Collision Over Vietnam: A Fighter Pilot's Story of Surviving the ARC Light One Tragedy

I enjoyed the book, the authors Bio. Myself USAF served at Bien Hoa Air Base Vietnam 1967-68 as a weapons mechanic [loaded weapons on fighters ie: bombs, etc.] and was TDY to Guam 1968-69 and loaded "Iron" [bombs] on the B-52D's, and loaded nuclear weapons on B-52H's at Minot AFB, North Dakota. Would love to meet the author.

Excellent documentary on the Arc Light Operation. I was part of the MITO take off from Mather AFB Don Harten describes in the book. I remember the details of our deployment and the subsequent accident very well. I was in security and remember some of the crews involved and remember talking with Major Gehrig. I also remember Sgt. Neville and Capt. Robertson. It was a very sad day for Mather AFB, America, SAC and the USAF

I am struggling to continue reading this book and I am only on page 70, about one-third of the way through the book. At this point, I would have to take issue with his preface that certain people kept him focused on his story. On point, this book is about the world according to the author, Don Harten. The digressions are mercilessness; World II, Korea, Cuba, the history of the Cold War, flying the Artic circle, the origins of the Vietnam War, etc., etc., ad nauseam, ad nauseam. This book is a complication of digressive ruminations by the author of the history of United States nuclear doctrine and its affect on diplomacy. Yes, there are tidbits of enlightening information about flying the B-52, but not enough to warrant the struggle to read this book.I also struggled with Lt. Col. Jay Lacklen's book entitled "Flying the Line", supposedly about SAC training and missions during the Viet Nam War. I was able to suffer the first third of book until I had had enough of his travelogues BOQ's and reviews of Officer Clubs, interspersed occasionally with unsolicited sexual overtures by various women.I have come to the conclusion, unfortunately, that these B-52 pilots have sought to capitalize on the genre military memoirs yet are constrained by the ultra secrecy of their weapons of choice. Maybe.

What an enthralling story in the life of a co-pilot. Not to "wordy", just a very moving and frank description of his career up to the mid air collision and conclusion. Mr. Harten provides some excellent insight into the life and experiences of a Strategic Air Command Co-pilot during the cold war. Hope Kindle offers his other book "Arc Light" in the not to near future. As a former career Air Force enlisted man and C-130 aircrew member as well as aviation enthusiast, I highly recommend this book

A true story of Arc Light One the first use of B-52s in combat June 18th 1965 out of Guam! This book and sister book Arc Light One give a true picture of THE REAL STORY of early use of the B-52 bomber. I know because I was there!!

As a former SAC bombardier it brought back many memories. Story was well told

I was also with the 320th as was Harten. Excellent book.

Well written but it would have been nice if the author describing more of his Vietnam tours following the accident.

A very readable book that I got through in about 3 days, although I only skimmed over the chapter that covered the author's childhood growing up in Idaho.Besides an account of the incident itself, the author's rescue and a (very brief) account of his subsequent USAF career (chapters 8 -11), it provides an interesting snapshot of life within SAC during the 1960s and what it was like to fly on B-52 nuclear aleart missions during the Cold War. And the author manages to do this without getting too heavily bogged down in all the flying jargon and techno-babble that could have otherwise made this a tedious read for the layman.It doesn't provide a history of the B52's use thoughout the Vietnam War though, and it's not a history of the more general air war over Vietnam. So if this is what you are after you won't find it here.One minor but irksome thing throughout the book though is the consistent incorrect use of apostrophes. To give just a couple of examples: "gunner's" when it should have been "gunners'" (plural), "B52's" and "Nazi's" - apostrophes aren't used to pluralise, Mr. Harten! A competent proof reader should have picked this up.But that minor nitpick aside, it's a decent enough book with which to pass a few relaxing reading hours.

Heart warming and simple airman's first hand account of the first Arc Light operation mid air collision. A good simple read

As advertised