Air Commando One: Heinie Aderholt and America's Secret Air Wars

by Warren A. Trest

Book Overview

Air-dropping agents deep behind enemy lines in clandestine night missions during the Korean War, commanding secret flights into Tibet in 1960 to support the anticommunist guerilla uprising,... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 156098807X
• ISBN13: 9781560988076
• Release Date: April 2000
• Publisher: Smithsonian Books
• Length: 336 Pages
• Weight: 1.40 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.1" x 6.3" x 9.3"

Customer Reviews

Air Commando One

Book arrived within a few days and was in the condition that it was described or better, very happy with there service.

The patron saint of unconventional warfare

During the Vietnam era, Heinie Aderholt was U.S. air force's patron saint of low-cost, bare-knuckled, unconventional warfare. He was one of two men -- the other being his longtime friend, the CIA's Bill Lair -- to put his personal stamp on the huge covert program in Laos, and had there been more Aderholts and Lairs, events might have turned out differently. As it was, Aderholt had to labor during his entire career under a military system that was not flexible enough, or responsive enough, for a man of his remarkable talents. But he did his duty, and then some. The Air Force historian Warren Trest has done Aderholt justice with this book; and there's some especially interesting material on Aderholt's loyal opposition, from within, to the way the Vietnam war was run.

A Man Who Makes A Difference: Always

Heinie is a legend but not from others tales of his exploits. Heine is leader respected for his legendary achievements; some of which yet remain classified. A leader formost who undertood his men because he always remained one of them. No matter how severe the circumstance Heinie created success by unique applications in unconventional operations. At Nakhon Phanom for example, on the border of Laos, Heinie founded and commanded the 56th Air commando Wing into a unique force to interdict the flow of men and materials down the trails in Laos. Making the rounds nightly he remained close with his troops of all rank in a bond seldom seen where thoughts were exchanged because of mutual respect. Heinie slept less than most and almost always in his fatigues or flightsuit. General Aderholt's life story is compelling and well written and he continues today to make a difference in Southeast Asia. In October 2002 returning to Nakhon Phanom, Heinie procured a container of medical and school supplies with the Thailand Laos Cambodia Brotherhood and to dedicate a monument being built to honor the fallen American and Thai forces in the Vietnam War. The Legend Continues... read it.John Sweet56th Special Operations WingTactical Units Operations CenterNakhon Phanom Air Commando # 2924

Inner-workings of a well-known man

Air Commando 1 provides a lot of insight into the inner-workings of America's special operations missions in the 50s-70s. Heinie Aderholt's name is well-known to most Air Force Vietnam veterans but few know much about him. It's a book anyone interested in the military should read.Sam McGowanVietnam Veteran, author of THE CAVE, a novel of the Vietnam War

Enduring Hero

In the murky history of US special operations few soldiers stand out as prominently as General Heinie Aderholt; few served so broadly, so effectively. In unconventional situations he got the job done often through the sheer power of his personality. Whether matching the easy gait of CIA case officers and the more rigid stride of USAF brass, Heinie got the job done. He merge the different special ops cultures and focused their resources. For those of us who worked the unconventional side of war, Heinie is a hero. Likeable, energetic, moral, patriotic and interesting, Heinie made getting the job done fun. AIR COMMANDO ONE is a wonderful chronicle on the life and career of this extraordinary man. It will be mandatory reading for future managers of special operations. Written by a USAF historian in Air Force esoterica, the best parts for me, a non-USAF vet, were the quotes attributed to Heinie. They are right on. You'll get a sense of the man's soul by reading his quotations. He was a soldier's soldier, a strong leader who simply got difficult jobs done. AIR COMMANDO ONE tells you how. A must read.