2002 |
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