The Vietnam Air War

From the Cockpit

By: Colonel Dennis M. "Mike" Ridnouer

Narrated by: John Pruden

The Vietnam War is one of the most misunderstood military conflicts in 20th-century America. Showcasing 72 true stories told by American servicemen who fought from the skies, this unique and historically significant collection is a stunning record of the air war in Southeast Asia during the 1960s and 1970s.

There is no political agenda. There is no partisan opinion. There is no romanticizing. These are simply tales from the thick of an endlessly complex conflict, raw and uncut, told directly by the men who were foisted into its napalm- and sweat-soaked clutches.

Occasionally funny, sometimes tragic, and often harrowing, these true accounts bring new and personal perspectives to one of the most studied and most maligned wars in America's history, revealing with no Hollywood glamorizing what the war was really like for members of the US Air Force of all ranks and myriad functions who answered the call to fight.

They saw no choice but to follow the orders they were given. And for better or for worse, by the time they returned, each of them would be changed forever.

©2017 Colonel Dennis M. (Mike) Ridnouer (P)2019 Tantor

Excellent book and narration of air combat.

A very well written book about the heroes in the air in the Vietnam War. It is an interesting variation in that it relates the experiences of multiple different pilots in the first and third person. A plethora of aircraft and missions are represented in the missions from rotary wings on SAR missions and the Son Tay raid to FAC's F-105's running wild weasel, RF-4's on recon, F-8's bombing, etc. air to air and air to ground missions abound. Even some Air America assets. Excellent narration as well. Great book. Listen to it today!

history. great peek into vietnam air war.

loved it. An interesting peek into the air war in vietnam. a piece of histroy.

Excellence overview of the Air War in Southeast Asia

Most authors focus on a single group of warriors, but many of us know that the fighter pilot is supported by hundreds of support aircraft and personnel. As a former boom operator, I remember providing gas to F16s post strike air fueling. The chatter of multiple aircraft attempting to find their specific aerial tank. Great book...

I listened to twice

Found myself listening to this in order to place these events and lives more permanent in my memory.

I have flown with many of the warriors who flew in Nam after they retired to the airlines. Most will talk a little about their time in Nam. But it’s not easy to get them to expand. I’m glad for this kind of documentary book.

Pretty amazing what these men went through on combat and then when they returned to the leftist elites who were so sanctimonious and hateful.

A collection of great stories

Great narration of various stories from the Vietnam Air war. From crew chiefs, support staff, and of course pilots.

great book!!

some of the stories were great!
some were good!
some were filled with too many details
some i didnt quite understand

definitely worth a listen

A Must Read for Aviation Enthusiasts

I am a hard grader and rarely award any book with 5 stars, but this book easily deserved that distinction. The book contains over 40 first hand stories from combat pilots (mostly fighter pilots), but also others (FACs, Jolly Green Rescue pilots, B-52 pilots etc. related to their harrowing combat flights over North and South Vietnam and Laos and their in-theater experiences Every story is especially descriptive, but the chapters about the failed Son Tay prisoner raid and Colonel Leo Thorness's (a six year POW) talk about what is really important in life especially stood out. There are also a couple tear jerker chapters. Don't miss this one!!!!

very interesting collection of tales

Very well-told, very interesting stories of the Viet Nam air war and ancillary jobs surrounding it.

Enjoyed Exoeriences Shared

It was wonderful to hear the many stories and experiences. (Here's my fifteen words).) Thx ;-)

Important History

Captures many of the air war stories from The Vietnam War, as many of these air warriors are passing. Often puts you in the pilot’s seat, during the poorly managed, heroically fought war.
Don’t miss War For The Hell of It, a superb book about the F-4 flying out of Thailand.
SCM, Udorn RTAFB