Flying Black Ponies: The Navy's Close Air Support Squadron in Vietnam"The tragic, the comic, the terrifying, the poignant are all part of the story of the Black Pony pilots who distinguished themselves in the Mekong Delta during the Vietnam War. Flying their turboprop Broncos "down and dirty, low and slow," they killed more of the enemy and saved more allied lives with close-air support than all the other naval squadrons combined during the three years they saw action. Author Kit Lavell was part of this squadron of "black sheep" given a chance to make something of themselves flying these dangerous missions. The U.S. Navy's only land-based attack squadron, Light Attack Squadron Four (VAL-4) flew support missions for the counter insurgency forces, SEALs, and allied units in borrowed, propeller-driven OV-10s. For fixed-wing aircraft they were dangerous, unorthodox missions, a fact readers quickly come to appreciate"--Dust jacket. |
Contents
Setting the Stage | 3 |
For the Want of a Pony | 11 |
Making It Up as You Go Along | 19 |
Copyright | |
24 other sections not shown
Other editions - View all
Flying Black Ponies: The Navy's Close Air Support Squadron in Vietnam Kit Lavell Limited preview - 2009 |
Flying Black Ponies: The Navy's Close Air Support Squadron in Vietnam Kit Lavell No preview available - 2009 |
Common terms and phrases
aircraft American arms army arrived ARVN asked attack aviators base became began Binh Thuy Black Ponies boat Bronco Bubba bunker called canal close combat coming Commander cover crew Delta enemy feet fire five flares flew flight flying forces four front going ground guys hand head heard helicopter hundred interview by author John knew landing later lead Lieutenant lives looked mission months Naval navy needed never night North officer operations orders outpost pass patrol Pete pilots plane position pulled quickly radio reported returned river rockets rolled Saigon scramble SEAL seat shoot shot side South squadron Team telephone interview thing thought told took trawler tree turned units Vietnam Vietnamese wanted watched weapons wing Zuni