Found a site today with a lot of stories from CH-3 helicopter pilots in Vietnam, operating in conjunction with MACV-SOG troops in Laos and Cambodia. Some of the stories are stuff that would be deemed as too incredible if it was made into a movie. I have always been fascinated by the "secret" war in Laos and Cambodia. There are so many stories of incredible bravery and skill from that part of the war, and I love reading them. These men were real supermen!

http://www.usafhpa.org/experiences/knifetales/21stknifetales.html

Good find. Out of curiosity Semmern - have you read "Chickenhawk" by Robert Mason? He was a Huey pilot in Vietnam. Probably one of the best (if not the best) account of flying in Vietnam that I read. Hilarious, tragic, and just written better than anything I've read on that period.

HERE





And I agree..the pilots & crew that served on those birds were incredible. My boss when I first arrived at MedCenter Air had done 3 tours in Vietnam flying helos. Incredible stories..

I'll second "Chickenhawk", great book.

Oddly enough, I was thinking about that book while showering last night.

I'll thirdererer-er Chicken Hawk is excellent but ever so slightly tarnished now thanks to Dogsbd shower comment lol.

Yep, I've read Chickenhawk. I will probably never look at it the same way after Dogs' post though

My other favourites from the Vietnam air war are Da Nang Diary and Bury Us Upside Down..fantastic stories!

I just bought this one:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004GHOHRA

Will tell you if it is any good, looks promising, especially this quote:

“Thirty years ago, Robert Mason published Chickenhawk, a classic personal account of Vietnam helicopter operations that is still as potent as a satchel charge. I’d rank A Hundred Feet Over Hell right up there with it.”
-Air & Space Magazine

"Chickenhawk: Back in the World: Life After Vietnam" is also a good read about Mason's life after his trauma in Nam.

ordered Chickenhawk for my kindle, will read it once I am done with "With the old breed".

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Thanks Guod!

I remember reading one story of a hot exfil like this, the guy recalls running to the helicopter winch penetrator thing, while seeing aluminum bits of the helicopter falling down, from being hit by enemy small arms! Sounded like a very desperate few minutes...as I imagine most engagements with the Communist Vietnamese seemed to be. Funny how thick vegetation and hit-run tactics can equalize the outcome of a fight despite an amazingly mis-matched militaries' equipment/supply levels.