Streetcar 304 Home Page

Chapter 2... (aboard USS America, CVA-66)

"Attention on the flight deck... Pilots are manning planes for the 1600 launch... All unnecessary personel should clear the deck now!"

“An extraordinary story, superbly told... I predict that

"The Rescue of Streetcar 304"

will become an instant military aviation classic."

---Stephen Coonts, 'Flight of the Intruder

Kenny in front of Streetcar 313, an A-7A "Corsair" that he flew often

during his two combat tours aboard USS America and USS Coral Sea.

The plane is now at the Hickory,NC Aviation Museum... www.hickoryaviationmuseum.org

His publisher, Naval Institute Press, describes Kenny's book:

On 31 May 1968, Lt. Kenny Fields catapulted off USS America in his A-7 for his first combat mission. His target was in Laos, which at the time was “officially” off-limits for U.S. attacks. What the planners did not know was that Fields and his wingman were enroute to a massive concentration of AAA gun sites amidst an entire North Vietnamese division.

Fields—call sign Streetcar 304—was the first to roll in and destroyed the target with a direct hit. Three AAA guns began to fire, but, following his wingman, he rolled in again. This time

many more AAA guns opened up and Fields was shot down.
'The Rescue of Streetcar 304' is Fields exhilarating narrative of the forty hour ordeal that followed, and what turned out to be one of the largest air rescues of the Vietnam War.

Fields recounts close encounters with Phatet Lao guerillas and nearly being killed time and again by friendly bombs. He describes in riveting detail the radio

chatter between participants and the stress effects of coping with fear,no food, the jungle heat,

wild animals, and sleep deprivation. Before it was over, the U.S. Air Force had flown 189 sorties

to rescue Fields, and in the process four pilots had ejected, seven planes were lost or heavily damaged, and one pilot became a POW for over five years.
The author draws on Air Force radio logs, after-action reports, and extensive interviews

with all participants—including the wives at home—to tell the story from all perspectives.

The result is a gripping tale of courage and brotherhood on both battlefield and home front.
Kenny Fields was a Bombardier/Navigator in the A-3B for two deployments and then

piloted A-4C and A-7A “attack” jets. During two combat tours to Vietnam he flew 139 combat missions in the A-7 over Laos, Cambodia, South Vietnam, and North Vietnam. He later

served as a jet flight instructor. He retired after 22 years, 3,350 flight hours, and 475 carrier

landings. Originally from West Virginia, he now lives in Mooresville, North Carolina.

LATEST NEWS.... As of August 30,2010

Attention All Hands...VA-82, my squadron in the "Streetcar 304" story, is having a reunion of all squadron members October 1-3 at the Hickory (NC) Aviation Museum. If a member of the squadron and interested, go to http://va82reunion.myevent.com/ for further details.

Belay my last... My movie producer is now running silent

A movie producer is considering the book for a movie.

Also... Phillip Jennings, a former Marine helo pilot and friend, has authored a book about

Vietnam which is selling very well and, in it, he mentions the "Streetcar 304" story. The title is,

"The Politically In-Correct Guide to the Vietnam War".

EXCITING NEWS.... Kenny humbly accepted an invitation from the U.S. Air Force "Air Command & Staff College" at Maxwell AFB, Alabama to be one of 14 "Eagles" honored at the 2010 "Gathering of Eagles" event June 2th-6th, 2010. You can view a list of Kenny's fellow Eagles and also all past honorees at the Eagle website: http://www.au.af.mil/au/goe/

Or, you can read the military press release about the 2010 event at: http://www.af.mil/news/story.asp?id=123207793

2010 "Eagle" artist rendering of Streetcar 304....

RECENT NEWS.... The U.S. Navy "Tailhook Association" quarterly magazine,

"The Hook", has a nice historical article about Kenny and several other squadron pilots in its "Winter" issue. To read it, go to the link: http://www.tailhook.net/Wi09Streetcar.htm

BOOK AWARDS….

