Reviews (4)

Alaska Aviation
An excellent biography on one of the foremost aviation pioneers in cold weather. The book is both well written and informative, containing many interesting photographs and maps pertaining to the life and career of Joe Crosson. The author gives an intriguing account of the early years of aviation in Alaska and the pacific northwest through the exploits of one of the era's greatest pilots. A good read for anyone interested in aviation or ALaska.

Terrific reading from beginning to end
Mercy Pilot: The Joe Crosson Story is the amazing biography by Dirk Tordoff of one of the most outstanding bush pilots in North America. Here is the impressive story of Joe Crosson whose pioneer work in forging Alaskan air routes, his service in flying mercy missions (including a famous 1929 search in Siberian winter darkness for a lost pilot and friend Carl Ben Eielson) is terrific reading from beginning to end. Black-and-white photographs enrich the descriptive text of a great flyer's achievements in this captivating biographical portrait, which is also a very strongly recommended addition to personal and academic Aviation Studies supplemental reading lists.

Excellent Book!
I've read just about all the books on the pioneer alaskan bush pilots that I can find, and this one is one of the better ones.

It has a great selection of photographs, some first hand accounts from Joe himself, and plenty of first hand recollections from Joe's wife. (Joe died many years ago, so the first hand accounts from Joe himself are hard to come by!)

Reviews (6)

Awesome book about the brave bush pilots!!!
This is a FANTASTIC book!!I simply could not put it down!!I bought it on the day I departed on my 4th trip to Alaska...the flight passed so quickly as I read page after page!!

I read with great interest the section about Jules Thibedeau, my First Cousin who was a bush pilot from Barrow, AK in the 50's and 60's...his comments about Jules, "The Walking Pilot" brought back memories of the stories I heard as a child about my cousin who would fly anywhere, at anytime, to help anyone in Alaska...a guy who was truely a "tough-luck, no-money" pilot who cared more for the people he helped than he did his own well-being many times.

Anderson's comments came back to life for me during that trip as I visitied Barrow for the first time...only to have an 80+ year-old Eskimo woman tell me how my cousin had saved her son when he was young kid...Jules had flown out in a blizzard to bring her sick child back to Barrow...

Bravo to Mr. Anderson on a "must read" book!!

Ode to Andy
ODE TO ANDY

A COLD DAY IN 73' - A DAY THAT IS MORE THAN SPECIAL TO ME
JUST ANOTHER DAY ONE MIGHT SURMISE BUT THAT DAY I WAS IN FOR A PLEASANT SURPRISE
ALL MY LIFE I HAD LONGED TO FLY, BUT NOW THE YEARS WERE PASSING ME BY.
ON THE LADDER OF LIFE, NEITHER OLD OR YOUNG,
I WAS NOW ON THE 37TH RUNG
THE EVENTS OF THE DAY, NOT PREVIOUSLY ARRANGED
MADE FOR THE DAY MY LIFE WAS CHANGED.
I'VE CHASED MANY RAINBOWS AND MANY DREAMS DID PURSUE
AND ON THIS DAY MY FAVORITE DREAM CAME TRUE.
WHEN I PULLED INTO THE AIRPORT IN GREENE COUNTY PA.
I JUST HAD THE FEELING THIS WAS MY LUCKY DAY.
AS I WALKED INTO HIS OFFICE, MY PRESENCE TO EXPLAIN
SAID I AM HERE TO LEARN TO FLY A PLANE.
THEN i'LL TAKE A SHOT AT IT, JIM ANDERSON'S MY NAME.
LITTLE DID I KNOW WHO WOULD PUT ME TO THE TEST
FOR IHAD JUST SIGNED UP TO BE TAUGHT BY THE BEST.
AND I RECALL OUR FLIGHTS AND THE MULTITUDE OF THRILLS
THAT I EXPERIENCED AS HE HELPED MY HONE MY SKILLS
WITH A MANNER THAT WAS EASY AND A VOICE THAT WAS SOFT
HIS STYLE NEVER VARIED WHETHER AGROUND OR ALOFT
HE TOOK HIS WORK SERIOUSLY THOUGH SOMETIMES HE WOULD TEASE
BUT WITH NO OTHER MENTOR WAS I EVER MORE AT EASE.
OH HOW I MARVEL AT THE THINGS HE HAS DONE
FOR HE WAS A PIONEER BUSH PILOT IN THE LAND OF THE MIDNIGHT SUN
FLYING THROUGH THE MOUNTAINS AND LANDING ON THE LAKES
WHEREYOU HAVE TO DOIT PROPERLY OR PAY FOR YOUR MISTAKES
WITH GOD AS HIS COPILOT HE ALWAYS MADE THE RUN
HIS LIFEHAS BEEN REWARDED FOR THE DEEDS HE HAS DONE.
AND I KNOW OLD WEST VIRGINIA IS PROUD OF THEIR NATIVE SON
AS ARE ALL OF US WHOSE HEARTS HE HAS WON.
NOW THE LIFE OF THIS ARCTIC BUSH PILOT IS AT LAST PUT INTO PRINT
OF THE YEARS IN THE ARCTIC AND HOW THOSE YEARS WERE SPENT
AND ANDY, I AM MOST REWARDED WHEN YOU CALL ME A TRUE FRIEND
I WANT ALWAYS TO BE DESERVING OF THAT TITLE TO THE END
SO LET ME CLOSE BY SAYING TO YOU AND YOUR LOVELY WIFE
I BECAME A WHOLE LOT RICHER THE DAY YOU CAME INTO MY LIFE
GOD BLESS AND KEEP YOU, ANDY
YOUR FRIEND AND LITTLE BROTHER
BOB WOOD

