Customer Reviews

Centaur Flights

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

While Mr. Spaulding does not expose his intermost thoughts and emotions, he nontheless give a true and inspired accounting of his piece of the Vietnam Helicopter war. There have been many books written about this aspect of the war, and all have their own unique perspective. However, there is "something" about this straight forward no nonsense narrative that grabs the readers attention and keeps it. I have read this book 7 or 8 times. If you read a lot of Vietnam books, you will not be disappointed.

I have read many books with regard to the Vietnam Conflict. Some books have been quite analytical while others seem like something out of a Sgt. Rock Comic.

For some reason Spalding's excellent work draws you into the conflict in a way that's difficult to describe. You sense the technical challenges required of a Cobra driver and the skills needed to deploy the deadly Cobra platform.

When I first picked up the the book I thought "Well, looks like another shoot-em up." It's not, it will haunt you.

I also flew gunships in D Troop, 3/4 Cav, callsign "Centaur 40" but in the UH-1C "Charlie Model" gunships prior to the period of time that Richard Spalding was in the unit flying Cobras. We flew in the same AO (area of operations) it appears. I enjoyed reading of his experiences and found that they were not much different than mine. The book appears to be a compilation of intensely recalled events and some genuine but not so life threatening events which, it seems, is common in war. I thank Richard for writing the book and suggest he check in with the 3/4 Cav Assn website to renew the kinship all us old Centaurs have as a result of our shared experiences.

Very good and realistic. I was a Blue Max pilot at the same time this was written. Gives a true face to our lives in RVN in 68-69.

Richard "Dan" Spalding is a true American hero, and it is reflected in Centaur Flights. Why hero? As Dan tells the story, he does not seek glory but fights for the mission and his fellow soldiers. He is candid about his own failures, and modest about his achievements in the fog of war. Dan was awarded 3 DFCs (Distinguished Flying Crosses), and those don't come cheap. This is not a slickly written, over-produced PC novel. It is a real account, by a real warrior. I highly recommend it if you want to read the real deal.

A book to be recommended to everyone who wants a real understanding of what it was like to be a helicopter pilot engaged in close combat. Of all the books I have read, this one is best at giving one an understanding of the risks involved in flying a small helicopter within easy range of Charlie.

I try to read books about the Vietnam conflict often. I also try to read about all the different types of 'jobs' that were utilized during this period. This book I found to be less descriptive than I liked and was almost boring. But at least it gave a perspective that is not often heard about. I would still recommend the book due to this.

The book contains the author's (R.D.Spalding's) experiences as an AH-1G Cobra Attack Helicopter Pilot during his one-year tour of duty (1969/70) in Vietnam with the so-called „Centaurs"-outfit (hence the title), D-Trp.3/4 Cav, 25 InfDiv. This is preceded by a not less interesting account of his personal road to become such a Helicopter pilot. The book ends with his return home, almost nothing is told on his „afterlife".

During the course of such a book the reader usually sooner or later starts to „identify" or sympathize with the protagonist/chronicler. Spalding makes it hard to do so, partly because he hardly shares his thoughts and emotions. Also, he doesn't, although a certain pride in himself can be felt, portray himself as a flawless wonder-hero.
Incidents where he caused friendly fire casualties, hunts a majestic buzzard for no apparent reason with his minigun or when he fails to intervene as the only witness when his aircraft commander kills an unarmed civilian(?) for „looking suspicious", getting permission to fire by lying over the radio that he was armed - these and more plainly show that this is not a fiction book, but a real person with whose actions you cannot always completely agree (though who are we to judge...).

The events he chronicles through his tour in Vietnam are quite intriguing, though the book maybe is not as spectacular as comparable or fiction books. This is not meant especially negative; it is the more riveting because it is so realistic and believable, appalingly real.
It is the stunning little, self-contained everyday things he tells, like when his platoon leader cancels the long-granted R&R in Australia due to a personnel shortage, only to be going there himself, or when they find out that the old vietnamese lady that cleans their hootches can repair them a Kalashnikov better than any of them.

The writing is less of a fanciful / overly-poetic style, more matter-of-fact-like, i.e., don't expect great descriptions of the landscape or reflections on the beauty or his emotions etc.
Rather, it is written more like a concise diary; similarly, there is no real plot or literary scheme, Spalding is telling the single events as they come up and quite unconnectedly, although generally in chronological order.

The book is very worthwhile to read. It makes an excellent complement with Robert Mason's „Chickenhawk" and Hugh Mill's „Low Level Hell". Together with these, all three interlocking basic helicopter types working together at that time, UH-1 Slicks /troop carriers, OH-6 Loaches/scouts and AH-1 Cobras/gunships, are covered with a view on the same topic from the three respective perspectives, completing the picture when read interdependently.
If you haven't read any of these yet, I have to honestly admit that „Chickenhawk" or „Low Level Hell" are more colorful (in a metaphorical sense, of course), though also more voluminous. They also have some pictures, which „Centaur Flights" does not.
If, however, you have already read the former two, I most strongly suggest that you read thisone, too.

Dan Spalding has been through the meat grinder of Combat flying in Vietnam and come out the other side with a real cracker of a story.From page one Spalding immerses the reader in the world of military aviation during the most volatile period of modern history. The action and tactical descriptions are brilliant and will satisfy the most ardent of military historians as well as providing an insight into this unique style of Helicopter combat. We roll in with Spalding as he Hoses down AAA with miniguns, launches rocket attacks on bunkers and rescues grunts from the approaching VC, all described in the vivid detail of a veteran who lived the tale. While the action is top notch, personal involvement with the Author is low. There seemed to be a reluctance to share many of those anecdotes and comradely observences most war pilots include in there tales.While this lack of pathos does not detract from the overall story it does leave the reader with a feeling of being an observer rather than a participant.Centaur Flights is no "Chickenhawk", but the book more than holds its own when compared with its contemporaries.Definately reccomended reading for air combat buffs and Vietnam historians. Bravo Centaur 4-4! More please!

Thanks to Mr. Spaulding for giving the reader a true life picture of what his life was like in Vietnam. This book is good, because you can believe it. You can feel as if you are there in the front seat of that Cobra with him. A good evening read of shoot- em-up excitement