2008…. Naval Institute Press, “Author of the Year---2^nd Place Award”

2008…. "Best selling book of the year" at the National Air & Space Museum in Washington, DC

2008…. Author was inducted into the Lincoln Memorial University “Literary Hall of Fame”

2007…. “Ragan Old North State Award” nominee for best new non-fiction book

BOOK REVIEWS.... The most recent ones are below but click on the

"Book Review" page at upper left for older ones by magazines and newspapers.

"General Aviation News" magazine, January 6, 2010...

To read its glowing review, go to: http://www.generalaviationnews.com/?cat=64

"Air & Space Journal" (Air Force), Winter 2009 issue, (excerpts)

"An epic story of survival, evasion, and rescue....A gripping first person tale...A talented writer, the author vividly conveys the facts, emotions, decision making, and sensations of a person in an extraordinary situation. His compelling descriptions of what it is like to brief a mission, creep through a pitch black jungle, being pursued by enemies, to find oneself at the receiving end of a cluster bomb attack and experience extraction by helicopter from a hot pick-up zone make it difficult to put this book down.... A nice feature is the author's consistent use of call signs rather than names which provides an operational feel to the tale.....An outstanding book....War is fundamentally a human activity...Anybody exposed to capture, whether flying an aircraft, or driving in a truck convoy in Iraq, or manning an entry control point in Afghanistan would benefit from reading this book...to assess his or her own physical, psychological, and equipment preparedness to prevail in a situation requiring survival."

---Kenneth P. Katz, Longmeadow, Massachusetts...for Air & Space Journal

Read his entire review mixed in with others at this link: http://www.airpower.au.af.mil/airchronicles/apj/apj09/win09/bookreviewswin09.html

"Awesome! Could not put it down!", 16 Sep 2009

By	Mr. Carl Greenwell (england) -

I literally mean i could not put this book down! I was even late for my friend's birthday party because i was so engrossed as the rescue was about to happen! I learned about this book from another great book called 'Cheating Death' by a Skyraider pilot who flew on the Streetcar mission. It got me interested to know more detail about this historical rescue mission, and so i bought this book.

All i can say is WOW!! It is written in such great visual detail it puts the reader in the authors shoes. Everything from getting catapaulted from a carrier deck to hiding in the jungle as enemy soldiers walk just inches past him, you are right there with him, pounding heart and all! I literally gave a heavy sigh of relief at countless lucky close calls, and the final rescue will have you mentally screaming encouragement!

This has to be my new favourite book and one of the few i can read over and over again.

This new book will no doubt be made into a blockbuster movie once word gets around about this already famous mission (you heard it here first!)

"This book will be remembered as a nonfiction classic of the Vietnam War!"

When reading The Rescue of Streetcar 304 by Kenny Wayne Fields, there is the sense that

he is tracking to some source as he tells his story; and that you are progressing with him to

a more complete understanding of not only a Navy pilots forty hours on the run in Laos,

but of the author's core character, and things demonstrated by his brothers-in-arms, like

courage under fire, and honoring one's commitments in the face of adversity. This is a truly

outstanding book, a authentic tale told by a unique, one-of-a-kind writer. I think this book

will be remembered as one of the nonfiction classics of the Vietnam War.

---Dan Guenther, Marine captain in Vietnam and author, "China Wind"

Other News....

****In early June, Kenny personally signed 500 copies of the lithograph that will depict his and 13 other pilot's participation in the"Gathering of Eagles" event at Maxwell AFB in June. They will be on sale soon and you can view a copy by clicking on the "gathering of eagles" link under "exciting news" above.

****An article about Kenny and several of his VA-82 squadron mates was in the "Winter Quarter" issue of "The Hook"...a magazine published by the U.S Navy Tailhook Association.

To read it, go to the link: http://www.tailhook.net/Wi09Streetcar.htm

****Listen to Kenny's Veteran's Day 16 minute radio interview at:

http://www.podbean.com/podcast-detail?pid=53127

****For Veteran's Day, Kenny will do a live, on-air, radio interview with a Chicago area station on

Tuesday, Nov 10th at 6:11 p.m. If you can, listen on WLRP, 89.1 F.M....

