Book excerpt: Written by men who flew the missions and gathered together the recollections of their comrades, this is an account of the political, social, cultural, technical and combat context of an extraordinary side of the Vietnam conflict. An account touching on topics ranging from Thai supernaturalism to high tech warfare, it is also the very human story of American airmen obliged to keep heady secrets and perform demanding tasks under menacing conditions. A good read for aviation enthusiasts, students of the Vietnam War, veterans and those wishing to learn more about Southeast Asia, this book is more than a history. It is a holistic portrait of a little known and less understood aspect of the Vietnam "era."