A Hundred Feet Over Hell: Flying With the Men of the 220th Recon Airplane Company Over I Corps and the DMZ, Vietnam 1968-1969

by Jim Hooper

A Hundred Feet Over Hell is the story of a handful of young pilots taking extraordinary risks to support those on the ground. Flying over Vietnam in two-seater Cessnas, they often made the difference between a soldier returning alive to his family or having the lonely sound of “Taps” played over his grave. Based on extensive interviews, and often in the men’s own words,  A Hundred Feet Over Hell puts the reader in the plane as this intrepid band of U.S. Army aviators calls in fire support for the soldiers and marines of I Corps.

Genres: History, Nonfiction, Aviation, Military Fiction

272 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2009

Reviews

[Mike · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Hundred Feet Over Hell: Flying With the Men of the 220th Recon Airplane Company Over I Corps and the DMZ, Vietnam 1968-1969 is 5 Willie Pete rockets right on target, a great story of flying, fighting, death, stupidity, heroism and reckless fun along the DMZ in Vietnam from 1968-1969. You hear the stories of the 220th Recon Airplane Company. This is an Army unit flying 0-1 Bird Dog aircraft. Army pilots with Marine backseater observers controlling AF and Navy fighter-bombers, Army and Marine artillery, helo gunships and Navy guns (New Jersey battleship) in support of ARVN and US Army and Marine ground forces. Talk about joint operations! These guys were amazing and the stories are often hair raising. This is how close air support was done.

“Doc” said Happe. “Mustang said that was a good hit, good hit!”

He centered his controls. Jet-black smoke capped the two thousand degree inferno to his left. The Bird Dog bucked when it passed the edge of a rising column of super-heated air, and Doc caught a whiff of the jellied gasoline. As the crater and its marines disappeared under the Cessna cowling, Indian’s wingman was head-on toward him in a fifteen degree dive.

“Dash 2, this is Catkiller, Do you have me in sight? Over”

“That’s affirm, Catkiller, I have you in sight”

“Roger, Dash 2. The only way you’re dropping this close to friendlies is on top of me. Let’s go with one nape at twelve o’clock, twenty-five meters from Dash 1’s hit. Your approach is good, you’re cleared hot.”

“Roger, Catkiller. One Delta-9 at twelve o’clock, twenty-five meters, and dropping on your position. Dash 2 is in hot.” The F-4 pilot released below three hundred feet and brought the control stick back in a climbing turn to the south. Doc broke to the right. More tracers rose from AK-47s. He had completed his turn and was watching Dash 1 heading toward him when the second flight of air reported inbound.

“Catkiller 1-8, this is Hellborne 412. Over.”

“Stand by, 412. Dash 1, do you have Dash 2’s hit?”
“Affirmative, Catkiller.”

“Then let’s go three o’clock, twenty-five meters, with one nape. Do you have me in sight?”

“That’s affirm.”

“Then you’re cleared hot.” Doc added the Hellborne call sign to his windscreen as the napalm’s oily flame rolled over the enemy position. He looked over his shoulder at it. “Good hit, Dash 1!” he barked. Then to make clear that the next transmission was not for Lovebug: “Break, break. Hellborne 412, say your position.” The marine A-4 Skyhawks were on the 120-degree radial, twenty-five miles from Dong Ha at eighteen thousand feet. Doc made a quick trigonometry calculation in his head. He needed to position them safely outside Lovebug’s pattern but close enough to take over as soon as the F-4s were finished. “Roger, 412, proceed to the 350 at eight miles, Channel 109, descend and maintain ten thousand. I will call you shortly. Break, break. Lovebug Dash 2, do have me in sight?”

“Affirmative, Catkiller.”

The role of the FAC is to get down and dirty with the enemy, especially when there are “troops in contact” or TIC. The FAC will locate the friendlies and the enemy, mark the target with White Phosphorus (WP – Willie Pete) rockets, arty or with word pictures and bring down death on the enemy from aircraft, artillery or naval gunfire. In the North, the Catkillers fought against NVA regulars, a tough enemy. There was respect even in battle:

Charles Finch: When the jets pulled off, we went down low again. I still have a vivid image in my mind of the NVA running in circles, many with their uniforms torn off from the explosions or burned off from the nape. I felt sad in a way, as they had put up such a great fight. Russ never forgave me for waving to them to go north and get out of the way of the next artillery barrage. He wanted to stick around and kill them all.

This book tells the stories of the pilots and observers, intermixed with the stories of the guys on the ground. As the battle winds down, one of the infantry grunts tells a humorous story:

Joe Krawcykowski: It got eerily quiet. Really quiet. Then a Cobra gunship came up over the knoll behind us and unleashed a volley to the east. Staff Sgt. Jesus Fuentes jumped up and immediately aimed a pop flare at the chopper. When we asked why he’d done that, he said, “Cause he scared the shit out of me:’ Everyone laughed like hell. Jesus was a helluva soldier and had been in the thick of things with A Company’s 3rd Platoon before coming back to the command area. Their motto—”Jesus Saves”—was painted on ‘the front of one of their tracks. The battalion chaplain thought it was very religious.

