Download or read book Tales of a Helicopter Pilot written by Richard C. Kirkland and published by Smithsonian Institution. This book was released on 2013-04-09 with total page 219 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Richard Kirkland is legendary for his P-38 Lightning missions in the South Pacific theater during WWII. After the war, he realized the potential of Igor Sikorsky’s new flying machine, and he traded in his fighter-pilot wings for rotors. The nerve-racking chopper missions he has flown are the stuff of legend: scrambling to evacuate president Harry Truman after an unthinkable “code red one” alert comes over his red phone; bantering with the real “Hawkeye” at a MASH unit before flying into North Korea to rescue wounded soldiers. Equally riveting are his accounts of a medevac pilot in Vietnam who lands a ten ton CH-46 “Frog” in the jungle at night, with no lights, under fire, with only a soldier’s cigarette lighter for reference; and an aerial tour pilot who routinely pulls people out of the water above, below, and right before Niagara Falls.
Download or read book Taking Fire written by Ron Alexander and published by Macmillan + ORM. This book was released on 2007-04-01 with total page 264 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Taking Fire is the incredible memoir by one of the most decorated chopper pilots to emerge from the Vietnam War. Nicknamed "Mini-Man" for his diminutive stature, a mere five-foot-three and 125 pounds in his flight boots, chopper pilot Ron Alexander proved to be a giant in the eyes of the men he rescued from the jungles and paddies of Vietnam. With an unswerving concern for every American soldier trapped by enemy fire, and a fearlessness that became legendary, Ron Alexander earned enough official praise to become the second most decorated helicopter pilot of the Vietnam era. Yet, for Ron, the real reward came from plucking his fellow soldiers from harm's way, giving them another chance to get home alive. In Taking Fire, Alexander and acclaimed military writer Charles Sasser transport you right into the cramped cockpit of a Huey on patrol, offering a bird's eye view of the Vietnam conflict. Packed with riveting action and gritty "you-are-there" dialogue, this outstanding book celebrates the everyday heroism of the chopper pilots of Vietnam.
Download or read book MASH Angels written by Richard C. Kirkland and published by . This book was released on 2009 with total page 0 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: "Richard Kirkland was one of the pilots who pioneered the use of helicopters for battlefield medical evacuation, and in this book he recounts his experiences on the front lines of rescue flying and military medicine ... For the helicopter was the perfect partner for another revolution in military medical care -- the Mobile Army Surgical Hospital, or MASH"--Page 4 of cover
Download or read book Rattler One Seven written by Chuck Gross and published by University of North Texas Press. This book was released on 2006-06-13 with total page 244 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: 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.
Download or read book Black Cat 2 1 written by Bob Ford and published by BrownBooks.ORM. This book was released on 2015-01-12 with total page 280 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: “This moving memoir about the gritty life of a military helicopter pilot fills a gap in the genre of Vietnam literature.”—Foreword Reviews In the Vietnam War, 2,197 helicopter pilots and 2,717 crew members were killed. Black Cat 2-1 is the story of one pilot who made it home and the valiant men he served with who risked their lives for the troops on the ground. Bob Ford invites readers into the Huey helicopters he flew on more than 1,000 missions when he and his men dared to protect and rescue. For those whose voices were silenced in that faraway place or who have never told their stories, he creates a tribute that reads like a thriller, captures the humor of men at war, and resounds with respect for those who served with honor. An Oklahoma Book Award Finalist “Bob Ford’s account of his year in the command seat of his ship of salvation is a priceless contribution to the literary canon of that war.”—David A. Maurer, Special Forces veteran, author of The Dying Place “[Ford] brings to life his story so the reader can experience what it may have been like—and how the troops felt at the time. With moments that feel like they were written for a movie, Black Cat 2-1 will take you in the air over Vietnam and through some of the hardest missions you could expect.”—Week99er “This memoir is hard to beat.”—Air & Space/Smithsonian “Capably written.”—Publishers Weekly “Refreshing . . . evocative descriptions of combat flying.”—The VVA Veteran
Download or read book A Pilot s Tale Flying Helicopters in Vietnam written by William Heilman and published by Lulu.com. This book was released on 2008 with total page 326 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: In the 60's, a war was being fought in Vietnam. Helicopters were being used in many different rolls for the first time. The author recounts his experiences flying helicopters on two tours of duty in Vietnam.
