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The tragic, the comic, the terrifying, the poignant are all part of the story of the Black Pony pilots who distinguished themselves in the Mekong Delta during the Vietnam War. Flying their turboprop Broncos "down and dirty, low and slow," they killed more of the enemy and saved more allied lives with close-air support than all the other naval squadrons combined during the three years they saw action. Author Kit Lavell was part of this squadron of "black sheep" given a chance to make something of themselves flying these dangerous missions. The U.S. Navy's only land-based attack squadron, Light Attack Squadron Four (VAL-4) flew support missions for the counter insurgency forces, SEALs, and allied units in borrowed, propeller-driven OV-10s. For fixed-wing aircraft they were dangerous, unorthodox missions, a fact readers quickly come to appreciate.
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22 of 22 people found the following review helpful
The Flying Black Ponies
28 Oct 2000
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase
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.
13 of 13 people found the following review helpful
Laymans's Review
1 Dec 2000
Format:Hardcover
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.
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
An important lesson to not unlearn
30 Oct 2009
Format:Paperback
The Black Ponies were the Navy's sole land-based light attack squadron during the Vietnam War. Flying planes borrowed from the Marines, and using weapons considered too unsafe for use aboard aircraft carriers, these men fly countless missions in support of SEALS, ARVN, and Army troops in contact. The author, Kit Lavell, was one of those brave men.
The book is a collection of personal memoirs from the war, most of which center on flying operations in support of ground or riverine forces. Lavell shares the nail-biting, knuckle whitening experiences as the Black Ponies come to the rescue of these troops in contact. He also shares other emotional events, such as the far too common loss of a fellow pilot; and even the story of a pilot smitten with a Vietnamese nun. Lavell also shares many humorous episodes from Vietnam.
Lavell uses many personal sources as the foundation for this book. He kept a flight journal, and on some missions carried a tape recorder in the cockpit. Throughout the book, he quotes many of the other pilots who flew in the squadron.
Historically, the Air Force has always cut close air support assets when it comes time to cash in the peace dividends. At the onset of the Korean War, P-51 Mustangs had to be brought back from retirement to fulfill this mission. At the onset of Vietnam, the A-1 Skyraiders filled this mission until replaced by the A-10 Warthog. This awesome plane is scheduled to be retired and replaced with the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter. This book highlights (1) the need to have aircraft that can provide a close air support capability, (2) and the need for an aircraft that can take battle-damage and be rapidly repaired. With this aircraft costing in excess of $100M per copy, will we be willing to put these aircraft in harm's way to save a soldier or marine's life?
The accomplishments of this afterthought of a unit were quite impressive. Lavell is a very talented author with an amazing story to tell. I highly recommend this book.
The book is a collection of personal memoirs from the war, most of which center on flying operations in support of ground or riverine forces. Lavell shares the nail-biting, knuckle whitening experiences as the Black Ponies come to the rescue of these troops in contact. He also shares other emotional events, such as the far too common loss of a fellow pilot; and even the story of a pilot smitten with a Vietnamese nun. Lavell also shares many humorous episodes from Vietnam.
Lavell uses many personal sources as the foundation for this book. He kept a flight journal, and on some missions carried a tape recorder in the cockpit. Throughout the book, he quotes many of the other pilots who flew in the squadron.
Historically, the Air Force has always cut close air support assets when it comes time to cash in the peace dividends. At the onset of the Korean War, P-51 Mustangs had to be brought back from retirement to fulfill this mission. At the onset of Vietnam, the A-1 Skyraiders filled this mission until replaced by the A-10 Warthog. This awesome plane is scheduled to be retired and replaced with the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter. This book highlights (1) the need to have aircraft that can provide a close air support capability, (2) and the need for an aircraft that can take battle-damage and be rapidly repaired. With this aircraft costing in excess of $100M per copy, will we be willing to put these aircraft in harm's way to save a soldier or marine's life?
The accomplishments of this afterthought of a unit were quite impressive. Lavell is a very talented author with an amazing story to tell. I highly recommend this book.
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