Air America Paperback – January 1, 2012

It really is amazing at the number of people that don't believe Air America even existed or for that matter the secret war. Ever since Mel Gibson hit the big screen with the movie I've heard comments such as a fictional movie , yeah a great piece of fiction. Sure the movie was fiction to a great extent but that's Hollywood. I think Christopher did a pretty fair job of getting the reality of this group of people out there to the public with this book. The history of the airline before, during & after their Laos, Vietnam operations. A lot of us in certain age groups can well remember the President stating to the public that Laos was out of bounds, etc, etc. Really ? A lot of really talented airman or pilots were lost & a lot pulled off some pretty mean feats flying into jungle air strips while being shot at etc. Unfortunately the public is probably never going to hear or read of a lot of the heroics these pilots initiated all in a day's work. A fine read, interviewing a lot of the boys giving the reader a sense of reality of just what these men faced. Sure the money was a big part of it but it really it took a special sort of person craving adventure , challenges , in some cases lunacy ! Lunacy ? What would you call flying in bad weather while being shot at , feeling the strikes on the A/C while trying to find a way out? Just a small sample of what these guys experienced. THANKS to CHRISTOPHER for getting a little of the history of AIR AMERICA out there. If you can find this book it's well worth the read. I feel it's really a shame that the exploits of Air America & their crews have been swept under the carpet but at least Christopher has given the public a dose of history on a very big operation!DEFINITELY FIVE STARS.

The history of those who fought in Laos is long overdue...Although, this book is not new..it reminds us of those contractors for America who risked their lives for many unname pilots who had to bail out over Laos. Also, those SF Brightlights missions and across the fence missions who depended up Air America to come to their rescue..and they did.Bravery beyond what we may know today.Those who served..Air America, Ravens and SF troopers..we all say owe a sincere debt of gratitude.RH/Haiti, Bosnia, Croatia, Sudan, Afghanistan, Iraq, Sudan, Uganda (in that order)..United States Army

After reading this along with his other book "The Ravens", and see what the CIA was involved in for 8 years in Southeast asia, nothing they are being accused of these days would surprise me on bit.

Well worth the read. Always seems the 'unsung' heroes get their due long after their meritorious service because of their secret classification. It takes a certain type of personality to be a part of this activity but there are those that rise to this occasion. The author brings back to life this part of our history and gives credit to those who should be recognized. I enjoy history, especially those glimpses not in the mainstream. This book will keep you reading all the way to the end.

Air America was an "air line" created and operated by the CIA. Pilots and Air America Staff did not wear uniforms, rather civilian clothing. They carried NO ID information, and were very secretive about what and where they did things. Good book to read about the Viet Nam war effort and other places where Air America flew.

This is NOT a novel that reads like the movie. It's more like a series of topical essays on the same general subject. Info and story lines are often revisited as if it hasn't been mentioned before, but presented from the perspective of the particular topic being covered in that part of the book. It makes for a bit of a disjointed read, but still very interesting info on things that the general public just had no clue were going on at the time.It will make you look at current events in a different light as well, wondering just what may lie under the surface.

Sure does set the record straight about the movie of the same name. Also a great history of the CIA "proprietaries".

I like Christopher Robbins' style of journalism in writing about Vietnam, but there is much more to be told about those who were the real HEROES of this war! Many brave men laid their lives down, without hesitation, for this humanitarian effort that was never recognized by the US government. Those who lived through it and returned home had to live with the haunting memories of war and unfinished business. Then, treated as the enemy for going there ... as if they had a choice! When you're in the military you go where they send you. Air America was owned and operated by the CIA for special operations in Vietnam. Little was known about what they did or their being there for over 10 years: to rescue others when downed behind enemy lines and train locals how to fight. These men were brave intelligent souls, who bonded through extreme situations of inhuman Communistic treatment to those who could not help themselves. They lived in-the-moment, so they could survive one day at a time putting their lives at risk and knowing they may not return when they flew on a mission. We and the south Vietnam people, who lived peaceful lives until invasion by the Communist, owe them so much for their brave actions. When they were told to pull out, there was a complete collapse of their homeland, displacing those left behind. Some escaped to America - the scene of them on the cover is a haunting memory. Others escaped to Cambodia and Thailand, while many became prisoners of war to communism or died in concentration camps. The movie by the same name, didn't begin to cover the realism behind Air America, and made it appear altogether different than a true story and account of the war that went on there. It took licenses of Hollywood and left out the underlying truth about the reason we were there. Don't compare the two.

Difficile dire se fosse stato parzialmente romanzato. Comunque se interessa il periodo storico e la situazione in Vietnam alla "fine" del conflitto, troverete spunti interessanti

Friend is enjoying the books !

For any of us left who remember the happenings written about in this amazingly well researched book the memory of this era comes back with a rush. Magnificent detail,and emotive of a time now looked back on as one of histories worst mistakes. It takes time to absorb the detail, but all credit to the author for laying out such a huge amount of information in such a readable manner. MUCH enjoyed.

Arrivé un peu avant la date, parfait! Livre en bon état mais à la couverture différente de celui que j'avais et qui a été détruit. JJP

Amazing book.. nice product. I love this book. This item is like in the Description. I recommend it for all...