Aviation Books.....Must Read Tomes!
Chief Bottle Washer
As Mighty Gem says, "Apache" by Ed Macy is a gripping read, well written by a real pilot who's been there, done that 
But I'm intrigued to read that one of Ed's fellow pilots, FOG/Jim, is now a Police pilot on MD Explorers: is he one of us, and any more Tales to Tell?
But I'm intrigued to read that one of Ed's fellow pilots, FOG/Jim, is now a Police pilot on MD Explorers: is he one of us, and any more Tales to Tell?
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i m looking for a book
once upon a time my instructor told me about a book that was written by a vietnam helicopter pilot who flew 10 s of thousand of sorties and after the war finished he never fley again for many many yrs i cant remember the rest of the story he told me but i m intersted in finding this book
would anyone have any ideas on the name of the book i may be on about please
would anyone have any ideas on the name of the book i may be on about please
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Just finished both "Apache" by Ed Macy and "Apache Dawn" by Damien Lewis.
These books are in my opinion the "Chickenhawk" for our generation (Just got a new copy of chickenhawk from Amazon!).
These books are a must read for anyone interested in helicopters, or in the debacle in Afghanistan. Read them in the order above and the chronology is correct.
What these guys achieve for the conflict, the troops on the ground and for the Corps itself is just incredible.
These books are in my opinion the "Chickenhawk" for our generation (Just got a new copy of chickenhawk from Amazon!).
These books are a must read for anyone interested in helicopters, or in the debacle in Afghanistan. Read them in the order above and the chronology is correct.
What these guys achieve for the conflict, the troops on the ground and for the Corps itself is just incredible.
Whirlwind,
Am organizing a group to head back to Vietnam for a twenty one day trip departing Los Angeles about 26 June....fly into Hanoi....night train to Dong Ha...fly from Qui Nhon to Saigon.....return to LAX from Saigon. We will be hitting sights from Hanoi clear down to Can Tho. I went for the sixteen day trip year before last and had a great time.
Care to come along?
Am organizing a group to head back to Vietnam for a twenty one day trip departing Los Angeles about 26 June....fly into Hanoi....night train to Dong Ha...fly from Qui Nhon to Saigon.....return to LAX from Saigon. We will be hitting sights from Hanoi clear down to Can Tho. I went for the sixteen day trip year before last and had a great time.
Care to come along?
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Re #140
Likewise, I have also just finished both "Apache" by Ed Macy and "Apache Dawn" by Damien Lewis, in that order too. (Amazon had a good deal for the two.)
I thought "Apache" was by far the better book as it was written as a first person account, whereas "Apache Dawn" was written by a journalist from notes or interviews and lost a lot in the process. I found the second book initially very confusing where it referred to the action at Jugroom Fort - the names of the pilots were different and the radio callsigns and procedures were also very different. I realise it probably has something to do with security and confusing the Taliban, but it certainly confused me!
I spent most of my time reading "Apache" in front of my computer and Google Earth. A lot of the places mentioned in the book can be identified, and with a little zooming and tilting you can see exactly what is being described in the book from the pilot's viewpoint. "Apache" is the kind of book you can't put down.
Some locations:
Gereshk 31° 48.587'N 64° 31.238'E
Camp Bastion 31° 51.500'N 64° 13.290'E (nothing shows there - I wonder why?)
Jugroom Fort 31° 4.044'N 64° 10.140'E
Koshtay 30° 57.140'N 64° 9.710'E
Baram Cha 29° 26.211'N 64° 2.054'E
Arnhem 32° 12.988'N 65° 9.240'E
Likewise, I have also just finished both "Apache" by Ed Macy and "Apache Dawn" by Damien Lewis, in that order too. (Amazon had a good deal for the two.)
I thought "Apache" was by far the better book as it was written as a first person account, whereas "Apache Dawn" was written by a journalist from notes or interviews and lost a lot in the process. I found the second book initially very confusing where it referred to the action at Jugroom Fort - the names of the pilots were different and the radio callsigns and procedures were also very different. I realise it probably has something to do with security and confusing the Taliban, but it certainly confused me!
I spent most of my time reading "Apache" in front of my computer and Google Earth. A lot of the places mentioned in the book can be identified, and with a little zooming and tilting you can see exactly what is being described in the book from the pilot's viewpoint. "Apache" is the kind of book you can't put down.
Some locations:
Gereshk 31° 48.587'N 64° 31.238'E
Camp Bastion 31° 51.500'N 64° 13.290'E (nothing shows there - I wonder why?)
