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by Richard D. Camp.
Softcover (6.0×9.0 inches). 264 pages. 2025 reprint of 2013 book.
This collection of helicopter-based action during the Vietnam War provides a ground- and cockpit-level view of combat. It’s divided into three sections: Buildup 1962-1966, Heavy Combat 1967-1969, and Bitter End 1975.
Anecdotes of landings and pickups offer a number of scenario opportunities. The VC sapper attack on an airfield (p38) offers a nice TO&E as well as explaining assault tactics (mud camouflage and wire cutting techniques) and garrison responses. Thanks to guerrillas who worked inside the base, the VC even created a model to plan the attack. Maps of varying degrees of usefulness accompany each account. The action is well written…
…however, much as I appreciate inserting Medal of Honor and other award citations within the text to provide context about extraordinary individual actions, the citations form speed bumps to readability. It’s jarring to switch from nice prose to stilted official prose of something you just read. I’m thinking placing these in an appendix would be appropriate to recognize the individual.
I especially appreciated the section on how USMC experience influenced helicopter development.
The 83 black and white photos seem a tad dark at times, but the 11 black and white maps and five black and white illustrations are fine.
Enjoyed it.
— Reviewed by Russ Lockwood
