Helicopter History Timeline
The Rotary-Wing Era Begins
1935- The U.S. Army bought a Kellett KD-1 "autogyro" for evaluation and designated it the YG-1A, S/N 36-352, making it the first practical "rotary-wing" aircraft used by the U.S. Army. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kellett_KD-1)
| TIME FRAME | HISTORY |
|---|---|
| ~~"ROTARY-WING" ERA BEGINS~~ | |
| 1935 - | The U.S. Army bought a Kellett KD-1 autogyro for evaluation and designated it the YG-1A, s/n 36-352, making it the FIRST practical "rotary-wing" aircraft used by the U.S. Army. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kellett_KD-1 |
| ~~HELICOPTER ERA BEGINS~~ | |
| 1939 - August 25 | The U.S. Army Material Division published the first specifications for an USAAF helicopter. http://airandspace.si.edu/collections/artifact.cfm?id=A19600305000 |
| 1939 - September 14 | On this day in aviation history the FIRST flyable helicopter, piloted by Igor Sikorsky, the Sikorsky V-300, makes its FIRST flight. Air Classics Magazine, Vol. 49 Number 10 |
| 1940 - May 27 | The USAAF helicopter evaluation board met to review bids to build "a rotary wing aircraft in the interest of adequate national defense." http://airandspace.si.edu/collections/artifact.cfm?id=A19600305000 |
| 1940 - July ?? | Igor Sikorsky invited Army Air Corps helicopter project officer, Major Frank Gregory to fly the one-of-a-kind demonstrator VS-300 (S-46). Gregory became the first American military helicopter pilot. Sikorskyarchives.com |
| 1940 - July 10 | Platt-LePage was chosen and accepted a government contract worth nearly $500,000 to produce the PL-3 under the USAAF designation XR-1. http://airandspace.si.edu/collections/artifact.cfm?id=A19600305000 |
| 1941 - June 23 | Platt-LePage XR-1 makes its FIRST 'un-tethered' flight making it the first helicopter to be tested by the AAF. http://airandspace.si.edu/collections/artifact.cfm?id=A19600305000 |
| 1942 - January 13 | The Sikorsky XR-4, #41-18874 makes its FIRST flight. Air Classics Magazine, Vol. 49 Number 10 |
| 1942 - April 20 | The Sikorsky XR-4 makes its FIRST demonstration to military officials; it is declared ready for delivery. http://helicopter-history.org/1941.html |
| 1942 - May 17 | This day in military aviation history Igor I. Sikorsky's XR-4 helicopter, #41-18874, flown by Sikorsky and C. L. "Les" Morris, landed at Wright Field, Ohio, to complete delivery of the first Army Air Forces helicopter. They were met by Orville Wright when they arrived. It took more than 16 hours of flight time and 17 refueling stops to fly this fabric-covered, two-seat helicopter from Stratford, Connecticut to Riverside, Ohio. We are proud to hangar 3 Sikorsky helicopters in our collection. http://ow.ly/l9lfF Pacific Aviation Museum |
| 1942 - May 30 | The Sikorsky XR-4 Hoverfly, the prototype of the world's first production helicopter and the only U.S. helicopter to see action in World War II, is officially accepted by the Army Air Forces at Wright Field, Ohio. Air Force Magazine |
| 1942 - December 21 | The U. S. Army placed America's FIRST helicopter production contract with Sikorsky in 1942 for 15 YR-4A helicopters (Sikorsky designation S-47) of different variants. http://www.sikorsky.com/About+Sikorsky/News/Press+Details?pressvcmid=b57213333f778410VgnVCM1000004f62529fRCRD |
| 1943 - January 22 | The USAAF orders 900 R-6A's for liaison and rescue operations. http://helicopter-history.org/1941.html |
| 1943 - May 6–7 | Flying the Army’s Vought-Sikorsky XR-4, 41-18874 to determine the feasibility of operating helicopters from the decks of merchant ships for antisubmarine patrols, Colonel Hollingsworth Franklin (“Frank”) Gregory, U.S. Army Air Corps, made 23 landings and takeoffs from the tanker SS Bunker Hill in Long Island Sound. https://www.thisdayinaviation.com/6-7-may-1943/ |
| 1943 - May 26 | The USAAF orders 250 R-5A's for Anti-Submarine Warfare/utility work and 100 R-4B's for use as trainers. http://helicopter-history.org/1941.html |
| 1943 - May 30 | The Sikorsky XR-4 Hoverfly, the prototype of the world's FIRST production helicopter and the only U.S. helicopter to see action in World War II, is officially accepted by the Army Air Forces at Wright Field, Ohio. Air Force Magazine |
| 1943 - July 03 | The first Sikorsky YR-4A was delivered. Sikorskyarchives.com |
| 1943 - August 18 | The Sikorsky XR-5, two seat helicopter, makes its first flight. http://helicopter-history.org/1941.html & Sikorskyarchives.com |
| 1943 - August 18 | The Sikorsky XR-5 makes its FIRST flight. http://helicopter-history.org/1941.html |
| 1943 - October 07 | YH-4B #42-107236 crewed by unkn (P) and unkn (CP) crashed. No other details are known currently. http://warbirdinformationexchange.org/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=57904 |
| 1943 - October 15 | The Sikorsky XR-6 makes its FIRST flight. http://helicopter-history.org/1941.html |
| 1943 - September 11 | The USAAF issued a contract for the Kellett XR-8 "Synchropter" twin-rotor design for testing. Air Classics Magazine, Vol. 49 Number 10 |
| 1944 – March 02 | A Sikorsky XR-6A helicopter flew non-stop from Washington, D.C. to Patterson Field in Dayton Ohio a distance of 387 miles in 4 hours 55 minutes with a ground speed of 80 mph. The flight crossed the Allegheny Mountains at an altitude of 5,000 feet. The pilot was Colonel Frank Gregory, and the passenger was Ralph Alex, the Sikorsky project engineer. World records for speed, distance and endurance by a helicopter were eclipsed by this flight. No other details are available at this time. |
| 1944 - April 25-26 | The FIRST recorded use of a helicopter as rescue aircraft by the U.S. Military took place in the China-Burma-India Theater of World War II. A Sikorsky-built YR-4B helicopter, piloted by 2nd Lt. Carter Harman, was used in April 1944 in a dramatic rescue of a downed L-1 pilot, TSgt. Ed. "Murphy" Hladovcak, and three wounded British soldiers in the jungles of Burma. The fledgling aircraft was under-powered, which was only made worse by the heat and humidity of the jungle. Three trips were necessary to evacuate the men. AAF Col. Philip Cochran, commander of the 1st Air Commando Group, later writes, "Today, the 'eggbeater' went into action and the damn thing acted like it had good sense." Air Force Magazine & http://history.com/videos/first-combat-helicopter#first-combat-helicopter & "Any Time, Any Place" by Philip D. Chinnery |
| 1944 - June 20 | The Platt-LePage XR-1A is delivered to Wright Field, OH. two years behind schedule. http://helicopter-history.org/1941.html |
| 1944 - June 30 | 1944 – June 30; AAFTC initiated helicopter training at Freeman Army Airfield, IN. in June 1944. Freeman was the FIRST helicopter base in the AAF, the first instructor pilots arrived on 30 June and preparations for the helicopter training were made in great secrecy, as in 1944 very few people had seen one and the technology was new and revolutionary. The group assigned to coordinate their arrival was known as "Section B-O". A total of six Sikorsky R-4A helicopters were assigned for training, flown directly to Freeman from the Sikorsky plant at Bridgeport, Connecticut. This was the longest long-distance flight of helicopters at the time. The first helicopter class began training in July, graduating on 13 August. The training program continued throughout the balance of 1944, the last class (44-K) graduating on 1 February 1945. In January 1945, AAFTC moved the training to Chanute Field, Illinois, so it could consolidate the flying training operation with helicopter mechanic training. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Freeman_Army_Airfield |
| 1944 - September 06 | The helicopter school at Freeman Field, IN. opens. http://helicopter-history.org/1941.html |
| 1944 - October 11 | The USAAF's 1st Aircraft Repair Unit (Floating) departs for the Pacific. This is the first unit to deploy to a combat zone with helicopters as standard equipment. http://helicopter-history.org/1941.html |
| 1944 - October 20 | Sikorsky News reported an impromptu medical evacuation mission when an R-4, believed to be operating from a helicopter school at Freeman Field, IN., landed near dense woods to recover an injured student pilot. No additional details are available at this time. Sikorskyarchives.com |
| 1944 - October 26 | The sole Platt-LePage XR-1A helicopter, #42-6581, is damaged in an accident at Wright Field, OH. It was shipped back to the manufacturer, and it was declared surplus following the end of WW II. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_accidents_and_incidents_involving_military_aircraft_(1940%E2%80%931944) |
| 1944 - November 04 | An Army helicopter enroute from Wright Field, Dayton, OH. to Alexandria, LA., crewed by 1st Lt. Harold H. Hermes (P) and Sgt. Thomas E. Wise, encountering engine trouble, while flying at about 700 feet, and crashed in a field 20 miles southeast of Shreveport, LA. when the pilot attempted a forced landing. The crew escaped with bruises and cuts and the helicopter was destroyed. Lubbock Avalanche-Journal (Lubbock, TX.), Sun, Nov 5, 1944, page 22 |
| 1944 - November 07 | XR-5 #43-28238, crewed by unkn (P), unkn (CP) crashed at Barksdale Field, LA. No other details are known at this time. http://warbirdinformationexchange.org/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=57904 |
| 1944 - December 01 | The helicopter school moves to Chanute Field, IL. http://helicopter-history.org/1941.html & http://www.ebay.com/itm/Chanute-Field-Army-Air-Forces-Training-Command-1943-yearbook-RARE-/321109833043/?_ul=PA |
| 1945 - January 22 | The 10th Air Force Jungle Rescue Unit receives a YR-4B from Wright Field for rescue operations in Burma and later performs the FIRST special operations helicopter mission (see next entry). http://helicopter-history.org/1941.html |
| 1945 – April 20 | YR-6A's of the 8th ERS, formed in China in April 1945, as the first official USAAF helicopter rescue unit. The five Sikorsky R-6A's attached to the 14th Air Force provided essential search and rescue services for aircraft crossing "The Hump" into China during the final months of World War II. http://www2.afsoc.af.mil/library/afsocheritage/afsoccsarheritage.asp |
| 1945 – May 01 | |
| 1945 – June 01 | The Army Air Forces Training Command moved the helicopter pilot training from Chanute Field, IL. to Sheppard Field, TX. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chanute_Air_Force_Base |
| 1945 - June 16-29 | R-4B's and R-6A's of the 5th and 6th Aircraft Repair Units (Floating) medevac 70 wounded soldiers from frontlines on Luzon. http://helicopter-history.org/1941.html |
| 1945 - June 18 | YR-4B #42-107236, crewed by unkn (P) and unkn (CP) crashed at Zimmerman, OH. No other details are known currently. http://warbirdinformationexchange.org/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=57904 |
| 1945 - June 20 | YR-6A #43-45339, crewed by unkn (P) and unknown (CP) was involved in an accident at Wright Field. No other details are known currently. http://warbirdinformationexchange.org/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=57904 |
| 1945 - July 26 | YR-4B #42-107237, crewed by unkn(P) and unknown (CP), crashed in Burma Jul 26, 1945. It had been flown by C-54 from Wright Field in Ohio to Burma by order of General Arnold, urgently needed to rescue the crew of a B-25 that had crashed in the Burma jungle. |
| 1945 - November 29 | The FIRST helicopter rescue using a rescue hoist occurred on this date when an U.S. Army Air Force YR-5A crewed by Capt. Jackson E. Beighle (P) and the chief pilot of the Sikorsky aircraft division of United Aircraft Corp., Mr. D. D. Viner (CP) rescued two crewmen, Capt. Joseph Pawlick and seaman Steve Penninger, of a stranded piled-up on Penfield reef during a lashing gale. The tanker barge had piled up on the reef and lay helpless as ten-foot waves smashed over the deck. When the helicopter arrived, they lowered a weighted line with a message inquiring whether help was needed or not. Capt. Pawlick scrawled on the paper: “The barge has got leaks in about eight tanks. The cabin is full of water and the barge is in danger of breaking up”. The helicopter crew returned to shore and switched to a helicopter that had a rescue hoist installed and returned where they picked up seaman Penninger and took him to shore, then returned to pick up Capt. Pawlick and flew him, dangling from the hoist barely above the tops of the waves, to shore, to complete the FIRST helicopter hoist rescue. The Kansas City Times (Kansas City, Missouri), 30 Nov 1945, Fri. Page 2 |
| 1945 – December 13 | R-6A #43-45410 (Call sign "Windmill 61") from the 2nd Emergency Rescue Squadron at Clark AB, P.I., crewed by 2nd Lt. Louis A. Carle, rescued an injured Filipino man at Tagaewayan and delivered him to the 312th General Hospital in Manila. http://www.pbyrescue.org/ |
| 1946 - January 08 | R-6A #43-45387, piloted by Edward W. Ciccolella, was involved in an accident at Clark Field, PI. No other details available currently. http://www.accident-report.com/Yearly/1946/4601.html |
| 1946 - January 11 | XR-6A #43-28240, piloted by James W. Couperthwaite, was involved in an accident about 5 miles south of Jacksonville Airport, FL. No other details available currently. http://www.accident-report.com/Yearly/1946/4601.html |
| 1946 - January 15 | YR-5A #43-46616, piloted by Willard A. Patterson, was involved in an accident at Ladd Field, AK. No other details available currently. http://www.accident-report.com/Yearly/1946/4601.html |
| 1946 - February 08 | R-4B #43-46523, piloted by Robert W. Loard, was involved in an accident at Sheppard Field, TX. No other details available currently. http://www.accident-report.com/Yearly/1946/4602.html |
| 1946 - February 08 | R-6A #43-45532, piloted by Gerald R. Vacca, was involved in an accident at Orlando AAF, FL. No other details available currently. http://www.accident-report.com/Yearly/1946/4602.html |
| 1946 - February 28 | YR-5A #43-46616, piloted by Edwin A. Stevenson, was involved in an accident at Crane Lake, AK. No other details available currently. http://www.accident-report.com/Yearly/1946/4602.html |
| 1946 - March 13 | Headquarters Air Rescue Service (HQ. ARS) was established at Andrews Field, Maryland, and was assigned to the Air Transport Command (ATC). The primary mission of ARS was search and rescue (SAR) activity within the United States. http://www.afsoc.af.mil/shared/media/document/AFD-070906-042.pdf |
| 1946 - March 24 | R-4B #43-46571, piloted by Henry J. Kowalik, was involved in an accident at Koza, Okinawa. No other details available currently. http://www.accident-report.com/Yearly/1946/4603.html |
| 1946 - April 04 | R-6A #43-45465, piloted by Owen A. Niehaus, was involved in an accident at Ladd Field, AK. No other details available currently. http://www.accident-report.com/Yearly/1946/4604.html |
| 1946 - April 12 | YR-5A #43-46610, piloted by Thomas J. Fowler, was involved in an accident at Brooks Field, TX. No other details available currently. http://www.accident-report.com/Yearly/1946/4604.html |
| 1946 - April 30 | R-6A #43-45385, piloted by Philip S. Hester, was involved in an accident at Sheppard Field, TX. No other details available currently. http://www.accident-report.com/Yearly/1946/4604.html |
| 1946 - May 08 | R-6A #43-45516, piloted by Albert J. Newhauser, was involved in an accident at Sheppard Field, TX. No other details available currently. http://www.accident-report.com/Yearly/1946/4605.html |
| 1946 - May 10 | R-5A #43-46635, piloted by Harold G. Sommer, was involved in an accident at MacDill Field, FL. No other details available currently. http://www.accident-report.com/Yearly/1946/4605.html |
| 1946 - May 22 | R-6A #43-45514, piloted by Alonzo W. Parrott, was involved in an accident at Jolly, TX. No other details available currently. http://www.accident-report.com/Yearly/1946/4605.html |
| 1946 - May 28 | R-5A #43-46629, piloted by Edward H. Frost, was involved in an accident at San Bernardino AAF, CA. No other details available currently. http://www.accident-report.com/Yearly/1946/4605.html |
| 1946 - May 29 | Col. Wallace S. Ford became the FIRST commander of ARS. http://www.afsoc.af.mil/shared/media/document/AFD-070906-042.pdf |
| 1946 - June 03 | A world record speed for a helicopter was claimed at Wright Field, Dayton, OH. after a R-5 Sikorsky helicopter piloted by Lt. Col. Keith S. Wilson established at speed of 110 miles per hour over a 12-mile course. The Evening Star, Bradford, PA., Tuesday Evening, June 4, 1946 |
| 1946 - June 06 | An Air Force helicopter, crewed by Capt. J. E. Steiner, crashed on a farm near Wright Field. Capt. Steiner was not injured. The Circleville Herald (Circleville, OH.), Fri, Jun 7, 1946, page 10 |
| 1946 - June 12 | YR-5A #43-46625, piloted by Robert W. Lord, was involved in an accident at San Marcos AAF, TX. No other details available currently. http://www.accident-report.com/Yearly/1946/4606.html |
| 1946 - June 18 | YR-6A #43-45394, piloted by Harry K. Bayless, was involved in an accident at San Marcos AAF, TX. No other details available currently. http://www.accident-report.com/Yearly/1946/4606.html |
| 1946 - June 19 | YR-5A #43-46605, piloted by Eugene F. Hutchins, was involved in an accident about 20 miles SW of Lake City, FL. No other details available currently. http://www.accident-report.com/Yearly/1946/4606.html |
| 1946 - June 21 | YR-6A #43-45350, piloted by John H. Pullin, was involved in an accident at San Marcos AAF, TX. No other details available currently. http://www.accident-report.com/Yearly/1946/4606.html |
| 1946 - July 01 | HQ. ARS moved from Washington, DC area to Morrison Field, FL. http://www.afsoc.af.mil/shared/media/document/AFD-070906-042.pdf |
| 1946 - July 11 | R-6A #43-45510, piloted by John L. Puller, was involved in an accident at Randolph Field, TX. No other details available currently. http://www.accident-report.com/Yearly/1946/4607.html |
| 1946 - July 11 | A YR-4B #2107237 crewed by unkn (P) crashed in Burma on this date. No other details are available at this time. The National Archives |
| 1946 - August 01 | R-6D #43-46641, piloted by Edward H. Frost, was involved in an accident about 4 miles NNW of Redlands, CA. No other details available currently. http://www.accident-report.com/Yearly/1946/4608.html |
| 1946 - August 07 | R-5A #43-46629, piloted by James E. Chudars, was involved in an accident at March Field, CA. No other details available currently. http://www.accident-report.com/Yearly/1946/4608.html |
| 1946 - September 11 | XR-9B #46-001, piloted by Ernest W. Cassell, was involved in an accident at Wright Field, OH. No other details available currently. http://www.accident-report.com/Yearly/1946/4609.html |
| 1946 - September 16 | R-6A #43-45372, piloted by Wayne W. Eggert, was involved in an accident about 2 miles south of Naha, Okinawa. No other details available currently. http://www.accident-report.com/Yearly/1946/4609.html |
| 1946 - September 27 | R-5D #43-46651, piloted by Horold G. Sommer, was involved in an accident at New Castle AAF, DE. No other details available currently. http://www.accident-report.com/Yearly/1946/4609.html |
| 1946 - October 24 | R-6A #43-45372 was damaged in an accident at Kadena AB, Okinawa. No other details available currently. http://www.accident-report.com/Yearly/1946/4610.html |
| 1946 - October 24 | R-6A #43-45402 was damaged in an accident at Kadena AB, Okinawa. No other details available currently. http://www.accident-report.com/Yearly/1946/4610.html |
| 1946 - November 21 | YR-5D #43-46649, piloted by John F. Conn, was involved in an accident about 1 mile SE of New Germany, OH. No other details available currently. http://www.accident-report.com/Yearly/1946/4611.html |
| 1946 - December 01 | Colonel Richard T. Knight assumed command of ARS. https://www.airandspaceforces.com/PDF/DocumentFile/Documents/2005/ARRSchrono1946-1981_011583.pdf |
| 1946 - December 06 | R-5D #43-46659, crewed by 1st Lt. Jack E. Burlage (P), 1st Lt. Robert L. Boyce (CP), Pvt. Richard W. Soper & Pvt. Thomas J. Rippingale, as it was taking off and struck a ramp at San Marcos AAF, TX. After hitting the ramp, the helicopter turned over on its side and caught fire. Lt. Burlage managed to climb out unhurt, but three others were trapped in the wreckage. He clambered onto the machine and opened an escape and began to lift out one of his companions. As he did so, the helicopter's gas tank exploded, spraying Burlage with burning fuel. He fell from the burning helicopter and rolled on the ground to put out the flames. The three trapped men died in the wreckage and Lt. Burlage died of his burns on Dec 07. http://www.armyaircrews.com/other.html |
| 1946 - December 12 | R-6A #43-45399, piloted by Patrick H. Winston, was involved in an accident at Kipapa Field, HI. No other details available currently. http://www.accident-report.com/Yearly/1946/4612.html |
| 1946 - December 21 | YR13 #46-229, piloted by unkn, was involved in an accident in Ohio. No other details are known currently. Accident List |
| 1947 - February 03 | R-6A #43-45355, piloted by Floyd Annas, was involved in an accident about 2 miles north of Clark Field, PI. No other details available currently. http://www.accident-report.com/Yearly/1947/4702.html |
| 1947 - February 13 | YR-6A #43-45339, piloted by Raymond N. Gottfried, was involved in an accident at Wright Field, OH. No other details available currently. http://www.accident-report.com/Yearly/1947/4702.html |
| 1947 - March 01 | YR-13 #46-230, piloted by Thomas S. Rankin, was involved in an accident at about 8 miles NE of Sparta, WI. No other details available currently. http://www.accident-report.com/Yearly/1947/4703.html |
| 1947 - March 18 | YR-13 #46-234, piloted by Ernest M. Cassell, was involved in an accident at Patterson Field, OH. No other details available currently. http://www.accident-report.com/Yearly/1947/4703.html |
| 1947 - April 17 | R-5D #43-46641, piloted by Francis A. Waterhouse, was involved in an accident at Biggs Field, TX. No other details available currently. http://www.accident-report.com/Yearly/1947/4704.html |
| 1947 - April 27 | R-13 #44-6261, piloted by J. Y. Hammack, was involved in an accident at Pope Field, NC. No other details available currently. http://www.accident-report.com/Yearly/1947/4704.html |
| 1947 - April 29 | R-5D #43-46653, piloted by William E. Zins, was involved in an accident at Wright Field, OH. No other details available currently. http://www.accident-report.com/Yearly/1947/4704.html |
| 1947 - May 01 | R-6A #43-45376, piloted by Joseph E. Barrell, was involved in an accident at San Marcos Aux., TX. No other details available currently. http://www.accident-report.com/Yearly/1947/4705.html |
| 1947 - May 01 | R-6A #43-45395, piloted by Billy J. Gault, was involved in an accident at San Marcos Aux., TX. No other details available currently. http://www.accident-report.com/Yearly/1947/4705.html |
| 1947 - May 13 | YR-13 #46-239, piloted by John A. Bollard, was involved in an accident at Niagara Falls Airport, NY. No other details available currently. http://www.accident-report.com/Yearly/1947/4705.html |
| 1947 - June 13 | R-6A #43-45510, piloted by Franks S. Silo, was involved in an accident at San Marcos AAF, TX. No other details available currently. http://www.accident-report.com/Yearly/1947/4706.html |
| 1947 - June 24 | R-6A #43-45394, piloted by John C. Lindsay, was involved in an accident at San Marcos AAF, TX. No other details available currently. http://www.accident-report.com/Yearly/1947/4706.html |
| 1947 - June 27 | R-6A #43-45384, piloted by Vincent H. McGovern, was involved in an accident at Marshall Field, KS. No other details available currently. http://www.accident-report.com/Yearly/1947/4706.html |
| 1947 - July 11 | R-6A #43-45406, piloted by John A. Price, was involved in an accident at San Marcos AAF, TX. No other details available currently. http://www.accident-report.com/Yearly/1947/4707.html |
| 1947 - July 14 | HQ. ARS moved from Morrison Field to MacDill Field, FL. http://www.afsoc.af.mil/shared/media/document/AFD-070906-042.pdf |
| 1947 - August 20 | R-6A #43-45406, piloted by Raymond L. Hausmann, was involved in an accident at San Marcos AAF, TX. No other details available currently. http://www.accident-report.com/Yearly/1947/4708.html |
| 1947 - September 18 | Under the National Security Act of 1947, the United States Air Force, initially part of the United States Army, was formed a separate branch on the military. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Air_Force |
| 1947 - October 02 | An Army Air Forces Sikorsky R-5 helicopter has made the AAF's first rescue mission above the Arctic Circle, flying to Bettles, Alaska, 185 miles northwest of Fairbanks, to rescue George Plucinski, a stranded trapper. The Paris News, Paris, TX., Thursday, October 2, 1946, page 4 |
| 1947 - October 17 | R-6A #43-45355, piloted by William A. Bailey, was involved in an accident at Clark Field, PI. No other details available currently. http://www.accident-report.com/Yearly/1947/4710.html |
| 1947 - November 24 | R-6A #43-45483, piloted by Walter F. White, was involved in an accident at Elmendorf Field, AK. No other details available currently. http://www.accident-report.com/Yearly/1947/4711.html |
| 1947 - December 01 | HQ. ARS moved from MacDill Field, FL. to Gravelly Point, Washington, DC.http://www.afsoc.af.mil/shared/media/document/AFD-070906-042.pdf |
| 1947 - December 16 | R-6E #43-46614, piloted by Walter M. Coble, was involved in an accident about 11 miles north of San Marcos, TX. No other details available currently. http://www.accident-report.com/Yearly/1947/4712.html |
| 1948 - January 02 | YH-5D #43-46651, piloted by Wilbur E. Place, was involved in an accident at Wright-Patterson AFB, OH. No other details available currently. http://www.accident-report.com/Yearly/1948/4801.html |
| 1948 - January 26 | YH-13 #46-247, piloted by Robert C. Chandler, was involved in an accident about 5 miles north of Fayetteville, NC. No other details available currently. http://www.accident-report.com/Yearly/1948/4801.html |
| 1948 - March 16 | H-5D #43-46648, piloted by Frank S. Sico, was involved in an accident at Everglades City, NY. No other details available currently. http://www.accident-report.com/Yearly/1948/4803.html |
| 1948 - March 25 | YH-5A #43-46623, piloted by Robert W. Barnhill, was involved in an accident about 23 miles east of Fairbanks, AK. No other details available currently. http://www.accident-report.com/Yearly/1948/4803.html |
| 1948 - April 07 | XH-12 #44-215, piloted by Owen Niehaus, was involved in an accident at Niagara Falls Airport, NY. No other details available currently. http://www.accident-report.com/Yearly/1948/4804.html |
| 1948 - April 15 | YH-6A #43-45333, piloted by John E. Tyman, was involved in an accident at San Marcos Aux., TX. No other details available currently. http://www.accident-report.com/Yearly/1948/4804.html |
| 1948 - April 26 | H-6A #43-45406, piloted by William B. Evans, was involved in an accident at San Marcos Aux., TX. No other details available currently. http://www.accident-report.com/Yearly/1948/4804.html |
| 1948 - April 29 | An Air Force helicopter from Elmendorf AFB, AK, crew unkn, rescued the pilot of a P-51, Lt. Ralph Van Kerhove, after he crashed landed his aircraft on mud flats about 20 miles west of Anchorage, AK. The San Bernardino County Sun (San Bernardino, California) Friday, April 30, 1949, page |
| 1948 - May 03 | H-5A #43-46626, piloted by Joseph A. Kuhn, was involved in an accident about 5 miles east of Palmer, CO. No other details available currently. http://www.accident-report.com/Yearly/1948/4805.html |
| 1948 - June 01 | ARS was transferred from ATC to the new Military Air Transport Service (MATS). ARS began to spread beyond the continental area. Flight were organized at Goose Bay in Labrador, Lajes Field in the Azores, Kindley Field in Bermuda, Dhahran Airfield in Saudi Arabia, and Wheelus Field in Libya. https://www.airandspaceforces.com/PDF/DocumentFile/Documents/2005/ARRSchrono1946-1981_011583.pdf |
| 1948 - June 09 | H-6A #43-45396, piloted by Arthur W. Beall, Jr., was involved in an accident at Hickam AFB, HI. No other details available currently. http://www.accident-report.com/Yearly/1948/4806.html |
| 1948 - June 10 | H-6A #43-45410, piloted by John A. Price, was involved in an accident at Clark AFB, PI. No other details available currently. http://www.accident-report.com/Yearly/1948/4806.html |
| 1948 - June 11 | Air Force Regulation 65-10 is published, which changes the designations for several Air Force aircraft. Fighters will now have the prefix "F" instead of "P" for pursuit (which dated back to 1925); reconnaissance aircraft will now be designated "R" instead of "F" ostensibly for "fotographic," (which dated back to 1930); and helicopters will now be designated "H" instead of "R" (for rotary wing). Air Force Magazine |
| 1948 - June 17 | H-6D #43-46656, piloted by Roy N. Casheer, was involved in an accident at San Marcos Aux., TX. No other details available currently. http://www.accident-report.com/Yearly/1948/4806.html |
| 1948 - June 21 | H-6A #43-45395, piloted by Harry J. Copsey, was involved in an accident at San Marcos AFB, TX. No other details available currently. http://www.accident-report.com/Yearly/1948/4806.html |
| 1948 - June 24 | YH-6A #43-45333, piloted by Raymond L. Hausmann, was involved in an accident at San Marcos AFB, TX. No other details available currently. http://www.accident-report.com/Yearly/1948/4806.html |
| 1948 - July 06 | An SH-6A arrived at Itami AB, Japan, crewed by 1st Lt. Joseph Cooper (P), SSgt. Carl Mika (FM) and Sgt. Arthur Parrish (FM), to become part of Flight D, 3rd Rescue group. No other details are known currently. Pacific Stars & Stripes, Aug. 08, 1948, pg. 5 |
| 1948 - July 06 | XH-12 #46-214, piloted by Owen Q. Niehaus, was involved in an accident at Niagara Falls Airport, NY. No other details available currently. http://www.accident-report.com/Yearly/1948/4807.html |
| 1948 - July 16 | YH-5A #43-46620, piloted by Russell M. Dobyns, was involved in an accident at MacDill AFB, FL. No other details available currently. http://www.accident-report.com/Yearly/1948/4807.html |
| 1948 - July 23 | YH-13 #46-245, piloted by Ivan M. Peller, was involved in an accident at San Marcos AFB, TX. No other details available currently. http://www.accident-report.com/Yearly/1948/4807.html |
| 1948 - August 12 | YH-5A #43-46622, piloted by Alexander P. Murphy, was involved in an accident about 20 miles NNW of Franklin, AK. No other details available currently. http://www.accident-report.com/Yearly/1948/4808.html |
| 1948 - August 21 | H-5F #47-489, piloted by William A. Weed, was involved in an accident about 57 miles NE of Palmer, AK. No other details available currently. http://www.accident-report.com/Yearly/1948/4808.html |
| 1948 - August 24 | H-5D #43-46657, piloted by Jack Batty, was involved in an accident at San Marcos AFB, TX. No other details available currently. http://www.accident-report.com/Yearly/1948/4808.html |
| 1948 - September 20 | H-6A #43-45414, piloted by Joseph D. Cooper, was involved in an accident at Itami AB, Japan. No other details available currently. http://www.accident-report.com/Yearly/1948/4809.html |
| 1948 - September 28 | XH-11 #45-9478, piloted by William R. Dubois, was involved in an accident at Grand Central Aviation, CA. No other details available currently. http://www.accident-report.com/Yearly/1948/4809.html |
| 1948 - October 05 | A helicopter from McCord Field Army Air Force base, crewed by unkn (P), unkn (CP), crashed landed near the Three Brothers peaks in the rugged Olympic Mountains, some 30 miles northwest of Bremerton, WA. Air Force officials said the men had signaled that the "were okay and sticking with their ship" and late in the afternoon a C-47 circled the helicopter crew and dropped survival kits. No other details are known currently. Daily Capital Journal (Salem, OR.), Wed, Oct 6, 1948, page 1 |
| 1948 - October 05 | H-5G #48-525, piloted by Eugene C. Gore, was involved in an accident about 10 miles NW of Eldon, VA. No other details available currently. http://www.accident-report.com/Yearly/1948/4810.html |
| 1948 - October 07 | SH-6 #43-45396, piloted by Herman T. Kennedy, was involved in an accident at Hickam AFB, HI. No other details available currently. http://www.accident-report.com/Yearly/1948/4810.html |
| 1948 - October 22 | YH-5A #43-46619 from Eglin AFB, FL., crewed by 1st Lt. William H. Major (P) and unkn (CP), crashed into the Gulf of Mexico near Destin, FL. The other unidentified officer on the helicopter was injured. No other details available at this time. http://www.accident-report.com/Yearly/1948/4810.html & Daily Capital Journal (Salem, OR.), Sat, Oct 23, 1948, page 9 |
| 1948 - November 05 | H-5G #48-533, piloted by John R. Neuenswander, was involved in an accident at Atkinson Field, BG. No other details available currently. http://www.accident-report.com/Yearly/1948/4811.html |
| 1948 - November 05 | H-6A #43-45399, piloted by Gil C. Jordan, was involved in an accident at Kadena AB, Okinawa. No other details available currently. http://www.accident-report.com/Yearly/1948/4811.html |
| 1948 - November 07 | XH-12 #44-91003, piloted by Charles W. Morgan, was involved in an accident about 2 miles south of Eglin AFB, FL. No other details available currently. http://www.accident-report.com/Yearly/1948/4811.html |
| 1948 - November 07 | XH-12 #44-9163, piloted by Lindell E. Hendrix, was involved in an accident about 4 miles NE of Eglin AFB, FL. No other details available currently. http://www.accident-report.com/Yearly/1948/4811.html |
| 1948 - November 18 | H-5D #43-46655, piloted by Mark R. Starr, was involved in an accident San Marcos AFB, TX. No other details available currently. http://www.accident-report.com/Yearly/1948/4811.html |
| 1948 - November 24 | H-5G #48-527, piloted by Harold G. Sommer, was involved in an accident about 33 miles north of Buchene, Newfoundland, FL. No other details available currently. http://www.accident-report.com/Yearly/1948/4811.html |
| 1948 - December 03 | YH-5A #43-46608, piloted by Gordon R. Inmen, was involved in an accident about 1 mile SE of Carolville, WI. No other details available currently. http://www.accident-report.com/Yearly/1948/4812.html |
| 1948 - December 16 | YH-6A #43-45339 was damaged at Wright-Patterson AFB, OH. No other details available currently. http://www.accident-report.com/Yearly/1948/4812.html |
| 1948 - December 21 | H-5F #47-483, piloted by John K. Connery, was involved in an accident about 17 miles SSE of Guntanamo, Cuba. No other details available currently. http://www.accident-report.com/Yearly/1948/4812.html |
| 1948 - December 21 | H-6A #43-45388, piloted by Joseph D. Cooper, was involved in an accident about 8 miles from Itami AB, Japan. No other details available currently. http://www.accident-report.com/Yearly/1948/4812.html |
| 1948 - December 22 | An Air Force helicopter, piloted by Lt. Charles Weir, flew through heavy snow and strong winds to rescue Mrs. Freida Johansen, an expectant mother, who had been marooned 24 hours on a gale-swept Alaskan lake about 35 miles southwest of Anchorage, AK. Austin America, Austin, Texas - Thursday, December 22, 1948 |
| 1949 - January 03 - March 15 | H-5's and YH-13's believed to be from the 2151st Rescue Unit at Lowry AFB, CO. participated in "Operation Hayride & Operation Snowbound"", a humanitarian airlift operation, air drooping food and medicine to stranded travelers and isolated residents who had became cut off due to a series of eighteen snowstorms and blizzards in 27 days that had hit the Rocky Mountain and upper Great Planes states of Colorado, Kansas, Nebraska, Nevada, North Dakota, South Dakota, Utah and Wyoming during December 1948. The USAF & Humanitarian Airlift Operations 1947-1994 by Daniel L. Haulma |
| 1949 - January 19 | A March AFB, CA., rescue squadron helicopter, crews unkn, drooped food and water to a radio technician, Myron Robertson, marooned for 10 days on a mountain top near Riverside. Roads to the mountain top are blocked by six inches of snow, drifted to two feet in places. Robertson telephoned that his food supply was getting low, and he had been melting snow for water, ordinarily trucked in. The San Bernardino County Sun (San Bernardino, California) – Thu, Jan 20, 1949, Page 1 |
| 1949 - February 18 | H-5D #43-46653, piloted by John R. Conn, was involved in an accident at Wright-Patterson AFB, OH. No other details available currently. http://www.accident-report.com/Yearly/1949/4902.html |
| 1949 - February 24 | H-5A #43-46638, piloted by Murl R. Chamberlain, was involved in an accident about 10 miles SE of Fairbanks, AK. No other details available currently. http://www.accident-report.com/Yearly/1949/4902.html |
| 1949 - March 04 | H-5E #43-46611, piloted by Harold W. Peterson, was involved in an accident at Wright-Patterson AFB, OH. No other details available currently. http://www.accident-report.com/Yearly/1949/4903.html |
| 1949 - March 07 | XH-9B (R-9B) #46-001, piloted by Raymond S. Popson, was involved in an accident at Wright-Patterson AFB, OH. No other details available currently. http://www.accident-report.com/Yearly/1949/4903.html |
| 1949 - March 15 | YH-13 #45-252, piloted by Harold H. Thomas, was involved in an accident at Waco AFB, TX. No other details available currently. http://www.accident-report.com/Yearly/1949/4903.html |
| 1949 - March 16 | H-5G #48-545, piloted by Richard P. Devine, was involved in an accident at Langley AFB, VA. No other details available currently. http://www.accident-report.com/Yearly/1949/4903.html |
| 1949 - April 07 | H-5G #48-529, piloted by Wilson T. Botner, was involved in an accident about 15 miles SSW of Madden Dam, Panama. No other details available currently. http://www.accident-report.com/Yearly/1949/4904.html |
| 1949 - May 09 | Sikorsky test pilot, Harold E. "Tommy" Thompson, was the FIRST to intentionally loop a helicopter when flying a Sikorsky S-52. http://1st-helicopter-loop.com |
| 1949 - May 10 | H-5G #48-550, crewed by Lt. Joseph E. Manosky (P) and Capt. Raymond E. Orford (CP), was involved in an accident at Lowry AFB, CO. Lt. Manosky was killed and his co-pilot, Raymond E. Oxford, was injured. The helicopter crashed near Denver's southeastern limits while on a training flight. No other details available currently. http://www.accident-report.com/Yearly/1949/4905.html & The Galveston Daily News (Galveston, TX.), Wed, May 11, 1949, page 4 & http://www.armyaircrews.com/other.html |
| 1949 - June 02 | H-5G #48-547, piloted by Alfred L. Keplt, was involved in an accident at Langley AFB, VA. No other details available currently. http://www.accident-report.com/Yearly/1949/4906.html |
| 1949 - June 11 | H-5F #48-487, piloted by Robert W. Branhill, was involved in an accident about 35 miles NW of Stevens Village, AK. No other details available currently. http://www.accident-report.com/Yearly/1949/4906.html |
| 1949 - June 19 | XH-12 #46-214, piloted by Kenneth D. Albert, was involved in an accident at Niagara Falls Airport, NY. No other details available currently. http://www.accident-report.com/Yearly/1949/4906.html |
| 1949 - July 10 | A USAF helicopter, crew unkn, From Fairbanks, AK, rescued Dr. and Mrs. Melville Cook and Bill Carrington near their plane, which had made a forced landing seven days earlier, in the Arctic about 50 miles northeast of Fort Yukon, AK. The Lincoln Star (Lincoln, Nebraska) Monday, July 11, 1949, page 5 |
| 1949 - July 28 | H-5A #43-46631, piloted by Jace Batty, was involved in an accident at March AFB, CA. No other details available currently. http://www.accident-report.com/Yearly/1949/4907.html |
| 1949 - July 30 | H-6A (R-6A) #43-45363, piloted by Joseph R. Eddleman, was involved in an accident about 2 miles west of Ashiya AB, Japan. No other details available currently. http://www.accident-report.com/Yearly/1949/4907.html |
| 1949 - August 03 | H-5A #43-46632, piloted by Edward E. Curran, was involved in an accident about 6 miles southwest of Elmendorf AFB, AK. No other details available currently. http://www.accident-report.com/Yearly/1949/4908.html |
| 1949 - August 29 | An USAF helicopter from March AFB, CA., piloted by Lt. Jack Batty, rescued a F-86 pilot, 2nd Lt. Robert E. Farley, from on top of a 3,200-foot peak in the San Bernardino Mountains, 21 miles east of Palm Springs, after he ejected from his spinning aircraft. Tucson Daily Citizen (Tucson, Arizona) Tuesday, August 30, 1949, page 1 |
| 1949 - August 31 | H-5G #48-534, piloted by James H. Devlin, was involved in an accident at Vernam Field, Jamaica. No other details available currently. http://www.accident-report.com/Yearly/1949/4908.html |
| 1949 - September 13 | H-5G #48-484, piloted by Edward J. Curley, was involved in an accident at James Connally AFB, TX. No other details available currently. http://www.accident-report.com/Yearly/1949/4909.html |
| 1949 - September 20 | H-5A #43-46604, piloted by Oscar N. Tibbetts, was involved in an accident about 18 miles east northeast of Engle, NM. No other details available at this time. http://www.accident-report.com/Yearly/1949/4909.html |
| 1949 - October 03 | XH-10 #45-22793, piloted by David J. Driskill, was involved in an accident about 2 miles south of Moorestown, NJ. No other details available currently. http://www.accident-report.com/Yearly/1949/4910.html |
| 1949 - October 10 | H-5F #47-485, piloted by Russell C. Randall, was involved in an accident about 1 mile east of James Connally AFB, TX. No other details available currently. http://www.accident-report.com/Yearly/1949/4910.html |
| 1949 - October 10 | XH-13 #46-228, piloted by William W. Griffith, was involved in an accident about 6 miles north of Waco, TX. No other details available currently. http://www.accident-report.com/Yearly/1949/4910.html |
| 1949 - October 23 | YH-5C #43-46615, piloted by George F. Gaffney, was involved in an accident at James Connally AFB, TX. No other details available currently. http://www.accident-report.com/Yearly/1949/4910.html |
| 1949 - October 30 | A helicopter from Flight “C”, 22nd Rescue Sq., at Clark AB, PI, crewed by Capt. R. B. Krasu (P) and Col. C. A. Tinsman (FS) rescued SSgt. Maynard E. Napier of the 24th Air Police Sq. who had been injured at Camp O’Donnell when the jeep he was driving overturned and rolled on top of him. After administering medical aid to the injured airman, he was flown back to the Clark Field hospital. Pacific Stars & Stripes, Nov 07, 1949, pg. 7 |
| 1949 - November 07 | The H-19 (Sikorsky S-55) piloted by Dimitry “Jimmy” D. Viner (a nephew of Igor I. Sikorsky) made its first flight in Bridgeport, CN. https://www.heli-archive.ch/en/helicopters/in-depth-articles/sikorsky-s-55-h-19?fbclid=IwAR03FkEYS1UauVGD55-gV5sT7E_t9PtFC5f6VKlA3l-pIzjsjM__i4C-Knw |
| 1949 - December 21 | H-5F #47-481, piloted by George F. Gaffney, was involved in an accident at Lakeland AFB, FL. No other details available currently. http://www.accident-report.com/Yearly/1949/4912.html |
| 1950 - February 10 | A USAF helicopter of the 10th Rescue Squadron at Ladd Field, Fairbanks, AK, crewed by Lt. Melvin R. Brown and Lt. Frank Alden, rescued 10 survivors of a C-47 that had crashed, on 07 February 1950, into a mountain top about 15 miles from Pon Lake, YT. The Daily Inter Lake (Kalispell, Montana) Saturday, February 11, 1950, page 1 |
| 1950 - February 17 | H-5F #47-485, piloted by George A. Fox, was involved in an accident at James Connally AFB, TX. No other details available currently. http://www.accident-report.com/Yearly/1950/5002.html |
| 1950 – March 15 | A USAF helicopter from Yokota AB, Japan, crewed by 1st Lt. Joseph D. Cooper (P), unkn (CP) and unkn (MT) medevacked the one-month-old son of SSgt. and Mrs. Virgil R. Lomax, who had fallen out of his crib and broken his arm, from Yokota AB to the Tokyo General Hospital. The Los Angeles Times (Los Angeles, California) – Tue, Mar 14, 1950, Page |
| 1950 - March 15 | H-13B #48-851, piloted by Robert N. Wilson, was involved in an accident at Killeen, TX. No other details available currently. http://www.accident-report.com/Yearly/1950/5003.html |
| 1950 - March 25 | H-5G #48-524, piloted by Brendan V. Higgins, was involved in an accident about .5 mile east of Hatfield, MA. No other details available currently. http://www.accident-report.com/Yearly/1950/5003.html |
| 1950 - April 06 | YH-13 #46-425, piloted by Todd M. Barth, was involved in an accident at James Connally AFB, TX. No other details available currently. http://www.accident-report.com/Yearly/1950/5004.html |
| 1950 - April 26 | H-5G #48-562 from the 5th Rescue Squadron at Pope AFB field, crewed by 1st Lt. Charles G. Weir (P), TSgt. Russel L. Sprague (CC), TSgt. Norman C. Van Tassel (?) and Sgt. Stratt O. Gealock (?) was sent to rescue the crew of a C-54 that had crashed and was still burning in a oat field about 4 miles east of Hartsville, SC. The helicopter crashed on takeoff and rolled over on its side and was destroyed with the crew escaping without any injuries. No other details available currently. http://www.accident-report.com/Yearly/1950/5004.html & Asheville Citizen-Times (Asheville, North Carolina) – 27 Apr 1950, page 6 |
| 1950 - May 20 | H-5A #43-46616, piloted by Frank A. Alden, was involved in an accident at Ladd AFB, AK. No other details available currently. http://www.accident-report.com/Yearly/1950/5005.html |
| 1950 - May 27 | H-5G #48-526, piloted by Richard H. Broderick, was involved in an accident at Hamilton AFB, CA. No other details available currently. http://www.accident-report.com/Yearly/1950/5005.html |
| 1950 - May 27 | H-5G #48-557, piloted by Irwin L. Bailie, was involved in an accident at Walker AFB, NM. No other details available currently. http://www.accident-report.com/Yearly/1950/5005.html |
| 1950 - May 28 | H-5H #49-2010, piloted by Frank A. Alden, was involved in an accident about 23 miles SW of Tigvariak Island, AK. No other details available currently. http://www.accident-report.com/Yearly/1950/5005.html |
| 1950 - June 01 | XH-12B #46-216, piloted by Wayne W. Eggert, was involved in an accident at Wright-Patterson AFB, OH. No other details available currently. http://www.accident-report.com/Yearly/1950/5006.html |
| 1950 - June 05 | H-13B #48-800, piloted by Warner F. Rankin, Jr., was involved in an accident about 3 miles north of Ransomville, NY. No other details available currently. http://www.accident-report.com/Yearly/1950/5006.html |
| 1950 - June 13 | A USAF helicopter based in Bahrein, crew unkn, rescued at least three survivors of a French C-54 that had crashed in the Persian Gulf. No other details are known at this time. Nevada State Journal (Reno, Nevada) Wed., June 14, 1950, page 1 |
| 1950 - June 16 | YH-5D #43-46606, piloted by Ronald C. Good, was involved in an accident about 20 miles south of Circle Hot Springs, AK. No other details available currently. http://www.accident-report.com/Yearly/1950/5006.html |
| 1950 - July 22 | The 3rd ARS deployed the FIRST H-5 helicopter in Korea to Taegu #1 and it became known at Det. "F". Air Force Magazine & "That Others May Live" by Forrest L. Marion |
| 1950 - July 22 | A H-5 helicopter from the 3rd ARS in Korea, crewed by Capt. Paul VanBoven (P) and unkn (MT), rescued the pilot, Capt. Robert E. Wayne, after he was forced to bail out of his crippled F-80 fighter near Taejon, Korea. This is reported as being the FIRST actual 3rd ARS helicopter rescue of the Korean War. Pacific Stars & Stripes, Oct 23, 1950, pg. 7 |
| 1950 - July 25 | H-5F #47-487, piloted by Ralph E. Miller, was involved in an accident at Eglin AFB, FL. No other details available currently. http://www.accident-report.com/Yearly/1950/5007.html |
| 1950 - July 25 | H-5H #49-2006 was the FIRST helicopter operional loss in Korea. 1st Lt.'s Kenneth G. Blurton and John R. Halpin flying an H-5 to pick up a Navy pilot in Penseng area, which, unknown to them, was enemy occupied. Pilots landed with insufficient fuel to return. All 3 pilots escaped and evaded and were rescued on 29 July 1950, leaving the H-5 behind, which was later destroyed by Navy fighters. http://www.davillin.info/1hist.html |
| 1950 - July 26 | H-5H #49-2006 from Det. F, 3rd ARS, which had been abandoned after making a forced landing on 25 July 1950 and was destroyed by Navy fighters in Korea. http://www.davillin.info/1hist.html |
| 1950 - August 01 | YH-5A #43-46609, piloted by Donald L. Hawkes, was involved in an accident about 11 miles NNW of Holloman AFB, NM. No other details available currently. http://www.accident-report.com/Yearly/1950/5008.html |
| 1950 - August 04 | SH-5H #50-0804 of the 3rd ARS, crewed by 1st Lt. Jimmie Jernigan (P) and Lt. Jeffers (CP), developed a gas leak and ran out of fuel during a ferry flight from Pusan Korea to Ashiya, Japan. They were rescued by a Navy ship. http://www.dtic.mil/dpmo/korea/reports/air/korwald_info_2190.htm |
| 1950 - August 05 | An H-5 from Det. F, 3rd ARS operating from Pusan, Korea, made the first recorded use of an H-5 for medical evacuation transported U. S. Army soldier Pfc. Claude C. Crest, Jr., from the Sendang-ni area to an Army hospital. "That Others May Live, USAF Air Rescue in Korea" by Forrest L. Marion |
| 1950 - August 16 | YH-19 #49-2013, piloted by Thomas J. Cecil, was involved in an accident at Wright-Patterson AFB, OH. No other details available currently. http://www.accident-report.com/Yearly/1950/5008.html |
| 1950 - August 20 | A H-5 helicopter crewed by unkn (P), unkn (CP) and unkn (MT) rescued 2nd Lt. Richard B. Rush about 40 minutes after bailing out of his F-51 Mustang over the southern tip of Honshu. This was the 74th member of the U.S. armed forces to be rescued by the Air Rescue Service under emergency conditions in the Far East since the conflict began in Korea. Pacific Stars & Stripes, Aug 24, 1950, pg. 8 |
| 1950 - August 21 | A H-5 helicopter from the 3rd Rescue Sq. in Japan crewed by unkn (P), unkn (CP) and unkn (FM), rescued an F-51 pilot, Capt. Edward Hoagland, after he bailed out of his crashing fighter shortly after takeoff from an air base in Southern Japan. This was the 75th member of the U.S. armed forces to be rescued by the Air Rescue Service under emergency conditions in the Far East since the conflict began in Korea. Pacific Stars & Stripes, Aug 23, 1950, pg. 6 & Pacific Stars & Stripes, Aug 24, 1950, pg. 8 |
| 1950 - August 22 | SH-5H #49-1997 of the 3rd ARS and crewed by 1st Lt. Jimmie Jernigan (P) and Cpl. James Fuentez (M) lost power during flight and crashed and was destroyed near Naju, Korea. The crew was uninjured. http://www.joebaugher.com/usaf_serials/1949.html & http://www.dtic.mil/dpmo/korea/reports/air/korwald_date.htm |
| 1950 - August 30 | The "Helicopter Detachment" of Det. "D", 3rd ARS was activated as Det. "F" of the 3rd ARS, with six H-5's at K-1 airfield, near Pusan. http://www.davillin.info/1hist.html |
| 1950 - September 04 | In the FIRST H-5 helicopter rescue of a downed US pilot from behind enemy lines in Korea, at Hanggan-dong, Lt. Paul W. Van Boven (P) and Cpl. John Fuentes (M) saved F-51D pilot Capt. Robert E. Wayne. Air Force Magazine & "That Others May Live" by Forrest L. Marion |
| 1950 - September 05 | An Air Rescue helicopter on the western front in Korea, crewed by unkn (P) and unkn (MT), rescued Marine pilot, Maj. Kenneth L. Reusser (P) in less than three minutes after he bailed out of his damaged aircraft behind the Communists lines east of the Naktong River. Pacific Stars & Stripes, Sep 05, 1050, pg. 7 |
| 1950 - September 05 | H-5A #43-46606, piloted by Pierce M. Myers, was involved in an accident at Pope AFB, NC. No other details available currently. http://www.accident-report.com/Yearly/1950/5009.html |
| 1950 - September 25 | USAF helicopters from the 6th Rescue Squadron at Westover Field, MA, rescued the 12-man crew and four passengers of a B-50 who had parachuted from their stricken bomber on 21 September 1950. The also brought out the 3-man ground rescue team that had parachuted into the survivor's location about 95 miles southwest of Goose Bay, Labrador. Idaho State Journal (Pocatello, Idaho) Monday, September 25, 1950, page 1 |
| 1950 - September 29 | H-13B #48-858, piloted by Luke B. Francis, was involved in an accident at Sheppard AFB, TX. No other details available currently. http://www.accident-report.com/Yearly/1950/5009.html |
| 1950 - September 30 | H-5F #48-540 from, from Flight F, 3rd ARS, crewed by Capt. Ferdonand L. Svore (P) and Cpl. John Fuentez (MT) was hit while flying, by the blast from a tank mine knocking out the controls and it turned over in the air, crashed, and was destroyed. Both were injured and rescued. http://www.davillin.info/1hist.html & Pacific Stars and Stripes 03 Oct 1950, pg. 1 & http://www.dtic.mil/dpmo/korea/reports/air/korwald_info_1474.htm |
| 1950 - October ?? | A USAF H-5 helicopter crewed by Capt. Oscar M. Tibbets (P) and Capt. John C. Shumate (PJ) rescued an F-51 pilot, 1st Lt. Allen C. Durgin, who had bailed out from his MiG-15 damaged aircraft. He landed in the sea and was picked up by two North Koreans in a fishing boat. The two North Koreans aided in his rescue by bringing him to rock ledge where Capt. Tibbets could hover over him as Capt. Shumate, leaning out of the helicopter was able to lower him a rope and the two North Koreans helped pass a rope under his arms and with Capt. Shumate pulling and the two North Koreans pushing they managed to get 1st Lt. Durgin into the helicopter and deliver him to an evacuation hospital. Pacific Stars & Stripes, Nov 22, 1950, pg. 8 |
| 1950 - October 01 | |
| 1950 - October 01 | A USAF helicopter, from Kimpo, Korea, piloted by Lt. William B. Evans, rescued a USN F4U-4 pilot, Ens. Claude E. Dorris after he had crash landed 10 miles southeast of Pyongyang, just north of Chungwha, North Korea. The Terre Haute Star (Terre Haute, Ind.) Wednesday, October 04, page 1 & http://www.dtic.mil/dpmo/korea/reports/air/korwald_info_1802.htm |
| 1950 - October 10 | An H-5 from the 3rd ARS crewed by 1st Lt. David C. McDanial (P) and Capt. John C. Shumate (Para-Doctor) picked up a downed British pilot, Lt. Stan W. Leonard and administered blood plasma, for the FIRST time while a helicopter was in flight. The crew members received Silver Stars for this action. Air Force Magazine & "That Others May Live, USAF Air Rescue in Korea" by Forrest L. Marion & http://www.dtic.mil/dpmo/korea/reports/air/korwald_date.htm |
| 1950 - October 13 | All elements of Det. "F" moved to K-14 (Kimpo AB, west of Seoul, Korea). "That Others May Live" by Forrest L. Marion |
| 1950 - October 19 | Due to crowed conditions all elements of Det. "F" were again forced to move, this time to K-16 (Seoul AB, Korea). In subsequent weeks, advanced elements deployed from Seoul to Sariwon, Sinmak, Pyongyang, Anju and Kunuri in North Korea. "That Others May Live" by Forrest L. Marion |
| 1950 - October 21-22 | H-5's of the 3rd ARS and two L-5"s, evacuated some 35 wounded paratroopers of the 187th Regimental Combat Team from a drop zone near Sukchon North Korea in the FIRST use of a helicopter in support of an airborne operation. H-5's also evacuated seven American POWs from the area. Air Force Magazine & "That Others May Live, USAF Air Rescue in Korea" by Forrest L. Marion |
| 1950 - October 23 | H-5A #43-46623, piloted by Robert C. Hammond, was involved in an accident at Ladd AFB, AK. No other details available at this time. http://www.accident-report.com/Yearly/1950/5010.html |
| 1950 - October 30 | A H-5 of the 3rd Air Rescue Squadron, crewed by 1st Lt. Edward J. Kelly (P) and TSgt. Robert J. Burns (MT) rescued the crew of a AT-6D "Mosquito" spotter plane, Capt. Robert M. Terry (P), and 1st Lt. William L. Dodson (CP) after they had crashed into a mountain near Panha-dong, Korea. The Corsicana, (Texas) Daily Sun, Thur. Nov. 23, 1950 |
| 1950 - November 05 | An H-5 of the 3rd ARS, piloted by Lt. Edward J. Kelly (TDY from the 2nd ARS), was attacked by two MiG-15's, but was not hit. This is the FIRST air to air attack on a helicopter under combat conditions. http://www.davillin.info/1hist.html |
| 1950 - November 22 | A SAR helicopter rescued a F-51D pilot, 1st Lt. Harold B. Kinison from a beach after he had bailed out of his aircraft just south of Kanggye. http://www.dtic.mil/dpmo/korea/reports/air/korwald_date.htm |
| 1950 - November 24 | An H-5 of the 3rd ARS crewed by Capt. Oscar N. Tibbetts (P) and SSgt. James K. Bryson (M) (on temp. duty from the 2nd ARS) made a daring rescue of a downed pilot, who had spent the night hiding, from deep within North Korea. "That Others May Live, USAF Air Rescue in Korea" by Forrest L. Marion |
| 1950 - November 28 | A USAF helicopter piloted by Capt. John Christenson rescued Mrs. Fred Van-Lennepp, and expectant mother, from the snowbound Castleton Farms, thoroughbred farm, near Lexington, KY. Kingsprt News (Kingsport, TN) Wed., Nov. 29, 1950, page 1 |
| 1950 - November 28 | H-5H #49-2009 crashed into a mountain about 25 miles northwest of Pyongyang, Korea, in low visibility, darkness and low on fuel, returning to base after rescuing a F4U pilot from North Korea. Killed in the crash were 1st Lt. Robert B. Parker (P), Pfc. William G. Wilkerson (M) and Ens. William G. Wagner USN F4U-5P pilot. This was the FIRST loss of USAF helicopter crew members in the Korean War. "That Others May Live, USAF Air Rescue in Korea" by Forrest L. Marion & http://www.dtic.mil/dpmo/korea/reports/air/korwald_date.htm |
| 1950 - November 29 | H-5H #49-2004, piloted by Michael McDonald, was involved in an accident and destroyed at Anju, Korea. No other details available at this time. http://www.accident-report.com/Yearly/1950/5011.html |
| 1950 - November 30 | H-5F #47-786 of the 3rd ARS crewed by 1st Lt. Charles H. Fields (P), Pvt. Charles E. Goodman and SSgt. James N. Waggener had an engine failure and crashed landed, and was destroyed during the evacuation of Pyongyang AB, Korea. http://www.dtic.mil/dpmo/korea/reports/air/korwald_info_363.htm |
| 1950 - November 30 | H-5H #48-886 from, Flight F, crashed and destroyed during the evacuation of Pyongyang, N. Korea. No other details available currently. http://www.davillin.info/1hist.html |
| 1950 - December 06 | H-5 #43-46603, piloted by Raymond N. Gottfried, was involved in an accident at Wright-Patterson AFB, OH. No other details available at this time. http://www.accident-report.com/Yearly/1950/5012.html |
| 1950 - December 08 | H-5A #43-46620, piloted by Walter J. Hodgson, was involved in an accident at Pope AFB, NC. No other details available currently. http://www.accident-report.com/Yearly/1950/5012.html |
| 1950 - December 23 | Three H-5 helicopters from the 3rd ARS, based at K-16 and piloted by 1st Lt's. Russell G. Winegar & Charles H. Field, Jr. and 2nd Lt. Clifford W. Brown, with fighter cover, rescued 11 US and 24 South Korean POW soldiers from a field eight miles behind enemy lines, shuttling them in twelve sorties to friendly lines. Air Force Magazine & "That Others May Live, USAF Air Rescue in Korea" by Forrest L. Marion |
| 1951 - January 02 | Det "F" 3rd ARS moved to K-37, Taegu, Korea. http://www.davillin.info/1hist.html |
| 1951 - January 18 | A USAF SAR helicopter rescued an injured F4U-4 pilot, USMC Capt. Russell G. Patterson, Jr. after his F4U-4 was hit by AAA fire, had engine failure and crash landing near Suwon. http://www.dtic.mil/dpmo/korea/reports/air/korwald_date.htm |
| 1951 - January 18 | Six H-5's with fighter escort evacuated twenty-eight surrounded soldiers. "That Others May Live, USAF Air Rescue in Korea" by Forrest L. Marion |
| 1951 - January 19 | A USAF helicopter from the 2nd ARS at Kadena AB, crewed by 1st Lt. Kenneth G. Burton (P) and Capt. Martin B. Giffen (FS), taking a critically ill airman, Cpl. James Carrell, from Okino Shima Island to Kadena AB and on to Ryukyus Army Hospital. Pacific Stars & Stripes, Feb 03, 1951, pg. 6 |
| 1951 - January 19 | Six H-5's with fighter escort continued to evacuate sixteen additional surrounded soldiers. "That Others May Live, USAF Air Rescue in Korea" by Forrest L. Marion |
| 1951 - January 23 | H-5H #49-2002, piloted by Nilo Nieminen, was involved in an accident about 75 miles west of Wheelus AB, Libya. No other details available at this time. http://www.accident-report.com/Yearly/1951/5101.html |
| 1951 - January 24 | An H-5 piloted by Capt. Paul L. Park rescued the crew of an AT-6 Mosquito, Capt. Edward G. Kelley (P) and Mr. Sam Marshall (CIV), while under enemy fire. "That Others May Live, USAF Air Rescue in Korea" by Forrest L. Marion |
| 1951 - January 24 | Two H-5's crewed by 1st Lt. Lynden E. Thomason (P), & Cpl. Homer Ramirez (M) and 1st Lt. Osburn E. McKinzie (P) & Cpl. Carl W. Poole rescued three crew members of a B-26 twenty minutes after they had crash landed on the enemy held Suwon airstrip. "That Others May Live, USAF Air Rescue in Korea" by Forrest L. Marion |
| 1951 - January 28 | A H-5, escorted by a L-5 rescue a downed RAF pilot, Lt. Peach, from the British aircraft carrier HMS Theseus, while under enemy fire. "That Others May Live, USAF Air Rescue in Korea" by Forrest L. Marion |
| 1951 - January 30 | A USAF helicopter from the 3rd ARS from Chonan airstrip, Korea, crewed by 1st Lt. Linden E. Thomason (P) and Cpl. Carl W. Poole (MT), rescued a British Sea Fury fighter pilot, name unkn, from behind enemy lines, 25 miles directly north of Seoul, after he was forced to crash land his small arms fire damaged aircraft. This rescue gave the squadron a record of six men picked up from behind enemy lines in four days. Pacific Stars & Stripes, Jan 29, 1952, pg. 9 |
| 1951 - January 30 | A USAF helicopter from the 3rd ARS in Korea, crewed by 1st Lt. Elmer R. Barnes (P) and unkn (MT), rescued a downed Marine fighter pilot from just west of Chunchon. Pacific Stars & Stripes, Jan 31, 1951, pg. 7 |
| 1951 - February 02 | A H-5 helicopter in Korea, crewed by 1st Lt. Harold W. Moore (P), rescued 1st Lt.'s William H. Kickliter and George H. Nuse after their AT-6F Mosquito patrol plane was damaged by ground fire and crash landed while flying over Haengsong. http://www.dtic.mil/dpmo/korea/reports/air/korwald_date.html |
| 1951 - February 02 | A SAR helicopter rescued 1st Lt.'s William H. Kickliter and George H. Nuse after their AT-6F was damaged by ground fire while flying over Haengsong and crashed landed. http://www.dtic.mil/dpmo/korea/reports/air/korwald_date.htm |
| 1951 - February 02 | A USAF helicopter rescued two survivors, about 45 miles south of the Pacific entrance of the Panama Canal, from a 45-ton launch, with 27 people on board, that had capsized in rough seas in Panama Bay on January 31, 1951. They had been clinging to the wreckage for 50 hours. Two other survivors were rescued by a passing steamer on the night of January 31, 1951, 23 others perished. The Corpus Christi Caller-Times (Corpus Christi, TX) Sunday, February 04, 1951 |
| 1951 - February 02 | H-5G #48-530, piloted by Paul L. Park, was involved in an accident about 8 miles west of Taegu 2 AB, Korea. No other details available currently. http://www.accident-report.com/Yearly/1951/5102.html |
| 1951 - February 07 | An H-5 of the 3rd ARSq., crewed by Capt. Daniel J. Miller (P), landed in deep snow and under enemy fire behind United Nations lines in Korea and picked up two wounded soldiers during each of three separate trips. Another H-5 pilot, 1st Lt. Ernest L. MacQuarrie, picked up two more, bringing the total saves to eight. Captain Miller was later awarded the Cheney Award for 1951. http://www.afsoc.af.mil/shared/media/document/AFD-070906-042.pdf |
| 1951 - February 13 - 16 | H-5 helicopters delivered medical supplies to surrounded UN troops at Chipyong-ni in central Korea and evacuated more than 40 wounded. Air Force Magazine |
| 1951 - February 15 | Six USAF H-5 helicopters from the 3rd Air Rescue Squadron in Korea, piloted by 1st Lt. Lynden E. Thomson, Capt. Daniel J. Miller, 1st Lt. Ernest L. MacQuarre, 1st Lt. Clifford W. Brown, 1st Lt. Osburn R. McKinzie and 1st Lt. Harold W. Moore evacuated 30 American wounded from the town of Chipyongni (about 20 miles east of Seoul. The units were surrounded by enemy troops and the six helicopters, with fighter cover, made three trips with each taking our one or two wounded evacuating twenty-eight wounded soldiers. (See Feb. 16 entry below) "That Others May Live, USAF Air Rescue in Korea" by Forrest L. Marion & Pacific Stars & Stripes, Mar. 03, 1951 |
| 1951 - February 15 | Army and Air Force helicopter and liaison plane pilots and mechanics started training at the recently re-opened San Marcos, TX. AFB. The Air Force said the training at San Marcos would take the place of that previously conduced at Connally AFB, Waco, TX. and the mechanic training programs at Sheppard AFB, TX. San Marcos was used for the same training purposes during the war. Valley Morning Star (Harlingen, TX.) Fri., Feb. 16, 1951, page 3 |
| 1951 - February 16 | H-5D #43-46652, piloted by Howell T. Walker, was involved in an accident about 5.5 miles NNE of Waco, TX. No other details available currently. http://www.accident-report.com/Yearly/1951/5102.html |
| 1951 - February 16 | Four H-5's, from Det. 1, 3rd Air Rescue, in a bad snowstorm with winds up to 40 knots, continued to evacuate 22 more critically wounded from the action the day before (See Feb. 15 entry above), until friendly ground forces were able to contact with them. "That Others May Live, USAF Air Rescue in Korea" by Forrest L. Marion & Pacific Stars & Stripes, Mar. 03, 1951 |
| 1951 - February 19 | An H-5 picked up an injured, downed F-80 pilot, Lt. Harry F. Peyser, from a riverbed near Taegu, Korea. An L-5 had landed to pick the F-80 pilot up, but due to the sandy soil and extra weight it could not take off. Without the extra weight the L-5 was able to take off safely. "That Others May Live, USAF Air Rescue in Korea" by Forrest L. Marion |
| 1951 - February 21 | An H-5 of the 3rd ARS and piloted by 1st Lt. Ernest L MacQuarrie delivered a wounded GI to a MASH facility, thereby marking the 1,000th life saved in the Korean War. "That Others May Live, USAF Air Rescue in Korea" by Forrest L. Marion |
| 1951 - March 05 | A helicopter rescued F-51D pilot, Maj. John W. Rees, after his aircraft was hit by ground fire and he bailed out south of Imjin River inside friendly lines. http://www.dtic.mil/dpmo/korea/reports/air/korwald_date.htm |
| 1951 - March 09 | A helicopter rescued F-51D pilot, 1st Lt. Siegel M. Dickman, who had E & E'ed after his aircraft was hit by ground fire and crashed landed 2 mi south of Singye. http://www.dtic.mil/dpmo/korea/reports/air/korwald_date.htm |
| 1951 - March 09 | A SAR helicopter rescued F-51D pilot, Capt. L. M. Christopher, who had E & E'ed after his aircraft was hit by AAA and caught fire and he bailed out 5 mi north of Singye on 05 March 1951. http://www.dtic.mil/dpmo/korea/reports/air/korwald_date.htm |
| 1951 - March 09 | H-5G #48-545 of the 3rd ARS and crewed by 1st Lt. Charles H. Fields (P) and Cpl. Patterson (M) crashed into a mountainside on the frontlines and was destroyed. Fields & Patterson were not injured and were rescued. http://www.dtic.mil/dpmo/korea/reports/air/korwald_date.htm |
| 1951 - March 09 | H-5G #48-545, crewed by 1st Lt. Charles H. Field (P) & Cpl. Patterson (M), crashed into a mountainside on the Korean frontline and was destroyed. The crew was not injured. http://www.dtic.mil/dpmo/korea/reports/air/korwald_info_2135.htm |
| 1951 - March 09 | H-5H #49-2011, piloted by Brendon V. Higgins, was involved in an accident at Suwon AB, Korea. No other details available currently. http://www.accident-report.com/Yearly/1951/5103.html |
| 1951 - March 11 | A SAR helicopter rescued F-51D pilot, Capt. Allen H. Vanderyerk after his aircraft was hit by ground fire, lost coolant and crash 2 miles south of Chunchon. ttp://www.dtic.mil/dpmo/korea/reports/air/korwald_date.htm |
| 1951 - March 13 | A SAR helicopter rescued F-51D pilot, 1st Lt. H. W. Nelson after his aircraft had engine failure and landed in a riverbed 10 miles southeast of Hamchang. http://www.dtic.mil/dpmo/korea/reports/air/korwald_date.htm |
| 1951 - March 14 | YH-13 #46-240, piloted by Alvin D. Allen, was involved in an accident at San Marcos AFB, TX. No other details available currently. http://www.accident-report.com/Yearly/1951/5103.html |
| 1951 - March 15 | A H-5 SAR helicopter, piloted by Capt. Daniel J. Miller, rescued F4U-4 USMC pilot, Maj. Frank H. Presley after his aircraft was hit by AAA, had engine failure and landed in the Han River near Munson. Sikorsky Archives News July 2018, http://www.dtic.mil/dpmo/korea/reports/air/korwald_date.htm |
| 1951 - March 16 | YH-19 #49-2013, piloted by Thomas J. Cecil, was involved in an accident at Wright-Patterson AFB, OH. No other details available currently. http://www.accident-report.com/Yearly/1951/5103.html |
| 1951 - March 17 | A SAR helicopter rescued RF-51D pilot, Capt. David H. Rust after his aircraft was downed by ground fire and he bailed out 10 miles southeast of Kaesong. http://www.dtic.mil/dpmo/korea/reports/air/korwald_date.html |
| 1951 - March 19 | A SAR helicopter rescued F-51D pilot, 1st Lt. Robert P. Pasqualicchio after his aircraft was downed by ground fire and crashed landed east of Yonan. http://www.dtic.mil/dpmo/korea/reports/air/korwald_date.html |
| 1951 - March 20 | An H-5 of the 3rd ARS, crewed by 1st Lt. Osbourne E. McKinzie (P), was hit by ground fire during an unsuccessful rescue attempt for the Australian F-51 fighter pilot, name unkn, during a rescue attempt from a point north of Seoul where he had been forced to bail out of his ground fire damaged aircraft. The helicopter landed safely at K-14 (Kimpo). No other information is available currently. (See next entry) Pacific Stars & Stripes, Mar 21, 1951, pg. 7 http://www.dtic.mil/dpmo/korea/reports/air/korwald_date.html |
| 1951 - March 20 | An H-5 of the 3rd ARS, crewed by Capt. Lyaden E. Thomson (P) and Cpl. Earl W. Poole (MT), rescued an Australian F-51 fighter pilot, name unkn, during a daring rescue behind enemy lines north of Seoul where he had been forced to bail out of his ground fire damaged aircraft. (See previous entry) Pacific Stars & Stripes, Mar 21, 1951, pg. 7 |
| 1951 - March 24 | For the FIRST time, Far East AF used a YH-19, a experimental service test under combat conditions helicopter, in Korea for the air evacuation of wounded troops. The H-19 was considerably larger and more powerful, with greater range, than the H-5's. The initial YH-19 personnel consisted of pilots Maj. Samuel B. Brown and Capt. Joseph D. Cooper and Crew Chief TSgt. Earl J. Paulsen and several mechanics. Air Force Magazine & "That Others May Live, USAF Air Rescue in Korea" by Forrest L. Marion |
| 1951 - March 24 - 28 | For the FIRST time, Far East Air Forces (FEAF) used an YH-19, a service test helicopter, in Korea for the air evacuation of wounded troops. Following Operation Tomahawk, the second largest airborne assult of the war, 3rd ARS Det.1, YH-19 and H-5 helicopters evacuated 270 injured and wounded paratroopers of the 187th RCT from the Munsan-ni area twenty miles north of Seoul. Pilots and medics flew constantly during daylight, and maintenance crews worked around the clock in support of evacuations that often were conducted under heavy mortar artillery and small arms fire. "That Others May Live, USAF Air Rescue in Korea" by Forrest L. Marion |
| 1951 - March 28 | H-5A #43-46636, piloted by Thomas J. Cecil, was involved in an accident at Hamilton AFB, CA. No other details available currently. http://www.accident-report.com/Yearly/1951/5103.html |
| 1951 - March 30 | H-5G #48-560, piloted by Elmer L. Barnes, was involved in an accident at Taegu 2 AB, Korea. No other details available currently. http://www.accident-report.com/Yearly/1951/5103.html |
| 1951 - March 30- 31 | A YH-19 was used on a "classified' mission to bring some 18 UN personnel, most likely involved the recovery of Korean guerrillas, from North Korea. This was the first use of this type of helicopter in a special operations mission. "That Others May Live, USAF Air Rescue in Korea" by Forrest L. Marion & "The USAF in Korea A Chronology 1950-1953" by A. Timothy Warnock |
| 1951 - March 31 | H-5A #43-46630, piloted by Charles E. Cover, Jr., was involved in an accident about .5 mile north of Grandview, VA. No other details available currently. http://www.accident-report.com/Yearly/1951/5103.html |
| 1951 - April 03 | The service-test YH-19 helicopter, with the 3rd ARS, picked up a downed F-51D pilot, Capt. Thomas Manjak, southeast of Pyongyang, receiving small-arms fire during the sortie. Air Force Magazine & http://www.dtic.mil/dpmo/korea/reports/air/korwald_date.html |
| 1951 - April 09 | An H-5 helicopter from the 3rd ARS in Korea, crewed by 1st Lt. Clifford W. Brown (P) and SSgt. Edward H. Boggs (MT) on two separate sorties rescued two F-51 downed Mustang pilots, Maj. Elmer H. Duff after he had been on the ground behind enemy lines near Suan and 1st Lt. Siegel M. Dickman who was rescued almost immediately after he went down behind enemy lines in Namchonjom. Pacific Stars & Stripes, Apr 11, 1951, pg. 8 |
| 1951 - April 10 | H-23A #51-3983, piloted by Owen L. Clark, was involved in an accident about 4 miles east of San Marcos AFB, TX. No other details available currently. http://www.accident-report.com/Yearly/1951/5104.html |
| 1951 - April 17 | During "Operation MiG", to recover vital components of a crashed MiG-15, a YH-19 helicopter, piloted by Maj. Don Nichols, transported a team to the crash site behind enemy lines south of Sinanju to extract MiG-15 components, samples and photos. On the return flight the YH-19 took one hit from enemy fire. Air Force Magazine |
| 1951 - April 18 | H-5 helicopters from the 3rd ARS evacuated 20 critically wounded US soldiers from front-line aid stations to the nearest field hospital. Five of the 10 sorties encountered enemy fire. Air Force Magazine |
| 1951 - April 19 | An H-5 helicopter from the 3rd ARS in Korea, crewed by 1st Lt. Ernest l. MacQuerrie rescued the pilot, 1st Lt. Robert P. Pasqualicchio, of a F-51 Mustang that had been forced down behind enemy lines while flying a mission through a low-hanging overcast over northwestern Korea. Pacific Stars & Stripes, Apr 22, 1951, pg. 5 |
| 1951 - April 23 | H-5G #48-532, piloted by Richard C. Kirkland, was involved in an accident at Muzunbaarikku Island, Marshall Islands. No other details available currently. http://www.accident-report.com/Yearly/1951/5104.html |
| 1951 - April 23 | YH-5E #43-46611, piloted by Leon Stone, was involved in an accident at Kirtland AFB, NM. No other details available currently. http://www.accident-report.com/Yearly/1951/5104.html |
| 1951 - April 24 | On separate pickups, and H-5 helicopter from the 3rd ARS rescued two of the three crewmembers of a B-26B who had bailed out of their aircraft that had been crippled by enemy ground fire. Rescuing first the pilot, William L. Cara then the navigator, Capt. William R. Fitch, from about 20 miles west of Chorwon, about 15 miles north of the 38th parallel. Air Force Magazine & http://www.dtic.mil/dpmo/korea/reports/air/korwald_date.htm |
| 1951 - April 25 | A SAR helicopter rescued F-51D pilot, Maj. Sam C. Wilkerson who had E & E'ed after his aircraft had been hit by ground fire and crash landed in a rice paddy near the 38th parallel. http://www.dtic.mil/dpmo/korea/reports/air/korwald_date.htm |
| 1951 - April 25 | H-5G #48-560, piloted by William B. Peel, was involved in an accident at Taegu AB, Korea. No other details available currently. http://www.accident-report.com/Yearly/1951/5104.html |
| 1951 - April 29 | An H-5 picked up a survivor of a lost C-46, friendly ground parties rescued the remaining survivors."That Others May Live, USAF Air Rescue in Korea" by Forrest L. Marion |
| 1951 - April 30 | On separate sorties, two H-5 helicopters each picked up a downed UN pilot behind enemy lines. Small arms fire damaged one helicopter. One of the H-5 rescues was made by 1st Lt. Charles H. Field, Jr. and was of a wounded South African F-51D pilot, Lt. Piet S. Cilliers, who had bailed out near Sinmak, North Korea. The other pilot rescued was F-51D pilot Lt. Soltis. Air Force Magazine & "That Others May Live, USAF Air Rescue in Korea" by Forrest L. Marion& http://www.dtic.mil/dpmo/korea/reports/air/korwald_date.htm |
| 1951 - May 05 | A USAF helicopter crewed by 1st Lt. Donald J. Crawford (P) and SSgt. James N. Waggoner Jr. (FM) rescued a pilot, Lt. Peter Barlow, from the HMS Glory, was hit by enemy ground fire and crashed landed his fighter plane in enemy territory near one of the Han River. Pacific Stars & Stripes, May 08, 1951, pg. 5 |
| 1951 - May 05 | An H-5 helicopter from the 3rd ARS, crewed by Capt. L. T. Thomason (P) and SSgt. J. N. Waggoner (MT) rescued a downed F-51D pilot, Lt. Col. Rexford H. Detree, about 16 miles north of K-16. The helicopter encountered small-arms fire in the area during the rescue. Pacific Stars & Stripes, May 07, 1951, pg. 7 & Air Force Magazine & http://www.dtic.mil/dpmo/korea/reports/air/korwald_date.html |
| 1951 - May 06 | H-5A #43-46629, piloted by Paul E. Kimberling, was involved in an accident at Ellington AFB, TX. No other details available currently. http://www.accident-report.com/Yearly/1951/5105.html |
| 1951 - May 08 | An H-5 helicopter picked up two US soldiers north of Seoul, encountering small-arms fire in the area. Air Force Magazine |
| 1951 - May 13 | A bright yellow USAF helicopter stole the show from the communists in Vienna Sunday. Only 10,000 people were estimated to have watched a series of communist sports and entertainment attractions staged as part of a three-day Whitson rally, but 25,000 waited for the helicopter to make its three scheduled landings in the heart of the city. The helicopter, the first Vienna has ever seen, touched down on a square in front of city hall, in the Schonbrunn palace courtyard and on a street near the Votiv church. The Lincoln Star (Lincoln, Nebraska) 14 May 1952, page 2 |
| 1951 - May 14 | SAR helicopter rescued a downed F-51D pilot, 1st Lt. Vernon Burke after he had bailed out of his AAA damaged aircraft. Air Force Magazine & http://www.dtic.mil/dpmo/korea/reports/air/korwald_date.htm |
| 1951 - May 19 | H-5H #49-1996, piloted by Calvin W. Jackson, was involved in an accident at Langley AFB, VA. No other details available currently. http://www.accident-report.com/Yearly/1951/5105.html |
| 1951 - May 19 | H-5H #49-2003, piloted by Alfred L. Kopit, was involved in an accident at Langley AFB, VA. No other details available currently. http://www.accident-report.com/Yearly/1951/5105.html |
| 1951 - May 19 | An H-5 helicopter rescued a downed RF-51D pilot, Capt. William H. Strand, southwest of Chorwon in the central sector, with the helicopter sustaining damage from small-arms fire during the pickup. Air Force Magazine & http://www.dtic.mil/dpmo/korea/reports/air/korwald_date.htm |
| 1951 - May 22 | H-13D #51-2471, piloted by Owen L. Clark, was involved in an accident at San Marcos AFB, TX. No other details available currently. http://www.accident-report.com/Yearly/1951/5105.html |
| 1951 - June ?? | A H-5 rescue helicopter in Korea, crewed by Capt. Dwain L. Redalin (P) and TSgt. Charles Knox (MT) rescued Marine fighter pilot, Capt. Malcolm “Monk” Moncrief after he had parachuted from his flak-hit blazing plane at 500 feet. After he was on the ground, he climbed up a tree on a mountain some distance away from his discarded parachute where he hid for five- and one-half hours until the helicopter arrived. The helicopter hovered about 20 feet over the tree where he was hiding and dropped a rope to him. Suddenly the enemy began firing at the helicopter and the helicopter climbed up to 3,000 feet with Capt. Moncrief dangling from the rope. He held on and Sergeant Knox hauled in the rope and got Capt. Moncrief safely inside. Pacific Stars & Stripes, Jun 19, 1951, pg. 7 |
| 1951 - June 12 | H-5G #48-537, piloted by Robert W. Barnhill, was involved in an accident about 4 miles south of Taegu 2 AB, Korea. No other details available currently. http://www.accident-report.com/Yearly/1951/5106.html |
| 1951 - June 18 | A H-19 piloted by Lt. Wayne W. Eggert took off at dawn from Fargo, ND. bound for Dayton. It landed sometime later at O'Hare airfield near Chicago, some 540 miles from its takeoff. A Wright-Patterson spokesman said the new 'copter' was not trying for a record. He said it was on a "long range cruising control flight to find which control settings, altitude, and so forth, would be best on a long-range mission." He said the test was conducted as "a routine measure to determine whether or not the craft is ready for production. "The Evening Independent” (Massillon, Ohio), 18 June 1951, page 1 |
| 1951 - June 19 | A SAR helicopter recovered the remains of F-51D pilot, 1st Lt. Lee A. Harper, after his aircraft was hit by AAA fire and he unsuccessfully attempted a low altitude bailout near Kyongyong-do. http://www.dtic.mil/dpmo/korea/reports/air/korwald_date.htm |
| 1951 - June 21 | H-5G #48-561, piloted by Lydon E. Thomason, was involved in an accident at Seoul AB, Korea. No other details available currently. http://www.accident-report.com/Yearly/1951/5106.html |
| 1951 - June 27 | H-5D #43-46652, piloted by Ronald C. Good, was involved in an accident about 13 miles NNE of Valparaiso, FL. No other details available currently. http://www.accident-report.com/Yearly/1951/5106.html |
| 1951 - July 01 | The 3rd ARSq. recovered the remains of South African Air Force F-51D pilot, 2nd Lt. Jesse P Verster, after his aircraft was hit by AAA fire and crashed. http://www.dtic.mil/dpmo/korea/reports/air/korwald_date.html |
| 1951 - July 08 | H-5A #43-46616, piloted by Frank A. Alden, was involved in an accident at Ladd AFB, AK. No other details available currently. http://www.accident-report.com/Yearly/1951/5107.html |
| 1951 - July 11 - 22 | H-5's participated in "Operation Flood-Lift" a humanitarian airlift operation assisting victims of flooding on the Kansas, Missouri and Mississippi Rivers between eastern Kansas and western Illinois inundating Abilene, Manhattan, Junction City, Fort Riley. The USAF & Humanitarian Airlift Operations 1947-1994 by Daniel L. Haul |
| 1951 - July 16 | H-5A #43-46626, piloted by John W. Martin, was involved in an accident about 2 miles north of Maple Hill, KS. No other details available currently. http://www.accident-report.com/Yearly/1951/5107.html |
| 1951 - July 16 | EYH-19 #49-2013, piloted by August Vincenzi, was involved in an accident at Sulphur Grove, OH. No other details available currently. http://www.accident-report.com/Yearly/1951/5107.html |
| 1951 - July 28 | H-5F #47-489, piloted by John L. Pullen, was involved in an accident at Sparrevohn, AK. No other details available currently. http://www.accident-report.com/Yearly/1951/5107.html |
| 1951 - July 31 | YH-24 #51-5113, piloted by August Vincenzi, was involved in an accident at Wright-Patterson AFB, OH. No other details available currently. http://www.accident-report.com/Yearly/1951/5107.html |
| 1951 - August 20 | H-5F #47-482 of the 3rd ARS crewed by 1st Lt. Gene W. Ruhlander (P) and Sgt. Wilton A. Steward (MT) hit power lines at the 8055th MASH, Uijongbnu and crashed, the crew was injured in the crash. http://www.dtic.mil/dpmo/korea/reports/air/korwald_date.html |
| 1951 - August 22 | H-13D #51-2463, piloted by Maurice C. Bone, was involved in an accident at San Marcos AFB, TX. No other details available currently. http://www.accident-report.com/Yearly/1951/5108.html |
| 1951 - August 22 | YH-12B #46-222, piloted by Lynwood D. Williams, was involved in an accident about 11 miles northeast of Hamlet, NC. No other details available currently. http://www.accident-report.com/Yearly/1951/5108.html |
| 1951 - August 27 | H-5G #48-552, piloted by William N. Coombs, was involved in an accident about 15 miles from Palmer, AK. No other details available currently. http://www.accident-report.com/Yearly/1951/5108.html |
| 1951 - August 29 | Two H-5 Helicopters from the 3rd ARS in Korea, one crewed by 1st Lt. Michael Angelo Mecca (P) and the other crewed by 1st Lt. Charles J. DuPont, rescued 58 men of a UN patrol which had been stranded by a flash flood on the “wrong” bank of the Imjin River as the landed and started ferrying them to the safe side of the river and after 31 sorties and 3 hours they had accomplished the sage transfer of the entire group. Earlier in the day “chopper” pilots of the same squadron had hoisted 14 members of an Army engineer unit to safety from a section of a dislodged pontoon bridge that had been ripped loose by the roaring waters. Pacific Stars & Stripes, Aug. 30, 1951, pg. 1 |
| 1951 - September ?? | A helicopter crew from Flight B, 4th ARS, flew medical personnel to 37 villages and settlements in Costa Rica, resulting in the inoculation of 978 persons, arresting a five-month yellow fever epidemic. https://www.airandspaceforces.com/PDF/DocumentFile/Documents/2005/ARRSchrono1946-1981_011583.pdf |
| 1951 - September 02 | Four Air Force helicopters rescued 14 members of an Army engineer unit from a dislodged portion of a pontoon bridge in the middle of a swollen Korean river. Carrying two men at a time from their precarious perch to safety at the river's edge. The San Bernardino County Sun (San Bernardino, California) 2 September 1951, page 12 |
| 1951 - September 02 | An H-5 helicopter from the 3rd ARS, crewed by 1st Lt. George E. Caldwell (P) and Corporal John R. Lathrop (MT) rescued Maj. Robert J. Shelly from behind enemy lines in Korea. No other details are known at this time. https://www.airandspaceforces.com/PDF/DocumentFile/Documents/2005/ARRSchrono1946-1981_011583.pdf |
| 1951 - September 04 | H-5H #48-549, piloted by Walter A. Rosenfield, was involved in an accident about 1 mile southwest of Wright-Patterson OH. No other details available currently. http://www.accident-report.com/Yearly/1951/5109.html |
| 1951 - September 08 | H-5G #48-558 of the 3rd ARS crewed by Capt. John Lipsit was lost due to mechanical failure shortly after take-off. He and two passengers were not injured. http://www.dtic.mil/dpmo/korea/reports/air/korwald_date.html |
| 1951 - September 08 | H-5G #48-551 from Flight "D", 10th Rescue Squadron, crewed by Capt. Frank A. Alden (P) and Cpl. Joe K. Allen (MT) crashed on the east side of the Moose Creek bluff, about 18 miles ESE of Fairbanks, AK. The helicopter was on way to recover the dead from a C-47 from a crash on 07 September 1951. Alden and Allen were both killed in the crash. http://www.accident-report.com/Yearly/1951/5109.html & the Fairbanks Daily News-Miner (Fairbanks, Alaska) - Mon, Sept. 10, 1951, page 1 & 6 |
| 1951 - September 10 | South of Pyongyang a 3rd ARS H-5 helicopter, with fighter escort, rescued F-80C pilot Capt. Ward M. Millar, 7th FBS. He had suffered two broken ankles during his ejection and escaped after two months as a prisoner and evaded recapture for three weeks. The helicopter also brought out an NKA sergeant who had assisted Millar. Air Force Magazine |
| 1951 - September 13 | H-5G #48-555 crewed by 1st Lt. Eugene C. Kohfield (P) and Pfc. Lawrence A. Reid (M) was hit by enemy ground fire while attempting a rescue of a AT-6D Mosquito crew, a blade went out of track and severed the tail boom and crashed from about 200 feet as it was attempting to land back at its base, instantly killing Kohfield and Reid. This was the first loss of USAF helicopter crew members as a direct result of enemy fire. "That Others May Live, USAF Air Rescue in Korea" by Forrest L. Marion & The US Air Force Rescue Service by Wayne Mutza |
| 1951 - September 21 | H-5D #43-46646, piloted by John D. Heller, was involved in an accident at Shana-Wan Inlet, Okinawa. No other details available currently. http://www.accident-report.com/Yearly/1951/5109.html |
| 1951 - September 29 | H-5A #43-46629, piloted by Vincent H. McGovern, was involved in an accident about 2 miles south of Camp Carson, CO. No other details available currently. http://www.accident-report.com/Yearly/1951/5109.html |
| 1951 - September 29 | YH-13 #46-227, piloted by David S. Gardner, was involved in an accident at San Marcos AFB, TX. No other details available currently. http://www.accident-report.com/Yearly/1951/5109.html |
| 1951 - October 02 | 12 USAF helicopters airlifted a battalion of about 1,000 U. S. Marines, making 162 individual flights carrying six Marines, fully equipped and ready for combat 14 air miles to the front on a rugged mountainous ridges in east central Korea. Tipton Tribune (Tipton, Indiana) Thu. Oct. 11, 1951, page 1 |
| 1951 - October 05 | H-23A #51-4003, piloted by James V. Belyee, was involved in an accident at San Marcos AFB, TX. No other details available currently. http://www.accident-report.com/Yearly/1951/5110.html |
| 1951 - October 12 | YH-19 #49-2014, piloted by Raymond H. Hurn, was involved in an accident at Munsan Peace Camp, Korea. No other details available currently. http://www.accident-report.com/Yearly/1951/5110.html |
| 1951 - October 17 | An H-5 piloted by 1st Lt. Charles J. Dupont rescued a downed B-26B radar observer, 1st Lt. William F. Brown, who had been evading the enemy for three nights, from a densely forested mountainside. "That Others May Live, USAF Air Rescue in Korea" by Forrest L. Marion & http://www.dtic.mil/dpmo/korea/reports/air/korwald_date.html |
| 1951 - October 17 | As of this date the 3rd ARS in Korea have flown out 3,000 persons. The versatile H-5 helicopter leads with 2,572 people with the larger H-19 helicopter rescuing 196 persons. The remainder have been rescued by the squadron fixed wing aircraft. Pacific Stars and Stripes, Oct 23, 1951, pg. 7 |
| 1951 - October 25 | H-5G #48-556, (Call sign "Pedro 09") of the 3rd ARS, helicopter, crewed by Lt. Charles DuPont (P) and Cpl. Gerald Fryer (Medic) who had rescued a downed UN F-80, call sign "Hammer", pilot, 1st Lt. Vernon L. Wright. The H-5 made a forced landing in enemy territory after being hit by enemy ground fire, hitting the lip of a rice paddy, turning over and crashing. The crew and rescued pilot were not injured and E & E'd away from the crash site and spent the night moving and hiding in a nearby tree covered ridge line. Air Force Magazine & "Tails of a Helicopter Pilot" by Richard Kirkland |
| 1951 - October 26 | Two H-5's of the 3rd ARS, one piloted by Col. John Dean, (Call sign "Pedro 02), who rescued Lt. Charles DuPont ("Pedro 09") by hoist and the other piloted by Capt. Bob Barnhill, (Call sign "Pedro 01"), who rescued 1st Lt. Vernon Wright ("Hammer") and Cpl. Gerald Fryer ("Pedro 09") by hoist, safety from the mountainside where they had hidden from Communist troops during the night. This was the first successful rescue of a downed rescue chopper crew in the Korean War. After the successful rescue the downed H-5 #48-556 was destroyed by the flight of South African Air Force F-51 fighters, call sign "Grenadier Love 01, 02, 03 & 04", that had been providing close air support coverage during this mission. See the previous entry. Air Force Magazine & "Tails of a Helicopter Pilot" by Richard Kirkland |
| 1951 - October 27 | A 3rd ARS H-5, with fighter escort, rescued a downed RF-51D fighter pilot, Capt. James McCabe, despite intense fire from enemy ground troops. http://www.dtic.mil/dpmo/korea/reports/air/korwald_date.htm & Air Force Magazine |
| 1951 - October 29 | A 3rd ARS H-5 evacuated a U.S. Army officer who had suffered serious burns. He became the 3,000th individual to be airlifted to safety by the 3rd ARS. "That Others May Live, USAF Air Rescue in Korea" by Forrest L. Marion |
| 1951 - November 04 | YH-5E #43-46611, piloted by William M. Knowlton, was involved in an accident about 80 miles west northwest of Las Vegas, NV. of Camp Carson, CO. No other details available currently. http://www.accident-report.com/Yearly/1951/5111.html |
| 1951 - November 15 | H-5E #43-46614, piloted by John R. Peacock, was involved in an accident at Palmdale Airport, CA. of Camp Carson, CO. No other details available currently. http://www.accident-report.com/Yearly/1951/5111.html |
| 1951 - November 20 | H-19A #51-3847, piloted by Joseph D. Cooper, was involved in an accident at Eglin AFB, FL. of Camp Carson, CO. No other details available currently. http://www.accident-report.com/Yearly/1951/5111.html |
| 1951 - November 21 | H-5G #48-559 of the 3rd ARS, piloted by Lt. Logan J. Fagner had a mechanical malfunction and crashed into the sea off the Korean coast between Cho-do and P-Y-do. Logan was rescued by an escorting SA-16 with minor injuries. http://www.accident-report.com/Yearly/1951/5111.html & http://www.dtic.mil/dpmo/korea/reports/air/korwald_Info_2175.html |
| 1951 - December 01 | A SAR helicopter rescued an F-51D pilot, 1st Lt. Max Tomich, after his aircraft was hit by AAA and crashed. http://www.dtic.mil/dpmo/korea/reports/air/korwald_date.html |
| 1951 - December 04 | YH-24 #51-5113, piloted by John R. Noll, was involved in an accident at Wright-Patterson AFB, OH. No other details available at this time. http://www.accident-report.com/Yearly/1951/5112.html |
| 1951 - December 06 | H-13D #51-2463, piloted by Joseph E. Barratt, was involved in an accident at San Marcos AFB, TX. No other details available currently. http://www.accident-report.com/Yearly/1951/5112.html |
| 1951 - December 12 | A 3rd ARS helicopter in Korea, crewed by 1st Lt. Raymond H. Smith Jr. (P) and PFC James H. Carns (MT), picked up and delivered two UN pilots whose planes had been shot down by ground-fire behind enemy lines to safety. The first pilot, Lt. Peter B. Coopers, was rescued from land and the second pilot had bailed out over water and 1st Lt. Smith hoisted him aboard by a cable. Smith’s helicopter low level fuel light was blinking furiously as they landed them at a friendly base. Incidentally, when Lt. Coopers was rescued, he became the 3,600th UN armed forces member to be flown to safety by all the aircraft of the 3rd squadron. Pacific Stars & Stripes, Dec 16, 1951, pg. 19 |
| 1951 - December 13 | A SAR helicopter rescued a USMC F9F-2B pilot, 2nd Lt. Charles A. Sewell, after his aircraft ingested debris from a downed MiG and he bailed out near Cho-do. http://www.dtic.mil/dpmo/korea/reports/air/korwald_date.html |
| 1951 - December 18 | A SAR AF helicopter from a Donkey Team (Spec Ops) rescued an F-86A pilot, Capt. Ken D. Chandler, after his aircraft was hit by AAA, crashed 8 miles north of Pyongyang and he successfully bailed out. http://www.dtic.mil/dpmo/korea/reports/air/korwald_date.html |
| 1951 - December 23 to January 11 | The 3rd ARS began the evacuation of 218 wounded to the hospital ship Consolation, one of the first hospital ships to have a helipad. A total of 134 sorties were completed by the squadron during this period. https://www.airandspaceforces.com/PDF/DocumentFile/Documents/2005/ARRSchrono1946-1981_011583.pdf |
| 1952 - January 04 | Two helicopter pilots of the 3rd Air Rescue Squadron, Capt. Gail W. Paulton and Capt. Walter J. Hodgson, have airlifted more than 150 wounded U. S. and South Korean Marines to the Navy hospital ship Consolation, anchored two miles off Korea’s east coast north of Parallel 38. No other details available at this time. Arizona Republic (Phoenix, Arizona) – 04 Jan 1952, Fri. (First Edition), Page 2 |
| 1952 - January 12 | H-5G #48-538 of the 3rd ARS, Det. 1, crewed by 2nd Lt. Jesse E. Lewis, Jr. (P) and Cpl. Claude P. Ferguson (M) crashed landed at front line aid station. The helicopter was recovered and repaired. http://www.dtic.mil/dpmo/korea/reports/air/korwald_date.html |
| 1952 - January 19 | An Air Force helicopter from Mountain Home AFB, piloted by Capt. John Peacock (from March Field in Riverside, CA). rescued Mrs. Gene Jack. The helicopter followed the 78-mile course of the Boise River under a thick overcast to a rendezvous point to rescue Mrs. Jack, suffering from influenza, from an isolated cabin in the snowbound vastness's of the Sawtooth Mountain wilderness above Rocky Bar, 80 miles from Boise, ID. The Fresno Bee The Republican (Fresno, California - Sunday January 20, 1952, page 1 |
| 1952 - January 25 | A helicopter rescued an F-84 pilot, 1st Lt. J. W. Corbin, near the coastline of the Yellow Sea, while F-84's strafed enemy troops in the area. Escorting F-86's destroyed three MiG-15's during the pickup. Air Force Magazine |
| 1952 - January 25 | H-5G #48-544, piloted by John C. Hays, was involved in an accident at Sosa-Ri, Korea. No other details available currently. http://www.accident-report.com/Yearly/1952/5202.html |
| 1952 - January 26 | H-19A #51-3849, piloted by Leslie W. Lear, was involved in an accident at Wheeler-Sack Field, NY. No other details available at this time. http://www.accident-report.com/Yearly/1952/5202.html |
| 1952 - January 26 | A H-5 from the 3rd ARS in Korea, crewed by Capt. Raymond Hurn (P) and unkn (MT), flew deep into enemy territory to rescue a 49th Fighter Interceptor Wing fighter pilot, Capt. Alvin T. Thawley, who’s aircraft was downed while blasting enemy rail lines in the Sinanju Area. Pacific Stars & Stripes, Jan 29, 1952, pg. 19 |
| 1952 - January 26 | A H-5 from the 3rd ARS in Korea, crewed by 1st Lt. John C. Hayes (P) and unkn (MT) rescue an F-84 Thunderjet pilot, Maj. Drew F. Holbrook, of the 136th Fighter Bomber Wing, after his jet had flamed out and he crash landed it in enemy territory. Pacific Stars & Stripes, Jan 29, 1952, pg. 19 |
| 1952 - January 30 | H-19A #51-3859, piloted by Robert Decke, was involved in an accident at Sikorsky Airport, CT. No other details available currently. http://www.accident-report.com/Yearly/1952/5202.html |
| 1952 - February 13 | A helicopter from the 54th ARSq. rescued the survivors of a B-36 that had crashed in the snow near Goose Air Base, Labrador on 12 February 1952. Also rescued were a two-man pararescue team that had parachuted into the crash site on 12 February 1952. http://www.afsoc.af.mil/shared/media/document/AFD-070906-042.pdf |
| 1952 - February 21 | A SAR helicopter from K-14 recovered the remains of RF-80A pilot, 2nd Lt. Richard L. Johnson, after his aircraft had hit some low-hanging power lines during approach and crashed 5 miles southeast of K-14. http://www.dtic.mil/dpmo/korea/reports/air/korwald_date.html |
| 1952 - February 25 | A USAF helicopter from Goose Bay, crew unkn, evacuated Mrs. Bernard Way and her triplets, who were born on the 23rd of February, without medical help, from the remote village of Rigolet, 100 miles northeast of Goose Bay. The Berkshire Evening Eagle, Tuesday, Feb. 26, 1952, page 17 |
| 1952 - March 05 | While jet fighters stilled enemy anti-aircraft fire, a USAF helicopter (Call sign "Pedro 02") lowered a hoist sling and rescued a downed USN F4U-4 pilot, Capt. John A. "Jack" Deitz, in the vicinity of Yongyon. Air Force Magazine & http://www.dtic.mil/dpmo/korea/reports/air/korwald_date.html |
| 1952 - March 06 | H-5G #48-554, piloted by unkn, was involved in an accident at Goose Bay, Labrador. No other details are known at this time. Accident list |
| 1952 - March 10 | A pontoon-equipped H-19 made a water rescue of a downed USMC F4U-4 Corsair pilot, Capt. Clarence W. Tuxbury. "That Others May Live, USAF Air Rescue in Korea" by Forrest L. Marion |
| 1952 - March 17 | H-5G #48-542 of the 3rd ARS, crewed by Maj. Emerson E. Heller & Pvt. Carl E. Healy (CC) crashed landed, about 1 mile NNW of Seoul AB, Korea, during an autorotation check when they could not recover. The crew was not injured. http://www.dtic.mil/dpmo/korea/reports/air/korwald_info_2589.html |
| 1952 - March 25 | H-5G #48-538 of the 3rd ARSq, Det. 1, crewed by Capt. Russell P. Tyler (P) and Pfc. James H. Garns (M) was lost during a patient evacuation mission from a snow-covered hilltop, landed in snow-filled hole and overturned. http://www.dtic.mil/dpmo/korea/reports/air/korwald_date.html |
| 1952 - March 25 | YH-12B #46-225 from Kirtland AFB, AZ., crewed by Russell P. Tyler (P) & Capt. Chester C. Lowe (CP), crashed and burned on takeoff at Kingman Airport, AZ. Capt. Lowe received a minor injury when it crashed. A witness said the helicopter was about 10 feet off the ground when it was struck by a sudden gust of wind and hurled to the runway. No other details available currently. http://www.accident-report.com/Yearly/1952/5203.html & Las Cruces Sun-News (Las Cruces, NM.), Wed, Mar 26, 1952, page 1 |
| 1952 - March 25 | H-5G #48-538 of Det. 1, 3rd ARS, crewed by Capt. Russell P. Tyler (P) and Pfc. James H. Garns (M), was on a patient evacuation mission from a snow-covered hilltop, landing in a snow-filled hole and overturning, in Korea. The crew was not injured. http://www.dtic.mil/dpmo/korea/reports/air/korwald_info_3556.html |
| 1952 - March 25 | H-13E #51-13776, piloted by James V. Belyea, was involved in an accident at Lometa, TX. No other details available at this time. http://www.accident-report.com/Yearly/1952/5203.html |
| 1952 - March 25 | H-19A #51-3847, piloted by Dale R. Paules, was involved in an accident at San Marcos AFB, TX. No other details available currently. http://www.accident-report.com/Yearly/1952/5203.html |
| 1952 - March 27 | A H-5 of the 3rd Air Rescue Squadron crewed by 1st Lt. Robert L. Dunlap (P) delivered 4,000 pounds of rice (taking ten trips to deliver 400 pounds each trip) to 1,400 half-starved inhabitants of a northern Honshu Mountain village, who had been without food for three days. Pacific Stars & Stripes, Mar 29, 1952, pg. 18 |
| 1952 - March 27 | A H-5 of the 3rd Air Rescue Squadron crewed by Lt. John R. Calhoun (P) and PFC David Kroll (MT), learning that Chinese troops had captured a downed USMC pilot, Capt. William D. Smart, near Pylksong, made several low passes, enabling him to escape. While one helicopter crew member fired at the Chinese soldiers with a rifle, other lowered a hoist and rescued the pilot. Air Force Magazine & News-Journal (Mansfield, OH.)- Wed. March 12, 1952, page 1 |
| 1952 - April 01 | A H-19 rescue helicopter in Korea, crewed by unkn (P), unkn (CP) and unkn (FM) rescued the pilots, names unkn, of an F-80 Shooting Star and a Corsair. Pacific Stars & Stripes, Apr 05, 1951, pg. 1 |
| 1952 - April 01 | A H-19 rescue helicopter in Korea, crewed by unkn (P), unkn (CP) and unkn (FM), rescued F-86 pilot, 1st Lt. John E. Dews, Jr. from a rocky area on Cho-do Island. "That Others May Live, USAF Air Rescue in Korea" by Forrest L. Marion |
| 1952 - April 06 | H-5G #48-554 was damaged at Goose Bay, Labrador. No other details available currently. http://www.accident-report.com/Yearly/1952/5204.html |
| 1952 - April 07 | A 3rd ARS helicopter rescues a downed UN Sea Fury pilot, Royal Navy S/Lt. Swanson. "The U.S. Air Force's First War: Korea 1950-1953 Significant Events" by A. Timothy Warnock & http://www.dtic.mil/dpmo/korea/reports/air/korwald_date.html |
| 1952 - April 09 - 20 | Unknown type of USAF helicopters were involved humanitarian airlift operations during Missouri River Valley Floods in South Dakota, Iowa, Nebraska, Kansas and Missouri. The USAF & Humanitarian Airlift Operations 1947-1994 by Daniel L. Haul |
| 1952 - April 12 | A new H-21 U. S. Air Force rescue helicopter designed for Arctic missions made its first flight in Philadelphia. The Daily News, Huntingdon And Mount Union, PA., Monday, April 14, 1952, page 8 |
| 1952 - April 26 | A H-5 helicopter of the 3rd ARS in Korea, crewed by Capt. Gail W. Poulton (P) and unkn (MT) rescued an unkn F-80 Shooting Star after he was forced to bail out of his ground fire damaged aircraft behind enemy lines. As the pilot was scrambling into the helicopter his hair was literally parted by enemy ground fire and the helicopter received enemy ground fire damage as they were able to pick him up and deliver him to friendly lines. Pacific Stars & Stripes, Apr 23, 1952, pg. 19 |
| 1952 - April 26 | H-5D #43-46648, piloted by Dewey A. Campbell, was involved in an accident in the water at White Beach, Okinawa. No other details available currently. http://www.accident-report.com/Yearly/1952/5204.html |
| 1952 - April 28 | An H-19 helicopter of the 3rd ARS in Korea, crewed by 1st Lt. Jesse E. Lewis (P) and 1st Lt. John R. Calhoun (CP) picked up a downed Royal Navy Seafury pilot, S/Lt. Swanson, in enemy waters off North Korea’s west coast. It was the second time in exactly three weeks that the same pilot had been picked up by a 3rd ARS helicopter. Air Force Magazine |
| 1952 - April 29 | H-23B #51-16151, piloted by Harold W. Peterson, was involved in an accident in the water at Edwards AFB, CA. No other details available at this time. http://www.accident-report.com/Yearly/1952/5204.html |
| 1952 - May 01 | H-19A #51-3858 of the 3rd ARSq. was lost due to battle damage during a rescue. No other details are available currently. http://www.dtic.mil/dpmo/korea/reports/air/korwald_infor_158.html |
| 1952 - May 02 | A YH-19 #49-2016, with the 3rd ARS, crashed landed in mud flats near Inchon, South Korea after engine failure while returning from a patient evacuation mission. All 4 crew, 1st Lt. Kenneth R. Bloom, Capt. Gail W. Poulton, A1C Edward B. Horseman and A2C David J. Kroll were rescued. http://www.joebaugher.com/usaf_serials/1949.html & http://www.dtic.mil/dpmo/korea/reports/air/korwald_date.html |
| 1952 - May 06 | A H-5 helicopter from the 3rd ARS in Korea, crewed by Capt. John Elton James (P) and A1C William Frederick Utech (MT), rescued a downed Marine F4U pilot, Capt. Lewis T. Ransom (P), from the coastal shallows of the Yellow Sea where he had ditched his ground-fire damaged aircraft. Pacific Stars & Stripes, May 09, 1952, pg. 18 |
| 1952 - May 10 | A USAF helicopter removed a critically injured fisherman, John Alexander, from a rugged woodland area near Sumerset, VT. No other details are known at this time. The Brooklyn Daily Eagle (Brooklyn, NY) 11 May 1952, page 1 |
| 1952 - May 11 | The first YH-21, 50-1231 made its FIRST flight at the Piasecki Helicopter Corporation factory at Morton Grove, Pennsylvania. The crew on this flight were test pilots Leonard Joseph "Len" LaVassar and Martin P. "Marty" Johnson, both former U.S. Navy aviators. https://www.thisdayinaviation.com/11-april-1952/ |
| 1952 - May 16 | YH-19 49-2016 of the 3rd ARS, MATS, crewed by 1st Lt. Kenneth R. Bloom (P), Capt. Gail W. Poulton (P), A1C Edward B. Horseman (M or CC) and A2C David J. Kroll (M or CC) while returning from patient evacuation mission, crash landed in mud flats near Inchon when the engine failed (fuel pressure loss). http://www.accident-report.com/Yearly/1952/5204.html |
| 1952 - May 16 | A USAF helicopter recovered Lt. David Spowart after he belly-landed his aircraft, after its engine failed, on a reservoir. As the plane started sinking, he started swimming. A boat picked him up and took him to shore where the helicopter picked him up and returned him to the Alameda NAS, near Oakland, CA. Pampa Daily News (Pampa, TX.) 17 May 1952, page 9 |
| 1952 - May 21 | A USAF helicopter crewed by Capt. Charles Johnson (P) and John Withers (MT) rescued a USMC F4U-4 pilot, Capt. William Barbanen, while under enemy fire, after his aircraft was hit by AAA fire and he bailed out, landing in a North Korean rice paddy, near Sukchone. http://www.dtic.mil/dpmo/korea/reports/air/korwald_info_1386.htm & Panama City News-Herald (Panama City, FL) 22 May 1952, page 2 |
| 1952 - May 23 | An H-19 helicopter from 3rd ARS flew most of a sortie on instruments and picked up a downed Marine Corps AD-2 pilot, one of the FIRST instances of a "primarily-instruments" helicopter rescue. Air Force Magazine |
| 1952 - May 26 | H-19A #51-3875, piloted by Donald G. Thomason, was involved in an accident at San Marcos AFB, TX. No other details available currently. http://www.accident-report.com/Yearly/1952/5205.html |
| 1952 - May 29 | H-19A #51-3886, piloted by Howard G. Pelton, was involved in an accident about 7 miles north of Bowling Green, KY. No other details available currently. http://www.accident-report.com/Yearly/1952/5205.html |
| 1952 - May 30 | H-13E #51-13814, piloted by John E Murphy, was involved in an accident at San Marcos AFB, TX. No other details available currently. http://www.accident-report.com/Yearly/1952/5205.html |
| 1952 - June 04 | An H-19 helicopter of 3rd ARS picked up a downed British pilot, 2nd Lt. James H. McGee, from the vicinity of Sinchon, while encountering automatic weapons fire during the rescue. Air Force Magazine |
| 1952 - June 05 | H-23B #51-16149, piloted by Allen W. Thompson, was involved in an accident about 5 miles north of Edwards AFB, CA. No other details available currently. http://www.accident-report.com/Yearly/1952/5206.html |
| 1952 - June 09 | An H-19 helicopter of 3rd ARS crewed by Capt. Owen L. Clard (P), A2C Elmer L. Davis (MT), picked up a downed UN F-84 Thunderjet pilot, 2nd Lt. Quintus J. Fuller Jr., on the Haeju peninsula or Korea while encountering moderate small arms fire enroute. "The U.S. Air Force's First War: Korea 1950-1953 Significant Events" by A. Timothy Warnock |
| 1952 - June 12 | H-13E #51-13764, piloted by Robert N. McLetton, was involved in an accident about 2 miles north of San Marcos AFB, TX. No other details available currently. http://www.accident-report.com/Yearly/1952/5206.html |
| 1952 - June 13 | H-5G #48-529, piloted by Charles A. Johnson, was involved in an accident at the 8055th MASH, Korea. No other details available currently. http://www.accident-report.com/Yearly/1952/5206.html |
| 1952 - June 17 | H-23A #51-4018, piloted by Russell G. Winegar, was involved in an accident at San Marcos AFB, TX. No other details available currently. http://www.accident-report.com/Yearly/1952/5206.html |
| 1952 - June 24 | H-23A #51-4017, piloted by Theodoros A. Kentrotis, was involved in an accident at San Marcos AFB, TX. No other details available currently. http://www.accident-report.com/Yearly/1952/5206.html |
| 1952 - June 25 | H-5H #49-2000 crewed by Capt. Leslie Wayne Lear (P) and SSgt Bob D. Holloway (M) was shot down while trying to rescue a USN pilot, Ens. Ronald D. Eaton. The crew and USN pilot bailed out and Lear & Eaton were KIA and Holloway became the first helicopter crew member to become a POW. "Air Force Magazine & "Tails of a Helicopter Pilot" by Richard Kirkland |
| 1952 - June 25 | H-5G #48-548 of the 3rd ARS, piloted by Capt. Sherman B. Jennings, Jr., on a SAR mission to rescue the HH-5H crew down behind enemy lines, crashed on takeoff after dropping off the medic. http://www.dtic.mil/dpmo/korea/reports/air/korwald_date.html |
| 1952 - June 28 | H-13E #51-13828, piloted by David E. Chatfield, was involved in an accident about 4 miles NNW of San Marcos AFB, TX. No other details available currently. http://www.accident-report.com/Yearly/1952/5206.html |
| 1952 - July 03 | EH-19A #51-3846, piloted by Ralph E. Coleman, was involved in an accident at Umiat, AK. No other details available currently. http://www.accident-report.com/Yearly/1952/5207.html |
| 1952 - July 07 | H-5F #47-480, piloted by Ramond O. Smith, Jr., was involved in an accident at Munsan-Ni, Korea. No other details available currently. http://www.accident-report.com/Yearly/1952/5207.html |
| 1952 - July 07 | EH-5G #48-546, piloted by George E. Caldwell, was involved in an accident at Holloman AFB, NM. No other details available currently. http://www.accident-report.com/Yearly/1952/5207.html |
| 1952 - July 09 | Colonel J. C. Bailey assumed temporary command of ARS after the departure of Colonel Richard T. Knight. https://www.airandspaceforces.com/PDF/DocumentFile/Documents/2005/ARRSchrono1946-1981_011583.pdf |
| 1952 - July 09 | Colonel Thomas J. DuBose assumed command of ARS. https://www.airandspaceforces.com/PDF/DocumentFile/Documents/2005/ARRSchrono1946-1981_011583.pdf |
| 1952 - July 10 | H-19A #51-3864, piloted by Donald J. Crawford, was involved in an accident at San Marcos AFB, TX. No other details available currently. http://www.accident-report.com/Yearly/1952/5207.html |
| 1952 - July 11 | H-13D #51-2531, piloted by Edward J. Kelly, was involved in an accident at San Marcos AFB, TX. No other details available currently. http://www.accident-report.com/Yearly/1952/5207.html |
| 1952 - July 12 | H-5H #49-2002, piloted by Benjamin W. Kent, was involved in an accident at Wheelus AB, Libya. No other details available currently. http://www.accident-report.com/Yearly/1952/5207.html |
| 1952 - July 15 - 31 | The FIRST helicopter crossing of the North Atlantic is made by Captain Vincent H. McGovern and Captain Harry C. Jeffers with Captain George O. Hambrick and Lieutenant Harold Moore, flying two Sikorsky H-19 helicopters, named "Hop-a-long" and "Whirl-O-Way" from Massachusetts to Ayrshire covering 3,535 miles in 42 hours 25 minutes of flight time. http://www.century-of-flight.net/Aviation%20history/aviation%20timeline/1952.html |
| 1952 - July 15 | H-13D #51-2471, piloted by Kenneth G. Blurton, was involved in an accident at San Marcos AFB, TX. No other details available currently. http://www.accident-report.com/Yearly/1952/5207.html |
| 1952 - July 17 | H-13E #51-13804, piloted by Samuel Sedia, was involved in an accident about 50 miles NNE of Thule AB, Greenland. No other details available currently. http://www.accident-report.com/Yearly/1952/5307.html |
| 1952 - July 17 | H-19A #51-3887, piloted by Wilbur G. Wood, was involved in an accident at Hoengsong AB, Korea. No other details available currently. http://www.accident-report.com/Yearly/1952/5207.html |
| 1952 - July 21 | H-5G #48-543, piloted by Erling C. Biorge, was involved in an accident at San Marcos AFB, TX. No other details available currently. http://www.accident-report.com/Yearly/1952/5207.html |
| 1952 - July 22 | YH-5E #43-46614, piloted by Guy D. Moshier, Jr., was involved in an accident at March AFB, CA. No other details available currently. http://www.accident-report.com/Yearly/1952/5207.html |
| 1952 - July 30 | Following extended heavy rains, helicopters of the 3rd ARS carried approximately 650 floods stranded US military members and Koreans to safety. Flying more than 100 sorties, five large H-19's transported some 600 evacuees, while two H-5's carried the rest. In the I corps sector, two H-5's flew more than 30 sorties to rescue flood-stranded Koreans and US soldiers. Air Force Magazine |
| 1952 - July 31 | H-19A #51-3852 of the 3rd ARS, crewed by 1st Lt. Kenneth R. Bloom (P) and Capt. Sherman B. Jennings, Jr. (CP), was lost about one mile south of Seoul AB, S. Korea when the rotor hit the water while landing on a small island during a resupply mission. There were minor injuries to the crew from Det. 1, 3rd ARS. http://www.dtic.mil/dpmo/korea/reports/air/korwald_date.html |
| 1952 - July 31 | H-19A #51-3893 "Hop-A-Long", crewed by Capt. Vincent H. McGovern (P) and Capt. Harry C. Jeffers (CP), and H-19A #51-3890 "Whirl-A-Way", crewed by 1st Lt. Harold W. Moore (P) and Capt. George O. Hambrick, landed, shortly after 4 pm, at Prestwick, Scotland to complete the FIRST Trans-Atlantic Crossing by helicopter. One of the helicopter flight mechanics (FM) who made the crossing in an accompanying C-54 was SSgt. Grady M. Truitt, other FMs are unknown at this time. The News (Frederick, MD), Tue, Aug 5, 1952, page 6 & Corsicana Daily Sun (Corsicana, TX), Mon, Jul 14, 1952 |
| 1952 - August 04 | H-5G #48-557, piloted by Maj. Roy A. Thompson, was involved in an accident at the 8055th MASH, Korea. No other details available currently. http://www.accident-report.com/Yearly/1952/5208.html |
| 1952 - August 05 | An H-5 piloted by 1st Lt. H. O. McEauchern rescued F4U Corsair pilot Col. Robert Galier, USMC, while under enemy fire, from North Korea. USMC Col. Robert Galier had received the Medal of Honor during WW II. "Tails of a Helicopter Pilot" by Richard Kirkland |
| 1952 - August 08 | H-5D #43-46641, piloted by William A. Sandblom, was involved in an accident at Kabuku Homer, HI. No other details available currently. http://www.accident-report.com/Yearly/1952/5208.html |
| 1952 - August 15 | H-19A #51-3870, piloted by Allen H. Stotts was involved in an accident at Fukuoka, Japan. No other details are available currently. http://www.accident-report.com/Yearly/1952/5208.html |
| 1952 - August 19 | H-19A #51-3876, crewed by Capt. Ralph H. King (IP) and Lt. Verne Armstrong, a student pilot, crashed and burned about 11 miles north of San Marcos AFB, TX., killing both. A witness said "the craft fell to earth and burned after its rear propeller tore loose in flight. Corsicana Daily Sun (Corsicana, TX.) Wed., Aug 20, 1952, page 3 & http://www.accident-report.com/Yearly/1952/5208.html |
| 1952 - August 20 | A USAF helicopter in Korea, crewed by Capt. Edwin L. Leonard (P), rescued a downed Sabre Jet pilot, 1st Lt. Norman Schmidt (P) from Red-held waters and on his way back to base he also rescued a downed Marine fighter-bomber pilot, Maj. J. B. Grithn (P) from Red-held waters off northwest Korea. Pacific Stars & Stripes, Aug 22, 1952, pg. 19 |
| 1952 - August 21 | A USAF helicopter in Korea, crewed by Capt. Walter E. Karutz (P), rescued a Thunderjet pilot, 2nd Lt. G. L. Whisenhunt (P) from Red-held waters off northwest Korea. Pacific Stars & Stripes, Aug 22, 1952, pg. 19 |
| 1952 - August 24 | H-5H #49-1996, piloted by Ernest L. Macquarrie was involved in an accident at Narsarssuak AB, Greenland. No other details are available currently. http://www.accident-report.com/Yearly/1952/5208.html |
| 1952 - August 28 | H-13E #51-13748, piloted by Robert F. Scott was involved in an accident at San Marcos Aux. Field 2, TX. No other details are available currently. http://www.accident-report.com/Yearly/1952/5208.html |
| 1952 - September 02 | A 3rd ARS SAR helicopter rescued a USMC F4U-4B pilot, Maj. Robert J. Shelley, after his aircraft had been hit by ground fire and made a wheels-up crash landing in a field. http://www.dtic.mil/dpmo/korea/reports/air/korwald_date.html |
| 1952 - September 04 | An H-19 from the 3rd ARS, crewed by Maj. Roy A. Thompson (P), 1st Lt. Thurman Lawrence Jr. (CP) and unkn (MT), rescued a downed F-86E fighter pilot, 1st Lt. Laverne G. Strange, and two crewmen, Ensign Thermon Ray (P) and F. C. Davney (crewman) of a USN helicopter, which had lost power and crashed in the water while attempting to pick up the fighter pilot. Air Force Magazine & The McKinney Daily Courier-Gazette - Friday, Sept. 5, 1952, page 1 |
| 1952 - September 05 | H-19A #51-3857, piloted by Gerald J. Grosson was involved in an accident at Point Oboe, Korea. No other details are available currently. http://www.accident-report.com/Yearly/1952/5209.html |
| 1952 - September 13 | A USAF helicopter, crew unkn, from Hamilton AFB, CA., rescued a hunter, Harold Senter, who had accidentally shot himself in the arm when his rifle went off as he loaded a deer on his car. Santa Cruz Sentinel (Santa Cruz, CA.) 14 Sep 1952, Sun. page 1 |
| 1952 - September 18 | H-19A #51-3869, piloted by Charles A. Johnson was involved in a landing accident at Ch'o Do Island, South Korea and was written off. No other details are available currently. http://www.accident-report.com/Yearly/1952/5209.html |
| 1952 - September 20 | H-13E #51-13764, piloted by Leonard S. Horner was involved in an accident at San Marcos AFB, TX. No other details are available currently. http://www.accident-report.com/Yearly/1952/5209.html |
| 1952 - September 28 | A H-19 rescue helicopter in Korea, crewed by 1st Lt. Walter L. Johnson (P), 1st Lt. Milton Bowman (CP) and A3C Thomas C. Thorton (FM) rescued an F-86 pilot, Maj. A. J. Gillis from the water after he ejected from his battle damaged Sabre Jet, only 30 miles from the mouth of the Yalu river and well within range of the major Communist airfield at Antung in Manchuria, where over 200 MiG-15’s have been observed. Pacific Stars & Stripes, Sep 29, 1952, pg. 16 |
| 1952 - October 08 | H-19A #51-3848, piloted by Alfred L. Kopit was involved in an accident about 3 miles north of Lyells, VA. No other details are available currently. http://www.accident-report.com/Yearly/1952/5210.html |
| 1952 - October 09 | H-5 #42-46652, piloted by Stanley H. Sheley was involved in an accident about 23 miles south of Olanchito, Honduras. No other details are available currently. http://www.accident-report.com/Yearly/1952/5210.html |
| 1952 - October 12 | An SA-16 pilot, 3rd ARS, participated in two rescues within 30 minutes and more than 100 miles apart. After directing a helicopter pickup of a downed Sabre jet pilot, the SA-16 landed in the Harju Harbor and, while overhead fighters suppressed ground fire from the shore, picked up from a dinghy a 69th FBS pilot who had parachuted from his burning F-84. "The U.S. Air Force's First War: Korea 1950-1953" by; A. Timothy Warnock |
| 1952 - October 14 | The 66th ARS at RAF Manston, UK was activated and took over the aircraft & personnel of what was previously known as “A” flight of the 9th ARGp. The unit was under operational control of USAFE and operated with SA-16’s & H-19’s. 66th ARS History Documents |
| 1952 - October 14 | H-19A #51-3882, piloted by Ned W. Farr was involved in an accident about 5 miles SE of Deposit, TN. No other details are available currently. http://www.accident-report.com/Yearly/1952/5210.html |
| 1952 - October 27 | A USAF H-19 helicopter from the 3rd ARS in Korea, crewed by 1st Lt. Robert C. Christie (P), 1st Lt. Robert H. Reu (CP) and A1C William P. Galliger, flew through intense Communist ground fire to rescue a British Seafury pilot, Flt. Lt. T. J. Mather, after he crashed landed his crippled plane northwest of Cinnamon on Korea's west coast. The Bee, (Danville, VA.) 27 Oct. 1952, page 5 |
| 1952 - October 30 | H-19A #51-3862, piloted by Calvin W. Jackson was involved in an accident at Langley AFB, VA. No other details are available currently. http://www.accident-report.com/Yearly/1952/5210.html |
| 1952 - November 06 | A USAF helicopter in Korea, crewed by 1st Lt. John Totri (P) and Capt. Lloyd Williams (CP) along with Dr., Capt. Don R. Zollinger, rescued PFC Kim Youn Dae, a Korean soldier from the 5th Regiment, 1st ROK Division. PFC Dae was in the middle of a mine field and suffered two broken legs, a broken arm and cuts of the body when he stepped on a mine in the mine field. Pacific Stars & Stripes, Nov 06, 1952, pg. 19 |
| 1952 - November 07 | H-23B #51-16143, piloted by Harold E. McGrath was involved in an accident about 3 miles ESE of Edwards AFB, CA. No other details are available currently. http://www.accident-report.com/Yearly/1952/5211.html |
| 1952 - November 07 | H-5D #43-46642, piloted by Jay V. Cannon was involved in an accident at Tumon Bay, Guam. No other details are available currently. http://www.accident-report.com/Yearly/1952/5211.html |
| 1952 - November 12 | EH-23B #51-16146, piloted by George Harchalk, was involved in an accident at Wright-Patterson AFB, OH. No other details are available currently. http://www.accident-report.com/Yearly/1952/5211.html |
| 1952 - November 12 | H-19A #51-3851, piloted by Richard P. Devine, was involved in an accident at Langley AFB, VA. No other details are available currently. http://www.accident-report.com/Yearly/1952/5211.html |
| 1952 - November 21 | Two H-19 helicopters of the 3rd ARS in Korea, one crewed by 1st Lt. Sherman Lawrence Jr. (P), 1st Lt. Oscar A. Yznaga Jr. (CP) and A1C Elmer L. Davis (MT) and the second crewed by Capt. Lloyd E. Williams (P), 1st Lt. Earl J. Thirl (CP) and unkn (MT), each rescued pilots, Maj. Vernon J. Lyle (P) and unkn (P) from two F-86 Sabre Jet’s that had gone down along the east coast North Korea. Pacific Stars & Stripes, Nov. 23, 1952, pg. 6 |
| 1952 - November 24 | A USAF H-19 from the 3rd ARS in Korea, crewed by 1st Lt. Francis Gasque (P), 1st Lt. John M. Totri (CP) and SSgt. Richard E. Ganson (MT) rescued the second Marine Corsair pilot, Capt. C. M. Green, from enemy hands deep in enemy territory near the North Korean Coast after he was forced to abandon his aircraft near a heavily defended Communist supply route. Earlier in the day another H-19 had also plucked a Corsair pilot from enemy waters minutes after he had ditched his aircraft. No detail on this earlier rescue is available at the time of this posting. Pacific Stars & Stripes, Nov 27, 1952, pg. 20 |
| 1952 - November 25 | A USAF helicopter crewed by Lt. Francisco Gasque (P), Lt. John M. Totri (CP) and SSgt. Richard E. Ganson (MT), rescued a USMC F4U-4B pilot, Capt. Carleton M. Green, after his aircraft was hit by its own bomb blast and he ditched 10 miles S. of Sunwi-Do. The Index-Journal (Greenwood, SC.) 25 Nov. 1952, page 10 & http://www.dtic.mil/dpmo/korea/reports/air/korwald_info_1200.html |
| 1952 - December 01 | H-13E #51-13828, piloted by Edward J. Kelly, was involved in an accident about 2 miles north of San Marcos AFB, TX. No other details are available currently. http://www.accident-report.com/Yearly/1952/5212.html |
| 1952 - December 15 | H-19A #51-3868, piloted by Raymond H. Hurn, was involved in an accident about 5 miles NNE of Black Mountain, NC. No other details are available currently. http://www.accident-report.com/Yearly/1952/5212.html |
| 1952 - December 15 | An H-19 crewed by Capt. Walter E. Karutz (P), Lt. Theodoros A. Kentrotis (CP), SSgt. Thomas C. Thornton (MT) and A2C Fred Calhoun (MT), rescue a U.S. Marine pilot, Maj. Victor (Vernon) E. Ball, after he had bailed out of his flack riddled Corsair fighter while attacking troop targets in the Chinnampo, North Korea, port area deep in Communist territory. Santa Cruz Sentinel (Santa Cruz, CA.) 15 Dec. 1952, Mon, page 4 |
| 1952 - December 16 | H-19A #51-3887, piloted by John W. Caldwell, was involved in an accident at San Marcos AFB, TX. No other details are available currently. http://www.accident-report.com/Yearly/1952/5212.html |
| 1952 - December 27 - 31 | In its FIRST recorded operations the 581st Air Resupply and Communication Wing (ARCW) flew off Cho-do and put these folks in well above Chinnampo on the mud flats. The flight of four H-19A helicopters, at Seoul, flew several experimental agent-insertion sorties into enemy territory for covert and clandestine intelligence activities including the insertion of South Korean agents behind enemy lines. Air Force Magazine & "The U.S. Air Force's First War: Korea 1950-1953 Significant Events" by A. Timothy Warnock |
| 1953 - January 10 | A H-19 helicopter of the 3rd ARGp., crewed by Capt. Harold F. Palmeer (P), Capt. James M. Turner (CP) and A1C Floyd V. Hunt (MT), rescued a Marine Corsair pilot, Capt. Floyd N. Bolmott, who had crash-landed his F4U in icy water off the coast of North Korea. Pacific Stars & Stripes, Jan 11, 1953, pg. 3 |
| 1953 - January 12 | In its first recorded operations the 581st Air Resupply and Communication Wing (ARCW) flew off Cho-do and put these folks in well above Chinnampo on the mud flats. The flight of four H-19A helicopters, at Seoul, flew several experimental agent-insertion sorties into enemy territory for covert and clandestine intelligence activities including the insertion of South Korean agents behind enemy lines. Air Force Magazine & "The U.S. Air Force's First War: Korea 1950-1953 Significant Events" by A. Timothy Warnock |
| 1953 - January 12 | H-5G #48-538 of the 3rd ARS, crewed by 2nd Lt. Jesse E. Lewis Jr. (P) crashed landed at the front of a line aid station. The pilot was not injured and the helicopter was repaired. No other detail are know at this time. U. S. Navy, U. S. Marine Corps and MATS Aircraft Lost During the Korean War: 2017 Edition By: Douglas E. Campbell |
| 1953 - January 15 | A H-19A of the 581st ARS crewed by Capt. Drank J. Westerman (P) and 1st Lt. R. F. Sullivan (CP) flew more than 100 miles into North Korean airspace to rescue the pilot, 1st Lt. Charles R. Cottrell, Jr., of a downed F-51D Mustang fighter. As they reached the downed pilot, enemy gunners opened fire. Barrett flew the chopper while Sullivan operated the hoist and brought the flier aboard. Still under enemy fire they piloted the helicopter to safety over the Yellow Sea. Pacific Stars & Stripes, Jan 17, 1953, pg 16 & "Air Resupply & Communications Service" by TSgt. Dale K. Robinson, USAF (ret) |
| 1953 - January 23 | A USAF helicopter from Misawa AB, Japan, crewed by Capt. Richard V. Gerdau (P) and TSgt. Onie V. Hale (PJ), rescued the pilot of a USAF F-84 Thunderjet that had crashed approximately 3 miles from Misawa AB. Pacific Stars & Stripes, Jan 24, 1953, pg. 16 |
| 1953 - January 26 | H-5G #48-526, piloted by Harold G. Palmer, was involved in an accident at about 40 miles north of Seoul AB, Korea. No other details available currently. http://www.accident-report.com/Yearly/1953/5301.html |
| 1953 - January 29 | H-19A #51-3895, piloted by Lloyd C. Blanchard, was involved in an accident about 14 miles SW of Westmoreland, CA. No other details available currently. http://www.accident-report.com/Yearly/1953/5301.html |
| 1953 - January 31 | H-5H #49-1998, piloted by Roy L. Maddox, was involved in an accident at about 7 miles southwest of Dhahran, Saudi Arabia. No other details available currently. http://www.accident-report.com/Yearly/1953/5301.html |
| 1953 - January 31 | H-5H #49-1998, piloted by Roy L. Maddox, was involved in an accident at about 30 miles west of Kenai, AK. No other details available currently. http://www.accident-report.com/Yearly/1953/5301.html |
| 1953 - February 03 - 17 | During floods in the Netherlands, 12 aircraft (SA-16s, H-19s, C-47s, and C-82s) of the 66th, 68th, 69th, 82nd, and 83rd ARS flew 198 sorties, evacuating 161 persons and delivering 32,900 pounds of relief supplies. https://www.airandspaceforces.com/PDF/DocumentFile/Documents/2005/ARRSchrono1946-1981_011583.pdf |
| 1953 - February 12 | H-5F #47-488, piloted by William K. Lewis, was involved in an accident at about 7 miles SW of Dhahran, Saudi Arabia. No other details available currently. http://www.accident-report.com/Yearly/1953/5302.html |
| 1953 - February 18 | H-5G #48-552, piloted by Charles A. Carter, Jr., was involved in an accident at Elmendorf AK. No other details available currently. http://www.accident-report.com/Yearly/1953/5302.html |
| 1953 - February 24 | An H-19A of the 581st ARCW, crewed by Capt. Joseph E. Barrett (P), 1st Lt. Frank Fabijan (CP) and A2C Thomas Thornton (CC) hoisted F4U-4 Corsair pilot Maj. David Cleeland USMC from near his crashed aircraft. Hovering over Maj. Cleeland he was successfully rescued while F4U and F-80 fighters attacked the North Korean troops who had surrounded him, the helicopter took several hits, one wounding A2C Thornton in the hand. "Apollo's Warriors" by: Col. Michael E. Haas & http://www.dtic.mil/dpmo/korea/reports/air/korwald_date.html |
| 1953 - February 28 | Third Air Rescue Group received two new and larger H-19 helicopters. MATS C-124's had flown the dismantled helicopters directly from the factory in the US to Japan, where they were assembled and test-flown before being ferried to Korea. Air Force Magazine |
| 1953 - February 28 | A USAF helicopter piloted by Lt. Jessee E. Lewis, rescue a 23-year-old woman, Daryl Winans, who suffered multiple fractures of her right leg in a ski fall near a resort hotel in northern Japan. The News-Palladium (Benton Harbor, MI.) 28 Feb. 1953 |
| 1953 - March 03 | A USAF helicopter piloted by Capt. Owen T. Clark rescued the pilot, Capt. George H. Keller, and two crewmembers, MSgt. Donald M. Smith and Cpl. Thomas R. Herser, after they had ditched their AD-2 Skyraider, off a North Korean beach, after it developed engine trouble. Anderson Daily Bulletin (Anderson, IN.) 5 Mar. 1953, Thu, page 30 |
| 1953 - March 06 | H-5D #43-46658, piloted by Ivan F. Crockett, was involved in an accident at San Marcos AFB, TX. No other details available currently. http://www.accident-report.com/Yearly/1953/5303.html |
| 1953 - March 12 | H-19's, one crewed by 1st Lt. George R. Bumford (P), unkn (CP) and A1C Joseph P. Felix (FM) and a second by Capt. John D. Heller (P), unkn (CP) and unkn (FM) along with SA-16's and SC-47 aircraft of the 33rd ARSq., rescued 31 survivors of the Japanese ship Ryosho Maru, which had run aground on the small island of Tori Shima near Okinawa. ARS personnel, aided by U.S. Army personnel, rescued 31 of the 38 personnel aboard the ill-fated ship. Pacific Stars & Stripes, Mar. 20, 1953, pg. 20 & http://www.afsoc.af.mil/shared/media/document/AFD-070906-042.pdf & Pacific Stars & Stripes, Mar. 19, 1953, pg. 6 |
| 1953 - March 12 | H-5D #43-46656, piloted by Theodore E. Krumm, was involved in an accident at San Marcos AFB, TX. No other details available currently. http://www.accident-report.com/Yearly/1953/5303.html |
| 1953 - March 18 | The 33rd ARS launched SA-16, H-19 and SC-47 aircraft to rescue survivors of the Japanese ship Ryosho Maru, which had run aground on the small island of Tori Shima near Okinawa. ARS personnel, aided by U.S. Army personnel, rescued 31 of the 38 personnel aboard the ill-fated ship. https://www.airandspaceforces.com/PDF/DocumentFile/Documents/2005/ARRSchrono1946-1981_011583.pdf |
| 1953 - March 19 | H-19B #51-3897, piloted by Raymond N. Gottfried, was involved in an accident at Eglin AFB, FL. No other details available currently. http://www.accident-report.com/Yearly/1953/5303.html |
| 1953 - March 21 | H-5G #48-542, piloted by Leonard W. Kerr, was involved in an accident about 15 miles NW of Osan AB, Korea. No other details available currently. http://www.accident-report.com/Yearly/1953/5303.html |
| 1953 - March 31 | H-13E #51-14114, piloted by Robert G. Johnson, was involved in an accident at San Marcos AFB, TX, Korea. No other details available currently. http://www.accident-report.com/Yearly/1953/5303.html |
| 1953 - April 03 | H-19A #51-3863, piloted by Raymond H. Hurn, was involved in an accident at Sewart AFB, TN. No other details available currently. http://www.accident-report.com/Yearly/1953/5304.html |
| 1953 - April 04 | H-19A #51-3850, piloted by Chester E. Eckerman, was involved in an accident at Ch'o Do Island, Korea. No other details available currently. http://www.accident-report.com/Yearly/1953/5304.html |
| 1953 - April 04 | H-19A #51-3878, piloted by Clarence Gilles, Jr., was involved in an accident about 1 mile west of Pforring, Germany. No other details available currently. http://www.accident-report.com/Yearly/1953/5304.html |
| 1953 - April 12 | An SH-19B helicopter (Call sign "Pedro 01") assigned to the 581st ARCW and crewed by Don Crabb (P), 1st Lt. Robert F. Sullivan (CP) and an unknown medic hoisted Capt. Joseph C. McConnell Jr., (Call sign "Satan Red Two") a F-86E pilot with eight victory credits to date, from the Yellow Sea, within two minutes after he had ejected from his battle-damaged aircraft. Air Force Magazine, "Mash Angels" by Richard C. Kirkland & http://acepilots.com/korea_mcconnell.html |
| 1953 - April 13 | H-13E #51-14143, piloted by Wilber Gates, was involved in an accident at San Marcos AFB, TX. No other details available currently. http://www.accident-report.com/Yearly/1953/5304.html |
| 1953 - April 21 | H-19B #51-3906, piloted by Bobby Overturf, was involved in an accident about 4 miles SSE of San Marcos AFB, TX. No other details available currently. http://www.accident-report.com/Yearly/1953/5304.html |
| 1953 - April 28 | H-5G #48-529, piloted by Charles M. Enderton, was involved in an accident at Seoul, Korea. No other details available currently. http://www.accident-report.com/Yearly/1953/5304.html |
| 1953 - April 29 & 30 | A H-5 helicopter from Johnson AB, Japan, crewed by 1st Lt. Jesse E. Lewis (P) flew a 23-year-old American girl to the hospital after a ski accident in northern Japan. Two PJs parachuted to a hotel where she had been treated and had her leg set. The helicopter picked her up and began the 110-mile flight back to Johnson AB and as darkness approached the helicopter lowered her to a small Army dispensary where she spent the night. The helicopter picked her up the morning of the 30th and took her to the Johnson AB hospital. Pacific Stars & Stripes, Mar 01, 1953, pg. 4 |
| 1953 - April 30 | An H-19 rescued F-86E Sabre pilot, Capt. Lonnie R. Moore (a future double ace) from the Yellow Sea twenty miles north of Cho-do. "That Others May Live, USAF Air Rescue in Korea" by Forrest L. Marion |
| 1953 - May 12 | H-5G #48-529 was lost due to operations, not enemy action. No other details are available currently. http://www.dtic.mil/dmmo/korea/reports/air/korwald_afct.html |
| 1953 - May 16 | An H-19A operating from Cho-do Island and crewed by 1st Lt. Frazier C. Foren (P), Capt. Grant M. Bird (CP) and SSgt. Bengel D. Kelley (M) rescued an F-84G pilot, 2nd Lt. Roger A. Daniels, who had ejected from his flak damaged aircraft. The pilot was in the water only thirty seconds. "That Others May Live, USAF Air Rescue in Korea" by Forrest L. Marion & Pacific Stars & Stripes, Sunday May 17, 1954, page 49 |
| 1953 - May 16 | An H-19A operating from Cho-do Island rescued an F-86 pilot from fifty miles north of Cho-do Island (ninety miles behind enemy lines), late in the afternoon. This pilot was in the water for only two minutes. "That Others May Live, USAF Air Rescue in Korea" by Forrest L. Marion |
| 1953 - May 17 | An H-19A operating from Cho-do Island rescued two more F-86F pilots, a Lt. Dorris and the others name is unkn, from within three miles of Cho-do Island, during the day. "That Others May Live, USAF Air Rescue in Korea" by Forrest L. Marion |
| 1953 - May 18 | An H-19 helicopter, crewed by Capt. LeRoy P. Kohl (P), Capt. Jones Seigler (CP) and SSgt. Doyle P. Neasbitt (MT) rescued two members of a four-man B-26 crew, Capt. John E. Walseth, Jr, and Capt. Raymond W. Quesnell, from 20 miles inside enemy territory by using tactics pre-staging those of later conflicts. The helicopters scrambled from its base and flew to a small island of the Haeju Peninsula to await fighters to clear the path to the downed airman. Penetrating enemy territory at 5,000 feet, the helicopter followed the fighter pilot's directions until it located the survivors who were signaling with a mirror and smoke. After the survivors set off a flare to indicate wind direction, the helicopter landed and rescued them, staying on the ground for approximately 30 seconds. This mission foreshadowed how rescues would be performed a decade later in Southeast Asia. Air Force Magazine & "That Others May Live, USAF Air Rescue in Korea" by Forrest L. Marion |
| 1953 - May 19 | A USAF helicopter from the 10th ARS at Fairbanks, Alaska, crewed by unkn (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FM), rescued four persons who had been marooned in the Alaska wilderness nearly 24 hours after their private plane crash landed near Chena Hot Springs, 60 miles northeast of Fairbanks. Pacific Stars & Stripes, May 20, 1953, pg. 17 |
| 1953 - May 26 | A USAF helicopter crewed by Maj. James B. Blackburn (P), Capt. John W. Caldwell (CP) and unkn (FM), rescued an F-84 pilot, 2nd Lt. John S. Gaskin from the sea after he abandoned his ground fire damaged aircraft. The helicopter flew 120 miles along the west coast of North Korea to make the rescue under shell fire from Communist shoreline gunners. Albuquerque Journal (Albuquerque, NM.) 26 May 1953, page 4 |
| 1953 - May 26 | H-5G #48-536, piloted by Grant Bird, was involved in an accident at Seoul, Korea. No other details available currently. http://www.accident-report.com/Yearly/1953/5305.html |
| 1953 - May 28 | H-13E #51-14113, piloted by Algin S. Hawkins, was involved in an accident at Garry AFB, TX. No other details available currently. http://www.accident-report.com/Yearly/1953/5305.html |
| 1953 - May 29 | H-19A, Call sign “Pedro” of the 2157th ARS, crewed by John W. Caldwell (P), Major Jim Blackburn (CP) unkn (MT) flying from Cho-do Island, Korea, rescued, John Gaskins, the pilot of a F-84, from his one-man life raft after he had ejected from his damaged aircraft. The F-84 pilot was hoisted from his raft under fire from the enemy on the shoreline and the helicopter flew away from the shore as they continued to hoist him aboard. As they returned to Cho-do Island an enemy MiG-15 made a pass at them without firing and they safely landed back on Cho-do Island. The US Air Force Air Rescue Service by Wayne Mutza |
| 1953 - June 05 | YH-21 #50-1236, piloted by Vernon C. McKenzie, was involved in an accident at Eglin AFB, FL. No other details available currently. http://www.accident-report.com/Yearly/1953/5306.html |
| 1953 - June 06 | YH-21 #50-1240, piloted by Joseph D. Cooper, was involved in an accident at Bush Field, GA. No other details available currently. http://www.accident-report.com/Yearly/1953/5306.html |
| 1953 - June 06 | H-13 #51-13770, piloted by Thomas J. Borgstrom, was involved in an accident at Wright-Patterson, OH. No other details available at this time. http://www.accident-report.com/Yearly/1953/5306.html |
| 1953 - June 10 | H-19A #51-3857, piloted by Anthony N. Hutchison, had an engine failure, crashed and was destroyed about 1 mile east of Tachikawa AB, Japan. No other details available currently. http://www.accident-report.com/Yearly/1953/5306.html & http://www.joebaugher.com/usaf_serials/1951.html |
| 1953 - June 10 | H-19A #51-3880 was written off. No other details available currently. http://www.helis.com/database/accidents/?org=133&f2mod=19 |
| 1953 - June 10 | An Air Force rescue helicopter crashed and sank in the Sea of Japan off the North Korean west coast near Chinampo, but all four crewmen, including A1C Arthur Gillespie, were rescued within half an hour by an Air Force amphibian search plane which landed in choppy waters. The Robesonian, Lumberton, NC. -Thursday, June 11, 1953 |
| 1953 - Jun 15 | A USAF helicopter, crewed by Capt. John L. Wilkinson (P), Capt. Murl R. Chamberlain (CP) and A1C Frank T. Morelock (MT), rescued a U.S. Navy helicopter, crewed by Lt. Russell Forbush (P) & AM3 Norman J. Beach after they had run out of fuel on a mission where they rescued a downed pilot in enemy territory. The Air Force helicopter was on the same mission and when the Navy helicopter was running out of fuel, having landed on a friendly island off the east coast of Korea, the Air Force helicopter went to the Navy helicopters home cruiser, the “St. Paul”, off the coast of Korea, refueled and picked up fuel for the Navy helicopter. After the fuel was delivered to the Navy helicopter, in 5-gallon cans, both helicopters then made night landings on the Navy cruiser. Pacific Stars & Stripes, Jun 19, 1953, pg. 17 |
| 1953 - June 18 | H-13E #51-13828, piloted by Thurman Lawrence, Jr., was involved in an accident at Gary AFB, TX. No other details available currently. http://www.accident-report.com/Yearly/1953/5306.html |
| 1953 - June 29 | A H-19, crew unkn, rescued an F-86F pilot, Maj. Flamm Harper, in less than 20 minutes after he had bailed out of his aircraft over Haeju Peninsula after a strike on a target. The Bakersfield, CA. (Bakersfield, CA.) 1 Jul 1953, Wed. page 1 |
| 1953 - July 01 | H-13D #51-2530, piloted by Laurence E. Ballantine, was involved in an accident at San Marcos AFB, TX. No other details available currently. http://www.accident-report.com/Yearly/1953/5307.html |
| 1953 - July 03 | H-13E #51-14217, piloted by Eugene G. Sabota, was involved in an accident at Gary AFB, TX. No other details available currently. http://www.accident-report.com/Yearly/1953/5307.html |
| 1953 - July 08 | H-19B #51-3898, piloted by John J. Kelly, was involved in an accident at Fürstenfeldbruck AB, Germany. No other details available currently. http://www.accident-report.com/Yearly/1953/5307.html |
| 1953 - July 10 | H-19A #51-3889, piloted by Richard R. Bragg, was involved in an accident at Birchington, England, UK. No other details available currently. http://www.accident-report.com/Yearly/1953/5307.html |
