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.
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