Looking for a Vietnam book.

Hi guys I've read quiet a few books from the pilots perspective in Vietnam and the theatre fascinates me. I've recently read 'When thunder rolled' for the second time and I've just started reading ' a lonely kind of war' and I got to wondering if there are any books out there that come from an F-100 Hun driver or an F-8 sader?. I've read a few huey books 'firebirds' and 'chicken hawk' and another ov-10 book called cleared hot (I've read this at least four times now).

Sounds like you've hit the good memoirs already. If you are looking for an interesting read on the history, I suggest:

THE AIR FORCE IN SOUTHEAST ASIA: TACTICS AND TECHNIQUES OF ELECTRONIC WARFARE

http://www.afhso.af.mil/shared/media/document/AFD-110323-034.pdf

I look forward to hearing the responses here.

I can't suggest anything for the F-100 or F-8, but if you'd like to try another helo book there is a very, very good book I can recommend called "CW2." It's about a Warrant that flies Hueys, then upgrades to Cobras in his second tour. It's very powerful, and not a book I've seen frequently recommended.

http://www.amazon.com/CW2-Layne-Heath/dp...mp;keywords=cw2

Nice once guys I'll check those out cheers.

For the F-8:

MiG Master: The Story of the F-8 Crusader: The book retrace the career of the F-8, not only in Vietnam, but has a great deal of nice stories

On Yankee Station: The Naval Air War over Vietnam: Great book about the US Navy in the Vietnam war. As the author, Cdr John Nichols, was an F-8 pilot and Mig Master, the book have slightly more Crusader tales than the rest. It's also pretty nice if you want to learn more about the strategic role of the USN back there.

Others books I read on the air war in Vietnam and strongly recommend:

The Rescue of Streetcar 304: The 48 hours of Kenny Wayne Fields, shot down on his first combat mission with his A-7. The book deals a lot with the rescue efforts, be it from the choppers or the Sandies. One of the most captivating read I had.

Cheating Death: Combat Air Rescues in Vietnam and Laos: A good read about USAF Skyraider pilots during the Vietnam War. Lots of stories and details.

Naked in Da Nang: The war stories of an O-2 FAC pilot. A good, fun read!


Not read yet, but on my wishlist:

Phantom Reflections: An American Fighter Pilot in Vietnam
Misty: First Person Stories of the F-100 Misty Fast Facs in the Vietnam War
Rampant Raider: An A-4 Skyhawk Pilot in Vietnam
Bury Us Upside Down: The Misty Pilots and the Secret Battle for the Ho Chi Minh Trail
Over the Beach - The Air War in Vietnam
Plagued by Good Luck
Flying Black Ponies: The Navy's Close Air Support Squadron in Vietnam

And of course, there's always the Osprey books!

Nice list corktip I'll be check those out soonest.

Bury Us Upside Down is great.

I would also recommend Da Nang Diary by Tom Yarborough. He was an OV-10 pilot, and the book is a really exciting read.

These have been around for a while,but they are still a good read. Thud Ridge and After Tet.

Ive read a few books now about the OV-10 but there isnt much in the way of A4 or F-100 for some reason.

Donk,
If you want an overall picture of the SEA Air War, Clashes is a must read IMO. I read it, then read it again. It had me at "Avionics".
Tells the story of the rise and fall of the Crusader. The early days with the '17 and the last days vs the '21. I loved the whole, "We came up with this and they adapted so we came up with that" Measures and countermeasures. The US Navy vs the USAF. It is all covered.
My library will never be complete without this book.

Maico

Another OV-10 book recommend - Marshall Harrison's A Lonely Kind Of War.

As good as Da Nang Diary, I thought.

One I'm wouldn't read again, too - John Ketwig's ...and a hard rain fell. Should have been titled ...and a mechanic #%&*$#. Started out interesting enough to get me hooked.

Might be just me, though.

Ive recently read A lonely kind of war and thought it was brlliant, I cant find a copy of clashes ( no bloody kindle verson) and low level hell is on my to read list lol

Here are a few I burned through:
Snake Pilot: Flying the Cobra Attack Helicopter in Vietnam by Randy Zahn
Scarface 42 by Robert Robinson, another AH-1 Vietnam book, this time from the Marine side of the house
Ground Attack - Vietnam: The Marines that Controlled the Skies by J.M. Moriarty, an OV-10 squadron commander.

Ironically, since Robert Robinson and J.M. Moriarty flew in the same AO, Robert Robinson mentions Moriarty by name having recognized his voice on the radio.

Finally, for fiction there's always Flight of the Intruder by Stephen Coonts. Still IMO the best book written on Naval Aviation.

Not F-100, F-8, or Vietnam specific, but I can unequivocally recommend Fighter Pilot: The Memoirs of Legendary Ace Robin Olds. With 16 victories over two conflicts, Olds was both an extraordinary individual and a highly regarded wing commander, who became very influential in how TAC prosecuted the air war North in the mid to later stages of the war. The book touches on a number of tactical and technical developments that I think anyone interested in the air war of this era would find fascinating. The fact that he was an All American football player and married to a Hollywood actress keep the non flying parts interesting. In short, it's a really great read.

I have a copy of that laying around somewhere at my parents house. I read it sometime in the early 90's I think.

I think one of the Mark Berents novels has a character flying F-100s in Vietnam, and later upgrading the F-4s but I haven't read them in a long time either.

Father in law read 100 Missions North It's about the F-105, he was a crewchief back then at Tahkli

Bury us Upside Down is a very good book, I seriously recommend it.

Been there, read that. Great Book

I wanted to come in and recommend Chickenhawk. Its a Helicopter pilot in Vietnam flying assault missions. Its hairy and scary. Darn good book in my opinion.

The ones I would have mentioned have already been mentioned. I will say my dad served in Vietnam as a fuels officer, and one of my best friends dads flew F-4's in Vietnam (they ironically worked together then, and almost 25 years later ended up working at the same base together again). Both recommended "Going Downtown" at various times.

My friend and I met about 15 years after both of our fathers had retired from the service, and we were both in the police academy. Small world sometimes.

-Jenrick

1. Dispatches by Michael Herr (pretty much all Vietnam war references in films come from this book).
2. Chickenhawk by Robert Mason (if you haven't read this, why not damn it!)
3. Dear Mom by Joseph T Ward (Marine Scout Sniper, it's quite refreshing to read an account from someone who actually wanted to be there).

Yep.

I have read the whole 5 book anthology and it is REALLY good.

Available on kindle HERE!

Over the Beach is a nice read Nothing to deep or detailed, but enjoyable.

Not the air war but Matterhorn is an outstanding novel. It's fiction but I find myself reading it at least once a year. I highly recommend it.

Just to resurrect this old thread...

I've just finished Flying Black Ponies, a history of VAL-4, Navy light attack squadron flying ov10 Broncos in the Mekong delta.

In it's short 3 year existence the ponies were particularly effective and the book is full of details and anecdotes rather than one man's story. What the unit did as the US began to withdraw is particularly well told and paints a picture of the ARVN at odds with usual perceptions.

Highly recommended.

Just a note that the "Rolling Thunder" title is free.