| 1953 - July 15 | H-19A #51-3865, piloted by James M Turner, was involved in an accident about 3 miles SW of Napa, CA. No other details available currently. http://www.accident-report.com/Yearly/1953/5307.html |
| 1953 - July 16 | H-5G #48-553, piloted by James H. Stephenson, was involved in an accident at Ernest Harmon AFB, Newfoundland. No other details available currently. http://www.accident-report.com/Yearly/1953/5307.html |
| 1953 - July 23 | H-13E #51-14209, piloted by Addison M. Stockwell, was involved in an accident at Gary AFB, TX. No other details available currently. http://www.accident-report.com/Yearly/1953/5307.html |
| 1953 - July 27 | An H-19 of the 2157th ARS took Admiral Briscoe to Munsan for the signing ceremony to end most of the fighting in Korea. hhtp://mysite.verizon.net/swanstid/2157hist.html |
| 1953 - July 30 | H-19B #51-3896, from Bedford, MA., crewed by Capt. Charles A. Johnson (P), 1st Lt. Francis Gasque (CP), Sgt. Robert Ide (CC), A2C Donald E. Eddy (?) and A2C Francis G. Mapes (?), crashed and burned about 8 miles NE of O'Neill, NE, claiming the lives of the crew and passengers. The helicopter was being used in connection with the Air Force study of upper air turbulence being conducted by the Air Force Research Center at Cambridge, MA. and one of the passengers on this study, Dr. Gunter Loeser was also killed. Witnesses said one blade of the central rotor came off in flight and struck the rear balancing rotor. http://www.accident-report.com/Yearly/1953/5307.html & The Post Standard (Syracuse, NY) 31 July 1953 page 1 & The Troy Record (Troy, NY.) 31 July 1953, page 1 |
| 1953 - August 10 | An Air Force helicopter from Wheelus Field, Libya assisted in the rescue of 24 men who had parachuted from their disabled C-119 "Flying Boxcar" over the Libyan desert, about 60 miles southwest of Tripoli, on 08 August 1953. Lubbock Evening Journal, Monday, August 10, 1953, page 1 |
| 1953 - August 12 | H-19B #51-3914, piloted by Robert C. Christie, was involved in an accident about 2 miles north of La Vergne, TN. No other details available at this time. http://www.accident-report.com/Yearly/1953/5308.html |
| 1953 - August 14 | H-19B #51-3905, piloted by Charles H. Field, Jr., was involved in an accident at Gary AFB, TX. No other details available currently. http://www.accident-report.com/Yearly/1953/5308.html |
| 1953 - August 14 | H-19B #51-3913, piloted by Leonard A. Hughes, Jr., was involved in an accident at Donaldson AFB, SC. No other details available currently. http://www.accident-report.com/Yearly/1953/5308.html |
| 1953 - August 14 | H-19B #51-3923, piloted by John F. Lipsit, was involved in an accident at Altus AFB, OK. No other details available currently. http://www.accident-report.com/Yearly/1953/5308.html |
| 1953 - August 20 | A USAF helicopter rescued four injured hunters, Albert, LeClerc, Wilham Guse, Fred Weiler and Bud Branham, from a 5,500-foot Arctic peak in the Brooks Range, about 80 miles north of Bettles, AK., where a downdraft had dashed their twin engine plane. One with back injuries was taken to Bettles, AK. for treatment and the other three were taken to Fairbanks, AK. No other details are known at this time. The Lethbridge Herald (Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada) 20 August 1953, page 19 |
| 1953 - August 22 | H-5H #49-2001, piloted by Bobby C. Liles, was involved in an accident at Dhahran, Saudi Arabia. No other details available currently. http://www.accident-report.com/Yearly/1953/5308.html |
| 1953 - August 23 | H-19A #51-3858, piloted by Jacob J. Quintis, was involved in an accident about 3 miles NW of Pusan-East AB, Korea. No other details available currently. http://www.accident-report.com/Yearly/1953/5308.html |
| 1953 - August 28 | H-5D #43-46654, piloted by Lynden E. Thomason, was involved in an accident about 5 miles north of Luke AFB, AZ. No other details available currently. http://www.accident-report.com/Yearly/1953/5308.html |
| 1953 - August 29 | EH-23B #51-16146, piloted by Donald F. Berner, was involved in an accident at Clayton, OH. No other details available currently. http://www.accident-report.com/Yearly/1953/5408.html |
| 1953 - August 29 | A USAF helicopter from Luke AFB, AZ., rescued an F-84 Thunderjet student pilot, 2nd Lt. Don A. McMillian, after he had crashed landed his aircraft in a cotton field. After the helicopter picked him up it developed mechanical trouble in takeoff, and it crashed from five feet in the air. No other details are known at this time. The Daily Chronicle (Centralia, WA.) 29 Aug. 1953, page 1 |
| 1953 - September 02 | At the Dayton Air Show, USAF Capt. Russell M. Dobyns flew a Piasecki YH-21-PH to an altitude of 22,110 feet, setting a Federation Aeronautique Internationale (FA) World Record for Altitude Without Payload for reciprocating-engine helicopters. This record still stands. Boneyard Safari FaceBook post, 02 Sept. 2014 |
| 1953 - September 04 | At Vandalia, OH., USAF Capt. Russell M. Dobyns flew a Piasecki YH-21-PH over a 3-Kilometer course. Making four passes, two in each direction, he averaged 146.76 miles per hour setting a speed record over a 3 km course, setting a Federation Aeronautique Internationale (FA) World Record for speed for reciprocating-engine helicopters. Boneyard Safari FaceBook post, 02 Sept. 201 |
| 1953 - September 07 | A USAF helicopter piloted by Maj. Jack Thornton of the 74th Rescue Squadron medevac’d a stroke victim, John M. Bradford from the tiny village of Kaitag and flown to Nome, AK. No other details are known at this time. Fairbanks Daily News-Miner (Fairbanks, AK) 9 Sept. 1953, page 9 |
| 1953 - September 09 | H-19B #51-3948, piloted by Joseph M. Cravens, Jr., was involved in an accident at Shaw AFB, SC. No other details available currently. http://www.accident-report.com/Yearly/1953/5309.html |
| 1953 - September 10 | H-13E #51-14209, piloted by John T. Stansfield, was involved in an accident at Gary AFB, TX. No other details available currently. http://www.accident-report.com/Yearly/1953/5309.html |
| 1953 - September 10 | An Air Force helicopter, from Luke AFB, AZ., rescued seven crew members from a KC-97 that had parachuted into a sandy desert wasteland near the ghost town of Sundad, AZ., from their aircraft after it was involved in a mid-air collision with a B-47. Rescued crew members were 1st Lt. John Mead, Capt. Gene Bond, SSgt. John M. Thompson, A2C J. E. Kozel, A2C W. G. Carroll, SSgt. D. C. Cameron, A1C Frederick Adamus and SSgt. Joel B. Cook. Tucson Daily Citizen, Friday Evening, September 11, 1953, page 5 & The Iola Register (Iola, KS.) 10 Sep 1953, Thu., page 1 |
| 1953 - September 15 | H-13E #51-14227, piloted by Bobby Overturf, was involved in an accident at Gary AFB, TX. No other details available currently. http://www.accident-report.com/Yearly/1953/5309.htm |
| 1953 - September 17 | Two YH-21, crewed by Maj. Clarence E. Hoke (Nav), Capt. Raymond Gottfried (P), and unkn others, helicopters arrived at Thule, Greenland, completing a 4,050-mile history making flight that had begun at Eglin AFB, FL. on 17 August 1953. Lebanon Daily News (Lebanon, PA.) 17 Sep 1953, pages 1 & 34 |
| 1953 - October 16 | H-19B #51-3924, piloted by Joseph E. Barrett, was involved in an accident about 10 miles east of Sewart AFB, TN. No other details available currently. http://www.accident-report.com/Yearly/1953/5310.html |
| 1953 - October 20 | H-5H #49-1996, piloted by 1st Lt. Buel E. Francis, was involved in an accident at Maxwell AFB, AL. No other details available currently. http://www.accident-report.com/Yearly/1953/5310.html |
| 1953 - October 26 | An Air Rescue Service H-5 crewed by Capt. Richard B. Gerdau (P), rescued F-84 pilot, 1st Lt. Richard G. Dickerson, from rough waters in the Sea of Japan, after he ejected from his crashing aircraft about 40 miles off the coast of Japan. Pacific Stars & Stripes, Oct 27, 1953 |
| 1953 - October 27 | H-13B #51-13965, piloted by James H. Ozier, was involved in an accident at Eniwetok AFB, Marshall Islands. No other details available currently. http://www.accident-report.com/Yearly/1953/5310.html |
| 1953 - October 30 | H-13E #51-14140, piloted by Robert C. Foster, was involved in an accident at Gary AFB, TX. No other details available currently. http://www.accident-report.com/Yearly/1953/5310.html |
| 1953 - October 30 | H-13E #51-14143, piloted by Hugh S. Morton, was involved in an accident at Gary AFB, TX. No other details available currently. http://www.accident-report.com/Yearly/1953/5310.html |
| 1953 - November 10 | H-5D #43-46656, piloted by Lynden E. Thomason, was involved in an accident about 15 miles SW of Wickenburg, AZ. No other details available currently. http://www.accident-report.com/Yearly/1953/5311html |
| 1953 - November 10 | H-19B #51-3936, piloted by Donald A. Vavra, was involved in an accident about 4 miles SE of Gary AFB, TX. No other details available currently. http://www.accident-report.com/Yearly/1953/5311html |
| 1953 - November 16 | YH-21 #50-1240, piloted by Raymond N. Gottfried, was involved in an accident at Thule AB, Greenland. No other details available currently. http://www.accident-report.com/Yearly/1953/5311html |
| 1953 - November 17 | YH-21 #50-1240, crewed by Capt. Raymond N. Gottfried (P), Capt. Edward E. Burks (CP), TSgt. Clay H. Danner (FM) and SSgt. Philip E. Moore (FM) was involved in an accident at Thule AB, Greenland, killing the four crew members. This helicopter was one of two that had left Eglin AFB, FL. for a test under Arctic conditions and was in the last stages of operational durability tests when it crashed. http://www.accident-report.com/Yearly/1953/5311html |
| 1953 - November 20 | H-13E #51-13750, piloted by Garland B. King, was involved in an accident at Gary AFB, TX. No other details available currently. http://www.accident-report.com/Yearly/1953/5311html |
| 1953 - November 20 | H-13E #51-13828, piloted by David E. Rosengrants, was involved in an accident at Gary AFB, TX. No other details available currently. http://www.accident-report.com/Yearly/1953/5311html |
| 1953 - November 30 | H-19A #51-3868, piloted by Richard C. Kirkland, was involved in an accident at March AFB, CA. No other details available currently. http://www.accident-report.com/Yearly/1953/5311html |
| 1953 - December 14 | H-5D #43-46647, piloted by Karl R. Marzluf, was involved in an accident at Ellington AFB, TX. No other details available currently. http://www.accident-report.com/Yearly/1953/5312html |
| 1953 - December 15 | H-19A #51-3873, piloted by Wayne A. Howard, was involved in an accident at Seoul AB, Korea. No other details available currently. http://www.accident-report.com/Yearly/1953/5312html |
| 1953 - December 17 | H-13E #51-14140, piloted by Claude L. Razey, was involved in an accident at Gary AFB, TX. No other details available currently. http://www.accident-report.com/Yearly/1953/5312html |
| 1953 - December 17 | H-23B #51-16266, piloted by Robert P. Mace, was involved in an accident about 3 miles ENE of Ray City, GA. This crash occurred at the helicopter was returning to Moody AFB, GA. from the scene of a T-33 jet near Nashville, GA. The helicopter dropped to earth and toppled over. Moody authorities said the helicopter occupants were on 'shaken up' but only suffered from shock and bruises. No other details available currently. http://www.accident-report.com/Yearly/1953/5312html & Panama City News-Herald (Panama City, FL.), Fri, Dec. 18, 1953, page 1 |
| 1953 - December 23 | H-21C #52-8620, piloted by William J. Cox, was involved in an accident about 2 miles north of Swedesboro, NJ. No other details available currently. http://www.accident-report.com/Yearly/1953/5312html |
| 1953 - December 30 | H-19A #51-3885, piloted by George P. Gaffney, was involved in an accident at Seoul AB, Korea. No other details available currently. http://www.accident-report.com/Yearly/1953/5312html |
| 1954 - January 12 | A troop-carrier USAF helicopter has been landing off and on near the Byron, MN. Village. The explanation is simple, according to Rube Wondrasch, proprietor of Rube's Gas Station where the big "Whirly Bird" sits down. It's all a matter of coffee. The helicopter is used to track weather balloons released at the Minneapolis-St. Paul Airport. The crew of four or five men flies ahead of the balloon before landing. Then while one of the men watches the balloon from the ground, the others have coffee at his station. Wondrasch reports the latest "coffee break" was Tuesday morning. The Air Force at the Twin Cities airport wouldn't go into details about the flight. All weather information is classified, a spokesman said. The Oil City Derrick (Oil City, PA.) 14 Jan 1954, page 5 |
| 1954 - January 14 | A USAF helicopter, crewed by Capt. Billy Sayers (P), Lt. Harold Cooley (CP) and unkn others, rescued sick and injured from Austria's avalanche-stricken "Valley of Death" at the village Blons, landing on a 30-foot square stamped out by the boots of rescue workers on a 20-30 angle hillside. Lubbock Evening Journal (Lubbock, TX.) 14 Jan 1954, Thur., page 1 & 10 |
| 1954 - January 15 | H-19B #52-7510, by Capt. William G. McGee and 2nd Lt. H. E. Cooley (CP), crashed while trying to land at Blons, Austria in the avalanche-ravaged Great Walser Valley. Their helicopter had already made 14 trips from Ludesch to Blons with food and supplies for avalanche survivors. Their helicopter nosedived into avalanche drifts and was damaged so badly it was impossible to repair. No other details available currently. http://www.accident-report.com/Yearly/1954/5401.html |
| 1954 - January 16 | H-13E #51-14224, piloted by William C. McCluskey, was involved in an accident at Gary AFB, TX. No other details available currently. http://www.accident-report.com/Yearly/1954/5401.html |
| 1954 - January 18 | A USAF helicopter rescued two fishermen, Joseph Jasinski and his 12-year-old son Joseph Jasinski, Jr. from Fighting Island in the Detroit River where they had spent the night in 6 degrees cold where they had become trapped by high winds and breaking ice. The Escanaba Daily Press (Escanaba, MI.) Tue. Jan. 19, 1954, page 1 |
| 1954 - January 24 | H-19B #51-3901, piloted by James K. Broyles, was involved in an accident at Ludisch, Austria. No other details available currently. http://www.accident-report.com/Yearly/1954/5401.html |
| 1954 - January 29 | A USAF helicopter from McChord AFB, WA., crewed by Capt. H. F. Palmer (P) and Lt. James Rogers, hovered over the snowbound Garland Mineral Springs church camp where several Boy Scouts were reportedly snowbound. Lt. Roger descended by ladder to discover the Boy Scouts had left before the heavy snowfall and that only the minister, his wife, 8-year-old daughter and 3 year-old son were the only ones there and that they were safe and in good spirits. Nevada State Journal (Reno, NV.) 30 Jan. 1954, page 1 |
| 1954 - February 07 | An USAF helicopter along with a bush pilot rescued six survivors of a C-47 that had crashed near Mt. McKinley taking two to Talkeetna, AK., and four to Curry, AK. No other details are known at this time. Panama City News-Herald (Panama City, FL.) 8 Feb. 1954, page 1 |
| 1954 - February 08 | H-19B #52-7504, piloted by Vernon B. Greenwood, was involved in an accident about 12 miles SW of Ain Leuh, French Morocco. No other details available at this time. http://www.accident-report.com/Yearly/1954/5402.html |
| 1954 - February 09 | YH-21 #50-1241, crewed by Lt. Everett M. Ellis (P) and Capt. Edward P. Dickson, reportedly heavily laden with gasoline blew up about 6 miles SW of Ville Trois Pistoles, Quebec, Canada while in a flight of four helicopters on a flight from Quebec City to Goose Bay, Labrador, killing both crew members and William M. Blenkin a civilian representative of Piasecki Helicopters. http://www.accident-report.com/Yearly/1954/5402.html & Delaware County Daily Times (Chester, PA.) Thur., Feb. 11, 1954, page 2 & The Corpus Christi Caller-Times (Corpus Christi, TX.) Wed. Feb. 10, 1954, page 4 |
| 1954 - February 12 | YH-18A 49-2888 from Wright-Patterson AFB, OH., crewed by Capt. Donald F. Berner, was involved in an accident about 18 miles north of Fairborn, OH. The helicopter had an engine failure and settled down gradually, damaging only the undercarriage. No one was injured in the incident. No other details available currently. http://www.accident-report.com/Yearly/1954/5402.html & The Daily Times (New Philadelphia, OH.), Sat, Feb 13, 1954, page 10 |
| 1954 - February 16 | A USAF helicopter from Olmsted AFB, PA., rescued Paul Pickel from a heavily wooded Three Mile Island near the Dauphin-Lancaster-county line. No other details are known currently. Altoona Tribune (Altoona, PA.) 16 Feb. 1954, page 1 |
| 1954 - February 24 | H-19A #51-3886, piloted by Raymond A. Lowery, was involved in an accident at Seoul AB, Korea. No other details available currently. http://www.accident-report.com/Yearly/1954/5402.html |
| 1954 - February 25 | H-19B #51-3959, piloted by Joseph C. Lach, Jr., was involved in an accident at Camp Maizuru, Japan. No other details available currently. http://www.accident-report.com/Yearly/1954/5402.html |
| 1954 - March 03 | H-5G #48-554, piloted by Robert D. Prince, was involved in an accident at Eniwetok, Marshall Islands. No other details available currently. http://www.accident-report.com/Yearly/1954/5403.html |
| 1954 - March 03 | H-19A #51-3849, piloted by Stanley Smilowitz, was involved in an accident at Narsarssuak AB, Greenland. No other details available currently. http://www.accident-report.com/Yearly/1954/5403.html |
| 1954 - March 15 | HQ. ARS completed a move from Washington, DC to Orlando, AFB, FL. http://www.afsoc.af.mil/shared/media/document/AFD-070906-042.pdf |
| 1954 - March 16 | H-19B #51-3899, piloted by Alvin B. Gale, was involved in an accident about 25 miles north of Seville, Spain. No other details available currently. http://www.accident-report.com/Yearly/1954/5403.html |
| 1954 - March 19 | H-19B #51-3909, piloted by Carl H. Stefferud, was involved in an accident about 25 miles north of Seville, Spain. No other details available currently. Accident report |
| 1954 - April 03 - 16 | The 59th ARS and its H-19s provided flood relief assistance to people in the Tigris River Valley of Iraq. During 66 sorties, the squadron dropped 30,000 pounds of food to about 4,000 refugees. https://www.airandspaceforces.com/PDF/DocumentFile/Documents/2005/ARRSchrono1946-1981_011583.pdf |
| 1954 - April 03 | An SH-19 of the 56th ARS from Sidi Slimane, French Morocco, piloted by 1st Lt. William Mayfield, rescued, by hoist, 18 passengers and crewmen from the deck of the Swedish freighter "Dalsland" that had ran aground on a rocky reef about 200 yards from shore near the Casablanca harbor. Galesburg Registere-Mail (Galesburg, IL.) 3 Apr. 1954, Sat., page 1 & The Independent Record (Helena, MT.) 3 Apr. 1954, page 1 & http://www.afsoc.af.mil/shared/media/document/AFD-070906-042.pdf |
| 1954 - April 15 | H-13E #51-14225, piloted by Robert L. Dunlap, was involved in an accident at Gary AFB, TX. No other details available currently. http://www.accident-report.com/Yearly/1954/5404.html |
| 1954 - April 15 | H-19A #51-3861, piloted by George T. Perkins, was involved in an accident and written off at Eniwetok, Marshall Islands. No other details available currently. http://www.accident-report.com/Yearly/1954/5404.html |
| 1954 - April 19 | H-19B #51-3909, piloted by Carl H. Stefferud, was involved in an accident at Goose Bay, Labrador. No other details available currently. http://www.accident-report.com/Yearly/1954/5404.html |
| 1954 - April 26 | H-19B #52-7499, piloted by Warner A. Britton, was involved in an accident at Doulaincourt, France. No other details available currently. http://www.accident-report.com/Yearly/1954/5404.html |
| 1954 - May 10 | A USAF helicopter from the 74th Air Rescue Squadron in Alaska piloted by Capt. Ralph Searle, landed at the 7,500-foot level of Mt. McKinley to rescue Mr. & Mrs. Dick Collins who had been stranded for four days after their aircraft had crashed as he was attempting a landing. The Pantagraph (Bloomington, IL.) 11 May 1954, page 1 |
| 1954 - May 17 | YH-21 #50-1245, piloted by August Vincenzi, was involved in an accident about 9 miles NE of Edwards AFB, CA. No other details available currently. http://www.accident-report.com/Yearly/1954/5405.html |
| 1954 - May 19 | H-19B #52-7534, piloted by Roland J. Quinn, was involved in an accident at Albuquerque, NM. No other details available currently. http://www.accident-report.com/Yearly/1954/5405.html |
| 1954 - May 20 | OH-13H #53-3800, piloted by Lester T. Hansen, was involved in an accident about 3 miles east of Niagara Falls, NY. No other details available currently. http://www.accident-report.com/Yearly/1954/5405.html |
| 1954 - May 25 | H-13D #51-2463, piloted by Howard D. Armstrong, was involved in an accident about 1 mile SW of Thompson Aux. Field, TX. No other details available currently. http://www.accident-report.com/Yearly/1954/5405.html |
| 1954 - June 01 | A USAF helicopter from the 74th Rescue Squadron, piloted by Capt. Ralph Searle, rescued an injured mountain climber, Pfc George Angus, who had been injured in a fall on May 16, 1954, from the 6,500-foot level. Mt. Vernon Register-News (Mt. Vernon, IL.) 1 June 1954, Tue., page 1 |
| 1954 - June 02 | H-19A #51-3881, piloted by Leroy P. Kohl, was involved in an accident at Hamilton AFB, CA. No other details available currently. http://www.accident-report.com/Yearly/1954/5406.html |
| 1954 - June 03 | H-19B #52-7500, piloted by St Clair McKellway, Jr., was involved in an accident about 3 miles SW of La Testa, France. No other details available currently. http://www.accident-report.com/Yearly/1954/5406.html |
| 1954 - June 10 | H-5F #47-488, piloted by Paul E. Kimberling, was involved in an accident at Anchorage, AK. No other details available currently. http://www.accident-report.com/Yearly/1954/5406.html |
| 1954 - June 12 | H-19B #51-3951, piloted by Gilbert O. Eisermann, was involved in an accident about 9 miles NW of Johnson City, TN. No other details available currently. http://www.accident-report.com/Yearly/1954/5406.html |
| 1954 - June 14 | H-23B #51-16239, piloted by Morris C. Tyson, was involved in an accident at Robins AFB, GA. No other details available currently. http://www.accident-report.com/Yearly/1954/5406.html |
| 1954 - June 15 | H-19B #52-7513, piloted by John L. Wilkinson, was involved in an accident at Buckley NAS, CO. No other details available currently. http://www.accident-report.com/Yearly/1954/5406.html |
| 1954 - June 16 | H-19B #54-4454 was assigned to the 917th FTD at Tan Son Nhut Air Base in Saigon. The aircraft was on final to the landing pad and experienced internal engine failure and rolled over during the landing attempt. |
| 1954 - June 22 | H-19A #51-3879, piloted by Willis R. Kusy, was involved in an accident about 1 mile NE of Manston RAF, England. No other details available currently. http://www.accident-report.com/Yearly/1954/5406.html |
| 1954 - June 25 | H-5G #48-554, piloted by Robert E. Caine, was involved in an accident at Narsarssuak AB, Greenland. No other details available currently. http://www.accident-report.com/Yearly/1954/5406.html |
| 1954 - June 26 | OH-13G #53-3787, piloted by William A. Hughes, was involved in an accident at Yuma County Airport, AZ. No other details available currently. http://www.accident-report.com/Yearly/1954/5406.html |
| 1954 - June 27 - July 01 | 13 H-19's from the 3585th Pilot Training Wing at Gary AFB, TX. along with 25 pilots, and 17 mechanics with Maj. William M. Hughes directing their humanitarian airlift operations to provide rescue and relief efforts from flash flooding along tributaries of the Rio Grande, Devil's Rivers and Johnson's Creek in both Texas and Mexico, caused by rainfall of over 8 inches in a 24-hour period. The USAF & Humanitarian Airlift Operations 1947-1994 by Daniel L. Haul |
| 1954 - June 28 | H-19A #51-3892, piloted by George R. Burford, was involved in an accident at Yonton AB, Okinawa. No other details available currently. http://www.accident-report.com/Yearly/1954/5406.html |
| 1954 - June 29 | A USAF helicopter rescued the pilot of a wrecked aircraft that had crashed on June 27, 1954, in the desolate mountains north of Anchorage, AK. No other details are known at this time. Traverse City Record-Eagle (Traverse City, MI.) 30 June 1954, page 9 |
| 1954 - June 30 | H-13D #51-2529, piloted by Bud Wallace, was involved in an accident at Gary AFB, TX. No other details available currently. http://www.accident-report.com/Yearly/1954/5406.html |
| 1954 - July 16 | H-19B #51-3917, piloted by Victor Goudey, was involved in an accident about 2 miles SW of Eastville, VA. No other details available currently. http://www.accident-report.com/Yearly/1954/5407.html |
| 1954 - July 18 | A H-19 from the 33rd ARS at Kadena AB, Okinawa, crewed by Lt. Col. R. G. Smith (P), Capt. William G. Mouser (CP), 1st Lt. George Bumford (CP) and A2C Gilbert W. Seeburger, rescued an ill seaman from aboard a ship 250 miles at sea. Pacific Stars & Stripes, Dec 19, 1954, pg.32 |
| 1954 - July 19 | A H-19 from the 33rd ARS at Kadena AB, Okinawa, crewed by 1st Lt. Albert Paquette (P), 1st Lt. Kenneth M. Oliver (CP) and A1C Francis J. Murray, rescued a downed U. S. Marine Corps pilot, name unkn, adrift in shark-infested waters 20-miles north of Okinawa. Pacific Stars & Stripes, Dec 19, 1954, pg.32 |
| 1954 - July 20 | H-19B #51-3962, piloted by Alfred R. Norby, was involved in an accident at the Minneapolis-St. Paul Airport, MN. No other details available currently. http://www.accident-report.com/Yearly/1954/5407.html |
| 1954 - July 21 | H-19A #51-3890, piloted by Edward H. Frost, was involved in an accident at Manston RAF, England. No other details available currently. http://www.accident-report.com/Yearly/1954/5407.html |
| 1954 - July 21 | H-19B #51-3919, piloted by Francis Yirrell, was involved in an accident at Sikorsky Airport, CT. No other details available currently. http://www.accident-report.com/Yearly/1954/5407.html |
| 1954 - July 26 | H-19B #51-3967, piloted by George T. Perkins, was involved in an accident at Eniwetok, Marshall Islands. No other details available currently. http://www.accident-report.com/Yearly/1954/5407.html |
| 1954 - July 28 | H-19B #52-7482, crewed by 1st Lt. Stanley Wright, Jr. (P), 2nd Lt. Richard Schneider (CP) and A1C Vernon E. Cranmer (CC), was involved in an accident about 5 miles SE of Suwon AB, Korea. The crew and passengers, Maj. James W. Roberts (Chaplain), Capt. Julian M. Kidwell, were all killed in the crash. No other details available currently. http://www.accident-report.com/Yearly/1954/5407.html |
| 1954 - August 01 | A USAF helicopter from the 42nd Air Rescue Squadron at March AFB, CA., crewed by Capt. James H. Devlin (P), 1st Lt. George E. Ashcraft (CP) and A2C James L. McMurtry (FM), rescued two survivors of a private plane that had made a forced landing on Lake Elsinore, CA. and three others that had attempted to rescue them but had become stuck in the salt, mud and slime of the lake. The San Bernardino County Sun (San Bernardino, California) - Mon, Aug 02, 1954 - page 1 |
| 1954 - August 06 | H-19B #52-7532, piloted by William C. Emrie, was involved in an accident at the University of Minnesota Airport, MN. No other details available currently. http://www.accident-report.com/Yearly/1954/5408.html |
| 1954 - August 13 | H-19B #52-7481, piloted by Richard D. Ledoux, was involved in an accident at Seoul AB, Korea. No other details available currently. http://www.accident-report.com/Yearly/1954/5408.html |
| 1954 - August 16 | H-19B #51-3914, piloted by Harlan K. Morrissey, was involved in an accident about 4 miles NW of Smyrna Airport, TN. No other details available currently. http://www.accident-report.com/Yearly/1954/5408.html |
| 1954 - August 20 | A helicopter from Nellis AFB, NV., crew unkn, rescued a Los Angeles hiker, Albert Cane, by plucking him for the depths of the Grand Canyon after being stranded for two days on a narrow ledge. The Spokesman-Review (Spokane, Washington) – 20 Aug 1954, Fri, Page 40 |
| 1954 - August 20 | H-5H #48-549, piloted by William E. Zins, was involved in an accident at Wright-Patterson AFB, OH. No other details available currently. http://www.accident-report.com/Yearly/1954/5408.html |
| 1954 - September 07 | H-13E #51-14230, piloted by John Fogarty, was involved in an accident at Gary AFB, TX. No other details available currently. http://www.accident-report.com/Yearly/1954/5409.html |
| 1954 - September 07 | A H-19 helicopter from the 38th ARS, Misawa AB, Japan, crewed by 1st Lt. Richard E. Tesche (P), unkn (CP) and unkn (FM), rescued a F-84 Thunderjet pilot, 1st Lt. Roderick G. Giffin, who was found floating in his life vest in Lake Osawara, near Misawa AB, at night after he had ejected from his crashing aircraft. Pacific Stars & Stripes, Sept. 12, 1954, pg. 32 |
| 1954 - September 11 -17 | Aircraft from the 56th and 58th ARS carried earthquake relief supplies to Orleansville, Algeria. The helicopters also evacuated 39 people from the area. https://www.airandspaceforces.com/PDF/DocumentFile/Documents/2005/ARRSchrono1946-1981_011583.pdf |
| 1954 - September 22 | https://www.airandspaceforces.com/PDF/DocumentFile/Documents/2005/ARRSchrono1946-1981_011583.pdf |
| 1954 - September 23 | A USAF helicopter, crewed by Capt. Chester E. Eckerman (P) and Lt. Lamar G. Tullos (CP) rescued the pilot, Lt. Gilbert McAdams, of a USAF fighter about 90 seconds after he touched down in the desert and returned him to nearby George AFB, CA. The Corpus Christi Caller-Times (Corpus Christi, TX.) 24 Sep. 1954, page 36 |
| 1954 - September 26 | H-19B #52-7487, was damaged along with several other aircraft when a C-47 crashed into them while they were parked on the ramp at Ashiya AB, Japan. No other details available currently. http://www.accident-report.com/Yearly/1954/5409.html |
| 1954 - October 06 | H-19B #53-4418, crewed by 1st Lt. George L. Parker (P) and 1st Lt. Julius C. Guinn (CP) and three others smashed into a cow pasture while heavy winds from a line of squalls, raked the area, about 4 miles west of Alexandria, LA., killing all on board. Killed in addition to the pilot and co-pilot were Maj. Larkin L. Jackson, Capt. John T. Donohue and Capt. Warren S. Steinke. Oshkosh Daily Northwestern (Oshkosh, WI.) 8 Oct. 1954, page 3 & http://www.accident-report.com/Yearly/1954/5410.html |
| 1954 - October 08 | An Air Force helicopter, crewed by unkn (P), unkn (CP) and unkn (FM) rescued an F-86 pilot, name unkn, who had ejected from his aircraft when it was involved in a mid-air collision with another F-86, over the northernmost Japanese island of Hokkaido. Stars & Stripes, Oct. 9, 1954, pg. 6 |
| 1954 - October 08 | H-19A #51-3877, piloted by Roy T. Pryor, was involved in an accident at Camp O'Donnell, PI. No other details available currently. http://www.accident-report.com/Yearly/1954/5410.html |
| 1954 - October 10 | A USAF H-13, piloted by Capt. A. P. Betti, crashed during an air show demonstration at Ft. Knox, KY., disguised as an aerial clown, the pilot only received a few bruises. Long Beach Independent (Long Beach, CA.) 11 Oct. 1954, page 2 |
| 1954 - October 17 - 24 | |
| 1954 - October 20 | OH-13G #53-3797, piloted by William L. Ford, was involved in an accident at Gary AFB, TX. No other details available currently. http://www.accident-report.com/Yearly/1954/5410.html |
| 1954 - October 22 | H-19B #53-4429, piloted by Frederick H. Goessel, was involved in an accident at Donaldson AFB, SC. No other details available currently. http://www.accident-report.com/Yearly/1954/5410.html |
| 1954 - October 25 | H-19B #52-7525, piloted by Kenneth M. Richardson, was involved in an accident at Westover AFB, MA. No other details available currently. http://www.accident-report.com/Yearly/1954/5410.html |
| 1954 - November 09 | H-5H #48-549, piloted by Donald F. Berner, was involved in an accident at Wright-Patterson AFB, OH. No other details available currently. http://www.accident-report.com/Yearly/1954/5411.html |
| 1954 - November 10 | A USAF helicopter, crewed by unkn (P), unkn (CP) and unkn (FM), rescued the pilot of a USN Panther jet fighter, Lt. John F. Sande, after his aircraft had an engine flame out and he ejected near Karasuyama, Japan, about 100 miles north of Tokyo. No other details available currently. The Corpus Christi Caller-Times (Corpus Christi, TX.) Wed, Nov 10, 1954, Page 13 |
| 1954 - November 26 | A USAF helicopter, crewed by unkn (P), unkn (CP) and unkn (FM), rescued Ronald Murton, 22, and English scientist who was aboard the English lightship "South Goodwin" that was untended, and half sunk during storms in the English Channel. No other details available currently. Waukesha Daily Freeman (Waukesha, WI.) Fri, Nov 26, 1954, Page 23 |
| 1954 - November 30 | H-5D #43-46649, piloted by George H. Pfeiffer, was involved in an accident at Moody AFB, GA. No other details available currently. http://www.accident-report.com/Yearly/1954/5411.html |
| 1954 - December 02 | An Air Force helicopter from Westover Air Force Base piloted by Lt. Kenneth M. Richardson, rescued five survivors of a Northeast Airlines flight that had crashed atop snow-covered Mt. Sussess on November 30, 1954. The Portsmouth Herald (Portsmouth, New Hampshire) - Thursday December 2, 1954, page 1 |
| 1954 - December 03 | An Air Force helicopter crewed by unkn (P), unkn (CP) and unkn (FM), rescued a Pasadena, TX., duck hunter, Edward Bass, 24, who had been stranded for 18 hours on a mud flat in San Jacinto Bay. No other details are known currently. Lubbock Morning Avalanche (Lubbock, TX), Fri, Dec 3, 1954, Page 14 |
| 1955 - January 03 | A USAF helicopter, crewed by unkn (P), unkn (CP) and unkn (FM), rescued five people from a life raft when their twin engine-chartered plane ditched in the choppy Molokai Channel between the islands of Oahu and Molokai, HI. No other details are available currently. The Daily Herald (Provo, UT.), Wed, Jan 5, 1955, Page 12 |
| 1955 - January 05 | A USAF helicopter, crewed by unkn (P), unkn (CP) and unkn (FM), rescued Japanese from the roofs of their floating homes in raging floods that overran Hokkaido, Japan's northernmost island. No other details are available at currently. The Bakersfield Californian (Bakersfield, CA.) Tue, Jul 5, 1955, Page 1 |
| 1955 - January 14 | H-5H #49-2008, piloted by Sidney A. Gansman was involved in an accident at Vandermier, TX. No other details available currently. http://www.accident-report.com/Yearly/1955/5501.html |
| 1955 - January 27 | H-5G #48-532 piloted by Chester A. Walter was involved in an accident at Robins AFB, GA. No other details available currently. http://www.accident-report.com/Yearly/1955/5501.html |
| 1955 - January 28 | H-19B #51-3953 piloted by James B. Lesueur was involved in an accident at Walker AAF, VA. No other details available currently. http://www.accident-report.com/Yearly/1955/5501.html |
| 1955 - January 29 | H-19A #51-3895 piloted by Talmage W. Cobb was involved in an accident at Salton Sea Test Base, CA. No other details available currently. http://www.accident-report.com/Yearly/1955/5501.html |
| 1955 - January 31 | H-19B #52-7525 piloted by Lloyd E. Williams was involved in an accident at Westover AFB, MA. No other details available currently. http://www.accident-report.com/Yearly/1955/5501.html |
| 1955 - January 31 | A USAF helicopter from Ashiya AB, Japan, crewed by unkn (P), unkn (CP) and unkn (FM) rescued a passenger from a U.S. Army H-19 helicopter that had plunged into the sea. The pilot of the Army helicopter could not be found. No other details are available currently. The Bend Bulletin (Bend, OR), Mon, Jan 31, 1955, page 2 |
| 1955 - February 01 | A H-19B from the 38th ARS at the Chitose AB detachment, crewed by 1st Lt. Stanley E. Wright (P), 1st Lt. Richard E. Tesche (CP) and unkn (FM) rescued two injured Ground Self Defenses Force officer after their single-engine liaison plane crashed into a snow-covered field near Sapporo. Pacific Stars & Stripes, Feb 04, 1955, pg. 16 |
| 1955 - February 17 | H-19B #53-4406 from the 28th Operations Sq., Ellsworth AFB, SD., crewed by 1st lt. Dean E. Martin (P) was involved in an accident about 3 miles east of Mud Butte, SD. at the site of a crashed jet. When the H-19B crashed, one of the passengers, A3C Stanislaus Countess from the 28th Air Police Sq. was thrown out of the helicopter, and it came to a rest on top of him where he died pinned under the crashed helicopter. Slightly injured in the crash were Lt. Martin (P), Lt. Col. Jack E. Stephens (Air Operations Officer at Ellsworth) and Maj. John D. Malley (Flying Safety Officer). The crashed jet’s pilot. Capt. David E. Baker, from the 54th FIS, had ejected from his aircraft, but died when his parachute failed to open before the plane crashed. No other details available currently. The Black Hills Weekly (Deadwood, South Dakota) – Wed, Feb 23, 1955, page 4 & http://www.accident-report.com/Yearly/1955/5502.html |
| 1955 - February 20 | H-21A #51-15261 from Gary AFB, crewed by Capt. William B. Evans (IP), 2nd Lt. William Pinkerton (CP) and 2nd Lt. Lyle K. Fuller (CP) was involved in an accident at about 6 miles NW of San Marcos, TX. The three crewmembers were killed in the crash. The Daily Telegram (Eau Claire, Wisconsin), Tue, Feb 22, 1955, page 1 & http://www.accident-report.com/Yearly/1955/5502.html |
| 1955 - February 27 | H-19B #53-4432 piloted by Roger N. Andereson was involved in an accident at Sewart AFB, TN. No other details available currently. http://www.accident-report.com/Yearly/1955/5502.html |
| 1955 - March 02 | A USAF helicopter, crewed by unkn (P), unkn (CP) and unkn (FM), rescued two crewmen of a T-33 after they ejected from their aircraft when it had a mid-air collision with a small propeller aircraft about 10 miles east of Monticello, AR. No other details are available currently. The Courier News (Blytheville, AR.), Wed, Mar 2, 1955, Page 1 |
| 1955 - March 07 | H-19B #51-3967 piloted by Preston E. Bradley was involved in an accident at Eniwetok Atoll, Marshall, IS. No other details available currently. http://www.accident-report.com/Yearly/1955/5503.html |
| 1955 - March 08 | The 345th Troop Carrier Squadron, Assault, Rotary Wing was activated at Sewart AFB, TN. It was redesignated later at the 20th Helicopter Squadron. The 345th was initially equipped with H-19 helicopters, but soon replaced them with H-21s. 20th Helicopter Squadron History 1959, Pages 10 & 11 |
| 1955 - March 09 | H-19B #52-7493 from the 84th ARS at Rhine Main Air Base near Frankfurt, crewed by Charles R. Troppman (P), Maj. John C. Ziegler (CP), SSgt. Freddie Ramirez (FM) and A1C Jay A. Madarik (FM) crashed, killing all four, about 10 minutes after taking off from Fuerstenfeldbruck Air Base for its base in Frankfurt on a routine training flight. No other details are available at this time. http://www.accident-report.com/Yearly/1955/5504.html & The Evening Sun (Hanover, Pennsylvania Sat, Mar 12, 1955, page 7 & Freeport Journal-Standard (Freeport, Illinois) Sat, Mar 12, 1955, page 4 & The Daily Intelligencer (Doylestown, Pennsylvania) Mon, Mar 14, 1955, page 1 & The Plain Speaker (Hazleton, Pennsylvania) Mon, Mar 14, 1955, page 12 |
| 1955 - March 12 | A USAF helicopter from Wurtsmith AFB, MI., crewed by unkn (P), unkn (CP) and unkn (FM), rescued three fishermen and a Coast Guard crew member from a Coast Guard boat that was under tow and floundering in the icy waters of Saginaw Bay. No other details are available currently. The Post-Standard (Syracuse, NY.), Sun, Mar 13, 1955, Page 46 |
| 1955 - March 27 | Two USAF helicopter from Shaw AFB, SC., crewed by unkn (P), unkn (CP) and unkn (FM), worked all night and rescued ninety-three fishermen from islands, stumps and log jams in wind-buffeted Lake Marion. This was believed to have set an all-time record for helicopter rescues by the Air Force. No other details are available currently. Valley Morning Star (Harlingen, TX.), Mon, Mar 28, 1955, Page 2 |
| 1955 - April 10 | A USAF helicopter, crewed by unkn (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FM), rescued Jack La Rocque from the clearing where his single-engine aircraft had crashed on April 09, 1955. No other details available currently. Santa Cruz Sentinel (Santa Cruz, CA.) Mon, Apr 11, 1955, Page 6 |
| 1955 - April 18 | OH-13G #53-3792 piloted by Louis F. Sparrow was involved in an accident at Coonamessett Airport, MA. No other details available currently. http://www.accident-report.com/Yearly/1955/5504.html |
| 1955 - April 19 | A USAF helicopter, crewed by Capt. James Nolan (P), Lt. James Wells (CP), unkn (FM), braved darkness and snow showers to rescue a seriously injured pilot, nurse and child from the scene of their plane crash on the frozen Yukon River in AK. No other details available currently. The Oregon Statesman (Salem, OR.), Wed, Apr 20, 1955, Page 1 |
| 1955 - April 22 | H-13E #51-14219 piloted by Bert F. Ingels, was involved in an accident about 3 miles WNW of San Marcos, TX., MA. No other details available currently. http://www.accident-report.com/Yearly/1955/5504.html |
| 1955 - April 27 | H-13E #51-14211 piloted by Thomas H. Courtney was involved in an accident about 5 miles NW of San Marcos, TX. No other details available currently. http://www.accident-report.com/Yearly/1955/5504.html |
| 1955 - April 27 | H-19B #51-3930 piloted by Charles A. Smith was involved in an accident about 3 miles NE of San Marcos, TX. No other details available currently. http://www.accident-report.com/Yearly/1955/5504.html |
| 1955 - May 12 | H-19B #53-4419 piloted by Herbert L. Walker, Jr., was involved in an accident about 5 miles NW of Honeyville, UT. No other details available at this time. http://www.accident-report.com/Yearly/1955/5505.html |
| 1955 - May 25 | H-19B #52-7554 piloted by Frank C. Fox, was involved in an accident at Sembach AB, Germany. No other details available currently. http://www.accident-report.com/Yearly/1955/5505.html |
| 1955 - June 01 | H-19B #52-7519 from Eglin AFB, FL. piloted by Thomas A. Wright was damaged when it rolled on its side during a forced landing in Johnson's pasture about 4 miles NE of Crestview, FL. The four occupants were not injured, and the H-19 was repaired and returned to service. http://www.accident-report.com/Yearly/1955/5506.html & http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of _aircraft_at_Eglin_Air_Force_Base |
| 1955 - June 03 | H-19B #51-3935 piloted by Robert L. Dunlap, was involved in an accident at Gary AFB, TX. No other details available currently. http://www.accident-report.com/Yearly/1955/5506.html |
| 1955 - June 12 | A USAF helicopter, crewed by unkn (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FM) and Howard C. Griffus (PJ), rescued 2nd Lt. Elvon Anderson (CP) of an F-89 after he had been ordered to eject from his aircraft that was having engine problems. He spent 90 minutes in the frigid waters of an Alaskan inlet before he was rescued. The PJ, Griffus, parachuted into the water to hook Lt. Anderson to the rescue device, but they were not able to hoist Lt. Anderson into the helicopter and had to fly to land with Lt. Anderson dangling below in the cold air. Meanwhile another helicopter picked up PJ Griffus, who was in distress himself by that time. The pilot of the F-89 was able to safely land the aircraft. No other details are available currently. The Daily Plainsman (Huron, SD.), Mon, Jun 13, 1955, Page 1 |
| 1955 - June 14 | H-19A #51-3871 piloted by Edmund W. Fischbeck, was involved in an accident at Kimpo AB, Korea. No other details available currently. http://www.accident-report.com/Yearly/1955/5506.html |
| 1955 - June 22 | H-19B #51-3913 piloted by Morris J. Lanigan, was involved in an accident about 22 miles SE of Ft. McMurray, Newfoundland. No other details available currently. http://www.accident-report.com/Yearly/1955/5506.html |
| 1955 - June 22 | H-19B #51-8970 piloted by William M. Clay, was involved in an accident at Showa, Japan. No other details available currently. http://www.accident-report.com/Yearly/1955/5506.html |
| 1955 - June 24 | H-13E #51-14216 piloted by William C. Loague, was involved in an accident at Bryan AFB, TX. No other details available currently. http://www.accident-report.com/Yearly/1955/5506.html |
| 1955 - June 27 | A USAF helicopter, crewed by unkn (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FM) and Howard C. Griffus (PJ), rescued two badly dehydrated men, Lyle W. Robertson, 49, and Chester R. Bunker, 67, from a four-man jeep excursion on the burning Mojave Desert. Of the other two men, James R. Thompson, 70, was reported dead and Calvert Wilson, 45, was missing and given scant chance of surviving in the 120-degree heat. No other details are available currently. The Logan Daily News (Huron, SD.), Mon, Jun 13, 1955, Page 1 |
| 1955 - June 27 | H-19B #52-7586 piloted by Robert E. DeVaughn, was involved in an accident at Fairchild AFB, WA. No other details available currently. http://www.accident-report.com/Yearly/1955/5506.html |
| 1955 - June 29 | H-13E #51-13774 piloted by Dick J. Maznio, was involved in an accident about 1 mile SW of Wimbley, TX. No other details available currently. http://www.accident-report.com/Yearly/1955/5506.html |
| 1955 - June 29 | H-19B #52-7530 piloted by Lunsford W. Vinson, Jr., was involved in an accident at Sidi Slimane AB, French Morocco. No other details available currently. http://www.accident-report.com/Yearly/1955/5506.html |
| 1955 - July 02 | OH-13G #53-3799 piloted by Matthew Scott, Jr., was involved in an accident about 3 miles north of Palm Beach AFB, FL. No other details available currently. http://www.accident-report.com/Yearly/1955/5507.html |
| 1955 - July 08 | H-13D #51-2529 piloted by John R. Calhoun, was involved in an accident at Gary AFB, TX. No other details available currently. http://www.accident-report.com/Yearly/1955/5507.html |
| 1955 - July 09 | OH-13G #53-3788 piloted by Arnold G. Greene, was involved in an accident at Aroostook, ME. No other details available currently. http://www.accident-report.com/Yearly/1955/5507.html |
| 1955 - July 14 | A USAF helicopter from Selfridge AFB, MI., crewed by unkn (P), unkn (CP) and unkn (FM), rescued Lt. Ronald L. Legner from Lake Huron after he had ejected from his jet and parachuted into the water. No other details are available currently. Joplin Globe (Joplin, MO.), Thu, Jul 14, 1955, Page 6 |
| 1955 - July 15 | H-19B #52-7483 piloted by Ben L. McQuillen, was involved in an accident about 5 miles NNE of Suwon AB, Korea. No other details available at this time. http://www.accident-report.com/Yearly/1955/5507.html |
| 1955 - July 22 | H-21A #51-15241 piloted by Charles N. McAllister, was involved in an accident at Tatalina, AK. No other details are available currently. http://www.accident-report.com/Yearly/1955/5507.html |
| 1955 - July 26 | H-19B #51-3942 piloted by James L. Lasueur, Jr., was involved in an accident about 3 miles ESE of Langley, VA. No other details are available currently. http://www.accident-report.com/Yearly/1955/5507.html |
| 1955 - July 30 | A USAF helicopter from the 44th ARS at Lowry AFB, CO., crewed by Capt. John R. Wilkinson (P), Capt. James V. Belyea (CP), Lt. Stewart Schneck (FS) and unkn (FM), rescued Mrs. Laura Beckman, 52, from the Eston Dude Ranch in the Big Horn Mountains about 30 miles southwest of Sheridan, WY. Mrs. Beckman had been in a coma, suffering from a skull fracture she received in a fall at the Dude Ranch on July 28, 1955. No other details are available currently. Greeley Daily Tribune (Greely, CO.), Sat, Jul 30, 1955, Page 1 |
| 1955 - August 05 | A H-19 from the 39th ARS at Ashiya AB, Japan, crewed by 1st Lt. Ernest Hack (P), 2nd Lt. Frank Knaack (CP) and SSgt. Lee Davis (MT) medevacked a critically ill nine-month-old baby boy, accompanied by his mother, to the Fukuoka Army Hospital. He is the son of 1st Lt. and Mrs. Fyold Noris. Pacific Stars & Stripes, Aug 05, 1955, pg. 13 |
| 1955 - August 05 | H-21B #51-15878 piloted by Thomas R. Schar, was involved in an accident at Sewart AFB, TN. No other details available currently. http://www.accident-report.com/Yearly/1955/5508.html |
| 1955 - August 06 | H-19B #51-3966 piloted by John R. Flitter, was involved in an accident about 2 miles NE of Eniwetok Atoll, Marshall IS. No other details are available currently. http://www.accident-report.com/Yearly/1955/5508.html |
| 1955 – August 14 | The 1401st Helicopter Flight was organized at Andrews AFB, MD. http://www.popflock.com/learn?s=1st_Helicopter_Squadron |
| 1955 - August 16 | A USAF helicopter from Olmstead AFB, PA., crewed by Capt. Victor Goudy (P), unkn (CP) and unkn (FM), spotted the wreckage and three victims, Arthur Yates, 41, Dale Hess, 27, and Joseph Sipple, 23, of a small plane crash in thickly wooded mountains about seven miles northeast of White Haven, PA. No other details are available currently. The Pocono Record (Stroudsburg, PA.) Fri, Aug 17, 1956, Page 3 |
| 1955 - August 16 | A USAF helicopter from the 48th Air Rescue Squadron at Eglin AFB, FL., crewed by unkn (P), unkn (CP) and unkn (FM), rescued a F-86K pilot after he had ejected from his disabled aircraft about one and a half miles north of Holt, FL. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of _aircraft_at_Eglin_Air_Force_Base |
| 1955 - August 17 | H-13E #51-14224 piloted by Robert J. Carlson, was involved in an accident at Cary AFB, TX. No other details available currently. http://www.accident-report.com/Yearly/1955/5508.html |
| 1955 - August 17 | H-19B #52-7563 piloted by Charles H. Weidner, was involved in an accident about 4 miles SE of Panama City, FL. No other details available currently. http://www.accident-report.com/Yearly/1955/5508.html |
| 1955 - August 18 - September 02 | Six H-19's, two H-21's, one H-5 and one H-13 of the 46th, 48th and 49th Air Rescue Squadrons participated in humanitarian airlift operations to provide rescue and relief efforts to the victims of Hurricane Diane which struck North Carolina on 17 August. 1955. The USAF & Humanitarian Airlift Operations 1947-1994 by Daniel L. Haul |
| 1955 - August 20 | A USAF helicopter, crewed by unkn (P), Lt. James Wells (CP), unkn (FM), rescued nearly 100 people trapped in their homes in the south side of flood-ravaged Scranton, PA. No other details available currently. The Post-Standard) + (Syracuse, NY.), Sat, Aug 20, 1955, Page 1 |
| 1955 - August 20 | Two USAF helicopter, crewed by unkn (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FM), rescued three soldiers, Pvt. Dwight W. James, Cpl. Daniel A. Murphy and Cpl. James F. Boyd, clinging to their capsized boat in the chilly waters on the Knik arm of Cook inlet, AK. No other details available currently. Fairbanks Daily News-Mi8ner (Fairbanks, AK.), Mon, Aug 22, 1955, Page 10 |
| 1955 - August 25 | H-19B #52-7497 piloted by Jabish H. Woodward, III, was involved in an accident at Kimpo AB, Korea. No other details available currently. http://www.accident-report.com/Yearly/1955/5508.html |
| 1955 - August 30 | H-21A #51-15251 piloted by William K. Willard, was involved in an accident at Hopedale, Labrador. No other details available currently. http://www.accident-report.com/Yearly/1955/5508.html |
| 1955 - September 08 | Three USAF helicopters from the 6th Air Rescue Group, crewed by unkn (P), unkn (CP), unkn (CC), ended a four-day effort and rescued 28 men from their icebound vessel, a Danish ship, "Jopeter", that was stranded in the ice pack north of Shannon Island on Greenland’s northeast coast. No other details are available currently. Long Beach Independent (Long Beach, CA.), Sat, Sep 10, 1955, Page 10 |
| 1955 - September 15 | A H-19 helicopter from the 33rd ARS at Naha AB, Okinawa, crewed by 2nd Lt. Curtis Yoder (P), unkn (CP) and unkn (FM) airlifted a 100-mile dash to a northern island of the Ryukyus to airlift A2C Donald F. Dubis to the Ryukyus Army Hospital for an emergency appendix operation. Pacific Stars & Stripes, Sep 16, 1955, pg. 11 |
| 1955 - September 26 | OH-13G #53-3791 crewed by 1st Lt. Edward G. Angel (P) and A1C Vincent C. Neumann (FM) fell apart in mid-air and crashed in a field 2 miles northwest of Niagara Falls Airport, NY., carrying both to their death. No other details available currently. http://www.accident-report.com/Yearly/1955/5509.html & Pacific Stars & Stripes, Sep. 28, 1955, pg. 13 |
| 1955 - September 29 | H-21B #51-15864 crewed by Richard N. Lanzendorf (P) and Lt. John E. Mentzer (CP), was involved in an accident about 4 miles SE of Caldwood, TN. http://www.accident-report.com/Yearly/1955/5509.html |
| 1955 - September 30 | H-19B #51-3937 piloted by John J. Jamison, was involved in an accident at Nellis AFB, NV. No other details available currently. http://www.accident-report.com/Yearly/1955/5509.html |
| 1955 - October 01 | The 2157th ARS took over the rescue detachment at Tainan AB, Taiwan, using H-19B #52-7481. The element consisted of two pilots, one crew chief, one aircraft mechanic and one aeromedic. hhtp://mysite.verizon.net/swanstid/2157hist.html |
| 1955 - October 14 | EH-5H #48-549 piloted by Louis W. Baker, was involved in an accident at Wright-Patterson AFB. OH. No other details available at this time. http://www.accident-report.com/Yearly/1955/5510.html |
| 1955 - October 14 | A USAF helicopter from Albrook Field, CZ., crewed by unkn (P), unkn (CP), unkn (CC), rescued two men, Richard Pinney, 23, and George Goodman, 25, in the swamp on the Pacific coast of Panama after they had run into bad weather on October 13, 1955, while on their way to Barranquilla, Colombia and ditched their Piper Tri-pacer. No other details are available currently. The News-Herald (Franklin, PA.), Sat, Oct 15, 1955, page 11 |
| 1955 - October 17 | H-21A #51-15240 piloted by Fred M. Liebert, was involved in an accident at Moses Point, AK. No other details available currently. http://www.accident-report.com/Yearly/1955/5510.html |
| 1955 - October 21 | H-19B #51-3953 piloted by John R. Flitter, was involved in an accident at Parry Island, Marshall, IS. No other details available currently. http://www.accident-report.com/Yearly/1955/5510.html |
| 1955 - October 23 | A USAF helicopter from McChord AFB, WA., crewed by unkn (P), unkn (CP), unkn (CC), rescued Jeff Hayden, 15, from the north slope of Mt. Rainier. He was on a survival training trip with senior members of the Kent squadron of the Washington Civil Air Patrol when he gashed his right ankle, apparently while chopping wood, and his companions were not able to carry him out. No other details are available currently. The Daily Chronicle (Centralia, WA.), Mon, Oct 24, 1955, Page 5 |
| 1955 - November 01 | A USAF helicopter from George AFB, CA., crewed by Capt. Louis Switzer (P), Capt. Richard Strang (CP), A2C Lyman F. Cornelius (CC), rescued two lost hunters, Phillip D. Jocobsen and his wife Peggy Jean, both 19, near the Squint's Ranch in desolate Deep Creek Canyon where they had been lost on a hunting trip. No other details are available currently. The San Bernardino County Sun (San Bernardino, CA.), Wed, Nov 02, 1955, Pages 19 & 30 |
| 1955 - November 04, through December 08 | The first sizeable mission flown by the 345th Troop Carrier Squadron Assault Rotary Wing (prior to being redesignated the 20th Helicopter Sq.) was flown in support of “Operation Sagebrush” at England AFB, Louisiana. The 345th was initially equipped with Sikorsky H-19 helicopters, but soon replaced them with Piasecki H-21s. The squadron flew a total of 276:55 hours in support of “Operation Sagebrush”. 20TH Helicopter Squadron History 1959, Pages 10 & 11 |
| 1955 - November 07 | SH-19B #52-7528 piloted by Herbert G. Wells, was involved in an accident about 7 miles SW of Thule AB, Greenland. No other details available currently. http://www.accident-report.com/Yearly/1955/5511.html |
| 1955 - November 09 | H-19B #51-3965 piloted by Albert J. Pikul, was involved in an accident at Enyu Island, Marshall, IS. No other details available currently. http://www.accident-report.com/Yearly/1955/5511.html |
| 1955 - November 10 | A USAF helicopter from the 71st ARSq, crewed by unkn (P), unkn (CP), unkn (CC), rescued Robert L. Matheson, 65, who was stalking coyotes in the Chickaloo Flat district of Turnagain Arm in 10 degrees above temperature when he had a eyelid freeze shut. No other details are available currently. Fairbanks Daily News-Miner (Fairbanks, AK), Wed, Nov 11, 1955, Page 2 |
| 1955 - November 12 | A USAF helicopter from the 71st ARSq, crewed by unkn (P), unkn (CP), unkn (CC), rescued three crew members of two F-89D's, Curtis Easton (P) and Lt. Edward D. Rodgers Jr. (RO), Lt. Lloyd Jacobs (P) who had ejected after they had a mid-air collision while engaged in a simulated "dog fight" on November 11, 1955, landing near the native Alaskan village of Tyonek, about 50 miles southwest of Anchorage, AK, and spent the night in near subzero weather using survival gear carried in their chute packs. Lt. William A. Harnack Jr (RO) on Lt. Lloyd Jacobs’s aircraft was still missing. No other details are available currently. Fairbanks Daily News-Miner (Fairbanks, AK), Wed, Nov 15, 1955, Page 8 |
| 1955 - November 15 | A USAF helicopter from the 71st ARSq, crewed by unkn (P), unkn (CP), unkn (CC), rescued Wister Williams, his wife Yvonne and their child, Mary Jane, by hoist about a half mile from the Anchorage shores of Cook inlet, after their 16-foot cabin cruiser was caught in a mass of frozen slush and snow. No other details are availablecurrently. Fairbanks Daily News-Miner (Fairbanks, AK), Wed, Nov 17, 1955, Page 9 |
| 1955 - November 15 | H-21A #51-15253 piloted by James B. Fortney, was involved in an accident about 29 miles SE of Goose Bay, Labrador. No other details available currently. http://www.accident-report.com/Yearly/1955/5511.html |
| 1955 - December 03 | H-21A #51-15238, was involved in an accident about 65 miles west of Galena, AK. No other details available currently. http://www.accident-report.com/Yearly/1955/5512.html |
| 1955 - December 12 | A USAF helicopter, crewed by unkn (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FM), rescued two families from flooding in the Earlington area, near the Long Acres Racetrack, south of Seattle, WA. No other details are available currently. The Oregon Statesman (Salem, OR.), Tue, Dec 13, 1955, Page 3 |
| 1955 - December 14 | H-21B #52-8675, piloted by Arthur W. Lebel, was involved in an accident at Otis AFB, MA. No other details available currently. http://www.accident-report.com/Yearly/1955/5512.html |
| 1955 - December 22 - 30 | H-19's and one H-21 from the 41st ARS at Hamilton AFB, CA., 42nd ARS at March AFB, CA., 43rd ARS at McChord AFB, WA. and 44th ARS at Lowry AFB, CO. with Maj. William M. McDonald as overall commander, provided humanitarian airlift operations to rescue and provide relief to victims of flooding cause by tremendous amounts of rain and snow melt in northern California, southwestern Oregon, and northwestern Nevada. The USAF & Humanitarian Airlift Operations 1947-1994 by Daniel L. Haul |
| 1955 - December 27 | http://www.afsoc.af.mil/shared/media/document/AFD-070906-042.pdf |
| 1955 - December 30 | |
| 1956 - January 05 | The sole Piasecki YH-16A #50-1270 prototype breaks up in flight and crashes near Swedesboro, NJ. near the Delaware River. The two test Piasecki pilots, Harold Peterson and George Callaghan were killed. This accident led to the cancellation of the YH-16 and YH-16B development. http://en.wikipeddia.org/wiki/List_of_accidents_and Incidents_involving_military_aircraft_(1955%E2%80%931959 |
| 1956 - January 05 | A USAF H-19 from the 41st ARS at Hamilton AFB, CA., crewed by Capt. John Heller (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FM), rescued the Gene Scaife family of Garberville, CA. from flooding that isolated the family. No other details are available currently. Ukiah News (Ukiah, CA.), Thu, Jan 5, 1956, Page 4 |
| 1956 - January 05 | A USAF helicopter from the 41st ARS at Hamilton AFB, CA., crewed by 1st Lt. Warren W. Lull (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FM), medevac’d Mrs. Ava Violet, who was ill and had been brought from her isolated home at the Morgan ranch at Spy Rock, roughly 100 miles north of Ukiah, CA. to the remote rail station of Dos Rios, to the Mendocino County Hospital. No other details are available currently. Daily Independent Journal (San Rafael, CA.), Fri, Jan 6, 1956, Page 1 |
| 1956 - January 12 | A USAF helicopter, crewed by Maj. Malcolm L. Nurnberg (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FM), sighted the bodies of four missionaries who had been massacred by Auca Indians in the jungles of eastern Ecuador in shallow water along the banks of the rain-swollen Curacay River. No other details are available currently. Brownwood Bulletin (Brownwood, TX.), Fri, Jan 13, 1956, Page 8 |
| 1956 - January 28 | A USAF helicopter, crewed by Maj. Malcolm L. Nurnberg (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FM), sighted the bodies of four missionaries who had been massacred by Auca Indians in the jungles of eastern Ecuador in shallow water along the banks of the rain-swollen Curacay River. No other details are available at this time. Brownwood Bulletin (Brownwood, TX.), Fri, Jan 13, 1956, Page 8 |
| 1956 - January 28 | A USAF helicopter from Hamilton AFB, CA., crewed by Capt. Lamar Tullis (P) and Lt. Robert Price, crashed while on a flood inspection tour, three miles west of Porterville, near the Tule River. Sheriff's deputies said the chopper struck the ground, climbed to about 100 feet and then fell between two houses. The crew and passengers, Rogers Moore and William Clark escaped unhurt. Long Beach Independent (Long Beach, CA.), Sat, Jan 28, 1956, page 15 |
| 1956 - February 10 | A USAF helicopter from the 38th ARS at Misawa AB, Japan, crewed by Capt. Warren G. Murphy (P), Capt. Harry Hedges (CP) and A1C Frederick M. Pacey (MT) airlifted MSgt. William Byer, after midnight, who was suffering from frozen feet when he had became lost near the air-to-ground gunnery range 15 miles north of Misawa AB. Pacific Stars & Stripes, Feb 14, 1956, pg. 24 |
| 1956 - February 16 | A USAF helicopter from the 58th ARS at Tripoli, Lebanon, crewed by Capt. Ronald E. Davidson (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FM), recovered the bodies of four of the 17 occupants of a Greek Air Force mercy plane that had crashed on the snow-covered peak of Mount Dirfys, north of Athens. No other details are available currently. The San Bernardino County Sun (San Bernardino, CA.), Thu, Feb 16, 1956, Page 4 |
| 1956 - February 26 | A USAF helicopter in Spain, crewed by unkn (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FM) rescued three survivors, Col. Claire A. P. Duffie, Sgt. William C. Smith and A1C Walter G. Schroeder, who had spent two bitterly cold nights on a snowbound peak in the Cuadarrama range north of Madrid, Spain, where their transport aircraft had crashed on March 24, 1956. Killed in the crash were Maj. Shelton A. Brannon Jr., Maj. John R. Francis and one unidentified other. No other details are available currently. Valley Morning Star (Harlingen, TX.), Mon, Feb 27, 1956, Page 1 |
| 1956 - March 08 | A USAF helicopter (probably an H-19) from Eglin AFB, FL, probably crewed by Lt. Col. Walter A. Rosenfield, Jr. (P) and Capt. Carl J. Swanson, rescued Capt. Roy W. Konvolinka of the 3243rd Test Group (Fighters) after he ejected from his disabled F-100A and parachuted into the waters of the Choctawhatchee Bay. http://www.wikiwand.com/en/List_of_aircraft_accidents_at_Eglin_Air_Force_Base#/1970s |
| 1956 - March 28 | A USAF helicopter from Hamilton AFB, CA., crewed by Capt. William Knowleton (P), unkn (CP) and unkn (FM), rescued Capt. Richard M. Wickstrom, Capt. Thomas H. Holcomb and SSgt. Oscar J. Dallen from the tiny Ano Nuevo reef island about three quarters of a mile offshore from the San Mateo, CA., coast. They were part of a ten-man bomber crew from Castle AFB, CA., undertaking a "survival training" exercise where these three and MSgt. Eugent Gregory set out in a rubber raft to test equipment in the ocean. Strong winds and tides threatened to sweep them out to sea, but they were able to paddle for the rocky shores of Ano Nuevo Island where the raft capsized and tossed them into the sea when they approached the island. Two were able to right the raft and make it to shore and one was able to swim to shore, however MSgt. Eugent Gregory drowned. No other details are available currently. The Times (San Mateo, CA.), Thu, Mar 29, 1956, Pages 1 & 2 |
| 1956 - April 03 | An Air Force helicopter, crewed by Maj. Stuart W. Reid (P), crashed into the side of a rocky hill about two miles southwest of Batesville, AR. The pilot walked away from the wreck with only slight injuries. The Kansas City Times (Kansas City, MO.), Wed, Apr 4, 1956, page 43 |
| 1956 - April 08 | The 2157th ARS was in-activated with the helicopters going to the new 60th ARS and most of the personnel going to the 39th, with some to the 60th. H-19A's #51-3271, #51-3271, #51-3873, #51-3886, #52-7483 and H-19B's #52-7481, #52-7497, #53-4463 and #53-4464. http://mysite.verizon.net/swanstid/2157hist.html |
| 1956 - April 08 | A USAF helicopter from the 47th ARS at Ellington AFB, TX., crewed by unkn (P), unkn (CP), unkn (CC), rescued Winifred Beauregard who needed medical attention from the "Joe M. Junior", a Muchowich deep sea fishing boat in the Gulf of Mexico about 30 miles southeast of Freeport, TX. No other details are available currently. The Brazosport Facts (Freeport, TX.), Mon, Apr 9, 1956, Page 1 |
| 1956 - April 10 | A USAF helicopter, crewed by unkn (P), unkn (CP), unkn (CC), rescued Wells Ervin after the twin-engine Grumman he was in crashed five miles short of its destination at Cordova, AK. about 150 miles southeast of Anchorage, AK. No other details are available currently. Greeley Daily Tribune (Greeley, CO.), Wed, Apr 11, 1956, Page 1 |
| 1956 - April 13 | A H-19, crewed by unkn (P), unkn (CP) and unkn (FM), crashed on the south edge of Kirtland AFB, NM. All five people aboard escaped injury. The helicopter, on a routine training flight, crashed in a gully about 300 yards from the base control tower during a landing attempt. Air Force officials said the craft was demolished, with wreckage spread about 20 yards in all directions around the helicopter, which was found resting on the left side. Las Vegas Daily Optic (East Las Vegas, NM.), Sat, Apr 14, 1956, page 3 |
| 1956 - April 18 | A USAF helicopter, crewed by unkn (P), unkn (CP), unkn (CC), rescued one survivor from the Japanese fishing ship "Noishiwagi Maru" which had ran aground 100 yards off Cocos Island a mile southwest of Guam. No other details are available currently. The Corpus Christi Caller-Times (Corpus Christi, TX.), Wed, Apr 18, 1956, Page 10 |
| 1956 - April 20 | A USAF helicopter, crewed by unkn (P), unkn (CP), unkn (CC), rescued three survivors, Capt. John T, Walker, 1st Lt. Lloyd E. Harsh and Lt. Col. John E. Vogt, from two jet fighters that had collided over Cook Inlet, southwest of Anchorage, AK. The fourth crewmember, Capt. Blinn F. Webster was missing. No other details are available currently. Fairbanks Daily News-Miner (Fairbanks, AK.), Sat, Apr 21, 1956, page 1 |
| 1956 - May 03 | A USAF helicopter from the 41st ARS at Hamilton AFB, CA., crewed by Capt. Lamar Tullos (P), Capt. Charles Thompson (CP), A1C Benny Rummage (MT), rescued USN Lt. (jg.) Newell E. DePuy after he crash landed his single-engine Douglas attack-dive bomber in a farm field about 15 miles southwest of Los Banos, CA. No other details are available currently. Daily Independent Journal (San Rafael, CA), Fri, May 4, 1956, Page 1 |
| 1956 - May 04 | A H-21 from Otis AFB, MA, crewed by unkn (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FM) medevac’d Seaman Harold M. Swisher Jr. from the deck of a Texas Tower platform in the Atlantic off Cape Cod after he had been injured by a fall on his ship, the USS Lloyd, that had been standing by the tower and transferred to the tower. No other details are available currently. The North Adams Transcript (North Adams, MA), Fri, May 4, 1956, page 1 |
| 1956 - May 09 | Three USAF helicopters, crews unknown, evacuated 18 people to high ground from the Alaskan town of Aniak due to flooding by the Kuskokwim River. The Sandusky Register (Sandusky, Ohio), Wed, May 9, 1956, Page 18 |
| 1956 - May 12 | A USAF helicopter, crew unknown, evacuated 75 people from the Alaskan town of Aniak due to increased flooding by the Kuskokwim River. The Portsmouth Herald (Portsmouth, NH.) Sat, May 12, 1956, Page 1 |
| 1956 - May 12 | A USAF helicopter, crewed by unkn (P), unkn (CP) and A2C Hugh Hobbs (HM), rescued one survivor of a USN helicopter that had crashed about 12 miles off San Nicolas Island, about 70 miles off of the Southern California coast. A2C Hobbs jumped into the water to rescue the only survivor. Three other crew members on the Navy helicopter had died before they could be rescued. Long Beach Independent (Long Beach, CA.), Sat, May 12, 1956, Page 1 & Press-Courier (Oxnard, CA.) Mon, Dec 31, 1956, Page 12 |
| 1956 - May 16 | A Rescue H-19 helicopter from K-55, Korea, crewed by unkn (P), unkn (CP) and unkn (FM) picked up 1st Lt. J. H. Bennington (P) who had ejected from an F-84G shortly before the jet crashed near K-14 airfield in Korea. Pacific Stars & Stripes, May 17, 1956, pg. 27 |
| 1956 - May 18 | A USAF helicopter from the 313th ARS at Naha AB, Okinawa, crewed by 1st Lt. Eugene R. Hickey (P), 2nd Lt. Clyde Wiley (CP) and A2C Richard Jones (MT) rescued a F-86 pilot, 2nd Lt. Merle A. Bechtold, after his aircraft had run off the runway during a driving rainstorm. Pacific Stars & Stripes, May 19, 1956, pg. 11 |
| 1956 - May 25 | A USAF helicopter from Traux AFB, WI, crewed by unkn (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FM) rescued the un-injured pilot of a F-86, Lt. Clyde Jackson, after he crashed landed his disabled aircraft on the William Widmann farm about one third of a mile north of Highway 18 about five miles east of Jefferson, WI. No other details are available currently. Janesville Daily Gazette (Janesville, WI), Fri, May 25, 1956, Page 1 |
| 1956 - June 01 | A USAF helicopter from Albrook AFB, CZ, crewed by unkn (P), unkn (CP), unkn (MT), rescued the lone survivor, Roberto Ovando Ardon, 22, from the site of an Aviateca Airliner crash at the 9,100-foot level on a mountain side. No other details are available currently. The Odessa American (Odessa, TX.), Fri, Jun 01, Page 19 |
| 1956 - June 15 | H-21B #52-8690 from Sewart AFB, TN., attached to the Naval Amphibious Base, Coronado, CA., crewed by Lt. Cmdr. E. F. Andersen (P) (from Naval Amphibious Base, Coronado), 1st Lt. H. W. Trall (CP) and Airman J. L. Heine (HM) crashed and sank, at about 10:42 a.m., about 100 yards off the beach in San Diego, CA. South Bay during a test towing of a Navy amphibious base landing craft. http://www.rotorheadsrus.us/documents/483.html |
| 1956 - June 22 | A USAF helicopter, crewed by Capt. Earl A. Thone (P), 1st Lt. Thomas A. Wright (CP), SSgt Henry H. Kirksey (MT) and Capt. Richard A. Salina (FS), rescued Maj. John R. Phillips of the Air Force Operational Test Center who was forced to abandon his Northrop F-89H Scorpion when the engines caught fire on takeoff with the pilot parachuting safely 1.5 miles offshore over the Choctawhatchee Bay with the aircraft impacting in the bay. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of _aircraft_at_Eglin_Air_Force_Base |
| 1956 - June 24 | A USAF helicopter, crewed by unkn (P), unkn (CP), unkn (MT), rescued a 17-year-old fisherman, Richard Thompson, from the isolated wilds of the Uinta Mountains in the White Rock Lake, UT. area after he was injured when his horse threw him into a tree. No other details are available currently. Albuquerque Journal (Albuquerque, NM.0, Tue, June 26, 1956, page 13 |
| 1956 - June 27 | A H-19 from Johnson AB, Japan, crewed by 1st Lt. Paul Lumsford (P), 2nd Lt. Hoyt B. Hurt (CP) and SSgt. Clarence Ball (MT) rescued a Marine Corps pilot, 1st Lt. J. E. Delie, who had parachuted to safety seconds before his AD Skyraider crashed in an open field 50 miles west of Mito, Japan. Pacific Stars & Stripes, Jun 28, 1956, pg.28 |
| 1956 - July 09 | The 345th Troop Carrier Squadron, Assault, Rotary Wing at Sewart AFB, TN., was inactivated in July 1956. The helicopters of the squadron were transferred to the 20th Helicopter Squadron, Sewart AFB, TN, whose mission was support for routine Air Force activities. The 20th Helicopter Squadron History 1959 |
| 1956 - July 09 | The 20th Helicopter Sq., commanded by Major James F. Fowler, was activated at Sewart Air Force Base, TN and was equipped with H-21’s. The mission was aeromedical evacuation, airlift support, and retrograde operations. They were tasked with numerous additional duties and operation to include range support at Wendover, Utah, rescue support at Ardmore AFB, OK., and numerous cannibalizations to support their sister squadrons the 23rd and 24th Helicopter Squadrons. 1956 History of the 20 Helicopter Squadron (Support) |
| 1956 - July 09 | The 21st Helicopter Sq. was activated at Donaldson AFB, SC. and equipped with H-21's. http://www.mh-53pavelow.com/documents.20thSOS/history2.pdf & http://medlibrary.org/medwiki/21st_Special_Operations_Squadron |
| 1956 - July 17 | A USAF helicopter in Japan, crewed by unkn (P), unkn (CP) and unkn (FM), rescued a 13-year-old schoolboy stranded for 10 hours at Yoshioka village, between two forks of a rain-swollen river. No other details are available currently. The Courier-Gazette (McKinney, TX.), Tue, Jul 17, 1956, Page 1 |
| 1956 - July 26 | A USAF helicopter, crewed by unkn (P), unkn (CP) and unkn (FM), rescued a seven-year-old girl from the sinking Italian Luxury Liner, the Andera Doria after it had collided with the Swedish Liner S. S. Stockholm in a dense fog, about 70 miles off the Massachusetts coast. No other details are available at this time. Corsicana Daily Sun (Corsicana, TX.), Thu, July 26, 1956, Page 1 |
| 1956 - July 28 | A USAF helicopter, crewed by unkn (P), unkn (CP) and unkn (FM), spotted the wreckage of a F-86 and the remains of its pilot, Maj. Manuel A. Pidcock, that had crashed after having a mid-air collision with one of the other F-86's in a three-ship formation about 165 miles south of Wendover, UT. No other details are available currently. The Daily Herald (Provo, UT.), Sun, Jul 29, 1956, Page 8 |
| 1956 - August 16 | A USAF helicopter from Olmstead AFB, PA., crewed by Capt. Victor Goudy (P), unkn (CP) and unkn (FM), spotted the wreckage and three victims, Arthur Yates, 41, Dale Hess, 27, and Joseph Sipple, 23, of a small plane crash in the thickly wooded mountains about seven miles northeast of White Haven, PA. No other details are available currently. The Pocono Record (Stroudsburg, PA.) Fri, Aug 17, 1956, Page 3 |
| 1956 - August 27 | A USAF H-19 from Japan, crewed by Capt. James W. Haggar (P), 1st Lt. Paul R. Lunsford (CP), unkn (CC), rescued two crew members, 1st Lt. John L. France and 1st Lt. Ronald R. Stauffer, from the Pacific Ocean, where they had spent an hour and half in the water, after they ejected from their crippled T-33 jet trainer. Capt. Haggar's H-19 had just had a new engine installed. He was ready to do a test hop when the emergency call came through. He received permission to make the rescue without completing the test flight. No other details are available currently. Brownwood Bulletin (Brownwood, TX.) Mon Aug 27, 1956, page 2 |
| 1956 - September 05 | A USAF helicopter from George AFB, CA., crewed by unkn (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FM) rescued the pilot of a F-86, 2nd Lt. Jarman A. Lynch Jr. when he ejected from his aircraft when he had a mid-air collision with another F-86 that he was flying formation with. The aircraft crashed about 12 miles due north of Mt. Wilson, CA. The pilot of the other F-86, 1st Lt. Phillip H. Henry was killed in the crash of his aircraft. No other details are available currently. The San Bernardino County Sun (San Bernardino, CA.), Wed, Sep 05, 1956, Page 1 |
| 1956 - September 06 | Capt. Robert I. Quillen of Dayton, an Air Force pilot was killed yesterday when the Sikorsky-built helicopter he was operating crashed and burned near a runway at the Wright Air Development Center. St. Louis Post-Dispatch (St. Louis, MO) Sat, Sep 08, 1956, page 11 |
| 1956 - September 19 | A USAF helicopter from Hamilton AFB, CA., crewed by unkn (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FM) rescued Sheridan Atkinson, 20, from his aircraft that had crashed into the sheer face of Rock Creek Canyon, CA. trying to dodge a heavy lightning storm No other details are available currently. Daily Independent Journal (San Rafael, CA.), Thu, Sep 20, 1956, Page 8 |
| 1956 - October 12 | SH-19's from the 33rd ARS, one piloted by Capt. Frank E. Wilson, rescued 28 crewmen from a Light Army tug LT-57B, which was stranded on a reef off of Okinawa when trying to pull the Army tanker Y-482 off a nearby reef. http://www.afsoc.af.mil/shared/media/document/AFD-070906-042.pdf |
| 1956 - November 06 | One H-21B aircraft and crew, from the 20th Helicopter Squadron, deployed to Ream Naval Air Station, California for what was then a highly classified mission. The mission involved a series of tests to determine the H-21's ability to take a vessel at sea under tow. Specialized equipment was installed and a number of vessels were taken under tow. The tests were successfully concluded when the H-21 took a Navy landing craft displacing 3000 tons under tow at a speed of four and a half knots. The 20th flew a total of 54 hours in support of this test. 20th Special Operations Squadron History. |
| 1956 - November 08 | A SH-19 helicopter from Johnson AB, Japan, crewed by Capt. Kenneth M. Richardson (P), unkn (CP) and unkn (FM) rescued the pilot, 1st Lt. Marlon D. Green, and the radar observer, Sgt. Jerry T. Bess, who had parachuted from their F3D Skynight some 30 miles north of Tokyo. Pacific Stars & Stripes, Nov. 09, 1956, pg. 10 |
| 1956 - November 29 | A H-19 enroute from Bridgeport, Conn. to Kinross AFB, Mich., crewed by Lt. Donn G. Marcussen (P) and SSgt. Basil I. Gray (HM), crashed near Five Mile Point at Skaneateles Lake, NY shortly after they had taken off after a refueling stop. No other details are available at this time. The Daily Messenger (Canandaigua, NY) Fri., Nov. 30, 1956, page 1 |
| 1956 - December 02 | A USAF H-19 from the 33rd ARS at Naha AB, Okinawa, crewed by Capt. Frank E. Wilson (P), 1st Lt. Zachary E. Rodehaver (CP) and SSgt. William Anderson (MT) made an emergency medevac of Capt. Felix Shiffman, dental surgeon at Naha Army Port, who was stricken with the bends while skin diving in the East China Sea, about three miles off Bolo Point in Okinawa. Pacific Stars & Stripes, Dec 04, 1956, pg. 11 |
| 1956 - December 07 | A USAF H-19 from Japan, crewed by unkn (P), unkn (CP), unkn (CC), rescued all the crew members from a 780-ton Korean vessel, the "Il Jin", aground on a sand bar in rough seas about 200 yards off Tsuno Shima island, about 30 miles north-east-east of Ashiya, in southern Japan. No other details are available currently. Shamokin News-Dispatch (Shamokin, PA.) Fri, Dec 7, 1956, Page 1 |
| 1956 - December 13 | A USAF helicopter from Japan, crewed by Capt. H. B. Rock Stillwell (P), unkn (CP), Amn. Walter S. Williams (MT), rescued Takeo Kebashi, a Japanese fisherman and three others from a rock in the Sea of Japan where they had been stranded for 15 hours after their small boat, the "Benten Maru", piled onto the rock and sank. No other details are available currently. The Corpus Christi Caller-times (Corpus Christi, TX.) Fri, Dec 14, 1956, Page 4 |
| 1957 - January 01 | A USAF helicopter from Edwards AFB, CA., crewed by Maj. Jones Seigler (P), unkn (CP) and unkn (HM) found the the three-year old boy missing overnight in the desert, but he had already died of exposure from night temperatures that dropped to 28 degrees. Valley Morning Star (Harlingen, TX.), Wed, Jan 2, 1957, Page 8 |
| 1957 - January 03 | An H-19 from Edwards AFB, CA., crewed by Capt. Wayne W. Eggert (P), Capt. Newell H. Lynch (CP) and Charles M. Scott (FM), crashed while flying to Rosamond Dry Lake to pick up a drag chute, killing all on board. The cause of the crash was determined to be a missing cotter pin in the control system. http://www.eaa1000.org/newsletr/0807nltr.pdf |
| 1957 - January 27 | Two USAF SH-21 helicopters from the 71st ARS at Elmendorf AFB, AK, crew’s unkn, rescued 12 crew members and one passenger from a C-124 Globemaster that had crashed landed on the ice in Cook Inlet, about 20 yards from shore, a couple miles short of the runway at Elemendorf AFB. One helicopter hovered overhead in the freezing weather providing flood lights while the other ferried the men to the hospital. They were hoisted aboard the helicopters within 10 minutes after the crash. All but three of the men were released from the hospital and the other three were listed in good condition. Daily Sitka Sentinel (Sitka, AK.), Mon, Jan 28, 1957, Page 1 |
| 1957 - January 27 | A H-19B helicopter from Luke AFB, AZ, crewed by Capt. James Womack (P), Capt. William Smith (CP), TSgt. M. D. McGuire (HM) and MSgt. Bill Hessel (Photographer) fought treacherous canyon winds to rescue 3-month-old Daley Mankaja and 4-month-old Delphine Uquualla, both seriously ill with diarrhea, form their snow bound home in Havasupai Canyon, a tributary of the Grand Canyon. Arizona Daily Sun (Flagstaff, AZ.), Wed, Jan 30, 1957, Page 1 |
| 1957 - February 22 | A USAF helicopter from the 39th ARSq., in Japan, crewed by 1st Lt. John Schaeffer (P), 1st Lt. Eugene Coyle (CP) SSgt. Dennis S. Fountain (FM) evacuated 29 survivors from a sandbar where a C-124 had force landed in the Han River with 149 passengers and 10 crewmembers aboard. Several U.S. Army helicopters evacuated several others. Pacific Stars & Stripes, Mar. 14, 1957, pg. 8 |
| 1957 - February 23 | H-19B #53-4422 & other unkn tail numbers, of the 1370th Photo Mapping Group (from Palm Beach AFB, FL.) operating off USN LST's #46, #117 & #491 went ashore at Qui Nhon, Vietnam to set up a HIRAN site. Journal, American Aviation Historical Society/Spring 1996 |
| 1957 - February 25 | H-19B #53-4422 & other unkn tail numbers, of the 1370th Photo Mapping Group (from Palm Beach AFB, FL.) operating off USN LST's #46, #117 & #491 went ashore at Nha Trang, Vietnam to set up a HIRAN site. Journal, American Aviation Historical Society/Spring 1996 |
| 1957 - February 27 | SH-21 aircrews from the 71st ARS saved 13 persons from a C-124 which had gone down on the ice in Cook Inlet, Alaska. http://www.afsoc.af.mil/shared/media/document/AFD-070906-042.pdf |
| 1957 - March 01 | H-19B #53-4422 & other unkn tail numbers, of the 1370th Photo Mapping Group (from Palm Beach AFB, FL.) operating off USN LST's #46, #117 & #491 went ashore at Phan Rang, Vietnam to set up a HIRAN site. Journal, American Aviation Historical Society/Spring 1996 |
| 1957 - March 07 | A USAF helicopter from the air base at Dhahran, crewed by Lt. Theodore Urbeff (P), Maj. William Macke (CP), Maj. Lloyd Yeast (NAV) and A2C Parsons (FM), crashed into the Persian Gulf off Bahrein while on a mercy mission. All four crew members were saved. The aircraft had flown a doctor to a ship in the gulf to treat an ailing sailor. It landed him safely on the ship and was returning to the air base at Dhahran when the crash occurred. The Kansas City Times (Kansas City, MO.), Fri, Mar 8, 1957, page 22 |
| 1957 - March 11 | A USAF helicopter, crewed by unkn (P), unkn (CP) and unkn (HM), picked up Capt. Grover C. Crocker from the Naval radio station facility at Driver. Capt. Crocker had ejected from his Langley AFB based F-100 after the engine caught fire. He landed in a plowed field, with only minor facial lacerations, and was picked up by two men who took him to the Naval radio station facility. Abilene Reporter-News (Abilene, TX.) Tue, Mar 12, 1957, page 11 |
| 1957 - March 28 | A H-19 from Ashiya, Japan, crewed by 1st Lt. William Roger Hendrickson (P), A2C Walter Samuel Williams Jr. (FM) and A3C Richard Carl Fritzs (FM), crashed five miles south of Tainan, southern Formosa, killing the pilot and two crew members. The Kansas City Star (Kansas City, MO.), Thu, Mar 28, 1957, page 1 & Carrol Daily Times Herald (Carroll, IW), Tue, Apr 1, 1957, page 1 & Mt. Vernon Register-News (Mt Vernon, IL), Tue Apr 2, 1957, page 1 & Oshkosh Daily Northwestern (Oshkosh, WI), 3 Apr 1957, page 20 |
| 1957 - March 31 | A USAF helicopter from George AFB, CA., crewed by unkn (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FM) rescued two stranded fishermen, Ralph Rooney, and Morgan L. Hale, who had been lost overnight near Lake Arrowhead, CA. No other details are available currently. The San Bernardino County Sun (San Bernardino, CA.), Mon, Apr 1, 1957, Page 11 |
| 1957 - April 02 | A H-21 helicopter from the Det. 3, 24th Helicopter Sq. at Itazuke AB, Japan, crewed by 1st Lt. Keith R. Droegemier (P), 1st Lt. Grant F. Mackie (CP) and A1C Harlan V. Mills (FM), airlifted A3C Tommy R. Williams, who was suffering from possible appendicitis, from Uni-shima Island 85 miles north of Kyushu to the 6160th USAF Hospital. Pacific Stars & Stripes, Apr 03, 1957, pg. 11 |
| 1957 - April 03 | A H-19 helicopter from the 36th ARS, Johnson AB, Japan, crewed by Capt. Kenneth M. Richardson (P), 1st Lt. Hoyt Hurt (CP) and TSgt. Alfred Miller (PJ) flew for four and a half hours, over water, and made an 18-minute island hop to provide emergency air transportation for Mrs. Emiko Kubo who was in labor and needed immediate medical attention not available to her on her tiny home island, Mikura-jima, 130 miles south of Tokyo. Pacific Stars & Stripes, Apr 05, 1957, pg. |
| 1957 - April 04 | A USAF helicopter returning to Geiger Field, near Spokane, WA., crewed by Maj. Jack R. Dixon (P), 1st Lt. Lester D. Chalton (CP) and TSgt. J. Cook, crashed about 35 miles south of the field as it was returning from a search mission near Boise, ID. The three crew members escaped injury. The Ogden Standard-Examiner (Ogden, UT.), Fri, Apr 5, 1957, page 10 |
| 1957 - April 22 | A USAF H-19 helicopter in Japan, crewed by 1st Lt. Reese Stephens McCauley Jr. (P), 1st Lt. Rodney Emmett Koch (CP) and SSgt. Dennis S. Fountain (FM) crashed while trying to rescue victims of a C-119 transport crash. Lt. McCauley was killed in the crash and the other two crew members were injured. No other details are known at this time. The Amarillo Globe-Times (Amarillo, TX.) Wed, Apr 24, 1957, page 8 & Daily Capital Journal (Salem, OR.), Wed, Apr 24, 1957, page 2 & Fairbanks Daily News-Miner (Fairbanks, AK.), Wed, Apr 24, 1967, page 2 |
| 1957 - May 10 | A H-19 helicopter from the 36th ARS at Johnson AB, Japan, crewed by Lt. Col. James B. Fowle (P/CC), 1st Lt. Paul Lundsford (CP) and SSgt. Coy Staggs (PJ) crash landed in a rice paddy about 60 miles south of Tokyo. None of the three aboard was injured, but the helicopter was damaged. Mechanical failure was blamed for the forced landing near the seaside city of Odawara. The 36th ARS copter was taking part in the search for missing airmen who were aboard a KB-50 tanker plane which crashed at sea two days before about 100 miles southwest of Tokyo. Pacific Stars & Stripes, May 11, 1957, pg. 5 |
| 1957 - May 12 | Two 20th Helicopter Squadron H-21B’s and two crews, names unkn, were sent to Frobisher Bay, Northwest Territory, to provide airlift support for a joint Canadian and United States Navy Hydrographic Survey Team. The survey team was engaged in triangulation work as a basis for accurately charting the bay. This mission was to continue until September or October of this year. This missin was completed on 08 September 1957. Story of the 20th Helicopter Squadron 1957 |
| 1957 - May 13 | A USAF helicopter, crewed by unkn (P), unkn (CP) and unkn (HM), picked up 1st Lt. W. T. Sagmoen after he ejected from his flaming F-86 Saber Jet southeast of Minneapolis, MN. No other details are known at this time. The Austin Daily Herald (Austin, MN.) Mon, May 13, 1957, page 1 |
| 1957 - May 16 | The last H-19B's from the 1370th Photo Mapping Group departed Vietnam after the dismantling of the HIRAN sites that had been established in Jan/Mar 1957. Journal, American Aviation Historical Society/Spring 1996 |
| 1957 - May 23 | A H-21 of the 5039th Air Transport Sq. at Elmendorf AFB, AK, crewed by unkn (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and four other unkn's crashed near Willow, AK, 85 miles north of Anchorage, seriously injuring one of the seven men aboard, Mr. Frank L. Russell. The Air Force said the helicopter's fall was caused by mechanical failure. The Salina Journal (Salina, KS.), Fri, May 24, page 1 & The Daily Herald (Provo, UT.), Fri, May 24, 1957, page 1 |
| 1957 - May 23 | A helicopter from Det. D, 24th Helicopter Sq., Itazuke AB, Japan, crewed by 1st Lt. Grant F. Mackie (P), 1st Lt. Jearl W. Dunavin (CP) and SSgt. Floyd McCraw (FM) rescued three unkn airmen when they jumped from the Air Force truck they were in as it plunged off a 125-foot cliff near a lonely site about 100 miles south of Itazuke. Pacific Stars & Stripes, May 30, 1957, pg. 25 |
| 1957 - June 11 | A H-13 helicopter from the 3500 PTWg. at Bryan AFB, crewed by Lt. Frederick D. Rupp (P) and Lt. Richard Holliday (CP), crashed on a routine training mission killing both pilots. No other details are known at this time. The Brownsville Herald (Brownsville, TX) Wed, Jun 12, 1957, page 5 |
| 1957 - June 12 | An Air Force helicopter at Randolph AFB, TX. Crewed by Capt. Robert F. Sulliva (P) and A1C Robert L. Grimco (CC) crashed. A1C Grimco was killed in the crash and Capt. Sulliva was injured. No other details are known at this time. Lubbock Evening Journal (Lubbock, TX) Wed, Jun 12, 1957, page 1 |
| 1957 - June 13 | President Eisenhower becomes the first chief executive to fly in a helicopter as he takes off from the White House lawn in a USAF Bell UH-13J Sioux. Major Joseph E. Barrett flies the President a short distance to a military command post at a remote location as part of a military exercise. Air Force Magazine |
| 1957 - June 27 | August 27; H-5's, H-19's and H-21's from 14th Air Force participated in humanitarian airlift operations to provide rescue and relief to victims of hurricane Audry which hit southwestern Louisiana on the morning of June 27, 1957. The USAF & Humanitarian Airlift Operations 1947-1994 by Daniel L. Haul |
| 1957 - July 10 | A H-21 helicopter from the 24th Helicopter Sq. at Komaki AB, Japan, crewed by Capt. John Robbins (P), 1st Lt. John Casbergue (CP) and A1C Francis Flores (FM), en-route from an Air Force radar site at Kushimoto to Kyogamisaki on a “routine” transport mission plunged into the sea 25 miles north of Kinomoto on Honshu. The three crew members and five passengers (names unkn) swam safely to shore. Another H-21 from the 24th Helicopter Sq. was dispatched to pick up the downed helicopters occupants. Pacific Stars & Stripes, Jul 10, 1957, pg. 1 |
| 1957 - July 10 | A USAF H-21 helicopter from Edwards AFB, CA., crewed by unkn (P), unkn (CP) and unkn (HM), rescued John Findley Scott from the 11,000-foot level in Knapsack Pass after he was injured in a 40-foot fall to a ledge while hiking with five other students. Tri-City Herald (Pasco, WA.), Wed, Jul 10, 1957, Page 1 |
| 1957 - July 22 | A USAF helicopter from Luke AFB, AZ. Crewed by unkn (P), unkn (CP) and unkn (FM) located and recovered six University of Arizona and Arizona State College students who were overdue on a Salt River rafting trip. The six, Danald Vance, Milton Laflen, Ed Nymeyer, Paul White, Richard Daley and Larry McPherson were located and flown to their destination on the Globe-Young Road near Rosevelt Lake. The Tucson Daily Citizen (Tucson, Arizona) – 23 Jul 1957, Tue, Page 7 |
| 1957 - August 17 | A USAF helicopter from Edwards AFB, CA., crewed by Capt. Robert G. Ferry (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FM) rescued a fisherman, Nelson Ross, after he had a heart attack while on a High Sierra fishing trip 30 miles northwest of Bishop, CA. and delivered him to Northern Inyo Hospital. No other details are available currently. Redlands Daily Facts (Redlands, CA.), Mon, Aug 19, 1957, Page 1 & The San Bernardino County Sun (San Bernardino, CA.) Sun, Aug 18, 1957, Page 5 |
| 1957 - August 20 | A USAF H-19, crewed by unkn (P), unkn (CP) and unkn (HM), picked up Maj. David G. Simons when he landed his balloon gondola near the edge of a small lake near Ellendale, ND, about 120 miles southwest of Fargo, ND., after his 32-hour balloon trip to over 100,000 feet (about 19 miles) to the top of earth’s atmosphere. Lebanon Daily News (Lebanon, PN.) Wed, Aug 21, 1957, page 20 |
| 1957 - August 27 | An H-19 from the 53rd ARS rescued 22 seamen from a Norwegian ship, the Polarbjoern, trapped in the ice near Greenland. http://www.afsoc.af.mil/shared/media/document/AFD-070906-042.pdf |
| 1957 - August 28 | An H-19 from the 55th ARS at Thule AB, Greenland, crewed by unkn (P), unkn (CP) and unkn (HM), rescued 23 seamen from a Norwegian ship, the Polarbjoern, that had been trapped in the ice near Greenland for six days. http://www.afsoc.af.mil/shared/media/document/AFD-070906-042.pdf & The Daily Journal (Commerce, TX.) Fri, Aug 30, 1957, Page 1 |
| 1957 - September 01 | A USAF helicopter, crewed by unkn (P), unkn (CP) and unkn (HM), rescued Lt. Col. Gouring and recovered the body of his skin-diving companion, an Air Force Capt., from the turbulent waters off a Guam beach after their boat capsized. The two men had sailed their boat on a skin-diving venture out beyond a coral reef into an area noted for its roughness. The Montana Standard (Butte, MT.) Mon, Sep 02, 1957, page 1 |
| 1957 - September 10 | Helicopters and crews (names unkn) from the 20th Helicopter Sq. began a mission at Sondrestrom AB, Greenland in support of the DEW Line project there. This mission was completed on 23 September1957. Story of the 20th Helicopter Squadron 1957 |
| 1957 - October 01 | The 1401st Helicopter Flight was re-designated as the 1001st Helicopter Flight at Andrews AFB, MD. http://www.popflock.com/learn?s=1st_Helicopter_Squadron |
| 1957 - October 05 | The 21st Helicopter Sq. was inactivated at Donaldson AFB, SC. http://medlibrary.org/medwiki/21st_Special_Operations_Squadron |
| 1957 - October 18 | A USAF helicopter from Elmendorf AFB, AK., crewed by unkn (P), unkn (CP) and unkn (HM), picked up Dr. Pearson, his wife and three young children after their aircraft was forced down 90 miles northeast of Anchorage, AK. Fairbanks Daily News-Miner (Fairbanks, AK.) Sat, Oct 19, 1957, page 1 |
| 1957 - October 18 | A USAF helicopter from Lowry AFB, CO., crewed by unkn (P), unkn (CP) and unkn (HM), picked up Maj. Merle Allen and Capt. Jack Martin after they had ejected from their fuel starved T-33 jet trainer about eight miles west of a Weld County farm near Roggen, CO. Greeley Daily Tribune (Greeley, CO.) Thu, Oct 10, 1057, page 1 |
| 1957 - November 06 | A USAF H-13 helicopter from Burlington AFB, crewed by Capt. Jake Amato (P) was brought in to aid in the search for the bodies of a man and his two children who are believed to have drowned in Big Tupper Lake on Saturday, October 26. The Adirondack Daily Enterprise, Thur. Nov. 7, 1957, Page 1 |
| 1957 - November 17 | SH-21 and SA-16 aircrews from the 71st ARS rescued four surviving aircrewmen and recovered six deceased aircrewmen from a TB-29 which crashed in the Talkeetna Mountains about 50 miles northeast of Anchorage, Alaska. http://www.afsoc.af.mil/shared/media/document/AFD-070906-042.pdf |
| 1957 - November 30 | A USAF helicopter from the 33rd ARS at Naha AB, crewed by 1st Lt. Donald P. Olsen (P), 1st Lt. Zachery E. Rodehaver (CP) and SSgt. Joseph Povick (PJ) rescued the pilot, 2nd Lt. Ronald D. Snyder, of a RF-84F reconnaissance jet, that had ejected from his crashing jet that plunged into the East China Sea about a mile south of Bolo Point, Okinawa. The rescued pilot was taken to the dispensary at Kadena AB and was released after treatment for minor cuts on his hand. Stars & Stripes, Dec 03, 1957, pg. 5 |
| 1957 - December 12 | Two SH-19 aircrews from the 56th ARS saved 50 crewmen by hoisting them from the French freighter Pei-Ho, which ran aground near Casablanca, Morocco. http://www.afsoc.af.mil/shared/media/document/AFD-070906-042.pdf |
| 1957 - December 16 | A SH-19 helicopter from Oxnard AFB, CA., crewed by Lt. Leland K. Kennedy (P), Capt. Royal W. Rudoloph Jr. (FS) and A2C Gerald C. Jones (HM), rescued Don M. Randall, Charles Parker and L. H. Bardeau, in rain and low hanging clouds, from a cliff about 200 ft. up on Anacapa Island off the coast of Oxnard, CA. Their 20-foot boat, the "Rock-n-Roll" had run aground the day before in rough seas off the island and they had swum to the island and all three were suffering from exposure and shock. Press-Courier (Oxnard, CA.), Mon, Dec 16, 1957, Page 1 |
| 1957 - December 18 | A H-21 helicopter from Det. 3, 24th Helicopter Sq. from Itazuke AB, Japan, crewed by 1st Lt. Keith R. Droegemeier (P), 1st Lt. Albert G. Churcher (P) and A1C Frank W. Linhart (FE), fought rough seas and gust of wind up to 50 miles an hour for 20 minutes before they were able to maneuver the chopper’s rope ladder to a Japanese fishing boat stranded at sea to rescue the three-man crew from their battered boat. Pacific Stars & Stripes, Dec 19, 1957, pg. 2 & 3 |
| 1957 - December 20 | A USAF helicopter, crewed by unkn (P), unkn (CP) and unkn (HM), rescued Bill Evans and David McClain from the turbulent Clackamas River near Estacada, OR. after their 17-foot boat capsized as they were trying to shoot the rapids. Tri-City Herald (Pasco, WA.), Sun, Dec 22, 1957, Page 27 |
| 1958 - January 01 | A H-19, crewed by unkn (P), unkn (CP) and unkn (FM), crashed into the ocean near Myrtle Beach, NC. while on a search mission for the bodies of a Tabor City, NC. doctor and his two young sons. The crew of three was unhurt. Florence Morning News (Florence, SC.), Thu, Jan 2, 1958, page 11 |
| 1958 - January 02 | A USAF helicopter from Davis-Monthan AFB, AZ, crewed by unkn (P), unkn (CP) and unkn (FM) rescued Kenneth Turner who had become stuck when he tried to wade after some ducks he had shot in a marsh 20 miles south of Florence, AZ. Mr. Turner had been mired to his armpits for 20 hours when three youngsters heard his cries for help and notified the Pinal County Sheriff’s Office. Turner was takeen to a Florence hospital, where his condition was described as “pretty weak”. The Montana Standard (Butte, Montana) – Fri, Jan 03, 1958, Page 1 |
| 1958 - January 08 | A USAF helicopter from Oxnard AFB, CA., crewed by unkn (P), unkn (CP) and unkn (FM) rescued a California Air National Guard F-86 pilot, Capt. Walter R. Hoffman after he had ejected from his aircraft about five miles off the coast of Southern California. Redlands Daily Facts (Redlands, California) – Thu, Jan 9, 1958, Page 1 |
| 1958 - January 26 | A USAF helicopter from Oxnard AFB, CA., crewed by 1st Lt. Don Vavra (P) and A2C Gerald Wilson (FM) rescued three men, Eddie L. Hatton, Gordon A. Waldeck and Arthur S. Morris who had been adrift off the coast for more than 24 hours in their 22-foot fishing boat. This was a night rescue. Press-Courier (Oxnard, California) – Mon, Jan 27, 1958, Page 1 |
| 1958 - February 03 | An Air Force helicopter from Selfridge AFB, MI., crewed by unkn (P), unkn (CP) and unkn (FM), rescued two fishermen who became marooned on an ice floe in Lake St. Clair. Rescued were George Squillace and John Degrandis after they were spotted from shore and Macomb County deputies notified Selfridge Air Base which dispatched the helicopter. Ironwood Daily Globe (Ironwood, MI.) Tue, Feb 4, 1958, page 5 |
| 1958 - February 13 | An Air Force helicopter from 41st ARS at Hamilton Field, CA., crewed by Capt. L. G. Tullos (P), Capt. Dale Robertson (CP) and SSgt. J. L. Culvert (FM) picked up two U. S. Navy pilots who had bailed out of their Skyraider aircraft, near Point Arena, when the engine failed. The two Navy pilots were not injured and made their way to a nearby farmhouse. Less than an hour later the USAF helicopter picked them up, but shortly after the helicopter took off it developed engine trouble and Capt. Tullos was forced to make an emergency landing in a pasture. The sheriff's dept. dispatched cars to pick up the downed flyers. The helicopter crew awaited a maintenance crew from Hamilton Field to repair the troubled helicopter. Ukiah Daily Journal (Ukiah, CA.) Fri, Feb 14, 1958, page 1 |
| 1958 - February 18 | An USAF H-21 helicopter from Olmsted AFB, PA. crewed by unkn (P), unkn (CP) and unkn (HM) rescued 34 Boy Scouts who had been stranded by deep snow at Camp Chiquetan, 11 miles from Lancaster, PA. No other details are known at this time. The Terre Haute Star (Terre Haute, IN.) Tue, Feb 18, 1958, page 1 |
| 1958 - February 18 | An USAF H-19 helicopter, crewed by unkn (P), unkn (CP) and unkn (HM) medevacked 14-year-old Patrick Schott, who was stricken with a ruptured appendix to a hospital 25 miles away. Forty-eight-inch snowfall prevented any other means of transportation. No other details are known currently. The Pantagraph (Bloomington, IL.) Tue, Feb 18, 1958, page 18 |
| 1958 - February 18 | An USAF H-19 helicopter, crewed by unkn (P), unkn (CP) and unkn (HM) medevacked expectant mother, Mrs. Verna Yellets of Paradise, PA., in a 15-minute trip, to St. Joseph's Hospital in Lancaster, PA., after her farm was snowed in. The Portsmouth Herald (Portsmouth, NH.) Wed, Feb 19, 1958, page 1 |
| 1958 - February 19 | An Air Force helicopter from Olmsted AFB crewed by unkn (P), unkn (CP) and unkn (HM) made a number of mercy calls during a three and one-half days in flights over eastern Lebanon County bringing aid to the hardest hit victims of the Blizzard of '58. During this time, they rescued a boy with a broken shoulder and brought a physician to the home of two infants blistered by contact with kerosene. Another Olmsted AFB helicopter, crewed by Capt. Victor Goudey (P), unkn (CP) and Sgt. Leonard Nicholson (HM), flew to the aid of Bachmanville residents. These were two of many mercy flight made throughout Eastern Pennsylvania by the Olmsted-based craft since the effects of the storm became known. Lebanon Daily News (Lebanon, PA.) Thu, Feb 20, 1958, page 1 |
| 1958 - March 10 | A unknown type of USAF helicopter, possibly from Wurtsmith AFB, MI., crew unkn, rescued the uninjured F-102 pilot, Col Wilson, who made a belly landing in a rural area three miles south of Rogers City. The pilot was forced to stay with his plane when an explosion of the plane’s after-burner tore a three-foot hole in the fuselage while flying at 40,000 feet and the ejector mechanism failed and prevented him from parachuting. Ironwood Daily Globe (Ironwood, Michigan) – Tue, Mar 11, 1958, Page 3 |
| 1958 - March 14 | A unknown type of USAF helicopter, from Greenville AFB, MS., crew unkn, rescued the two uninjured pilots, 1st Lt. Thomas J. Mannion and 1st Lt. John N. Lawrence, of a T-33, that had been involved in a mid-air collision with another T-33, after they ejected from their damaged aircraft in the vicinity of Dermoll, AR. The second T-33 was able to safely land back at Greenville AFB, MS. The Delta Democrat-Times (Greenville, Mississippi) – Sun, Mar 16, 1958, Page 1 |
| 1958 - March 25 | A unknown type of USAF helicopter, from Hill AFB, UT., crew unkn, rescued the two uninjured pilots, Maj. James B. Wagnor and 2nd Lt. Otto Pryear, from a Civil Air Patrol C-45 that was forced to make an emergency landing on a tiny island in the Great Salt Lake after running into a sudden snowstorm with the plane’s wings icing up. The Montana Standard (Butte, Montana) – Wed, Mar 26, 1958, Page 13 |
| 1958 - April 03 | An Air Force helicopter from the 46th ARS from Otis AFB, MA., crewed by Capt. William Peterson (P), Lt. William Taus (CP), Lt Elbert Clark (FS) and SSgt. William Gelinas (HM) located the crash site, on the southwest slope of Mt. Greylock, of a twin-engine Navy Beechcraft aircraft that went missing the day before and rescued the pilot, Cmdr. Robert D. Vandenberg. The co-pilot of the Navy aircraft was killed in the crash. The North Adams Transcript (North Adams, MA.) Thu, Apr 3, 1958, page 4 |
| 1958 - April 03 | An Air Force helicopter from Norton AFB, CA., crewed by Lt. William Olson (P), Lt. Leland Kennedy (CP) and unkn (HM), rescued four Hancock College freshman girls who became stranded when their home-made raft was grounded in the Santa Maria River. The girls were identified as Toni Bianechi, Sharon Kaukonen, Juanita Ardantz and Carolyn McBride. They spent 4 1/2 hours about 150 yards from shore before the arrival of the helicopter. The San Bernardino County Sun (San Bernardino, CA.) Fri, Apr 4, 1958, page 1 |
| 1958 - April 11 | An Air Force helicopter from Norton AFB, CA., crewed by unkn (P), unkn (CP) and unkn (HM) rescued test pilot, Al Blackburn after he had successfully parachuted from his disabled F-100D Supersaber jet about 20 miles north of Barstow, CA. The San Bernardino County Sun (San Bernardino, CA.) Fri, Apr 12, 1958, page 17 |
| 1958 - April 24 | An Air Force helicopter crewed by unkn (P), unkn (CP) and unkn (HM) rescued Mrs. Bruce Davis who had survived in a snow shelter near the wreckage of her and her husband’s aircraft that had crashed on April 21st in the Malheur National Forest 30 miles west of John Day, OR. Her husband had hiked out from the snow-covered mountain crash site for three days to find help and get his wife rescued. The News-Review (Roseburg, OR.) Fri, Apr 25, 1958, page 1 |
| 1958 - April 28 | An H-5 from Griffiss AFB, NY, piloted by Capt. James A. Nolan, crashed. The base public information officer said Nolan had taken off on a local flight. No other details are known at this time. The Times Record (Troy, NY), Fri, Apr 18, 1958, page 25 |
| 1958 - May 05 | An SH-21B #53-4353 of the 71st Air Rescue Squadron at Elmendorf AFB, Alaska, crewed by 1st Lt. John C. Artley (P), 1st Lt. Paul H. D. Wilson (CP), TSgt. Everett R. Culver (FM) and TSgt. Daniel M. Coleman (MT) hit a high-tension wire while searching for a downed jet pilot and crashed into the Knik River 25 miles northeast of Elmendorf. The helicopter was partially submerged in the river and sadly 1st Lt. Wilson, TSgt. Culver and TSgt. Coleman was killed in the crash with 1st Lt. Artley surviving the crash. Fairbanks Daily News-Miner (Fairbanks, AK) Tue, May 06, 1968, page 9 |
| 1958 - July 24 | An SH-21 crew from the 55th ARS attempted to pick up 13 survivors of a C-54 accident at Polar Research Site #2, Greenland. The first SH-21 experienced engine failure at the research site, and a second SH-21 was dispatched. The second SH-21, crewed by 1st Lt. Harry J. Dewald (P), 2nd Lt. Eugene Sullivan (CP), SSgt. John B. Mustain (FM), A3C John H. Depew (FM) crashed near the site, killing the crew and U.S. Army 2nd Lt. Aames A. Alger III. Eventually, the pilot of the downed C-54 was evacuated by an Army L-20, and twelve survivors and five deceased were removed by a weasel train to Thule AB, Greenland. The Troy Record (Troy, NY.), Mon, Jul 28, 1958, page 1 & http://www.afsoc.af.mil/shared/media/document/AFD-070906-042.pdf |
| 1958 - August 01 | An Air Force H-21 #53-4401 from Goose Bay, Labrador crashed about 100 miles from Goose Bay while on a recreational fishing trip. It appears that Chief of Staff General Tom White may have been aboard as one of the passengers. There is no indication of any injuries. No other details are known at this time. The Express (Lock Haven, PA) Thu, Aug 7, 1958, page 8 |
| 1958 - August 08 | An SH-19 assigned to the 53rd ARS made a night pickup from the atomic submarine Nautilus after it had successfully completed a crossing under the polar ice cap. http://www.afsoc.af.mil/shared/media/document/AFD-070906-042.pdf |
| 1958 - August 11 | An H-19 helicopter from the 6139th Operations Sq. at Misawa AB, Japan, crewed by 1st Lt. George W. Hildre (P), MSgt. Ronald J. Stuckert (FM) and A2C Calvin H. Felts (MT), rescued 133 Japanese during a two-day mission to rescue survivors from the rain-swollen waters of the Iwaki River that had overflowed its banks in a flash flood. The H-19 crew rescued 12 flood victims from their watery roof tops the night they arrived, the next morning they rescued 20 more to safety from a rooftop and rescued another 101 stranded Japanese during the day. Pacific Stars & Stripes, Aug. 13, 1958, pg. 5 |
| 1958 - August 27 | An H-19 from the 53rd ARS rescued 22 seamen from a Norwegian ship, the Polarbjoern, trapped in ice near Greenland. No additional details are known at this time. https://www.airandspaceforces.com/PDF/DocumentFile/Documents/2005/ARRSchrono1946-1981_011583.pdf |
| 1958 - September 04 | A H-21 form Hill AFB, UT., crewed by Capt. Purcell A. Reary (P), 2nd Lt. Edward L. Radford (CP) and SSgt. Charles D. Soules (CC), crash about 18 miles south of Dugway Proving Grounds. They had rescued a man who had been severely injured by an arrow while on a hunting trip in the vicinity of Simpson Mountain. They had picked up the injured hunter and the hunting party and were attempting to take off when they had a power failure at about 20 feet in the air. The helicopter crashed and rolled onto its side. None of the crew and passengers were injured in the crash, however after the crash a doctor on the helicopter pronounced the injured hunter dead from the arrow injury. The Daily Herald (Provo, UT) Thu, Sep 4, 1958, page 1 |
| 1958 - September 11 | A H-21 from Nellis AFB, crewed by 1st Lt. Ronald R. Riggs (P), SSgt. Harland V. Mills (FM) and A1C Terry A. Jones (FM) crashed and burned, in a mountainous area 15 miles north of Las Vegas, while on a training flight killing all three crew members. Sgt. Hal Petersen, crew chief on a rescue helicopter, suffered minor burns on his arms and face when he attempted to pull the bodies from the wreckage. Pacific Stars & Stripes, Sep 13, 1959, pg. 30 |
| 1958 - September 19 | An SH-19 crew from the 57th ARS saved 48 persons from the Portuguese ship Arne Z, aground off Santa Maria Island, Azores. http://www.afsoc.af.mil/shared/media/document/AFD-070906-042.pdf |
| 1958 - September 28 | A USAF helicopter from the 31st ARS at Clark AB, PI, crewed by 1st Lt. C. H. Weidner (P), 1st Lt. R. Gorter (CP) and SSgt. L. P. Aoytte (MT), evacuated two seriously ill men from a 2,000-foot-high mountain top mining camp. The men were lifted from Camp Gotolan near Baler Bay on the southeastern coast of the main island of Luzon and flown to Clark AB where they received emergency treatment. Pacific Stars & Stripes, Oct. 09, 1958, pg. 25 |
| 1958 - November 19 | A unknown type of USAF helicopter, from Holloman AFB, NM., crewed by Capt. Ronald G. Hansen (P), Capt. Jack H. Patterson (CP), unkn (FM) and Capt. Leslie E. Eason (FS), rescued an injured hunter from a mountain lodge in the Sacramento Mountains near Alamogordo, NM. El Paso Herald-Post (El Paso, Texas) – Thu, Nov 20, 1958, Page 13 |
| 1958 - October 06 | A unknown type of USAF helicopter from the 71st ARS, crewed by unkn (P), unkn (CP) and unkn (FM) located and rescued three men, Jefferson Parham, George Brunmett and Joe Tomczak, who had survived their aircraft crash ten days before. The trio had left a note in the crashed aircraft and had stated to go out on foot to locate civilization at Unalakeleet, AK. They were found just a few miles west of the wreckage, apparently suffering only from exposure and frostbite and were taken to Unalakleet. The Plain Speaker (Hazleton, Pennsylvania) – Tue, Oct 7, Page 24 |
| 1958 - October 28 | A unknown type of USAF helicopter from Itazuke AB, Japan, crewed by unkn (P), unkn (CP) and unkn (FM), rescued an F-100 Super Sabre pilot, Capt. Ronald C. Herrick, shortly after ejecting from his disabled aircraft 20 miles northwest of Itazuke. Pacific Stars & Stripes, Oct 29, 1958, pg. 5 |
| 1958 - December 03 | A USAF H-19 from the 6139th Operations Sq. at Misawa AB, Japan, crewed by 1st Lt. David Narins (P), 1st Lt. Guy A. Euabnit (CP) and A1C H. Felts (FM) rescued an F-86D Sabre Jet pilot, 2nd Lt. Fred L. Brantingham (P), after he ejected from his aircraft when it had a flame out about 55 miles east of Misawa AB. Pacific Stars & Stripes, Dec. 04, 1958, pg. 5 |
| 1958 - December 06 | An Air Force helicopter, crewed by unkn (P), unkn (CP) and unkn (HM) rescued 3 marooned duck hunters, Jack Halstrom, John B. Toy and Walter L. Toy, Saturday night from a duck blind off Wade's Point near Easton, MD. No other details are known at this time. The Daily Times (Salisbury, MD.) Mon, Dec 8, 1958, page 8 |
| 1958 - December 25 | SH-19's from the 56th ARS evacuated 37 persons form flooded areas near Tazik Morocco. http://www.afsoc.af.mil/shared/media/document/AFD-070906-042.pdf |
| 1959 - January 02 | A USAF helicopter from the 6139th Operations Sq. at Misawa AB, Japan, crewed by 1st Lt. Guy E. Enabnit (P), 1st Lt. George W. Hildre (CP) and A1C C. H. Felts (MT) (from the 21st Tactical Hospital) rescued two pilots, Capt. Frederick J. Gavin (P) and 1st Lt. Keith E. Davey (CP) who bailed out of a T-33 Jet trainer 50 miles south of Misawa AB. Pacific Stars & Stripes, Jan 04, 1959, pg. 5 |
| 1959 - January 29 | A H-19 helicopter from the 33rd ARS at Naha AB, Okinawa, crewped by Capt. Charles Amato (P), 1st Lt. Zackery Rodehaver (CP) and SSgt. Joseph Povick (PJ) rescued the pilot, 2nd Lt. Samuel Smith III, from the East China Sea a half mile south of Naha AB. He safely ejected from his F-86D Sabre Jet when it flamed out at 9:45 a.m. and was picked up by the helicopter in less than 15 minutes. Pacific Stars & Stripes, Jan 24, 1959, pg. 2 |
| 1959 - January 29 | A USAF helicopter from the 33rd ARS at Naha AB, Okinawa, crewed by 1st Lt. Zakery Rodehaver (P) and Capt. Jack S. Eff (FS) medevacked A3C Ralph C. Johnson, who was suffering from acute appendicitis, from the off-shore island of Ie Shima and delivered him to the the U. S. Army Hospital on Okinawa. Pacific Stars & Stripes, Jan 31, 1959, pg. 25 |
| 1959 - February 12 | A H-21B from the 20th Helicopter Sq., crewed by Capt. Fred M. Liebert (P), 1st Lt. Paul E. Collier (CP), SSgt. George S. Edwards (FM) and SSgt. E. G. Roberson (AP), that was TDY in Minnesota, spotted and rescued Lonnie Worth near a summer cabin where he had taken refuge against the sub-zero weather, four days after his plane crashed in a snowstorm. His wife Marian had died of injuries and exposure after the crash landing of their plane on Leech Lake. Monroe Evening Times (Monroe, Wisconsin) – Fri, Feb 13, 1959, Page 6 |
| 1959 - March 01 | Effective this date, Det. 1, 20th Helicopter Squadron was activated at Myrtle Beach AFB, SC. The 20th Helicopter History 1969, page 6 |
| 1959 - March 07 | A USAF helicopter from Fairchild Air Force Base, WA., crewed by Lt. Kenneth G. Fauteck (P), A1C Marlice D. Ray (FM) and SSgt. William A. McDonnell (MT) were killed when their helicopter crashed into the Spokane River, after hitting high tension wires strung across the River Canyon, while on a search mission for a missing 9-year-old girl. Two other crew members on the helicopter survived with painful, but not serious injuries, they are Airman Michael R. Holloway and St. James L. Fisher. The San Bernardino County Sun (San Bernardino, CA.) Sun, Mar 8, 1959, page 1 |
| 1959 - March 17 | Two USAF helicopter from Sidi Slimane Air Base, Morocco, one piloted by Capt. William M. Knowlton (P) and the other by 1st Lt. Barry Frank (CP) rescued 13 crewmen from the Italian tanker Lisa, which ran aground in high seas about 50 miles southwest of Casablanca. The Corpus Christi Caller-Times (Corpus Christi, Texas) – Tue, Mar 17, 1959, Page 9 |
| 1959 - March 22 | A USAF H-19 helicopter from the 5139th Operations Sq. at Misawa AB, Japan, crewed by 1st Lt. George W. Hildre (P), 1st Lt. Guy E. Enabnit (CP) and A1C Calvin H. Felts (MT) hoisted four Japanese fishermen, Masanobu Sakurai 19, Yoichi Endo 22, Kinji Nakai 25 and a fourth unkn sailor, to safety at night in driving rain and 30 mph winds, moments before their small ship sank in heavy seas off the northern Japanese coast. No other details are known at this time. Anderson Herald (Anderson, Indiana) – Tue, Mar 24, 1959, Page 2 |
| 1959 - April 16 | A H-43A #58-1829 at the Kaman Aircraft Company airport at Bloomfield, CT., crewed by 1st Lt. James F. Okonek, was taking a factory transition course in the H-43A. He had completed 12 hours of the course prior to the flight. Various maneuvers were practiced during the flight when a simulated engine failure after take-off, with autorotation landing was started and during the flare he assumed a nose high attitude and the helicopter touched down on the rear wheels and tail fins damaging the helicopter. https://www.ragay.nl/hidden/3555ptw |
| 1959 - May 02 | CH-21B #53-4383 from Otis AFB, MA., crewed by C. B. Jeannes (P), and Frank Kelley (CP) ditched in the Atlantic Ocean, some 70 miles east of, MA., while returning to Otis AFB from a re-supply mission to Texas Tower 2. All 8 aboard were rescued by a second CH-21B that was part of this mission. The Bridgeport Post (Bridgeport, CN.) Sun, May 3, 1959, page 77 & http://cgibin.rcn.com/jeremy.k/cgibin/gzUsafSearch.pl?target=&content=H-21 & http://usafhpa.org/20poniesnew/FrankKelly2.html |
| 1959 - May 13 | Four CH-21B’s from Det. 1, 20th Helicopter Sq. at Myrtle Beach AFB, SC were airborne by 0430 hrs., less than an hour after being notified that three F-100’s had crashed approximately 10 miles off-shore from Myrtle Beach. The CH-21B’s flew over 20 hours searching for and recovering bits of wreckage from the lost aircraft. 20th Helicopter Squadron History 1959, Page 9 |
| 1959 - May 14 | CH-21B #54-4000 crewed by Capt. Buel W. Woolverton (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FM) narrowly averted a major accident when the helicopter experienced a complete engine failure over heavily wooded terrain between Shaw AFB and Clemson, SC. With only approximately 15 seconds to select a landing spot, Capt. Woolverton accomplished a successful autorotation into the only available clearing. There were no injuries to the crew and only minor damage to the helicopter. 20th Helicopter Squadron History, Page 7 |
| 1959 - May 16 | A H-43A #58-1831 at James Connally AFB, TX., crewed by Lt. James Greenway and SSgt. Jimmy Haddox crashed on the runway during an airshow at the base. It hit the runway losing both rotors, its wheels and other smaller pieces. It bounced, slipped on its side and started its long skid along the runway and caught fire. Both crew members evacuated with no injury. The aircraft was destroyed by the impact and the ensuring fire. Waco Tribune-Herald (Waco, Texas) – Sun, May 17, 1959, page 1 |
| 1959 - May 17 | A H-19 from Davis-Monthan AFB, AZ., crewed by Capt. Robert G. Johnson (P), Maj. William S. Hodge (CP) and TSgt. Richard F. Butler (MT) rescued two men, Lonnie Davidson and R. V. Powell who had been injured and stranded in a desolate area of south-central Arizona for five days after their small aircraft had crashed. The two men were flown to a Tucson hospital. Oswego Palladium-Times (Oswego, New York) – Mon, May 18, 1959, Page 1 |
| 1959 - June 07 | The 58th ARS at Wheelus AB, Libya dispatched an SH-19, crewed by Capt. Merle A. Clapsaddle (P), Capt. Wilber W. Loud (CP) and SSgt. James N. Potter, to rescue seven survivors of a ditched SC-47 in the Mediterranean Sea, approximately 60 miles north of Wheelus AB, Libya. The seven survivors, located in waves cresting between 15 and 25 feet, were hoisted to the helicopter. Due to the total weight, the pilot could only attain an altitude of 200 feet during the return trip. http://www.afsoc.af.mil/shared/media/document/AFD-070906-042.pdf & the book “A History of The Air Rescue Service” |
| 1959 - June 21 | A CH-21B from the 20th Helicopter Squadron, crewed by Captain Huey D. Rogers (P), unkn (CP) and unkn (FM) was used to accomplish what was very likely the most unique unveiling ceremony ever conceived and executed. Hovering some 100 feet above an Atlas ICBM which was standing in the upright position, a line suspended from the cargo sling was attached to the mammoth parachute canopy covering the 85-foot missile. As thousands of spectators looked on, the hookup was affected, the cover lifted vertically until it was clear of the missile, then transported to a clear area for release from the helicopter. 20th Helicopter Squadron 1959 History, Page 8 & 9 |
| 1959 - June 28 | USAF helicopter from surrounding Air Force Base were pressed into action to evacuate burn victims from an exploding butane train tank car that was crossing a wooden trestle over a recreational swimming area on the Ogeechee River when it exploded sending a mass of flames over swimmers, sunbathers, boaters and picnickers below. 17 were killed, scores of others were injured, some 15 of them seriously. The evening Standard (Uniontown, Pennsylvania – Mon, Jun 29, 1959, Pages 1 & 6 |
| 1959 - July 06, thought July 17 | The 20th Helicopter Sq., commanded by Maj. Gregg Hartley, began its move from Sewart AFB, TN to Myrtle Beach AFB, SC. When the 20th completes their move, Sewart will be without a helicopter unit for the first time in seven years. The first helicopter squadron at this base was the 644th which was activated in 1952. 20th Helicopter Squadron History 1959 |
| 1959 - July 06 | A USAF helicopter piloted by 1st Lt. James Berryhill rescued a dangerously ill woman from a lonely island off the coast of Scotland and flew her to a hospital. No other details are known at this time. The Arizona Republic (Phoenix, Arizona) – Tue, Jul 7, 1959, Page 18 |
| 1959 - July 07 | A H-19 from the 6143rd Operations Sq at Itazuke AB, Japan, crewed by 1st Lt. Carl H. Lippold (P) and A2C Michael F. Turnauckas (FM), rescued seven Japanese boys stranded on an island in the middle of swollen Yamakuni River in Kyushu. Pacific Stars & Stripes, Jul 08, 1959, pg. 23 |
| 1959 - July 07 | A USAF H-21 from Ladd AFB, AK, crwed by Capt. Oscar A. Yznaga (P) and A1C Martin Norman (FM) performed a dramatic rescue of a 10-year-old boy who was stranded on top of a huge log jam in the rain-swollen waters of the Salcha River near Fairbanks, Alaska. They were afraid that landing on the logs would dump the boy into the river, so Capt. Yznaga hovered the helicopter easing only one wheel of the craft onto a log, leaving the other suspended in the air. A1C Norman leaned out and grabbed the boy and hauled him in. Fairbanks Daily News-Miner (Fairbanks, Alaska) – Tue, Jul 7, 1959, page 3 & Pasadena Independent (Pasadena, California) – Wed, Jan 27, 1960, Page 2 |
| 1959 - July 09 | A H-19 from Kingsley Field, OR., crewed by 1st Lt. Michael Langford (P) and Col. Jack W. Williams (CP), crashed in a wooded area near the shores of Klamath Lake on a routine flight to inspect a site for a recreation area for personnel stationed at Kingsley Field. Aboard the helicopter besides the pilot were the Commander of Kingsley AFB, (acting as co-pilot), Col. Jack. W. Williams, Maj. William Hicks, Maj. John Scarboro and Maj. Eugene Hollway. The five escaped with only scratches, but the helicopter was called a total loss. The Oregon Statesman (Salem, OR.), Fri, Jul 10, 1959, page 1 |
| 1959 - July 09 | A H-43A at Laredo AFB, TX crewed by 1st Lt. Bert Cowden (P), A1C Jesus Munoz (FF) and A2C Johnny Hinson (FF) responded to the scene of a T-33 Trainer plane that had crashed about seven miles east off of the base. 1st Lt. Cowden used the rotorwash of the H-43A to clear a path for the Airborne Fire Fighters and to extinguish the fire caused by the crash, however the pilot T-33 pilot had bailed out, but his parachute had not worked, and his body was found nearby. This was the FIRST use of the H-43A’s rotor downwash in conjunction with an actual crash fire. https://www.ragay.nl/hidden/3640ptw |
| 1959 - July 14 | Two USAF helicopters from Itazuke AB, Japan, a H-19 from the 6143rd Operation Sq., crewed by 1st Lt. Carl H. Lippold (P), unkn (CP) and unkn (FM) & an H-21 helicopter from Det. 3, 24th Helicopter Sq., crewed by 1st Lt. Grant F. Mackle (P), 1st Lt. William J. Johnson III (CP) and unkn (FM), rescued 39 Japanese from flooded Ueki villages in south and west Japan. Torrential rains have taken a toll of 34 dead, 53 injured and 39 missing in those areas. No other details are known at this time. Lubbock Avalanche-Journal (Lubbock, Texas) – Wed, Jul 15, 1959, Page 1 |
| 1959 - July 14 | A USAF helicopter flew an Alaska Railroad brakeman, Charles Maines, who had fell beneath and engine and suffered a broken pelvis to a Fairbanks hospital. No other details are known at this time. Fairbanks Daily News-Miner (Fairbanks, Alaska) – Wed, Jul, 15, 1969, Page 7 |
| 1959 - July 14 | A USAF helicopter from Laredo AFB, TX., crew unkn, rescued the pilot of a T-38 jet trainer who had ejected from his aircraft near Oilton, about 34 miles east of Laredo. No other details are known at this time. Corsicana Semi-Weekly Lithe (Corsicana, Texas) – Fri, Jul 17, 1959, Page 10 |
| 1959 - July 16 | The 20th Helicopter Sq. relocates from Sewart AFB, TN., to Myrtle Beach AFB, SC., was deactivated. http://www.mh-53pavelow.com/documents.20thSOS/history2.pdf |
| 1959 - July 17 | A H-19 from the 33rd ARS at Naha AB, Okinawa, crewed by unkn (P), unkn (CP) and unkn (MT) saved two Marines, names unkn, who had floated out to sea on an air mattress. No other details are known. Pacific Stars & Stripes, Aug 25, 1959, pg. 32 |
| 1959 - July 18 | A USAF helicopter in Alaska, crew unkn, rescued a 15-year-old boy who had received head injuries when he fell 50 feet while mountain climbing with a Bible camp group and rushed him to The Anchorage hospital. No other details are known at this time. Fairbanks Daily News-Miner (Fairbanks, Alaska) – Thu, Jul 23, 1959, Page 4 |
| 1959 - July 22 | A USAF helicopter from Niagara Falls AFB, NY., crewed by Maj. Leo J. Carbonneau (P), Capt. Victor H. Hanf (CP) and SSgt. John E. Tinsman, crashed into a sandbar in the Genesee River Gorge in the Letchworth State Park killing all three crew members. The helicopter's blades became entangled in high tension wires, flipping the machine over before it plowed into the sand bar. The helicopter was on a search mission for a missing university professor, Dr. Walter Bloor who was found safe shortly after the crash. The Bristol Daily Courier (Bristol, PA.), Thu, Jul 23, 1959, page 1 |
| 1959 - July 27 | A USAF helicopter from Hamilton ARB, CA., crew unkn, rescued an injured San Francisco deer hunter, Leroy Douglas, from a rugged canyon near Geyserville and flew him out of the canyon to Franklin Hospital in San Francisco. No other details are known at this time. Daily Independent Journal (San Rafael, California) – Tue, Jul 28, 1959, Page 2 |
| 1959 – August 07 | A USAF helicopter from the 33rd ARS at Kadena AB, Okinawa, crewed by 1st Lt. Thomas Reinhardt (P), rescued 1st Lt. Joseph W. Roberts from turbulent seas after he had ejected from his RF-101 Voodoo reconnaissance jet four hours earlier. His rescue had been delayed ; A USAF helicopter from the 33rd ARS at Kadena AB, Okinawa, crewed by 1st Lt. Thomas Reinhardt (P), rescued 1st Lt. Joseph W. Roberts from turbulent seas after he had ejected from his RF-101 Voodoo reconnaissance jet four hours earlier. His rescue had been delayed because of high winds and low visibility and during his rescue waves were peaking at more than 15 feet. Pacific Stars & Stripes, Aug 09, 1959, pg. 25 of high winds and low visibility and during his rescue waves were peaking at more than 15 feet. Pacific Stars & Stripes, Aug 09, 1959, pg. 25 |
| 1959 – August 12 | An unknown type of USAF helicopter from Malmstrom AFB, MT., crew unkn (P), unkn (CP) and unkn (FM), medevacked, Howard Upham, a soldier home on leave, from Browning to Great Falls, for treatment of injuries he suffered in a auto accident on Highway 2 about five miles west of East Glacier. The Daily Inter Lake (Kalispell, Montana) – Wed, Aug 12, 1959, Page 12 |
| 1959 – August 12 | An unknown type of USAF helicopter from Luke AFB, AZ., crew Lt. L. D. Jones (P), unkn (CP) and unkn (FM), medevacked a 6-year-old Havasu Indian child who had suffered a basal skull fracture in a fall in mile deep Supai Canyon. To make the pickup of the child the pilot made the dangerous descent into the canyon after dark and with a misty rain falling and then flew the child to a hospital in Williams. Arizona Daily Sun (Flagstaff, Arizona) – Wed, Aug 12, 1959, Page 1 |
| 1959 – August 12 | An unknown type of USAF helicopter, crew unkn, picked up the pilot, 1st Lt. Patrick N. Swenson, from the Keystone ranger station, after he had ejected, at 18,000 feet, from his F-100 that had suffered hydraulic control system failure. The Montana Standard (Butte, Montana) – Thu, Aug 13, 1959, Page 26 |
| 1959 – August 13 | A H-19 from the 33rd ARS at Kadena AB, Okinawa, crewed by Capt. Charles Amato (P), 1st Lt. Thomas E. Reinhardt (CP) and TSgt. Francis Dawdy (PJ) rescued two F-100F pilots, Capt. Jimmy B. Magill (P) and 1st Lt. Thomas J. Benda (CP) from the East China Sea, 50 miles west of Kadena AB, after they had ejected from their jet as it was having engine trouble and crashing into the sea. Pacific Stars & Stripes, Aug 14, 1959, pg. 8 |
| 1959 - August 18 | At 8:27 a.m. Hill AFB dispatched an H-21 from the 2849th Air Base Wing, crewed by Lt. Earl H. May (P), Lt. Zane L. Lantz (CP) and unkn (FM) to the West Yellowstone, MT. area to assist in the rescue effort of a reported 150 persons who have been isolated by an earthquake. Other units known to have been involved in this operation were from the 41st ARS, Hamilton AFB, CA., 3638th Flying Training Squadron, Stead AFB, UT. and the 4061st Support Group, Malmstrom AFB, MT. provided a H-19 piloted by 1st Lt. Robert Hennessy and 2nd Lt. James W. McElhaney. No other details are known at this time. The Ogden Standard-Examiner, Ogden, UT., Tuesday Evening, August 18, 1959 |
| 1959 – August 21 | An unknown type of USAF helicopter from Elmendorf AFB, AK, crew unkn, rescued the pilot of an aircraft he had landed on the Knik Glacier and was unable to takeoff due to thawing on the glacier. Fairbanks Daily News-Miner (Fairbanks, Alaska) – Fri, Aug 21, 1959, Page 10 |
| 1959 - August 25 | A H-21 from Thule AB, Greenland, crewed by Capt. James H. Ozier (P), Capt. Dale W. Robertson (CP) crashed 11 miles north of Thule AB killing the crew and five passengers on board, Col. Kenneth R. Kenerick U. S. Army, Col. James K. Hogan U. S. Army, Maj. Frank W. Chandler American Embassy air attaché, Livingston L. Satterehwaite U. S. Diplomat and a unkn Danish passengers. No other details are known at this time. Abilene Reporter-News (Abilene, TX) Thu. Aug 27, 1959, Pacific Stars and Stripes, Aug 29, 1959, pg. 24 |
| 1959 - September 04 | A H-21B from Goose Bay, Labrador, crewed by unkn (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FM) crashed while on a return flight from Hopedale. No other details are known at this time. The Evening Independent (Massillon, OH) Sat. Sep 5, 1959, page 2 |
| 1959 - September 11 | A USAF H-21 helicopter from Nellis AFB, NV., crewed by 1st Lt. Ronald F. Riggs (P), SSgt. Harland V. Mills (FM) and A1C Terry A. Jones (FM), crashed and burned near Nellis killing the three crew members. There was no explanation for the crash which occurred on a routine training flight. The Corpus Christi Caller-Times (Corpus Christi, TX.), Sat, Sep 12, 1959, page 3 |
| 1959 - September 11 | A USAF H-21 helicopter from Brady AB, Japan, crewed by 1st Lt. Sawyer White (P), 1st Lt. William J. Johnson (CP) and SSgt. Charles D. Wright, unsuccessfully attempted to rescue 4 Japanese fishermen from rock about 50 feet long and 100 feet wide rock in the Japan Sea off Tottorl City where they sought refuses when their 25-foot fishing boat was sunk by Typhoon Vera. The rescue attempt failed when the fishermen failed to grab the hoist that had been lowered to the from the H-21 hovering 50’ overhead and due to severe weather and darkness. As the H-21 tried to return to Brady AB it was forced to land in a rice paddy near the town of Yabuse, 20 miles east of Miho until the weather cleared enough for it to make it back to Brady AB. As another attempt was being prepared by a helicopter from Brady AB word was received that the four had been rescued by a Japanese patrol boat. Pacific Stars & Stripes, Sep. 30, 1959, pg 2 |
| 1959 – September 25 | A H-43A at Laredo AFB, TX crewed by 1st Lt. Bert Cowden (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FF) and unkn (FF) responded to an aircraft crash and used the rotorwash in conjunction with the fire suppression kit during this mission. This was the FRIST time in the USAF that the rotorwash & FSK were used together on an actual mission. From Jesse Munoz Collection |
| 1959 - September 28 | A USAF H-21 helicopter from Brady AB, Japan, crewed by 1st Lt. Sawyer White (P), 1st Lt. William J. Johnson (CP) and SSgt. Charles D. Wright, unsuccessfully attempted to rescue 4 Japanese fishermen from rock about 50 feet long and 100 feet wide rock in the Japan Sea off Tottorl City where they sought refuses when their 25-foot fishing boat was sunk by Typhoon Vera. The rescue attempt failed when the fishermen failed to grab the hoist that had been lowered to the from the H-21 hovering 50’ overhead and due to severe weather and darkness. As the H-21 tried to return to Brady AB it was forced to land in a rice paddy near the town of Yabuse, 20 miles east of Miho until the weather cleared enough for it to make it back to Brady AB. As another attempt was being prepared by a helicopter from Brady AB word was received that the four had been rescued by a Japanese patrol boat. Pacific Stars & Stripes, Sep. 30, 1959, pg. 2 |
| 1959 - October 19 | A SH-19 helicopter from the 33rd ARS at Naha AB, Okinawa evacuated 28 crewmen from the Japanese vessel Zenko Maru, which had foundered on the Tori Shima reef. Captain Herbert L. Mattox, Jr., piloting the SH-19, later received the 1959 Cheney Award as a result of this rescue. As the survivors were hoisted off of the ship they were set down on a nearby sandbar, were an H-19 (crews unknown) from the base flight section and a H-21 (crews unkn) from the 51st Helicopter Sq. shuttled them to the small island of Kumi Jima, 12 miles south of the reef, where the men received aid at an Air Force radar site. Pacific Stars & Stripes, Oct. 23, 1959, pg. 33 & http://www.afsoc.af.mil/shared/media/document/AFD-070906-042.pdf |
| 1959 - October 23 | An unknown type of USAF helicopter from Malmstrom AFB, MT., crew unkn, rescued a hunter, Stanley Warner, who had been thrown from a horse and suffered a back injury in a wilderness area near Giblson Dam. Mr. Warner was taken to a Great Falls hospital. The Montana Standard (Butte, Montana) – Sat, Oct 24, 1959, Page 12 |
| 1959 - November 04 | An USAF helicopter from Ethan Allen Air Base in Burlington, VT., crewed by unkn (P), unkn (CP) and unkn (FM) rescued Brig. Gen. Charles M. Bear who had been injured when the twin engine plane he was a passenger in developed engine trouble and was forced to make a emergency landing in a field. The Times Record (Troy, New York) – Thu, Nov 5, 1959, Page 4 |
| 1959 - December 09 | A H-43B Huskie at Brookfield, CN., crewed by Maj. William J. Davis (P) and Capt. Walter J. Hodgson (CP) was flown to a helicopter record altitude of 29,846 feet. Kaman Rotor Tips Magazine June 1961 |
| 1959 – December 12 | A unknown type of USAF helicopter from Elmendorf AFB, AK, crew unkn, rescued two survivors, John Amick and Robert Rasmussen, from a small plane crash that had occurred two days before. Fairbanks Daily News-Miner (Fairbanks, Alaska) – Mon, Dec 14, 1959, Page 1 |
| 1959 – December 15 | A unknown type of USAF helicopter, crew unkn, rescued two crewmembers, Capt. William B. Harris and 1st Lt. David B. Morris, from the remote Main woods, that had ejected from their B-52 the night before, when it had a collision with a KC-97 tanker during refueling operations. Both the B-52 and the tanker were able to safely land. The Daily Courier (Connellsville, Pennsylvania) – Thu, Dec 17, 1959, Page 21 |
| 1959 – December 18 | A unknown type of USAF helicopter from Kincheloe AFB, MI., crew unkn, rescued the pilot, Capt. Roy N. Minor, 42 miles northeast of a radar station at Pagwa, Ontario, after he and his co-pilot, 1st Lt. Theodore C. Adams after they had ejected from their B-47 when it had a mid-air collision with a F-102. The search continues for the pilot of the F-102. The Bonham Daily Favorite (Bonham, Texas) – Fri, Dec 18, 1959, Page 1 |
| 1959 – December 18 | A H-21 USAF helicopter from Luke AFB, AZ., crewed by 1st Lt. Roy Briebelbis (P), 1st Lt. Richard Cowles (CP) and A1C Francis Shoenstein (FM), rescued George De Gele who had been stranded overnight standing up in the snow in waist deep drifts on Bill Williams Mountain. When rescued he was rushed to Williams Hospital in a very bad condition with his legs and feet frozen stiff and beginning to blacken with severe frostbite and in considerable pain. Arizona Daily Sun (Flagstaff, Arizona) – Wed, Dec 30, 1959, Page 1 |
| 1960 - January 03 | A H-19 helicopter from the 31st ARS at Clark AB, PI, crewed by Capt. L. W. Kerr (P), 1st Lt. Joe Henjam (CP) and SSgt. William V. Vargas (PJ) evacuated a 19-year-old pregnant Filipina suffering from second degree burns from Lubang Island to Manila. Mrs. Rebecca Domingues suffered the burns Dec. 31 when an open bucket of paint thinner caught fire and exploded. Pacific Stars & Stripes, Jan 06, 1960, pg. 24 |
| 1960 - February 09 | A USAF helicopter, crewed by Capt. Richard A. Humes (P) and Capt. William Mathes (CP), crashed, seven miles southeast of San Antonio, seriously injuring both men. No other details are known at this time. The Vernon Daily Record (Vernon, TX.), Tue, Feb 9, 1960, page 5 |
| 1960, February 12 | An HH-43A from Laredo AFB, TX., crewed by 1st Lt. John E. Schaeffer (P), 1st Lt. Bert Cowden rescued 20 fishermen who were stranded on the rugged shores of Falcon Lake in Texas by a freak rain, sleet and snowstorm. Kaman Rotor Tips Magazine July 1960 & The Monitor (McAllen, Texas) · 14 Feb 1960, Sun · Page 11 |
| 1960 - February 15 | A H-43A from Laredo AFB, TX., crewed by Capt. Cowden (P) and Capt. John C. Shaeffer (CP) rescued 20 fishermen who were stranded on the south shore of Lake Falcon by a violent wind and rainstorm. The two pilots flew eight sorties, all in marginal wind and visibility conditions, and brought all of the stranded sportsmen to safety. They were the first USAF pilots to receive the “Kaman Scroll of Honor” as a result of this mission. https://www.ragay.nl/hidden/3640ptw |
| 1960 - March 03 | A H-19 from the 6143rd Operations Sq., crewed by 1st Lt. John Russell (CP) and SSgt. Charles L. Willard (FM) rescued an F-100 Super Sabre pilot, Capt. G. Hopkins, from the icy waters of Hakata Bay after he had ejected from his crashing aircraft shortly after takeoff from Itazuke AB, Japan. Pacific Stars & Stripes, Mar 04, 1960, pg. 8 |
| 1960 - March 08 | The 20th Helicopter Sq. at Myrtle Beach, SC., was deactivated. http://www.mh-53pavelow.com/documents.20thSOS/history2.pdf |
| 1960 - March 09 | A H-19 helicopter from the 6431st Operations Sq. at Naha AB, Okinawa, crewed by 1st Lt. Dale L. Oderman (P), 1st Lt. Kenneth E. Glass (CP) and MSgt. William C. May (PJ) airlifted an injured Navy seaman, Seaman Apprentice Robert J. Goodknight Jr., from an LST about 15 miles southwest of Buckner Bay to an Army hospital at Camp Kue. Pacific Stars and Stripes, Mar 14, 1960, pg. 25 |
| 1960 - March 20 | A National Guard helicopter from Hancock Field, Syracuse, crewed by Lt. Walter C. Lorenz (P) and Lt. Charles H. Holiday Jr., overturned as they attempted a practice landing in a farm field about a mile east of Wolf Road in the town of Colonie. The crew only suffered cuts and bruises. The troy Record (Troy, NY.), Mon, Mar 21, 1960, page 20 |
| 1960 - April 12 | USAF Pilot Captain McMeen accepted the first Kaman H-43B #58-1841 at the factory in Bloomfield, Connecticut. He flew the new helicopter to Langley, Virginia, where it was loaded aboard a Lockheed C-130 Hercules and transported to Luke AFB, Arizona. https://www.thisdayinaviation.com/25-may-1961/ |
| 1960 - April 14 | A H-19 helicopter from the 6041st Operations Sq. at Johnson AB, Japan, crewed by Capt. Robert S. Sullivan (P), 1st Lt. William Cunningham (CP) and Maj. Arthur G. Wiegel (FS), evacuated Father Cyrille Martel, a Redemptorist priest, from a secluded valley in Okaya, Japan, who had been unconscious for several days following a motor scooter crash, 120 miles to a Tokyo hospital. Pacific Stars & Stripes, Apr. 17, 1960 |
| 1960 - June 07 | A USAF H-19 helicopter from the 4500th Operations Sq. at Langley AFB, VA. was at Patuxent River NAS, Md. where it had just successfully rescued two crew members of a FAA B-57 who had ditched near Great Mills, Md. While refueling and preparing to take-off, after delivering the two B-57 crew members, a Navy F8U Crusader launched from a steam catapult crashed into the helicopter killing the two crew members, 1st Lt. Frank A. Williams (P) and SSgt. Clyde Chathams (FM) in the helicopter and two Navy men standing nearby. Independent (Long Beach, CA.) Wed. Jun 8, 1960, page 1 |
| 1960 - July 18 | A USAF helicopter crewed by Lt. George Crawford (P) and Capt. James R. A. Sanders (Obsv) was hit eight times by Congolese machine gun bullets while searching for white refugees at Inkisi, south of Leopoldville, in the Congo. No other details are known at this time. Wisconsin State Journal, 19 July 1960, page 1 |
| 1960 - July 20 | A USAF H-21 helicopter from Reese AFB, TX., crewed by unkn (P), unkn (CP) and unkn (CC), rescued Phillip Reeves, 22, from a window 230 feet above the ground on a concrete grain elevator that had exploded and was burning fiercely. No other details are known at this time. Statesville Record and Landmark, 20 Jul 1960, page 8 |
| 1960 - July 24 | A USAF helicopter from the 6102nd Helicopter Sq. at Yokota AB, Japan, crewed by Capt. Robert F. Sullivan (P), unkn (CP) and unkn (FM), rescued A2C Elzie Winters who had lost his balance and fell down the craggy side of Mount Fuji injuring his left knee, which developed a blood clot. He was flown to the Tachikawa AB, Hospital, where his condition was described as good. Pacific Stars & Stripes, Jul. 26, 1969, pg. 23 |
| 1960 - July 24 | A USAF H-21 helicopter from Perrin AFB, TX., crewed by unkn (P), unkn (CP) and unkn (CC), rescued Jack Dean, 25, from his 7-hour roost in a gum tree above a raging Mountain Fork River where he was forced to climb from a sudden surge in the river. No other details are known at this time. The Odessa America, 25, July 1960, page 11 |
| 1960 - August 05 | A USAF helicopter from Misawa AFB, Japan., crewed by Capt. Phillip Rice (P), unkn (CP) and unkn (CC), rescued three casualties from a train that had been derailed by a landslide south of Misawa and then they delivered food to the remaining passengers and crewmen of the train. No other details are known at this time. Independent, 5 Aug 1960, page 42 |
| 1960 - August 10 | A H-43B from Stead AFB, NV., crewed by unkn (P), unkn (CP) and unkn (CC), rescued three, Clay Sherman, 46, at night from a remote mountain area west of Lake Tahoe after he was thrown from his horse and suffered a broken collarbone and possible internal injuries. No other details are known at this time. Independent, 5 Aug 1960, page 42 |
