Post by Peter Lewis on Oct 3, 2007 19:57:21 GMT 12
I recently picked up a second-had copy of "The Ravens" by Christopher Robbins.
The Ravens were pilots, all volunteers on secondment from the US military, who flew in Laos during the Vietnam war as spotters for air and artillery strikes. Their usually mount was the Cessna O-1 Birddog, and in later years the T-28 Trojan.
Officially, the war in Laos did not exist, both the North Vietnamese and the USA denied they had troops there. In fact, thousands of North Vietnamese were invading the country and pouring down the Ho Chi Minh trail on their way to the South, and the Americans were fighting a vigorous war against them from the air.
I found this a fascinating story, with quite a similarity to the exploits of the WW1 aviators both in the fighting and the effects of combat on the aircrew. Although I have spent some time in both Vietnam and Cambodia, I have never quite made it into Laos (it's still on my wish-list).
If you can pick up a copy of this book, I'm sure that you will find it an engrossing read. Highly recommended.
The Ravens were pilots, all volunteers on secondment from the US military, who flew in Laos during the Vietnam war as spotters for air and artillery strikes. Their usually mount was the Cessna O-1 Birddog, and in later years the T-28 Trojan.
Officially, the war in Laos did not exist, both the North Vietnamese and the USA denied they had troops there. In fact, thousands of North Vietnamese were invading the country and pouring down the Ho Chi Minh trail on their way to the South, and the Americans were fighting a vigorous war against them from the air.
I found this a fascinating story, with quite a similarity to the exploits of the WW1 aviators both in the fighting and the effects of combat on the aircrew. Although I have spent some time in both Vietnam and Cambodia, I have never quite made it into Laos (it's still on my wish-list).
If you can pick up a copy of this book, I'm sure that you will find it an engrossing read. Highly recommended.
