Dustoff: The Memoir of an Army Aviator Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)"Flying" has been described as "a period of continual euphoria interrupted by moments of sheer terror". "DUSTOFF flying" would approach the antithesis.
This book vividly captures the intrinsic unconventionality of "DUSTOFF helicopter flying" in a masterful and dazzling detail that I'd not yet read, describing mission after "hairy" mission to extract casualties from the battlefield, simply in essence, the DUSTOFF mission.
It takes the reader along as it highlights the continual struggles, weariness and adversity encountered by DUSTOFF units and crews as they struggled to meet ever increasing demands on their aviation resources as well as those physical and mental inflicted by the enemy. It also frankly and and factually highlights struggles encountered on another front, sadly and incomprehensibly, that eminating from a higher headquarters which operated from within a "state-side" environment, generating the all too voluminous "state-side" reports, ceremonies, VIP accords, et al, and command inspections, cavalierly administered inconsiderate of the relentless demands on the DUSTOFF units and crews in the midst of battle, somewhat akin to what might be equated to a scenario wherin Inspector General (IG) inspectors await on the shores of Normandy to administer their "unannounced".
The Vietnam related pages offer galvinizing excitement to a book that is equally exciting in a vein of the life of on old aviator war horse, truly a captivating journey of an aviator exraordinaire from the cockpits of WWII Army Air Corps B-24's, B-29's, B-17's, in the skies over Korea, flying the "Sneaky Petes" in the Dominican Republic, an airline pilot, two tours in Vietnam to flying the "Golden Eagles" parachute team.
Touchingly intertwined throughout is the life of an old aviator war horse's dedication to family, an extraordinary wife who was obviously his "wind beneath my wings" and great kids, one of whom eventually came to join him in Vietnam combat.

Click Here to see more reviews about: Dustoff: The Memoir of an Army Aviator

MICHAEL NOVOSEL IS A MAN WITH JUST AS MUCH "RIGHT STUFF” AS ANY ASTRONAUT—AND A MEDAL OF HONOR TO BOOT.Michael Novosel never set out to be a hero. In fact, it looked like he might never see military action. After fast-talking his way into the aviation cadet program (he was too short to pass the physical) and earning his wings, he became a heavy-bomber instructor for the Army Air Corps. But it wasn't until Germany's defeat that the ace pilot finally saw combat. Assigned as a B-29 Super-fortress command pilot, he reached Tinian just before the Enola Gay took off to end World War II in the skies over Hiroshima.Despite being a senior airline pilot, when the war in Vietnam started, Novosel applied again for active duty. The only thing that the air force was willing to give reserve lieutenant colonels like Novosel to fly, however, was a desk. Resigning his commission, he approached the army, which decided that flying dustoffs (medevac helicopters) in Vietnam was a perfect job for this seasoned aviator. With two tours, 2,038 hours of combat flight, 2,345 aerial missions that evacuated 5,589 wounded, and a Congressional Medal of Honor, it's easy to see that Mike Novosel is a genuine, 24-karat American war hero.

Click here for more information about Dustoff: The Memoir of an Army Aviator