Customer Reviews

Flying Black Ponies: The Navy's Close Air Support Squadron in Vietnam

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4 star:		(1)
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This is the story of Navy Light Attack Squadron Four. It began in the very late 60's and was decommissioned in mid 1972. It's mission was close air support and protection of the US and Viet Namese Navy's riverine forces/brown water navy, including the SEALS. It was started with odd looking but agile light aircraft borrowed from the Marines to fill a mission that jet aircraft and helicopters could not. The Navy had eliminated in the mid 60s the only aircraft that had been able to support these forces on the ground.

It provides historical data with foot notes that makes it valuable for students of the era and scholars. It has interspersed personal information and stories - funny and sad - from the author's recollection, interviews with persons involved, copies and originals of official documents, private letters, scripts and casette recordings done at the time by some of the subjects.

Some of the characters- real people- include the brave and the foolish, the disturbed, the failed, the reborn. One commanding officer is as classical a martinet as any in literature or history.

It reads well and the technical and military allusions always are accompanied by a subtle/parallel plain language description which makes it enjoyable for non-military readers.

For craft and reading pleasure it's remininscent of Flight of the Intruder and Hunt for Red October.

As a lay person (i.e. one who has never been in the military or in Vietnam), I found this book very exciting and educational. While those like me will struggle slightly with the military vernacular and acronyms, there is plenty of real life drama to keep you riveted. Kit Lavell does an excellent job in bringing the reader into the backseat of the amazing OV-10 as it flies missions in the Mekong Delta, all the while giving you an extremely detailed chronological account of this attack squadron from its conception to decommission. Anyone interested in war history will love this book, which uncovers an untold chapter of the Vietnam war. The Black Ponies are truly some of the unsung heroes of this controversial war. The testimonies of those who received life-saving support from these men are astounding. You can't help but be amazed by the capabilities of this unusual aircraft and the skilled pilots who "drove" them. As much as I enjoyed this book, I can only imagine that those with a military background and those who served in Vietnam (especially in the Mekong Delta) will appreciate it even more.

The Black Ponies were the Navy's sole land-based light attack squadron during the Vietnam War. Flying planes borrowed from the Marines, and using weapons considered too unsafe for use aboard aircraft carriers, these men fly countless missions in support of SEALS, ARVN, and Army troops in contact. The author, Kit Lavell, was one of those brave men.

The book is a collection of personal memoirs from the war, most of which center on flying operations in support of ground or riverine forces. Lavell shares the nail-biting, knuckle whitening experiences as the Black Ponies come to the rescue of these troops in contact. He also shares other emotional events, such as the far too common loss of a fellow pilot; and even the story of a pilot smitten with a Vietnamese nun. Lavell also shares many humorous episodes from Vietnam.

Lavell uses many personal sources as the foundation for this book. He kept a flight journal, and on some missions carried a tape recorder in the cockpit. Throughout the book, he quotes many of the other pilots who flew in the squadron.

Historically, the Air Force has always cut close air support assets when it comes time to cash in the peace dividends. At the onset of the Korean War, P-51 Mustangs had to be brought back from retirement to fulfill this mission. At the onset of Vietnam, the A-1 Skyraiders filled this mission until replaced by the A-10 Warthog. This awesome plane is scheduled to be retired and replaced with the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter. This book highlights (1) the need to have aircraft that can provide a close air support capability, (2) and the need for an aircraft that can take battle-damage and be rapidly repaired. With this aircraft costing in excess of $100M per copy, will we be willing to put these aircraft in harm's way to save a soldier or marine's life?

The accomplishments of this afterthought of a unit were quite impressive. Lavell is a very talented author with an amazing story to tell. I highly recommend this book.

Kit does an excellent job of giving credit where credit is due. The highly classified low altitude, silent, Army-Lockheed YO-3A with the second generation night vision and infrared illuminator (1st Lockheed production stealth aircraft) was able to locate the largest Russian Trawler and coordinate activities with the gallant Broncos to destroy this ship and its munitions during the Vietnam War.

Lovell's book is an excellent read. If you want to know what Forward Air Control and Support really means, read this book.

Unfortunately the soldiers today do not understand or appreciate what it is to have a soldier, in the air, in direct contact with the guys on the ground.

I hope we never forget the lessons Kit Lavell tells in this great book.

I was told this was a good book to read to help understand how this aircraft was used and the bravery of the people who flew and supported it. The book impressed me with the detail and the stories from many who were involved in this mission with this aircraft. An impressive account of the bravery of our troops and enough details for all readers to find something to interest them. Enjoy!

Well written and informative. Not often told story of an unsung squadron and aircraft.

This proved to be an extremely interesting read about a little known group of heroic aviators from the Vietnam War. I'm very glad that I found it.

Having Flown onces to photograph the Black Ponies In VN I was very interested in their story. It was well donre and interesting I read cover to cover in 2 days.