Download or read book Huey written by Jay Groen and published by Artha Publishing. This book was released on 2014-03-14 with total page 274 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: John Vanvorden--the Flying Dutchman--is a Vietnam pilot and one of the rugged few who know the danger and thrill of combat while piloting the U.S. Army's UH-1H "Huey" Iroquois helicopter. He experiences screaming descents into hot landing zones to place military assault troops and rescue wounded soldiers. He has the clarity of mind to survive seven days of horror in a Vietnamese jungle swamp while the psychology of a fellow soldier is severely tested. He's got the guts to buck military orders and battle his own brass to pursue an investigation when a botched operation spells disaster for the men under him. Based on the authors' personal experiences in the Vietnam War, Huey is an authentic, action-filled book of historical fiction. Originally published 30 years ago, this moving novel became a New York Times bestseller within days of publishing. Editorial Reviews "Those who have read the classic book of helicopter combat in Vietnam, "Chickenhawk" by Robert Mason, but who still have an appetite for more books of that sort can do no better than to read this novel." - "The VVA Veteran," Books in Review II Book Excerpt: From eight thousand feet, the Flying Dutchman flew his chopper into a nose-high attitude and peeled off into a single-ship approach. His passengers were looking straight down at the ground from the open doorway. Before anyone could blink, they were diving toward the ground at four thousand feet a minute, about as fast as a helicopter can come out of the sky with its main rotor still attached. The 12.7's opened up. Tracer rounds looked like basketballs zooming by. The supersonic bullets popped as they passed, breaking the sound barrier. When a bullet found its mark, it smacked the ship like a baseball bat. As soon as the troops on the ground had hefted the two critical cases into each side, John blasted out low level, taking fire from the ground. He knew the Huey didn't have long before it became battered magnesium. . . .
Download or read book Weapons Free written by Richard Boswell and published by . This book was released on 1998 with total page 0 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The first six weeks of the Gulf War turned Richard Boswell from a 'wet-behind-the-ears' junior officer, to a seasoned operational pilot who had encountered the enemy at the sharp end. Boswell recounts those frenzied days, providing a unique picture of life at sea and in the air with the modern Royal Navy. A dynamic tale of determination!
Download or read book Kiss the Sky written by Jan Hornung and published by iUniverse. This book was released on 2002-05-27 with total page 174 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: KISS the Sky: Helicopter Tales is a humorous look at flying helicopters. Whether you fly fixed-wing or rotary-wing, or you know someones second cousin twice removed who flies kites, you can fly along with Bubba Huey in this hilarious book that will have pilots and pilot wannabes of all ages rolling with laughter. Included in the book is a history of helicopter flight, women in aviation, and a lesson in how helicopters fly.
Download or read book A Wolf s Moon written by Hank Sands and published by Agio Publishing House. This book was released on 2012-07-01 with total page 235 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Set in the glorious mountains and plains of the Yukon, Northwest Territories, Alberta and British Columbia, A Wolf's Moon is a gripping account of Hank Sands' adventures during his 18 years piloting helicopters. In Wood Buffalo National Park, Hank finds himself skinny dipping with a one-ton buffalo. Near Stewart, BC, he flies over an avalanche path with a bundle of dynamite fused to blow at any second, but it is lodged, unreachable, outside on the cargo rack. In an isolated Yukon tent camp, a mad Irishman threatens to chop everyone up with an axe. At another tent camp, a pack of wolves holds everyone in awe. High in the Bugaboos, Hank stares half-blind as explosive fuel drips from a damaged fuel tank onto the red-hot turbo charger of his crashed helicopter. Near Telegraph Creek, BC, a very large and legendary grizzly sends him running for his life. A raging forest fire threatening Fort Resolution, NWT, kindles a love story. In Port Alberni, BC, Hank flies into a 130,000-volt powerline. These are but a few from this collection of incredible yet true tales.
Download or read book Heart of the Storm written by Colonel Edward L. Fleming and published by Wiley. This book was released on 2004-04-23 with total page 272 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Advance praise for Heart of the Storm "Col. Ed Fleming tells a story of true heroism about the constant dangers faced by the pilots and crews who fly the most versatile-and vulnerable-aircraft in the skies today." -John Glenn, former U.S. senator, astronaut, and bestselling author of John Glenn: A Memoir "To risk your life to save a stranger is the highest mark of a human being. Ed Fleming is such a man, and this book is a great read." -Dr. Jerri Nielsen, author of the #1 New York Times bestselling Ice Bound "Filled with suspense and emotion, Heart of the Storm reads like a thriller-but it's all true. Ed Fleming has led a dramatic and interesting life, and this book portrays it in living color." -Robert K. Tanenbaum, New York Times bestselling author of Resolved and Absolute Rage
Download or read book Across the Mekong written by Charles O. Davis and published by . This book was released on 1996-01-01 with total page 224 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:
Download or read book Flying Light Helicopters with the Royal Marines written by Robert Wilsey and published by Air World. This book was released on 2021-10-30 with total page 288 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Little has been written about Royal Marines rotary aviation, the small and select unit which operated light helicopters between 1965 and 1995. Officer and senior non-commissioned officer pilots had the unique privilege of being both Commandos and aviators, flying from warships and operating ashore in support of the Royal Marines. Initially called Unit Air Troops, which then coalesced into 3 Commando Brigade Air Squadron Royal Marines, they operated in hostile environments, including the Arctic, mountains, jungles and deserts. Robert Wilsey served in the Royal Marines from 1969 to 2000. Having qualified as a pilot he served through much of the existence of the Royal Marines Air Squadron, from a junior pilot right up to becoming its commanding officer. In this unique book, the author tells of the evolution and technological advances of Royal Marines aviation, flying the Westland Sioux, Scout, Gazelle, and, ultimately, Lynx helicopters. He describes the rigorous training undertaken, including flying from ships at sea, and of operating globally from Malta, Northern Ireland, the jungles of Brunei, the Pyrenees, Arctic Norway and, in 1991, Northern Iraq, protecting the Kurds during Operation Haven. Colonel Wilsey also describes the challenges of the British military's basic and advanced rotary flying training, from both a student's and flying instructor's perspectives. He explains the pressures of leading a flying display team and relates stories of accidents and incidents, many amusing, several chaotic and some tragic, previously unknown to the general public. This is a vivid first-hand account of military rotary wing flying which will appeal to aircrew both civil and military, aviation enthusiasts and military historians.
