On This Page

Description

The incredible inside story of the world's most extraordinary covert operation. Air America - a secret airline run by the CIA - flew missions no one else would touch, from General Claire Cennault's legendary Flying Tigers in WW II to two brutal decades cruising over the bomb-savaged jungles of Southeast Asia. Their pilots dared all and did all - a high-rolling, fast-playing bunch of has-beens and hellraisers whose motto was 'Anything, Anywhere, Anytime'. Whether it was delivering food and show more weapons or spooks and opium, Air America was the one airline where you didn't need reservations - just a hell of a lot of courage and a willingness to fly to the bitter end. show less

Tags

Recommendations

Member Recommendations

Member Reviews

2 reviews
This unique history of Air America reads like an adventure story but still contains a thorough historical record. Based upon interviews with the principals involved, this is the book's strength and its weakness. Many of the undisclosed sources, I am told by now retired Air America supervisors and employees in the know, revolve around early reports the author received from ex-employees who were ready to talk. Some may have been disgruntled and others were lower ranking individuals who were not in a position to understand the grand strategy of Air America. Nonetheless, the individual stories are almost all riveting, stretching from the postwar era in Asia to the fall of Saigon, Cambodia, and Laos. It would have been interesting to hear show more more about Thailand during this period, too, from some of the central characters, especially as that is where many of them are living today. show less

Members

Recently Added By

Author Information

Picture of author.
6+ Works 773 Members

Common Knowledge

Important places
Vietnam; USA
Important events
Vietnam War
Related movies
Air America (1990 | IMDb)
Original language
English

Classifications

Genres
Nonfiction, History, General Nonfiction
DDC/MDS
327.1206073Society, government, & culturePolitical scienceInternational Relations: SpiesForeign policy and specific topics in international relationsEspionage and subversionIntelligence Gathering - subdivisionsOrganizations involved with intelligence gathering
LCC
JK468 .I6 .R62Political SciencePolitical institutions and public administration (United States)Political institutions and public administrationUnited StatesGovernment. Public administration
BISAC

Statistics

Members
166
Popularity
197,366
Reviews
2
Rating
(3.81)
Languages
English, French, Japanese, Spanish
Media
Paper
ISBNs
11
ASINs
2