Chickenhawk

I read the book and loved it.  I was hoping there would be a follow on with more stories.  Loved it and hope you'll come up with some more, include pictures this time.  LOL

Floyd

I've not seen that one.  Sounds interesting.  Unfortunatly the wife and I have been out of work for a year, so there is no money for books.  Sure would like to read it tho.

Anybody here read "Snake Driver! Cobras in Vietnam?"  I wrote it in 1993.  I was Armor Cav in Vietnam and wrote the book from interviews with the various pilots featured in the book. 

I have now been in contact with 2 people from his book, Resler, and Conners, Conners I spoke with via telephone as well as email and both debunk what has been said concerning Mr. Mason.  I will provide the emails concerning this if asked.  Mr.  Mason, as well as many others mentioned are heros.  I will build his bird.

Also just completed "We were soldiers once, and Young" by Gen Hal More, and indeed CWO Bob Mason is referenced there as well, as is the 229th.

So wether some people think that he "invented the story" by using others, he is in fact a true veteran, and if you google "Chickenhawk" you can see his pictures from his time there. Nah, have no trouble re-reading chickenhawk, and understanding why his life turned the way it did, PTSD is hell.

Also have read somewhere that he showed up to his reunions with his parole officer...

Cheers

W.

midnightprowler wrote:

I have also spoken with Conners from the book, and he confirms that the rumors are bs. Granddad, were you a crew chief?

Yes

Winnie wrote:

I will most certainly build Mr. Mason's machine, although I believe it was his crew chief's... lol  Cheers H.

It's the crew chief's bird, we just let Peter pilot fly it and he usually breaks it

Yeah, me too.. I don't care if Mr. Mason is a hero or even a good man - at least we know he's a helluva writer. And his book is a real treasurechest of ideas - think about a huey laying on the side half-buried in a muddy rice pad, just because the pilot tried to take-off a bit to fast (like described in the book). So, build on, have a nice day

Pawel

I will most certainly build Mr. Mason's machine, although I believe it was his crew chief's... lol

 Cheers

H.

I debated on answering this thread but here goes.  Chickenhawk is a great book right up to the point he gets busted for drugs.  Previous to that though there is something you should know.  It appears that Mr. Mason's exploits are not his but a conglomeration from his unit.  Apparently he is not allowed to attend their reunions because of this.  That doesn't diminish the good writing and the exploits, just I have a really hard time modeling his helicopter because of it.  You may feel differently.

 Try Dustoff by Michael Novosel, a real American hero, from WWII B-29s to Korea and finally to Vietnam, where he won the Medal of Honor.  I met him when going through flight school (actualy had to clean his office many times) and he was a great pilot but an even better man.

Another option is We Were Soldiers Once..., by Hal Moore and Joseph Galloway.  They highlight the exploits of Ed "Too Tall" Jones and Bruce Crandall, both Medal of Honor winners.  Besides that it is an awesome book.  Met both of the authors and again great men.

Again not to take away from Chickenhawk but I have a hard time with someone who does that and makes money off of it. 

Just my .02 cents worth.
Floyd

Midnightprowler, maybe you could post "what was on the nose" so this thread would be like a complete reference for people building the machine? Thanks in advance, and have a nice day

Pawel

 www.fireballmodelworks.com has decals which I think would suit Robert Masons Huey .

There is quite few options on the sheet and it looks like one could match the tail squadron badge and numbers .

www.cobracompany.com have the M-23 gun set

I have a 1/48 UH-1D Huey buid going on , it's a fill-in project between other builds , so thank's for posting those Huey profile pic's pawel , I may just finish my Huey in the markings "879" B Company .

                                               John .

Howdy!

Looks like I made it! Here come the hueys:

First chopper: UH-1D, 66-7854, B Company of the Longhorns, 1st Avn Bn, 1967

Second chopper, the one You were looking for: UH-1D, "879", B Company, 229th Avn Bn, An Khe, december 1965, Pilot R. Mason

Third chopper: UH-1D, 64-13288, 335th AHC "Cowboys", black-OD camo. The geometrical insignia also on top and bottom surfaces of the horizontal stabilizers.

And, while I was already at it, a bonus:

First chopper: OH-6A, 66-7927, D Troop, 1/4 Cav, Phu Loi, 1969. It says here it was flown by Hugh Mills, maybe Mr. Mills could comment on this one and say if the drawing is correct?

Secon chopper: OH-6A, 67-17793, A Troop 7/1 Cav "Apaches", 1970

All images from the book "Wietnam 1950-75 Wojna śmigłowców" by Piotr Taras, AJ Press, 1996. The book is highly recommended, even if only for the pics, because it's in polish. Anyhow, I'd be glad to translate from polish if anyone has such a need. Happy modelling to all, and have a nice day

Pawel

Hello!

I'll see what I can do. Good luck with the build

Pawel

Pawel, when you get back, maybe you can scan and email me the portrait in the book.

I think there was a color drawing of this machine in a Polish book "Wietnam — wojna śmigłowców 1950-75" from AJ-Press, check this link:http://aj-press.home.pl/archiwum.php

I even have this book, but I'm like 200km away now and won't have a chance to check it out until end of next week.

Hope it helps, have a nice day

Pawel