Many great stories in the book but none more harrowing than supporting a Marine company in a night contact with a larger enemy under low clouds near mountains much higher than the cloud bottom. Also stories about letting off steam and stress. A touching story about Gypsy Rose Lee as one of the pilots is selected to escort her on a USO tour. Several jaw-tightening stories about cowards and higher ranking rear echelon types who visit briefly and put themselves in for medals—wish he would have named names!

Highly recommended!

[Thomas D. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jim Hooper has captured a slice of history that will unfortunately drift into obscurity in not too many years. The role of direct ground support for soldiers and marines in enemy contact on the ground, by slow flying, low flying, lightly armed Army aircraft.

Hooper captured the 'pat your head and rub your tummy at the same time' physical skills necessary to just keep the aircraft aloft, while at the same time he shed some insight into the mental conditioning necessary to do the mission and not just turn around and fly for cover. Add figuring out artillery fire missions or bomb strikes for the jets to support the guys on the ground, at night, in the rain, and you might begin to see how difficult those jobs were. It was, pat your head, rub you tummy, juggle with both feet, talk on the radio, figure out the geometry of a fire mission and do all the above at the same time while someone was shooting very large bullets at you frequently.

And Hooper managed to convey that to the reader eloquently in a narrative that spoke with several voices of the men that had been there and done that.

This book is a must read for anyone interested in the history of the Vietnam War. It probably should be required reading for flight school and it definitely should be read by the families of those aviators who to this day have no idea what their loved ones did in the war.

Thomas D. Cooke
Captain
48th Assault Helicopter Co.
10th Combat Aviation Battalion
REPUBLIC OF VIETNAM 1968-1969

[Serena · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jim Hooper‘s A Hundred Feet Over Hell is a true account of the 220th Reconnaissance Airplane Company, with which his brother Bill served as one of the Myth Makers flying single-engine Cessnas that were extremely vulnerable to artillery and other ground fire. These men were charged with flying over hot zones and locating the enemy for bombers, giving precise coordinates for dropping bombs and napalm.

“Rather than sharing our joy at his return, Bill was angry. Not because of the crippling would received in an unpopular was — he accepted that as part of what he had signed on fore. The anger came from being here. In a demonstration of uncompromising loyalty over logic, it was, he believed, a betrayal of the warrior family he’d left behind.” (Page xi)

Hooper has captured the essence of these men and their time in Vietnam from their crazy stunts to the moments when they feared for their lives. Through alternating points of view the stories unfold quickly as one man feeds off and expands on the story being told by their friend and colleague. Readers will meet characters like Doc Clement and Charlie Finch, but these men are not characters, but real human beings who lived through the harsh realities of war.

Read the full review: http://savvyverseandwit.com/2010/07/a...

[Julie · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Hundred Feet Over Hell by Jim Hooper is a very personal story about the Vietnam War experience, told mostly from the mouths of the men who lived it. The "Catkillers" of the 220th Reconnaissance Airplane Company were forward air controllers operating in the most hostile environment in Vietnam: the so-called "Demilitarized Zone," which was anything but demilitarized. These men flew in two-seat, propeller-driven Cessna O-1 Bird Dogs, at low speeds and low altitudes, directing field artillery against enemy targets and controlling air strikes. Through an extensive amount of research and numerous detailed interviews, Hooper manages to present a clear picture of life in the I Corps and DMZ during the Vietnam War ~ the battles and the personal struggles, the way these men were changed forever.

I have to start my review by saying that I highly doubt I'm the target audience for this particular book. Yes, I enjoy historical fiction and memoirs. But I would not normally pick up a true story about a war. I've read novels and memoirs related to World War II, but they were about civilians living through the war, not the military actually fighting in it. Despite all that, I really loved this book.

A Hundred Feet Over Hell was a much easier read than I had expected, and I felt like I really got to know these men through Hooper's storytelling. Reading this book was like watching a war movie. It was full of action "scenes" where Catkiller pilots are flying over the DMZ taking enemy fire, while relaying vital information about troop locations, and guiding fighter pilots to fire at the VC troops while avoiding the friendlies. It amazes me that these men survived in these planes that had no armor and no real weapons. Their planes were riddled with bullet holes, yet they continued to fly right into the middle of battles so they could save the men on the ground. I loved the fact that Hooper devoted an entire chapter to the perspective of those men on the ground whose lives were saved by the Catkillers.

