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Rating: 
Summary: Laymans's Review
Review: 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.
Rating:
Summary: Laymans's Review
Review: 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.
Rating:
Summary: The Flying Black Ponies
Review: 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.
Rating:
Summary: The Flying Black Ponies
Review: 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.
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