| 1960 - August 17 | A USAF helicopter from Stead AFB, NV., crewed by Lt. K. V. Hall (P), unkn (CP) and unkn (CC), rescued USN Cmdr. L. O. Fortner after he ejected from his aircraft when it had a flame out about 50 miles northwest of Fallon. Lt. Hall's helicopter ran out of fuel before completing the mission and another helicopter for Stead AFB, NV. was sent to assist. No other details are known at this time. The Emporia Gazette, 18 Aug 1960, page 1 |
| 1960 - August 22 | A H-19 from the 6143 Operations Sq. Helicopter Rescue Section at Itazuke AB, Japan, crewed by 1st Lt. Ardith L. Kellar (P), Capt. Talmade R. Howell (CP) and SSgt. Donald S. Nichols (FM) rescued Radioman Seaman Jon Richardson, who had been stricken with a perforated appendix, from the landing ship dock Gunther Hall. This was accomplished at night despite low visibility, high seas and winds gusting up to 25 mph. Both later received the Air Medal for their hazardous work making this rescue. Pacific Stars & Stripes, Jun. 29, 1961, pg. 6 |
| 1960 - August 23 | A H-19 from the 6143 Operations Sq. Helicopter Rescue Section at Itazuke AB, Japan, crewed by 1st Lt. Ardith L. Kellar (P) and SSgt. Donald S. Nichols (FM) rescued Radioman Seaman Jon Richardson, who had been stricken with a perforated appendix, from the landing ship dock Gunther Hall. This was accomplished at night despite low visibility, high seas and winds gusting up to 25 mph. Both later received the Air Medal for their hazardous work making this rescue. Pacific Stars & Stripes, Jun. 29 1961, pg. 6 |
| 1960 - August 23 | A USAF helicopter from Lowry AFB, CO., crewed by unkn (P), unkn (CP) and unkn (CC), rescued critically injured and paralyzed, Mrs. Bonnie Shutts, 24, from the wilderness in the jagged White Mountains of northwest Colorado after Piper Tri-Pacer she was in crashed on August 21, 1960. No other details are known at this time. Eureka Humboldt Standard, 23 Aug 1960, Page 3 |
| 1960 - August 31 | A USAF helicopter from Edwards AFB, CA., crewed by Maj. Walter Hodgson (P), Capt. Paul Balfe (CP), unkn (CC) and Capt. Merle Wampler (FS), rescued pneumonia-stricken hiker, Leonard Myrup, 26, when it landed amid 100-foot-tall trees in Vendetta Meadow, 9,700 feet high in Kings Canyon National Park in the Sierra Nevada. Then a few minutes later their helicopter set down in Scafold Meadows, 13 miles away, and picked up Mrs. Beverly Hollomon, 45, who had fallen from a horse, and it was feared to have suffered a hip fracture. No other details are known at this time. Arizona Republic, 31 Aug 1960, Page 11 |
| 1960 - September 09 | H-19B #52-7588 of the 42nd CSG at Loring AFB, ME., crewed by Capt. Robert J. Brejcha (P), 1Lt Jerry Crupper (CP), A1C Bobby Mixon (FM) and A1C W.J. McDougal, crashed near Limestone, receiving serious damage, when it had an engine failure during simulated forced landing training. None of the crew were injured. https://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/Loring_AFB/conversations/topics/15918 |
| 1960 - September 09 | A USAF helicopter from Malmstrom AFB, MT., crewed by unkn (P), unkn (CP) and unkn (CC), rescued an elk hunter, Friday Alexander, who had suffered a paralyzing stroke in the Slough Creek area on the Park-Sweet County line. No other details are known at this time. The Daily Inter Lake, Kalispell, MT, 11 Sep 1960, Page 2 |
| 1960 - September 20 | An USAF helicopter from Hill AFB, UT., crewed by unkn (P), unkn (CP) and unkn (CC), rescued a bow hunter, Ralph Harrison, 55, who had suffered a broken leg when his horse fell on him on September 19, 1960, and was also suffering from exposure after spending the night laying on the mountainside in the Diamond Peak area, east of Soda Springs, ID. No other details are known at this time. Idaho State Journal, 20 Sep 1960, Page 1 |
| 1960 - September 22 | An Air Force helicopter of the 49th TFWg. Helicopter Branch at Ramstein AB, GR., crewed by 1st Lt. Elvin C. Ely (P), unkn (CP), unkn (CC), at night and in foggy weather conditions, rescued the pilot of a F-101 that had crashed on a mountain top near Phalsbourg, France, about 50 miles from Ramstein. The helicopter searched for 1 1/2 hours for the missing pilot, finally spotting him by a small fire he had built. The Daily Chronicle, Centralia-Chehalls, WA. 20 Feb 1961, page 2 |
| 1960 - October 12 | A H-43B helicopter from Francis E. Warren AFB, WY., crewed by 1st Lt. Gerald O. Young (P), 1st Lt. Richard L. VanAllen (CP) and A1C Joel A. Grieshaber (passenger), escaped serious injury when their helicopter crashed while landing at Atlas Missile site #4, about 17 miles west of Cheyenne, near Granite Canyon and U.S. Highway 30 between Cheyenne and Laramie. The helicopter did not burn but was heavily damaged. No other details are known at this time. Greeley Daily Tribune, 13 Oct 1960, Page 7 |
| 1960 - October 17 | A USAF helicopter from Chennault AFB, LA., crewed by Capt. Ernest B. Smith (P), unkn (CP) and MSgt. Geoffrey Gustin (CC), MSgt. Edwin Hobson (MT) and SSgt. Kenneth Farmer (MT), rescued Alban E. Rolen, 21, who had suffered back injuries while working on a pipeline in a swampy region along English Bayou north of Lake Charles. No other details are known at this time. Lake Charles America-Press, 18 Oct 1960, Page 2 |
| 1960 - October 27 | A USAF helicopter, crewed by unkn (P), unkn (CP) and unkn (CC), rescued, by hoist, William Kelly, a hunter who had been lost in the Adirondack woodlands for two days and two nights when his "SOS" stamped in the snow was spotted by a plane. No other details are known at this time. The Kingston Daily Freeman, 28 Oct 1960, Page 14 |
| 1960 - November 04 | A H-43A from the 3510th PTW at Randolph AFB, TX., crewed by Capt. Charles R. Pinson (P), SSgt. Donald L. Baker (FF) and A1C Robert C. Birch (FF) saved the lives of 11 crewmembers of SAC KC-97G which made a crash landing in a plowed field about 7 miles west northwest of Randolph AFB. https://www.ragay.nl/hidden/3510ptw |
| 1960 - November 07 | A H-19 helicopter from the 6139th Support Sq. at Misawa AB, Japan, crewed by 1st Lt. Harold D. Salem (P), Capt. Robert O. Schuppe (CP) and SSgt. Carl E. King (MT) (from the 6038th USAF Hospital), rescued a Japanese construction worker, Shigeki Imalzumi, who had been swept into the sea by a high wave while working on a tower near Hiranuma village. Pacific Stars & Stripes, Nov 09, 1960, pg. 26 |
| 1960 - November 21 | A possible USAF helicopter crash occurred in the Sacramento Mountains near Holloman AFB, NM on this date while searching for a missing 19-year-old hunter, Errol Flynn of Alamogordo. The crew only received minor injuries. No other details are known at this time. El Paso Herald-Post, 22 Nov 1960, Page 2 |
| 1960 - December 03 | A USAF helicopter rescued three USN sailors who had been swept out to sea trying to save a fourth sailor who had fallen into the sea while walking along the rugged beach near Andersen AFB, Guam. No other details are known at this time. The Arizona Republic, 5 Dec 1960, Page 10 |
| 1960 – December 15 | A H-43B from Larson AFB, WA., crewed by Capt. Howard J. Cochran (P), unkn (CP), MSgt. Samuel R. Hoar (FF) and TSgt. Henry M. Ivey (FF) were credited with playing a key role in saving the lives of the 10 crewmen and passengers aboard a B-52 that had to make an emergency landing at Larson AFB after being involved in an aerial refueling accident with a KC-135 tanker, over Mullan pass in northern Idaho. The B-52 landed safely but after rolling to a stop it was consumed by fire and the helicopter forced the fire and flames back so the crew could escape. The KC-135 landed safely at Fairchild AFB, WA. Kaman Rotor Tips January 1961 & The spokesman Review 16 Dec 1960, Fri, Page 9 (Spokane, Washington) |
| 1961 - January 21 | An Air Force helicopter from Elmendorf AFB, AK rescued a couple from their homestead in the Anchor Point area about 120 miles southwest of Anchorage, AK, who were trapped by flood waters. No other details are known at this time. Independent Star-News, Pasadena, CA. Jan 22, 1961, page 1 |
| 1961 - February 01 | The National Search And Rescue (SAR) plan assigned the Local Base Rescue mission to the Air Rescue Service (ARS) and the implementing plan specified the transfer date of the inland SAR function ARS from CONAC. https://www.ragay.nl/kaman-h-43-huskie/h-43-usaf-units-conus |
| 1961 - February 07 | A H-21 from Griffiss AFB, NY, crewed by 2nd Lt. Robert L. Merna (P), Maj. John L. Guthrie (CP), James C. Ross (CC) and Joseph Ianni (MT) rescued Miss Virginia DiMitor, who was seriously ill and suffered a possible stroke, from her snowbound log cabin in the town of LaFayette, NY. The Post-Standard, Syracuse, NY, pages 1 & 12 |
| 1961 - February 09 | An Air Force helicopter crewed by unkn (P), unkn (CP), unkn (CC), rescued a Loma Linda, CA. 18-year-old Thunderbird Academy student, Gary Duff, whose light plane had crashed in an isolated canyon 30 miles southwest of Flagstaff, AZ. Redlands Daily Facts, 10 Feb 1961, page 5 |
| 1961 - February 12 | An Air Force helicopter at Tyndall AFB, FL., crewed by unkn (P), unkn (CP), A3C Marvin Eads (FM), crashed while on a training flight due to a mechanical defect. A3C Eads and two officers were injured. Anderson Daily Bulletin (Anderson, IN.) Fri, Feb 17, 1961, page 14 |
| 1961 - February 16 | The CONAC RCC's at Robins AFB, GA, at Hensley NAS, Dallas, TX and at Hamilton AFB, GA were renamed Eastern (EARC), Central (CARC) and Western (WARC), respectively. The RCC's at Mitchel AFB, NY and Selfridge AFB, MI were discontinued on the same date. https://www.ragay.nl/kaman-h-43-huskie/h-43-usaf-units-conus |
| 1961 - February 22 | A H-43B from Selfridge AFB, MI., crewed by 1st Lt. Jerry Petty (P), 1st Lt. Alan Heeter (CP) and TSgt. Don Anderson (FM) rescued twelve fishermen stranded on an ice floe in Lake Erie out 500 yards from shore, near Leamington, Ontario. A USN helicopter also participated in this rescue effort. Kaman Rotor Tips Magazine May 1961 |
| 1961 - March 25 | A USAF helicopter from the 4500th Operation Squadron at Langley AFB, VA., crewed by Capt. Carl G. Layman (P), unkn (CP), Sgt. Grady Dunn (FE) and Sgt. M. S. Hambright (MT) rescued three men, Claude Litman, William Richardson and Vaught Langon, from a sinking 65-foot trawler "E. W. Hopkins" in the Chesapeake Bay near the mouth of the Rappahannock River. No other details are known at this time. The Progress-Index (Petersburg, VA), 26 Mar 1961, Page 1 |
| 1961 - March 27 | A USAF helicopter, crewed by unkn (P), unkn (CP) and unkn (FE), rescued Perry Dye, 40 and Billie Stouffere, 25, who had been snowbound in a mountain cave about 15 miles southwest of Castle Rock, CO when their car stalled in snowdrifts on Rampart Range on March 25. No other details are known at this time. Santa Cruz Sentinel, 27 Mar 1961, Page 1 |
| 1961 - March 28 | A USAF helicopter from Ramey AFB, PR., crewed by Capt. Jack Custer (P), unkn (CP) and Sgt. Don Henderson (FE), rescued nine-year-old Janice Nadler, who had been missing for 18 hours when she became separated from her father while on a stroll through a wooded area, from a dangerous 1,400-foot cliff near the city of Mayaguez. No other details are known at this time. The Laredo Times (Laredo, TX), 29 Mar 1961, Page 1 |
| 1961 - March 28 | A USAF H-19A helicopter from Selfridge AFB, MI, crewed by 1st Lt. Bill Smith (P), 2nd Lt. L. E. Heeter (CP) and unkn (FE), made an emergency landing on the farm of E. S. Brady, about 11 miles northeast of Dyess, TX. The helicopter was not damaged and was towed to Dyess AFB, TX for repairs. After clutch assembly repairs it left Dyess AFB, TX., on March 29, 1961, to continue its flight from Selfridge AFB, MI to Davis-Monthan AFB, AZ. No other details are known at this time. Abilene Reporter-News (Abilene, TX), 29 Mar 1961, Page 34 |
| 1961 - April 8-10 | Two USAF H-43B helicopters, one from Kirtland AFB, NM. crewed by Capt. D. J. Passman (P), 1st Lt. R. P. Smith (CP) and A2C R. E. Fitzgerald (FM), and a second from Holloman AFB, NM., crewed by Capt. Ronald Hansen (P), Capt. William Greener (CP), TSgt. John Cicciu (FM) and A1C Baudimo Baca (MAT), were involved in the search and rescue of three of the survivors who had parachuted from a Biggs AFB, TX. B-52 that had been accidentally shot down by a National Guard F-100 piloted by 1st Lt. James Van Seyoc. Rescued were Capt. George D. Jackson (ECM), Capt. Donald D. Blodgett (P) and SSgt. Raymond H. Singleton (AG). Killed the crash was Capt. Ray C. Obdel, Capt. Stephen Carter, 2nd Lt. Glenn V. Bair, Capt. Peter J. Gineris and SSgt. Manuel L. Mieras. No other details are known at this time. The Emporia Gazette (Emporia, KS), 10 Apr 1961, Page 5 & Kaman Rotor Tips Magizine May 1961 |
| 1961 - April 10 | A USAF HH-43B helicopter from Sandia Base in Albuquerque, crewed by unkn (P), unkn (CP) and unkn (FE), rescued one of five known survivors, SSgt. Manuel Mieras, from a B-52 that had been accidentally shot down by a National Guard F-100 on April 08, 1961. Sgt. Mieras was found in a sheepherder's cabin where he had sought shelter form high winds and 10 degrees above zero temperatures. No other details are known at this time. The Emporia Gazette (Emporia, KS), 10 Apr 1961, Page 5 |
| 1961 - April 12 | A H-43A from the 3555th PTW at Perrin AFB, TX, crewed by 1st Lt. Tom W. Brumfield Jr. (P), unkn (FF) and unkn (FF) scrambled for a F-102A that crashed short of the runway where they went to the crash site and deployed the FSK and firefighters, however the aircraft had exploded on impact, and they were not able to save the pilot. https://www.ragay.nl/hidden/3555ptw |
| 1961 - April 14 | A H-19 helicopter from the 6102nd Operations Sq. at Yokota AB, Japan, crewed by 1st Lt. William F. Cnningham (P), unkn (CP) and unkn (FM) evacuated the Rev. Cyrille Martel, who had been critically injured in a motorcycle accident in Okaya, Japan, 100 miles northwest of Yokota. Pacific Stars & Stripes, Oct 20, 1961, pg. 7 |
| 1961 - April 19 | A USAF H-21 helicopter at Indian Springs AAF, NV., crewed by unkn (P), unkn (CP) and unkn (FM), crashed while attempting a takeoff in 50 mile per hour winds. The H-21 crashed and turned over and two Officer standing nearby, 1st Lt. Fred D. Wolf and Army Col. Wayne E. Downing were hit and killed by flying debris from the crashing helicopter and one other officer, Col. Mark H. Gilman, standing nearby was also injured. There were no injuries to the H-21 crew. Hobbs Daily News-Sun (Hobbs, NM.) Thu, Apr 20, 1961, page 4 |
| 1961 - April 21 | A H-43B from Webb AFB, TX., crewed by Capt. Thomas C. Seebo (P), 1st Lt. Buttera (CP), SSgt. Donald Haines (FM), SSgt. Charles R. Hardy (FF) and A1C Hillhouse (FF) rescued one pilot from a T-33 who had ejected at low level from his aircraft and was seriously injured 1st Lt. John R. Ewing. The second pilot, Capt. Daniel L. Waldor, of the T-33 was killed when his chute failed to open in time due to the low-level ejection. Albilene Reporter-News, 22 Apr 1961, Sat. Page 1 & Kaman Rotor Tips Magazine October 1961 |
| 1961 - April 30 | Two H-43B’s from Stead AFB, NV., one crewed by Capt. Phillip E. Maggart (P), Capt. John A. Link (CP) and SSgt. Ronald J. Winkler (FM) and the second crewed by Maj. Jimmy Hamill (P), Capt. Eric W. Kurgas (CP), Capt Ben F. Card (CP), A1C Delbert B. Dunn (FM) and A2C Allen D. Williams rescued two civilians from a sand bar in a river and the pilot of a civilian helicopter that had and engine failure. Kaman Rotor Tips Magazine June 1961 |
| 1961 - May 08 | A USAF H-43B helicopter from Kirtland AFB, NM., crewed by unkn (P), unkn (CP) and unkn (FE), rescued Roy Phillips, 24, from a riverbank deep inside the walls of Otowi Canyon some six miles north of Cochiti Dam after his rubber raft had capsized in the swift Rio Grande on May 07, 1961. No other details are known at this time. Clovis News-Journal (Clovis, NM), 8 May 1961, Page 1 |
| 1961 - May 10 | A USAF H-21 helicopter from Luke AFB, NM., crewed by Lt. Carroll Wright (P), unkn (CP) and unkn (FE), that was part of a two-helicopter flight enroute from Luke AFB, NM to Hill AFB, UT., crashed and burned in central Utah. The crew escaped without serious injury. No other details are known at this time. Arizona Republic, 11 May 1961, Page 37 |
| 1961 - May 25 | A H-43B (Call sign “Rescue 9”) from Webb AFB, TX., crewed by 1st. Lt. James L. Butera (P), 2nd Lt. Keith H. Ricks (CP) and unkn (FM) rescued three pilots, Capt. Glen Fletcher, Capt. Robert Anderson and Lt. Charles Coogan after they had ejected from their T-33 and F-102 aircraft that had been involved in a three plane mid-air collision with another F-102 aircraft piloted by 1st Lt. Arthur Yarrington, which managed to land at Webb AFB, TX. The Odessa American Newspaper, 26 May 1961, Fri., Page 2 & Kaman Rotor Tips Magazine, October 1961 |
| 1961 - May 25 | A USAF H-43B #60-0263, crewed by Capt. Walter C. McMeen (stationed at Luke AFB, AZ) set a new altitude mark of 25,814 feet. The previous record of 24,491 feet was held by the Russians. No other details are known at this time. Daily Independent Journal, 25 May 1961, Page 18 |
| 1961 - May 30 | A USAF helicopter, crewed by unkn (P), unkn (CP) and unkn (FE), evacuated an Lima, OH. man, Edward Haumesser, 59, from St. Joseph Island, Ont. after he had a heart attack while hunting on the island. No other details are known at this time. The Evening Independent, 31 May 1961, Page 16 |
| 1961 - June 14 | A USAF H-21 helicopter from Tyndall AFB, FL, crewed by unkn (P), unkn (CP) and unkn (FE), evacuated two brothers, Dr. L. M. Richards, 28, and Erick Richards, 30, from the yacht "All Alone", 90 miles southeast of Panama City, FL., that had spotted them and rescued them from the Gulf of Mexico where they had survived 10 days in a one man raft after their aircraft had caught fire and they ditched it. No other details are known at this time. The News-Palladium, 14 June 1961, Page 17 |
| 1961 - June 16 | A USAF helicopter from Ellsworth AFB, FL, crewed by Capt. Bernie Womble (P), 1st Lt. J. K. Leen (CP) and unkn (FE), rescued Edward Parker, 36, and Roberta Johnson, 20, after their light civilian plane crashed in the Badlands near Wall, SD. No other details are known at this time. Lead Daily Call, 17 June 1961, Page 5 |
| 1961 - June 24 | A USAF helicopter from Naha AB, Okinawa, crewed by 1st Lt. Ellis E. Wallace (P) (of the 51st Support Gp.) and SSgt. Howard T. Favour (PJ) (of the 33rd ARS), evacuated appendicitis victim Toshi Yoshimura, 31, from Zamami Shima, a small islet in nearby Keramas and delivered her to doctors at Naha. Pacific Stars & Stripes, Jun. 29, 1961, pg. 42 |
| 1961 - June 26 | A USAF helicopter from Naha AB, Okinawa, crewed by 1st Lt. Ellis E. Wallice (P) (of the 51st Support Gp.) and SSgt. Howard T. Favour (PJ) (of the 33rd ARS), evacuated appendicitis victim Toshi Yoshimura, 31, from Zamami Shima, a small islet in nearby Keramas and delivered her to doctors at Naha. Pacific Stars & Stripes, Jun. 29, 1961, pg. 42 |
| 1961 - June 26 | A USAF helicopter from Naha AB, Okinawa, crewed by 1st Lt. Ellis E. Wallice (P) (of the 51st Support Gp.) and A2C Jimmy R. Watts (MT) (of the 6351st AF Dispensary), evacuated appendicitis victim A2C Michael B. Horsleya, radar technician at Okina AS, 125 miles from Naha and delivered him to doctors at Army’s hospital in Kue. Pacific Stars & Stripes, Jun. 29, 1961, pg. 42 |
| 1961 - June 26 | A H-19 from the 6102nd Operations Sq. at Yokota AB, Japan, crewed by Capt. Dale R. Tyree (P), Capt. William R. Uhl (CP), unkn (FM), rescued one of the pilots, Lt. JG Robert Smiley, from two A4D’s from Atsugi NAS when down near Matsumoto, Japan. Pacific Stars & Stripes, Oct 20, 1961, pg. 7 |
| 1961 - July 02 | An H-43B crewed by 1st Lt. William A. Luther (P) and MSgt. Lawrence G. Seckley rescued a injured woman mountain climber, Mrs. Doris Martz, 46, from the face of Wilmonot Peak, WA., about 50 miles east of Everett, WA. The HH-43B crew was later awarded the Cheney Award for 1961. The Oregon Statesman (Salem, Oregon, 3 Jul 1961, page 2 & http://www.afsoc.af.mil/shared/media/document/AFD-070906-042.pdf |
| 1961 - July 05 | A H-19 helicopter from the 51st Support Sq. at Naha AB, Okinawa, crewed by 1st Lt. Ellis E. Wallace (P), 1st Lt. Donald R. Damoth (CP) and TSgt. Francis M. Dawdy (PJ) (from the 33rd ARS), evacuate a 40-year-old Ryukyuan, Seijo Taira, suffering from apoplexy, from Ikei Shima, located five miles south of Okinawa’s Namisato Peninsula in the Philippine Sea, to the Naha AB Hospital. Pacific Stars & Stripes, Jul 07, 1961, pg. 40 |
| 1961 - July 07 | CH-21B #53-4379 crashed while on a search mission in the mountains NW of Denver, CO. The helicopter was destroyed by the impact and subsequent fire. No injuries among the four crew members aboard. http://cgibin.rcn.com/jeremy.k/cgi-bin/gzUsafSearch.pl?target=&content=H-21 |
| 1961 - July 10 | An H-43B from Portland AFB, OR., crewed by 1st Lt. Dennis M. Chase (P), 1st Lt. Donald F. Donk (CP), SSgt. Colbert Ezell (FM) and Capt. John W. Funk (FS) braved heavy fog to rescue Becky Joan Roever, a 12-year-old girl who had wandered away from her parents along the rugged northern Oregon coastal terrain, from the base of a 1,000-foot cliff overhanging the Pacific Ocean. She had been missing for three days and she was recovered in what was described as "fairly good condition". Redlands Daily Facts (Redlands, CA.), 11 Jul 1961, page 1 |
| 1961 - July 23 | An H-43B helicopter from Fairchild AFB, WA., crewed by Capt. Louis F. Sparrow (P), 1st Lt. James P. Scariff Jr. (CP) and A1C Donald Gollehon (FM) rescued two injured and exhausted young mountain climbers, Jack Cariban and Jerry Challenor, from the rugged peak of Snowshoe Mountain near Libby, MT. after they had stayed injured on the side of the mountain for a day and two nights. Jack Cariban suffered a broken shoulder and Jerry Challenor a broken leg. Livingston Enterprise Newspaper 24 July 1961, Mon-Page 6 & Kaman Rotor Tips Magazine, October 1961 |
| 1961 - August 26 | A H-19 helicopter from the 51st Support Sq. at Naha AB, Okinawa, crewed by 1st Lt. Ellis Wallace (P), 1st Lt. John H. Denham (CP) and SSgt. Eugene J. Wiesillek (PJ) (from the 33rd ARS), medevacked a Marine private, PFC Willie Canant, of the 3rd Marine Div. after he was stricken with heat exhaustion while on field maneuvers at Camp Hansen and flew him to the U. S. Army Hospital at Camp Kue. Pacific Stars & Stripes, Aug 17, 1961, pg. 39 |
| 1961 - August 26 | An USAF helicopter from Langley AFB, VA., crewed by unkn (P), unkn (CP) and unkn (CC), rescued the pilot, Capt. Holcombe A. J. Hughes, after he ejected from his F-84F, while on a training flight, near Lively, VA. The Progress-Index (Petersburg, VA.), 27 Aug 1961, page 14 |
| 1961 - August 27 | An H-43B from Stead AFB, NV., crewed by unkn (P), unkn (CP) and unkn (CC), rescued the boat pilot, Rex Manchester, of "Miss Spokane" when it flipped one lap from the finish of the Gold Cup Hydroplane Championship race at Pyramid Lake, near Reno, NV. Ukiah Daily Journal (Ukiah, CA.), 29 Aug 1961, page 8 |
| 1961 - September 18 | A CH-21B #53-4348 from AST 5 at Santarem, Brazil, crewed by unkn (P), unkn (CP) and unkn (FM), crashed at HIRAN Ground Station 19, in a remote jungle clearing 80 nautical miles NE of Santarem, Brazil. The helicopter was destroyed by a post-crash fire. The only injury to the crew was a badly sprained ankle on the pilot. AFHRA Archives at Maxwell AFB, AL. by Charles Alvis |
| 1961 - September 24 | An H-43B from Det. 9, EARC at Seymour-Johnson AFB, NC., crewed by Capt. John C. Armstrong Jr. (P), 1st Lt. Charles A. Morrill (CP), SSgt. Boyce W. Allen, (FM), Sgt. Donald H. Holloman (FF), A1C Gene C. Mayo (FF) and Capt. Charles Pummill (FS), using its rotor downwash to suppress the flames of a USAF Thunderbird’s C-123 "Provider", carrying members of the US Army's sky-diving parachute team, that had crashed on takeoff, allowing 12 crew members and passengers of the C-123 to be rescued. Three onboard the C-123 were killed in the crash and fire and two others died later from their injuries. The Daily Herald (Jasper, IN.), 25 Sep 1961, page 1 & Kaman Rotor Tips Magazine December 1961 |
| 1961 - October 01 | The H-43B helicopters assigned to individual commands and units were acquired by the Air Rescue Service (ARS) of Military Air Transport Service (MATS) and were re-designated HH-43B’s. https://www.ragay.nl/kaman-h-43-huskie |
| 1961 - October 03 | An H-19 from Malmstrom AFB, MT., crewed by 1st Lt. Robert Furman (P), 2nd Lt. James W. McElhardy (CP) and Sgt. Leroy Wright (CC), were involved with the attempt to recover three bodies, USAF Sergeant Alton Kessey, John Waite and Douglas Mendell, from an aircraft that had crashed on September 01, 1961, in the Marshall Wilderness Area in the high country of Montana. After a nine-day effort, battling the cold weather and winds the effort was suspended. The Daily Inter Lake (Kalispell, MT.), 03 Oct 1961, page 3 |
| 1961 - October 13 | A USAF helicopter from the 33rd ARS at Naha AB, Okinawa, crewed by 1st Lt. Robert E. Smith (P), 1st Lt. John H. Denham (CP) and unkn (FM), rescued SSgt. James H. Davis who was injured in a fall from the stern of an Army harbor craft on a rescue training mission in the Jacona Basin at Sukiran. Pacific Stars & Stripes, Oct. 17, 1961, pg. 39 |
| 1961 - October 18 | HH-43B #60-0263, flown by Lieutenant Colonel Francis M. Carney, over the Kaman plant at Bloomfield. Connecticut, set a World Record for Altitude Without Payload at 10,010 meters (32,841 feet). https://www.thisdayinaviation.com/25-may-1961/ |
| 1961 – October 18 | A H-43A, crewed by 1st Lt. David H. Pittard (P), 1st Lt. Grant D. Kerber (CP), TSgt. Joseph Blaquiere (HM) and SSgt. Frank D. Hinton (FF) and A1C Sidney Allen (FF) and a H-43B, crewed by Capt. William J. Fitzgerald (P), Capt. Grant F. Mackie (CP), SSgt. Artie P. Stalvey (FF) and A1C S. Jarrell (FF) from Moody AFB, GA., were dispatched, along with fire-suppression kits to Turner AFB, GA., to meet a possible gear up landing of a B-52. They followed the B-52 on the final landing to provide fire coverage if necessary. The B-52 was able to safely land with its gear down. https://www.ragay.nl/hidden/3550ptw |
| 1961 - October 24 | HH-43B #60-0263, flown by Lieutenant Colonel Francis M. Carney, over the Kaman plant at Bloomfield. Connecticut, set six World Records flying the HH-43B to 3,000 meters (9,853 feet) in 2 minutes, 41.5 seconds; 6,000 meters (19,685 feet) in 6 minutes 49.3 seconds; and to 9,000 meters (29,528 feet) in 14 minutes, 31 seconds. https://www.thisdayinaviation.com/25-may-1961/ & Kaman Rotor Tips Magazine October 1961 |
| 1961 - October 24 | A USAF helicopter from Dow AFB, ME., crewed by unkn (P), unkn (CP) and unkn (CC), braved fog, driving rain and 40-knot winds to rescued three men off Petit Manan Island, ME. about 15 miles out to sea from Jonesport, ME. No other details are known at this time. The Oneonta Star (Oneonta, NY), 25 Oct 1961, page 1 |
| 1961 - November 02 | An SH-19 helicopter of the 36th ARS at Tachikawa AB, Japan, crewed by Capt. Robert J. Redding (P), unkn (CP) and unkn (FM) rescued a U. S. Navy F8U pilot, Lt. Jg. R. L. Martin, who had parachuted from his F8U Crusader aircraft into the waters of Sagami Bay at night some 17 miles southeast of Atsugi NAS. Pacific Stars & Stripes, Nov 04, 1961, pg. 33 |
| 1961 - November 17 | A USAF helicopter from Det. 24, CARC at Kincheloe AFB, MI., crewed by Capt. Chester Ratcliffe (P), unkn (CP) and A2C Lewis O’Dougherty (FM), spotted and rescued a deer hunter, Dr. Earl Cantwell, who had been lost for three days and two nights in a cold and dangerous Upper Peninsula swamp. No other details are known at this time. Ironwood Daily Glove (Ironwood, MI.), 18 Nov 1961, page 1 & Kaman Rotor Tips Magazine February 1962 |
| 1961 - November 31 | A H-43A from the 3555th PTW at Perrin AFB, TX, crewed by unkn (P) and Sgt. Ray E. Owen (HM) were on an orientation flight when they got word that a F-102A pilot, 2nd Lt. Henry M. Crook Jr., had bailed out of his crippled jet. Lt. Crook had landed in the Little Mineral Arm of Lake Texoma and when the helicopter arrived, they dropped him a line and dragged him to the shallow waters and the helicopter landed and Lt. Col. Reynold C. Craddock (new wing operations officer who was getting the orientation ride) and Sgt. Owen, leaped into the shallow water and took him aboard the helicopter and took him to the base hospital. https://www.ragay.nl/hidden/3555ptw |
| 1961 - December 07 | A USAF helicopter, crewed by unkn (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (FJ) rescued the pilot, Capt. Glendon L. Ammon, of an F-100 from the waters of Chimu-wan Bay, after he ejected from his aircraft over the town of Kawasaki, Okinawa. No other details are known at this time. The Raleigh Register (Beckley, WV.) 7 Dec 1961, page 1 |
| 1961 - December 08 | A USAF helicopter from Westover AFB, MA, crewed by 1st Lt. William J. Deming (P), 1st Lt. David D. Glick (CP) and TSgt. Calvin Edy (FE) was involved in an accident at the base. No other details are known at this time. The Troy Record (Troy, NY) Sat, Dec 9, 1961, page 1 |
| 1961 - December 11 | A HH-43B from Loring AFB, ME, crewed by unkn (P), unkn (CP), SSgt. Robert J. Watson (FE) and A1C Russell Wilkerson (FF) and two others made a forced landing in heavy woods 1 1/2 miles north of the Caswell Radar Station. SSgt. Watson suffered back injuries, described as "not too severe", none of the other five onboard were injured. No other details are known at this time. The Daily Times (Salisbury MD.), 11 Dec 1961, page 29 & The Evening Review, 12 Dec 1961, Tue, Page 16 |
| 1961 - December 12 | A USAF helicopter from Otis AFB, MA, crewed by Capt. John D. Arthuvs (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (FJ) while on a search for a missing 13-year-old boy, discovered his body lying in about three inches of water in a swamp area. No other details are known at this time. Newport Daily News (Newport, RI.), 12 Dec 1961, page 1 |
| 1961 - December 17 | A U.S. Army CH-37 helicopter airlifted the Loring AFB, ME, HH-43B from the heavy woods where it had made a forced landing on December 11, 2015, due to engine problems, 1 1/2 miles north of the Caswell Radar Station. The HH-43B was delivered to Loring AFB and sat down in front of base operations headquarters where it was towed to a hanger for repairs. No other details are known at this time. The Bridgeport Telegram (Bridgeport, CN., 18 Dec 1961, Mon, Page 18 |
| 1961 - December 19 | A USAF helicopter, crewed by unkn (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE), unkn (MT), along with a USCG helicopter and USCG vessels were involved in the rescue of five of the ten-man crew from a fishing scalloper "Barbara and Gail" that had sunk about 11 miles east of Nantucket, MA. The other five crew members from the sunken ship were missing. No other details are known at this time. The Bridgeport Telegram (Bridgeport, CN., 19 Dec 1961, Mon, Page 49 |
| 1961 - December 22 | A USAF helicopter from Kingsley AFB at Klamath Falls, OR., crewed by unkn (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE), unkn (MT), unsuccessfully attempted to rescue a 19-year-old, Rodney Spencer, who was stranded overnight on a rock, known as "Castle Rock", off the mouth of the Sixes River in southern Oregon. Due to the closeness of rock out cropping’s a smaller civilian helicopter was called in and made the rescue. No other details are known at this time. The News-Review (Roseburg, OR.) 23, Dec 1961, Sat. Page 1 |
| 1961 - December 28 | A USAF helicopter, crewed by unkn (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE), unkn (MT), rescued two high school students, Bob Holmes, 17 and John Turek, 18 from Camelback Mountain. No other details are known at this time. Tucson Daily Citizen (Tucson, AZ.) 29, Dec 1961, Fri. Page 7 |
| 1962 - January 03 | A USAF helicopter, crewed by Capt. Richard R. Cowles (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE), unkn (MT), rescued an ill Havasupai Indian woman, Meca Uqualla, from the Grand Canyon. No other details are known at this time. Arizona Daily Sun (Flagstaff, AZ.) 04, Jan 1962, Fri. Page 1 |
| 1962 - January 22 | A HH-19 from the 33rd ARS at Naha AB, Okinawa, crewed by 1st Lt. Robert E. Smith, unkn (CP) and SSgt. Chester E. Rainey (FM) made a night rescue of 24 persons that had foundered on a reef several miles from shore and was being pounded by rising waves. The survivors were hoisted aboard in eight individual flights and taken to safety. Pacific Stars & Stripes, Apr 30, 1963, pg. 28 |
| 1962 - January 22 | A HH-43B from Loring AFB, ME, crewed by Capt. Richard Pfadenhauer (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE), unkn (MT), was forced down south of Limestone, ME., when a minor fire developed in the helicopter. After landing and putting out the fire they returned to Loring AFB. No other details are known at this time. The Mason City Globe-Gazette (Mason City), 23 Jan 1962, Tue., Page 2 |
| 1962 - February 01 | A USAF helicopter from Misawa AB, Japan, crewed by unkn (P), unkn (CP) and unkn (FM) rescued the pilot of an F-100 Super Sabre, Capt. James G. LaChance (P), after he had ejected near Misawa AB before his aircraft crashed. Pacific Stars & Stripes, Feb 01, 1962 |
| 1962 - February 01 | A USAF helicopter, crewed by unkn (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ), evacuated a member of a student expedition, George Burrill, 18, who had accidentally shot himself in the leg, from Escribano on Panama's Caribbean coast to a hospital where he underwent surgery. No other details are known at this time. The Post-Standard (Syracuse, NY.), 1 Feb. 1962, Thu, Page 42 |
| 1962 - February 08 | A H-19 helicopter from Det. 1, 33rd ARS at Clark AB, P.I. was airlifted by a C-124 to Davao City International Airport on Mindanao, P.I. to aid in flood rescue, reconnaissance and flood survey damage work to the flood-ravaged island. Capt. Edwin A. Henningson and 1st Lt. Donald R. Hamilton were two of the helicopter pilots involved with this mission along with unkn flight mechanics and ground crew members. No other details are known at this time. Pacific Stars & Stripes, Feb. 11, 1962, pg. 34 |
| 1962 - February 11 | A USAF helicopter from Stead AFB, NV., crewed by Maj. Jack Cannon (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ), on a search mission for a missing light plane piloted by Mr. Newt Crurnley and Mr. E. J. Questa of Reno, NV. discovered the wreckage with both bodies lying on the ground in a small valley. No other details are known at this time. The Post-Standard (Syracuse, NY.), 12 Feb. 1962, Mon, Page 3 |
| 1962 - February 18-20 | Four USAF H-19 helicopters from the 67th Air Rescue Squadron at Spangdahlem AB, Germany; the first helicopter crewed by 1st Lt. Homer R. Covington (P), 1st Lt. John C. Flournoy (CP) and SSgt. James L. Livingston (HM), the second helicopter crewed by Maj. R. G. Perry (P), 1st Lt. Clarence G. Lent (CP) and MSgt. Arthur Ambrose (HM), the third helicopter crewed by Capt. Eugene Rydicki (P), 2nd Lt. Darrell Lowery (CP) and SSgt. Frank Stainser (HM) and the fourth helicopter crewed by 1st Lt. James Dunn (P), 1st Lt. Joseph Studerfield (CP) and A1C Gary Estep, spent three days conducting rescue operations, relief supply missions and dike repair operations in Hamburg, Germany after severe storms and dike failures cause heavy flooding in the residential and business areas along the North Sea coast. The Forty Niner newspaper, page 1, Mar 2, 1962 |
| 1962 - March 13 | A H-19 from Hamilton AFB, CA., crewed by Maj. Ronald E. Anderson (P), Capt. Troy Allen (CP) and SSgt. Noel B. Crowson (FE), rescued two men, Sidney Seid and James Duncan, from their civilian helicopter that had went down into tidewater at the mouth of Corte Madera Creek, near San Quentin Prison. No other details are known at this time. Daily Independent Journal (San Rafael, CA), 13 Mar. 1962, Tue, Page 1 |
| 1962 - March 15 | A H-19B from the 67th Air Rescue Squadron at Spangdahlem AB, Germany, crewed by 1st Lt. Joseph Studerfield (P), 2nd Lt. Darrell Lowery (CP), A1C Gary Estep (HM) and Capt. Donald R. Barnes (FS), was called upon to rescue the pilot, Capt. Bolinger, from a F-84F that he had crashed landed near the town of Saint Marcel. When the helicopter arrived they discovered that local people had pulled Capt. Bolinger from the cockpit of the burning wreckage and rushed him to a nearby hospital for treatment. Then later in the day a USAF helicopter, crewed by 1st Lt. Raymond L. Murden (P), 2nd Lt. Darrell Lowery (CP), A1C Gary Estep (HM) and Capt. Donald R. Barnes (FS), air-evacuated Capt. Bolinger from the local hospital to the hospital at his home base, Toul-Rosieres Air Base, France. Toul-Tiger Newspaper 21 March 1962, page 1 |
| 1962 - April 01 | Det. 3, PARC (Pacific Air Rescue Center) was created at Tan Son Nhut AB, Saigon RVN on this date to coordinate the rescue efforts in Vietnam. CHECO REPORT USAF Search And Rescue In Southeast Asia (1961-1966) dated 24 October 1966 |
| 1962 - April 02 | A HH-43B from Det. 8, WARC crewed by Capt. Gammon (P), Capt. Lilly (CP), SSgt. Johnson (FM) and SSgt. Hathaway (MT) aided in the search for three children who went missing from a picnic on Apr. 01. Unfortunately, the children were located where they had broken through the ice over the Glasglow AFB sewage lagoon and drowned. Two of the children were June Kay Cox, 8 yrs. old, her brother, Kim Kelly Cox, 5 yrs old, who were the children of MSgt. & Mrs. Edward H. Cox. The third child was Patricia Lee Marshall who was the daughter of MSgt. & Mrs. Samuel H. Marshall. The Independent-Record, 03 Apr 1962, Tue, Page 2 & Kaman Rotor Tips Magazine, June 1962 |
| 1962 - April 09 | A CH-3B from Otis AFB, MA. with Capt. Winden (P), unknown (CP), Bevon Dowell (FM) and unknown medic rescued a crewmember, who had a ruptured appendix, of the fishing ship Ursula M. Norton located about 150 miles at sea. Story by Bevon Dowell |
| 1962 - April 16 | A USAF helicopter from Selfridge AFB, MI, crewed by 1st Lt. Larry Nitz (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ), rescued two men, Edward Milazzo and Robert J. White, from their disabled boat in Anchor Bay, near Selfridge AFB. No other details are known at this time. The Holland Evening Sentinel (Holland, MI.) 17 Apr 1962, Tue, Page 8 |
| 1962 - April 17 | A USAF helicopter, crewed by unkn (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ), medevacked Mrs. Leona A. Rogers, 47, from the Indian village of Supai in the western part of the Grand Canyon, after she had been injured in a fall from a horse on 15 April 1962. No other details are known at this time. The Yuma Daily Sun (Yuma, AZ.) 18 Apr 1962, Wed. Page 2 |
| 1962 - April 24 | A HH-43B from Det. 6, CARC at Laredo AFB, TX., crewed by Captain T. C. Vurebeff (P), Capt. Clyde W. Lemke (CP), unkn (FM) and unkn (MT) rescued 43 adults and 35 children from a flood-swollen creek 15 miles northeast of Colombia, Nuevo Leon, Mexico and earned the distinction of rescuing the largest number of civilian ever rescued in a single operation by the HH-43B. http://www.afsoc.af.mil/shared/media/document/AFD-070906-042.pdf |
| 1962 – May 09 | A HH-43B from Det. 32, CARC at Webb AFB, TX., crewed by Capt. Thomas Seebo (P), 1st Lt. James L. Butera (CP), A2C Charles L. Middleton (FF) and A1C Robert L. Duncan (FF) provided coverage for a DC-4 aircraft that made a wheels up landing in deep mud of a rain-drenched field. Kaman Rotor Tips Magazine, June 1962 & Ft. Worth Star-Telegram, 10 May 1962, Thu, Page 53 |
| 1962 - June 01 | A USAF helicopter from Eielson AFB, AK, crewed by Capt. Maurice Johnson (P), Capt. Roy Keck (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ), rescued one man, Earl Brabb from a downed civilian helicopter near Circle City. The other man on the downed helicopter stayed with it to try and make repairs so it could be flown out. No other details are known at this time. Fairbanks Daily News-Miner (Fairbanks, AK.) 2 Jun 1962, Sat, page 1 |
| 1962 - June 13 | An HH-43B #60-0263, piloted by Captain Richard E. Coan, established a new World Record for Distance Over a Closed Circuit Without Landing, when he flew #60-0263 1,055.16 kilometers (656.258 statute miles) over a 25-mile closed course north of Mono Lake, California. https://www.thisdayinaviation.com/25-may-1961/ & The Montana Standard (Butte, MT.) 22 June 1962, page 2 |
| 1962 - June 22 | A HH-43B from Det. 7, WARC, Malmstrom AFB, MT. crewed by 1st Lt. Franklin A. Lamb (P), Lt. Donald T. Litke (CP), A1C Thomas McDowell (FM), MSgt. Raymond U. Jones (MT) and A1C John Peace (MT) recovered four bodies, L. V. Richars, his wife, daughter and son-in-law the Rev. and Mrs. Robert Smith, from a light plane that had crashed on June 15th, 1962, at the 9,150 level of Scapegoat Mountain north of Helena, MT. on the Continental Divide. The Montana Standard (Butte, MT.) 22 June 1962, page 2 |
| 1962 - July 05 | An HH-43B #60-0263, piloted by Capt. Chester R. Ratcliffe, Jr., established a new record for flight in a straight line. He flew a distance of 887 statute miles, in 8 1/2 hours, from Hill AFB, UT. to Springfield, MN. The La Crosse Tribune, 6 Jul. 1962, Fri. Page 1 & http://www.afsoc.af.mil/shared/media/document/AFD-070906-042.pdf & https://www.thisdayinaviation.com/25-may-1961/ |
| 1962 - July 12 | A USAF Helicopter, crewed by unkn (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE), rescued the, unharmed, pilot Capt. James F. Jasper, of an F-102 from Paine AFB, WA., after he had ejected from his crashing aircraft about 15 miles northeast of Aberdeen, WA. The Daily Chronicle (Centralia, WA.), 13 Jul 1962, Fri |
| 1962 - July 13 | A USAF HH-43B 60-0263, piloted by Capt. Richard H. Coan, set a Fédération Aéronautique Internationale (FAI) World Record for Distance Over a Closed Circuit Without Landing with a specially prepared Kaman HH-43B Huskie At Mono Lake, CA. With cowlings, doors and unneeded internal equipment removed—including brake lines to the rear wheels—the helicopter had an empty weight of just 5,300 pounds. Flying along a 12-mile (19.3 kilometer) section of California Highway 167 (Pole Line Road) on the north shore of the lake, Captain Coan flew 27 laps in just over seven hours, until the Huskie ran out of fuel and settled to the pavement in a low-altitude autorotation. Without brakes and with the rear wheels locked, the helicopter rolled off the side of the roadway, but came to a stop before ending up in a ditch. The total distance flown was 1,055.16 kilometers (655.65 miles), a new Fédération Aéronautique Internationale (FAI) World Record for Distance Over a Closed Circuit Without Landing. https://www.thisdayinaviation.com/13-june-1962/ |
| 1962 - July 26 | A USAF Helicopter from Otis AFB, MA, crewed by Capt. William P. Morey (P), 1st Lt. Wesley P. Bowers (CP), A1C Anthony Nacewilze (FE), rescued the crew of a TF-102 from Westover AFB, CN., Capt. Frederick W. Knopps (P) and Capt. Curtis Patterson (CP), from life rafts in the Atlantic Ocean after they had ejected from their crippled aircraft some 50 miles southeast of Nantucket Island. The Portsmouth Herald, 27 Jul 1962, Fri, Page 7 |
| 1962 - August ?? | Two USAF SH-19B helicopters were on station at Takhli RTAFB, Thailand to provide rescue support for the F-100 Super Saber jets of the 478th TFS operating out of Takhli RTAFB. The helicopter detachment is assigned to the 3rd Air Rescue Task Element, based at Clark AB, P.I., part of the 33rd ARSq., at Naha AB, Okinawa. The detachment commander is Capt. Lucian A. Gunter III (P). Pacific Stars & Stripes, Aug. 03, 1962, pg. 36 |
| 1962 - August 05 | A H-19 helicopter from Det. 1, 33rd ARS at Clark AB, PI, crewed by Capt. Edwin A. Hinningston (P), 1st Lt. Donald R. Hamilton (CP) Dr. Manuel Francisco and SSgt. Thomas B. Mallette (both of the U. S. A. F. Hospital at Clark AB, medevacked A1C Victor E. Texira for surgery for a severe abdominal injury. The night flight to medevac Airman Texira was made in rain, fog and low ceilings throughout the area. Pacific Stars & Stripes, Aug 15, 1962, pg. 30 |
| 1962 - August 11 | A UH-1F from Hurlburt Field, FL., crewed by Capt. Rollin T. Wheat (P), 1st Lt. Michael Sullivan (CP) and SSgt. James Armenia (CC) were all killed when their aircraft crashed several miles form a road in dense wood. No other details are known at this time. Playground Daily News (Fort Walton Beach, Florida) – Mon, Aug 15, 1966, Page 10 |
| 1962 - August 12 | A HH-43B from Det. 9, WARC at Portland AFB, OR., crewed by Capt. Arthur Bennett (P), Lt. Donald Dunk (CP), unkn (FE), rescued Mrs. Joan Clapp, 34, and her three-year-old son, Leonard Clapp, were rescued from the wilds of the frigid Cascade Mountain Range, where they had been lost overnight. The Oregon Statesman (Salem, OR.), 13 Aug 1962, Mon. Page 1 & 2 |
| 1962 - August 22 | A HH-43B from Det. 35, CARC at Kirtland AFB, NM., crewed by Capt. Roy K. Baliles (P), Capt. Charles E. McClusky (CP) and SSgt. Donald F. Donk rescued the pilot, Mr. Robert L. Spaulding (a Los Alamos scientist), despite severe buffeting by high winds, whose private plane had crashed on the 14,000 ft. Truches Peak in a ravine estimated to be 11,000 ft. high. The Roanoke Times, 23 Aug 1962, Thu, Page 1 & Kaman Rotor Tips, October 1962 |
| 1962 - August 26 | A USAF helicopter from the 36th ARS at Tachikawa AB, Japan crewed by Capt. Juan H. Midcia (P), 2nd Lt. Larry Smith (CP) and A1C Everett Thorpe (FM), rescued 16 Japanese from a sandbar in the flood-swollen Tamagawa River, near Tachikawa AB during the height of a fringe storm spin-off of Typhone Thelma. Pacific Stars & Stripes, Jan 23, 1963, pg. 7 & Pacific Stars & Stripes, Aug 27, 1962, pf. 16 |
| 1962 - August 28 | A USAF helicopter from Det. 1, 33rd ARS at Clark AB, P.I. crewed by unkn (P), unkn (CP) and unkn (FM), rescued two pilots, Maj. Morris Moe (P) and Capt. Rex Hill (CP) from a TF-100 that had been involved with a mid-air collision with a RF-101 about 20 miles east of Clark AB. The pilot, Capt. Gennaro L. Sferra, of the RF-101 was killed in the crash of his aircraft. Pacific Stars & Strips, Aug. 30, 1962, pg. 6 & Pacific Stars & Stripes, Sep. 02, 1962, pg. 34 |
| 1962 - August 28 | A H-19B helicopter of the 36th ARS crewed by 1st Lt. Jaun Migia (P), 2nd Lt. Lawther O. Smith (CP), A1C Everett Thorpe (FM) and Capt. Roger J. Miller (FS), medevacked a 10-year-old boy, Dwight Nelson, who had suffered multiple skull fractures, cuts and abrasions when he crashed into a pier while water skiing on Lake Nojiri, about 160 miles northwest of Tokyo. He was taken to the Tachikawa hospital where he is expected to be hospitalized for about seven more days. Pacific Stars & Stripes, Aug. 30, 1962, pg 6 |
| 1962 - August 29 | A USAF helicopter from Det. 4, 36th ARS at Osan AB, Korea, crewed by unkn (P), unkn (CP) and unkn (FM) rescued the pilot, Capt. Ronald L. Standerfer, of a F-100 Super Sabre jet that had mechanical trouble and he ejected to safety, landing on a sandbar in the Kum Kang River. Pacific Stars & Stripes, Aug. 30, 1962 |
| 1962 - September 02 | A HH-43B from Det. 39, CARC at Laughlin AFB, TX., crewed by 1st Lt. Franklin L. Wilton (P), Capt. John Boyles (CP), SSgt. Vernon E Ilinton (FE), searched Garner Park, without finding any trace, for a missing boy, John Wayne McCandless, who had wandered away from his family in the wooded park on September 01.1962. Del Rio News Herald (Del Rio, TX.), 3 Sep 1962, Mon, page 1 |
| 1962 - September 03 | An H-43B from the 3638th FTS (Helicopter) at Stead AFB, NV. crewed by Captain Frederick M. Donohue (P), Capt. George L. Kekuna (CP) and SSgt. Charles E. Baker (FM) made an extremely difficult and hazardous rescue of an injured mountain climber in the Sierra Nevada Mountains of California. The rescue was accomplished at nightfall at an altitude of 11.900 feet on a 70-degree slope and is possibly the highest rescue ever performed by a helicopter in the continual United States. http://usafhpa.org/3638stead/3638th%20.html |
| 1962 - September 14 | A USAF helicopter from Malmstrom AFB, MT., crewed by Capt. Ramon LeFevre (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and A1C John Peace (MT), rescued Bobby Dent, 15, following a harrowing three-day experience in the Bob Marshall Wilderness after he suffered a broken leg and ankle when a horse fell on him while on a hunting trip. The Montana Daily Post (Butte, MT.) 14 Sep 1962, Fri, Page 2 |
| 1962 - September 16 | Six USAF H-19 helicopter from PACAF’S Fifth & thirteenth Air Forces (crew names unkn) arrived, disassembled, aboard USAF C-124 “Globemaster” aircraft, at the port city of Biak, on Schouten Island, Indonesia and were assigned to the United Nations Temporary Executive Authority to rescue the last of a group of Indonesian soldiers from the dense and isolated West New Guinea jungles. Under the directions of the PACAF Task Force Commander, Lt. Col. Wendall H. Whitehouse, three of the helicopters made a 350-mile hop to Jefman Island on the western tip of New Guinea, near the town of Sorong. During this mission, lasting several days, over 500 Indonesians were recovered by the six helicopter crews, and subsequently airlifted by C-130 aircraft to their homeland for repatriation. Some of the soldiers evacuated have been litter cases. Several mercy flights took Dutch doctors to an isolated island to treat a group of ill Indonesians. They also lent their support on fuel supply missions as well as dropping leaflets to villagers, providing notification that a cease-fire has been in effect since August 18. The date of the ending of this mission is not known at this time. Pacific Stars & Stripes, Oct 15, 1962, pg. 24 |
| 1962 - October 09 | A USAF helicopter from Hill AFB, UT., crewed by unkn (P), unkn (CP) and unkn (FE), rescued Capt. John R. Metcalf (P) and Capt. Virgil G. Heminger (CP), about six miles west of Thiokol, west of the Promontory Mountains in Box Elder County, after they ejected from F-101 when it lost power on a test flight. The Salt Lake Tribune (Salt Lake City, UT.) 10 Oct. 1962, Wed., Page 23 |
| 1962 - October 11 | HH-43B #60-0268 with Det. 49, EARC at Seymour Johnson AFB, SC., suffered crash damage. The helicopter was repaired and returned to service. No other details are available currently. http:/www.h43-huskie.info/framesetnew.html |
| 1962 - October 23 | HH-43A #58-1837 is known to have crashed at Davis-Monthan AFB, AZ. This may have been part of an FAA test program, and this helicopter may have carried the FAA registration number N612. No other details are available at this time. http:/www.h43-huskie.info/framesetcivil.html |
| 1962 - October 24 | A USAF helicopter, crewed by unkn (P), unkn (CP) and unkn (FE), rescued Ron Skoog and John Crawford, Alaska Department of Fish and Game Geologists, from their downed aircraft near Clear Water Creek, 68 1/2 miles from Gulkana, AL. No other details are known at this time. Fairbanks Daily News-Miner (Fairbanks, AL.) 26 Oct 1962, Fri, Page 2 |
| 1962 - October 30 | A USAF helicopter from Elmendorf AFB, AK, crewed by unkn (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE), rescued Sandy Phillips (P) and his four passengers, Dan Donnovich, Thomas Connelly, Meredith Bowdish and Rudy Westley, after their twin-engine De Havilland Dove aircraft made a wheel's up forced landing on the beach one mile north of the mouth of the Beluga River. Fairbanks Daily News-Miner (Fairbanks, AK.) 31 Oct 1962, Wed, Page 17 |
| 1962 - October 31 | A USAF helicopter from the 33rd ARS at Naha AB, Okinawa, crewed by Capt. Lucian A. Gunter (P), 1st Lt. Michael C. Tennery (CP), SSgt. Chester Rainey (FM) and TSgt. Daniel M. Thompson (MT) made a midnight rescue just outside of the Naha port of a Japanese sailor, Hisayuki Kndo, who was a crewman aboard the 6,400-ton Shoku Maru who had been stricken by appendicitis. Pacific Stars & Stripes, Nov 01, 1962, pg. 13 |
| 1962 - November 09 | A USAF helicopter, crewed by Capt. Paul J. Balf (P), unkn (CP) and TSgt. Charles L. Manes (FE) was involved in the rescue of NASA X-15 pilot John B McKay. During an emergency landing at Mud Lake, NV., his aircraft nose gear failed causing his aircraft to flip over twice and come to a rest upside down and Capt. Balfe's helicopter hovered over the X-15 to blow away the ammonia fuel until the pilot could be removed from the aircraft. No other details are known at this time. The Irving Daily News Texan (Irving, TX.) 10 Nov 1962, Sat., Page 5 |
| 1962 - November 16 | A USAF helicopter from Kincheloe AFB, MI., crewed by unkn (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE), rescued an 82-year-old deer hunter, Frank Young who had been missing since 15 November 1962 in the Marquette National Forest near the eastern end of the Upper Peninsula. No other details are known at this time. Fairbanks Daily News-Miner (Fairbanks, AK.) 17 Nov 1962, Sat, Page 1 |
| 1962 - November 16 | A USAF helicopter, crewed by unkn (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE), rescued five men, Alfred Pearson (P) and passengers Tom C. Martin, Stan Poborski, Leon Riley and Richard Bremont after their Comanche aircraft crashed almost one mile from the southeast end of the Fairbanks International Airport runway. No other details are known at this time. Fairbanks Daily News-Miner (Fairbanks, AK.) 19 Nov 1962, Mon, Page 9 |
| 1962 - November 17 | A USAF helicopter, crewed by unkn (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE), rescued seven men, in two trips, from a storm battered steel tower standing in the Atlantic Ocean 30 miles off the coast of Bermuda. No other details are known at this time. Fairbanks Daily News-Miner (Fairbanks, AK.) 17 Nov 1962, Sat, Page 1 |
| 1962 - November 24 | A HH-43B from Det. 12, WARC at George AFB, CA., crewed by 1st Lt. Jim Crabbe (P), unkn (CP), Amn. K. M. Elkins (FM), unkn (MT) and A1C John Peace (MT), medevacked 9-year-old Dennis E. LaVesque Jr., who had a bullet lodged near his spine, from the remote Trona, CA. hospital to the San Bernardino County Hospital. No other details are known at this time. The San Bernardino County Sun (San Bernardino, CA.) 25 Nov, 1962, page 14 |
| 1962 - December 07 | A USAF helicopter from Det. 3, 36th ARS at Itazuke AB, Japan, crewed by Capt. Richard R. Cowles (P), 1st Lt. Donald R. Bereaus, rescued two pilots, Lt. Col. Ray L. Obenshain Jr. and 1st Lt. David S. Graben, from the Japan Sea 60 miles west of Fukuoka on Japan's southern main island of Kyushu, after they ejected from their disabled F-100F Super Saber. Pacific Stars & Stripes, Dec 09, pg. 6 |
| 1962 - December 15 | A HH-43B #61-2922 from Det. 1, 54th ARS at Thule AB, Greenland, crewed by Capt. Murphy (P), Capt. Pfadenhauer (CP), unkn (FM) and unkn (MT) was scrambled to search for a F-102 that was reported missing over the icecap about 25 miles from Thule AB. Due to increasing intensity of a snow storm, Capt. Murphy attempted to land and reorient himself as to exactly where he was and wait for better visibility conditions. As the HH-43B touched down it rolled over on its right side. All five crewmembers evacuated the wreckage and survival measures were taken with all being rescued the next morning by ground vehicle and returned to Thule AB. https://www.ragay.nl/kaman-h-43-huskie/h-43-thule |
| 1962 - December 15 | Five members of a USAF helicopter searching for a missing F-102 fighter near Thule AB, Greenland were rescued after their aircraft made an emergency landing. No other details are known at this time. The Mason City Globe-Gazette, 15 Dec 1962, Sat, Page 1 |
| 1962 - December 15 | A USAF helicopter crewed by unkn (P), unkn (CP) and unkn (FE), rescued the crew of a F-101, Capt. Byron Lingo (P) and Capt. Wayne D. Adkins (RO), near Needles, CA., when they ejected after a mid-air collision with another F-101. The second F-101 was able to land safely at Luck AFB, AZ. No other details are known at this time. The San Bernardino County Sun, 16 Dec. 1962, Sun, Page 1 |
| 1962 - December 20 | A H-19 from the 33rd ARS in Japan, crewed by Capt. Lucian A. Gunter (P), Capt. Gordon Hall (P) and unkn (FM), rescued three men who were injured in a dynamite explosion as they were dredging a harbor on Tokashiki Island in the Ryukyu Islands, 20 miles west of southern Okinawa and took them to the U. S. Army Hospital at Camp Kue. The next day hospital officials said one worker was still in shock and the others were suffering from fractures and cuts. Pacific Stars & Stripes, Dec. 22, 1962, pg. 32 |
| 1962 - December 31 | A USAF helicopter from Olmsted AFB, crewed by unkn (P), unkn (CP) and unkn (FE), medevacked Ervin G. Ober, 68, who was injured when the car he was working under slipped off the jacks. Road conditions prevented him getting to a hospital by ground transportation. No other details are known at this time. Lebanon Daily News (Lebanon, PA.) 1 Jan 1963, Tue |
| 1963 - January 05 | A USAF helicopter, crewed by unkn (P), unkn (CP) and unkn (FE), rescued two frostbitten, hungry Eskimos and recovered the body of a third from an ice flow in the Northern Bering Sea about 150 miles south of King Island which is about 160 miles northwest of Nome, AK., where they had been drifting for six days. No other details are known at this time. The Sunday Herald (Provo, UT.), 6 Jan 1963, Sun, Page 4 |
| 1963 - January 10 thru 13 | HH-19's and aircrews from detachments of the Atlantic ARC flew flood relief missions in the vicinity of Sidi Slimane, Morocco. These aircraft transported food and medical supplies, evacuated 249 persons, and saved the lives of 11 persons. http://www.afsoc.af.mil/shared/media/document/AFD-070906-042.pdf |
| 1963 - January 14 | A H-19B from Det. 1, 36th ARS at Misawa AB, Japan, crewed by unkn (P), unkn (CP) and unkn (HM) was vectored, by a C-47 that had spotted the wreckage of a missing F-100, to the site of the wreckage. The F-100 pilot was killed in the crash and his body was recovered. No other details are known at this time. 36th ARS Monthly Unit History, 1 Jan thru 31 Jan 1963 |
| 1963 - January 18 | A USAF helicopter crashed near Oroville, CA. killing five. No other details are known at this time. The Ottawa Journal (Ottawa, Ontario, Canada) 19 Jan 1963, Sat, Page 1 |
| 1963 - January 18 | A USAF H-19 helicopter from Beale AFB, CA., crewed by Capt. Richard L. Birch (P) and SSgt. Lloyd R. Kuehl (CC) lost its three bladed rotor and crashed in a rocky area 1.5 miles from the Oroville, CA. airport killing the two crew members and three passengers, MSgt. Charlie Cowart, SSgt. Edward D. Davis and A1C Clarence A. Williams Jr., in the fiery crash. No other details are known at this time. Santa Cruz Sentinel (Santa Cruz, CA.) 20 Jan 1963, Sun, Page 11 |
| 1963 - January 23 | A USAF helicopter, crewed by unkn (P), unkn (CP) and unkn (FM), rescued 100 Eskimo villagers at Koliganek Lake, about 250 miles southwest of Anchorage, AK., from the overflowing and flooding Nishagak River and took them to Ekwok Village and Stuyrok, both about 60 miles north of King Salmon, AK. No other details are known at this time. Daily Sitka Sentinel (Sitka, AK.), Thu, Jan 24, 1963, Page 2 |
| 1963 - January 24 | A USAF CH-3B helicopter, crewed by unkn (P), unkn (CP) and unkn (FM), rescued 2 crew members, Lt. Col. Dante E. Bulli (AC) and Capt. Gerald J. Adler (NAV) of a B-52 that had crashed into the face of Elephant Mountain in the Maine wilderness near Greenville, ME. No other details are known at this time. (See next entry) The San Bernardino County Sun (San Bernardino, CA.), Sat, Jan 24, 1963, Page 1 |
| 1963 - January 24-29 | Three HH-43B’s participated in a five-day search and support operation after the crash of a B-52 about eight miles east of Greenville, ME. The three HH-43B’s were used to search for wreckage and survivors in initial phase of the search and later ferry men and equipment to crash site, a thickly forested area dotted with 3,000-foot mountains. Temperatures reach -32 degrees, and 40 to 50 knot winds create severe turbulence in the area. Piloting a HH-43B from Det. 42, EARC from Dow AFB, ME was 1st Lt. Walter J. Zimmerman, 1st Lt. Mitchell E. James and Capt. Glenn M. Marks (Det. Cmdr.). Piloting a HH-43B from Det. 44, EARC from Westover AFB, MA was Capt. Jerome R. Luttinger and 1st Lt. Freedman. Piloting a HH-43B from Det. 45, EARC from Pease AFB, NH was Capt. Lucian F. Hallett and 1st Lt. James Ellis. (See previous entry). Kaman Rotor Tips Magazine April 1963 |
| 1963 - February 08 | Sikorsky Aircraft, a division of United Aircraft Corporation, received a letter contract from the U. S. Air Force for twenty-two CH-3C helicopters. The contract calls for completion of the first aircraft in the span of four months. See entry on June 06, 1963. The Bridgeport Post (Bridgeport, CN., 9 Jun 1963, sun, page 62 |
| 1963 - February 17 & 18 | Two helicopters from the ARS detachment at Moron AB, Spain, flew flood relief sorties to the town of Ecija on the Genil River, evacuating 69 persons, including 33 saves from the village of Alcolea where they were trapped. http://www.afsoc.af.mil/shared/media/document/AFD-070906-042.pdf & The Spokesman-Review, 20 Feb 1963, Wed-Page 2 |
| 1963 - February 18 | A USAF helicopter from the 33rd ARS at Naha AB, Japan, crewed by Capt. Lucian A. Gunter (P), 1st Lt. Michael Tennery (CP) and A1C S. W. Carlson (PJ), rescued Okihide Yamamoto, a stevedore on Okino Erabu in the Amami Oshima group, who had suffered a broken leg when an object fell on him while he was unloading a ship. They flew the 100 miles to his location, picked him up and took him to the Okinawa Red Cross hospital where his condition was described as “generally good.” Pacific Stars & Stripes, Feb. 20, 1954, pg. 32 |
| 1963 - February 21 thru 27 | HH-19, HU-16 and HC-54 aircraft of the 58th ARS at Wheelus AB responded to a severe earthquake that leveled the city of Barce, Libya, delivering personnel, equipment, and supplies to the devastated area. Injured personnel were evacuated by the HH-19's to Benia, near Barce. http://www.afsoc.af.mil/shared/media/document/AFD-070906-042.pdf |
| 1963 - February 23 & 24 | HH-19 air crewmen from Det. 11, Atlantic ARC, evacuated 90 Turkish citizens from flooded areas along the Ceyhan River near Misis. http://www.afsoc.af.mil/shared/media/document/AFD-070906-042.pdf |
| 1963 - March 03 | A USAF H-19 helicopter from the 33rd ARS at Naha AB, Okinawa, crewed by Capt. Richard W. Davis (P) and 1st Lt. Michael Tennery (CP) made and emergency evacuation of A1C James D. Rahn, who was suffering from acute gastritis and had passed out while on duty at his Kume Jima island station, and delivered him to Okinawa. Pacific Stars & Stripes, Mar 03, 1963 |
| 1963 - March 05 | A USAF H-19 helicopter from Wright-Patterson AFB, OH., crewed by Capt. Clyde Jacobs (P), Capt. Earl May (CP) and unkn (FE), rescued two boys, Robert Page, 15, and Carl Henderson, 17, from trees above the flood-swollen Little Miami River, about 13 miles southeast of Dayton, OH., where they had been clinging for nearly eight hours after their small boat had capsized shortly before midnight. No other details are known at this time. The Ogden Standard-Examiner (Ogden, UT.) 5 Mar 1963, Tue, Page 1 |
| 1963 - March 16-22 | Two HH-43B’s from Det. 52, EARC at Charlston AFB, SC, were dispatched to Tacna Airfield, Peru to aid in the recovery of 41 crash victims from a DC-6 airliner that had crashed at the 14,700-foot level on the side of a steep sloping, barren mountain, 33 miles northeast of Tacna. HH-43B #59-1576, piloted by Capt. Herbert A. Lee (Det. 52, Cmdr.) and Capt. Richard H. Coan, was the 1st to be reassembled and test flown and took off for the 1st attempt at 1640 hours local time, however weather conditions at the crash site prohibited a landing and it returned to the airfield for more tries on Tuesday. One landing was accomplished at the crash site early on Tuesday and two passengers were delivered to the site. Weather prevented any more missions that day and, in the meantime, HH-43B #58-1843 reassembly had been completed and test flown. On Wednesday #576 piloted by Capt. Herbert A. Lee and Capt. Waino E. Arvo and #843, piloted by Capt. Richard H. Coan and Capt. David J. Frasier made a first light takeoff to the crash site to deliver supplies to the ground party and begin transporting the bodies to the mountain village of Charana, Bolivia, 30 miles east of the crash site. The mission was completed on Thursday and the helicopters returned to Tacna airfield for dis-assembly and transportation back to Charlston AFB, SC. Det. 52, EARC personnel participating in this deployment were Capt. Herbert A. Lee (P), Capt. Richard H. Coan (P), Capt. Waino E. Arvo (P), Capt. David J. Frazier (P), 1st Lt. Larry D. Salmans (P), SSgt. Charlie J. Montgomery Jr. (NCOIC), SSgt. Larry K. Henderson (FM), A1C Lenzy M. Autry (HM), A2C Jimmy R. Lewis (HM), A2C Allen A. Eggleston (Eng. Mech.) and A3C Charles J. Gibbons (HM). Kaman Rotor Tips Magazine, Jun-Jul 1963 |
| 1963 - March 18 | A H-19 helicopter from the 33rd ARS at Naha AB, Okinawa, crewed by unkn (P), unkn (CP) and unkn (FM), rescued two USAF T-33 pilots, Maj. Elliot B. Black (P) and Capt. Ralph N. Flinn (CP) after their aircraft had and engine flame-out and they ejected over the sea southeast of Naha AB. Pacific Stars & Stripes, Mar 19, 1963, pg. 26 |
| 1963 - March 19 | An (unkn) Air Force helicopter assigned to the Hilo, Hawaii area for rescue if needed crashed in the Molokai Channel 10 miles off Diamond Head while returning to Hickam Air Force Base near Honolulu. An accompanying helicopter rescue the three (unkn) crewmen and flew them to Tripler Army Hospital in Honolulu. Daily Northwest Alabamian, 20 Mar 1963, Wed, Page 1 |
| 1963 - March 26 | A HH-19 helicopter from the 33rd ARS at Naha AB, Okinawa, crewed by Capt. Paul A. Davis (P), Capt. Gordon L. Hall (CP) and A1C S. D. Scott (FM) evacuated SSgt. Eldon L Cross of the 1st Special Forces from the Matsuda Training Range to the Camp Kue Army Hospital to receive treatment for a cut on the left hand he received during training. Pacific Stars & Stripes, Mar 20, 1963, pg. 32 |
| 1963 - March 26 | A HH-43B helicopter from Williams AFB, AZ., crewed by Capt. Clifford E. Brandon (P), unkn (CP) and unkn (FE), rescued Ray Gatewood, 20, from a ledge on Weavers Needle in the Superstition Mountains east of Phoenix where he had been stranded for 24 hours. No other details are known at this time. Abilene Reporter-News (Abilene, TX.) 27 Mar. 1963, Wed, Page 46 |
| 1963 - April 09 | A HH-19B from the 33rd ARS at Naha AB, Okinawa, crewed by Capt. Lucian A. Gunther (P), Maj. Thomas J. Lunn (CP) and SSgt. Chester E. Rainey (FM) evacuated and 11-year-old American Boy Scout, John William Love (son of Air Force Capt. James W. Love) from Zamami Shima Island, some 50 miles west of Naha AB, to the Naha AB dispensary, for treatment of an infected ear and a high fever. Pacific Stars & Stripes, Apr 11, 1963, pg. 32 |
| 1963 - April 15 | A HH-43B from Kincheloe AFB, MI., crewed by Capt. Pasco Parker (P), Capt. Lloyd Beregstrom (CP) and Sgt. Basil Grey (FE), assisted the state Conservation Department's project to improve goose hunting in the Upper Peninsula by staging a "goose lift" in the swampy vastness, delivering 62 Canadian geese (in three sorties) that were released by a waterfowl specialist for the department. No other details are known at this time. The Escanaba Daily Press (Escanaba, MI.) 15 Apr 1963, page 39 |
| 1963 - April 25 | A H-21 from Hill AFB, UT., crewed by unkn (P), unkn (CP) and unkn (FE), was damaged during a simulated rescue mission when the nose wheel collapsed upon landing on flats in the Ogden River delta. The helicopter was repaired and recovered about a week later. No other details are known at this time. The Ogden Standard-Examiner (Ogden, UT.) 27 Apr. 1963, page 12 |
| 1963 - April 30 | A USAF helicopter from Kirtland AFB, NM., crewed by unkn (P), unkn (CP) and unkn (FE), rescued the pilot of a F-104, Maj. William A Cato, when he ejected before his aircraft crashed near the Rio Grande River about two miles east of the Albuquerque Municipal Airport. No other details are known at this time. Clovis News-Journal (Clovis, NM.) 30 Apr 1963, page 2 |
| 1963 - April 30 | A USAF H-19, crewed by unkn (P), unkn (CP) and unkn (FE), was damaged when it hit wires supporting a scoreboard as it was landing on the Gettysburg, PA., College football field. The helicopter had blade and stabilizer damage and the scoreboard was also damaged. No other details are known at this time. The Gettysburg Times (Gettysburg, PA.) 1 May 1963, Wed, Page 3 |
| 1963 - May 05 | An Air Force rescue helicopter from the Western Air Rescue Center at Malmstrom AFB, MT., crewed by Capt. Donald T. Litke (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FM) and unkn (PJ), rescued a B-47 bomber co-pilot, Capt. Bruce A. Chapman, who was located in good condition after he had ejected from the aircraft on 03 May 1963, after a mid-air collision with a refueling tanker, before it crashed. The aircraft crashed about 7 miles southwest of Shoshone Lake in the western part of Yellowstone National Park, WY. Capt. Chapman was found safe only 200 yards from the crash site 10 miles southwest of the Old Faithful geyser. The remaining crew members of the B-47, Capt. Frank G. Zumba (P), 1st Lt. Lorin R. Matthews (Nav) and SSgt. Lawrence E. Harrison (CC) were killed in the crash. Arizona Republic (Phoenix, Arizona - Monday, May 6, 1963, page 1 |
| 1963 - May 07 | A USAF H-19 from Wright-Patterson AFB, OH., crewed by unkn (P), unkn (CP) and unkn (FE), rescued Curtis C. Marshall, 39, from the top of a water tower at Fort Thomas after he was injured in a fall into the empty water tower. No other details are known at this time. The Circleville Herald (Circleville, OH.) 8 May 1963, Wed, Page 1 |
| 1963 - May 19 | A USAF helicopter from Hamilton AFB, CA., crewed by unkn (P), unkn (CP) and unkn (FE), rescued three people, Jack Leineke, 61, Eva Leineke, 54, and Geneva Blair, 62, from a remote woodland near Feather River, CA., about 20 miles south of Quincy, where their aircraft had crashed on May 17, 1963. No other details are known at this time. Ironwood Daily Globe (Ironwood, MI) 20 May 1963, Page 1 |
| 1963 - May 21 | Five USAF H-21 helicopters, crew’s unkn, rescued numerous people at Koyukuk, AK, from flooding on the Yukon River. No other details are known at this time. Herald and News (Klamath Falls, OR) 21 May 1963, Tue, Page 3 |
| 1963 - May 26 | A USAF helicopter from Andrews AFB, MD., crewed by unkn (P), unkn (CP) and unkn (FE), rescued seven Baltimore residents from Hart Island after their 14 foot runabout sunk in the Chesapeake Bay. No other details are known at this time. The Evening Sun (Hanover, PA), 27 May 1963, Mon, Page 22 |
| 1963 - May 27 | A USAF CH-3B #62-12574 (named the “Otis Falcon”) from Otis AFB, MA., crewed by Capt. John D. Arthurs (AC), Capt. William A. Scott III (P), Capt. William B. Lehman (CP), Sgt. Truman W. MacDonald (FM) and Ernest R. Cyrus (FM), took off from Otis AFB, MA, on its way across the Atlantic, for its first scheduled stop at Loring AFB, ME. next scheduled stopover. It had departed from Otis AFB, MA on 27 May 1963, and stopped at Labrador, Baffinland, Greenland, Iceland and Scotland. No other details are known at this time. Tucson Daily Citizen, 29 May 1963, Wed. Page 7 & Pacific Stars & Stripes, May 29, 1963, pg. 24 |
| 1963 - May 29 | A USAF CH-3B #62-12574 (named the “Otis Falcon”) from Otis AFB, MA., crewed by Capt. John D. Arthurs (AC), Capt. William A. Scott III (P) and Capt. William B. Lehman (CP), Sgt. Truman W. MacDonald (FM) and Ernest R. Cyrus (FM), took off, at 7:08 a.m. EST, from Goose Bay, Labrador, after a full day delay because of fog off the west coast of Greenland, its next scheduled stopover. It had departed from Otis AFB, MA on 27 May 1963, and stopped at Labrador, Baffinland, Greenland, Iceland and Scotland. No other details are known at this time. Tucson Daily Citizen, 29 May 1963, Wed. Page 7 |
| 1963 - June 01 | A USAF CH-3B #62-12574 (named the “Otis Falcon”) from Otis AFB, MA., crewed by Capt. John D. Arthurs (AC), Capt. William A. Scott III (P) and Capt. William B. Lehman (CP), Sgt. Truman W. MacDonald (FM) and Ernest R. Cyrus (FM). on a trans-Atlantic hop from Otis AFB, MA. to Le Bourget Field, Paris, France, resumed their flight to Gandestrom, Greenland, where again it was halted by bad weather. When the weather improves the schedule calls for the crossing of Greenland ice cap. The helicopter must soar to 10,000 feet elevation to cross the 9,100-foot mountain ridge. Then the flight will continue over the Denmark Straits to Keflavik AB, Iceland, 385 miles from Gandestrom. After that a big water jump to Prestwick, Scotland. Then on to Paris. No other details are known at this time. The Ogden Standard-Examiner, 1 Jun 1963, Sat, Page 1 |
| 1963 - June 04 | A USAF CH-3B #62-12574 (named the “Otis Falcon”) from Otis AFB, MA., crewed by Capt. John D. Arthurs (AC), Capt. William A. Scott III (P) and Capt. William B. Lehman (CP), Sgt. Truman W. MacDonald (FM) and Ernest R. Cyrus (FM), on a trans-Atlantic hop from Otis AFB, MA. to Le Bourget Field, Paris, France, arrived, after a 35-hour, five stop 3,075-mile journey across the Atlantic Ocean, at Prestwick Scotland at 2:50 a.m. est. on the next leg of the flight. It is due to depart tomorrow in time to arrive at Orly Field at 11:00 a.m. No other details are known at this time. El Paso Herald-Post (El Paso, TX), 05 Jun 1963, Mon, Page 233 |
| 1963 - June 05 | A UH-19 helicopter from Naha AB, Okinawa, crewed by unkn (P), unkn (CP) and A2C Samuel V. Hipa (FM) succeeded in rescuing two of the three Navy fliers from a Navy A-3B that had crashed in the East China Sea. Pacific Stars & Stripes, Feb 05, 1964, pg. 35 |
| 1963 - June 05 | A USAF CH-3B #62-12574 (named the “Otis Falcon”) from Otis AFB, MA., crewed by Capt. John D. Arthurs (AC), Capt. William A. Scott III (P) Capt. William B. Lehman (CP), A1C Ernest R. Cyrus (FM) and SSgt. Truman A. McDonald (FM) arrived at Le Bourget Airport, near Paris, at 12:50 p.m., after a 35-hour five-stop flight across the Atlantic Ocean. It had departed from Otis AFB, MA on 27 May 1963, and stopped at Labrador, Baffin Island, Greenland, Iceland and Scotland. No other details are known at this time. Delaware County Daily Times (Chester, PA) 7 Jun 1963, Fri., Page 17 |
| 1963 - June 06 | Sikorsky Aircraft, a division of United Aircraft Corporation, completed roll-out of the first CH-3C helicopter at its Stratford, CN factory. This is the FIRST, of twenty-two on order, from a contract that was signed on February 08, 1963. This aircraft roll out occurred three weeks ahead of the contracted time frame. The first flight is scheduled for June 25, 1963. The Bridgeport Post (Bridgeport, CN., 9 Jun 1963, sun, page 62 |
| 1963 - June 22 | A USAF helicopter in Hawaii, crewed by Maj. Hoyt Bertram (P), unkn (CP), engaged in an aerial search for a missing man, when his helicopter hooked a wire and crashed in a river. No other details are known at this time. Hobbs Daily News-Sun (Hobbs, NM) Sun, Jul 7, 1963, page 19 |
| 1963 - July 16 | An USAF helicopter from Little Rock AFB, AR., crewed by unkn (P), unkn (CP) and unkn (FM), rescued Mr. and Mrs. Donald Scott and their three sons from their rural home north of Hot Springs, AR., after they had been marooned by flooding creeks. No other details are known at this time. The Oneonta Star (Onenota, NY.), 17 Jul 1963, Wed, page 1 |
| 1963 - July 24 | An HH-43B from George AFB, CA., crewed by unkn (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FM) and unkn (MT) rescued a boy and a girl stranded on a rock overnight in the Kern River. No other details are known at this time. Daily Press, 24 Jul 1963, Wed Page 1 |
| 1963 - August 03 | A H-19 helicopter from Det. 1, 36th ARS at Itazuke AB, Japan, crewed by 1st Lt. Donald R. Berdeaux (P) and 1st Lt. Donald D. Metzinger (CP) and Maj. M. J. Williams (FS), medevacked a 3-year-old Japanese boy critically injured after he was hit by a motor bike and suffered. The boy, Takashi Nagata, lives in the village of Aokata, on an island about 50 miles northwest of Nagasaki and he and his father were flown to Nagasaki where a neurosurgeon, Dr. M. Kawano and an ambulance met the helicopter. Pacific Stars & Stripes, Aug 06, 1963, pg. 6 |
| 1963 - August 05 | HH-43B’s #62-4546 and #62-4547 participated in a rescue out of Cigli AB, Turkey. No other information is available currently. http://www.h43-huskie.info/framesetnew.html |
| 1963 - August 05 | A HH-43B from Det. 4., WARC at Paine Field, WA, crewed by Capt. Jerry D. Stroh (P), 1st Lt. Clifton E. Cushman (CP), A1C Hubert O. Marsh (FM) and SMSgt. Thomas J. Sternad Jr. (MT) rescued an injured mountain climber, Keith V. Pearson, and a second climber, Michael Borghoff, from just below the 7,000-foot level of Mt. Shuksan after they had spent the night stranded on the peak. Port Angeles Evening News, 06 Aug 1963, Tue-Page 3 & Kaman Rotor Tips Magazine Feb-Mar-1964, Page 18 |
| 1963 - August 05 | An HH-43B from Det. 4, 36th ARS from Osan AB, Korea, crewed by Capt. Maxie L. Trainer (P), Capt. Hubert M. Berthold (CP), A1C Lloyd S. Slats (FM) and A2C Landron Shaeffer (MT) completed its first rescue operation since going into service at Osan AB several weeks ago. The crew rescued an F-86 pilot of the Republic of Korea Air Force who was forced to eject from his smoking aircraft about 30 miles north-northeast of Osan, near the village of Ichon. Stars & Stripes Newspaper, 9 Aug. 1963 |
| 1963 - August 07 | The 1001st Helicopter Flight relocated from Andrews AFB, MD. to Bolling AFB, DC. http://www.popflock.com/learn?s=1st_Helicopter_Squadron |
| 1963 - August 18 | HH-19's from the 33rd ARS at Naha AB, Okinawa along with HU-16's and helicopter from other services participated in the rescue of 38 people from the ferry boat Midori-Maru that had capsized 15 miles west of Naha AB on 17 August 1963. There were 250 people aboard the ferry and 106 were rescued by surface craft. http://www.afsoc.af.mil/shared/media/document/AFD-070906-042.pdf |
| 1963 - August 19 | A HH-43B from the 48th ARSq at Eglin AFB, FL. crewed by Capt. Lonnie C. Luttrell (P), unkn (CP), TSgt. Lewis L. Lemmons (FF), A1C Joseph A. Smith (FF), Capt. Robert M. Snider (FS) and TSgt. Donald W. Munday (MT) landed to rescue a woman, Mrs. Dorothy Phillips, who was injured when her car was hit by a landing QB-47 that had veered off the runway onto a busy four-lane highway and crashed into two automobiles on the highway. The two men in one of the cars were killed by the crashing bomber and subsequent fire and the wing of the bomber hit Mrs. Phillips car and she was pulled from her burning car. The helicopter landed and picked up the injured Mrs. Phillips and delivered her to the hospital. Kaman Rotor Tips Magazine, December/January 1963-1964, page 9 & Pensacola News Journal, 20 Aug 1963, Tue- Page 1 |
| 1963 - August 26 | An HH-43B aircrew saved the lives of three crewmen involved in the crash and subsequent burning of a B-58 on the runway at Bunker Hill AFB, IN. The HH-43B, piloted by Capt. Wege, which was airborne at the time of the crash, landed near the burning bomber and effected the rescue. http://www.afsoc.af.mil/shared/media/document/AFD-070906-042.pdf |
| 1963 – September 10 | A USAF helicopter from Det. 4, 36th ARS at Osan AB, Korea, crewed by unkn (P), unkn (CP) and unkn (HM) was notified by the tower that a Korean F-86 pilot had ejected seven miles west of his home base, Swuon, Korea. The helicopter crew found the ROK pilot within about 5 minutes and he was rescued and returned to his home base. 36th ARS Monthly Unit History, 1 Jan thru 31 Jan 1963 |
| 1963 – September 13 | A HH-43B from Det. 4, 36th ARS at Osan AB, Korea, crewed by unkn (P), unkn (CP), unkn (HM) and unkn (MT) was scrambled and located, within 20 minutes, two pilots who had ejected from their B-57 into the Yellow Sea, 25 miles west of Osan AB. One pilot was rescued using the HH-43B’s hoist and the other was picked up by a Korean fishing boat. 36th ARS Monthly Unit History, 1 Jan thru 31 Jan 1963 |
| 1963 - October 08 | An HH-43B from Det. 41, Loring AFB, ME, crewed by 1st Lt. Joseph T. Connell (P), 1st Lt. Bruce Duffy (CP), SSgt. James Gonyea (MT), SSgt. Duncan Calcote (FF) and A1C Rick Suszczewicz (FF) rescued the pilot, Capt. Raymond F. Girard, of an F-106 that he had ridden into a crash landing in a large field about 20 miles from Loring AFB. Kaman Rotor Tips Magazine, December/January 1964/1964, page 18 & The Bangor Daily News, 09 Oct 1963, Wed Page 1 |
| 1963 - October 10 | An HH-43B from Det. 4, 36th ARS at Osan AB, Korea, crewed by unkn (P), unkn (CP), unkn (HM) and unkn (MT) was scrambled for an Army H-23 helicopter that was making an emergency landing at an unknown position near Osan AB. After a five-minute search the downed helicopter was located, however the crew members from the H-23 elected to make temporary repairs and fly their helicopter back to K-16 near Seoul, Korea. 36th ARS Monthly Unit History, 1 Jan thru 31 Jan 1963 |
| 1963 - October 10 | An HH-43B aircrew, from Det. 10 AARC at Aviano AB, Italy, saved the lives of 15 from a devastating flood in northern Italy. They also airlifted medical personnel and supplies to areas in need. http://www.afsoc.af.mil/shared/media/document/AFD-070906-042.pdf |
| 1963 - October 10 | A HH-43B from the 36th ARS at Tachikawa AB, Japan, crewed by unkn (P), unkn (CP), unkn (HM) and unkn (MT) was launched to search for a T-33 presumed to be down in the mountains near Atsugi NAS, 15 NM south of Tachikawa AB. The wreckage was spotted on Harudaki Mountain, 20 miles west of Atsugi NAS, by the helicopter and a Navy ground party was guided to the scene. Due to rugged terrain and poor visibility the helicopter was unable to land at the scene of the crash but was able to drop a medic off nearby. Both T-33 pilots were found dead by the ground party and this mission was closed when the helicopter returned to Tachikawa AB. 36th ARS Monthly Unit History, 1 Jan thru 31 Jan 1963 |
| 1963 - December 27 | A H-19 from the 462nd SAW at Larson AFB, WA., crewed by Capt. Robert Gorter (P), crashed and burned six miles south of Ephrata, WA. Killing Capt. Gorter, the only one aboard, in the crash. No other details are known at this time. The Oregon Statesman (Salem, OR.), Sat, Dec 28, 1963, page 2 |
| 1964 – January 06 | HH-19B #52-7517 from the 33rd ARS at Naha AB, Japan, crewed by unkn (P), unkn (CP) unkn (HM) and unkn (MT) medevacked four injured U. S. military personnel, three of whom were severely injured and one with minor injuries in a truck accident, from Nago Hospital to the Camp Kue Army Hospital. 33rd ARS Historical Data 1 Jan to 31 Jan 1964 |
| 1964 - January 27 | A H-19 helicopter from the 313th ARS at Naha AB, Okinawa, crewed by Capt. Robert W. Davis (P), Capt. William G. Elliot (Dr.) and SSgt. Donald L. Watson (MT) evacuated a 3.3-pound premature Okinawa baby girl from Kumejima Island to the Naha AB Hospital. Pacific Stars & Stripes, Jan 29, 1964, pg. 33 |
| 1964 - February ?? | A HH-43B helicopter from Det. 4, 36th ARS at Osan AB, Korea, crewed by Capt. Walter A. Malkiewicz (P), Capt. Joseph H. Pinaud (CP), TSgt. James Langston (FM) and A1C Donald Poulin (MT) airlifted, from Suwon Air Field to the U. S. Army hospital in Seoul, PFC Moses J. Dingle Jr. who had suffered severe head injuries when the Army truck he was riding in rolled off the road and crashed. Pacific Stars & Stripes, Feb 06, 1964, pg. 26 |
| 1964 - February 01 | H-19B #52-7514 from the 33rd ARS at Naha AB, Japan, crewed by unkn (P), unkn (CP), unkn (HM) and unkn (MT) medevacked SSgt. Carl Groves, with a suspected ruptured peptic ulcer, from Kume-Shima, 45 miles west of Naha AB to the Naha AB hospital. 33rd ARS Historical Data 1 Jan to 31 Jan 1964 |
| 1964 - February 01 | The organization of the ARS LBR Detachments was changed. This change resulted in each of the Air Rescue Centers Detachment beginning with the number 1. https://www.ragay.nl/kaman-h-43-huskie/h-43-usaf-units-conus |
| 1964 - February 10 | HH-19B #52-7517 from the 33rd ARS at Naha AB, Japan, crewed by unkn (P), unkn (CP), unkn (HM) and unkn (MT) medevacked A1C Kenneth Timm, suffering from pneumothorax and severe chest pains, from Okino, 75 NM north of Naha AB, to the Naha AB hospital. 33rd ARS Historical Data 1 Jan to 31 Jan 1964 |
| 1964 - February 15 | An HH-43B aircrew from the ARS detachment at Selfridge AFB, MI., saved seven fishermen who were stranded on loose ice three miles offshore on Lake St. Clair, Canada. No other details are available currently. http://www.afsoc.af.mil/shared/media/document/AFD-070906-042.pdf |
| 1964 - February 16 | HH-19B #52-7514 from the 33rd ARS at Naha AB, Japan, crewed by unkn (P), unkn (CP), unkn (HM) and unkn (MT) medevacked A2C Ronald E. McNaughton, suffering from possible skull fracture received from a scooter accident, from IE-Shima, 25 miles NM north of Naha AB, to the Naha AB hospital. 33rd ARS Historical Data 1 Jan to 31 Jan 1964 |
| 1964 - February 16 | An HH-43B aircrew from the ARS detachment at Kincheloe AFB, MI., saved five fishermen who were stranded on loose ice in the Whitefish Bay area of Lake Superior. No other details are available currently. http://www.afsoc.af.mil/shared/media/document/AFD-070906-042.pdf |
| 1964 - February 16 | HH-19B #52-7514 from 33rd ARS at Naha AB, Japan, crewed by unkn (P), unkn (CP), unkn (HM) and unkn (MT) medevacked an 18-year-old Ryukyuan, injured when his cart overturned, from Theya-Shima, 30 NM northeast of Naha AB to the medical authorities at Camp Kue Army Hospital. 33rd ARS Historical Data Jan to Dec 1964 |
| 1964 - February 22 | HH-19B #52-7514 from 33rd ARS at Naha AB, Japan, crewed by unkn (P), unkn (CP), unkn (HM) and unkn (MT) medevacked PFC John C. Oakland, suffering from a suspected rupture, from Tokashili-Shima site 18, 10 NM west of Naha AB, to the medical authorities at Camp Kue Army Hospital. 33rd ARS Historical Data Jan to Dec 1964 |
| 1964 - February 16 | HH-19B #52-7514 from 33rd ARS at Naha AB, Japan, crewed by unkn (P), unkn (CP), unkn (HM) and unkn (MT) medevacked a six-year-old girl from Okuma Rest Center, 35 NM north of Naha AB after she had been hit in the eye with a golf club, to the medical authorities at the Camp Kue Hospital. 33rd ARS Historical Data Jan to Dec 1964 |
| 1964 - March 06 | A H-19B #52-7517 from the 33rd ARS at Naha AB, Japan, crewed by unkn (P), unkn (CP), unkn (HM) and unkn (MT) medevacked Army SP5 Earl H. North who was suffering from a broken ankle, from Tokashiki-Shima, 10 NM west of Naha AB, and delivered him to medical authorities at Camp Kue Hospital. 33rd ARS Historical Data Jan to Dec 1964 |
| 1964 - March 06 | Two H-19B’s from the 36th ARS at Tachikawa AB, Japan were transferred to the 6100th Support Wing at Tachikawa. 36th ARS Monthly Historical Report, Mar 1964 |
| 1964 - March 15 | A H-19B #52-7517 from the 33rd ARS at Naha AB, Japan, crewed by unkn (P), unkn (CP), unkn (HM) and unkn (MT) medevacked Army E4 Thomas A. King who was suffering from appendicitis, from Tokashiki-Shima, 10 NM west of Naha AB, and delivered him to medical authorities at Hamby AAB. 33rd ARS Historical Data Jan to Dec 1964 |
| 1964 - March 15 | A HH-43B #62-5978 from the 33rd ARS at Naha AB, Japan, crewed by unkn (P), unkn (CP), unkn (HM) and unkn (MT) medevacked an American Boy Scout, who had re-injured a previously injured leg, from Tokashiki-Shima, 10 NM west of Naha AB, and delivered him to medical authorities at Camp Kue Hospital. 33rd ARS Historical Data Jan to Dec 1964 |
| 1964 - March 16 | The 33rd ARS became operational in the HH-43B on this date and HH-19B’s 52-7541 and 52-7517 were placed in permanent storage on 20 March 1964. 33rd ARS Historical Data Jan to Dec 1964 |
| 1964 - March 17 | A HH-43B #62-4565 from the 33rd ARS at Naha AB, Japan, crewed by unkn (P), unkn (CP), unkn (HM) and unkn (MT) on a local training flight was immediately diverted to the scene of the crash of a HH-19B #51-3957 of the 51st ABGp., that crashed in the sea 30 NM North of Naha AB. Four survivors and one deceased had been picked up by a Ryukyuan fishing vessel and delivered to Nago Beach by the time the HH-43B had arrived. The HH-43B picked up the three survivors and delivered them to medical authorities at Naha AB. The fourth survivor had been taken from the beach to the Nago Hospital by a Marine ambulance. HH-43B #62-5978, with a flight surgeon on board was dispatched from Naha to pick up the fourth survivor when he was returned to Nago Beach and took him back to Naha AB. 33rd ARS Historical Data Jan to Dec 1964 |
| 1964 - March 22 | A HH-43B #62-4565 from the 33rd ARS at Naha AB, Japan, crewed by unkn (P), unkn (CP), unkn (HM) and unkn (MT) medevacked Army PFC Gordon House, suffering from what was first thought to be appendicitis and it was later determined he was suffering from an epileptic spasm, from Yoza Dake AS, 10 NM south of Naha AB and delivered him to medical authorizes at the Camp Kue Army Hospital. 33rd ARS Historical Data Jan to Dec 1964 |
| 1964 - March 22 | A HH-43B #62-4565 from the 33rd ARS at Naha AB, Japan, crewed by unkn (P), unkn (CP), unkn (HM) and unkn (MT) medevacked USMC PFC S. J. Sycs, suffering from a deep cut in his right hand, from the Marine Training Area, 45 NM north of Naha AB, and delivered him to medical authorizes at the Camp Kue Army Hospital. 33rd ARS Historical Data Jan to Dec 1964 |
| 1964 - March 22 | A HH-43B from the 36th ARS at Osan AB, ROK, crewed by unkn (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FM) and unkn (MT) rescued the injured pilot of a Navy AD-5 he had ditched in a rice paddy near Kooni Bomb Range and took him to the Osan AB hospital. 36th ARS Monthly Historical Report, Mar 1964 |
| 1964 - March 24 | A H-19B #53-4457 from the 31st ARS at Clark AB, PI, crewed by Capt. James L. Wissert (P), Capt. David J. Wege (CP), SSgt. David D. Dere (FM) and TSgt. Robert L. Shumay rescued the pilot of an F-100 crash on runway 02 at Clark AB. The F-100 ended up 100 feet east of runway 02 and the crew picked up the pilot who was not injured but was in shock and delivered him to the Clark AB Hospital. 31st ARS Monthly Historical Report (RCS: AV-05(ARS) 1-31 Jan 64 |
| 1964 - March 25 | A H-19B from Det. 3, 36th ARS at Itazuke AB, Japan, crewed by unkn (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FM) and unkn (MT) rescued the pilot of a F-105 who had ejected from his aircraft. The downed pilot had been located by a T-39 aircraft who directed the helicopter to the area. A water pickup was made by the helicopter using the rescue hoist in 30-foot waves, the rescued pilot was in good condition and returned to Itazuke AB. 36th ARS Monthly Historical Report, Mar 1964 |
| 1964 - March 28 | A H-19B #53-4457 from the 31st ARS at Clark AB, PI, crewed by Capt. James L. Wissert (P), Capt. David J. Wege (CP), SSgt. David D. Dere (FM) and TSgt. Robert L. Shumay rescued the pilot of a F-100 crashed on runway 02 at Clark AB. The F-100 ended up 100 feet east of runway 02 and the crew picked up the pilot who was not injured but was in shock and delivered him to the Clark AB Hospital. 31st ARS Monthly Historical Report (RCS: AV-05(ARS) 1-31 Jan 64 |
| 1964 - March 28 thru April 17 | H-21's of the 41st ARS and 76th ARS were involved in the humanitarian airlift operation "Operation Helping Hand" providing rescue and relief support of victims of the Good Friday earthquake that hit south central Alaska. The USAF & Humanitarian Airlift Operations 1947-1994 by Daniel L. Haul |
| 1964 - April 04 | Three HH-43B’s, two from Stead AFB, NV., one crewed by Capt. W.L. Henderson, mission commander. Lt. R. J. McGeechan (CP), SSgt C. E. Baker (FM) and Capt. D.R. Olson (FS) and the second HH-43B crewed by Capt. L. P. Anatrella (P), Capt. R. H. Finley (CP). SSgt. E. E. Hawley (FM) and SSgt C. D. Lewis (MT). and one HH-43B from Det. 12, WARC at George AFB, CA., crewed by Capt. Ray Lefevre (P), 1st Lt. Jim Crabbe (CP), SSgt. Charles Butcher (FM) and SSgt. Truman Kilburn (MT), along with an HU-16 from Hamilton AFB, CA., played a major role in rescuing the occupants of a civilian Cessna 182 which crashed high in the rugged mountain country (on Mt. Dana) near Mono Lake, Calif on 03 April 1964. |
| 1964 - April 10 | HH-43B #62-4565 of the 33rd ARS at Naha AB, Japan, crewed by unkn (P), unkn (CP), unkn (HM) and unkn (MT) medevacked USMC PFC L. J. Livenson, suffering from a possible brain concussion, from pad 18, 45 NM north of Naha AB to the Camp Kue Army Hospital. 33rd ARS Historical Data Jan to Dec 1964 |
| 1964 - April 13 | HH-43B #62-4565 of the 33rd ARS at Naha AB, Japan, crewed by unkn (P), unkn (CP), unkn (HM) and unkn (MT) medevacked USMC PFC Robert L. Hurd, suffering from hip injuries received in an automobile accident, and an additional marine with a sprained shoulder, from the Marine Northern Training Area, 40 NM north of Naha AB to the Camp Kue Army Hospital. 33rd ARS Historical Data Jan to Dec 1964 |
| 1964 - April 13 | A HH-43B from the 36th ARS at Osan AB, ROK crewed by unkn (P), unkn (CP), unkn (MT), unkn (FF) and unkn (FF) on alert observed and F-105 crash on the runway. A scramble take-off with the FSK took place and they proceeded directly to the crash, with the airborne fire fighters and using the FSK were able to recover the body of the pilot who had died in the crash. 36th ARS Monthly Historical Report, Apr 1964 |
| 1964 - April 15 | HH-43B #62-4565 of the 33rd ARS at Naha AB, Japan, crewed by unkn (P), unkn (CP), unkn (HM) and unkn (MT) medevacked USMC PFC Terry H. Lee, suffering from a broken leg, from the Marine Northern Training Area, 40 NM north of Naha AB to the Camp Kue Army Hospital. 33rd ARS Historical Data Jan to Dec 1964 |
| 1964 - April 16 | HH-43B #62-4565 of the 33rd ARS at Naha AB, Japan, crewed by unkn (P), unkn (CP), unkn (HM) and unkn (MT) medevacked USMC PFC Robert J. Inferrera, thought to be suffering from a snake bite, from the Marine Northern Training Area, 40 NM north of Naha AB to the Camp Kue Army Hospital. 33rd ARS Historical Data Jan to Dec 1964 |
| 1964 - April 16 | HH-43B #62-4565 of the 33rd ARS at Naha AB, Japan, crewed by unkn (P), unkn (CP), unkn (HM) and unkn (MT) medevacked USMC Cpl Jackson, suffering from a compound fracture of the left leg, from pad 14, 40 NM north of Naha AB to the Camp Kue Army Hospital. 33rd ARS Historical Data Jan to Dec 1964 |
| 1964 - April 17 | HH-43B #63-9710 of the 31st ARS at Clark AB, PI, crewed by Capt. Marvin L. Palmer (P), Capt. James L. Wissert (CP), A2C Edward L. Thorpe (HM) and TSgt. Robert L. Shumway (MT) was airborne 2 minutes after being notified that a C-124, 10 minutes west of Clark had fire in the cockpit and was declaring an emergency and after the C-124 landed safely the alert helicopter landed, ending this mission. 31st ARS History Jan-Dec 1964 |
| 1964 - April 23 | HH-43B #62-5979 of the 31st ARS at Clark AB, PI, crewed by Capt. David J. Wege (P), Capt. David E. Allen (CP), A2C Edward L. Thorpe (HM) and TSgt. Robert L. Shumway (MT) was airborne within 2 minutes after being notified that a HU-16, 10 minutes west of Clark had an unsafe gear indication and was declaring an emergency and after the HU-16 landed safely the alert helicopter landed, ending this mission. 31st ARS History Jan-Dec 1964 |
| 1964 - April 24 | HH-43B #63-9710 of the 31st ARS at Clark AB, PI, crewed by Capt. David J. Wege (P), Capt. James L. Wissert (CP), TSgt Forrest W. Farley (HM) and TSgt. Robert L. Shumway (MT) was airborne 2 minutes after being notified that a C-124, 10 minutes west of Clark had fire in the cockpit and was declaring an emergency and after the C-124 landed safely the alert helicopter landed, ending this mission. 31st ARS History Jan-Dec 1964 |
| 1964 - May ?? | A H-19 from the 6100th Operations Sq. at Tachikawa AB, Japan, crewed by Maj. Robert G. Oake (P), Capt. Richard R. Cowles (CP) and A2C Robert K. Mills (FM) airlifted an injured sailor from the Navy supply ship Montrose, anchored near the 5th Air Force survival school near Numazu, Japan, to the Yokosuka NS hospital where the seaman was found to be suffering from internal injuries and a broken arm. Pacific Stars & Stripes, May 25, 1964, pg. 7 |
| 1964 – May 04 | HH-43B #62-5979 of the 31st ARS at Clark AB, PI, crewed by Capt. David J. Wege (P), Capt. David E. Allen (CP), A2C Edward L. Thorpe (HM) and TSgt. Robert L. Shumway (MT) was scrambled after being notified that a B-57 was landing with an unsafe gear indication and was declaring an emergency and after the B-57 landed safely the alert helicopter landed, ending this mission. 31st ARS History Jan-Dec 1964 |
| 1964 – May 04 | HH-43B #62-5979 of the 31st ARS at Clark AB, PI, crewed by Capt. Marvin L. Palmer (P), Capt. Larry C. Evans (CP), A2C Edward L. Thorpe (HM) and SSgt. Maxie Walker (MT) was scrambled after being notified that a B-57 was landing with one engine shut down and was declaring an emergency and after the B-57 landed safely the alert helicopter landed, ending this mission. 31st ARS History Jan-Dec 1964 |
| 1964 – May 11 | HH-43B #63-9710 of the 31st ARS at Clark AB, PI, crewed by Capt. David J. Wege (P), Capt. James L. Wissert (CP), SSgt. William N. LeVasseur (HM) and TSgt. Robert L. Shumway (MT) was notified of a Philippine Air Force F-86 had crashed 3 miles north of Basa AB and as they arrived at the crash site at the north end of the runway, they were notified that a second Philippine Air Force F-86 had crashed west of Basa AB. The pilot of the first crash was reported killed in the crash so the helicopter went on to the second crash site where the pilot had survived and was taken to the Basa AB Hospital. 31st ARS History Jan-Dec 1964 |
| 1964 - May 11 | HH-43B #63-9710 of the 31st ARS at Clark AB, PI, crewed by Capt. David J. Wege (P), Capt. James L. Wissert (CP), SSgt. William N. LeVasseur (HM) and TSgt. Robert L. Shumway (MT) was airborne 2 minutes to cover the landing of a F-102 with an unsafe nose gear indication and was declaring an emergency and after the F-102 landed safely the alert helicopter landed, ending this mission. 31st ARS History Jan-Dec 1964 |
| 1964 - May 12 | A HH-43B helicopter from the 31st ARS at Clark AB, P.I., crewed by Capt. Larry C. Evans (P), Capt. David E. Allen (CP), TSgt. Forrest W. Farley (FM) and TSgt. Robert L. Shumway (MT) rescued the pilot, Capt. John Conrader, of a crashed F-102 Delta Dagger from the side of a mountain where he had landed after ejecting from his aircraft. Pacific Stars & Stripes, May 14, 1964, pg. 29 & 31st ARS Monthly Historical Report (RCS: AV-05(ARS) 1-30 May 64 |
| 1964 - May 12 | HH-43B #63-9710 of the 31st ARS at Clark AB, PI, crewed by Capt. David J. Wege (P), Capt. James L. Wissert (CP), TSgt. Robert L. Shumway (MT), A1C Earnest J. Jackson (FF) and A1C Travis L. Haynes (FF) was scrambled to cover the landing of a B-50 with inverter failure and a fire, that had declared an emergency and after the B-50 landed safely the alert helicopter landed, ending this mission. 31st ARS History Jan-Dec 1964 |
| 1964 - May 15 | HH-43B #63-9710 of the 31st ARS at Clark AB, PI, crewed by Capt. David J. Wege (P), Capt. James L. Wissert (CP), SSgt. Mixie Walker (MT), A1C Franklin D. Hill (FF) and A1C Eugene E. Richards (FF) was scrambled to cover the landing of a B-26 with a fire in the cockpit, that had declared an emergency and after the B-26 landed safely the alert helicopter landed, ending this mission. 31st ARS History Jan-Dec 1964 |
| 1964 - May 15 | A HH-43B from the 36th ARS at Misawa AB, Japan crewed by unkn (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FM) and unkn (MT) called on to assist the Japanese in searching for a missing JASDF F-86 and with help from the Japanese police, the aircraft and deceased pilot were located by the HH-43B crew. 36th ARS Monthly Historical Report, May 1964 |
| 1964 – May 18 | HH-43B #63-9710 of the 31st ARS at Clark AB, PI, crewed by Capt. Larry C. Evans (P), Capt. David E. Allen (CP), SSgt. Mixie Walker (MT), A1C Travis L. Haynes (FF) and A1C Leonard L. Walker (FF) was scrambled after being notified that a B-57 declared an emergency and was landing with an unsafe nose gear indication, after the B-57 landed safely the alert helicopter landed, ending this mission. 31st ARS History Jan-Dec 1964 |
| 1964 – May 18 | HH-43B #63-9710 of the 31st ARS at Clark AB, PI, crewed by Capt. Larry C. Evans (P), Capt. David E. Allen (CP), SSgt. Mixie Walker (MT), A1C Travis L. Haynes (FF) and A1C Leonard L. Walker (FF) was scrambled after being notified that a F-100 declared an emergency and was landing with hydraulic failure, after the F-100 landed safely the alert helicopter landed, ending this mission. 31st ARS History Jan-Dec 1964 |
| 1964 – May 24 | HH-43B #62-5979 of the 31st ARS at Clark AB, PI, crewed by Capt. David J. Wege (P), Capt. James L. Wissert (CP), TSgt. Robert L. Shumway (MT), A1C Eugene E. Richards (FF) and A1C James S. Thrasher (FF) was scrambled after being notified that a B-57 declared an emergency and was landing with low oil pressure, after the B-57 landed safely the alert helicopter landed, ending this mission. 31st ARS History Jan-Dec 1964 |
| 1964 – May 28 | HH-43B #62-5979 of the 31st ARS at Clark AB, PI, crewed by Capt. Marvin L. Palmer (P), Capt. David J. Wege (CP), TSgt. Donald F. Larsen (HM), SSgt. Mixie Walker (MT), A1C Leonard L. Walker (FF) and A1C Travis L. Haynes (FF) was scrambled after being notified that a B-57 had run off the runway at the north end of runway 02. The helicopter landed at the scene and determined that now assistance was required, and the alert helicopter landed, ending this mission. 31st ARS History Jan-Dec 1964 |
| 1964 – May 28 | HH-43B #62-5979 of the 31st ARS at Clark AB, PI, crewed by Capt. Marvin L. Palmer (P), Capt. David J. Wege (CP), TSgt. Donald F. Larsen (HM), SSgt. Mixie Walker (MT), A1C Leonard L. Walker (FF) and A1C Travis L. Haynes (FF) were scrambled after being notified that a B-57 had run off the runway at the north end of runway 02. The helicopter landed at the scene and determined that now assistance was required, and the alert helicopter landed, ending this mission. 31st ARS History Jan-Dec 1964 |
| 1964 – May 30 | HH-43B #62-5979 of the 31st ARS at Clark AB, PI, crewed by Capt. Marvin L. Palmer (P), Capt. Zack L. Stockett (CP), SSgt. Mixie Walker (MT), A1C Earnest Jackson (FF) and A1C Travis L. Haynes (FF) was scrambled after being notified that a B-50 had declared an emergency and was landing with number 2 engine on fire, after the B-50 landed safely the helicopter landed to end this mission. 31st ARS History Jan-Dec 1964 |
| 1964 – May 31 | HH-43B #62-5979 of the 31st ARS at Clark AB, PI, crewed by Capt. Marvin L. Palmer (P), Capt. Zack L. Stockett (CP), SSgt. Mixie Walker (MT), A1C Earnest Jackson (FF) and A1C Travis L. Haynes (FF) was scrambled after being notified that a F-102 had declared an emergency and was landing with low oil pressure, after the F-102 landed safely the helicopter landed to end this mission. 31st ARS History Jan-Dec 1964 |
| 1964 – June 01 | HH-43B #62-5979 of the 31st ARS at Clark AB, PI, crewed by Capt. Larry C. Evans (P), Capt. David E. Allen (CP), TSgt. Donald F. Larsen (HM), TSgt. Robert L. Shumway (MT), A1C James S. Thresher (FF) and A1C Eugene E. Richards (FF) was scrambled after being notified that a F-102 had declared an emergency and was landing with low oil pressure, after the F-102 landed safely the helicopter landed to end this mission. 31st ARS History Jan-Dec 1964 |
| 1964 – June 02 | HH-43B #62-5979 of the 31st ARS at Clark AB, PI, crewed by Capt. David J. Wege (P), Capt. James L. Wissert (CP), SSgt. Mixie Walker (MT), A1C Earnest Jackson (FF) and A1C Travis L. Haynes (FF) was scrambled after being notified that a C-54 had declared an emergency and was landing with #4 engine shut down, after the C-54 landed safely the helicopter landed to end this mission. 31st ARS History Jan-Dec 1964 |
| 1964 – June 04 | HH-43B #62-5979 of the 31st ARS at Clark AB, PI, crewed by Capt. David J. Wege (P), Capt. James L. Wissert (CP), TSgt. Robert L. Shumway (MT), A1C Eugene E. Richards (FF) and A1C James S. Thresher (FF) were scrambled after being notified that a B-57 had crashed at the Crow Valley gunnery range. The helicopter landed at the crash site and discharged the fire suppression kit (FSK), firefighters and medical technician. Since there was no significant fire, the FSK was not utilized, and the wreckage was spread over a large area. The firefighters and medical technician found small pieces of human flesh and eyewitnesses stated that there were no ejections. The HH-43 and crew returned to Clark AB to refuel and change crews and the HH-43B, now crewed by Capt. David J. Wege (P), James L. Wissert (CP), TSgt. Forrest W. Farley (HM), Robert L. Shumway (MT and Capt. Theodore J. Wachs (FS) returned to the crash site to assist the ground party on site and pick up the FSK. The HH-43B made several flights back and forth from Clark AB to the crash site to assist in the accident investigation. 31st ARS History Jan-Dec 1964 |
| 1964 – June 05 | HH-43B #62-5979 of the 31st ARS at Clark AB, PI, crewed by Capt. Marvin L. Palmer (P), Capt. Zack L. Stockett (CP), TSgt. David D. Dere (HM), SSgt. Mixie Walker (MT), A1C Earnest Jackson (FF) and A1C Leonard C. Walker (FF) was scrambled after being notified that a C-54 had declared an emergency and was landing with #3 engine shut down, after the C-54 landed safely the helicopter landed to end this mission. 31st ARS History Jan-Dec 1964 |
| 1964 - June 06 | HH-43B #62-5978 from the 33rd ARS at Naha AB, Japan, crewed by unkn (P), unkn (CP), unkn (HM) and unkn (MT) was diverted from a local training mission to medevac a 3-year-old Ryukyuan girl with a kidney infection and high fever from Tokishiki Island. When they arrived at Tokishiki the crew was told the patient had been put aboard a boat and was enroute to Naha Port. The helicopter returned to Naha AB. 33rd ARS Historical Data Jan to Dec 1964 |
| 1964 - June 08 | HH-43B 59-1585 from Det. 14, EARC, MacDill AFB, FL., crewed by 1st Lt. Paul D. McComb (P), 1st Lt. Neil J. McCutchan (CP), SSgt. Larry K. Henderson (HM) and A2C Ordean J. Burau, (MT) were on a local overwater hoist training mission when the helicopter experienced mechanical problems and they were forced to ditch the helicopter. The ditching occurred about 200 yards off-shore SE of MacDill AFB, FL. and the helicopter came to rest on its left side and all crew members were successfully able to evacuate the helicopter. The helicopter was recovered but after over 24 hours in the salt water it was not salvageable. USAF Accident/Incident Report, provided by Johan Ragay |
| 1964 - June 08 | One USAF helicopter in Montana, crewed by unkn (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FM) & unkn (MT), using their sling and hoist, lifted seven people from perches ranging from tree limbs to roof tops from the raging torrents of the flooding Big Flathead River and its tributaries. No other details are known at this time. Pacific Stars & Stripes, Thursday, June 11, 1964 |
| 1964 - June 08 thru 12 | HH-19's, HH-43B's, CH-3's and UH-1's from Det. 8, WARC at Glasgow AFB, MT., 341st SMWg. at Malmstrom AFB, MT., 462nd SAWg. at Larson AFB, WA. were involved in the humanitarian airlift operation to provide rescue and relief efforts airlifting a total of 59 survivors out of flooded areas during floods in Montana. http://www.afsoc.af.mil/shared/media/document/AFD-070906-042.pdf & The USAF & Humanitarian Airlift Operations 1947-1994 by Daniel L. Haul |
| 1964 – June 09 | HH-43B #62-4565 of the 33rd ARS at Naha AB, Japan, crewed by unkn (P), unkn (CP), unkn (HM) and unkn (MT) medevacked a 34 year old Ryukyuan woman with a head injury, from Tokashiki-Shima to medical authorities at Naha AB. 33rd ARS Historical Data Jan to Dec 1964 |
| 1964 – June 10 | HH-43B #63-9710 of the 31st ARS at Clark AB, PI, crewed by Capt. David J. Wege (P), Capt. James L. Wissert (CP), SSgt. Robert L. Shumway (MT), A1C Frankie D. Hill (FF) and A1C Eugene E. Richards (FF) was scrambled after being notified that a C-130 had declared an emergency and was landing with #1 engine shut down, after the C-130 landed safely the helicopter landed to end this mission. 31st ARS History Jan-Dec 1964 |
| 1964 – June 10 | HH-43B #63-9710 of the 31st ARS at Clark AB, PI, crewed by Capt. David J. Wege (P), Capt. James L. Wissert (CP), TSgt. Robert L. Shumway (MT), A1C Frankie D. Hill (FF) and A1C Eugene E. Richards (FF) was scrambled after being notified that a F-102 had declared an emergency and was landing with surging engine, after the F-102 landed safely the helicopter landed to end this mission. 31st ARS History Jan-Dec 1964 |
| 1964 – June 11 | HH-43B #63-9710 of the 31st ARS at Clark AB, PI, crewed by Capt. Marvin L. Palmer (P), Capt. Zack L. Stockett (CP), SSgt. Maxie Walker (MT), A1C Travis L. Haynes (FF) and A1C Leonard C. Walker (FF) was scrambled after being notified that a C-130 had declared an emergency and was landing with #1 engine shut down, after the C-130 landed safely the helicopter landed to end this mission. 31st ARS History Jan-Dec 1964 |
| 1964 – June 11 | HH-43B #63-9710 of the 31st ARS at Clark AB, PI, crewed by Capt. Marvin L. Palmer (P), Capt. Zack L. Stockett (CP), SSgt. Maxie Walker (MT), A1C Travis L. Haynes (FF) and A1C Leonard C. Walker (FF) was scrambled after being notified that a British Beverly had declared an emergency and was landing with #1 engine shut down, after the Beverly landed safely the helicopter landed to end this mission. 31st ARS History Jan-Dec 1964 |
| 1964 – June 11 | An HH-43B from Det. 6, EARC, crewed by unkn (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FM) and unkn (MT), hoisted the survivor, Donald M. Forester, of a boating accident from rocks in the Potomac River. No other details are known at this time. Pacific Stars & Stripes, Sunday, June 14, 1964, pg. 24 & http://www.afsoc.af.mil/shared/media/document/AFD-070906-042.pdf |
| 1964 – June 15 | HH-43B #63-9710 of the 31st ARS at Clark AB, PI, crewed by Capt. Marvin L. Palmer (P), Capt. Zack L. Stockett (CP), A2C Edward L. Thorpe (HM) and TSgt. Robert L. Shumway (MT) was sent to aid in the search for two crew members that had ejected the night before from an F-4 about 18 NM southwest of Cubi Point NAS. Both F-4 crew members were located, and one was hoisted from the South China Sea by the HH-43B crew and the other was hoisted by out of the South China Sea by a U. S. Navy UH-2 helicopter. 31st ARS History Jan-Dec 1964 |
| 1964 – June 15 | HH-43B of the 31st ARS at Clark AB, PI, crewed by Capt. Marvin L. Palmer (P), Capt. David E. Allen (CP), SSgt. Maxie Walker (MT), A1C Travis L. Haynes (FF) and A1C Leonard C. Walker (FF) was scrambled after being notified that a C-130 had declared an emergency and was landing with #2 engine shut down, after the C-130 landed safely the helicopter landed to end this mission. 31st ARS History Jan-Dec 1964 |
| 1964 - June 16 | H-19B #53-4454 with the 917th FTD, Tan Son Nhut, AB, RVN, crashed on takeoff due to engine failure. http://hoiquanphidung.com/showthread.php?6617-Phim-T%C3%A0i-Li%E1%BB%87u-V%E1%BB%81-Chi%E1%BA%BFn-Tranh-Vi%E1%BB%87t-Nam |
| 1964 - June 16 | Two HH-43B’s from the 36th ARS at Tachikawa with unkn crews were sent to the aid of Japanese authorities after a severe earthquake struck the city of Niigata on the northwest coast of Japan. After an extensive survey of the area and consultations with local authorities, it was determined that causalities had been unexpectedly light and the HH-43B’s were released to return to Tachikawa AB. 36th ARS Monthly Historical Report, Jun 1964 |
| 1964 - June 17 | HH-43B #60-0268 of the 31st ARS at Clark AB, PI., crewed by Capt. Marvin L. Palmer (P), Capt. James L. Wissert (CP), TSgt. Donald F. Larsen (HM), A1C Donald J. Glassford (MT), A1C Earnest J. Jackson (RS) and A1C Leonard C. Walker used a CB hose from the flight line standby fire truck and the helicopter rotorwash to confine a brake fire on a B-57 to save the aircraft from major damage or possible total destruction. 31st ARS Monthly Historical Report (RCS: AV-05(ARS) 1-30 Jun 64 |
| 1964 – June 17 | HH-43B of the 31st ARS at Clark AB, PI, crewed by Capt. Marvin L. Palmer (P), Capt. James L. Wissert (CP), TSgt Donald F. Larsen (HM), SSgt. Maxie Walker (MT), A1C Earnet J. Jackson (FF) and A1C Leonard C. Walker (FF) was scrambled after being notified that a B-57 with electrical problems had declared an emergency and was landing, after the B-57 landed safely the helicopter landed to end this mission. 31st ARS History Jan-Dec 1964 |
| 1964 -June 20 | The FIRST ARS helicopters, HH-43B's, for use in the Vietnam War and The Secret War in Laos, arrived at Nakhon Phanom RTAFB, Thailand after being re-assembled at Udorn RTAFB, Thailand where they arrived from Japan on 17 June 1964. The unit at this time was designated as Det. 3(P), PARC. From Jim Burns who was with the unit at the time |
| 1964 – June 26 | HH-43B #62-5979 of the 31st ARS at Clark AB, PI, crewed by Capt. Marvin L. Palmer (P), Capt. Zack L. Stockett (CP), TSgt Robert L. Shumway (MT), A1C Frankie D. Hill (FF) and A1C James A Thrasher (FF) was scrambled after being notified that a C-47 with their #1 engine shut down, had declared an emergency and was landing, after the C-47 landed safely the helicopter landed to end this mission. 31st ARS History Jan-Dec 1964 |
| 1964 – July 02 | HH-43B #62-5979 of the 31st ARS at Clark AB, PI, crewed by Capt. Marvin L. Palmer (P), Capt. Zack L. Stockett (CP), TSgt Robert L. Shumway (MT), A1C Frankie D. Hill (FF) and A1C James A Thrasher (FF) was scrambled after being notified that a C-47 with their #1 engine shut down, had declared an emergency and was landing, after the C-47 landed safely the helicopter landed to end this mission. 31st ARS History Jan-Dec 1964 |
| 1964 - July 10 | Two HH-19B’s were transferred from Det. 3, 36th ARS at Itazuke AB to the 36th ARS at Tachikawa AB, Japan. 36th ARS Monthly Historical Report, Jul 1964. |
| 1964 - July 15 | Two HH-43B’s from the 36th ARS at Misawa AB, Japan, crews unkn, were scrambled to rescue the pilot of a F-100 who had ejected from his aircraft approximately ten miles north of the base. He had only been in the water for nine minutes when the helicopters arrived and one made a successful pick-up and the uninjured pilot was taken to Misawa AB. 36th ARS Monthly Historical Report, Jul 1964. |
| 1964 - July 23 | Two HH-43B’s from the 36th ARS at Misawa AB, Japan, crews unkn, were scrambled for a JASDAF F-86 that was experiencing engine troubles, when he ejects after the engine quit one of the HH-43B’s successfully made a water pick-up of the uninjured pilot and took him to Misawa AB. 36th ARS Monthly Historical Report, Jul 1964. |
| 1964 - July 27 | HH-43B #63-9710 of the 31st ARS at Clark AB, PI., crewed by Capt. David J. Wege (P), Capt. David E. Allen (CP), TSgt. David D. Dere (HM), A1C Donald J. Glassford (MT), A1C Leonard L. Walker (RS) and A1C Travis L. Haynes (RS) airlifted the pilot of an F-100 that had aborted takeoff and engaged the barrier to the Clark AB Hospital. 31st ARS Monthly Historical Report (RCS: AV-05(ARS) 1-31 Jul 64 |
| 1964 - August 02 | HH-43B #63-9710 from the 31st ARS, Clark AB, PI., crewed by Capt. Larry C. Evans (P), Capt. David E. Allen (CP), TSgt. David D. Dere (HM), TSgt. Robert L. Shumway (MT) evacuated an airman with an acute abdominal disorder from Camp O’Donnel to the Clark AB Hospital. 31st ARS Monthly Historical Report (RCS: AV-05(ARS) 1-31 Aug 64 |
| 1964 - August 02 | HH-43B #60-268 from the 31st ARS at Clark AB, PI., crewed by Capt. David J. Wege (P), Capt. Marvin L. Palmer (CP), A2C Edward L. Thorpe (HM) and TSgt. Robert L. Shumway (MT) airlifted an injured American woman litter patient from a house northeast of Mt. Pinatubo in Zambales Mountains to the Clark AB Hospital. 31st ARS Monthly Historical Report (RCS: AV-05(ARS) 1-31 Aug 64 |
| 1964 - August 02 | HH-43B #62-5979 from the 31st ARS at Clark AB, PI., crewed by Capt. David J. Wege (P), Capt. David E. Allen (CP), A2C Edward L. Thorpe (HM), A1C Frankie D. Hill (RS), A1C Eugene E. Richards (MT) and A1C Donald J. Glassford, landed at the site of a F-100 that crashed at the Crow Valley gunnery range and determined that the pilot was located in the wreckage and was deceased. They returned to Clark AB. About three hours later another HH-43B #60-0268, crewed by Capt. Marvin L. Palmer (P), Capt. James L. Wissert (CP), TSgt. Donald F. Larsen (HM) & Capt. Russell Rayman (FS) returned to the site with medical personnel, photographer and accident investigators and they returned the remains of the deceased pilot to Clark AB. 31st ARS Monthly Historical Report (RCS: AV-05(ARS) 1-31 Aug 64 |
| 1964 - August 14 | A TDY HH-43B LBR unit arrives at Korat RTAFB, Thailand and was activated as Det. 4(P), PARC. http://www.pjsinnam.com/vn_history/pdf_files/Chronology/1963.pdf |
| 1964 - August 14 | Two HH-43B’s from the 36th ARS at Tachikawa with unkn crews were utilized to guide search parties to the crash site of a KB-50, about 50 NM south of Misawa AB, Japan, that had crashed on August 13th and was located on a mountain with an incline of approximately 30°. The HH-43B’s were utilized to transfer the bodies from the ground party to Misawa AB. 36th ARS Monthly Historical Report, Aug 1964 |
| 1964 - August 14 | Two HH-19B’s awaiting reclamation were transferred from the 36th ARS to the 6100th Support Wing, Tachikawa AB, Japan. 36th ARS Monthly Historical Report, Aug 1964 |
| 1964 - September 01 | Det. 1(P), PARC is activated at Bien Hoa AB, RVN with 2 HH-43B's and Det. 2 PARC (P) is activated at Da Nang AB, RVN with 2 HH-43B's. http://www.pjsinnam.com/vn_history/pdf_files/Chronology/1963%2064.pdf |
| 1964 - September 05 | This is the FIRST known record of a HH-43B using the “Pedro” call sign occurred on this date at the 33rd ARS, Naha AB, Okinawa with the following information. A HH-43B (Call sign “Pedro 01”) from the 31st ARS at Clark AB, PI., crewed by Capt. Larry C. Evans (P), Capt. David E. Allen (CP), TSgt. Forest W. Farley (HM) and Maj. Theodore J. Wachs (FS) evaluated two persons from Fort Magsaysay to the Clark AB Hospital. 31st ARS Monthly Historical Report (RCS: AV-05(ARS) 1-30 Sep 64 |
| 1964 - September 15 | The helicopter section of the 36th ARS was moved to Yokota AB, Japan and became Det. 2 of the 36th ARS. 36th ARS Monthly Historical Report, Sep 1964 |
| 1964 - September 21 & 22 | The ARS detachment at Laughlin AFB, TX., evacuated eight flood victims from the area of Brackettville, TX., and 22 flood victims from the areas of Del Rio and Sonora. No other details are available at this time. http://www.afsoc.af.mil/shared/media/document/AFD-070906-042.pdf |
| 1964 -October 14 | Two HH-43B's (believed to be #59-1549 and #60-0258) from Det. 4(P), PARC, Takhli RTAFB, Thailand, one HH-43B was crewed by 1st Lt. Larry N. Young (P), 1st Lt. John Harry Parks (CP), A1C Joseph E. Ivansco (FM), A2C Lonnie W. Bunting (FF) and A1C Leroy Bruner (FF) and the other by 1st Lt. Kenneth C. Franzel (P), Capt. Kenneth W. Dotson (CP), Capt. Karl J. Stumph (Flt. Surgeon), SSgt. Bobby G. Call (FF) and A1C Donald E. Farris (FF). Rescued, in semi-darkness and fog, five crew members who had bailed out of their crippled KB-50J aircraft shortly after takeoff about 12 miles from Takhli RTAFB, Thailand. http://www.h43-huskie.info/framesetrotortips.html |
| 1964 -October 16 | A USAF H-19 helicopter from Naha AB, Okinawa, crewed by Charles D. Bathman (P) 1st Lt. Cortland D. Field (CP), A1C Roger Ely (FM) and SSgt. Charles James (MT), battled high winds and rough seas and rescued a seriously ill sailor of the destroyer Tuckar, 50 miles southeast of Okinawa and delivered him safely to the U. S. Army Hospital at Camp Kue. Pacific Stars & Stripes, Tuesday, October 18, 1964, pg. 7 |
| 1964 -October 29 | A HH-43B from Det. 2, 36th ARS at Yokota AB, crewed by unkn (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FM) and unkn (MT) rescued the uninjured pilot of an F-105 after he had ejected from his aircraft before it crashed about 293 NM northwest of Yokota AB. Once he was taken aboard, he was taken to Yokota AB and turned over to the flight surgeon for examination. Another HH-43B, crew unkn, was dispatched from Yokota to aid in the search for the wreckage of the downed F-105. 36th ARS Monthly Historical Report, Sep 1964 |
| 1964 -October 31 | During a enemy mortar attack at Bien Hoa AB, RVN all three of the Det. 1 (P), PARC, HH-3B and two HH-43F’s were damaged. One of the HH-43B’s received major structural damage and had to be returned to the depot for repairs. (See next entry.) CHECO REPORT USAF Search And Rescue In Southeast Asia (1961-66) dated 24 October 1966 |
| 1964 -November 01 | HH-43B #59-1571 with Det 1(P) at Bien Hoa AB, RVN was damaged by an enemy mortar attack. The helicopter was repaired and put back into service at Da Nang AB, RVN in May 1965. No other details are known at this time. (See previous entry). https://www.ragay.nl/pacaf-first-period-49.html |
| 1964 -November 18 | A HH-43F from Da Nang AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Floyd R. Lockhart (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ) rescued eight survivors of an aircraft crash sixty miles southwest of Da Nang AB. Capt. Lockhart was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross for heroism for his actions on this mission. Awards for other crew members are not known. The Distinguished Flying Cross News Magazine, Volume 19, Issue 1, summer 2019 |
| 1964 -November 18 & 19 | The FIRST large scale CSAR operations of the Vietnam War took place from Nakhon Phanom RTAFB, Thailand, when two HH-43B's, #62-4564 (Call sign “Pansy 88”) from Det. 2(P), crewed by 1st Lt. James Wesely Crabb Sr. (P), 1st Lt. John W. Christianson (CP), TSgt. Alvin C. Reed (FM) and SSgt. Robert E. Bennett (PJ) and #62-4565 (Call sign “Pansy 89”) crewed by unkn (P), 1st Lt. James E. Sovell (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ) from Nakhon Phanom RTAFB, Thailand attempted to rescue the pilot of a F-100D (Call sign “Ball 03”), Capt. William Reynolds Martin, who's aircraft had been hit by AAA fire and shot down near Ban Senphan, Laos on 18 November 1964. The search for him was unsuccessful on the 18th, however his wreckage was located on the 19th and an Air America H-34 lowered their co-pilot and he discovered that Capt. Martin died during his ejection when he hit the rocky ground. The H-34 recovered his body. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & http://wwwh43-huskie.info/framesetpedro.html |
| 1964 -November 19 | A HH-43B (Call sign “Pedro 01”) from the 31st ARS at Clark AB, PI., crewed by Capt. Larry C. Evans (P), Capt. David E. Allen (CP), A1C R. J. Price (HM) and A1C Charles A. Sullivan (MT) evacuate a Philippine National from Balanga to the Clark AB Hospital. 31st ARS Monthly Historical Report (RCS: AV-05(ARS) 1-30 Nov 64 |
| 1964 -November 24 | A HH-43B (Call sign “Pedro 01”) from the 31st ARS at Clark AB, PI., crewed by Capt. Marvin L. Palmer (P), Capt. James L. Wissert (CP), A1C Charles A. Sullivan (MT) and Eugene E. Richards (RS) rescue the pilot and co-pilot after they had ejected 1 mile north of Clark AB when their F-100F caught fire. After they were recovered, they were taken to the Clark AB Hospital. 31st ARS Monthly Historical Report (RCS: AV-05(ARS) 1-30 Nov 64 |
| 1964 -November 26 | A HH-43B (Call sign “Pedro 01”) from the 31st ARS at Clark AB, PI., crewed by Capt. David J. Wege (P), Capt. Marvin L. Palmer (CP), A1C James W. Burns (HM), A1C Charles A. Sullivan (MT) and E. E. Richards (RS) recovered the pilot of a F-100 after he ejected from his aircraft approximately 2 miles east of Clark AB. 31st ARS Monthly Historical Report (RCS: AV-05(ARS) 1-30 Nov 64 |
| 1964 - December 01 | A HH-43F #63-9712, from Det. 4, PARC, Bien Hoa AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. John A. Boyles (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FM) and A2C Michael R. Donegan (PJ) rescued the pilot of a A-1E, 1st Lt. Kemp P. Roedeman after he and W/O D. S. Tan (VNAF) bailed out of their ground fire damaged aircraft near Phuoc Vinh, about 20 miles north of Saigon. W/O D. S. Tan (VNAF) did not survive and was not recovered. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & JRRC Mission Form & Pacific Stars & Stripes, Thursday, Mar. 11, 1965 |
| 1964 - December 05 | A HH-43B (Call sign “Pedro 01”) from the 31st ARS at Clark AB, PI., crewed by Capt. James L. Wissert (P), Capt. David J. Wege (CP), A1C James W. Burns (HM) and Charles A. Sullivan (MT) was sent to Cubi Point NAS to participate in the search for crewmen of a downed P-3 aircraft in the South China Sea. Pedro 1 located oil slicks and searched the crash site. No survivors but two bodies were found. 31st ARS Monthly Historical Report (RCS: AV-05(ARS) 1-31 Dec 64 |
| 1964 – December 21 | HH-43B #62-4564 of the 33rd ARS at Naha AB, Japan, crewed by unkn (P), unkn (CP), unkn (HM) and unkn (MT) medevacked an injured Marine from a helicopter pad located in the northern training area of Okinawa, to the Camp Kue Hospital. 33rd ARS Historical Data Jan to Dec 1964 |
| 1964 - December 22 - January 22 | CH-21's, HH-43B's, CH-3's and H-19's from various unit were involved in the humanitarian airlift operation "Operation Big lift" to provide rescue and relief efforts for victims of heavy flooding and mudslides in northern California. The USAF & Humanitarian Airlift Operations 1947-1994 by Daniel L. Haul |
| 1964 – December 26 | HH-43B of the 33rd ARS at Naha AB, Japan, crewed by unkn (P), unkn (CP), unkn (HM) and unkn (MT) medevacked two injured Marines from an unprepared area located in the northern training area of Okinawa, to the Camp Kue Hospital. 33rd ARS Historical Data Jan to Dec 1964 |
| 1965 – Unknown date | Two HH-43F’s from Det. 5, PARC, Da Nang AB, RVN, one crewed by Capt. Bruce A. Purvine (P), Maj. Floyd R. Lockhart (CP), SSgt. Dewey A. Kilpatrick (FM) and A2C Randolph Smith (PJ), and the ‘high bird’ crewed by Capt. James V. Berryhill (P), Capt. James F. Hartley (CP), A1C Richard H. Syverson (FM) and MSgt. Lenote M. Vigare (PJ) rescued eight crewmembers from a CV-2B #62-4148, that crashed in the A-Shau Valley after the aircraft had an engine failure. Kaman RotorTips Two HH-43F’s from Det. 5, PARC, Da Nang AB, RVN, one crewed by Capt. Bruce M. Purvine (P), Maj. Floyd R. Lockhart (CP), SSgt. Dewey A. Kilpatrick (FM) and A2C Randolph Smith (PJ), and the ‘high bird’ crewed by Capt. James V. Berryhill (P), Capt. James F. Hartley (CP), A1C Richard H. Syverson (FM) and MSgt. Lenote M. Vigare (PJ) rescued eight crewmembers from a CV-2B #62-4148, that crashed in the A-Shau Valley after the aircraft had an engine failure. Kaman RotorTips Magazine 1965 April-May 1965 April-May |
| 1965 – January 07 | A HH-43B (Call sign “Pedro 1”) from the 33rd ARS at Naha AB, Okinawa, crewed by unkn (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FM) and unkn (MT) was scrambled for an F-4C that had declared an emergency and returned to alert status after the F-4C landed safely. 33rd ARS Historical Data Jan 1965 |
| 1965 – January 07 | A HH-43B from the 33rd ARS at Naha AB, Okinawa, crewed by unkn (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FM) and unkn (MT) provided a medical evacuation for a Marine who has suffered a broken leg while on maneuvers in the Northern training area of Okinawa. After making a night landing to pick up the patient he was transported to Camp Kue Hospital. 33rd ARS Mission summary Jan 65 |
| 1965 – January 07 | A HH-43B (Call sign “Pedro 1”) from the 31st ARS at Clark AB, PI., crewed by Capt. Marvin L. Palmer (P), Capt. David J. Wege (CP), A1C Raymond J. Price (HM), A1C Donald J. Glassford (MT) medevacked a critically injured 15-year-old boy from Malolos, Bulacan, to the Clark AB Hospital. The boy had suffered a severely fractured skull in an automobile accident. 31st ARS Mission summary 2 Jan-Dec 65 |
| 1965 – January 08 | For the second day in a row an HH-43B (Call sign “Pedro 1”) from the 33rd ARS at Naha AB, Okinawa, crewed by unkn (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FM) and unkn (MT) was scrambled for an F-4C that had declared an emergency and returned to alert status after the F-4C landed safely. 33rd ARS Historical Data Jan 1965 |
| 1965 – January 08 | A HH-43B (Call sign “Pedro 1”) from the 31st ARS at Clark AB, PI., crewed by Capt. David J. Wege (P), Capt. Marvin L. Palmer (CP) TSgt James L. Moten (RS), SSgt. Rodney L. Griffith (RS) and A1C Donald J. Glassford were in flight when they were notified that a C-130 was on fire on the ramp. They proceeded to the scene and noted that there was no fire, however and airman at the site had received 3rd degree liquid oxygen burns on the hands and arms. He was wandering about aimlessly in a state of shock when they arrived, they took him onboard and airlifted him to the Clark AB Hospital. 31st ARS Mission summary 2 Jan-Dec 65 |
| 1965 – January 08 | A HH-43B (Call sign “Pedro 1”) from the 31st ARS at Clark AB, PI., crewed by Capt. David J. Wege (P), Capt. Larry C. Evans (CP) and A1C Donald J. Glassford (MT) was notified of an airman who was pinned beneath an overturned AF pickup truck at Camp O’Donnel, 15 miles northwest of Clark AB. The helicopter took off and landed at the Clark AB hospital to wait for a flight surgeon and base surgeon because an amputation might be required. By the time “Pedro 1” arrived at the scene several Air Force men and Filipinos had lifted the truck off of the victim. A tourniquet was applied to the Airman’s severely lacerated arm, and he was loaded into the helicopter, by litter, and taken to the Clark AB hospital. The helicopter was shut down at the hospital due to an engine low oil pressure warning light and was towed back to the flight line where the engine was replaced. 31st ARS Mission summary 2 Jan-Dec 65 |
| 1965 – January 09 | A HH-43B (Call sign “Pedro 1”) from the 33rd ARS at Naha AB, Okinawa, crewed by unkn (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FM) and unkn (MT) was scrambled for an F-4C that had declared an emergency and returned to alert status after the F-4C landed safely. 33rd ARS Historical Data Jan 1965 |
| 1965 – January 12 | Naha ADCC advised 33rd ARS of an aircraft in distress. An HH-43B (Call sign "Pedro 1") from the 33rd ARS, crewed by unkn (P), unkn (CP), unkn (HM) and unkn (MT) was scrambled and an HU-16B on local airborne alert was diverted to the area of the distressed aircraft. AFHRA file K318.2 Jan-Dec 65, VOL 3 Mission #8 |
| 1965 – January 18 | A HH-43B from the 31st ARS at Clark AB, PI., crewed by Capt. Marvin L. Palmer (P), Capt. David E. Allen (CP), TSgt. Forest W. Farley (HM) and Maj. Theodore J. Wacks (FS) medevacked a Filipino (U.S. Gov. employee) who had been injured in a fall at the Bataan Ocean Refinery and airlifted him to the Clark AB hospital. 31st ARS Mission summary 2 Jan-Dec 65 |
| 1965 – January 24 | A HH-43B (Call sign “Pedro 1”) from the 33rd ARS at Naha AB, Okinawa, crewed by unkn (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FM), unkn (PJ) and unkn (PJ) was scrambled to rescue a USAF airman who had fallen from a cliff and received multiple injuries. Once on the scene the PJs repelled down the cliff, administered first aid, and surveyed the site to assure the successful landing of the HH-43B. The patient was onloaded and transported to the Camp Kue Army Hospital. The HH-43B then returned to pick up the PJs who had been left behind to affect the rescue. 33rd ARS Historical Data Jan 1965 |
| 1965 – January 29 | A HH-43B (Call sign “Pedro 1”) from the 31st ARS at Clark AB, PI., crewed by Capt. David E. Wege (P), Capt. David E. Allen (CP), A1C James W. Burns (HM) and A1C Charles A. Sullivan (MT) medevacked an unconscious snakebite victim at Camp O’Donnel after making a night landing at the O’Donnel softball field that was complicated by numerous unlighted antennas covering the surrounding area. A1C Sullivan had administered anti-venom serum and used resusitube to ease breathing and he was taken to the Clark AB hospital. 31st ARS Jun 1964-Oct 1965 history |
| 1965 – January 30-31 | The FIRST known record of a HH-43B using the “Pedro” call sign in the CONUS occurred on these dates when two HH-43B’s from Det. 9, WARC, Portland IAP, OR and one HH-43B from Det. 5, WARC, McChord AFB, WA, using the call signs “Pedro 1, 2 & 3, were called on after roads and bridges leading to Crystal Mountain ski resort were washed out stranding over 300 skiers in the snow-covered area. Pedro 1 was crewed by Capt. Thomas D. Precious (P), SSgt. Enoch Benson (MT) and A3C George Lepsey (FM), Pedro 2 was crewed by 1st Lt. Jason Bridge (P), Capt. Paul Schildger (CP) and A2C Richard Landry (FN) and Pedro 3 was crewed by Capt. Andy Solberg (P), SSgt. Howard Lord (FM) and TSgt. Eddie Hagerman. Kaman Rotor Tips, Apr-May 65, page 14 article titled “Det. 5 and 9 HH-43B’s Rescues 138” |
| 1965 - February 02 | HH-43B #59-1567 with Det. Prov. 01, AARC at Asmara, Eritrea crashed while supplying HIRAN site #14, elevation 11,500 ft. The crew was not injured and it is believed 59-1567 was recovered, repaired and put back into service. No other information is available at this time. http://www.h43-huskie.info/framesetnew.html |
| 1965 - February 02 | A HH-43F from Det. 5, PARC, Da Nang AB, RVN, crew unkn, medevacked three wounded in action in RVN. No other details are known at this time. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1965 - February 07 | A HH-43F from Det. 6, PARC, Bien Hoa AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Maurice G. Kessler (P), 1st Lt. Mark C. Schibler (CP), TSgt. Richard A. Cannon (FM) and SSgt. Leon C. Fullwood (PJ) rescued the pilot of an O-1E, Rexford T. O'Connor, in RVN. No other details are known at this time. JRRC Mission Form |
| 1965 - February 08 | A HH-43B from Det. 5(P), PARC, Udorn RTAFB, Thailand, crewed by Capt. James E. Hartley (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FM) and unkn (PJ) rescued the pilot of a VNAF A-1H, Maj. Hung, after he bailed out his aircraft. No other details are known at this time. JRRC Mission Form and "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1965 - February 09 | A HH-43B (Call sign “Pedro 1”) from the 33rd ARS at Naha AB crewed by unkn (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FM) and unkn (MT) was sent to medevac an Okinawan woman and her prematurely born baby from an off-shore island. Shortly after take-off the HH-43B declared an emergency and returned to Naha AB. A second HH-43B was scrambled to carry out the mission. Both mother and baby were delivered to Naha AB Operation where a waiting civilian ambulance was waiting to take them to Naha City Hospital. 33rd ARS Historical Data Feb 1965 |
| 1965 - February 09 | A HH-43F from Det. 5, PARC, Da Nang AB, RVN, crew unkn, medevac’d five unkn troops in contact in RVN. No other details are known at this time. JRRC Mission Form |
| 1965 -February 11 | A HH-43B from the 33rd ARS at Naha AB, crewed by unkn (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FM) and unkn (MT) medevacked a Ryukyuan man suffering from a bleeding ulcer, from an off-shore island. The evacuee was picked up and delivered to Naha AB for delivery to Naha City Hospital by civilian ambulance. 33rd ARS Historical Data Feb 1965 |
| 1965 -February 11 | A USAF HH-43F from Det. 3, PARC, at Tan Son Nhut AB, RVN, rescue helicopter, crew unkn, rescued A-4C pilot, Lt. W. T. Majors, from the sea off the coast of North Vietnam, almost immediately after he ejected from his damaged aircraft. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson |
| 1965 - February 13 | A HH-43F from Det. 5, PARC, Da Nang AB, RVN, crewed by 1st Lt. Tommy L. Brown (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FM) and unkn (PJ) rescued one man named Forrester from a downed UH-1B in RVN. No other details are known at this time. JRRC Mission Form |
| 1965 - February 13 | A HH-43F from Det. 7, PARC, Da Nang AB, RVN, crewed by unkn (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FM) and unkn (PJ) rescued one unkn from a downed O-1E in RVN. No other details are known at this time. JRRC Mission Form |
| 1965 - February 16 | A HH-43F from Det. 7, PARC, Da Nang AB, RVN, believed to have been crewed by Capt. Clyde W. Lemke (P), 1st Lt. Joseph P. Phelan (CP), TSgt. John G. Regan Jr. (FM) and A1C Jon H. Young (PJ) medevacked one unkn from a radar site in RVN who had received serious head injuries in a fall and was suffering from shock and loss of blood. No other details are known at this time. JRRC Mission Form & Kaman RotorTips Magazine 1965, April-May |
| 1965 -February 18 | A HH-43B from the 33rd ARS at Naha AB, crewed by unkn (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FM) and unkn (MT) medevacked an Okinawan man from an off-shore island. The evacuee was picked up and delivered to Naha AB for delivery to Naha City Hospital by civilian ambulance. 33rd ARS Historical Data Feb 1965 |
| 1965 -February 19 | A HH-43B from the 33rd ARS at Naha AB, crewed by unkn (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FM) and unkn (MT) medevacked an Okinawan boy with suspected appendicitis, from Iheya Shima and delivered him to Hamby AAF for delivery of the patient by civilian ambulance to Koza City. 33rd ARS Historical Data Feb 1965 |
| 1965 - February 19 | A HH-43F from Det. 6, PARC, Bien Hoa AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Edwin A. Hennigson (P), Capt. Maurice G. Kessler (CP), TSgt. Richard A. Connon (FM) and Leon Hennigson (PJ), medevac’d James Hunt in RVN. No other details are known at this time. JRRC Mission Form |
| 1965 - March 02 | During the FIRST Combat Rescue mission to occur in North Vietnam a HH-43F #63-9713 (Call sign "Brandy 95"), from Det. 5, PARC, Da Nang AB, RVN and operating from Quang Tri, RVN, crewed by 1st Lt. Joseph P. Phelan (P), Capt. Clyde W. Lemke (CP), SSgt. John T. Regan (FM) and Sgt. Jon H. Young (PJ) rescued a downed VNAF A-1H pilot WO Van Phu, from the Gulf of Tonkin and then went into NVN to attempt to rescue a downed F-100 pilot, 1st Lt. Hayden James Lockhart, but they were not able to find him, and he became a POW. The 'high bird’ HH-43F #63-9714 (Call sign “Brandy 96”) crewed by Maj. Ronald L. Ingraham (P), 1st Lt. Donald Matchett Welsh (CP), Sgt. Larry K. Anderson (FM), unkn (PJ). "PJ's in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & http://wwwh43-huskie.info/framesetpedro.html |
| 1965 - March 02 | The FIRST successful Combat Rescue in North Vietnam occurred when an HH-43F #63-9714 (Call sign "Brandy 96"), from Det. 5, PARC at Da Nang AB, RVN, crewed by Maj. Ronald L. Ingraham (P), 1st Lt. Donald Matchett Welsh (CP), Sgt. Larry K. Henderson (FM) and A2C John H. Moore (PJ), rescued F-105D pilot, Capt. Robert V. Baird, who was participating in the first "Rolling Thunder" strike mission against North Vietnam, after he had ejected from his AAA damaged aircraft near his target near Xom Biang, NVN. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1965 - March 02 | The FIRST night Combat Rescue occurred in Laos when an HH-43B #62-4510 (call sign "Brandy 41") from Det. 2(P), PARC, at Nakhon Phanom RTAFB, Thailand, crewed by Capt. Israel "Izzy" Freedman (P), Capt. James "Jim" C. Rodenberg (CP), A3C Frank P. Hanutke (FM) and A1C Herbert H. Romisch (PJ), rescued F-105D (Call sign "Baste 19") pilot, Maj. George W. Panas, who was participating in the first "Rolling Thunder" strike mission against North Vietnam, from near Tchepone, Laos. The 'high bird’ on this mission was HH-43B #60-0279 (Call sign "Brandy 21") crewed by Capt. Warren K. Davis (P), an unknown flight surgeon flew as co-pilot (CP), TSgt. John J. Kelly (FM) and SSgt. Enson J. Farmer (PJ). "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & http://wwwh43-huskie.info/framesetpedro.html |
| 1965 - March 02 | An HH-4B from 38th ARS, Det. 4(P), PARC, Korat RTAFB, Thailand, crewed by Capt. Joseph Kelly (P), 1st Lt. Larry N. Young (CP), A1C Harold L. Morgan (FM) and A1C John P. Gibeau (MT), rescued F-105D pilot, Capt. K. L. Spagnola, from near Roi Et, Thailand after he ejected from his ground fire damaged aircraft. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1965 -March 03 | A HH-43B from the 33rd ARS at Naha AB, crewed by unkn (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FM) and unkn (MT) medevacked a USAF NCO with suspected appendicitis, from an off-shore island and delivered him to Camp Kue Army Hospital. 33rd ARS Historical Data Mar 1965 |
| 1965 -March 04 | A HH-43B from the 33rd ARS at Naha AB, crewed by unkn (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FM) and unkn (MT) medevacked a U.S. Marine with a possible broken back from the Northern Training Area of Okinawa and delivered him to Camp Kue Army Hospital. 33rd ARS Historical Data Mar 1965 |
| 1965 -March 04 | A HH-43B from the 33rd ARS at Naha AB, crewed by unkn (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FM) and unkn (MT) medevacked a U.S. Marine with a possible fractured pelvis from the Northern Training Area of Okinawa and delivered him to Camp Kue Army Hospital. 33rd ARS Historical Data Mar 1965 |
| 1965 -March 18 | A HH-43B from the 33rd ARS at Naha AB, crewed by unkn (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FM) and unkn (MT) medevacked an Okinawan man, with a severely mangled arm, from an off-shore island and delivered him to medical facilities. 33rd ARS Historical Data Mar 1965 |
| 1965 - March 26 | An HH-43F from Det. 7, PARC, Da Nang AB, RVN, crewed by 1st Lt. Joseph P. Phelan (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FM) and unkn (PJ), rescued the pilot of a USN F-8D, Lt. C. E. Wangeman, from the South China Sea after he ejected from his AAA damaged aircraft about 20 miles north of Da Nang AB, RVN. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1965 - March 26 | An unknown U. S. Air Force helicopter, crewed by unkn (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) rescued the pilot of an USN A-4E, Cmdr. K. OL. Shugart after he ejected from his damaged aircraft, about 10 miles offshore, after striking a radar site at Vinh Son, NVN. Vietnam Air Losses by Chris Hobson |
| 1965 - March 26 | An unknown U. S. Air Force helicopter, crewed by unkn (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) rescued the pilot of an USN F-8D aircraft, Lt. C. E. Wangeman, from the sea 20 miles north of Da Nang AB, RVN after he was forced to eject from his aircraft that had been damaged while attacking an AAA site at Bach Long Vi. Vietnam Air Losses by Chris Hobson |
| 1965 - March 31 | An HH-43B #60-0279 (Call sign "Alban 21") from Det. 2(P), PARC, Nakhon Phanom RTAFB, Thailand, crewed by Capt. Jay M. Strayer (P), Capt. James C. Rodenberg (CP), A1C Cecil A. Boothby (FM) and SSgt. Enson J. Farmer (PJ) and A1C Herbert H. Romisch (PJ), rescued F-100D pilot, Capt. Ronald A. Bigoness, after he had ejected from his aircraft that had been hit by ground fire near Ha Tinh, NVN and he flew it about 20 miles into Laos. The 'high bird’ on this mission was HH-43B #62-4510 (Call sign "Alban 41") piloted by Capt. Israel Freedman (P), and Capt. Warren K. Davis (CP), A3C Frank P. Hanutke (FM), SSgt Harold G. Stroud (FM) and A2C Eric A. Anderson (PJ). http://wwwh43-huskie.info/framesetpedro.htm & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1965 - April 05 | An HH-43 crewed by unkn (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FM) and unkn (PJ), rescued F-105D pilot, Capt. T. Gay, from near Ban Pang, Laos after his aircraft was shot down by ground fire. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson |
| 1965 - April 08 | A HH-43B from Det. 1, 36th ARS at Misawa AB, Japan, crewed by Capt. Dennis M. Chase (P), Capt. Davis E. Mullin (CP), unkn (FM) and unkn (MT) were instrumental in saving the life of a young Japanese mother, Junko Kodate, who had given birth to a child and needed of three pints of extremely rare ORH-Negative blood. They were able to deliver the three pints of blood, provided by the 439th U.S. Air Force Hospital, to the city of Morioka, on the northern tip of Honshu Island, where the young mother was hospitalized. The next day her doctor reported that the mother and child were doing fine. Pacific Stars & Stripes, Sunday, April 11, 1965 |
