The Aviators

by W.E.B. Griffin

Book Overview

It is 1964. The Vietnam War has begun to escalate, its new style of battle demanding new weapons and tactics, and men who can use them. Overnight, it seems, the United States Army must scramble to create its first-ever Air Assault Division, a force critical to its chances of success. The obstacles are staggering--untrained men, technical mishaps, interservice rivalries. But through sheer courage and dedication, these heroic fighters rise to the challenge...

• Format: Mass Market Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0515100536
• ISBN13: 9780515100532
• Release Date: May 1989
• Publisher: G.P. Putnam's Sons
• Length: 464 Pages
• Weight: 0.54 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.1" x 4.2" x 6.9"
• Age Range: 18 years and up
• Grade Range: Postsecondary and higher

Customer Reviews

Another spectacular series of historical fiction by WEB Griffin

Just one more exciting story with familiar characters set in true historically accurate US war campaigns ranging from WWII through the Korean conflict. W.E.B. Griffin has a smooth pen, a keen sense of accuracy and characters you'd love to sit down with at a bar and discuss their experiences during their service. Of all the books I've read by Griffin, which are too many to remember, each in a series of 7-10 books on one subject, the Scotch Whiskey which is mentioned over and over again as the drink of choice for officers and the well to do, happens to be a real brand with is relatively inexpensive and a wonderful tasting scotch. These series are so good that each book is essentially a one sitting read and leaves you yearning for the next in the series and dreaming of how great a movie each series would be and as you read you are easily placing actors in the places of each character. A true storyteller with stories which captivate you.

Great War Story

Like all WEB GRiffin's books, this one combines humor, personality studies, and adventure. I wish I had the whole series. He is great.

Griffin is true to life in many ways.

Having done some time in the military I must admit that Griffin has captured some of the events and attitudes that are present in our military. It was frightening to see Griffin describe some peronal romantic experiences as they happened to me. Either such experiences are not uncommon or I was just very lucky. Please publish more in this series. What about Desert Storm etc. Thanks again.

very good, but some Griffin habits need fixing

An author who can write a good enough story that you forgive him or her for some consistent faults has got to be something special. _The Aviators_ is a good example of this all around. Like all of Griffin's military novels, the strength of the book is the successful portrayal of the dialogue and character of military men. His lieutenants behave like lieutenants; sergeants major like sergeants major; generals like generals, and so forth. There is a great mix of dedicated warriors, check-collecting spuds, out-and-out incompetents, and solid but unimaginative types. Griffin excels at painting the picture through the way he describes expressions and tone of voice, and he always tells a great story. But he also needs to understand that some of his themes grow repetitive. The Rich Loose Cannon, the private suddenly rocketed to sergeant and then to commissioned rank, and the Immediately Deflowered Virgin are his favourite themes. In every book, you know these are going to show up. The above don't really happen all that much in real life, and it gets a little old knowing that they are going to be in every Griffin book, including this one. His other weakness is inconsistency and overuse of certain names from book to book. He often forgets facts about a character from book to book or gets the name, branch or other distinguishing characteristic wrong. _The Aviators_ contains a number of such mistakes, ones that aren't apparent unless you have read the rest of the series. It is a tribute to Griffin that he keeps turning out excellent stories despite the above tendencies. The humour value is also fairly high, if you like dry military wit and understand it. He certainly doesn't suffer from Clancy's Disease--the overglorification of United States arms and people to the detriment of all others. He is one of the best in the genre.

The History of Army Aviation

From the death of Scotty Laird to the beginning of the escalation of the Viet Nam War, this book represents an accurate and very readable history of the birth, childhood, and adolescence of Army Aviation. As a member of a family of charter members of the W.P.P.A. who sspent some childhood years at Camp Rucker, Alabama, during the infancy, I can attest to the accuracy of this book. Though this book is part of a marvelous series, it is easily read alone. Anyone who is a military history buff, this book - this series - is a must