Book Review of Vietnam War Army Helicopter Nose Art
Author: John Brennan
Fonthill Media Publishing
ISBN: 978-1-62545-035-7
By Ray Mehlberger
MSRP: $34.95
ISBN: 978-1-62545-035-7
By Ray Mehlberger
MSRP: $34.95
THE BOOK:
Fonthill Media is based in England.
The book is soft-bound of 192 pages (7 of which are blank) in 8 1/2" x 11" page format.
It contains 199 color photos, including the front and back covers and 14 color illustrations of personal nick-names and characters that adorned the noses of helicopter during the Vietnam War.
The front cover shows helicopters with the nick names: "Judi in D'Skys", "Incredible Hulk" & "Green Hornet".
The back cover shows helicopter with the nick names: "Superstar" & "Super Huey".
Nose arts and nicknames shown are:
Angel of Death, Birth Control, Trick or Treat, Widow Maker, Delta Devils, Dr. Pepper, The Judge, Patty Ann, The Wizard of Oz, The Crystal Ship, Bad Luck 3, Grim Reaper, Barbara II, The OD Machine, Green Hornet, Hulk, The Magical Mystery Tour, Mash, Peace Maker, Pure Hell, Woodstock, Avenger, Blue Ghost, Monkey Butt, Fulton's Folly.
Kimbo, The Good Ship Lollypop, Snoopy, Buzzards, Gold Finger, Spirit of the Sky, Blood Sweat & Tears, Iron Butterfly, Connie C, Feelin Groovy, Incredible Hulk, Rebel, Cheap Thrills, Old Granny, Skeeter, Pandora's Box, Azrael, Grade A Large, Luv Bug, Proud Mary, For the Love of Freedom, Happy Easter, Spooks, Flower Power, Iron Butterfly II.
Lady Madona, Fast Hope, Just Married, Magnet Ass, Di Di Eagle Dustoff, Day Tripper, Dust Off, Mother Goose, Green Weenie, What Me Worry?, String Bean, Hell's Wopos. Chillin'. Double Eagle, Grand Funk, Ohio State 56-13, Bandaid Bandit, Miss Debbie, Tijuana Taxi, Guardian 6, Tiger Wagon, Roadrunner, Red Devil 6, Horse, Mother Hawk.
Horse Thief, Red Ball Express, Tiger Tail, Little MBG III, Witch Doctor, Wingnut International Air Service, The Vung Tau Express, Racoon Airlines, Pollution IV, Only You can Prevent Charlie, Zig Zag Man, Royal Coachman, California Dreamer, Rattler Ten, Born Free II, Mr. Bojangles, Orange Union, Alice in Wonderland, Paddy Wagon, Pink Panther on the Prowl, Von Zipper's Express, Snoopy, The Yellow Rose of Texas, Yankee Peddler.
Flying Grunts, Windy City, Bulldog, Ride a Slick, to Hell and Back, We're Slick, American Woman, Daddy's Mistress, Born Free, Robin Hoods, Ruptured Duck, Amourous Ann, Miss Hap, Memphis Bell II, Super Dog, Veni Vidi Vici, Woolie Boolie, Chi-town Hustler, Cleveland Rapid Transit, Coors That's Cool, Gook Spook, Hilltoper, Just Bad, Super Huey, Margaret.
Black Bug's Blood, Humming it up, Yosemite Sam, Good Vibrations, Homeward Bound, Judy in D'Skys, Peace, The Highlander, Grandpa Chicken, Lucky Angel, Garry Owen Artillery, Keep on Truckin', Black Bandit, Rook 34, Crossed Sabers, Good Vibrations, Yellow Flower, The Assassins, Fever, Cheap Thrills, Sorry About That, Chuck Crusher II, Cobra's Kill, Dial L, Hoghead II.
Village Stompers, Exhibit A, Birth Control, Killer Croc, The Muttering Death, VC Control, Razorbacks, The Eliminator, Captain America, Tiger Surprise, Birth Control Pills, First in Vietnam Task Force Seawolf, Ivan the Terrible, Natural Death, Over Sexed, The Exterminator, Me Worry? Hell Yes!, Windy City, Bounty Hunter, Emma Lee III, Gail Sue, The Pharaoh, Lucky Carol, The Muskit Bomber, Maverick Lead 34.
Stupid Stishes, Boot Hill Express, Color Me Bad, Short Timer, It's a Bummer, Lono, The Professionals II, Rat Pack, Silly Sexy Sandi, Twiges Twinky Toy, Flower Power, Snowball, Sat Cong, Miss Carraige, The Executioner, The Widow Maker, Wolf Pack Death on Call, The Playhouse, Rebels, Super Slick, Baby Huey, Purvis's Rebels, Super Shark, Rasputin, The Betty Lee.