| 1965 - April 12 | A HH-43B from the 33rd ARS at Naha AB, crewed by unkn (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FM) and unkn (MT) performed a medivac of a Ryukyuan man, with a 5-inch stab wound in his abdomen, from an off-shore island to a waiting civilian ambulance at Naha AB. 33rd ARS Mission Reports Apr 65 |
| 1965 - April 14 | A HH-43B from the 33rd ARS at Naha AB, crewed by unkn (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FM) and unkn (MT) performed a medivac of a Ruykyuan woman with suspected acute appendicitis from Izena Shima to a waiting civilian ambulance at Naha AB. 33rd ARS Mission Reports Apr 65 |
| 1965 - April 14 | Det. 3(P), PARC was activated at Ubon RTAFB, Thailand (with 2 HH-43B's). http://www.pjsinnam.com/vn_history/pdf_files/Chronology/1965.pdf |
| 1965 - April 15 | A HH-43B (Call sign “Pedro 1”) from the 33rd ARS at Naha AB, crewed by unkn (P), unkn (CP), unkn (MT), unkn (FF) and unkn (FF) deployed the FSK and fire fighters, next to a F-101 that had made a gear up landing, where they expended the FSK to prevent the possibility of igniting the large amount of JP-4 fuel leaking from the F-101 while the pilot safely evacuated his aircraft without assistance. 33rd ARS Mission Reports Apr 65 |
| 1965 - April 17 | A HH-43B (Call sign “Pedro 1”) from the 33rd ARS at Naha AB, crewed by unkn (P), unkn (CP), unkn (MT), unkn (FF) and unkn (FF) searched for and located a missing sailboat and determined that the crew was requesting evacuation. A hoist pick-up proved hazardous due to downwash from the blades, so the rotor wash was used instead to blow the sailboat to a small island nearby. The HH-43B landed and evacuated one of the two survivors to the Clark AB Hospital. The other survivor elected to remain with the boat and await a tow to Naha Port. 33rd ARS Mission Reports Apr 65 |
| 1965 - April 24 | A HH-43B from the 33rd ARS at Naha AB, crewed by unkn (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FM) and unkn (MT) performed a medivac of U. S. Army enlisted man, suffering from severe body injuries, and delivered him to Kue Hospital. 33rd ARS Mission Reports Apr 65 |
| 1965 -April 27 | An HH-43B from Det. 2(P), PARC at Nakhon Phanom RTAFB, Thailand (NKP), crewed by Capt. James C. Rodenberg (P), Capt. Jay M. Strayer (CP), A1C Cecil A. Boothby (FM) and A2C Michael T. Henebry (PJ), rescued a USN Navy A-1H pilot, Lt. (jg.) Scott B. Wilkes, who had bailed out of his ground fire damaged aircraft that he had managed to fly to within two miles of NKP. http://www.h43-huskie.info/framesetrotortips.html |
| 1965 -April 27 | An HH-43B from the 31st ARS at Clark AB, PI., crewed by Capt. Marvin L. Palmer (P), Raymond Albee (CP), TSgt. David D. Dere (HM) and Capt. Thurman E. Tobias (DR) medevacked a seriously ill Philippine businessman, Mr. Leonardo Go, from Infanta, Quezon Province, to Manila for treatment. 31st ARS Jun 1964-Oct 1965 history |
| 1965 - April 30 | CH-3C #63-9680 from the 341st SMWg. (SAC) at Malmstrom AFB, MT., crewed by Capt. Ken Winden (P), Capt. Ed Heft (CP), Capt. Capp (CP) and Bevon R. Dowell (FM), crashed and exploded into flames moments after takeoff from a central Montana Air Force Minuteman Missile launch site about 10 miles north of Lewistown, MT. None of the four-man crew or eight passengers were seriously injured but several received third degree burns. Aerospace Safety Magazine, Nov. 1965 & The Montana Standard (Butte, Montana)-Sat. May 1, 1965 |
| 1965 – May 03 | Det. 5, 38th ARS arrives at Udorn RTAFB, Thailand with their HH-43B's for local base rescue and SAR. http://udornrtafb.tripod.com/id55.html |
| 1965 - May 04 | A HH-43F from Det. 6, PARC at Bien Hoa AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Darvan E. “Ed” Cook (P), unkn (CP), SSgt Thomas Hughes (FM) and MSgt. Charles "Chuck" Walthers (PJ), using the HH-43F’s rotor wash with SSgt. Hughes and MSgt. Charles Walthers using the FSK fire suppression kit, put out a fire on a B-57, loaded with bombs, and probably saved an entire flight line of 12 B-57's loaded with 750 lb. bombs. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1965 - May 05 | A HH-43B from the 31st ARS at Clark AB, PI., crewed by Capt. Larry C. Evans (P), Capt. Marvin L. Palmer (CP), A1C James W. Burns (HM) and SSgt. Donald J. Glassford (MT) medevacked a Philippine National employee, with possible ruptured appendix, from the Crow Valley Range to the Clark AB hospital. 31st ARS Jun 1964-Oct 1965 history file |
| 1965 - May 05 | HH-43B #59-1549 with Det. 4(P), PARC, at Takhli RTAFB, Thailand that was involved in a landing gear incident at Takhli RTAFB, Thailand, it was repaired and returned to service as of May 07, 1965. http://www.h43-huskie.info/framesetnew.html |
| 1965 - May 06 | A HH-43B from the 31st ARS at Clark AB, PI., crewed by Capt. Marvin L. Palmer (P), Capt. Larry C. Evans (CP), TSgt. Forrest W. Farley (HM) and A1C Charles A. Sullivan (MT) medevacked an injured Navy man from the Bataan Oil Terminal and took him to the Clark AB hospital. 31st ARS 2 Jan-Dec 65 history file |
| 1965 - May 12 | A HH-43F from Det. 2(P), PARC, at NKP RTAFB, Thailand crewed by Capt. Joe E. Ballinger (P), 1st Lt. Walter F. Turk (CP), TSgt. Charles E. Rainey (FM) and A2C David M. Cutillo (FM) rescued the pilot, Schneider, of an F-105D, after he ejected in Thailand when his aircraft had an engine failure. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1965 – May 14 | A HH-43B from the 33rd ARS at Naha AB, crewed by unkn (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FM) and unkn (MT) performed a medivac of U. S. Army NCO, with possible appendicitis, from an offshore island and delivered him to the camp Kue Army Hospital. 33rd ARS Mission Reports May 65 |
| 1965 – May 14 | A HH-43B from the 33rd ARS at Naha AB, crewed by unkn (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FM) and unkn (MT) rescued two pilots who had ejected when their T-33 flamed out on final approach to Nah AB in extremely poor weather conditions. Both survivors were picked up using the rescue hoist and rescue basket and delivered to Naha Base Operations where they were then taken to the Naha AB Hospital by a USAF ambulance. 33rd ARS Mission Reports May 65 |
| 1965 - May 15 | A HH-43F from Det. 1(P), PARC, crewed by 1st Lt. E. J. Hartke (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FM) and unkn (PJ), rescued 3 Thai civilians. No other details are known at this time. JRCC Save Form |
| 1965 - May 15 | A HH-43F at Bien Hoa AB, RVN was damaged when a bomb carried by a flight of B-57B preparing for takeoff malfunction and exploded setting off a series of chain reaction explosions that killed 27 USAF men, injured numerous others and destroyed 10 B-57B’s, a A-1E, two VNAF A-1H’s, a USN F-8E and damaged 30 other VNAF A-1H’s. Vietnam Air Losses by Chris Hobson |
| 1965 - May 17 | Two HH-43F #60-0280 (call signs “Tick 22”) from Det. 2(P), PARC at Nakhon Phanom RTAFB, Thailand crewed by Capt. Bruce C. Hepp (P), Capt. Stanley O. Schaetzle (CP), A1C William A. Robinson (FM) and A2C Richard A. Wallace (PJ), in the ‘low bird’, rescued F-105D pilot, Capt. James J. Taliaferro Jr., from near Ban Kia Na in North Vietnam. The ‘high bird’ HH-43B #62-4510 (call signs “Tick 41”) on this mission was crewed by 1st Lt. Walter F. Turk (P) Capt. Joe E. Ballinger (CP), SSgt. Roberto Rodriguez (FM) and A2C Marvin F. Brenaman (PJ). "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1965 - May 21 | A HH-43B from the 33rd ARS at Naha AB, crewed by unkn (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FM) and unkn (MT) performed a medivac of U. S. Army enlisted man, suffering from an obstruction of the urinary tract, and delivered him to Naha AB for transfer to Camp Kue Army Hospital by USAF ambulance. 33rd ARS Mission Reports May 65 |
| 1965 - May 26 | A HH-43B from the 33rd ARS at Naha AB, crewed by unkn (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FM) and unkn (MT) performed the evacuation of twelve Japanese workmen from an offshore island. A typhoon was approaching the Ryukyus at the time, and the maximum elevation of the island was ten feet with no shelter available capable of withstanding typhoon winds. The workmen were taken to a larger island nearby that had adequate typhoon shelter. 33rd ARS Mission Reports May 65 |
| 1965 - May 28 | A HH-43F from Det. 4, PARC, Bien Hoa AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. John A. Boyles (P), Capt. Kenneth L. Spaur (CP), SSgt. Emil F. Miehlke (FE) and TSgt. Harold E. Moak (PJ), used their FSK to rescue a survivor of a US Army UH-1B helicopter that had a mid-air collision with another UH-1B. A second HH-43F, crewed by Capt. Beryl E. Warden Jr. (P), 1st Lt. Joseph T. Connell (CP), SSgt. Kelly R. Hughes (FM) and A2C Richard O. Steinert (PJ) used their FSK to fight the fire involved in the collision. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1965 - June 02 | HH-43F #63-9713 (Call sign "Rescue 95") from Det. 5, PARC at Da Nang AB, RVN crewed by Capt. Floyd A. Lockhart (P), no co-pilot was aboard, SSgt. Dewey A. Kilpatrick (FM) and A2C Randolph M. Smith (PJ) was lost when it was hit by ground fire while on a SAR mission for a downed USMC O-1B in RVN. The HH-43F crew was rescued by the second bird on this mission which was HH-43F #63-9714 (Call sign "Rescue 96") crewed by Capt. James E. Hartley (P), Capt. James V. Berryhill (CP), SSgt. Homer L. Ramsey (FM) and A2C William J. Flowers (PJ). After rescuing two of the injured crew of #63-9713 they were taken back to Da Nang AB and then Capt. Hartley and crew returned to the crash site to rescue the remaining uninjured crew of #63-9713. The crew of the O-1B, 1st Lt. Eugene Heister and Capt. Werner Erhard Lutz were KIA. This was the first HH-43F lost in the Vietnam War. http://www.jollygreen.org/jltnc.html & "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & http://wwwh43-huskie.info/framesetpedro.html & http://www.h43-huskie.info/framesetrotortips.html |
| 1965 - June 05 | A HH-43B from the 31st ARS at Clark AB, PI, crewed by Capt. David J. Wege (P), Capt. Larry C. Evans (CP), TSgt. Donald F. Larsen (HM) and SSgt. Donald J. Glassford (MT) performed and emergency medivac of a seriously ill female U. S. citizen from the Peace Corps from Manila Intl. Airport and delivering her to the Clark AB Hospital. 31st ARS Mission Histories, Jun 65 |
| 1965 - June 08 | A HH-43F #60-0280 (Call sign “Curse 22”) from Det. 2(P), PARC at Nakhon Phanom RTAFB, Thailand crewed by Capt. Thomas J. Curtis (P), Capt. Bruce C. Hepp (CP), A2C David M. Cutillo (FM) and A2C Richard A. Wallace (PJ) in the ‘low bird’ rescued F-105D pilot Capt. Harold "Buff" Rademacher from nearly 80 miles north of the DMZ in North Vietnam. The ‘high bird’ HH-43F #60-0279 (Call sign “Curse 21”) on this mission was crewed by Capt. Stanley O. Schaetzle (P), 1st Lt. Walter F. Turk (CP), A1C Francisco Alverado (FM) and A2C Michael T. Henebry (PJ). "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson |
| 1965 - June 08 - 12 | The 341st Strategic Missile Wing at Malmstrom AFB, just east of Great Falls, responded with emergency flood relief in the Browning, Augusta, Choteau, Dupuyer, Vaughn, Sun River, and a host of other Montana communities. Setting up a disaster control center under Base Commander Col. George Budway by 2:00 p.m. on June 8, while Lt. Col. Thomas Beavers took charge of the 13 base helicopters for rescue and relief missions. Air Force airlift operations continued from June 8 to 12. Two HH–43 helicopters from the Western Air Rescue Center’s Detachment 8 at Glasgow AFB, Montana, joined rescue efforts, sometimes hoisting stranded flood survivors from the tops of buildings. Larson AFB, Washington, sent four H–19 helicopters from the 462nd Strategic Aerospace Wing to deliver relief supplies to isolated areas. The United States Air Force and Humanitarian Airlift Operations 1947–1994 by Daniel L. Haulman Air Force Historical Research Agency Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama |
| 1965 - June 09 | A HH-43B (Call sign “Flesh 22”) from Det. 2(P). PARC, Nakhon Phanom RTAFB, Thailand, crewed by Capt. Richard A. Laine (P), Capt. Joe E. Ballinger (CP), A3C Darwin L. Devers (FM) and A2C Michael T. Henebry (PJ), landed to pick up Capt. Carroll D. Keeter & Capt. Gerry L. Getman who ejected from their F-4C (Call sign "Leopard 04") in Thailand after it ran out of fuel. The pilots were not injured and the NKP crew waited with them for almost an hour until a HH-43B #59-1562 (Call sign “Rescue 562”) from Ubon, RTAFB arrived to return the F-4C pilots to Ubon. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1965 - June 14 | HH-43B #59-1562 from Det. 3(P), PARC, at Ubon RTAFB, Thailand, crewed by Capt. Vance E. Need (P), Capt. Chuck Proft (CP) unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ), was damaged in a crash landing about 10 miles SW of Mukdahan, Thailand when it suffered a main transmission gear failure. The crew were all rescued by another helicopter on June 15, 1965. The HH-43B was recovered, repaired and returned to service. http://www.h43-huskie.info/framesetnew.html |
| 1965 - June 15 | A HH-43B from Det. 3(P), PARC, Thailand, crewed by 1st Lt. E. J. Hartke (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ), medevac’d three Thai in Thailand. No other details are known at this time. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1965 - June 21 | A HH-43F, from Det. 6, PARC at Bien Hoa AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Carl G. Layman (P), Maj. William T. Hayes Jr. (CP), TSgt. Joseph W. Blaquiere (FE) and A2C Michael R. Donegan (PJ), rescued the pilot of a F-100, 1st Lt. William Barriere, who had ejected from his disabled aircraft east of the field. This rescue was accomplished at night in a thunderstorm with heavy rain, a ceiling of 400 feet, and 30 knot winds. Both helicopters searched for the downed pilot as low as 50 feet using all floodlights and the landing lights. The second HH-43F on this mission was crewed by Capt. Darvan E. Cook (P), Capt. Donald E. Stranahan (CP), TSgt. Domenick J. Cocuzzi (FM) and A1C Kenneth W. Williams (PJ). ARS Misc. Missions Reel 31113rescan.pdf |
| 1965 - June 21 | A HH-43F, crewed by unkn (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ), rescued the WSO of a F-4C, Capt. Curt H. Briggs, after he and the pilot, Capt. Paul Anthony Karl had ejected near Ta Chan in northwest North Vietnam after their aircraft had been shot down by a MiG.-17. The pilot, Capt. Karl, became a POW. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1965 - June 23 | A HH-43F # 60-0280 (Call sign “Hobby 22”) from Det. 2(P), PARC, Nakhon Phanom RTAFB, Thailand, operating from a Lima Site in Laos, crewed by Capt. Bruce C. Hepp (P), Capt. Thomas J. Curtis (CP), A1C Alvarado Francisco (FM) and A2C James E. Poole (PJ), rescued a F-105D (Call sign "Pine 01") pilot, Maj. Robert W. Wilson, from about 20 miles NW of a bridge near Cha Noi, North Vietnam. Maj. Wilson landed in trees and was rescued about 90 minutes later by hoist from his parachute harness without ever setting foot on North Vietnamese soil. The ‘high bird’ on this mission, HH-43B #60-0279 (Call sign “Hobby 21”), crewed by 1st Lt. Walter F. Turk (P), Capt. Stanley O. Schaetzl (CP), A2C David M. Cutillo (FM), A2C Arthur Neil Black (PJ) and A2C Michael T. Henebry (PJ). "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1965 – Jun 25 | A HH-43B (Call sign “Pedro 1”) from the 33rd ARS at Naha AB, crewed by unkn (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FM) and unkn (MT) performed a medivac of USAF A1C Trichel, suffering from a diagnosed case of appendicitis, form an offshore island, and delivered him to the Camp Kue Army Hospital. 33rd ARS Mission Reports Jun 65 |
| 1965 - June 25 | A HH-43B from Det. 5, PARC at Udorn RTAFB, Thailand, crewed by unkn (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ) rescued the pilot of a T-28. No other details are known at this time. JRCC Save Form |
| 1965 - June 29 | A HH-43B from the 31st ARS at Clark AB, PI, crewed by Capt. James L. Wissert (P), Capt. Larry C. Evans (CP) and SSgt. Donald J. Glassford were on a local training mission when they received a distress call from the wingman of a Philippine AF F-86 pilot who had ejected from his disabled aircraft about 15 miles from the helicopters position and rescued him and delivered him to Basa AB. 31st ARS Mission Histories, Jun 65 |
| 1965 - July 01 | |
| 1965 - July 01 | Det. 3, Pacific Air Rescue Center – Tan Son Nhut AB, Viet Nam |
| 1965 - July 01 | Det. 4, Pacific Air Rescue Center – Bien Hoa AB, Viet Nam |
| 1965 - July 01 | Det. 5, Pacific Air Rescue Center – Da Nang AB, Viet Nam |
| 1965 - July 01 | MATS SO G-81, 25 June 1965 |
| 1965 - July 01 | Det. 4, 38th ARS was activated at Korat RTAFB, Thailand on this date. Kaman Rotor Tips Magazine & MATS SO G-81, 25 Jun 65 |
| 1965 - July 01 | Det. 5, 38th ARS was activated at Udorn RTAFB, Thailand on this date. Kaman Rotor Tips Magazine & MATS SO G-81, 25 Jun 65 |
| 1965 - July 01 | Det. 6, 38th ARS was activated at Bien Hoa AB, RVN on this date. Kaman Rotor Tips Magazine & MATS SO G-81, 25 Jun 65 |
| 1965 - July 01 | Det. 7, 38th ARS was activated at Da Nang AB, RVN on this date. Kaman Rotor Tips Magazine MATS SO G-81, 25 Jun 65 |
| 1965 - July 03 | Two CH-3C's, 63-9676 & 63-9685 (on loan from TAC and still painted in the solid dark green TAC colors) and two crews and maintenance support personnel, from the 4488th Test Sq., sent TDY arrived at Nakhon Phanom RTAFB, Thailand and were assigned to Det. 1, 38th ARS, Nakhon Phanom RTAFB, Thailand thereby dramatically increasing SAR capability in SEA. The two crews were Capt. Fred Liebert (P), Capt. George Martin (P), unkn (FM) and Capt. James P. “Phil” Stambaugh (P), Capt. David King (P), unkn (FM). USAF H-3 History Records & George Warren recollections, 38th ARS History 1 Jul-30 Sep 1965 & "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & http://www.1370th.org/index.htm |
| 1965 - July 03 | Det. 1, 38th ARRS at Nakhon Phanom RTAFB, Thailand received two CH-3C’ on loan from the Tactical Air Warfare Center at Eglin AFB, FL. These helicopters considerably improved SAR coverage in Laos and NVN but were only interim vehicles pending arrival of the combat version of the HH-3E. The HH-43’s at Nakhon Phanom were transferred to Udorn. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1965 - July 03 | A HH-43B (Call sign “Pedro 2”) from Det. 5, 38th ARS, at Udorn RTAFB, Thailand, crewed by Capt. David E. Allen (P), 1st Lt. William C Wirstrom (CP), unkn (FM), unkn (MT) and Sgt. Free (MT) {from “Pedro 1’s crew}, rescued the pilot of a F-105D (Call sign "Chevy 01"), Capt. Kenneth R. Johnson, from Laos after he ran out of fuel and he had ejected. The second HH-43B (Call sign “Pedro 1”) on this mission was crewed by Capt. Herbert M. Berthold (P), Capt. Gene Hogan (CP), unkn (FM), and Sgt. Free (MT). Capt. Johnson’s harness was hung-up in the tree where he had landed after ejecting from his F-105D. “Pedro 1” and “Pedro 2” landed nearby and Capt. Berthold & Sgt. Free hiked to his location. “Pedro 2” hovered over the tree and lowered their hoist with 100 feet of rope attached to Sgt. Free and then Sgt. Free was hoisted up to Capt. Johnson’s position in the tree. Once there Sgt. Free cut Capt. Johnson’s harness lose from the tree and they were both hosted up the full length of the hoist cable and then the HH-43B hovered up to a higher altitude until the they were clear of the tree tops, then flew them, hanging below the helicopter on the 100 feet of rope, until a clear area was found where they could be lowered to the ground with the helicopter landing nearby them to bring them both inside. This mission was the first time the “Pedro” call sign was documented as being used by HH-43’s in the Vietnam War. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & https://www.ragay.nl/hh-43-sea/udorn |
| 1965 - July 16 | A HH-43B #59-1562 from Det. 3, 38th ARS at Ubon AB, Thailand was involved in an accident. It was repaired and returned to service by 29 September 1965. No other details are known at this time. https://www.ragay.nl/pacaf-second-period-50.html |
| 1965 - July 20 | A HH-43F from Det. 6, 38th ARS at Bien Hoa AB, RVN. crewed by Capt. Carl G. Layman (P), Maj. William T. Hayes, Jr. (CP), TSgt. Joseph W. Blaquiere (FM) and A2C Michael R. Donegan (PJ), rescued the pilot of a F-100D, Lt. William Barriere, in darkness, heavy rain, poor visibility, low ceilings and high winds caused by thunderstorm activity, after he had ejected from his aircraft when it hit a tree while on a close air support mission for the 1st Infantry Division in RVN. The 'high bird' HH-43F on this mission was crewed by Capt. Darvan E. Cook (P), Capt. Donald E. Stanahan (CP), TSgt, Domenick J. Cocuzzi (FM) and Kenneth W. Williams (PJ). http://h43-huskie.info/framesetrotortips.htm & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1965 - July 20 | A HH-43B from the 31st ARS at Clark AB, PI., crewed by Capt. James L. Wissert (P), Capt. Marvin L. Palmer (CP), A1C Charles A. Sullivan (MT), SSgt. Frankie D. Hill (RS) and Hoyd O. Sanders (RS) rescued the pilot of a Philippine Air Force F-86 who had ejected before his aircraft crashed 3 miles SE of Basa Air Base and returned him to Basa Air Base. 31st ARS 2 Jan-Dec 65 history report |
| 1965 - July 24 | A USAF HH-43F #60-0279 (Call sign “Iron 21”) helicopter from Det. 1, 38th ARS, Nakhon Phanom RTAFB, Thailand, crewed by Capt. Thomas J. Curtis (P), 1st Lt. Duane Martin (CP), unkn (FM) and unkn (PJ), rescued the pilot, Maj. William J. McClelland, of F-105D 63-4373 (Call sign “Mercury 01”) after he had ejected from his AAA damaged aircraft just inside the Laos border with North Vietnam, while on rescap mission for the recovery of the crew of a U. S. Navy A-6A crew in the Steel Tiger area of Southern Laos. The ‘high bird’ on this mission was HH-43F #60-0280 (Call sign “Iron 22”) crewed by Capt. Bruce C. Hepp (P), 1st Lt. Walter F. Turk (CP), unkn (FM) and unkn (PJ). "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & 3rd ARRGp. Vietnam 1965, 01 Jul-30 Sep history |
| 1965 - July 27 | A USAF CH-3C #63-9685 (Call sign "Shed 85"), from Det. 1, 38th ARS at Nakhon Phanom RTAFB, Thailand, crewed by Capt. George C. Martin (P), 1st Lt. Orville N. Keese (CP), SSgt. Curtis W. Pert (FE) and SSgt. Gordon C. Thayer (PJ), that had staged out of LS-36 in northern Laos, rescued F-105D pilot, Capt. Frank J. Tullo (Call sign "Dogwood 02") after his aircraft had been hit by AAA fire and he ejected approximately 40 miles west of Hanoi. He landed in tall elephant grass near Hoang Trung, North Vietnam, about 5 miles west of the Black River. During the rescue the hoist failed, and he was flown, dangling 70 feet below the helicopter, to a site about 1/2 mile away where they could land and get him inside. Capt. Tullo was the first pilot rescued in the Vietnam War by a CH-3C helicopter. Flying cover for the CH-3C on this mission were two HH-43B’s (Call signs “Pedro 01” and “Pedro 02”) from Udorn RTAFB, Thailand. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1965 - July 27 | In July the 602nd Air Commando Squadron, a unit of A-1's stationed at Bien Hoa AB, RVN, was tasked to take up the mission of rescue escort (RESCORT) on a regular basis. They began by staging aircraft through Udorn or Nakhon Phanom. With the A-1’a regularly flying fighter escort missions for rescue helicopters in SEA, a brilliant tactical innovation the helicopter crews welcomed as long overdue. The 602nd ACS quickly developed a standard procedure for the use of the A-1 as “RESCORT”, using the call sign “Sandy”, to make clear their mission to all listeners, no matter the squadron doing the RESCORT mission. http://uscgaviationhistory.aopero.org/images/U.S.%20Coast%20Guard%20Aviation%20in%20Vietnam.pdf |
| 1965 - July 28 | A HH-43B from Det. 1, 38th ARS, Nakhon Phanom RTAFB, Thailand, crewed by 1st Lt. Walter F. Turk (P), Capt. Joe Ballinger (CP), SSgt. Roberto Rodriguez (FE) and A2C Robert Evans (PJ), operating from a forward base in Laos, rescued the pilot of a USN A-4E, Lt (jg) Grant R. Townsend, after he ejected from his aircraft, in Laos, that was damaged on a bomb run attacking a AAA site 50 miles south of Vinh, North Vietnam. This was the First rescue mission flown with the A-1E aircraft of the 602nd Fighter Squadron providing air cover for rescue missions. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & https://www.ragay.nl/hh-43-sea/udorn |
| 1965 - August 10 | A USAF helicopter crewed by unkn (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ), rescued F-105D (Call sign "Pepper 04"), pilot, Capt. M. J. Kelch, who had ejected from his damaged aircraft in northern Laos after being hit by 37 mm anti-aircraft fire. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson |
| 1965 - August 20 | A HH-43B from the 31st ARS at Clark AB, PI., crewed by Capt. Joseph W. Kelly (P), Capt. Larry C Evans (CP), A2C Stanley Asato (HM) and A1C Charles A. Sullivan (MT) did an emergency medevac of a patient suffering from gaseous gangrene following surgery for a leg amputation. He was moved from the Clark AB hospital to the compression chamber at Subic Bay Naval Base as a life saving measure. 31st ARS 2 Jan-Dec 65 history records |
| 1965 - August 20 | A HH-43B from the 31st ARS at Clark AB, PI., crewed by Capt. Larry C Evans (P), Capt. Kenneth L. Dotson (CP), TSgt. Forrest W. Farley (HM) and A1C Charles A. Sullivan (MT) did an emergency medevac of a U. S. Marine stationed at the U. S. Embassy in Manila and suffering from a kidney malfunction to the Clark AB Hospital. 31st ARS 2 Jan-Dec 65 history records |
| 1965 - August 24 | A CH-3C #63-9676 (Call sign “Alley 76”) from Det. 1, 38th ARS, Nakhon Phnom RTAFB, Thailand, crewed by Capt. James P. Stambough (P), Capt. George C. Martin (CP), SSgt. Francis L. Hill (FM), A1C James Armenia (FM) and SSgt Gordon C. Thayer (PJ), rescued F-105D, pilot, Maj. Dean Andrew Pogreba, who had ejected on August 22nd, from his damaged aircraft in northern Laos after being hit by 37 mm anti-aircraft fire. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1965 - August 30 | A HH-43B from Det. 2, 38th ARS, at Takhli RTAFB, Thailand, crewed by unkn (P), unkn (CP), unkn (MT), unkn (FF) and unkn (FF), rescued the pilot of an F-105D, Lt. Col. Hendricks, from his burning aircraft after he aborted his take off and the aircraft failed to engage the runway barrier, his tail hook missed the cable and crashed into trees and brush beyond the end of the runway. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson |
| 1965 - August 30 | A HH-43B from the 31st ARS at Clark AB, PI., crewed by Capt. Larry C. Evans (P), Capt. Kenneth L. Dotson (CP), TSgt. Forrest W. Farley (HM) and A1C Charles A. Sullivan (MT) completed an emergency airlift of a U. S. Marine stationed at the U. S. Embassy in Manila to the Clark AB hospital for treatment of a kidney malfunction. 31st ARSq Hist, Jul-Sep 65 |
| 1965 - August 31 | A HH-43B (Call sign “Pedro 1”) from Det. 5, 38th ARS, Udorn RTAFB, Thailand, crewed by Capt. David. E. Allen (P), 1st Lt. John K. Forsythe (CP), A3C George O. Lepsey (FM) and A2C Bedford T. Lockhart (MT), rescued the pilot of a F-105D, Maj. William H. Bollinger, after he ejected, about 50 miles SW of Piu-Tho, North Vietnam, from his AAA damaged aircraft that had been attacking a bridge near Piu-Tho. ‘High bird’ on this mission was another HH-43B (Call sign “Pedro 2”) crewed by Capt. Hoyt Hurt (P), Capt. Jake C. Hart (CP), Robert W. Dager (FM) and William Fulford (MT). "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1965 - September 02 - 03 | A HH-43B from Detachment 10, Atlantic Air Rescue Center at Aviano AB, crewed by Capt. Robert S. Henderson (P), Capt. James A. Darden, Jr. (CP), unkn (FM) and unkn (MT) saved the lives of 13 people from floods in the area around Aviano, Italy, caused extensive damage. Capt. Robert S. Henderson & Capt. James A. Darden, Jr., later received the 1965 Cheney Award in recognition of this mission. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1965 - September 03 | A HH-43B from the 31st ARS at Clark AB, PI., crewed by Capt. James L. Wissert (P), Capt. David J. Wege (CP), Capt. Grant Kerbon (P) from the EARC and TSgt. Forrest W. Farley (HM) flew 5 sorties over 3 days delivering food, water, clothing and supplies and lowering them by hoist and rescue basket to a U. S. Navy vessel, an oiler, that had run aground after losing its engine. 31st ARS 2 Jan-Dec 1965 history report |
| 1965 - September 06 | A HH-43F from Det. 7, Da Nang AB, RVN, 38th ARS, crewed by Capt. Thomas C. Seebo (P), 1st Lt. Arthur F. Machado (CP), SSgt. Homer L. Ramsey (FE) and A2C William J. Flowers (PJ) rescued one crewmember of a B-57B, Capt. Wilford C. Hamann, after he ejected over Da Nang Bay when his aircraft had an engine failure. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1965 - September 06 | A HH-43F from Det. 7, 38th ARS, Da Nang AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Wilford Hamann (P), Capt. Bruce A. Purvine (CP), SSgt. Patrick A. Bowers (FE) and A2C Randolph M. Smith (PJ) rescued one crew member of a B-57B, Capt. Robert J. Lane, after he ejected over Da Nang Bay when his aircraft had an engine failure. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1965 - September 06 | A HH-43B from Det. 5, 38th ARS at Udorn RTAFB, Thailand, crewed by Maj. Hubert M. Berthold (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE), unkn (PJ), rescued the pilot of a F-105D (Call sign "Dodge 02"), Capt. Gary D. Barnhill, over northern Thailand when his aircraft developed a fuel leak while air-refueling and he quickly disconnected as his aircraft caught fire, he ejected and shortly after his aircraft exploded. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1965 - September 09 | The secondary alert HH-43F from Det. 6, 38th ARS, Bien Hoa AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Raymond L. Murden (P), Capt. Carl G. Layman (CP), TSgt. Joseph W. Blaquiere (FM), and A2C Michael R. Donegan (PJ), medevacked a wounded U. S. Army troop, E-4 Ralph Williams in SVN. The primary alert HH-43F was crewed by Capt. Darvan E. Cook (P), Capt. Donald E. Stranahan (CP), TSgt. Domenick J. Cocuzzi (FM) and A2C William H. Pitsenbarger (PJ). "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1965 - September 10 | Two HH-43F from Det. 7, 38th ARS, Da Nang AB, RVN, one crewed by Capt. Bruce A. Pruvine (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ), and the second crewed by Capt. Floyd A. Lockhart (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FM) and unkn (PJ), rescued two crewmembers, Lt. Davidson and SP/5 Harry I. Kee, of an O-1F downed in RVN. No other details are known at this time. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1965 - September 14 | A HH-43F from Det. 7, 38th ARRS, Da Nang AB, RVN, crewed by unkn (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FM) and unkn (PJ) rescued two crewmembers of a U. S. Army L-19, 1st Lt. Thomas Davidson (P) and unkn (CP), that had gone down in a shallow river. ARS Misc. Missions Reel31113rescan.pdf |
| 1965 - September 16 | A HH-43B from the 31st ARS at Clark AB, PI., crewed by Capt. Kenneth W. Dotson (P), Capt. James L. Wissert (CP), TSgt. Forrest W. Farley (HM) and SSgt. Donald J. Glassford (MT) made an emergency medevac of a wounded Marine who had a leg amputation and was suffering gaseans gangrene from the Clark AB hospital to the compression chamber at Subic Bay Naval Base. 31st ARS 2 Jan-Dec 65 history report |
| 1965 - September 17 | The primay alert HH-43F from Det. 6, 38th ARS, Bien Hoa AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Darvan E. Cook (P), Capt. Donald E. Stranahan (CP), TSgt. Domenick J. Cocuzzi (FM) and A2C William H. Pitsenbarger (PJ), rescued a badly burned crew member, Lt. Cao Van An, of a downed VNAF H-34 helicopter in RVN. The secondary alert HH-43F was crewed by Capt. Carl G. Layman (P), Capt. Dale L. Potter (CP), TSgt. Joseph W. Blaquiere (FM) and A2C Michael R. Donegan (PJ). "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1965 - September 19 | A HH-43B from the 33rd ARS at Naha AB, crewed by unkn (P), unkn (CP), unkn (HM) and unkn (MT) performed a medevac of a Ryukyuan male on Okino Shima, needing immediate medical evacuation to sustain life, and delivered him to Kadena AB where he was turned over to civilian medical authorities. 333rd ARS 2 Jan-Dec 65 history report |
| 1965 - September 20 | A HH-43B #62-4510, (Call sign "Dutchy 41") of Det. 3, 38th ARS, Nakhon Phanom RTAFB, Thailand and crewed by Capt. Thomas J. Curtis (P), 1st Lt. Duane W. Martin (CP), A1C William A. Robinson (FM) and A3C Arthur N. Black (PJ) was shot down on a SAR in North Vietnam attempting to rescue F-105D (Call sign "Essex 04") pilot, Capt. Willis E. Forby. All became POW's and Martin was KIA later during an escape attempt in Laos. The ‘high bird’ on this mission was HH-43B #60-0280 (Call sign "Dutchy 22") crewed by Capt. Richard A. Laine (P), Capt. Bruce C. Hepp (CP), SSgt. Roberto Rodiquez (FM) and A2C Michael Henebry (PJ) and this bird was hit by ground fire and was forced to return to base. Another HH-43 #60-0279 (Call sign "Dutchy 21") crewed by Capt. Joe E. Ballinger (P), Capt. Walter F. Turk (CP) and other unknown crew members may have also been involved with this mission. The crew of "Dutchy 41" were awarded the Air Force Cross for their actions. http://wwwh43-huskie.info/framesetpedro.htm & http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/38th_Rescue_Squadron |
| 1965 - September 21 | A CH-3C #63-9685 from Det. 1, 38th ARS, Nakhon Phanom RTAFB, Thailand, crewed by Capt. George C. Martin (P), 1st Lt. George W. Warren (CP), SSgt. Lee Roy Diggs (FE), A1C Sheldon C. Tart (FM) and A2C Roy “Pert” E. Scherzer (PJ), rescued the pilot of an F-105D (Call sign "Hondo"), Capt. Frederick R. Greenwood, after he ejected, in NVN, from his aircraft that had been hit by 57 mm AAA fire while attacking a target near the Mu Gia Pass. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson |
| 1965 - September 24 | A HH-43F from Det. 6, 38th ARS, Bien Hoa AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Carl G. Layman (P), Capt. Dale L. Potter (CP), TSgt. Joseph W. Blaquiere (FM) and A2C William H. Pitsenbarger (PJ), rescued the pilot of a F-100D, Maj. Martin W. Barbena, who had ejected from his aircraft when it was shot down on a close air support mission in South Vietnam. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1965 - September 26 | A HH-43B from the 31st ARS at Clark AB, PI., crewed by Capt. David J. Wege (P), Capt. James L. Wissert (CP), TSgt. Forrest W. Farley (HM), A1C Charles A. Sullivan (MT) and Capt. Paherson (FS) completed and emergency medevac of a U. S. Airman who was seriously injured in an automobile accident in Manila from the V Iuna Army hospital in Quezon City to the Clark AB hospital. 31st ARS 2 Jan-Dec 65 history report |
| 1965 - September 27 | A HH-43B from the 31st ARS at Clark AB, PI., crewed by Capt. James L. Wissert (P), Capt. Joseph W. Kelly (CP), A3C Albert T. Nakamura (HM) and A1C Charles A. Sullivan (MT) completed and emergency medevac of a USAF Lt. Col. and his wife, who had been in an automobile accident in Manila, from the U. S. Embassy to the Clark AB hospital. 31st ARS 2 Jan-Dec 65 history report |
| 1965 - September 28 | A HH-43B from the 31st ARS at Clark AB, PI., crewed by Capt. Joseph W. Kelly (P), Capt. David J. Wege (CP), A3C Stanley Y. Asato (HM) A1C Charles A. Sullivan (MT) and Capt. Thomas Walker (FS) medevacked an American student, critically injured in an automobile accident, from Buntee in northern Luzon. This mission was supported by U-6A and C-46 who airlifted fuel for the helicopter to Baguia. Also, an HU-16 flew cover and provided communications relay and navigational assistance for the HH-43B. The helicopter landed in a school yard where the American patient, a Philippine National also injured in the accident and the body of another American were taken aboard. After a brief refueling stop at Baguio, during which the Philippine National and the deceased were deplaned, the HH-43B proceeded back to Clark where the injured American was deposited at the Clark AB hospital. 31st ARS 2 Jan-Dec 65 history report |
| 1965 - October 04 | The FIRST HH-3C's arrived and became part of Det. 5, 38th ARS at Udorn RTAFB, Thailand bringing the detachment strength to 3 HH-43B's, 1 CH-3C and 6 HH-3C's. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1965 - October 05 | Two HH-43F’s from Det. 6, 38th ARS at Bien Hoa AB, RVN, one crewed by Capt. Raymond L. Murden (P), Capt. Dale L. Potter (CP), TSgt. Kenneth L. Perkins (FM) and A2C Richard O. Steinert (PJ) and the second one crewed by Capt. Charles P. Nadler (P), 1st Lt. Joseph T. Connell (CP), TSgt. Richard E. Connon (FM) and SSgt. Leon C. Fullwood (PJ), flying multiple sorties, evacuated 24 wounded and 7 KIA, USA troops in contact in SVN. Capt. Murden’s crew made six round trips and Capt. Nadler’s crew made three round trips into and out of an extremely small LZ surrounded by 125-to-150 foot high trees. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1965 - October 08 | The 20th Helicopter Sq. was reactivated at Eglin AFB, FL., flying CH-3C's with the objective of preparing for deployment to Southeast Asia. The unit began flying unconventional warfare/special operations missions as the "Pony Express". In February 1967 UH-1F/Ps were assigned and the squadron as the “Green Hornets” and began flying helicopter gunship missions. The unit was designated as the 20th SOS on August 01, 1968. The "Green Hornets" continued to perform unconventional warfare missions until the unit was deactivated on March 30, 1972. The 20th “Pony Express” transferred its CH-3E's to the 21st SOS at Nakhon Phanom RTAFB, Thailand in July 1969 and the 20th SOS flew only gunship missions thereafter. http://www.mh-53pavelow.com/documents.20thSOS/history2.pdf |
| 1965 - October 09 | A HH-43F from Det. 6, 38th ARS at Bien Hoa AB, crewed by Capt. Dale L. Potter (P), Capt. Raymond L. Murden (CP), TSgt. Kenneth L. Perkins (FM), SSgt. George E. Schipper (PJ), rescued one wounded USA troops in contact in SVN. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1965 - October 09 | A HH-43F from Det. 6, 38th ARS at Bien Hoa AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Darvan E. Cook (P), Maj. William T. Hayes Jr. (CP), TSgt. Domenick J. Cocuzzi (FM) and A1C William H. Pitsenbarger (PJ), rescued two wounded USA troops in contact in SVN. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1965 - October 10 | A HH-43B (Call sign “Rescue 93”) from Det. 4, 38th ARS at Korat RTAFB, Thailand, crewed by unkn (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FM), unkn (MT) and unkn (FS) medevacked two injured persons, who were in a truck accident, from a GCI site approximately fifty nautical miles from Korat. They were taken to the 31st Field Hospital in Korat. 38th ARS History 1965 01 Jan – 31 Dec |
| 1965 - October 11 | The 20th Helicopter Sq. "Provisional" organized at Eglin AFB, FL. and assigned to TAC and attached to Ninth Air Force, which formed a nucleus of personnel and equipment for dispatching to SEA for the 20th HS. http://www.mh-53pavelow.com/documents.20thSOS/history2.pdf |
| 1965 - October 11 | An HH-43F from Det. 6, 38th ARRS, Bien Hoa AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Raymond L. Murden (P), Capt. Charles P. Nadler (CP), TSgt. Kenneth L. Perkins (FM) and A1C Henry J. O'Beirne (PJ), rescued the two pilots of a USN F-4B who had ejected from their battle-damaged aircraft about 40 miles from Bien Hoa. http://www.pjsinnam.com/vn-history/pdf-files/Chronology/1965.pdf |
| 1965 - October 13 | A CH-3C from Det. 1, 38th ARS at Nakhon Phanom RTAFB, Thailand, crewed by Capt. Jerry W. Jennings (P), Capt. James C. O'Dell (CP), SSgt. Harold R. Schrader (FM) and TSgt. William G. Daniels (PJ), operating from LS-36 in Laos, rescued an F-105D (Call sign “Triumph 01”) pilot, Maj. James Edward Prestle Randall, after he had ejected from his damaged aircraft near Ban Bung, NVN. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1965 - October 20 | A rescue helicopter possibly from Det. 9, 38th ARS at Pleiku AB, RVN rescued the crew of a B-57B, Maj. Gerald T. Hamilton and Maj. Harold E. Holzapple, after they ejected from their aircraft that had been shot down near Pleiku, RVN. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson |
| 1965 - October 20 | Two HH-43B’s of Det. Provisional First arrived at Cam Ranh Bay AB on this day. Upon their arrival they became operational the same day. The 2 HH-43B’s were the FIRST assigned aircraft to arrive at this base. 38th ARS History |
| 1965 - October 20 | A HH-43B (Call sign “Rescue 44”) from Det. 4, 38th ARS at Korat RTAFB, Thailand, crewed by unkn (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FM), unkn (MT) and unkn (FS) medevacked two injured persons from a GCI site about 50 miles away from Korat RTAFB. The two injured patients were transferred to the 31st Field Hospital. 38th ARS History 1965 01 Jan – 31 Dec |
| 1965 - October 23 | A HH-43F from Det. 6, 38th ARS, Bien Hoa AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Dale L. Potter (P), Capt. David C. Henry (CP), TSgt. Richard E. Connon (FM) and SSgt. Leon Fullwood (PJ) rescued the pilot of an A-1E, Capt. Melvin C. Elliott, after he bailed out of his ground fire damaged aircraft near the Plei Mei Special Forces Camp in RVN on 22 October 1965. ‘High bird’ on this mission, a second HH-43F, was crewed by Capt. Raymond L. Murdon (P), Capt. Raymond H. Matthews (CP), TSgt. Domenick J. Coouzzl (FM) and A1C William H. Pitsenbarger "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1965 - October 23 | A HH-43F, from Det. 7, 38th ARRS at Da Nang AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. William F. Cunningham Jr. (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FM) and unkn (PJ), rescued a wounded USMC troop in contact in RVN. No other details are known at this time. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1965 - October 25 | A HH-43B from the 31st ARS at Clark AB, PI., crewed by 1st Lt. William F. Austin (P), Capt. David J. Wege (CP), A1C James W. Burns (HM) and SSgt. Donald J. Glassford (MT) was scrambled for a F-100 pilot who had ejected from his F-100 after it had a flame-out. Unfortunately, the pilot had ejected too low, and his chute failed to deploy, and he was killed. The deceased was returned to the Clark AB hospital. 31st ARS Jun 1964-Oct 1965 history report |
| 1965 - October 28 | Two HH-43F's, (Call sign's "Pedro 01" and "Pedro 02"), from Det. 1, 38th ARS, Nakhon Phanom RTAFB, Thailand each rescued one of the crew of a USN F-4B, Lt. Cmdr. A. M. Lindsey and Lt (Jg.) Robert W. Cooper, from the Steel Tiger area of southern Laos after they had ejected from their ground fire damaged aircraft. One HH-43F (Call sign “Pedro 01”) crewed by Capt. Donald R. Berdeaux (P), Capt. William R. Uhl (CP), A1C Lyle J. Tadewald (FM) and A1C Harry W. Birtel (PJ) rescued Lt. Cdr. Lindsey. The second HH-43F (Call sign “Pedro 02”) crewed by Capt. Charles E. McMillian (P), Capt. Charles P. Rush (CP) and A2C Andrew C. Pararella (FM), rescued Lt. (jg) Robert W. Cooper. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & http://www.h43-huskie.info/framesetpedro.htm & "PJs in Vietnam" by SMSgt. Robert L LaPointe |
| 1965 - October 30 | Two HH-43F’s from Det. 7, 38th ARS at Da Nang AB, RVN, standing alert at Quang Tri, RVN, one crewed by Capt. John B. Keen (P), unkn (CP) none (FM), and Charles A. Kezer (PJ) and the second crewed by Capt. Waino E. Arvo Jr. (CP), unkn (CP), unkn (FM) and unkn (PJ), rescued two crewmembers of a USA UH-1B helicopter downed in RVN. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & http://www.jgsinnam.com/vn_history/pdf_files/Chronology/1965.pdf |
| 1965 - October 31 | A Viet Cong sapper and mortar attack on Ben Hoa AB, RVN, destroyed one of Det. 6, 38th ARS HH-43F’s, #63-9713 and damaged their other HH-43F #63-9711 and HH-43B. "PJs in Vietnam" by SMSgt. Robert L LaPointe |
| 1965 - November 01 | A HH-43F #63-9711, from Det. 6, 38th ARS at Ben Hoa AB, RVN (repaired after suffering mortar damaged during a Viet Cong attack on October 31, 1965) crewed by unkn (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ), rescued the pilot of a VNAF A-1, during the night, after his aircraft went down NW of Saigon, RVN. No other details are available currently. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1965 - November 01 | A CH-3C from Det. 5, 38th ARS, crewed by Capt. Warren R. Lilly (P), William R. Warren (CP), TSgt. William J. Warren (FM), TSgt. Spence C. Heywood (FM) and SSgt. Arthur M. Cormier (PJ) rescued the pilot of a USN A-4E, Lt. Cmdr. Billy V. Wheat, after he ejected from his 37mm AAA damaged aircraft about seven miles south of Ha Tinh, North Vietnam. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1965 - November 01 | A HH-43F with the 38th ARS, Det. 14 at Tan Son Nhut AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Alden (P), unkn (CP), unkn (MT), unkn (FF) and unkn (FF), saved 13 sailors from a USN P-2V that had caught fire during landing by hovering and blowing a path through the flames allowing the crew to escape. No other details are known at this time. JRCC Save Form |
| 1965 - November 01 | The 20th Helicopter Squadron was formed at Eglin AFB, FL. By December 06, 1965, the majority of the aircraft and personnel had arrived at Tan Son Nhut AB, RVN. http://www.mh-53pavelow.com/documents/20thSOS/1966.pdf |
| 1965 - November 03 | HH-43B #58-1851(Call sign "Charlie Brown 05") 3635th FlyTngWg. at Stead AFB. NV., crewed by Capt. Richard H. Finely (IP), 1st Lt. Ronald E. Brock (CP) and 2nd Lt. Hoodhand Nassiry (Student Pilot) crashed on Stead AFB, killing all on board. Capt. Finely was the instructor pilot, 2nd Lt. Hoodhand Nassiry of the Imperial Iranian Army was a student pilot and 1st Lt. Brock was riding along for flight time. See "Story" for more details. Nevada State Journal (Reno, Nevada) Thur, Nov 4, 1965, page 1 |
| 1965 - November 04 | The FIRST two HH-3C's arrived in theater aboard a C-133 at Ben Hoa AB, RVN. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1965 - November 04 | A HH-43B (Call sign “Rescue 44”) from the 38th ARS, Det. 4 from Korat RTAFB, Thailand, crewed by unkn (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ), medevacked one Thai in Thailand. No other details are known at this time. JRCC Save Form |
| 1965 - November 06 | A HH-43F #63-1712 (Call sign “Pedro 74”) from Det. 6, 38th ARS, Bien Hoa AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Raymond L. Murden (P), Capt. Karl G. King (CP), A1C Gerald C. Hammond Jr. (FM), A1C William H. Pitsenbarger (PJ) and a second HH-43F #63-1711 (Call sign “Pedro 73”), crewed by Capt. Charles P. Nadler (P), Capt. Maurice G. Kessler (CP), TSgt. Kenneth L. Perkins (FM) and A1C Henry J. O'Beirne (PJ), rescued two Australian troops, Sgt. A. J. Mclvor and Pvt. Glen B. Woodward, in contact in RVN. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1965 - November 06 | CH-3C #63-9685 (Call sign "Jolly Green 85") from Det. 5, 38th ARS, operating from LS-36 in Laos, crewed by Capt. Warren E. Lilly (P), 1st Lt. Jerry Singleton (CP), SSgt. Berkley E. Naugle (FM) and SSgt. Arthur Cormier (PJ) was hit by ground fire and lost on a CSAR in North Vietnam while attempting to rescue a A-1E (Call sign "Sandy 12") pilot, Capt. Richard Eugene Bolstad (POW). Lilly, Singleton and Cormier became POW's. Sgt. Naugle was rescued, just as darkness was approaching, by a U.S. Navy SH-3 Sea King helicopter #148993 (Call sign "Nimble 62"), crewed by Lt. (Jg.) T. Campbell and Lt. (Jg.) M. Howell when he was spotted on the ground, using his cigarette lighter flame as a signal. This was the first "Jolly Green" helicopter loss in combat. TSgt. Cormier was awarded the Silver Star for his actions during this mission. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/38th_Rescue_Squadron & "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson |
| 1965 - November 07 | CH-3C #63-9676 (Call sign "Jolly Green 76") from Det. 5, 38th ARS, Udorn RTAFB, Thailand, crewed by Capt. Norman B. Kamhoot (P), Capt. Robert A. Weekley (CP), TSgt. William J. Warren (FE) and TSgt. William G. Daniels (PJ) operating from a forward operating base rescued the pilot and co-pilot, Lt. Campbell and Lt. Howell, of a USN SH-3B Sea King SAR helicopter #148993 (Call sign "Nimble 62") that had been hit by ground fire and crash landed on top of a 4,000 mountain. A USN UH-2B (Call sign "Angel 7") helicopter had already rescued two other crewmembers of the downed USN SH-3B. Of special note, CH-3C #63-9676 was being used to cannibalize parts from and had 15 red X entries signed off to make this flight and it had one engine that was due to be changed due to smoking, was missing several instruments, navigation aids and had no radio equipment, all of which had been cannibalized to keep the only other CH-3C (#63-9685, that had been shot down the day before on Nov. 06) flying. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & Barry Kamhoot email 03 Mar 2015 & Air Force Historical Foundation interview with Big. Gen. Dale E. Stovall, USAF (Retired) September 2023 |
| 1965 - November 08 | A HH-43F from Det. 6, 38th ARS at Ben Hoa AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Charles P. Nadler (P), Capt. Maurice G. Kessler (CP), TSgt. Kenneth L. Perkins (FE) and A1C Henry J. O'Beirne (PJ), in multiple sorties rescued 19 wounded Australian troops in contact in RVN. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1965 - November 08 | A HH-43F (Call sign "Pedro 01") from Det. 6, 38th ARS at Bien Hoa AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Edwin A. Henningson (P), Capt. Ronald L. Bachman (CP), A1C Alexander Montgomery (FM), SSgt. David E. Milsten (PJ) and SSgt. George E. Schipper (PJ), in multiple sorties rescued 20 wounded USA troops in contact in RVN. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1965 - November 08 | A HH-43F from the 38th ARS, crewed by unkn (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ), medevac’d a USAF A2C in RVN. No other details are known at this time. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1965 - November 08 | A HH-43F from Det. 1, 38th ARS at Nakhon Phanom RTAFB, Thailand, crewed by Capt. Donald R. Berdeaux (P), 1st Lt. Charles R. Sweet (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ), rescued the pilot of a T-28 that went down in Laos. No other details are known at this time. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1965 - November 09 | A HH-43F (Call sign "Pedro 02") from Det. 6, 38th ARS at Ben Hoa AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Charles P. Nadler (P), Capt. Maurice G. Kessler (CP), TSgt Kenneth L. Perkins (FM) and A1C Henry J. O'Bernie (PJ), rescued 19 wounded Australian troops in contact in RVN. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1965 - November 10 | The FIRST two HH-3E's arrived at their new home at Udorn RTAFB, Thailand and became part of Det. 5, 38th ARRS. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1965 - November 10 | A HH-43B from Det. 1, 38th ARS at Nakhon Phanom RTAFB, Thailand, crewed by Capt. John S. Lapham (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ), medevacked 4 Thai civilians in Thailand. No other details are known at this time. JRCC Save Form |
| 1965 - November 13 | Two HH-43F’s from Det. 7, 38th ARS, Da Nang AB, RVN, one, HH-43F #64-1759 (Call sign “Rescue 97”), crewed by Capt. James C. Rodenberg (P), 1st Lt. Tommy L. Brown (CP), TSgt. Harlan D. Longmire (FM) and A1C Albert W. Foster III (PJ) and the second, HH-43F #63-9717 (Call sign “Rescue 99”), crewed by Capt. Rockwell N. Green (P), 1st Lt. Ralph E. Vick (CP), A1C Edgar W. Forrester Jr. (FM) and A1C Michael D. Leonard (PJ) rescued, Pvt. P. M. Pulis a wounded USMC troop, and unkn Marine, wounded, in contact in RVN. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form |
| 1965 - November 14 | A HH-43F from Det. 1 (Prov), 38th ARS at Cam Ranh Bay AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Richard C. Pfadenhauer (P), 1st Lt. Theodore S. Cochran (CP) and TSgt. Eddie Hagerman (FM) medevac’d an injured USAF airman in RVN. No other details are known at this time. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form |
| 1965 - November 16 | Two additional HH-3C's arrived at their new home at Udorn RTAFB, Thailand and became part of Det. 5, 38th ARS. 38th ARS History 1965 01 Jan – 31 Dec |
| 1965 - November 18 | A HH-43F from Det. 6, 38th ARS, crewed by unkn (P), unkn (CP) and unkn (FE), rescued one individual from a downed UH-1B in RVN. No other details are known at this time. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form |
| 1965 - November 18 | A HH-43F #62-4564 (Call sign "Pedro 01"), from Det. 1, 38th ARS at Nakhon Phanom RTAFB, Thailand, crewed by Capt. John B. Reiderick (P), 1st Lt. Charles R. Sweet (CP), A2C Charles E. Veasey (FM) and A1C Harry W. Birtel (PJ), rescued the pilot of a F-105D (Call sign “Oak” 03), Capt. Larry C. Mahaffey, after he ejected from his aircraft that had been hit by ground fire about 35 miles SW of Vinh, North Vietnam. The HH-43F #62-4565 (Call sign “Pedro 02”), ‘high bird’ on this mission, was crewed by 1st Lt. Frederick T. Dykes (P), 1st Lt. Kenneth G. Griffis (CP) A2C Philip D. Carlson (FM). "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & http://wwwh43-huskie.info/framesetpedro.htm |
| 1965 - November 20 | Two HH-43F’s from Det. 6, 38th ARS at Bien Hoa AB, RVN, one piloted by Capt. Maurice G. Keesler, rescued 2 wounded USA troops in contact in RVN. No other details are known at this time. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1965 - November 21 | A HH-43F from Det. 7, 38th ARS at Da Nang AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Alva G. Graham (P), Capt. Rockwell N. Greene (CP), A1C Ronald E. Renard (FM) and A1C Michael D. Leonard (PJ), rescued crew members and passengers from a C-123B that had crashed about one mile short of Da Nang's runway in a mine field. Rescued were A1C Michael Kelly, A1C Kirby R. Wheeler, 1st Lt. Roger Rucker and four unknown others. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1965 - November 23 | A HH-43F from 33rd ARS FOB at Kadena AB, crewed by Capt. Warren K. Davis (P), TSgt Alvin C. Reed (FM), SSgt. Robert D. Bobbitt (MT), A1C Clarence M. Phelps (FF) and A1C Charles E. Delaney (FF), rescued the pilot of an F-105 who had ejected over Iheya Shima Island and returned him to Kadena AB. 33rd ARS 2 Jan-Dec 65 history report |
| 1965 - November 25 | |
| 1965 - November 26 | A HH-43F from Det. 14, 38th ARS at Tan Son Nhut AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Franklin Chase (P), Capt. Charles R. Dunn (CP), SSgt. Curtis W. Thomas (FM) and A2C Jerry E. Nidiffer (PJ), rescued six crewmembers of a USA UH-1B helicopter in RVN. The backup HH-43F for this mission was crewed by 1st Lt. Tommy L. Brown (P), Capt. James C. Rodenberg (CP) and A1C Edgar W. Forrester Jr. (FM). "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1965 - November 28 | Two HH-43F’s from Det. 9, 38th ARS, Pleiku AB, RVN, one crewed by Capt. Glen L. McFarlane (P), 2nd Lt. James E. McLain (CP), A1C Hubert E. Smith (FF) and A1C James W. Bayles (FF), and the second HH-43F, crewed by Capt. Leonard L. Hills (P), 2nd Lt. Curtis K. Bayer (CP), A3C Terrell L. Sage (HM) and A1C Howard T. Mathies (MT), each rescued one of the crew of an F-4C, Capt. R. D. Street (P) and 1st Lt. H. J. Knoch, after they had ejected from their ground fire damaged aircraft near Pleiku, RVN. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1965 - November 28 | A HH-43F, crewed by unkn (P), unkn (CP), unkn (PJ) and unkn (PJ), saved the crew of an F-4C, in Thailand. No other details are known at this time. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1965 - December 02 | A HH-43F from Det. 6, 38th ARS at Bien Hoa AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Raymond L. Murden (P), Capt. Charles P. Nadler (CP), TSgt. Kenneth L. Perkins (FM), A1C Henry J. O'Beirne (PJ), the crew of a USN F-4B, Lt. (Jg.). T. J. Potter and Lt. (Jg.) Donald W. Schmidt, after they had ejected near An Loc, RVN, when their aircraft had been damaged while attacking a target. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1965 - December 04 | A HH-43F from Det. 7, 38th ARS at Da Nang AB, RVN, crewed by unkn (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE), unkn (PJ), medevacked three unkn wounded in action in RVN. No other details are known at this time. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1965 - December 05 | The 20th Helicopter Sq. "Provisional" assigned to TAC and attached to Ninth Air Force, which formed a nucleus of personnel and equipment for dispatching to SEA for the 20th HS deployed from Eglin AFB, FL. The “Provisional” designation was discontinued after their deployment on this date. The majority of the aircraft and personnel had arrived at Tan Son Nhut AB, RVN by Dec. 06. http://www.mh-53pavelow.com/documents.20thSOS/history2.pdf |
| 1965 - December 06 | A HH-43F from Det. 1 (Prov.), 38th ARS at Cam Ranh Bay AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Joseph A. Civello (P), 1st Lt. George B. Adams (CP), A1C Edward D. Erickson (FM) and A1C Leroy C. Juell (MT) rescued six passengers from a UH-1B that had made a precautionary landing in the area of Phan Rang. They also provided escort for the pilot and co-pilot of the UH-1B as they flew the damaged helicopter back to Cam Ranh Army Airfield. 38th ARS History 1965 01 Jan – 31 Dec |
| 1965 - December 06 | A HH-3C from Det. 5, 38th ARS at Ubon RTAFB, Thailand, crewed by 1st Lt. Thomas E. Kenny (P), Capt. Francis E. Hendrickson (CP), SSgt. Harold R. Schrader (FM) and A1C Leroy W. Kelsay (PJ), airlifted the Nakhon Phanom Provincial Governor, Missionary Webber and eight Thai police to an area 37 miles southwest of Nakhon Phanom where the passengers unloaded. After a fifteen minute wait the Governor and Missionary re-boarded the HH-3C and were returned to Nakhon Phanom. 38th ARS History 1965 01 Jan – 31 Dec |
| 1965 - December 07 | A HH-43F from Det. 6, 38th ARS at Bien Hoa AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Maurice G. Kessler (P), 1st Lt. Mark C. Schibler (CP), TSgt. Richard E. Connon (FM) and SSgt. Leon C. Fullwood (PJ), rescued the pilot of an O-1E, Capt. Rexford T. O'Connor, after his aircraft crashed in RVN when it had an engine failure. The HH-43F “high” bird on this mission was crewed by Capt. Harold D. Salem (P), Capt. Dale L. Potter (CP), A1C Gerald C. Hammond Jr. (FM) and A1C William H. Pitsenbarger (PJ). "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & 38th ARS History 1965 01 Jan – 31 Dec |
| 1965 - December 07 | A HH-43F from Det. 9, 38th ARS at Pleiku AB, RVN, crewed by unkn (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FM) and unkn (PJ) attempted the rescue of two crewmembers, Capt. James Donald Sala (P) and Capt. Robert Wayne Wranosky (CP) of a F-4C that had crash north of Kontum RVN. Upon arrival at the crash site, it was determined that the F-4C had crashed into a hill before either crew member could eject. Sala and Capt. Wranosky were both KIA. 38th ARS History 1965 01 Jan – 31 Dec |
| 1965 - December 08 | A HH-43B (Call sign “Rescue 44”) from Det. 4, 38th ARS at Korat RTAFB, Thailand, crewed by unkn (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FM) and unkn (MT) rescued the pilot of a F-105D that had ejected from his aircraft about thirty-nine nautical miles north of Korat RTAFB. 38th ARS History 1965 01 Jan – 31 Dec |
| 1965 - December 09 | Two HH-43F's from Det. 7, 38th ARS at Da Nang AB, RVN. rescued several wounded Marines approximately 30 miles south of Da Nang AB, RVN., one landing in total darkness while under enemy ground fire to load the wounded. The primary helicopter was crewed by 1st Lt. Arthur F. Machado (P), Capt. John B. Kneen (CP), MSgt. Harlan D. Longmire (FM) and SSgt. David J. Wheeler (PJ) and the other was crewed by Capt. Horold A. Solberg (P), Capt. James C. Rodenberg (CP), Sgt. Delmar F. Mapes (FM) and A1C Dennis C. Hughes (PJ). http://www.h43-huskie.info/framesetrotortips.html |
| 1965 - December 09 | Two more additional HH-3C's arrived at their new home at Udorn RTAFB, Thailand and became part of Det. 5, 38th ARS. 38th ARS History 1965 01 Jan – 31 Dec |
| 1965 - December 10 | The 20th Helicopter Sq. personnel and equipment reached Tan Son Nhut AB, RVN at which point activity of the 20th HS resumed. http://www.mh-53pavelow.com/documents.20thSOS/history2.pdf |
| 1965 - December 10 | A HH-43F from Det. 6, 38th ARS at Bien Hoa AB, RVN, crewed by unkn (P), Capt. Charles P. Nadler (CP), TSgt. Kennneth L. Perkins (FM) and A1C Henry J. O’Beirne (PJ), scrambled for an A-1E landing with its left brake out, the A-1E veered off the runway into a water filled ditch and flipped upside down. By the time rescue crews were able to turn the A-1E over, the pilots had died from drowning. http://www.pjsinnam.com/vn_history/pdf_files/Chronology/1965.pdf |
| 1966 - December 11 | A HH-43F from Det. 11, 38th ARRS, Tuy Hoa AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Edmund W. Fischbeck Jr. (P), unkn (CP), A1C Thomas E. Hughes (FM) and A1C Ralph L. Baughman II (PJ), rescued three Vietnamese from a boat in RVN. The HH-43F attempted to lower the hoist down through the boats swaying masts and cables to the crewmen but the boat rocked violently against a sharp reef just offshore near Tuy Hoa AB, preventing use of the hoist. The HH-43F landed on the shore and A1C Hughes and A1C Baughman dove into the water pulling themselves along a rope that was running from the shore to the boat where they convinced the boat crewmen to enter the water and use the same rope to pull themselves to shore. "PJ's in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & Pacific Stars & Stripes, Feb. 09, 1967, pg. 10 |
| 1966 - December 11 | A HH-43F from Det. 6, 38th ARRS, Bien Hoa AB, RVN, crewed by unkn (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FM) and unkn (PJ), was involved in a rescue of one airman from an A-1E in RVN. No other details are available at this time. "PJ's in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1966 - December 11 | A HH-43F from Det. 6, 38th ARRS, Bien Hoa AB, RVN, crewed by Maj. David M. Randall (P), 1st Lt. Robert A. Reilly (CP), A1C Melvin G. Goff (FM) and SSgt. Robert S. Loud (PJ), rescued the pilot, Capt. A. E. Belford, after he ejected from his ground fire damaged aircraft near Dau Tieng, RVN. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "PJ's in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1965 - December 13 | A HH-43F from Det. 7, 38th ARS, Da Nang AB, RVN, crewed by 1st Lt. Tommy L. Brown (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ), rescued one crewmember, MSgt. Forrester, of a USMC UH-1B helicopter in RVN. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1965 - December 13 | A HH-43F from Det. 7, 38th ARS, Da Nang AB, RVN, crewed by unkn (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ), rescued one crewmember from an O-1E that was downed in RVN. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1965 - December 14 | A HH-43F from Det. 9, 38th ARS, from Pleiku AB, RVN, crewed by unkn (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FM) and unkn (PJ) attempted the rescue of two crewmembers, Capt. Robert Jerome Moroney (P) and Capt. Jere P. Joyner (CP) of a B-57 that was shot down by ground fire about 30 miles southwest of Pleiku, near the Cambodia border. As the HH-43F crew arrived they were informed that an Army helicopter had picked up Capt. Joyner after he had ejected from their B-57 and the HH-43F crew determined that Capt. Moroney had not ejected and was KIA. 38th ARS History 1965 01 Jan – 31 Dec |
| 1965 - December 14 | A HH-43F from Det. 1 (Prov.), 38th ARS at Cam Ranh Bay AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Joseph A. Civello (P), 1st Lt. Gary F. Sanderson (CP), SSgt. James W. Hollaway (FM) and A1C Leroy C. Juell (MT) were dispatched to attempt the recovery of the crew of a downed O-1E. The crash site was located, and the medical tech. was lowered to the ground, and he determined the crew were KIA in the still burning aircraft (see next entry). 38th ARS History 1965 01 Jan – 31 Dec |
| 1965 - December 14 | A HH-43F from Det. 1 (Prov.), 38th ARS at Cam Ranh Bay AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Richard C. Pfadenhauer (P), 1st Lt. Gary F. Sanderson (CP), TSgt. Paul J. Gorman (FM), SSgt. Truman R. Kilburn (MT) and A1C Leroy C. Juell (MT) were sent to recover the remains of the crew of the crashed O-1E located in the mission described in the previous entry. The two medical techs. were lowered to the ground and were able to recover the two remains from the crashed O-1E. 38th ARS History 1965 01 Jan – 31 Dec |
| 1965 - December 15 | For the first time in aviation history a helicopter connects to the refueling 'probe and drogue' system from an aerial tanker aircraft. Using a Sikorsky Helicopter Company owned S-61R (CH-3C) helicopter with a dummy refueling probe mounted on the nose and a U. S. Marine Corps KC-130F tanker aircraft. The Sikorsky owned helicopter was flown by Sikorsky test pilot Thomas Glynn in the pilot’s seat and U. S. Air Force pilot Capt. W. Don Eastman in the co-pilots seat and a second Sikorsky test pilot, Dick Wright, in the FE's seat. The KC-130F was piloted by Captains W.J. Smith and R. R. Mullins of Cherry Point Marine Air Station, the first connection was made on the afternoon of December 15, 1965. U.S.A.F. pilot Capt. Eastman was at the controls, from the co-pilots seat, when he flew up behind the KC-130F over Kitty Hawk, NC. and made the first helicopter refueling connection (no fuel was transferred) in history. This capability revolutionized helicopter Air Rescue operations. http://usafhpa.org/experiences/helirefuel/H-3%20Air%20Reueling%20tests.html |
| 1965 - December 15 | For the first time in aviation history the feasibility of refueling a helicopter in flight using a conventional 'probe and drogue' system was proven. A CH-3 #62-12580, piloted by Major Harry P. Dunn (who had never participated in an aerial refueling), with a jerry-rigged dummy refueling probe installed, flew up behind a USMC KC-130 over Kitty Hawk, NC., slipped into refueling position, and on the first attempt plugged the dummy probe into the refueling basket. The following message was sent to Hq. ARRS; Subject: Helicopter aerial refueling on 15 Dec 65, at MCAS Cherry Point, NC., an Air Force CH-3 helicopter successfully completed a series of aerial refueling tests which included a five-minute hookup with a Marine Corps KC-130F Hercules aircraft. This demonstrated for the first time in aviation history the feasibility of refueling a helicopter using conventional probe and drogue system. Air refueling would revolutionize helicopter SAR operations. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1965 - December 16 | A HH-43F from Det. 7, 38th ARS, Da Nang AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. John A. Boyles (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ), medevac’d one unkn in RVN. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1965 - December 17 | A HH-43F #63-9712 (Call sign “Pedro 74”) from Det. 6, 38th ARS at Bien Hoa AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Raymond L. Murden (P), Capt. Charles P. Nadler (CP), TSgt. Kennneth L. Perkins (FM) and A1C Henry J. O'Beirne (PJ), despite heavy ground fire, landed to retrieve the body of Capt. Donald Rey Hawley who was killed in action when his 0-1E was shot down by ground fire 10 miles NW of Bien Hoa AB, RVN. The ‘high bird’ on this mission was HH-43F #63-9711 (Call sign “Pedro 73”) crewed by unkn (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ). "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & http://www.pjsinnam.com/vn_history/pdf-files/Chronology/1965.pdf |
| 1965 - December 19 | A HH-3C (Call sign “Jolly Green 33”) from Det. 5, 38th ARS at Udorn RTAFB, Thailand, crewed by Capt. Norman B. Kamhoot (P), Capt. Charles P. Rush (CP), SSgt. Theodore M. Youngblood (FM) and A1C Harry W. Birtel (PJ), rescued one crewmember of a F-4C, Capt. R. S. Kan, after he ejected about 15 miles east of Nakhon Phanom RTAB, Thailand from his aircraft that had been badly damaged by a near miss from a SA-2 SAM about 35 miles west of Hanoi, NVN (see next entry). "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "PJs in Vietnam" by SMSgt. Robert L. LaPointe & http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/38th_Rescue_Squadron |
| 1965 - December 19 | A HH-3C from Det. 5, 38th ARS, crewed by Capt. Robert D. Furman (P), Capt. Dale V. Hardy (CP), A1C Robert E. Crites (FM) and SSgt. Berkley E. Naugle (PJ), rescued one crew member of a F-4C, 1st Lt. J. L. Moran, after he ejected about 15 miles east of Nakhon Phanom RTAFB, Thailand from his aircraft that had been badly damaged by a near miss from a SA-2 SAM about 35 miles west of Hanoi, NVN (see previous entry). "PJs in Vietnam" by SMSgt. Robert L LaPointe & http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/38th_Rescue_Squadron & "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson |
| 1965 - December 19 | A HH-43F from Det. 6, 38th ARS at Bien Hoa AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Edwin A. Henningson (P), Capt. Maurice G. Kessler (CP), TSgt. Richard E. Connon (FM) and SSgt. Leon C. Fullwood (PJ) rescued, by using a Stokes litter, a wounded troop, James Hunt, in contact in RVN. No other details are known at this time. The ‘high bird’ HH-43F on this mission was crewed by Capt. Dale L. Potter (P), Capt. Harold D. Salem (CP), A1C Gerald C. Hammond Jr. (FM) and A1C William H. Pitsenbarger (PJ). "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1965 - December 21 | A HH-3C from Det. 5, 38th ARS at Udorn RTAFB. Thailand, crewed by Capt. James L. Butera (P), Capt. William E. Cowell (CP), TSgt Spence C. Heywood (FM) and A1C Harry W. Birtell (PJ), rescued the pilot of a F-105D (Call sign "Cedar"), Capt. James V. Sullivan, after he had ejected from his 57 mm AAA damaged aircraft about 30 miles south of Ha Tinh, North Vietnam, near the border with Laos. The 'high bird’ on this mission was an HH-3C crewed by Capt. Norman B. Kamhoot (P), Capt. Charles P. Rush (CP), SSgt. Theodore M. Youngblood (FM) and A1C Robert E. Crites (FM). "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson |
| 1965 - December 21 | A HH-43F from Det. 6, 38th ARS at Bien Hoa AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Charles P. Nadler (P), Capt. Raymond L. Murden (CP), TSgt. Kenneth L. Perkins (FM) and A1C Henry J. O'Beirne (PJ), rescued one wounded USA troop contact in RVN. The HH-43F ‘high bird’ on this mission was crewed by Capt. Karl G. King (P), Capt Ronald L Rachmin (CP), A1C Alexander Montgomery (FM) and SSgt. George E. Schipper (PJ). "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & 38th ARS History 1965 01 Jan – 31 Dec |
| 1965 - December 21 | A HH-43F, crewed by unkn (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ), medevacked one USAF airman in RVN. No other details are known at this time. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1965 - December 22 | A HH-43B from Det. 2, 38th ARS, crewed by unkn (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ), rescued the pilot of an F-105 saved the pilot of an F-105 on the Takhli RTAFB, Thailand runway. No other details are known at this time. JRCC Save Form |
| 1965 - December 22 | A HH-3C, crewed by unkn (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ), rescued the pilot of an F-105, Capt. James V. Sullivan after he had flown his 57mm AAA damaged aircraft to near the Lao, Thailand border before ejecting. No other details are known at this time. JRCC Save Form |
| 1965 - December 23 | A HH-43F from Det. 7, 38th ARS at Da Nang AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. John B. Kneen (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ), medevacked one injured USAF airman in RVN. No other details are known at this time. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form |
| 1965 - December 27 | A HH-43B from the 31st ARS at Clark AB, PI., crewed by Capt. David J. Wege (P), Capt. Joseph W. Kelly (CP), TSgt. Forrest W. Farley (HM), SSgt Donald J. Glassford (MT) and Col. Ignatius J. Stein (FS) completed and emergency medevac of a U. S. Airman who, was suffering from electrical shock, and required medical attention from Camp O’Donnel, about twelve NMs north of Clark AB to the Clark AB hospital. 31st ARS 2 Jan-Dec 65 history report |
| 1965 - December 29 | A HH-43F from Det. 7, 38th ARS at Da Nang AB, RVN, crewed by unkn (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ) rescued 5 from a USMC UH-1E, no other details are known at this time. JRCC Save Form |
| 1965 - December 29 | A HH-3C from Det. 5, 38th ARS at Udorn RTAFB, Thailand, crewed by Capt. James L. Butera (P), Capt. William E. Cowell (CP) and A1C Frank I. Clubb (FM), was involved in the rescue of the pilot of a RTAF T-33A in Thailand and rescued him after he had been examined and treated by the medic on the HH-43B, that was also involved in this mission. (See next entry) No other details are known at this time. JRCC Save Form |
| 1965 - December 29 | A HH-43B (Call sign “Pedro ?”) from Det. 5, 38th ARS, Udorn RTAFB, Thailand, crewed by Capt. Charles E. McMillian (P), A1C Keith R. Nolder (MT), A2C Anthony F. Desmond (FF) and SSgt. James C. Baldwin (FF) was involved in the rescue of the pilot of a RTAF T-33A in Thailand. (See previous entry) No other details are known at this time. JRCC Save Form |
| 1965 - December 31 & 1966 - January 01 | Three HH-43's from Det. 15, WARC at Williams AFB, AZ. and two HH-43's from Det. 16, WARC at Luke AFB, AZ. were involved in a humanitarian airlift operation in which they rescued nine victims of flooding from the Salt and Gila Rivers in the suburbs of Phoenix, AZ. The USAF & Humanitarian Airlift Operations 1947-1994 by Daniel L. Haul |
| 1965 - End of Year | The Air Rescue Service had 6 HH-3C's, 1 CH-3E, 25 HH-43B/F's, 5 HU-16's and 2 HC-54"s in Vietnam and Thailand at the end of 1965. |
| 1966 - January 06 | The 3rd ARRGp. Commanded by Col. Arthur Beall was activated at Tan Son Nhut AB, RVN. The RCC's at Da Nang AB, RVN and Udorn RTAFB, Thailand became Det. 1 and Det. 2 of the 3rd ARRGp. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1966 - January 06 | Two HH-3C’s #64-14229 (Call sign “Jolly Green 29”) and #64-14233 (Call sign “Jolly Green 33”) 64-14233 from Det. 5, 38th ARS crews unkn, operating from Nakhon Phanom RTAFB, Thailand was launched to rescue the crew of an Air America UH-34D helicopter (Call sign “Hotel 28”) that was reported down at a Lima Site in Laos. Upon arrival of the reported downed location, it was determined that it was down for maintenance on an abandoned airstrip and that they were safe in a friendly zone and protected by friendly forces and Air America had dispatched another UH-34D (Call sign “Hotel 22”) with parts and maintenance support of “Hotel 28”. The two “Jolly Greens” returned to base. https://www.ragay.nl/hh-43-sea/nkp |
| 1966 January 08 | The 37th ARRS was activated at Da Nang Air Base operating 5 HU-16s on loan from the 31st ARRS and the 33rd ARRS and with a detachment at Udorn Royal Thai Air Force Base. The squadron was responsible for aircrew recovery over North Vietnam, Laos and the Gulf of Tonkin. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/37th_Helicopter_Squadron |
| 1966 - January 08 | The Military Air Transport Service (MATS) was renamed to Military Airlift Command (MAC), Air Rescue Service (ARS) was re-designated the Aerospace Rescue and Recovery Service (ARRS) & the 3rd ARRGp. took charge of all rescue operations in Vietnam. "PJ's in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & http://uscgaviationhistory.aopero.org/images/U.S.%20Coast%20Guard%20Aviation%20in%20Vietnam.pdf |
| 1966 - January 08 | The 20th HS relocated eight CH-3C's and eleven crews to Da Nang AB, RVN to support USMC operation "Double Eagle", flying their first mission on January 10, 1966. http://www.mh-53pavelow.com/documents/20thSOS/1966.pdf |
| 1966 - January 10 | A HH-43F from Det. 7, 38th ARRS, Da Nang AB, RVN, crewed by 1st Lt. Tommy L. Brown (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ), rescued the crew of a USMC F-4B, 1st Lt. G. E. Perry (P) and 1st Lt. R. T. Morrissey (CP) who had ejected from their aircraft, when one of its own bombs exploded prematurely, while attacking targets near Phuoc Binh, 20 miles south of Da Nang, AB, RVN. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & JRCC Save Form |
| 1966 - January 11 | A HH-3C #64-14231 (Call sign “Jolly Green 31”) from Det. 5, 38th ARRS, Udorn RTAFB, Thailand, crewed by Capt. James C. O'Dell (P), Capt. Erling R. Drangsveit (CP), TSgt. William J. Warren (FE) and MSgt. William G. Daniels (PJ), launched from LS-36 in Laos, rescued the pilot of a F-105D (Call sign "Healey 3"), Capt. J. R. Stell, after his aircraft was damaged by ground fire and he ejected near Ban Ban, Laos. The high bird on this mission was HH-3C #64-14227 (Call sign "Jolly Green 27"), crew unkn. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & https://www.ragay.nl/hh-43-sea/nkp |
| 1966 - January 11 | CH-3C's of the 20th HS, crew's unkn, airlifted Battery H, 3rd Battalion, 12th Marines from Chu Lai to Ba To. No other details are known at this time. http://www.mh-53pavelow.com/documents/20thSOS/1968.pdf |
| 1966 - January 12 | A HH-43F from Det. 6, 38th ARRS, Bien Hoa AB, RVN, crewed by unkn (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ), medevacked one Vietnamese civilian. No other details are known at this time. JRCC Save Form |
| 1966 - January 15 | A HH-43F from Det. 7, 38th ARRS at Da Nang AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Rockwell N. Greene (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ), rescued one Japanese civilian, Kimura Takeshig. No other details are known at this time. JRCC Save Form |
| 1966 - January 15 | Two CH-3C’s of the 20th HS, crewed by unkn (P), unkn (CP) and unkn (FE), were hit by enemy ground fire while sling loading a howitzer to a forward location. The crews were able to successfully complete the mission. http://www.mh-53pavelow.com/documents/20thSOS/1966.pdf |
| 1966 - January 16 | A HH-3C from Det. 5, 38th ARRS at Udorn RTAFB, Thailand, crewed by Capt. Robert A. Weekley (P), 1st Lt. Richard J. Sans (CP), SSgt. Joseph L. Barnes Sr. (FM) and A1C Leroy W. Kelsay Jr. (PJ), rescued the crew of an F-4C, Capt. J. A. Gagan (P) after he and his co-pilot, 1st Lt. F. M. Malagarie, ejected from their damaged aircraft that had been hit by small arms fire while attacking a target near Ban Ralao, Laos. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & JRCC Save Form |
| 1966 - January 16 | A HH-4F from Det. 7, 38th ARRS at Da Nang AB, RVN, crewed by 1st Lt. Arthur F. Machado (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ) rescued the pilot, Capt. Hugh M. Davidson after he and his co-pilot, Capt. Edward J. Cook (CP) ejected from a B-57B that had engine failure and crashed into the sea off Da Nang AB, RVN. Capt. Cook was picked up by a USN helicopter. No other details are known at this time. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & JRCC Save Form |
| 1966 - January 18 | Det. 8, 38th ARRS was activated at Cam Ranh Bay AB, RVN (with 2 HH-43B's) & Det. 11, 38th ARRS was activated at Tuy Hoa (also with HH-43B's). http://www.pjsinnam.com/vn_history/pdf_files/Chronology/1966.pdf |
| 1966 - January 20 | A HH-3C from Det. 5, 38th ARRS at Udorn RTAFB, Thailand, crewed by Capt. James C. O'Dell (P), Capt. Erling R. Drangsveit (CP), SSgt. William R. Gladish (FM) and SSgt James Watson (PJ), rescued the pilot of an F-105D, Capt. Anthony S. Cushenberry from Laos after he had ejected when his aircraft had an engine failure and crashed in Thailand.. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1966 - January 31 | A HH-3C crewed by unkn (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ), rescued the pilot, Capt. J. R. Gearheart, of an A-1E after he crashed landed his AAA fire damaged aircraft in RVN. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form |
| 1966 – January 31 | A CH-21 from the 1001st Helicopter Squadron at Andrews AFB, MD, crew unkn, medevacked Mrs. Betty Simpson, critically ill with pneumonia, from her snow drift-bound home in Loudon County, Virginia. https://www.facebook.com/jointbaseandrews/posts/10157932755403707?comment_id=10158084660508707 |
| 1966 - February 01 | A HH-3C from Det. 5, 38th ARRS at Udorn RTAFB, Thailand, crewed by 1st Lt. Forest M. Kimsey (P), Capt. Charles P. Rush (CP), SSgt. Donald L. Chance (FM) and A2C Laverne W. Kellerman Jr. (PJ) rescued the pilot of a USN A-1J, Lt. (Jg.) B. S. Eakin, after he ejected from his aircraft after it was hit while attacking a target near Ban Senphan, Laos. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1966 - February 02 | A HH-3C from Det. 5, 38th ARRS at Udorn RTAFB, Thailand, crewed by Capt. William E. Cowell (P), 1st Lt. William C. Dean (CP), SSgt. William R. Gladish (FM) and A1C Michael D. Leonard (PJ), attempted the rescued the pilot of a USN A-1J (Call sign "Skyraider 04"), Lt. (Jg.) Dieter Dengler, after his aircraft was shot down in Laos. Dieter Dengler became a POW, later escaped and evaded for three weeks before being spotted and rescued. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1966 - February 02 | The 20th HS first became part of a highly sensitive out-country operation when two CH-3C, six officers and three airmen were were moved to Nakhon Phanom RTAFB, Thailand from Tan Son Nhut AB, RVN. http://www.mh-53pavelow.com/documents/20thSOS/1966.pdf |
| 1966 - February 04 | A HH-3C from Det. 5, 38th ARRS at Udorn RTAFB, Thailand, crewed by unkn (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ), rescued one unkn from an OV-1A downed in Laos. No other details are known at this time. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1966 - February 07 | A HH-43F from Det. 6, 38th ARRS, Bien Hoa AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Charles P. Nadler (P), Capt. Ronald L. Bachman (CP), A1C Thomas C. Story (FM) and A1C Henry J. O'Beirne (PJ), rescued a wounded Australian troop, Pvt. John A. Densley, in contact in RVN. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1966 - February 12 | A HH-43F #63-9712 (Call sign "Pedro 74") from Det. 6, 38th ARRS, Ben Hoa AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Edwin A. Henningson (P), 1st Lt. Mark C. Schibler (CP), TSgt. Richard E. Connon (FM) and SSgt. Leon C. Fullwood (PJ), rescued six wounded U.S. Army troops in contact in RVN No other details are known at this time. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1966 - February 12 | A HH-43F (Call sign "Pedro 97") from Det. 6, 38th ARRS at Ben Hoa AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Maurice G. Kessler (P), Capt. Dale L. Potter (CP), A1C Gerald C. Hammond Jr. (FM) and A1C William H. Pitsenbarger (PJ), rescued 4 wounded troops in contact in RVN. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1966 - February 12 | A HH-43F from Det. 6, 38th ARRS, Ben Hoa AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Maurice G. Kessler (P), Capt. Dale L. Potter (CP), TSgt. Kenneth L. Perkins (FM) and A1C William H. Pitsenbarger (PJ), rescued 2 wounded troops in contact in RVN. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1966 - February 12 | A HH-43F from Det. 6, 38th ARRS, Ben Hoa AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Edwin A. Henningson (P), 1st Lt. Mark C. Schibier (CP), TSgt. Richard A. Connon (FM) and SSgt. David E. Milsten (PJ) rescued one wounded troop in contact in RVN. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1966 - February 19 | A HH-3C from Det. 5, 38th ARRS, crewed by Jerry W. Jennings (P), William R. Uhl (CP), Michael R. Holloway (FE) and James W. Poole (PJ) was launched to attempt the rescue of A-1E pilot, Maj. Oscar Mauterer, who had bailed out of his ground fire damaged aircraft near Ban Senphan, south of the Mu Gia Pass. He was seen to have bailed out and contacted other pilots once he was on the ground, however when the HH-3 arrived it found no sign of Maj. Mauterer and he was believed to have been taken prisoner and died in captivity. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1966 - February 19 | A HH-3C from Det. 5, 38th ARRS at Udorn RTAFB, Thailand, crewed by Capt. Norman B. Kamhoot (P), 1st Lt. John F. Guilmartin Jr. (CP), SSgt. Theodore M. Youngblood (FE) and A1C Leroy W. Kelsay Jr. (PJ), rescued a F-105D (Call sign "Healey Lead") pilot, Capt. Robert O. Green, from the Mu Gia Pass, Laos after his aircraft had been hit and damaged by 37 mm AAA fire while attacking targets in the Mu Gia Pass region. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1966 - February 20 | A HH-3C from Det. 5, 38th ARRS at Udorn RTAFB, Thailand, crewed by Capt. James C. O'Dell (P), Capt. Erling R. Drangsveit (CP), SSgt. William R. Gladish (FM), A1C George E. Hunt (PJ), rescued Pawlick from a downed O-1F in Laos. No other details are known at this time. JRCC Save Form |
| 1966 - February 20 | A CH-3C of the 20th Helicopter Sq., crewed by Capt. Allen G. Myers (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) were diverted from their scheduled combat support mission to assist the U.S. Army, in support of Operation Mastiff, who were in urgent airlift and emplacement of two field artillery batteries to a more strategic location. Capt. Myers and crew flew 32 combat sorties, airlifting over 75,000 pounds of cargo which included howitzers and critically needed combat troops. This achievement of this airlift support in less than five hours aided immeasurably in the success of Operation Mastiff and established a new combat airlift record for a single CH-3C helicopter. The Distinguished Flying Cross News, Volume 13, Issue 2, Summer 2013 |
| 1966 - February 22 | A HH-3C from Det. 5, 38th ARRS at Udorn RTAFB, Thailand, crewed by Capt. Jerry W. Jennings (P), Capt. William R. Uhl (CP), Sgt. Michael R. Holloway (FM) and TSgt. William G. Daniels (PJ) rescued the crew of a F-4C, Capt. J. L. Moore Jr. (P) and 1st Lt. M. J. Peters (CP), after they had ejected from their aircraft that was hit by ground fire while attacking a target near Ban Muangphan, Laos. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1966 - February 22 | A HH-43F from Det. 4, 38th ARRS, Korat RTAFB, Thailand, crewed by unkn (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ), rescued one Thai civilian. No other details are known at this time. JRCC Save Form |
| 1966 - February 24 | A HH-3C from Det. 5, 38th ARRS, Udorn RTAFB, Thailand, crewed by Capt. Robert A. Weekley (P), 1st Lt. Richard J. Sans (CP), SSgt. Joseph L. Barnes Sr. (FM) and A2C Laverne W. Kellerman Jr. (PJ) rescued the crew of a USMC F-4B, 1st Lt. John W. Pierce (P) and 2nd Lt. Billy R. Ellis (CP), after their aircraft was hit by AAA fire and they ejected after attacking a target near Ban Vangthon, Laos. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1966 - February 26 | A HH-3C from Det. 5, 38th ARRS, Udorn RTAFB, Thailand, crewed by 1st Lt. Forest M. “Woody” Kimsey (P), Capt. Charles P. Rush (CP), SSgt. Donald L. Chance (FM), A1C Dennis J. Kraft (PJ), rescued F-105D (Call sign "Cactus 01") pilot, Capt. Charles Graham Boyd, after he had ejected from his ground fire damaged aircraft near Nam Theun, Laos. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1966 - February 26 | A HH-43F from Det. 6, 38th ARRS, Bien Hoa AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Raymond L. Murden (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ), rescued 2 from a downed U.S. Army UH-1B, Col. Moran and Col. Schneider. No other details are known at this time. JRCC Save Form |
| 1966 - February 27 | A HH-43F from Det. 2, 38th ARRS, Takhli RTAFB, Thailand, crewed by 1st Lt. Ralph E. Vick (P), 1st Lt. Kenneth G. Griffis (CP), Amn. Jerome (FF), MSgt. Edward M. Willis (PJ) rescued F-105D pilot, Capt. Charles Graham Boyd, near Takhli, Thailand when his aircraft had an engine failure and he ejected. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form |
| 1966 - March 01 | A HH-43F from Det. 6, 38th ARRS, Bien Hoa AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Ronald L. Bachman (P), Capt. Charles P. Nadler (CP), A1C Thomas C. Story (FM) and A1C Henry J. O'Beirne (PJ), rescued a wounded U. S. Army troop, Larry Whiting, in contact in RVN. No other details are known at this time. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1966 - March 02 | A HH-3C from Det. 5, 38th ARRS, Udorn RTAFB, Thailand, crewed by 1st Lt. Robert W. Letton (P), Maj. Frank A. Schmidt (CP), SSgt. Chapman (FM), A2C Laverne W. Kellerman Jr. (PJ) and A2C Michael L. Halvorson (PJ), rescued an F-105D pilot named Tastet, after he had a mid-air collision with an O-1E in Laos. The O-1E pilot, Maj. Karl Edword Wurst was KIA. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1966 - March 07 | A HH-43F from Det. 6, 38th ARRS at Bien Hoa AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Ronald L. Bachman (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ), rescued one Vietnamese civilian. No other details are known at this time. JRCC Save Form |
| 1966 - March 07 | A HH-43F from Det. 6, 38th ARRS at Bien Hoa AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Ronald L. Bachman (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ), rescued one Vietnamese civilian. No other details are known at this time. JRCC Save Form |
| 1966 - March 07 | A HH-3C from Det. 5, 38th ARRS, Udorn RTAFB, Thailand, crewed by 1st Lt. Thomas E. Kenny (P), Capt. Francis E. Hendrickson (CP), SSgt. Harold R. Schrader (FM), SSgt. Aaron D. Farrior (PJ) and Munch (AP), rescued F-105D (Call sign "Dodge 03") pilot, Maj. Joseph L. Hutto, after he had ejected from his 57 mm AAA damaged aircraft some 45 miles south of Vinh, North Vietnam. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1966 - March 08 | A HH-43F from Det. 6, 38th ARRS, Bien Hoa AB, RVN, crewed by unkn (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and A1C William H. Pitsenbarger (PJ), rescued a wounded ARVN troop from a mine field in RVN. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1966 - March 08 | A HH-43F from Det. 6, 38th ARRS, Bien Hoa AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Harold D. Salem (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ), rescued one wounded crew member and one foreign military troop from a downed U. S. Army UH-1B. No other details are known at this time. JRCC Save Form |
| 1966 - March 08 | A HH-43F from Det. 6, 38th ARRS, Bien Hoa AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Ronald L. Bachman (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ), rescued 3 foreign troops from a downed U. S. Army UH-1B. No other details are known at this time. JRCC Rescue Form |
| 1966 - March 09 | A HH-43F of Det. 7, 38th ARRS, Da Nang AB, RVN. crewed by Capt. Donald J. Couture (P), Capt. Horold A. Solberg (CP), SSgt. David L. Lancaster (FM) and A2C Albert W. Foster, III (PJ), was able to rescue three of the six crewmembers of a AC-47D (Call sign "Spooky 70") that had been shot down and crash landed 5 miles north a Special Forces Camp that was under attack in the A Shau Valley. Rescued were 1st Lt. J. L. Meek (NAV), SSgt. J. G. Brown (FE) and Sgt. J. Turner (AG). AC-47 crewmembers, Capt. Willard Marion Collins (P), 1st Lt. Delbert Ray Peterson (CP) and Sgt. Robert Eugene Foster (AG), were KIA. The second HH-43F on this mission was crewed by 1st Lt. Arthur F. Machado (P), Capt. John B. Kneen (CP), SSgt. Curtis F. Yancy (FM) and SSgt. David J. Wheeler (PJ). "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & http://h43-husie.info/framesetrotortips.html |
| 1966 - March 09 | A CH-3C of the 20th HS, crewed by Maj. Frank Kelley (P), Capt. John T. Baggs (CP) and TSgt. Lyle Keller (FE) rescued several (26) badly wounded Army Special Forces troops from their camp in the A Shau Valley. They also rescued the crew (names unkn) of another 20th HS CH-3C after their helicopter had been hit and disabled at the camp while trying to rescue the badly wounded Special Forces troops. The camp had been under attack for some time and several other rescue attempts had failed. http://usafhpa.org/20poniesnew/FrankKelly2.html |
| 1966 - March 11 | A HH-43F from Det. 6, 38th ARRS, Bien Hoa AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Raymond L. Murden (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FM) and unkn (PJ) rescued U. S. Army E-1 Kenneth Stoke. No other details are known at this time. JRCC Save Form |
| 1966 - March 12 | The 20th HS support of the USMC operation “Double Eagle” terminated. The 20th HS had successfully completed its support of USAC operations. 1966 History of the 20th Helicopter Squadron |
| 1966 - March 13 | A HH-43F from Det. 7, 38th ARRS crewed by Capt. Dale L. Potter (P), Capt. David C. Henry (CP), TSgt. Richard E. Connon (FM) and SSgt. Leon C. Fullwood (PJ), rescued an A-1E pilot, Maj. M. E. Blaylock, who had bailed out of his ground fire damaged aircraft on March 12th, near the Pie Me Special Forces camp about 45 miles west of Da Nang AB, RVN. http://www.h43-huskie.info/framesetrotortips.html |
| 1966 - March 13 | A HH-43F from Det. 6, 38th ARRS, Bien Hoa AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Ronald L. Bachman (P), Capt. Harold D. Salem (CP), TSgt. Richard E. Connon (FM) and SSgt. David E. Milsten (PJ) rescued 8 wounded U. S. Army troops in contact in RVN. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1966 - March 14 | A HH-43F from Det. 6, 38th ARRS, Bien Hoa AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Ronald L. Bachman (P), Capt. Harold D. Salem (CP), TSgt. Richard E. Connon (FE) and A1C William H. Pitsenbarger (PJ), medevac’d 4 wounded USA troops in contact in RVN. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1966 - March 14 | A HH-43F from Det. 6, 38th ARRS, Bien Hoa AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Raymond L. Murden (P), Capt. Charles P. Nadler (CP), Montgomery Alexander (FM) and SSgt. David E. Milsten (PJ) rescued 2 wounded U. S. Army troops in contact in RVN. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1966 - March 14 | A HH-43F from Det. 6, 38th ARRS, Bien Hoa AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Raymond L. Murden (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ), rescued 6 wounded U. S. Army troops in contact in RVN. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1966 - March 14 | A HH-43F from Det. 6, 38th ARRS, Bien Hoa AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Ronald L. Bachman (P), Capt. Harold D. Salem (CP), TSgt. Richard E. Connon (FE), A1C William H. Pitsenbarger (PJ) and A1C Henry J. O'Beirne (PJ) (from the high bird on this mission), rescued the pilot of a O-1F, 1st Lt. Schneider, after he had crash landed in Laos. They also went back and recovered the body from the O-1F of the observer who was killed in the crash. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1966 - March 15 | A HH-3C (Call sign "Jolly Green 55") from Nakhon Phanom RTAFB, Thailand, crewed by Capt. Jerry W. Jennings (P), Capt. William R. Uhl (CP), Sgt. Michael R. Holloway (FM) and A1C Dennis J. Kraft (PJ), rescued the crew of a USMC F-4B, Maj. Eddie C. Paige Jr. (P) and W/O D. D. Redmond (CP), from Laos, after they ejected from their battle damaged aircraft 70 miles west of Hue. The 'high bird' on this mission was "Jolly Green 51", crew member’s unkn. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1966 - March 15 | A HH-43F from Det. 6, 38th ARRS, Bien Hoa AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. J. E. Symonds (P), Capt. Louis J. Pottschmidt (CP), James M. Fitch (FM) and Howard L. Mott (MT), rescued 2 wounded U. S. Army troops in contact in RVN. JRCC Save Form |
| 1966 - March 15 | A HH-43F from Det. 6, 38th ARRS, Bien Hoa AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Edwin A. Henningson (P), 1st Lt. Mark C. Schibler (CP), A1C Thomas C. Story (FM), A1C Henry J. O'Beirne (PJ) and SSgt. David E. Milsten (PJ) rescued 3 wounded USA troops in contact in RVN. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1966 - March 15 | A HH-43F from Det. 6, 38th ARRS, Bien Hoa AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Capt. Raymond L. Murden (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ), rescued U. S. Army SP4 J. Nichols. No other details are known at this time. JRCC Save form |
| 1966 - March 15 | Six CH-3C's and nine crews of the 20th HS were transferred from Da Nang AB, RVN where they had been supporting operation Double Eagle", to Nha Trang AB, RVN to support U. S. Army Field Forces Vietnam (FFV) in operation "Fillmore". http://www.mh-53pavelow.com/documents/20thSOS/1966.pdf |
| 1966 - March 16 | A HH-43F from Det. 6, 38th ARRS, Ben Hoa AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Harold D. Salem (P), Capt. Ronald L. Bachman (CP), A1C Gerald C. Hammond Jr. (FM) and SSgt. David E. Milsten (PJ) rescued 5 wounded USA troops in contact in RVN. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1966 - March 16 | A HH-43F from Det. 6, 38th ARRS, Bien Hoa AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Maurice G. Kessler (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ), rescued 1 Australian troop. No other details are known at this time. JRCC Save Form |
| 1966 - March 19 | A HH-43F from Det. 6, 38th ARRS, Bien Hoa AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Ronald L. Bachman (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ), rescued two Australian troops, Pvt. William H. Crom and Pvt. Mitchell. No other details are known at this time. JRCC Save Form |
| 1966 - March 20 | A HH-3C from Det. 5, 38th ARRS, crewed by Capt. Robert D. Furman (P), Capt. Dale V. Hardy (CP), A1C Robert E. Crites (FM), and A2C John J. Dagneau III (PJ) rescued 8 wounded RVN troops in contact in Laos. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1966 - March 20 | A HH-3C from Det. 5, 38th ARRS, crewed by Capt. Norman B. Kamhoot (P), Maj. Donald A. Vavra (CP), SSgt. Theodore M. Youngblood (FM), and TSgt. William G. Daniels (PJ) rescued 5 wounded RVN troops in contact in Laos. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1966 - March 23 | A HH-3C (Call sign “Jolly Green 53”) from Det. 5, 38th ARRS, crewed by Capt. William E. Cowell (P), Capt. David C. Henry (CP), SSgt. Robert J. Watson (FM), and A2C Laverne W. Kellerman Jr. (PJ), rescued the pilot of a F-105D (Call sign "Willow 04"), 1st Lt. Kenneth Deane Thomas, Jr., from Laos when he ejected from his 37 mm AAA fire damaged aircraft about 15 miles west of Don Bai Dinh. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1966 - March 23 | The same HH-3C from Det. 5, 38th ARRS, crewed by Capt. William E. Cowell (P), Capt. David C. Henry (CP), SSgt. Robert J. Watson (FM) and A2C Laverne W. Kellerman Jr. (PJ) also rescued the pilot of a F-105D (Call sign "Honda 01"), Maj. R. A. Hill, when he ejected from his 37 mm AAA fire damaged aircraft about 10 miles west of Nakhon Phanom RTAFB, Thailand. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1966 - March 28 | A HH-3C from Det. 5, 38th ARRS, crewed by Capt. Robert A. Weekley (P), 1st Lt. Richard J. Sans (CP), SSgt. Joseph L. Barnes Sr. (FM), A2C Michael L. Halvorson (PJ) and A2C John J. Dagneau III (PJ), rescued the crew of a F-4C, Capt. Delbert G. Rokes (P) and 1st Lt. Jesse Q. Ozbolt, when they ejected from their aircraft when it stuck trees while attacking a target near Ban Nam-Pakhon, Laos, about 30 miles west of the DMZ. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1966 - March 29 | A HH-43F from Det. 9, 38th ARRS at Pleiku AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Lawrence F. Marcum (P), 1st Lt. Gordon O. Tooley (CP), Lester Long (FF), and A2C Roy E. Kelsey (PJ), using their FSK rescued two USAF troops from a C-130B that crashed short of the runway during a night landing at Pleiku AB, RVN. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form |
| 1966 - April 01 | A HH-43F from Det. 6, 38th ARRS, Bien Hoa AB, RVN, crewed by unkn (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ), rescued one USAF airman in RVN. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1966 - April 02 | A detachment of the 20th Helicopter Squadron based in Nha Trang, RVN, with six CH-3C's, ten officers and fifteen enlisted personnel, relocated to Udorn RTAFB, Thailand. This unit, equipped with CH-3C's made incursions into Laos and North Vietnam as part of the "Secret War" in Laos. Note that only four CH-3C's arrived on April 02, 1966, and the other two CH-3C's arrived on April 06, 1966. "http://udornrtafb.tripod.com/id56.html & http://www.mh-53pavelow.com/documents/20thSOS/1966.pdf |
| 1966 - April 03 | Three CH-3C's from "D" Flight of the 20th HS, crew’s unkn, inserted a 47-man team into an un-lighted, un-marked rice paddy between two branches of the Ho Chi Minh Trail in an unprecedented night move. According to liaison officers this was the first movement of its type since the Korean War. http://www.mh-53pavelow.com/documents/20thSOS/1966.pdf |
| 1966 - April 04 | A HH-43F from Det. 9, 38th ARRS, Pleiku AB, RVN, crewed by unkn (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE), unkn (PJ), rescued 5 wounded USA troop in contact in RVN. No other details are known at this time. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1966 - April 04 | A HH-43F from Det. 9, 38th ARRS, Pleiku AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Lawrence F. Marcum (P), 1st Lt. Gordon O. Tooley (CP), TSgt. James E. Johnson (FM) and SSgt. George E. Schipper (PJ), rescued 3 wounded USA troops in contact in RVN. No other details are known at this time. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1966 - April 04 | A HH-43F from Det. 9, 38th ARRS, Pleiku AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Richard L. Cardwell (P), Capt. Frederik M. Bergold (CP), SSgt. Bertrum Brundridge (FM), A2C Roy E. Kelsey (PJ), rescued 2 wounded USA troops in contact in RVN. No other details are known at this time. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1966 - April 05 | CH-3C #63-9682 of the 20th HS "Pony Express", crewed by unkn, was damaged while completing a double-engine flame-out landing at an isolated jungle village. The subsequent surface transport of the helicopter by truck over unimproved roads so badly increased the damage that restoration was scheduled to take six months. No other details are known at this time. http://www.mh-53pavelow.com/documents/20thSOS/1966.pdf |
| 1966 - April 06 | A HH-43F from Det. 6, 38th ARRS, Bien Hoa AB, RVN, crewed by unkn (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ), medevac’d two USAF airmen, names unkn, in RVN. No other details are known at this time. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1966 - April 06 | A HH-3C from Det. 5, 38th ARRS, crewed by 1st Lt. Robert W. Letton (P), 1st Lt. John F. Guilmartin (CP), SSgt. Chapman (FM), A2C James E. Poole (PJ) and A2C Michael L. Halvorson (PJ), rescued the crew of a USA OV-1, Capt. H. E. Dvensing (P) and SPC L. R. Johnson), in Laos. No other details are known at this time. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1966 - April 06 | A HH-43B from Det. 2, 38th ARRS, Takhli RTAFB, Thailand, crewed by 1st Lt. Ralph E. Vick (P), 1st Lt. Kenneth G. Griffis (CP), A2C Andrew C. Paparella (FM), MSgt. Edward M. “Red” Willis (PJ) and Amn. Ragallo (FF), rescued a RTAF T-28 pilot, name unkn, in Thailand. No other details are known at this time. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1966 - April 06 | Three CH-3C’s from the 20th Helicopter Sq., “D” flight, crews unkn, inserted a 47-man team into an unlighted, unmarked rice paddy between two branches of the trail in an unprecedented night mass move. According to liaison officers this was the first movement of its type since the Korean War. This same team was extracted from the same area approximately a month later after they had gathered much valuable intelligence. No other details are known at this time. 1966 History of the 20th Helicopter Squadron |
| 1966 - April 07 | A HH-43F from Det. 6, 38th ARRS, Bien Hoa AB, RVN, crewed by unkn (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ), medevac’d three USAF airmen, names unkn, in RVN. No other details are known at this time. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1966 - April 08 | Det. 12, 38th ARRS is activated at Nha Trang AB, RVN (1 HH-43). http://www.pjsinnam.com/vn_history/pdf_files/Chronology/1966.pdf |
| 1966 - April 08 | A HH-43F from Det. 7, 38th ARRS, Da Nang AB, RVN, crewed by unkn (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ), rescued a A-1E pilot, Capt. S. Knickerbocker, after he bailed out of his ground fire damaged aircraft about 5 miles west of Da Nang, RVN. "http://udornrtafb.tripod.com/id56.html |
| 1966 - April 08 | A HH-43F from Det. 7, 38th ARRS, Da Nang AB, RVN, crewed by unkn (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ), rescued a wounded RVN troop. No other details are known at this time. JRCC Save Form |
| 1966 - April 09 | A HH-43F from Det. 7, 38th ARRS, Da Nang AB, RVN, crewed by unkn (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ), saved one USAF airman, A2C S. L. Luhn. No other details are known at this time. JRCC Save Form |
| 1966 - April 10 | A HH-43F from Det. 6, 38th ARRS, Bien Hoa AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Harold D. Salem (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ), rescued three U. S. Army troops, 2nd Lt. D. D. Hadly, Sgt. D. Synover and E-5 B. G. Walker. No other details are known at this time. JRCC Save Form |
| 1966 - April 10 | A HH-43F from Det. 6, 38th ARRS, Bien Hoa AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Edwin A. Henningson (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ), rescued two U. S. Army troops, PFC S. D. Sullavin and PFC E. R. Smellgrone. No other details are known at this time. JRCC Save Form |
| 1966 - April 11 | An HH-43F #63-9711 (Call sign "Pedro 73"), from Det. 6, 38th ARRS, Bien Hoa Air Base, RVN, crewed by Capt. Harold D. Salem (P), Maj. Maurice G. Kessler (CP), A1C Gerald C. Hammond (FM), A1C William Hart Pitsenbarger (PJ), was the ‘high bird’ called to medevac wounded of the 1st Infantry Division which were surrounded by enemy forces near Cam My, east of Saigon. They rescued 7 wounded USA troops in contact in RVN. Pararescueman A1C William Hart Pitsenbarger was KIA on this mission and was later awarded the Medal of Honor. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/38th_Rescue_Squadron & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1966 - April 11 | An HH-43F (Call sign "Pedro 97") from Det. 6, 38th ARRS, Bien Hoa Air Base, RVN, crewed by Capt. Ronald L. Bachman (P), Capt. Raymond L. Murden (CP), A1C Thomas C. Story (FM), SSgt. David E. Milsten (PJ) was the ‘low bird’ called to medevac wounded of the 1st Infantry Division which were surrounded by enemy forces near Cam My, east of Saigon. They rescued 7 wounded USA troops in contact in RVN. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1966 - April 11 | An HH-43F from Det. 6, 39th ARRS, Bien Hoa AB, RVN, crewed by 1st Lt. Mark C. Schibler (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ), rescued 6 wounded U.S. Army troops in contact in RVN. JRCC Save Form |
| 1966 - April 11 | An HH-43F from Det. 10, 38th ARRS based at Tan Son Nhut AB, RVN, crewed by Maj. Charles R. Kay (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ), rescued 2 wounded U.S. Army troops in contact in RVN. JRCC Save Form |
| 1966 - April 12 | An HH-43F (Call sign "Pedro 97") from Det. 6, 38th ARRS at Bien Hoa Air Base, RVN, crewed by 1st Lt. Mark C. Schibler (P), Capt. Edwin A. Henningson (CP), A1C Alexander Montgomery (FM), A1C Henry J. O'Beirne (PJ), continued the medevac of wounded of the 1st Infantry Division which were surrounded by enemy forces near Cam My, east of Saigon. P.J. O'Beirne stayed on the ground to load the wounded and look for P.J. A1C William H. Pitsenbarger who stayed in the fight overnight and was KIA on this mission and who was later awarded the Medal of Honor for his actions. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1966 - April 12 | An HH-43F #62-4560 (Call sign "Pedro 91") from Det. 10, 38th ARRS based at Binh Thuy AB, RVN, crewed by Maj. Charles R. Kay (P), John R. Denham (CP), A1C Malcolm G. Aldridge (FM), SSgt. Leon C. Fullwood (PJ), continued the medevac of wounded, rescuing two of the 1st Infantry Division which were surrounded by enemy forces near Cam My, east of Saigon. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1966 - April 14 | A HH-43F from Det. 7, 38th ARRS at Da Nang AB, RVN, crewed by unkn (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and Charles A. Kezer (PJ), rescued one crew member, from the South China Sea, of two B-57B’s that collided while practicing formation flying over Da Nang AB, RVN. The three other crew members survived, and they were rescued by a USMC UH-34D helicopter. No other details are known at this time. JRCC Save Form |
| 1966 - April 15 | A HH-43F from Det. 6, 38th ARRS, Bien Hoa AB, RVN, crewed by 1st Lt. Mark C. Schibler (P), Capt. Edwin A. Hennigson (CP), A1C Alexander Montgomery (FM), A1C Henry J. O'Beirne (PJ) and SSgt. Leon C. Fullwood (PJ), rescued 6 wounded USA troops in contact in RVN. No other details are known at this time. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1966 - April 17 | A HH-3C (Call sign "Jolly Green 51") from Det. 5, 38th ARRS, crewed by Capt. Jerry W. Jennings (P), Capt. William R. Uhl (CP), SSgt. Michael R. Holloway (FE) and A1C Dennis J. Kraft (PJ) rescued the crew of a B-57C (Call sign "Yellowbird"), Capt. Lawrence J. Horacek (P) and Capt. Donald N. Harnage (CP), after they had ejected from their ground fire damaged aircraft about 25 miles north of the DMZ. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1966 - April 17 | A HH-3C (Call sign "Jolly Green 52") from Det. 5, 38th ARRS, crewed by Capt. William E. Cowell (P), Capt. David C. Henry (CP), SSgt. Robert J. Watson (FM) and A2C Laverne W. Kellerman (PJ) rescued a USN A-4E (Call sign "Champion 463") pilot, Lt. Cdr. V. G. Hough, after his aircraft was hit by AAA near the Laotian border 40 miles south of Vinh, NVN. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1966 - April 19 | A HH-3C, crewed by unkn (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ) attempted the unsuccessful rescue of a O-1F (Call sign “Nail”) pilot, Capt. Joseph Orville Brown and his unkn observer, after his aircraft was hit by ground fire near Ban Pongdong, just south of the Mu Gia Pass, and crashed. It was established that both crewmembers were KIA in the crash of their aircraft. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1966 - April 19 | A HH-3C, crewed by unkn (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ) attempted the unsuccessful rescue of an A-1E pilot, Capt. Richard Joseph Robbins, after his aircraft was hit by ground fire near Ban Pongdong, just south of the Mu Gia Pass, and crashed near the North Vietnamese border. It was established that Capt. Robbins was KIA in the crash of his aircraft. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1966 - April 20 | A HH-3C (Call sign "Jolly Green 51") from Det. 5, 38th ARRS, Nakhon Phanom RTAFB, Thailand, crewed by Capt. Robert D. Furman (P), Capt. Dale V. Hardy (CP), A1C Robert E. Crites (FM) and A2C John J. Dagneau III (PJ) rescued a F-105D (Call sign "Elm") pilot, Capt. John B. Abernathy, when he ejected from his 37 mm AAA fire damaged aircraft near Don Bai Dinh, North Vietnam near the Laos border. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1966 - April 21 | A HH-3C from Det. 5, 38th ARRS, crewed by 1st Lt. Forest M. Kimsey (P), Capt. Francis E. Hendrickson (CP), SSgt. Donald L. Chance (FE) and SSgt. Robert L. Berry Jr. (PJ) rescued the badly injured co-pilot of a USMC F-4B, 2nd Lt. John L. Arendale, after he had ejected along with his pilot, Capt. Frank A. Huey, from their 37mm AAA damaged aircraft as they were attacking six trucks along the Ho Chi Minh Trail about five miles north of Trang Hune Nord in southern Laos. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1966 - April 21 | HH-43B #59-1561 (Call sing “Pedro 69”) was crashed damaged at Ubon RTAFB, Thailand. This HH-43B was repaired and returned to service. No other details are available currently. http://www.h43-huskie.info/framesetnew.html |
| 1966 - April 22 | A HH-3C (Call sign "Jolly Green 55") from Det. 5, 38th ARRS, crewed by Capt. Raymond H. Matthews (P), 1st Lt. Lawrence C. Rice (CP), SSgt Bernard D. Loughry (FM) and A1C George E. Hunt (PJ), rescued the pilot of a USMC F-4B, Capt. Frank A. Huey, after he had ejected from his 37 mm AAA damaged aircraft along with his co-pilot, 2nd Lt. John L. Arendale, as they were attacking six trucks along the Ho Chi Minh Trail in Laos on April 21, 1966. The PJ, A1C Hunt, had was sent down the hoist to try and locate and help rescue 2nd Lt. Arendale, who had suffered a broken leg but before he could be locate 2nd Lt. Arendale and be picked up his helicopter was driven off by enemy fire. With SSgt. Loughry (FE) being hit in the shoulder and severely wounded and JG-55’s hoist malfunctioning this left A1C Hunt on the ground. He E & E’d during the night and was rescued the next morning about ten miles away from where he was left. (See next entry on April 23rd.) High bird on this mission was HH-3E 64-14229 (Call sign “Jolly Green 52) was high bird on this mission but before 2nd Lt. Arendale or A1C hunt could be located and rescued it had to leave to refuel at Dong Ha (See next two entires). "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & CHECO REPORT USAF Search And Rescue In Southeast Asia (1961-66) dated 24 October 1966 |
| 1966 - April 22 | After HH-3E #64-14229 (Call sign “Jolly Green 52”) crewed by by 1st Lt. Forest M. Kimsey (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ), after refueling at Dong Ha, returned to locate and rescue 2nd Lt. Arendale and A1C Hunt. They did locate and rescue 2nd Lt. Arendale but they were not able to locate A1C Hunt. 2nd Lt. Arendale was evacuated to Dong Ha while another helicopter on this mission continued to search for A1C Hunt. No visual or electronic signal was received from A1C Hunt and the search effort for the day was called off with plans for a first light search to begin on April 23rd. 1St Lt. Kimsey was awarded the Silver Star medal for his precipitation in this mission, awards for other crewmates (and their names) are unknown at this time (See previous and next entry). CHECO REPORT USAF Search And Rescue In Southeast Asia (1961-66) dated 24 October 1966 |
| 1966 - April 22 | An additional CH-3C of the 20th HS, along with three more pilots (names unkn) was sent to Nakhon Phanom RTAFB, Thailand from Nha Trang AB, RVN to join the two that had been sent there on February 02, 1966. http://www.mh-53pavelow.com/documents/20thSOS/1966.pdf |
| 1966 - April 23 | A HH-3C #64-14229 (Call sign "Jolly Green 52") from Det. 5, 38th ARRS, crewed by 1st Lt.. Forest M. Kimsey (P), Capt. Francis E. Hendrickson (CP), SSgt. Donald L. Chance (FM) and SSgt. Robert L. Berry Jr. (PJ) rescued USAF PJ A1C George E. Hunt who was left on the ground from "Jolly Green 55" (see the previous mission on April 22nd) the day before while on the SAR for Capt. Huey and 2nd Lt. Arendale. SSgt. Berry was awarded the Silver Star for his actions during this mission. (See previous two entires). "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form & USAF Search And Rescue In Southeast Asia (1961-66) dated 24 October 1966 & http://www.homeofheroes.com/members/04_SS/5_RVN/citations/airforce/a.html & CHECO REPORT |
| 1966 - April 28 | A HH-43B from Det. 3, 38th ARRS, Ubon RTAFB, Thailand, crewed by unkn (P) unkn (CP), unkn (FE), unkn (PJ), medevacked one Thai Civilian. No other details are known at this time. JRCC Save Form |
| 1966 - April 30 | A HH-43F from Det. 7, 38th ARRS at Da Nang AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Harold A. Solberg (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ), rescued a USN A-4E (Call sign "Garfish") pilot, Lt. J. S. Buzby, just off the coast of Da Nang after he ejected from his disabled aircraft. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & JRCC Save Form |
| 1966 - May 01 | A HH-3C from Det. 5, 38th ARRS, crewed by Maj. Ealmon L. Stearman (P), Capt. David C. Henry (CP), SSgt. Theodore M. Youngblood (FM) and A2C William Daniel Brotton (PJ) rescued the pilot of a A-1E, Capt. James M. Ingalls, after he had ejected from his ground fire damaged aircraft a few miles from the Ban Nalong storage area in northern Laos. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1966 - May 02 | A HH-43F from Det. 9, 38th ARRS, Pleiku AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Richard L. Cardwell (P), unkn (CP), SSgt. Bertrum Brundridge (FM), and unkn (PJ), rescued a crewmember of a VNAF UH-1 helicopter in RVN. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form |
| 1966 - May 04 | A HH-43F from Det. 6, 38th ARRS, Bien Hoa AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Darvan E. “Ed” Cook (P), unkn (CP), SSgt Thomas Hughes (FM) and MSgt. Charles "Chuck" Walther (PJ), using the HH-43F’s rotorwash with SSgt. Hughes and MSgt. Walther using the FSK fire suppression kit, put out a fire on a B-57, loaded with bombs, and probably saved an entire flight line of 12 B-57's loaded with 750 lb. bombs. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1966 - May 04 | A HH-43F from Det. 1, 38th ARRS, Phan Rang AB, RVN, crewed by unkn (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE), and unkn (PJ), medevacked seven civilians in RVN. No other details are known at this time. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1966 - May 06 | A HH-3C from Det. 5, 38th ARRS, Udorn RTAFB, Thailand, crewed by Maj. Robert. D. Furman (P), Capt. David C. Henry (CP), A1C Robert E. Crites (FM) and A2C John J. Dagneau III (PJ) rescued the crew of an O-1F, Lt. Col. Robert L. "Louie" Johnston and Pratan (foreign military), from Laos. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form |
| 1966 - May 06 | A HH-43B from Det. 6, PARRC at Kadena, crewed by Capt. Bruce B. Duffy (P), Capt. John E. Shaeffer (CP), TSgt. William D. Atwell (FM), SSgt. Francis D. Brown (MT) and C. Lee McFarlane (FS), rescued an F-105 pilot, Capt. Wesley G. Kelly, who had ejected from his aircraft in the vicinity of Aguni Jima Island. Capt. Kelly was rescued by hoist pickup from his dinghy using a rescue basket. Pacific Stars & Stripes, Sunday, May 8, 1966, pg. 7 |
| 1966 - May 07 | A HH-43F from Det. 6, 38th ARRS, Bien Hoa AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Louis J. Pottschmidt (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ), saved an unknown USN sailor. No other details are known at this time. JRCC Save Form |
| 1966 - May 08 | A HH-43F from Det. 6, 38th ARRS, Bien Hoa AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Edwin A. Henningson (P), 1st Lt. Charles R. Sweet (CP), TSgt. Kenneth L. Perkins (FM), and SSgt. David E. Milsten (PJ) rescued 2 wounded USA troops in contact in RVN. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1966 - May 08 | A HH-43F from Det. 6, 38th ARRS, Bien Hoa AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Charles P. Nadler (P), Capt. Raymond L. Murden (CP), A1C Thomas C. Story (FM), and A1C Henry J. O'Beirne (PJ), rescued 5 wounded USA troops in contact in RVN. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1966 - May 10 | A HH-3C #64-14233 (Call sign “Jolly Green 56”) from Det. 5, 38th ARRS, Udorn RTAFB, Thailand, crewed by Capt. Robert D. Furman (P), Capt. Dale V. Hardy (CP), A1C Robert E. Crites (FM) and A2C John J. Dagneau III (PJ), rescued a F-105D (Call sign "Honda 03") pilot, Capt. Martin H. Mahrt, from 15 miles west of Yen Bai, North Vietnam after he ejected from his AAA damaged aircraft. “Jolly Green 56” was attacked by a MiG-17 that fired three missiles at it, but they all missed. High bird on this mission was HH-3C (Call sign “Jolly Green 51”), crew unknown. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & CHECO Report USAF Search & Rescue 24 October 1966 & Pacific Stars & Stripes, May 13, 1966, pg 1 |
| 1966 - May 10 | A HH-3C from Det. 5, 38th ARRS, Udorn RTAFB, Thailand, crewed by Capt. Raymond H. Matthews (P), 1st Lt. Lawrence C. Rice (CP), SSgt. Nicholas F. Beaumont (FM), A1C George E. Hunt (PJ) and SSgt. Robert L. Berry Jr. (PJ) rescued a F-105D (Call sign "Kaiser") pilot, 1st Lt. Gorgen L. Clouster, about 7 miles northeast of Sam Neua, Laos, after he had ejected from his AAA damaged aircraft. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1966 - May 13 | A HH-3C from Det. 5, 38th ARRS, Udorn RTAFB, Thailand, crewed by Capt. Robert A. Weekly (P), 1st Lt. John F. Guilmartin (CP), SSgt. William R. Gladish (FM) and A2C Michael L. Halvorson (PJ), rescued an F-105D (Call sign "Elm 01") pilot, Capt. James R. Mitchell, after he ejected from his aircraft before it crashed near Korat RTAFB, Thailand. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1966 - May 14 | A HH-43F from Det. 7, 38th ARRS, Da Nang AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. John B. Kneen (P), Capt. Rockwell N. Green (CP), A1C Ronald E. Renard (FM) and SSgt. William C. Sutton (PJ) medevacked a unknown civilian from Laos. No other details are known at this time. "PJ's in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1966 - May 14 | A HH-43F from Det. 7, 38th ARRS, Da Nang, AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Harold A. Solberg (P), Capt. Donald J. Couture (CP), A2C Dennis J. Wilson (FM) and SSgt. Dennis C. Hughes rescued an unknown civilian from Laos. No other details are known at this time. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1966 - May 15 | A HH-43F from Det. 10, 38th ARRS, Bihn Thuy AB, RVN, crewed by unkn (P) unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ), medevacked an unknown USN sailor in RVN. No other details are known at this time. JRCC Save Form |
| 1966 - May 16 | A HH-3C from Det. 5, 38th ARRS, Udorn RTAFB, Thailand, crewed by 1st Lt. Forest M. Kimsey (P), Capt. Charles P. Rush (CP), SSgt. Theodore M. Youngblood, (FE) and A2C William D. Brotton (PJ), rescued a A-1E (Call sign "Dragonfly 23") pilot, Capt. Henry Lewis Smith, after he bailed out of his AAA damaged aircraft about 25 miles west of Dong Hoi, North Vietnam. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1966 - May 16 | A HH-43F, from Det. 7, 38th ARRS at Da Nang AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Harold A. Solberg (P), Capt. Donald J. Couture (CP), A2C Dennis J. Wilson (FM), SSgt. Dennis C. Hughes (PJ) and SSgt. William C. Sutton (PJ) rescued an unknown Laotian from Laos. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1966 - May 17 | A HH-43B from Det. 3, 38th ARRS at Ubon RTAFB, Thailand, crewed by Capt. Israel Freedman (P), Capt. Jay M. Strayer (CP), SSgt. Benjamin Selph (FM) and A1C Reedus L. Haraway (MT) made a night rescue of the crew of a F-4C, Capt. D. G. Rokes (P) and Lt. E. S. S. Osbolt (CP) after they had ejected from their exploding aircraft about 8 miles from the base. http://www.h43-huskie.info/framesetrotortips.html |
| 1966 - May 17 | Two CH-3C's and three crews of the 20th HS at Da Nang AB, RVN were transferred to Udorn RTAFB, Thailand. http://www.mh-53pavelow.com/documents/20thSOS/1966.pdf |
| 1966 - May 18 | A HH-3C (Call sign "Jolly Green 51") from Det. 5, 38th ARRS, Udorn RTAFB, Thailand, crewed by 1st Lt. John F. Guilmartin (P), Maj. Donald A. Vavra (CP), SSgt. Michael R. Holloway (FM) and A1C Dennis J. Kraft (PJ) rescued the crew of a USN F-4B (Call sign "Black Lion"), Lt. Cdr. Carl W. L. Sommers and Lt. Cdr. William K. Sullivan, after they had ejected from their ground fire damaged aircraft in the Ban Karai Pass area. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1966 - May 21 | The Aeronautical Systems Division at Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio, completed a series of flight tests using a modified CH-3 and a C-130, proving the feasibility of the air-to-air refueling of helicopters. USAF in Southeast Asia, Search and Rescue in Southeast Asia by Earl H. Tilford, Jr. |
| 1966 - May 21 | A HH-43F from Det. 7, 38th ARRS, Da Nang AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Rockwell N. Green (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ) medevacked one USAF airman in RVN. No details are known at this time. JRCC Save Form |
| 1966 - May 22 | A HH-3C (Call sign "Jolly Green 56") from Det. 5, 38th ARRS, Udorn RTAFB, Thailand, crewed by Capt. James L. Butera (P), Capt. David C. Henry (CP), TSgt. Spence C. Heywood (FM) and A3C Robert B. Williamson (PJ) rescued a F-105D (Call sign "Elm 04") pilot, 1st Lt. Richard H. Hackford, after he ejected from his ground fire damaged aircraft about fifteen miles northeast of the Ban Karai Pass area, Laos. All of the "Jolly Green" crew were awarded The Silver Starr for their actions during this mission. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1966 - May 24 | A HH-43F from Det. 9, 38th ARRS, Pleiku AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Lawrence F. Marcum (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ) rescued an unkn U. S. Army troop. No other details are known at this time. JRCC Save Form |
| 1966 - May 25 | A HH-43F from Det. 9, 38th ARRS, Pleiku AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Lawrence F. Marcum (P), 1st Lt. Michael E. Davis (CP), James E. Johnson (FM) and A2C David A. Carl (PJ), medevacked one unkn in RVN. No other details are known at this time. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1966 - May 25 | A HH-3C from Det. 5, 38th ARRS, Udorn RTAFB, Thailand, crewed by Capt. William R. Uhl (P), Capt. John M. High (CP), TSgt. Donald J. Jones (FM) and A1C Robert J. Ward (PJ) rescued the pilot of a A-1E (Call Sign "Sandy 12"), Capt. Robert Ira Bush, after he bailed out of his ground fire damaged aircraft near Ban Niang, Laos. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1966 - May 29 | A HH-43F from Det. 6, 38th ARRS, Bien Hoa AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Charles P. Nadler (P), Capt. Raymond L. Murden (CP), TSgt. Richard E. Connon (FM) and A3C Gordon C. Thayer (PJ), rescued a U. S. Army troop, PFC Gerald Honeycutt. No other details are known at this time. JRCC Save Form |
| 1966 - May 30 | A HH-3C from Det. 5, 38th ARRS, Udorn RTAFB, Thailand, crewed by Maj. Ealmon L. Stearman (P), Capt. Charles P. Rush (CP), SSgt. Theodore M. Youngblood (FM) and A2C William D. Brotton (PJ) attempted the unsuccessful rescue of an F-105D (Call sign "Ford 01") pilot, Capt. David Burnett Hatcher, after he had ejected from his ground fire damaged aircraft near Bao Ha, NVN. Capt. Hatcher was taken POW before he could be rescued. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form |
| 1966 - May 31 | A HH-3C from Det. 5, 38th ARRS, Udorn RTAFB, Thailand, crewed by 1st Lt. John F. Guilmartin (P), Maj. Donald A. Vavra (CP), SSgt. Michael R. Holloway (FM) and A2C Malcolm Hassler (PJ) attempted the unsuccessful rescue of an F-105D (Call sign "Cactus 02") pilot, Capt. Martin William Steen, after he had ejected from his ground fire damaged aircraft about twelve miles southwest of Yen Bai, NVN. Capt. Hatcher's chute was located but he was not found and was determined to have been KIA. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form |
| 1966 - May 31 | A HH-43F from Det. 10, 38th ARRS, Bihn Thuy AB, RVN, crewed by 1st Lt. John M. Armstrong (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ), saved one USN sailor. No other details are known at this time. JRCC Save Form |
| 1966 - May 31 | A HH-3C from Det. 5, 38th ARRS, Udorn RTAFB, Thailand, crewed by Maj. Baylor R. Haynes (P), Cap. James C. O'Dell (CP), TSgt. William J. Warren (FM) and MSgt. William G. Daniels (PJ) rescued the pilot of a F-105D (Call sign "Olds 02"), 1st Lt. Leonard C. Ekman, after he had ejected from his 85 mm AAA damaged aircraft about 12 miles southwest of Yen Bai, North Vietnam. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1966 - June 01 | A HH-3C from Det. 5, 38th ARRS, Udorn RTAFB, Thailand, crewed by Capt. Erling R. Drangstveit (P), 1st Lt. Thomas E. Kenny (CP), SSgt. Harold R. Schrader (FM) and SSgt. Aaron D. Farrior (PJ), rescued a F-105D (Call sign "Honda 01") pilot, Capt. George H. Peacock, after he ejected from his small caliber ground fire damaged aircraft near the NVN/Laos border west of Dong Hoi, NVN. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1966 - June 02 | A HH-3C from Det. 5, 38th ARRS, Udorn RTAFB, Thailand, crewed by Capt. Robert D. Furman (P), Capt. Dale V. Hardy (CP), A1C Robert E. Crites (FM) and A2C Franklin D. Stevson (PJ), rescued a F-105D (Call sign "Honda 03") pilot, Capt. John D. Whipple, after he had ejected from his small arms fire damaged aircraft near Ban Katoi, NVN. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1966 - June 02 | A HH-3C from Det. 5, 38th ARRS, Udorn RTAFB, Thailand, crewed by Maj. Ealmon L. Stearman (P), 1st Lt. William W. Gunnin (CP), SSgt. Theodore M. Youngblood (FM) and A2C William D. Brotton (PJ) rescued the pilot and observer, Capt. Ben H. Witterman and Lt. Col. Marland O. Marshall, of a 0-1F (Call sign "Gombay") that was shot down and crash landed near Ban Namkop, Laos. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1966 - June 03 | A HH-3C from Det. 5, 38th ARRS, Udorn RTAFB, Thailand, crewed by unkn (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ), attempted the unsuccessful rescue of the crew of an AC-47D that had been shot down over the Ho Chi Minh Trail, but no trace of the crew could be found. The AC-47D crew, Maj. Harding Eugene Smith, Capt. Theodore Eugene Kryszak, 1st Lt. Russell Dean Martin, TSgt. Harold Eugene Mullins, TSgt. Luther Lee Rose and SSgt. Ervin Warren was KIA. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1966 - June 04 | A HH-43B from Det. 2, 38th ARRS, Takhli RTAFB, Thailand, crewed by unkn (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ), medevacked one Thai civilian. No other details are known at this time. JRCC Save Form |
| 1966 - June 05 | A HH-43F from Det. 6, 38th ARRS, Bien Hoa AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Edwin A. Henningson (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ) medevacked two U.S. Army troops. No other details are known at this time. JRCC Save Form |
| 1966 - June 05 | A HH-43F from Det. 6, 38th ARRS Bien Hoa AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Charles P. Nadler (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ) medevac’d two U.S. Army troops. No other details are known at this time. JRCC Save Form |
| 1966 - June 06 | A HH-43F #63-9712 (Call sign "Pedro 74") from Det. 6, 38th ARRS, Bien Hoa AB, RVN crewed by Capt. Harold D. Salem (P), Capt. Dale L. Potter (CP), TSgt. Richard E. Connon (FM) and A2C Frederick L. Sanger (PJ), was downed by ground fire after hoisting a wounded soldier aboard and preparing for a second hoist pickup. Capt. Salem was able to fly about two miles before he was forced to land in a small clearing. TSgt. Connon was wounded in the calf and thigh during the shoot down. The second HH-43F, crewed by Capt. Charles P. Nadler (P), Capt. Karl G. King (CP), A1C Gerald C. Hammond, Jr. (FM) and SSgt David E. Millets (PJ), rescued TSgt. Connon and one of the Army UH-1B's escort helicopters landed and picked up A2C Sanger and the second Army UH-1B landed and picked up Capt.'s Salem and Potter. Meanwhile a third HH-43F #63-9711 (Call sign “Pedro 73”) from Det. 6, crewed by Maj. Maurice G. Kessler (P), 1st Lt. Mark C. Schibler (CP), A1C Alexander Montgomery (FM) and A3C Gordon C. Thayer (PJ) had taken off to assist met the returning HH-43F and escorted it to the hospital. Ground troops moved in and secured the downed HH-43F and SSgt. William D. Cole, SSgt. Larry G. Vance, A1C Richard N. Strobaker and A2C Charles H. Burnett, in less than three hours after it was downed, had it prepared it for airlifting and a U.S. Army CH-47 lifted it from the clearing and returned it to base for repairs. http://www.h43-huskie.info/framesetrotortips.html |
| 1966 - June 08 | A HH-43F from Det. 9, 38th ARRS, Pleiku AB, RVN, crewed by 1st Lt. Michael E. Davis (P), Capt. Dale R. Tyree (CP), A2C Harry J. Hull (FM), A2C David A. Carl (PJ), made a night rescue of 9 wounded USA troops in contact in RVN. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form |
| 1966 - June 09 | A HH-3C from Det. 5, 38th ARRS, Udorn RTAFB, Thailand, crewed by Capt. Robert A. Weekly (P), 1st Lt. Jason K. Bridge (CP), A1C Lyle J. Tadewald (FM) and A2C Lavern W. Kellerman (PJ), rescued a F-105D (Call sign "Buck 01") pilot, Maj. James C. Holley, from off the coast of Dong Hoi, NVN, after he had ejected from his ground fire damaged aircraft on June 08, 1966. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1966 - June 09 | A HH-43F from Det. 9, 38th ARRS, Pleiku AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Lawrence F. Marcum (P), Capt. Fredrik M. Bergold (CP), MSgt. James E. Johnson (FM) and SSgt. George E. Schipper (PJ), made a night rescue, in seven round trips of 9 wounded USA troops in contact in RVN. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form |
| 1966 - June 09 | A HH-3C from Det. 5, 38th ARRS, Udorn RTAFB, Thailand, crewed by unkn (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ), attempted an unsuccessful rescue an A-1E pilot, Capt. Robert Ira Bush, who was KIA when his aircraft had a mid-air collision with another aircraft during a SAR mission. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1966 - June 09 | A HH-43F from Det. 9, 38th ARRS, Pleiku AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Darrell A. Lowery (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE), unkn (PJ), rescued nine wounded USA troops in contact in RVN. JRCC Save Form |
| 1966 - June 10 | A HH-43B from Det. 1, 38th ARRS, Phan Rang AB, RVN, crewed by unkn (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ), attempted an unsuccessful rescue a O-1E pilot, Capt. Dan Bruen Packard, who was KIA when his aircraft was lost near Ban Vangthon, RVN. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1966 - June 11 | A HH-43F from Det. 6, 38th ARRS, Bien Hoa AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Edward E. Pharroh (P), Capt. Maurice G. Kessler (CP), A2C Alvino Espinoza (FE), and AC Henry J. O'Beirne (PJ), rescued, in ten round trips, 13 wounded USA troops in contact in RVN. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1966 - June 11 | A HH-43F from Det. 6, 38th ARRS, Bien Hoa AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Charles P. Nadler (P), Capt. Raymond L. Murden (CP), A1C Thomas C. Story (FE), and A2C Frederick L. Sanger (PJ), rescued, in twelve round trips, 11 wounded USA troops in contact in RVN. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1966 - June 14 | A HH-3C from Det. 5, 38th ARRS, Udorn RTAFB, Thailand, crewed by 1st Lt. John F. Guilmartin (P), Capt. Thomas L. Stiles (CP), SSgt. Harold R. Schrader (FM) and Amn. Transito Trujillo (PJ), rescued an F-105D (Call sign "Beach 02") pilot, J. C. Shay, near Korat RTAFB, Thailand, after he had ejected from his aircraft when it had an engine flame out at low altitude. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1966 - June 14 | A HH-43B from Det. 2, 38th ARRS, Takhli RTAFB, Thailand, crewed by Capt. D. L. Smith (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ), saved one Thai civilian. No other details are known at this time. JRCC Save Form |
| 1966 - June 15 | A HH-3C from Det. 5, 38th ARRS, Udorn RTAFB, Thailand, crewed by Maj. Ealmon L. Stearman (P), 1st Lt. William W Gunnin (CP), Sgt. Michael R. Holloway (FM) and A1C Robert J. Ward (PJ), rescued a F-105D (Call sign "Packard 02") pilot, 1st Lt. Phillip J. Kelly, after he had ejected from his AAA damaged aircraft about 5 miles north of Bo Trach, NVN. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson |
| 1966 - June 15 | A HH-43B from Det. 2, 38th ARRS at Takhli RTAFB, Thailand, crewed by Capt. David J. Given (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ), saved one USAF airman in Thailand. No other details are known at this time. JRCC Save Form |
| 1966 - June 15 | The 20th Helicopter Sq. relocates from Tan Son Nhut AB, RVN, to Nha Trang AB, RVN. http://www.mh-53pavelow.com/documents.20thSOS/history2.pdf |
| 1966 - June 22 | A HH-3C from Det. 5, 38th ARRS, Udorn RTAFB, Thailand, crewed by 1st Lt. Jason K. Bridge (P), Maj. Frank A. Schmidt (CP), A1C Lyle J. Tadewald (FM) and A3C Robert B. Williamson (PJ), attempted an unsuccessful rescue of an O-1F (Call sign "Gombie 12") pilot, Capt. Warren Parker Smith, when his aircraft was shot down by automatic weapons fire near Ban Moung Sen in Savannakhet province in southern Laos. Capt. Smith was determined to be KIA. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form |
| 1966 - June 25 | A HH-43F from Det. 6, 38th ARRS, Bien Hoa AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Harold D. Salem (P), Capt. Dale L. Potter (CP), TSgt. Kenneth L. Perkins (FM) and A1C Henry J. O'Beirne (PJ), medevacked USN sailor, Wayne A. Murray, from a ship, the USS John, in the South China Sea. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form |
| 1966 - June 26 | Flight "D", with CH-3C's, of the 20th HS was moved from Nakhon Phanom RTAFB, Thailand to Udorn RTAFB, Thailand to join "B" and "C" flights already located at Udorn RTAFB, Thailand. http://www.mh-53pavelow.com/documents/20thSOS/1966.pdf |
| 1966 - June 27 | Flight "D", with CH-3C's, of the 20th HS was moved from Nakhon Phanom RTAFB, Thailand to Udorn RTAFB, Thailand to join "B" and "C" flights already located at Udorn RTAFB, Thailand. http://www.mh-53pavelow.com/documents/20thSOS/1966.pdf |
| 1966 - June 28 | A HH-43F from Det. 9, 38th ARRS, Pleiku AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Richard L. Cardwell (P), Capt. Dale R. Tyree (CP), A2C William L. Houoghtaling (FM), SSgt. George E. Schipper (PJ) and Capt. Al Asendorf [Doctor] (MC), rescued four men from a UH-1B that had been downed the night before. Kaman RotorTips Magazine |
| 1966 - June 29 | A HH-43F from Det. 6, 38th ARRS, Bien Hoa AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Dale L. Potter (P), Capt. Harold D. Salem (CP), A1C Gerald C. Hammond Jr. (FM), and A3C Gordon C. Thayer (PJ), rescued 7 wounded USA troops in contact in RVN. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1966 - June 29 | A HH-43F from Det. 6, 38th ARRS, Bien Hoa AB, RVN, crewed by Maj. Maurice G. Kessler (P), Capt. Karl G. King (CP), A1C Alexander Montgomery (FM), and A1C Henry J. O'Berine (PJ), rescued 8 wounded USA troops in contact in RVN. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1966 - June 29 | A HH-3C from Det. 5, 38th ARRS, Udorn RTAFB, Thailand, crewed by 1st Lt. Lawrence C. Rice (P) Capt. William E. Cowell (CP), A1C Wallace Spivery (FM) and A2C Laverne W. Kellerman Jr. (PJ), rescued an A-1E (Call sign "Dragonfly 25") pilot, Capt. N. J. Baker, after he had bailed out of his AAA damaged aircraft near Ban Katoi, NVN. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1966 - June 30 | A HH-3C from Det. 5, 38th ARRS, Udorn RTAFB, Thailand, crewed by Capt. Charles P. Rush (P), Capt. Francis E. Hendrickson (CP), SSgt. Theodore M. Youngblood (FM) and SSgt. Robert L. Berry (PJ) rescued a F-105D (Call sign "Savannah 02") pilot, Capt. Robin K. Nierste, after he had ejected from his AAA damaged aircraft near Moung Cha, Laos. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1966 - June 30 | A HH-43F from Det. 6, 38th ARRS, Bien Hoa AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Charles P. Nadler (P), Capt. Edward E. Pharraoh (CP), TSgt. Kenneth L. Perkins (FM), and A2C Fredrick L. Sanger (PJ), rescued two wounded USA troops, SP4 C. R. Jenkins and PFC Anthony Brunett, in contact in RVN. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form |
| 1966 - June 30 | A HH-43F from Det. 6, 38th ARRS, Bien Hoa AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Dale L. Potter (P), Capt. Mark C. Schibler (CP), A1C Gerald C. Hammond Jr. (FE), and A1C Henry J. O'Berine (PJ) rescued a wounded USA troop, PFC John B. Price, in contact in RVN. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form |
| 1966 - July 01 | A HH-43F from Det. 6, 38th ARRS, Bien Hoa AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Charles P. Nadler (P), Capt. Edward E. Pharaoh (CP), TSgt. Kenneth L. Perkins (FE) and A2C Fredrick L. Sanger (PJ) rescued two wounded USA troops, E-5 Robert Riddle and E-5 A. Anthony Brokken, in contact in RVN. JRCC Save Form |
| 1966 - July 01 | A HH-43F from Det. 6, 38th ARRS, Bien Hoa AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Karl G. King (P), Maj. Maurice G. Kessler (CP), A1C Thomas C. Story (FM), and A1C Henry J. O'Beirne (PJ), rescued 1 wounded USA troop, SP4 C. Maltnowski, in contact in RVN. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1966 - July 03 | A HH-43F from Det. 12, 38th ARRS, Nha Trang AB, RVN, crewed by Maj. Ralph H. Bush (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ), rescued two wounded ARVN troops in contact in RVN. JRCC Save Form |
| 1966 - July 05 | A HH-43F from Det. 1, 38th ARRS, Phan Rang AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. David R. Stevenson (P), Capt. Rockwell N. Greene (CP), A1C Ronald E. Renard (FM), SSgt. William C. Sutton (PJ) and SSgt. David J. Wheeler (PJ) rescued a F-105D (Call sign "Barracuda") pilot, 1st Lt. B. L. Minton, from the South China Sea after he had ejected from his AAA damaged aircraft about 15 miles off the coast of the DMZ. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1966 - July 06 | A HH-3C from Det. 5, 38th ARRS, Udorn RTAFB, Thailand, crewed by 1st Lt. Forest M. Kimsey (P), 1st Lt. Donald R. Harris (CP), SSgt. Donald L. Chance (FM), A2C William D. Brotton (PJ) and Aaron Garrior (PJ), rescued two crewmembers of a T-28 (Call sign “Green Eagle 03”), Weera and one unkn, after they went down in Laos. “Jolly Green 56” was the high bird on this mission. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1966 - July 06 | A HH-43F from Det. 5, 38th ARRS, Udorn RTAFB, Thailand, crewed by Capt. Donald R. Berdeaux (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ), rescued a A-1E (Call sign "Sandy 21") pilot, Capt. J. R. Crane after he bailed out of his small arms battle damaged aircraft about 20 miles north of Udorn RTAFB, Thailand. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1966 - July 07 | A HH-3C from Det. 5, 38th ARRS, Udorn RTAFB, Thailand, crewed by Capt. James L. Butera (P), 1st Lt. F. M. Dare (CP), TSgt. William J. Warren (FM) and A2C Malcolm C. Hassler (PJ) rescued two crewmembers, Capt. C. L. Evans and A1C A. J. Grover, of a U-10 that had went down in Thailand. No other details are known at this time. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1966 - July 07 | A HH-3C from Det. 5, 38th ARRS, Udorn RTAFB, Thailand, crewed by 1st Lt. Robert W. Letton (P), Capt. Robert W. Packer (CP), SSgt. Robert J. Watson (FM) and A1C Aaron D. Farrior (PJ), rescued one crewmember, A. J. Glover, of a U-10 that had went down in Thailand. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1966 - July 08 | HH-43B #59-1587 from Det. 10, 38th ARRS was destroyed during a mortar attack at Binh Thuy AB, RVN. http://www.h43-huskie.info/framesetnew.html |