****Kenny's booksigning at Notre Dame U. was a total sell-out....

****Received sad news that Kenny's wingman in the Streetcar 304 story...Fred Lentz...aka "Iceman"...passed away on Nov 1st. Iceman and Kenny flew many other harrowing missions together after their first fateful one and "Ice" will be sorely missed as a friend and fellow combat warrior. Iceman was a true patriot with over 200 combat missions....

****Kenny will do a two day book signing in the Notre Dame University book store on November 6th,

1-3 p.m., and on the 7th, 11:30-1:30 p.m., as part of the Notre Dame-Navy football game weekend events. Plus, a live, on-air interview with WSBT radio on Saturday morning at 9:50 a.m.....

"Go Navy...!!!"

****Kenny will give a book talk in the Yankeetown, FL public library on Oct 22nd at 7 p.m. A book signing will follow.....and books will be available for purchase.

Older News....

****Kenny has a "Facebook" page so add him---Kenny Wayne Fields--- to your "friend's list" if you use that site.

****It's summer and time for baseball and hotdogs....Saturday, July 25th, is "Military Appreciation

Night" at the Kannapolis, NC Intimidators "Cannon Stadium" baseball field (Single A affiliate of

Chicago White Sox). I feel very honored to have been invited to throw out the first pitch,

and all veterans in attendance will have the opportunity to line the base paths for recognition

as I do so. At my request, all veterans will receive four free tickets that night...at the gate...

for admission to the game.

****Just as many readers of "Streetcar 304" predicted, several movie producers have recently expressed interest in the book story as a movie. Minor interest thus far but enough at least to warrant further evaluation by them of the story's merit for a movie.

****Kenny spent the weekend of June 20th in the mountains around Evanston, KY where he attended school for four years...to gain further research for his next book. Evanston is near Prestonsburg. The following weekend, he was in and around the greater Cincinnati, OH area for further research...interviewing team-mates about their state championship baseball season in 1955.

****Visit our new web page to the left..."Memorial Day"....which contains a short story by Kenny.

****Kenny's book signing event at the Smithsonian Museum of American History in DC on April 5th

was a rousing success. For those who haven't yet seen the renovated history museum, put it on

your list of things to do.

****On Feb 22nd, Kenny was a guest on the Charles Heller "Liberty Watch" radio show, KVOI in

Tuczon, AZ. The radio interview is archived and can be heard via the internet at

www.libertywatchradio.com/listen until March 22nd.

****In late November 2008, Kenny (Streetcar 304) and Pete (Nail 69) returned to re-visit the scene

where the story took place---Tchepone in Laos. We actually walked around the battle field...

found the site of Kenny's A-7 wreckage...dug up a few small parts of it to bring home...and talked

to the villagers who live near-by. While in Laos, a producer of documentaries did a video interview

of both Streetcar 304 and Nail 69 and he is trying to get funding for a full documentary film about

the rescue story. Check out the trip photos on the "Laos" page on this site---upper left menu.

****At an annual award banquet on October 16th, Kenny's publisher, Naval Institute Press,

presented him with their "2008 Author of the Year---2nd Place" award for "The Rescue of

Streetcar 304". Click here to read more and view photo...THE RESCUE OF STREETCAR 304

****On October 11th, Kenny was inducted into the Lincoln Memorial University "Literary Hall of

Fame" in Harrogate, TN.

****The publisher released a full sized, "trade" paperback version of the book in November '08 and

it's now available for orders on-line at www.amazon.com etc at a reduced price, $13.59, plus shipping...or, in most bookstores for $19.99

****The September 2008 issue of "Air & Space Magazine" had a very favorable review

about the "Streetcar 304" book. Called it a "gripping narrative...." And, while signing books

recently at the Smithsonian Air and Space Museums in Washington, DC, Kenny was told by

the staff that "The Rescue of Streetcar 304" was the museum's "top selling book for 2007."

****Kenny has a new "blog" page on amazon.com so, to check out his current thoughts

and view points, go to:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/blog/A3EHPF3M4M99XA/ref=cm_blog_dp_artist_blog .

Author's future/past book events....

2010....