Little Annie Fanny, Avenger, Charlie Chopper, Hot Stuff, Pappy's Killer, The Persuader, Super Hog, Sun Shine Express, Ghost Riders, Playboys, Homeward Bound, The Horny Hooker, Strange Dave, 9000 lbs of Romp & Stomp.
The front of the book has a glossery of terms and a preface. The back has an epilog and appendix.
ABOUT THE BOOK:
Vietnam War Army Helicopter Nose Art brings to light over 250 recently recovered Vietnam war photographs from Army abviation veterans. The vast majority of these photos habve never before been published, with them all capturing that quintessential and unmistakable American war custom of embellishing one's assigned aircraft with personalized markings.
Each is accompanied by a caption containing data particular for each featured image: helicopter name, unit, serial number, photo date, photo location, crew names, artist name, photo contributor and anecdotal information.
Against a backdrop of censorship, political correctness, and military directives to the contrary, in-country Army helicopter nose art flourished in Vietnam, and the failure to acknowledge this achetypal convention in any study of Army aviation history demonstrates a lack of respect for the sersonal cost of conflict.
Although "Iron Butterfly" may not be as well-known as "Memphis Belle" or "Enola Gay" from World War II, it nonetheless carried its crews into battle with just as much passion for life and sense of duty as its predecessors. We all know the ugly politics of that war; these pictures show us the human side of it.
AUTHOR BIOGRAPHY:
John Brennan has authorized six Vietnam War helicopter books. His background in the subject begins with a twelve-month military tour in Vietnam's Mekong Delta region, where he was assigned to the Army's 114th Assault Helicopter Company as a flight operations coordinator.
This was followed by a BA degree in American studies from California State University at Chico. He was subsequently hired by the Smithsonian's National Air & Space Museum Library in Washington, D.C. Later, when the 114th formed an association, Brennan served as historian.
Today, he is retired from federal service and resides with his family in northern California.
This is one neat book. It will be of great interest to modelers and aircraft historians alike.
Highly recommended.
I want to thank the folks at Casemate Publishing, who sent me this review sample and Fonthill Media as well.
Casemate is the N. American distributor of Fonthill Media books and all their titles can be seen on Casemate's site at:
Fonthill Media is based in England.
The book is soft-bound of 192 pages (7 of which are blank) in 8 1/2" x 11" page format.
It contains 199 color photos, including the front and back covers and 14 color illustrations of personal nick-names and characters that adorned the noses of helicopter during the Vietnam War.
The front cover shows helicopters with the nick names: "Judi in D'Skys", "Incredible Hulk" & "Green Hornet".
The back cover shows helicopter with the nick names: "Superstar" & "Super Huey".
Nose arts and nicknames shown are:
Angel of Death, Birth Control, Trick or Treat, Widow Maker, Delta Devils, Dr. Pepper, The Judge, Patty Ann, The Wizard of Oz, The Crystal Ship, Bad Luck 3, Grim Reaper, Barbara II, The OD Machine, Green Hornet, Hulk, The Magical Mystery Tour, Mash, Peace Maker, Pure Hell, Woodstock, Avenger, Blue Ghost, Monkey Butt, Fulton's Folly.
Kimbo, The Good Ship Lollypop, Snoopy, Buzzards, Gold Finger, Spirit of the Sky, Blood Sweat & Tears, Iron Butterfly, Connie C, Feelin Groovy, Incredible Hulk, Rebel, Cheap Thrills, Old Granny, Skeeter, Pandora's Box, Azrael, Grade A Large, Luv Bug, Proud Mary, For the Love of Freedom, Happy Easter, Spooks, Flower Power, Iron Butterfly II.
Lady Madona, Fast Hope, Just Married, Magnet Ass, Di Di Eagle Dustoff, Day Tripper, Dust Off, Mother Goose, Green Weenie, What Me Worry?, String Bean, Hell's Wopos. Chillin'. Double Eagle, Grand Funk, Ohio State 56-13, Bandaid Bandit, Miss Debbie, Tijuana Taxi, Guardian 6, Tiger Wagon, Roadrunner, Red Devil 6, Horse, Mother Hawk.