| 1966 - July 08 | HH-43B #62-4560 at Det. 10, 38th ARRS at Binh Thuy AB, RVN was damaged in a mortar attack. The helicopter was repaired and put back in service. http://www.h43-huskie.info/framesetnew.html |
| 1966 - July 08 | A HH-43F from Det. 6, 38th ARRS, Bien Hoa AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Charles P. Nadler (P), Capt. LaMonte M. Kahler (CP), A1C Alexander Montgomery (FM), and A2C Fredrick L. Sanger (PJ), rescued 6 wounded USA troops in contact in RVN. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1966 - July 08 | Two HH-43F’s from Det. 7, 38th ARRS, Da Nang AB, RVN, one crewed by Capt. John B. Kneen (P), 1st Lt Frederick D. Gregory (CP), TSgt Delmar R. Mapes (FE), A1C Dennis C. Hughes (PJ), and the second crewed by 1st Lt. Tommy L. Brown (P), Capt. Joseph E. Symond, Jr. (CP), TSgt Patrick A. Bowers (FM) and SSgt William C. Sutton (PJ), rescued three from a downed USMC CH-46. No other details are known at this time. JRCC Save Form |
| 1966 - July 09 | A HH-43F from Det. 6, 38th ARRS, Bien Hoa AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Charles P. Nadler (P), Capt. LaMonte M. Kahler (CP), A1C Alexander Montgomery (FM), and A2C Fredrick L. Sanger (PJ), rescued 6 wounded USA troops in contact in RVN. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1966 - July 09 | A HH-43F from Det. 6, 38th ARRS, Bien Hoa AB, RVN, crewed by 1st Lt. Mark C. Schibler (P), Capt. Dale L. Potter (CP), TSgt. Kenneth L. Perkins (FM), and A3C Gordon C. Thayer (PJ), rescued, in six round trips, 5 wounded USA troops in contact in RVN. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1966 - July 11 | A HH-3C from Det. 5, 38th ARRS, Udorn RTAFB, Thailand, crewed by Capt. Robert A. Weekley (P), 1st Lt. Jason K. Bridge (CP), A1C Lyle J. Tadewald (FM) and A2C Franklin D. Stevson (PJ), rescued an F-105D (Call sign "Knife 01") pilot, Capt. Robert H. Laney, after he had ejected from his AAA damaged aircraft near Ban Thin, Laos. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson |
| 1966 - July 11 | A HH-3C (Call sign “Jolly Green 54”) from Det. 5, 38th ARRS, Udorn RTAFB, Thailand, crewed by Capt. Raymond H. Matthews (P), 1st Lt. William C. Dean (CP), SSgt. Nicholas F. Beaumont (FE) and A2C Laverne W. Kellerman Jr. (PJ) rescued an F-105D (Call sign "Anvil 02") pilot, Capt. William J. McClelland, after he had ejected from his AAA damaged aircraft near Thai Nguyen, Laos. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1966 - July 14 | A HH-43F from Det. 7, 38th ARRS, Da Nang AB, RVN, crewed by 1st Lt. John M. Armstrong (P), 1st Lt. Frederick D. Gregory (CP), SSgt. Curtis F. Yancy (FM), SSgt. William C. Sutton (PJ) rescued a USN F-8E (Call sign Super Heat 202") pilot, Cmdr. Richard M. Bellinger, from the South China Sea after he ejected from his aircraft that had been hit by cannon fire form a MiG-17. He made it to about 16 miles short of Da Nang before he had to eject. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson |
| 1966 - July 15 | A HH-43F from Det. 7, 38th ARRS, Da Nang AB, RVN, crewed by 1st Lt. John M. Armstrong (P), 1st Lt. Tommy L. Brown (CP), SSgt. Curtis F. Yancy (FM) and SSgt. William C. Sutton (PJ) rescued the crew of a USMC F-4B (Call sign "Condol 52"), Maj. B. O. Fritsch and 1st Lt. C. D. Smith, after they had ejected from their ground fire damage aircraft about 15 miles NW of Dong Hoa, RVN. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1966 - July 15 | A HH-43B #60-0268 of the 31st ARRS at Clark AB, PI., crashed during a scramble takeoff when the crew chief failed to remove the MD-3 power unit cable and that began the crash sequence when they lifted off. The crew chief was hit by a piece of blade during the crash but was not badly injured. This is the same helicopter that was named "South Sea Sue" during operations with Photo Mapping in New Guinea prior to being transfer to Clark AB, PI. in 1964. The helicopter was repaired and returned to service. http://www.h43-huskie.info/framesetnew.htmlhttp://www.rotorheadsrus.us/document/1028.html |
| 1966 - July 17 | A HH-3C from Det. 5, 38th ARRS, Udorn RTAFB, Thailand, crewed by unkn (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE), A1C John F. Tobey (PJ) and A2C John C. Jeffers (PJ) rescued the crew, Capt. F. D. Moruzzi (P), and 1st Lt. J. F. Preston (CP) of an F-4C that had been hit by AAA fire near Vinh Linh, NVN and they had coaxed the burning aircraft to about a mile offshore where they ejected. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1966 - July 17 | A HH-3C from Det. 5, 38th ARRS, Udorn RTAFB, Thailand, crewed by Capt. Duane A. Miller (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ), rescued the pilot of a F-105D (Call sign "Pistol 02”), 1st Lt. W. C. Spelius, after he had ejected from his ground fire damaged aircraft a few miles north of Dong Hoi, NVN. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1966 - July 18 | The first two HH-3E's, #65-12783 & #65-12784 arrive in SEA. http://www.jollygreen.org/Research/RonThurlow/NotableH3s.html |
| 1966 - July 19 | A HH-3C from Det. 5, 38th ARRS, crewed by Maj. Donald A. Vavra (P), Capt. Dale V. Hardy (CP), TSgt. William J. Warren (FM) and A1C Robert J. Ward (PJ) rescued the pilot of a F-105D (Call sign "Wolf 02"), Capt. R. D. Steere, after he had ejected from his ground fire damaged aircraft after he nursed it back to Thailand after being hit seven miles north of Hanoi, North Vietnam. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form |
| 1966 - July 20 | A HH-43B from Det. 3, 38th ARRS, Ubon RTAFB, Thailand, crewed by 1st Lt. Ronald C. Tubbs (P), Capt. Gerald B. Van Grunsven (CP), TSgt. Benjamin Selph (FE) and Capt. Shellye C. Davis [Doctor] (FS), rescued the pilot, Capt. R. A. Walmsley, after he and his WSO, 1st Lt. S. W. George, crashed about 16 miles east of the air base while trying to land their ground fire damaged F-4C aircraft at Ubon RTAFB. Their aircraft had been hit near Vinh Linh, north of the DMZ, and they flew it back to Thailand to attempt their landing. Lt. George was killed in the crash and Capt. Walmsley was seriously injured. A second HH-43B on this mission was crewed by 1st Lt. Jodrph W. Sprague (P), 1st Lt. Gordon O. Tooley (CP), A1C William E. Woodford (MT) and A2C Raymond E. Stokes (FF). "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1966 - July 20 | A HH-3E from Det. 7, 38th ARRS, Da Nang AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. William "Skip" E. Cowell (P), 1st Lt. William C. Dean (CP), SSgt. William R. Gladish (FM) and A1C Michael D. Leonard (PJ), rescued the pilot of a USN A-1J (Call sign "Skyraider 04"), Lt. (Jg.) Dieter Dengler, from near Hoi Het, Laos. Lt. (Jg.) Dengler had crash landed his ground fire damaged aircraft a few miles from Ban Phathoung, Laos on 01 February 1966. Lt. (Jg.) Dengler was taken prisoner and later escaped (on 29 June 1966) and spent the next 23 days, on the run, in the jungle before he was spotted by an A-1 pilot and then rescued by a HH-3E. A fellow POW and USAF HH-43B helicopter pilot, Duane Martin, who was shot down and became a POW in Laos on September 20, 1965, that had escaped with Dengler was killed, a day or so prior to Dengler's rescue, by a local villager who struck Martin in the neck with a machete. Lt. Dengler was the only escaped POW rescued by Air Rescue in the entire Vietnam War. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "Escape From Laos" by Dieter Dengler & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1966 - July 21 | Two HH-43F’s from the 38th ARS Det. at Da Nang AB, RVN, crewed by unkn crews, rescued 12 crewmen from the 120 ft. Panamanian freighter Bright Star that had gone aground on a reef 25 miles northwest of Quang Ngai City. The 12 crewmen were hoisted to safety and delivered to the nearby destroyer Nicholas, which took them to Da Nang. Pacific Stars & Stripes, Jan. 23, 1966, pg. 6 |
| 1966 - July 24 | Two UH-1F’s, #65-7931 & #65-7932 arrived at Nakhon Phanom RTAFB, Thailand and were assigned to the 606th Air Commando Sq. under project “Lucky Tiger”. These two UH-1F’s were wired and equipped to operate in the ‘gunship’ role. AFHRA UH-1 historical record documents |
| 1966 - July 25 | A HH-43F from Det. 7, 37th ARRS, Da Nang AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Gary E. Robertson (P), 1st Lt. Frederick D. Gregory (CP), SSgt. David L. Lancaster (FM) and A2C Albert W. Foster III (PJ) rescued a two crewmembers, Lt. Bertke and Lt. Allardyne, of a USMC H-34 from the DMZ. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1966 - July 25 | A HH-43F from Det. 6, 38th ARRS, Bien Hoa AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Karl G. King (P), Capt. LaMonte M. Kahler (CP), SSgt. Charles B. Carr (FM) and A1C Henry J. O'Beirne (PJ), rescued the pilot of an F-100D, Capt. G. J. Farrell, after he ejected from his small arms fire damaged aircraft about 10 miles SE of Bien Hoa. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1966 - July 26 | UH-1F #65-7929 arrived at Nakhon Phanom RTAFB, Thailand and was assigned to the 606th Air Commando Sq. under project “Lucky Tiger”. This UH-1F was wired and equipped to operate in the ‘gunship’ role. AFHRA UH-1 historical record documents |
| 1966 - July 27 | A HH-3E #65-12784 (Call sign “Jolly Green 18”) from Det. 7, 38th ARRS, Da Nang AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. David C. Henry (P), 1st Lt. Elmer C. Lavender, II (CP), SSgt. Jerry W. Johnson (FM) and SSgt. Dennis C. Hughes (PJ) rescued the pilot of a F-105D (Call sign "Moonglow 01"), Capt. James R. Mitchell, after he ejected from his small arms fire damaged aircraft in the Dong Hoi area of NVN. The second HH-3E #65-12783 (Call sign “Jolly Green 15”) on this mission was crewed by 1st Lt. Lawrence C. Rice (P), 1st Lt. William C. Dean (CP), A1C Nickolas F. Beaumonte (FE) and A2C William J. Flower (PJ). "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1966 - July 28 | A HH-43F from Det. 9, 38th ARRS at Pleiku AB, RVN crewed by Capt. Darrell A. Lowery (P), Capt. Fredrick M. Bergold (CP), TSgt. Kenneth B. Thompson (FM), A2C Allen R. Stanek (PJ), rescued two USA crewmembers from a downed UH-1B helicopter (Call sign "Conto 100") near Dak To, RVN. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form |
| 1966 - July 29 | A HH-43F from Det. 9, 38th ARRS at Pleiku AB, RVN crewed by Capt. Richard L. Cardwell (P), Capt. Dale R. Tyree (CP), A2C Harry J. Hull (FM), SSgt. George E. Schipper (PJ) and Capt. Al Asendorf (MC-Doctor) rescued the two crew members from a downed Army UH-1B helicopter near Dak To, RVN. http://www.h43-huskie.info/framesetrotortips.htm & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1966 - July 30 | http://www.h43-huskie.info/framesetrotortips.htm & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1966 - July 31 | Seven UH-1F’s, #65-7923, #65-7927, #65-7935, 65-7937, 65-7942, 65-7943 & #65-7945 arrived at Nakhon Phanom RTAFB, Thailand and were assigned to the 606th Air Commando Sq. under project “Lucky Tiger”. AFHRA UH-1 historical record documents |
| 1966 - July 31 | Seven UH-1F’s, #65-7923, #65-7927, #65-7935, 65-7937, 65-7942, 65-7943 & #65-7945 arrived at Nakhon Phanom RTAFB, Thailand and were assigned to the 606th Air Commando Sq. under project “Lucky Tiger”. AFHRA UH-1 historical record documents |
| 1966 - July 31 | A HH-3E from Det. 5, 38th ARRS, Udorn RTAFB, Thailand, crewed by 1st Lt. Thomas E. Kenney (P), 1st Lt. David J. Feigert (CP), A1C Larry J. Chambers (FM), A2C Michael L. Halvorson (PJ) and A3C Robert B. Williamson (PJ), rescued a A-1E (Call sign "Dragonfly 21") pilot, Capt. David W. Lester, after he bailed out of his small arms fire damaged aircraft near Ban Kato, NVN. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1966 - July 31 | CH-3C's of the 20th HS at Udorn RTAFB, Thailand, crew's unkn, completed a massive airlift, moving 400 Thai soldiers from Makon Si Thammarat in southern Thailand to Trang in the north. As a result of this action, 165 suspected Communist terrorists were retained on the first day of the operation, which the squadron carried to Mukdahan from the field. http://www.mh-53pavelow.com/documents/20thSOS/1968.pdf |
| 1966 - August 01 | A HH-3E from Det. 5, 38th ARRS, Udorn RTAFB, Thailand, crewed by Maj. Ealmon L. Stearman (P), Lt. Col. Owen R. Fletcher (CP), A1C Frank I. Clubb (FM) and Amn. Transito Trujillo (PJ), scrambled from LS-36 in an unsuccessful attempt to rescue a F-105D (Call sign "Flintstone 03") pilot, Capt. Kenneth Walter North, after he ejected from AAA damaged aircraft about 7 miles north of Thai Nguyen railway yard in North Vietnam. Capt. North became a POW about 20 minutes before the "Jolly Green" helicopter could get to this location. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1966 - August 03 | A HH-43F from Det. 6, 38th ARRS, Bien Hoa AB, RVN, crewed by 1st Lt. Mark C. Schibler (P), Capt. Dale L. Potter (CP), A2C Michael P. Benno (FM) and A1C Gerald C. Hammond Jr. (PJ), rescued a F-100D (Call sign "Saber 04") pilot, 1st Lt. T. L. Hodges, after he ejected from his aircraft when he was shot down while on a direct fire mission in RVN. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1966 - August 04 | A HH-3E from Det. 5, 38th ARRS, Udorn RTAFB, Thailand, crewed by Lt. Col. Owen R. Fletcher (P), Maj. Ealum L. Stearman (CP), SSgt. Harold W. Chico (FM) and A3C Robert B. Williamson (PJ) rescued a F-105D (Call sign "Honda 04") pilot, 1st Lt. Allen V. Rogers, after he ejected from AAA damaged aircraft about 40 miles NW of Udorn RTAFB, Thailand. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1966 - August 06 | A HH-43F from Det. 8, 38th ARRS, Cam Ranh Bay AB, RVN, crewed by 1st Lt. D. C. Herbert (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FM), unkn (PJ), rescued two crew members from a F-4C, 1st Lt. Tarre (P) and Capt. Bavousett (WSO), after their aircraft suffered an engine failure and they were forced to eject over RVN. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form |
| 1966 - August 08 | A HH-3E from Det. 5, 38th ARRS, Udorn RTAFB, Thailand, crewed by Capt. Robert L. Powell (P), 1st Lt. William W. Gunnin (CP), Langley (FM) and A2C Franklin D. Stevson (PJ), rescued a RF-101C pilot (Call sign "Zebra 01"), Maj. Don Dyer, after he had ejected from his ground fire damaged aircraft in NVN on 07 August 1966. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form |
| 1966 - August 08 | A HH-3E from Det. 5, 38th ARRS, Udorn RTAFB, Thailand, crewed by Capt. Francis E. Hendrickson (P), 2nd Lt. Robert W. Parker (CP), SSgt. Robert S. Riley (FM) and A2C William D. Brotton (PJ) rescued an F-105D pilot (Call sign "Rebel 02"), 1st Lt. John R. Casper, after he had ejected from his ground fire damaged aircraft near Troc, NVN. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1966 - August 08 | A HH-43F from Det. 6, 38th ARRS, Bien Hoa AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Robert L. Blaydes (P), Capt. Edward E. Pharroh (CP), A1C Nathaniel A. Moseley (FM) and A2C Frederick L. Sanger (PJ), rescued an F-5C pilot, Maj. W. H. Gillette, in RVN. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1966 - August 10 | A HH-3E from Det. 5, 38th ARRS, Udorn RTAFB, Thailand, crewed by Capt. Francis E. Hendrickson (P), 2nd Lt. Robert W. Parker (CP), SSgt. Robert S. Riley (FM) and A2C William Daniel Brotton (PJ) rescued the crew, Capt. Ryan and Capt. Overstreet, of an O-1E (Call sign "Gambie 23") in RVN. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form |
| 1966 - August 11 | A UH-1F from Eglin AFB, FL, crewed by Capt. Rollin T. Wheat (P), 1st Lt. Michael F. Sullivan (CP) and SSgt. James E. Armenia (FM) crashed near Niceville, FL., during a night training mission. All three crewmembers were killed in the crash. No other details are available at the time of this entry. The Evening Times (Sayre, Penn), Fri, Aug 12, 1966, page 1 |
| 1966 - August 13 | A HH-43F from Det. 12, 38th ARRS, Nha Trang AB, RVN, crewed by 1st Lt. William C. Wirstrom (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE), and unkn (PJ), rescued the pilot and observer of a U.S. Army 0-1E, Maj. W. L. Burk (P) and USAF MSgt. W. H. Lettman (O) about 30 miles northeast of Nha Trang. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1966 - August 13 | A HH-43F from Det. 8, 38th ARRS, Cam Ranh Bay AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. John B. Riederich (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ), saved one USN sailor in RVN. No other details are known at this time. JRCC Save Form |
| 1966 - August 13 | A HH-43F from Det. 9, 38th ARRS, Pleiku AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Fredrik M. Bergold (P), 1st Lt. Michael E. Davis (CP), SSgt. Bertrum E. Brundridge (FM), and A2C David A. Carl (PJ), rescued 1 wounded USA troop in contact in RVN. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1966 - August 14 | A HH-43F from Det. 9, 38th ARRS, Pleiku AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Dale R. Tyree (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE), and unkn (PJ), rescued 1 wounded USA troop in contact in RVN. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1966 - August 14 | A HH-43F, from Det. 14, 38th ARRS, Tan Son Nhut AB, RVN, crewed by Maj. Phillip S. Prince (P), Capt. Franklin L. Chase (CP), SSgt Ramon N. Colunga (FF), A2C Wylie G. Cox (FF) and A1C Thomas W. Buggie (MT), saved five USA troops from a USA UH-1D. No other details are known at this time. JRCC Save Form |
| 1966 - August 15 | A HH-43F from Det. 9, 38th ARRS, Pleiku AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Fredrick M. Bergold (P), 1st Lt. Michael E. Davis (CP), SSgt. Bertrum E. Brundridge (FM), and A2C David A. Carl (PJ), rescued 3 wounded USA troops in contact in RVN. No other details are known at this time. JRCC Forms 1966 |
| 1966 - August 15 | A HH-43F from Det. 9, 38th ARRS, Pleiku AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Richard L. Cardwell (P), Capt. Carlton F. Vermeys (CP), A2C William L. Houghtaling (FM), and A2C Allen R. Stanek (PJ), rescued 2 wounded USA troops in contact in RVN. No other details are known at this time. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1966 - August 15 | A HH-43F from Det. 1, 38th ARRS, Phan Rang AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Leonard D. Fialko (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ), saved two USAF crew members from an O-1E. No other details are known at this time. JRCC Save Form |
| 1966 - August 16 | A HH-43F from Det. 9, 38th ARRS, Pleiku AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Richard L. Cardwell (P), Capt. Carlton F. Vermeys (CP), A2C Harry J. Hull (FM) and A2C Allen R. Stanek (PJ), rescued 2 wounded USA troops in contact in RVN. No other details are known at this time. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1966 - August 16 | A HH-43F from Det. 9, 38th ARRS, Pleiku AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Dale R. Tyree (P), Capt. Darrell A. Lowery (CP), SSgt. Bertrum E. Brundridge (FM) and A2C Roy E. Kelsey (PJ) rescued 2 wounded USA troops in contact in RVN. No other details are known at this time. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1966 - August 17 | A HH-43F from Det. 8, 38th ARRS, Cam Ranh Bay AB, RVN, crewed by unkn (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ), saved one USAF crew member from a USAF F-4C. No other details are known at this time. JRCC Save Form |
| 1966 - August 17 | A HH-43F from Det. 9, 38th ARRS, Pleiku AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Carlton F. Verneys (P), Capt. Richard L. Cardwell (CP), MSgt. James E. Johnson (FM) and A2C Allen R. Stanek (PJ), rescued 2 wounded USA troops in contact in RVN. No other details are known at this time. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1966 - August 17 | A HH-3E from Det. 5, 38th ARRS, Udorn RTAFB, Thailand, crewed by Capt. Erling R. Drangstveit (P), 1st Lt. David E. Lyall (CP), SSgt. Jerry W. Johnson (FM), A2C William D. Brotton (PJ) and SSgt. Aaron D. Farrior (PJ), attempted an unsuccessful attempt to rescue the crew of a F-105F (Call sign "Hanover 01"), Maj. Joseph William Brand (P) and Maj. Donald Maurice Singer (CP) after they attempted to eject from their AAA damaged aircraft about 12 miles north of Van Yen, 65 miles west of Hanoi. Both Maj. Brand and Maj. Singer were KIA. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form |
| 1966 - August 25 | HH-43F #63-9712 from Det. 6, 38th ARRS, Bien Hoa AB, RVN, was hit by ground fire during a rescue mission and had to make a forced landing into a small clearing. HH-43F #63-9712 was recovered about three hours later by an Army CH-47 and returned to Bien Hoa AB, RVN. It was repaired and returned to service. http://www.h43-huskie.info/framesetnew.html |
| 1966 - August 27 | A HH-3E from Det. 5, 38th ARRS, Udorn RTAFB, Thailand, crewed by Maj. Kenneth E. Kittleson (P), 1st Lt. F. M. Dare (CP), SSgt. Jerry W. Johnson (FM) and SSgt. George E. Hunt (PJ) attempted an unsuccessful attempt to rescue the crew of a USN A-6 (Call sign "Cupcake 405"), Lt. Cmdr. John Heaphy Fellowes (P) and Lt. (Jg.) George Thomas Coker (CP) after they ejected from their AAA damaged aircraft about 15 miles northwest of Vinh. Both Lt. Cmdr. Fellows and Lt. (Jg.) Coker became POWs before the rescue helicopter could arrive. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form |
| 1966 - September 01 | A HH-3E #65-12784 (Call sign “Jolly Green 18”) from Det. 7, 38th ARRS, Da Nang AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Robert W. Davis (P), Majo Adrian D. Youngblood (CP), TSgt. Fred C. Williams (FE) and A2C Robert F. Gabourel (PJ), attempted an unsuccessful rescue of the pilot of a F-104C, Maj. Norman Schmidt (P) after he ejected from his AAA damaged aircraft about 35 miles northwest of Dong Hoi, North Vietnam. Maj Schmidt became POWs before the rescue helicopter could arrive and he was believed beaten to death during prison interrogations. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form |
| 1966 - September 01 | A HH-3E from Det. 5, 38th ARRS, Udorn RTAFB, Thailand, crewed by Capt. Oliver E. O'Mara (P), 1st Lt. Donald R. Harris (CP), SSgt. Donald J. Hall (FM) and A2C Franklin D. Stevson (PJ), rescued an A-1E pilot, Capt. Alvie L. Minnick, after he bailed out of his AAA fire damaged aircraft near Sakhon Nakhon, Thailand. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1966 - September 01 | A HH-3E #64-14227 from Det. 5, 38th ARRS at Udorn RTAFB, Thailand, crewed by Capt. Roy E. Keck (P), 1st Lt. Edward G. Burfrord (CP), SSgt. Robert S. Riley (FM) and unkn (FE), that was carrying lumber for a new TACAN site lost rotor speed and crashed in Laos. No other details are known at this time (see next entry). http://hupi.org/map/vietnam/helicopt.html & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1966 - September 01 | HH-3E #64-14227 from Det. 5, 38th ARRS at Udorn RTAFB, Thailand, was written off when it was dropped by a CH-47 that was slinging it. No other details are available at this time. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & http://www.logbookmag.com/databases/articles.asp?ID=201&CatID=55 |
| 1966 - September 01 | A HH-3E from Det. 5, 38th ARRS, Udorn RTAFB, Thailand, crewed by Capt. James A. Hartwing (P), 1st Lt. Davd E. Lyall (CP), SSgt. Jerry W. Johnson (FM), A2C Laverne W. Kellerman Jr. (PJ) and Amn. Transito Trujillo (PJ), rescued the crew of a HH-3E #64-14227, Capt. Roy E. Keck (P), 1st Lt. Edward G. Burfrord (CP), SSgt. Robert Riley (FM) and unkn (FE), that was carrying lumber for a new TACAN site and lost rotor speed and crashed in Laos. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1966 - September 04 | A HH-3E from Det. 7, 38th ARRS, Da Nang AB, RVN, crewed by Maj. Adrian D. Youngblood (P), Capt. Robert W. Davis (CP), TSgt. Maurice F. Tasker (FE), Hanon Combs (PJ) and SSgt. William P. Tracy (PJ), attempted, unsuccessfully, to rescue the pilot of an F-105D in North Vietnam. Two F-105D's were lost on this day and both pilots became POW's. A HH-43F #63-9715 (Call sign “Pedro 96”), crewed by unkn (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ) was on this mission as well. No other details are known at this time. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form & Det. 7, 38th ARRS Jolly Green Mission Record 18 Jul 66 – 31 Dec 66 |
| 1966 - September 05 | A HH-3E from Det. 7, 38th ARRS, Da Nang AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Kenneth D. Murphy (P), Capt. John E. Halligan (CP), A1C William T. Lowe Jr. (FM) and Hanon Combs (PJ), rescued a F-105D (Call sign "Tico") pilot, Capt. T. D. Dobbs, after he had ejected from his ground fire damaged aircraft about seven miles west of Dong Hoi, NVN. The HH-3E high bird on this mission was crewed by Capt. David E. Dickey (P), Capt. Thomas R. Johnson (CP), A1C Michael W. Mulvaney (AG) and SSgt. William P. Tracy Jr. (PJ). "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe& Det. 7, 38th ARRS Jolly Green Mission Record 18 Jul 66 – 31 Dec 66 |
| 1966 - September 08 | A HH-3E #65-12786 (Call sign “Jolly Green 24”) from Det. 7, 38th ARRS, crewed by Capt. Kenneth D. Murphy (P), Capt. Thomas R. Johnson (CP), TSgt. Fred C. Williams (FM) and A2C William J. Flowers (PJ) rescued an A-1E (Call sign "Hobo 24") pilot, Philip R. O'Brian, when he bailed out of his aircraft, in SVN, after it had had an engine failure. The HH-3E #65-12783 (Call sign “Jolly Green 15”) high bird on this mission was crewed by Capt. David E. Dickey (P), Capt. John E. Halligan (CP), A1C William T. Lowe Jr. (FE) and A2C Robert F. Gabourel (PJ). "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & Det. 7, 38th ARRS Jolly Green Mission Record 18 July 66 to 31 Dec. 66 |
| 1966 - September 10 | A HH-3E from Det. 7, 38th ARRS, Da Nang AB, RVN, crewed by Maj. Adrian D. Youngblood (P), Maj. William O. Mayfield (CP), A2C Rodney J. Bettevy (FM) and SSgt. John F. Tobey (PJ) attempted an unsuccessful attempt to rescue the pilot, Maj. Lawrence Byron Tatum, of an A-1E in North Vietnam. His aircraft was hit by .30 caliber machine gun fire as he was attacking a weapons site in the DMZ, he was seen to bail out of his aircraft near Thon Cam Son however he was never recovered and was assumed KIA. The HH-3E high bird on this mission was crewed by Capt. Robert W. Davis (P), Maj. V. D. Hickerson (CP) TSgt. Maurice F. Tasker (FE) and A2C John C. Jeffers (PJ). "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe, JRCC Save Form & Det. 7, 38th ARRS Jolly Green Mission Record 18 July 66 to 31 Dec. 66 "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form |
| 1966 - September 12 | A HH-43F from Det. 12, 38th ARRS, Nha Trang AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Gary E. Robertson (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FM), and unkn (PJ), rescued 1 wounded USA troop in contact in RVN. No other details are known at this time. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1966 - September 13 | A HH-43F from Det. 1, 38th ARRS, Phan Rang AB, RVN, crewed by 1st Lt. John M. Armstrong (P), Maj. Charles R. Kay (CP), A1C Malcom G. Aldridge (FM) and SSgt. Patrick J. Geisler (PJ) rescued 4 crewmembers of a UH-1 in RVN. No other details are known at this time. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1966 - September 13 | A HH-3E from Det. 5, 38th ARRS, Udorn RTAFB, Thailand, crewed by Capt. William H. Lloyd (P), 1st Lt. David J. Feigert (CP), SSgt. Jack Picklesimer (FM) and Amn. Transito Trujillo (PJ), rescued an F-105D (Call sign "Diamond 02") pilot, 1st Lt. Kenneth V. Hallmark, after he had ejected from his AAA damaged aircraft south of Xom Hoa, NVN. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1966 - September 13 | A HH-43F from Det. 1, 38th ARRS, Phan Rang AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Robert D. Vespico (P), Capt. Alma L. Williams (CP), A2C Terry M. Dicken Jr. (FM) and A2C Michael P. Benno (PJ), rescued 4 crewmembers of a USA UH-1 in RVN. No other details are known at this time. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1966 - September 14 | A HH-43F from Det. 1, 38th ARRS, Phan Rang AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Leonard D. Fialko (P), Capt. Clarence N. Cochran (CP), SSgt. William R. Dunbar (FM), SSgt. Charles H. Williams (FF) and A1C Wayne R. Smith (MT) rescued 2 crew members, names unkn, of a U.S. Army H-13 from an island in a river in RVN. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form |
| 1966 - September 14 | A HH-43F helicopter crewed by unkn (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ), rescued an F-100D pilot, Capt. C. W. Findlay, after he ejected from his 12.7 mm machine gun fire damaged aircraft near Bac Lieu, RVN. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1966 - September 14 | A HH-43F from Det. 10, 38th ARRS, Binh Thuy AB, RVN, crewed by 1st Lt. John M. Armstrong (P), Maj. Charles R. Kay (CP), A1C Malcom G. Aldridge (FM) and SSgt. Patrick J. Geisler (PJ) rescued three from a USA UH-1 (Call sign "Cigar Smoke") that was downed in RVN. No other details are known at this time. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1966 - September 14 | A HH-43F from Det. 10, 38th ARRS, Binh Thuy AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Robert D. Vespico (P), Capt. Alma L. Williams (CP), A2C Terry M. Dicken Jr. (FM) and A2C Michael P. Benno (PJ), rescued five from a USA UH-1 (Call sign "Cigar Smoke") that was downed in RVN. No other details are known at this time. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1966 - September 14 | A HH-43F from Det. 1, 38th ARRS, Phan Rang AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Leonard D. Fialko (P), Capt. Clarence N. Cochran (CP), SSgt. William R. Dunbar (FM) and Wayne R. Smith (MT), Charles H. Williams (FF), Clarence E. Prosser (FF), rescued an F-4C co-pilot, name unkn, after he ejected from his aircraft near Ninh Thuan, RVN. The F-4C pilot, 1st Lt. Howard Eugene Knudsen, was KIA. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form |
| 1966 - September 15 | A HH-43F from Det. 6, 38th ARRS, Bien Hoa AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Karl G. King (P), Donald L. Hebert (CP), A1C Gerald C. Hammond Jr. (FM) and A2C Fredrick L. Sanger (PJ) and rescued 5 crewmembers of a UH-1 in RVN. No other details are known at this time. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1966 - September 16 | A HH-3E from Det. 7, 38th ARRS, Da Nang AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. David E. Dickey (P), Capt. John E. Halligan (CP), TSgt. Fred C. Williams (FM) and A2C Robert F. Gabourel (PJ), rescued a F-4C (Call sign "Sharkbait 02") crew, 1st Lt. Bernard D. Giere (P) and 1st Lt. Henry J. Knoch (CP) after they had ejected from their ground fire damaged aircraft in the DMZ near Thon Cam Son, North Vietnam. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1966 - September 17 | A HH-3E #65-12786 (Call sign "Jolly Green 24") from Det. 7, 38th ARRS at Da Nang AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Kenneth D. Murphy (P), Capt. Thomas R. Johnson (CP), A1C William T. Lowe Jr. (FM) and A1C John F. Tobey (PJ), rescued a F-105D (Call sign "Shotgun 01") pilot, Capt. Allen K. Rutherford, after he had ejected from his 85 mm AAA fire damaged aircraft 25 miles off the coast near Hue, RVN. The HH-3E landed on the sea to pick up Capt. Rutherford making this the first 'water landing' pickup by a Jolly Green during the Vietnam War. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1966 - September 19 | A HH-43F from Det. 9, 38th ARRS, Pleiku AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Lawrence F. Marcum (P), 1st Lt. Alfred R. Jacox (CP), SSgt. Alvin J. Williams (FM) and SSgt. John F. Tobey (PJ) were involved in a CSAR for the crew of a B-57B, Maj. Warren Lee Gould and Capt. William Sheldon Davis, who were both discovered to have been KIA. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1966 - September 25 | A HH-43F from Det. 6, 38th ARRS, Bien Hoa AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Glen P. Walther (P), 1st Lt. Mark C. Schibler (CP), A2C John J. Dagneau III (PJ) and Huber L. Stover (FF), rescued 2 crewmembers of a U.S. Army UH-1B downed in a mine field in RVN. No other details are known at this time. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1966 - September 26 | A HH-43F, from Det. 9, 38th ARRS, Pleiku AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Dale R. Tyree (P), Capt. Frederik M. Bergold (CP), A2C William L. Houghtaling (FM) and A2C Roy E. Kelsey (PJ), rescued 2 crewmembers of a U.S. Army UH-1 in RVN. No other details are known at this time. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1966 - September 27 | A HH-43F from Det. 9, 38th ARRS, Pleiku AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Richard L. Cardwell (P), Capt. Darrell A. Lowery (CP), A2C Francis D. Rice (FM) and A2C Michael J. Rosler (PJ), rescued 2 crewmembers, names unkn, of a USAF O-1E after their aircraft crashed while landing in RVN. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1966 - September 29 | A HH-3E (Call sign "Jolly Green 54") from Det. 5, 38th ARRS, Udorn RTAFB, Thailand, crewed by Capt. Oliver E. O'Mara (P), 1st Lt. Donald R. Harris (CP), SSgt. Robert S. Riley (FM), A2C Michael L. Halvorson (PJ) and A2C Laverne W. Kellerman Jr. (PJ), rescued a F-4C WSO (Call sign "Cleveland 02 Bravo"), 1st Lt. Joe E. Glover (WSO), after he and the pilot had ejected from their AAA fire damaged aircraft near Phu Son, North Vietnam and he had been found by a "Bright Light" team that had been inserted. The F-4C pilot, Maj. Saul Waxman was KIA. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1966 - September 29 | A HH-3E from Det. 5, 38th ARRS, Udorn RTAFB, Thailand, crewed by Capt. Kenneth D. Murphy (P), 1st Lt. David E. Lyall (CP), SSgt. Raymond Godsey (FM) and A1C Laverne W. Kellerman Jr. (PJ) recovered the body of a F-4C (Call sign "Cleveland 02 Alpha") pilot, Maj. Saul Waxman, after he and his WSO, 1st Lt. J. E. Glover, had ejected from their AAA damaged aircraft. No other details are known at this time. (Note: it is believed Maj. Waxman’s body was recovered later, see the 01 Oct. entry below). "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1966 - September 29 | A HH-3E from Det. 5, 38th ARRS, Udorn RTAFB, Thailand, crewed by Capt. Kenneth D. Murphy (P), 1st Lt. David E. Lyall (CP), SSgt. Raymond Godsey (FM) and A2C Laverne W. Kellerman Jr. (PJ) rescued an F-4C WSO, 1st Lt. Egon Knots. No other details are known at this time. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1966 - September 30 | A HH-43F from Det. 6, 38th ARRS at Bien Hoa AB, RVN, crewed by unkn (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ), rescued a F-100D pilot, Lt. Col. W. M. Fowler, after he had ejected from his ground fire damaged aircraft about three miles south of Bien Hoa AB, RVN. No other details are known at this time. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson |
| 1966 - October 01 | A HH-3E helicopter from Det. 5, 38th ARRS, crewed by Capt. Kenneth D. Murphy (P), 1st Lt. David E. Lyall (CP), SSgt. Raymond Godsey (FE) and A1C Laverne W. Kellerman (PJ) recovered the body of F-4C pilot, Maj. Saul Waxman (KIA) after it was discovered by a Bright Light Team that was inserted to located him after his AAA damaged aircraft went down some distance south of Phu Son, NVN on 29 Sept. Two HH-3E’s from Det. 7, 38th ARRS, #65-12783 (Call sign “Jolly Green 15”), crewed by Maj. V. D. Hickerson (P), Maj. Carl W. Olsson (CP), TSgt. Charles R. McGratha (FE) and A2C John C. Jeffers (PJ) & #65-12784 (Call sign “Jolly Green 18”), crewed by Capt. David E. Dickey (P), Hillary (CP), A1C Michael W. Mulvaney (AG) and SSgt. William P. Tracy Jr. (PJ) also participated in this mission. http://www.rotorheadsrus.us/doucments/20Oct1966.pdf & Det. 7, 38th ARRS Jolly Green Mission Record 18 July 66 to 31 Dec. 66 |
| 1966 - October 02 | A HH-3E #65-12785 (Call sign “Jolly Green 36”) from Det. 5, 38th ARRS, Udorn RTAFB, Thailand, crewed by 1st Lt. Arlyn E. Webster (P), 1st Lt. William C. Dean (CP), SSgt. Robert S. Riley (FE), A1C Duane D. Hackney (PJ) and A1C George E. Hunt (PJ), rescued, under fire, a F-104C pilot (Call sign "Fosdick 02"), Capt. Norman R. Lockhard, after he had ejected from his aircraft that had been shot down by a SA-2 missile in the northern Barrel Roll area of Laos. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & 38th ARRS History |
| 1966 - October 02 | A USAF helicopter, crewed by unkn (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FM) and unkn (PJ), rescued an F-4C pilot, Capt. J. W. Lacasse, after he and his WSO, 1st Lt. A. L. Workman, had ejected from their AAA damaged aircraft about 10 miles off the coast, near Hue. 1st Lt, Workman was rescued by a Navy ship. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson |
| 1966 - October 03 | A USAF helicopter, crewed by unkn (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FM) and unkn (PJ), rescued a F-100D pilot, Maj. B. L. Creswell, after he had ejected from his small arms fire damaged aircraft about 10 miles SE of Rach Gia, RVN. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson |
| 1966 - October 05 | A HH-43F from Det. 7, 38th ARRS, Da Nang AB, RVN, crewed by unkn (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE), SSgt. John F. Tobey (PJ), rescued USA troops from a downed UH-1 in RVN. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1966 - October 05 | A HH-3E #65-12785 (Call sign "Jolly Green 36"), from Det. 5, 38th ARRS, Udorn RTAFB, Thailand, crewed by Capt. Oliver E. O'Mara (P), Capt. John W. Perry (CP), Howard E. Massengale (FM) and SSgt. Aaron D. Farrior (PJ), attempted three times, under fire, to rescue, a F-4C (Call sign "Tempest 03 Bravo") WSO, Capt. William Richard Andrews, after he had ejected from his aircraft that was hit by an Atoll missile fired by a MiG-21 southwest of Yen Bai, North Vietnam. The rescue attempts were not successful by Capt. O'Mara's helicopter, and it was heavily damaged and driven off by enemy fire. Capt. O'mara directed a second HH-3E in to rescue the F-4C WSO, 1st Lt. Edward W. Garland. Capt. William Richard Andrews was KIA before he could be rescued. Capt. O'Mara was awarded The Air Force Cross and Perry, Massengale and Farrior were awarded The Silver Star for their actions during this rescue attempt. See next entry. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1966 - October 05 | A HH-3E #65-12778 (Call sign "Jolly Green 02"), of Det. 5, 38th ARRS, Udorn RTAFB, Thailand, crewed by Capt. Leland T. Kennedy (P), 1st Lt. Donald R. Harris (CP), SSgt. Donald J. Hall (FM) and A3C Robert B. Williamson (PJ), rescued, under fire, a F-4C (Call sign "Tempest 03 Alpha") pilot, 1st Lt. Edward W. Garland, after he had ejected from his aircraft that was hit by an Atoll missile fired by a MiG-21 southwest of Yen Bai, North Vietnam. The F-4C WSO, Capt. William Richard Andrews, was KIA. Capt. Kennedy was awarded the Air Force Cross and his crew members were awarded the Silver Star for their actions during this mission. See previous entry. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & http://self.gutenberg.org/articles/leland_t._kennedy & 38th ARRS History |
| 1966 - October 06 | A HH-3E #65-12786 (Call sign “Jolly Green 24”) from Det. 7, 38 ARRS, Da Nang AB, RVN, crewed by Maj. William O. Mayfield (P), Maj. Jay V. Cannon (PJ), A2C Rodney J. Bettevy (FE) and A2C John C. Jeffers (PJ), attempted to rescue a B-57B (Call sign "Redbird 02") crew, Capt. G. D. Rippey (P), after he and Capt. Louis Frank Makowski (CP), had ejected from their AAA damaged aircraft in the DMZ. Capt. Rippey was rescued by a USA helicopter and Capt. Makowski became a POW before he could be rescued. ‘High bird’ on this mission was HH-3E 65-12784 (Call sign “Jolly Green 18”) crewed by Maj. Willima V. D. Hickerson (P), Maj. Frank L. Trochak (CP), SSgt. Earl E. Chambers (FM) and A2C Robert F. Gabourel (PJ). "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & Det. 7, 38th ARRS Jolly Green Mission Record 18 July 66 to 31 Dec. 66 |
| 1966 - October 07 | A HH-43F from Det. 9, 38th ARRS, Pleiku AB, RVN, crewed by 1st Lt. Michael E. Davis (P), Capt. Frederik M. Bergold (CP), SSgt. Bertrum E. Brundridge (FM), A2C Michael J. Rosler (PJ) and SSgt. Charles Jenkins (PJ) rescued 2 USA troops in RVN. No other details are known at this time. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1966 - October 08 | A HH-43F from Det. 7, 38th ARRS, Da Nang AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Lawrence F. Marcum (P), 1st Lt. Donald D. Sams (CP), SSgt. Earl E. Chambers (FM), and A2C John C. Jeffers (PJ), rescued a 0-1E pilot, Capt. William Lee Schultz, after he had crash landed his small arms fire damaged aircraft about 5 miles north of Da Nang, RVN. Capt. Schultz later died of his injuries he received during his crash landing. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1966 - October 08 | A HH-43F from Det. 7, 38th ARRS, Da Nang AB, RVN, crewed by 1st Lt. David R. Stevenson (P), 1st Lt. Frederick D. Gregory (CP), A1C Dennis J. Wilson (FM), A2C John C. Jeffers (PJ), rescued the crew of a B-57B, Capt. Robert W. Clark (P) and 1st Lt. Phillip A. Viscasillas (CP), after they had ejected from their ground fire damaged aircraft about a mile off the coast near Da Nang, RVN. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1966 - October 10 | A HH-43F (Call sign “Pedro 22”) from Det. 4, 38th ARRS, Korat RTAFB, Thailand, crewed by Capt. Donald R. Couture (P), Capt. Zack L. Stocket (CP), A1C Hugh A. Brown (FF) and A1C Keith T. Tauton (FF) scrambled with the FSK to rescue a F-105D pilot, 1st Lt Glenn F. Bullock who had engine failure on takeoff and crashed about 1 mile off the end of runway 06 at Korat RTAFB. They were able to extinguish the fire, however Lt. Bullock had been killed in the crash. Glen Francis Bullock F-105 History |
| 1966 - October 14 | A HH-3E from Det. 5, 38th ARRS, Udorn RTAFB, Thailand, crewed by Maj. Adrian D. Youngblood (P), 1st Lt. Edward G. Burford (CP), SSgt. Roger A. Ely (FM) and SSgt. George E. Hunt (PJ), rescued, under fire, a F-105D (Call sign "Chicago 03") pilot, Maj. Robert P. Taylor, after he had ejected from his ground fire damaged aircraft near Khe Bo, North Vietnam. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1966 - October 20 | HH-3E #65-12778 (Call sign "Jolly Green 02") of Det. 5, 38th ARRS at Udorn RTAFB, Thailand, crewed by Maj. Adrian D. Youngblood (P) and 1st Lt. Edward G. Burford (CP), A2C Gary R. Meyer (FM) and A2C Thomas C. Davis (PJ), was shot down, while rescuing F-4C pilot, 1st Lt. Joseph E. Merrick, about 10 miles south of Ban Kang, Laos, while on a CSAR to rescue the crew of F-4C (Call sign "Avenger 03"), Maj. I. Breckenridge (P) and 1st Lt. Joseph E. Merrick (CP). "Jolly Green 36" was the 'high bird' on this mission.( See next entry.) "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & http://www.jollygreen.org/jltnc.htm & Vietnam Air Losses by Chris Hobson |
| 1966 - October 20 | HH-3E # 65-12785 (Call sign "Jolly Green 36") of Det. 5, 38th ARRS, Udorn RTAFB, Thailand, crewed by Capt. Leland T. Kennedy (P), 1st Lt. Elmer C. Lavender II (CP), SSgt. Raymond Godsey (FM) and A1C Robert J. Ward (PJ), rescued, under fire, the crew of HH-3E #65-12778 (Call sign "Jolly Green 02"), Maj. Adrian D. Youngblood (P), 1st Lt. Edward G. Burford (CP), A2C Gary R. Meyer (FM), A2C Thomas C. Davis (PJ) and F-4C (Call sign "Avenger 03 Alpha") pilot, 1st Lt. Joseph E. Merrick, and then “Jolly Green 36” rescued the F-4C (Call sign "Avenger 03 Bravo") co-pilot, Maj. Lacey Breckenridge. Capt. Leland T. Kennedy was awarded his second Air Force Cross for his actions on this mission. (See previous entry.) http://www.jollygreen.org/jltnc.htm & Vietnam Air Losses by Chris Hobson &“PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & http://www.veterantributes.org/TributeDetail.php?recordID=797 |
| 1966 - October 24 | UH-1F #65-7930 arrived at Nakhon Phanom RTAFB, Thailand and was assigned to the 606th Air Commando Sq. under project “Lucky Tiger”. This UH-1F was wired and equipped to operate in the ‘gunship’ role. AFHRA UH-1 historical record documents |
| 1966 - October 24 | HH-3E # 65-12783 (Call sign “Jolly Green 15”) from Det. 7, 38th ARS, crewed by Hickerson (P), Capt. Oliver E. O’Mara (CP), SSgt. James E. Souza (PJ) and A1C Michael W. Mulvany (AG) medevacked a Vietnamese civilian girl child to Da Nang AB, RVN. No other details are known at this time. Det. 7, 38th ARRS Mission Record Jolly Green 18 Jul 66-31 Dec 66 |
| 1966 - October 25 | HH-43B #58-1850 from Sheppard AFB, TX., crewed by Maj. Edward A. DuChene (P), Capt. Paul E. Radder (P), SSgt. William E. Crawford (FM) and A1C Robert A. Blais (FF), crashed and burned at the Sheppard AFB Auxiliary Air Field at Grandfield, OK. Shortly after 3 p. m. due to engine failure while in a hover. All crew members survived with burn injuries but were in good condition. http://www.rotorheadsrus.us/document/481.html |
| 1966 - October 26 | HH-3E from Det. 5, 38th ARRS, Udorn RTAFB, Thailand, crewed by Maj. Patrick H. Wood (P), 1st Lt. David J. Feigert (CP), A1C Robert G. Cotter (FM) and A1C Laverne W. Kellerman Jr. (PJ), rescued an 8-man classified team from Laos. No other details are available. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & http://www.rotorheadsrus.us/documents/20Oct1966.pdf |
| 1966 - October 28 | HH-43F #62-4511 (Call sign "Pedro 42") from Det. 9, 38th ARRS at Pleiku AB, RVN and crewed by Capt. Carlton F. Vermeys (P), 2nd Lt. George Harrison "Spike" Bonnell III (CP), A2C Francis David Rice (FM), and A2C Allen R. Stanek (PJ) was shot down and burned while it was medevac’ing 6 wounded USA troops of the 4th Infantry Division at night 60 km west of Pleiku Air Base, when it was hit by ground fire and crashed. A2C Rice died in the crash, 2nd Lt. Bonnell died later on November 12, 1966, from injuries sustained in the crash and three of the medevacked troops also were killed. Capt. Vermeys & A2C Stanek were rescued (See next entry). http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/38th_Rescue_Squadron & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1966 - October 29 | A HH-43F #62-4525 (Call sign "Pedro 56") from Det. 9, 38th ARRS at Pleiku AB, RVN, crewed by 1st Lt Michael E. Davis (P), Capt. Darrell A. Lowery (CP), A2C Jarry J. Hull (FM), and SSgt Charles Jenkins (PJ) rescued the pilot, co-pilot and PJ of "Pedro 42", Capt. Carlton P. Vermeys (P), 2nd Lt. George H. Bonnell (CP) and A2C Allen Stanek (PJ). A2C Frances D. Rice (FM) and 3 of the medevacked USA troops on "Pedro 42" were killed in the crash and 2nd Lt. Bonnell died later (November 12, 1966) from injuries sustained in the crash (See previous entry). http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/38th_Rescue_Squadron & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1966 - October 29 | A HH-43F #62-4525 (Call sign "Pedro 56") from Det. 9, 38th ARRS at Pleiku AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Dale R. Tyree (P), Capt. Fredrick M. Bergold (CP), SSgt. Bertrum Brundridge (FM), and A2C Roy Kelsey (PJ) was hit by enemy 50 cal. machine gun fire and made forced landing at Army LZ 3-Hotel, near Pleiku, RVN. The crew sustained only minor injuries and was returned to Pleiku that afternoon, the helicopter was returned to Pleiku the following day for repairs that would put it back in service. http://www.h43-huskie.info/framesetnw.html |
| 1966 - October 29 | HH-3E # (Call sign “Jolly Green 15”) from Det. 7, 38th ARRS crewed by Major V. D. Hickerson (P), Carl W. Olson (CP), TSgt Charles R. McGatha (FE) and A2C Robert F. Gabourel (PJ) unsuccessfully attempted to recover a U. S, Navy sailor, BM1-E6 Kemper Swanson Billings, who had gone overboard from a coastal patrol boat about ½ mile offshore at the mouth of the Hue River. See 1966, October 15 entry below. Det. 7, 38th ARRS Mission Record Jolly Green 18 Jul 66 -31 Dec 66 |
| 1966 - October 31 | A HH-43F from Det. 1, 38th ARRS, Phan Rang AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Larry A. Nitz (P), 1st Lt. Michael C. Tennery (CP), SSgt. William R. Dunbar (FM) and Warren T. Hope (MT) rescued 1 USA troop in RVN. No other details are known at this time. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1966 - October 31 | A HH-43F from Det. 6, 38th ARRS, Bien Hoa AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. David L. Wiest (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE and unkn (PJ) and a HH-43F from Det. 1. 38th ARRS, Phan Rang AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. James F. Jansa (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ), rescued the crew of a "Ranch Hand" UC-123B, Capt. Thomas E. Davie (P), Capt. Joseph M. Dougherty (CP) and SSgt. Elijah R. Winstead (FE), after their ground fire damaged aircraft crash landed 8 miles west of Lai Khe, RVN. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson |
| 1966 - November 02 | A HH-3E (Call sign “Jolly Green 53”) from Det. 5, 38th ARRS, Udorn RTAFB, Thailand, crewed by 1st Lt. Arlyn E. Webster (P), 1st. Lt. William C. Dean (CP), A2C Gary R. Meyer (FM), Aaron D. Dean (PJ), and A2C Michael L. Halvorson (PJ), rescued a F-105D (Call sign "Cobalt 04") pilot, Capt. R. F. Loken, after he had ejected from his ground fire damaged aircraft about 25 miles west of Sam Neua, Laos. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1966 - November 03 | A HH-43F from Det. 7, 38th ARRS, Da Nang, AB, crewed by 1st Lt. Frederick D. Gregory (P), 1st Lt. William T. Seahorn (CP), SSgt. Earl E. Chambers (FM) and SSgt. John F. Tobey (PJ) rescued the pilot of an RF-101C, Capt. D. J. Haney, after he ejected from his ground fire damaged aircraft about 2 miles off the coast of the DMZ. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1966 - November 04 | HH-3E #64-14229 (Call sign “Jolly Green 52”), from Det. 5, 38th ARRS, Udorn RTAFB, Thailand, crewed by Capt. James R. Lisko (P), Capt. Douglas L. May (CP), A1C Roger L. Graham (FM) and SSgt. George E. Hunt (PJ) rescued the pilot of an F-105D, Capt. Dean A. Elmer, after he had ejected from his AAA damaged aircraft near Ban Phonxai, Laos. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & Det. 7, 38th ARRS Mission Record Jolly Green 18 Jul 66-31 Dec 66 |
| 1966 - November 06 | A HH-43F from Det. 7, 38th ARRS, Da Nang AB, RVN, crewed by unkn (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FM) and unkn (PJ), saved a F-105D (Call sign “Fosdick”) pilot, Capt. W. G. Carey, when he had crash landed his battle-damaged aircraft while trying to land at the airbase. No other details are known at this time. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form |
| 1966 - November 06 | A HH-3E from Det. 5, 38th ARRS, Udorn RTAFB, Thailand, crewed by Capt. James A. Hartwing (P), 1st Lt. Elmer C. Lavender (CP), Sgt. Robert G. Cotter (FM) and A2C Robert D. Bowers (PJ), saved the crew of a USAF U-6, Maj. Richard C. Wright and James G. Fletcher, after their aircraft went down in Thailand. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form |
| 1966 - November 06 | A HH-43F, crewed by Capt. Richard H. Smith, Jr. (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FM) and unkn (PJ), saved one USN sailor. No other details are known at this time. JRCC Save Form |
| 1966 - November 07 | A HH-43F from Det. 7, 38th ARS, Da Nang AB, RVN, crewed by 1st Lt. Frederick D. Gregory (P), 1st Lt. Donald D. Sams (CP), A1C Dennis J. Wilson (FM) and SSgt. John F. Tobey (PJ) rescued the observer from a 0-1E, US Army 1st Lt. Gardner, after his aircraft had been hit and crashed 5 miles south of Kham Duc, RVN. The O-1E pilot, Capt. Donald Leroy Jacobsen, was KIA. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1966 - November 11 | A HH-3E #65-12783 (Call sign “Jolly Green 15”) from Det. 7, 38th ARS, Da Nang AB, RVN, crewed by Maj. William O. Mayfield (P), Capt. Thomas R. Johnson (CP), Johny C. Tindal Jr. (FM) TSgt. Philemon S. Resos (PJ) and A2C Robert F. Gabourel (PJ), rescued the pilot from an A-1E (Call sign "Sandy 05"), Capt. Richard P. Rosecrans Jr., after he bailed out of his AAA fire damaged aircraft in the DMZ buffer zone. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1966 - November 11 | A HH-43F from Det. 1, 38th ARRS, Cam Ranh Bay AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Edmund W. Fischbeck, Jr. (P), 1st Lt. Michael C. Tennery (CP), SSgt. William R. Dunbar (FM) and Warren T. Hope (MT) saved three Vietnamese civilians from a fishing boat in RVN. JRCC Save Form |
| 1966 - November 15 | Det. 11, 38th ARRS located at Tuy Hoa AB, RVN became operational with one HH-43B assigned. http://www.rotorheadsrus.us/documents/20Oct1966.pdf |
| 1966 - November 15 | A HH-3E #65-12783 (Call sign “Jolly Green 15”) from Det. 7, 38th ARS, Da Nang AB, RVN, crewed by Maj. Adrian D. Youngblood (P), Capt. Robert E. Hicks (CP), A1C Rodney J. Bettevy (FM) and SSgt. Duane D. Hackney (PJ) recovered the body of a sailor from the water about 1/2 mile off the coast. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1966 - November 15 | A HH-3E Det. 5, 38th ARS, Udorn RTAFB, Thailand, crewed by 1st Lt. Arlyn E. Webster (P), 1st Lt. William C. Dean (CP), A2C Gary R. Meyer (FM) and SSgt. Aaron D. Farrior (PJ), rescued the pilot from a A-1E (Call sign "Sandy ?"), Capt. Guy E. Fowler, after he bailed out of his ground fire damaged aircraft near Ban Loupum, Laos. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1966 - November 16 | A HH-3E #65-12786 (Call sign "Jolly Green 18"), from Det. 7, 38th ARRS, Da Nang AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. David E. Dickey (P), Maj. Frank L. Trochak (CP), TSgt. Charles R. McGatha (FM) and SSgt. James Souza (PJ), scrambled from Quang Tri, RVN and rescued two of the three people onboard a A-1G, Lt. Col. Charles A. Smith (P), Col. Gordon F. Bradburn (CP), after they bailed out of their ground fire damaged aircraft near Ban Kognontanh, Laos. The third man, A2C Allan D. Pittman was seen alive on the ground but could not be found by the rescue helicopter and a ground sweep by Royal Lao Army and U.S. led irregular troops and was later declared KIA. "Jolly Green 18" was damaged and left over-night at a site in Laos where it was fixed the next day and returned to its base (See next entry). "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1966 - November 16 | A HH-3E #65-12783 (Call sign “Jolly Green 15”) from Det. 5, 38th ARRS at Udorn RTAFB, Thailand, crewed by Maj. William V. D. Hickerson (P), Maj. Carl W. “Walt” Olson (CP), A1C Michael W. Mulvany (FM) and A2C Joseph M. Duffy (PJ), picked up the crew of "Jolly Green 18" Capt. David E. Dickey (P), Maj. Frank L. Trochak (CP), TSgt. Charles R. McGatha (FE) and SSgt. James Souza (PJ), along with A-1G crew members, Lt. Col. C. A. Smith (P), Col. G. F. Bradburn (CP), from a location where the damaged helicopter was left over night (See previous entry). "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & Vietnam_War_Search_and_Rescue_Document |
| 1966 - November 17 | A HH-3E # 65-12785 (Call sign "Jolly Green 36"), from Det. 5, 38th ARS crewed by 1st Lt. Arlyn E. Webster (P), 1st Lt. William C. Dean (CP), A2C Gary R. Meyer (FM) and SSgt. Aaron D. Farrior (MT), rescued 3 USA troops from a ground team, in contact, in RVN from a classified location. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1966 - November 22 | A HH-3E (Call sign "Jolly Green 53") from Det. 5, 38th ARRS, Udorn RTAFB, Thailand, crewed by Capt. James A. Hartwing (P), 1st Lt. William W. Gunnin (CP), A1C John W. Whisenhunt (FM), A2C Robert D. Bowers (PJ), and A2C William D. Brotton (PJ), rescued 15 USA ground team members from a classified location in Laos. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1966 - November 23 | A HH-43F from Det. 11, 38th ARS, Tuy Hoa AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Edmund W. Fischbeck, Jr. (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FM) and unkn (PJ), rescued the crew from a O-1E, Capt. D. E. Disbrow (P) and 1st Lt. Whitesides (CP), after their aircraft was hit and crashed landed 30 miles southwest of Qui Nhon, RVN. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1966 - November 23 | A HH-43F from Det. 11, 38th ARS, Tuy Hoa AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Zack L. Stockett (P), unkn (CP), MSgt Donald F. Larsen (FM) and SSgt Calvin H. Felts (MT), saved sixteen Vietnamese civilians from a vessel. Sgt’s. Larsen and Felts were TDY at Det. 11, from Det. 6. No other details are known at this time. JRCC Save Form |
| 1966 - November 24 | A HH-43F from Det. 1, 38th ARS, Phan Rang AB, RVN, piloted by Capt. Clarence N. Cochran (P) Capt. Leonard D. Fialko (CP), Daniel P. Kimball (FM) and Howard D. McClellan (MT), rescued 3 ARVN troops, in contact, in RVN. No other details are known at this time. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1966 - November 24 | A HH-43F from Det. 1, 38th ARS, Phan Rang AB, RVN, piloted by Capt. Larry A. Nitz (P) Capt. LaMonte M. Kahler (CP), SSgt. William R. Dunbar (FM) and William B. Kimmel (MT) rescued 3 ARVN troops, in contact, in RVN. No other details are known at this time. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1966 - November 24 | A HH-43F from Det. 1, 38th ARS, Phan Rang AB, RVN, crewed by 1st Lt. David R. Steveson (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FM) and unkn (PJ), saved twelve Vietnamese civilians. No other details are known at this time. JRCC Save Form |
| 1966 - November 24 | A HH-43F from Det. 7, 38th ARRS, Da Nang AB, crewed by Capt. Lawrence F. Marcum (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FM) and unkn (PJ), saved one Vietnamese civilians. No other details are known at this time. JRCC Save Form |
| 1966 - November 28 | Sikorsky delivered a CH-53A to the 48th ARRS at Eglin AFB, FL. It was the first of two Marien CH-53A’s on temporary loan to the ARRS. The second HH-53A reached Eglin AFB in December, and crew training began shortly thereafter. USAF in Southeast Asia, Search and Rescue in Southeast Asia by Earl H. Tilford, Jr. |
| 1966 - November 29 | A HH-3E from Det. 5, 38th ARS, Udorn RTAFB, Thailand, crewed by Capt. Arlyn E. Webster (P) 1st Lt. William C. Dean (CP), A2C Gary R. Meyer (FM) and SSgt. Luther E. Davis (PJ) attempted the unsuccessful rescue of A-1E, Capt. John Morton Roper, who was KIA. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1966 - November 29 | HH-3E #64-14231 of Det. 5, 38th ARRS Udorn RTAFB, Thailand, crashed on landing at a classified site during a night landing and was destroyed by post impact fire. The crew escaped with minor injuries. http://www.jollygreen.org/jltnc.html |
| 1966 - December 06 | A HH-3E (Call sign "Jolly Green 53") from Det. 5, 38th ARRS, Udorn RTAFB, Thailand, launching from LS-36 and crewed by Capt. William H. Lloyd (P), Capt. Wayne W. Hester (CP), SSgt Robert S. Riley (FM) and A2C Franklin D. Stevson (PJ), scrambled from their strip alert at LS-36 and rescued the crew from a RF-4C (Call sign "Nelson 01"), Lt. Col. Theodore W. Dyke (P) and 1st Lt. William R. Fannemel (CP), after they ejected from their ground fire damaged aircraft along the NVN, Laos border near Dien Bien Phu, NVN. During the rescue A2C Stevson (PJ) was sent to the ground to load the injured 1st Lt. Fannemel into a Stokes litter. As Lt. Fannemel was being hoisted the HH-3 came under fire and was forced to take off leaving A2C Bowers on the ground (See next entry). "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1966 - December 06 | A HH-3E # 65-12779 (Call sign "Jolly Green 05") from Det. 5, 38th ARRS, Udorn RTAFB, Thailand, launching from LS-36 and crewed by Capt. Kenneth D. Murphy (P), 1st Lt. Douglas L. May (CP), SSgt. Jack Picklesimer (FM) and A2C Robert D. Bowers (PJ), also scrambled from their strip alert at LS-36 and was the 'high bird' on the rescue of the crew from a RF-4C (Call sign "Nelson 01"), Lt. Col. Theodore W. Dyke (P) and 1st Lt. William R. Fannemel (CP). "Jolly Green 05" was not able to contact the PJ, A2C Franklin D. Stevson from "Jolly Green 53" and sent their PJ, A2C Robert D. Bowers to the ground to locate A2C Stevson then "Jolly Green 05" had an engine shot out and was forced to leave before they could retrieve either of the PJ's that were still on the ground (See previous & next entries). "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1966 - December 06 | A third HH-3E #64-14233 (Call sign "Jolly Green 56"), from Det. 5, 38th ARRS, Udorn RTAFB, Thailand, was launched from LS-36, crewed by, crewed by Capt. John Albert Firse (P), Maj. Thomas E. Shows (CP), SSgt. Jerry W. Johnson (FM) and SSgt. George E. Hunt (PJ) and arrived after about 1 ½ hours after A2C Stevson had been left on the ground (see entries above) and rescued crewmembers, A2C Stevson (PJ) from "Jolly Green 53" and A2C Bowers (PJ) from "Jolly Green 05". "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & 7 Dec. 66 Mission Narrative |
| 1966 - December 06 | A HH-43F from Det. 9, 38th ARRS, crewed by Capt. Richard H. Smith (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FM) and unkn (PJ), medevacked one USN sailor in RVN. No other details are known at this time. JRCC Save Form |
| 1966 - December 08 | A HH-43F from Det. 7, 38th ARRS, Da Nang AB, RVN, crewed by unkn (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FM) and SSgt. John F. Tobey (PJ) medevacked a person in RVN. No other details are known at this time. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1966 - December 08 | A HH-43F from Det. 7, 38th ARRS, Da Nang AB, RVN, crewed by 1st Lt. Fredrick D. Gregory (P), 1st Lt. Alfred R. Jacox (CP), Paul Vann (FM) and A2C Joseph M. Duffy (PJ) rescued the crew from a F-4C, Maj. John K. Young Jr. (P) and Capt. Fred H. Porter III (CP), after their aircraft was hit by automatic weapons fire and caught fire moments after takeoff from Da Nang AB, RVN and they ejected just south of the air base. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1966 - December 08 | A HH-43F from Det. 9, 38th ARRS, Pleiku AB, RVN, crewed by unkn (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FM) and A1C Allen Stanck (PJ) rescued two crew members of a downed Army chopper 65 miles northwest of Pleiku. They searched for the remaining two crewmembers and the missing chopper but were not able to locate them due to darkness (see next entry). Air Force Museum Photo files |
| 1966 - December 09 | A HH-43F from Det. 9, 38th ARRS, Pleiku AB, RVN, crewed by unkn (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FM), MSgt. George Shipper (PJ) and A1C Allen Stanck (PJ) early in the morning located the missing chopper and rescued the remaining two crew members, who had been trapped inside, of a downed Army chopper 65 miles northwest of Pleiku (see previous entry). Air Force Museum Photo files |
| 1966 - December 11 | A HH-43F from Det. 11, 38th ARRS, Tuy Hoa AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Edmund W. Fischbeck Jr. (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FM) and unkn (PJ), rescued three Vietnamese from a boat in RVN. No other details are available at this time. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1966 - December 11 | A HH-43F from Det. 6, 38th ARRS, Bien Hoa AB, RVN, crewed by unkn (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FM) and unkn (PJ), was involved in a rescue of one airman from an A-1E in RVN. No other details are available at this time. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1966 - December 11 | A HH-43F from Det. 6, 38th ARRS, Bien Hoa AB, RVN, crewed by Maj. David M. Randall (P), 1st Lt. Robert A. Reilly (CP), A1C Melvin G. Goff (FM) and SSgt. Robert S. Loud (PJ), rescued the pilot, Capt. A. E. Belford, after he ejected from his ground fire damaged aircraft near Dau Tieng, RVN. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1966 - December 13 | A HH-43F from Det. 6, 38th ARRS, Bien Hoa AB, RVN, crewed by Maj. David M. Randall (P), 1st Lt. Robert A. Reilly (CP), A1C Melvin G. Goff (FM), SSgt. Robert S. Loud (PJ) and A2C John J. Dagneau III (PJ), were involved in a rescue in RVN. No other details are available currently. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1966 - December 14 | The FIRST in-flight transfer of fuel from an HC-130P tanker to an HH-3E was completed near Wright-Patterson AFB, OH. This capability revolutionized helicopter Air Rescue operations. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & http://www.afhso.af.mil/shared/media/document/AFD-100929-015.pdf |
| 1966 - December 14 | A HH-3E (Call sign "Jolly Green 56") from Det. 5, 38th ARRS, Udorn RTAFB, Thailand, crewed by Capt. James A. Hartwing (P), Capt. Johnnie H. Hall (CP), A1C John W. Whisenhunt (FM) and A2C Franklin D. Stevson (PJ), rescued the pilot from a F-105D (Call sign "Fosdick 03"), Capt. Robert B. Cooley, after his aircraft was hit by a Atoll air-to-air missile fired by a MiG-21 and he ejected about 40 miles SW of Hanoi. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1966 - December 15 | A HH-3E from Det. 5, 38th ARRS, Udorn RTAFB, Thailand, crewed by Capt. Oliver E. O'Mara (P), 1st Lt. Donald R. Harris (CP), SSgt. Jack Pickelsimer (FM) and Sgt. Malcolm C. Hassler (PJ), completed a night (around mid-night) rescue of two crewmembers of a A-26A (Call sign "Nimrod ?"), 1st Lt. J. D. Bell (CP) and Capt. Cooper (CP), after he and Lt. Col. Albert R. Howarth (P) abandoned their ground fire damaged aircraft near the Mu Gia Pass, about 30 miles west of Ban Kapay, Laos. Lt. Col. Albert R. Howarth (P) was rescue by a U.S. Army helicopter in the darkness of the early morning of December 15, 1966. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1966 - December 20 | A HH-3E #65-12786 (Call sign “Jolly Green 24”) from Det. 7, 38th ARRS, Da Nang AB, RVN, crewed by Maj. Adrian D. Youngblood (P), Capt. John E. Halligan (CP), A1C William T. Lowe Jr. (FM) and A2C William J. Flowers (PJ) rescued the pilot of a USA OV-1, Joseph L. Kulmayer, after it went down in Laos. The high bird on this mission HH-3E #65-12783 (Call sign “Jolly Green 15”) was crewed by Maj. William O. Mayfield (P), Lt. Col. John F. Ward (CP), Francis E. Greinier (FE) and A2C John C. Jeffers (PJ). "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & Det. 7, 38th ARRS Mission Record 18 July 66 to 31 Dec. 66 |
| 1966 - December 23 | A HH-43F, unkn (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FM) and unkn (PJ), saved one American civilian in RVN. No other details are known at this time. JRCC Save Form |
| 1966 - December 23 | A HH-43F from Det. ?, 38th ARRS, crewed by unkn (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FM) and unkn (PJ), rescued one USA troop in RVN. No other details are known at this time. JRCC Save Form |
| 1966 - December 24 | A HH-43F from Det. 7, 38th ARRS, Da Nang AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Lawrence F. Marcum (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FM) and unkn (PJ), was involved in the rescue of one Vietnamese in RVN. No other details are known at this time. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1966 - December 24 | A HH-43F from Det. 7, 38th ARRS, Da Nang AB, RVN, crewed by 1st Lt. David R. Steveson (P), 1st Lt. Alfred R. Jacox Jr. (CP), Wayne L. Boteler (FM) and Russell W. Price (PJ), was involved in the rescue of six Vietnamese civilians from a CL-44 airliner that had crashed in RVN. No other details are known at this time. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1966 - December 24 | A HH-43F from Det. 7, 38th ARRS, Da Nang AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Lawrence F. Marcum (P), 1st Lt. Donald D. Sams (CP), SSgt. Hubert O. Marsh (FM) and SSgt. John F. Tobey (PJ) was involved in the rescue of seven Vietnamese civilians from a CL-44 airliner that had crashed in RVN. No other details are known at this time. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form |
| 1966 - December 26 | A HH-43F from Det. 1, 38th ARRS, Phan Rang AB, RVN, crewed by unkn (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FM) and unkn (PJ), saved one ROK troop. No other details are known at this time. JRCC Save Form |
| 1966 - December 28 | A HH-43B from Det. 4, 38th ARRS, Korat RTAFB, Thailand, crewed by Capt. Lucian A. Vunter III (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FM) and unkn (PJ), saved two from a USAF U-6A, Capt. Ronald A. Susi and A1C Gary F. Parris that had went down in Thailand. No other details are known at this time. JRCC Save Form |
| 1966 - December 31 & 1967 - January 01 | Three HH–43B helicopters from Williams AFB, Arizona, and two HH–43B's from Luke AFB, Arizona, representing Detachments 15 and 16 of the Western Air Rescue Center, rescued nine flood victims from the Salt and Gila Rivers flooding in the suburbs of Phoenix. The United States Air Force and Humanitarian Airlift Operations 1947–1994 by Daniel L. Haulman Air Force Historical Research Agency Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama |
| 1967 - January 01 | A HH-43F from Det. 8, 38th ARRS, Cam Ranh Bay AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Allen R. Martin (P), 1st Lt. Ronald W. Murry (CP), unkn (FM) and unkn (PJ), saved one ARVN paratrooper. No other details are known at this time. JRCC Save Form |
| 1967 - January 01 | A HH-43B from Det. 4, 38th ARRS, Korat RTAFB, Thailand, crewed by Capt. Clarence G. Lunt (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FM) and unkn (PJ), medevacked L. A. Tayor from a classified location in Laos. No other details are known at this time. JRCC Save Form |
| 1967 - January 01 | A HH-43B from Det. 4, 38th ARRS, Korat RTAFB, Thailand, crewed by Capt. John H. Canfield (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FM) and unkn (PJ), medevacked, J. Shaff, in Thailand. No other details are known at this time. JRCC Save Form |
| 1967 - January 02 | A HH-3E from the 38th ARRS, crewed by unkn (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FM) and unkn (PJ), attempted the unsuccessful rescue of a O-1F (Call sign "Nail 27"), 1st Lt. George Bruce Menges, when his aircraft was shot down by automatic weapons fire near Ban Sappeng in southern Laos. Lt. Menges was determined to be KIA. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1967 - January 05 | A HH-43F, crewed by Capt. LaMonte M. Kahler (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FM) and unkn (PJ), saved one Vietnamese national. No other details are known at this time. JRCC Save Form |
| 1967 - January 06 | A HH-3E, from Det. 5, 38th ARRS, Udorn RTAFB, Thailand, crewed by 1st Lt. Max F. James (P), Capt. John Silvis (CP), SSgt. Raymond D. Godsey (FM) and Sgt. Luther E. Davis (PJ), rescued the crew from a RF-4C, Capt. W. J. Graves (P) and 1st Lt. L. N. Martin, after they ejected from their AAA damaged aircraft after it crossed into Thailand. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1967 - January 09 | A HH-43F from Det. 7, 38th ARRS, Da Nang AB, RVN, crewed by 1st Lt. K. D. Gregory (P), 1st Lt. Donald D. Sams (CP), unkn (FM) and A1C Wayne L. Boteler (FF), saved one crew member from an F-4C. No other details are known at this time. JRCC Save Form |
| 1967 - January 09 | Two CH-3C's of the 20th HS "Pony Express", one crewed by Capt. William L. Johnson (P), unkn (CP) and unkn (FM) and the other crewed by Maj. Clifton E. Ward (P), unkn (CP) and unkn (FM), were called upon, just before sunset, to rescue a SEAL team in trouble in the Saigon Delta region. Capt. Johnson went in for the pickup and had an immediate hoist failure and had to revert to use of a "McGuire" rig to extract part of the team, flying them for about 6 miles hanging sixty feet below the helicopter until they could find a safe place to land and take them onboard. Maj. Ward went in to rescue the remaining men by hoisting them aboard. They had two U. S. Navy “Huey” gunships flying cover during the rescue. |
| 1967 - January 11 | A HH-3E from Det. 7, 38th ARRS, Da Nang AB, RVN, crewed by Maj. Adrian D. Youngblood (P), 1st Lt. Mark H. Mutchler (CP), TSgt. Maurice F. Tasker (FM) and A2C William J. Flowers (PJ) were involved in a rescue of six USN sailors from a boat in the South China Sea. No other details are available at this time. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form |
| 1967 – January 11 | A HH-43F from Det. 1, 38th ARRS, Phan Rang AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Clarence N. Cochran (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FM) and unkn (PJ), medevacked USA troop, E-6 B. J. Goeble in RVN. No other details are known at this time. JRCC save form |
| 1967 - January 12 | A HH-3E from Det. 5, 38th ARRS, Udorn RTAFB, Thailand, crewed by Joseph L. Wells (P), 1st Lt. William N. Privette (CP), SSgt. Coy W. Calhoon (FM) and Sgt. Patrick F. Alliaire (PJ), were involved in a rescue from LS-85 in Laos of Roland F. Hodge who had been WIA when the site was attacked by a North Vietnamese AN-2 "Colt" aircraft. No other details are available currently. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1967 - January 12 | A HH-43B from Det. 4, 38th ARRS, Korat RTAFB, Thailand, crewed by Capt. Lucian A. Gunter III (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FM) and unkn (PJ), medevacked one US Special Forces troop, Charles Billingsley in Thailand. No other details are known at this time. JRCC Save Form |
| 1967 - January 14 | A HH-43F from Det. 6, 38th ARRS, Bien Hoa AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. David L. Wiest (P), Capt. Sheridan K. Hawk (CP), A1C Harrison H. Ewton (FM) and A2C Steve M. Northern (PJ) rescued the pilot of a downed O-1E, Capt. C. I. Walters in RVN. No other details are known at this time. JRCC Save Form |
| 1967 - January 14 | A UH-1F from the 20th Helicopter Sq., crewed by Capt. James F. Jansa (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FM) and unkn (PJ) rescued the pilot, (name unkn), of a USN A-4C that had a mid-air collision with another A-4C during a night combat mission in Laos. The pilot of the second A-4C, Lt. Cmdr. Arthur Kasimi Tyszkiewicz was KIA. No other details are known at this time. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1967 - January 15 | A HH-3E #65-12783 Call sign “Jolly Green 15”) from Det. 7, 38th ARRS, Da Nang AB, RVN, crewed by Maj. Adrian D. Youngblood (P), 1st Lt. Jerrold D. Ward (CP), TSgt. Fred C. Williams (FM) and A2C William J. Flowers (PJ) was involved in a rescue of 5 USN sailors from a boat in the South China Sea. No other details are available currently. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form |
| 1967 - January 15 | The flight of two HH-3E's #65-12783 & #65-12784 (Call signs "Jolly Green 15 & 18"), from Det. 7, 38th ARRS at Da Nang AB, RVN, were returning to Da Nang AB, RVN, from the mission listed above, when HH-3E #65-12784 (Call sign "Jolly Green 18"), crewed by Maj. William O. Mayfield (P), Maj. Frank L. Trochack (CP), A1C Michael W. Mulvany (FM) and SSgt. William P. Tracey (PJ) experienced a main transmission problem and made an emergency water landing off the coast of Monkey Mountain. With high winds blowing the drifting HH-3E towards the rocky shoreline, Maj. Mayfield decided to abandon the helicopter and requested that HH-3E #65-12783 (Call sign "Jolly Green 15"), crewed by Maj. Adrian D. Youngblood (P), 1st Lt. Jerald D. Ward (CP), TSgt. Fred C. Williams (FE) and A2C William J. Flowers (PJ), rescue the crew of #65-12784 (Call sign "Jolly Green 18") from Da Nang Bay, which was accomplished. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & http://www.jollygreen.org/Research/RonThurlow/H3RosterSEA.htm |
| 1967 - January 15 | A HH-43F from Det. 7, 38th ARRS. Da Nang AB, RVN crewed by unkn (P), unkn (CP) and unkn (FM), inserted 2 PJ's, TSgt Ray Weddel (PJ) and A2C John Jeffers (PJ), to secure the abandoned HH-3E #65-12784 (Call sign "Jolly Green 18") that had now washed ashore. They secured it with ropes and also inflated a twenty-man life raft inside the cabin to provide additional bouncy in case the ropes broke and the HH-3 drifted back out to sea. The 2 PJs spent the night with the HH-3E and the next day it was rigged, and sling loaded back to Da Nang AB, RVN by a U. S. Army CH-54 flying crane helicopter. TSgt. Weddel and A2C Jeffers are the only PJ's who can claim to have 'saved' a HH-3E. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1967 - January 15 | A HH-3E (Call sign "Jolly Green 55") from Det. 5, 38th ARRS, Udorn RTAFB, Thailand, crewed by Capt. Oliver E. O'Mara (P), Capt. Robert W. Packer (CP) and A1C Herbert E. Bridges (FM), rescued the pilot from a F-105D, (Call sign "Wedge 02"), Capt. Gerald L. Hawkins, after he ejected from his small arms damaged aircraft near Ban Tum, Thailand. The HH-3E was on a test flight at the time of this mission and no PJ was on board nor was there a 'high bird'. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1967 - January 16 | Detachment 2, 37th ARRS was re-designated from Det. 5, 38th ARRS at Udorn RTAFB operating HH-3’s. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/37th_Aerospace_Rescue_and_Recovery_Squadron |
| 1967 - January 19 | An H-19B from Osan AB, Korea, crewed by Capt. Carrol Kessler (P), unkn (CP) and SSgt Gene Stuifbergen (FM) flying 120 miles at night in the mountains with bad winds arrived at the location where North Korea had sunk a South Korean navy ship killing 28 crewmen. The H-19B hoisted the four survivors aboard in two trips and delivered them to the medical team at Kangnung. Pacific Stars & Stripes, Tuesday, Feb. 14, 1967 |
| 1967 - January 19 | A HH-43F from Det. 8, 38th ARRS, Cam Ranh Bay AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Lawrence D. Jones (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FM) and unkn (PJ), saved the observer of a O-1G, 1st Lt. G. D. Hull, after he survived the crash of their aircraft when it was hit by small arms fire about 20 miles north of Dak To, RVN. The O-1G pilot, 1st Lt. Arthur J. Abramoff was KIA. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1967 - January 23 | A HH-43F from Det. 6, 38th ARRS, Bien Hoa AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. David L. Wiest (P), 1st Lt Wendell B. Wood (CP), A2C Steve M. Northern (PJ) and SSgt. Henry B. Peterson (FF) saved the pilot of an A-1H, Capt. R. Sweetwood in RVN. No other details are known at this time. JRCC Save Form |
| 1967 - January 24 | Four CH-3C's of the 20th HS at Udorn RTAFB, Thailand, crew’s unkn, airlifted 221 Thai troops on an assault mission against communist terrorists that resulted in the killing or capture of over 100 of the enemy. http://www.mh-53pavelow.com/documents/20thSOS/1967.pdf |
| 1967 - January 25 | A CH-3E helicopter from the 20th HS, crewed by Capt. Eldon D. Woodward (P), unkn (CP) and unkn (FM), after completing a normal resupply mission to Song Be was called upon to rescue four men from a crash site (type of aircraft unkn) from a very insecure area along the Cambodian border of the Central Highlands. The four men were rescued and returned to Song Be Special Forces camp. http://www.mh-53pavelow.com/documents/20thSOS/1967.pdf |
| 1967 - January 27 | A USAF helicopter, believed to have been from the 37th ARRS at Da Nang AB, RVN, crewed by unkn (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FM) and unkn (PJ), rescued the crew of a F-4C, Maj. J. A. Hargrove (P) and 1st Lt. L. D. Peterson (CP), after they ejected from their ground fire damaged aircraft over the Gulf Of Tonkin about 12 miles north of the DMZ. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1967 - January 27 | A HH-43F from Det. 8, 38th ARRS, Cam Ranh Bay AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. R. L. VanAllen (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FM) and unkn (PJ), medevacked one Vietnamese civilian in RVN. No other details are available currently. JRCC Save Form |
| 1967 - January 28 | A HH-3E from the 37th ARRS from Da Nang AB, RVN, crewed by Maj. Robert E. Prince (P), Maj. Carl W. Olsen (CP), SSgt. Earl E. Chambers (FM) and A2C Robert F. Gabrourel (PJ), rescued a F-104C pilot, Capt. Eugene R. West (P), after he ejected just off the coast of Dong Hoi, NVN when his aircraft had an engine failure. He landed in a fog bank over the South China Sea, and it took a 90 min. search in the fog before the HH-3E found and rescued him. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1967 - January 28 | A HH-43F from Det. 8, 38th ARRS, Cam Ranh Bay AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Allen R. Martin (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ), saved one ARVN troop in RVN. No other details are available currently. JRCC Save Form |
| 1967 - January 29 | A HH-3E from the 37th ARRS, crewed by unkn (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FM) and unkn (PJ), attempted the unsuccessful rescue of the crew of a F-105F (Call sign "Tico 01"), Maj. Larry William Biediger (P) and 1st Lt. Claude Arnold Silva (CP) after they ejected from their damaged aircraft about 30 miles northwest of Thai Nguyen, NVN. Maj. Biedigere and St. Silva were KIA. No other details are available currently. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1967 - January 30 | A HH-43B from Det. 5, 38th ARRS, Udorn RTAFB, Thailand, crewed by 1st Lt. Kenneth O. Wentzel (P), 1st Lt. Roland J. Page (CP) and A1C John A. Cleland (FM), rescued the pilot of F-105D (Call sign "Nate 04"), Maj. William E. Thurman, after his aircraft was hit by ground fire in Laos about ten miles north of Nakhon Phanom, Thailand and he ejected about thirty five miles south east of Udorn RTAFB, Thailand. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & JRCC Save Form & http://www.newspapers.com/image/54282936/ |
| 1967 - January 31 | A HH-43F from Det. 1, 38th ARRS, Phan Rang AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Leonard D. Fialko (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FM) and unkn (PJ), rescued five crewmen from a downed UH-1D. No other details are known at this time. JRCC Save Form |
| 1967 - January 31 | The 20th HS at Nha Trang AB, RVN was assigned 15 UH-1F's from the 606th Air Commando Squadron at Nakhon Phanom RTAFB, Thailand forming the "Green Hornet" "E" flight at Nha Trang. Two of the assigned UH-1F's stayed at Nakhon Phanom RTAFB, Thailand a while longer, assisting in flood relief, before moving to Nha Trang AB, RVN. http://www.mh-53pavelow.com/documents/20thSOS/1967.pdf |
| 1967 - February ?? | http://www.mh-53pavelow.com/documents/20thSOS/1967.pdf |
| 1967 - February 02 | The 37th ARRS was activated at Da Nang AB, RVN with the HH-3E's that had been assigned to Det. 7, 38th ARRS. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1967 - February 04 | A HH-43B from Det. 5, 38th ARRS, Udorn RTAFB, Thailand, crewed by 1st Lt. Max F. James (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FM) and unkn (PJ), rescued an unkn foreign military airman from a T-28 in RVN. No other details are known currently. JRCC Save Form |
| 1967 - February 04 | A HH-43F from Det. 13, 38th ARRS, Phu Cat AB, RVN, crewed by Maj. Bert E. Cowden (P), 1st Lt. Ronald P. Wojack (CP), Capt. Jerald B. Turner (FS) and TSgt Delmer R. Smith (MT), medevacked A1C C. B. Pressy who had been injured in a jeep accident. No other details are available at this time. JRCC Save Form |
| 1967 - February 04 | A CH-3C from the 20th HS at Udorn, crewed by unkn (P), unkn (CP) and unkn (FM) was scrambled to a small village to evacuate a little girl who had been struck by a large truck. The picked her up and rushed her to the hospital at Udorn, however their efforts proved in vain as the child died shortly after reaching the hospital. http://www.mh-53pavelow.com/documents/20thSOS/1967.pdf |
| 1967 - February 06 | HH-3E #65-12779 (Call sign "Jolly Green 05"), from the 37th ARRS, crewed by Maj. Patrick Hardy Wood (P), Capt. Richard Abbot Kibbey (CP), SSgt. Donald Joe Hall (FM) and A2C Duane D. Hackney (PJ) had rescued the pilot of a O-1E (Call sign "Nail 65"), Capt. Lucius L. Heiskell, when it was hit by ground fire, exploded and crashed near the Mu Gia Pass, North Vietnam. Three HH-3E crew members, Maj. Wood (P), Capt. Kibbey (CP) and SSgt. Hall (FM), along with the just rescued O-1E pilot, Capt. Heiskell were KIA. A2C Hackney (PJ) was blown out of the HH-3E and landed by parachute and was rescued by HH-3E #65-12785 (Call sign "Jolly Green 36"). (See next entry below.) Maj. Patrick Hardy Wood and A2C Duane D. Hackney were awarded the Air Force Cross for their actions during this mission. http://www.veterantributes.org/TributeDetail.php?recordID=120 & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/38th_Rescue_Squadron & Vietnam Air Losses by Chris Hobson |
| 1967 - February 06 | HH-3E #65-12785 `(Call sign "Jolly Green 36") from the 37th ARRS, crewed by Capt. Oliver E. O'Mara (P), Capt. Harold W. Bradley (CP), SSgt Raymond Godsey (FM) and A2C Luther E. Davis (PJ), rescued the HH-3E PJ, A2C Duane D. Hackney from "Jolly Green 05". Three other HH-3E "Jolly Green 05" crew members, Maj. Wood (P), Richard Kibbey (CP) and Donald Hall (FM) and the, just rescued, O-1E pilot, Capt. Heiskell, were KIA in the fiery crash of "Jolly Green 05". (See previous entry.) "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1967 - February 11 | In a diary entry by P.J. John Tobey, he indicated that HH-3E #65-12780 (Call sign "Jolly Green 07") was flying with three machine guns installed. This is the first indication of the long requested M-60 machine guns being installed on the HH-3E's. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1967 - February 13 | Two CH-3C's from the 20th HS, one crewed by unkn (P), unkn (CP) and unkn (FE) and the other crewed by unkn (P), unkn (CP) and unkn (FM) flew on a mercy mission to a village in Southern Laos. The Navy mistakenly bombed this friendly village and killed and injured several people. The two CH-3C carried medical and Explosive Ordnance Disposal personnel into the village and then carried the more critically wounded to Savannakhet for air evacuation to the hospital at Korat RTAFB, Thailand. http://www.mh-53pavelow.com/documents/20thSOS/1967.pdf |
| 1967 - February 15 | A HH-43F, believed to be from Det. 11, 38th ARRS at Tuy Hoa AB, RVN, crewed by unkn (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FM) and unkn (PJ), rescued the pilot of a F-100D, 1st Lt. W. H. Hepler, after he ejected from his ground fire damaged aircraft near Tuy Hoa AB, RVN. Vietnam Air Losses by Chris Hobson & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1967 - February 16 | A HH-3E #64-14233 (Call sign "Jolly Green 56") from the 37th ARRS, crewed by Capt. Angelo Pullara (P), Capt. Jerrold D. Ward (CP), A1C A1C William T. Lowe (FM) and A2C William J. Flowers (PJ), took off to rescue the pilot of an F-100D (Call sign "Dusty 71"), Col Frank C. Buzze, shot down over Laos. While hovering over Col. Buzze the helicopter received ground fire, taking over 40 hits, and the HH-3E pilot, Capt. Angelo Pullara, was hit and killed. The co-pilot, Capt. Ward, also received bullet wounds but was able to take over the controls of the helicopter and fly away from the area. As they left the area the FM and PJ removed Capt. Pullara from the pilot's seat, freeing up the seat for the FM to occupy and help Capt. Ward fly the helicopter if necessary, while the PJ treated Capt. Ward's wounds. The helicopter returned safely to Saravane; Laos escorted by HH-3E # 65-12780 (Call sign "Jolly Green 07"). The F-100D (Call sign "Dusty 71") pilot, Col F. C. Buzze, was rescued by another HH-3E (Call sign "Jolly Green 37"). See the next two entries below. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & http://www.vvmf.org/Wall-of-Faces/41902/ANGELO-PULLARA & Hobsonhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/37th_Aerospace_Rescue_and_Recovery_Squadron#Operations_and_losses |
| 1967 - February 16 | HH-3E #65-12785 (Call sign "Jolly Green 36") from Det. 1, 37th ARRS at Nakhon Phanom RTAFB, Thailand, crewed by Capt. Leland T. Kennedy (P), 1st Lt. James A. Colyer (CP), SSgt. Raymond Godsey (FM) and A2C Robert D. Bowers (PJ) became the second bird to attempt the rescue of the pilot of a F-100D (Call sign "Dusty 71"), Col Frank C. Buzze, after he ejected from his ground fire damaged aircraft near Ban Talan Nua, NVN. Their attempts were unsuccessful as they were driven off by intense AAA ground fire. See previous and next entries. Capt. Kennedy was awarded the Silver Star for his actions during this mission. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & http://self.gutenberg.org/articles/leland_t._kennedy & Vietnam Air Losses by Chris Hobson |
| 1967 - February 16 | HH-3E (Call sign "Jolly Green 37") from Det. 1, 37th ARRS, Nakhon Phanom RTAFB, Thailand, crewed by Capt. Robert L. Powell (P), Maj. Powell L. Moore (CP), SSgt. John P. Rogerson (FM) and A1C David W. Sliger (PJ), the third "Jolly Green" to make the attempt, successfully rescued the pilot of a F-100D (Call sign "Dusty 71"), Col Frank C. Buzze, after he ejected from his ground fire damaged aircraft near Ban Talan Nua, NVN. See the previous two entries. Vietnam Air Losses by Chris Hobson & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1967 - February 16 | HH-43F from Det. 11, 38th ARRS, Tuy Hoa AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Lamonte M. Kahler (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FM) and unkn (PJ) medevacked one foreign sailor in RVN. No other details are known at this time. JRCC Save Form & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1967 - February 17 | HH-43F from Det. 6, 38th ARRS, Bien Hoa AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Breeden P. Hamer, Jr. (P), 1st Lt Robert A. Reilly (CP), A1C Melvin G. Goff (FM) and SSgt Robert S. Loud (PJ), medevacked USA Pvt. Bradford King in RVN. No other details are known at this time. JRCC Save Form |
| 1967 - February 19 | A HH-43F from Det. 1, 38th ARRS at Phan Rang AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Lamonte M. Kahler (P), Capt. Leonard D. Fialko (CP), SSgt. Ronald T. Cantwell (FM) and A1C Joseph N, Luther (MT) evacuated a seaman suffering from acute appendicitis from a Korean Navy ship 50 miles offshore. On their way to this mission this crew had slung some barrels of fuel to a HH-43B from the 38th ARRS, Det. 8, at Cam Ranh Bay that ran low on fuel on its way to make the rescue of the seaman and had landed on an island. Facebook post by Joe Luther 17 Aug. 2014 |
| 1967 - February 19 | A HH-43F, from Det. 11, Tuy Hoa AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Lamonte M. Kahler (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FM) and unkn (PJ), rescued the pilot of a F-100D, Capt. D. B. Couch, after he ejected from his small arms fire damaged aircraft and he eject off the coast from Xom Moi, RVN. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1967 - February 19 | Four UH-1F's of the 20th HS "Green Hornets" from Nha Trang AB, RVN, crews unkn, completed their FIRST armed mission for MACV SOG. No other details are known at this time. http://www.mh-53pavelow.com/documents/20thSOS/1967.pdf |
| 1967 - February 22 | A HH-3E from Det. 2, 37th ARRS, Udorn RTAFB, Thailand, crewed by Capt. Kenneth D. Murphy (P), Capt. Douglas L. May (CP), SSgt. Jerry W. Johnson (FM) and A2C Duane D. Hackney (PJ), rescued the pilot of a A-26A, Capt. James L. McClesky (P), after he bailed out on the night of 21 February 1967, from his small arms fire damaged aircraft near Nakhon Phanom RTAFB, Thailand. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1967 - February 22 | A HH-3E from Det. 2, 37th ARRS, Udorn RTAFB, Thailand, crewed by Capt. Leland T. Kennedy (P), 1st Lt. Edward J. Sichterman Jr. (CP), SSgt. Raymond D. Godsey (FM) and TSgt. Philemon S. Resos (PJ), rescued the co-pilot of a A-26A, Capt. Michael L. Scruggs (CP), after he bailed out on the night of 21 February 1967, from his small arms fire damaged aircraft near Nakhon Phanom RTAFB, Thailand. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1967 - February 22 | A HH-43F from Det. 9, 38th ARRS, Pleiku AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Richard A. Smith (P), Capt. Jack V. Butler (CP), A1C Harry J. Hull (FM) and A2C Michael J. Rosler (PJ) rescued six USA troops in RVN. No other details are known at this time. JRCC Save Form |
| 1967 - February 23 | A HH-43F from Det. 7, 38th ARRS, Da Nang AB, RVN, crewed by 1st Lt. Frederick D. Gregory (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ) save two from an A-1 in RVN. No other details are known at this time. JRCC Save Form |
| 1967 - February 23 | Two CH-3C "Pony Express" helicopters (crew’s unkn) were sent on a mission deep into North Vietnam to evacuate a friendly intelligence team that had been working in North Vietnam for over five years. When they reached the designated LZ, the team could not be located. While searching the area one of the CH-3C's was riddled with enemy 50 cal. automatic fire, but by the great skill of the crew they were able to make it back to the forward staging base. http://www.mh-53pavelow.com/documents/20thSOS/1967.pdf |
| 1967 - February 24 | A HH-3E from Det. 2, 37th ARRS, Udorn RTAFB, Thailand, crewed by 1st Lt. Max F. James (P), Capt. Arlyn E. Webster (CP), unkn (FM) and unkn (PJ), rescued the pilot of a T-28, name unkn (P) after he bailed out from his aircraft in Thailand. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1967 - February 24 | A USAF helicopter crewed by unkn (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FM), and unkn (PJ), rescued the crew of a F-4C, Capt. D. B. Hudson (P) and Lt. H. G. Floyd (CP), after they ejected from their ground fire damaged aircraft near Kien Long, RVN. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1967 - February 26 | A HH-43F from Det. 8, 38th ARRS, Cam Ranh Bay AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Lawrence D. Jones (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FM) and unkn (PJ) save one USA troop, G. Zatolski in RVN. No other details are known at this time. JRCC Save Form |
| 1967 - February 26 | A HH-3E from Det 7, 38th ARRS, Da Nang AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. David E. Dickey (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FM), unkn (PJ) and unkn (PJ) rescued eight USAF airmen, two USA soldiers and two USMC troops in RVN. No other details are known at this time. JRCC Save Form |
| 1967 - February 26 | A HH-43F from Det 7, 38th ARRS, Da Nang AB, RVN, crewed by 1st Lt. William T. Sehorn (P), 1st Lt. Alfred R. Jacox, Jr (CP), A1C Edward L. Thorpe (FM) SSgt Hugh A. Pike (PJ), A1C Russell W. Price (PJ), A1C John F. Tobey (PJ) and A2C Duane O. Hackney (PJ) rescue four USA troops and three USAF airmen in RVN. No other details are known at this time. JRCC Save Form |
| 1967 - February 26 | A HH-43F from Det. 13, 38th ARRS, Phu Cat AB, RVN, crewed by Maj. Bert E. Cowden (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FM) and unkn (PJ) medevacked J. B. Vickers in RVN. No other details are known at this time. JRCC Save Form |
| 1967 - February 27 | A HH-43F from Det. 9, 38th ARRS, Pleiku AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Donald D. Metzinger (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FM) and unkn (PJ) rescued three from a downed USA U-8F, Lt. Col. C. K. Woody, Lt. Col. J. W. Brown and Maj. W. F. Leach, in RVN. No other details are known at this time. "PJ's in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form |
| 1967 - February 28 | A HH-43B crewed by 1st Lt. Gary L. Gross (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FM) and unkn (PJ) saved one USAF airman, SSgt. E. Smith in Thailand. No other details are known at this time. JRCC Save Form |
| 1967 - February 28 | A HH-3E from the 37th ARRS, crewed by Capt. Robert J. Svoboda (P), Capt. Richard A. Orsini (CP), SSgt. Robert S. Riley (FM) and A2C John L. Pighini (PJ), rescued the crew of an F-4C, Maj. J. F. Clayton (P) and 1st Lt. K. C. Simonin (WSO), after they ejected from their ground fire damaged aircraft a short distance from their target near Ban Kale, Laos. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1967 - February 28 | A HH-3E from Det. 2, 37th ARRS, Udorn RTAFB, Thailand, crewed by Capt. James A. Hartwing (P), Capt. Evan G. Thompson (CP), John W. Wiesenhunt (FM) and A2C Franklin D. Stevson (PJ), rescued the pilot of a F-105D (Call sign "Otter 01"), Capt. James S. Walbridge, after he had ejected from his ground fire damaged aircraft in Laos a few miles west of the Mu Gia Pass. The HH-3E that rescued him was possibly the same HH-3E that had rescued Maj. Clayton only a half hour earlier. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "PJ's in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1967 - March 01 | A HH-43F from Det. 11, 38th ARRS, Thuy Hoa AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Leonard D. Fialko (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FM), unkn (PJ) saved an ARVN troop. No other details are known at this time. JRCC Save Form |
| 1967 - March 02 | A HH-43F from Det 10, 38th ARRS, Bien Thuy AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Clarence N. Cochran (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FM), unkn (PJ) rescued two ARVN troops in RVN. No other details are known currently. JRCC Save Form |
| 1967 - March 02 | A HH-3E, from Detachment 1, 37th ARRS at Da Nang AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Robert E. Prince (P), Capt. John W. Perry (CP), TSgt. Maurice F. Tasker (FM), A2C Duane Hackney (PJ) and SSgt. William P. Tracey (PJ), rescued the pilot of a 0-1E, Capt. Robert C. Mays, after he crash landed his ground fire damaged aircraft in the DMZ on February 28, 1967. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPoint |
| 1967 - March 02 | A HH-3E from Det. 2, 37th ARRS, crewed by Capt. Leland T. Kennedy (P), 1st Lt. James A. Colyer (CP), Spencer (FM) and A2C Michael P. Benno (PJ), rescued the crew of a 20th SOS, “Pony Express” CH-3C, Capt. Nick G. Conti (CP), Maj. James H. West (P) and SSgt. Patrick W. Mitchell (FM) in Laos. No other details are available at this time. "PJ's in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form |
| 1967 - March 03 | A HH-43F from Det. 4, 38th ARRS, Korat RTAFB, Thailand, crewed by Capt. Clarence G. Lunt (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FM) and unkn (PJ) saved one foreign military troop, T. Witayakarn. No other details are known at this time. JRCC Save Form |
| 1967 - March 04 | A HH-43F from Det. 7, 38th ARRS, Da Nang AB, RVN, crewed by unkn (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FM) and A2C Duane D. Hackney (PJ) saved one VNAF troop, T. Witayakarn, from a downed H-34 in RVN. No other details are known at this time. JRCC Save Form |
| 1967 - March 06 | A HH-43F from Det. 6, 38th ARRS, Bien Hoa AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. David L. Wiest (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FM), unkn (PJ) medevac’d four USA troops including K. Crossland in RVN. No other details are known at this time. JRCC Save Form |
| 1967 - March 09 | A CH-3C from the 20th HS, crewed by unkn (P), unkn (CP) and unkn (FM), braved intense hostile fire in evacuating 26 critically wounded troops from the besieged Army Special Forces Camp at As Hau, RVN, located near the Laotian border. No other details are known at this time. http://www.mh-53pavelow.com/documents/20thSOS/1968.pdf |
| 1967 - March 10 | A HH-3E from Det. 2, 37th ARRS, crewed by Capt. John A. Firse (P), 1st Lt. William N. Privette (CP), SSgt. Roger A. Ely (FM) and TSgt. Charley D. Smith (PJ), rescued the crew of a F-4C, (Call sign "Cheetah 02") Capt. Earl D. Aman (P) and Capt. Robert W. Houghton (WSO), after they ejected safely, near Poungthak, Laos, from their AAA damaged aircraft that had ran out of fuel and had been pushed to near the border with Laos. This was the epic tale of "Pardo's Push" where Capt. Pardo pushed Capt. Aman's F-4C out of North Vietnam with his F-4C by its lowered tail hook after Capt. Aman's F-4C had run out of fuel. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "PJ's in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1967 - March 10 | A HH-3E (Call sign "Jolly Green 52") from Det. 2, 37th ARRS, crewed by Maj. Glen P. York (P), Capt. Harold W. Bradley (CP), SSgt. Jerry W. Johnson (FM) and A2C Michael P. Benno (PJ), rescued the crew of a F-4C (Call sign "Cheetah 04 A & B"), Capt. J. Robert Pardo (P) and 1st Lt. Steven A. Wayne (WSO), after they ejected safely, near Poungthak, Laos, from their AAA damaged aircraft that had ran out of fuel while 'pushing' another F-4C to near the border with Laos. This was the epic tale of "Pardo's Push" where Capt. Pardo pushed Capt. Aman's F-4C out of North Vietnam with his F-4C by its lowered tail hook after Capt. Aman's F-4C had run out of fuel. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "PJ's in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1967 - March 10 | A HH-43F from the 38th ARRS, crewed by Capt. S. E. Gurley (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FM) and unkn (PJ) rescued two USN seamen in RVN. No other details are known at this time. JRCC Save Form |
| 1967 - March 12 | A CH-3C (Call sign "Pony 21") from the 20th HS "Pony Express", crewed by Lewis R. Vasquez (P), Robert B. Giffen (CP) and C. F. Kirner (FM), rescued the pilot of an RF-101C in Laos. High bird for this mission was CH-3C (Call sign "Pony 22"). No other details are known at this time. "PJ's in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & http://www.mh-53pavelow.com/documents/20thSOS/1967.pdf |
| 1967 - March 12 | A HH-3E, crewed by Maj. William O. Mayfield (P), Maj. Frank L. Trochak (CP), A1C William T. Lowe Jr. (FM) and TSgt. Philemon S. Resos (PJ), rescued the crew and 8 USA passengers of a USMC CH-46 in RVN. No other details are known at this time. "PJ's in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1967 - March 13 | A HH-3E from the 37th ARRS, crewed by Maj. Adrian D. Youngblood (P), Maj. Carl W. Olsson (CP), SSgt. Earl E. Chambers (FM) and A2C Duane Hackney (PJ), rescued the crew and 5 USMC passengers of a USMC CH-46 (Call sign "Northbrook 51") that had been shot down 14 miles NW of Dong Ha, RVN. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1967 - March 13 | UH-1F 65-7932 of the 20th Helicopter Squadron was written off in Vietnam after a training accident. No other details are known at this time. http://www.helis.com/database/modelorg/338/ & http://www.mh-53pavelow.com/documents/20thSOS/1967.pdf |
| 1967 - March 13 | Two HH-43F’s from Det. 10, 38th ARRS, Bihn Thuy AB, RVN, one crewed by Capt. Donald E. VanMeter (P), 2nd Lt. Granville B. Goza III and A2C Gary G. Harold (PJ) and the second crewed by Maj. Armand J. Fiola (P), Capt. Robert D. Vespico (CP) and TSgt Clyde R. Ross (PJ), medevacked 19 foreign nationals in RVN. No other details are available currently. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1967 - March 13 | A HH-3E from the 37th ARRS, Da Nang AB, RVN, crewed by unkn (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ), was forced to make a landing in Da Nang Bay due to mechanical problems and a second HH-3E in the formation with the one that ditched, picked up the crew. http://www.pjsinnam.com/vn_history/pdf_files/Chronology/1967.pdf |
| 1967 - March 14 | A HH-3E from Det. 2, 37th ARRS, crewed by Maj. William H. Lloyd (P), Capt. Evan G. Thompson Jr. (CP), A2C Ronald F. Malone (FM) and MSgt. Milton C. Williams (PJ), rescued USMC troops, Leo J. Farrell, David P. Connely Jr., Semaras and Swete plus one other, from a downed H-46 in RVN. No other details are available at this time. "PJ's in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1967 - March 14 | A HH-3E from the 37th ARRS, crewed by Maj. Joe B. Green (P), Lt. Col. Charles R. Klinkert (CP), SSgt. Windell L. Stumbaugh (FM), SSgt. Angus C. McDougall (PJ) and Sgt. James D. Locker (PJ), rescued the troops from a downed UH-1B helicopter (Call sign Eagle Claw") in RVN. No other details are available at this time. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form |
| 1967 - March 14 | A HH-3E, crewed by Maj. William H. Lloyd (P), Capt. Evan G. Thompson (CP), A2C Ronald F. Malone (FM) and MSgt. Milton C. Williams (PJ), rescued 2 USMC troops, Farrell and Connelly, from a CH-46 helicopter downed in RVN. No other details are known at this time. "PJ's in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1967 - March 15 | A HH-3E, crewed by Maj. Robert E. Prince (P), 1st Lt. Warren E. Walter (CP), Francis E. Greinier (FM) and A2C Joseph M. Duffy (PJ), rescued the pilot of a USN A-4E, Capt. Stanley P. Krueger, from the South China Sea after he ejected from his ground fire damage aircraft about 15 miles off the coast of the DMZ. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "PJ's in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1967 - March 15 | HH-53B #66-14428 made the FIRST flight of a USAF HH-53B at Stratford, CT. http://www.mh-53pavelow.com/documents/airframes/notable_h53-history.pdf |
| 1967 - March 17 | A HH-43F from Det. 7, 38th ARRS, Da Nang AB, RVN, crewed by 1st Lt. Frederick D. Gregory (P), Capt. Donald D. Sams (CP), A1C Clyde E. Chavis (FM) and A2C Duane D. Hackney (PJ) saved the pilot of a USMC F-8C, Capt. Warren Kneippe. No other details are known at this time. JRCC Save Form |
| 1967 - March 19 | A HH-3E, crewed by Capt. Robert J. Svoboda (P), Capt. Richard A. Orsini (CP), SSgt. Robert S. Riley (FM), A2C Franklin D. Stevson (PJ), rescued the pilot of an A-1E, Capt. Michael J. Dugan, after he bailed out of his AAA damaged aircraft along the trail in southern Laos. It is said that this was the LAST successful bailout from an A-1E as shortly after this date these aircraft had been fitted with the "Yankee Extraction System" seats. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1967 - March 19 | Three CH-3C's of the 20th HS (Call sign "Pony Express 82"), crew's unkn, drew considerable ground fire during a successful emergency extraction of a team in the Steel Tiger area from an extremely hazardous LZ. No other details are known at this time. http://www.mh-53pavelow.com/documents/20thSOS/1967.pdf |
| 1967 - March 19 | A CH-3C (Call sign "Pony 82") from the 20th HS "Pony Express", crewed by unkn (P), unkn (CP) and unkn (FM), performed and emergency medical evacuation of Army personnel from Sakon Makhon to Korat, Thailand. No other details are known at this time. http://www.mh-53pavelow.com/documents/20thSOS/1967.pdf |
| 1967 - March 21 | A UH-1F of the 20th HS "Green Hornets", crewed by Capt. John C. Gruver (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FM/AG) and unkn (AG), was involved in the rescue of a friendly ground force near Dak To, RVN. Capt. John C. Gruver was awarded the Air Force Cross for his actions on this mission. No other details are available currently. http://www.veterantributes.org/TributeDetail.php?recordID=486 & http://www.projects.militarytimes.com/citations-medals-awards/recipient.php?recipientid=3620 |
| 1967 - March 21 | A HH-43B from Det. 3, 38th ARRS, Ubon RTAFB, Thailand, crewed by Maj. Dennis M. Chase (P), A1C Theodore Chandler (MT), A1C James F. Tevis (FF), and A1C Cyrus G. Hartwell (FF) saved the crew of an F-4C, Lt. L. R. Egea (P) and Maj. C. W. Hetherington (WSO) after their aircraft collided in mid-air with another aircraft over Thailand. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & JRCC Save Form |
| 1967 - March 25 | A UH-1F from the 20th SOS, crewed by Capt. John C. Gruver (P), unkn (CP), unkn (AG), unkn (AG), flew gunship cover for an assault party that drew fire in the landing zone. With complete disregard for his own safety, Captain Gruver flew through hostile fire to support the evacuation of one wounded man and then landed in the beleaguered clearing to evacuate a second wounded man himself. Subsequently, he returned to the same area and hovered under fire for a sustained period to recover the third wounded soldier. http://valor.militarytimes.com/recipient.php?recipientid=3620 |
| 1967 - March 25 | A HH-43F from Det. 7, 38th ARRS, Da Nang AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Donald D. Sams (P), 1st Lt. William T. Seahorn (CP), A1C Edward L. Thorpe (FM), A1C John F. Tobey (PJ), medevacked one USMC troop in RVN. No other details are available currently. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1967 - March 25 | A HH-43F from Det. 7, 38th ARRS, Da Nang AB, RVN, crewed by 1st Lt. William T. Seahorn (P), Capt. Donald D. Sams (CP), A1C Edward L. Thorpe (FM), A1C John Tobey (PJ), was involved in the rescue of one USMC troop who had been wounded by a mine in RVN. No other details are available currently. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1967 - March 25 | A HH-43F from Det. 7, 38th ARRS, Da Nang AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Donald D. Sams (P), 1st Lt. William T. Seahorn (CP), A1C Edward L. Thorpe (FM), A1C John Tobey (PJ), was involved in the rescue of 1 other USMC troop who had been wounded by a mine in RVN. No other details are available currently. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1967 - March 25 | Two CH-3C helicopters of the 20th HS “Pony Express” while carrying out a classified mission, one crewed by Maj. Joseph R. Gates (P), unkn (CP) and unkn (FM) received moderate damage from enemy fire and the other crewed by Capt. Willard C. Anderson (P), unkn (CP) and SSgt Melvin W. Shirley Jr. (FM) received extensive damage. No other details are known at this time. http://www.mh-53pavelow.com/documents/20thSOS/1967.pdf |
| 1967 - March 26 | A HH-3E from 37th ARRS, Da Nang AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Robert W. Davis (P), Capt. Robert N. Hillory (CP), A1C Rodney J. Bettevy (FM) and A2C John C. Jeffers (PJ) rescued the pilot of an F-105D (Call sign "Elm 02"), Maj. Jack C. Spillers, after he had ejected from his automatic weapons fire damaged aircraft in the DMZ. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "PJ's in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1967 - March 26 | A HH-43B believed to be from Det. 5, 38th ARRS, Udorn RTAFB, Thailand, and believed to be crewed by 1st Lt. Paul F. Dole (P), 1st Lt Billy C. Marcontell (CP), A1C William L. Schimonsky (FM), Capt. John J. Young [Doctor] (MC) saved A1C Albert M. Andrade and one unkn Thai. No other details are known at this time. JRCC Save Form |
| 1967 - March 26 | Two HH-43F’s from Det. 9, 38th ARRS, Pleiku AB, RVN, one crewed by Capt. Keith H. Ricks (P), Capt. Richard A. Smith (CP), MSgt Frederick F. Wharton (FM) and A1C John A. Smith (PJ) and the second crewed by Capt. Donald D. Metzinger (P), Capt. Jack V. Butler (CP), A1C Jose G. Abara (FM) and A2C Wayne A. Baguio, rescued two USA troops from a downed O-1D in RVN. No other details are known at this time. JRCC Save Form |
| 1967 – March 26 | The last of the fifteen UH-1F’s, #65-7925, assigned to the 14th ACW’s 20th HS at Nha Trang AB, RVN, that had stayed at Nakhon Phanom RTAFB, Thailand assisting in Thailand flood relief efforts arrived at Nha Trang AB, RVN. http://www.mh-53pavelow.com/documents/20thSOS/1967.pdf & AFHRA UH-1 historical record documents |
| 1967 - March 26 - 27 | During the night of 26/27 March Binh Thuy AB, RVN was mortared by enemy forces. Flying shrapnel from bursting shells sprayed the two HH-43F’s, 62-4508 & 62-4560, possessed by Det. 10, 38th ARRS. Extensive damage was sustained, and numerous repairs were required such as patching holes, changing blades and component change/repairs. 3rd ARRGp. Vietnam 1967, 01 Jan – 31 Mar |
| 1967 - March 27 | A CH-3C from Sheppard AFB, TX, crewed by unkn (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FM) crashed landed in the Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge, OK., while on a routine training mission. The crash was described as a “hard landing” resulting in medium damage. The CH-3C was recovered, repaired and put back in service. No other details are known at this time. The Lawton Constitution (Lawton, OK) Tue, Mar 28, 1967, page 3 |
| 1967 - March 28 | A HH-43F from Det. 6, 38th ARRS, Bien Hoa AB, RVN, crewed by Maj. Breeden P. Hamer, Jr. (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FM) and unkn (PJ) saved USN sailor, E-6 James R. Philpott. No other details are known at this time. JRCC Save Form |
| 1967 - March 28 | A HH-43F from Det. 8, 38th ARRS, Cam Ranh Bay AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. R. L. VanAllen (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FM) and unkn (PJ) saved one civilian dependent, Tran Quoc Dang. No other details are known at this time. JRCC Save Form |
| 1967 - March 29 | A HH-43F from Det. 10, 38th ARRS, Bihn Thuy AB, RVN, crewed by Maj. Armand J. Fiola (P), Capt. William P. Shea (CP), A1C Bernard L. Touchette (FM) and TSgt. Clyde R. Ross (PJ) saved five USA troops. No other details are known at this time. JRCC Save Form |
| 1967 - March 31 | A HH-43F from Det. 6, 38th ARRS, Bien Hoa AB, RVN, crewed by Maj. David L. Wiest (P), Capt. Sheridan K. Hawk (CP), unkn (FM) and unkn (PJ), rescued, at 3:15 am in the morning, the pilot of a F-100D, Capt. David Carl Lindberg, after he had ejected from his automatic weapons fire damaged aircraft about 13 miles NW of Bien Hoa, RVN. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "PJ's in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1967 - March 31 | A HH-3E from Det. 2, 37th ARRS, Udorn RTAFB, Thailand, crewed by Capt. Robert J. Svoboda (P), Capt. Ernest B. Betancourt (CP), SSgt. Robert S. Riley (FM) and Amn. Transito Trujillo (PJ), rescued the pilot of an F-105D (Call sign "Neptune 03"), Capt. Harry J. Hennigar, after he had ejected from his automatic weapons fire damaged aircraft about 15 miles west of Ban Moi, NVN. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "PJ's in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1967 - March 31 | A HH-43F from Det 7, 38th ARRS, Da Nang AB, RVN, crewed by 1st Lt. William T. Sehorn (P), Maj John J. Hoye (CP), SSgt Willard P. Barrow (FF) and A1C Herman R. Singleton (FF), rescued the crew of a F-4C, Maj. Cobb (P) and Lt. L. D. Peterson, after they had ejected from their aircraft over RVN when their aircraft suffered flight control failure. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "PJ's in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1967 - March 31 | A UH-1F #65-7932 of the 20th HS "Green Hornet", crewed by Maj. Robert Lanoue Baldwin (P), 1st Lt. David Lyall (CP) and Sgt. Russell M. Hunt (FM/AG), and three other UH-1F's were tasked for an ammunition resupply mission for a Special Operations Reconnaissance team. While in a hover, delivering the munitions via hoist Maj. Baldwin's helicopter was hit by 127 mm rounds and Maj. Baldwin, then commanding "E" Flight, was killed and the copilot wounded by the gunfire. The Huey crashed, but the surviving crewmen escaped further injury and were rescued by the SOG team and then picked up by another "Green Hornet" UH-1F, crewed by Capt. Robert Allen (P), 1st Lt. William W. Gunnin (CP) and A2C. Haskew Warren III (FM). The crews on the other "Green Hornet" UH-1F involved in this mission were Capt. Richard E. Madigan (P), Capt. Louis R. Vasquez (CP), 1st Lt. Robert W. Packer (CP), SSgt. Ralph C. Graves (AG), A1C Ronald J. Courter (AG), A1C Warren R. Studley (AG), A2C Haskew Warren III (FM), Capt. Richard Madigan (P) and Maj. James L. Carner (P). Maj. Robert L. Baldwin was the first fatality for the "Green Hornets". Major Robert L. Baldwin and Sgt. Russell M. Hunt were awarded the Air Force Cross for their actions during this mission. "Secret Green Beret Commandos in Cambodia: A memorial History of MACV-SOG's" by LT. Col. Fred S. Lindsey, USA retired & http://www.virtualwall.org/db/BaldwinRL01a.htm & http://www.veterantributes.org/TributeDetail.php?recordID=1142 & http://www.veterantributes.org/TributeDetail.php?recordID=1170 |
| 1967 - April 02 | A HH-3E #65-12785 (Call sign “Jolly Green 36”) from Det. 1, 37th ARRS, crewed by Capt. Arlyn E. Webster (P), 1st Lt. William N. Privette (CP), SSgt. Raymond D. Godsey (FM) and A2C Michael P. Benno (PJ), attempted the unsuccessful rescue of the pilot of a F-105D (Call sign “Lover 01”), Capt. John Arthur Dramesi, after he had ejected from his AAA damaged aircraft about 15 miles northeast of Dong Hoi, NVN. Capt. Dramesi became a POW before he could be rescued. High bird on this mission was HH-3E “(Call sign “Jolly Green 37”) crewed by Maj. Glenn P. York (P), Capt. Evan G. Thompson (CP), SSgt. Jerry R. Johnson (FE) and A2C Robert D. Bowers. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & Det. 1, 37th ARRS Mission Narrative 2 April 1967 |
| 1967 - April 03 | A USAF helicopter from Det. 6, PARRC at Kadena AB, Okinawa crewed by unkn (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FM) and unkn (PJ), airlifted, from an isolated island village, a Ryukuyan boy suspected of suffering from meningitis. He was later reported in satisfactory condition. Pacific Stars & Stripes, Friday, April 7, 1967 |
| 1967 - April 06 | A HH-43F from Det. 9, 38th ARRS, Pleiku AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Keith H. Ricks (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FM) and unkn (PJ), rescued, T. H. Babon, H. E. Miller Jr. and SP4 J. T. Triplett, from a down UH-1D in RVN. "PJ's in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1967 - April 07 | A CH-3C of the 20th HS "Pony Express" at Udorn RTAFB, Thailand, crewed by unkn (P), unkn (CP) and unkn (FM), transported an explosive ordnance and a medical team to a mistakenly bombed village in Laos. No other details are known at this time. http://www.mh-53pavelow.com/documents/20thSOS/1967.pdf |
| 1967 - April 09 | A HH-3E, #65-12785 (Call sign "Jolly Green 36") from Det. 2, 37th ARRS, Udorn RTAFB, Thailand, crewed by Capt. James R. Lisko (P), Maj. Jim Gardner (CP), A2C Roger L. Graham (FM) and SSgt. John H. Stemple (PJ) rescued the severely injured pilot of a civilian Air America Dornier aircraft, Mr. Justin C. Bryant, from Laos. During this mission the PJ from "Jolly Green 36", SSgt. Stemple was lowered to the ground to get the injured pilot into a 'stokes' litter. SSgt. Stemple determined that the injured pilot would have to be moved to a clearer location so he would be clear of trees and could be hoisted out. SSgt. Stemple could not move him by himself and the PJ, A1C Michael P. Benno, from the second HH-3E "Jolly Green 55", crewed by Maj. Glen P. York (P), 1st Lt. Mark H. Mutchler (CP), SSgt. Raymond D. Godsey (FM) and A1C Michael P. Benno (PJ), was lowered to the ground to help. After over a half hour on the ground the two PJs were still not able to move the injured pilot over the rough terrain to an area where he could be hoisted. The co-pilot, Maj. Jim Gardner, from "Jolly Green 36" volunteered to ride the hoist down and help move the injured pilot. Finally, they were able to move to an area where the 'stokes' litter could be hoisted and "Jolly Green 36" was able to rescue his co-pilot, the two PJ's and the injured pilot. Maj. Jim Gardner has the distinction of being the only "Jolly Green" co-pilot intentionally hoisted to the ground during a CSAR mission in the Vietnam War. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1967 - April 11 | A CH-3C of the 20th HS "Pony Express" at Udorn RTAFB, Thailand, crewed by unkn (P), unkn (CP) and unkn (FM), airlifted a crashed Thai H-34 helicopter from a rice paddy to a nearby air base for repairs. No other details are known at this time. http://www.mh-53pavelow.com/documents/20thSOS/1967.pdf |
| 1967 - April 12 | A HH-43F from Det. 10, Binh Thuy AB, RVN, 38th ARRS, crewed by Maj. Armand J. Fiola (P), Capt. William P. Shea (CP), TSgt Walter H. May (FM), and unkn (PJ), rescued J. A. Smith, G. L. Seth and SP5 D. Grimes, from a RU-6A aircraft that was down in RVN. No other details are known at this time. "PJ's in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1967 - April 13 | A CH-3C of the 20th HS "Pony Express" at Udorn RTAFB, Thailand, crewed by unkn (P), unkn (CP) and unkn (FM), medevacked an injured U. S. Army troop from a remote outpost to the hospital at Korat RTAF, Thailand. No other details are known at this time. http://www.mh-53pavelow.com/documents/20thSOS/1967.pdf |
| 1967 - April 14 | A HH-3E from Det. 2, 37th ARRS, Udorn RTAFB, Thailand, crewed by Lt, Col. Owen R. Fletcher (P), Maj. Powell L. Moore (CP), SSgt. John P. Rogerson (FM) and A2C Robert D. Bowers (PJ), rescued the pilot of a F-105D (Call sign "Steel 01"), Maj. Paul R. Craw, after he had ejected from his 37 mm AAA damaged aircraft about 10 miles west of Dien Bien Phu, North Vietnam. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "PJ's in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1967 - April 16 | A HH-43F from Det. 8, 38th ARRS, Cam Ranh Bay AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. R. L. VanAllen (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FM) and unkn (PJ) medevacked one Vietnamese civilian in RVN. No other details are known at this time. JRCC Save Form |
| 1967 - April 17 | A HH-43F from the 38th ARRS, crewed by Capt. C. S. Lurviance (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FM), unkn (PJ) saved two Vietnamese civilians in RVN. No other details are known at this time. JRCC Save Form |
| 1967 - April 17 | A HH-43F from Det. 8, 38th ARRS, Cam Ranh Bay AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. R. L. Van Allen (P), Capt. Allen R. Martin (CP), A1C Andres B. Perez (FM), and MSgt Roland H. Lutz (MT) saved one unkn USA troop. No other details are known at this time. JRCC Save Form |
| 1967 - April 18 | A HH-43F from Det. 7, 38th ARRS, Da Nang AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. R. L. Merna (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FM) and unkn (PJ) rescued the pilot of an USMC F-4B, Lt. Col. Gordon H. Keller, after he and his WSO, Capt. Hugh L. Julian, ejected, over the South China Sea, from their aircraft when it had a complete electrical failure. Capt. Julian lost most of his survival gear during the ejection and he was lucky to be spotted and picked up by a passing shrimp boat. No other details are known at this time. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "PJ's in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1967 - April 24 | A HH-3E from Det. 2, 37th ARRS, Udorn RTAFB, Thailand, crewed by Maj. William H. Lloyd (P), 1st Lt. Mark H. Mutchler (CP), A2C Ronald F. Malone (FM) and A2C Michael P. Benno (PJ), rescued the pilot of a F-4C, Capt. Wallace L. Mekkers (P), after he and his WSO, 1st Lt. J. B. Millhollon, had ejected from their AAA damaged aircraft about 50 miles southwest of Yen Bai, North Vietnam on 23 April 1967. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "PJ's in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1967 - April 24 | A HH-3E from Det. 2, 37th ARRS, Udorn RTAFB, Thailand, crewed by Maj. Thomas E. Shows (P), 1st Lt. Max F. James (CP), SSgt. Jack Picklesimer (FM) and A2C Daniel W. Brotton (PJ), rescued the WSO of a F-4C, 1st Lt. J. B. Millhollon (WSO), after he and his pilot, Capt. Wallace L. Mekkers, had ejected, 23 April 1964, from his AAA damaged aircraft about 50 miles southwest of Yen Bai, North Vietnam. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "PJ's in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1967 – May ?? | Detachment 1, 38th ARRS operating HH-3’s at Da Nang AB, RVN was reassigned to the 37th ARRS |
| 1967 – May ?? | An HH-43B from Det. 7, PARRC at Misawa AB, Japan, crewed by Capt. Glen T. Walther (P), Capt. Vance F. Need (CP), MSgt. John J. Kelley (FE) and SSgt. George Snell (MT), rescued the pilot of a Japan Air Self Defense Force pilot who was forced to eject from his disabled jet in mountainous terrain of Hokkaido. Pacific Stars & Stripes, May 16, 1967, pg. 7 |
| 1967 - May 01 | A HH-3E from the 37th ARRS, at Da Nang AB, RVN, crewed by Maj. William V. D. Hickerson (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FM) and SSgt. William P. Tracy (PJ), rescued the crew, Lyle W. Townsend, D. S. Brachins, Cpl. James H. Holland and Thomas E. Hughes of a USMC UH-1D helicopter downed in RVN. "PJ's in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1967 - May 01 | A HH-3E from the 37th ARRS, crewed by Capt. Thomas R. Johnson (P), Capt. Frank M. Zahrobsky (CP), Sgt. Charles M. Harris (FM) and A2C Joseph M. Duffy (PJ), rescued the crew of an F-4C, O. E. Hoy and Mike Carson downed in the DMZ. "PJ's in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1967 - May 02 | A UH-1F from Davis-Monthan AFB, AZ. Crewed by Maj. Thomas E. Decatur (P) and TSgt. Bobby R. Fritz (FM) apparently broke apart in midair, crashed and burned about 5 minutes after takeoff, killing both. There was no one else on the helicopter at the time. No other details are available at the time of this entry. The Evening Review (East Liverpool, OH.) Wed, May 03, 1967, page 21 |
| 1967 - May 02 | A HH-43F from Det. 1, 38th ARRS, Phan Rang AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Clarence N. Cochran (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FM), and unkn (PJ) medevacked one unkn USN seaman. No other details are known at this time. JRCC Save Form |
| 1967 - May 02 | A HH-43F from Det. 10, 38th ARRS, Binh Thuy AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. James H. Brahney (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FM), and unkn (PJ) saved two USA troops from a downed USA UH-1D, Maj. V. Spacearotella and Maj. Ven. No other details are known at this time. JRCC Save Form |
| 1967 - May 03 | A HH-43F from Det. 6, 38th ARRS, Bien Hoa AB, RVN, crewed by Maj. Breeden P. Hammer, Jr. (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FM), and unkn (PJ) medevac’d A. F. Merrias in RVN. No other details are known at this time. JRCC Save Form |
| 1967 - May 04 | A HH-3E (Call sign “Jolly Green 55”) from Det. 2, 37th ARRS, Udorn RTAFB, Thailand, crewed by Capt. Oliver O'Mara (P), Capt. Clyde A. Fechser (CP), SSgt. Floyd W. Watson (FM) and A1C Michael P. Benno (PJ) rescued the pilot of a USMC F-8E (Call sign “Avenger 02”), rescued the pilot of an F-105D (Call sign "Avenger 02"), Maj. Charles C. Vasiliadis, after he had ejected from his 37 mm AAA damaged aircraft about 100 miles west of Hanoi, NVN. HH-3E #65-12783 (Call sign “Jolly Green 15”) was the ‘high bird’ on this mission, crewed by Lt. Col. Owen R. Fletcher (P), Maj. Powell Moore (CP), A1C Gary R. Meyer (FM) and SSgt. John H. Stample (PJ). "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & Det. 2, 37th ARRS Misson Narrative 4 May 1967 |
| 1967 - May 04 | A HH-43F from Det. 11, 38th ARRS, Tuy Hoa AB, RVN, crewed by Maj. David M. Randall (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FM), unkn (PJ) saved one Vietnamese military troop. No other details are known at this time. JRCC Save Form |
| 1967 - May 04 | A UH-1F of the 20th Helicopter Squadron, crewed by Capt. Robert D. Allen (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FM) and unkn (AG), inserted a reconnaissance team near Dak To, RVN. As he exited the landing zone his helicopter and the ground team came under heavy automatic weapons fire. Two USA UH-1B gunship helicopters covering this mission were also hit causing one of them to crash. Capt. Allen returned to the landing zone and extracted the recon team. Subsequently, he penetrated the same heavily defended area, lingering in the field of fire for precious seconds while his crew on-loaded four injured crew members from the downed UH-1B gunship. Capt. Allen was awarded the Silver Star medal for his actions on this mission. "Secret Green Beret Commandos In Cambodia" by Lt. Col. Fred S. Lindsey, USA (Ret.) |
| 1967 - May 05 | A HH-43F from Det. 1, Phan Rang AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Larry A. Nitz (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FM), unkn (PJ) saved one ROK military troop. No other details are known at this time. JRCC Save Form |
| 1967 - May 05 | A HH-3E (Call sign “Jolly Green 53”) from Det. 2, 37th ARRS at Nakhon Phanom RTAFB, Thailand, crewed by Maj. Kenneth E. Kittleson (P), Capt. Evan G. Thompson (CP), TSgt. Howard E. Massengale (FE) and A2C Roger A Klenovich (PJ) was launched from Lima Site 36 late in the afternoon to attempt the rescue of a downed F-105D pilot, Lt. Col. Gordon Albert Larson, in North Vietnam. By the time they arrived in the area of the survivor it was too dark to attempt the rescue and the attempt was called off. The downed pilot became a POW. High bird on this mission was HH-3E (Call sign “Jolly Green 55”) crewed by Capt. James A. Hartwig (P), Capt. Douglas L. May (CP), A1C John W. Whisenhunt (FE) and A1C Robert D. Bowers (PJ). Det. 2, 37th ARRS Mission Narrative 5 May 1967 |
| 1967 - May 06 | A HH-43F from Det. 8, 38th ARRS, Cam Ranh Bay AB, RVN, crewed by Maj. Arman D. Fiola (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FM) and unkn (PJ) saved one Vietnamese civilian named Thi Dhan, in RVN. No other details are known at this time. JRCC Save Form |
| 1967 - May 06 | A UH-1F of the 20th Helicopter Squadron, crewed by Capt. Robert D. Allen (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FM) and unkn (AG), was engaged in a close air support mission for a long-range recon team when his helicopter was called in to extract the crew of a U.S. Army helicopter crew that had been shot down. Capt. Allen and his crew succeeded in recovering the bodies of the helicopter crew. No other details are known at this time. "Secret Green Beret Commandos In Cambodia" by Lt. Col. Fred S. Lindsey, USA (Ret.) |
| 1967 - May 07 | A HH-43F from Det. 7, 38th ARRS, Da Nang AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. R. L. Merena (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FM), and unkn (PJ) medevacked one USMC troop in RVN. No other details are known at this time. JRCC Save Form |
| 1967 - May 08 | HH-43F #63-9715 (Call sign "Pedro 96") of Det. 7, 38th ARRS, Da Nang AB, RVN, crewed by Maj. John J. Hoye (P), 1st Lt. Alfred R. Jacox (CP), TSgt. Raymond Weddell (FM), TSgt. Philemon S. Resos (PJ) and SSgt. John F. Tobey (PJ) was shot down while trying to rescue 4 Marines. The HH-43F crew was rescued (See next entry). http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/38th_Rescue_Squadron & http://www.jollygreen.org/jltnc.htm |
| 1967 - May 08 | A HH-3E from Det. 7, 38th ARRS, Da Nang AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. William O. Mayfield (P), Capt. Carlton Damonte (CP), SSgt. Earl E. Chambers (FM), TSgt. Raymond Weddel (PJ) and A2C John C. Jeffers (PJ) rescued the crew of HH-43F "Pedro 96", Maj. John J. Hoye (P), 1st Lt. Alfred R. Jacox (CP), TSgt. Raymond Weddell (FM), TSgt. Philemon S. Resos (PJ) and SSgt. John F. Tobey (PJ), that was shot down while trying to rescue 4 Marines (See previous entry). "PJ's in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/38th_Rescue_Squadron & Http://www.jollygreen.org/jltnc.html |
| 1967 - May 08 | A HH-43F from Det. 10, Bihn Thuy AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. James H. Brahney (P), Captain William P. Shea (CP), unkn (FM), TSgt. Clyde R. Ross (PJ) medevacked four ARVN troops in RVN. No other details are known at this time. JRCC Save Form |
| 1967 - May 09 | A HH-43B from Det. 3, 38th ARRS, Ubon AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Holly G. Bell (P), 1st Lt. Merrill C. Hiscock (CP), SSgt Albert E. Teasley (MT), SSgt. Albert Teasley (MT), A1C James Tevis (FF), and SSgt James R. Delk (FF) rescued the crew of a F-4C, Maj. Richard Whittington, who was pinned in his burning aircraft and unkn co-pilot who had escaped the aircraft when it crashed on takeoff at Ubon RTAFB, Thailand. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "PJ's in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1967 - May 10 | A HH-3E from the 37th ARRS, Da Nang AB, RVN, crewed by Maj. William V. D. Hickerson (P), 1st Lt. Jerrold D. Ward (CP), A1C Michael W. Mulvaney (FM) and A1C Joseph M. Duffy (PJ), attempted the unsuccessful rescue of a survivor from a UH-1E that was downed in RVN, however intense enemy ground fire drove the helicopter away from the rescue. No other details are known at this time. "PJ's in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1967 - May 10 | A HH-3E from the 37th ARRS, Da Nang AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Standley A. McGhan (P), Capt. John E. Halligan (CP), A1C William T. Lowe Jr. (FM) and A1C John F. Tobey (PJ), rescued the crew of a UH-1E helicopter, H. E. Burke and J. L. Murphy, after their helicopter went down in RVN. "PJ's in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1967 - May 10 | A HH-3E from the 37th ARRS, Da Nang AB, RVN, crewed by Lt. Col. Victor Goudey (P), Lt. Col. John W. James (CP), TSgt. Maurice F. Tasker (FM) and A2C William J. Flowers (PJ), medevacked one individual, Robert Powell, from a tugboat in the Gulf Of Tonkin. No other details are known at this time. "PJ's in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1967 - May 11 | A HH-43F from Det. 10, 38th ARRS, Bien Hoa AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. James F. Jansa (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FM) and unkn (PJ) saved F-100D pilot, S. R. Winborn, in RVN. No other details are known at this time. JRCC Save Form |
| 1967 - May 11 | A HH-43F crewed by David L. West (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FM) and unkn (PJ) medevacked eleven USAF airmen in RVN. No other details are known at this time. JRCC Save Form |
| 1967 - May 12 | A HH-43F from Det. 6, 38th ARRS, Bien Hoa AB, RVN, crewed by Maj. Breeden P. Hamer, Jr. (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FM) and unkn (PJ) medevacked one U.S. civilian, Thomas H. Nagy in RVN. No other details are known at this time. JRCC Save Form |
| 1967 - May 12 | A HH-43B, believed to be from Det. 4, 38th ARRS, Korat RTAFB, Thailand, crewed by Capt. Troy G. Irvin (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FM), unkn (PJ) medevacked two foreign civilians in Thailand. No other details are known at this time. JRCC Save Form |
| 1967 - May 13 | A HH-3E from the 37th ARRS, Da Nang AB, RVN, crewed by Lt. Col. Victor Goudey (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FM), and unkn (PJ) medevacked one USN sailor, R. Powell, in RVN. No other details are known at this time. JRCC Save Form |
| 1967 - May 14 | A HH-3E from Det. 2, 37th ARRS, Udorn RTAFB, Thailand, crewed by Capt. Arlyn E. Webster (P), Capt. Harold W. Bradley (CP), SSgt. Raymond D. Godsey (FM) and MSgt. Milton C. Williams (PJ), rescued the pilot of a F-105D, Maj. Glen R. Wilson, after he had ejected from his SA-2 missile damaged aircraft about 70 miles east of Hanoi and 5 miles short of the border with Laos. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1967 - May 16 | A HH-3E from the 37th ARRS at Da Nang AB, RVN, crewed by Maj. Adrian D. Youngblood (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FM) and SSgt. John F. Tobey (PJ, attempted the rescue of the crew of a USMC F-4B, Capt. C. E. Hay (P) and 1st Lt. Mike Carson, after they had ejected from their 50-cal. machine gun damaged aircraft in the DMZ. Their attempt was driven off by heavy enemy ground fire. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1967 - May 16 | A HH-3E from the 37th ARRS at Da Nang AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Thomas R. Johnson (P), Capt. Frank Zahrobsky (CP), A1C Charles M. Harris (FM), A2C Joseph Duffy (PJ and A1C Michael W. Mulvaney (AG), rescued the crew of a USMC F-4B, Capt. C. E. Hay (P) and 1st Lt. Mike Carson, after they had ejected from their 50-cal. machine gun damaged aircraft in the DMZ. This is believed to be the first rescue by a "Jolly Green" utilizing an aerial gunner as part of the crew. Once PJ manning levels reached authorized strength the aerial gunner was replaced with a second PJ as part of the crew. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1967 - May 16 | 1967 - May 16; A HH-43B from Det. 5, 38th ARRS, Udorn RTAFB, Thailand, crewed by Capt. Owen A. Heeter (P), 1st Lt. Billy C. Marcontell (CP), A1C Ernest J. Chidester (MT) and unkn (PJ) medevacked one foreign civilian in Thailand. No other details are known at this time. JRCC Save Form |
| 1967 - May 16 | A HH-43B from Det. 8, 38th ARRS, Cam Ranh Bay AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Allen R. Martin (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FM) and unkn (PJ) saved one foreign civilian, Mr. Da Nam., in RVN No other details are known at this time. JRCC Save Form |
| 1967 - May 19 | A HH-43B from Det. 4, 38th ARRS, Korat RTAFB, Thailand, crewed by Capt. Robert S. Michelsen (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FM) and unkn (PJ) saved USAF TSgt. Otis L. Rainey in Thailand. No other details are known at this time. JRCC Save Form |
| 1967 - May 19 | A HH-43F from Det. 6, 38th ARRS, Bien Hoa AB, RVN, crewed by Maj. David M. Randall (P), unkn (CP), SSgt. Barry Sherman (FM) and A2C Gunther Bahrenburg (PJ) saved four USA troops, Col. J. Morrison, Col. K. Hino, Lt. Col. R. Lehman and Lt. Col. M. R. Underwood. No other details are known at this time. JRCC Save Form |
| 1967 - May 21 | A HH-43F from Det. 9, 38th ARRS, Pleiku AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Keith H. Ricks (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FM) and unkn (PJ), rescued the pilot of a A-1E (Call sign "Hobo 01"), Maj. James E. Holler, after he was extracted by the newly installed "Yankee Aircrew Escape System" when his aircraft was shot down by small arms fire about 6 miles NW of the Pleiku AB, RVN. Maj. Holler was the FIRST A-1 pilot to use the "Yankee Aircrew Escape System.” PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1967 - May 21 | A HH-43F from Det. 7, 38th ARRS, Da Nang AB, RVN, crewed by 1st Lt. Frederick D. Gregory (P), Capt. Donald D. Sams (CP), A1C Haskell Browning Jr. (FM), and A2C David A. Carl (PJ) saved five unkn USMC troops and all of their equipment in RVN. After the 5th Marine was hoisted to the cabin along with A2C Carl who climbed into the cabin, but was unable to bring the equipment inside (included were 3 rifles, 1 ammunition box, 4 flak vests, 2 pistol belts, 1 camera and a field jacket) because, by this time, not a square inch of cabin area was available. The HH-43F arrived safely at the hospital with 4 crewmembers, 5 fully equipped Marines, and Airman Browning hanging out the cargo door holding the equipment secured to the hoist. The hospital commander met the HH-43F as it arrived and his only comment was, "I don't believe it!" No other details are known at this time. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form |
| 1967 - May 21 | HH-43F #63-9711 (Call sign "Pedro 73") from Det. 6, 38th ARRS at Bien Hoa AB, RVN, crewed by Maj. David L. Wiest (P), Robert A. Rielly (CP), A1C Harrison H. Ewton (FM) and SSgt. Robert S. Loud (PJ) was flying a SAR for F-100D (Call sign "Ramrod 02") pilot, Capt. David C. Lindburg, when it was hit by groundfire and made an emergency landing; it was later destroyed on the ground. The HH-43F crew was rescued by a CH-46 helicopter. The F-100D pilot, Capt. Lindburg, was KIA. Ironically Maj. Wiest had rescued Capt. Lindburg once before when his F-100D was shot down on 31 March 1967. http://www.jollygreen.org/jltnc.html |
| 1967 - May 21 | A HH-3E, from Det. 7, 38th ARRS, Da Nang AB, RVN, crewed by Maj. William O. Mayfield (P), Capt. Robert N. Hillory (CP), A1C Charles M. Harris (FM), SSgt. William P. Tracey (PJ) and TSgt. Andrew Benton Sr. (AG), rescued 4 ARVN troops in RVN. No other details are known at this time. "PJ's in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1967 - May 21 | A HH-3E from Det. 2, 38th ARRS, Udorn RTAFB, Thailand, crewed by Capt. Robert J. Svoboda (P), 1st Lt. Andrew J. Gonos (CP), SSgt. Robert S. Riley (FM) and A2C William Daniel Brotton (PJ), rescued 4 crew members, David Georgus, Samuel Payne, Dale B. Kome and Teddy R. Ray, of a USN SH-3A that had gone down in Laos. "PJ's in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1967 - May 21 | A HH-3E, from Det. 2, 37th ARRS, Udorn RTAFB, Thailand, crewed by Lt. Col. Owen R. Fletcher (P), Capt. Douglas L. May (CP), SSgt. John P. Rogerson (FM) and A2C Michael P. Benno (PJ), rescued the crew of a USN F-4B, Lt. Hugh Dennis Wisely (P) and Ens. James H. Laing (CP), after they had ejected from their ground fire damaged aircraft near Sai Koun, Laos. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "PJ's in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1967 - May 22 | A HH-43B from Det. 14, 38th ARRS, Tan Son Nhut AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Fernand M. Espiau (P), 1st Lt. James T. McComsey (CP), TSgt Colbert Ezell (FM), A1C Michael Mayak (MT) medevacked one Vietnamese civilian boy in RVN. No other details are known at this time. JRCC Save Form |
| 1967 - May 24 | A HH-43B from Det. 3, 38th ARRS, Ubon RTAFB, Thailand, crewed by Capt. David H. Baur (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FM), unkn (PJ) saved one foreign military from a T-28, 1st Lt. Santat, in Thailand. No other details are known at this time. JRCC Save Form & "PJ's in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1967 - May 25 | A HH-3E from the 37th ARRS, Da Nang AB, RVN, crewed by Lt. Col. Victor Goudey (P), Capt. John I. Patterson (CP), A1C Rodney J. Bettevy (FM), A2C David A. Carl (PJ) and SSgt. Earl E. Chambers (FE), rescued the pilot of an F-4C (Call sign "Sharkbait 61 Alpha"), Maj. Charles C. Rhymes, after he and his co-pilot, 1st Lt. R. E. Randolph, ejected from their AAA damaged aircraft about 10 miles off the coast near the DMZ. His co-pilot, 1st Lt. R. E. Randolph was rescued by a Navy ship and then picked up by the HH-3E. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1967 - May 27 | A HH-43B from Det. 2, 38th ARRS, Takhli RTAFB, Thailand, crewed by Maj. William C. Ritchie (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FM), unkn (PJ) saved one Thai civilian, Lao Kok in Thailand. No other details are known at this time. JRCC Save Form |
| 1967 - May 27 | A HH-43B from Det. 8, 38th ARRS, Cam Ranh Bay AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Allen R. Martin (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FM) and unkn (PJ) saved five USA troops, 1st Lt. W. Holland, SSgt. T. Haley, SP4 R. Stithaw, E-3 G. Kunentson and Capt. G. Peffers, from a downed USA UH-1D in RVN. No other details are known at this time. JRCC Save Form |
| 1967 - May 29 | A HH-43B from Det. 4, 38th ARRS, Korat RTAFB, Thailand, crewed by Maj. Pasco Parker (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FM) and unkn (PJ) saved one foreign military troop, B. Fuangthien in Thailand. No other details are known at this time. JRCC Save Form |