THIS ODE TO ANDY WAS WRITTEN BY ONE OF THE PILOTS ANDY TAUGHT TO FLY. HE HAS REMAINED A FRIEND OVER THE YEARS AND WHEN ANDY HAD HIS STROKE BOB SAT DOWN AND WROTE THIS MEMO TO HIM. BLESS YOU BOB

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Reviews (13)

Boring
This was a complete bore. Definetly not a page turner. I could barely make it through this book. Don't waste your money on this poorly written book.

incredible book
I am halfway through this book and I am simply amazed. This book is definatly geared towards the pilot and has alot of technical aspects most non-pilots wouldn't understand. The stories in this book are incredible and I hope to one day be even half the pilot Mort Mason is.

Reviews (2)

First commercial pilot in Anchorage
Trained as a pilot during World War I, Russel Merrill was determined to spend his life flying. His love of flight lured him from Oregon to Alaska, the far frontier of aviation, where Merrill piloted the first airplanes to fly into Petersburg, Wrangell, Kodiak, and Anchorage. FLYING COLD chronicles Merrill's daring 750-mile journey across the Gulf of Alaska in a flying boat with a single small motor, his first rescue mission by air, crash landings, and strandings. In 1928, Merrill nearly died after being forced down in the Arctic, showing up weeks later, half dead, but still carrying a cup of rice he had saved for an "emergency."Many photos.A great read.

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Excellent Coverage Of Our Biggest And Most Beautiful State
I have loved Alaska since the first time I visited the state in 1992. I have been back many times since, and attempt to visit at least once a year. "Alaska" magazine is an excellent way to keep informed about happenings in the state, especially when you can't be there personally. The articles are well written and interesting, and focus, as you would expect, is on the breathtaking outdoors, and outdoor activities. Local history, politics, and environmental issues are also well represented, as are amusing human interest stories.

Because I am a frequent visitor, I also use the advertisements heavily. Normally I don't like ads, but the places and things I have discovered thanks to ads in "Alaska" magazine alone make the price of the subscription worthwhile.

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Reviews (1)

Recent visitor of Wrangell/St. Elias National Park
The beauty of this book is in the photograghs!Herbon does well to use a simple, interesting text, which includes just enough history to make the pictures come alive, but not too much where you will lose interest.Thephotos speak a thousand words!

I would have enjoyed some photos from moreparts of the Park from the ground.Most photos were strictly from the airor in Kennicott or McCarthy.Since I am planning a backcountry trip therein Aug 2000 I would have enjoyed pictures from the areas that hikers areventuring to.