The Adventures of a Helicopter Pilot: Flying the H-34 helicopter in Vietnam for the United States Marine Corps

Thanks for your service but your skill as an aviator far exceeds your ability to write. I enjoyed the book but I found it disjointed and it didn’t flow very well. It was however a good account of life in Vietnam for some.

The time, the place, the events…the attitudes..the selflessness…the frustration…the sadness…the sense of duty…this is as accurate as it gets. Period.

I'm beginning to think I joined the wrong service. As a Marine the author went through a special program that allowed him to skip basic training and officer training school. During my tour I spent my whole year in Vietnam, never taking an R&R or any leave. The author went in and out of country various times spending time in Okinawa and the Philippines while still getting credit towards his time in country. Okay, I'm jealous, I admit it. This is a quick, easy read of the life of one Marine H-34 helicopter pilot during his time in combat. I found his time on the ground quite amusing. I'm not sure the author meant it to be that way but his lack of training put him at a great disadvantage, especially the day he found himself in command of a ground unit..

I have been on a run to read as many books on Viet Nam pilot exploits....this one simply does not measure up to the level of all the others. Unfortunately, this book lacks the "in your face" details and sensations of the others. I just finished this author's second book "A CIA pilot spills the beans". I give it a one star at best. There are log book entries only, with very little details and this book is basically a rendition of an unprofessional individual trying to make an professional statement about his exploits. It has the flavor of a Frat brother focusing on his personal exploits other than flying his helicopters. No doubt a very accomplished pilot, his book however is not up to par.

I just finished reading Bill's book and give it a 5 star rating enthusiastically. While still a senior in high school in 1961 I joined the Marine Air Reserve at Dallas Naval Air Station. The H-34 Seahorse was the very first aircraft I ever got to ride in and Bill's descriptions of flying it were very evocative for me. I vividly remember that ride. I thought it very strange that I could see the pilots' feet and how any aircraft could shake that much on a regular basis. I'd seen helicopters on tv like the "Whirlybirds" and was surprised when we taxied out on the runway and did a rolling takeoff like a fixed wing plane! My deficient color vision kept me from going to MARCAD as originally scheduled for me and reading Bill's experiences filled me in on what I missed. Thank you very much, BillPS The H-34D is my favorite helicopter and I have scratch built this RC version of it. It's has 600mm blades and spans about 4.5 feet and is electric powered. I use the posting name of seahorse bob on the scalerchelis.com forum.

I served in HMM-163 Marine medevacs in Vietnam two years before Captain Collier. We were flying the H-34. I was an unessential cog in a brilliant machine of pilots, crew chiefs and Corpsmen. I was a gunner when flying and an avionics technician when I wasn’t. We flew in UH-34 D’s the oldest flying machines in Vietnam for Marines. She was a beautiful bird and serving with HMM-163 was the greatest honor of my life.Captain Collier's words not only are accurate and compelling but they bring back memories of my time in Vietnam. If anyone wants to read the words of a real hero who saw war from the inside out, this book is for you. Our officers were the finest men I've ever known. Semper fi, Captain and thanks for a great book.

The author does not hold back on learning how to fly a helicopter, the dangers involved in flying combat operations, and his loyalty to the grunts he supported. His disdain for poor leadership is well documented and he exposes the arrogance of some Marine higher ups, who knew nothing about leadership. I found one misnomer in this book and the author's recollection that he was assigned to the USS Cleveland, as part of Operation Deckhouse 6, as a fac. I was an active participant in this Operation and I came in country,by way of the USS Vancouver. By the way,Deckhouse 6 took place in March 1967 and the USS Cleveland was commissioned in April 1967. I still recommend this book..

Down to earth and in the trenches story telling of real life Vietnam aviation adventure and sorrow! There's a scarcity of books concerning flying the H-34 though I am familiar with South Vietnamese support of over-the-fence operations with what they called the "Kingbee" H-34. I'm a fixed wing pilot myself, having flown DC-3s with Wright motors. The Wright on the H-34 was rated at 1,520 horsepower which was somewhat of a surprise to me as, if I remember correctly, our DC-3 Wrights were de-rated to 1,200 hp.That aside, the book is well written and loaded with photos to back up Bill's stories! Each page is something new and keeps the reader entertained throughout. The author did take the time to reply to my email. That touch always adds something extra! Tell us about your Air America days Bill and let us know when its out! Great job! ...from Wild Bill Callahan.

An insight into the life a of a combat helicopter pilot during the Vietnam war.A very gripping account of one individual mans experiences, that I couldn'tput down until I had read it all.The fact that he could recall all these incidents so clearly all these years later, to me shows how intenselife must have been at that time.Well worth reading.Thank you for sharing your experiences.

A very good read, erudite and engaging writing. Pragmatic and well described experiences. I look forward to future books in the series

Another fascinating story on how young men are forced into conflict, trained and sent out to do a difficult job under difficult circumstances.Thankfully this man succeeded but sadly many did not. Military life often leaves a legacy which is sometimes not very nice.

Good book to read. Very interesting and informative account of a violent period of time. Would consider reading the authors second book.

All good