China Pilot [Paperback]

Felix Smith (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 1560983981 | ISBN-13: 978-1560983989 | Publication Date: September 1, 2000

A pilot for the China-based airline reputed to be the most shot at in the world, Felix Smith recounts in vivid detail his experiences ferrying troops and equipment for the Nationalists during China's civil war; providing medicine and supplies to war-torn regions; and flying under CIA contract during the French war in Indochina, the Korean War, America's secret war in Laos, and the Vietnam War. China Pilot provides a rare view of the Cold War in Asia, documenting not only the hair-raising adventures of Civil Air Transport's pilots but also those of the men and women behind the scenes.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

After WWII, Claire Chennault, founder of the Flying Tigers, organized a collection of pilots into a company called Civil Air Transport (CAT), which delivered food, ammo, medical supplies and reinforcements to the Nationalists during China's 1946-1949 civil war. The author of this vigorous, anecdote-packed memoir was one of their number. Here he recalls his adventures in the wild blue yonder and some of the raffish characters he met on terra firma, many of them straight out of "Terry and the Pirates": Y.L. Yang, the Cigarette King, who helped finance the airline; Chiang Hseuh-liang, the Young Marshall, whose feud with Generalissimo Chiang Kai-shek became legendary; James "Earthquake Magoon" McGovern, the Falstaffian CAT pilot who went down in flames on a relief mission to Dienbienphu. Smith describes CAT's involvement on the margins of the wars in Korea, Laos and Vietnam and its role in establishing the Nationalists on Taiwan. He further reveals how the airline retained its private identity after becoming a major air arm of the CIA. His view of the various wars is unabashedly romantic, but the memoir as a whole is wonderfully entertaining. Illustrations.
Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Review

This is one of thoe rare treats for aviation history enthusiasts: a book by a superb pilot who also happens to be a first-rate writer. (Carl Molesworth )

Better than anyone else [Felix Smith] evokes the sights, smells, and sounds of China. . . . China Pilot is a wonderful book. It belongs on the shelf of every admirer of Chennault and his unorthodox forces. (Air & Space )

Better than anyone else [Felix Smith] evokes the sights, smells, and sounds of China. . . . China Pilot is a wonderful book. It belongs on the shelf of every admirer of Chennault and his unorthodox forces..... (Air & Space )

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 336 pages
• Publisher: Smithsonian Institution Scholarly Press (September 1, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1560983981
• ISBN-13: 978-1560983989
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (12 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,663,050 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars What a beautiful book!, July 14, 2001

By 

MR RP SYKES (Hong Kong) - See all my reviews

This review is from: China Pilot (Paperback)

This book is about aviation during the pioneer days in Asia - before the days of navigational beacons and proper runway lighting. More importantly, and misleadingly from the title, it is probably one of the best "on the ground" histories of Air America's operations written from a pilot's point of view. It is written with heart, soul and compassion by a man who cared (and obviously still does) for his companions, both living and deceased, as well as the people in the places where he flew.

The stories, in civil aviation terms, are amazing and while some of them are terribly sad they keep alive the memory of many good men who would otherwise be forgotten. Aside from the narrative, this is a tremendously well written book, and one that if you love aviation and are interested in and care about Asia, you will not want to put down. If the Author, (Felix Smith) writes another book, I sincerely hope that he finds a ready publisher and many readers, as in this day and age this genre of literature and narrative quality of real life experience is truly rare.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars a must-have for Flying Tigers fans, September 9, 2000

By 

Daniel Ford (at danford dot net) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: China Pilot (Paperback)

Claire Chennault's legend just keeps on growing. Here is a feast for readers who can't get enough of the man who led the Flying Tigers, the 14th Air Force, and the cargo line that became Air America.

Felix Smith isn't a historian. He's a pilot--a good one, since he survived 23 years with Civil Air Transport, organized to carry relief supplies around postwar China, only to become a paramilitary arm of Chiang Kai-shek's campaign against communism.

To our great good fortune, Smith also turns out to be a gifted reporter. Better than anyone else, he evokes the sights, smells, and sounds of China in 1945, along with an economy so weak that U.S. dollars were precious enough to be washed and ironed after use, and a government so depraved that it's a wonder it lasted until 1949.

China Pilot is a a wonderful book. It belongs on the shelf of every admirer of Chennault and his unorthodox air forces.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars China Pilot, May 16, 2003

By 

Michael T. McCaffrey "sumofan" (Sterling, VA United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: China Pilot (Paperback)

Having spent an appreciable amount of time in Asia myself, and being an admirer of the exploits of the famed Flying Tigers (AVG), I ordered four books at one time. I saved this book for last, since Mr. Smith was not an original member of the Flying Tigers. After reading, and enjoying the others, I began Mr. Smith's CHINA PILOT. I don't know what I thought I would get out of this book, but I loved it! Felix Smith was obviously one of the very best pilots working in an Asia in turmoil at that time. His narration of the many adventures he was involved in draw the reader right into the cockpit with him. I could SEE Earthquake Magoon! I could SMELL the warm night air through the open cockpit window while flying over some jungle in Vietnam or Laos. I wholeheartedly recommend this fine book to those interested in the Far East and the many roles the AVG-CAT-Air America played during those decades of turbulence. Mr. Smith, if you happen to read this: excellent job! Both on the book, and particularly your interesting life.

Mike McCaffrey
Department of State/Foreign Service - Retired