June 1-5 One of 14 honoree "Eagles" at the U.S. Air Force Air Command & Staff College

29th annual "Gathering of Eagles" event at Maxwell AFB in Montgomery, AL.

June 2 2:30-5:30, Book signing in the Maxwell AFB exchange store

Nov 11 Veteran's Day speaker at the Braxton County, WV event. More later....

2009....

Feb 22, 1pm Live radio interview with Charles Heller, KVOI, Tucson, AZ

Apr 5, 10am-5pm Smithsonian Museum of American History/book signing

Apr 6, 10am-5pm Smithsonian Udvar/Hazy Aviation Museum, book signing

Apr 6, 6pm-9pm Commemorative Air Force meeting, Leesburg, VA/book presentation

May 7, Noon Naval Aviation Museum Foundation Symposium, speaker/book signing

May 16, 7 p.m. Speaker at annual ROTC dinner, South Point H.S., Rock Hill, SC

May 22, 8:30am Live radio interview with WJCW, 910 AM, in Johnson City, TN

May 24, 2:30 p.m. Guest Speaker, Jonesborough, TN, Memorial Day event, book signing, visitor's center

July 13, 7p.m. Lion's Club, Mooresville, NC, after dinner speaker

July 25, 7p.m. Throw out 1st pitch at Kannapolis, NC "Intimidators" minor league baseball game

Oct 22, 7p.m. Book presentation/reading/signing at Yankeetown, FL public library

Nov 6, 1pm-3pm Book signing in the Notre Dame University campus book store

Nov 7, 11:30-1:30 Book signing in the Notre Dame University campus book store

2008....

Oct 4th Homer Hickam's "October Sky Festival, Coalwood, WV, book signing

Oct 11th Induction into "Literary Hall of Fame", Lincoln Memorial U., Harrogate, TN

Oct 14th Navy NCIS School staff/students, Glynco, GA., story presentation/book signing

Nov 5th MOAA Branch meeting, Davidson, NC, story presentation/book signing

Nov 7th Matthews, NC Library, story presentation/book signing. Public event...

Nov 16th Barnes & Noble book store, Birkdale Village Shopping center, Huntersville, NC

Nov 21st Streetcar 304 & Nail 69 re-visited the battle scene near Tchepone, Laos

Dec 4th Harrisburg, NC Library, story presentation/book signing

Dec 5th "Main Street Books" store, Davidson, NC/book signing

Dec 6th Fort Jackson Army Base PX store, Columbia, SC, book signing

Dec 7th Borders Book store, Northlake Mall, Charlotte, NC

Dec 11th Virginia Military Institute (VMI), Lexington, VA, book store for signings

Dec 12th Smithsonian Air & Space Museum, Washington, DC/book signing

Dec 13th Smithsonian Udvar/Hazy Aviation Museum, book signing

Dec 14th Leesburg, VA Thomas Balch Library, story presentation/book signing

Dec 20th Books-a-Million, Concord Mills Shopping Mall, book signing

*********************

Click on the "Book Signings" page, upper left

page menu, for more of the author's past events....

**********************

AUTOGRAPHED COPIES OF BOOK...

Do you want to buy a book and have it personally

autographed by Kenny? Our local, friendly book

store, Main Street Books in Davidson, North

Carolina, can provide a paperback version for $22.00 which includes book, autograph and free shipping within the USA. Simply call Betty or Barbara at 704 892-6841 to buy one with your credit card.

Enjoy our site...Enjoy our book...
      You'll find that real heroes
           still exist in America.

Check the page menu box at
the upper left for "more pages"....

On-line Orders are accepted by Kenny's

publisher, Naval Institute Press, in the book

section at www.usni.org , or call USNI to order at 800-233-8764.

332 pg., 32 photos, 2 maps, 6” x 9”
ISBN: 978-1-59114-272-0

Available in Hardback or full-sized, paperback version.

Or, order either version on-line (new or used) at:

"Fasten your seatbelt before reading..."

"THE RESCUE OF STREETCAR 304"---A Navy Pilot's Forty Hours on the Run in Laos by Kenny Wayne Fields