Snake Pilot: Flying the Cobra Attack Helicopter in Vietnam"Based on audiotapes he recorded during the war and sent home to his family, Randy Zahn's Snake Pilot recounts his experiences flying AH-1 Cobra helicopters during the Vietnam War. First deployed in Vietnam in 1967 and loaded with a formidable arsenal of weaponry, the Cobra was the first helicopter designed from inception as an attack aircraft. It dramatically changed the nature of the war in Vietnam by offering the Army, for the first time, its own powerful and highly accurate weapons platform for close-air-support missions. Randy Zahn arrived in Vietnam shortly before the 1970 U.S. invasion of Cambodia, one of the most impressive demonstrations by the Cobra in the war. He describes his stunning transformation from a naive, middle-class teenager from southern California to a hardened killer during his tour in Vietnam. Unlike the pilots who flew the fast-moving strike jets, Zahn experienced the war "up close and personal," witnessing the grisly effects of the Cobra's firepower on enemy soldiers. The author does not glorify killing but rather explains in sharp relief the kaleidoscope of emotions associated with combat: fear, revenge, hate, remorse, pity, and even ecstasy. He captures many of the ironies and nuances inherent in Vietnam, especially during the final years of the conflict. Zahn displays a sensitivity rarely found in memoirs written by battle-hardened warriors. This human element, combined with the vast amount of archival research and interviews with members of his former unit, ensures that Snake Pilot will become the definitive account of the role helicopters played in Vietnam."--Publisher's description. |
Contents
Chapter 1 A Man Named Larry | 1 |
Chapter 2 Welcome to the Army | 7 |
Chapter 3 Sir Candidate | 15 |
Chapter 4 You Want to Kill Yourself? | 19 |
Chapter 5 Where Are You Going? | 25 |
Chapter 6 Deadeye Dickhead | 31 |
Chapter 7 Anybody but the First of the Ninth | 35 |
Chapter 8 Know Your Enemy | 43 |
Chapter 16 Youre Just a Kid | 149 |
Chapter 17 Down Bird Down Bird | 163 |
Chapter 18 Steak Out | 175 |
Chapter 19 Major Disagreements | 183 |
Chapter 20 Keeping Your Head | 193 |
Chapter 21 On Christmas Day | 213 |
Chapter 22 To Tay Ninh | 221 |
Chapter 23 Routine Rancor Resolve | 237 |
Chapter 9 Going after Them | 57 |
Chapter 10 Death at the Border | 67 |
Chapter 11 Snake Pilot | 85 |
Chapter 12 Kevin Opens Up | 103 |
Chapter 13 Looking for the General | 107 |
Chapter 14 Kevin Goes Home | 119 |
Chapter 15 The Red Towel Boogie | 127 |
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Common terms and phrases
aircraft Army arrived artillery ARVN asked back to Phuoc began Bién Hoa Blues Bravo Troop Bu Dop bunker call sign called Cambodia Captain Sides Cavalier Two-four Cavalry Charlie Troop Chuck cloud club Cobra COSVN crew Da Lat damn Dick door enemy fire flew flight school flying front seat fucking fuel going grabbed ground guns guys helicopter hell hooch Huey in-country Kevin killed knew Larry lift little bird Long Binh looked LRRP Major Nelson medevac military minigun mission morning night Ninth Cavalry Okay One-six Phuoc Vinh pilot Pink team platoon Quan Loi radio Randy rockets Roger rotor Saigon scout sergeant shit shoot shot smile South Vietnam squadron Steve talk tape Tay Ninh tell thing told took turned Two-four Vietnam Vietnamese walked Warrant Officer weeks Yeah yelled Zahn