Twenty-five years after the dedication of the Vietnam War Memorial, Americans are still looking for ways to comprehend the country's longest war.
Here we offer a series of articles reporting the experiences of aircrews who fought in Vietnam and analyzing U.S. air combat strategies and culture of the time. From the emergence of the helicopter to B-52 bombing campaigns to postwar meetings between U.S. and North Vietnamese airmen, our "Vietnam Memoir" series examines the airplanes and missions that figured prominently in the lives of a generation of veterans.
Escape to U Taphao
In the final days of the Vietnam war, chaos and heroism converged in the effort to evacuate U.S.-supplied aircraft.
Last of the Mohawks
The Grumman OV-1 was in Vietnam to see rather than be seen.
Plausible Denial
A daring mission to fly combat in Vietnam came with a catch--No one else could know.
Tullo and the Giant
The debut of the Sikorsky Jolly Green Giant as rescuer.
Change of Command
When Robin Olds arrived in Vietnam, morale soared.
Counterpunch
Flying Wild Weasel missions involved a variety of airframes but just one philosophy: Do unto SAMS before they do unto you.
The Ravens of Long Tieng
For over a decade in Laos, these American pilots fought an intimate, brutal, and secret war.
Huey
World War II had the Jeep; Vietnam had the Bell UH-1.
Nguyen Van Bay and the Aces from the North
As an F-4 Phantom pilot, I had tried to kill these men. And they had tried to kill me. I thought it was time we had a talk.
The Christmas Bombing
The last U.S. battle of the Vietnam War was a tragic and controversial testing ground for B-52 crews.
Advertisement
Need to Know
Put Your Seat Backs Up
Why do airline seats have to be in an upright position during takeoff?
