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Christopher Robbins

Air America Paperback – October 1, 1985

by Christopher Robbins (Author)

131 ratings

3.9 on Goodreads

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The inside story of the covert CIA airline that was responsible for missions from the Flying Tigers of World War II to the air strikes, supply drops, and blackmarket deliveries over the jungles of Vietnam

Print length

328 pages
Language

English
Publisher

Avon Books
Publication date

October 1, 1985
Dimensions

0.9 x 4.2 x 6.7 inches
ISBN-10

0380899094
ISBN-13

978-0380899098
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Capt Bill Collier
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Neil Graham Hansen
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Christopher Robbins
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Terry Love
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Richard E. Diller
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Product details

Publisher ‏ : ‎ Avon Books (October 1, 1985)
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Paperback ‏ : ‎ 328 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0380899094
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0380899098
Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 6.4 ounces
Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 0.9 x 4.2 x 6.7 inches

Best Sellers Rank: #2,839,606 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #110,172 in Politics & Government (Books)

Customer Reviews:
131 ratings

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Customer reviews

4.5 out of 5

131 global ratings

5 star		71%
4 star		16%
3 star		8%
2 star		2%
1 star		3%

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Classy Lady_FL

The true story of Air America as it was allowed to be told at that time

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on September 13, 2014

Verified Purchase

I like Christopher Robbins' style of journalism in writing about Vietnam, but there is much more to be told about those who were the real HEROES of this war! Many brave men laid their lives down, without hesitation, for this humanitarian effort that was never recognized by the US government. Those who lived through it and returned home had to live with the haunting memories of war and unfinished business. Then, treated as the enemy for going there ... as if they had a choice! When you're in the military you go where they send you. Air America was owned and operated by the CIA for special operations in Vietnam. Little was known about what they did or their being there for over 10 years: to rescue others when downed behind enemy lines and train locals how to fight. These men were brave intelligent souls, who bonded through extreme situations of inhuman Communistic treatment to those who could not help themselves. They lived in-the-moment, so they could survive one day at a time putting their lives at risk and knowing they may not return when they flew on a mission. We and the south Vietnam people, who lived peaceful lives until invasion by the Communist, owe them so much for their brave actions. When they were told to pull out, there was a complete collapse of their homeland, displacing those left behind. Some escaped to America - the scene of them on the cover is a haunting memory. Others escaped to Cambodia and Thailand, while many became prisoners of war to communism or died in concentration camps. The movie by the same name, didn't begin to cover the realism behind Air America, and made it appear altogether different than a true story and account of the war that went on there. It took licenses of Hollywood and left out the underlying truth about the reason we were there. Don't compare the two.

12 people found this helpful

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"BugSmasher"

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on August 27, 2012

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It really is amazing at the number of people that don't believe Air America even existed or for that matter the secret war. Ever since Mel Gibson hit the big screen with the movie I've heard comments such as a fictional movie , yeah a great piece of fiction. Sure the movie was fiction to a great extent but that's Hollywood. I think Christopher did a pretty fair job of getting the reality of this group of people out there to the public with this book. The history of the airline before, during & after their Laos, Vietnam operations. A lot of us in certain age groups can well remember the President stating to the public that Laos was out of bounds, etc, etc. Really ? A lot of really talented airman or pilots were lost & a lot pulled off some pretty mean feats flying into jungle air strips while being shot at etc. Unfortunately the public is probably never going to hear or read of a lot of the heroics these pilots initiated all in a day's work. A fine read, interviewing a lot of the boys giving the reader a sense of reality of just what these men faced. Sure the money was a big part of it but it really it took a special sort of person craving adventure , challenges , in some cases lunacy ! Lunacy ? What would you call flying in bad weather while being shot at , feeling the strikes on the A/C while trying to find a way out? Just a small sample of what these guys experienced. THANKS to CHRISTOPHER for getting a little of the history of AIR AMERICA out there. If you can find this book it's well worth the read. I feel it's really a shame that the exploits of Air America & their crews have been swept under the carpet but at least Christopher has given the public a dose of history on a very big operation!
DEFINITELY FIVE STARS.

9 people found this helpful

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K.O.

The book blows the movie away!

