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Cleared Hot!: The Diary of a Marine Combat Pilot in Vietnam Kindle Edition

4.5 4.5 out of 5 stars 255 ratings

A “vividly told” Vietnam War combat diary shedding light on the Marine Corps pilots who brought soldiers home and went back for more (Booklist).

Every day, every mission, he took the war to the enemy’s heart. Only his quick wit and steely nerves could bring him through alive.

As a Marine pilot in Vietnam, Col. Bob Stoffey led a life that was constantly under siege. Flying SAR—Search and Rescue—helicopter missions at treetop level over enemy-held territory, he quickly learned how to dodge raging storms of enemy fire—and how to fight back with deadly accuracy.

Volunteering for the most dangerous air missions of the Vietnam conflict, Col. Stoffey later came back for more: taking on a second tour of duty as a forward air controller who directed naval gunfire, artillery, and thunderous air strikes from the cockpit of his OV-10 Bronco. Saving men from certain death, flying at impossibly low levels, Stoffey used his M-60 machine guns and 2.75-inch rockets—and he always shot to kill.

In this remarkable memoir, Bob Stoffey chronicles his four-year-long war—and brings to life the special exhilaration of flying into heart-stopping danger and coming back alive.

Includes eight pages of heroic photographs.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Vividly told."--"Booklist"

About the Author

Col. Bob Stoffey was born in Coaldale, Pennsylvania, and graduated from Pennsylvania State University. He served as a Marine Corps pilot for twenty-five years, having flown twenty-four different types of aircraft worldwide. His many military decorations include the Marine Corps Medal for Personal Heroism, two Distinguished Flying Crosses, and twenty-five Air Medals. He retired in 1979 and now lives in Carlsbad, California, with his wife.

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B006JQ9LW2
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ St. Martin's Paperbacks (January 15, 1993)
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ January 15, 1993
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 4.6 MB
  • Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 383 pages
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.5 4.5 out of 5 stars 255 ratings

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Bob Stoffey
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Customer reviews

4.5 out of 5 stars
255 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers find the writing quality excellent and the stories poignant, thrilling, and full of real-life drama. They find the book a different kind of read that keeps them interested. Overall, customers consider it a good value for money.

AI-generated from the text of customer reviews

15 customers mention "Writing quality"12 positive3 negative

Customers appreciate the well-written biography. They find the details provided on each mission and situation accurate. The book evokes many memories and accurately describes the mission and situation.

"...Furthermote, he is one of those rare authors that writes so well you can actually visualize everything happening throughout the book...." Read more

"...I feelthat the author was totally honest and fully described the maze that he had to go through to accomplish his mission...." Read more

"...is the first thing that comes to mind after reading this well written Biography...." Read more

"...that other Vietnam era pilots might enjoy this book, but it was so technical and dry...." Read more

11 customers mention "Story quality"11 positive0 negative

Customers find the stories poignant, thrilling, and full of real-life drama. They appreciate the pictures that tell the true account of a combat pilot in Vietnam. The descriptions of flying choppers are fantastic and readers feel like they are with the author and his crew in most situations.

"...Marine who tells the no-nonsense, factual, hard-hitting and eye-opening story of his 3 tours in Vietnam!..." Read more

"...His description of flying choppers was fantastic and I felt that I was with him and his crew in most of his sorties...." Read more

"...The Stories are Poignant and Memorable, I realy do not like reading about the unfortunate death of some of the soldiers of this era...." Read more

"...It was also interesting to get a feeling of what it was like to fly close air support in a Huey and OV-10 since they were the guys who covered me on..." Read more

3 customers mention "Value for money"3 positive0 negative

Customers find the book a good value for money. They say it's well-written and one of the best books about the flying war they've read.

"...out many details, but I can tell you this is book is well worth your time and money. I hope Col...." Read more

"This was one of the very good books I have read about the flying war in Vietnam. I grew up in that time period and entered the Air Force at the end...." Read more

"You really get your money's worth from this book. I think it is very well written...." Read more

Top reviews from the United States

  • Reviewed in the United States on January 24, 2010
    I bought this book on Amazon and I am 3/4 of the way throughit. Normally I would not write a review before finishing the book, but this has to be the best book you will read by a Marine OV-10/Chopper Pilot, bar none!
    Col. Stoffey's book starts off with action which continues throughout the book. Furthermote, he is one of those rare authors that writes so well you can actually visualize everything happening throughout the book. Hats off to this brave Marine who tells the no-nonsense, factual, hard-hitting and eye-opening story of his 3 tours in Vietnam!
    I won't spoil the book by giving out many details, but I can tell you this is book is well worth your time and money.
    I hope Col. Stoffey sees his reviews on Amazon because he did an outstanding job and is a True Hero and Marine.

    Thank you sir.
    4 people found this helpful
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  • Reviewed in the United States on October 8, 2012
    This narrative was well written and fully described the anarchy of the superior offricers. I feelthat the author was totally honest and fully described the maze that he had to go through to accomplish his mission. His description of flying choppers was fantastic and I felt that I was with him and his crew in most of his sorties. The description of how he felt when he saw his DI (who was KIA) was outstanding and brought tears to my eyes. I see that he is retired from the Corps and all I can say is that we miss his expertise .
    One person found this helpful
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  • Reviewed in the United States on December 19, 2012
    Personable is the first thing that comes to mind after reading this well written Biography.

