We Dared to Fly (Hardcover)

William Reeder

ISBN 10: 1493085301 / ISBN 13: 9781493085309

Published by Rowman & Littlefield, Guilford, 2025

About this Item

Hardcover. They Dared to Fly is the true story of the young menwho daily risked their lives on classified surveillance missions deep behind enemy lines during the Vietnam War. The Army aviators and enlisted observers assigned to the 131st Surveillance Airplane Company, call sign Iron Spud, flew the Grumman OV-1 Mohawk into the jaws of death to capture timely intelligence for top military decision makers and senior national officials. This is the story of the authors assignment to that special mission unit, of the history that came before and the events that unfolded while he was there. The unit brought 18 of the Armys most sophisticated surveillance airplanes to Vietnam in 1966. In just over two years, three-quarters of those aircraft were lost, most to combat action in Laos and North Vietnam some of the most hostile threat environments in aviation history. The Army quickly replaced losses because of the critical need for the information they collected. Very few downed crew members were recovered; most were killed or missing in action.The book is filled with riveting combat accounts and delivers a human-interest story, introducing a cast of fascinating characters and bringing the reader into their lives with many revealing personal anecdotes. They Dared to Fly is the true story of the young menwho daily risked their lives on classified surveillance missions deep behind enemy lines during the Vietnam War. Shipping may be from our Sydney, NSW warehouse or from our UK or US warehouse, depending on stock availability.

Seller Inventory # 9781493085309

Bibliographic Details

• Title: We Dared to Fly (Hardcover)
• Publisher: Rowman & Littlefield, Guilford
• Publication Date: 2025
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 1493085301
• ISBN 13: 9781493085309
• Binding: Hardcover
• Condition: new

About this title

Synopsis

We Dared to Fly is the true story of the young men who risked their lives daily on classified missions deep behind enemy lines during the Vietnam War. The Army aviators and enlisted observers assigned to the 131st Surveillance Airplane Company, call sign Iron Spud, flew the Grumman OV-1 Mohawk into the jaws of death to capture timely intelligence for top military decision makers and senior national officials.

The story is the author’s account of his assignment to that special mission unit, of the history that came before and the events that unfolded while he was there. When he arrived, three-quarters of the unit’s aircraft had been lost, most to combat action in Laos and North Vietnam—some of the most hostile threat environments in aviation history. The Army quickly replaced losses because of the critical need for the information they collected. Some downed crew members were recovered; most were killed or missing in action.

In recognition of the exceptional sacrifices made during the war, the unit received the Valorous Unit Award for “gallant actions and extraordinary heroism.”

The book is filled with riveting combat accounts. It is also a human-interest story, bringing the reader into the lives of this group of fascinating brave men.

About the Author

William Reeder is a retired U.S. Army colonel. He is highly decorated with extensive combat experience (Silver Star for gallantry, Valorous Unit Award, two Distinguished Flying Crosses for heroism, three Purple Hearts for wounds received in combat). He flew armed OV-1 Mohawk surveillance airplanes on his first tour of duty in Vietnam and AH-1 Cobra attack helicopters on his second. He was shot down on both tours. The second time, he was captured by the North Vietnamese Army and spent nearly a year as a prisoner of war. Later in his career, he flew the AH-64 Apache advanced attack helicopter. In 2014, he was inducted into the U.S. Army Aviation Hall of Fame.

Reeder holds a Ph.D. in history and supports the education and training of NATO special operations forces.

He is a frequent speaker for veterans and other military and civic organizations.

He lives in Seabeck, Washington.