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on April 18, 2009

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Don't let the fact that Mel Gibson and Robert Downey, Jr. are on the cover of this book (to promote their movie "Air America") fool you!

Once you read the book, you will quickly find that the movie and the book really only share a title. In fact, if I were Christopher Robbins, I would have taken the money that Hollywood paid me for the film rights, refinanced the "100-acre wood," and gone off to live with Tigger and Pooh! (Ok, I know. They are not the same people.) I would then divorce my name from any association with the B-grade film that utterly and completely failed to tell the story of these brave Americans who helped support the U.S. war efforts in Southeast Asia.

Aside from the arguably inaccurate chapter dealing with Air America's trafficking of opium, Robbins' research was well received by both former Air America personnel, and eventually, the CIA. I would recommend this book to any aviation/history enthusiast who enjoys reading about the exploits of paramilitary aviation operations.

The book is definitely worth reading . . . just put a bunch of masking tape on the cover. That way you won't be embarrassed if someone on the subway sees you reading it!

14 people found this helpful

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A. Noid

Not the movie

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on January 2, 2015

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This is NOT a novel that reads like the movie. It's more like a series of topical essays on the same general subject. Info and story lines are often revisited as if it hasn't been mentioned before, but presented from the perspective of the particular topic being covered in that part of the book.
It makes for a bit of a disjointed read, but still very interesting info on things that the general public just had no clue were going on at the time.
It will make you look at current events in a different light as well, wondering just what may lie under the surface.

One person found this helpful

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05/11A

Daring men Do..then and now!

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on December 8, 2012

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The history of those who fought in Laos is long overdue...Although, this book is not new..it reminds us of those contractors for America who risked their lives for many unname pilots who had to bail out over Laos. Also, those SF Brightlights missions and across the fence missions who depended up Air America to come to their rescue..and they did.

Bravery beyond what we may know today.

Those who served..Air America, Ravens and SF troopers..we all say owe a sincere debt of gratitude.

RH/Haiti, Bosnia, Croatia, Sudan, Afghanistan, Iraq, Sudan, Uganda (in that order)..United States Army

2 people found this helpful

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DAN K

Perfect companion to "The Ravens"

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on January 25, 2020

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Sure does set the record straight about the movie of the same name. Also a great history of the CIA "proprietaries".

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Scooby Doo

got a stupid cover with Mel Gibson's face on it

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on July 17, 2018

Verified Purchase

not the same book as in the picture, got a stupid cover with Mel Gibson's face on it, haunting me. Amazing book, though.

2 people found this helpful

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Top reviews from other countries

Chris Baker

Enjoyed it the first time

Reviewed in the United Kingdom 🇬🇧 on January 7, 2023

Verified Purchase

I've bought this for an upcoming long haul flight and having to restrain myself from reading it.
I read a borrowed copy 40 years ago and enjoyed it then. I remember it being slightly disjointed but TBH it's not a novel but a record of fact by an investigative journalist, I was amazed at the time.

michael lees baxter

Amazing read

Reviewed in the United Kingdom 🇬🇧 on August 26, 2018

Verified Purchase

For any of us left who remember the happenings written about in this amazingly well researched book the memory of this era comes back with a rush. Magnificent detail,and emotive of a time now looked back on as one of histories worst mistakes. It takes time to absorb the detail, but all credit to the author for laying out such a huge amount of information in such a readable manner. MUCH enjoyed.

One person found this helpful

Alex Plewka

Very interesting and well written

Reviewed in the United Kingdom 🇬🇧 on April 1, 2018

Verified Purchase

Excellent book, I read this after The Ravens and it might have been better to have read this before as I had little knowledge on the war in Laos and Cambodia and CIA involvement. I’ve read several books since on Air America since, and this is the most complete work on the company.

2 people found this helpful

Habu 1

Right in the thick of it.......

Reviewed in the United Kingdom 🇬🇧 on January 22, 2019

Verified Purchase

Great read especially concerning Earthquake McGoon......what a character.

BobA

Secret War

Reviewed in the United Kingdom 🇬🇧 on November 5, 2012

Verified Purchase

An excellent read - truth almost stranger than fiction. Had read early version before but wanted this on my Kindle. Not sure if this the definitive version but a well told and very readable fascinating tale

3 people found this helpful

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Air America Paperback – October 1, 1985

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