Low Level Hell
by Hugh Mills
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Book Reviews of Low Level Hell
Book Review: Hell on a leash
Summary: 5 Stars
Hugh Mills has written one of the most comprehensive and comprehensible books ever attempted on extreme low level flight in a do or die situation. You actually get the feeling that you are strapping in with him and the engine is about to fire for the day's adventure. Sometimes all this is hard to organize and think about and a good pilot just does it naturally. When you realize you are picking rice at 110 knots breaking a contact momentarily, you will know mom never said there would be days like this. If you can take the time and pay for a two hour demonstration ride as a "frontseater", you will get some of the sensation I am talking about. The understand that Mills is talking about floating in and out of the trees at a speed which allows him a look but minimizes his exposure although not eliminating it. If you fly perpendicular to a tree line at a good rate of speed, pull collective and "pop-up" over that tree line, you never know what you will find. Sometimes it gets very interesting as for him in his book. His book is exceptional. It talks about his concern for the misson, concern for his pilots, and concern for his crewmen. You can tell from this book that that concern is real and not superficial or just gestures. This is one really great book and this book coupled with Robert Mason's "Chickenhawk" are books you will want to have in your library. Why is America so great? To me, it is because America has been built on the back and shoulders of young men like Hugh Mills. I salute you Sir and I highly recommend your book to all.Book Review: More Action From the Pilot's Seat!
Summary: 4 Stars
"Low Level Hell" is Warrant Officer Hugh Mills' story of his first tour in Vietnam as a Loach chopper pilot for the 1st Infantry Division; know to all as "The Big Red One". The initial reaction from this reviewer was that the story was too fast paced, written at a double time pace. Then, the realization struck that this was Mills' world over there. No slack flying in his unit! This reader also had a major initial problem with the rather informal, seemingly hand- drawn map of the Big Red One's territory. That may be due to the plain fact that this reviewer is a major fan of formal military maps. Then a second realization struck- this topographical outline is excellent. And what great names: the Razorbacks, the Trapezoid, the Iron Triangle, the Rocket Belt, Claymore Corners and Big Blue-better known as The Saigon River. Mills makes them all snap to life. The bottom line is that "Low Level Hell" is a first rate account of Vietnam from the vantage point of a chopper pilot. Comparisons of various RVN tales must be difficult for many reviewers (there are so many good ones) and are ultimately unfair to the various authors. Let's just state that LLH is in the tradition of the chopper pilots' gold standard, Robert Mason's "Chicken Hawk". Enough said.
Book Review: Adrenalin inducing - Great read
Summary: 5 Stars
A few summers ago my work required daily helecopter transport (Hughs 500) into some heavily forested areas of Alaska. On one end-of-the-day flight back to camp I asked the pilot if he ever read "Chickenhawk" by Robert Mason (a "Huey" pilot in Vietnam). He replied it was manditory reading for pilots. Moments later he says if I really want a good read to pick up "Low Level Hell" by Hugh Mills. For the remainder of the flight he kept talking about this book. So on his advice I picked it up. He was right on...what a read. Mills writing really puts you into the thick of it...to the point where I had to put the book down about a half-hour before turning the lanterns off for the night...to let the adrenalin subside. The book is well written, humorous at times, terribly sad at others, and a real page turner. Even if this is not your typical read, pick it up. The book leaves a lasting impression and understanding. PS. the pilot was from Sweden and just came back for flying relief missions in Bosnia and talked about taking small arms fire while trying to deliver supplies to the needy.Book Review: Onion Flavored Jello???
Summary: 5 Stars
I have never before been able to tolerate a media account of the Viet-Nam conflict. No other publication I have been subjected to has allowed that I might have an opinion of my own of the politics and values they wish to sway to thier line of thinking. I read until my knees were numb on several occasions and still couldn't put this book down. LTC. Mills has written a chilling account of the day to day operations and the brave men who were willing to accept the challange of possibly making the conflict one day shorter. These men who were daily forced to compromise human values yet maintain integrity and dignity as soldiers. This non-political and un-biased account is a real behind the scenes look into the esperit de corp that causes a group of individuals to become one important part of a team, and how the priority of a team becomes a reality. Darkhorse 16, thanks for a written account that lets us be again proud of our service in Viet-Nam.Book Review: Low Level Hell
Summary: 5 Stars
I have read Low Level Hell on a couple of occasions, mainly during times that I really miss those exciting, less complicated days. The book really does detail those days with Darkhorse as they really were. What seems funny today was not that funny at the time. This book highlights our first tour with Darkhorse as a scout pilots. Approximately 8 months after returning home from our first tour, we both volunteered to return to Vietnam. We both found stateside life to tame and not really to our liking. We both returned to Darkhorse as scout pilots and survived another year flying scouts. (...) By the way, Hugh and I both live in Kansas City, Mo and see each other regularly. Rod Willis, Darkhorse 17, 16 & 13.