Related Great Books
Helicopter Rescues are something the National Park Service has long excelled at and some of their epic stories are highlighted in the highly recommended classic Death Daring & Disaster.
Smokejumpers have a long history of assisting various US Federal agencies with their unique independence and aviation skills and during the wars in Southeast Asia were involved with CIA and to learn more about this subject Air America Inc written by a smokejumper, is highly recommended.
The stories of smokejumpers long ago and the CIA romanced many smokejumpers and this fictional work by the late Patrick Lee, another smokejumper is considered a classic.
Smokejumpers have long been known to be rugged individualists with many of us afterwards having truly adventurous lives. Lee Gossett shares with us his amazing journey in Smokejumper to Global Pilot. Lee’s book is highly recommended to understand the smokejumping pilot’s lifestyle.
Flight I include as in my list of highly recommended books about wildfire as in it, pilot Neil Hansen tells us his incredible story of his lifetime of adventure flying. In the 1990s there was a song by Steven Stills very popular at my small smokejumper base for its unique call to adventure called Treetop Flyer. Neil’s was once a real Treetop Flyer and he tells his unique story here.
From my first days as a smokejumper we enjoyed discussing in our small circles the mysterious life of former smokejumper Jerry Daniels, and here in Hog’s Exit, Gayle Morrison tells of his story.
Smokejumpers of the era of the 1950s to 1970s once assisted the CIA with aviation projects and to learn about this, read Gayle Morrison’s classic on the war in Laos, Sky Is Falling.
Ronald Price’s story to help guide those who are thinking of joining select, elite military units.
Through the Valley is the captivating memoir of the last U.S. Army soldier, helicopter pilot, taken prisoner during the Vietnam War. A narrative of courage, hope, and survival, Through the Valley is more than just a war story. It also portrays the thrill and horror of combat, the fear and anxiety of captivity, and the stories of friendships forged and friends lost. I include this as the US Forest Service’s Helicopter program was greatly influenced by Vietnam Veteran Helicopter Pilots.
Wildfire firefighting has much in common with military special operations and for those interested pilot escape and evasion, Last Hope The Blood Chit Story is highly recommended.
Another classic study in escape and evasion aids is Behind Enemy Lines. I also highly recommend this book by RE Baldwin.
The US and NZ Antarctic Programs selected wildfire firefighters such as myself sometimes travel to in support of the Scientific Research Efforts. On Ice is a good introduction to what it is like to work down on the Ice.
Stuart Roosa was a Siskiyou smokejumper who went to the moon. Read about this story here.
Stuart Roosa’s story from the point of view of his son.
Dorcey Wingo has been called “The Mark Twain of Helicopter Pilots.” His fourth book of nonfiction continues his chronicle of forty years of high-risk aerial adventures.
Dorcey Wingo telling a story of helicopter logging.
Dorcey Wingo lived an amazing 40-year adventure as a “gypsy” commercial helicopter pilot. Drafted into the military in 1966, Wingo began his flying career as an army gunship pilot in the Central Highlands of Vietnam. Tells his story here.
Dorcey Wingo sharing adventure stories from across his helicopter career.