| 1967 - May 30 | A HH-43F from Det. 10, 38th ARRS, Bihn Thuy AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Donald E. VanMeter (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FM) and unkn (PJ) medevacked two USA troops in RVN. No other details are known at this time. JRCC Save Form |
| 1967 - May 30 | A HH-3E (Call sign "Jolly Green 07") from the 37th ARRS, Da Nang AB, RVN, crewed by unkn (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FM) and SSgt. John F. Tobey (PJ) medevac’d a USN sailor from a USN Destroyer in the Gulf Of Tonkin. No other details are known at this time. JRCC Save Form |
| 1967 - May 30 | A HH-3E (Call sign "Jolly Green 15") from the 37th ARRS, Da Nang AB, RVN, crewed by unkn (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FM) and unkn (PJ) medevacked another USN sailor from a USN Destroyer in the Gulf Of Tonkin. No other details are known at this time. JRCC Save Form |
| 1967 - May 31 | A HH-3E from the 37th ARRS, Da Nang AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. James W. Hartwig (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FM) and unkn (PJ) medevacked one individual in Laos. No other details are known at this time. JRCC Save Form |
| 1967 - May 31 & June 01 | Two Air Force crews flying Sikorsky HH-3E "Jolly Green Giants", Tail numbers 66-13280, crewed by Maj. Maj. Donald B. Maurras (P), Capt. Don Alford (CP), Capt. Ray Dunn (CP), TSgt. Marx Richardson (FE) and SSgt. Dennis Palmer (FE) and 66-13281, crewed by Maj. Herbert Zehnder (P), Maj. Jim Hartley (CP), Capt. Gregory A. Etzel (CP), TSgt. Harold Schroeder (FE) and Capt. Cliff Buckley (FS) made the first non-stop flight across the Atlantic by helicopter. The 4,271-mile flight takes 30 hours and 46 minutes and requires nine in-flight refueling. Major Herb Zehnder, one of the pilots on this flight, would fly the HH-3E #65-12785 (Call sign "Banana One") to a planned crash landing three years later as part of the daring attempt to rescue American servicemen from the Son Tay POW camp in North Vietnam. Air Force Magazine |
| 1967 - June 03 | A USAF helicopter piloted by Capt. Stuart J. Silver rescued two survivors and recovered two bodies of a float equipped U-6A "Beaver" that crashed during its second take-off attempt on Upper Ugashik Lake, AK. Rescued from the shoreline were ALCOM's conservation officer Edward A. Bellringer, Maj. Norman C. Miller, pilot, and recovered the bodies of Lt. Gen. Glen R. Birchard and Maj. Gen. Joseph A. Cunningham, floating in the lake, who had drowned after being overcome by hypothermia. Air Force Magazine October 2014 pages 55 & 65 |
| 1967 - June 03 | A HH-43F from Det. 13, 38th ARRS, Phu Cat AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Edmund W. Fishbeck Jr. (P), 2nd Lt. Ronald P. Wojack (CP), unkn (FM) and TSgt Delmar R. Smith (MT) saved USN seaman E-3 R. J. Tromaugh. No other details are known at this time. JRCC Save Form |
| 1967 - June 04 | A HH-3E #65-12782 (Call sign “Jolly Green 10”) from the 37th ARRS, Da Nang AB, RVN, crewed by Lt. Col. Victor Goudey (P), Capt. John I. Patterson (CP), SSgt. Billy Willingham (FE) and A2C David A. Carl (PJ) rescued the pilot of an F-105D, Maj. Clarence Kough Jr., after he had ejected from his groundfire damaged aircraft about 3 miles off the coast. ‘High bird’ on this mission was HH-3E # 66-13278 (Call sign “Jolly Green 25”), crewed by Maj. Adrian D. Youngblood (P), 1st Lt. Mark Mutchler (CP), SSgt. Earl E. Chambers (FE) and A2C Joseph M. Duffy (PJ). 37th ARRS Mission Narrative Report (1-3-83 5 Jun 67) |
| 1967 - June 05 | A HH-3E from Det. 1, 37th ARRS, Nakhon Phanom RTAFB, Thailand, crewed by Lt. Col. Victor Goudey (P), Capt. John I. Patterson (CP), unkn (FM), unkn (PJ) and A2C David A. Carl (PJ), rescued, by landing on the water, the pilot of a F-105D (Call sign "Magnum 02"), Maj. Clarence J. Kough Jr., after he ejected from his AAA damaged aircraft about 20 miles off the coast of NVN in the Gulf Of Tonkin. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "PJ's in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1967 - June 06 | A HH-43F from Det. 12, 38th ARRS, Nha Trang AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Melroy Borland (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FM) and unkn (PJ) medevacked U.S. civilian, Eugene Bent in RVN. No other details are known at this time. JRCC Save Form |
| 1967 - June 06 | A HH-43F from Det. 12, 38th ARRS, Nha Trang AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Joe E. Ballinger (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FM) and unkn (PJ) saved one USA troop, SP5 R. F. Lawrence in RVN. No other details are known at this time. JRCC Save Form |
| 1967 - June 06 | A UH-1F of the 20th Helicopter Squadron, crewed by Maj. Grady F. Fisher (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FM) and unkn (AG), after the first attempt was driven off by enemy fire, rescued a recon team under fire. No other details are known at this time. "Secret Green Beret Commandos In Cambodia" by Lt. Col. Fred S. Lindsey, USA (Ret.) |
| 1967 - June 06 | A HH-3E #65-12781 (Call sign “Jolly Green 09”) crewed by Maj. William H. Lloyd (P), 1st Lt. Andrew J. Gonos (CP), A1C Ronald F. Malone (FE) and A2C Luther E. Davis (PJ) rescued the pilot that had ejected from his aircraft in Thailand (believed to have been a F-105D (Call sign “Hotdog 2”) that crashed near Takhli RTAFB, Thailand). The survivor was not injured and JG-09 landed in a field near him and he climbed abord. Mission Narrative – 6 July 1967 |
| 1967 - June 07 | A HH-43F from Det. 12, 38th ARRS, Nha Trang AB, RVN, crewed by unkn (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FM), Sgt. James Souze (PJ) and Capt. Cesley R. Davies (FS), rescued a merchant seaman from the deck of an America ship 97 miles off the coast of South Vietnam and delivered him for treatment in the 8th Field Hospital in Nha Trang. No other details are known at this time. Pacific Stars & Stripes, Saturday, June 10, 1967 |
| 1967 - June 07 | A HH-43F from Det.10, 38th ARRS, Binh Thuy AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Donald E. VanMeter (P), Capt. Laurence W. Conover (CP), Sgt. Larry E. Hawkins (FM) and unkn (PJ) rescued one USN sailor, Lt. R. Gormley in RVN. No other details are known at this time. JRCC Save Form |
| 1967 - June 07 | A HH-43F from Det. 10, 38th ARRS, Binh Thuy AB, RVN, crewed by Maj. Harold Pickering (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FM) and unkn (PJ) rescued two USN sailors in RVN. No other details are known at this time. JRCC Save Form |
| 1967 - June 08 | A HH-3E from the 37th ARRS, Da Nang AB, RVN, crewed by Maj. James F. Hicks (P), 1st Lt. Mark H. Mutchler (CP), TSgt. Andrew Benton Sr. (FM) and A2C Walter A. White III (PJ), rescued the crew of a F-4C, Maj. Charles A. Colton (P) and 1st Lt. Ralph D. Franks (CP) from the Gulf Of Tonkin, after they had ejected from their 37mm AAA damaged aircraft about 20 miles off the coast about 10 miles north of the DMZ. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "PJ's in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1967 - June 08 | A HH-3E from the 37th ARRS, Da Nang AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Thomas E. Bair (P), Lt. Col. John W. James (CP), SSgt. Albert D. Epps (FM) and A2C Robert F. Gabourel (PJ), was involved in an unsuccessful SAR for the crew of a F-4C, Capt. Victor Joe Apodaca (P) and 1st Lt. Jon Thomas Busch (CP), in NVN. Capt. Apodaca and Lt. Busch were KIA. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "PJ's in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1967 - June 09 | A HH-43F from Det. 6, 38th ARRS, Bien Hoa AB, RVN, crewed by Maj. James F. Jansa (P), Capt. Charles I. Rice (CP), A1C Thomas M. Alves (FM) and A2C Gunther Bahrenburg (PJ) rescued two VNAF crewmen from a downed VNAF H-34 helicopter in RVN, and one Swiss civilian, Mr. Stahel was pinned in the wreckage and was not rescued until 10 Jun 1967 (see next entry). Bad weather including heavy rain and fog were encountered during this mission. JRCC Save Form & Det. 6-38ARRS-34-9-Jun-67 mission report |
| 1967 - June 10 | A HH-43F from Det. 6, 38th ARRS, Bien Hoa AB, RVN, crewed by unkn (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FM) and unkn (PJ) rescued one Swiss civilian from a downed VNAF H-34 helicopter that had gone down in RVN on 09 June 1967 (see previous entry). Bad weather including heavy rain and fog were encountered during this mission. JRCC Save Form & Det. 6-38ARRS-34-9-Jun-67 mission report |
| 1967 - June 10 | A HH-43B from Det. 3, 38th ARRS, Ubon RTAFB, Thailand, crewed by Maj. Dennis M. Chase (P), unkn (CP), A2C Henry B. Allen (MT) A1C William E. Woodford (FF) and A1C Jerry L. McMeans (FF) saved the crew of a F-4D, Maj. C. H. Allen (P) and 1st Lt. B. Becker (WSO) after they ejected from their aircraft when it ran out of fuel over Thailand. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & JRCC Save Form |
| 1967 - June 11 | A HH-3E from Det. 2, 37th ARRS, Udorn RTAFB, Thailand, crewed by Capt. John A. Firse (P), Capt. Gilbert W. Hester (CP), SSgt Roger A. Ely (FM) and A2C Luther E. Davis (PJ), rescued the crew of a A-1E, Maj. James F. Rausch (P) and Maj. Robert L. Russell (CP), after they were extracted from their ground fire damaged aircraft near the Laotian border about 95 west of Thanh Hoa, NVN. Capt. John A. Firse was awarded the Air Force Cross for his actions during this mission. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "PJ's in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & http://www.veterantributes.org/TributeDetail.php?recordID=421 |
| 1967 - June 12 | A HH-43F from Det. 1, 38th ARRS, Phan Rang AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. R. L. Merna (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FM) and unkn (PJ), rescued the crew of a F-4C, Maj. V. D. Fulgram (P) and Capt. W. K. Harding (CP), after they eject from their AAA damaged aircraft over the South China Sea a few miles short of the runway at Da Nang AB, RVN. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "PJ's in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1967 - June 12 | A HH-43B, from Det. 3, 38th ARRS, Ubon RTAFB, Thailand, crewed by Capt. David H. Baur (P), 1st Lt. Fred M. Ayoub (CP), SSgt. Albert Teasley (MT), SSgt James R. Delk (FF) and Airman Tevis (FF), rescued the crew of a F-4C, Maj. M. G. Slapikas (P) and 1st Lt. Theodore E. Bougartz (CP), after they eject from aircraft when it developed a hydraulic system problem over Thailand. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & JRCC Save Form |
| 1967 - June 15 | UH-1P gunships of the 20th HS, crew’s unkn, supported a UH-34 "Kingbee" helicopter as it rescued a MACV SOG team, under heavy fire, from a landing zone on the Cambodia, Vietnam border. A supporting A-1 was shot down with the loss of its pilot during this extraction. "Secret Green Beret Commandos In Cambodia" by Lt. Col. Fred S. Lindsey, USA (Ret.) |
| 1967 - June 15 | A HH-43F from Det. 12, 38th ARRS, Nha Trang AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Melroy Borland (P), Capt. Carol D. Hayden (CP), SSgt. Frank W. Davis (FM), SSgt. Jack L. Mitchell (FF), A2C Jerard J. Pearson (PJ) and SSgt. James Souza (PJ) rescued four crew members, Capt. Yonteck (P), Capt. William E. Lacy (CP), Capt. R. J. Peisher (IP) and SSgt. Lindell R. West, of a downed USAF UH-1F helicopter in RVN. No other details are known at this time. JRCC Save Form |
| 1967 - June 16 | A HH-3E from Det. 2, 37th ARRS, Udorn RTAFB, Thailand, crewed by Capt. Robert E. Dowdy (P), Maj. Thomas E. Shows (CP), SSgt. Vincent D. Androwsky (FM) and A2C John L. Pighini (PJ), rescued the pilot of a F-105D (Call sign "Wolf 02"), Lt. Col. William L. Janssen (P), after he eject from his ground fire damaged aircraft after crossing into Thailand. High bird on this mission was HH-3E (Call sign “Jolly Green 53”) crewed by Capt. Robert J. Svoboda (P), Maj. Maurice L. Wells (CP), SSgt. Robert S. Riley (FE) and A2C Luther E. Davis (PJ). "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "PJ's in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & 37th ARRS Mission Narrative 16 Jun 67 |
| 1967 - June 18 | A HH-43F from Det. 1, 38th ARRS, Phan Rang AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. D. M. Thompson (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FM) and unkn (PJ) medevacked one USA troop, PFC J. L. Sanders and one USN seaman, R. Gittings. No other details are known at this time. JRCC Save Form |
| 1967 - June 19 | A ARRS took delivery of the first HH-53Bs specifically designed and built for aircrew rescue in Southeast Asia. Lt. Col. James M. Dixon, Commander of Det. 2, 37th ARRS and Maj.’s Garland A. York, Frederick M. Donohue, and Willilam F. Williams went to the Sikorsky plant to pick up the helicopter. They spent a few days familiarizing themselves with the HH-53B. On June 21 they flew the giant helicopter to Washington, D.C. to demonstrate its capabilities to the Secretary of Defense, the Secretary of the Air Force, and the Joint Chiefs of Staff. USAF in Southeast Asia, Search and Rescue in Southeast Asia by Earl H. Tilford, Jr. |
| 1967 - June 21 | A HH-3E from Det. 1, 37th ARRS, Da Nang AB, RVN, crewed by 1st Lt. Rodney G. Parks (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FM) and unkn (PJ) medevacked one USMC troop, L/Cprl. W. M. McKinney in RVN. No other details are known at this time. "PJ's in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1967 - June 21 | A HH-43F from Det. 7, 38th ARRS, Da Nang AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Robert L. Merna (P), 1st Lt. Alfred R. Jacox Jr. (CP), A2C James L. Johnson (FM) and A1C William J. Flower (PJ) rescued a USMC A-4E pilot, Capt. W. L. McLeskey, after his engine exploded and he ejected over RVN. JRCC Save Form |
| 1967 - June 21 | A HH-3E from Det. 2, 37th ARRS, Udorn RTAFB, Thailand, crewed by Capt. John A. Firse (P), Capt. Clyde A. Fechser (CP), SSgt. Roger A. Ely (FM), A2C Rodger A. Klenovich (PJ), rescued the pilot of a RF-101C, Capt. Robert E. Patterson, after he ejected from his SA-2 damaged aircraft about 20 miles NW of Yen Bai, NVN. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "PJ's in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1967 - June 21 | The first HH-3E operational test air-to-air refueling from a HC-130P took place in SEA on this date. During a SAR orbit over the Gulf Of Tonkin a HH-3E "Jolly Green", piloted by Col. Albert Lovelady (3rd ARRGp. Commander), Maj. John H. McLeash (CP), unkn (FM) and A2C Walter A. White III (PJ), refueled twice from a HC-130P tanker from Tuy Hoa AB, RVN. By September 1967 air-to-air refueling of the HH-3 helicopters had become routine. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "PJ's in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & http://www.pjsinnam.com/vn_history/pdf_files/Chronology/1967.pdf |
| 1967 - June 25 | A HH-43F from Det. 1, 38th ARRS, Phan Rang AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. D. M. Thomson (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FM) and unkn (PJ) saved one USAF airman, SSgt. D. E. Spencer in RVN. No other details are known at this time. JRCC Save Form |
| 1967 - June 26 | A HH-43F from Det. 10, 38th ARRS, Bihn Thuy AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Donald E. VanMeter (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FM) and unkn (PJ) medevacked two USA advisors, Capt. J. R. Arrison and 1st Lt. J. E. Klarberb in RVN. No other details are known at this time. JRCC Save Form |
| 1967 - June 28 | A HH-3E from Det. 1, 3rd ARRGp., crewed by Capt. John E. Halligan (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FM) and unkn (PJ) saved two USMC troops, Ronald Imorean and Sgt. W. White. No other details are known at this time. JRCC Save Form |
| 1967 - June 30 | A HH-43F from Det. 11, 38th ARRS, Tuy Hoa AB, RVN, crewed by Maj. John J. Elliff (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FM) and unkn (PJ) rescued two USA troops, Capt. D. Neesmith and W/O D. Saylor, from a downed USA UH-1D helicopter in RVN. No other details are known at this time. JRCC Save Form |
| 1967 - June 30 | A HH-43F from Det. 11, 38th ARRS, Tuy Hoa AB, RVN, crewed by Maj. Zack L. Stockett (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FM) and unkn (PJ) rescued three USA troops, SP4 J. Myers, SP4 P. Kraft and SP4 R. Dixon, from a downed USA UH-1D helicopter. No other details are known at this time. JRCC Save Form |
| 1967 - June 30 | A HH-43F from Det. 10, 38th ARRS, Bihn Thuy AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Donald E. VanMeter (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FM) and unkn (PJ) rescued two USN sailors in RVN. No other details are known at this time. JRCC Save Form |
| 1967 - June 30 | A HH-3E #65-12781 (Call sign “Jolly Green 09”) from Det. 2, 37th ARRS, Udorn RTAFB, Thailand, crewed by 1st Lt. Max. F. James (P), Maj. Maurice L. Wells (CP), SSgt. Jack Picklesimer (FM) and A2C John L. Pighini (PJ), rescued the pilot of a F-105D (Call sign "Ozark 03"), Maj. Ralph L. Kuster, after he ejected from his 85 mm AAA damaged aircraft near Ban Ta Pha, Laos. ‘High bird’ on this mission was HH-3E #65-12785 (Call sign “Jolly Green 36”) crewed by Maj. Glenn P. York (P), 1st Lt. James B. Barton (CP), SSgt. Theodore A. Zerbe (FM) and A2C Michael R. Fraboni (PJ). No other details are known at this time. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "PJ's in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1967 - June 30 | The 21st Helicopter Sq. was reactivated at Shaw AFB, SC. flying CH-3E helicopters. http://medlibrary.org/medwiki/21st_Special_Operations_Squadron |
| 1967 - July ?? | (Actual days unkn) A USAF HH-53B completed its first aerial refueling test over the Atlantic Ocean east of Long Island. Refueling flights, over a three-day period, totaled 10 hours in the air, 31 daytime hookups, 9-night hookups. USAF Maj. William D. Eastman and John Parker (Sikorsky test pilot) flew most of the refueling missions. After the test the USAF formally accepted the refueling equipment carried by the HH-53B. Sikorsky news July 1967 |
| 1967 - July 02 | A HH-3E #65-12781 (Call sign "Jolly Green 37") from Det. 2, 37th ARRS at Nakhon Phanom RTAFB, Thailand, crewed by Capt. Gregory A. M. Etzel (P), Capt. Harold W. Bradley (CP), Sgt. Robert G. Cotter (FM) and A2C John L. Pighini (PJ), unsuccessfully attempted the rescue of the pilot of a F-105D (Call sign "Pintail 02"), Capt. Dale M. Pichard, after he ejected from his 57 mm AAA damaged aircraft about 20 miles NE of the Mu Gia Pass, NVN. HH-3E (Call sign “Jolly Green 53”) crewed by Capt. Douglas L. May (P), Capt. Johnnie H. Hall (CP), A1C John W. Whisenhunt (FE), and A2C Randy S. McComb (PJ) was high bird on this mission but developed a transmission problem and had to RTB. The SAR force was called off due to darkness. Capt. Pichard was rescued on July 03, 1967, (See entry for that date below). "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & http://www.veterantributes.org/TributeDetail.php?recordID=1523 & Det. 2, 37th ARRS Mission Narrative Report |
| 1967 - July 02 | A HH-3E from the 37th ARRS, Da Nang AB, RVN, crewed by Maj. Herbert D. Kalen (P), Capt. John I. Patterson (CP), SSgt. Albert D. Epps (FM) and SSgt. John H. Stemple (PJ), rescued the pilot of a USMC F-8E (Call sign "Low Gap 31"), Maj. Bruce A. Martin, from the Gulf Of Tonkin, after he ejected from his ground fire damaged aircraft off the coast near the DMZ. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "PJ's in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1967 - July 02 | A HH-3E from the 37th ARRS, Da Nang AB, RVN, crewed by Maj. William V. D. Hickerson (P), 1st Lt. Robert Levins III (CP), SSgt. Fredrick M. Halbert (FM) and A1C Walter A. White III (PJ), rescued two wounded USMC troops, Cpl. M. P. Dean and one other, in contact in RVN. "PJ's in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form |
| 1967 - July 02 | A HH-43F from Det. 7, 38th ARRS, Da Nang AB, RVN, crewed by 1st Lt. William T. Sehorn (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FM) and unkn (PJ) rescued three USMC troops, PFC T. Hobart, L/Cpl. Frankenhauser and PFC R. Sargent in RVN. No other details are known at this time. JRCC Save Form |
| 1967 - July 03 | A HH-3E #65-12781 (Call sign "Jolly Green 09") of the 37th ARRS, Det. 1, from Nakhon Phanom RTAFB, Thailand, crewed by Capt. Gregory A. M. Etzel (P), Capt. Harold W. Bradley (CP), Sgt. Robert G. Cotter (FM) and A2C John L. Pighini (PJ), rescued the pilot of an F-105D (Call sign "Pintail 2"), Capt. Dale M. Pichard, after he ejected, on July 02, 1967, from his 57mm AAA damaged aircraft about 20 miles NE of the Mu Gia Pass, NVN. Capt. Gregory A. M. Etzel was awarded the Air Force Cross for his actions on this mission. High bird on this mission was HH-53 (Call sign “Jolly Green 53”) crewed by Capt. Douglas L. May (P), Capt. Johnnie H. Hall (CP), A1C John W. Whisenhunt (FE), and A2C Randy S. McComb (PJ). "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & http://www.veterantributes.org/TributeDetail.php?recordID=1523 & Det. 2, 37th ARRS Mission Narrative Report |
| 1967 - July 03 | A HH-43F #63-9715 (Call sign "Pedro 96") from Det. 12, 38th ARRS, Nha Trang AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Melroy Borland (P), Capt. John L. Belina (CP), SSgt. Ray C. Houze (FM) and A2C Jerard J. Pearson (PJ), rescued the crew of an O-1 (Call sign "Sea Horse 38"), Lt. R. Locke and 2nd Lt. T. Williams, in RVN. No other details are known at this time. "Pedro 99" was the high bird on this mission. JRCC Save Form & Stars & Stripes, Sunday, August 6, 1967 |
| 1967 - July 04 | A HH-3E from the 37th ARRS, Da Nang AB, RVN, crewed by 1st Lt. Rodney G. Parks (P), Capt. Harold Frank Cardile (CP), Johny Tindal Jr. (FM), A1C Michael P. Benno (PJ) and A1C Walter A. White III (PJ) rescued 4 wounded USA troops, Cprl. James M. Koscielny, PFC Richard W. Jagelski, PFC James W. Oakes and Wilton J. Kelly, in contact in RVN. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson& "PJ's in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form |
| 1967 - July 04 | A HH-3E from 37th ARRS, Da Nang Rang AB, RVN, crewed by Maj. James F. Hicks (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FM) and unkn (PJ), medevacked J. W. Oakes and Wilton J. Kelly in RVN. No other details are known at this time. "PJ's in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1967 - July 04 | A HH-43F from Det. 1, 38th ARRS, Phan Rang AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. D. M. Thompson (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FM) and unkn (PJ), rescued one unkn ROK troop in RVN. No other details are known at this time. JRCC Save Form |
| 1967 - July 06 | A HH-3E (Call sign “Jolly Green 09)”) from Det. 2, 37th ARRS, Udorn RTAFB, Thailand, crewed by Maj. William H. Lloyd (P), 1st Lt. Andrew J. Gonos (CP), A1C Ronald F. Malone (FM), and A2C Luther E. Davis (PJ), rescued the pilot of a F-105D (Call sign "Hotshot 02"), Capt. Ralph H. Bennett, after he ejected from his aircraft when it had an engine failure near Takhli, RTAFB, Thailand. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "PJ's in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1967 - July 06 | A HH-3E from the 37th ARRS, Da Nang AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Thomas R. Johnson (P), 1st Lt. William A. McKenny III (CP), SSgt. Gary V. Phillips (FM), and A1C Michael P. Benno (PJ), rescued USMC Jerald L. Henry in SVN. No details are available currently. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form |
| 1967 - July 07 | A HH-3E from the 37th ARRS, Da Nang AB, RVN, crewed by Maj. James F. Hicks (P), Capt. Frank M. Zahrobsky (CP), A1C Michael W. Mulvany (FM) and A2C David A. Carl (PJ), rescued the pilot of a USMC A-4E (Call sign "Chain 01"), Maj. Ralph E. Brubaker, after he ejected from his SA-2 SAM damaged aircraft in the DMZ on July 06, 1967. ‘High bird’ on this mission was crewed by Lt. Col. Victor Goudey (P), 1st Lt. Jerry D. Clearman (CP), A1C Charles M. Harris (FM), and A1C John C. Jaffers (PJ) "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "PJ's in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1967 - July 07 | Two CH-3C's of the 20th HS "Pony Express" from Tan Son Nhut AB, RVN, crew's unkn, were scrambled to the crash site of two B-52's that had experienced a mid-air collision. The CH-3C's were the first helicopters to reach the area, which was approximately 65 miles south southeast of Tan Son Nhut, in the South China Sea. Between them, they rescued six survivors. http://www.mh-53pavelow.com/documents/20thSOS/1967.pdf |
| 1967 - July 07 | A HH-43F, crewed by unkn (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FM), and unkn (PJ), rescued one unkn B-52D airman from the South China Sea. No details are available at this time. "PJ's in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form |
| 1967 - July 07 | A HH-43F from Det. 10, 38th ARRS, Binh Thuy AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Donald E. VanMeter (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FM) and unkn (PJ) rescued a Vietnamese civilian in RVN No other details are known at this time. JRCC Save Form |
| 1967 - July 07 | A HH-3E from Det. 1, 37th ARRS, Nakhon Phanom RTAFB, Thailand, crewed by Capt. Robert J. Svoboda (P), Capt. Richard A. Orsini (CP), SSgt. Jerry W. Johnson (FM) and Sgt. Patrick F. Allaire (PJ), rescued Mr. Rainville, Mr. Parker and a Lao Lt. from an Air America H-34 (Call sign "Hotel 51") that had gone down in Laos. No details are available currently. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1967 - July 07 | A HH-43B from Det. 14, 38th ARRS, Tan Son Nhut AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. F. M. Espiau (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FM) and unkn (PJ) rescued the pilot of a RF-101C, Maj. J. Ketchum, after his aircraft was hit by ground fire while on climb out from Tan Son Nhut AB, RVN and he ejected about 5 miles from the base. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "PJ's in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form |
| 1967 - July 10 | A HH-3E (Call sign “Jolly Green 53”) from Det. 1, 37th ARRS, Nakhon Phanom RTAFB, Thailand, crewed by Capt. John A. Firse (P), Capt. Clyde A. Fechser (CP), SSgt. Floyd W. Watson (FM) and Sgt. Michael R. Fraboni (PJ) rescued the pilot of a F-105D (Call sign "Hartford 03"), Maj. Maurice E. Seaver, after he ejected over Laos from his automatic weapons fire damaged aircraft about 30 miles SW of Sam Neua, NVN. ‘High bird’ on this mission was HH-3E #65-12785 (Call sign “Jolly Green 36”) crewed by Capt. Douglas L. May (P), Maj. Richard E. Adams (CP), A1C John W. Whisenhunt (FM) and A2C Randy S. McComb (PJ). No other details are known at this time. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1967 - July 13 | A HH-43B from Det. 3, 38th ARRS, Ubon RTAFB, Thailand, crewed by 1st Lt. Merrill C. Hickcok (P), Capt. Ted Schroeder (CP), SSgt. Jammie Rogerson (FM), and A1C Theodore Chandler (MT), rescued the pilot of a F-105D (Call sign "Buckskin 02"), Maj. Carl B. Osborne, after his aircraft was hit by AAA fire about eight miles northwest of Thon Cam Son and he was forced to eject after flying back to about 35 miles northwest of Ubon RTAFB, Thailand. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & JRCC Save Form |
| 1967 - July 14 | A HH-43F from Det. 12, 38th ARRS, Nha Trang AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Lawrence D. Jones, Jr. (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FM) and unkn (PJ) rescued a USA troop, E-5 J. Reisinger in RVN. No other details are known at this time. JRCC Save Form |
| 1967 - July 15 | A HH-43F #59-1586 (Call sign "Pedro 93") from Det. 7, 38th ARRS, Da Nang AB, RVN, crewed by Lt. Col. John H. Schaeffer (P), 1st Lt. Alfred R. Jacox Jr. (CP), A2C James L. Johnson (FM), A2C David A. Carl (PJ), A2C Joseph M. Duffy (PJ), Sgt. Steve M. Northern (PJ) and eight other unkn PJ's, medevacked 21 U.S. troops, in 22 sorties, near Da Nang in RVN. Assisting during this mission were eight other PJ's, SSgt. John H. Stemple (PJ), A1C Michael P. Beane (PJ), A2C Robert F. Gabourel (PJ), A2C John C. Jeffers (PJ), A2C Duane D. Hackney (PJ), A2C Walter White (PJ), A2C Richard H. Garlie (PJ), A2C David W. Sliger (PJ). This mission was flown in the dark shortly after midnight while Da Nang AB, RVN was under a VC rocket attack on the base. Sgt. Steve M. Northern is shown to have received The Silver Star for his actions during this mission. It is listed that during this mission Det. 7, 38th ARRS is recorded as making the 1000th rescue by Air Force aircrews since the start of the Vietnam War. "PJ's in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & Kaman Rotor Tips magazine. |
| 1967 - July 16 | A HH-43F from Det. 13, 38th ARRS Phu Cat AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Edmund W. Fischbeck Jr. (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FM) and unkn (PJ) rescued a Vietnamese civilian in RVN. No other details are known at this time. JRCC Save Form |
| 1967 - July 17 | A HH-3E from the 37th ARRS, Da Nang AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Charles R. Dunn (P), 1st Lt. Warren E. Walter (CP), A1C William L. Carroll (FM) and A2C John C. Jeffers (PJ), was involved in a rescue in RVN of USN seaman, W. L. Lewis. No details are available currently. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form |
| 1967 - July 18 | A HH-3E (Call sign "Jolly Green 37") from Det. 1, 37th ARRS, Nakhon, Phanom RTAFB, Thailand, crewed by Maj. Glen P. York (P), 1st Lt. William N. Privett (CP), SSgt. Theodore A. Zerbe (FM) and A2C Randy McComb (PJ), rescued the pilot of a USN A-4E (Call sign "Magic Stone 06"), Lt. (Jg.) Larrie J. Duthie, after he ejected from his automatic weapons fire damaged aircraft near Nam Dinh, NVN. Maj. Glen P. York was awarded the Air Force Cross and 1st Lt. Privett, SSgt. Zerbe and A2C McComb were awarded The Silver Star for their actions on this mission. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "PJ's in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1967 - July 18 | A HH-3E #66-13281 (Call sign "Jolly Green 28") from the 37th ARRS, Da Nang AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Standley A. McGhan (P), 1st Lt. Mark H. Mutchier (CP), A1C Michael W. Mulvany (FM), A1C John C. Jeffers (PJ), rescued the pilot of a F-4D (Call sign "Falcon 02 Alpha"), Capt. Robert R. Headley (P), after he and his co-pilot, 1st Lt. Gregory A. Kuehner (CP), ejected from their AAA damaged aircraft about 5 miles south of Nom Duong Quan, NVN. This was the first CSAR mission of the Vietnam War where a HH-3E’s used air-to-air refueling to accomplish the rescue mission. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "PJ's in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & http://www.jollygreen.org/Reseach/RonThurlow/H3RosterSEA.html |
| 1967 - July 18 | A HH-3E #66-13278 (Call sign "Jolly Green 25") from the 37th ARRS, Da Nang AB, RVN, crewed by Lt. Col. Victor Goudey (P), 1st Lt. Robert Levins III (CP), SSgt. John H. Hazzard Jr. (FM) and A2C Robert F. Gabourel (PJ), rescued the co-pilot of a F-4D (Call sign "Falcon 02 Bravo"), 1st Lt. Gregory A. Kuehner (P), after he and his pilot, Capt. Robert R. Headley (CP), ejected from their AAA damaged aircraft about 5 miles south of Nom Duong Quan, NVN. This was the FIRST CSAR mission of the Vietnam War where a HH-3E’s used air-to-air refueling to accomplish the rescue mission. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "PJ's in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1967 - July 20 | A HH-43F from Det. 9, 38th ARRS, Pleiku AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Donald D. Metzinger (P), Capt. Robert L. Osborne (CP), A1C Donald Hardwick (FM), A2C David B. Ortiz (PJ) and A1C David R. Berrio (PJ), was involved in the CSAR for a UC-123B "Ranch Hand" aircraft that had been shot down in RVN. All on board the UC-123B were KIA in the crash. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "PJ's in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1967 - July 20 | A HH-3E from the 37th ARRS, Da Nang AB, RVN, crewed by Thomas E. Beir (P), Capt. Ralph W. Brower (CP), SSgt. John H. Hazzard Jr. (FM) and Richard H. Garlie (PJ), rescued the pilot of a USN A-4E, Lt. R. W. Kuhl, after he ejected from his AAA damaged aircraft over the Gulf Of Tonkin, off the coast of NVN. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "PJ's in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1967 - July 21 | A HH-3E from the 37th ARRS, Da Nang AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Thomas R. Johnson (P), 1st Lt. William A. McKenny II (CP), TSgt. Andrew Benton Sr. (FM) and A1C David W. Slinger (PJ) rescued a six-member ground team, two of whom were wounded, including C. W. Kinney, J. R. Kinshaw and four unkn others in contact in Laos. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1967 - July 21 | A HH-3E from the 37th ARRS, Da Nang AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Standley A. McGhan (P), Capt. Harold Frank Cardile (CP), TSgt. Maurice F. Tasker (FM) and A2C Joseph M. Duffy (PJ) rescued a five-member ground team in contact in Laos. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1967 - July 21 | A HH-3E (Call sign "Jolly Green 51") from Det. 1, 37th ARRS, Nakhon Phanom RTAFB, Thailand, crewed by Lt. Col. Warner A. Britton (P), Capt. Harold W. Bradley (CP), SSgt. Floyd W. Watson (FM) and SSgt Luther E. Davis (PJ), rescued the crew of a O-1E (Call sign "Eagle Blue 3"), Joseph C. Holden and Albert F. Sellers, after their aircraft went down in Laos. "Jolly Green 51" was supporting a CH-3E (Call sign "Pony Express 51") in recovering a downed Thai pilot in Laos. "PJ's in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form |
| 1967 - July 21 | A flight of UH-1F helicopter gunships from the 20th SOS “Green Hornets” were scrambled to assist a US Army special forces team surrounded by hostile forces that threatened to overrun their position. At this time the only known crew member on these UH-1P gunships is SSgt. Donald P. Ausdal who is known to have been awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross for his actions on this mission. SSgt. Ausdals DFC Award Citation |
| 1967 - July 23 | A HH-43B from Det. 8, 38th ARRS, Cam Ranh Bay AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Allen R. Martin (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FM) and unkn (PJ), medevacked 1 USN sailor, E-5 J. P. Staunton in RVN. No other details are known at this time. "PJ's in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form |
| 1967 - July 23 | A HH-43B from Det. 4, 38th ARRS, Korat RTAFB, Thailand, crewed by Capt. Troy G. Irvin Sr. (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FM) and unkn (PJ), medevacked one Thai civilian, Saninikan Bracok. No other details are known at this time. "PJ's in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form |
| 1967 - July 23 | Maj. John Livermore, a UH-1 pilot with the 20th HS was awarded the Silver Star medal for combat actions on this date. No other details are known at this time. "Secret Green Beret Commandos In Cambodia" by Lt. Col. Fred S. Lindsey, USA (Ret.) |
| 1967 - July 25 | A HH-3E, from the 37th ARRS, Da Nang AB, RVN, crewed by Lt. Col. Victor Goudey (P), Lt. Col. John W. James (CP), A1C Rodney J. Bettevy (FM) and A2C Joseph M. Duffy (PJ), was involved in the unsuccessful SAR for the crew of a F-4C (Call sign "Maverick 01"), Maj. Herbert Lamar Lunsford (P) and 1st Lt. Jeremy Michael Jarvis (WSO), after their aircraft crashed about 10 miles south of Dong Hoi, NVN. Maj. Lunsford and Lt. Jarvis were KIA. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "PJ's in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1967 - July 26 | A HH-43B from Det. 12, 38th ARRS, Nha Trang AB, RVN, crewed by unkn (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FM) and unkn (PJ), medevacedd 1 ARVN paratrooper in RVN. No other details are known at this time. "PJ's in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1967 - July 28 | A HH-3E (Call sign "Jolly Green 55") from Det. 1, 37th ARRS, Nakhon Phanom RTAFB, Thailand, crewed by Capt. Evan G. Thompson Jr. (P), 1st Lt. Edward J. Sichterman Jr. (CP), SSgt. Floyd W. Watson (FM) and TSgt. Charley D. Smith (PJ) rescued the severely injured pilot of a F-105D (Call sign "Hotrod 02"), 1st Lt. Karl Wendall Richter, after he ejected from his AAA damaged aircraft, in Laos, about 35 miles NW of Dong Hoi, NVN. Unfortunately, 1st Lt. Richter died of his injuries on the way back to safety. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1967 - July 29 | A HH-3E from the 37th ARRS, Da Nang AB, RVN, crewed by Maj. Robert E Prince (P), 1st Lt. Richard D. Kennard (CP), SSgt. Albert D. Epps (FM) and Richard D. Garlie (PJ), rescued, what is believed to be, the pilot of a USN KA-3B tanker, name unkn, after he and two other crewmembers exited their aircraft when it suffered a double engine failure, over the Gulf Of Tonkin, about 150 miles NE of Da Nang, RVN. Two crewmembers of the KA-3B, Ens. Bruce Merle Patterson and AE2 Charles David Hardie were listed as KIA. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "PJ's in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1967 - July 29 | A HH-3E #66-13283 (Call sign “Jolly Green 30”) from the 37th ARRS, Da Nang AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Standley A. McGhan (P), 1st Lt. Warren E. Walter (CP), SSgt. William D. Willingham (FM) and A1C John C. Jeffers (PJ), rescued the pilot of a F-105D (Call sign "Rainbow 02"), 1st Lt. James Benton West, after he ejected over the Gulf Of Tonkin from his ground fire damaged aircraft about 6 miles east of Hon Gay, NVN. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "PJ's in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & Mission Number 1-3-116-29 Jul 67 Message |
| 1967 - July 29 | A HH-3E, crewed by Maj. Willard O. Mayfield (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FM) and unkn (PJ), saved 14 injured USN sailors (names unkn) from the USN aircraft carrier USS Forrestal. JRCC Save Form |
| 1967 - July 29 | A HH-3E, crewed by Capt. Robert E. Prince (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FM) and unkn (PJ), saved 14 injured USN sailors (names unkn) from the USN aircraft carrier USS Forrestal. JRCC Save Form |
| 1967 - July 29 | A HH-43F from Det. 1, 38th ARRS, Phan Rang AB, RVN, crewed by Maj. W. E. Kline (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FM) and unkn (PJ) saved four USMC troops, L/Cprl. R. J. Castillor, L/Cprl. W. D. Hart, HM-3 C. J. Schultz and PFC J. T. Jimenez in RVN. No other details are known at this time. JRCC Save Form |
| 1967 - July 30 | Two HH-3E's from the 37th ARRS, Da Nang AB, RVN, one crewed by Maj. William O. Mayfield (P), 1st Lt. Jerry D. Clearman (CP), SSgt. John H. Hazzard Jr. (FM) and A1C Walter A. White III (PJ), flew a total of 70 sorties, carried 95 passengers, 20 patients, 20 bodies and 20,200 pounds of cargo between ships from the USS Forrestal fire in the Gulf of Tonkin. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1967 - July 30 | A HH-43F from Det. 6, 38th ARRS, Bien Hoa AB, RVN, crewed by Maj. David M. Randall (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FM) and unkn (PJ) saved one USA troop in RVN. No other details are known at this time. “JRCC Save Form” |
| 1967 - August ?? | The 1001st Helicopter Flight was re-designated as the 1001st Helicopter Squadron at Bolling AFB, DC. http://www.popflock.com/learn?s=1st_Helicopter_Squadron |
| 1967 - August 01 | A HH-3E from the 37th ARRS, crewed by Capt. Standley A. McGhan (P), Capt. Harold Frank Cardile (CP), SSgt. Albert D. Epps (FM) and A2C Michael B. Gallasch (PJ), rescued 1 wounded USMC troop, Walter N. Webb, in contact in RVN. "PJ's in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1967 - August 02 | A HH-43F from Det. 10, 38th ARRS at Bien Hoa AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. James H. Brahney (P), Capt. William P. Shea (CP), SSgt. William L. Crawford (FM) and A2C James L. Parks (PJ), rescued the pilot of a F-100D (Call sign "Ramrod 01"), 1st Lt. J. V. Fiorelli, after he ejected from his ground fire damaged aircraft about 10 miles east of Bien Hoa AB, RVN. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1967 - August 03 | A HH-43B from Det. 14, 38th ARRS from Tan Son Nhut AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Allen R. Martin (P), 1st Lt. Willie Farrow (CP), SSgt. Jacob V. Carter (MT), A1C Gunther Koppenhpfer (FF) and SSgt. Hubert Perkins (FF), rescued the co-pilot of an F-4C, 1st Lt. R. P. Flake, after his aircraft crashed during an aborted takeoff at Bien Hoa AB, RVN. The F-4C pilot, Maj. John Albert DeBock, was KIA in the crash. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "PJ's in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form |
| 1967 - August 03 | A HH-3E from Det. 1, 37th ARRS, Nakhon Phanom RTAFB, Thailand, crewed by Capt. Robert E. Dowdy (P), Maj. Edward B. Russell (CP), SSgt. Vincent D. Androwski (FM) and A1C David W. Slinger (PJ), rescued the severely injured pilot of a F-105D (Call sign Marlin 04), Capt. John William Bischoff, and the pilot of a F-105D (Call sign Marlin 02), 1st Lt. James Benton West, who had ejected when their respective aircraft collided after disconnecting from a KC-135 tanker over Laos about 113 miles north of Udorn, Thailand. Unfortunately, Capt. Bischoff died later from his injuries. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1967 - August 03 | A HH-43F from Det. 6, 38th ARRS, Bien Hoa AB, RVN, crewed by Maj. James F. Jansa (P), Capt. Charles I. Rice (CP), SSgt. Barry Sherman (FM) and A2C Gunther Bahrenburg (PJ), rescued the pilot of an F-105D (Call sign "Ramrod 02"), Capt. James W., Fiorelli. No other details are known at this time. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "PJ's in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1967 - August 04 | A HH-3E from Det. 1, 37th ARRS, Nakhon Phanom RTAFB, Thailand, crewed by Lt. Col. Owen R. Fletcher (P), Maj. Ealmon L. Stearman (CP), SSgt. Harold W. Chico (FM) and A2C Robert B. Williamson (PJ), rescued the pilot of a unkn aircraft (Call sign "Hondo 04"), Alan V. Rogers. No other details are known at this time. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "PJ's in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1967 - August 06 | A HH-3E from Det. 1, 37th ARRS, Nakhon Phanom RTAFB, Thailand, crewed by Capt. Thomas E. Bair (P), Lt. Col. John W. James (CP), SSgt. Albert D. Epps (FM) and A2C Michael B. Gallasch (PJ), unsuccessfully attempted the rescue of the crew, Capt. Albert Linwood Page (P) and 1st Lt. Donald Richard Kemmerer, of a F-4C (Call sign "Lance 01") when their aircraft was hit by enemy automatic weapons fire near Thach Ban, NVN, about 10 miles north of the DMZ, and the aircraft seen to crash into the sea about five miles off the coast. Capt. Page and Lt. Kemmerer were KIA. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "PJ's in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1967 - August 06 | A HH-3E #66-13281 (Call sign “Jolly Green 28”) from the 37th ARRS, Da Nang AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Standley A. McGhan (P), Capt. Robert E. Hicks Jr. (CP), SSgt. Frederick M. Halbert (FM) and A2C Duane D. Hackney (PJ), rescued 1 USA troop and 2 ARVN troops from a UH-1 that had gone down in RVN. No other details are known at this time. "PJ's in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & 37th ARRS Logbook 06 Aug 67 to 31 Dec 67 |
| 1967 - August 07 | A HH-3E (Call sign "Jolly Green 37") from Det. 1, 37th ARRS, Nakhon Phanom RTAFB, Thailand, crewed by Capt. Richard A. Orsini (P), Maj. Powell L. Moore (CP), SSgt. Vincent Quinn (FM) and A1C David W. Slinger (PJ), rescued the crew of a RF-4C (Call sign "Edging 01 A & B"), Capt. N. Joe Otto (P) and 1st Lt. Roy E. Meeks (CP), after they ejected from their ground fire damaged aircraft in Laos near the DMZ. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "PJ's in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe& JRCC Save Form |
| 1967 - August 07 | A HH-3E #66-13278 (Call sign “Jolly Green 25”) from the 37th ARRS, Da Nang AB, RVN, crewed by, Maj. James F. Hicks (P), Capt. Ernest B. Betancourt Jr. (CP), SSgt. Frederick M. Halbert (FM) and A2C Peter H. Eyrich (PJ) and a second HH-3E #66-13281 (Call sign “Jolly Green 28”) crewed by Capt. Standley A. McGhan (P), Capt. Fred H. Otte (CP), SSgt. Gary V. Phillips (FM) and A2C Richard H. Garlie (PJ) unsuccessfully attempted the rescue of the crew of a F-4C (Call sign "Phantom 71, A & B"), Capt. Glen Hubert Wilson (P) and 1st Lt. Carl Dennis Chambers (CP), after they ejected from their AAA ground fire damaged aircraft near Van Xuan, about 10 miles south of Dong Hoi, NVN. Capt. Wilson and Lt. Chambers became POW's before they could be rescued. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe& JRCC Save Form & 37th ARRS Mission Narrative Report (1-3-121) 8 Aug 67 |
| 1967 - August 08 | A HH-43B from Det. 8, 38th ARRS, Cam Ranh Bay AB, RVN, crewed by Maj. Armand J. Fiola (P), 1st Lt. Willie L. Farrow (CP), SSgt Thomas E. Hand (FM) and A1C William L. Russell (PJ), rescued 9 USA troops from a USA UH-1D that had gone down in RVN. "PJ's in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form |
| 1967 - August 11 | A HH-43B from Det. 7, 38th ARRS, Da Nang AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Robert S. Michelsen (P), 1st Lt. Alfred R. Jacox (CP), Hugh Pike (FF) and SSgt Vernon David Taylor (FF), rescued the WSO of a F-4C, 1st Lt. Robert B. Cox (CP), after his aircraft crashed on landing at Da Nang AB, RVN. The F-4C pilot, Kenneth Richard Hughes was KIA in the crash. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "PJ's in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1967 - August 12 | A HH-43F from Det. 7, Da Nang AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Robert S. Michelsen (P), Capt. Donald D. Sams (CP), SSgt. Willard F. Barrow (FF) and David A. Helton (FF), rescued the crew of an F-4C, Maj. R. G. Dilger (P) and 1st Lt. G. L. Rawlings (CP), after they ejected from their 57 mm AAA damaged aircraft over Da Nang Bay, just south of Marble Mountain, RVN. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "PJ's in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1967 - August 13 - September 12 | Eight UH-1's from the 341st SMWg at Malmstrom AFB, MT., 861st CSGp at Ellsworth AFB, SD and the 861st CSGp. at Minot AFB, ND. were tasked to carry firefighters and equipment from base camps to remote sites near the fires along mountain summits where there was no road, to fight a large forests fire in Glacier National Park in northwestern Montana and Kaniksu National Forest near Bonners Ferry in northern ID. The USAF & Humanitarian Airlift Operations 1947-1994 by Daniel L. Haul |
| 1967 - August 15 | A HH-43F from Det. 13, 38th ARRS, Phu Cat AB, RVN, crewed by 1st Lt. James E. McLain (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ), saved USAF airman, TSgt. Ivay Barrow in RVN. No other details are known at this time. ”JRCC Save Form” |
| 1967 - August 17 | A HH-3E from the 37th ARRS, Da Nang AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Standley A. McGhan (P), Capt. Jerry D. Clearman (CP), TSgt. Andrew Benton Sr. (FM) and Sgt. James D. Locker (PJ), unsuccessfully attempted the rescue of the crew, Cmdr. Laurent Norbert Dion (P) and Lt. (jg) Charles David Hom (CP), of a USN RA-5C (Call sign "Speartip 122"), when their aircraft crashed in the sea off the coast of NVN. Cmdr. Dion and Lt. Hom were KIA. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "PJ's in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1967 - August 17 | A HH-3E #66-13283 (Call sign “Jolly Green 30”) from the 37th ARRS, Da Nang AB, RVN, crewed Capt. Robert E. Prince (P), Maj. Frank L. Trochack (CP), SSgt. Frederick M. Halbert (FM), A2C Peter H. Eyrich (PJ) and SSgt. John H. Stemple (PJ), rescued the pilot of a F-105D (Call sign "Cambo 01"), Maj. Albert C. Vollmer, after he ejected from his AAA damaged aircraft about 8 miles off the coast north of the DMZ. HH-3E # 65-12782 (Call sign “Jolly Green 10”) was the ‘high bird’ on this mission, crewed by 1st. Lt. Rodney G. Parks (P), 1st Lt. Mark H. Mutchler (CP), SSgt. Gary V. Phillips (FM) and SSgt. John H. Stemple (PJ). HH-3E #65-12780 (Call sign “Jolly Green 07”), crew unkn, was also believed to have been involved with this mission. No other details are available currently. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & Mission Narrative Report Number 1-3-123-17 Aug 67 |
| 1967 - August 18 | A HH-43F from Det. 11, 38th ARRS, Tuy Hoa AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Troy G. Irvin Sr. (P), 1st Lt James P. F. Egbert (CP), SSgt James A. Phillips (FM) and A1C Paul J. Volges (MT) rescued the pilot of an F-100D, Capt. J. Legg, after his aircraft had an engine failure in RVN. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & JRCC Save Form |
| 1967 - August 19 | A HH-43F from Det. 6, 38th ARRS, Bien Hoa AB, RVN, crewed by Maj. David M. Randall (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FM) and unkn (PJ), saved USA troop, T. E. Irvin. No other details are known at this time. JRCC Save Form |
| 1967 - August 19 | Capt. Richard Monroe, a UH-1 pilot with the 20th HS was awarded the Silver Star medal for combat actions on this date. No other details are known at this time. "Secret Green Beret Commandos In Cambodia" by Lt. Col. Fred S. Lindsey, USA (Ret.) |
| 1967 - August 20 | A HH-43F from Det. 6, 38th ARRS, Bien Hoa AB, RVN, crewed by Maj. James F. Jansa (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FM) and unkn (PJ), saved three USA and one ARVN troops, Capt. Queferbarrs, WO1 L. Sniderjn, SP4 B. Chaves and unkn ARVN troop. No other details are known at this time. JRCC Save Form |
| 1967 - August 21 | A HH-43F from Det. 7, 38th ARRS, Da Nang AB, RVN, crewed by 1st Lt. William T. Sehorn (P), Capt. Donald D. Sams (CP), A1C Edward L. Thorpe (FM) and SSgt. John H. Stemple (PJ), attempted to rescue wounded troops in contact in RVN, however they were driven off by heavy enemy fire and had to shear the hoist. "PJ's in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1967 - August 21 | A HH-3E #66-13278 (Call sign “Jolly Green 25”) from the 37th ARRS, Da Nang, AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Charles R. Dunn (P), Maj. Frank L. Trochack (CP), Johny Tindal Jr. (FM) and A2C Joseph M. Duffy (PJ), medevacked 7 wounded USMC troops in contact in RVN. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form & 37th ARRS Logbook 6 Aug 67 to 31 Dec 67 |
| 1967 - August 21 | A HH-43F from Det. 6, 38th ARRS, Bien Hoa AB, RVN, crewed by Maj. David M. Randall (P), Maj. David L. Wiest (CP), unkn (FM) and A1C Roger A. Porter (PJ), rescued the pilot of a A-37A (Call sign "Dragon 73"), Maj. George M. Shannon, after his aircraft was hit by ground fire as he approached Bien Hoa AB, RVN and he ejected about 3 miles east of the base. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "PJ's in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form |
| 1967 - August 21 | A HH-3E from the 37th ARRS, Da Nang AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Charles R. Dunn (P), Maj. Frank L. Trochack (CP), Johny Tindal Jr. (FM) and A2C Peter H. Eyrich (PJ), medevacked 1 wounded USMC troop in contact in RVN. "PJ's in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1967 - August 22 | A HH-43F from Det. 10, 38th ARRS, Bihn Thuy AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Donald E. VanMeter (P), Capt. William P. Shea (CP), Larry E. Feskins (FM) and A1C Ronald E. Sholes (PJ), proceed to the rescued the pilot of a F-100D (Call sign "Ramrod 02"), Capt. H. D. Canterbury, after he ejected from his small arms fire damaged aircraft over the South China Sea off of southern RVN. He was rescued by a USA helicopter before the HH-43F arrived. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "PJ's in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1967 - August 22 | A HH-3E #66-13279 (Call sign “Jolly Green 26”) from the 37th ARRS, Da Nang AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Standley A. McGhan (P), Capt. John B. McTasney (CP), Johny Tindal Jr. (FM) and Sgt. Martin Roepsterof (PJ), rescued 1 wounded troop, Russel W. Naugle, in contact in RVN. "PJ's in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & 37th ARRS Logbook 6 Aug 67 to 31 Dec 67 |
| 1967 - August 22 | A HH-43F (Call sign “Pedro 98”) from Det. 12, 38th ARRS, Nha Trang AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Melroy Borland (P), Capt. Ardven L. Blythe (CP), TSgt. Adron D. Ratcliff (FM) and A1C Duane D. Hackney (PJ) rescued one unkn ROK troop in RVN. No other details are known at this time. JRCC Save Form |
| 1967 - August 22 | A HH-43F (Call sign “Pedro 99”) from Det. 12, 38th ARRS, Nha Trang AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Gary E. Robertson (P), Capt John L. Belina (CP), A1C Jonnie R. Childress (FM) and SSgt James Souza (PJ) rescued one ROK troop, Lee. No other details are known at this time. JRCC Save Form |
| 1967 - August 23 | A HH-3E #66-13280 (Call sign “Jolly Green 27”) from Det. 1, 37th ARRS, Nakhon Phanom RTAFB, Thailand, crewed by Capt. Robert D. Greer (P), 1st Lt. Andrew J. Gonos (CP), Amn. Roger L. Graham (FM) and MSgt. Ted R. Hawkins (PJ), attempted the rescued the crew of a F-4D (Call sign "Saphire 02"), 1st Lt. Francis Barnes Midnight (P) and 1st Lt. A. M. Silva, after they ejected from their ground fire damaged aircraft near Mi Lee about 10 miles south of Dong Hoi, NVN, but they were driven off by enemy fire. Lt. Midnight was KIA and Lt. Silva was rescued by another HH-3E (see entry below). "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "PJ's in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form & 37th ARRS Logbook 6 Aug 67 to 31 Dec 67 |
| 1967 - August 23 | A HH-3E #65-12782 (Call sign “Jolly Green 10”) from the 37th ARRS, Nakhon Phanom RTAFB, Thailand, crewed by Capt. Fred H. Otte (P), Capt. William A. McKenny III (CP), SSgt. Albert D. Epps (FM) and Sgt. Steve M. Northern (PJ), rescued the WSO of an F-4D (Call sign "Sapphire 02 Bravo"), 1st Lt. A. M. Silva, after his aircraft was hit by ground fire while attacking a target near Mi Le, NVN, and he ejected. The F-4D pilot, 1st Lt. Francis Barnes Midnight, was KIA. Sgt. Northern was awarded his second Silver Star for his actions during this rescue. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "PJ's in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & 37th ARRS Logbook 6 Aug 67 to 31 Dec 67 |
| 1967 - August 23 | A HH-43F from Det. 10, 38th ARRS, Binh Thuy AB, RVN, crewed by Maj. Harold Pickering (P), 1st Lt. Granville B. Goza III (CP), SSgt. William L. Crawford (FM) and TSgt. Clyde R. Ross (PJ), rescued 1 wounded USN troop, IM-2 F. R. Miller, in contact in RVN. "PJ's in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1967 - August 23 | A HH-3E from Det. 1, 37th ARRS, Nakhon Phanom RTAFB, Thailand, crewed by Capt. Robert D. Greer (P), 1st Lt. Andrew J. Gonos (CP), Amn. Roger L. Graham (FM) and MSgt. Ted R. Hawkins (PJ), rescued the crew of a F-4D, Maj. C. B. DeMarque (P) and 1st Lt. M. Piet (WSO), after their aircraft was hit by AAA fire while attacking the Yen Vien railway yard in NVN and they flew back to Thailand where they ejected near Wanon Niwat, about 60 miles northwest of Nakhon Phanom, Thailand. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "PJ's in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form |
| 1967 - August 23 | A HH-43F from Det. 10, 38th ARRS, Binh Thuy AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. James H. Brahney (P), Capt. William J. Haugen (CP), A1C Rene Durazo (FM) and Sgt. Gary G. Harold (PJ), medevacked 2 wounded USN SEAL troops, Lt. JG. W. L Bishop and D. L. Tocci, in contact in RVN. "PJ's in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1967 - August 23 | CH-3E #64-14236 (Call sign "Pony Express 31") of the 20th SOS crewed by J. P. Patterson (P), J. P. McCollum (CP) and C. W. Paugh (FM) was lost, in Laos, when it lost rotor RPM short of LZ at LS-85 and struck the ground and rolled over. The crew escaped and was picked up by an Air America helicopter. CH-3E #64-14236 was destroyed by A-1E's. This was the FIRST CH-3C lost in SEA. http://www.jollygreen.org/jltnc.html & http://www.20thhelicoptersquadronreunion.com/3/miscellaneous5.html |
| 1967 - August 23 | UH-1F gunships of the 20th Helicopter Squadron, crew’s unkn, supported a CH-34 "Kingbee" helicopters extraction of a MACV SOG recon team under fire. No other details are known at this time. "Secret Green Beret Commandos In Cambodia" by Lt. Col. Fred S. Lindsey, USA (Ret.) |
| 1967 - August 24 | A HH-43F#62-4525 (call sign “Pedro 56”) from Det. 9 at Pleiku AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Keith H Ricks (P) Capt. Robert L. Osborne (CP), unkn (FM) and unkn (PJ) scrambled to successfully aid the passengers and crew of an Air Vietnam C-46 aircraft that had crashed on takeoff at Pleiku AB, RVN. National Museum of The USAF photo files |
| 1967 - August 24 | Two HH-43F’s, #62-4525 (call sign “Pedro 56”), from Det. 9 at Pleiku AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Keith H Ricks (P) Capt. Robert L. Osborne (CP), SSgt. Arthur L. Wood (FM) and A1C John A. Smith (PJ) and HH-43F #63-9712 (Call Sign “Pedro 74”), crewed by Maj. Richard A. Smith (P), Capt. Francis B. Gilligan (CP), A1C Jose G. Abara (FM), A2C David B. Ortiz (PJ) and A2C Robert E. White (AP) rescued several Army helicopter crew members and a Red Cross girl who were on a Army helicopter that crashed in a river about 22 miles from Pleiku AB. Det. 9, 38th ARRSq. Mission Narrative 9-38-13 24 Aug 67 |
| 1967 - August 24 | A HH-43F #63-9712 (Call sign "Pedro 74") from Det. 9, 38th ARRS at Pleiku AB, RVN, crewed by Maj. Richard A. Smith (P), Capt. Francis B. Gilligan (CP), Sgt. Jose G. Abara (FM), A2C David B. Ortiz (PJ) and A2C Robert E. White (AP), rescued one USA troop, E-9 J. H. Alt and a civilian Red Cross "Donut Dolly", Cynthia Colbran, from a USA UH-1 helicopter that had went down about 22 miles from Pleiku AB, RVN. No other details are known at this time. "PJ's in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form |
| 1967 - August 24 | A HH-43F from Det. 10, 38th ARRS, Binh Thuy AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Donald E. VanMeter (P), Capt. William P. Shea (CP), A1C Bernard L. Touchette (FM) and A2C James L. Parks (PJ), rescued one wounded ARVN troop, in contact in RVN. No other details are known at this time. "PJ's in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1967 - August 24 | A HH-3E from the 37th ARRS, Da Nang AB, RVN, crewed by unkn (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FM) and unkn (PJ), medevacked USMC LCpl. Ortha L. Modger, in RVN. No other details are known at this time. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "PJ's in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1967 - August 24 | A HH-43F #62-4525 (Call sign "Pedro 56") from Det. 9, 38th ARRS, Pleiku AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Keith H. Hicks (P), Capt. Robert L. Osborne (CP), SSgt. Arthur L. Wood (FM) and A1C John A. Smith (PJ), rescued two USA troops, WO1 B. Whitherall and W/O R. Harrison, from a USA UH-1 helicopter that had crashed into a swift flowing river and sank about 22 miles from Pleiku AB, RVN. Five others on the UH-1 were MIA's. No other details are known at this time. "PJ's in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form |
| 1967 - August 24 | A HH-3E #66-13281 (Call sign “Jolly Green 28”) from the 37th ARRS, Da Nang AB, RVN, crewed by unkn (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FM) and unkn (PJ), unsuccessfully attempted the rescue of a F-105D (Call sign "Shark 04") pilot, Capt. Jay Criddle Hess, after he ejected from his 37mm AAA damaged aircraft a few miles northeast of the Lang Dang railway marshalling yard about 25 miles northeast of Kep, NVN. Capt. Hess became a POW before he could be rescued. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "PJ's in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1967 - August 24 | A HH-43F from Det. 9, 38th ARRS, Pleiku AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Keith H. Hicks (P), Capt. Robert L. Osborne (CP), SSgt. Arthur L. Wood (FM) and A1C John A. Smith (PJ), saved one foreign civilian from a C-46 that had crashed on takeoff. No other details are known at this time. JRCC Save Form |
| 1967 - August 25 | A HH-43F from Det. 8, 38th ARRS, Cam Ranh Bay AB, RVN, crewed by Maj. Armand J. Fiola (P), 1st Lt. Willie L. Farrow (CP), Sgt Larry E. Lancaster (FM) and A1C George S. Armstrong (MT), saved two USA troops, WO1 C. M. Davis and SP4 B. C. White, from a downed USA UH-1 helicopter. No other details are known at this time. JRCC Save Form |
| 1967 - August 26 | A HH-3E #66-13281 (Call sign “Jolly Green 28”) from the 37th ARRS, Da Nang AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Charles R. Dunn (P), Capt. Walter R. Blackwell (CP), SSgt. Frederick M. Halbert (FM), Sgt. Joseph M. Duffy (PJ) and Johnny Griffin (AP), rescued the co-pilot of a F-100F (Call sign "Misty 31B"), Capt. Corwin N. Kippenhan, but the pilot, Maj. George "Bud" Everett Day was captured before he could be rescued, after they ejected from their AAA damaged aircraft near Thon Cam Son, NVN about 2 miles short of the coast. After his release after almost six years as a POW, Col. George "Bud" Everett Day was awarded the Medal Of Honor for his actions to escape and as a POW. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "PJ's in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1967 - August 26 | A HH-3E from the 37th ARRS, Da Nang AB, RVN, crewed by unkn (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ), medevacked, Ortha L. Modger, however he died on arrival. No other details are known at this time. "PJ's in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1967 - August 27 | UH-1P gunships of the 20th Helicopter Squadron, crew’s unkn, supported a CH-34 "Kingbee" helicopters insertion of a MACV SOG recon team. No other details are known at this time. "Secret Green Beret Commandos In Cambodia" by Lt. Col. Fred S. Lindsey, USA (Ret.) |
| 1967 - August 28 | A HH-3E #65-12782 (Call sign “Jolly Green 10”) from the 37th ARRS, Da Nang AB, RCN, crewed by Capt. Standley A. McGhan (P), Capt. William E. Brennan (CP), SSgt. Gary V. Phillips (FM) and Sgt. Vincent E. Deets (PJ), rescued four wounded USMC troops, J. F. Gray, F. Hurado, LCprl. J. M. Dructor and LCpl. K. J. Miller, in contact in RVN. No other details are known at this time. "PJ's in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & 37th ARRS Logbook 6 Aug 67 to 31 Dec 67 |
| 1967 - August 28 | A HH-3E from the 37th ARRS, Da Nang AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Charles R. Dunn (P), Capt, John B. McTasney (CP), SSgt. Albert D. Epps (FM) and SSgt. John H. Stemple (PJ), rescued 2 wounded USMC troops in contact in RVN. "PJ's in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & 37th ARRS Logbook 6 Aug 67 to 31 Dec 67 |
| 1967 - August 29 | UH-1P gunships of the 20th Helicopter Squadron, crew’s unkn, supported a CH-34 "Kingbee" helicopter extraction of a MACV SOG recon team with a sick team member from the same location they had been inserted at on 27 August 1967. No other details are known at this time. "Secret Green Beret Commandos In Cambodia" by Lt. Col. Fred S. Lindsey, USA (Ret.) |
| 1967 - August 29 | A HH-43B from Det. 3, 38th ARRS, Ubon RTAFB, Thailand, crewed by Capt. Ted Schroeder (P), 1st Lt. Thomas E. Kullgren (CP), SSgt Billy R. Bloomer (FM) and unkn (PJ), saved one U.S. Civilian, Jesse Weeks, in Thailand. No other details are known at this time. JRCC Save Form |
| 1967 - August 29 | A HH-3E #66-13278 (Call sign “Jolly Green 25”) from the 37th ARRS, Da Nang AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Charles R. Dunn (P), Capt. John B. McTasney (CP), SSgt. Albert D. Epps (FM) and SSgt. John H. Stemple (PJ), rescued 2 wounded USMC troops in contact in RVN. No other details are known at this time. "PJ's in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & 37th ARRS Logbook 6 Aug 67 to 31 Dec 67 |
| 1967 - August 29 | A HH-3E #65-12782 (Call sign “Jolly Green 10”) from the 37th ARRS, Da Nang AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Richard R. Mulder (P), Capt. John H. Perry (CP), SSgt. John H. Hazzard Jr. (FM) and A2C Michael B. Gallasch (PJ), rescued one wounded USMC troop in contact in and recovered three KIA in RVN. No other details are known at this time. "PJ's in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & 37th ARRS Logbook 6 Aug 67 to 31 Dec 67 |
| 1967 - August 30 | A HH-3E #66-13282 (Call sign "Jolly Green 29") from the 37th ARRS, Da Nang AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. William E. Brennan (P), Capt. Ernest B. Bentancourt (CP), Capt. Standley McGham (IP), SSgt. Paul D. Kreider (FM) and A2C Steve M. Northern (PJ), rescued the pilot of a USN A-1H (Call sign "Canasta 412"), Lt. (Jg.) L. E. Gardiner, after he ejected from his ground fire damaged aircraft over the Gulf of Tonkin off the coast of NVN about 30 miles north of Vinh. This rescue was made by landing the HH-3E on the water to expedite the rescue. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1967 - August 30 | A HH-3E from Det. 1, 37th ARRS, Nakhon Phanom RTAFB, Thailand, crewed by Capt. Joseph B. Ferrell (P), Maj. Dean H. Williams Jr. (CP), A1C William J. Jaynes (FM) and A2C Roger A. Klenovich (PJ), saved one USA troop, SSgt. L. Lucas, in Thailand. No other details are known at this time. "PJ's in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form |
| 1967 - September 02 | A USAF helicopter from Nellis AFB, NV., crewed by unkn (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FM) and unkn (MT), rescued a young woman, Barbara Rasmussen, and a 3-year-old boy from a mountain ledge after they were stranded in a cave atop a ledge for nearly three days. Pacific Stars & Stripes, Sep. 05, 1967, pg. 23 |
| 1967 - September 02 | A unkn UH-1 from Malmstrom AFB, MT., crewed by Maj. Richard W. Wyatt (P), Capt. Dale V. Hardy (CP) and Amn. Robert E. Rogers (FM), crashed and burned near Bonners Ferry, ID. on takeoff while on fire-fighting duty in the Trappers Peak area. Both the pilot and copilot received sprains and bruises and the flight mechanic was not injured. Officials said the craft apparently lost hydraulic pressure on takeoff and crashed tail first. See the entry above 1967 - August 13 - September 12. The USAF & Humanitarian Airlift Operations 1947-1994 by Daniel L. Haul |
| 1967 - September 02 | A HH-3E #66-13281 (Call sign “Jolly Green 28”) from the 37th ARRS, Da Nang AB, RVN, crewed by unkn (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FM) and unkn (PJ), unsuccessfully attempted the rescue of a F-105D (Call sign "Wildcat 04") pilot, Maj. William George Bennett, when his aircraft crashed while striking a target about 20 miles west on Dong Hoi. Maj. Bennett was not seen to have ejected and he was KIA. "PJ's in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form & Rescue Information Report Message, part one of two parts 02 Sep 67 |
| 1967 - September 03 | A HH-3E from Det. 1, 37th ARRS, Nakhon Phanom RTAFB, Thailand, crewed by 1st Lt. James A. Colyer (P), 1st Lt. William N. Privette (CP), TSgt. Bernard W. Grau (FM) and SSgt. Wayne L. Fisk (PJ), medevacked one USA troop in Thailand. No other details are available on this mission. "PJ's in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1967 - September 03 | A HH-3E #66-13280 (Call sign “Jolly Green 27”) from Det. 2, 37th ARRS, Nakhon Phanom RTAFB, Thailand, crewed by Capt. Henry C. Conant (P), Maj. Harold Wagner (CP), SSgt. Carl L. Warmack (FM), TSgt. Kerry O. Kelly (PJ) and A1C McNeely (AP) unsuccessfully attempted the rescue of a F-105D (Call sign "Waco 02") pilot, Capt. Herbert William Moore, after he ejected from his AAA damaged aircraft near the target, a bridge at Xom Cul in the hills, 55 miles northwest of Dong Hoi. Capt. Moore could not be located by the rescue force and was determined to have been KIA. High bird on this mission was HH-3E (Call sign “Jolly Green 55), crewed by Capt. Arthur A. May (P), Capt. James H. Hall (CP), SSgt. Floyd W. Watson (FE) and A2C Thomas Devine (PJ). 37th ARRS Mission Narrative–Jolly Green 27–3 Sep 67 & "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1967 - September 05 | A HH-3E HH-3E #66-13279 (Call sign Jolly Green 26”) from the 37th ARRS, Da Nang AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Walter R. Blackwell (P), Capt. (CP), William “Billy” D. Willingham (FM) and A1C Walter A. White III (PJ), rescued USMC Cpl. R. J. Garcia and H. D. McNemor in RVN. High bird on this mission was HH-3E #65-12782 (Call sign “Jolly Green 10”) crewed by Capt. Charles R. Dunn (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ). No other details are known at this time. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form & 37th ARRS Logbook 6 Aug 67 to 31 Dec 67 |
| 1967 - September 05 | A HH-3E from the 37th ARRS, Da Nang AB, RVN, crewed by unkn (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FM) and A1C Walter A. White III (PJ), medevacked one individual named Woo in RVN. No other details are known at this time. "PJ's in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form |
| 1967 - September 05 | A HH-43F from Det. 6, 38th ARRS, Bien Hoa AB, RVN, crewed by William C. Smith (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FM) and unkn (PJ) made a first light effort to recover anyone from a C-123K (Call sign "Bookie 23") that had gone down on 04 September in RVN, however all on board were KIA. No other details are known at this time. "PJ's in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form |
| 1967 - September 06 | A HH-3E #64-14227 was dropped and destroyed when being slung under a CH-47. No other details are known at this time. http://www.jollygreen.org/Research/RonThurlow/H3RosterSEA.html |
| 1967 - September 07 | A HH-3E #65-12783 (Call sign “Jolly Green 15”) from Det. 2, 37th ARRS, Udorn RTAFB, Thailand, crewed by Maj. Gerald C. Haynes (P), Maj. Harold Wagner (CP), A1C William J. Jaynes (FM) and A2C John L. Pighini (PJ), rescued the co-pilot of a F-105F (Call sign "Locust 01 Bravo"), Capt. Fred Shannon, after he and his pilot, Lt. Col. J. E. McInerney, ejected in Thailand after their aircraft had an engine failure. High bird on this mission was HH-3E #65-12785 (Call sign “Jolly Green 36”) crewed by Capt. Robert E. Dowdy (P), 1st Lt. Andrew J. Gonos (CP), SSgt. Vincent D. Androwsky (FE) and MSgt. Milton C. Williams (PJ). Lt. Col. McInerney was rescued by an HH-43B, (See next entry). "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form & Det. 4, 38th ARRS Mission Narrative (2-3-67-7 Sept 67) |
| 1967 - September 07 | A HH-43B #61-2950 (Call sign “Pedro 33”) from Det. 4, 38th ARRS, Korat RTAFB, Thailand, crewed by Capt. Clarence G. Lunt (P), 1st Lt. Thomas J. Vining (CP), A1C Joseph B. Carrington (FE) and Capt. Angel Rivera (FS), rescued the pilot of a F-105F (Call sign "Locust 01 Alpha"), Lt. Col. J. E. McInerney, after he and his co-pilot, Fred Shannon, ejected in Thailand after their aircraft had an engine failure, (See previous entry). "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & JRCC Save Form & Det. 4, 38th ARRS Mission Narrative (2-3-67-7 Sept 67) |
| 1967 - September 07 | A HH-43B from Det. 6, 38th ARRS, Bien Hoa AB, RVN, crewed by Maj. James F. Jansa (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FM) and unkn (PJ), saved one USA troop (name unkn) in RVN. No other details are known at this time. JRCC Save Form |
| 1967 - September 07 | A HH-3E from Det. 1, 37th ARRS, Nakhon Phanom RTAFB, Thailand, crewed by Maj. Gerald C. Haynes (P), Maj. Harold Wagner (CP), A1C William J. Jaynes (FM) and A2C John L. Pighini (PJ), rescued the crew, names unkn, of a RF-4C (Call sign "Lotto 01") in NVN. No other details are known at this time. "PJ's in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form |
| 1967 - September 08 | A HH-43B from Det. 8, 38th ARRS, Cam Ranh Bay AB, RVN, crewed by Maj. Armand J. Fiola (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FM) and unkn (PJ), saved one Vietnamese civilian, Hathi Xuan, in RVN. No other details are known at this time. JRCC Save Form |
| 1967 - September 08 | A HH-3E #66-13289 (Call sign "Jolly Green 03") from Det. 8, 38th ARRS, Cam Ranh Bay AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Richard R. Mulder (P), Capt. William A. McKenny III (CP), SSgt. Albert D. Epps (FM) and Sgt. Joseph S. Stanaland (PJ), rescued the co-pilot of a USMC F-4B (Call sign "Black Ace"), Capt. Robert L. Drage, after he ejected from his ground fire damaged aircraft near Hue, RVN about 6 miles off the coast. The pilot, Maj. John B. Caskey was rescued by a USN coastal vessel and then picked up by the HH-3E. High bird on this mission was HH-3E #66-13279 (Call sign “Jolly Green 23”) crewed by unkn (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ). "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & 37th ARRS Logbook 6 Aug 67 to 31 Dec 67 |
| 1967 - September 09 | A HH-43B from Det. 4, 38th ARRS, Korat RTAFB, Thailand, crewed by Capt. James A. Cranfield (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FM) and unkn (PJ), saved one U.S. civilian, C. Jorgensen, in Thailand. No other details are known at this time. JRCC Save Form |
| 1967 - September 10 | A HH-3E from the 37th ARRS, Da Nang AB, RVN, crewed by unkn (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FM) and unkn (PJ), unsuccessfully attempted the rescue of the crew of a B-57B (Call sign "Redbird 44"), Maj. Norris M. Overly (P) and Capt. Gaylord Dean Petersen (CP), ejected from that aircraft when it was hit by enemy AAA fire when they were attacking a target about eight miles northwest of Dong Hoi, NVN. Maj. Overly became a POW before he could be rescued, and Capt. Petersen was KIA. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form |
| 1967 - September 11 | A HH-3E from the 37th ARRS, Da Nang AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Richard R. Mulder (P), Capt. Robert E. Hicks Jr. (CP), TSgt. Louie E. Bond (FM) and Sgt. James D. Locker (PJ), rescued a wounded USMC troop, Bobby H. Earp, in contact in RVN. "PJ's in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1967 - September 11 | A HH-43B from Det. 1, 38th ARRS, Phan Rang AB, RVN, crewed by 1st Lt. Gary L. Gross (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FM) and unkn (PJ) rescued an ARVN troop. No other details are known at this time. JRCC Save Form |
| 1967 - September 11 | A HH-3E from the 37th ARRS, Da Nang AB, RVN, crewed by unkn (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FM) and unkn (PJ), unsuccessfully attempted the rescue of a USMC RF-4B (Call sign "Cottonpicker 52"), Maj. Richard William Hawthorne (P) and Capt. Richard Raymond Kane (CP), when their aircraft crashed about 35 miles southwest of Da Nang AB, RVN. Both Maj. Hawthorne and Capt. Kane were KIA. "PJ's in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1967 - September 12 | A HH-3E #65-12780 (Call sign “Jolly Green 07”) from the 37th ARRS, Da Nang AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. John B. McTasney (P), 1st Lt. Mark H. Mutchler (CP), A1C Charles M. Harris (FM) and Richard H. Garlie (PJ), rescued, by a water landing on the Gulf Of Tonkin, the co-pilot of a RF-4C, 1st Lt. Robert A. Kopp, after he and his pilot, Capt. James E. Birmingham, ejected from their AAA fire damaged aircraft, over the Gulf Of Tonkin, near Quang Tri, RVN about 9 miles off the coast of RVN. Capt. Birmingham was rescued by a second HH-3E, (see next entry). "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "PJ's in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & 37th ARRS Logbook 6 Aug 67 to 31 Dec 67 |
| 1967 - September 12 | A HH-3E #65-12782 (Call sign “Jolly Green 10”) from the 37th ARRS, Da Nang AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Fred H. Otte (P), Capt. Ralph W. Brower (CP), A1C William L. Carroll (FM), Sgt. Michael L. Walker (PJ) and Glenn K. Nakaishi (AP), rescued the pilot of a RF-4C, Capt. J. E. Birmingham, after he and his co-pilot, 1st Lt. Robert A. Kopp, ejected from their AAA fire damaged aircraft, over the Gulf Of Tonkin, near Quang Tri, RVN about 9 miles off the coast of RVN. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "PJ's in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & 37th ARRS Logbook 6 Aug 67 to 31 Dec 67 |
| 1967 - September 12 | The FIRST two HH-53B's arrived at Vung Tau, RVN aboard the aircraft carrier USS Card. The next four days were spent reassembling them, checking systems and test flying and completing preparations for their flight to their new home at Udorn RTAFB, Thailand. "PJ's in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1967 - September 14 | UH-1F gunships of the 20th Helicopter Squadron, crew’s unkn, supported a CH-34 "Kingbee" helicopter extraction of a MACV SOG recon team with one wounded team member. No other details are known at this time. "Secret Green Beret Commandos In Cambodia" by Lt. Col. Fred S. Lindsey, USA (Ret.) |
| 1967 - September 14 | UH-1F #65-7923 of the 20th SOS, believed to have been crewed Capt. William Lacy (IP), Capt. Robert J. Peisher (P), Maj. Frederick Yonteck (IP), unkn (FM) and unkn (AG) was written off. No other details are available at this time. http://www.helis.com/database/accidents/?org=133&f2mod=545 |
| 1967 - September 14 | A HH-43B crewed by Capt. Leonard D. Fialko (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FM) and unkn (PJ) rescued a unkn downed fighter pilot while under enemy fire. No other details are known at this time. |
| 1967 - September 15 | A HH-43B from Det. 13, 38th ARRS, Phu Cat AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Harold L. Hering (P), 1st Lt. Ronald P. Wojack (CP), A1C Arthur J. Cole (FE) and TSgt. Delmer R. Smith (MT) saved one USAF airman, A1C N. J. Corbin. No other details are known at this time. JRCC Save Form |
| 1967 - September 15 | Det. 1, 37th ARRSq. was organized at Nakhon Phanom AB, Thailand effective this date. History of the 3rd ARRGp Hq. 1 July – 30 Sep 67 |
| 1967 - September 16 | A HH-3E (Call sign "Jolly Green 36") from the Det. 1, 37th ARRS at Nakhon Phanom RTAFB, Thailand, crewed by Maj. Gerald C. Haynes (P), Capt. James H. Hall (CP), A2C Daniel L. Allen (FM) and A2C Randy S. McComb (PJ), went in to rescue the pilot of a RF-101C (Call sign "Ace 1"), Capt. Robert E. Patterson, after he ejected from his AAA damaged aircraft near Ban Ban in northern Laos. Because Capt. Patterson was injured A2C McComb (PJ) was sent down the hoist to get him. Just as they were ready to be hoisted up the HH-3E ingested Capt. Patterson's parachute into one of its engines and they tried to take off with one engine but had to make an emergency landing about nine miles north of the pick-up site. Not only were Capt. Patterson and A2C McComb still on the ground, now the remaining crew of "Jolly Green 36" were also down nine miles away. (See next entry). "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "PJ's in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1967 - September 16 | A HH-3E (Call sign "Jolly Green 37") from Det. 1, 37th ARRS, crewed by Capt. Evan G. Thompson Jr. (P), Maj. Powell L. Moore (CP), SSgt. James T. Brooks (FM) and Sgt. Michael R. Fraboni (PJ), rescued the pilot of a RF-101C (Call sign "Ace 01"), Capt. Robert E. Patterson, after he ejected from his AAA damaged aircraft near Ban Ban in northern Laos and the PJ, A2C McComb, from "Jolly Green 36" that had been left on the ground when "Jolly Green 36" experienced its engine problems and had to make an emergency landing about 9 miles away. (See previous entry). "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "PJ's in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1967 - September 16 | A HH-3E (Call sign "Jolly Green 27") from Det. 1, 37th ARRS, crewed by Capt. Joe B. Farrell (P), Maj. Harold Wagner (CP), SSgt. Bernard W. Grau (FM) and A2C John L. Pighini (PJ), rescued the crewmembers, Maj. Gerald C. Haynes (P), Capt. Johnnie H. Hall (CP) and A2C Daniel L. Allen (FE), of HH-3E "Jolly Green 36" that had made and emergency landing in northern Laos. "Jolly Green 36's" PJ, A2C Randy McComb along with the original survivor that generated this mission were rescued by "Jolly Green 37"about nine miles away. (See previous entry). The "Jolly Green 36" HH-3 was later recovered, by CH-53 sling load, from Laos, repaired, and put back in service. "PJ's in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form |
| 1967 - September 16 | A HH-3E from Det. 1, 37th ARRS, Nakhon Phanom RTAFB, Thailand, crewed by Capt. Evan G. Thompson Jr. (P), Maj. Powell L. Moore (CP), SSgt. James T. Brooks (FM) and Sgt. Michael R. Friona (PJ), unsuccessfully attempted the rescue of the pilot of a RF-101C (Call sign "Resale 02"), Maj. Bobby Ray Bagley, after he ejected from his aircraft when it was shot down by an enemy MiG-21 near Son La, about 60 miles southwest of Yen Bai, NVN. Maj. Bagley became a POW before he could be rescued. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "PJ's in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1967 - September 16 | A HH-43F from Det. 6, 38th ARRS, Bien Hoa AB, RVN, crewed by Maj. James F. Jana (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FM) and unkn (PJ), saved one USA troop, E-4 J. Holmes in RVN. No other details are known at this time. JRCC save Form |
| 1965 - September 17 | The primary alert HH-43F from Det. 6, 38th ARS, Bien Hoa AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Darvan E. Cook (P), Capt. Donald E. Stranahan (CP), TSgt. Domenick J. Cocuzzi (FM) and A2C William H. Pitsenbarger (PJ), rescued a badly burned crew member, Lt. Cao Van An, of a downed VNAF H-34 helicopter in RVN. The secondary alert HH-43F was crewed by Capt. Carl G. Layman (P), Capt. Dale L. Potter (CP), TSgt. Joseph W. Blaquiere (FM) and A2C Michael R. Donegan (PJ). "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1967 - September 18 | A HH-43F from Det. 12, 38th ARRS, Nha Trang AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Gary E. Robertson (P), Capt. Ardven L. Blythe (CP), A1C Edwin L. Simonson, Jr. (FM) and A2C Louis C. Felker (PJ), saved one USA troop, SP4 J. W. Bethany in RVN. No other details are known at this time. JRCC save Form |
| 1967 - September 18 | A HH-3E from the 37th ARRS, Da Nang AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Walter R. Blackwell (P), Capt. Robert E. Hicks Jr. (CP), SSgt. John H. Hazzard Jr. (FM) and Richard H. Garlie (PJ), accomplished a Medevac mission for USMC troops, G. Woodcock, Palmer and Belinski from a ground team (Call sign "Countersign") in RVN. No other details are available currently. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC save Form |
| 1967 - September 19 | A HH-43B #61-2921 from Det. 18, AARRC at Thule AB, Greenland, crewed by Capt. Harold L. Hiner (P), Capt. George R. Ehler (CP), A1C Gary McRae (FM) was forced to make an emergency landing after an engine power loss. They made a safe autorotation landing on the Ice Trail about 40 miles from Thule. The helicopter was secured and the crew picked up and after a 10 day wait for the weather to clear, disassembly of 61-2921 began to prepare it for airlifting back to Thule AB. After airlifting several components from the bird, finally in late September the striped down body of #61-2921 was airlifted by HH-43B #62-4509 to the deck of the Coast Guard icebreaker ship “Edisto” for transportation to the dock at Thule to be off-loaded. https://www.ragay.nl/kaman-h-43-huskie/h-43-thule |
| 1967 - September 19 | The FIRST two new HH-53B's that had been assembled at Vong Tau, RVN, arrived at Udorn RTAFB, Thailand and were assigned to the newly activated Det. 2, 37th ARRS, commanded by Lt. Col. James Dixon. "PJ's in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1967 - September 19 | A HH-43F from Det. 8, 38th ARRS, Cam Ranh Bay AB, RVN, crewed by Maj. Armand J. Fiola (P), 1st Lt. Roy M. Litzen (CP), SSgt Thomas Hand (FM) and SSgt Jacob V. Carter (MT), saved one USCG troop, SN E. J. McKain Jr. in RVN. No other details are known at this time. JRCC Save Form |
| 1967 - September 19 | A HH-43B from Det. 5, 38th ARRS, Udorn RTAFB, Thailand, crewed by Capt. Robert L. Merna (P), Maj. James H. Jones (CP), A1C Marvin J. Wolfe (FM) and A1C Alvin L. Grothe (PJ), saved the crew, Maj. L. Boothby (P) and McKinney (CP) of an F-4D (Call sign "Spitfire 02") after they ejected from their 57mm AAA damaged aircraft about thirty-five miles south of Udorn RTAFB, Thailand. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1967 - September 20 | A HH-3E from the 37th ARRS, Da Nang AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. John B. McTasney (P), Capt. Jerry D. Clearman (CP), SSgt. Arthur T. Brand (FM) and A1C Walter A. White III (PJ), rescued a wounded USMC troop, Cpl. Michael Wolf, from a ground team (Call sign "Charge Sheet") in contact in RVN. No other details are known at this time. "PJ's in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1967 - September 21 | UH-1F #65-7923 from the 20th HS "Green Hornets", crewed by Capt. Raymond E. Hoffmann (P), 1st Lt. James W, Berka (CP), SSgt. Richard L. Synder (FM/AG) and Sgt. Francis M. Fisher (FM/AG) crashed in a White Castle Special Forces camp training LZ near FOB-2, Kontum, RVN. The crew survived, with Capt. Hoffman and 1st Lt. Berka having very serious injuries and they were airlifted back to the CONUS. One Montagnard soldier was killed in this accident. http://hupi.org/map/vietnam/helicopt.html & http:/www.helis.com/database/modelorg/338/ & http://www.mh-53pavelow.com/documents/20thSOS/1967.pdf |
| 1967 - September 23 | A HH-43B from Det. 3, 38th ARRS, Ubon RTAFB, Thailand, crewed by Maj. Glenn M. Marks (P), A1C James M. Payne (MT), A1C Cyrus G. Hartwell (FF) and A1C David U. Meade (FF), saved the pilot of a F-105D (Call sign "Ozark 01"), Maj. Donald S. Aunapu, when he ejected near Korat RTAFB, Thailand after his aircraft was hit by 85mm AAA fire near Ban Katoi, about 30 miles northwest of the DM. JRCC Save Form |
| 1967 - September 23 | Two HH-43B’s from Det. 3, 38th ARRS, Ubon RTAFB, Thailand, one crewed by 1st Lt. Thomas E. Kullgren (P), A1C James M. Payne (MT), A1C Hoke Johnson (FF) and A1C Donald E. Hale (FF), and the second crewed by Maj. Glen M. Marks (P), 1st Lt. John R. Bland Jr. (CP), A1C Herbert H. Gentry Jr. (FE), A1C James M. Payne (MT), A1C Donald E. Hale (FF), and A1C Donald W. Jowers (FF) were involved in the rescue of two crews of aircraft that had collided in mid-air. Kaman Rotor Tips magazine. |
| 1967 - September 25 | A HH-43F from Det. 9, 38th ARRS, Pleiku AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Keith H. Hicks (P), Capt. Robert L. Osborne (CP), SSgt. Arthur L. Wood (FM) and A2C David B. Ortiz (PJ) rescued five USA troops from a downed USA UH-1B helicopter, W/O-1 J. J. Foden, 1st Lt. F. W. LaRoue, SP4 J. C. Russell, SP4 E. Bennett and Capt. M. R. Caurer, in RVN. No other details are known at this time. "PJ's in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form |
| 1967 - September 26 | A HH-3E from the 37th ARRS, Da Nang AB, RVN, crewed by 1st Lt. Rodney G. Parks (P), Capt. Robert E. Hicks (CP), William D. Willingham (FM) and Sgt. Charles P. Vogely (PJ) unsuccessfully attempted the rescue of the crew, Maj. P. M. Cole (P) and 1st Lt. Harold John Moe (CP) of a USMC F-4B (Call sign "Castor Oil 195") after they ejected from their enemy ground fire damaged aircraft over the South China Sea about seven miles of the coast of the DMZ. Maj. Cole was recovered by a USN ship, but Lt. Moe had a 'streamer chute' and was KIA. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "PJ's in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1967 - September 26 | A HH-43B from Det. 3, 38th ARRS, Ubon RTAFB, Thailand, crewed by 1st Lt. T. E. Kullgren (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FM) and unkn (PJ), saved the crew of a F-4D, D. J. Ankeny (P) and Lt. J. D. Mynar (WSO), when their aircraft crashed in Thailand due to pilot error. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "PJ's in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1967 - September 26 | A HH-43F from Det. 8, 38th ARRS, Cam Ranh Bay AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Eugene H. Boortz (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FM) and unkn (PJ), saved one Vietnamese civilian, Nguyan T. Phuong in RVN. No other details are available currently. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form |
| 1967 - September 27 | A HH-3E #66-13279 (Call sign “Jolly Green 26”) from the 37th ARRS, Da Nang AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Richard R. Mulder (P), 1st Lt. Mark H. Mutchier (CP), SSgt. John H. Hazzard Jr. (FM) and A2C Michael B. Gallasch (PJ), rescued the pilot of a USMC A-4E (Call sign "Chain 146"), Maj. Gerald L. Ellis, after he ejected from his AAA fire damaged aircraft over the Gulf Of Tonkin about 5 miles off the coast of the DMZ. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "PJ's in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & 37th ARRS Logbook 6 Aug 67 to 31 Dec 67 |
| 1967 - September 29 | A HH-3E #66-13281 (Call sign “Jolly Green 28”) from the 37th ARRS, Da Nang AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Richard R. Mulder (P), Capt. John S. Baughman (CP), SSgt. Robert H. Baldwin (FM) and A1C Ricky D. Hindman (PJ), rescued three wounded USMC troops, D. L. MacArthur, B. E. Freeland and LCpl. L. B. Kelso, from a ground team (Call sign "Phoenix") in contact in RVN. Also recovered was LCpl. R. Wallbrook KIA. No other details are available currently. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & 37th ARRS Logbook 6 Aug 67 to 31 Dec 67 |
| 1967 - September 29 | A HH-3E #66-13282 (Call sign “Jolly Green 29”) from the 37th ARRS, Da Nang AB, RVN, crewed by unkn (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FM) and unkn (PJ), rescued the pilot of a USMC F-4B, Lt. Col. Kenny C. Palmer, after they ejected from their ground fire damaged aircraft at sea just off the coast of the DMZ. The co-pilot, Capt. Charles S. Cahaskie was rescued by a Navy frigate. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & 37th ARRS Logbook 6 Aug 67 to 31 Dec 67 |
| 1967 - September 29 | A HH-3E from the 37th ARRS, Da Nang AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Richard R. Mulder (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FM), unkn (PJ) and unkn (PJ), rescued the co-pilot (name unkn) of a USMC TA-4F, after he and Maj. Cullen George Starnes (P), crashed on landing at Chu Lai AB, RVN. Maj. Starnes was killed in the crash. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "PJ's in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1967 - October 01 | A HH-43F from Det. 10, 38th ARRS, Binh Thuy AB, RVN, crewed by Maj. Harold Pickering (P), 1st Lt. Granville B. Goza III (CP), A1C Bernard L. Touchette (FM) and A1C Ronald E. Sholes (PJ), rescued the pilot of a OV-1B (Call sing "Delta Hawk 32"), Capt. J. P. Ratliff, after he ejected from his aircraft in RVN. "PJ's in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form |
| 1967 - October 02 | A HH-43B from Det. 6, 38th ARRS, Bien Hoa AB, RVN, crewed by Maj. James F. Okonek (P), Capt. Sheridan K. Hawk (CP), SSgt. Richard D. Almond (FM), and A1C Roger A. Porter (PJ), medevacked a MACV troop, SP4 Marion R. Smith, in RVN. The ‘high’ bird on this mission was crewed by Capt. Charles W. Rurridge (P), Capt. Joseph K. Dennis (CP) [from Det. 14], A1C Walter H. Westbrook (FE) [from Det. 14], SSgt. Donald S. Keaton II (FE) and no other details are available currently. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form |
| 1967 - October 02 | A HH-3E from Det. 1, 37th ARRS, Nakhon Phanom RTAFB, Thailand, crewed by Maj. Gerald C. Haynes (P), 1st Lt. James B. Barton (CP), SSgt. Vincent D. Androwsky (FM) and A1C Roy A. Taylor (PJ), rescued the crew of a RF-4C (Call sign "Lotto 01"), Maj. L. F. Brown (P) and Maj. D. M. Miller (CP), after they ejected from their aircraft in Thailand when their engines flamed out. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "PJ's in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form |
| 1967 - October 03 | A HH-3E from Det. 1, 37th ARRS, Nakhon Phanom RTAFB, Thailand, RVN, crewed by Maj. Gregory A. M. Etzel (P), Capt. Johnnie H. Hall (CP), SSgt. Theodore A. Zerbe (FM), Sgt. Michael R. Fraboni (PJ) and John H. Munson (AP), rescued the crew of a F-4D (Call sign "Spitfire 01"), Maj. Joseph D. Moore (P) and 1st Lt. S. B. Gulbrandson (CP), when they ejected in Laos, near the NVN border SW of Hanoi, after their aircraft was damaged by an air-to-air missile fired by a MiG-21. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "PJ's in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1967 - October 03 | A HH-3E #66-13289 (Call sign “Jolly Green 03”) from the 37th ARRS, Da Nang AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Richard R. Mulder (P), Gerald H. MacDonald (CP), TSgt. Louie E. Bond (FM) and Sgt. Martin E. Roepstorff (PJ) unsuccessfully attempted the rescue the pilot, Lt. Col. Ronald Runyon King, of a F-105D (Call sign "Scotch 02") after his aircraft ran out of fuel and crashed in the Gulf Of Tonkin. Col. King was KIA in the crash. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "PJ's in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & Mission Message OL-1-3-154 03 Oct 67 & Mission Narrative Report (1-3-154, 3 Oct 67) 6 Oct 1967 |
| 1967 - October 03 | A HH-43B from Det. 14, 38th ARRS, Tan Son Nhut AB, RVN, crewed by 1st Lt. Phillip L. Rice Sr. (P), Joseph K. Dennis (CP), Orby F. Whitaker (FM) and Jerry R. Evans (PJ) unsuccessfully attempted the rescue of the crew of a U-10B that was down in RVN. No other details are known at this time. "PJ's in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1967 - October 04 | A HH-43F from Det. 6, 38th ARRS, Bien Hoa AB, RVN, crewed by Maj. James F. Okonek (P), Sheridan K. Hawk (CP), Donald S. Kearton II (FM) and A1C Terrance A. Treutel (PJ), unsuccessfully attempted the rescue of the pilot of a U-10B, Capt. David Hartzler Zook, after his aircraft was involved in a mid-air collision and crashed about five miles west of the village of Ben Cat while he was on a leaflet dropping mission near Lai Khe, 20 miles north of Saigon. Capt. Zook was KIA and was not recovered. No other details are known at this time. JRCC Save Form |
| 1967 - October 04 | A HH-3E from Det. 1, 37th ARRS, Nakhon Phanom RTAFB, Thailand, crewed by Lt. Col. Warner A. Britton (P), Maj. Harold Wagner (CP), A1C William J. Jaynes (FM) and A2C Randy S. McComb (PJ), unsuccessfully attempted the rescue of the pilot of a T-28, (Call sign "Yellow Flight 01"), name unkn, in Laos. No other details are known at this time. JRCC Save Form |
| 1967 - October 04 | A HH-3E from Det. 1, 37th ARRS, Nakhon Phanom RTAFB, Thailand, crewed by 1st Lt. James A. Colyer (P), 1st Lt. Edward J. Sichterman Jr. (CP), SSgt. Carl L. Warmack (FM) and Sgt. Patrick F. Allaire (PJ), unsuccessfully attempted the rescue of the pilot of a T-28, (Call sign "Yellow Flight 02"), name unkn, in Laos. No other details are known at this time. JRCC Save Form |
| 1967 - October 05 | A HH-3E #66-13289 (Call sign “Jolly Green 03”) from the 37th ARRS, Da Nang AB, RVN, crewed by Maj. Herbert D. Kalen (P), Capt. Edward W. Hutchison (CP), SSgt. Paul D. Kreider (FM) and TSgt. John L. Hennessey (PJ) was involved in a rescue of USMC troop, John Reason, in RVN. No other details are available currently. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form & 37th ARRS Logbook 6 Aug 67 to 31 Dec 67 |
| 1967 - October 05 | A HH-43F #64-1759 (Call sign "Pedro 99") from Det. 12, 38th ARRS at Nha Trang AB, RVN, crewed by Maj. James W. Langston (P), Major Maddox (CP), Jim Ferguson (FM), Sgt. Jerard “Jerry” Pearson (PJ), A2C Louis C. Felker (PJ), were returning to Nha Trang AB after a routine flight to Cam Ranh Bay AB, RVN to pick up, newly arrived, Maj. Maddox (CP) and A2C Louis C. “Craig” Felker (PJ). They were flying at about 750 feet over the water about a half mile offshore when the engine quit. Maj. Langston took the controls and auto-rotated, just reaching the beach and the helicopter hit a sand dune and rolled over. All crewmembers exited the helicopter, with only one minor injury, and were soon picked up by a HH-43F from the Cam Ranh Bay rescue detachment. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1967 - October 05 | A HH-43F from Det. 8, 38th ARRS, Cam Ranh Bay AB, RVN, crew unkn, rescued the crew, Maj. James W. Langston (P), Major Maddox (CP), Jim Ferguson (FM), Sgt. Jerard “Jerry” Pearson (PJ), A2C Louis C. “Craig” Felker (PJ) and one other unkn, of a Nha Trang AB, RVN HH-43F that had experienced an engine failure and crash on the beach north of Cam Ranh Bay. "PJ's in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1967 - October 06 | A HH-3E #66-13281 (Call sign “Jolly Green 28”) from the 37th ARRS, Da Nang AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Standley A. McGhan (P), Capt. John I. Patterson (CP), SSgt. Robert H. Baldwin (FM) and A2C Richard H. Garlie (PJ) unsuccessfully attempted the rescue of a F-105D (Call sign "Ozark 01") pilot, Maj. Robert Warren Barnett, after his aircraft was damaged by a SAM and he ejected close to Uong Bi, about fifteen miles northeast of Haiphong, NVN on October 03, 1967. It turned out this attempt was a SAR trap and Maj. Barnett had become a POW on October 05, 1967. Other HH-3E’s involved in this mission were # 66-13289 (Call sign “Jolly Green 03) crewed by Maj. Herbert D. Kalen (P), 1st Lt. William A. McKenney (CP), SSgt. Arthur T. Brand (FE) and A2C Steve M. Northern (PJ) and #66-13283 (Call sign “Jolly Green 30”) crewed by Capt. Fred H. Otte (P), Capt. Ernest B. Betancourt Jr. (CP), SSgt. Wildon E. Cavano (FE) and A2C Donald K. Claudius (PJ). "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & 37th ARRS Mission Narrative Report (1-3-155, 6 October 1967 |
| 1967 - October 06 | A HH-43F from Det. 9, 38th ARRS, Pleiku AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Jack V. Butler (P), Capt. Robert L. Osborne (CP), A1C David R. Berrio (PJ), Eric W. Nielson (FF) and A1C Felipe A. Quiroz (FF), was involved in a rescue of USA troop, 2nd Lt. E. Science, from a downed UH-1C helicopter in RVN The FSK kit was used during this rescue and one injured Vietnamese Fire Fighter was also medevacked during this mission. No other details are available currently. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form |
| 1967 - October 06 | A HH-43F from Det. 9, 38th ARRS, Pleiku AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Jack V. Butler (P), Capt. Robert L. Osborne (CP), A1C David R. Berrio (PJ), A1C Eric W. Nelson (FF) and A1C Felipe A. Quiroz (FF), was involved in a medevacked of Vietnamese civilian, Ngugen Thiet. No other details are available currently. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form |
| 1967 - October 06 | A HH-43F from Det. 11, 38th ARRS, Tuy Hoa AB, RVN, crewed by Maj. John J. Elliff (P), 1st Lt. James P. F. Egbert (CP), SSgt William O. Johnson (FM) and SSgt Thomas H. Miller (FF), was involved in a save of Vietnamese civilian, Vo Bien in RVN. No other details are available currently. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form |
| 1967 - October 06 | A UH-1P gunship crewed by Maj. Chester Perkin Brown, unkn (CP), unkn (AG) and unkn (AG) along with other UH-1P gunships (crews unkn) was involved in the attempted rescue of A-1E pilot, Maj. Frank Alton Armstrong, after his aircraft crashed from 12.7 anti-aircraft damage. Maj. Armstrong was not seen to eject and was KIA. Maj. Chester P. Brown was awarded the Silver Star for his actions during this mission. Military Times Hall Of Valor website |
| 1967 - October 06 | A HH-43B from Det. 4, 38th ARRS at Korat RTAFB, Thailand, crewed by Maj. Pasco S. Parker (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FM) and unkn (PJ), saved the crew of a F-105F, Maj. J. H. Reddoch (P) and Capt. R. K. Wilson, when the drag chute failed and the aircraft ran off the runway at Korat RTAFB, Thailand. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & JRCC Save Form |
| 1967 - October 06 | A HH-43B from Det. 3, 38th ARRS, Ubon RTAFB, Thailand, crewed by Maj. Glenn M. Marks (P), 1st Lt. Fred M. Ayoub (CP), A2C Charles T. McSweeney (FM), SSgt. John A. N. Yarwood (MT), A1C Donald E. Hale (FF) and A1C Donald W. Jowers (FF), saved the crew of a F-4C, 1st Lt. J. L. Fuller Jr. (P) and 1st Lt. J. E. Nicholson (WSO), when their aircraft crashed on take-off at Ubon RTAFB, Thailand. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & JRCC Save Form |
| 1967 - October 07 | A HH-3E #66-13282 (Call sign “Jolly Green 29”) crewed by unkn (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ) was scrambled to perform a medivac mission, picked up the man and delivered him to Charlie Medical. No other details are known at this time. 37th ARRS Logbook 6 Aug 67 to 31 Dec 67 |
| 1967 - October 07 | A HH-43F from Det. 7, 38th ARRS, Da Nang AB, RVN, crewed by unkn (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FM), unkn (PJ) and unkn (PJ), utilized their FSK to save the pilot of an F-8, in RVN. No other details are known at this time. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "PJ's in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1967 - October 07 | A HH-3E from the 37th ARRS, Da Nang AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Standley A. McGhan (P), 1st Lt. Warren E. Walter (CP), A1C William L. Carroll (FM) and Sgt. James D. Locker (PJ) unsuccessfully attempted the rescue of a F-105D (Call sign "Pistol 01") pilot, Maj. Wayne Eugene Fullam, after his aircraft was damaged by 85mm AAA fire and he ejected about thirty miles east of Kep, NVN. It turned out this attempt was a SAR trap and Maj. Fullam was KIA. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "PJ's in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1967 - October 07 | A HH-3E from Det. 1, 37th ARRS, Nakhon Phanom RTAFB, Thailand, crewed by Capt. Henry C. Conant (P), Maj. Louis D. Yuhas (CP), SSgt. Harvey W. Keyes (FM) and SSgt. Roy A. Taylor (PJ) unsuccessfully attempted the rescue of a F-4D (Call sign "Falcon 01") crew, Maj. Ivan Dale Appleby (P) and Capt. William Renwick Austin (WSO), after their aircraft was damaged by SAM and crashed about thirty-five miles southwest of Hanoi, NVN. Only one chute was observed, and Capt. Austin became a POW and Maj. Appleby was KIA. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1967 - October 07 | A HH-43F, from Det. 7, 38th ARRS, Da Nang AB, RVN, crewed by Maj. W. E. Kline (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FM) and unkn (PJ), rescued the co-pilot of a F-105F (Call sign "Warhawk 01 Bravo"), Capt. George L. Shamblee (P) after he and his pilot, Capt. Joseph D. Howard (CP), ejected over the South China Sea about 75 miles north of Da Nang AB, RVN, after their aircraft was damaged by an air-to-air missile fired by a MiG-21. The pilot, Capt. Joseph D. Howard, was rescued by a Marine Corps helicopter. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "PJ's in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1967 - October 08 | A HH-43F from Det. 9, 38th ARRS, Pleiku AB, RVN, crewed by Maj. Richard A. Smith (P), Capt. Robert L. Osborne (CP), SSgt. Paul W. Noble (FM) and Sgt. David R. Berrio (PJ), rescued the WSO of a F-4C (Call sign "Boxer 12 Bravo"), Lt. Col. Earle G. Weaver, after he and the pilot, 1st Lt. David E. Wieland, ejected in RVN after both engines flamed out simultaneously. 1st Lt. Wieland was KIA, (see next entry). "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "PJ's in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1967 - October 08 | A HH-43F from Det. 9, 38th ARRS, Pleiku AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Jack V. Butler (P), Capt. Francis B. Gilligan (CP), SSgt. Arthur L. Wood (FM) and A2C David B. Ortiz (PJ), attempted to rescue the pilot of a F-4C (Call sign "Boxer 12 Alpha"), 1st Lt. David E. Wieland, when his aircraft was involved with a mid-air collision with another F-4C and he ejected, however he was KIA. (See previous entry). "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "PJ's in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form |
| 1967 - October 08 | A HH-43B from Det. 3, 38th ARRS, Ubon RTAFB, Thailand, crewed by Maj. Glenn M. Marks (P), 1st Lt. Fred M. Ayoub (CP), A2C Charles T. McSweeney (FM), SSgt. John A. N. Yarwood (MT), A1C Donald E. Hale (FF) and A1C Donald W. Jowers (FF), rescued the crew of a F-4C, Capt. D. R. Calvert (P) and 1st Lt. J. V. McNabb Jr. (WSO), when their aircraft was involved with a mid-air collision with another F-4C and they ejected. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "PJ's in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form & Kaman Rotor Tips, page 23, Nov-Dec 66 |
| 1967 - October 09 | A UH-1F of the 20th Helicopter Squadron, crewed by unkn (P), unkn (CP) unkn (FM) and Sgt. William "Bill" Harding, extracted a MACV SOG recon team, who was under enemy fire, in a nighttime rope ladder hover. No other details are known at this time. Sgt. Harding was awarded the DFC medal for his actions on this mission. "Secret Green Beret Commandos In Cambodia" by Lt. Col. Fred S. Lindsey, USA (Ret.) |
| 1967 - October 10 | A HH-3E #66-13279 (Call sign “Jolly Green 26”) from the 37th ARRS, Da Nang AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Walter R. Blackwell (P), 1st Lt. Robert Levins III (CP), TSgt. Robert Q. Rector (FM) and Donald J. Boushelle (PJ), medevacked, LCpl. D. J. Legalley (Call sign "Beacon Light Bravo"), a ground party troop in contact in RVN. No other details are available currently. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & 37th ARRS Logbook 6 Aug 67 to 31 Dec 67 |
| 1967 - October 10 | A HH-43F from Det. 1, 38th ARRS, Phan Rang AB, RVN, crewed by 1st Lt. Gary L. Gross (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FM) and SSgt Vincent L. Davis (MT) rescued an unkn foreign troop in RVN. No other details are known at this time. JRCC Save Form |
| 1967 - October 11 | A HH-43F from Det. 6, 38th ARRS, Bien Hoa AB, RVN, crewed by unkn (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FM) and A1C Terrance A. Treutel (PJ) rescued three USA troops from a UH-1 down in RVN. No other details are known at this time. JRCC Save Form |
| 1967 - October 12 | A HH-3E #66-13282 (Call sign “Jolly Green 29”) from the 37th ARRS, Da Nang AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Gerald O. Young (P), Capt. Edward W. Hutchinson (CP), SSgt. John H. Hazzard Jr. (FM) and Sgt. Charles P. Vogeley (PJ), rescued USMC Lt. Col. G. F. Garrant, Maj. E. J. Action, 2nd Lt. T. M. Kenyon and Crpl. M. W. Miller, from a USMC UH-1E that had gone down in RVN. No other details are available currently. "PJ's in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form & 37th ARRS Logbook 6 Aug 67 to 31 Dec 67 |
| 1967 - October 13 | A UH-1P gunship crewed by Maj. Chester Perkin Brown (P), Capt. Michael R. Armstrong (CP), unkn (AG) and unkn (AG) along with other UH-1P gunships (crews unkn) was involved in the rescue a seven-man assault party who were surrounded and under fire. After several low-level rocket and gun passes to break the attack, an after the assault party moved to a new location, Maj. Brown jettisoned his remaining ammunition and made an unarmed landing to rescue the remaining members of the assault party. Maj. Chester P. Brown was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross for his actions during this mission. Military Times Hall of Valor website |
| 1967 - October 13 | A HH-3E #66-13289 (Call sign “Jolly Green 03”) from the 37th ARRS, Da Nang AB, RVN, crewed by unkn (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FM) and unkn (PJ) unsuccessfully attempted the rescue of a USMC F-4B (Call sign "Black Ace 175") crew, Lt. Col. Edison Wainwright Miller (P) and 1st Lt. James Howie Warner (CP), after their aircraft was damaged by a 37mm AAA fire and they ejected close to Cap Mui Lay in the DMZ. Col. Miller and Lt. Warner become a POW's before they could be rescued. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "PJ's in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & 37th ARRS Logbook 6 Aug 67 to 31 Dec 67 & 37th ARRS Logbook 6 Aug 67 to 31 Dec 67 |
| 1967 - October 14 | A HH-3E #66-13289 (Call sign, “Jolly Green 03”) from the 37th ARRS, Da Nang AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. William E. Brennan (P), 1st Lt. Warren E. Walter (CP), SSgt. Smith Williams Jr. (FM) and Sgt. Joseph S. Stanaland (PJ), attempted to medevac 12 USMC troops in contact, but was shot off the attempt in RVN. No other details are available currently. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form & 37th ARRS Logbook 6 Aug 67 to 31 Dec 67 |
| 1967 - October 14 | A HH-3E #66-13278 (Call sign, “Jolly Green 25”) from the 37th ARRS, Da Nang AB, RVN, crewed by 1st Lt. Rodney G. Parks (P), Capt. Robert E. Hicks Jr. (CP), SSgt. John H. Hazzard Jr. (FM) and Richard H. Garlie (PJ), attempted to medevac 12 USMC troops in contact, but was shot off the attempt in RVN. No other details are available at this time. "PJ's in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form & 37th ARRS Logbook 6 Aug 67 to 31 Dec 67 |
| 1967 - October 15 | A HH-3E #66-13279 (Call sign, “Jolly Green 26”) from the 37th ARRS, Da Nang AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Fred H. Otte (P), Capt. Ernest B. Betancourt, Jr. (CP), SSgt. Smith Williams Jr. (FM) and A1C Rodger A. Klenovich (PJ), rescued the pilot of a F-4C (Call sign "Stilletto 01 Alpha), Col. Robert W. Maloy (P) after he and his co-pilot (Call sign "Stilletto 01 Bravo), Capt. William S. Paul (CP), ejected from their AAA fire damaged aircraft over the Gulf of Tonkin, about 5 miles off the coast of Dong Hoi, NVN. (See next entry). "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "PJ's in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & 37th ARRS Logbook 6 Aug 67 to 31 Dec 67 |
| 1967 - October 15 | A HH-3E #66-13290 (Call sign, “Jolly Green 04”) from the 37th ARRS, Da Nang AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Thomas E. Bair (P), 1st Lt. Mark H. Mutchler (CP), A1C Charles M. Harris (FM) and A2C Peter H. Eyrich (PJ), rescued the co-pilot of a F-4C (Call sign “Stilletto 01 Bravo”), Capt. William S. Paul (CP) after he and his pilot, Col. Robert W. Maloy (P), ejected from their AAA fire damaged aircraft over the Gulf Of Tonkin, about 5 miles off the coast of Dong Hoi, NVN. (See previous entry). "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "PJ's in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & 37th ARRS Logbook 6 Aug 67 to 31 Dec 67 |
| 1967 - October 16 | A HH-43F from Det. 6, 38th ARRS, Bien Hoa AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. James A. Darden Jr. (P), 1st Lt. Jon C. Long (CP), SSgt. Donald S. Keaton II (FM) and A1C Terrence A. Treutel (PJ), rescued three USA troops from a UH-1 that had gone down in RVN. No other details are available currently. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1967 - October 16 | A HH-43B from Det. 4, 38th ARRS, Korat RTAFB, Thailand, crewed by Capt. Clarence G. Lunt (P), Capt. John H. Canfield (CP), Joseph B. Carrington (FM), J. E. Belanger (MT) and unkn (FS), rescued the pilot of a F-105D (Call sign "Vega 04"), Capt. William W. Butler, after his aircraft developed landing gear problems on takeoff and he was forced to eject. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & JRCC Save Form |
| 1967 - October 16 | A HH-43F from Det. 7, 38th ARRS, Da Nang AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. George R. Andrews (P), 2nd Lt. Michael L. Walker (CP), SSgt Daniel M. Palmer (FM) and unkn (PJ), rescued the pilot, Maj. M. H. Alexander, of a O-1E after his aircraft was hit by ground fire and crashed while attempting to land at and airstrip near An Hoa, about seventeen miles south of Da Nang AB, RVN. No other details are available currently. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & JRCC Save Form & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1967 - October 17 | A HH-3E #65-12780 (Call sign “Jolly Green 07”) from the 37th ARRS, Da Nang AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Richard C. Mulder (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FM) and unkn (PJ) rescued the crew of a downed USA UH-1D helicopter, W/O Richard H. Tuke, W/O James M. Wilbur, PFC Roy L. Larson and SP4 Paul E. Leffler. No other details are known at this time. JRCC Save Form & 37th ARRS Logbook 6 Aug 67 to 31 Dec 67 |
| 1967 - October 17 | A HH-43F from Det. 11, 38th ARRS, Tuy Hoa AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. John E. Passant (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FM) and unkn (PJ) rescued the crew of a USAF O-1E, Capt. T. N. Pattie and Capt. K. D. Krehbiel in RVN. No other details are known at this time. JRCC Save Form |
| 1967 - October 18 | A HH-3E, #65-12780 (Call sign “Jolly Green 07”) from the 37th ARRS crewed by Capt. John B. McTasney (P), Capt. John S. Baughman (CP), unkn (FM) and unkn (PJ), rescued the pilot of a RF-101C, Maj. Nicholas A. Pishvanov, after he ejected from his ground fire damaged aircraft over the Ho Chi Minh Trail in southern Laos. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & 37th ARRS Logbook 6 Aug 67 to 31 Dec 67 |
| 1967 - October 21 | A HH-43F from Det. 10, 38th ARRS, Binh Thuy AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Donald E. VanMeter (P), Capt. Laurence W. Conover (CP), Sgt. Larry E. Hawkins (FM) and MSgt. Ted R. Hawkins (PJ) rescued one USN sailor in contact in RVN. No other details are available currently. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1967 - October 23 | A UH-1F slick of the 20th HS, crewed by Capt. Richard E. Monroe (P), unkn (CP) SSgt. James W. Burns (FM) and unkn (AG), supported by two UH-1P gunships of the 20th HS, one crewed by Capt. Michael R. Armstrong (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FM) and unkn (AG) and the other crewed by unkn (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FM) and unkn (AG), rescued a seven-man MACV SOG team that was surrounded and under heavy enemy fire. One of the supporting gunships was piloted by Capt. Michael Armstrong, the other crew members are unkn. Military Times Hall of Valor website & "Secret Green Beret Commandos In Cambodia" by Lt. Col. Fred S. Lindsey, USA (Ret.) |
| 1967 - October 23 | A HH-53B (Call sign "Quad 13") from Det. 2, 40th ARRS, Udorn RTAFB, Thailand, crewed by Capt. Russell L. Cayler (P), 1st Lt, Joseph A. Panza Jr. (CP), Sgt. Gene A. Sellers (FM), MSgt. Howard T. Favor (PJ) and Sgt. Alan N. Thompson (PJ, rescued the pilot of a F-105D (Call sign “Wildcat 01”), Maj. Earl W. Freeman Jr., after he ejected from his aircraft when it and another F-105D had a mid-air collision southwest of Udorn RTAFB, Thailand. This was a non-combat save but it was the FIRST rescue in SEA by the newly arrived HH-53B helicopters. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson |
| 1967 - October 23 | A HH-3E from Det. 1, 37th ARRS, Nakhon Phanom RTAFB, Thailand, crewed by Maj. Gerald C. Haynes (P), 1st Lt. James H. Platt (CP), SSgt. Harvey W. Keyes (FM) and TSgt. Charley D. Smith (PJ), attempted the rescue of the pilot of a F-105D (Call sign "Wildcat 02"), Maj. Rodney W. McLean., after he ejected from his aircraft when it and another F-105D had a mid-air collision southwest of Udorn RTAFB, Thailand. Maj. McLean was KIA. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1967 - October 24 | A HH-43F from Det. 11, 38th ARRS, Tuy Hoa AB, RVN, crewed by Lt. Col. J. Logan Fagner (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FM) and unkn (PJ) rescued the crew of an O-1E, 1st Lt. W. Lendeerman III and 1st Lt. J. W. Welch in RVN. No other details are known at this time. JRCC Save Form |
| 1967 - October 25 | A UH-1F of the 20th HS, crewed by Maj. Tom Garcia (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FM) and unkn (AG), along with another UH-1F, crew unkn, extracted a MACV SOG recon team using the McGuire Rig ropes. No other details are known at this time. "Secret Green Beret Commandos In Cambodia" by Lt. Col. Fred S. Lindsey, USA (Ret.) |
| 1967 - October 25 | A UH-1F from the 20th HS, crewed by unkn (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FM) and unkn (AG), extracted a MACV SOG recon team with two injured team members. "Secret Green Beret Commandos In Cambodia" by Lt. Col. Fred S. Lindsey, USA (Ret.) |
| 1967 - October 25 | A flight of UH-1F/Ps from the 20th HS, crew’s unkn, inserted MACV SOG recon team "RT Hammer" into a landing zone in Laos. No other details are known at this time. "Secret Green Beret Commandos In Cambodia" by Lt. Col. Fred S. Lindsey, USA (Ret.) |
| 1967 - October 26 | A flight of UH-1F/Ps from the 20th HS, crew’s unkn, extracted MACV SOG recon team "RT Hammer" from a landing zone in Laos. No other details are known at this time. "Secret Green Beret Commandos In Cambodia" by Lt. Col. Fred S. Lindsey, USA (Ret.) |
| 1967 - October 26 | A HH-3E from Det. 1, 37th ARRS, Nakhon Phanom RTAFB, Thailand, crewed by Maj. Gerald C. Haynes (P), 1st Lt. James H. Platt (CP), A2C Daniel L. Allen (FM) and Sgt. Joseph M. Duffy (PJ), rescued the pilot, Sanchi, of a T-28, after his aircraft went down in Laos. Following the rescue, "Jolly Green 37" had to make a single engine landing at a nearby LS in Laos where it was secured and later repaired. (See entry below). No other details are known at this time. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Laos |
| 1967 - October 26 | A HH-3E from Det. 1, 37th ARRS, Nakhon Phanom RTAFB, Thailand, crewed by Capt. Henry C. Conant (P), Maj. Dean H. Williams Jr. (CP), SSgt. James T. Brooks (FM) and A2C John Pighini (PJ) picked up the crew, Maj. Gerald C. Haynes (P), 1st Lt. James H. Platt (CP), A2C Daniel L. Allen (FM) and Sgt. Joseph M. Duffy (PJ), of "Jolly Green 37" after they had picked up a T-28 pilot but had to make a single engine landing at a nearby LS in Laos. The HH-3E was secured for later repairs. (See entry above). "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1967 - October 26 | A USAF helicopter, crewed by unkn (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FM) and unkn (PJ), attempted the unsuccessful rescue of a USN A-4E pilot, Lt. Cmdr. John Sidney McCain when his aircraft was hit by a SA-2 SAM, and he ejected over Hanoi and became a POW before he could be rescued. No other details are known at this time. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Laos |
| 1967 - October 27 | HH-3E #66-13283 (Call sign "Jolly Green 30") of the 37th ARRS, Da Nang AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Richard R. Mulder (P), 1st Lt. Warren E. Walter (CP), SSgt. Warren E. Walter (FM), SSgt. Smith J. Williams (FM) and A2C Michael L. Walker (PJ), was on a CSAR mission over Laos when it was hit in the engine by ground fire while hovering and crashed. Aircraft was destroyed by bombing. Survivors and the ground party were rescued by HH-3E (Call sign "Jolly Green 07"). (See next entry) http://www.jollygreen.org/jltnc.htm & http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/37th_Aerospace_Rescue_and_Recovery_Squadron#Operations_and_losses |
| 1967 - October 27 | HH-3E #65-12780 (Call sign "Jolly Green 07") from the 37th ARRS, Da Nang AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Gerald O. Young (P), Capt. Ernest B. Bentancourt Jr. (CP), TSgt. Robert Q. Rector (FM) and SSgt. John H. Stemple (PJ), rescued the crew of HH-3E #66-13283, Capt. Richard R. Mulder (P), 1st Lt. Warren E. Walter (CP), SSgt. Warren E. Walter (FM), SSgt. Smith Williams Jr. (FM) and A2C Michael L. Walker (PJ), after their helicopter was hit in the engine by ground fire while hovering and crashed. Aircraft was destroyed by bombing. (See previous entry.) "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & http://www.jollygreen.org/jltnc.htm & http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/37th_Aerospace_Rescue_and_Recovery_Squadron#Operations_and_losses |
| 1967 - October 28 | A HH-3E from Det. 2, 37th ARRS, Udorn RTAFB, Thailand, crewed by unkn (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FF) and unkn (FF), attempted the unsuccessful rescue of the pilot, Lt. Col. Thomas Henry Kirk, of a F-105D (Call sign "Warhawk 02"), after he ejected from his AAA damaged aircraft over Van La, NVN, about ten miles south of Hanoi. Col Kirk became a POW before he could be rescued. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "PJ's in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1967 - October 28 | A HH-43B from Det. 5, 38th ARRS, Udorn RTAFB, Thailand, crewed by Capt. Wilson T. Arnold (P), 2nd Lt. Benjamin P. Lorge (CP), C. E. Mickles (FF) and J. J. Nunez (FS), rescued the pilot, 1st Lt. D. B. Waldrop, of an F-105D (Call sign "Hatchet 02"), after his aircraft developed engine problems and he ejected near Korat RTAFB, Thailand. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & JRCC Save Laos & "PJ's in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1967 - October 29 | UH-1F #65-7927 of the 20th HS, crewed by Capt. John Fiser (P), 1st Lt. John E. Graham (CP), SSgt. James W. Burns (FM) and A1C Eugene O'Leary (FM), while on the way to insert a MACV SOG recon team suffered a SDG gearbox failure when the gearbox blew up and caught fire. Capt. Fiser autorotated to a safe landing near a shallow stream bed about thirty miles into Cambodia. The crew extinguished the fire and in a short time two other 'slicks' picked up the crew and the team from the downed helicopter as the gunships in the flight orbited overhead to cover the recovery. The downed UH-1F was recovered that night and then brought back to its base of operations the next morning by a U.S. Army CH-47. "Secret Green Beret Commandos In Cambodia" by Lt. Col. Fred S. Lindsey, USA (Ret.) |
| 1967 - October 29 | A HH-3E #66-13282 (Call sign “Jolly Green 29”) from the 37th ARRS, Da Nang AB, RVN, crewed by Maj. Vernon A. Dander (P), Capt. Frank M. Zahrobsky (CP), SSgt. Elmer L. Holden (FM), A2C Peter H. Eyrich (PJ) and Maj. Herbert D. Kalen (IP), rescued the pilot of a USMC F-4B (Call sign "Black Ace 03" Alpha), Maj. Daniel L. Carroll, from the South China Sea after he and his co-pilot, Capt. James J. Hare, ejected from their ground fire damaged aircraft off the coast of Da Nang AB, RVN. Capt. Hare was rescued by a boat. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & 37th ARRS Logbook 6 Aug 67 to 31 Dec 67 & 37th ARRS Logbook 6 Aug 67 to 31 Dec 67 |
| 1967 - October 29 | A HH-43F from Det. 6, 38th ARRS, Bien Hoa AB, RVN, crewed by Maj. James F. Okonek (P), Maj. Lawrence W. Heflin (CP), SSgt. Richard D. Almond (FM) and Sgt. Roger A. Porter (PJ), rescued the pilot of an O-1E (Call sign "Walt 72"), Capt. Garet L. Nenninger, after he had crash landed his ground fire damaged aircraft about 15 miles NW of Bao Loc, RVN. The ‘high’ bird on this mission was crewed by Capt. James A. Darden (P), 1st Lt. Jon C. Long (CP), SSgt. Donald S. Kearton (FM) and A1C Terrence Treutel (PJ). "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "PJ's in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form |
| 1967 - October 31 | A HH-43F from Det. 7, 38th ARRS, Da Nang AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Robert S. Michelsen (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FM), unkn (PJ) and unkn (PJ), saved the pilot, Capt. C. Drewett, of a USMC F-8. No other details are known at this time. JRCC Save Form |
| 1967 - November 01 | A HH-43B from Det. 4, 38th ARRS, Korat RTAFB, Thailand, crewed by Capt. John A. Canfield (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FM) and unkn (PJ), medevacked a civilian, J. Shaff, in Thailand. No other details are known at this time. JRCC Save Form |
| 1967 - November 01 | A HH-43B from Det. 4, 38th ARRS, Korat RTAFB, Thailand, crewed by Capt. Clarence G. Lunt (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FM) and unkn (PJ), medevacked USA troop, SP5 L. A. Taylor, from a classified location in Thailand. No other details are known at this time. JRCC Save Form |
| 1967 - November 01 | A HH-43F from Det. 6, 38th ARRS, Bien Hoa AB, RVN, crewed by Maj. James F. Okonek (P), Lt. Col. Robert J. Kavanaugh (CP), SSgt. Robert A. Brown (FM), Billy J. Hackler (FF) and SSgt. Charles F. Salome (PJ), medevacked the pilot of a VNAF F-5A after using their FSK to rescue him from his crashed aircraft in RVN. No other details are known at this time. JRCC Save Form |
| 1967 - November 02 | A HH-43F from Det. 13, 38th ARRS, Phu Cat AB, RVN, crewed by 1st Lt. Hack (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FM) and unkn (PJ), saved USA Lt. Col. J. C. Palmer in RVN. No other details are known at this time. JRCC Save Form |
| 1967 - November 03 | A HH-3E from the 37th ARRS, Da Nang AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Thomas E. Bair (P), Capt. Gerald H. MacDonald (CP), SSgt. Jimmy L. Dodgen (FM) and Sgt. Donald K. Claudius Jr. (PJ) and Timothy P. Salsman (PJ), attempted the unsuccessful rescue of O-2A (Call sign "Covey 63") pilot, Maj. John Culbertson Egger, when his aircraft was shot down near Vinh Linh, North Vietnam. It was determined that Maj. Egger was KIA. No other details are known at this time. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "PJ's in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1967 - November 03 | A HH-43F from Det. 1, 38th ARRS, Phan Rang AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. D. M. Thomsen (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FM) and unkn (PJ), saved four USA troops (names unkn) in RVN. No other details are known at this time. JRCC Save Form |
| 1967 - November 04 | A HH-43F (Call sign "Pedro 91") from Det. 10, 38th ARRS, Binh Tuy AB, RVN, crewed by Maj. Harold Pickering (P), Capt. Albert E. Tollefsen (CP), SSgt. William L. Crawford (FM) and Sgt. Gary G. Harold (PJ) made a mid-stream rescue of 2 wounded USN troops, EN1 D. M. Lucidi and CMO3 J. T. Jaques, from their river patrol boat in RVN. "PJ's in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form |
| 1967 - November 04 | A HH-43F from Det. 10, 38th ARRS, Binh Tuy AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Laurence W. Conover (P), Capt. William J. Haugen (CP), Sgt. Larry E. Hawkins (FM) and A2C James L. Parks (PJ), rescued a wounded USN Seal, IM Chief J. C. Tipton, in RVN. "PJ's in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form |
| 1967 - November 05 | A HH-43F from Det. 1, 38th ARRS, Phan Rang AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Lamonte M. Kahler (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FM) and unkn (PJ), medevacked one Vietnamese in RVN. No other details are known at this time. JRCC Save Form |
| 1967 - November 05 | A HH-3E (Call sign “Jolly Green 37”) from Det. 1, 37th ARRS, crewed by Capt. Harry W. Walker (P), Lt. Col. Gerald B. Lowe (CP), Sgt. Russell L. O'Neal (FM), MSgt. Clarence R. Boles (PJ) and TSgt. Charley D. Smith (PJ), rescued the pilot of a F-105D (Call sign "Marlin 01"), Capt. Billy R. Sparks, after he ejected from his 57 mm AAA damaged aircraft about 16 miles south of Yen Bai, NVN. The second HH-3E involved in this mission was "Jolly Green 56", crewed by 1st Lt. James H. Platt (P), Maj. Richard A. Wagner (CP), SSgt. Hairl D. Thacker (FM) and Sgt. Joseph M. Duffy (PJ). "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "PJ's in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & 37th ARRS Mission Narrative, 5 November 1967 |
| 1967 - November 05 | A HH-43F from Det. 8, 38th ARRS, Cam Ranh Bay AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Eugene H. Boortz (P), 2nd Lt. Ronald W. Bashant (CP), Sgt. Larry E. Lancaster (FM) and Talmadge D. Anderson (MT), saved two Vietnamese civilians (names unkn) that had been in a truck accident. No other details are known at this time. JRCC Save Form |
| 1967 - November 06 | A CH-3C at Sheppard AFB, TX. undergoing a maintenance run-up rolled over and caught fire and was destroyed. Maintenance was being performed by TSgt. William Lovassure, SSgt. Maurice Sabourin, SSgt. Gene Talley, Sgt. Larry Collins, Sgt. Robert L. Dilliard and A1C Overton A. Lyle. A1C Overton A. Lyle was killed in the accident, SSgt. Sabourin was seriously burned, the other members of the maintenance team were treated and released. No other details are known at this time. AP newspaper story |
| 1967 - November 07 | A HH-3E #66-13282 (Call sign “Jolly Green 29”) from the 37th ARRS, Da Nang AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Charles Ray Dunn (P), Capt. Frank M. Zahrobsky (CP), A1C Charles M. Harris (FM) and Sgt. Joseph S. Stanaland (PJ), attempted an unsuccessful rescued of the crew of a F-4C (Call sign "Buckshot 02"), Capt. Kenneth Fisher (P) and Lt. Leon Francis Ellis (WSO), after they ejected from their 57mm AAA fire damaged aircraft about 20 miles northwest of Dong Hoi, NVN. Both Capt. Fisher and Lt. Ellis became POW's before they could be rescued. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "PJ's in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & 37th ARRS Logbook 6 Aug 67 to 31 Dec 67 |
| 1967 - November 07 | A HH-3E #66-13282 (Call sign “Jolly Green 29”) from the 37th ARRS, Da Nang AB, RVN, crewed by unkn (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FM) and unkn (PJ), attempted an unsuccessful rescued of the pilot of a F-105D (Call sign "Pistol 02"), Maj. William Calvin Diehl, after he ejected from his AAA fire damaged aircraft about 20 miles northeast of Kep, NVN. Maj. Diehl became a POW before he could be rescued, and he died in captivity. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & Rescue Information Report Message 7 Aug 67 |
| 1967 - November 08 | A HH-3E (Call sign "Jolly Green 55") from Det. 1, 37th ARRS, Nakhon Phanom RTAFB, Thailand, crewed by Capt. Righard A. Orsini (P), 1st Lt. Andrew J. Gonos (CP), Sgt. Narciso A. Otero (FM) and A1C David W. Slinger (PJ), attempted the unsuccessful rescue the WSO of a F-4D (Call sign "Olds 03 Brovo"), 1st Lt. Richard Charles Brenneman, when he and his pilot, Maj. William S. Gordon III, had been shot down by a MiG-21 and they ejected near the town of Lao Phou Van, NVN about 25 miles from the border with Laos. Lt. Brenneman became a POW. (See next entry). "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1967 - November 08 | A HH-3E (Call sign "Jolly Green ??") from Det. 1, 37th ARRS, Nakhon Phanom RTAFB, Thailand, crewed by Capt. David A. Richardson (P), 1st Lt. James B. Barton (CP), SSgt. James T. Brooks (FM) and Sgt. James T. Lombard (PJ), rescued the pilot of a F-4D (Call sign "Olds 03 Alpha"), Maj. William S. Gordon III, after he and his WSO, 1st Lt. Richard Charles Brenneman, had been shot down by a MiG-21 and they ejected near the town of Lao Phou Van, NVN about 25 miles from the border with Laos. Lt. Brenneman became a POW. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1967 - November 08 | A HH-3E #66-13290 (Call sign “Jolly Green 04”) from the 37th ARRS, Da Nang AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Walter R. Blackwell (P), Capt. Joseph H. Bowers (CP), SSgt. Robert H. Baldwin (FM), Sgt. Martin E. Roepstorff (PJ) and Thomas E. Altenburg (AP) rescued an F-100F (Call sign "Misty 02 Alpha") pilot, Capt. Charles B. Neel (P), from the Gulf of Tonkin, landing in the water beside him, after he and his co-pilot, 1st Lt. Guy Dennis Gruters had ejected from their AAA damaged aircraft a short distance off the coast of Dong Hoi, NVN and was also rescued on this mission. (See next entry). "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & 37th ARRS Logbook 6 Aug 67 to 31 Dec 67 |
| 1967 - November 08 | A HH-3E #65-12780 (Call sign “Jolly Green “07”) from the 37th ARRS, Da Nang AB, RVN, crewed by Maj. Arthur J. Anderson (P), Capt. Ernest E. Betancourt Jr. (CP), SSgt. Elmer L. Holden (FM) and A1C Ricky D. Hindman (PJ), rescued the co-pilot of a F-100F (Call sign "Misty 02 Bravo"), 1st Lt. Guy Dennis Gruters, after he and his pilot, Capt. Charles B. Neel, had ejected over the Gulf of Tonkin from their AAA damaged aircraft a short distance off the coast of Dong Hoi, NVN. (See previous entry). "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & 37th ARRS Logbook 6 Aug 67 to 31 Dec 67 |
| 1967 - November 08 | A HH-3E #66-13282 (Call sign "Jolly Green 29") from the 37th ARRS, Da Nang AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. John B. McTasney (P), Capt. Jerry D. Clearman (CP), Sgt. Alvin A. Malone (FM) and SSgt. John H. Stemple (PJ), rescued 3 members of a SOG team (Call sign "Flatfoot"), after mid-night, in Laos. "Jolly Green 29" was forced to leave the LZ due to severe damage from enemy ground fire, leaving two members of the reconnaissance team behind. The badly damaged "Jolly Green 29" was able to fly about 15 miles to the USMC base at Khe Sanh, RVN, where it made a hard landing on a road after severe rotor RPM issued developed. The crew and survivors were safely on the ground and okay. HH-3E #66-13279 (Call sign "Jolly Green 26"), crew unkn, was the 'high bird' on this mission and returned to try and rescue the other 2 Reconnaissance team members from Laos. Capt. John B. McTasney was awarded the Air Force Cross for his actions on this mission. See next entry. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & http://www.veterantributes.org/TributeDetail.php?recordID=850 |
| 1967 - November 09 | HH-3E #66-13279 (Call sign "Jolly Green 26") of the 37th ARRS at Da Nang AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Gerald O. Young (P), Capt. Ralph Wayne Brower (CP), SSgt. Eugene Lunsford Clay (FM) and Sgt. Larry Wayne Maysey (PJ) was lost while attempting to rescue an Army Reconnaissance team (Call sign "Flatfoot"), after mid-night, in Laos. Capt. Gerald O. Young's HH-3E is shot down and Capt. Ralph Wayne Brower (CP) SSgt. Eugene Lunsford Clay (FM) and Sgt. Larry Wayne Maysey (PJ) were killed in the crash. Capt. Young was badly burned; he gives aid to a survivor who also escaped from the wreckage. After 17 hours of leading enemy forces away from his injured survivor and himself. Capt. Young was rescued the next day, after E & E'ing about 5 miles away from his crash site, in an uncontested pickup buy a UH-1 helicopter. Young is later awarded the Medal of Honor for his actions. Capt. Ralph Wayne Brower, SSgt. Eugene Lunsford Clay and Sgt. Larry Wayne Maysey were awarded the Air Force Cross (Posthumously) for their actions during this mission. (See previous entry.) Air Force Magazine & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & http://www.veterantributes.org/TributeDetail.php?recordID=799 |
| 1967 - November 09 | A HH-3E from Det. 1, 37th ARRS, Nakhon Phanom RTAFB, Thailand, crewed by Maj. Gerald C. Haynes (P), 1st Lt. James B. Barton (CP), SSgt. Floyd W. Watson (FM) and A2C Randy S. McComb (PJ), attempted the unsuccessful rescue of the pilot of a F-4C (Call sign "Awol 01 Alpha"), Lt. Col. John William Armstrong, after he and his WSO (Call sign "Awol 01 Bravo"), 1st Lt. Lance Peter Sijan, had ejected from their AAA damaged aircraft as it crashed near Ban Thapachon, Laos. Col. Armstrong was KIA and Lt. Sijan became a POW, escaped and was re-captured and died while in captivity. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1967 - November 09 | A HH-43F from Det. 10, 38th ARRS, Binh Thuy AB, RVN, crewed by Maj. Harold Pickering (P), Capt. Albert E. Tollefsen (CP), SSgt. William L. Crawford (FM) and Sgt. Gary G. Harold (PJ), rescued 2 wounded USN Sailors, CMC-3 A. C. Rock, Lt. R. G. Codbegere, and a USA troop, SSgt. R. J. McGill in RVN in separate sorties. No other details are known at this time. See additional entry below. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1967 - November 09 | A HH-3E #65-12783 (Call sign "Jolly Green 15") from Det. 1, 37th ARRS, Nakhon Phanom RTAFB, Thailand, crewed by Maj. Fredrick C. Faust Jr. (P), Maj. Dean H. Williams Jr. (CP), SSgt. Carl L. Warmack (FM) and MSgt. Clarence R. Boles (PJ) attempted an unsuccessful rescue of the co-pilot of a F-4C (Call sign "Awol 01 Bravo"), 1st Lt. Lance Peter Sijan, after he was able to eject from his battle-damaged aircraft near Ban Thapachon, Laos. The crew of the Jolly Green was in radio contact with Lt. Sijan, but after over thirty minutes hovering near his position it came under heavy enemy fire and was forced to leave without rescuing Lt. Sihan who became a POW and died in captivity. The pilot of the F-4C, Lt. Col. John William Armstrong was KIA. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1967 - November 09 | A HH-3E #66-13280 (Call sign "Jolly Green 27") from Det. 1, 37th ARRS, Nakhon Phanom RTAFB, Thailand, crewed by Capt. Harry W. Walker (P), Capt. Edward W. Hutchinson (CP), SSgt. Hairl D. Thacker (FM) and Sgt. Patrick F. Allaire, attempted an unsuccessful rescue of the co-pilot of a F-4C (Call sign "Awol 01 Bravo"), 1st Lt. Lance Peter Sijan, after he was able to eject from his battle-damaged aircraft near Ban Thapachon, Laos. The crew of the Jolly Green was in radio contact with Lt. Sijan but was driven off his position when it came under heavy enemy fire and was forced to leave without rescuing Lt. Sihan who became a POW and died in captivity. The pilot of the F-4C, Lt. Col. John William Armstrong was KIA. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1967 - November 09 | A HH-43F from Det. 10, 38th ARRS, Binh Thuy AB, RVN, crewed by Maj. Harold Pickering (P), Capt. Albert E. Tollefsen (CP), SSgt. William L. Crawford (FM) Sgt. Gary G. Harold (PJ) and Charles F. Caton (FS), on a second sortie of the day rescued USA troop R. J. McGill in RVN. No other details are known at this time. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1967 - November 09 | A HH-3E #65-12783 (Call sign "Jolly Green 15") from Det. 1, 37th ARRS, Nakhon Phanom RTAFB, Thailand, crewed by Maj. Edward B. Russell (P), Maj. Louis D. Yuhas (CP), SSgt. Albert P. Parker (FM) and Sgt. James T. Lombard attempted an unsuccessful rescue of the co-pilot of a F-4C (Call sign "Awol 01 Bravo"), 1st Lt. Lance Peter Sijan, after he was able to eject from his battle-damaged aircraft near Ban Thapachon, Laos. The crews of the "Jolly Green's 15 & HH-3E #66-13280 (Call sign “Jolly Green 27"), crew unkn, alternated pick up attempts all afternoon, finally decided it was a SAR trap and was forced to leave without rescuing Lt. Sihan who became a POW and died in captivity. The pilot of the F-4C, Lt. Col. John William Armstrong was KIA. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1967 - November 10 | A HH-43F from Det. 11, 38th ARRS, Tuy Hoa AB, RVN, crewed by Maj. John J. Elliff (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FM) and unkn (PJ) rescued one foreign troop in RVN. No other details are known at this time. JRCC Save Form |
| 1967 - November 11 | A HH-3E from Det. 1, 37th ARRS, Nakhon Phanom RTAFB, Thailand, crewed by 1st Lt. James H. Platt (P), 1st Lt. Edward J. Sichterman Jr. (CP), SSgt. Benny D. Negrette (FM) and SSgt. Roy A. Taylor (PJ), rescued the pilot of a A-1E (Call sign "Sandy 08"), Maj. William C. Griffith, after he ejected from his AAA damaged aircraft a short distance south of Ban Loby, Laos. Maj. Criffith's chute was caught in a tree and the HH-3E lowered A1C Roy A. Taylor (PJ) who cut him free and completed the rescue "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobs & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1967 - November 11 | A HH-43F from Det. 13, 38th ARRS, Phu Cat AB, RVN, crewed by Maj. Bert E. Cowden (P), 2nd Lt. Kurt O. Diefenbach (CP), SSgt Felix H. Havis (MT), SSgt Noel S. Davidson (FF) and Sgt Andrew J. Andrews (FF), rescued 5 troops, W/O-1 L. Bevers, SP4 G. Myers, PFC R Martin, E-4 J. Hall and E-4 A. Lenon, from a USA UH-1 (Call sign "Iroquois 545"), that had gone down in RVN. No other details are known at this time. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form |
| 1967 - November 13 | A HH-43F from Det. 1, 38th ARRS, Phan Rang AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Troy C. Irvin Sr. (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FM), unkn (PJ) rescued five troops, CW2 D. G. Griffith, CW2 R. V. Semora, SP4 W. M. Bell, SP4 J. R. Phillips and SP6 J. A. Schgtoeng, from a downed USA CH-47 helicopter in RVN. No other details are known at this time. JRCC Save Form |
| 1967 - November 14 | A HH-3E from the 37th ARRS, Da Nang AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. William E. Brennan (P), Capt. John S. Baughman (CP), SSgt. Windell L. Stumbaugh (FM), A2C Michael B. Gallasch (PJ) and Richard H. Garlie (PJ), medevac’d four ARVN troops, in RVN. No other details are available at this time. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form |
| 1967 - November 14 | A HH-43F, from Det. 10, 38th ARRS, Bihn Thuy AB, RVN, crewed by Maj. Harold Pickering (P), Capt. William J. Haugen (CP), SSgt. William L. Crawford (FM) and A1C Ronald K. Sholes (PJ), rescued a wounded USN sailor from a patrol river boat in RVN. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1967 - November 14 | A HH-3E #66-13281 (Call sign “Jolly Green 28”) from the 37th ARRS, Da Nang AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. William E. Brennan (P), Capt. John S. Baughman (CP), SSgt. Windell L. Stumbaugh (FM), A2C Michael B. Gallasch (PJ) and Richard H. Garlie (PJ), medevacked one Vietnamese in RVN. No other details are available at this time. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form & 37th ARRS Logbook 6 Aug 67 to 31 Dec 67 |
| 1967 - November 15 | A HH-43F from Det. 10, 38th ARRS, Bihn Thuy AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Lawrence W. Conover (P), Capt. William J. Haugen (CP), SSgt. William L. Crawford (FM), and A1C Ronald K. Sholes (PJ), rescued three wounded VNF troops, Sgt. Q. Vinh, Pvt. Y. P. Van and Pvt. P. Van Son, in RVN. No other details are known at this time. JRCC Save Form |
| 1967 - November 15 | A HH-43F from Det. 10, 38th ARRS, Bihn Thuy AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Lawrence W. Conover (P), Capt. William J. Haugen (CP), SSgt. William L. Crawford (FM), and A1C Ronald K. Sholes (PJ), rescued a wounded USA sailor, F. H. Marks, from a patrol river boat in RVN. No other details are known at this time. JRCC Save Form |
| 1967 - November 16 | A HH-43F from Det. 6, 38th ARRS, Bien Hoa AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. James A. Darden Jr. (P), 1st Lt. Jon C. Long (CP), SSgt Donald S. Kearton (FM) and Sgt. Roger A. Porter (PJ), saved USN Ensign, G. H. Van Zee, in RVN. No other details are available currently. The ‘high’ bird on this mission was crewed by Maj James F. Okonek (P), Capt. Sheriden K. Hawk (CP), SSgt. Richard D. Almond and A1C Terrence A. Treutel (PJ). JRCC Save Form |
| 1967 - November 17 | A HH-3E from Det. 1, 37th ARRS, Nakhon Phanom RTAFB, Thailand, crewed by Maj. Powell L. Moore (P), 1st Lt. Andrew J. Gonos (CP), SSgt. Bernard W. Grau (FM) and SSgt. Jules C. Smith (PJ), attempted the unsuccessful rescue of the pilot of an F-105D (Call sign "Zebra 01"), Maj Charles Edward Cappelli, when his aircraft was hit by a SAM while attacking the Bac Mai airfield on the southern outskirts of Hanoi, NVN and he ejected near Hos Binh, about 40 miles southwest of Hanoi. Maj. Cappelli was KIA. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobs & JRCC Save Form |
