Review (PDF) MASH Angels: Tales Of An Air-Evac Helicopter Pilot In The Korean War
An inspiring first-hand account by military aviation pioneer Richard Kirkland recounts how he and a handful of daring helicopter pilots revolutionized battlefield medical evacuation and blazed the trail for modern air-evac flying. iv>Prior to the Korean War, the helicopter was all but unknown, and rescue was uncertain at best for downed pilots and wounded soldiers stranded behind enemy lines. In MASH ANGELS Richard Kirkland recounts his experiences on the front lines of rescue flying and military medicine. Kirkland, a fighter pilot in the Pacific theatre in World War II, came to helicopter flying after the war almost by accident. Many military higher-ups had little use for this new, “worthless contraption.” But its life-saving performances in the Korean War quickly changed minds. The helicopter was the perfect partner for another revolution in military medical care―the Mobile Army Surgical Hospital, or MASH, and the book also documents the real-life experiences of the MASH characters so familiar from the hit TV series: the nurses, surgeons (including the real “Hawkeye”), and helicopter pilots who forged a new era in military medical care.
Paperback: 288 pages
Publisher: Burford Books (November 16, 2009)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1580801587
ISBN-13: 978-1580801584
Product Dimensions: 6.1 x 0.8 x 9.1 inches
Shipping Weight: 14.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars See all reviews (13 customer reviews)
Best Sellers Rank: #526,435 in Books (See Top 100 in Books) #20 in Books > History > Military > Korean War > Personal Narratives #26 in Books > History > Military > Korean War > Aviation #27 in Books > Engineering & Transportation > Transportation > Aviation > Helicopters
I picked this up and just started reading to get an idea of what kind of book this was... and I couldn't put it down. I put aside all the other material I was reading so I could finish it all the way through.Kirkland started out as a fighter pilot in WWII, then in peacetime found himself retrained as a helicopter pilot. Captain Kirkland found himself sent to Korea during the last phase of fighting, which saw 2nd generation helicopters used for rescue operations behind enemy lines, the evacuation of wounded soldiers for medical care and the recovery of Allied pilots who were shot down. These early machines were piston-powered, using cloth-covered rotor blades to create lift. They were underpowered and tricky to fly, but brave men did the job.Kirkland was disappointed at not having the chance to return to the Air Force as a fighter pilot, ideally flying the new jets. But eventually he came to appreciate the importance of the mission he could do as a helicopter pilot. Well-written and illustrated with black and white photos this is a great book.
This is a very good read. I don't know if he wrote his own book or had it ghostwritten, but he tells a pretty good story. The guy has truly been there. It's like watching M.A.S.H. but you know that none of it was made up (in fact the real Hawkeye is prominent in this book, and Kirkland says the TV version wasn't that far from the truth). A must-read for war buffs.
Richard C. Kirkland was a 100 % fighterpilot from WWII, but found himself in Korea in helicopters - an unbelievable waste of talent as he saw it! His former buddies tangled with MiG's overhead, while he got to grips with the "grunts'" lives. Helicopter-lifting the wounded to nearby MASH hospitals, in a life or death struggle. We get to know the real "Hawkeye" surgeon from the 8055 MASH. A larger than life character apparantly, as portrayed in the movie and TV-series. Personal problems, showing on "R&R" in Japan f.ex., is honestly reported. The pioneering efforts of casualty recovery is nailbiting. As when the author gets conned into a night recovery. (The Sikorsky H-5 had no instrument lighting or landing light!). Highly recommended!
MASH ANGELS: TALES OF AN AIR-EVAC HELICOPTER PILOT IN THE KOREAN WAR provides a fine account perfect for any library strong in Korean war history and events. If provides a personal account of danger and heroism from one of the pilots who pioneered the use of helicopters for battlefield medical evacuation, telling of his front-line experience rescue flying and military medicine challenges. A 'must' for any military library strong in Korean War accounts.
Mr. Kirkland's writing skills have sharpened over the course of producing 3 books.His writing projects warmth and candidness onto a bleak historical framework.He reminds us that the Air Force was a vital participant in those life-saving missions and in early helicopter history.Mash Angels is a valuable addition to Korean War history and a pleasure to read.
Hair raising in parts. What those pilots did for their country. they are unsung heroes!! The story flowed well and was almost sorry it ended . Not for the feint of heart but a good read. Leaned some history of that conflict which was truly a war, that I did not know. Many people do not know this story or much about the Korean Conflict. Carolyn M
Easy to fing books in regards to WWII and the Vietnam War. Finally starting to see books coming out that cover the Korean War. In an attempt to put the reader in the pilots seat this book covers it reather nicely.
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