The Vietnam Air War: First Person

by Dennis M. Ridnouer

As Dennis M. (Mike) Ridnouer writes in the foreword of his new oral history, The Vietnam Air First Person, over five million missions were flown in the Vietnam War. The many pilots, crew, and support personnel who risked their lives daily don’t deserve to fade into obscurity. Unhappy with the lack of first-person retellings of the war, Ridnouer made it his new mission to preserve these men’s tales of bravery and duty.

The result is more than one hundred stories from the front lines of the war. Air Force Fighter Pilots, Weapon Systems Operators (WSOs), and Electronic Warfare Officers (EWOs), recount their stories of air-to-air engagements, near misses, successes, and failures.

A pilot explains why he buys a drink for every tanker driver he meets. An airman explains what a Thud is. A veteran vividly describes his homecoming.

These stories and others provide a much different account of the war than those found in history books. The pages come alive with perilous missions and skilled maneuvers. Airmen from all walks of life were united during the war, and their tales include stirring accounts of friendship and comradery.

Genres: History, Nonfiction, Military Fiction

504 pages, Kindle Edition

Published October 30, 2016

Reviews

[Blazej · Rating 5 out of 5]

Vivid and authentic vignettes from a bygone era. There’s humor, drama, heartbreak and a treasure trove of information in each story collected in the book.

[Leonard · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good book. My only problem was too many Air Force Pilot acronyms. As a Marine ordnanceman I knew some of them but not all. I was astounded at the nonchalance our leaders had in the beginning of the war. I like the attitude of our drill instructors in Marine boot camp, you don't get into a fight to loose! But that is the attitude that I got from reading this book about our leaders in DC. Too many good men lost for nothing. Also, rushing new equipment into combat without throughly testing it, such as the M-16.
A good, great even look into the war from the guys that had to fight it.

[Warren · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent stories from multiple sources

I appreciate Col Ridnouer's efforts to bring together in the book the perspectives of different aircrew members flying various aircraft during the Vietnam air war. He also included ground crew members who were instrumental in maintaining and arming the aircraft. The brief yet meaningful stories of effort, skill, frustration, relief, respect and loss gave me an appreciation for that era of American warriors. Each story related why America is the home of the free because of the brave. I highly recommend this book.

[Josh · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a compilation of many different stories and reports from various pilots during the Vietnam War. Some are very exciting while others are not so much. Still, it gives you a good idea of the many various situations encountered during that conflict. However for someone hoping for a more cohesive or longer story line following a single individual or group, this is not that. Overall I give it four stars because I learned a lot that I hadn’t known before and really felt I have more of an understanding of the war after this.

[philip dennis cypher · Rating 5 out of 5]

I repaired F-4C weapons control systems in Cam Ranh 65-66

We were never told anything about actual air ops. Probably a need to-know or a security/morale issue. This book brought tears to my eyes and helped me understand what was actually going on out there. We just watched them go; counted returning birds as they came home, praying for the best. It didn't always work out for the best, sadly. God bless the crews in these recollections.

[Thomas J · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great Read

I will likely never get to talk to a fighter pilot who flew in the Vietnam Nam war but I’ve always wanted to fly and in this book, I got straight forward information from some of the very best pilots who have ever flown, decorated heroes who are/were the best of the best pilots in the world!

[Stuart Austwick · Rating 5 out of 5]

It took me a while to get around to reading this book as I usually don't like Collections of short sometimes very short stories.
However once I finally did read this book, I found the collection to be a really good book after all.
I guess pre conceived ideas often prevent me from enjoying something that I otherwise would.
Never judge a book by its cover.

[D. Mark Detrixhe · Rating 5 out of 5]

Consider it your duty to read

Simply a collection of stories of the heroes that flew the dangerous missions north of the DMZ.
Most take it as a daily duty, which it was for them at the time.
Fly with 100 Buffs, take an F4 60 degrees noise down at mach 1.2 to pull up at 5gs to evade a SAM.
This is all real stores of real men in really nasty situations.
Read it!!!

[Sharon A. Broughton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great stories with 196 missions in Nam and a brother with 104 voice

Great stories. With my 196 missions in Nam and a brother with 104 Thud missions " Going Downtow ", I could relate..
Kudos to the author, a great tribute to those who served and remembrance for those who went West.....

[Nick Vanderwal · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very good read comprised of many recollections from many people. As a USAF veteran of this era it let me know what many pieces of equipment, procedures, etc. were used for and how they worked. I think a couple stories found their way into this collection by means not immediately clear to the reader but still worth a solid 5 stars. Thank you.

[Daryl Coffey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good read. I couldn’t put this book down . I read it in about four hours This book relays a great historical

First hand account of air combat in F4s F105s and the F111.I believe this is one of better air combat books ever written.

[mojo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great first person accounts of the war history would have us forget.

These men flew into the most heavily guarded skies the world has ever known and lived to tell their story!

[Reggie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great story’s of courage and America heroes.

I enjoyed this book. Great testimony of airmen and their courageous efforts during this difficult war. Well worth the read.

[Tamara L. Masterson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Superb

Lots of pilot jargon. No BS. Told from a pilot point of view. But easy to follow for non military as well.

[Bob · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great stories.

[Terrell T Coco · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was in the air with them. B-52’s in Limebacker 2. Well written.

[Paul · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enlightening, amusing, occasionally terrifying.

[Pete Shrock · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great short snippets of multiple pilots war in Vietnam, will lead me to read other books for sure!

[Dave McCracken · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent collection of action packed short stories. Detailed accounts of air battles, and ground attack sorties over Southeast Asia.

[James Jones · Rating 5 out of 5]

First hand accounts

I really found this to an excellent narrative of the Vietnam air war from the Us Air Force perspective. It was an honest diverse collection of experiences from heroes who deserve our respect. Thank you for your service and thank you Col. Ridnouer for compilation.

[Yukiko K Pool · Rating 5 out of 5]

Superb

I am an Army colonel, never a pilot (except r/c) but few pilots have read military aviation as extensively as I. I loved this book. One of my all-time favorites. I will read this again many times, as I have "Thud Ridge" and "Palace Cobra." Perfect bathroom or bedtime book. I hope Col. Ridnour writes another with these and more pilots. Beautifully edited.

[Jim Morgan · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a great book about a dumb war. There should be a special place in hell for Johnson and McNamara.

ara. Many missions were suicidal and many young, fine men were lost. The war accomplished nothing. Rules of engagement were stupid. Why have restrictions in any war?

[Jan M. Lilac · Rating 5 out of 5]

True story by those who flew the missions

This book should be read by anyone who loves military aviation and wants to know what is was like to serve one's country in a tough, too political war

[Lou Drendel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great TINS

Great first person accounts. History by those who made it.

If history is written by the winners, then we won!

[Stuart Austwick · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very well done

I don't usually read compilations, but there is always exceptions this is one well worth reading. It shows it all.

[Robert Wells · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very good read. At times a little repetitive but still excellent. Nam was

Nam was a bull shit war but the stories relate to the efforts of our troops. Let's not do it again.

[Kathi Chastain · Rating 3 out of 5]

Air power by the USAF

Good details but terminology made for a jumbled read. Tough job these brave crews undertook. Lives saved and lives lost.