Snake Driver! Cobras In Vietnam

by Bob Rosenburgh

This is the saga of the Cobra--the attack helicopter--its development and introduction into Vietnam during the summer of '67, and the stories of the men who flew it. For a Cobra pilot--a Snake Driver--every launch meant he was going headlong into combat. As key providers of fire support, Snake Drivers always had missions, and every mission was real war--flying into hot LZs or kill zones that were literally walls of lead and high explosives. These are their tales of bravery and skill in the hellfire that was Vietnam.

Genres: History, War, Aviation, Military Fiction

202 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1993

Reviews

[Chad Manske · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bob Rosenburgh’s “Snake Driver! Cobras In Vietnam” is a riveting chronicle that captures the transformation of aerial combat during the Vietnam War through the lens of the iconic AH-1 Cobra gunship and the pilots who flew these formidable machines. Rather than a traditional war memoir, Rosenburgh presents a mosaic of first-hand accounts and technical insights, weaving personal stories with an accessible history of military helicopter innovation. One of the standout features of the book is its detailed explanation of the Cobra’s development. Rosenburgh describes how the AH-1 Cobra emerged in the late 1960s as a response to the unique challenges of jungle warfare, providing the U.S. Army with unmatched maneuverability and firepower. Readers unfamiliar with military aviation will find Rosenburgh’s account of the helicopter’s origin, its tactical role, and how it replaced clunkier predecessors both educational and easy to follow. Where “Snake Driver!” truly shines is in its vivid storytelling. The book compiles brief, punchy anecdotes from different gunship pilots, illuminating the perils of flying into “walls of lead” and the complex, often improvisational nature of air combat in Vietnam. Each narrative underscores the bravery, adaptability, and sometimes the sheer luck that determined survival. These aren’t sanitized tales; Rosenburgh is adept at conveying the constant stakes and moral ambiguity that helicopter crews faced daily.
Strengths:
- Offers a broad overview of both the human side and technical evolution of attack helicopters.
- Educates the reader on the tactical revolution brought by the Cobra.
- Excels at showing the interplay between technology and the lived experience of war.
Limitations:
- Some readers may find the anecdotal style fragmented compared to single-narrator memoirs.
- The book’s information, while well-researched, may feel dated to those seeking the latest scholarship.
For readers interested in military history, aviation technology, or the Vietnam War, Rosenburgh’s work is an accessible yet thorough entry point. It is as much a tribute to the machines as to the “Snake Drivers” themselves—men whose grit and ingenuity shaped combat aviation for generations.

[Svein M · Rating 3 out of 5]

An interesting read or shall I say ok read? The book covers the development and later use of the Cobera by sharing different stories of gun pilots in the Vietnam war. If you want to read more about helicopter gunships and some of the experiences by those that flew them, pick up this book. I was admit tingly a bit fast ordering this book since i thought the author was one of the actual pilots, I mistook his name for someone else that flew cobras, my fault not the writer. But mentions it since it might affect my review.

[Donna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gunship Evolution

A very good read, and the advance of Cobra gunship technology in a nutshell. Well written and researched, in combat helicopter functionality and the cowboys who worked out the glitches and tactics. Might just have to read it again. Thank you!

[Warren Osborne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enlightening

Enjoyed the evolution of the attack helicopters. The weaving of individuals and the changing evolution of the attack helicopters was excellent. The application of the Cobra to the war in Vietnam was well documented.

[Francis W Clark · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great story

This is a very good book that you will agree gives an idea of what the Vietnam veterans had to live with on a dailey basis. The assault helicopters were an essential part of the war.

[Jerry Mabry · Rating 5 out of 5]

Awesome fighting men & machines

A detailed look of what it's like flying & fighting with the deadliest helicopter gunship every made. These brave men alone with their support crews saved many lives while destroying the enemy. Find out what really happened in Vietnam.

[Richard Esbin · Rating 5 out of 5]

No B/S real

Brings back too many memories. Can never thank my brothers enough for doing a tough job on a daily routine

[Roger P. Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cobras in Nam

A complete history of the highly effective Cobra, complete with getting it approved for action and its success in changing battle dynamics. Well worth the read.

[Larry Crawford · Rating 5 out of 5]

it brought back alot of memories for me. I was stationed in Vietnam from july 1967 to sept of 1970. I flew with the 201st Avn Group 17th Avn in Nha Trang. I remember these places when I was there.

[Richard A Lambing · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pretty good book, but info is dated now.

[Liam · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book was a bit disappointing- I was pleasantly surprised in the beginning by the details on the development of the attack helicopter concept, particularly with reference to the HueyCobra's origin as a cheaper & quicker alternative to the AH-56 Cheyenne (There is some amazing footage of the AH-56 here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nK48Fc... it is a fairly short clip, but if you are at all interested in military helicopters, I highly recommend taking a look at it...). Unfortunately, the book quickly turned into just another collection of extremely short, typical anecdotes ("I joined the Army, then they sent me to Vietnam, then I did this & saw that, etc., etc., etc.) which, when you have read as many of them as I have, tend to get extremely boring very quickly. There are quite a few full-length memoirs available which were written by helicopter pilots who served in Vietnam, several of which are excellent (I would recommend Wings of the Eagle or Low Level Hell: A Scout Pilot In The Big Red One; Chickenhawk, which is probably the best known of the genre, is well-written but the author allegedly exaggerated some of his experiences and lied outright regarding others). Unless you have an inordinately short attention span, one of those would probably be a better choice. On the other hand, the present book wasn't actually bad; it would be quite useful in, for example, a school library- particularly if there happened to be an inadequate budget to obtain more than one book on the subject.