Download or read book Danger Close written by Amber Smith and published by Simon and Schuster. This book was released on 2017-08-22 with total page 288 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: "A memoir of active combat by an elite female helicopter pilot stationed in Iraq and Afghanistan vividly describes her division's high-risk battles and the ways they were challenged to perform under extreme duress, sharing additional insights into her experiences as a woman in a male-dominated unit, "--NoveList.
Download or read book Kimberly s Flight written by Anna Simon and published by Casemate Publishers. This book was released on 2012-05-19 with total page 299 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: U.S. Army Captain Kimberly N. Hampton was living her dream: flying armed helicopters in combat and commanding D Troop, 1st Squadron, 17th Cavalry, the armed reconnaissance aviation squadron of the 82nd Airborne Division. An all-American girl from a small southern mill town, Kimberly was a top scholar, student body president, ROTC battalion commander, and highly ranked college tennis player. In 1998 she was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the Army. Then, driven by determination and ambition, Kimberly rapidly rose through the ranks in the almost all-male bastion of military aviation to command a combat aviation troop. On January 2, 2004, Captain Hampton was flying an OH-58D Kiowa Warrior helicopter above Fallujah, Iraq, in support of a raid on an illicit weapons marketplace, searching for an illusive sniper on the rooftops of the city. A little past noon her helicopter was wracked by an explosion. A heat-seeking surface-to-air missile had gone into the exhaust and knocked off the helicopter’s tail boom. The helicopter crashed, killing Kimberly. Kimberly’s Flight is the story of Captain Hampton’s exemplary life. This story is told through nearly fifty interviews and her own e-mails to family and friends, and is entwined with Ann Hampton’s narrative of loving and losing a child. Retired award-winning journalist Anna Simon was been a reporter with The Greenville News in South Carolina for 21 years. She received the South Carolina Press Association’s first place award for Reporting in Depth for 2009, and is a past recipient of multiple awards in education reporting, the press association’s Judson Chapman Award for Community Service, and other news and feature writing awards. Kimberly’s mother, Ann Hampton, first met Anna Simon at the bleakest point in her life, immediately following her daughter’s death, when Ms. Simon wrote a series of stories for The Greenville News about Kimberly’s life and the reaction in the small Southern town of Easley, SC to her death. Ann has traveled twice to Iraq, in 2010, as a Gold Star Mom in a "Hugs for Healing" program sanctioned by the U.S. State Department, where American and Iraqi mothers grieving the deaths of their children worked side-by-side on humanitarian projects, and in 2011 on a humanitarian mission with “Friends of Kurdistan.”
Download or read book Adventures in Nam written by Clyman Otis and published by . This book was released on 2011 with total page 108 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Anecdotes from the author's service in Vietnam as a helicopter pilot.
Download or read book Renegade Hero written by Michael Higston and published by Casemate Publishers. This book was released on 2011-12-01 with total page 435 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: A Royal Air Force helicopter pilot fakes his own death to join a CIA paramilitary unit in this remarkable Cold War biography. RAF helicopter ace Terry Peet had a well-earned reputation for sheer guts. While in Malaya and Borneo, he cheated death time and again, earning a Queen’s Commendation for Valuable Service in the Air. But Peet suddenly disappeared without trace—supposedly having drowned while scuba diving. Then, six years later, Peet reappeared. The media hailed him as a renegade hero when the story of his extraordinary double life was revealed. Peet had in fact been recruited by the CIA for clandestine paramilitary operations in the former Belgian Congo. He was then sent to Nigeria, where he led a UNICEF mission saving refugees from the Biafran War. Peet’s work with the CIA had the tacit approval of British Intelligence, but his departure from the RAF had to be covert. Yet none of this was mentioned in the summary presented at his court martial. Now Renegade Hero recounts the full story of the mysterious affair as told to the author by Peet himself.