| 1967 - November 17 | A HH-43B from Det. 2, 38th ARRS, Takhli RTAFB, Thailand, crewed by Capt. David J. Jorgrst (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FM) and unkn (PJ), saved two EB-66 crew members, Capt. R. L. Duffin (EWO) and Capt. R. D. Peffley (EWO) after their aircraft had an engine failure shortly after take-off and crashed while attempting an emergency landing at Takhli RTAFB, Thailand. EB-66 crew members killed in the crash were Maj. Mix Nichols, Lt. Ted Johnson, Maj. Karl D. Hezel, Maj. William McDonald and Capt. Rey IL. Duffin. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobs & JRCC Save Form |
| 1967 - November 18 | A HH-3E (Call sign "Jolly Green 55") from Det. 1, 37th ARRS, Nakhon Phanom RTAFB, RVN, crewed by Capt. David A. Richardson (P), 1st Lt. William N. Privette (CP), SSgt. Carl L. Warmack (FM), A1C Roy A. Taylor (PJ) and Sgt. Patrick F. Allaire (PJ), rescued the pilot of a F-105D (Call sign "Waco 04"), Lt. Col. William N. Reed, when his aircraft was hit by an air-to-air missile fired by a MiG-21 and he ejected about 12 miles northwest of Sam Neua, Laos. The ‘high bird’ on this mission was HH-3E (Call sign “Jolly Green 37”) crewed by Maj. Powell L. Moore (P), 1st Lt. Andrew J. Gonos (CP), SSgt. Bernard W. Grau (FM) and A1C Jules C. Smith (PJ). "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobs "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form |
| 1967 - November 19 | A HH-3E from Det. 1, 37th ARRS, Nakhon Phanom RTAFB, Thailand, crewed by Maj. Powell L. Moore (P), 1st Lt. Andrew J. Gonos (CP), SSgt. Bernard W. Grau (FM) and SSgt. Jules C. Smith (PJ), attempted the unsuccessful rescue of the crew of a RF-4C (Call sign "Tile 01"), Lt. Col. Vernon Peyton Ligon (P) and Capt. David Edward Ford (CP), when their aircraft was hit SAM about seven miles southwest of Phuc Yen, NVN and they ejected. Both Lt. Col. Ligon and Capt. Ford became POW's before they could be rescued. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobs & JRCC Save Form |
| 1967 - November 19 | A HH-43F from Det. 6, 37th ARRS, Bien Hoa AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Charles W. Burridge (P), Maj. Lawrence W. Heflin (CP), SSgt. Richard D. Almond (FM) and Sgt. Roger A. Porter (PJ), attempted the unsuccessful rescue of the pilot of a F-100D, Capt. Duncan Padgett Smyly, when his aircraft was hit by ground fire and crashed near Loc Hinh about 60 miles north of Saigon, RVN. Capt. Smyly was KIA. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobs & JRCC Save Form |
| 1967 - November 20 | A HH-3E #66-13290 (Call sign “Jolly Green 04”) from the 37th ARRS, Da Nang AB, RVN, crewed by Maj. Herbert D. Kalen (P), Maj. Robert A. Bunker (CP), Sgt. William L. Carroll (FM) and Sgt. Donald K. Claudius Jr. (PJ), rescued the WSO of a F-4C (Call sign "Crab 02 Bravo"), Lt. James Linsday Badley, after he ejected from his AAA damage aircraft just off the beach about 5 miles north of the DMZ. The F-4C pilot, Capt. John Murray Martin, did not eject and was KIA. (See next entry). "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobs & JRCC Save Form & 37th ARRS Logbook 6 Aug 67 to 31 Dec 67 |
| 1967 - November 20 | A HH-3E #65-12780 (Call sign “Jolly Green 07”) from the 37th ARRS, Da Nang AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Walter R. Blackwell (P), Capt. John I. Patterson (CP), SSgt. Jimmy L. Dodgen (FM) and Donald J. Boushelle (PJ), attempted the unsuccessful rescue of an F-4C pilot (Call sign "Crab 02 Alpha"), Capt. John Murray Martin, however he did not eject and was KIA. His WSO, Lt. James Linsday Badley, was rescued by another HH-3E, after he ejected from his AAA damage aircraft just off the beach about 5 miles north of the DMZ. (See previous entry). "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobs & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form & 37th ARRS Logbook 6 Aug 67 to 31 Dec 67 |
| 1967 - November 20 | A HH-3E from Det. 1, 37th ARRS, Nakhon Phanom RTAFB, Thailand, crewed by Lt. Col. Warner A. Britton (P), Maj. Maurice L. Wells (CP), SSgt. Vincent D. Androwsky (FM) and A2C Joseph M. Duffy (PJ), rescued the crew of a RF-4C (Call sign "Dazzle 02"), Lt. Col. J. C. Scholtz (P) and Capt. J. Ciminero (CP), after they ejected from their 85 mm AAA damaged aircraft in North Vietnam near the Laotian border close to the town of Moung Min, NVN. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobs & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1967 - November 20 | A flight of five UH-1F/Ps of the 20th HS "Green Hornets", crew's unkn, were enroute to Kontum, RVN and were about twelve miles north of Ninh Hoa, RVN, when SSgt. James W. Burns (FM on one the slicks), stated to Maj. Livermore (pilot of his slick) that something had fallen off U. S. Army Huey helicopter that was visible to him. Shortly after the sighting a "Mayday" was received from "Blue Star 750" stating that he had autorotated into an insecure area. The "Green Hornet" flight turned around and upon their arrival the downed pilot elected to stay with his aircraft. Two "Green Hornet" gunships went in to provide close fire support and the rest of the "Green Hornet" flight acted as a radio relay for approximately one hour, permitting rescue to be accomplished and the Army Huey to be recovered. http://www.mh-53pavelow.com/documents/20thSOS/1967.pdf |
| 1967 - November 21 | A HH-43F from Det. 6, 38th ARRS, Bien Hoa AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. James A. Darden Jr. (P), 1st Lt. Jon C. Long (CP), TSgt. Donald S. Keaton II (FM) and Sgt. Roger A. Porter (PJ), rescued 1 troop, James R. Littel, from an H-13 that had hit high power lines and crashed into the Bien Hoa River in RVN. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1967 - November 23 | A HH-43F Det. 6, 38th ARRS, Bien Hoa AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Charles W. Burridge (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FM) and unkn (PJ) saved one USA troop, Pvt. A. Coulter, in RVN. No other details are known at this time. JRCC Save Form |
| 1967 - November 24 | A USAF helicopter from Kirtland AFB, NM, crewed by unkn (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ), rescued four persons whose plane had been forced down by a vicious snowstorm, in the Cumbres Pass in southwest Colorado, the day before. The pilot of the downed plane was John S. Stewart of Denver. No other details are known at this time. Pacific Stars & Stripes, Sunday, November 26, pg. 5 |
| 1967 - November 24 | A HH-43F from Det. 9, Pleiku AB, RVN, crewed by Maj. Richard A. Smith (P), Lt. Col. Harold O. Hoppe (CP), Sgt. David R. Berrio (PJ), Garland B. Courts (FF) and A1C Felipe A. Quiroz (FF), rescued 3 wounded USA troops and 1 wounded VC in RVN. Sgt. Berrio was awarded the Silver Star for his actions on this mission. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & http://www.homeofheroes.com/members/04_SS/5_RVN/citations/airforce/a.html |
| 1967 - November 24 | A HH-43F from Det. 9, Pleiku AB, RVN, Pleiku AB, RVN, crewed by Maj. Richard A. Smith (P), Lt. Col. Harold O. Hoppe (CP), Sgt. David R. Berrio (PJ), Garland B. Courts (FF) and A1C Felipe A. Quirox (FF), rescued 3 wounded USA troops and 1 wounded VC in RVN. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1967 - November 25 | A HH-43F (Call sign "Pedro 91") from Det. 10, 38th ARRS, Binh Thuy AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Laurence W. Conover (P), Capt. William J. Haugen (CP), SSgt. William L. Crawford (FM) and Sgt. Jerard “Jerry” Pearson (PJ), rescued the crew of a 0-1G (Call sign "David 27"), Capt. Charles J. Louvorn, along with USN Lt. Col. Ted T. Culpepper and a Vietnamese troop, after he had crash landed his aircraft inside the perimeter of a besieged military outpost at Nam Can, RVN. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1967 - November 25 | A HH-53B #69-5784 (Call sign "Jolly Green 71") from Det. 2, 40th ARRS, Udorn RTAFB, Thailand and staging from LS-98 in northern Laos, crewed by Capt. Russell L. Cayler (P), Lt. Col. Garland A. York (CP), Sgt. Edward J. Koebernik (FM), TSgt. Kerry Kelly (PJ), Sgt. Larry E. Palmer (PJ) and SSgt. James O. Hubright (AP), made the first combat pick-up in enemy held territory, by this type of helicopter, when they rescued a civilian Air America helicopter pilot, Glen Wood, near LS-6 straight north of the PDJ in Laos. 'High bird' on this mission was a HH-3E (Call sign "Jolly Green 16"), crew unkn. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1967 - November 26 | A HH-3E #66-13289 (Call sign "Jolly Green 03") from the 37th ARRS, Da Nang AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. William E. Brennan (P), Capt. Jerry D. Clearman (CP), TSgt. Robert Q. Rector (FM) and Sgt. Vincent E. Deets (PJ), unsuccessfully attempted the rescue the of the crew of a F-4C (Call sign "Pinhead 01") after the aircraft went down a few miles north of the Ban Karai Pass, about 20 miles west of Dong Hoi, while attacking a bridge. The crew, Col. Herbert Owne Brennan (P) and 1st Lt. Douglas Craig Condit were KIA. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1967 - November 27 | The 21st Helicopter Sq. was assigned to the 56th Air Commando Wing at Nakhon Phanom RTAFB, Thailand. http://medlibrary.org/medwiki/21st_Special_Operations_Squadron |
| 1967 - November 29 | A HH-3E #65-12782 (Call sign “Jolly Green 10”) from the 37th ARRS, Da Nang AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Thomas E. Bair (P), Gerald B. McDonald (CP), SSgt. Arthur T. Brand (FM), A2C Rodger A. Klenovich (PJ) and Ronald S. Davis (AP), rescued the WSO of a F-4C (Call sign "Whiskey 32 Bravo"), 1st Lt. Leo J. Lemoine, after he ejected from his AAA damage aircraft near Sepone, Laos. The F-4C pilot (Call sign “Whiskey 32 Alpha”), Maj. Louis Farr Jones was KIA. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & 37th ARRS Logbook 6 Aug 67 to 31 Dec 67 |
| 1967 - December 01 | Three CH-3C's were transferred from the 20th HS "Pony Express" at Udorn RTAFB, Thailand to the 21st HS at Nakhon Phanom RTAFB, Thailand. A fourth CH-3C scheduled as part of this transfer was delayed because the helicopter was undergoing extensive repairs. http://www.mh-53pavelow.com/documents/20thSOS/1967.pdf |
| 1967 - December 01 | A UH-1 from the 20th HS, crewed by unkn (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FM) and unkn (AG), inserted a MACV SOG recon team, "RT Hammer", into a landing zone in Laos. No other details are known at this time. "Secret Green Beret Commandos In Cambodia" by Lt. Col. Fred S. Lindsey, USA (Ret.) |
| 1967 - December 02 | A HH-3E from Det. 1, 37th ARRS, Nakhon Phanom RTAFB, Thailand, crewed by Maj. Frederick C. Faust Jr. (P), 1st Lt. William N. Privette (CP), SSgt. Bernard A. Grau (FM), Sgt. Angus W. Sowell (PJ) and A2C Gunter Bahrenburg (PJ), medevacked Mr. Michael Godsey in Thailand. No other details are available currently. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1967 - December 02 | A HH-3E from the, 37th ARRS, Da Nang AB, RVN, crewed by unkn (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FM) and unkn (PJ), was involved in the unsuccessful search for a USMC H-34 (call sign "Pestkiller 17") with four on board, missing on a classified mission in RVN. No other details are available currently. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1967 - December 03 | A UH-1F from the 20th HS, crewed by unkn (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FM) and unkn (AG), inserted a six-man MACV SOG recon team "RT Saw" into a landing zone along the Vietnam, Cambodia border. They returned later and completed an emergency extraction of a MACV SOG recon team, "RT Saw", from a landing zone in Cambodia. No other details are known at this time. "Secret Green Beret Commandos In Cambodia" by Lt. Col. Fred S. Lindsey, USA (Ret.) |
| 1967 - December 03 | A HH-43F from Det. 6, 38th ARRS, Bien Hoa AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Charles W. Burridge (P), Lt. Col. Robert J. Kavanagh (CP), Sgt. Robert A. Sloat (FM) and A1C Gunther Bahrenburg (PJ), rescued three LRRP troops in contact, E-3 James I. Thompson, SSgt. Larry Goodsen and SP4 Russell Woodrem, in RVN. No other details are known at this time. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form |
| 1967 - December 03 | A HH-43F from Det. 6, 38th ARRS, Bien Hoa AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. James A. Darden Jr. (P), 1st Lt. Jon C. Long (CP), SSgt. Donald S. Kearton II (FM) and A1C Terrence A. Treutel (PJ), rescued two (unkn) LRRP troops in contact in RVN. No other details are known at this time. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1967 - December 04 | A HH-3E #66-13289 (Call sign “Jolly Green 03”) from the 37th ARRS, Da Nang AB, RVN, crewed by Maj. Arthur J. Anderson (P), 1st Lt. William A. McKenney III (CP), SSgt. James L. Dodgen (FM) and Sgt. Peter H. Eyrich (PJ), rescued the crew of a U-6A (Call sign "Vanguard 786"), Timothy B. Brown and Melvin J. Jorgensen, after their aircraft went down in RVN. No other details are available currently. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & 37th ARRS Logbook 6 Aug 67 to 31 Dec 67 |
| 1967 - December 05 | A HH-3E #65-12782 (Call sign “Jolly Green 10”) from the 37th ARRS, Da Nang AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Thomas E. Bair (P), Capt. Edward W. Hutchison (CP), SSgt. John Enriquez (FM) and Richard H. Garlie (PJ), rescued two USN sailors who had fell overboard from their ship, QN-2nd Richard L. Thomas and GMM David C. McCullough, in the South China Sea. No other details are available currently. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form & 37th ARRS Logbook 6 Aug 67 to 31 Dec 67 |
| 1967 - December 05 | A HH-43F from Det. 1, 38th ARRS, Phan Rang AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. D. M. Thomson (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FM) and unkn (PJ), saved two (unkn) Vietnamese civilians in RVN. No other details are known at this time. JRCC Save Form |
| 1967 - December 06 | A HH-43B from Det. 2, 38th ARRS, Takhli RTAFB, Thailand, crewed by Capt. David J. Jogerst (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FM) and unkn (PJ), saved three EB-66C crew members, Capt. A. Taylor Jr. (EWO) and 1st Lt. R. E. McBride (EWO) and 1st Lt. D. O. Peterson, after their aircraft crashed while landing at Takhli RTAFB, Thailand. Three other EB-66 crew members killed in the crash were Lt. Col. Jack M. Young, 1st Lt. Paul S. Krzynowek and Capt. Larry A. Moore. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobs & JRCC Save Form |
| 1967 - December 06 | A HH-43B from Det. 2, 38th ARRS, Takhli RTAFB, Thailand, crewed by Capt. Andrew J. M. Archer (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FM) and unkn (PJ), saved one EB-66C crew members, 1st Lt. D. G. Peterson (EWO) after his aircraft crashed while landing at Takhli RTAFB, Thailand. Three other EB-66 crew members killed in the crash were Lt. Col. Jack M. Young, 1st Lt. Paul S. Krzynowek and Capt. Larry A. Moore. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobs & JRCC Save Form |
| 1967 - December 06 | A UH-1F from the 20th HS, crewed by unkn (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FM) and unkn (AG), completed an emergency extraction of a MACV SOG recon team, "RT Hammer", from a landing zone in Laos. No other details are known at this time. "Secret Green Beret Commandos In Cambodia" by Lt. Col. Fred S. Lindsey, USA (Ret.) |
| 1967 - December 07 | A HH-43F from Det. 8, 38th ARRS, Cam Ranh Bay AB, RVN, crewed by Maj. Armand J. Fiola (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FM) and unkn (PJ), rescued Richard E. Pratt from a downed UH-1C in RVN. No other details are known at this time. JRCC Save Form |
| 1967 - December 07 | A HH-3E #66-13290 (Call sign “Jolly Green 04”) from 37th ARRS, Da Nang AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Rodney G. Parks (P), Capt. Jerry D. Clearman (CP), Sgt. Alvin A. Malone (FM) and TSgt. John L. Hennessey (PJ), rescued the crew of a F-4C (Call sign "Hammer 22"), Maj. Robert B. Ray (P) and 1st Lt. Frank M. Cerrato (WSO), after they had ejected from their ground fire damaged aircraft near Ban Talan Nua, Laos. This mission was the first to have A-37's provide rescue escort. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & 37th ARRS Logbook 6 Aug 67 to 31 Dec 67 |
| 1967 - December 07 | A HH-3E #65-12782 (Call sign “Jolly Green 10”) from the 37th ARRS, Da Nang AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Charles R. Dunn (P), Capt. Jerald D. Briscoe (CP), SSgt. David Rodriequez (FM) and Richard H. Garlie (PJ), rescued four (unkn) USA Special Forces troops (Call sign "Spicy") in SVN. No other details are available currently. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & 37th ARRS Logbook 6 Aug 67 to 31 Dec 67 |
| 1967 - December 08 | A HH-43F from Det. 8, 38th ARRS, Cam Ranh Bay AB, RVN, crewed by Maj. Armand J. Fiola (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FM) and unkn (PJ), were involved in the rescue of SP4 Richard E. Pratt from a downed UH-1C in RVN. No other details are available at this time. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1967 - December 09 | A UH-1F gunship crewed by Maj. Chester Perkin Brown, unkn (CP), unkn (AG) and unkn (AG) along with another UH-1F/P gunship, crewed by Capt. Robert P. Strout (P), unkn (CP), SSgt. William F. Studebaker (AG) and Sgt. Ron Wilkerson (AG), was involved in the rescue of a six man MACV SOG reconnaissance team, "RT Trowel" that was pinned down by a large group of hostile forces. Capt. Robert Strout was awarded his 4th Distinguished Flying Cross and Maj. Chester P. Brown was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross for their actions during this mission. Military Times Hall Of Valor website & "Secret Green Beret Commandos In Cambodia" by Lt. Col. Fred S. Lindsey, USA (Ret.) |
| 1967 - December 10 | A HH-43F from Det. 10, 38th ARRS, Binh Thuy AB, RVN, crewed by Maj. James W. Langsten (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FM) and unkn (PJ) rescued four individuals in RVN. Details are classified. No other details are known at this time. JRCC Save Form |
| 1967 - December 10 | The 20th HS "Green Hornets” moved their MACV SOG FOL support base from FOB II at Kontum, RVN to CCS at Ban Me Thuot East, RVN. 20th SOS History 1968 & http://www.mh-53pavelow.com/documents/20thSOS/1967.pdf |
| 1967 - December 12 | A HH-43F from Det. 6, 38th ARRS, Bien Hoa AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. James A. Darden Jr. (P), Capt. Jon C. Long (CP), SSgt. Donald S. Keaton II (FM) and Terrence A. Truetel (PJ), rescued Ace Cozzalio from a UH-1 that had gone down in RVN. No other details are available currently. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1967 - December 12 | A HH-43F from Det. 10, 38th ARRS Binh Thuy AB, RVN, crewed by unkn (P), Capt. Leslie E. Johnson Jr. (CP), unkn (FM) and unkn (PJ), delivered a water pump to a Thai freighter that was taking on water in 12' - 15' waves about 35 miles off the coast of Vietnam. No other details are available at this time. Maj. Leslie E. Johnson Jr.'s Pedro Logbook from Binh Thuy AB, Vietnam, provided courtesy of his son Leslie E. Johnson III |
| 1967 - December 13 | HH-43's of the 58th ARRS recorded ten saves, rescuing the crew of the Italian freighter, Zante, aground in heavy seas off the Libyan coast. http://www.afsoc.af.mil/shared/media/document/AFD-070906-042.pdf |
| 1967 - December 13 | A HH-43F from Det. 10, 38th ARRS, crewed by Capt. Thomas D. Precious (P), Capt. Albert E. Tollefsen (CP), Sgt. Larry E. Hawkins (FM) and A1C Ronald K. Sholes (PJ) were involved in the unsuccessful attempt to rescue a F-4C WSO, 1st Lt. Robert Elwood Bennett, after he and his pilot, Capt. W. T. Sakahara, successfully ejected from their aircraft that has been shot down over the Mekong River, about six miles south of Phu Vinh, RVN. Both landed in the river and Lt. Bennett was dragged under the water by his chute and he was KIA. Capt. Sakahara was rescued but the details of his rescue are not known at this time. (See next entry) "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & JRCC Save Form |
| 1967 - December 13 | A HH-43F from Det. 10, 38th ARRS, Binh Thuy AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Leslie E. Johnson Jr. (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FM) and unkn (PJ) rescued a F-4C Pilot, Capt. W. T. Sakahara, after he and his WSO, 1st Lt. Robert Elwood Bennett, successfully ejected from their aircraft that has been shot down over the Mekong River, about six miles south of Phu Vinh, RVN. Both landed in the river and Lt. Bennett was dragged under the water by his chute and he was KIA (see previous entry). Maj. Leslie E. Johnson Jr.'s Pedro Logbook from Binh Thuy AB, Vietnam, provided courtesy of his son Leslie E. Johnson III |
| 1967 - December 13 | A USAF helicopter from Det. 6, PARRC at Naha AB, Okinawa, crewed by unkn (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FM) and unkn (MT), air-evacuated and unconscious 10-year-old girl suffering from a head injury from Iheya Island to Naha. No other details are known at this time. Pacific Stars & Stripes, Dec. 17, 1967, pg. 59 |
| 1967 - December 14 | A HH-3E #65-12782 (Call sign “Jolly Green 10”) from the 37th ARRS, Da Nang AB, RVN, crewed by unkn (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FM) and unkn (PJ), attempted the unsuccessful rescued the pilot of a F-105D (Call sign "Cactus 04"), Capt. James Eldon Sehorns, after he ejected from his AAA fire damaged aircraft near the Paul Doumer Bridge in NVN. Capt. Sehorns became a POW before he could be rescued. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & 37th ARRS Logbook 6 Aug 67 to 31 Dec 67 |
| 1967 - December 17 | A HH-3E, #66-13290 (Call sign “Jolly Green 04”) of the 37th ARRS, Da Nang AB, RVN, crewed by 1st Lt. Rodney G. Parks (P), Lt. Col. Kenneth D. Caughron (CP), Sgt. Dennis M. Richardson (FM) and Sgt. Charles P. Vogeley (PJ), rescued the pilot of a F-4C (Call sign "Phantom 52 Alpha"), Col. Devol Brett, after he survived the ejection over the South China Sea. His co-pilot, 1st Lt. Myron F. Smith was KIA. This action was near the town of Vinh Linh, NVN, about 5 miles north of the DMZ. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & 37th ARRS Logbook 6 Aug 67 to 31 Dec 67 |
| 1967 - December 21 | A UH-1F of the 20th HS, crewed by Capt. Richard E. Monroe (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FM) and unkn (AG), was involved in a mission in support of either "Omega" or "Sigma" that earned Capt. Monroe the award of the Silver Star medal. No other details are known at this time. "Secret Green Beret Commandos In Cambodia" by Lt. Col. Fred S. Lindsey, USA (Ret.) |
| 1967 - December 21 | A HH-43F from Det. 8, 38th ARRS, Cam Ranh Bay AB, RVN, crewed by Maj. Armand J. Fiola (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FM) and unkn (PJ), rescued one USN officer, Lt. E. Ferrell, in RVN. No other details are available currently. JRCC Save Form |
| 1967 - December 21 | A HH-43F from Det. 10, 38th ARRS, Binh Thuy AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Thomas D. Precious (P), Capt. William P. Shea (CP), Sgt. Larry E. Hawkins (FM), A2C James L. Parks (PJ) and A1C Ronald K. Sholes (PJ), rescued 1 USN sailor, CMG3 J. S. Hensen, in RVN. No other details are available currently. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1967 - December 22 | A HH-43F from Det. 10, 38th ARRS, Binh Thuy AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Leslie E. Johnson Jr. (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FM) and unkn (PJ) flew to a small island about 55 miles off the coast to check on distress signals where they landed and searched the area. No other details are known at this time. Maj. Leslie E. Johnson Jr.'s Pedro Logbook from Binh Thuy AB, Vietnam, provided courtesy of his son Leslie E. Johnson III |
| 1967 - December 23 | A HH-43F from Det. 8, 38th ARRS, Cam Ranh Bay AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Eugene H. Boortz (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FM) and unkn (PJ), medevacked Thi Nguyan Dinh in RVN. No other details are known at this time. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1967 - December 25 | A HH-43F from Det. 10, 38th ARRS, Binh Thuy AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Thomas D. Precious (P), Capt. William P. Shea (CP), TSgt. Dean S. Aaron (FM) and A1C Ronald K. Sholes (PJ) rescued one USN sailor, R. Yeutter, from a patrol river boat in RVN. No other details are available currently. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1967 - December 25 | A HH-3E from Det. 1, 37th ARRS, Nakhon Phanom RTAFB, Thailand, crewed by Capt. Harry W. Walker (P), Maj. Milton S. Washington (CP), SSgt. Harvey W. Keyes (FM) and TSgt. Charley D. Smith (PJ), rescued the three individuals, Mr. and Mrs. Huxtable and Mrs. Lai, from an H-34 that had gone down in Laos. No other details are available at this time. "PJ's in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1967 - December 25 | A HH-3E #65-12782 (Call sign “Jolly Green 10”) from the 37th ARRS, Da Nang AB, RVN, crewed by Maj. Joe B. Green (P), Capt. Jerry D. Clearman (CP), Sgt. James A. Bowers (FM) and Sgt. James D. Locker (PJ), rescued the crew of a USMC TF-9J (Call sign "Furbritches 170 A & B"), Maj. George W. Fritschi (P) and Capt. Allan D. Smiley (CP), after they ejected from their ground fire damaged aircraft about 12 miles southwest of Hue, RVN. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & 37th ARRS Logbook 6 Aug 67 to 31 Dec 67 |
| 1967 - December 25 | A HH-3E from Det. 1, 37th ARRS, Nakhon Phanom RTAFB, Thailand, crewed by Capt. Harry W. Walker (P), Maj. Milton S. Washington (CP), SSgt. Harvey W. Keyes (FM) and TSgt. Charley D. Smith (PJ) rescued the three individuals, Mr. and Mrs. Huxtable and Mrs. Lai, from an H-34 that had gone down in Laos. No other details are available currently. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1967 - December 26 | A HH-43F from Det. 13, 38th ARRS, Phu Cat AB, RVN, crewed by Maj. Bert E. Cowden (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FM) and unkn (PJ), medevacked one USA troop, SP4 J. B. Vickers, in RVN. No other details are available currently. JRCC Save Form |
| 1967 - December 27 | A HH-3E #66-13290 (Call sign “Jolly Green 04”) from the 37th ARRS, Da Nang AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Jerald D. Briscoe (P), Capt. Harold Frank Cardile (CP), Sgt. David Rodriguez (FM) and Sgt. Vincent E. Deets (PJ), attempted the unsuccessful rescue the WSO of a F-4C (Call sign "Carbine 01 Bravo"), 1st Lt. Sammy Arthur Martin, after he and his pilot, Maj. H. W. Miller had ejected from their ground fire damaged aircraft about 20 miles off the coast of NVN. As Lt. Martin was being hoisted, he slipped out of the rescue 'horse collar' and fell back into the South China Sea and could not be located again. Maj. Miller was rescued by a USN UH-2C from the USS Kitty Hawk. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & 37th ARRS Logbook 6 Aug 67 to 31 Dec 67 |
| 1967 - December 28 | A HH-43F from Det. 9, 38th ARRS, Pleiku AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Jack V. Butler (P), Maj. Richard A. Smith (CP), TSgt. Dale G. Haley (FM), and Wayne A. Baguio (PJ), rescued four USA troops, SSgt. T. Green, W/O-1 D. Sparks, SP5 M. Hughes and SP4 Edwards, from a UH-1D that had gone down in RVN. No other details are available currently. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form |
| 1968 - December 29 | A HH-43F from Det. 13, 38th ARRS, Phu Cat AB, RVN, crewed by Maj. Bert E. Cowden (P), 1st Lt. Ronald P. Wojack (CP), TSgt Arthur J. Cole (FM) and Sgt Stephen B. Jones (MT), rescued three dependents of ARVN troops. No other details are available currently. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form |
| 1967 - December 29 | A HH-3E from Det. 1, 37th ARRS, Nakhon Phanom RTAFB, Thailand, crewed by Capt. Gregory A. M. Etzel (P), Maj. Maurice L. Wells (CP), SSgt. Hairl D. Thacker (FM) and Sgt. Angus W. Sowell (PJ), rescued the crew of a F-4D (Call sign "Advent 04"), Capt. R. W. Coburn (P) and Capt. H. Altman (CP), after they ejected from their 37 mm AAA damaged aircraft in southern Laos. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1967 - December 29 | Two CH-3C's (one believed to be #63-9682) of the 20th HS "Pony Express", one crewed by Maj. James S. Villotti (AC), Lt. Col. George R. Bumford (P), 1st Lt. Duane T. Daily (CP), Sgt. Ronald G. Wells (FM) and Sgt. Louis Alexander Jr. (FM), rescued twenty-nine members of a ground team despite their helicopter being hit eleven times by intense enemy fire. The second CH-3C crewed by Maj. Kyron V. Hall (P), Capt. Ronald L. Skinner (CP), Sgt. Arthur B. Martinelli (FM) and Sgt. Eugene N. Cothran, rescued the thirty-four remaining members of the ground team. http://www.mh-53pavelow.com/documents/20thSOS/1968.pdf |
| 1967 - December 29 | A HH-43B, crewed by Bert E. Cowden (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ), rescued three dependents of ARVN troops. No other details are available at this time. "PJ's in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1967 - December 30 | A HH-3E #65-12782 (Call sign "Jolly Green 10") from the 37th ARRS, Da Nang AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. William E. Brennan (P), Capt. Harold Frank Cardile (CP), SSgt. John Enriquez (FM), A1C Ricky D. Hindman (PJ) and Glenn C. Colley (AP), rescued the crew of a F-100F (Call sign "Misty 21"), Maj. Smith Donald A. Sibson (P) and Capt. Donald Snyder (CP), after they ejected from their 57 mm AAA fire damaged aircraft about 10 miles off the coast of RVN. The ‘high bird’ on this mission was “Jolly Green 27, crewed by unkn (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FM) and unkn (PJ). ”Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & 37th ARRS Logbook 6 Aug 67 to 31 Dec 67 |
| 1967 - December 30 | CH-3E #63-9678 (Call sign "Pony Express 30") of the 20th SOS crewed by Lt. Col. George R. Bumford (P) and Ronald B. Glover (FE) was lost at LS-85 in Laos when it lost power on final approach to a 5,740 ft. landing zone, hit trees and crashed during a downwind landing attempt. http://www.jollygreen.org/jltnc.htm & http://www.20thhelicoptersquadronreunion.com/3/miscellaneous5.html |
| TIME FRAME | HISTORY |
|---|---|
| 1968 - January 01 | A HH-43F from Det. 6, 38th ARRS, Bien Hoa AB, RVN, crewed by Maj. James F. Okonek (P), Maj. John V. Lepko (CP), TSgt. Donald S. Keaton II (FE) and TSgt. Charles F. Salome (PJ), saved two USA troops in RVN. No other details are known at this time. JRCC Save Form |
| 1968 - January 01 | A HH-43F from Det. 8, 38th ARRS, Cam Ranh Bay AB, RVN, crewed by Maj. Armand J. Fiola (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ), save one crew member of a USN F-4, J. Cambell. No other details are available currently. JRCC Save Form |
| 1968 - January 01 | A HH-43F from Det. 11, 38th ARRS, Tuy Hoa AB, RVN, crewed by Lt. Col. J. Logan Fagner (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ), medevacked two ARVN and one USA troops. No other details are available currently. JRCC Save Form |
| 1968 - January 01 | The 20th HS flights were re-designated as follows, the CH-3C/E's of the "Pony Express" at Udorn RTAFB, Thailand became "A", "B", & "C" flights and the UH-1F/P's “Green Hornets” at Nha Trang AB, RVN became "D", "E" & "F" flights. http://www.mh-53pavelow.com/documents/20thSOS/1968.pdf |
| 1968 - January 02 | A HH-3E #66-13290 (Call sign “Jolly Green 04”) from the 37th ARRS at Da Nang AB, RVN, crewed by Maj. Billy J. Wingfield (P), Maj. Arthur J. Anderson (CP), SSgt John H. Hazzard Jr. (FE) and Sgt. Angus C. McDougall (PJ), rescued the pilot of a F-105D (Call sign "Bear 04"), Capt. Harold E. Forman (P), after he ejected from his aircraft over the Gulf Of Tonkin when his aircraft ran out of fuel before he could connect with a tanker. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & 37th ARRS Operations Logbook 01 Jan 68 to 31 Dec 68 |
| 1968 - January 03 | A HH-3E #64-14233 (Call sign "Jolly Green 20") from Det. 1, 37th ARRS at Nakhon Phanom RTAFB, Thailand, crewed by Maj. Joseph B. Ferrell (P), 1st Lt. Edward J. Sichterman (CP), Bernard W. Grau (FE) and Roy A. Taylor (PJ), rescued the pilot of a T-28D (Call sign "Zorro 11"), Maj. John R. Patee, after he escaped from his aircraft when it had an engine failure while on an armed reconnaissance mission over Laos on January 02, 1968. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1968 - January 03 | A HH-3E (Call sign "Jolly Green 20") from Det. 1, 37th ARRS at Nakhon Phanom RTAFB, Thailand, crewed by Maj. Joseph B. Ferrell (P), 1st Lt. Edward J. Sichterman Jr. (CP), SSgt. Bernard W. Grau (FE) and SSgt. Roy A. Taylor (PJ), rescued the pilot of a T-28D (Call sign "Zorro 11"), Maj. John R. Patee, after he escaped from his aircraft when it had an engine failure while on an armed reconnaissance mission over Laos on January 02, 1968. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1968 - January 03 | A HH-43F from Det. 8, 38th ARRS, Cam Ranh Bay AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Eugene H. Boortz (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FF) and unkn (FF) laid down a foam path to check for survivors in a burning C-130. No other details are known at this time. JRCC Save Form |
| 1968 - January 03 | A HH-43B from Det. 3, 38th ARRS, Ubon RTAFB, Thailand, crewed by Capt. Bobby L. Meadows (P), 1st Lt. John R. Bland Jr. (CP), Sgt. James M. Payne (MT), Sgt. Donald W. Jowers (FF) and Sgt. John L. Tracy (FF) used the FSK kit to put out the fire where an Australian F-86 had crashed in downtown Ubon. Kaman Rotor Tips magazine. |
| 1968 - January 04 | A HH-43F from Det. 10, 38th ARRS at Binh Thuy AB, RVN, crewed by Maj. Harold Pickering (P), Capt. Leslie E. Johnson Jr. (CP), SSgt. Gordon L. Browning (FE), and A2C James L. Parks (PJ), rescued 2 USN sailors, CMG-3 C. R. Clairborne and ENPA R. O. Penny, (one with a bad leg wound and the other with a bad head wound) from a patrol boat in SVN. No other details are available currently. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form & Maj. Leslie E. Johnson Jr.'s Pedro Logbook from Binh Thuy AB, Vietnam, provided courtesy of his son Leslie E. Johnson III |
| 1968 - January 04 | A UH-1F of the 20th HS "Green Hornets", crewed by Capt. John E. Fiser (P), Capt. William A. King Jr. (CP), TSgt. Robert L. Andrews (FM) and TSgt. Willard S. Richards (AG) rescued the pilot of an F-100D, Capt. J. E. Pollak, after he ejected from his ground fire damaged aircraft a couple of miles from Ban Me Thout City, RVN. This UH-1F was part of a five-ship flight about twenty-five miles southeast of Ban Me Thuot and heard the "Mayday" call, spotting Capt. Pollak's chute as he came down and Capt. Fiser picked him up after he had spent less than five minutes on the ground. One of the other UH-1F's in this flight was piloted by Capt. Robert P. Strout and some of the other known crew members in the flight included Capt. George Candelori, Capt. James E. Tankersley, Capt. Harlan C. Nupen and SSgt. Thomas B. Bennett. The reminder of the rest of the other crewmembers in the flight are unkn. http://www.mh-53pavelow.com/documents/20thSOS/1968.pdf |
| 1968 - January 04 | A HH-43F, believed to be from Det. 1, 38th ARRS, Phan Rang AB, RVN, crewed by Maj. William C. Emrie (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ), saved one USAF officer 2nd Lt. L. M. Olander. No other details are available currently. JRCC Save Form |
| 1968 - January 05 | A HH-53B from Det. 2, 37th ARRS, Udorn RATFB, Thailand, crewed by Maj. Frederick M. Donohue (P), 1st Lt. Joseph A. Panza Jr. (CP), Sgt. Gene A. Sellers (FE), Sgt. Larry E. Palmer (PJ) and Tommy W. Mayer (PJ), rescued the co-pilot of a RF-4C (Call sign "Cone 02 Bravo"), Lt. Eugene T. Pizzo Jr., after he and his pilot, Lt. Col. William T. Rodenbach, ejected from his AAA damaged aircraft about 45 miles northeast of Udorn RTAFB, Thailand (see next entry). "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1968 - January 05 | A HH-53B from Det. 2, 37th ARRS, Udorn RTAFB, Thailand, crewed by Capt. Carl W. Oliver (P), Lt. Col. Garland A. York (CP), SSgt. Gene R. Boles (FE), TSgt. Kerry Kelly (PJ) and SSgt. James J. Rogers (PJ), rescued the pilot of a RF-4C (Call sign "Cone 02 Alpha"), Lt. Col. William T. Rodenbach (P), after he and his co-pilot, Lt. E. T. Pizzo, ejected from his AAA damaged aircraft about 45 miles northeast of Udorn RTAFB, Thailand (see previous entry). "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1968 - January 05 | Helicopters from the 20th HS "Pony Express", crewed by unkn (P), unkn (CP) and unkn (FM), infiltrated a road watch team into North Vietnam for the purpose of gathering intelligence on road traffic. (See entries for January 10 & 11, 1968 below). No other details are known at this time. http://www.mh-53pavelow.com/documents/20thSOS/1968.pdf |
| 1968 - January 06 | A HH-3E, believed to be from Det. 1, 37th ARRS, Nakhon Phanom RTAFB, Thailand, crewed by Capt. Harry W. Walker (P), Capt. John H. Canfield (CP), Sgt. Narcisco A. Otero (FE) and MSgt. Clarence R. Boles (PJ), rescued the pilot of an F-105F, Maj. Gerald C. Gustafson, after he and his co-pilot, Capt. Russell F. Brownlee, ejected from their aircraft when it had an engine failure near Takhli RTAFB, Thailand. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form |
| 1968 - January 06 | A HH-3E, believed to be from Det. 1, 37th ARRS, Nakhon Phanom RTAFB, Thailand, crewed by 1st Lt. James H. Platt (P), Capt. George W. Greer (CP), SSgt. Harvey W. Keyes (FE) and Sgt. James T. Lombard (PJ) rescued the co-pilot of an F-105F, Capt. Russell F. Brownlee, after he and his pilot, Maj. Gerald C. Gustafson, ejected from their aircraft when it had an engine failure near Takhli RTAFB, Thailand. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form |
| 1968 - January 07 | A HH-3E (Call sign “Jolly Green 04”) from the 37th ARRS, Da Nang AB, RVN, crewed by Maj. Donald G. Simpson (P), Capt. Gerard H. MacDonald (CP), SSgt. John Enriquez (FE) and Donald J. Boushelle (PJ), rescued the pilot of an F-100D (Call sign "Tide 32"), Maj. Dwayne P. Wright (P), after he ejected from his ground fire damaged aircraft about 10 miles off the coast of Da Nang AB, RVN. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & 37th ARRS Operations Logbook 01 Jan 68 to 31 Dec 68 |
| 1968 - January 08 | A HH-43F from Det. 1, 38th ARRS, Phan Rang AB, RVN, crewed by Maj. William C. Emrie (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ) rescued a USN seaman RM-3 R. Blecg. No other details are known at this time. JRCC Save Form |
| 1968 - January 08 | A HH-43B from Det. 8, 38th ARRS, Cam Ranh Bay AB, RVN, crewed by Maj. Armand J. Fiola (P), 1st Lt. Willie Farrow (CP), Sgt. Norman Edney (FE) and Sgt. George S. Armstrong (MT) rescued four USA troops, WO R. M. Gallagher, WO R. T. Deer, E-4 C. B. Davidson and SP4 J. E. McLeon from a downed UH-1B. No other details are known at this time. JRCC Save Form |
| 1968 - January 08 | A HH-43F from Det. 8, 38th ARRS, Cam Ranh Bay AB, crewed by Capt. Eugene H. Boortz (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ) rescued two USA troops, Gary B. Davidson and one other from a UH-1B that was downed in the surf. No other details are known at this time. JRCC Save Form |
| 1968 - January 09 | A USAF helicopter, crewed by unkn (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ), rescued the pilot of a USMC F-8E, Capt. D. W. Lorenzo, after he ejected from his ground fire damaged aircraft in southern Laos. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson |
| 1968 - January 10 | A CH-3E of the 20th HS, crewed by Maj. Kyron V. Hall, (P), unkn (CP) and unkn (FM), rescued, by hoist, two surviving members of a road watch team, which had been engaged by hostile forces, from the side of a hill in North Vietnam. No other details are known at this time. (See next entry.) http://www.mh-53pavelow.com/documents/20thSOS/1968.pdf |
| 1968 - January 10 | A UH-1F of the 20th HS, crewed by unkn (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FM) and unkn (AG), along with supporting UH-1P gunships, crews unkn, of the 20th HS completed and emergency extraction of a MACV SOG recon team, "RT Auger" from a landing zone in Cambodia. No other details are known at this time. "Secret Green Beret Commandos In Cambodia" by Lt. Col. Fred S. Lindsey, USA (Ret.) |
| 1968 - January 11 | A CH-3E of the 20th HS, crewed by Maj. Kyron V. Hall, (P), unkn (CP) and unkn (FM), again returned to rescued, by hoist, one more surviving member of a road watch team that had been engaged by hostile forces in North Vietnam. No other details are known at this time. (See previous entry). http://www.mh-53pavelow.com/documents/20thSOS/1968.pdf |
| 1968 - January 11 | A HH-43B/F crewed by Capt. Bobbie L. Mitchell (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ) rescued the pilot of a USA O-1G, 1st Lt. W. H. Trisco. No other details are known at this time. JRCC Save Form |
| 1968 - January 11 | A HH-43F from Det. 6, 38th ARRS, Bien Hoa AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Charles W. Burridge (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ) saved four Vietnamese civilians. No other details are known at this time. JRCC Save Form |
| 1968 - January 11 | A HH-43F from Det. 6, 38th ARRS, Bien Hoa AB, RVN, crewed by Maj. James F. Okonek (P), Lt. Col. Robert J. Kavanaugh (CP), SSgt. Robert A. Brown (PJ), Billy J. Hackler (FF) and Sgt. Charles F. Salome (PJ), medevacked the crew of a VNAF F-5A that had crashed while landing. No other details are known at this time. JRCC Save Form |
| 1968 - January 12 | A HH-3E #65-12780 (Call sign "Jolly Green 07") from the 37th ARRS, Da Nang AB, RVN, crewed by Maj. Donald G. Simpson (P), Capt. Joseph H. Bowers (CP), Sgt. Gorgen T. Greever (FE), A1C Ricky D. Hindman (PJ) and Sgt. Martin E. Roepstorff (PJ), attempted the rescue of any survivors of a downed USMC H-53 (Call sign "Dimmer 30") in RVN, however there were no survivors. No other details are available currently. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form & 37th ARRS Operations Logbook 01 Jan 68 to 31 Dec 68 |
| 1968 - January 12 | A HH-43F crewed by Capt. Bobbie L. Mitchell (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ) saved one ROK soldier, CPL. S. J. Soo. No other details are known at this time. JRCC Save Form |
| 1968 - January 13 | A HH-43F believed to be from Det. 1, 38th ARRS, Phan Rang AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Bobbie L. Mitchell (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ) saved USA helicopter pilot, 1st Lt. G. R. Montgomery. No other details are known at this time. JRCC Save Form |
| 1968 - January 14 | A HH-43F, believed to be from Det. 1, 38th ARRS, Phan Rang AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Bobbie L. Mitchell (P), Michael T. Fagan (CP) and James J. Rivette (FE), rescued the pilot of an O-1G, 1st Lt. W. H. Trisko, who suffered major injuries after his aircraft was hit by ground fire and crash landed about 10 miles east of Phan Rang AB, RVN. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson |
| 1968 - January 15 | HH-3E, #64-14233 (Call sign "Jolly Green 20") from the 37th ARRS, Da Nang AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Gregory A. Etzel (P), Capt. David E. Holt (CP), SSgt. Elwood R. "Jim" Beam (FE), Sgt. Angus W. Sowell (PJ) and A2C James A. Hedderly (AP) and was lost about 40 miles east of Sam Neua, just inside North Vietnam, on a SAR mission for the crew of an EB-66C (Call sign "Preview 01") that had been shot down over NVN by a MiG-21 on January 14, 1968. The HH-3E was destroyed, the pilot, co-pilot and PJ were seriously injured, the FE had fractured shoulders and the photographer was temporally knocked unconscious and had an injured knee. After almost three days on the ground they were rescued by a HH-53C #69-5784 (Call sign“Jolly Green 71”) on 17 January 1968 (See entry below on 17 January 1968). March 2019 email from James A. Hedderly & Vietnam Air Losses by Chris Hobson & http://www.jollygreen.org/jltnc.htm & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe and National Geographic Vol. 134, No. 3, September, 1968 |
| 1968 - January 15 | A HH-43B crewed by 1st Lt. Ronald P. Wojack (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ) saved USAF SSgt. M. E. Masters. No other details are known at this time. JRCC Save Form |
| 1968 - January 16 | A HH-3E, from the 37th ARRS, Da Nang AB, RVN, crewed by 1st Lt. Rodney G. Parks (P), Capt. Jerry D. Clearman (CP), SSgt. Windell L. Stumbaugh (FE) and Robert D. Baker (PJ), rescued 3 USA troops under fire in RVN. No other details are available currently. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1968 - January 16 | A HH-3E, (Call sign “Jolly Green 16”) from Det. 1, 37th ARRS, Nakhon Phanom RTAFB, Thailand, crewed by Capt. Robert D. Greer (P), Capt. John H. Canfield (CP), SSgt. Carl L. Warmack (FE), Sgt. Peter S. Harding (PJ) and MSgt. Clarence R. Boles (PJ) rescued the crew of a F-4C (Call sign “Hanger 1A & 1B”), Maj. Charles E. Lewis (P) and 1st Lt. Jack L. Kelly (CP), after they ejected from their aircraft when one of their 750 lbs. bombs exploded prematurely damaging their aircraft and another in the flight, about 20 miles NE of the Mu Gia Pass, NVN. High bird on this mission was HH-3E (Call sign “Jolly Green 37”) crewed by Maj. Joseph B. Ferrell (P), Maj. Paul M. Reagan (CP), Sgt. Narcisco A. Otero (FE) and MSgt. Clarance R. Boles Jr. (PJ). Vietnam Air Losses by Chris Hobson & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & Mission Narrative Report (2-3-08, 16 Jan 68) |
| 1968 - January 16 | A HH-3E, from the 37th ARRS, Da Nang AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Fred H. Otte (P), Capt. Jerry M. Griggs (CP), Sgt. Dennis M. Richardson (FE) and Richard H. Garlie (PJ), rescued 5 USA troops under fire in RVN. No other details are available currently. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1968 - January 17 | HH-53B #66-14434 (Call sign "Jolly Green 71"), from Det. 2, 37th ARRS, Udorn RTAFB, Thailand, by Capt. Russell L. Cayler (P), Lt. Col. Garland A. York (CP), unkn (FE), Sgt. Jack B. Hoover (PJ) and A1C Michael M. Dodd (PJ), rescued the crew of HH-3E #64-14233 (Call sign "Jolly Green 20") Capt. Gregory A. Etzel (P), Capt. David E. Holt (CP), SSgt. Elwood R. "Jim" Beam (FE), Sgt. Angus W. Sowell (PJ) and A2C James A. Hedderly (AP), that had gone down on 15 January 1958 (see entry on 15 January 1968). Vietnam Air Losses by Chris Hobson & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe and National Geographic Vol. 134, No. 3, September 1968 |
| 1968 - January 17 | A HH-53B (Call sign "Jolly Green 69"), from Det. 2, 37th ARRS, Udorn RTAFB, Thailand, crewed, crewed by Maj. Frederick M. Donohue (P), 1st Lt. Leone Russo (CP), Sgt. Robert T. Winblad (FE), A1C Michael M. Dodd (PJ) and Sgt. Jack B. Hoover (PJ), rescued EB-66C (Call sign "Preview 01") crew members, Maj. Pollard Hugh Mercer, Lt. Thompson & Lt. Pete Pedroli, about 40 miles east of Sam Neua, just inside North Vietnam after they had to abandon their aircraft that had been hit by an air-to-air missile fired by a MiG-21 on January 14, 1968. Unfortunately, Maj. Mercer was badly injured and died in the Clark AB, PI. hospital on 20 January 1968. Four other crewmembers on the EB-66C became POW's. Vietnam Air Losses by Chris Hobson & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1968 - January 18 | A HH-3E #65-12781 (Call sign “Jolly Green 09”) crewed by Capt. Henry C. Conant (P), Capt. George W. Greer (CP), SSgt. Don E. Cole (FE) and Sgt. Patrick F. Allaire (PJ) rescue the pilot of a F-4C (Call sign “Hanger 2A”), Capt. Scott B. Stovin (P) after he ejected from his aircraft on 16 January 1968 when one of his 750 lbs. bombs exploded prematurely damaging their aircraft and another in the flight, about 20 miles NE of the Mu Gia Pass, NVN. His co-pilot, (Call sign “Hanger 2B”), 1st Lt. Thomas Nelson Moe, became a POW before he could be rescued. High bird on this mission was HH-3E (Call sign “Jolly Green 37”) crewed by Capt. David A. Richardson (P), Capt. Ronald McKinley (CP), TSgt. Jarvis E. Peele (FE) and Sgt. Jules C. Smith (PJ). 37th ARRS Mission Narrative Report (2-3-08, 17 Jan 68) |
| 1968 - January 18 | A HH-43F from Det. 10, 38th ARRS at Binh Thuy AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Leslie E. Johnson Jr. (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ) rescued the crew members from a C-7A that had crashed off the end of runway 06 at Binh Thuy AB. No other details are known at this time. Maj. Leslie E. Johnson Jr.'s Pedro Logbook from Binh Thuy AB, Vietnam, provided courtesy of his son Leslie E. Johnson III |
| 1968 - January 18 | HH-43B from Det. 13, 38th ARRS, crewed by Maj. Juan H. Magia (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ), medevacked six Vietnamese in RVN. No other details are known at this time. JRCC Save Form & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1968 - January 19 | A HH-3E, from Det. 1, 38th ARRS, Nakhon Phanom RTAFB, Thailand, crewed by Capt. Henry C. Conant (P), Capt. George W. Greer (CP), SSgt. Don E. Cole (FE), Sgt. Patrick F. Allaire (PJ) and Sgt. Jules C. Smith (PJ), rescued the pilot of a F-4D, Capt. Scott B. Stovin (P), after he and his co-pilot, 1st Lt. Thomas Nelson Poe (CP), after they ejected from their aircraft when one of their 750 lbs. bombs exploded prematurely damaging their aircraft and another in the flight, about 20 miles NE of the Mu Gia Pass, NVN. The F-4D co-pilot, Lt. Poe, became a POW. Vietnam Air Losses by Chris Hobson & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1967 - January 19 | A UH-1F of the 20th HS, crewed by unkn (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FM) and unkn (AG), along with supporting UH-1P gunships, crews unkn, of the 20th HS inserted a MACV SOG recon team. No other details are known at this time. "Secret Green Beret Commandos In Cambodia" by Lt. Col. Fred S. Lindsey, USA (Ret.) |
| 1968 - January 21 | A HH-43F Det. 1, 38th ARRS, Phan Rang AB, RVN, crewed by Maj. William O. Emrie (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ), rescued two ROK troops under fire in RVN. No other details are known at this time. JRCC. Save Form |
| 1968 - January 21 | A HH-43F, believed to be from Det. 1, 38th ARRS, Phan Rang AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Robert L. Mitchell (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ), rescued one ROK troop under fire in RVN. No other details are known at this time. JRCC. Save Form |
| 1968 - January 21 | A HH-43F, from Det. 10, 38th ARRS, Binh Thuy AB, RVN, crewed by Maj. Harold Pickering (P), Capt. William J. Haugen (CP), SSgt. Garden L. Browning (FE), A2C James L. Parks (PJ) and Lonnie N. Davidson (PJ), rescued 1 wounded USN sailor, under fire, in RVN. No other details are available currently. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1967 - January 21 | A UH-1F of the 20th HS, crewed by unkn (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FM) and unkn (AG), along with supporting UH-1P gunships, crews unkn, of the 20th HS inserted a MACV SOG recon team "RT Auger" into enemy territory. No other details are known at this time. "Secret Green Beret Commandos In Cambodia" by Lt. Col. Fred S. Lindsey, USA (Ret.) |
| 1967 - January 21 | A UH-1F of the 20th HS, crewed by unkn (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FM) and unkn (AG), along with supporting UH-1P gunships, crews unkn, of the 20th HS extracted a MACV SOG recon team "RT Auger" from enemy territory along with a captured brand-new enemy 122 mm rocket launcher. No other details are known at this time. "Secret Green Beret Commandos In Cambodia" by Lt. Col. Fred S. Lindsey, USA (Ret.) |
| 1968 - January 24 | A HH-43F from Det. 13, 38th ARRS, Phu Cat AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. John W. Christiansen (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ) saved USA troop SP4 J. R. Tyner. No other details are known at this time. JRCC Save Form |
| 1968 - January 25 | A HH-43F from Det. 7, 38th ARRS, Da Nang AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. George R. Andrews (P), Maj. Richard E. Porter (CP), Sgt. William P. Owens (FE) and TSgt. John L. Hennesey (PJ) rescued 2 crew members, Capt. P. F. Meg and Lt. Col. J. J. Major, of a USMC O-1 that had gone down in RVN. No other details are available currently. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form |
| 1968 - January 26 | A HH-43F from Det. 8, 38th ARRS, Cam Ranh Bay AB, RVN, crewed by Maj. Armand J. Fiola (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ), rescued 2 foreign military troops, Capt. Ho One Kang and Sgt. Seo Tai Choi and one Vietnamese civilian Mr. Liam (Moe). No other details are available currently. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC save Form |
| 1968 - January 27 | A HH-43F from Det. 7, 38th ARRS, Da Nang AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. George R. Andrews (P), 1st Lt. Michael L. Walker (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ), rescued the co-pilot of a F-4C, (Call sign “Skate 02”), 1st Lt. B. R. Core (CP), after he and his pilot (P), Maj. R. W. Phillips, ejected from their 37 mm AAA damaged aircraft, over the South China Sea just off the coast from Monkey Mountain, RVN. (See next entry). "Vietnam Air Losses by Chris Hobson & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & 37th ARRS Operations Logbook 01 Jan 68 to 31 Dec 68 |
| 1968 - January 27 | A HH-3E, #66-13278 (Call sign “Jolly Green 25”) from the 37th ARRS, crewed by Capt. Jerry M. Griggs (P), Capt. Joseph H. Bowers (CP), SSgt. James A. Bowers (FE) and A1C Walter A. White III (PJ), rescued the pilot of a F-4C (Call sign “Skate 02”), Maj. R. W. Phillips (P), and his co-pilot, 1st Lt. B. R. Core (CP), after they ejected from their 37 mm AAA damaged aircraft, over the South China Sea just off the coast from Monkey Mountain, RVN. (See the previous entry), "Vietnam Air Losses by Chris Hobson & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & 37th ARRS Operations Logbook 01 Jan 68 to 31 Dec 68 |
| 1968 - January 27 | A HH-43F from Det. 10, 38th ARRS, Binh Thuy AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Thomas D. Precious (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ), rescued a wounded USN sailor, PQ3 R. L. Poke, from a patrol river boat in RVN. No other details are known at this time. JRCC save Form |
| 1968 - January 28 | A HH-43F from Det. 6, Bien Hoa AB, 38th ARRS, crewed by Maj. Price S. Summerhill (P), John V. Lepton (CP), Sgt. Glenn N. Chafey (FE) and TSgt. Charles F. Salome (PJ), rescued crewmembers of a UH-1D that had gone down in RVN. No other details are available currently. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1968 - January 28 | A HH-43F from Det. 6, Bien Hoa AB, 38th ARRS, RVN, crewed by Capt. Charles W. Burridge (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ), rescued one USA troop. No other details are available currently. JRCC Save Form |
| 1968 - January 29 | A HH-43B from Det. 2, 38th ARRS, Takhli RTAFB, Thailand, crewed by Capt. Andrew J. M. Archer (P), Maj. Bruce C. Smith (CP), Henry A. Moehrke (MT), SSgt. Tomas J. Nicholson (FF) and Sgt. Richard W. Turner (FF), saved the pilot of an F-105D, 1st Lt. R. J. Maxwell, after his aircraft had an engine failure while attempting a take-off from Takhli RTAFB, Thailand. JRCC Save Form |
| 1968 - January 29 | A HH-3E from Det 1, 37th ARRS, Nakhon Phanom RTAFB, Thailand, crewed by Capt. Richard A. Orsini (P), Capt. George W. Greer (CP), SSgt. Carl L. Warmack (FE), Sgt. Peter S. Harding (PJ) and MSgt. Clarence R. Boles (PJ) rescued the pilot of a T-28D, Capt. Charles W. Brown, after he bailed out of his groundfire damaged aircraft on January 28, 1968, and hid from the enemy overnight. He had come down near a NVA battalion base camp but was picked up after fighter suppressive fire and a smoke screen were laid down. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1968 - January 30 | UH-1 gunships of the 20th HS "Green Hornets" at Ban Me Thuot East, crew's unkn, were scrambled before dawn at the beginning of the Tet offensive to fire on suspected enemy mortar concentration. Later that day two gunships drove VC and NVA troops from a stream of refugees and killed six of the enemy as confirmed by FAC's. Before the day was over, the gunships took part in an assault on an estimated two companies of NVA dropping 28 more of the enemy according to FAC's. http://www.mh-53pavelow.com/documents/20thSOS/1968.pdf |
| 1968 - January 30 | A HH-43F from Det. 7, 38th ARRS at Da Nang AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. George R. Andrews (P), Capt. Richard A. Mayer (CP), SSgt. Evert Handy (FE) and TSgt. John L. Hennessey (PJ), were involved in the rescue of James W. House in RVN. This occurred during a NVA Tet Offensive attack on the base starting around 3:00 am and the Pedro crew was involved for over 2 1/2 hours in several evacuations of wounded, assisting firefighting operations and was even call on by the control tower to use its rotor wash to blow debris and shrapnel off of one of the bases runways so an inbound aircraft could land safely. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1968 - January 31 | A HH-43F from Det. 10, 38th ARRS, Binh Thuy AB, RVN, crewed by Maj. Harold Pickering (P), Capt. William J. Haugen (CP), Charles H. Herring (FE) and A1C Larry D. Nicholson (PJ), were involved in the rescue of USN sailor, Kenneth W. Quinian, in RVN. No other details are available at this time. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1968 - January 31 | A HH-43F from Det. 7, 38th ARRS, Da Nang AB, crewed by Capt. George R. Andrews (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ), medevacked a USAF patient. No other details are known at this time. JRCC Save Form |
| 1968 - January 31 | A HH-43F from Det. 6, 8th ARRS, Bien Hoa AB, RVN, crewed by Maj. James F. Okonek (P), Maj. John V. Lepko (CP), TSgt. Donald S. Keaton II (FE) and TSgt. Charles F. Salome (PJ) medevacked 1 USA troop in RVN. No other details are available currently. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form |
| 1968 - January 31 | A HH-43F from Det. 6, 38th ARRS, Bien Hoa AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Charles W. Burridge (P), Lt. Col. Robert J. Kavanagh (CP), Sgt. Glenn N. Chafey (FE) and Sgt. Roland C. Schmidt (PJ), were involved in a rescue on a USA troop (name unkn) in RVN. No other details are available currently. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form |
| 1968 - February 01 | A HH-43F from Det. 6, 38th ARRS, Bien Hoa AB, RVN, crewed by Maj. James F. Okonek (P), Maj. John V. Lepko (CP), Sgt. Glenn N. Chafey (FE) and TSgt. Charles F. Salome (PJ) rescued the crew of a UH-1 (Call sign "Silver Spur 16") that had gone down in RVN. No other details are available currently. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form |
| 1968 - February 01 | A HH-43F from Det. 7, 38th ARRS, Da Nang AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. George R. Andrews (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ), saved a VN seaman. No other details are available currently. JRCC Save Form |
| 1968 - February 01 | FAC's again called on UH-1 gunships of the 20th HS "Green Hornets" at Ban Me Thuot East to support a friendly force trapped in a schoolhouse by heavy enemy fire. During this mission, the "Green Hornets" received yet another distress call from a friendly tank element pinned down by the enemy in the town of Ban Be Thuot. An estimated company of NVA had occupied a segment of the city. The "Green Hornets" rolled in and left an entire enemy block in flames, thereby relieving much of the pressure on friendly ground forces in the area. http://www.mh-53pavelow.com/documents/20thSOS/1968.pdf |
| 1968 - February 02 | At 0330 hours a 20th HS UH-1 "Green Hornet" gunship element at Ban Me Thuot East was launched to attack observed enemy mortar positions. An enemy position was observed firing and was immediately attacked and destroyed by the gunships. A few minutes later, the flight was advised that an ARVN compound was under heavy attack two miles west of Ban Me Thuot. The flight leader contacted the U. S. Army Advisor in the compound for target identification. There were no flare ships available for illumination and the compound had to be identified by several buildings burning within the perimeter. The enemy had breached the southern defenses and were pouring into the compound. The gunships put their initial fire at 50 meters inside the perimeter and on succeeding passes worked outward to drive the enemy outside the compound. By 0410 hours the gunships had expended their ordnances and the compound was secure. Later that day, the crews were informed by the senior U. S. Advisor that their prompt response and extremely accurate fire, even in almost total darkness had, without a doubt saved the compound from being overrun and destroyed by the enemy. The 155th Helicopter Company at Ban Me Thuot Airstrip reported it was under constant mortar and sniper harassment. Some of their men had been shot off the tops of airplanes while trying to repair them. Two "Green Hornets" sanitized the surrounding area with rockets and mini-gun fire. Also, the same day the "Green Hornet" Huey slicks and gunships of the 20th HS and the Army's 155th Helicopter Company assisted elements of the 173rd Airborne Brigade in a combat assault against Hill 491 south of Ban Me Thuot. Still later that day, a ground patrol making a sweep located a group of "VC" in a plantation. The 20th gunships went into a protective orbit over the area to keep the enemy from escaping. The friendly ground forces moved in and took 66 POW's. The "Green Hornet" slicks carried the POW's out. One crew member that is known to have been awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross for his actions as an aerial gunner during this mission is SSgt. Donald P. Ausdal. http://www.mh-53pavelow.com/documents/20thSOS/1968.pdf & SSgt. Ausdal DFC award citation, |
| 1968 - February 02 | A HH-43F from Det. 7, 38th ARRS, Da Nang AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. George R. Andrews (P), 1st Lt. Michael L. Walker (CP), Sgt. William P. Owens (FE) and Sgt. Vincent E. Deets (PJ), were involved in the rescue of Wayne Michalal in RVN. No other details are available currently. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1968 - February 02 | A HH-3E from Det. 1, 37th ARRS, Nakhon Phanom RTAFB, Thailand, crewed by 1st Lt. James H. Platt (P), Maj. Dean H. Williams Jr. (CP), SSgt. Harvey W. Keyes (FE) and MSgt. Clarence R. Boles (PJ) were involved in the CSAR for crewmembers of a P-2V that went down in Laos. They rescued three crew members of the P-2V, Lt. Jg. Jacobs, AP2 Forbski and AT1 Arntsen (See next entry). No other details are available currently. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & 37 ARRS Summary Table Of Rescues |
| 1968 - February 02 | A HH-3E from Det. 1, 37th ARRS, Nakhon Phanom RTAFB, Thailand, crewed by Capt. Harry W. Walker (P), Maj. Milton S. Washington (CP), SSgt. Albert B. Parker (FE) and Sgt. Peter S. Harding (PJ) were involved in the CSAR for crewmembers of a P-2V that went down in Laos. They rescued one crew member of the P-2V, AP1 Gonzales (See previous entry). No other details are available currently. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & 37 ARRS Summary Table Of Rescues |
| 1968 - February 03 | UH-1 gunships of the 20th HS "Green Hornets" at Ban Me Thuot East, RVN, were again scrambled to aid elements of the 173rd in heavy contact with a NVA unit. Receiving heavy ground fire, the "Green Hornets" worked in support of friendly ground forces within 199 meters of where artillery shells were impacting against the NVA contingent. The gunships chalked up six enemy KIA's confirmed by FAC's in that encounter. http://www.mh-53pavelow.com/documents/20thSOS/1968.pdf |
| 1968 - February 03 | A HH-43F from Det. 6, 38th ARRS, Bien Hoa AB, RVN, crewed by Maj. James F. Okonek (P), Maj. John V. Lepko (CP), SSgt. James B. Reed (FE) and SGT. Roland C. Schmidt (PJ) medevacked two USAF airmen and two USA troops in RVN. No other details are available currently. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form |
| 1968 - February 03 | A HH-43F from Det. 6, 38th ARRS, Bien Hoa AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Charles W. Burridge (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ), saved two USA troops in RVN. No other details are available currently. JRCC Save Form |
| 1968 - February 03 | A HH-43F believed to be from Det. 1, 38th ARRS at Phan Rang AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Robert L. Michell (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ), saved eight USAF airman, Capt. S. C. Budesheim, TSgt. D. R. Malbert, TSgt. R. L. Caldwell, TSgt. M. R. Deez, TSgt. R. J. Couture, MSgt. E. E. Barret, SSgt. J. F. Wilson and SSgt. C. N. Breaden, during the evacuation of 1st Comm. Sq. personnel during Tet Offensive. No other details are available currently. JRCC Save Form |
| 1968 - February 03 | A HH-43F from Det. 1, 38th ARRS, Phan Rang AB, RVN, crewed by Maj. James W. Langston (P), Capt. Ardven L. Blythe (CP) and Michael D. Morris (PJ), saved six USAF airmen, SSgt. D. O. McMahon, SSgt. F. B. Vasas, SSgt. T. M. Bowen, SSgt. C. A. Partzel, SSgt. R. J. Hoffman and A1C B. V. Stmmfir, during the evacuation of 1st Comm. Sq. personnel during Tet Offensive. No other details are available currently. JRCC Save Form |
| 1968 - February 03 | A HH-43F from Det. 8, 38th ARRS, Cam Ranh Bay AB, RVN crewed by Capt. Eugene H. Boortz (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FF) and unkn (FF) laid down a foam path to check for survivors in a burning C-130. No other details are known at this time. JRCC Save Form |
| 1968 - February 04 | UH-1 gunships of the 20th HS "Green Hornets", crew's unkn, in the evening, came to the aid of friendly tanks that were pinned down by 57 mm recoilless rifles and 50 cal. machine guns. Although some of the aircraft sustained battle damage and five aircrew members were wounded, the "Green Hornets" courageously carried on without the loss of a single aircraft or man. Other UH-1F's of the 20th HS brought in ammunition, supplies, evacuated the wounded and transported 140 POW's. http://www.mh-53pavelow.com/documents/20thSOS/1968.pdf |
| 1968 - February 04 | A HH-43B crewed by Maj. B. E. Zosden (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ), saved USAF airman, A1C G. H. Presry. No other details are known at this time. JRCC Save Form |
| 1968 - February 04 | A HH-43B from Det. 13, 38th ARRS, crewed by Maj. B. E. Cowden (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ), Medevac'd C. B. Pressy who had been injured in a jeep accident. No other details are available currently. JRCC Save Form |
| 1968 - February 04 | Two CH-3E's of the 20th HS "Pony Express", crew's unkn, along with four other friendly helicopters successfully infiltrated a company sized assault force into southern Laos for the purpose of disrupting road traffic and to take prisoners if possible. No other details are known at this time. (See next entry). http://www.mh-53pavelow.com/documents/20thSOS/1968.pdf |
| 1968 - February 05 | Two CH-3E's of the 20th HS "Pony Express", crew's unkn, along with four other friendly helicopters returned to exfiltrated a company sized assault force that they had inserted the day before into southern Laos for the purpose of disrupting road traffic and to take prisoners if possible. The assault force had come under attack during the night and as the first CH-3E came under intense ground fire but was able to land and recover 16 troops. As the second CH-3E received six hits on approach to landing and was forced to abort the attempted pickup. Most of the assault team were later recovered by other friendly helicopters after they had moved to a less hostile LZ. No other details are known at this time. (See previous entry). http://www.mh-53pavelow.com/documents/20thSOS/1968.pdf |
| 1968 - February 05 | A HH-43F from Det. 8, 38th ARRS, Cam Ranh Bay, RVN, crewed by Maj. Armand J. Fiola (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ), saved five Vietnamese civilians when they evacuated the mayor’s family during the Tet Offensive. No other details are known at this time. JRCC Save Form |
| 1968 - February 05 | A HH-43F #62-4560 (Call sign “Pedro 91”) was damaged in RVN, it was repaired and returned to service. No other details are known at this time. http://www.joebaugher.com/usaf_serials/1962.html |
| 1968 - February 05 | UH-1F/P helicopters from the 20th HS, crew’s unkn, extracted MACV SOG recon team "RT Shovel" while under fire. All members of the team had been wounded. No other details are known at this time. "Secret Green Beret Commandos In Cambodia" by Lt. Col. Fred S. Lindsey, USA (Ret.) |
| 1968 - February 06 | A HH-3E #66-13283 (Call sign "Jolly Green 30") from the 37th ARRS at Da Nang AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Charles R. Dunn (P), Capt. Edward W. Hutchison (CP), A1C Duane I. Beland (FE) and Douglas J. McGill (PJ), were involved in save of three ARVN troops in RVN. No other details are available at this time. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form |
| 1968 - February 07 | HH-43F #62-4525 (Call sign "Pedro 56") from Det. 9, 38th ARRS, Pleiku AB, RVN and crewed by Capt. Francis B. Gilligan (P), Maj. Lester M. Jiggens (CP), Sgt. Jose Gene Abara (FE) and Sgt. David R. Berrio (PJ) was on a night hoist rescue mission of a wounded crewmember of a downed Army helicopter, about 28 mile NNW of Pleiku AB, RVN, near Kontum when it was hit by .50 cal. machine gun fire, caught fire and crashed. Sgt. Abara died in the crash and the rest of the crew was rescued after about three hours by a hoist equipped U. S. Army UH-1 "Dust Off" helicopter. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/38th_Rescue_Squadron |
| 1968 - February 07 | A HH-43F from Det. 13, 38th ARRS, Phu Cat AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. John W. Christianson (P), Capt. Robert N. Bowers (CP), Charles R. Bulinda (FE) and TSgt. Delmer R. Smith (MT) was involved in the medevac of 4 USA troops in contact in RVN. Capt. Christianson was awarded the DFC for his actions during this mission. No other details are available currently. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form |
| 1968 - February 08 | A HH-53B from Det. 2, 37th ARRS, Udorn RTAFB, Thailand, crewed by Capt. James R. Miears (P), Maj. Aharon Aharonian (CP), SSgt. Junior Cazares (FE), Thomas Devine (PJ) and David A. Kratz (PJ), rescued the pilot of a F-4D, Capt. T. K. Dorsett (P), after he and his co-pilot, Capt. J. A. Corder (CP), ejected from their ground fire damaged aircraft in Laos, about 30 miles west of Sam Neua. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1968 - February 08 | A HH-53B from Det. 2, 37th ARRS, Udorn RTAFB, Thailand, crewed by Capt. Alfred C. Montrem (P), Capt. Robert E. Ruddick (CP), SSgt. Gene A. Dellers (FE), SSgt. James J. Rogers (PJ) and Dennis O'Connor (PJ), rescued the co-pilot of a F-4D, Capt. J. A. Corder (CP), after he and his pilot, Capt. T. K. Dorsett (P), ejected from their ground fire damaged aircraft in Laos, about 30 miles west of Sam Neua. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1968 - February 12 | UH-1F/P helicopters from the 20th HS, crew's unkn, extracted MACV SOG recon team that was deep in enemy territory and in a fire fight with superior force of enemy troops. No other details are known at this time. "Secret Green Beret Commandos In Cambodia" by Lt. Col. Fred S. Lindsey, USA (Ret.) |
| 1968 - February 14 | A HH-43F from Det. 10, 38th ARRS, Binh Thuy AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Laurence W. Conover (P), Capt. Lesile E. Johnson Jr. (CP), TSgt. Kenneth H. Hogen (FE) and A1C Larry D. Nicholson (PJ), rescued four crewmembers, W/O-1 R. Levy, 1st Lt. R. E. Starr, CE M. W. Hoover, MC G. Robinson and passenger, PFC W. L. Koonce, from a downed USA UH-1B in RVN. No other details are available currently. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form Truck |
| 1968 - February 15 | A HH-43F from Det. 13, 38th ARRS, Phu Cat AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. John W. Christianson (P), 1st Lt. James F. Brannan III (CP), A2C Jessie L. Herrell (FE) and Sgt. James E. DeGraw (MT), was involved in the medevac of 4 USA troops in contact in RVN. Capt. Christianson was awarded the DFC for his actions during this mission. No other details are available currently. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form |
| 1968 - February 15 | A HH-43F from Det. 10, 38th ARRS, Bihn Thuy AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Laurence W. Conover (P), Capt. Leslie E. Johnson Jr. (CP), TSgt. Kenneth H. Hogen (FE) and A1C Larry D. Nicholson (PJ), rescued the pilot of a F-100D, Capt. John K. Lewis (P), after he had ejected from his ground fire damaged aircraft close to Binh Thuy AB, RVN. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1968 - February 15 | A HH-43F from Det. 13, 38th ARRS, Phu Cat AB, RVN, crewed by Maj. Bert E. Cowden (P), Capt. Robert N. Bowers (CP), Otis Graham (FE) and SSgt. Noel S. Davidson (PJ), saved two USA soldiers in contact in RVN. No other details are known at this time. JRCC Save Form |
| 1968 - February 17 | A HH-3E from Det. 1, 37th ARRS, Nakhon Phanom RTAFB, Thailand, crewed by Capt. Harry W. Walker (P), Capt. Ronald McKinly (CP), TSgt. Jarvis E. Peele (FE), Sgt. Peter S. Harding (PJ) and SSgt. Jules C. Smith (PJ), were involved in a CSAR for a USN OP-2E that went down in Laos. All crewmembers on the OP-2E, Cdr. Glen Miller Hayden, Lt. Curtis Frank Thurman, Lt (jg) James Stephen Kravitz, Ens. James Charles Wonn, ATN1 Paul Nicholas Donato, AO2 Clayborn Willis Ashby, AN Frank Arthur Dawson and AN James Edward Martin were KIA. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1968 - February 18 | A HH-53B from the Det. 2, 37th ARRS, Udorn RTAFB, Thailand, crewed by Maj. John V. Allison (P), 1st Lt. Leone S. Russo (CP), SSgt. John B. Mahoney (FE), A2C Albert W. Foster III (PJ) and Sgt. Jack B. Hoover (PJ), rescued the crew of a F-105F, Maj. M. S. Muskat (P) and Capt. K. Stouder, after they ejected from their AAA damaged aircraft a few miles west of Udorn RTAFB, Thailand. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson |
| 1968 - February 19 | A UH-1F of the 20th HS "Green Hornets", crewed by unkn (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (AG), was shot down while attempting to rescue a team. Special Forces SSgt. Fred W. Zabitosky, though badly wounded, rescued the co-pilot, earning him the Medal of Honor. No other details are known at this time. http://www.mh-53pavelow.com/documents/20thSOS/1967.pdf |
| 1968 - February 20 | A HH-3E #65-12782 (Call sign “Jolly Green 10”) from the 37th ARRS, Da Nang AB, RVN, Crewed by Capt. Standley A. McGhan (P), Maj. Stuart H. Hoag (CP), SSgt. Elmer L. Holden (FE), SSgt. Angus C. McDougall (PJ) and Douglas J. McGill (PJ) rescued the crew of an F-4C, Capt. Paul. A. Brandt and 1st Lt. Paul J. Seiler, after they ejected from their ground fire damaged aircraft in the A Shau Valley, on February 19, 1968, about 10 miles southeast of Khe Sanh, RVN. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & 37th ARRS Operations Logbook 01 Jan 68 to 31 Dec 68 |
| 1968 - February 21 | UH-1F/P helicopters from the 20th HS, crew's unkn, supported a large "Bright Light and recon team effort to find American civilians who had been taken prisoner by the Viet Cong two week earlier from Ban Me Thout during the Tet offensive. No other details are known at this time. "Secret Green Beret Commandos In Cambodia" by Lt. Col. Fred S. Lindsey, USA (Ret.) |
| 1968 - February 22 | A HH-3E of the 37th ARRS at Da Nang AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. John B. McTasney (P), Capt. John I. Patterson (CP), Sgt. Odell Carter (FE) and A1C Ricky D. Hindman (PJ), evacuated eleven litter and four ambulatory USMC troops from the Dong Ha Hospital to Da Nang AB, RVN. No other details are available currently. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form |
| 1968 - February 22 | A HH-3E of the 37th ARRS, Da Nang AB, RVN, crewed by Maj. John W. Robey (P), Lt. Col. Kenneth D. Caughron (CP), SSgt. Elmer L. Holden (FE) and A2C Michael B. Gallasch (PJ), extracted a seven-man USMC ground team with one wounded and took them to Kham Duc, RVN. Maj. Robey was awarded the Silver Star for his actions during this mission. No other details are available currently. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form |
| 1968 - February 22 | A HH-3E of the 37th ARRS, Da Nang AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. William E. Brennan (P), Capt. William B. Byrd Jr. (CP), SSgt. Robert H. Baldwin (FE) and Sgt. Donald K. Claudius Jr. (PJ) medevacked four litter and six ambulatory patients. No other details are available currently. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form |
| 1968 - February 22 | A HH-3E of the 37th ARRS, Da Nang AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Thomas E. Bair (P), Maj. Harold Frank Cardile (CP), SSgt. Windell L. Stumbaugh (FE) and Peter J. Ganun (PJ), medevacked five litter and five ambulatory patients. No other details are available currently. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form |
| 1968 - February 23 | A HH-3E #66-13278 (Call sign "Jolly Green 25") of the 37th ARRS, Da Nang AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. John B. McTasney (P), Capt. John I. Patterson (CP), Sgt. Odell Carter (FE) and A1C Ricky D. Hindman (PJ), rescued the crew of a USMC A-6, Lawrence E. Pabin (P) and 1st Lt. Roderick V. Smith, from the South China Sea after they ejected when they had a mid-air collision with a USMC F-8E during night landing operations. The F-8E pilot, Capt. George Lawrence Hubler was KIA. No other details are available currently. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form |
| 1968 - February 25 | A HH-3E #65-12780 (Call sign “Jolly Green 07”) from the 37th ARRS, Da Nang AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. William E. Brennan (P), Capt. Jerry D. Clearman (CP), SSgt. James A. Bowers (FE), Sgt. Vincent E. Deets (PJ) and Peter J. Ganun (PJ), rescued the pilot of a F-100D (Call sign "Icon 01"), Capt. Bernard E. Flanagan, after he had ejected from his 37 mm AAA fire damaged aircraft near Saravan, Laos. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & 37th ARRS Operations Logbook 01 Jan 68 to 31 Dec 68 |
| 1968 - February 26 | A HH-43F from Det. 10, 38th ARRS, Bihn Thuy AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Thomas D. Precious (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ), rescued two USA troops, L. Hudspeth and R. Thacker, from a downed USA UH-1D helicopter. No other details are known at this time. JRCC Save Form & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1968 - February 27/28 | Several HH-3E’s (Call signs "Jolly Green's 10 (#65-12782){2-pickups}, 25 (#66-12378) {1-pickup}, 20 (64-14233) and 37" {3-pickups}) from the 37th ARRS at Da Nang AB, RVN, and Det. 1, 37th ARRS from Nakhon Phanom AB, Thailand and HH-53B’s from Det. 2, 37th ARRS, Udorn RTAFB, Thailand, in several sorties, rescued several crewmembers that had bailed out of a USN OP-2V (Call sign "Sophomore 50") that had been hit by 37 mm AAA fire a few miles south of the Ban Laboy Ford in Laos. OP-2V crewmembers rescued where Lt. Bernie Walsh, Ens. H. G. Wells, ADR3 George C. Wing, Lt. R. E. Jacobs, ADR3 A. G. Zdebski, AD2 R. Gonzales and ATN2 R. L. Arntsen, one crewmember PO2 John Francis Hartzheim was KIA when the 37 mm AAA round hit the aircraft. There were 31 "Jolly Green" crewmembers who flew on the "Sophomore 50" rescue mission; Lt. Col. Royal A. Brown Jr. (P), Maj. Dean H. Williams Jr. (P), Maj. Milton S. Washington (P), Maj. Paul M. Regan (P), Maj. Dale L. Oderman (P), Maj. Edward “Ed” B. Russell (P), Maj. Fredrick “Fred” C. Faust (P), Maj. Bill Johnson (P), Maj. Frederick M. Donohue (P), Capt. Harry W. Walker (P), Capt. Henry C. Conant, Capt. George W. Greer (P), Capt. James E. Oliver (P), 1st Lt. James H. Platt (P), 1st Lt. Leon S. Russo (P), Maj. Joe B. Green (P), Maj. Stuart H. Hoag (CP), TSgt Albert B. Parker (FE), SSgt. Raymond J. Price (FE), SSgt Carl L. Warmack (FE), SSgt Coy W. Calhoon (FE) SSgt. Harvey W. Keyes (FE), SSgt Jack L. Hartman (FE), Sgt. Narcisco A. Otero (FE), Sgt. Mickey D. Berry (FE), SSgt. Paul D. Kreider (FE), MSgt. Clarence R. Bowles (PJ), Sgt. Jack B. Hoover (PJ), Sgt. Donald C. Johnson (PJ), Sgt. Peter S. Harding (PJ), Sgt. Michael “Mike” R. Fraboni (PJ), Sgt. Jules C. Smith (PJ), Sgt. Patrick “Pat” F. Allaire (PJ), A2C Michael L. Walker (PJ) and Sgt. Joseph “Joe” M. Duffy (PJ). "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form & 37th ARRS Operations Logbook 01 Jan 68 to 31 Dec 68 |
| 1968 - February 28 | A HH-3E #65-12785 (Call sign "Jolly Green 36") from Det. 1, 37th ARRS at Nakhon Phanom RTAFB, Thailand, crewed by Maj. Dale L. Oderman (P), Capt. George W. Greer (CP), Sgt. Mickey D. Berry (FE) and Sgt. Joseph M. Duffy (PJ), rescued the pilot of a F-105D (Call sign "Bear 01"), Capt. Gene I. Basel, after he had ejected from his ground fire damaged aircraft in Laos near Ban San. Sgt. Duffy was sent down the hoist and after 20 min. (working from the hoist), was able to secure the unconscious Capt. Gene J. Basel, who was still hanging from his parachute 75 feet in the air, to the hoist and they were both hoisted aboard. This was credited as the 1,000th combat save by ARRS since 1964. HH-3E (Call sign "Jolly Green 17") crew’s unkn, was the 'high bird' on this mission. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1968 - February 28 | With the rescue of Capt. Gene I. Basel (see the previous entry) from Laos, the ARRS made their 1,000th combat save since 1964. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/37th_Aerospace_Rescue_and_Recovery_Squadron#Operations_and_losses & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPoint |
| 1968 - February 29 | A HH-43F from Det. 3, 38th ARRS, Ubon RTAFB, Thailand, crewed by 1st Lt. John Bland Jr. (P), Capt. Clarence L. Hansell (CP), Sgt. George W. Tefferteller Jr. (FE) and A1C James M. Payne (MT), saved the pilot, Lt. Col. C. D. Smith of an F-4D. His aircraft had been hit by 14.5 mm AAA fire while attacking a target near the village of Ban Topen, about 30 miles west of the DMZ and he was able to fly it back to Ubon RTAFB, Thailand where the aircraft crashed while attempting to land and he and his WSO ejected. The WSO, 1st Lt. Francis Murtaugh Driscoll, was KIA when his chute failed to deploy properly following ejection. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form |
| 1968 - March 01 | A HH-43F from Det. 10, 38th ARRS at Binh Thuy AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Laurence W. Conover (P), Capt. Leslie E. Johnson Jr. (CP), A1C Archelous Whitehead (FE) and A1C Larry D. Nicholson (PJ), rescued three USN sailors, E-3 J. A. Berry, Lt. R. G. Agodbehere and E-3 H. W. Sherman, (one was badly wounded and the other two had leg wounds) from a patrol boat in RVN. No other details are known at this time. JRCC Save Form & Maj. Leslie E. Johnson Jr.'s Pedro Logbook from Binh Thuy AB, Vietnam, provided courtesy of his son Leslie E. Johnson III |
| 1968 - March 01 | A HH-43F from Det. 11, 38th ARRS, Tuy Hoa AB, crewed by Lt. Col. J. Logan Fagner (P), Capt. Robert E. Dely (CP), Kozlowski (FF), SSgt. Robert A. McAllister (MT) and James R. Phelps (PJ), attempted to rescue the two-man crew of a VNAF O-1G in RVN, however both crew members were KIA in the crash of their aircraft. No other details are known at this time. JRCC Save Form |
| 1968 - March 02 | A HH-43F from Det. 10, 38th ARRS, Binh Thuy AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Laurence W. Conover (P), Capt. Leslie E. Johnson Jr. (CP), A1C Archelaus Whitehead Jr. (FE) and A1C Larry D. Nicholson (PJ), rescued a wounded popular forces civilian, D. E. Due Dong Hong, in RVN. He had a bad head wound and they delivered him to a soccer field in Can Tho where an ambulance took him to a hospital. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form & Maj. Leslie E. Johnson Jr.'s Pedro Logbook from Binh Thuy AB, Vietnam, provided courtesy of his son Leslie E. Johnson III |
| 1968 - March 05 | A HH-43F from Det. 13, 38th ARRS, Phu Cat AB, RVN, crewed by Maj. Bert E. Cowden (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ), medevacked one Vietnamese, one year old, child. No other details are known at this time. JRCC Save Form |
| 1968 - March 06 | A HH-3E, from the 37th ARRS at Da Nang AB, RVN, crewed by Maj. Billy J. Wingfield (P), Maj. Stuart H. Hoag (CP), Sgt. Dennis M. Richardson (FE), SSgt. Angus C. McDougall (PJ) and A2C Michael B. Gallasch (PJ), rescued the pilot of a F-105D, Capt. Frank E. Peck, after he was badly injured when he ejected from his ground fire damaged aircraft in Laos near Ban Vangthon, Laos. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1968 - March 06 | A HH-3E, from Det. 1, 37th ARRS, Nakhon Phanom RTAFB, Thailand, crewed by Maj. Dale L. Oderman (P), Maj. Paul M. Ragan (CP), Sgt. Narcisco A. Otero (FE), A2C Randy S. McComb (PJ) and Sgt. Michael R. Fraboni (PJ), rescued the crew of an EB-66E, Marler and 2 others, after they ejected on March 05, 1968, over Thailand, when their aircraft had an engine failure. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1968 - March 06 | A HH-3E from Det. 1, 37th ARRS, Nakhon Phanom RTAFB, Thailand, crewed by Maj. Richard A. Orsini (P), Capt. David E. Holt (CP), SSgt. Bernard W. Grau (FE) and Sgt. Michael R. Fraboni (PJ), rescued the pilot, William K. Lewark, of an EB-66E (Call sign "Baffle 02A"), after he ejected on March 05, 1968, over Thailand, when their aircraft had an engine failure. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form |
| 1968 - March 06 | A HH-43F from Det. 6, 38th ARRS, Bien Hoa AB, RVN, crewed by Maj. Keaver Holley III (P), Capt. Jon C. Long (CP), SSgt. James B. Reed (FE) and Jerry R. Staley (PJ), rescued the pilot of an F-100D, 1st Lt. William V. Tomlinson, after he ejected when his aircraft was hit on approach to Bien Hoa AB, RVN, about 1 mile east of the base perimeter fence. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1968 - March 06 | A HH-3E from the 37th ARRS, Da Nang AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Fred H. Otte (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE), unkn (PJ) and unkn (PJ), rescued two USMC troops from a downed USMC CH-46. JRCC Save Form |
| 1968 - March 06 | A HH-3E #66-13289 (Call sign “Jolly Green 03”) from the 37th ARRS, Da Nang AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Standley A. Mogham (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE), unkn (PJ) and unkn (PJ), rescued two USMC troops from a downed USMC CH-46. JRCC Save Form & 37th ARRS Operations Logbook 01 Jan 68 to 31 Dec 68 |
| 1968 - March 06 | A HH-43F from Det. 10, 38th ARRS, Binh Thuy AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Laurence W. Conover (P), Capt. Albert E. Tollefsen (CP), A1C Harold D. Cooper (FE) and Lonnie N. Davidson (PJ), rescued the pilot of aa F-100D, Capt. C. Dale Sissell, after he ejected when his aircraft was hit by ground fire about 6 miles east Quan Long, RVN. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1968 - March 06 | A HH-43F from Det. 10, 38th ARRS, Binh Thuy AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Laurence W. Conover (P), Capt. Albert E. Tollefsen (CP), A1C Harold D. Cooper (FE) and Lonnie N. Davidson (PJ), rescued the pilot of an F-100D, Capt. C. Dale Sissell, after he ejected when his aircraft was hit by ground fire about 6 miles east Quan Long, RVN. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1968 - March 06 | A HH-43F from Det. 10, 38th ARRS, Binh Thuy AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Thomas D. Precious (P), Lt. Col. Roland E. Speckman (CP), A1C Harold D. Cooper (FE) and A1C John C. Wilkins (PJ), were involved in a rescue of a USN sailor, GMG3 Ronald R. Schwinkendarf, from a patrol river boat in RVN. No other details are known at this time. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form |
| 1968 - March 06 | A HH-3E from the 37th ARRS, Da Nang AB, RVN, crewed by Maj. Arthur J. Anderson (P), Capt. Edward W. Hutchinson (CP), SSgt. Robert H. Baldwin (FE) and Sgt. Charles P. Vogeley (PJ), attempted to rescue any survivors of a downed USMC CH-46 helicopter (Call sign "Leopard Skin") in RVN. The PJ spent 20 minutes on the ground searching for any survivors, however none were found. No other details are known at this time. JRCC Save Form |
| 1968 - March 08 | A HH-3E 67-14708 (Call sign “Jolly Green 21”) from the 37th ARRS, Da Nang AB, RVN, crewed by Maj. John W. Robey (P), Lt. Col. Kenneth D. Caughron (CP), SSgt. Elmer L. Holden (FE), A2C Michael B. Gallasch (PJ) and A2C Michael L. Walker (PJ), rescued three Special Forces troops and one foreign troop in RVN. No other details are available currently. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form & 37th ARRS Operations Logbook 01 Jan 68 to 31 Dec 68 |
| 1968 - March 08 | A HH-3E #66-13281 (Call sign “Jolly Green 28”) from the 37th ARRS, Da Nang AB, RVN, crewed by 1st Lt. Jerald D. Brisco (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE), unkn (PJ) and unkn (PJ), rescued eight civilians in RNV. No other details are known at this time. JRCC Save Form |
| 1968 - March 10 | A HH-43F from Det. 10, 38th ARRS, Binh Thuy AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Laurence W. Conover (P), Capt. Albert E. Tollefsen (CP), A1C Harold D. Cooper (FE) and Lonnie N. Davidson (PJ), were involved in a rescue of F/N Danny R. VanDerGrill in RVN. No other details are available currently. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1968 - March 10 | A HH-43F from Det. 10, 38th ARRS, Binh Thuy AB, RVN, crewed by Maj. James F. Okonek (P), Capt. Leslie E. Johnson Jr. (CP), A1C Archelaus Whitehead Jr. (FE) and A1C Larry D. Nicholson (PJ), were involved in a night medevac of GCG2 J. C. Kline in RVN. No other details are available currently. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form & Maj. Leslie E. Johnson Jr.'s Pedro Logbook from Binh Thuy AB, Vietnam, provided courtesy of his son Leslie E. Johnson III |
| 1968 - March 10 | Two HH-3E's from Det. 1, 37th ARRS, Nakhon Phanom RTAFB, Thailand, one crewed by Maj. Gerald C. Haynes (P) unkn (CP), unkn (FE), unkn (PJ) and unkn (PJ), the other crewed by Maj. Dale L. Oderman (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE), unkn (PJ) and unkn (PJ), rescued 62 indigenous civilians, along with a HH-53B from 40th ARRS, Udorn RTAFB, Thailand, crewed by Capt. Russell L. Cayler (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE), unkn (PJ) and unkn (PJ), who rescued another 65 indigenous civilians and one USAF non-crew member. No other details are known at this time. JRCC Save Form |
| 1968 - March 10 | A HH-43F from Det. 11, 38th ARRS, Tuy Hoa AB, RVN, crewed by Lt. Col. J. Logan Fagner (P), Capt. Robert E. Dely (CP), Sgt. Donald L. Soden (FE) and Kozlowski (MT), medevacked a triple amputee, J. M. Cleland. No other details are known at this time. JRCC Save Form |
| 1968 - March 11 | A HH-3E from Det. 1, 37th ARRS, Nakhon Phanom RTAFB, Thailand, crewed by Maj. Gerald C. Haynes (P), Maj. Louis D. Yuhas (CP), SSgt. Bernard W. Grau (FE), Sgt. Michael R. Fraboni (PJ) and A2C Randy S. McComb (PJ), were involved in a rescue of troops in contact in Laos. No other details are available currently. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1968 - March 11 | A HH-53B from Det. 2, 37th ARRS, Udorn RTAFB, Thailand, crewed by Maj. John V. Allison (P), Maj. Lucius F. Hallett III (CP), unkn (FE), unkn (PJ) and unkn (PJ), were involved in a rescue of troops in contact in Laos. No other details are available currently. http://valor.militarytimes.com/recipient.php?recipientid=3572 |
| 1968 - March 11 | A HH-43F from Det. 10, 38th ARRS, Binh Thuy AB, RVN, crewed by Maj. James F. Okonek (P), Capt. Leslie E. Johnson Jr. (CP), A1C Archelaus Whitehead Jr. (FE) and A1C Larry D. Nicholson (PJ), rescued two USN sailors, F/N R. A. Wenze and F/N D. G. Pfau, at night from a moving river patrol boat in RVN. No other details are available currently. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form & JRCC Save Form & Maj. Leslie E. Johnson Jr.'s Pedro Logbook from Binh Thuy AB, Vietnam, provided courtesy of his son Leslie E. Johnson III |
| 1968 - March 11 | A HH-53B from Det. 2, 37th ARRS, Udorn RTAFB, Thailand, crewed by Capt. Russell L. Cayler (P), 1st Lt. Joseph A. Panza Jr. (CP), unkn (FE) and SSgt. James J. Rogers (PJ) were involved in a rescue of Jack Starling in Laos. No other details are available currently. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1968 - March 12 | A HH-3E #67-14709 (Call sign “Jolly Green 22”) from the 37th ARRS, Da Nang AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. George R. Andrews (P), Capt. Richard A. Mayer (CP), Sgt. Daniel M. Palmer (FE) and A2C Steve M. Northern (PJ), rescued the pilot of a USN F-8E, Lt. Jerry A. Weber, after he ejected when his aircraft hit trees during a deteriorating weather approach to Da Nang AB, RVN. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & 37th ARRS Operations Logbook 01 Jan 68 to 31 Dec 68 |
| 1968 - March 12 | A HH-43F from Det. 10, 38th ARRS, Binh Thuy AB, RVN, crewed by Maj. James F. Okonek (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ), were involved in a save of G. Hacker and C. Raney. No other details are available currently. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form |
| 1968 - March 12 | A HH-43F from Det. 10, 38th ARRS, Binh Thuy AB, RVN, crewed by Maj. James F. Okonek (P), Capt. Albert E. Tollefsen (CP), Sgt. Harold D. Cooper (FE) and Lonnie N. Davidson (PJ), were involved in a rescue of Seaman Xuan from the USCG Cutter Winona in South China Sea. No other details are available currently. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form |
| 1968 - March 13 | A HH-43F from Det. 10, 38th ARRS, Binh Thuy AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Thomas D. Precious (P), Capt. Leslie E. Johnson Jr. (CP), A1C Archelaus Whitehead Jr. (FE) and Lonnie N. Davidson (PJ), were involved in a rescued of Terry Hill from a patrol river boat in RVN. No other details are available currently. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form |
| 1968 - March 13 | A HH-43F, from Det. 10, 38th ARRS, Binh Thuy AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Thomas D. Precious (P), Capt. Leslie E. Johnson (CP), A1C Archelaus Whitehead (FE) and A1C Larry D. Nicholson (PJ), were involved in a rescue of a river patrol boat USN sailor, GNG3 Terry Hill, from the Can Tho soccer field in RVN. No other details are available currently. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form |
| 1968 - March 13 | A HH-3E from Det. 1, 37th ARRS, Da Nang AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Charles R. Dunn (P), Capt. Richard C. Yeend Jr. (CP), Sgt. Gorden T. Greever (FE) and A1C Ricky D. Hindman (PJ), rescued the pilot of a USN A-4E, Lt. Robert E. Curtis, after he ejected from his ground fire damaged aircraft in Laos about 20 miles west of Khe Sanh. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1968 - March 14 | A HH-3E #65-12780 (Call sign “Jolly Green 07”) from the 37th ARRS, Da Nang AB, RVN, crewed by Maj. Joe B. Green (P), Lt. Col. Charles R. Klinkert (CP), SSgt. Windell L. Stumbaugh (FE) and SSgt. Angus C. McDougall (PJ), rescued R. L. Green (P), G. W. Hubbell (CP) and USMC troops Sgt. E. A. Jackson and Cpl. M. W. Miller from a UH-1B that went down in RVN. No other details are available currently. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form & 37th ARRS Operations Logbook 01 Jan 68 to 31 Dec 68 |
| 1968 - March 14 | 1968 - March 14; HH-3E #67-14709 (Call sign "Jolly Green 22") (now on display at the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force) from the 37th ARRS, Da Nang AB, RVN, crewed by Maj. Stuart H. Hoag (P), Lt. Col. Gerald B. Lowe (CP), Sgt. Dennis M. Richardson (FE), Sgt. James D. Locker (PJ), rescued the pilot of a USMC F-4D, Maj. Gary L. Tresemer, after he ejected from his ground fire damaged aircraft about 15 SW of Hue, RVN. The F-4D navigator, 1st Lt. James Edward Hamm was KIA. Eventually, all four crew members were awarded the Air Force Cross for their actions during this mission. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & http://www.nationalmuseum.af.mil/factsheets/factsheet.asp?id=17539 |
| 1968 - March 14 | A HH-43F crewed by Maj. Herbert G. Gates (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ), saved USA MACV troop, Capt. G. Hacker and USCG seaman E-3 V. Kelley. No other details are available currently. JRCC Save Form |
| 1968 - March 14 | A HH-3E from the 37th ARRS, Da Nang AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Paul D. Ashley (P), Maj. Harold Frank Cardile (CP), Sgt. William L. Carroll (FE), A2C Steve M. Northern (PJ) and Michael J. Lyons (AP), attempted the rescue of the pilot, Maj. Gary L. Tresemer, of a F-4D (Call sign "Gunfighter 04") after he and his WSO, 1st Lt. James Edward Hamm, ejected from their ground fire damaged aircraft about 15 miles southwest of Hue, RVN. The HH-3E was driven off the attempts by enemy fire which resulted in a fire on the HH-3E. Maj. Tresemer was rescued by a UH-1 helicopter; Lt. Hamm was KIA. No other details are available currently. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1968 - March 15 | A HH-3E #66-13289 (Call sign “Jolly Green 03”) from the 37th ARRS, Da Nang AB, RVN, crewed by Maj. Billy J. Wingfield (P), Capt. Edward W. Hutchison (CP), SSgt. John Enriquez (FE) A1C Walter A. White III (PJ) and Donald J. Boushelle (PJ), rescued the crew of a F-4C, Capt. Richard C. Fairlamb and 1st Lt. Paul E. Hubler, after they ejected from their ground fire damaged aircraft in Laos about 80 miles west of Da Nang AB, RVN. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & 37th ARRS Operations Logbook 01 Jan 68 to 31 Dec 68 |
| 1968 - March 16 | A HH-3E #66-13290 Call sign “Jolly Green 04”) from the 37th ARRS, Da Nang AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Jerry M. Griggs (P), Capt. Donald W. Wiegard (CP), Sgt. Herbert H. Honer (FE) and A1C Roger A. Klenovich (PJ), rescued the pilot of a USMC F-8E (Call sign "Ringneck 519"), Capt. Gary L. Post, after he ejected from his 50-cal. machine gun fire damaged aircraft over the South China Sea off the coast of the DMZ. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & 37th ARRS Operations Logbook 01 Jan 68 to 31 Dec 68 |
| 1968 - March 17 | A HH-3E #66-12381 (Call sign “Jolly Green 28”) from the 37th ARRS at Da Nang AB, RVN, crewed by Maj. Arthur J. Anderson (P), Capt. Richard C. Yeend Jr. (CP), SSgt. Elmer L. Holden (FE) and Sgt. Vincent E. Deets (PJ), made a water landing to rescue the pilot of a F-4D (Call sign "Luna 01 Alpha"), Maj. Paul D. Lambrides (P) and 1st Lt. J. L. Tavenner (CP), after they ejected from their automatic weapons fire damaged aircraft over the South China Sea off the coast of NVN a few miles north of the DMZ. The co-pilot, Lt. Tavenner was rescued by a USN SH-3 helicopter. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & 37th ARRS Operations Logbook 01 Jan 68 to 31 Dec 68 |
| 1968 - March 17 | A HH-43F from Det. 8, 38th ARRS, Cam Ranh Bay, RVN, crewed by Maj. Jerry D. Stroh (P), Capt. Petter W. Gissing (CP), A1C Wilber L. Jeffcoat Jr. (FE) and Richard H. Garlie (PJ), medevacked USN seaman, Vincent Kelly, after he was bit by a snake in RVN. No other details are available currently. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form |
| 1968 - March 18 | The 40th ARRSq. was activated at Udorn RTAFB, Thailand and assumed control over the six HH-53B's located there and at Nakhon Phanom RTAFB, Thailand that had been assigned to Det. 2, 37th ARRS. Lt. Col. Jim Dixon was assigned as its commander. "On a Steel Horse I Ride" by Darrel D. Whitcomb |
| 1968 - March 18 | A HH-3E #66-13281 (Call sign “Jolly Green 28”) from the 37th ARRS, Da Nang AB, RVN, crewed by Maj. Joe B. Green (P), Lt. Col. Gerald B. Lowe (CP), SSgt. Robert H. Baldwin (FE), A2C Steve M. Northern (PJ), and A2C Michael L. Walker (PJ), rescued the rear seater of an F-100F, Capt. Brian R. Williams, after he ejected from his AAA damaged aircraft a few miles north of the Ban Karai Pass. The front seater, Capt. Howard Keith Williams was KIA. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & 37th ARRS Operations Logbook 01 Jan 68 to 31 Dec 68 |
| 1968 - March 18 | A HH-43F from Det. 1, Phan Rang AB, RVN, crewed by Maj. William O. Emrie (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ), rescued a wounded ROK troop, CPL. Ange Kun Crop, in RVN. No other details are known at this time. JRCC Save Form |
| 1968 - March 18 | A HH-53B from 40th ARRS, Udorn RTAFB, Thailand, crewed by Capt. Carl W. Oliver (P), Maj. Aharon Aharonian (CP), TSgt. John W. Moye Jr. (FE), MSgt. Howard T. Favour (PJ), and Lawrence R. Zettervall (PJ), rescued the pilot of a A-1H (Call sign "Firefly 15"), Capt. Edward W. Leonard, after he made a force landing of his automatic weapons damaged aircraft about 25 miles NE of Udorn RTAFB, Thailand. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1968 - March 19 | A HH-43F from Det. 10, 38th ARRS at Binh Thuy AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Thomas D. Precious (P), Capt. Leslie E. Johnson (CP), A1C Archelaus Whitehead Jr. (FE) and Lonnie N. Davidson (PJ), were involved in a rescue of Cleve A. Bradley from a LST in RVN. No other details are available currently. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & Maj. Leslie E. Johnson Jr.'s Pedro Logbook from Binh Thuy AB, Vietnam, provided courtesy of his son Leslie E. Johnson III |
| 1968 - March 20 | A HH-43, crewed by Charles W. Burridge (P), Andrew E. Kralj (CP), James P. Baldwin (FE) and Charles R. Ingulli (PJ), were involved in the attempted rescue of the crew of an O-1G, Maj. Louis C. Zucker (P) and Capt. Bruce A. Couilard (CP) who had been shot down near the village of Xom Rach Bap, 20 miles NW of Bien Hoa. Both O-1G crewmembers were KIA. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1968 - March 21 | The 40th ARRS organized at Udorn RTAFB, Thailand with HH-3E's, HH-53B's & HH-53C's. http://udornrtafb.tripod.com/id58.html |
| 1968 - March 21 | A HH-3E #65-12786 (Call sign “Jolly Green 24”) from the 37th ARRS, Da Nang AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Jerry M. Griggs (P), Capt. William B. Byrd Jr. (CP), TSgt. Robert Q. Rector (FE) and Robert D. Baker (PJ), landed in the water and rescued the pilot of a USMC A-4E, Major John A. Herber, after he ejected from his damaged aircraft near Hoi An, south of Da Nang AB, RVN. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & 37th ARRS Operations Logbook 01 Jan 68 to 31 Dec 68 |
| 1968 - March 21 | A HH-43F from Det. 13, 38th ARRS, Phu Cat AB, RVN, crewed by Maj. Bert E. Cowden (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ), saved one Vietnamese woman. No other details are available currently. JRCC Save Form |
| 1968 - March 22 | UH-1F/P helicopters of the 20th HS, crew's unkn, extracted an Omega recon team that was in a fire fight with enemy forces, one America on the team had been killed. No other details are known at this time. "Secret Green Beret Commandos In Cambodia" by Lt. Col. Fred S. Lindsey, USA (Ret.) |
| 1968 - March 23 | A HH-3E from Det. 1, 40th ARRS at Nakhon Phanom RTAFB, crewed by Maj. Gerald C. Haynes (P), Maj. Milton S. Washington (CP), SSgt. Carl L. Warmack (FE) and Sgt. James T. Lombard (PJ), were involved in a rescued in Thailand. No other details are available currently. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1968 - March 23 | A HH-43F from Det. 10, 38th ARRS, Binh Thuy AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Laurence W. Conover (P), Lt. Col. Roland E. Speckman (CP), SSgt. Gordon L. Browning (FE) and A1C Larry D. Nicholson (PJ), rescued USN troops in contact, Lt. Retz and Seaman L. C. Schiote, from a river patrol boat in RVN. No other details are available currently. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1968 - March 23 | A HH-43F from Det. 14, 38th ARRS, Tan Son Nhut AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Paul D. McComb (P), Maj. Robert B. Vaugn (CP), Sgt. Gerald J. Wiersma (FE) and Charles M. Barnett (MT) rescued three USA troops, WO2 J. Charpentier, WO1 Majors and SP Chandler, from a downed USA U-1A. No other details are available currently. JRCC Save Form |
| 1968 - March 24 | A HH-43F from Det. 10, 38th ARRS, Binh Thuy AB, RVN, crewed by Maj. James F. Okonek (P), Capt. Albert E. Tollefsen (CP), Sgt. Harold D. Cooper (FE) and A1C Larry D. Nicholson (PJ), were involved in a rescued of two USN sailors and two ARVN troops in RVN. No other details are available currently. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form |
| 1968 - March 25 | A HH-43F from Det. 7, 38th ARRS Da Nang AB, RVN, crewed by Maj. William L. Cline (P), 1st Lt. Michael L. Walker (CP), SSgt. Evert E. Handy (PJ), David A. Helton (FF) and Sgt. Vincent E. Deets (PJ), attempted the rescue of the crew, Capt. Richard Whan Hopper (P) and Maj. Donald Lyle McHugo (CP) from their B-57B (Call sign "Yellow Bird 16) when it crashed attempting a single engine landing at Da Nang AB, RVN. The B-57B had been hit by enemy ground fire while attacking a ford at Ban Te Bang in southern Laos, about 20 miles southwest of the A Shau Valley in RVN, knocking out one engine and they flew to Da Nang AB, RVN where they crashed, killing both crew members. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form |
| 1968 - March 25 | A HH-3E (Call sign "Jolly Green 19") from Det. 1, 37th ARRS, crewed by Capt. David A. Richardson (P), Maj. Louis D. Yuhas (CP), TSgt. Jarvis E. Peele (FM), Sgt. Michael R. Fraboni (PJ), and Thomas C. Gardaison (AP), rescued a crewmember, the loadmaster, SSgt. Marion O. Hill of a UC-123K (Call sign "Candlestick 01"), in Laos. The badly damaged UC-123K and the rest of the crew made it back to NKP on March 24, where they discovered Sgt. Hill had bailed out. No other details are available currently. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1968 - March 26 | A HH-3E #66-13278 (Call sign “Jolly Green 25”) from the 37th ARRS, Da Nang AB, RVN, crewed by Maj. Joe B. Green (P), Lt. Col. Charles R. Kinkert (CP), SSgt. Elmer L. Holden (FE), Peter J. Ganun (PJ), and A1C Rodger A. Klenovich (PJ), were involved in the rescue of 2 USMC troops, 1st Lt. Ruck and 2nd Lt. B. T. Stevenson, from a USN CH-34 that had gone down in RVN. No other details are available currently. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form & 37th ARRS Operations Logbook 01 Jan 68 to 31 Dec 68 |
| 1968 - March 27 | A HH-43F from Det. 8, 38th ARRS, Cam Ranh Bay AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Eugene H. Boortz (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ), were involved in a rescued of two USN sailors, Glen Rosher and James McDaniel and two ARVN troops from an overturned search and rescue boat in Cam Ranh Bay, RVN. No other details are available currently. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form |
| 1968 - March 27 | UH-1F/P helicopters of the 20th HS, crew's unkn, supported MACV SOG recon team "RT Shovel". No other details are known at this time. "Secret Green Beret Commandos In Cambodia" by Lt. Col. Fred S. Lindsey, USA (Ret.) |
| 1968 - March 28 | A HH-43F from Det. 1, 38th ARRS, Phan Rang AB, RVN, crewed by 1st Lt. David W. Barksdale (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FF) and unkn (FF) medevacked two Vietnamese, Nguyen Than Ro and Huynh Cong. No other details are known at this time. JRCC Save Form |
| 1968 - March 29 | A HH-3E from Det. 1, 40th ARRS at Nakhon Phanom RTAFB, Thailand, crewed by 1st Lt. James H. Platt (P), Maj. Louis D. Yuhas (CP), Sgt. Mickey D. Berry (FE), A1C Charles D. King (PJ) and Sgt. Patrick F. Allaire (PJ), rescued the crew of a O-2A, Lt. Col. H. C. Johnson (P) and Maj. J. T. Doran (CP), after they bailed out of their ground fire damaged aircraft in Laos, about 45 miles from Nakhon Phanom RTAFB, Thailand. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1968 - March 30 | Four HH-3E's from the 37th ARRS at Da Nang AB, RVN, were involved in a mission to recover 14 crewmen from six USMC helicopters downed by hostile fire in the A Shau Valley, Vietnam. Despite friendly support from A-1E, AH-1H and UH-1 gunships and A-37's the HH-3E's were under constant enemy fire during the rescues. Leading the HH-3E's in was HH-3E #65-12782 (Call sign “Jolly Green 10”), crewed by Major Joe B. Green (P) Maj. Harold Frank Cardile (CP), TSgt. Robert Q. Rector (FE) and Donald J. Boushelle (PJ), on his third approach, picked up four of the surviving Marines from a CH-46 (Call sign "Space 01"). Maj. Green later received the Air Force Cross as a result of his actions. (See next two entries) "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & 37th ARRS Operations Logbook 01 Jan 68 to 31 Dec 68 & http://www.afsoc.af.mil/shared/media/document/AFD-070906-042.pdf & JRCC Save Form |
| 1968 - March 30 | Four HH-3E's from the 37th ARRS at Da Nang AB, RVN, were involved in a mission to recover 14 crewmen from six USMC helicopters downed by hostile fire in the A Shau Valley, Vietnam. Despite friendly support from A-1E, AH-1H and UH-1 gunships and A-37's the HH-3E's were under constant enemy fire during the rescue. A second HH-3E #65-12780 (Call sign "Jolly Green 07"), crewed by Maj. Jerry M. Griggs (P), Capt. William B. Byrd Jr. (CP), SSgt. Arthur T. Brand (PJ) and Sgt. Roger A. Klenovich (PJ) picked up four more from a UH-1B (Call sign "Scarface 08") Maj. Griggs later received the Air Force Cross as a result of his actions. (See previous and next entries) "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & 37th ARRS Operations Logbook 01 Jan 68 to 31 Dec 68 & http://www.afsoc.af.mil/shared/media/document/AFD-070906-042.pdf & JRCC Save Form |
| 1968 - March 30 | Four HH-3E's from the 37th ARRS at Da Nang AB, RVN, were involved in a mission to recover 14 crewmen from six USMC helicopters downed by hostile fire in the A Shau Valley, Vietnam. Despite friendly support from A-1E, AH-1H and UH-1 gunships and A-37's the HH-3E's were under constant enemy fire during the rescue. A third HH-3E #66-13278 (Call sign “Jolly Green 25”) crewed by Maj. Stuart H. Hoag (P), Capt. Jerry D. Clearman (CP), Sgt. Duane I. Beland (FE) and A1C Walter A. White III (PJ), picked up the remaining six marines from the downed Marine helicopters. No other details are available currently. The fourth HH-3E involved in this mission is believed to have been HH-3E #65-12786 (Call sign “Jolly Green 24”) crewed by unkn (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ). (See previous two entries) "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & 37th ARRS Operations Logbook 01 Jan 68 to 31 Dec 68 & http://www.afsoc.af.mil/shared/media/document/AFD-070906-042.pdf & JRCC Save Form |
| 1968 - March 30 | A HH-53B, from the 40th ARRS, Udorn RTAFB, Thailand, crewed by Capt. Alfred C. Montrem (P), Capt. John W. Lawrence (CP), Sgt. Robert T. Winblad (FE), MSgt. Howard T. Favour (PJ) and SSgt. Wayne L. Fisk (PJ) rescued the co-pilot of a F-111A, Capt. Joseph W. Hodges (CP), after he and his pilot, Maj. Alexander A. Marquarndt (P), used the ejection module to escape their out-of-control aircraft over Thailand. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1968 - March 30 | A HH-3E, from Det. 1, 40th ARRS at Nakhon Phanom RTAFB, Thailand, crewed by Maj. Dale L. Oderman (P), Capt. Ronald McKinley (CP), Sgt. Kenneth P. Hannegan (FE) and MSgt. Clarence R. Boles (PJ) rescued the pilot of a F-111A, Maj. Alexander A. Marquandt (P) after he and his co-pilot, Capt. Joseph W. Hodges (CP), after they ejected using the ejection module to escape their out-of-control aircraft over Thailand. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1968 - March 30 | CH-3E #66-13294 (Call sign "Dusty 51") of the 21st SOS crewed by Richard D. Bryant (P), Schernerhorn (CP), Jeffery Zimm (FE), SSgt. Thomas L. Bullington (FE) and Johnnie Carrett (FE) was hit by ground fire while on a sensor drop mission and forced to land in Laos. The entire crew of CH-3E #66-13294 was rescued by another helicopter on this mission. http://www.jollygreen.org/jltnc.html |
| 1968 - March 31 | A HH-3E from Det. 1, 40th ARRS, Nakhon Phanom RTAFB, Thailand, crewed by Capt. James E. Oliver (P), Capt. George W. Greer (CP), SSgt. Bernard W. Grau (FE) and Sgt. Peter S. Harding (PJ), were involved in the rescue of USA troop, Iddis Hickox, in Thailand. No other details are available currently. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1968 - April 01 | A HH-43F from Det. 11, 38th ARRS, Tuy Hoa AB, RVN, crewed by Lt. Col. J. Logan Fagner (P), Capt. Robert E. Dely (CP), SSgt. Robert A. McAllister (MT), Kozlowski (FF) and James R. Phelps (PJ) attempted the rescue of two crew members of an O-1G, in RVN, however they were both KIA when their aircraft crashed. No other details are known at this time. JRCC Save Form |
| 1968 - April 01 | A HH-3E from Det. 1, 40th ARRS, Nakhon Phanom RTAFB, Thailand, crewed by Capt. Carl W. Oliver (P), Capt. George W. Greer (CP), SSgt. Bernard W. Grau (FE) and Sgt. Peter S. Harding (PJ) rescued two crew members, Maj. Gerald T. Dwyer (P) and TSgt. B. C. Cote (Observer) from a O-2A (Call sign "Nail 55") after it was battle damaged over southern Laos and the crew bailed out after flying back to within 25 miles southwest of Nakhon Phanom RTAFB, Thailand. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & JRCC Save Form |
| 1968 - April 03 | Three U.S. Coast Guard 'exchange' helicopter pilots arrived at Da Nang AB, RVN for assignment with the 37th ARRS. They were Lt. Cmdr. Lonnie L. Mixon, Lt. Jack C. Rittichier and Lt. Lance A. Eagan. http://uscgaviationhistory.aopero.org/images/U.S.%20Coast%20Guard%20Aviation%20in%20Vietnam.pdf |
| 1968 - April 03 | A HH-43F from Det. 13, 38th ARRS, Phu Cat AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. R. I. Pass (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ), medevacked one Vietnamese civilian. No other details are known at this time. JRCC Save Form |
| 1968 - April 03 | A UH-1F of the 20th HS "Green Hornets", crewed by Maj. Norman F. Eldridge (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FM) and unkn (AG), rescued a beleaguered reconnaissance team “Trowell”, that was deep in enemy territory and in a fire fight with enemy troops, in the dark, using a rope ladder to bring them aboard, from the LZ located about 15 miles southwest of Ban Me Thuot, RVN. No other details are known at this time. http://www.mh-53pavelow.com/documents/20thSOS/1967.pdf & "Secret Green Beret Commandos In Cambodia" by Lt. Col. Fred S. Lindsey, USA (Ret.) |
| 1968 - April 04 | A HH-43F, from Det. 13, 38th ARRS, Phu Cat AB, RVN, crewed by Maj. Bert E. Cowden (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ) medevacked M. N. Musgran. No other details are known at this time. JRCC Save Form |
| 1968 - April 04 | A HH-43F, from Det. 8, 38th ARRS, Cam Ranh Bay, RVN, crewed by Maj. Jerry D. Strohander (P), Capt. Peter W. Gissing (CP), Sgt. David A. Bryant (FE) and Richard H. Garlie (PJ) medevacked Thu Nhi Han. No other details are known at this time. JRCC Save Form |
| 1968 - April 05 | A HH-43F from Det. 13, 38th ARRS, Phu Cat AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. John W. Christianson (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ) medevacked a Vietnamese child. No other details are known at this time. JRCC Save Form |
| 1968 - April 05 | A HH-3E #66-13290 (Call sign “Jolly Green 04”) from the 37th ARRS at Da Nang AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. John D. Oliver (P), Maj. John W. Robey (CP), TSgt. Robert Q. Rector (FE) and A2C Steve M. Northern (PJ) made a water landing to rescued F-4C (Call sign "Hammer O2 Bravo") WSO, Maj. J. G. Kondracki, by making a water landing in the South China Sea to pick him up after he and his pilot, Capt. George L. Butler, ejected from their aircraft due to fuel starvation. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & JRCC Save Form & 37th ARRS Operations Logbook 01 Jan 68 to 31 Dec 68 |
| 1968 - April 05 | A HH-3E #66-13283 (Call sign “Jolly Green 30”) from the 37th ARRS, Da Nang AB, RVN, crewed by Maj. Arthur J. Anderson (P), Capt. Richard C. Yeend (CP), SSgt. Arthur T. Brand (FE) and Douglas J. McGill (PJ) rescued the pilot of a F-4C (Call sign "Hammer O2 Alpha"), Capt. George L. Butler, by hoisting him from the South China Sea after he and his WSO, Maj. J. G. Kondracki, ejected from their aircraft due to fuel starvation. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & JRCC Save Form & 37th ARRS Operations Logbook 01 Jan 68 to 31 Dec 68 |
| 1968 - April 05 | A HH-43B from Det. 3, 38th ARRS, Ubon RTAFB, Thailand, crewed by Maj. Glenn M. Marks (P), Capt. Clarence L. Hansell (CP), Usama Rasheed (MT), A1C Donald W. Jowers (FF) and Wesley Barnes (FF), saved the crew of an F-4C (Call sign "Machette 01"), (names unkn). No other details are known at this time. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & JRCC Save Form |
| 1968 - April 05 | UH-1 helicopters from the 20th HS, crew's unkn, extracted MACV SOG recon team, R. T. Pick, that was deep in enemy territory and in a fire fight with enemy troops and had two team members wounded. No other details are known at this time. "Secret Green Beret Commandos In Cambodia" by Lt. Col. Fred S. Lindsey, USA (Ret.) |
| 1968 - April 07 | A HH-3E from Det. 1, 40th ARRS at Nakhon Phanom RTAFB, Thailand, crewed by Capt. Harry W. Walker (P), Maj. Louis D. Yuhas (CP), SSgt. Bernard W. Grau (FE), Sgt. Michael R. Fraboni (PJ) and Bradley W. Kirk (AP) rescued the crew of a F-100F, Maj. T. F. Tapman and Capt. Eben D. Jones, after they ejected from their AAA damaged aircraft, in Laos, about 20 miles west of the Mu Gia Pass. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson |
| 1968 - April 07 | A HH-43F from Det. 8, 38th ARRS, Cam Ranh Bay, RVN, crewed by Maj. Jerry D. Strohander (P), 1st Lt. Ronald W. Bashant (CP), Sgt. Jon A. Knox (FE) and SSgt. Jacob V. Carter (PJ) medevacked Robert Pavich from the USS Union. No other details are known at this time. JRCC Save Form |
| 1968 - April 10 | A HH-43F from Det. 11, 38th ARRS, Tuy Hoa AB, RVN, crewed by Lt. Col. J. Logan Fagner (P), Capt. Robert E. Dely (CP), Sgt. Donald L. Soden (FE) and Kozlowski (MT) medevacked M. J. Cleland. No other details are known at this time. JRCC Save Form |
| 1968 - April 11 | A HH-43F from Det. 13, 38th ARRS, Phu Cat AB, RVN, crewed by Maj. Bert E. Cowden (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ) medevacked T. H. Sitler. No other details are known at this time. JRCC Save Form |
| 1968 - April 11 | A HH-43F from Det. 13, 38th ARRS, Phu Cat AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. John W. Christianson (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ) medevacked one Vietnamese. No other details are known at this time. JRCC Save Form |
| 1968 - April 13 | A USAF HH-3E #67-14708 (Call sign “Jolly Green 21”) crewed by unkn (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ) rescued the back seater of a RF-4C, Capt. D. L. Verhees, after he ejected from his ground fire damaged aircraft, in Laos, near the town of Ban Thakkapang. The front-seater, Maj. Walter Morris Stischer became a POW. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & 37th ARRS Operations Logbook 01 Jan 68 to 31 Dec 68 |
| 1968 - April 13 | A HH-3E from Det. 1, 40th ARRS, Nakhon Phanom RTAFB, Thailand, crewed by Capt. David A. Richardson (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ) medevacked a Thai to Korat RTAFB, Thailand hospital. No other details are known at this time. JRCC Save Form |
| 1968 - April 14 | A HH-3E from the 37th ARRS, Da Nang AB, RVN, crewed by USCG Lt. Jack C. Rittichier (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ), participated in the rescue of the crew members, WO Chuck Germeck, WO. Raymond and their two gunners along with Capt. Mill’s, his co-pilot and his two gunners of two U.S. Army helicopter gunships that had been shot down. No other details are known at this time. https://cgaviationhistory.org/history06.html |
| 1968 - April 15 | A HH-3E #67-14709 (Call sign “Jolly Green 22”) was airborne at 0610Z from the 37th ARRS at Da Nang AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. John B. McTasney (P), Capt. William B. Byrd Jr. (CP), A1C Hoyle L. Sykes Jr. (FE) and A1C Angus C. McDougall (PJ), and made a water landing and rescued the pilot of a F-105D (Call sign “Bear 03”), Col. David W. Winn, after he ejected from his 37 mm AAA damaged aircraft into the sea about 25 miles NE of Da Nang AB, RVN. Some difficulty was encountered pulling the survivor on board the helicopter because he was entangle in his parachute. The FE utilized the hoist to raise the survivor out of the water and the PJ entered the water and cut away the parachute shroud lines. The uninjured survivor was on board at 0625Z. After checking with the crew that everyone was strapped in and there were no shroud lines visibly snagged on the helicopter, a take-off from a hover was executed. At this time “Crown 4”, orbiting overhead, notified “JG 22” that the parachute was billowing up behind the helicopter. “JG 22” landed immediately. The PJ then cut away the shroud lines that had become entangled on the fuel drain and sponson below the water line. “JG 22” landed back at Da Nang at 0645Z terminating the mission. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & 37th ARRS Mission Narrative Report (1-3-34, 16 April 68) |
| 1968 - April 15 | A HH-43F from Det. 13, 38th ARRS, Phu Cat AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. John W. Christianson (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ) medevacked P. M. Burch. No other details are known at this time. JRCC Save Form |
| 1968 - April 15 | A HH-43F from Det. 1, 38th ARRS, Phan Rang AB, RVN, crewed by 1st Lt. David W. Barksdale (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ) medevacked Baspedo. No other details are known at this time. JRCC Save Form |
| 1968 - April 18 | A HH-43F from Det. 10, 38th ARRS, Binh Thuy AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Leslie E. Johnson Jr. (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ) rescued two badly wounded from a patrol river boat that had been sunk. No other details are known at this time. Maj. Leslie E. Johnson Jr.'s Pedro Logbook from Binh Thuy AB, Vietnam, provided courtesy of his son Leslie E. Johnson III |
| 1968 - April 19 | A HH-3E #67-14708 Call sign “Jolly Green 21”) from the 37th ARRS, Da Nang AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Paul D. Ashley (P), Capt. Ronald G. Spray (CP), SSgt. James L. Dodgen (FE) and SSgt, Angus C. McDougall (PJ), made a water landing to rescue of the pilot, Kenneth E. Cook, of a USMC A-4E (Call sign "Hellborne 550") after he ejected from his ground fire damaged aircraft about three miles off the coast of Hue, RVN. High bird on this mission was #65-12782 (Call sign “Jolly Green 10”) crewed by unkn (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ). "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & 37th ARRS Operations Logbook 01 Jan 68 to 31 Dec 68 & 37th ARRS Mission Narrative 1-3-37, 19 Apr 68 |
| 1968 - April 20 | A HH-43F from Det 1, 38th ARRS, Phan Rang AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. D. M. Thomson (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ) medevacked RAAF airman B. Vandermaat. No other details are known at this time. JRCC Save Form |
| 1968 - April 21 | A HH-3E #67-14708 (Call sign “Jolly Green 21”) of the 37th ARRS at Da Nang AB, RVN and crewed by Capt. John D. Oliver (P), Capt. Ronald G. Spray (CP), SSgt. Samuel C. Adams (FE) and A1C Ricky D. Hindman (PJ), rescued four crew members, WO Raymond, WO C. R. Laermeck, SP-4 W. E. Holt and SP-4 R. C. Lerour, from a U.S. Army helicopter UH-1 gunship (Call sign "Blue Max 27") shot down in "Happy Valley", RVN, by hostile ground fire. JRCC Save Form & 37th ARRS Operations Logbook 01 Jan 68 to 31 Dec 68 & http://www.uscg.mil/history/people/RittichierJack.asp |
| 1968 - April 21 | A HH-3E HH-3E #66-13281 (Call sign “Jolly Green 28”) of the 37th ARRS at Da Nang AB, RVN, low bird was driven off and a second HH-3E #66-13283 (Call sign "Jolly Green 30"), crewed by Henery C. "Hank" Cronnet (P), USCG Lt. Jack C. Rittichier (CP), Sgt. Gordon T. Greever (FE) and A2C Steve M. Northern (PJ), rescued four crew members, Capt. Jon R. Mills, Lt. J. R. Hawks, E-4 L. Smith and E-5 B. Brady, from a U.S. Army helicopter UH-1 gunship (Call sign "Blue Max 27") shot down in "Happy Valley", by hostile ground fire. (See next entry for continuation of this mission). Lt. Rittichier is known to have been awarded The Distinguished Flying Cross (Posthumous) for his actions on this mission, awards for the remaining crew members are not know at the present time. http://www.uscg.mil/history/people/RittichierJack.asp & 37th ARRS Operations Logbook 01 Jan 68 to 31 Dec 68 |
| 1968 - April 21 | A third HH-3E of the 37th ARRS at Da Nang AB, RVN and crewed by Maj. Jerry M. Griggs (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ) rescued the pilot of a A-1J, Lt. Col. H. D. Schultz after he had ejected from his 37mm AAA damaged aircraft near the Ho Chi Minh trail in Laos, about 30 miles west of the A Shau Valley. This is a continuation of the mission in the previous entry. This may be the same mission as listed in the 19 April 1968 entry, but the date’s conflict. http://www.uscg.mil/history/weboralhistory/BIO_Jack_Rittichier_1968SAR.pdf |
| 1968 - April 21 | A HH-3E #67-14710 (Call sign “Jolly Green 23”) of the 37th ARRS at Da Nang AB, RVN and crewed by Lt. Col. Jacob T. Carvile (P), Capt. Robert E. Hicks Jr. (CP), SSgt. Windell L. Stumbaugh (FE) and A1C Walter A. White III (PJ), rescued a injured O-2A (Call sign "Covery 276") pilot, Capt. W. D. Parr, after he crash landed at Khe Sanh after his aircraft had been hit by enemy ground fire while on a visual reconnaissance flight in the Khe Sanh area. In addition to picking up Capt. Parr eight wounded USMC troops were medevacked to Da Nang AB, RCN. JRCC Save Form & 37th ARRS Operations Logbook 01 Jan 68 to 31 Dec 68 |
| 1968 - April 22 | Two UH-1P gunships from the 20th HS "Green Hornets", crew's unkn, were launched to come to the aid of an Army Hornet Force from the Special Forces "A" Camp at Duc Lap. Under the direction of the Forward Air Controller at the scene, the gunships rolled in and effectively suppressed the enemy fire. No other details are known at this time. http://www.mh-53pavelow.com/documents/20thSOS/1967.pdf |
| 1968 - April 23 | A HH-43F from Det. 8, 38th ARRS, Cam Ranh Bay AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Andrew J. M. Archer (P), Capt. Peter J. Connelly (CP), Sgt. Jon A. Knox (FE) and Sgt. Daniel T. Nungesser (PJ) medevacked a Vietnamese, Nguyen Thi Chay, with burns over 95% of her body. No other details are known at this time. JRCC Save Form |
| 1968 - April 24 | A HH-3E from the 37th ARRS, Da Nang AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. William E. Brennan (P), Capt. Harry W. Hagen Jr. (CP), Sgt. Duane I. Beland (FE) and Sgt. Ernest D. Casbeer (PJ), rescued the pilot of a USN (Call sign "Streetcar 307"), F. C. Lentz Jr, after he ejected from his aircraft northeast of Tiger Island in the Gulf of Tonkin. JRCC Save Form & http://www.rotorheadsrus.us/documents/93.html & "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson |
| 1968 - April 25 | A HH-3E #66-13289 (Call sign “Jolly Green 03”) of the 37th ARRS at Da Nang AB, RVN and crewed by Maj. Jerry M. Griggs (P), Lt. Col. Gerald B. Lowe (CP), SSgt. Samuel C. Adams (FE) and A2C Steve M. Northern (PJ), rescued the pilot of a A-1J, Lt. Col. Harold D. Schultz after he had ejected from his 37mm AAA damaged aircraft near the Ho Chi Minh trail in Laos, about 30 miles west of the A Shau Valley. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & JRCC Save & Form://www.uscg.mil/history/weboralhistory/BIO_Jack_Rittichier_1968SAR.pdf & 37th ARRS Operations Logbook 01 Jan 68 to 31 Dec 68 |
| 1968 - April 25 | A HH-3E of the 37th ARRS at Da Nang AB, RVN and crewed by Maj. Jerry M. Griggs (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ), rescued the pilot of a F-100, name unkn, after he had ejected from his aircraft. No other details are known at this time. JRCC Save Form |
| 1968 - April 26 | A HH-43F from Det. 13, 38th ARRS, Phu Cat AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. John W. Christianson (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ) medevacked two Vietnamese, Tran Tri and Lon Tia. No other details are known at this time. JRCC Save Form |
| 1968 - April 27 | A HH-43F from Det. 10, 38th ARRS, Binh Thuy AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Thomas D. Precious (P), Capt. Leslie E. Johnson Jr. (CP), A1C Archelaus Whitehead Jr. (FE), Lonnie N. Davidson (PJ) and Charles Caton (FS) rescued USCG seaman, R. D. Heilesen from the South China Sea. No other details are known at this time. JRCC Save Form & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1968 - April 30 | A HH-43F rescued the crew of an O-1G, Capt. I. S. Payne and SSgt. J. Applebey, after they made a forced landing of their ground fire damaged aircraft about 5 miles west of Cao Lanh on the banks of the Mekong River. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson |
| 1968 - April 30 | A UH-1F from the 20th HS "Green Hornets", crewed by Capt. David C. Juday (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FM) and unkn (AG), while on a film delivery mission following Highway One, two miles west of Xuan Loc, RVN, noticed an overturned jeep with several trucks stopping around it. He decided to take a closer look to see if he could be of assistance. He was able to medevac the one injured man to the hospital at Blackhorse. No other details are known at this time. http://www.mh-53pavelow.com/documents/20thSOS/1968.pdf |
| 1968 - April 30 | A HH-43F from Det. 13, 38th ARRS, Phu Cat AB, RVN, crewed by Maj. Bert E. Cowden (P), unkn (CP), unkn (PJ) and unkn (PJ), rescued one Vietnamese child in RVN. No other details are available currently. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form |
| 1968 - May 01 | A USAF HH-3E #66-13290 (Call sign “Jolly Green 04”) from the 37th ARRS, Da Nang AB, RVN, crewed by unkn (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ), rescued the crew of a USMC F-4B (Call sign “Lovebug”), Capt. D. C. Evans and 1st Lt. I. F. Hunsaker, after they ejected from their ground fire damaged aircraft about 12 miles west of Da Nang. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & 37th ARRS Operations Logbook 01 Jan 68 to 31 Dec 68 |
| 1968 - May 01 | A HH-43F from Det. 13, 38th ARRS at Phu Cat AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. David H. Pittard (P), unkn (CP), unkn (PJ) and unkn (PJ), medevacked one Vietnamese, Duc San Tran, in RVN. No other details are available currently. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1968 - May 01 | A HH-43F from Det. 7, 38th ARRS, Da Nang AB, RVN, crewed by Maj. William L. Cline (P), 1st Lt. Michael L. Walker (CP), Sgt. William P. Owens (FE) and Sgt. Charles P. Vogeley (PJ), rescued the crew, J. E. Fickles (P) and Capt. G. H. Christensend (CP) from a USMC A-6 (Call sign "Swoop 158") after their aircraft had a structural failure while on a strike mission in RVN and they safely ejected. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form |
| 1968 - May 03 | A HH-43F from Det. 10, 38th ARRS, Binh Thuy AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Thomas D. Precious (P), Capt. Albert E. Tollefsen (CP), A1C Archelaus Whitehead Jr. (FE) and Sgt. Lonnie G. Conner (PJ), rescued two ARVN troops in RVN. No other details are available currently. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form |
| 1968 - May 03 | A HH-43F from Det. 13, 38th ARRS, Phu Cat AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Robert N. Bowers (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE), and unkn (PJ), medevacked J. Reel in RVN. No other details are available currently. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1968 - May 03 | A HH-43F from Det. 1, 38th ARRS, Phan Rang AB, RVN, crewed by Maj. William O. Emrie (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE), and unkn (PJ), medevacked Vietnamese, Nguyen Trong, in SVN. No other details are available currently. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1968 - May 03 | A HH-3E from 37th ARRS at Da Nang AB, RVN, crewed by USCG Lt. Jack C. Rittichier (P), Capt. Robert E. Hicks Jr. (CP), SSgt. James L. Dodgen (FE), and Sgt. Martin E. Roepstroff (PJ), were involved in the rescue attempt of a ground team (Call sign “Top Cat". No other details are available currently. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1968 - May 03 | A HH-3E from 37th ARRS at Da Nang AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. John B. McTasney (P), Capt. William B. Byrd Jr. (CP), Sgt. Gordon T. Greever (FE), and Robert D. Baker (PJ), were involved in the rescue attempt of a ground team (Call sign "Top Cat"). The HH-3E was shot off during the rescue attempt and their hoist cable was severed, with the helicopter settling into the treetops before the pilot was able to recover and leave the area. No other details are available currently. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1968 - May 03 | A HH-3E (Call sign "Jolly Green 07") from the 37th ARRS at Da Nang AB, RVN, crewed by Maj. John W. Robey (P), Capt. Ronald G. Spray (CP), Sgt. Alvin A. Malone (FE), and A1C Walter A. White III (PJ), were involved in the rescue attempt of a ground team (Call sign "Top Cat"). No other details are available currently. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1968 - May 03 | A HH-3E from 37th ARRS at Da Nang AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. John E. Hannan (P), Capt. Donald W. Wiegard (CP), SSgt. Samuel C. Adams (FE), and Douglas J. McGill (PJ), were involved in the rescue attempt of a ground team (Call sign "Top Cat"). No other details are available currently. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1968 - May 03 | A HH-3E #66-13290 (Call sign "Jolly Green 04") from 37th ARRS at Da Nang AB, RVN, crewed by Maj. Donald G. Simpson (P), Capt. Richard C. Yeend Jr. (CP), SSgt. Robert H. Baldwin (FE), and A1C Ricky D. Hindman (PJ), were involved in the rescue attempt of a ground team (Call sign "Top Cat"). "Jolly Green 04" had to make an emergency landing due to a rotor head malfunction. No other details are available currently. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1968 - May 03 | A HH-3E from 37th ARRS at Da Nang AB, RVN, crewed by Maj. John W. Robey (P), Capt. Ronald G. Spray (CP), Sgt. Alvin A. Malone (FE), and Sgt. James D. Locker (PJ), were involved in the rescue attempt of a ground team (Call sign "Top Cat)". While in a 230-foot hover, hoisting one Vietnamese team member, Sgt. Locker was shoot six times and killed near the cabin door. No other details are available currently. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1968 - May 03 | Two UH-1P gunships and three UH-1F slicks of the 20th HS "Green Hornets", crew's unkn, were used to liberate 10 indigenous personnel who had been prisoners of the Viet Cong. No other details are known at this time. http://www.mh-53pavelow.com/documents/20thSOS/1967.pdf |
| 1968 - May 04 | A USAF helicopter rescued the crew of an O-1G, Maj. C. R. Gregory and 1st Lt. R. F. Cook, after they crashed landed their ground fire damaged aircraft near the village of Xa Binh Gia. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson |
| 1968 - May 04 | Two HH-3E's of the 37th ARRS at Da Nang AB, RVN, one crewed by USCG Lt. Jack C. Rittichier (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ) and the other crewed by Capt. John E. Hannan (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ) rescued two other HH-3E crews from their downed helicopters at Ta Bat in the A Shau Valley (no other details are known at this time). The two downed HH-3E's were recovered on 05 May 1968 by U.S. Army CH-54 "Sky Crane" helicopters. USCG Lt. Jack C. Rittichier is known to have been awarded The Air Medal (1st OLC) (Posthumous) for his actions on this mission; awards for other crew members on this mission are not known at this time. http://www.uscg.mil/history/weboralhistory/BIO_JackRittichier_1968SAR.pdf |
| 1968 - May 05 | A HH-43F from Det. 13, 38th ARRS, Phu Cat AB, RVN, crewed by Maj. Bert E. Cowden (P), unkn (CP), unkn (PJ) and unkn (PJ), rescued M. Gibbons in RVN. No other details are available currently. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form |
| 1968 - May 05 | A HH-43B from Det. 3, 38th ARRS, Ubon RTAFB, Thailand, crewed by Maj. Glenn M. Marks (P), Capt. Clarence L. Hansell (CP), Usama Rasheed (MT), A1C Donald W. Jowers (FF) and Wesley Barnes (FF), saved the crew of a F-4D (Call sign "Machette 01"), Phillip G. Geib (P) and Luther W. Carver (WSO). This appears to be a double entry as the same helicopter crew is listed as saving the crew of an F-4 with the same call sign as this on 05 April 1968. No other details are known at this time. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form |
| 1968 - May 05 | A HH-3E #67-14710 (Call sign “Jolly Green 23”) from the 37th ARRS at Da Nang AB, RVN, crewed by USCG Lt. Cmdr. Lonnie L. Mixon (P), Maj. Jerry M. Griggs (CP), SSgt. Windell L. Stumbaugh (FE), Sgt. Charles P. Vogeley (PJ) and John E. Ford (AP), saved the crew of an O-2A (Call sign "Gimpy 36"), Ronald J. Langlois and Bobby J. Rickey, from their downed aircraft in RVN. No other details are known at this time. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form |
| 1968 - May 06 | Two UH-1P gunships of the 20th HS "Green Hornets" at Ban Me Thuot, one crewed by Capt. John L. Godowski (P) Capt. James R. Tolbert (CP), Sgt. Gutierrez (AG) and A1C Robert D. Kehl (AG) and the other crewed by Capt. Harlan C. Nupen (P), Capt. Daily (CP), Sgt. Andy Lewis (AG) and Sgt. Mark W. Mushrush (AG), were launched when the camp came under enemy mortar fire between 0130 and 0330 hours. One of the mortar rounds hit the ammo storage area next to the B-50 compound and shrapnel and live rounds from the ensuing explosions caused considerable damage. Each gunship was able to knock out one of the enemy mortar positions causing the enemy to break off the attack. No other details are known at this time. http://www.mh-53pavelow.com/documents/20thSOS/1967.pdf |
| 1968 - May 07 | UH-1P gunships of the 20th HS "Green Hornets", one crewed by unkn (P), unkn (CP), Sgt. Michael B. Olson (AG) and unkn (AG) and the other crewed by unkn (P), unkn (CP), unkn (AG) and unkn (AG) were supporting a Hornet Force ten miles southeast of Ban Me Thuot. Sgt. Olson spotted one wounded enemy on the ground 'playing dead'. Under Sgt. Olson's direction the Hornet Force was diverted and captured the man and during interrogation considerable intelligence was received from this POW. http://www.mh-53pavelow.com/documents/20thSOS/1967.pdf |
| 1968 - May 08 | A HH-43F from Det. 10, 38th ARRS, Binh Thuy AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Thomas D. Precious (P), Capt. Albert E. Tollefsen (CP), James E. Spickler (MT), Sgt. Lonnie G. Conner (PJ) and Sgt. Edward L. Cartwright (FF), used the FSK to fight a fire in a CH-47. No other details are available currently. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form |
| 1968 - May 09 | A HH-43F from Det. 13, 38th ARRS at Phu Cat AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. David H. Pittard (P), unkn (CP), unkn (PJ) and unkn (PJ), medevacked one Vietnamese, Nguyen Thi Huyn, in RVN. No other details are available currently. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1968 - May 09 | A HH-43F from Det. 7, 38th ARRS, Da Nang AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. David J. Jogerst (P), unkn (CP), unkn (PJ) and unkn (PJ), saved the pilot, Maj. L. D. Tyrell, of a USMC A-4E after he ejected from his battle-damaged aircraft over the South China Sea near Monkey Mountain, RVN. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1968 - May 09 | A HH-43F from Det. 7, 38th ARRS, Da Nang AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. David J. Jogerst (P), unkn (CP), unkn (PJ) and unkn (PJ), saved the crew members of an O-2A, 1st Lt. Blackburn and SSgt. Haggerty, after their aircraft ran out of fuel and landed on a beach in RVN. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1968 - May 09 | A HH-43F from Det. 8, 38th ARRS, Cam Ranh Bay AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Eugene H. Boortz (P), Lt. Col. Flavious F. Drake (CP), Sgt. Jon A. Knox (FE), Richard H. Garlie (PJ), medevacked one ROK Marine, Jung Jong Kim, in RVN. No other details are known at this time. JRCC Save Form |
| 1968 - May 09 | A UH-1F #65-7925 from the 20th HS, crewed by unkn (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FM) and unkn (AG) was involved in a fire while doing a 'hot refueling' operation. A surge of fuel pressure surge in the refueling hose caused excessive spray to be forced out of the refueling receptacle, it ignited and burned the aircraft around the filter, bulkhead and generator before it was extinguished. There were no personnel injuries. http://www.mh-53pavelow.com/documents/20thSOS/1967.pdf |
| 1968 - May 09 | UH-1F slicks of the 20th HS "Green Hornets", crew's unkn, transported fifty-four 100 kilo bags of rice that a Hornet Force from First Company B-50 had located in a cache 20 miles southwest of Ban Me Thuot. No other details are known at this time. http://www.mh-53pavelow.com/documents/20thSOS/1967.pdf |
| 1968 - May 10 | A HH-43F from Det. 13, 38th ARRS, Phu Cat AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. R. I. Pass (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ), medevacked one ROK troop. No other details are known at this time. JRCC Save Form |
| 1968 - May 10 | A HH-43F from Det. 13, 38th ARRS, Phu Cat AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. R. I. Pass (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ), medevacked one Vietnamese child. No other details are known at this time. JRCC Save Form |
| 1968 - May 10 | A HH-43F from Det. 13, 38th ARRS, Phu Cat AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. R. I. Pass (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ), medevacked one Vietnamese. No other details are known at this time. JRCC Save Form |
