BOU Pilot
Drop into one man’s world of transport flying at the height of the Vietnam War and experience the good, the bad, and the ugly – with character and compassion.
Humorous, compassionate, and tragic day-to-day experiences of a transport pilot in combat. When Jon Drury was shipped to Vietnam with 90 percent of his graduating class, he was assigned to the short-field C-7A Caribou, made by De Havilland. His challenging mission carried troops into combat, air dropped live chickens in crates, ferried cows to Special Forces camps, and dodged .50 caliber fire.
On the more compassionate side, Jon served the Vietnamese in civic action, drove an ambulance to a free dispensary, and escorted those killed in action on their final journey home.
Heart-stopping combat and risk mixed with incidents of human compassion, history, sorrow, and lessons for life.
Endorsement for BOU Pilot
“Jon tells about his experiences flying the C-7A Caribou in Vietnam right after receiving his Air Force wings. Each vignette is a two-page account in the air or on the ground during his Vietnam tour in 1968 to 1969. Each tale is captivating and written so that both military and civilian readers can appreciate what it was like for a young Second Lieutenant to cope with flying combat missions . . . Jon’s style of writing grabs the reader, holds their interest, and makes them want to read more about the deeds of warriors called upon to fight a long, cruel, and frustrating war. . . Reading the stories brings out his flying skills, human compassion, and faith to a degree one might not expect from a warrior. These elements reflect the skills, passion, determination, and generosity of a man sent to war who found a deeper meaning inside himself than he anticipated.”
Patrick Hanavan, Jr. Ph.D.
Colonel, USAF (Ret.)
President, The C-7A Caribou Association
** The airplane in these photos is a JN-4 Jenny and is at the Columbia Gorge Interpretive Center in Stevenson, WA. This is the plane that my father flew in Iowa. Thanks to Columbia Gorge Interpretive Center for allowing me to use the airplane as a backdrop in my photos. Thanks to Kate at Aveum Images for the professional photos.