Fire from the Sky: Seawolf Gunships in the Mekong Delta
Books / Hardcover
Books › History › Military › Vietnam War
ISBN: 1591144477 / Publisher: Naval Institute Press, May 2013
The most decorated Navy squadron of the Vietnam War, the HA(L)-3 Seawolves helicopters provided rapid-response air support to friendly forces in the Mekong Delta. This history of the Seawolves is based upon historical documents as well as the recollections of more than 60 participants, including commanding officers, pilots, and door gunners. The text is accompanied by b&w historical photographs. Knott (retired, Office of Naval Aviation History and Publications) is the author of three books and numerous articles on aviation history. Annotation ©2005 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)
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This is the dramatic history of the HAL-3 Seawolves, the U.S. Navy's first and only helicopter gunship squadron of the Vietnam War. The squadron was established "in country" to support the fast, pugnacious river patrol boats of the brown water navy. Flying combat-worn Hueys borrowed from the Army, the mission of the Seawolves quickly expanded to include rapid response air support to any friendly force in the Delta needing immediate, no-holds-barred assistance. Operating in two-plane detachments from specifically configured LSTs, hastily constructed bases, and primitive campsites, the navy gunships and their crews responded to calls within minutes. Flying in all kinds of weather, day and night, they arrived at tree-top level with forward-firing rockets and flex-guns blazing. Door gunners hung outside the violently maneuvering helicopters delivering a hail of fire with their hand-held M-60 machine guns. The Seawolves inserted SEALs deep into enemy territory, and extracted them, often despite savage enemy opposition. They rescued friendly combatants from almost certain capture or death, and evacuated the wounded when Medevac helicopters were not available. Gleaned from historical documents and the colorful recollections of more than sixty Seawolf warriors, this is the first complete history of the most decorated Navy squadron of the Vietnam War. Naval aviator Richard Knott recounts the story of the Seawolves from the dawning of the concept to the moment the last squadron commander turned out the lights.
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