The New Canaan Men’s Club will welcome U.S. Army veteran and former commercial airline pilot Francis Doherty as its featured speaker on Friday, where he will share his firsthand experiences flying covert reconnaissance missions during the Vietnam War. The meeting will take place at 10 a.m. in Morrill Hall at St. Mark’s Episcopal Church, with Doherty’s presentation beginning at approximately 10:40 a.m.
Doherty, a New Canaan resident and 1967 graduate of the University of San Francisco, served as a pilot for the U.S. Army, flying classified missions over Laos and Cambodia. Piloting a Cessna O-1 Bird Dog, a single-engine, unarmed reconnaissance aircraft, he was responsible for locating enemy troop movements and directing strikes by F-4 Phantom jets. The missions, part of the clandestine Studies and Observations Group (S.O.G.) operations, were often conducted under extreme danger, with pilots encountering relentless enemy fire from AK-47s and 51-caliber anti-aircraft guns.
His experiences are detailed in his memoir, Only the Light Moves: Flying Covert Reconnaissance Missions in the Vietnam War, published in 2023 by Pen and Sword. The book provides an unvarnished account of the war, describing not only the high-risk missions but also the psychological challenges he and his fellow pilots faced. The Journal of the Air Force Historical Foundation called his accounts “hair-raising,” praising his ability to capture both the tactical and emotional dimensions of his service.
Doherty’s memoir, however, is more than a war story—it is also a deeply personal reflection on aviation and its connection to family. His father, a TWA captain during the golden age of commercial flight, inspired his early interest in flying. Following his service in Vietnam, Doherty continued his aviation career, becoming a commercial airline pilot for 32 years. In Only the Light Moves, he explores the transition from military to civilian aviation and the lasting impact of war on those who serve.
His presentation at the Men’s Club will cover both the technical aspects of his missions and the broader themes of duty, sacrifice, and the struggles of reintegration into civilian life. Doherty will also discuss the personal toll of combat and the loss of fellow soldiers, as well as the resilience required to move forward.
The New Canaan Men’s Club provides weekly programs featuring distinguished speakers from a variety of fields. Membership is open to local men aged 55 and older. Those interested in joining can email ncmens@ncmens.club for more information.
