Bonnie-Sue cover art

Bonnie-Sue

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Bonnie-Sue

By: Marion F. Sturkey
Narrated by: Dennis McKee
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About this listen

Author Marion F. Sturkey, a former Marine "Bonnie-Sue" HMM-265 helicopter pilot, combines fascinating detail with grim realism in this eloquent saga of Marines at war. Weaving actual military records with personal accounts from the helicopter crews, he breathes life into the daily struggle of the soldier.

Step through this unique looking-glass into the volatile crucible of combat in Vietnam. Taste the danger and fear, the madness and passion, and experience the love and brotherhood shared by the pilots and aircrewmen of the "Bonnie-Sue".

©1996 Marion F. Sturkey (P)1999 Blackstone Audio Inc. 20th Century Military Modern

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Critic reviews

"This is our story, told some twenty to thirty years later, but as chilling and touching to us who were there as if it took place yesterday." (Marine Corps Aviation Association)
"The detailed history of the Marine helicopter pilot has never been written in such a hard, cold-steel, factual way as this great book reveals." (Vietnam Helicopter Pilots Association)
All stars
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Do look past the title, because it doesn't really do the book justice. "Bonnie Sue" was the call sign of Marine helicopter squadron HMM-265. This book actually covers quite a bit of the US Marines' involvement in Vietnam, from the viewpoint of the helicopter crews who flew them into battle. Very comprehensive and truly edge-of-the-seat stuff in places, the only reason it didn't get 5 stars from me is my slight annoyance with the narrator who had to repeat details and over-emphasise certain names and places (although this is probably a fault of the original book). Otherwise, a great listen.

Though provoking account of Marines in Vietnam

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A flat tedious monotone of the narrator renders a potentially good book unlistenable.

Appalling Narration

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As a devotee of military history, audiobooks and anything to do with helicopters I felt I was on to a winning combination when I found this book whilst browsing for 'more of the same' after just having listened to the excellent 'Matterhorn'. Unfortunately, and without wishing to take anything away from the professionalism and heroism of the author and his colleagues, and the sacrifices they made, I have heard more interesting recitations of a shopping-list. Dennis McKee should consider a career in hypnotism, so deadpan and monotonous was his 'reading' of a script that didn't help him with its all-to-frequent inclusions of semi-related quotes, its rambling narrative and its ability to reduce the actions of accomplished professionals in the face of danger to the level of reading aloud the instructions for assembling a piece of Ikea furniture - in Swedish.

Crash Landing...Big Time

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