    The Stories are Poignant and Memorable, I realy do not like reading about the unfortunate
    death of some of the soldiers of this era. I find solice in the fact that they live on by way of
    the Love shown in includeing their stories.

    You will enjoy this book and never forget the lives of those he met along his journey.
    One person found this helpful
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  • Reviewed in the United States on May 23, 2011
    Col Bob Stoffey has written a great diary about his three tours in Vietnam. It was especially interesting to me because it covers the period before(1967) and after (1970) my own tour at a Marine CH-46 pilot in Vietnam (1968). Col. Story has truly captured the feelings and frustrations of the Marines flying in our longest war with a first hand account of actual battles and missions. His detailed diary also covers the development of the airfields in I Corps that became the focal point of our war against the North Vietnamese. The book brought back many memories of flying the same territory with the same hills, rivers and villages. It was also interesting to get a feeling of what it was like to fly close air support in a Huey and OV-10 since they were the guys who covered me on Medivac and Recon Missions. He is absolutely right about the lack of Congressional will and absurd rules of engagement we faced every day. I flew over 900 missions in 13 months earning 46 Airmedals and I can tell you he got it exactly right. He doesn't pull any punches, just tells a true story. Semper Fi.
    4 people found this helpful
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  • Reviewed in the United States on September 14, 2013
    I plowed through this so as not to feel that I wasted my money purchasing it. I imagine that other Vietnam era pilots might enjoy this book, but it was so technical and dry. I kept reading hoping it would get better, but alas, it never did. It was all about the author, "I did this, and then I did that and then we went here and did this," etc. That said, I certainly appreciate his dedication, and his service for our country.
    One person found this helpful
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  • Reviewed in the United States on June 27, 2008
    Col. Stoffey brings to life what it was like for pilots and American troops in general to be in Vietnam. He keeps you on the edge of your seat as he tells his story of his flying duties over there. Amazing details are recalled along with pictures that tell us one pilot's story, of which we know there are many more stories just like this out there. Col. Stoffey shares his story for so many pilots who didn't live to tell theirs. He paints for us a picture of what it was like for them to live day by day and the struggles to survive.
  • Reviewed in the United States on May 31, 2014
    I flew in OV-10As in Vietnam with Sub Unit 1, 1st ANGLICO, USMC, as an aerial observer. Col. Stoffey put me right back in the cockpit. The book evoked many memories and accurately describes the mission and situation. Additionally, his comments on how poorly the war was run by politicians and negatively affected by a disgruntled public and irresponsible press are spot on. This book is historically accurate, gripping, and highly entertaining.
    3 people found this helpful
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  • Reviewed in the United States on April 5, 2014
    The author used far to many abbreviated unit designations and personnel abbreviations common only to the Marine Corps. Unless the one has personal knowledge/experience with the designations, it forced the reader to either recall the unit type or try to go back an look up the unit type etc. As a former Army pilot and Vietnam veteran, this was a distraction from an otherwise good read.
    One person found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

  • Raymond Collins
    5.0 out of 5 stars Really takes you there
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on September 11, 2021
    Starts of slow but takes you there. I particularly liked him giving all the technical details showing how busy
    and important the pilots job was, good read.
  • loafer
    5.0 out of 5 stars Gripping
    Reviewed in Spain on April 3, 2021
    Gripping from start to finish and written in an easy to digest way, this is a great insight into helicopter warfare in Vietnam. These guys were as brave as they come, only 19 - 22 years old but flying hundreds of scouting combat missions every year. I've read about RAF Chinooks in Afghanistan but they had it easy compared to these guys, spending all their time at tree top level looking of signs of the enemy a highly dangerous pastime. It's one of those books you are sorry to finish.
  • Jack
    5.0 out of 5 stars Interesting perspective
    Reviewed in Australia on May 9, 2020
    A very well written account from a USMC officer that served three tours in Vietnam spread across almost the duration of the conflict. Flying helicopters in his first tour, OV-10 observation aircraft in his second before a staff tour aboard USS Oklahoma.

    It was very interesting getting the marine perspective after reading many army pilot accounts. The cultural difference between the two services during the Vietnam conflict appears marked, and the differences between how the marines and the army made use of similar assets is interesting. The action is thick and fast with only passing mention of R&R trips, between tour postings and non-combat related stories, which I liked. The author had a very busy time in Vietnam and tells his story well. A must for any military aviation fan, or anyone interested in the Vietnam war or military history more generally.
  • James Roper
    4.0 out of 5 stars Good read.
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on November 22, 2020
    The author has crammed a lot in this book, you can really see what he got up to over there.
  • Ken R
    5.0 out of 5 stars Another great read
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on July 7, 2019
    "Always Loyal". Fascinating book about a real aviator in a real war. Once again, really hard to put down. Good times, bad times and unfortunately, sad times all explained.

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