Hooper also weaved in plenty of personal accounts of the men who were there ~ their memories of their first days, their first flights, their first kills. He described, through their words and memories, the time they spent away from the battlefield, drinking beer, joking with each other, trying to have some normalcy in the wake of war:

"We took hits, but luck saw them pass through our aircraft without striking flesh or engine, and we returned to Dong Ha to count the holes, play a few hands of poker, and prepare the next day's mission. War was our life. It was what we did." ~ p45

There is a lot of jargon in the book, so Hooper provides a glossary in the back. But I only referred to it a few times. I didn't find it difficult to keep up with the acronyms and military terminology at all. If you enjoy war movies and stories, I highly recommend this book. And if you are a history buff, especially if you're interested in the Vietnam War, I'd say this is a must read. The first-person accounts make you feel like you're part of the action!

[Nadir · Rating 4 out of 5]

A personal and detailed account of a little known combat aviation element in Vietnam. Books I've read about LRRP and Marine Recon teams in the war make reference to brave observation pilots who, by directing air strikes, artillery, and medevac helicopters, pulled their ground-bound brethren's chestnuts out of the fire. The personal angle makes the book far more interesting (to me) than an academic history. One becomes better acquainted with the concerns and diversions of the young men who regularly faced the North Vietnamese, armed with nothing more than marking rockets.

[Mackezie H · Rating 5 out of 5]

Catkillers: The true Stories of Extraordinary Risk From Above
“The Skyhawk again passed underneath and a little to my west and released a pair of 500-pound bombs that landed right in the middle of them… we’d killed eighteen or twenty Viet Cong and wounded an undetermined number of others'' (Hooper 140). From 1955 to 1975 the US fought against Vietnam, killing roughly 58,220 Americans and wounded countless others. Thereafter in 2009, Jim Hooper, a war correspondent and author who was wounded twice in service, wrote "A Hundred Feet Over Hell," told from the mouths of ten pilots who risked everything to fight for America in 1968-1969. As Brig. Gen. Robert H. Holmes, USAF shares, “It’s about the sheer guts, ingenuity, compassion, and humor of those who serve, and a tribute to the Catkillers and the thousands who follow in their footsteps'' (Hooper 2). Among his other works, Book of Patterns, and Volume 7, "A Hundred Feet Over Hell," was published in Minneapolis, Minnesota, by MBI Publishing Company in 2009. Hooper’s work has served as a guide to understanding soldiers' work and sacrifices, through the use of unique viewpoints, truthful testimonies, and the relationships between the pilots and between the readers and pilots.
In every aspect, Hooper places the reader into the story of 10 heroic men fighting to protect our world from communism. Hooper’s book is especially unique because it consists of several men telling the same story each from their viewpoint. The men share their stories truthfully, and as a result, some points throughout the book prove difficult to read. Notwithstanding, "A Hundred Feet Over Hell" would appeal to readers who have a deep interest in war and its reality. The men take turns walking the reader through each part of their journey as pilots. Their testimonies create a beautifully crafted nonfiction work that starts with an introduction to the pilots' lives. It's explained that they were known as “Catkillers”, flying over I Corps and the DMZ as part of the 220th Recon Airplane Company (Hooper). These men had what was called the most dangerous job in the war. Bill shares what his instructor told him, “Gentlemen, this is the Cessna O-1 Bird Dog. It has no armor. It carries no offensive weapons. It is slower than the frontline fighter aircraft of the First World War” (Hooper 17). The men retell the stories of various assignments they received. One that is particularly astonishing is when they were ordered to locate a marine recon during the mist of the night. The marines were in heavy contact with North Vietnam, making the task especially dangerous. Despite having to fly with no armor or weapons, in the pitch black of foreign mountain terrain, the pilots managed to accomplish their mission. Another electrifying story was Bill's serious injury during a flight. He managed to fly for 20 minutes back to base, while his body was in shock. Countless stories like this were told through the book and outline the recurring theme of perseverance and determination. These are common in many war books, such as Unbroken, and Black Hawk Down. As a current honors student who has a passion for war books, I can say this is one of the most relatable and transformative books I've experienced. Thereby, I can give it nothing less than five stars.
A Hundred Feet Above Hell has served as an inspiration and interconnection between ordinary citizens and these Vietnamese war heroes, through the viewpoints within the literature, the Catkiller’s real stories, and the bond that Hooper creates between the pilots and readers. If a person doesn’t care for war stories before reading "A Hundred Feet Over Hell," they most certainly will afterward. Following reading Hooper's paragon, Lance W. Lord, Gen., USAF has this to say, “Warriors don’t fight for their country or flag, they fight for each other, often going far beyond what their country asks'' (Hooper). Reflecting on the knowledge gained about the sacrifices of war and General Lord’s words, challenge yourself to be brave, persevere, go above and beyond, and fight for those you love in your own life.

