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  • Chickenhawk

  • Written by: Robert Mason
  • Narrated by: L. J. Ganser
  • Length: 14 hrs and 56 mins
  • 4.9 out of 5 stars (99 ratings)

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Chickenhawk cover art

Chickenhawk

Written by: Robert Mason
Narrated by: L. J. Ganser
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Publisher's Summary

With more than half a million copies sold, Robert Mason's Chickenhawk is one of the best-selling books ever written about the Vietnam War. Critically acclaimed for its unflinching detail, the book has been hailed by The New York Times as "a hypnotic narrative" and by the St. Louis Post-Dispatch as "very simply the best book so far out of Vietnam."

Fascinated with flying from a young age, Mason earned his private pilot's license even before graduating high school. He enlisted in the army in 1964 and endured an extremely challenging "weeding out" process in an effort to fly helicopters. Sent to Vietnam, he survived more than 1,000 air combat missions despite the violence and brutality exploding all around him. This completely honest account of one soldier's traumatic experiences provides a perspective often neglected in print and film - that of the helicopter pilot. Through L. J. Ganser's powerful narration, the shattering story of men who lived and flew in constant peril is vividly retold.

©1983 Robert C. Mason (P)2001 Recorded Books, LLC

What listeners say about Chickenhawk

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I was in that cockpit

I would have listened to this in one go but I had to go to work.
Brilliant descriptions on learning to fly and the sheer difficulty of keeping a chopper in the sky, never mind doing all the crazy s**t they managed to do whilst in combat.
You really get the feeling of Mason going in green and coming out the other end as a seasoned, battle-hardened pilot.
Impressive stuff.

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It’s as true as he remembers it, both for good and bad.

This feels to be a true memoir of a pilot’s time in Vietnam being a helicopter pilot. There are moments that are uncomfortable because the author was at the time slightly racist, the outlook equally true to the time as far as other attitudes as well. It’s honest to the point of casting the author in a slightly negative light as to some of his choices. (Apparently a later book that dove into some of his poor choices afterwards wasn’t as popular and is out of print)
I will never listen to this again, but I can’t say it isn’t worth exploring if you want to have an honest slice of someone’s memory of the war.

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Phenomenal

Incredible book about aviation, courage, and perseverance. I never knew about off course navigation before this book. I'm going to make it into a metaphor and use it in my own life. We can all come back from hell, though not all of us do.

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Absolutely enthralling

A direct, honest book about the Vietnam War that puts you in the pilot's seat. Don't miss the author's notes at the end. I'm really glad to have listened to this.

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Gripping

Read this as a teenager 30 years ago. The Audible version, with Mason's added Afterword was a wonderful revisit. His description of harrowing experiences is remarkable and his sharing of the human condition with his comrades is relatable for anyone who has experienced traumatic events/first response to critical events.

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Helicopter NAM

All the hype is worth it good book that shows the dangers of a Vietnam Huey Pilot . #Audible1

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Factual and personal

Like: candid biography by a veteran hero, including his struggles post war. I was happy to hear of his return to flying all those years later.

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First hand account

Harrowing true story of helicopter pilot. Unbelievable accounts of bravery and courage in a foreign land. Makes you appreciate the sacrifices made by those young men.

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Chickenhawk

Robert Mason does an excellent job of telling the story; from flight school to war university. As a helicopter pilot myself, his description of his first flight was exactly what I experienced. I didn’t go to war and I can’t imagine what that was like, but the story brought it all out. Great book, and ‘thank you for your service’’.

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Definitely worth getting

This book had me from the beginning. I’ve now gone through it 2 times and it’s going to become my yearly book now.

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