Chickenhawk by Robert Mason
Discussion
Just read Chickenhawk by Robert Mason for the second time.
A great book about the experiences of a Huey pilot in Vietnam.
From training to coming home a year later virtually a broken man
Part of the 'First team' one of the first pilots to land in Vietnam with the famous 'Air Cav'
Flying troops around by helicopter was a revolutionary and still experimental idea at the time (1965).
It gave the US a huge advantage in mobility, but at huge cost, compared to how the 'peasant' VC fought.
He is brutally honest about the things he did and saw out there, and what effect it had on his mental health over a year long tour, and the many years it took for him to re-adjust to life back home.
There is also a lot of interesting stuff about the more technical side of flying a helicopter, their limitations, and how they got round them.
Very good book, and highly recommended.
Have just ordered his follow up book 'Back in the world' about life after he returned to the US. Hope that is as good.
A great book about the experiences of a Huey pilot in Vietnam.
From training to coming home a year later virtually a broken man
Part of the 'First team' one of the first pilots to land in Vietnam with the famous 'Air Cav'
Flying troops around by helicopter was a revolutionary and still experimental idea at the time (1965).
It gave the US a huge advantage in mobility, but at huge cost, compared to how the 'peasant' VC fought.
He is brutally honest about the things he did and saw out there, and what effect it had on his mental health over a year long tour, and the many years it took for him to re-adjust to life back home.
There is also a lot of interesting stuff about the more technical side of flying a helicopter, their limitations, and how they got round them.
Very good book, and highly recommended.
Have just ordered his follow up book 'Back in the world' about life after he returned to the US. Hope that is as good.
Yes I'll check it out too. Thanks.
You might also like "We Were Soldiers Once… And Young" by Hal Moore & Joseph L. Galloway.
The then Lieutenant Colonel Moore was in command of the 1st Battalion, 7th Cavalry Regiment, at the brutal Battle of Ia Drang, in 1965 during the Vietnam War. It was made into a film back in 2002 with Mel Gibson as Hal Moore, but the film is really only the first half of the book, although it's fairly well done.
You might also like "We Were Soldiers Once… And Young" by Hal Moore & Joseph L. Galloway.
The then Lieutenant Colonel Moore was in command of the 1st Battalion, 7th Cavalry Regiment, at the brutal Battle of Ia Drang, in 1965 during the Vietnam War. It was made into a film back in 2002 with Mel Gibson as Hal Moore, but the film is really only the first half of the book, although it's fairly well done.
Beati Dogu said:
Yes I'll check it out too. Thanks.
You might also like "We Were Soldiers Once… And Young" by Hal Moore & Joseph L. Galloway.
The then Lieutenant Colonel Moore was in command of the 1st Battalion, 7th Cavalry Regiment, at the brutal Battle of Ia Drang, in 1965 during the Vietnam War. It was made into a film back in 2002 with Mel Gibson as Hal Moore, but the film is really only the first half of the book, although it's fairly well done.
Yeh I watched a documetary on Youtube about that battle, and Joe Galloway was interviewed.You might also like "We Were Soldiers Once… And Young" by Hal Moore & Joseph L. Galloway.
The then Lieutenant Colonel Moore was in command of the 1st Battalion, 7th Cavalry Regiment, at the brutal Battle of Ia Drang, in 1965 during the Vietnam War. It was made into a film back in 2002 with Mel Gibson as Hal Moore, but the film is really only the first half of the book, although it's fairly well done.
There's alot of interesting stuff on Youtube about Vietnam, which really helped bring the book to life.