Horse Thief, Red Ball Express, Tiger Tail, Little MBG III, Witch Doctor, Wingnut International Air Service, The Vung Tau Express, Racoon Airlines, Pollution IV, Only You can Prevent Charlie, Zig Zag Man, Royal Coachman, California Dreamer, Rattler Ten, Born Free II, Mr. Bojangles, Orange Union, Alice in Wonderland, Paddy Wagon, Pink Panther on the Prowl, Von Zipper's Express, Snoopy, The Yellow Rose of Texas, Yankee Peddler.
Flying Grunts, Windy City, Bulldog, Ride a Slick, to Hell and Back, We're Slick, American Woman, Daddy's Mistress, Born Free, Robin Hoods, Ruptured Duck, Amourous Ann, Miss Hap, Memphis Bell II, Super Dog, Veni Vidi Vici, Woolie Boolie, Chi-town Hustler, Cleveland Rapid Transit, Coors That's Cool, Gook Spook, Hilltoper, Just Bad, Super Huey, Margaret.
Black Bug's Blood, Humming it up, Yosemite Sam, Good Vibrations, Homeward Bound, Judy in D'Skys, Peace, The Highlander, Grandpa Chicken, Lucky Angel, Garry Owen Artillery, Keep on Truckin', Black Bandit, Rook 34, Crossed Sabers, Good Vibrations, Yellow Flower, The Assassins, Fever, Cheap Thrills, Sorry About That, Chuck Crusher II, Cobra's Kill, Dial L, Hoghead II.
Village Stompers, Exhibit A, Birth Control, Killer Croc, The Muttering Death, VC Control, Razorbacks, The Eliminator, Captain America, Tiger Surprise, Birth Control Pills, First in Vietnam Task Force Seawolf, Ivan the Terrible, Natural Death, Over Sexed, The Exterminator, Me Worry? Hell Yes!, Windy City, Bounty Hunter, Emma Lee III, Gail Sue, The Pharaoh, Lucky Carol, The Muskit Bomber, Maverick Lead 34.
Stupid Stishes, Boot Hill Express, Color Me Bad, Short Timer, It's a Bummer, Lono, The Professionals II, Rat Pack, Silly Sexy Sandi, Twiges Twinky Toy, Flower Power, Snowball, Sat Cong, Miss Carraige, The Executioner, The Widow Maker, Wolf Pack Death on Call, The Playhouse, Rebels, Super Slick, Baby Huey, Purvis's Rebels, Super Shark, Rasputin, The Betty Lee.
Little Annie Fanny, Avenger, Charlie Chopper, Hot Stuff, Pappy's Killer, The Persuader, Super Hog, Sun Shine Express, Ghost Riders, Playboys, Homeward Bound, The Horny Hooker, Strange Dave, 9000 lbs of Romp & Stomp.
The front of the book has a glossery of terms and a preface. The back has an epilog and appendix.
ABOUT THE BOOK:
Vietnam War Army Helicopter Nose Art brings to light over 250 recently recovered Vietnam war photographs from Army abviation veterans. The vast majority of these photos habve never before been published, with them all capturing that quintessential and unmistakable American war custom of embellishing one's assigned aircraft with personalized markings.
Each is accompanied by a caption containing data particular for each featured image: helicopter name, unit, serial number, photo date, photo location, crew names, artist name, photo contributor and anecdotal information.
Against a backdrop of censorship, political correctness, and military directives to the contrary, in-country Army helicopter nose art flourished in Vietnam, and the failure to acknowledge this achetypal convention in any study of Army aviation history demonstrates a lack of respect for the sersonal cost of conflict.
Although "Iron Butterfly" may not be as well-known as "Memphis Belle" or "Enola Gay" from World War II, it nonetheless carried its crews into battle with just as much passion for life and sense of duty as its predecessors. We all know the ugly politics of that war; these pictures show us the human side of it.
AUTHOR BIOGRAPHY:
John Brennan has authorized six Vietnam War helicopter books. His background in the subject begins with a twelve-month military tour in Vietnam's Mekong Delta region, where he was assigned to the Army's 114th Assault Helicopter Company as a flight operations coordinator.
This was followed by a BA degree in American studies from California State University at Chico. He was subsequently hired by the Smithsonian's National Air & Space Museum Library in Washington, D.C. Later, when the 114th formed an association, Brennan served as historian.
Today, he is retired from federal service and resides with his family in northern California.
This is one neat book. It will be of great interest to modelers and aircraft historians alike.
Highly recommended.
I want to thank the folks at Casemate Publishing, who sent me this review sample and Fonthill Media as well.
Casemate is the N. American distributor of Fonthill Media books and all their titles can be seen on Casemate's site at: