Sometimes you do everything right, but it just isn t your day. A
part fails and your helicopter comes apart in flight, or, another
aircraft runs into you and the pieces of both fall to the ground
below, or the enemy gunner pulls the trigger at just the right
moment and his rounds find your aircraft in exactly the right spot
to take it out of the sky. Whichever way it happens, it wasn t your
day. Which is why, after 24 years and over 5,000 flight hours with
four armed services, Major Robert Curtis was so surprised at being
alive when he passed his retirement physical. Starting with
enlisting in the Army to fly helicopters during Vietnam, and
continuing on through service with the National Guard, Marine Corps
and Royal Navy, he flew eight different helicopters from the
wooden-bladed OH-13E, through the Chinook, SeaKnight and SeaKing,
in war and peace around the world. During that time over 50 of his
friends died in crashes, both in combat and in accidents, but
somehow his skill, and not an inconsiderable amount of luck and
superstition, saw him through. His flying career began with a
misbegotten strategy for beating the draft by enlisting. With the
Vietnam War raging full blast in 1968 the draft was inevitable, so
he wanted to at least get some small measure of control of his
future. Although he had no thought of flying when he walked into
the recruiting office, he walked out signed up to be a helicopter
pilot. What he did not know was that 43% of all the aircraft sent
to Vietnam were destroyed in combat or accidents. Soon he was in
the thick of the war, flying Chinooks with the 101st Airborne.
After Vietnam he left the Army, but kept flying in the National
Guard while going to college. He was accepted at two law schools,
but flying is addictive, so he instead enlisted in the USMC to fly
some more. Over the next 17 years he would fly around the world off
US and British ships from Egypt to Norway and all points in
between. His engaging story will be a delight to all aviation
enthusiasts.REVIEWS one of those books that you read that gives you
the feeling of Deja Vu, and makes the hairs on the back of your
neck riseNeall Ellis Robert Curtis gives us a compelling account of
his exemplary service in wartime and beyond. The combat missions he
flew out of Phu Bai/Camp Eagle in Vietnam did so much for so many,
and remain alive and meaningful for all of us today. Gary Matthews,
American Ambassador (ret)Former Deputy and Province Senior Adviser,
Thua Thien/Hue"
General
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