Customer Reviews

The Chopper Boys: Helicopter Warfare in Africa

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

 

 

The Chopper Boys is a unique book, looking at the subject of helicopters used in various wars in Africa in the second half of the 20th Century. The employment of helos by the French in Algeria (in itself a pioneering effort), the Portuguese in Angola and Mozambique, the South Africans and the Rhodesians are all studied. Lavishly illustrated with photos Chopper Boys discusses various airframes, weapons and tactics developed in the African Wars. The only real drawback I find with this book is the organization, which sometimes makes the book read like a bunch of magazine articles strung together. There is no chronological order to the material. However, there's no denying that this is a fascinating book and one of the few available on this subject.

I acquired this gem from my favorite used bookstore in Denver and am sure glad I stumbled on it! For anyone out there interested in the history of conflict in modern day Africa this has to be on your bookshelf. A great set of photographs from the beginning of the helicopter era coupled with good background from organized military sources and Mr. Venters own hand makes for a great read. The Rhodesian and South West African sections were eye-openers for me. The writing style is unique - a set of "articles" strung loosely together - and easy to read. I can't wait for Mr. Venters' next book.

This is, like most of Al J. Venter's stuff, a _MUST GET_ book.

... I was expecting a lot more from it. I think it is a shame that Portugal's anti-terrorist wars in Africa (Independence movements?? B.S!) where badly studied. And being portuguese, I could also sense some "white kaffir" mentality surfacing.
But the photos are quite good.
The book itself is little more of a colection of photos and some stories joined together without method.