Edited by Scooby72 on Tuesday 19th February 22:46
I loved this book - but as a technical 'machine / petrolhead' I enjoyed the hele related stuff the most. That's not to say I didn't identify with the war, the psychology of those involved, and the humanitarian side of it too....nasty business all round, and a seemingly pointless waste of life 
But I really enjoyed hearing about the 'tuned, souped-up' chopper, and the occasions when they relied on the integrity and strength of the rotor blades to cut through tree branches and foliage in order to land in a site that was a wee bit too small to accomodate the disc at first
And Robert Mason's inquisitive 'practicing' of what he could do and couldn't do with the chopper, and it's limitations that he wasn't taught in training - like tipping it forwards off a sheer cliff-face etc... amazing what some of those brave pilots got away with back then within the theatre of insanity!!
But I really enjoyed hearing about the 'tuned, souped-up' chopper, and the occasions when they relied on the integrity and strength of the rotor blades to cut through tree branches and foliage in order to land in a site that was a wee bit too small to accomodate the disc at first
And Robert Mason's inquisitive 'practicing' of what he could do and couldn't do with the chopper, and it's limitations that he wasn't taught in training - like tipping it forwards off a sheer cliff-face etc...
amazing what some of those brave pilots got away with back then within the theatre of insanity!!
There's rumours abounding that not all the exploits he describes were actually him, but that doesn't stop it ebing a great book.
I love the description of learning to hover, where they start off in a really big field and as you get better work your way in to smaller and smaller fields
I love the description of learning to hover, where they start off in a really big field and as you get better work your way in to smaller and smaller fields
If you like Vietnam era aviation books try and find a copy of 'The Invisible Airforce' by Christopher Robbins.
It tells the real story or as much as could be found about Air America and their involvement in various far east wars. Having read it I refuse to watch Air America with Mel Gibson as it makes light of some very brave men.
It tells the real story or as much as could be found about Air America and their involvement in various far east wars. Having read it I refuse to watch Air America with Mel Gibson as it makes light of some very brave men.
I've finished Chickenhawk now and found it very interesting and not a little harrowing. To be plagued by PTSD, even long after the event must be dreadful.
I've just received American Sniper by the late Chris Kyle, which was recommended to me. He was killed at a firing range recently by another former serviceman he was helping to overcome his PTSD.
They usually fly so low that you're very aware that you are within a field, especially with the side doors open. In fact they use custom 1:250000 scale OS maps with the power lines highlighted. They also manually draw circles round certain farms and villages that have moaned about low flying.
I've just received American Sniper by the late Chris Kyle, which was recommended to me. He was killed at a firing range recently by another former serviceman he was helping to overcome his PTSD.
RizzoTheRat said:
I love the description of learning to hover, where they start off in a really big field and as you get better work your way in to smaller and smaller fields
I had a flight in a British Army Lynx anti-tank helicopter a few years ago. It had the big exhaust dispersion bins and TOW launchers on either side. The pilots were great and happy to explain anything.They usually fly so low that you're very aware that you are within a field, especially with the side doors open. In fact they use custom 1:250000 scale OS maps with the power lines highlighted. They also manually draw circles round certain farms and villages that have moaned about low flying.
Edited by Beati Dogu on Friday 22 March 00:04
I am now half way through the sequel to Chickenhawk "Back in the World"
This book is totally different to the first but still a great read, and describes how he suffered with PTSD for years after his return from Vietnam, and how it affected his life. To say he "went off the rails a bit" would be a major understatement !!
This book is totally different to the first but still a great read, and describes how he suffered with PTSD for years after his return from Vietnam, and how it affected his life. To say he "went off the rails a bit" would be a major understatement !!
Scooby72 said:
I am now half way through the sequel to Chickenhawk "Back in the World"
This book is totally different to the first but still a great read, and describes how he suffered with PTSD for years after his return from Vietnam, and how it affected his life. To say he "went off the rails a bit" would be a major understatement !!
I'll check that one out, I suffered from PTSD for ten years myself, it will be interesting to read someone else's account of it.This book is totally different to the first but still a great read, and describes how he suffered with PTSD for years after his return from Vietnam, and how it affected his life. To say he "went off the rails a bit" would be a major understatement !!
Gassing Station | Books and Literature | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff