Chopper: 7a History of America Military Helicopter Operators from WWII to the War on Terro

I own and have read a number of books by military author and historian, Robert F. Dorr. Chopper is, by far, the best. Starting with "eggbeaters" in Burma and continuing through the "snake" in Iraq, Dorr lets the pilots and crews tell their own stories. The stories include a father-and-son combination as well as the memories of fixed-wing aircraft pilots suddenly assigned to fly helicopters. As the pilots and crews recount their experiences, the humor of military personnel in tough situations spreads through the pages. Dorr has amassed an amazing collection of photographs that accompany the narrative, making it easy and fascinating to follow the development of helicopters from 1945 to the present day. Chapter sidebars telling the reader who's who add to the readability. This book is a pleasure to read. I recommend it without reservation.

I'm a helicopter buff. If you like true stories this book is for you.

Mr.Dorr should be commended for the research he has done on the history of the helicopter in combat. The book is put together better than any I have read, especially on it's combat use in Vietnam. Once started reading, I couldn't put it down. Writing in the first person gives you an unbias account of what the helicopter can accomplish in combat. It is enlighting to read about man and machine. No matter how good one is, it takes both to make it reach it's true potential. Mr. Dorr's account really brings that out in his Book. I'm looking forward to his next publication.

Robert Dorr writes the true history of the amazing helicopter and the people who flew them. His painstaking interviews and the facts gathered make this a must reading for anyone who has a friend or family member who flew choppers. Mr. Dorr has made a valuable contribution to the memory of real heros and their daily struggles between keepng the ship flying and completing the mission. Thanks, Bob, for using your skills for the benefit of so many.

Author Bob Dorr has a passion for military aircraft, and that passion is evident in his most recent book, "Chopper." The book, as promised in its subtitle, takes the reader from the earliest relatively primitive "eggbeaters" in Burma during World War II, through Korea, Vietnam, and up to today's advanced helicopters now active in Iraq. As usual, Bob has impeccably researched his subject, not only by pursuit of the existing written word, but through extensive interviews and actual flights in some of the ships. There are two sets of heroes in this work. First of all are the helicopters which have proved themselves invaluable on the battle field, as observation platforms, as medical evacuation workhorses, as troop transports, as gun platforms. The author places useful sidebars providing technical information about each of the helicopters he discusses. Some helicopters were truly heroic birds - keeping in the air no matter how much incoming ordinance they received. But it is the other set of heroes that make this book fascinating to the general reader. These are the human heroes, the pilots and crews of helicopters fighting in many theaters. Bob Dorr conducted seventy seven interviews with these incredible men, and accurately records their accounts of helicopter missions. All retain the actual words of the aviators. Some accounts are thoughtful, almost philosophical; accounts by more recent aviators are less so, some sounding a little like teenagers discussing their newest video game. But all demonstrate the skill and valor of men fighting in the nation's uniform. Some missions are described alternately by several actors, each from a different view point. The author helps the reader keep up with these transitions by useful "Who's Who" sidebars. If I were to fault the book in any way, it is to note the absence of a Table of Contents. The publisher was unhelpful by deleting the Table that the author had submitted with his manuscript. I recommend this book not only to those with specific interest in helicopters, but also to the general reader who will be interested in, and educated by, the first person accounts of the adventure, adrenalin and dangers of military aviation.