Jugroom Fort 31° 4.044'N 64° 10.140'E
Koshtay 30° 57.140'N 64° 9.710'E
Baram Cha 29° 26.211'N 64° 2.054'E
Arnhem 32° 12.988'N 65° 9.240'E
Whirlwind,
Unable to PM you....hit me up and I will send you the outline for the trip to Vietnam. A former doorgunner/crewchief friend and I are organizing the trip. We're trying to make it an all helicopter crew/family group but will gladly include anyone that wants to go. Plan for a 21 day party if we get the right bunch together.
Unable to PM you....hit me up and I will send you the outline for the trip to Vietnam. A former doorgunner/crewchief friend and I are organizing the trip. We're trying to make it an all helicopter crew/family group but will gladly include anyone that wants to go. Plan for a 21 day party if we get the right bunch together.
Just finished "To The Limit: An Air Cav Huey Pilot in Vietnam".
I'll put it right next to chickenhawk, if not first...
Amazon.com: To The Limit: An Air Cav Huey Pilot in Vietnam: Tom A. Johnson: Books
Desert Dingo: why don't you write a review in Amazon about Apache? I have it on my wish list.
Regards
Aser
I'll put it right next to chickenhawk, if not first...
Amazon.com: To The Limit: An Air Cav Huey Pilot in Vietnam: Tom A. Johnson: Books
Desert Dingo: why don't you write a review in Amazon about Apache? I have it on my wish list.
Regards
Aser
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Just read Nine Lives by David Courtney. Recounting missions and tales of life as a SAR heli pilot in Ireland. Gives great insight into the work involved. 10/10
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Not sure if these have been mentioned yet, but I remember reading North SAR and thinking it was a good account of naval combat sar during the vietnam war. On Yankee Station, also not bad, but from a naval jet jockey point of view.
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Does anyone know whether 'Tom A Jonhnson' did a stint instructing at Long Beach back in about 1970. Met one at one of the local very popular 'holes the 'rams' a few times.. A top dude.
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I would like to add my vote for 'Apache' as I have just finished it.
This is more of a story about a couple of missions that happen to be in helicopters rather than the more detailed writing in Chichenhawk.
It is a truly compulsive read; even to the extent that I sat on a railway station platform for 10 minutes to finish my chapter before getting in my car to go home !
It is also an account of a war that has rather been forgotton by the media back home. The fighting in Afganistan is well described and brings back the reality that is infantry attacks as opposed to the rather clinical world of lazer guided bombs that tend to get the slot on the nightly news. Going to war is clearly not just the 'tea and medals' from Blackadder and this book givs some taste of that.
This is more of a story about a couple of missions that happen to be in helicopters rather than the more detailed writing in Chichenhawk.
It is a truly compulsive read; even to the extent that I sat on a railway station platform for 10 minutes to finish my chapter before getting in my car to go home !
It is also an account of a war that has rather been forgotton by the media back home. The fighting in Afganistan is well described and brings back the reality that is infantry attacks as opposed to the rather clinical world of lazer guided bombs that tend to get the slot on the nightly news. Going to war is clearly not just the 'tea and medals' from Blackadder and this book givs some taste of that.
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Goodorning Rotorheads,
Added to my shelves are now the two Chrisse prezzies that I have just finished, both from my son fresh from the small sandpit, " Apache" and
"Sniper One", both of these books are absolutely riviting reads, found myself reading way into the small hours,... but also found myself feeling some of the emotions ( I think because of my son ) one gets when reading of the great pain these men were enduring, in what could only be decribed as constant "Battle Fatigue"
Very good books and very well written!
Peter R-B
Vfr
Added to my shelves are now the two Chrisse prezzies that I have just finished, both from my son fresh from the small sandpit, " Apache" and
"Sniper One", both of these books are absolutely riviting reads, found myself reading way into the small hours,... but also found myself feeling some of the emotions ( I think because of my son ) one gets when reading of the great pain these men were enduring, in what could only be decribed as constant "Battle Fatigue"
Very good books and very well written!
Peter R-B
Vfr
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I also have just finished reading "Apache" by Ed Macy. And I have to agree it is very good in describing what the armed forces are up against.
It gave me as a non military chap a new respect for the soldiers who have to leave Blighty in behalf of them politicians.
Cracking book and difficult to put down.
It gave me as a non military chap a new respect for the soldiers who have to leave Blighty in behalf of them politicians.
Cracking book and difficult to put down.
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Just finished "To The Limit: An Air Cav Huey Pilot in Vietnam".
I'll put it right next to chickenhawk, if not first...
I'll put it right next to chickenhawk, if not first...