[Peter Roach · Rating 5 out of 5]

While traveling I had met a couple of the pilots mentioned in this book. After they told me who they were I told them about the book I had read about them. They appeared to be blown away that I had read it, I even showed them the copy on my phone. Fantastic guys and really a great book. After meeting them I could clearly see how they managed to do everything described in the book along with the dangers and responsibilities.

[Henry · Rating 5 out of 5]

Met the author randomly in DC. Great guy who wrote a great book recalling the heroic actions of those birddog pilots. Go 20th Hellhounds!

[Walt Shiel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hooper's book is more about the men who fought a thankless war over one of the most hazardous areas in an unarmored, virtually unarmed, and slow airplane (the Cessna O-1 Bird Dog) than about flying the Bird Dog. Men who flew and fought right down in the weeds, typically well within the range of even small arms fire. The men were mostly young, newly minted Army pilots with an abundance of determination, intestinal fortitude, and camaraderie and a limited tolerance for bureaucracy and regulations.

Most of the book is told in their own words, with inputs from several participants alternated as a particular event or story unfolds, all blended with editorial commentary to set the scene and provide a "higher altitude" view of what was going on. This approach provides a thoroughly engaging means of understanding not only what was happening but what those combatants were thinking and how they were handling both the stresses and challenges of combat.

However, Hooper does not just tell one combat story after another. He wisely provides a lot of insights into what they did before and after missions, how they dealt with the constant threat of death, and how they partied to alleviate the tensions of war. Again, most of this is told in the first-person by the men who lived it.

If you're an experienced combat pilot, you'll feel a kinship with the young men in the book. If you're not, you'll come away with a renewed appreciation for their trials, successes, and even failures.

This is a book I highly recommend!

[Anna · Rating 5 out of 5]

In A Hundred Feet Over Hell: Flying With the Men of the 220th Recon Airplane Company Over I Corps and the DMZ, Vietnam 1968-1969, Jim Hooper tells the stories of his brother and several of the men his brother flew with and worked with during his time in Vietnam. Throughout most of the book, the men tell their stories in their own words, helping readers better understand the stress they endured as they flew these planes right over the enemy and were shot at constantly, their sense of duty, and the friendships they forged along the way.

Hooper uses a lot of military terminology, but that shouldn’t deter readers unfamiliar with the lingo. There is a glossary in the back of the book that defines many of these terms, and while I flipped back and forth many times, eventually I just stopped trying to make sense of the acronyms and allowed myself to get lost in the book. If you think a non-fiction military book about Vietnam is destined to be dry and boring, you’d be wrong.

Full review on Diary of an Eccentric.

[John Butts · Rating 5 out of 5]

Catkillers in Birddogs...Flying in the Face of Death So Others May Live

Could someone please make a movie based on this book! A totally engrossing story that puts you in the cockpit of the O-1 Birddog over the DMZ with Army pilots and Marine observers in a cat and mouse game against a determined enemy. Going "Tally Ho" across the DMZ in those tiny planes would be enough to make even the gutsiest pilot give pause to consider. Firing M-16's out the window and throwing tear gas grenades in a desperate attempt to give relief to outnumbered friendly troops all the while being peppered by ground fire says so much about the kind of men who flew these missions. Mock "rat-ta-tat" dogfights against faster Marine helicopters (note I said faster) and sneaking up on the airfield tower were ways to relieve the daily stress of flying daily into harms way. Hats off to the men of the 220th, the Marine backseaters and the troops on the ground who shared their experiences. Their stories deserve to be told.

[Terry · Rating 4 out of 5]

An excellent history of the trials, challenges, and triumphs of forward air controllers in the Vietnam War. The work of the forward air controllers flying low and slow under enemy fire in their Cessnas was an aspect of war which I knew little about. This book really helped me get to know these brave men and understand the challenging conditions in which they flew. Bravo to Jim Hooper and all of the pilots and crew of the 220th Recon Airplane Company.

[Taylor Andboo · Rating 5 out of 5]

100 Feet Over Hell

I was there on the ground out of Hue and throwing leaflets out the window of those same aircraft. Also playing propaganda tapes. This book is very realistic. I used a USMC H-34 also and while in one of these got our tail clipped by a USAF bird dog we both crashed from 2400 feet. The USAF pilot died and we all survived on that helio. While reading this book I felt I was back there.

[Michael Kelley · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent accounting of a little-known phase of the Vietnam War. As an infantry officer in Vietnam, I served as a backseat for one mission. The pilots were some of the finest bravest Americans I have ever met.

[William Flesher · Rating 5 out of 5]

Eye opening

My grandfather was with the 220th, 66-67 he would have enjoyed this book. These pilots were amazing in the way they had to fly, and dedication to the job.

[Johns · Rating 5 out of 5]

Skilled pilots flying flimsy small aircraft into the teeth of the enemy to be the eyes of our forward artillery positions. Well written.