Aces High Bulletin Board

General Forums => The O' Club => Topic started by: GtoRA2 on December 05, 2002, 12:48:00 PM

Title: Blackhawk down.
Post by: GtoRA2 on December 05, 2002, 12:48:00 PM
Man the Movie was good...

But the book... wow so far it is one of the best I have read, ranks up there with Guns up!
Title: Blackhawk down.
Post by: Sandman on December 05, 2002, 12:48:32 PM
Wasn't impressed with the movie. I need to give the book a try.
Title: Blackhawk down.
Post by: Swoop on December 05, 2002, 12:51:36 PM
Read Bravo Two - Zero.

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Title: Blackhawk down.
Post by: Curval on December 05, 2002, 12:54:47 PM
Quote
Originally posted by Swoop
Read Bravo Two - Zero.

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Great book...Andy McNab rules.
Title: Blackhawk down.
Post by: funkedup on December 05, 2002, 12:57:43 PM
Bravo Two Zero is a fun read, but not real high on the historical accuracy scale it seems.  Andy's squadmates have publicly taken issue with his version of the story.

Blackhawk down is a great read, and is as well-researched a piece of military history as you will find.

I also recommend "We Were Soldiers Once and Young" which bears almost no resemblance to the Hollyweird fantasy piece of the same title.
Title: Blackhawk down.
Post by: funkedup on December 05, 2002, 01:02:05 PM
Ooooh new book!
Somebody finally decide to address the truth about Bravo Two Zero:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/0304363693/ref=pd_sim_b_dp/026-5279246-1745250
Title: Blackhawk down.
Post by: ygsmilo on December 05, 2002, 01:03:47 PM
Both Blackhawk Down and We were Soldiers are good reads.  

I have finally about finished the 3 book of the Civil War trilogy by Burns..  It has been a long but worth the time read.
Title: Blackhawk down.
Post by: Swoop on December 05, 2002, 01:18:38 PM
Say Curv,  did ya know the story of Bravo 2-0 is being told to US soldiers as an example of what not to do.  Apparently 8 men taking out 200 Iraqi's and numerous armoured vehicles isnt good enough.

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Title: Blackhawk down.
Post by: funkedup on December 05, 2002, 01:20:53 PM
Swoop the problem is that the story in the book seems to be not exactly what really happened.
Half the guys didn't make it back, and two of those who did make it back wrote books which have been criticized by the other survivors.  Then those two started careers as fiction writers which doesn't exactly help their case.
Title: Blackhawk down.
Post by: Swoop on December 05, 2002, 01:23:51 PM
Quote
Originally posted by funkedup
Ooooh new book!
Somebody finally decide to address the truth about Bravo Two Zero



I'm gonna have to read this.....but one thing that strikes me from this books blurb on Amazon is that.....Vince Phillips certainly wasnt blamed for numerous mistakes in Andy McNab's book as the blurb claims, I havnt read Chris Ryan's yet either though.

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Title: Blackhawk down.
Post by: funkedup on December 05, 2002, 01:25:21 PM
I read Ryan's book and it just raised more questions.  I doubt either one of them has it right.
It's not like there will ever be an official account to clear the air.
I think the Regiment has had it up to *here* with all this storytelling.
Title: Blackhawk down.
Post by: gofaster on December 05, 2002, 01:27:50 PM
Quote
Originally posted by funkedup
I also recommend "We Were Soldiers Once and Young" which bears almost no resemblance to the Hollyweird fantasy piece of the same title.


I'm reading that now.  Its as if I'm reading about a completely different battle.  The Ia Drang valley assault didn't end in a massive surprise helicopter assault, which is what the movie would have you believe.  On the other hand, the book doesn't deal with the homefront, so each version has its good points.

The DVD extras are worth the price of the movie.
Title: Blackhawk down.
Post by: funkedup on December 05, 2002, 01:28:56 PM
Actually there is some "home front" stuff at the end of the book.

I walked out of the movie.
Title: Guns up.
Post by: GtoRA2 on December 05, 2002, 01:32:00 PM
by John M clark

Have any of your read it?  If you have not do it.... it was a fantastic book.
Title: Blackhawk down.
Post by: Pongo on December 05, 2002, 01:47:04 PM
What funked said.
With the addition of.
McNabb basically tells a charge of the light brigade story. Why would you leave the chinook when you dont know where you are? What use are you if you dont know where you are?
To me the story seemed funny..like Billy Bishops kill claims..
We do know that the team was dropped deap in Iraq, They didnt know where exactly. They were imediatly exposed and lost some guys and likely killed some Iraqis. Most were captured and one made it to the border in Syria.
A hell of a hump. but not much of an operation to brag about.
Like lots of military actions. Wether you brag about it or not depends on the body count.  He admits to guessing at the casualties inflicted on the iraqis.

Black hawk down is a far far better book.