| 1968 - May 10 | A HH-43F from Det. 12, 38th ARRS Nha Trang AB, RVN, crewed by Maj. G. Passey (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ), medevacked one Haiphitan baby. No other details are known at this time. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson |
| 1968 - May 10 | A HH-43F from Det. 8, 38th ARRS, Cam Ranh Bay AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Eugene H. Boortz (P), 1st Lt. Ronald W. Bashant (CP), Sgt. Jon A. Knox (FE) and Richard H. Garlie (PJ), medevacked one ROK Marine, E-5 Jung Jong Kim. No other details are known at this time. JRCC Save Form |
| 1968 - May 10 | A HH-43F from Det. 1, 38th ARRS, Phan Rang AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Glen P. Walther (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ), rescued two crew members, L. W. Allen (P) and K. N. White (CP) from a O-2A after it had run out of fuel and crash landed in RVN. No other details are known at this time. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & JRCC Save Form |
| 1968 - May 11 | A HH-53B from 40th ARRS at Udorn RTAFB, Thailand, crewed by Capt. Russell L. Cayler (P), Maj. Robert R. Stewart (CP), SSgt. Gene A. Sellers (FE), Tommy W. Meyer (PJ) and Sgt. Lloyd A. Vide (PJ), rescued the pilot, E. C. Staricha and five indigenous passengers from a downed Air America "Porter" in Laos and took them to LS-98. No other details are known at this time. JRCC Save Form |
| 1968 - May 12 | A HH-3E #66-13281 (Call sign “Jolly Green 28”) of the 37th ARRS at Da Nang AB, RVN, piloted by USCG Lt. Jack Rittichier (P), Capt. Robert E. Hicks Jr. (CP), SSgt John Enriques (FE), Sgt. Robert D. Baker (PJ) and Sgt. Steve M. Northern (PJ), was launched along with HH-3E #67-14708 (Call sign “Jolly Green 21”) crewed by Maj. Arthur J. Anderson (P), Capt. Harry W. Hagen Jr. (CP), Sgt. Herbert H. Honer (FE), & Sgt. Charles P. Vogeley (PJ), in response to downed Marine Corps CH-46 (Call sign “Swift 5-1”) with 5 crew survivors, 25 wounded and 16 KIA at a site 11-miles northwest of Da Nang. “Jolly Green 28” approached the LZ by flare light and had to descend vertically 200 feet between trees to the survivors. The PJ was lowered on the hoist and four survivors hoisted up and they departed under flare light, and carried them to NAS Hospital, Da Nang. HH-3E #65-12782 (Call sign “Jolly Green 10”) crewed by Maj. Vernon A Dander (P), Capt. Richard C. Yeend (CP), SSgt. Samuel C., Adams (FE), and Sgt. Martin E. Roepstorff (PJ), and HH-3E #66-13278 (Call sign “Jolly Green 25”) crewed by Maj. Billy J. Wingfield (P), Capt. Jon E. Hannan (CP), Sgt. William L. Carroll (FE), Sgt. Peter J. Ganun (PJ), and Sgt. Roger A. Klenovich (PJ) also arrived on-scene and under parachute flares and with the aid of aircraft flood lights and ground strobe lights, rescued eight more survivors. Jollies 10, 21, 25 and 28 alternated recoveries until all 8 of the survivors had been removed. The weather prevented recovery of the last eight until morning. USCG Lt. Jack C. Rittichier on Jolly Green 28 is known to have been awarded The Distinguished Flying Cross (2nd OL) for his actions on this mission; awards for other crew members are not known at this time. http://uscgaviationhistory.aopero.org/images/U.S.%20Coast%20Guard%20Aviation%20in%20Vietnam.pdf & Facebook post by Sean M. Cross |
| 1968 - May 12 | A HH-A HH-43F from Det. 10, 38th ARRS, Binh Thuy AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Thomas D. Precious (P), Capt. Albert E. Tollefsen (CP), A1C Archelaus Whitehead Jr. (FE) and A1C John C. Wilkins (PJ), rescued two sailors, G. Balser and R. Wicks, from a LST in RVN. No other details are available currently. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form |
| 1968 - May 12 | A HH-3E from the 37th ARRS at Da Nang AB, RVN, crewed by Maj. Arthur J. Anderson (P), Capt. Harry W. Hagen Jr. (CP), Sgt. Herbert H. Honer (FE) and Sgt. Charles P. Vogeley (PJ), made a tree top hover to rescue 12 USMC troops from a downed USMC C-46 (Call sign "Swift 5") in RVN. No other details are known at this time. JRCC Save Form |
| 1968 - May 14 | A HH-43F from Det. 8, 38th ARRS, Cam Ranh Bay AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Eugene H. Boortz (P), Lt. Col. Flavious F. Drake (CP), Sgt. Jon A. Knox (FE), Donald G. Behrends (PJ), medevacked Vietnamese eleven-year-old, Dong Tam, with hand grenade injuries in RVN. No other details are known at this time. JRCC Save Form |
| 1968 - May 17 | A HH-43F from Det. 13, 38th ARRS at Phu Cat AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. R. I. Pass (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE), unkn (PJ), rescued the pilot of a F-100D, Capt. Jerry T. Mattox, after he ejected from his ground fire damaged aircraft about 5 miles west of Phu Cat AB, RVN. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson |
| 1968 - May 17 | A HH-43F from Det. 8, 38th ARRS, Cam Ranh Bay AB, RVN, crewed by Maj. Jerry D. Stroh (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ), medevacked one USA troop, Ray A. Lucas, in RVN. No other details are known at this time. JRCC save Form |
| 1968 - May 19 | A HH-43F from Det. 1, 38th ARRS, Phan Rang AB, RVN, crewed by 1st Lt. David W. Barksdale (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ), medevacked one USA troop, E-5 Rivero Perez, in RVN. No other details are known at this time. JRCC Save Form |
| 1968 - May 20 | A HH-43F from Det. 10, 38th ARRS, Binh Thuy AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Thomas D. Precious (P), Capt. Leslie E. Johnson Jr. (CP), A1C Archelaus Whitehead Jr. (FE) and A1C John C. Wilkins (PJ), rescued two USA troops, Carl H. McNair and D. A. Camia plus two ARVN troops, Col. Diep and Lt. Troung, from a downed UH-1B in RVN. No other details are available currently. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form |
| 1968 - May 21 | A HH-3E #66-13278 (Call sign "Jolly Green 25") from the 37th ARRS at Da Nang AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Fred H. Otte (P), Capt. Joseph J. Dillon (CP), SSgt. James A. Bowers (FE) and Sgt. Vincent E. Deets (PJ), rescued a O-2A pilot, Maj. Gerald T. Dwyer, after he bailed out of his 37mm AAA damaged aircraft near the A Shau Valley, RVN. http://aircommandoman.tripod.com/id18.html & Http://www.uscg.mil/history/weboralhistory/BIO_Jack_Rittichier_1968SAR.pdf & 37th ARRS Operations Logbook 01 Jan 68 to 31 Dec 68 |
| 1968 - May 21 | A HH-3E "Jolly Green" helicopter from Det. 1, 40th ARRS at Nakhon Phanom RTAFB, Thailand, crewed by Capt. James E. Oliver (P), Lt. Col. Royal A. Brown Jr. (CP), Sgt. Narcisco A. Otero (FE) and SSgt. Donald A. Beasley (PJ), rescued one OP-2E crew member, Lt. (jg) Herbert G. Ganner, in Thailand. No other details are known at this time. JRCC Save Form |
| 1968 - May 22 | A HH-43F from Det. 1, 38th ARRS, Phan Rang AB, RVN, crewed by 1st Lt. David W. Barksdale (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ), medevacked one person named, K. I. Keithley, in RVN. No other details are known at this time. JRCC Save Form |
| 1968 - May 23 | CH-3E #66-13295 (Call sign "Dusty 51") of the 21st SOS crewed by Capt. James P. McCollum (P), Capt. William H. Taylor (CP), SSgt. John L. Coon (FE), Sgt. John E. Albanese (FE), Sgt. Robert A. Fink (FE) and SSgt. Thomas F. Buhr (Photographic Specialist) was lost on a sensor delivery mission near Khe Sanh, South Vietnam. The crash site could not be reached due to heavy enemy activity. All five crewmen and a combat photographer were KIA. Their remains were recovered on 2 November 1968 by Marines from Kilo Company, 3rd Battalion 4th Marines. This was the first combat loss for the 21st SOS. http://www.jollygreen.org/jltnc.html |
| 1968 - May 24 | A USAF helicopter rescued the pilot of a USMC A-4C, Capt. Steven J. Driscoll, after he ejected from his .50 cal. groundfire damaged aircraft a few miles south of Tien Phouoc. No other details are known at this time. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson |
| 1968 - May 24 | CH-3C #63-9681 of the 20th HS at Udorn RTAFB, Thailand, crewed by unkn (P), unkn (CP) and unkn (FM) was launched on a mission in support of a Thai T-28 that had crashed in the vicinity of Chiang Mai, Thailand. After about one hour of flight, the crew reported a main transmission oil leak and they made a safe precautionary landing approximately 110 miles west of Udorn RTAFB, Thailand. Another CH-3C #65-15692, crewed by Maj. Villotti (P), Major Kyron V. Hall (CP) and unkn (FM) from the 20th HS was launched to recover the crew and passengers from #63-9681, locating them in the dark. Temporary repairs were made to #63-9681 but because of the darkness and rough terrain, it was decided to leave the helicopter until the next morning when a more positive fix on the transmission leak could be made. The crew and passengers from #63-9681 returned to Udorn RTAFB, Thailand. (See next entry). http://www.mh-53pavelow.com/documents/20thSOS/1968.pdf |
| 1968 - May 25 | A CH-3C of the 20th HS at Udorn RTAFB, Thailand, crewed by unkn (P), unkn (CP) and unkn (FM) was launched with maintenance personnel to make repairs to #63-9681 and complete the Chiang Mai T-28 recovery mission. (See previous entry). http://www.mh-53pavelow.com/documents/20thSOS/1968.pdf |
| 1968 - May 25 | A USAF helicopter rescued the crew of an F-4D, Capt. D. J. Ankeny and 1st Lt. A. A. Turner, after they ejected from their AAA damaged aircraft near Ban Sappeng in southern Laos. No other details are known at this time. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson |
| 1968 - May 25 | A HH-43F from Det. 13, 38th ARRS at Phu Cat AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. David H. Pittard (P), unkn (CP), unkn (PJ) and unkn (PJ), medevacked one unkn Vietnamese, in RVN. No other details are available currently. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1968 - May 26 | A HH-43F from Det. 1, 38th ARRS, Phan Rang AB, RVN, crewed by 1st Lt. David W. Barksdale (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE), unkn (PJ), medevacked, P (Phil) Keku and N. Gsivnmg, in RVN. No other details are known at this time. JRCC Save Form |
| 1967 - May 27 | A HH-43F from Det. 13, 38th ARRS, Phu Cat AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Robert N. Bowers (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE), and unkn (PJ), medevacked T. Collins in RVN. No other details are available currently. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1968 - May 28 | A HH-43F from Det. 1, 38th ARRS, Phan Rang AB, RVN, crewed by 1st Lt. David W. Barksdale (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ), medevacked, C. E. Griner, in RVN. No other details are known at this time. JRCC Save Form |
| 1968 - May 28 | A HH-3E (Call sign “Jolly Green 33”) from the 37th ARRS at Da Nang AB, RVN, crewed by Maj. Arthur J. Anderson (P), Capt. Robert E. Hicks Jr. (CP), Sgt. William L. Carroll (FE) and Sgt. Vincent E. Deets (PJ), made a water landing in the South China Sea to rescue the pilot, Lt. (jg.) Hugh M. Durden, of a USN A-4E (Call sign "Flying Eagle 506") after he ejected near an aircraft carrier. No other details are known at this time. JRCC Save Form & 37th ARRS Operations Logbook 01 Jan 68 to 31 Dec 68 |
| 1968 - May 29 | A HH-43F from Det. 10, 38th ARRS, Binh Thuy AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Thomas D. Precious (P), Capt. Albert E. Tollefsen (CP), SSgt. Gordon L. Browning (FE) and Lonnie N. Davidson (PJ), medevacked Wayne L. Obuszewski in RVN. No other details are available currently. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form |
| 1968 - May 29 | A HH-43F from Det. 13, 38th ARRS, Phu Cat AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Robert N. Bowers (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE), and unkn (PJ), medevacked J. S. Frydrych in RVN. No other details are available currently. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1968 - May 29 | A HH-3E #67-14712 (Call sign "Jolly Green 31") from the 37th ARRS at Da Nang AB, RVN, crewed by Maj. Donald G. Simpson (P), John L. Lenamon (CP), Sgt. Duane I. Beland (FE) and Douglas J. McGill (PJ), medevacked, George Fowler Jr., while under fire in RVN. No other details are available currently. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form & 37th ARRS Operations Logbook 01 Jan 68 to 31 Dec 68 |
| 1968 - May 30 | A HH-3E #65-12785 (Call sign “Jolly Green 36”) helicopter from Det. 1, 40th ARRS at Nakhon Phanom RTAFB, Thailand, crewed by unkn (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and Sgt. Thomas A. Newman (PJ), attempted to rescue the pilot of an F-105D (Call sign “Master 02”), Col. Norsan P. Phillips, after he ejected from his automatic weapons fire damaged aircraft near Ban Kate, Laos about 20 miles west of the DMZ. His rescue was made after dark and a long ground search by the helicopters P.J., Sgt. Thomas A. Newman, who had been lowered to the ground and sent the helicopter away while he searched. “JG-36’s” hoist became inoperative and had to abandon the rescue attempt, leaving Sgt. Newman and Col. Phillips on the ground (See next entry). High bird on this mission was HH-3E #64-14233 (Call sign “Jolly Green 20”). HH-53B (Call sign #70) from the 40th ARRS was also involved in this mission (See next entry). Sgt. Newman was awarded the Air Force Cross and later received the 1968 Chaney Award for his actions to rescue Col. Phillips. (See next entry). "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & 40th ARRS Mission Narrative Report (1-3-56, 30 May 1968) |
| 1968 - May 30 | A HH-53B (Call Sign “Jolly Green 70”) from the 40th ARRS at Udorn RTAFB, Thailand, crewed by Capt. Alfred C. Montrem (P), Maj. Aharon Aharonian (CP), TSgt. Robert E. Bol (FE), Sgt. Richard B. Laverty (FE), Sgt. Davis A. Kratz (PJ) and Sgt. Larry E. Palmer (PJ), rescued USAF Sgt. Thomas A. Newman (PJ) (See previous entry) and Col. Norsan P. Phillips. No other details are known at this time. JRCC Save Form & 40th ARRS Mission Narrative Report (1-3-56, 30 May 1968) |
| 1968 - May 30 | A HH-43F from Det. 13, 38th ARRS at Phu Cat AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. David H. Pittard (P), unkn (CP), unkn (PJ) and unkn (PJ), medevacked one unkn Vietnamese, in RVN. No other details are available currently. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1968 - May 30 | A HH-43F from Det. 13, 38th ARRS at Phu Cat AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. David H. Pittard (P), unkn (CP), unkn (PJ) and unkn (PJ), medevacked one unkn Vietnamese, in RVN. No other details are available currently. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1968 - May 31 | A HH-3E #65-12780 (Call sign “Jolly Green 07) from the 37th ARRS at Da Nang AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. William E. Brennan (P), John L. Lenamon (CP), Sgt. David Rodriquez (FE) and Sgt. Ernest D. Casbeer (PJ), rescued the pilot of a USN A-7 (Call sign "Streetcar 307"), F. C. Lentz Jr, after he ejected from his aircraft northeast of Tiger Island in the Gulf of Tonkin. http://www.rotorheadsrus.us/documents/93.html & "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & JRCC Save Form & 37th ARRS Operations Logbook 01 Jan 68 to 31 Dec 68 |
| 1968 - May 31 | A HH-3E from the 37th ARRS at Da Nang AB, RVN, crewed by USCG Lt. Lance A. Eagan (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ), medevacked four USA troops in RVN. No other details are known at this time. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form |
| 1968 - May 31 | A HH-43F from Det. 8, 38th ARRS, Cam Ranh Bay AB, RVN, crewed by Maj. Jerry D. Stroh (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ), medevacked Vincent Kelly in RVN. No other details are known at this time. JRCC Save Form |
| 1968 - June 01 | A HH-3E (Call sign "Jolly Green 37") from Det. 1, 40th ARRS, crewed by Capt. David A. Richardson (P), Maj. Louis D. Yuhas (CP), SSgt. Coy W. Calhoon (FE) and Sgt. Peter S. Harding (PJ), rescued the pilot of a USN A-7A (Call sign "Streetcar 304"), Lt. Kenny W. Fields, after he ejected, on 31 May, from his AAA damaged aircraft near Ban Kate, Laos about 20 miles west of the DMZ. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & On a Steel Horse I Ride" by Darrel D. Whitcomb |
| 1968 - June 01 | A HH-43F from Det. 6, 38th ARRRS, Bien Hoa AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. James A. Darden Jr. (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ), rescued the co-pilot of a F-4C, Capt. M. P. Rhodes, after he managed to eject from his ground fire damaged aircraft near Van Hinh (about 40 miles north of Cam Ranh Bay). The pilot, Maj. Glenn Thomas Ciarfeo did not eject, and he was KIA. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & JRCC Save Form |
| 1968 - June 01 | A HH-3E #64-14233 (Call sign "Jolly Green 20") from Det. 1, 40th ARRS at Nakhon Phanom RTAFB, Thailand, crewed by Capt. David A. Richardson (P), Maj. Paul M. Reagan (CP), SSgt. Coy W. Calhoon (FE), Sgt. Peter S. Harding (PJ) and Thomas C. Richardson (PJ), rescued the pilot of an A-1E (Call sign "Sandy 01"), Maj. William. G. Palank, after he ejected from his AAA damaged aircraft near Ban Alao about 15 miles SW of Ban Kate, Laos about 20 miles west of the DMZ. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & JRCC Save Form |
| 1968 - June 01 | A HH-3E from Det. 1, 40th ARRS, Nakhon Phanom RTAFB, Thailand, crewed by Capt. Henry C. Conant (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ) rescued the crew of a downed HH-3E from Det. 1, 40th ARRS at Nakhon Phanom RTAFB, Thailand, Maj. Dale L. Oderman (P), Maj. D. N. Welden (CP), SSgt. Carl L. Warmack (FE) and Sgt. Jules C. Smith (PJ). No other details are known at this time. JECC Save Form |
| 1968 - June 01 | A HH-43F from Det. 14, 38th ARRS, Bien Hoa AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Peter J. Kerrigan (P), Maj. Donald L. Jordan (CP), SSgt. Reborto Rodriguez (FE), SSgt. Ermon L. Russell (FF) and Garland B. Courts (FF), medevacked two USA troops from a U-21A in RVN. No other details are known at this time. JRCC Save Form |
| 1968 - June 01 | A HH-3E #64-14704 (Call sign “Jolly Green 33”) from the 37th ARRS at Da Nang AB, RVN, crewed by USCG Lt. Lance A. Eagan (P), Capt. George W. Greer (CP), Sgt. William L. Carroll (FE) and Sgt. Vincent E. Deets (PJ), rescued Maj. H. W. Hatterman, Maj. Dean Wartick, WO1 James R. Rice and WO1 Preston B. Dasher from a U. S. Army UH-1 (Call sign “Jaguar 858”) that landed on a beach due to loss of tail rotor (battle damage not a factor) in RVN. No other details are known at this time. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form |
| 1968 - June 02 | A HH-43F from Det. 1, 38th ARRS, Phan Rang AB, RVN, crewed by Maj. William O. Emrie (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ), medevacked a US civilian, K. E. Barker. No other details are known at this time. JRCC Save Form |
| 1968 - June 02 | A HH-43F from Det. 9, 38th ARRS, Pleiku AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Derry A. Adamson (P), Maj. Robert W. Hastings (CP), SSgt. Donnie R. Stevens (FE), David E. Thompson (PJ) and SSgt. Alvin J. Williams (FF), medevacked a US civilian, K. E. Barker. No other details are known at this time. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1968 - June 04 | A HH-43F from Det. 13, 38th ARRS, Phu Cat AB, RVN, crewed by 1st Lt. Kurt O. Diefenback (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ) medevacked a Vietnamese civilian. No other details are known at this time. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1968 - June 06 | A HH-3E #67-14712 (Call sign “Jolly Green 31”) from the 37th ARRS, Da Nang AB, RVN, crewed by USGC Lt. Cmdr. Lonnie Mixon (P), Capt. William B. Byrd Jr. (CP), Sgt. Duane I. Beland (FE) and Sgt. Joseph S. Stanaland (PJ), rescued the badly injured pilot of a A-1E (Call sign "Hobo 17"), Capt. E. E. Kirkpatrick, after he ejected from aircraft that had collided with another A-1E (Call sign "Hobo 16") he was in formation with about 9 miles north of Khe Sanh, RVN. His co-pilot, Maj. David James Gunster failed to eject and was KIA. The second A-1E crashed as well and the pilot, Maj. Rodolph Lee Nunn, was KIA. High bird on this mission was HH-3E #66-13280 (Call sign “Jolly Green 27”) crewed by USCG Lt. Lance A. Eagan (P), Capt. Joseph J. Dillon (CP), Sgt. Odell Carter (FE), and Sgt. James D. Locker (PJ). "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson |
| 1968 - June 06 | A HH-53B from the 40th ARRS at Udorn RTAFB, Thailand, crewed by Capt. Russell L. Cayler (P), 1st Lt. Joseph A. Panza Jr. (CP), Sgt. Robert T. Winblad (FE), Tommy W. Meyer (PJ) and A1C Michael M. Dodd (PJ), attempted the rescue pilot of a A-1E (Call sign "Hobo 16"), Maj. Robert Lee Nunn, after his aircraft had collided with another A-1E (Call sign "Hobo 17") he was in formation with about 9 miles north of Khe Sanh, RVN. However, he was KIA when his aircraft crashed. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1968 - June 06 | A HH-43F from Det. 12, 38th ARRS, Nha Trang AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Melroy Borland (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ), medevacked Eugene Bent, in RVN. No other details are known at this time. JRCC Save Form |
| 1968 - June 07 | A HH-43F from Det. 10, 38th ARRS, Binh Thuy AB, RVN, crewed by Maj. James F. Okonek (P), Capt. Leslie E. Johnson Jr. (CP), James E. Trantino (FE) and Lonnie N. Davidson (PJ), rescued a USN seaman, Michael J. Nathle, using the hoist and Stokes Litter, from a river patrol boat. No other details are known at this time. JRCC Save Form |
| 1968 - June 07 | A HH-43F from Det. 13, 38th ARRS, Phu Cat AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. R. I. Pass (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ), medevacked one USAF airman. No other details are known at this time. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson |
| 1968 - June 08 | A HH-3E #67-14704 (Call sign “Jolly Green 33”) crewed by USGC LCDR Lonnie Mixon (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE), and unkn (PJ), rescued two crew members of an USA OV-1, Maj. H. F. Benton and SP4 R. D. Brain. No other details are known at this time. JRCC Save Form & 37th ARRS Operations Logbook 01 Jan 68 to 31 Dec 68 |
| 1968 - June 08 | A HH-43F from Det. 13, 38th ARRS, Phu Cat AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. David H. Pittard (P), unkn (CP), unkn (PJ) and unkn (PJ), medevacked one unkn Vietnamese, in RVN. No other details are available at this time. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1968 - June 09 | A HH-3E #67-14712 (Call sign "July Green 31") from the 37th ARRS at Da Nang AB, RVN, crewed by Maj. Carl W. Olsen (P), Lt. Col. Charles R. Klinkert (CP), SSgt. James A. Bowers (FE) and Nathaniel T. Smith Jr. (PJ), rescued the pilot of an F-105D (Call sign "Master 01"), Maj. Carl B. Light, after he ejected from his 37 mm AAA damaged aircraft near Xom Quan, NVN on 08 June 1968. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & JRCC Save Form |
| 1968 - June 09 | A HH-3E #65-12780 (Call sign “Jolly Green 07”) from the 37th ARRS at Da Nang AB, RVN, crewed by Maj. Donald G. Simpson (P), Capt. John E. Hannan (CP), Sgt. Herbert H. Honer (FE) and James F. Spears (PJ), rescued the crew of an F-4D (Call sign "Hudson 82"), Maj. William B. Bergman (P) and 1st Lt. David Willett (CP) after they had ejected from their AAA damaged aircraft about 10 miles off the coast near the DMZ (they were the 'high bird' on the "Master 01" rescue – see entry above). "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & 37th ARRS Operations Logbook 01 Jan 68 to 31 Dec 68 |
| 1968 - June 09 | A HH-3E #67-14709 (Call sign "Jolly Green 22"), from the 37th ARRS at Da Nang AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. William E. Brennan (P), Capt. Paul D. Ashley (CP), Sgt. David Rodriquez (FE) and Sgt. Ernest D. Casbeer (PJ), attempted three times to rescued USMC A-4E (Call sign "Hellborne 215") pilot, 1st Lt. Walter R. Schmidt, but was driven off by enemy fire on each attempt. Note: an HH-3E with the same tail number and call sign is listed below, but with a different crew (see next entry). "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1968 - June 09 | A HH-3E #68-13281 (Call sign "Jolly Green 28"), from the 37th ARRS at Da Nang AB, RVN, crewed by Maj. Jerry M. Griggs (P), Capt. Harry W. Hagen Jr. (CP), Sgt. Odell Carter (FE) and A1C Robert K. Cassidy (PJ), attempted to rescue USMC A-4E (Call sign "Hellborne 215") pilot, 1st Lt. Walter R. Schmidt, but was driven off by enemy fire. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1968 - June 09 | HH-3E #67-14710 (Call sign “Jolly Green 23”) from the 37th ARRS, Da Nang AB, RVN, crewed by USCG Lt. Jack C. Rittichier, Capt. Richard C. Yeend, Jr. (CP), SSgt. Elmer L. Holden (FE) and Sgt. James D. Locker (PJ) was on CSAR for 1Lt. Walter R. Schmidt pilot of Hellborne 215 a USMC A-4C that was shot down over the A Shau Valley. Voice contact was established with 1Lt. Schmidt, who reported he possibly had a broken arm and leg. Several attempts at pickup were made by the lead helicopter, “Jolly Green 23”, but it was driven off by intense ground fire. After suppressive fire was put in, “JG-23” moved in to attempt the pickup. “JG-23” reported taking hits and then caught fire. The pilot attempted to land in a small clearing, but the helicopter exploded when it hit the ground and burned intensely. There were no indications anyone survived the crash. USCG Lt. Jack Rittichier (P), Capt. Richard C. Yeend (CP), SSgt. Elmer L. Holden (FE) and Sgt. James D. Locker (PJ) were all KIA-BNR. The remains of the crew were returned and identified in September 2003. 1Lt. Schmidt remains MIA presumed dead. Lt. Jack C. Rittichier is known to have been awarded The Silver Star (Posthumous) for his actions on this mission, awards for the other crew members are not known at the present time. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/37th_Aerospace_Rescue_and_Recovery_Squadron#Operations_and_losses & http://www.jollygreen.org/jltnc.html |
| 1968 - June 09 | A HH-3E from the 37th ARRS, crewed by Maj. Arthur J. Anderson (P), Capt. Joseph J. Dillon (CP), Alvin A. Malone (FE), Ricky D. Hindman (PJ) and SSgt. Paul E. Hagerty (AP) was shot off the survivors three times while on CSAR in the A Shau Valley, RVN while attempting to rescue USMC A-4E (Call sign "Hellborne 215") pilot, 1st Lt. Walter R. Schmidt. The FE, Ricky D. Hindman was awarded the 1st OLC to The Silver Star for his actions during this mission. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1968 - June 09 | Other HH-3E’s, from the 37th ARRS at Da Nang AB, RVN known to have been involved with the “Hellborne 215” mission (as listed above) are HH-3E #65-12786 (Call sign "Jolly Green 24"), crewed by Maj. Harvie L. Stringer (P), Capt. Donald W. Wiegard (CP), SSgt. Robert H. Baldwin (FE), Sgt. Steve M. Northern, HH-3E #66-13280 (Call sign “Jolly Green 27”), crewed by Maj. Stuart H. Hoag (P), Capt. William B. Byrd Jr. (CP), SSgt. Wendell L. Stumbaugh (FE) and Sgt. Donald K. Claudius Jr. (PJ) and HH-3E #67-14704 (Call sign “Jolly Green 33”), crewed by Capt. William E. Brennan (P), Capt. Paul D. Ashley (CP), Sgt. David Rodriquez (FE) and Sgt. Ernest D. Casbeer (PJ). 37th ARRS Mission Narrative Report (1-3-63, 9 June 68) |
| 1968 - June 09 | A HH-3E from the 37th ARRS at Da Nang AB, RVN, crewed by USCG Lt. Cmdr. Lonnie L. Mixon (P), Capt. Ronald G. Spray (CP), SSgt. John Enriquez (FE) and SSgt. James L. Miller (PJ), rescued the crew of an OV-10A (Call sign "Redeye 15"), Hubert F. Benton and James H. Baird. USCG Lt. Cmdr. Lonnie L. Mixon is known to have been awarded The Air Medal (1st OLC) for his action on this mission, awards for other crew members on this mission are not known at this time. No other details are known at this time. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1968 - June 13 | A HH-43F from Det. 14, 38th ARRS, Tan Son Nhut AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Peter J. Kerrigan (P), Maj. Donald L. Jordan (CP), Sgt. Gerald J. Wiersma (FE) and Sgt. Wilber J. Hallock (MT), rescued two crew members of a USA UH-1D downed in RVN. No other details are known at this time. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1968 - June 13 | A HH-43F from Det. 14, 38th ARRS, Tan Son Nhut AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Laurence E. Bielstein (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ), rescued two crew members of a USA UH-1D downed in RVN. No other details are known at this time. JRCC save Form |
| 1968 - June 13 | A HH-43F from Det. 13, 38th ARRS, Phu Cat AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. R. I. Pass (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE), unkn (PJ), medevacked one USAF airman. No other details are known at this time. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1968 - June 13 | A HH-43F from Det. 14, 38th ARRS, Tan Son Nhut AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Peter J. Kerrigan (P), Maj. Donald L. Jordon (CP), Sgt. Gerald J. Wiersma (FE), Sgt. Wilber J. Hallock (MT), medevacked two USA troops from a downed USA UH-1 helicopter in RVN. No other details are known at this time. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1968 - June 14 | A HH-43F from Det. 10, 38th ARRS, Binh Thuy AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Thomas D. Precious (P), Lt. Col. Roland E. Speckman (CP), SSgt. Gordon L. Browning (FE) and A1C Larry D. Nicholson (PJ), medevacked William F. Phillips from a patrol river boat in RVN. No other details are available currently. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form |
| 1968 - June 15 | A HH-43F from Det. 13, 38th ARRS, Phu Cat AB, RVN, crewed by 1st Lt. Kurt O. Diefenbach (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (MT), medevacked James Pierce in RVN. No other details are known at this time. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1968 - June 15 | A HH-43F (Call sign "Pedro 96") from Det. 12, 38th ARRS, crewed by Capt. Melroy Borland (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ), rescued the crew of a UH-1F, Maj. Frederick Yonteck, Maj. William E. Lacy, Capt. Robert J. Peisher and SSgt. Lindell R. West, in RVN. No other details are known at this time. JRCC Save Form |
| 1968 - June 16 | A Hornet Force from First, Second and Third Companies, on a search and destroy operation twenty miles North of Ban Me Thuot became engaged in heavy contact with a large enemy force. They were receiving heavy automatic weapons and mortar fire from the enemy forces that had surrounded their position. The "Huey" gunships of the 20th HS "Green Hornets" were called in and gave mini-gun and rocket support. Three of the gunships received a total of sixteen hits resulting in two helicopters being put out of commission and three gunners, Sgt. William J. Crowe, Sgt. Ronald T. Merritt and SSgt. Dennis L. Bowling was wounded by the heavy automatic weapons fire they received. 'Student 06' the commander of the besieged ground forces stated that he was extremely short on ammunition and had wounded that needed medical evacuation as soon as possible. Darkness had set in, and a "Spooky" gunship was called in to provide night illumination support. Capt. John B. Skidmore (P), Capt. David C. Juday (CP), Sgt. Dale J. Niezgocki (AG) and Sgt. Cosco (AG) volunteered for the medevac and resupply mission. Two "Huey" gunships provided fire support and the slick made the approach under the flare illumination. The ammunition was unloaded and five wounded were placed on board, three of which were in critical condition. http://www.mh-53pavelow.com/documents/20thSOS/1967.pdf |
| 1968 - June 17 | http://www.mh-53pavelow.com/documents/20thSOS/1967.pdf |
| 1968 - June 18 | A HH-43F from Det. 1, 38th ARRS, Phan Rang AB, RVN, crewed by Maj. William C. Emrie (P), Maj. Donald R. Brooks (CP), Sgt Richard L. McNeese (FE), SSgt Angel Luna (MT), rescued the pilot of a F-100D, Maj. Gregory J. Butler after he ejected about 10 miles southwest of Phan Rang AB, RVN which had been damage by ground fire shortly after he took off from Phan Rang AB, RVN. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & JRCC Save Form & Kaman Rotor Tips magazine |
| 1968 - June 19 | A HH-43F from Det. 10, 38th ARRS, Binh Thuy AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Laurence W. Conover (P), unkn (CP), unkn (PJ) and unkn (PJ), medevacked Thos. J. Kempf, in RVN. No other details are available currently. “PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1968 - June 19 | A HH-43F from Det. 14, 38th ARRS, Tan Son Nhut AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Peter J. Kerrigan (P), Maj. Donald L. Jordan (CP), SSgt. Reborto Rodriguez (FE), Garland B. Courts (FF) and SSgt. Ermon L. Russell (FF) medevacked 2 USA troops in RVN. No other details are available currently. “PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1968 - June 20 | A HH-43F from Det. 10, 38th ARRS at Binh Thuy AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Thomas D. Precious (P), Capt. Leslie E. Johnson (CP), A1C Archelaus Whitehead Jr. (FE) and A1C Richard C. Stiefken (PJ), medevacked Terry Peters from the USS White River in RVN. No other details are available currently. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form |
| 1968 - June 20 | Two CH-3C's from the 20th HS "Pony Express", one crewed by Maj. Walter L. Helm (P), unkn (CP) and unkn (FM) and the other crewed by unkn (P), unkn (CP) and unkn (FM), were part of a two ship MACV SOG exfiltration mission in North Vietnam. Enemy forces had made intermittent contact with the ground team during the previous two days. Approximately 2 miles from the LZ the helicopters were fired on by enemy forces, but Maj. Helm continued the mission and located the ground team in a small stream bed with ninety-foot trees. It took four lifts and about twelve minutes to extract the seven-man team. http://www.mh-53pavelow.com/documents/20thSOS/1967.pdf |
| 1968 - June 21 | Three CH-3C's from the 20th HS at Udorn RTAFB, Thailand was sent to a forward operating site to accomplish several infiltration and exfiltration missions. At the first landing zone two teams were put in and one taken out. The lead helicopter, crewed by Maj. William H. Chambers (P), Maj. James S. Villotti (CP) and unkn (FM), landed for one team exchange. The second CH-3C, crewed by Maj. Jay R. Oberg (P), Capt. Carlton J. Fulmer (CP) and unkn (FM) was hit by small arms fire, receiving five hits, as it was approaching the LZ. All three CH-3C's returned safely to the forward operating base and subsequently recovered to Udorn RTAFB, Thailand. No other details are known at this time. http://www.mh-53pavelow.com/documents/20thSOS/1968.pdf |
| 1968 - June 23 | A HH-43F from Det. 1, 38th ARRS, Phan Rang AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Glenn P. Walther, unkn (CP), unkn (FE), unkn (PJ), medevacked USAF Sgt. Bruce Feldman. No other details are known at this time. JRCC Save Form |
| 1968 - June 23 | A HH-3E #65-12782 (Call sign “Jolly Green 10”) from the 37th ARRS at Da Nang AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Paul D. Ashley (P), Capt. Harry W. Hagen Jr. (CP), SSgt. Windell L. Stumbaugh (FE) and Sgt. Donald K. Claudius Jr. (PJ), made a water landing to rescue the pilot of an F-105D (Call sign "Dolphin 02"), Maj. James W. Alder, after he ejected from his 37 mm AAA damaged about 30 miles off the coast NE of the DMZ. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & 37th ARRS Operations Logbook 01 Jan 68 to 31 Dec 68 |
| 1968 - June 23 | A HH-43F from Det. 9, 38th ARRS, Pleiku AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Derry A. Adamson (P), Lt. Col. Harold O. Hoppe (CP), Sgt. Floyd M. Barnes (FE), A1C David M. Wichman (PJ), SSgt. Willie Heard Jr. (FF) and SSgt. George W. Murray (FF), attempted to rescue the pilot, Capt. Richard Lee Russell when his aircraft returned to Pleiku AB, still carrying bombs which exploded upon landing. Capt. Russell was KIA. No other details are known at this time. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1968 - June 23 | A HH-53B from the 40th ARRS at Udorn RTAFB, Thailand, crewed by Capt. Carl W. Oliver (P), Maj. Aharon Aharonian (CP), Robert K. Hollen (FE), A2C Albert W. Foster III (PJ), sling lifted a downed Air America H-34 helicopter in Laos to PS-22. No other details are known at this time. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1968 - June 23 | A HH-53B from the 40th ARRS at Udorn RTAFB, Thailand, crewed by Maj. Robert R. Rockel (P), Capt. Robert E. Ruddick (CP), TSgt. Junior Cazares (FE), Sgt. Larry E. Palmer (PJ), Thomas Devine (PJ) and Stanley J. Nagrocki (AP), in two separate loads, 14 on the first load and 18 on the second load, brought out a total of 32 Lao's associated with a downed Air America H-34 helicopter in Laos. No other details are known at this time. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1968 - June 23 | UH-1F/P's of the 20th HS, crew’s unkn, extracted a MACV SOG recon team from a fire fight with enemy forces. No other details are known at this time. "Secret Green Beret Commandos In Cambodia" by Lt. Col. Fred S. Lindsey, USA (Ret.) |
| 1968 - June 25 | A HH-3E (Call sign "Jolly Green 19") from Det. 1, 40th ARRS at Nakhon Phanom RTAFB, Thailand, crewed by Capt. Edward L. Heft (P), Capt. Ronald McKinley (CP), SSgt. Carl L. Warmack (FE) and Richard A. Petroski (PJ), rescued the crew of a RF-4C (Call sign "Petro 01"), Capt. Michael S. Jones (P) and Maj. Francis J. McKenna (WSO), after they ejected from their ground fire damaged aircraft near Ban Nakok, Laos. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & JRCC Save Form |
| 1968 - June 25 | A HH-43F from Det. 13, 38th ARRS, Phu Cat AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. R. I. Pass (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ), medevacked one Vietnamese. No other details are known at this time. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson |
| 1968 - June 25 | A HH-43F from Det. 11, 38th ARRS at Tuy Hoa AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Robert E. Dely (P), Maj. Delmar G. Worsech (CP), SSgt. Donald L. Soden (FE), A1C Harry M. Krause (PJ), attempted to rescue the pilot of an F-100D, 1st Lt. Robert Miller Scott, after his aircraft was shot down during a close air support mission near Thach Khe, 10 miles southwest of Qui Nhon. Lt. Scott did not eject and was KIA. No other details are known at this time. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1968 - June 28 | UH-1F/P's of the 20th HS, crew’s unkn, extracted a large MACV SOG recon team "RT Auger" from a landing zone in Cambodia. The team had captured several enemy weapons and destroyed a large weapons cache. No other details are known at this time. "Secret Green Beret Commandos In Cambodia" by Lt. Col. Fred S. Lindsey, USA (Ret.) |
| 1968 - June 29 | A HH-43F from Det. 14, 38th ARRS, Tan Son Nhut AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Laurence E. Bielstein (P), Capt. Henry L. Pierce (CP), TSGT Colbert Ezell (FE) and SSgt. Reborto Rodriquez (FE) rescued two USA troops, CWO B. E. Watkin and SP4 J. R. Sweeten from a downed USA UH-1 helicopter (Call sign "Razorback 41"). No other details are known at this time. JRCC Save Form |
| 1968 - June 29 | A HH-43F from Det. 11, 38th ARRS at Tuy Hoa AB, RVN, crewed by Maj. Delmar G. Worsech (P), Capt. Henry P. Fogg (CP) SSgt. Robert E. Thompson (FE), A1C Stephen R. Tuttle (PJ), SSgt. Robert A. McAllister (MT) and Sgt. James W. Nelson (FF) was given credit for saving a HC-130P aircraft that was parked next to two burning HC-130P that had been set on fire by enemy satchel charges during a base attack. Their actions with the rotorwash and the use of the FSK allowed time for a HC-130P crew chief to taxi his aircraft away from the burning two burning HC-130P’s. Kaman Rotor Tips Magazine |
| 1968 - June 29 | A HH-43F from Det. 1, 38th ARRS, Phan Rang AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Glenn P. Walther, unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ), medevacked R. Luger. No other details are known at this time. JRCC Save Form |
| 1968 - June 30 | Hq. ARRS moved from Orlando AFB, FL. to Scott AFB, IL. http://www.afsoc.af.mil/shared/media/document/AFD-070906-042.pdf |
| 1968 - July 01 | The 21st Helicopter Squadron was re-designated as the 21st Air Commando Squadron. "On a Steel Horse I Ride" by Darrel D. Whitcomb |
| 1968 - July 01 | HH-3E #66-13280 (Call signs “Jolly Green 27”) from the 37th ARRS at Da Nang AB, RVN crewed by USCG Lt. Cmdr. Lonnie L. Mixon (P), unkn (CP), TSgt. Jackie Lee Mangrum (FE) and unkn (PJ) attempted the rescue of a F-105 pilot, Lt. Col. Jack Modica, from the jungle just outside of Dong Hoi, NVN, but was driven off by heavy enemy ground fire and leaves the area escorted by HH-3E #67-14712 (Call sign “Jolly Green 31”). In short order HH-3E #66-13282 (Call sign “Jolly Green 29”) and HH-3E #67-14709 (Call sign “Jolly Green 22”), crewed by USCG Lt. Cmdr. Lonnie Mixon (P), Capt. Don W. Wiegand (CP), TSgt. Jackie Lee Mangrum (FE) and Sgt. Donald J. Boushelle (PJ) arrive to continue the rescue attempt. “Jolly Green 29” makes two attempts for the rescue but is driven off each time by intense enemy hostile fire. By this time darkness had settled in forcing suspension of the rescue attempts until the next morning (see July 02 entry below). USCG Lt. Cmdr. Lonnie L. Mixon is known to have been awarded The Silver Star for his actions on this mission, awards for other crew members on this mission are not known at this time. http://www.uscg.mil/history/docs/USCGVietnamSilverStar.pdf & "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & Jackie Lee Mangrum Obituary |
| 1968 - July 01 | A HH-43F from Det. 10, 38th ARRS, Binh Thuy AB, RVN, crewed by Maj. James F. Okonek (P), Lt. Col. Roland E. Speckman (CP), A1C James E. Trantino (FE) and A1C Richard C. Stiefken (PJ), medevacked in a nighttime operation a USN seaman, Paul H. Glass, from a patrol river boat in RVN. No other details are known at this time. JRCC Save Form & JRCC Save Form |
| 1968 - July 02 | A USAF HH-3E #67-14708 (Call sign "Jolly Green 21") of the 37th ARRS at Da Nang AB, RVN, crewed by USCG Lt. Lance A. Eagan (P), Maj. Robert E. Booth (CP), Sgt. Herbert H. Honer (FE) and A1C Joel E. Talley (PJ) rescued the pilot of a F-105D (Call sign "Scotch 3"), Lt. Col. Jack Modica, after he ejected from his automatic weapons fire damaged aircraft, on 01 July 1968, a few miles north of the DMZ. During the rescue the helicopter P.J., A1C Joel Tally (on his first rescue mission) was lowered to help the badly injured Lt. Col. Modica get onto the rescue device and they were hoisted clear of the trees and the helicopter had to leave the area because of enemy ground fire, with Tally and Modica hanging below the helicopter until they could finish hoisting them aboard. A1C Tally was awarded the Air Force Cross for his actions during this rescue. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & http://www.jollygreen.org/Research/RonThurlow/H3RosterSEA.html |
| 1968 - July 02 | UH-1P "Green Hornet" helicopters of the 20th HS, crew's unkn, assisted a reconnaissance team from Duc Lap Special Forces Camp in breaking contact with a large enemy force and were credited with 7 enemy KIA. http://www.mh-53pavelow.com/documents/20thSOS/1968.pdf |
| 1968 - July 03 | A HH-43F crewed by Capt. Joseph V. Leech (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ), rescued one ARVN troop. No other details are known at this time. JRCC Save Form |
| 1968 - July 03 | A HH-43F #63-9715 (Call sign "Pedro 96") from Det. 12, 38th ARRS at Nha Trang AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Melroy Borland (P), Maj Bruce C. Bowden (CP), A1C Timothy M. Reynolds (PJ), SSgt Huel W. Wilson (FF) and Sgt James R. Pospichel (FF), rescued the pilot of a O-1 (Call sign "Sea Horse 38"), T. Williams, in RVN. No other details are known at this time. JRCC Save Form |
| 1968 - July 04 | A CH-54 is inbound to Da Nang with HH-3E #67-14708 (Call sign “Jolly Green 21”) at 1205 local time, no other details are known at this time. 37th ARRS Operations Logbook 01 Jan 68 to 31 Dec 68 |
| 1968 - July 04 | A HH-43F from Det. 13, 38th ARRS, Phu Cat AB, RVN, crewed by 1st Lt. Wayne A. Grant III (P), 1st Lt. Jack F. Brannan III (CP), Sgt Ronald L. Regan (FE), Sgt Stephen B. Jones (MT) and Sgt Andrew J. Andrews (FF), rescued USA troop, E4 A. B. Jackson. No other details are known at this time. JRCC Save Form |
| 1968 - July 04 | A HH-43F from Det. 13, 38th ARRS, Phu Cat AB, RVN, crewed by 1st Lt. Wayne A. Grant III (P), 1st Lt. Jack F. Brannan (CP), Sgt Ronald L. Regan (FE), Sgt Stephen B. Jones (MT) and Sgt Andrew J. Andrews (FF), rescued one ARVN troop. No other details are known at this time. JRCC Save Form |
| 1968 - July 04 | UH-1F/Ps of the 20th HS, crews unkn except that one of the gunships was crewed by Capt. David C. Juday (P), unkn (CP), Sgt. Ronald J. Wilkerson (AG) and unkn (AG), extracted a MACV SOG recon team from a landing zone in Cambodia. Capt. Juday was awarded the Silver Star medal and Sgt. Wilkerson was awarded the Air Medal for their actions during this mission. No other details are known at this time. "Secret Green Beret Commandos In Cambodia" by Lt. Col. Fred S. Lindsey, USA (Ret.) |
| 1968 - July 04 | A HH-43F crewed by Capt. Joseph V. Leech (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ), rescued the pilot of an F-100, Lt. Col. C. L. Young. No other details are known at this time. JRCC Save Form |
| 1968 - July 05 | A HH-3E from the 37th ARRS at Da Nang AB, RVN, crewed by USCG Lt. Lance A. Eagan (P), Capt. Richard D. Griffiths (CP), Sgt. Gordon T. Greever (FE) and James F. Spears (PJ), made a water landing to rescue the pilot of a F-100F (Call sign "Misty 31 Alpha"), Col. Preston B. Hardy and his co-pilot, Capt. D. W. Jenny, after they ejected from their 37 mm AAA damaged aircraft, that had been hit over a target near Thach Ban, NV., about 10 miles north of the DMZ, after flying their aircraft back across the DMZ in RVN. Capt. Jenny was rescued by a USMC CH-46. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & JRCC Save Form & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1968 - July 08 | A HH-3E #65-12786 (Call sign “Jolly Green 24”) from the 37th ARRS at Da Nang AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Walter R. Blackwell (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ), rescued the crew of a USMC F-4B, Lt. Col. E. R. Howard (P) and Capt. R. D. Hess after they ejected from their ground fire damaged aircraft just off the coast of Da Nang AB, RVN. JRCC Save Form & 37th ARRS Operations Logbook 01 Jan 68 to 31 Dec 68 |
| 1968 - July 08 | A UH-1F (tail number unkn) of the 20th HS "Green Hornets", crewed by Maj. Jerry E. Davenport (P), Lt. Col. Robert J. Wickwire (CP) and unkn (FM), on a logistic support mission crashed at a landing site on Hon Tre Island, RVN. During the final phase of the approach to the landing the tail rotor struck a 10-inch diameter aluminum light fixture on a seven-foot pole and the impact caused the tail rotor and gear box to separate from the helicopter. Maj. Davenport immediately recognized the loss of tail rotor control and initiated the correct emergency procedure and got the helicopter down on the landing pad minimizing the damage as the helicopter came to rest on the landing pad. http://www.mh-53pavelow.com/documents/20thSOS/1968.pdf |
| 1968 - July 09 | A HH-3E (Call sign "Jolly Green 19") crewed by Capt. Walter R. Blackwell (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ), rescued the crew of a F-4D, (Call sign "Roman 02"), 1st Lt. Charles W. Mosley and 1st Lt. Don M. Hallenbeck after they ejected, on 8 July 1968, from their ground fire damaged aircraft about 12 miles east of the Mu Gia Pass. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson |
| 1968 - July 09 | A USAF helicopter rescued the pilot of a A-1E (Call sign "Firefly 16"), Lt. Col. William A. Buice, after he abandoned his ground fire damaged aircraft, in northern Laos a few miles SE of Sopka, Laos. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson |
| 1968 - July 10 | A HH-43F from Det. 13, 38th ARRS, Phu Cat AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. David H. Pittard (P), unkn (CP), unkn (PJ) and unkn (PJ), medevacked one unkn Vietnamese, in RVN. No other details are available currently. “PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1968 - July 11 | A CH-3E of the 20th HS "Pony Express", crewed by Capt. Ronald L. Skinner (P), unkn (CP) and unkn FM) was involved in an infill/exfill mission into an LZ about 35 miles northeast of STOL Site 165 with the approach to the LZ planned at low level to avoid a 37 mm anti-aircraft gun located one and half miles from the LZ. No other details are known at this time. http://www.mh-53pavelow.com/documents/20thSOS/1968.pdf |
| 1968 - July 11 - 12 | A UH-1F of the 20th HS "Green Hornets", crewed by Capt. John B. Skidmore (P), Maj. Virgil F. Ackfeld (CP) were fragged for a special mission to help develop a detection and interception capability for low altitude, slow flying aircraft. On the 11th and 12th of July, they flew day and night calibration and penetration missions against Port Call Radar and the Hawk Missile Detachment on Hon Tre Island, under the code name "Find Um". In support of the "Fine Um" mission twelve sorties were flown for 6.6 hours and twenty-one passengers were carried. A-37 fighters with "starlight scopes" were used as interceptors. http://www.mh-53pavelow.com/documents/20thSOS/1968.pdf |
| 1968 - July 14 | A HH-43F from Det. 13, 38th ARRS, Phu Cat AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Robert N. Bowers (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE), and unkn (PJ), medevacked one Vietnamese in RVN. No other details are available currently. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1968 - July 14 | A HH-3E, #65-12783 (Call sign "Jolly Green 15"), from Det. 1, 40th ARRS, Nakhon Phanom RTAFB, Thailand and crewed by Lt. Col. Royal A. Brown Jr. (P), Maj. Dale N. Weeden (CP), TSgt. Raymond J. Price (FE) and Sgt. Clifton L. Caffall (PJ) attempted to rescued F-105D pilot, Maj. Robert Keith Hanna (Call sign "Panda Lead"), who was making a night strike on 13/14 July 1968, against truck traffic, near Van Loc when his aircraft was hit by 37 mm AAA fire, and he ejected from his damaged aircraft about 10 miles west near the North Vietnamese town of Ha Lol. The rescue attempt had to be aborted due to heavy enemy AAA and automatic weapons fire. High bird on this mission was HH-3E (Call sign “Jolly Green 16”) crewed by Capt. James H. Platt (P), Capt. Ronald McKinley (CP), Sgt. Mickey D. Berry (FE) and Sgt. Thomas A. Newman (PJ) and they were also driven off the rescue attempt by the heavy enemy AAA and automatic weapons fire (See next entry). www.jollygreen.org/Research/JohnMorse/john_morse-nkp-missions.html & Vietnam Air Losses by Chris Hobson & 40th ARRS Mission Narrative Report (1-3-70, 15 Jul 68) |
| 1968 - July 15 | HH-3E, (Call sign "Jolly Green 37"), from Det. 1, 40th ARRS, Nakhon Phanom RTAFB, Thailand and crewed by Capt. Edward L. Heft (P), Capt. Roger C. Gibson (CP), TSgt. Jarvis E. Peele (FE) and Sgt. James T. Lombard (PJ), in a first light effort, rescued F-105D pilot, Maj. Robert Keith Hanna (Call sign "Panda Lead"), who was making a night strike on 13/14 July 1968, against truck traffic, near Van Loc when his aircraft was hit by 37 mm AAA fire, and he ejected from his damaged aircraft about 10 miles west near the North Vietnamese town of Ha Lol. HH-3E (Call sign “Jolly Green 19”) was the high bird on this rescue, crewed by Capt. James E. Oliver (P), Capt. Samual P. Wheat (CP), SSgt. William J. Jordan (FE) and A1C Ember A. Curry (PJ). 40th ARRS Mission Narrative Report (1-3-70, 15 Jul 68) & Vietnam Air Losses by Chris Hobson & www.jollygreen.org/Research/JohnMorse/john_morse-nkp-missions.html |
| 1968 - July 17 | UH-1F/P's of the 20th HS, crew’s unkn, extracted a MACV SOG recon team "RT Auger" from a landing zone in Cambodia. No other details are known at this time. "Secret Green Beret Commandos In Cambodia" by Lt. Col. Fred S. Lindsey, USA (Ret.) |
| 1968 - July 17 | A USAF helicopter rescued the crew of an O-2A, Lt. Col. S. C. Ferguson and Capt. R. P. Lappin, after they crash landed their ground fire damaged aircraft on a small airstrip in southern Laos, near Ban Dong Hene, Laos. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson |
| 1968 - July 19 | A HH-43F from Det. 12, 38th ARRS, Nha Trang AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Melroy Borland (P), Maj. Bruce C. Bowden (CP), A1C Timothy M. Reynolds (PJ), SSgt. Huel W. Wilson (FF) and Sgt. James R. Pospichel (FF), rescued, while under enemy fire, the pilot of an O-1G (Call sign "Walt 31"), Capt. Allan R. Zaiser, after he crash landed his ground fire damaged aircraft about 7 miles SW of Nha Trang, RVN. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & JRCC Save Form |
| 1968 - July 19 | A HH-43B from Det. 13, 38th ARRS, Phu Cat AB, RVN, crewed by 1st Lt. Wayne A. Grant III (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ), rescued one Vietnamese. No other details are known at this time. JRCC Save Form |
| 1968 - July 20 | UH-1F/Ps of the 20th HS, with the slick crewed by Capt. David C. Juday (P), Maj. Thomas M. Courtney (CP), SSgt. John W. Broadway (FM) and Sgt. Ronald C. Winkles (AG) extracted a six-man MACV SOG recon team, that was under fire from enemy forces, from a landing zone. No other details are known at this time. "Secret Green Beret Commandos In Cambodia" by Lt. Col. Fred S. Lindsey, USA (Ret.) |
| 1968 - July 21 | A CH-3E of the 20th HS "Pony Express", crewed by Capt. Walter W. Martin (P), unkn (CP) and unkn (FM), rescued an A-1E pilot, Maj. B. M. Mobley, after he ejected from his aircraft about 10 miles northwest of the DMZ and 10 miles southeast of the Ban Karai Pass. Maj. Mobley had been flying support for the two CH-3E's on an infill/exile mission and after his ejection he landed uninjured in the top of a multi-canopied jungle. Maj. Martin brought his helicopter to a hover over Maj. Mobley, who was on a large limb, and the FM lowered the hoist to him and brought him into the helicopter. The entire rescue took less than one minute. http://www.mh-53pavelow.com/documents/20thSOS/1967.pdf |
| 1968 - July 23 | A HH-3E #66-13281 (Call sign “Jolly Green 28”) from the 37th ARRS at Da Nang AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Paul D. Ashley (P), Capt. Ronald G. Spray (CP), SSgt. Jimmy L. Dodgen (FE) and SSgt. James L. Miller (PJ) rescued the co-pilot of an RF-4C, (call sign "Strobe 1"), Maj. Robert F. Brodman after his aircraft was hit by ground fire when flying near the coast, about 10 miles northwest of Hue. The pilot, Maj. Gen Robert Franklin Worley, Vice Commander of Seventh Air Force did not eject and was KIA. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & JRCC Save Form & http://mistyvietnam.com/the-history/rescued-misty-pilots/ & 37th ARRS Operations Logbook 01 Jan 68 to 31 Dec 68 |
| 1968 - July 23 | A HH-43F from Det. 13, 38th ARRS, Phu Cat AB, RVN, crewed by 1st Lt. Wayne A. Grant III (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ), rescued one Vietnamese. No other details are known at this time. JRCC Save Form |
| 1968 - July 23 | A HH-43F from Det. 1, 38th ARRS, Phan Rang AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Robert S. Henderson (P), unkn (CP), unkn (PJ) and unkn (PJ), medevacked three USMC troops in RVN. No other details are available currently. PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1968 - July 24 | A HH-43F from Det. 7, 38th ARRS, Da Nang AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. David J. Jogerst (P), 1st Lt. Michael L. Walker (CP), A1C Joe E. Talley (PJ), Sgt. George W. Gladu (FF) and Sgt. Samuel D. Hamilton (FF), rescued the pilot of a F-4D (Call sign "Oreo 01 Alpha"), Capt. Timothy O. Gill, after he and his WSO, 1st Lt. R. G. Pierce, from Da Nang Bay, after they ejected from their ground fire damaged aircraft. The WSO, Lt. Roger G. Pierce was rescued by a U. S. Navy vessel. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson |
| 1968 - July 25 | UH-1F/P's of the 20th HS "Green Hornets", one crewed by Capt. Harlan C. Nupen (P) unkn (CP), unkn (AG) and unkn (AG) and the other crewed by Maj. Henry A. Klung (P), unkn (CP), unkn (AG) and unkn (AG), were launched to come to the aid of a long range reconnaissance patrol that had made contact with an enemy force of at least two platoons. The patrol had retreated into a small depression surrounded by high jungle growth. Realizing that the team could be overrun at any time, Capt. Harlan C. Nupen and Maj. Henry A. Klung directed mini-gun fire in the team's support. Their firing passes succeeded in slowing the enemy’s advance, but both aircraft had malfunctions of their mini-guns and were unable to fire in the team's support. Instead of pulling off target, the crews continued to make passes to draw as much ground fire away from the team as possible. At this time the beleaguered team reported the enemy was massing his forces in an area 50 to 100 meters north of their position. A rocket pass was made into the enemy position. The team leader confirmed that the rockets were on target as he heard cries after each rocket pass. Even though replacement gunships were still several minutes away, Maj. Hoover and his crew, unkn (CP), Sgt. Richard L. Schwartz (FM) and Sgt. Dennis C. Miller (AG), immediately descended into the area. Due to the position of the enemy, only one corridor of approach was available. His approach required a difficult descent under crosswind conditions into a very confined LZ. Sporadic ground fire was encountered during the entire descent, approach and landing. Sgt.'s. Schwartz and Miller assisted the team members into the helicopter and Maj. Hoover departed without receiving additional enemy gunfire. http://www.mh-53pavelow.com/documents/20thSOS/1967.pdf |
| 1968 - July 26 | A HH-3E #67-14712 (Call sign "Jolly Green 31") of the 37th ARRS at Da Nang AB, RVN, crewed by Maj. Charles E. Wicker (P), Maj. Robert E. Booth (CP), SSgt. John Enriquez (FE) and Sgt. Steve M. Northern (PJ) rescued the pilot of a USMC A-6A (Call sign "Hellborne 20"), Maj. Curtis G. Lawson, after he and his co-pilot, 1st Lt. Paul Gordon Brown ejected, on 25 July, from their 37 mm flack damaged aircraft about 10 miles NW of Thon Cam Son. Lt. Brown became a POW. The rescue of Maj. Lawson was made under heavy enemy ground fire, and they landed in the river were Maj. Lawson had hidden to pluck him out of the river. ‘High bird’ on this mission was crewed by Maj. Vern Dander (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ). The original low bird on this mission aborted and it was crewed by Maj. Billy J. Wingfield (P), Maj. Harold Frank Cardile (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ). "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & http://mistyvietnam.com/the-history/rescued-misty-pilots/ |
| 1968 - July 26 | A HH-43B (Call sign "Pedro 09") from Det. 5, 38th ARRS, Udorn RTAFB, Thailand, crewed by Capt. Wilson T. Arnold (P), Roger S. Rhoades (CP), SSgt. Jesus Munoz Jr. (FF) and Charles E. Bowen (FF), was involved, using their FSK on a C-141 that was on fire due to a sapper attack at Udorn RTAFB, Thailand. No other details are known at this time. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & JRCC Save Laos |
| 1968 - July 26 | UH-1F/Ps of the 20th HS, crew's unkn, extracted a six-man MACV SOG recon team "RT Auger", that was under fire, with the team leader wounded, from enemy forces and about to be surrounded. No other details are known at this time. "Secret Green Beret Commandos In Cambodia" by Lt. Col. Fred S. Lindsey, USA (Ret.) |
| 1968 - July 27 | A HH-43F from Det. 13, 38th ARRS, Phu Cat AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. R. I. Pass (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ), medevacked one Vietnamese. No other details are known at this time. JRCC Save Form |
| 1968 - July 28 | A HH-43B (Call sign "Pedro 09") from Det. 5, 38th ARRS, Udorn RTAFB, Thailand, crewed by Capt. Wilson T. Arnold (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FF) and unkn (FF), was involved in the rescue of F-105D pilot, Gary Confer. No other details are known at this time. JRCC Save Laos |
| 1968 - July 28 | Four UH-1F/P’s "Green Hornets" of the 20th HS at Nha Trang AB, RVN were deployed to Udorn RTAFB, Thailand to augment the CH-3C's of the 20th HS "Pony Express" and after extensive theater orientation briefings were completed, they began operations on August 01, 1968. http://www.mh-53pavelow.com/documents/20thSOS/1967.pdf |
| 1968 - July 29 | A HH-43F from Det. 1, 38th ARRS, Phan Rang AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Glen P. Walther (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ), medevacked R. Luger in RVN. No other details are known at this time. JRCC Save Form |
| 1968 - July 29 | A HH-43F from Det. 14, 38th ARRS, Tan Son Nhut, RVN, RVN, crewed by Capt. Peter J. Kerrigan (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ), medevacked one ARVN troop in RVN. No other details are known at this time. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1968 - July 29 | A HH-43F from Det. 1, 38th ARRS, Phan Rang AB, RVN, crewed by Maj. William O. Emrie (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ) medevacked L. C. Rollins in RVN. No other details are known at this time. JRCC save Form |
| 1968 - July 29 - 30 | UH-1F/P gunships of the 20th HS "Green Hornets", crew's unkn, assisted local teams from Ban Don Special Forces Camp to breakup enemy ambush positions, enabling them to continue with their missions. http://www.mh-53pavelow.com/documents/20thSOS/1968.pdf |
| 1968 - July 30 | A HH-3E from the 37th ARRS at Da Nang AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Paul D. Ashley (P), Capt. Ronald G. Spray (CP), Sgt. Hoyle L. Sykes Jr. (FE), SSgt. James L. Miller (PJ), Richard L. Matthews (FS) and Norman J. Harris (FS), performed a long range, including night air refueling, medevac of Charles E. Stewart Jr., at sea from a barge. No other details are known at this time. JRCC Save Form |
| 1968 - July 31 | A HH-43F from Det. 10, 38th ARRS, Binh Thuy AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Thomas D. Precious (P), Lt. Col. Roland E. Speckman (CP), SSgt. Gordon L. Browning (FE) and Sgt. Lonnie G. Connor (PJ) rescued four USN airmen, W. R. Lang, L. H. McKay, AN Campbell and Adj. Paone from a downed USN UH-1B "Seawolf" helicopter. No other details are available currently. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form |
| 1968 - July 31 | A HH-43F from Det. 11, 38th ARRS, Tuy Hoa AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Daniel A. Nicholson (P), Maj. Delmar G. Worsech (CP), SSgt. Donald L. Soden (FE) and A1C Paul E. Fatka (PJ), medevacked two Vietnamese. No other details are known at this time. "PJ's in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1968 - July 31 | Two UH-1P gunships of the 20th HS "Green Hornets", crewed by Capt. John L. Godowski (P), unkn (CP), unkn (AG) and unkn (AG), were launched to aid a search and destroy force from Duc Lap Special Forces Camp. The force had been surrounded by an estimated NVA regiment and had no avenue of escape. Despite a 100-foot ceiling and NVA soldiers within 30 meters of the friendly force, the UH-1P gunships provided 360 degree mini-gun fire around the team for 30 minutes and cleared a path of escape to the north. The weather started breaking and fighter aircraft were called in. After approximately 20 minutes of bombing, the ground force requested the fighters break off target and the "Green Hornets" be called in, as the bombing was forcing the NVA closer to the friendly position. Capt. Godowski located the rear elements of the friendly forces and the two gunships made mini-guns and rocket passes until they were no longer receiving ground fire. The ground commander stated that he thought their situation was hopeless until he saw the two gunships break through the overcast. He credited the gunships with 45 enemy KIA, one of the largest single totals of the year. http://www.mh-53pavelow.com/documents/20thSOS/1967.pdf |
| 1968 - August 01 | The 20th & 21st Helicopter Squadrons were re-named the 20th SOS & 21st SOS. Air Enthusiast 32, "Covertly to Cambodia" by Wayne Mutza & "On a Steel Horse I Ride" by Darrel D. Whitcomb |
| 1968 - August 02 | UH-1F/Ps of the 20th SOS, crew's unkn, extracted a large reinforced MACV SOG recon team "RT Auger", from a landing zone deep within enemy territory. No other details are known at this time. "Secret Green Beret Commandos In Cambodia" by Lt. Col. Fred S. Lindsey, USA (Ret.) |
| 1968 - August 02 | HH-3E #66-13281 (Call sign “Jolly Green 28”) from the 37th ARRS at Da Nang AB, RVN, crewed by Maj. Vernon A. Dander (P), unkn (CP), SSgt. Jimmy L. Dodgen (FE) and unkn (PJ), rescued the pilot of an F-100C, 1st Lt. Michael J. Laskowski, after he ejected from his ground fire damaged aircraft about 15 miles west of Hue, RVN. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & 37th ARRS Operations Logbook 01 Jan 68 to 31 Dec 68 |
| 1968 - August 04 | A HH-3E #66-13278 (Call sign “Jolly Green25”) from the 37th ARRS at Da Nang AB, RVN, crewed by Maj. Charles E. Wicker (P), Capt. Donald W. Wiegard (CP), SSgt. James A. Bowers (FE) and Sgt. Norman C. Kohlstand (PJ), rescued seven Chinese from a raft in the South China Sea. No other details are known at this time. JRCC Save Form & 37th ARRS Operations Logbook 01 Jan 68 to 31 Dec 68 |
| 1968 - August 07 | A HH-43F from Det. 14 at Tan Son Nhut AB, RVN, crewed by Maj. Phillip L. Rice Sr. (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ), rescued the pilot of a VNAF A-1E, 1st Lt. Hai Nguyen. No other details are known at this time. JRCC Save Form |
| 1968 - August 07 | A HH-3E #65-12786 (Call sign “Jolly Green 24”) from the 37th ARRS at Da Nang AB, RVN, crewed by USCG Lt. Cmdr. Lonnie L. Mixon (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ), rescued the pilot of a RF-101C, Maj. G. D. Harlow, from the South China Sea after he ejected from his AAA damaged aircraft off the coast from Hue, RVN. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1968 - August 08 | A HH-43F from Det. 7, 38th ARRS, Da Nang AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Richard E. Porter (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ), rescued the co-pilot of a USMC F-4B, Capt. S. M. Ceral, after he and his pilot, Capt. C. R. Cusack ejected from their .50 cal. ground fire damaged aircraft about 7 miles off shore of Da Nang, AB, RVN. Capt. Cusack was rescued by a Navy ship. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & JRCC Save Form |
| 1968 - August 10 | A HH-43F from Det. 13, 38th ARRS, Phu Cat AB, RVN, crewed by 1st Lt. James F. Brannan III (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ), medevacked one Vietnamese in RVN. No other details are known at this time. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1968 - August 10 | A HH-43F from Det. 11, 38th ARRS, Tuy Hoa AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Robert E. Dely (P), unkn (CP), SSgt. Donald L. Soden (FE) and unkn (PJ), medevacked an 18-month-old girl in RVN. No other details are known at this time. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1968 - August 13 | UH-1F/Ps of the 20th SOS, crew's unkn, extracted a MACV SOG recon team, with one team member wounded, from a landing zone deep within enemy territory. No other details are known at this time. "Secret Green Beret Commandos In Cambodia" by Lt. Col. Fred S. Lindsey, USA (Ret.) |
| 1968 - August 13 | A HH-43F from Det. 12, 40th ARRS, Nha Trang AB, RVN, crewed by Maj. Glen T. Passey (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ), medevacked one Haiphitan baby. No other details are known at this time. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson |
| 1968 - August 14 | A HH-43F from Det. 13, 38th ARRS, Phu Cat AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. David H. Pittard (P), unkn (CP), unkn (PJ) and unkn (PJ), medevacked one unkn Vietnamese, in RVN. No other details are available currently. PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1968 - August 16 | A HH-3E #66-13280 (Call sign “Jolly Green 27”) from the 37th ARRS, crewed by Maj. John W. Robey (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ), rescued the crew of a F-4D, Maj. L. N. Cain and 1st Lt. M. Metcalfe, after they ejected from their small arms fire damaged aircraft near the village of Thon Binh An, about 20 miles NW of Da Nang, AB, RVN. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & JRCC Save Form & 37th ARRS Operations Logbook 01 Jan 68 to 31 Dec 68 |
| 1968 - August 16 | HH-43B crews from Det.'s 4 & 10, PARRC, saved the lives of 75 Koreans from severe flooding from heavy rains along the south coast of Korea. http://www.afsoc.af.mil/shared/media/document/AFD-070906-042.pdf |
| 1968 - August 16 | A HH-43F from Det. 11, 38th ARRS, Tuy Hoa AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Ropert E. Dely (P), unkn (CP), SSgt. Donald L. Soden (FE) and unkn (PJ), medevacked one Vietnamese in RVN. No other details are known at this time. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1968 - August 16 | UH-1F/Ps of the 20th HS, with the slick crewed by Maj. Dale L. Eppinger (P), unkn (CP), SSgt. Fred J. Cook (FM) and Sgt. Richard L. Schwartz (FM) extracted a MACV SOG recon team from a landing zone deep within enemy territory. Maj. Dale L. Eppinger, SSgt. Cook and Sgt. Schwartz are known to have been awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross medal for their actions during this mission. No other details are known at this time. "Secret Green Beret Commandos In Cambodia" by Lt. Col. Fred S. Lindsey, USA (Ret.) |
| 1968 - August 17 | A HH-3E #66-13280 (call sign "Jolly Green 27") from the 37th ARRS at Da Nang AB, RVN, crewed by Maj. Charles E. Wicker (P), Maj. Robert E. Booth (CP), TSgt. Jackie L. Mangrum (FE) and SSgt. Eugene L. Nardi (PJ), made a water landing to rescue the pilot of a F-100F (Call sign "Misty 11"), Capt. Charles A. Shaheen after he and his co-pilot, Capt. Richard G. Rutan, ejected from their 37 mm AAA damaged aircraft about 12 miles off the coast of NVN. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & JRCC Save Form |
| 1968 - August 17 | A HH-3E #67-14712 (call sign "Jolly Green 31") from the 37th ARRS at Da Nang AB, RVN, crewed by USCG Lt. Cmdr. Lonnie L. Mixon (P), Capt. Donald W. Wiegard (CP), Sgt. Herbert H. Honer (FE) and A1C Robert K. Cassidy (PJ), made a water landing to rescued the co-pilot of a F-100F (Call sign "Misty 11"), Capt. Richard "Dick" G. Rutan after he and his pilot, Capt. Charles A. Shaheen, ejected from their 37 mm AAA damaged aircraft about 12 miles off the coast of NVN. (Of note; after his retirement from the USAF, Dick Rutan and his co-pilot, Jeana Yeager made aviation history when they made the first non-stop, unrefueled flight around the world in a time of just over nine days in the aircraft known as "Voyager"). "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & JRCC Save Form |
| 1968 - August 18 | A UH-1F of the 20th SOS "Green Hornet", crewed by Maj. Turner (P), Capt. Miller (CP) and SSgt. Adams (FM) were deployed to Don Ha, RVN in support of operations "Have Fear" and Swamp Gas". The flying involved ferrying of personnel and cargo from Dong Ha to Con Thien, RVN, plus other flight necessary for developing detection and intercept capabilities. http://www.mh-53pavelow.com/documents/20thSOS/1968.pdf |
| 1968 - August 19 | A HH-43F from Det. 13, 38th ARRS, Phu Cat AB, RVN, crewed by Maj. Juan H. Migia (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ), medevacked two Vietnamese in RVN. No other details are known at this time. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form |
| 1968 - August 20 | A HH-43F from Det.13, 38th ARRS, Phu Cat AB, RVN, crewed by Maj. John H. Magia (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ), rescued one USA Troop, WO Gose, from a downed USA UH-1B in RVN. No other details are known at this time. JRCC Save Form |
| 1968 - August 20 | A HH-3E #66-13282 (Call sign “Jolly Green 29”) from the 37th ARRS at Da Nang AB, RVN, crewed by USCG Lt. Lance A. Eagan (P), Capt. George B. Stokes (CP), Sgt. Gregory P. Lawrence (FE) and SSgt. Eugene L. Nardi (PJ), was diverted from another mission to rescued two, of three, crew members who had bailed out from a RA-3B (Call sign "Quizshow 911"), Lt. David W. Satterlee and AN William R. Wiseman, that had gone down in the South China Sea. JG 29 made a water landing to rescue the first survivor and after takeoff the second survivor was located 400 meters east of the first survivor and a second water landing was made to pick him up. Due to fuel status of Jolly Green 29, Jolly Green’s 27 & 31 were launched from Da Nang to assist and after JG 29 picked up two of the survivors. JG 27 & 31 continued to search, without results, for the third survivor. No other details are known at this time. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1968 - August 21 | A HH-43F from Det. 2, 38th ARRS, Takhli RTAFB, Thailand, crewed by Maj. Bruce C. Smith (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ), medevacked USAF airman, TSgt. Russell R. Dawkins in Thailand. No other details are known at this time. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1968 - August 21 | A HH-43F from Det. 1, 38th ARRS, Phan Rang AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Don Von Miles Liebernecht (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ) rescued USAF airmen, A1C James E. Perry and Sgt. Robert S. Spence. No other details are known at this time. JRCC Save Form |
| 1968 - August 21 | A HH-43F from Det. 1, 38th ARRS, Phan Rang AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Don Von Miles Liebernecht (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ) rescued one ROK troop. No other details are known at this time. JRCC Save Form |
| 1968 - August 22 | A HH-43F from Det. 13, 38th ARRS, Phu Cat AB, RVN, crewed by Maj. Juan H. Migia (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ) medevacked one Vietnamese child in RVN. No other details are known at this time. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form |
| 1968 - August 22 | A UH-1F (tail number unkn) from the 20th SOS, crewed by Lt. Col. Frank A. Di Figlia (P), Maj. Sydney S. Pool Jr. (CP), unkn (FM) and unkn (AG), were on a routine flight from Nha Trang AB, RVN to Ban Me Thuot East, RVN and after about thirty minutes of flight they experienced a complete engine flame out when the accessory drive shaft failed. Lt. Col. Di Figlia made a straight in autorotation to highway 21 near Ban Me Drack, RVN. There were no injuries to any of the eight people on board. Four UH-1F's, crew’s unkn, from the 20th SOS were launched at Ban Me Thout and came to the aid of the downed UH-1F. Through rapid coordination with the U. S. Army the downed UH-1F was recovered by a CH-47 helicopter and returned to Nha Trang. http://www.mh-53pavelow.com/documents/20thSOS/1968.pdf |
| 1968 - August 23 | A HH-3E #67-14712 (Call sign “Jolly Green 31”) from the 37th ARRS at Da Nang AB, RVN, crewed by USCG Lt. Lance A. Eagan (P), Capt. Ronald G. Spray (CP), TSgt. Jackie L. Mangrum (FE), James F. Spears (PJ) and SSgt. James L. Miller (PJ) (from “Jolly Green 10), unsuccessfully attempted the rescue of an O-2A (Call sign "Helix 27") pilot, Capt. Lon Davis Richards, when his aircraft was shot down about 6 miles southwest of Chu Lai, RVN. Capt. Richards was KIA (see next entry). "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1968 - August 23 | A HH-3E #65-12782 (Call sign “Jolly Green 10”) from the 37th ARRS at Da Nang AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Richard D. Griffiths (P), Maj. Albert D. Wester (CP), Sgt. Duane I. Beland (FE) and SSgt. James L. Miller (PJ) unsuccessfully attempted the rescue of an O-2A (Call sign "Helix 27") pilot, Capt. Lon Davis Richards, when his aircraft was shot down about 6 miles southwest of Chu Lai, RVN. Capt. Richards was KIA (see previous entry). "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1968 - August 23 | UH-1P gunships of the 20th SOS "Green Hornets" from Ban Me Thout East, RVN, one crewed by Capt. Leonard F. Ciemniecki (P), unkn (CP), MSgt. John E. Hortin (AG) and Sgt. Michael B. Olson (AG) and the other crewed by Maj. Leonard A. Gonzales (P), unkn (CP), SSgt. Dennis Bowling (AG) and unkn (AG) were called on to support the "A" camp at Duc Lap, RVN that was under attack by and estimated force of two enemy battalions early in the morning. After making numerous mini-gun and rocket passes under heavy enemy fire they expanded their ammunition and were returning to Ban Me Thout East as two more "Green Hornet" gunships, one crewed by Capt. William Douglas (P), unkn (CP), unkn (AG) and unkn (AG) and the other crewed by Capt. Douglas Crabb (P), Maj. Daniel B. Massey (CP), unkn (AG) and unkn (AG), arrived to continue their support of the "A" camp. See next entry. http://www.mh-53pavelow.com/documents/20thSOS/1968.pdf & Dennis Bowling Facebook post on 24 Dec. 2021 |
| 1968 - August 23 | A UH-1P gunship of the 20th SOS "Green Hornets", crewed by Capt. William Douglas (P), unkn (CP), unkn (AG) and unkn (AG) who were the second group called into support the "A" camp at Duc Lap, RVN, that was under attack by a large enemy force had expanded their ammunition and were returning to Ban Me Thout East when they were called on by a FAC to rescue a F-100C pilot, 1st Lt. J. J. Thurn, who had been attacking enemy troops about 30 miles southwest of Ban Me Thout, when his aircraft was shot down and he ejected. As Capt. Douglas approached to pick up the pilot, he spotted 7 or 8 troops around the chute and the excess enemy ground fire caused him to abort the attempted pick up. The second UH-1 gunship flying cover for Capt. William A. Douglas, crewed by Capt. Douglas Crabb (P), Maj. Daniel B. Massey (CP), unkn (AG) and unkn (AG) was hit by enemy ground fire and Maj. Massey was wounded in his left arm. The downed F-100C pilot was rescued by a ground party from the "A" camp and evacuated by a U. S. Army "Dustoff" helicopter. (See previous and next entries.) Dennis Bowling Facebook post on 24 Dec. 2021 & http://www.mh-53pavelow.com/documents/20thSOS/1968.pdf |
| 1968 - August 23 | The two UH-1P gunships of the 20th SOS "Green Hornets" from Ban Me Thout East, RVN, one crewed by Capt. Leonard F. Ciemniecki (P), unkn (CP), unkn (AG) and unkn (AG) and the other crewed by Capt. Darwin G. Edwards (P), unkn (CP), unkn (AG) and unkn (AG) after refueling and rearming returned at 0945 hours to support the "A" camp at Duc Lap, RVN that was still under attack by and estimated force of two enemy battalions. After making numerous mini-gun and rocket passes under heavy enemy fire and before they expanded all their ammunition, they gave fire support to a U. S. Army "Dustoff" helicopter evacuating wounded from the camp. (See previous entries.) Dennis Bowling Facebook post on 24 Dec. 2021 & http://www.mh-53pavelow.com/documents/20thSOS/1968.pdf |
| 1968 - August 24 | Two UH-1P gunships of the 20th SOS "Green Hornets" from Ban Me Thout East, RVN, one crewed by Capt. William A. Douglas (P), unkn (CP), unkn (AG) and unkn (AG) and the other crewed by Capt. Douglas Crabb (P), unkn (CP), unkn (AG) and unkn (AG) again returned at 0700 hours to support the "A" camp at Duc Lap, RVN as the enemy forces had penetrated the outer perimeter of the camp. They directed their fire at the enemy forces between the outer and inner perimeter fences until they had run out of fuel and ammunition. They were relieved on station by two more "Green Hornet" gunships, one crewed by Capt. Ciemniecki (P), unkn (CP), MSgt. John E. Hortin (AG) and Sgt. Michael B. Olson (AG) and the other crewed by Maj. Leonard A. Gonzales (P), Maj. Robert Hoover (CP), SSgt. Dennis L. Bowling (AG) and unkn (AG) and they continued to attack the enemy forces until no more fire was received. At 0900 hours "Green Hornet" slicks conducted an armed assault with a relief force of 64 Special Forces and CIDG troops. The operation was a success, and the troops joined the defenders at Duc Lap. At 2300 hours two "Green Hornet" UH-1F slicks and two gunships, one crewed by Maj. Robert Hoover (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FM) and unkn (AG), the other crew's unkn, launched on an urgent medevac mission to the Duc Lap Camp. Three U. S. wounded have been waiting evacuation since 1400 hours. Six attempts had been made by "Dustoff" helicopters, but in each instance, they were driven off by heavy ground fire. Maj. Robert Hoover and crew made two attempts to land inside the "A" camp, but in his words "the whole valley opened up" and the mission had to be aborted. http://www.mh-53pavelow.com/documents/20thSOS/1968.pdf & Dennis Bowling Facebook post on 24 Dec. 2021 |
| 1968 - August 25 | The UH-1P's of the 20th SOS "Green Hornets" from Ban Me Thout East, RVN, one crewed by unkn (P), unkn (CP), unkn (AG) and unkn (AG) and the other crewed by Capt. Douglas Crabb (P), unkn (CP), unkn (AG) and unkn (AG) inserted a reconnaissance team 2 miles southwest of Duc Lap to check on the possibility of enemy armor in the areas. After ensuring that the team had been inserted successfully, two gunships, crewed by Capt. William Douglas (P), unkn (CP), unkn (AG) and unkn (AG) and Capt. Douglas Crabb (P), unkn (CP), unkn (AG) and unkn (AG) returned to give fire support to the "A" camp. As the arrived at the camp A-1E's were dropping napalm around the base of the hill. The camp commander requested that the A-1E's pull off target and the "Green Hornets" put their close fire inside the camp as they were being overrun. The mini gunners put the fire within five meters of the friendly positions, despite encountering heavy ground fire. At 1700 hours, UH-1 gunships, crewed by Capt. Ceimniecki (P), Lt. Charles Cross (CP), unkn (AG) and unkn (AG) and Capt. Darwin G. Edwards (P), unkn (CP), unkn (AG) and unkn (AG) were launched to provide armed escort for a medevac of wounded from the Duc Lap Camp directing extremely accurate fire on the enemy forces that were directing heavy fire at the U. S. Army "Dustoff" helicopters that were landing to take on the wounded. Both of the "Green Hornet" gunships were hit, and Lt. Charles Cross was wounded in his arm. Known to have been involved during the 23-25 August missions in support of the Duc Lap Camp was a slick gunner, Sgt. Ronald C. Winkles and a gunship gunner, Sgt. Larry D. Reynolds, but it is not known which crews they were with. "Secret Green Beret Commandos In Cambodia" by Lt. Col. Fred S. Lindsey, USA (Ret.) & http://www.mh-53pavelow.com/documents/20thSOS/1968.pdf |
| 1968 - August 25 | A HH-43F from Det. 13, 38th ARRS, Phu Cat AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Robert N. Bowers (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE), and unkn (PJ), medevacked one Vietnamese baby in SVN. No other details are available currently. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1968 - August 25 | A HH-43B #60-0258 (Call sign “Pedro 08”) from Det. 3, 38th ARRS, Ubon RTAFB, Thailand, crewed by Capt. Clarence L. Hansell (P), Maj. Robert C. Collom (CP), Sgt. Glenn A. Todd (FE) and Sgt. Bobby G. Trott (MT) rescued the crew of a F-105F (Call sign "Newark 02"), G. C. Forstner and J. T. Kensinger, after their aircraft had an oil system failure causing the engine to seize and they both ejected near Takhli RTAFB, Thailand. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form & Det. 3, 38th ARRSq Hist Jul-Sep 1968 |
| 1968 - August 27 | A HH-3E #67-14709 (Call sign “Jolly Green 22”) from the 37th ARRS at Da Nang AB, RVN, crewed by USCG Lt. Lance A. Eagan (P), Capt. Vincent A. Ziccardi (CP), SSgt. Samual C. Adams (FE) and A1C Robert K. Cassidy (PJ) unsuccessfully attempted the rescue of an F-4D (Call sign "Sample 01") pilot, Maj. Donald William Pick, when his aircraft was shot down on climb out from Da Nang AB, RVN and crashed in the South China Sea. Capt. Pick was KIA in the crash. The F-4D WSO, 1st Lt. Samuel F. Wilburn was able to eject and survived but details of his rescue are not known at this time. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & 37th ARRS Operations Logbook 01 Jan 68 to 31 Dec 68 |
| 1968 - August 27 | A UH-1F (tail number unkn) of the 20th SOS at Nha Trang AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Robert L. Dyer (P), unkn (CP) and unkn (FM), was on a local FCF flight for an engine and speed decreaser gearbox change when they experienced an engine loss of power while at about fifty feet and thirty knots of airspeed and he landed in a rice paddy, without damage to the helicopter. They shut down the engine and a U. S. Army CH-47 sling loaded the UH-1F back to Nha Trang AB, RVN. http://www.mh-53pavelow.com/documents/20thSOS/1968.pdf |
| 1968 - August 28 | A HH-3E #67-14709 (Call sign “Jolly Green 22”) from the 37th ARRS, Da Nang AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Richard D. Griffiths (P), Capt. George B. Stokes (CP), Sgt. Alvin A. Malone (FE) and SSgt. John J. Eldridge (PJ) rescued two USMC troops from a downed UH-34 (Call sign "Murray 47") helicopter in RVN. No other details are known at this time. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form & 37th ARRS Operations Logbook 01 Jan 68 to 31 Dec 68 |
| 1968 - August 28 | A HH-43F from Det. 8, 38th ARRS, Cam Ranh Bay AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Bruce K. Ware (P), Capt. John P. Smariga (CP), A1C Wilber L. Jeffcoat Jr. (FE), and Sgt. Daniel T. Nungesser (PJ), medevacked Bernard E. Dafoe in SVN. No other details are available currently. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form |
| 1968 - August 29 | A flight of four UH-1F/Ps of the 20th SOS "Green Hornets" from Ban Me Thout East, RVN, one crewed by Maj. Jerry E. Davenport (P), Maj. Joseph Henjum Jr. (CP), SSgt. Fred Cook (AG) and Sgt. Richard L. Schwarts (AG) and the other crew's unkn were on a combination strike/training mission about 14 miles southeast of Ban Me Thout when they received an emergency call from a FAC to pick up a downed pilot 40 miles south of Ban Me Thout about 2 miles east of the abandoned airstrip at Phey Shrunk. An Air America Huey had attempted the pickup but could not land due to small trees and very thick elephant grass. Maj. Jerry Davenport immediately went in for the pickup and they were able to get low enough to use the rope ladder to rescue the pilot. The survivor, Capt. Mark L. Bellamy, pilot of a U. S. Army OV-1 had ejected the night of 27 August after his aircraft had been struck by lightning. http://www.mh-53pavelow.com/documents/20thSOS/1968.pdf |
| 1968 - August 29 | UH-1F/Ps of the 20th HS, crew's unknown, supported a MACV SOG recon team. No other details are known at this time. "Secret Green Beret Commandos In Cambodia" by Lt. Col. Fred S. Lindsey, USA (Ret.) |
| 1968 - August 31 | A HH-43F from Det. 8, 38th ARRS, Cam Ranh Bay AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Andrew J. M. Archer (P), Capt. John P. Smariga (CP), Sgt. James W. Simmons (FE) and SSgt. Donald H. Goodlett Jr. (PJ), rescued the crew of a F-4C (Call sign "Boxer 01"), Lt. Col. Paul A. Kauttu (P) and 1st Lt. George A. D'Angelo (WSO), after they had ejected from their aircraft just off of Cam Ranh Bay, RVN when it had a control system failure. http://www.pjsinnam.com/vn_history/pdf_files/Chronology/1968.pdf & JRCC Save Form |
| 1968 - August 31 | A HH-43F from Det. 11, 38th ARRS, Tuy Hoa AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Daniel A. Nicholson (P), Capt. Rolland C. Urie (CP), SSgt. Howard L. Frazee (FE), A1C Stephen R. Tuttle (PJ) and John G. Champlin Jr. (FS), medevacked Walter R. Norris in RVN. No other details are known at this time. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1968 - September 01 | A HH-3E #67-14709 (Call sign “Jolle Green 22”) crewed by Maj. John W. Robey (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ), rescued nine civic action USAF airmen. No other details are known at this time. JRCC Save Form & 37th ARRS Operations Logbook 01 Jan 68 to 31 Dec 68 |
| 1968 - September 01 | HH-3E #65-12785 (Call sign "Jolly Green 36"), from Det. 1, 40th ARRS at Nakhon Phanom RTAFB, Thailand and crewed by Capt. Edward L. Heft (P), Maj. Stuart M. Silver (CP), Sgt. Gregory G. Gallagher (FE) and SSgt Donald A. Beasley (PJ) rescued F-4D pilot Capt. J. R. Wilson (Call sign "Carter 02") after he ejected on Aug. 31, 1968 from his ground fire damaged aircraft about 25 miles west of the North Vietnamese town of Dong Hoi. His co-pilot, 1st Lt. William Louis Kinkade failed to eject and was KIA. Vietnam Air Losses by Chris Hobson & www.jollygreen.org/Research/JohnMorse/john_morse-nkp-missions.html |
| 1968 - September 01 | A HH-53B (Call sign "Jolly Green 68") from the 40 ARRS at Udorn RTAFB, Thailand, crewed by Maj. John V. Allison (P), 1st Lt. Leone S. Russo (CP), SSgt. Gene A. Sellers (FE), Sgt. Richard Grossman, Jr. (PJ) and Sgt. Thomas R. Pope (PJ), rescued the pilot of an F-105D, Capt. Kenneth D. Thaete (Call sign “Poncho 02”), after he ejected from his AAA damaged aircraft in Laos. High bird on this mission was HH-53B #66-14434 (Call sign “Jolly Green 71”), crewed by Maj. Lucius F. Hallett III (P), Capt. Glen E. Hoff (CP), Sgt. Edward J. Koebernik (FE), TSgt. Larry W. Bigelow (PJ), Sgt. Robert P. Koecher (PJ) and SSgt. Raymond E. Windham (AP). "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & JRCC Save Form and 388 TFW History, Jul-Sep 68, USAF microfilm NO585, fame 0070 & Bob LaPointe, e-mail 16 Jan 04 & 40th ARRS Mission Narrative Report (#2-3-054, 1 Sep 68) |
| 1968 - September 01 | A HH-3E from Det. 1, 40th ARRS, Nakhon Phanom RTAFB, Thailand and crewed by Capt. Richard J. Harwood (P), Capt. Roger C. Gibson (CP), TSgt. Jarvis E. Peele (FE) and A1C David M. Cobb (PJ) medevacked Michael R. Laemmle in Thailand. No other details are known at this time. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1968 - September 02 | A HH-43F from Det. 10, 38th ARRS from Binh Thuy AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Thomas D. Precious (P), Capt. Leslie E. Johnson Jr. (CP), SSgt. Joe H. Hogan (FF) and Sgt. Lonnie G. Conner (PJ), rescued William M Huggins Jr. from a downed UH-1B helicopter in RVN. No other details are available currently. JRCC Save Form |
| 1968 - September 02 | HH-43F from Det. 13, 38th ARRS, Phu Cat AB, RVN, crewed by Maj. Juan H. Migia (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ) medevacked one USAF airman in RVN. No other details are known at this time. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form |
| 1968 - September 02 | A HH-43F from Det. 12, 38th ARRS, Nha Trang AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Cortland D. Field (P), 1st Lt. Willis J. Thayer (CP), Sgt. William Grimes (FE) and A1C Timothy M. Reynolds (PJ) medevacked two ARVN troops in Vietnam. No other details are known at this time. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form |
| 1968 - September 02 | A HH-3E from Det. 1, 40th ARRS at Nakhon Phanom RTAFB, Thailand, crewed by Maj. Paul M. Reagan (P), Capt. Edward L. Heft (CP), Sgt. Kenneth P. Hannegan (FE) and Sgt. Jules C. Smith (PJ) medevacked Frier Richard Strass in Thailand. No other details are known at this time. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form |
| 1968 - September 02 | A UH-1F "Green Hornet" of the 20th SOS, crew unkn, flew camera crews and test evaluators for the test of a captured ZU-23mm enemy anti-aircraft weapon. The test was held at Chu Chi, RVN and were accomplished by U. S. Army personnel firing the weapon while USAF test officials and camera crews recorded the results. The test conducted in daylight and in hours of darkness, consisted of photographing the weapon and the firing from various positions along a programmed line of fire. In the past, the U. S. service had been unable to obtain this much needed film for briefing pilots and personnel on weapon identification. http://www.mh-53pavelow.com/documents/20thSOS/1967.pdf |
| 1968 - September 02 | UH-1F/P's of the 20th SOS "Green Hornets", one gunship crewed by Maj. Delbert E. Oldenburg (P), unkn (CP), Sgt. Larry D. Reynolds (G) and unkn (AG), and a second gunship crewed by Maj. Leonard A. Gonzales (P), unkn (CP), unkn (AG) and unkn (AG) and other crews unkn, were involved in the rescue of a MACV SOG recon team that was on the verge of being overran by an enemy force. No other details are known at this time. "Secret Green Beret Commandos In Cambodia" by Lt. Col. Fred S. Lindsey, USA (Ret.) |
| 1968 - September 03 | A HH-43B from Det. 5, 38th ARRS, Udorn RTAFB, Thailand, crewed by Maj. Lester B. Langston (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE), and unkn (PJ), rescued the crew of a F-4D, Col. D. N. Stanfield (P) and 1st Lt. Charles E. Dorn (WSO), after they flew their enemy ground fire damaged aircraft back into Thailand where they ejected from their AAA damaged aircraft about 5 miles south of Udorn RTAFB, Thailand. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & JRCC Save Form & JRCC Save Form |
| 1968 - September 03 | A HH-43F crewed by Maj. Richard C. Phadenbour (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE), unkn (PJ) rescued three USA troops from a downed USA UH-1. No other details are known at this time. JRCC Save Form |
| 1968 - September 04 | A HH-43F from Det. 13, 38th ARRS, Phu Cat AB, RVN, crewed by 1st Lt. James F. Brannan III (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ), medevacked one ARVN troop in RVN. No other details are known at this time. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1968 - September 07 | The 1001st Helicopter Squadron relocated from Bolling AFB, DC. to Andrews AFB, MD. http://www.popflock.com/learn?s=1st_Helicopter_Squadron |
| 1968 - September 07 | A HH-43B (Call sign “Pedro 09”) from Det. 5, 38th ARRS, Udorn RTAFB, Thailand, crewed by Maj. Gerald R. Gibson (P), Capt. Martin H. Simonsen (CP), Dennis M. Looney (FE), Neil A. Hamilton (FF) and Billy E. Drake (PJ), rescued the crew of a F-105E (Call sign "Packard"), Eugene A. Bonfiglio (P) and Lorne F. McCormick (CP), after they ejected over Thailand after their aircraft had an engine failure. No other details are known at this time. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & JRCC Save Form & JRCC Save Form & Det. 5, 38th ARRS Mission Narrative Report (5-38-003-251) |
| 1968 - September 08 | A HH-43F from Det. 7, 38th ARRS, Da Nang AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Robert S. Henderson (P), Capt. Richard A. Mayer (CP), Sgt. William P. Owens (FE), Robert D. Baker (PJ), SSgt. William N. Shannon (FF) and Sgt. Bruce J. Bell (FF) rescued the pilot of a USMC F-4J (Call sign "Ringneck 101 Alpha"), Capt. M. H. Branum, from the South China Sea, after he and his WSO, 1st Lt. H. W. Hibbs, ejected from their enemy ground fire damaged aircraft a mile short of the runway while on final to Da Nang AB, RVN. Lt. Hibbs was rescued by a boat. No other details are known at this time. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & JRCC Save Form & JRCC Save Form |
| 1968 - September 08 | A HH-43F from Det. 13, 38th ARRS, Phu Cat AB, RVN, crewed by Maj. Bert E. Cowden (P), unkn (CP), unkn (PJ) and unkn (PJ), rescued one USAF airman in RVN. No other details are available currently. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form |
| 1968 - September 09 | A HH-43F from Det. 8, 38th ARRS, Cam Ranh Bay AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Peter J. Connelly (P), unkn (CP), unkn (PJ) and unkn (PJ), medevacked a Vietnamese civilian, Lam Thi Hau, in RVN. No other details are available at this time. JRCC Save Form |
| 1968 - September 09 | A HH-43F from Det. 8, 38th ARRS, Cam Ranh Bay AB, crewed by Lt. Col. Flavious F. Drake (P), unkn (CP), unkn (PJ) and unkn (PJ), medevacked USA E-3 David C. Lewis in RVN. No other details are available at this time. JRCC save Form |
| 1968 - September 10 | A USAF helicopter rescued the crew of a F-100F, Capt. D. A. McGrath (P) and Capt. R. D. Uffley (CP), after they ejected from their enemy ground fire damaged aircraft near the village of Bon Drop, about 20 miles west of the city of Ban Me Thuot, RVN. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson |
| 1968 - September 11 | A HH-3E from the 37th ARRS, Da Nang AB, RVN, crewed by Maj. Donald P. Olsen (P), Maj. Robert D. Shular (CP), unkn (FE) and SSgt. John J. Eldridge (PJ) rescued the pilot of an F-4D, Maj. L. E. Bustle, after he ejected from his 37 mm AAA fire damaged aircraft off the coast of Dong Hoi, NVN. His co-pilot, 1st Lt. Richard Haven Vandyke did not survive the incident and was KIA. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & Pacific Stars & Stripes, Monday, Sept. 16, 1968, pg 6 |
| 1968 - September 11 | A HH-43F from Det. 8, 38th ARRS at Cam Ranh Bay AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Peter J. Connelly (P), unkn (CP), unkn (PJ) and unkn (PJ), medevacked A1C Robert L. Brooks in RVN. No other details are available currently. JRCC Save Form |
| 1968 - September 13 | A HH-43F from Det. 13, 38th ARRS, Phu Cat AB, RVN, crewed by 1st Lt. Wayne A. Grant III (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ), medevacked USAF SSgt. Jack A. Keaver. No other details are known at this time. JRCC Save Form |
| 1968 - September 14 | A HH-43F from Det. 1, 38th ARRS, Phan Rang AB, RVN, crewed by Maj. Donald R. Brooks (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ) rescued a wounded Viet Cong troop, Honag Nuynh. No other details are known at this time. JRCC Save Form |
| 1968 - September 14 | A HH-43F from Det. 7, 38th ARRS, Da Nang AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Robert S. Henderson (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and Sgt. Robert D. Baker (PJ) rescued a USN A-7 (Call sign "Charger 601") pilot, Cmdr. George T. Pappas when he ejected from his ground fire damaged aircraft while landing on the runway at Da Nang AB, RVN. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1968 - September 14 | A HH-3E, #64-14233 (Call sign "Jolly Green 20"), from Det. 1, 40th ARRS, Nakhon Phanom RTAFB, Thailand, crewed by Capt. Richard J. Harwood (P), Maj. Stuart M. Silver (CP), Sgt. Robert T. Anderson (FE) and A1C Michael M. Cobb (PJ) rescued a F-105D (Call sign "Barracuda 03") pilot Capt. Donald W. Tribble near the Laotian town of Ban Pongdong. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & Hobsonwww.jollygreen.org/Research/JohnMorse/john_morse-nkp-missions.html |
| 1968 - September 17 | A HH-3E, (Call Sign "Jolly Green 16"), from Det. 1, 40th ARRS, Nakhon Phanom RTAFB, Thailand and crewed by Maj. Stuart M. Silver (P), Maj. Paul M. Reagan (CP), SSgt. Raymond J. Price (FE) and A1C Charles D. King (PJ) rescued a RF-4C (Call sign "Thermal 01") pilot Capt. Leighton L. Paul (Call sign "Thermal") from Laos. The RF-4C co-pilot, Capt. Edgar Felton Davies, could not be located and was presumed to have died in the incident. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe www.jollygreen.org/Research/JohnMorse/john_morse-nkp-missions.htm & "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson |
| 1968 - September 17 | A HH-43F from Det. 7, 38th ARRS, Da Nang AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. J. L. Briscoe (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ), rescued one USA troop from a downed USA UH-1 in RVN. JRCC Save Form |
| 1968 - September 18 | A HH-43F from Det. 13, 38th ARRS, Phu Cat AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. David H. Pittard (P), unkn (CP), unkn (PJ) and unkn (PJ), medevacked two ARVN troops in RVN. No other details are available currently. PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1968 - September 18 | A HH-43F from Det. 13, 38th ARRS, Phu Cat AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Robert N. Bowers (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE), and unkn (PJ), medevacked one ARVN troop in SVN. No other details are available at this time. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form |
| 1968 - September 18 | Three UH-1F/Ps of the 20th SOS "Green Hornets", flew support of a classified weapons test near Dau Tieng, RVN. During this test, one UH-1F, crewed by Maj. Thomas M. Courtney (P), Maj. Massey (CP) unkn (FM), flew the VIP helicopter containing General George S. Brown, Seventh Air Force Commander, and members of the 7th AF staff. A second UH-1F, crewed by Capt. Harlan C. Nupen (P), Capt. Edward E. Connerat Jr. (CP) and unkn (FM) and a third UH-1P crewed by Maj. Dale L. Eppinger (P), Capt. Darwin G. Edwards (CP) and unkn (FM), with camera crews and test evaluators. The test involved a new type of bomb and was conducted immediately following an enemy mortar attack on Dau Tieng. http://www.mh-53pavelow.com/documents/20thSOS/1967.pdf |
| 1968 - September 19 | Two HH-43B’s from Det. 3, 38th ARRS at Ubon RTAFB, Thailand, one crewed by Capt. Arthur C. Plunkett (P), Capt. Nicholas O. Gaspar (CP), Sgt. Glenn A. Todd (FE), and SSgt. William C. Murphy (MT), and the second crewed by Maj. Robert C. Collom (O), Capt. Rolland C. Urie (CP), SSgt. Igor E. Ivanoff (FE) and Capt. Vernon P. Wagner (FS), saved the WSO, 1st Lt. Peter R. Nash, of an F-4D (Call sign "Nettle 02 Bravo") when his aircraft crashed on landing at Ubon RTAFB, Thailand. The F-4D pilot, Capt. Roger O. Clemens was KIA in the crash and Capt. Wagner and two others, with the help of villagers, removed the dead pilot from the wreckage. No other details are available currently. JRCC Save Form & "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson |
| 1968 - September 20 | Two CH-3C's of the 20th SOS "Pony Express" operating from Vientiane, Laos, crew's unkn, provided special VIP airlift requirements. They transported Laotian Prime Minister Souvanna Phouma, U. S. Ambassador to Laos, Mr. William H. Sullivan, Mr. Eugene R. Black, Special Advisor to President Johnson on Asian Economic and Social Development, and a party of 17 Laotian and American dignitaries were flown to Thalaat, Laos and returned to Vientiane. http://www.mh-53pavelow.com/documents/20thSOS/1967.pdf |
| 1968 - September 21 | Two CH-3C's of the 20th SOS "Pony Express" operating from Vientiane, Laos, crew's unkn, provided special VIP airlift requirements. They transported Mr. Black and a party of 14 on an inspection survey of the proposed Pa Mong dam site on the Mekong River. http://www.mh-53pavelow.com/documents/20thSOS/1967.pdf |
| 1968 - September 21 | A USAF helicopter, crewed by unkn (P), unkn (CP), Sgt. Roger E. Lawson (FE), unkn (PJ) rescued, near Plei Mrong, RVN, a severely burned U.S. Army helicopter crew member from extremely hostile territory. Sgt. Lawson was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross for heroism for his actions during this mission. It is unkn what awards other crew members received for this mission. The Distinguished Flying Cross News, Vol. 18, Issue 2, Winter 2018 |
| 1968 - September 21 | A HH-43F from Det. 11, 38th ARRS, Tuy Hoa AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Daniel A. Nicholson (P), Maj. Delmar G. Worsech (CP), SSgt. Donald L. Soden (FE) and A1C Paul E. Fatka (PJ), medevacked two Vietnamese in RVN. No other details are known at this time. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1968 - September 22 | UH-1F/P's of the 20th SOS "Green Hornets", crew's unkn, were involved in the rescue of a MACV SOG thirty-two man indigenous reaction platoon that was in contact with enemy forces deep within enemy territory. No other details are known at this time. "Secret Green Beret Commandos In Cambodia" by Lt. Col. Fred S. Lindsey, USA (Ret.) |
| 1968 - September 23 | A HH-43F from Det. 9, 38th ARRS, Pleiku AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Derry A. Michalski (P), Maj. Robert A. Bunton (CP), A1C Nicholas Gala Jr. (PJ), Sgt. Robert W. Colclough (FF) and Sgt. Henry Michalski Jr. (FF), rescued USA SP5 Jack Sisemore from a downed UH-1D in RVN. SP5 Sisemore later died. No other details are known at this time. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1968 - September 24 | A HH-43F from Det. 10, 38th ARRS, Binh Thuy AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Thomas D. Precious (P), unkn (CP), unkn (PJ) and unkn (PJ), rescued W. R. Lang, L. H. McKay, AN Campbell and Adj. Paone from a downed UH-1B helicopter in RVN. No other details are available currently. This appears to be a reentry of the same rescue that was listed for 31 July 1968. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form |
| 1968 - September 24 | A HH-43B from Det. 13, 38th ARRS, Phu Cat AB, RVN, crewed by Maj. Juan H. Migia (P), Maj. Bert E. Cowden (CP), SSgt. Jesse Franklin Jr. (FE) and A1C Leif E. Arvidson (PJ) medevacked one Vietnamese in RVN. No other details are known at this time. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form |
| 1968 - September 24 | A HH-43F from Det. 13, 38th ARRS, Phu Cat AB, RVN, crewed by Maj. Juan H. Migia (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (MT) medevacked one USAF airman in RVN. No other details are known at this time. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form |
| 1968 - September 25 | A HH-43B from Det. 13, 38th ARRS, Phu Cat AB, RVN, crewed by 1st Lt. James F. Brannan III (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ), medevacked one ROK troop in RVN. No other details are known at this time. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1968 - September 26 | A UH-1F from Malmstrom AFB, MT., crewed by 1st Lt. W. K. Rader (P), Capt. Jason K. Bridge (CP) and Capt. Jerry Wade (FS) completed a medevac mission transporting a Kalispell AFS, Lakeside, MT. airman, Edward C. Simpson, who had been injured in a car/logging truck accident, from Kalispell General Hospital to Great Falls, MT. The Daily Inter Lake (Kalispell, Montana, Friday, September 27, page 1 |
| 1968 - September 27 | A HH-3E #67-14712 (Call sign “Jolly Green 31”) from the 37th ARRS at Da Nang AB, RVN, crewed by USCG Lt. Lance A. Eagan (P), Lt. Col. James H. Grady (CP), SSgt. Ellis A. Thompson (FE), Sgt. Steve M. Northern (PJ), William Jennings IV (PJ) and A1C Dennis C. Palmer (PJ), rescued the pilot of a USA O-1C (Call sign Black Ace 19), 1st Lt. Urbin F. Reinhart. Lt. Reinhart was trapped in the wreckage in a chest-deep swamp and PJ’s Northern & Palmer, along with firefighter, Thompson, were put down into the swamp and working for about a half hour, using a belt driven gasoline saw and a fire hatchet, they were able to cut away the twisted wreckage and free the badly injured Lt. Reinhart, rescue him and deliver him to the Naval Support Hospital at Da Nang. HH-3E #66-13280 (Call sign “Jolly Green 27”) crewed by Maj. Billy J. Wingfield (P), Maj. Watson D. Burnfield (CP), Sgt. Duane I. Beland (FE) and SSgt. Allen J. Avery (PJ) had also landed at the site of the downed O-1C, but discovered a cut fuel line and was not able to takeoff. This crew was picked up by another HH-3E (See next entry). Jolly Green 27 was picked up by a U.S.Army CH-54 and delivered back to base. PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form & https://www.facebook.com/groups/rvnair/?multi_permalinks=6635581736497545¬if_id=1695836464859591¬if_t=group_activity&ref=notif & 37th ARRS Operations Logbook 01 Jan 68 to 31 Dec 68 |
| 1968 - September 27 | A HH-3E 65-12786 (Call sign “Jolly Green 24”) from the 37th ARRS at Da Nang AB, RVN, crewed by Maj. L. B. Wright (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ), rescued the crew of a downed HH-3E #66-13280 (Call sign “Jolly Green 27”), Maj. Billy J. Wingfield (P), Maj. Watson D. Burnfield (CP), Sgt. Duane I. Beland (FE) and SSgt. Allen J. Avery (PJ). JRCC Save Form & 37th ARRS Operations Logbook 01 Jan 68 to 31 Dec 68 |
| 1968 - September 27 | A HH-43F of Det. 13, 38th ARRS, Phu Cat AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. David Hunter Pittard (P), Capt. Robert N. Bowers (CP), Sgt. Larry H. Knefelkamp (MT) and Jimmy E. Applegate (PJ), took off to recover the crew of a downed Army "Dustoff" helicopter approximately 30 km north of Phu Cat. At a height of 300 feet above the pickup point, the helicopter received ground fire taking 48 hits and the pilot Capt. David Hunter Pittard, was hit in the chest and killed. The co-pilot took the controls and returned the helicopter and the rest of the crew safely to Phu Cat, AB, RVN. The USA "Dustoff" helicopter crew chief, James “Granny” Granville, was shot and died shortly after their helicopter crashed, the AC, Malcom Kirby and 4 others spent the night on the ground E & E'ing and were picked up the next day. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/38th_Rescue_Squadron |
| 1968 - October 03 | Two HH-3E’s (Call signs “Jolly Green”) performed a nighttime medevac rescue, 100 miles at sea, of two German Tanker ship, crewmen who were suffering from food poisoning. No other details are known at this time. CHECO REPORT USAF Search * Rescue, November 1967-June 1969 |
| 1968 - October 03 | A HH-43F from Det. 13, 38th ARRS, Phu Cat AB, RVN, crewed by Maj. Juan H. Migia (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (MT) medevacked one Vietnamese in RVN. No other details are known at this time. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form |
| 1968 - October 05 | A HH-3E from the 37th ARRS at Da Nang AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Gerald W. Moore (P), Capt. Donald W. Wiegard (CP), unkn (FE), Sgt. Norman C. Kohlstrand (PJ) and Sammy J. Thompson (PJ), unsuccessfully attempted the rescue of the MACV-SOG reconnaissance team "Alabama" (Call sign "Carrot Top") in contact with enemy forces, but they were driven off and damaged by enemy fire and had to return to base. No other details are known at this time (See next entries). "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1968 - October 05 | A HH-3E #66-13281 (Call sign “Jolly Green 28") from the 37th ARRS at Da Nang AB, RVN, crewed by USCG Lt. Cmdr. Lonnie L. Mixon (P), Capt. Vincent A. Ziccardi (CP), Sgt. Duane I. Beland (FE) and Nathaniel T. Smith Jr. (PJ), attempted the rescue of MACV-SOG reconnaissance team "Alabama" (Call sign "Carrot Top") in contact with enemy forces, but they were driven off by enemy fire that resulted in a massive fuel leak (See previous and next entries). No other details are known at this time. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1968 - October 05 | HH-3E #65-12782 (Call sign "Jolly Green 10") from the 37th ARRS at Da Nang AB, RVN, crewed by Maj. Vernon R. Granier (P), Maj. Albert Dwayne Wester (CP), Sgt. Gregory Paul Lawrence (FE) and Sgt. Earnest D. Casbeer (PJ), was lost in Laos, when the helicopter was hit by ground fire and crashed while attempting the rescue of MACV-SOG reconnaissance team "Alabama" (Call sign "Carrot Top"). Maj. Vernon R. Granier (P) and Sgt. Earnest D. Casbeer (PJ) were rescued, Maj. Albert Dwayne Wester (CP), Sgt. Gregory Paul Lawrence (FE) were KIA in the crash (See previous and next entries). http://www.virtualwall.org/dw/WesterAD01a.html & JRCC Save Form & http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/37th_Aerospace_Rescue_and_Recovery_Squadron#Operations_and_losses |
| 1968 - October 05 | A HH-3E #67-14722 (Call sign “Jolly Green 32”) from the 37th ARRS at Da Nang AB, RVN, crewed by Maj. Donald P. Olsen (P), Lt. Col. James H. Grady (CP), Sgt. John D. Nusbaum (FE) and SSgt Allen J. Avery (PJ) rescued the surviving crew members of "Jolly Green 10", Maj. Vernon R. Granier (P) and Sgt. Earnest D. Casbeer (PJ) along with the surviving five "Alabama" team members, USA S. D. Engelue and SP-4 Lynn M. Black, foreign military Sgt. Tho, O-2 Kahn, O-2 Du, and O-2 Kuang,. "Alabama" team leader SSgt. James Daniel Stride Jr. was KIA in a fire fight with enemy forces before the rescue attempts. Maj. Olsen was awarded the Air Force Cross, SSgt. Allen J. Avery was awarded the Silver Star for their actions during this mission (See previous entries). It is also noted the “Jolly Green’s 21 & 25, crews unkn also participated in this effort. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & http://www.homeofheroes.com/members/04_SS/5_RVN/citations/airforce/a.html |
| 1968 - October 05 | A HH-43F from Det. 9, 38th ARRS, Pleiku AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Derry A. Adamson (P), Maj Robert A. Bunton (CP), Sgt. Henry Michalski Jr. (FF) Sgt. Robert W. Colclough (FF) and A1C Nicholas Gala Jr., use their FSK to rescue USA WO’s Charles A. Riggs, Thomas E. Lawrence and PFC Sam Smith, from CH-47 helicopter that was on fire. A second HH-43F from Det. 9, 38th ARRS, crewed by Capt. Jerald D. Briscoe (P), Maj. Thomas H. Goodwin (CP), SSgt. Floyd M. Barber (FE), and A1C David L. Paterson (PJ) arrived to assist in this rescue mission. No other details are known at this time. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form |
| 1968 - October 05 | A USAF helicopter rescued the crew of an F-4D, Capt. S. L. Lustfield and 1st Lt. R. E. Walkup, after they had ejected from their .50 cal. ground fire damaged aircraft near Giang Hoa, RVN. No other details are known at this time. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1968 - October 07 | A CH-3E of the 20th SOS "Pony Express" from Udorn RTAFB, Thailand, crewed by Lt. Col. Shirrel G. Martin (P), unkn (CP) and unkn (FM), came under fire while approaching a LZ in southern Laos. The helicopter had just come to a hover when automatic weapons fire was encountered from the tree line. The approach was discontinued, and a successful infiltration was accomplished minutes later at an alternate LZ. Later inspection discovered one bullet hole and light damage to the helicopter. http://www.mh-53pavelow.com/documents/20thSOS/1968.pdf |
| 1968 - October 09 | A HH-43F from Det. 8, 38th ARRS, Cam Ranh Bay AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Bruce K. Ware (P), Maj. Andrew E. Kralj (CP), Sgt. Benjamin J. Marshall (FE), and Sgt. Daniel T. Nungesser (PJ), medevacked Cornell D. Makovsky from the ship, USS DuPont, 90 miles out in the South China Sea off of SVN. No other details are available currently. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1968 - October 10 | HH-43F #58-1845 (Call sign "Pedro 44"), assigned to Det. 1, 38th ARRS, Phan Rang Air Base, RVN, crewed by Capt. Von Miles Liebernecht (P), Maj. Donald Ray Brooks (CP), SSgt. Malard Luther Eugene Bledsoe (FF) TSgt. Emmett Somers Orr (FF) and TSgt. Angel Luna (MT) was scrambled with the fire suppression kit (FSK) to standby for the emergency landing of a B-57. "Pedro 44" entered a left-hand climbing turn over the airfield when it crashed due to a control problem and burned killing all 5 crew members. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/38th_Rescue_Squadron |
| 1968 - October 16 | A HH-3E #65-12786 from the 40th ARRS at Udorn RTAFB, Thailand, crewed by unkn (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ) lost transmission oil pressure and the crew made an emergency water landing. The crew was recovered but #65-12786 was lost when it sank before a recovery could be attempted. No other details are known at this time. CHECO REPORT USAF Search And Rescue In Southeast Asia 1 Jul 69-31 Dec 70 dated 23 Apr 71 |
| 1968 - October 17 | A HH-3E #67-14712 (Call sign "Jolly Green 31") from the 37th ARRS at Da Nang AB, RVN, crewed by Maj. Charles E. Wicker (P), Capt. Vincent A. Ziccardi (CP), Sgt. Walter A. Swenson (FE) and SSgt. Allen J. Avery (PJ), attempted to rescue survivors of a downed UH-1 (Call sign Lovebug 40") from the South China Sea off the coast of NVN. HH-3E #66-13280 (Call sign "Jolly Green 27") was the high bird on this mission and developed a hydraulic leak and RTB. No other details are known at this time. JRCC Save Form |
| 1968 - October 17 | A HH-43F from Det. 7, 38th ARRS, Da Nang AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Johnny R. Johnson (P), Capt. John E. Murray Jr. (CP), Sgt. William P. Owens (FE) and SSgt. Gary P. Bryant (PJ), medevacked one USMC troop in RVN. No other details are known at this time. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form |
| 1968 - October 18 | A HH-3E #67-14722 (Call sign “Jolly Green 32”) from the 37th ARRS at Da Nang AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Richard D. Griffiths (P), Capt. George B. Stokes (CP), Sgt. Robert T. Anderson (FE) and A1C Robert K. Cassidy (PJ), rescued the crew of a USMC RF-4B (Call sign "Pigment 54"), Maj. John W. Quist and 1st Lt. Douglas T. Schanzenbach, after they had ejected from their ground fire damaged of about 5 miles off the coast, about 30 miles north of Hue, RVN. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & Facebook post by Gary P. Bryant & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & 37th ARRS Operations Logbook 01 Jan 68 to 31 Dec 68 |
| 1968 - October 18 | A HH-43F from Det. 7, 38th ARRS at Da Nang AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Robert Anderson (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE), and unkn (PJ), medevacked four Vietnamese civilians in SVN. No other details are available currently. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form |
| 1968 - October 19 | HH-3E #66-13282, (Call sign "Jolly Green 29"), from the 37th ARRS at Da Nang AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Gerald W. Moore (P), Capt. Lawrence E. Davis (CP), SSgt. Robert T. Anderson (FE) and Sgt. Steven T. White (PJ) was hit by enemy fire and sunk during a sea landing to rescue F-4D pilot and co-pilot Lt. Col. Donald R. D'Amico & 1st Lt. Samuel F. Wilburn off the coast of Tiger Island, North Vietnam. The helicopter crew and F-4D crew were all rescued by HH-3E's (Call signs "Jolly Green 31 & 33"). (See the next two entries). "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & JRCC Save Form |
| 1968 - October 19 | A HH-3E #67-14704 (Call sign “Jolly Green 33) from the 37th ARRS, Da Nang AB, RVN, rescued the F-4D (Call sign "Dover 01") pilot and co-pilot Lt. Col. Donald R. D'Amico & 1st Lt. Samuel F. Wilburn and Sgt. Seven T. White (PJ) & SSgt. Robert T. Anderson (FE) from HH-3E #66-13282 off the coast of Tiger Island, North. (See previous and next entries). JRCC Save Form & 37th ARRS Operations Logbook 01 Jan 68 to 31 Dec 68 |
| 1968 - October 19 | A HH-3E #67-14712, (Call sign "Jolly Green 31) crewed by Maj. Jerry M. Griggs (P), Harry W. Hagen Jr. (CP), Arthur L. Ambrose (FE) and Steve M. Northern (PJ), rescued Capt. Gerald W. Moore (P) and Capt. Lawrence C. Davis from HH-3E #66-13282 (See second entry above). JRCC Save Form & 37th ARRS Operations Logbook 01 Jan 68 to 31 Dec 68 |
| 1968 - October 19 | A HH-43F from Det. 7, 38th ARRS, Da Nang AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Robert S. Henderson (P), Capt. Henry E. Hooke (CP), SSgt. William H. Sands (FE) and A1C Larry D. Nicholson (PJ) medevacked four Vietnamese in RVN. No other details are known at this time. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form |
| 1968 - October 20 | A HH-43F from Det. 1, 38th ARRS, Phan Rang AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Gaylord R. Overton (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ), in multiple sorties evacuated twenty-eight ROK troops in RVN. No other details are known at this time. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1968 - October 21 | A HH-43F from Det. 7, 38th ARRS, Da Nang AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Johnny R. Johnson (P), Capt. Henry E. Hooke (CP) and A1C Steven R. Tuttle (PJ), medevacked Dennis G. Newman in RVN. No other details are known at this time. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form |
| 1968 - October 21 | A HH-43F from Det. 7, 38th ARRS, Da Nang AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Johnny R. Johnson (P), Capt. Henry E. Hooke (CP), Sgt. William P. Owens (FE) and A1C Steven R. Tuttle (PJ), medevacked Clifton Hanks in RVN. No other details are known at this time. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form |
| 1968 - October 22 | A HH-3E (Call sign "Jolly Green 17"), from Det. 1, 40th ARRS, Nakhon Phanom RTAFB, Thailand and crewed by Lt. Col. Royal Brown Jr. (P), Capt. Glen A. Lintner (CP), A1C Henry L. Burnett (FE), A1C Douglas L. Horka (PJ) and Richard A. Petroski (PJ), rescued A-1E (Call sign "Hobo 32") pilot, Maj. William L. Bagwell, after he had ejected from his ground fire damaged aircraft on 21 Oct. 1968 near Ban Nakok, Laos. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form & "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & www.jollygreen.org/Research/JohnMorse/john_morse-nkp-missions.htm & "Plagued By Gook Luck" by Bill Bagwell |
| 1968 - October 22 | A HH-43F from Det. 6, 38th ARRS at Bien Hoa AB, RVN, crewed by 1st Lt. John F. Kolar (P), Maj. Richard W. Lorey (CP), SSgts John A. Hudson (FF) and SSgt. Joseph A. Renaud (FF), rescued the pilot of a VNAF A-1, Lt. Chi. No other details are known at this time. JRCC Save Form |
| 1968 - October 22 | A HH-43F from Det. 1, 38th ARRS, Phan Rang AB, RVN, crewed by Maj. John C. Neville Jr. (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ), medevacked USA Lt. David W. Murphy in RVN. No other details are known at this time. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form |
| 1968 - October 23 | UH-1F/P's of the 20th SOS "Green Hornets", crew's unkn, were involved in the rescue of a MACV SOG recon team that was in contact with an enemy force and had one of the team members wounded. No other details are known at this time. "Secret Green Beret Commandos In Cambodia" by Lt. Col. Fred S. Lindsey, USA (Ret.) |
| 1968 - October 24 | A HH-43F from Det. 7, 38th ARRS, Da Nang AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Robert S. Henderson (P), Capt. Henry E. Hooke (CP), SSgt. Keith L. Brown (FE) and A1C Steven R. Tuttle (PJ) medevacked four Vietnamese in RVN. No other details are known at this time. JRCC Save Form |
| 1968 - October 25 | A HH-3E (Call sign "Jolly Green 16"), from Det. 1, 40th ARRS at Nakhon Phanom RTAFB, Thailand, crewed by Lt. Col. Royal Brown Jr. (P), Capt. Robert C. Heron Jr. (CP), MSgt. Lee R. Maples (FE) and A1C Barry D. Hebert (PJ) rescued F-4D (Call sign "Manual ?") co-pilot, 1st Lt. Darrell L. Richardson who ejected from his 57 mm AAA damaged aircraft on 24 Oct. 1968 and spent the night suspended in his parachute from a tree, near the North Vietnamese town Phu Qui. The F-4D pilot, Maj. George Edward Tyler, could not be located and was presumed to have been KIA. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & www.jollygreen.org/Research/JohnMorse/john_morse-nkp-missions.html |
| 1968 - October 27 | A HH-3E #67-14722 (Call sign “Jolly Green 32”) from the 37th ARRS at Da Nang AB, RVN, crewed by Maj. Charles E. Wicker (P), Maj. Robert E. Booth (CP), Sgt. Herbert H. Honer (FE) and Sgt. Stephen T. White (PJ), rescued the pilot of a A-1H (Call sign "Spad 01"), Lt. Col. Victor J. Cole, after he ejected from his 37 mm AAA damaged aircraft in the extreme southern tip of Laos about 15 miles NE of Muang Fangdeng. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & 37th ARRS Operations Logbook 01 Jan 68 to 31 Dec 68 |
| 1968 - October 27 | HH-3E #66-13283 (Call sign "Jolly Green 30") of the 37th ARRS at Da Nang AB, RVN, crewed by unkn Capt. Richard R. Mulder (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ) was hit by ground fire while hovering to pick up a ground party when it lost an engine and crashed. The helicopter was destroyed by bombing. The survivors and ground party were rescued by HH-3E 65-12780 (Call sign "Jolly Green 07"), crewed by unkn (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ). https://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/USDemocrat-National/conversations/topics/16570 |
| 1968 - October 29 | During a hoist training mission at the 58th ARRS, Wheelus AB, Libya, an HH-3E pilot observed a collision between two F-100's on the runway. The pilot of one of the F-100's rolled clear. The airborne HH-3E was positioned to direct the smoke and flames away from the engulfed cockpit of the second F-100, allowing the pilot to escape. The helicopter landed, and Pararescueman aboard administered first aid to the injured pilot, who was place aboard the HH-3E and taken to an ambulance. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/37th_Aerospace_Rescue_and_Recovery_Squadron#Operations_and_losses |
| 1968 - October 30 | A HH-43F from Det. 7, 38th ARRS, Da Nang AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Robert S. Henderson (P), Capt. Henry E. Hooke (CP), Sgt. William P. Owens (FE) and A1C Larry D. Nicholson (PJ) medevacked Stephen Shard in RVN. No other details are known at this time. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form |
| 1968 - October 30 | A HH-3E #66-13278 (Call sign “Jolly Green 25”) from the 37th ARRS at Da Nang AB, RVN, crewed by Maj. Donald P. Olsen (P), Herman C. Stafford Jr. (CP), Sgt. Duane I. Beland (FE) and A1C Robert H. Fields (PJ), rescued WO Cramage and ten others from a downed USA CH-47 (Call sign "Longhorn 39") helicopter in RVN. No other details are known at this time. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form & 37th ARRS Operations Logbook 01 Jan 68 to 31 Dec 68 |
| 1968 - October 30 | A HH-43F from Det. 9, 38th ARRS, Pleiku AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. James G. Ellis III (P), Maj. Robert A. Bunton (CP), Sgt. Donald N. Carpenter (FE) and Sgt. Luther T. Jones (PJ), rescued WO L. D. Farmer off a downed USA UH-1 (Call sign "Buchaneer 28") helicopter in RVN. No other details are known at this time. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form |
| 1968 - October 30 | A HH-43F from Det. 7, 38th ARRS, Da Nang AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Robert S. Henderson (P), Capt. Henry E. Hooke (CP), Sgt. William P. Owens (FE) and A1C Larry D. Nicholson (PJ) medevacked Stephen Shard in RVN. No other details are known at this time. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form |
| 1968 - October 30 | A HH-43F from Det. 1, 38th ARRS, Phan Rang AB, RVN, crewed by Maj. Jimmy D. Gammon (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ), medevacked two USA troops in RVN. No other details are known at this time. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form |
| 1968 - October 30 | A HH-43B from Det. 5, 38th ARRS, Udorn RTAFB, Thailand, crewed by Capt. Martin H. Simonsen (P), Capt. Paul E. Stone (CP), Dennis M. Looney (FE) and Clarence D. Johnson (FF), rescued the crew of a RF-4C, Maj. Raymond E. Boucher (P) and Capt. Robert D. Smith (CP), after their aircraft crashed in Thailand. No other details are known at this time. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & JRCC Save Form |
| 1968 - October 31 | A HH-43F from Det. 13, 38th ARRS, Phu Cat AB, RVN, crewed by Maj. Juan H. Migia (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (MT) medevacked one Vietnamese in RVN. No other details are known at this time. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form |
| 1968 - November 01 | A HH-3E #66-13278 (Call sign “Jolly Green 25”) from the 37th ARRS at Da Nang AB, RVN, crewed by Lt. Col. Jacob T. Carwile (P), John L. Lenamon (CP), A1C James A. Thibodeau (FE) and Sgt. Thomas T. Winters (PJ), made a water landing in the South China Sea to rescue the pilot of a USMC F-4J (Call sign "Ringneck 536"), Capt. George S. Libey after he and his co-pilot 1st Lt. William H. Frizell ejected from their enemy ground fire damaged aircraft about 6 miles off the coast of the DMZ between North & South Vietnam. Lt. Frizell was rescued by the Australian destroyer HMAS Perth. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & PRCC Save Form & 37th ARRS Operations Logbook 01 Jan 68 to 31 Dec 68 |
| 1968 - November 01 | A HH-43F from Det. 7, 38th ARRS, Da Nang AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Johnny R. Johnson (P), Capt. Henry E. Hooke (CP), Sgt. Brian D. Morris (FE) and A1C Steven R. Tuttle (PJ), medevacked PFC Steven P. Preston in RVN. No other details are known at this time. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form |
| 1968 - November 01 | A HH-3E from the 37th ARRS at Da Nang AB, RVN, crewed by USCG Lance A. Eagan (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE), Sgt. Steve M. Northern (PJ) and A1C Dennis C. Palmer (PJ), rescued one person from an O-1 that had gone down in RVN. No other details are known at this time. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form |
| 1968 - November 02 | A HH-43F #63-9714 (Call sign “Pedro 95”) from Det. 6, 38th ARRS, Bien Hoa AB, RVN, crewed by 1st Lt. John F. Kolar (P), Capt. Harvey B. Bell (CP), SSgt. James P. Baldwin (FE) and A1C Charles R. Ingulli Jr. (PJ), rescued two crewmen, Beecher and unkn, from a downed USA OH-6. No other details are known at this time. JRCC Save Form |
| 1968 - November 04 | UH-1F/Ps of the 20th SOS "Green Hornets", one slick crewed by Maj. Richard D. Cox (P), unkn (CP), SSgt Ronald C. Winkles (AG) and SSgt. James E. O'Goreman (AG) were involved in the rescue of a MACV SOG recon team that was in contact with an enemy force almost immediately after they had been inserted. This slick had lost its radio and made the attempt to rescue the team visually and as they came to a hover in the LZ where they had last seen signals from the team, the helicopter was hit by enemy fire wounding the co-pilot and both gunners. As this was going on another slick, crew's unkn, which was in radio contact with the team was hovering behind the first slick over the team that had moved to a different location in the LZ and was taking them aboard by rope ladder. When Maj. Cox's helicopter was hit and his crew men wounded, he exited the LZ as unknown to them the second slick was taking the team aboard behind them. SSgt Winkles was hit twice in his ballistic helmet, the design of which saved his life. One of the supporting "Green Hornet" gunships was crewed by Maj. Delbert E. Oldenburg (P), but the names of the other crew members are unkn. Maj. Cox was awarded the Silver Star medal, Maj. Leonard A. Gonzales CP), SSgt. Winkles, SSgt O'Goreman were all awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross and Purple Heart medals and gunship pilot Maj. Oldenburg was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross medal for their actions during this action. No other details are known at this time. "Secret Green Beret Commandos In Cambodia" by Lt. Col. Fred S. Lindsey, USA (Ret.) |
| 1968 - November 04 | A HH-43F from Det. 7, 38th ARRS, Da Nang AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Johnny R. Johnson (P), Capt. John E. Murray Jr. (CP), SSgt. Keith L. Brown (FE), and A1C Nicholas Gala Jr. (PJ), medevacked two unkn wounded NVA troops in SVN. No other details are available currently. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1968 - November 04 | A HH-43F from Det. 13, 38th ARRS, Phu Cat AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Robert N. Bowers (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE), and unkn (PJ), medevacked one unkn Vietnamese in RVN. No other details are available currently. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1968 - November 05 | A HH-3E #66-13290 (Call sign “Jolly Green 04”) from the 37th ARRS at Da Nang AB, RVN, crewed by Maj. Jerry M. Griggs (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ), medevacked two USMC troops in RVN. No other details are known at this time. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form & 37th ARRS Operations Logbook 01 Jan 68 to 31 Dec 68 |
| 1968 - November 05 | A HH-3E #67-14722 (Call sign “Jolly Green 32”) from the 37th ARRS at Da Nang AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. John D. Oliver (P), Maj. Paul B. Davis Jr. (CP), TSgt. Jerome M. Casey (FE) and MSgt. Glenwood C. Wilkinson (PJ) made a water landing to rescue the pilot, Capt. James R. Hammett, of a USMC A-4E (Call sign "Hellborne 228") after he ejected from his aircraft just off the coast of South Vietnam. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form & 37th ARRS Operations Logbook 01 Jan 68 to 31 Dec 68 |
| 1968 - November 08 | A HH-43F from Det. 3, 38th ARRS, Ubon RTAFB, Thailand, crewed by Maj. Robert C. Collom (P), Sgt Booker T. McCoy (CP), Sgt. William C. Murphy (MT), SSgt Alfred E. Ellis (FF) and unkn (PJ), medevacked Thai national, Thawom Buriruks, in Thailand. No other details are known at this time. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form |
| 1968 - November 08 | A HH-43F from Det. 7, 38th ARRS, Da Nang AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Robert S. Henderson (P), Capt. John E. Murray Jr. (CP), Sgt. Brian D. Morris (FE) and A1C Charles R. Ingulli Jr. (PJ) medevacked one USA troop in RVN. No other details are known at this time. JRCC Save Form |
| 1968 - November 09 | A HH-43F from Det. 7, 38th ARRS, Da Nang AB, RVN, crewed by Maj. Keaver C. Holley III (P), Capt. John E. Murray Jr. (CP), Sgt. William P. Owens (FE) and Sgt. Edward A. DeShae (PJ), medevacked John Mendoza, in RVN. No other details are known at this time. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form |
| 1968 - November 09 | A HH-53B from the 40th ARRS at Udorn RTAFB, Thailand crewed by Maj. Gerald A. Jones (P), Maj. Robert R. Stewart (CP), TSgt. John W. Moye Jr. (FE), Sgt. Robert P. Koecher (PJ) and TSgt. Leon C. Fullwood (PJ) rescued F-4D WSO, 1st Lt. James Gough, (Call sign "Ringo 04 Bravo") after he ejected from his aircraft over Laos. The pilot (name unkn) was able to regain control of their aircraft and was able to land safely at Udorn RTAFB, Thailand. No other details are available currently. http://www.pjsinnam.com/klod/koecher.htm & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1968 - November 10 | A HH-53B from Det. 1, 40th ARRS at Nakhon Phanom RTAFB, Thailand, crewed by Maj. Robert E. Smith (P), Capt. Jack C. H. Schwank (CP), SSgt. Maxie L. Hilligoss (FE), A2C Albert W. Foster III (PJ) and Dennis C. O'Connor (PJ) rescued three USA troops, James H. Sweeney, K. D. Scholz and SP5 J. B. Dixon and six indigenous troops from a ground team (Call sign "Ragtop"). No other details are known at this time. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form |
| 1968 - November 11 | A HH-43F from Det. 13, 38th ARRS, Phu Cat AB, RVN, crewed by unkn (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ), medevacked a Vietnamese child in RVN. No other details are known at this time. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form |
| 1968 - November 11 | A HH-43F from Det. 1, 38th ARRS, Phan Rang AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Len P. Walther (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ), rescued the crew, Capt. John L. Pasuitii (P) and 1st Lt. Robert Straughen (CP), of an OV-10A when they had ejected from their aircraft after it had an engine failure. No other details are known at this time. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form |
| 1968 - November 11 | A HH-3E #67-14722 (Call sign “Jollly Green 32”) from the 37th ARRS at Da Nang AB, RVN, crewed by Charles R. Klinkert (P), Maj. Robert D. Shular (CP), Sgt. Herbert H. Honer (FE) and Sgt. Earnest D. Casbeer (PJ), attempted the unsuccessful rescue of the pilot, Capt. Phillip D. Barger, of a USMC A-4E (Call sign "Hellborne 213") after his aircraft was hit by enemy small arms fire and crashed near Phu Loc, about twenty 5 miles northwest of Da Nang AB, RVN. Capt. Barger was KIA in the crash. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form & 37th ARRS Operations Logbook 01 Jan 68 to 31 Dec 68 |
| 1968 - November 12 | The 20th SOS "Green Hornets" operating out of Ban Me Thout (CCS) attempted to do their FIRST night insert of two MACV SOG team members, Lt. Kroske and Sgt. Jim Bolen, by use using specially rigged 250-foot-long rappelling ropes. The team’s mission was to install a special "sensor type device" that would tap into a NVA communications wire running between two regimental size NVA units located west of Pleiku, RVN, inside of Cambodia. http://peteralanlloyd.com/back-part-1/the-jim-bolen-sog-interviews-part-10-a-night-insertion-by-helicopter-inside-cambodia/ |
| 1968 - November 12 | A HH-43F from Det. 9, 38th ARRS, Pleiku AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. James G. Ellis III (P), Capt. Derry A. Adamson (CP), Sgt. Robert W. Colclough Jr. (FF) and Sgt. Henry Michalski Jr. (FF), used their FSK to rescue the pilot, John S. Rivers, of a F-100D (Call sign "Litter 21"), that had crashed in RVN. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form |
| 1968 - November 12 | A HH-43F from Det. 9, 38th ARRS, Pleiku AB, RVN, crewed by unkn (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FF) and unkn (FF), was involved in a mission with eight unkn’s in RVN. No other details are known at this time. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form |
| 1968 - November 15 | A HH-43F from Det. 10, 38th ARRS, crewed by Capt. John L. Debevac (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ), rescued one ARVN troop, Tran Hauulam in RVN. No other details are known at this time. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form |
| 1968 - November 17 | HH-43F, crewed by Maj. Gerald L. Petty (P), Ardith L. Kellar (CP), Chris R. Mills (FE) and Sgt. Robert W. S. Mosteller (MT), rescued the pilot of a F-105D (Call sign "Crossbow 02"), David T. Dinan, after he ejected from his aircraft over RVN when it had an engine failure. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form |
| 1968 - November 18 | A HH-43F from Det. 1, 38th ARRS, Phan Rang AB, RVN, crewed by Maj. Jimmy D. Gammon (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ), medevacked George M. Haskett in RVN. No other details are known at this time. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form |
| 1968 - November 18 | HH-3E, #65-12783 (Call sign "Jolly Green 15"), from Det. 1, 40th ARRS, Nakhon Phanom RTAFB, Thailand and crewed by Lt. Col. Royal A. Brown Jr. (P), Capt. Samuel P. Wheat (CP), Sgt. Kenneth P. Hannegan (FE) and TSgt. Aaron D. Farrior (PJ) rescued O-2A pilot, Capt. William L. Grenoble Jr. (Call sign "Nail 28") & F-100D pilot, Capt. Robert J. Welch (Call sign "Litter 14") after their aircraft had a mid-air collision over their target in South Vietnam and they both ejected from their respective aircraft. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & www.jollygreen.org/Research/JohnMorse/john_morse-nkp-missions.html |
| 1968 - November ?? | UH-1F/Ps of the 20th SOS "Green Hornets", one slick crewed by unkn (P), unkn (CP), SSgt Ronald C. Winkles (AG) and Sgt. Jackie Skaggs (AG) and one other slick, crew unkn, were used to extract a MACV SOG recon team along with a captured North Vietnamese 122 mm rocket launcher. No other details are known at this time. "Secret Green Beret Commandos In Cambodia" by Lt. Col. Fred S. Lindsey, USA (Ret.) |
| 1968 - November 19 | HH-3E, #65-12783 (Call sign "Jolly Green 15"), from Det. 1, 40th ARRS, Nakhon Phanom RTAFB, Thailand and crewed by Maj. Raymond P. Sancton Jr. (P), Capt. Ronald McKinley (CP), Sgt. Mickey D. Berry (FE) & A1C Douglas L. Horka (PJ) rescued F-4 (Call sign "Wolf 02") crew member, Lt. Kenneth K. Boone, from Laos. No information on the status of the other crew member is known at this time. www.jollygreen.org/Research/JohnMorse/john_morse-nkp-missions.htm & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1968 - November 20 | HH-3E #67-14704 (Call sign “Jolly Green 33”) from the 37th ARRS at Da Nang AB, RVN, crewed by Lt. Col. John J. Devlin (Commander of the 37th ARRS), (P), Herman C. Stafford Jr. (CP), MSgt. Charles L. Manes (FE) and SSgt. Eugene L. Nardi (PJ), rescued the crew of a F-100F (Calls sign "Misty 41"), Capt. Frank T. Kimball (P) and Capt. Lawrence K. Irving (CP), after they ejected from their ground fire damaged aircraft east of the southern Laos village of Ban Pro. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & Stars & Stripes, Wednesday, Dec. 11, 1968 & 37th ARRS Operations Logbook 01 Jan 68 to 31 Dec 68 |
| 1968 - November 21 | HH-43B from Det. 5, 38th ARRS at Udorn RTAFB, Thailand crewed by Maj. Gerold L. Petty (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ), rescued the crew of a RF-4C, Capt. Paul N. Shiraishi (P) and Capt. Even U. Larue (CP), after they ejected from their aircraft near Udorn RTAFB, Thailand. No other details are known at this time. JRCC Save Form |
| 1968 - November 22 | HH-43F from Det. 13, 38th ARRS, Phu Cat AB, RVN, crewed by 1st Lt. Phillip H. Kamman (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ), rescued USA E-6 John C. Runnels. No other details are known at this time. JRCC Save Form |
| 1968 - November 22 | HH-43F from Det. 13, 38th ARRS, Phu Cat AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Richard J. Bouckhout (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ), medevacked one unkn USA troop in RVN. No other details are known at this time. JRCC Save Form |
| 1968 - November 22 | HH-3E from Det. 1, 40th ARRS at Nakhon Phanom RTAFB, Thailand, crewed by Capt. Richard J. Harwood (P), Maj. Dale N. Weeden (CP), A1C Henry L. Burnett (FE) and Sgt. Clifton L. Caffall (PJ), attempted the unsuccessful rescue of the crew, 1st Lt. Ivan J. Campbell (P) and Maj. Richard C. Swift, of an O-2A (Call sign "Nail 63") that crashed in Thailand. Both Lt. Campbell and Maj. Swift were KIA. No other details are known at this time. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form |
| 1968 - November 24 | HH-43F (Call sign "Pedro 07") from Det. 10, 38th ARRS, Binh Thuy AB, RVN, crewed by 1st Lt. Phillip H. Kamman (P), Capt. Jack D. Cusano (CP), SSgt. Gordon L. Browning (FE) and TSgt. Dudley R. Peckinpaugh (PJ), rescued John C. Runnell, from a ground team (Call sign "Ruby 24") in contact in RVN. This was a seven-hour mission with "Pedro 07" landing three times for refueling. No other details are known at this time. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form |
| 1968 - November 24 | HH-43F from Det. 10, 38th ARRS, Binh Thuy AB, RVN, crewed by Lt. Col. Roland E. Speckman (P), Maj. Ralph L. Gaede (CP), A1C Archelaus Whitehead Jr. (FE) and A1C Larry D. Nicholson (PJ), rescued two USN personnel, Joseph Hayes and Rudolph Coofield in RVN. No other details are known at this time. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form |
| 1968 - November 25 | HH-3E #67-14725 (Call sign “Jolly Green 34”) from the 37th ARRS at Da Nang AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Gerald W. Moore (P), Capt. Joseph J. Dillon (CP), SSgt. Robert T. Anderson (FE) and Nathaniel T. Smith Jr. (PJ) rescued one crew member, Allen S. Sheppard III, after he bailed out of his O-2A (Call sign "Covey 227") aircraft in an inverted spin in Laos. The other crew member, Capt. Greg Hartness was KIA. No other details are known at this time. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form & 37th ARRS Operations Logbook 01 Jan 68 to 31 Dec 68 |
| 1968 - November 25 | A HH-43F from Det. 7, 38th ARRS, Da Nang AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Robert S. Henderson (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ) medevacked Richard Sincavage and Michael C. Shie, in RVN. No other details are known at this time. JRCC Save Form |
| 1968 - November 25 - 26 | UH-1F/Ps of the 20th SOS "Green Hornets", using three UH-1F/P slicks, the first one crewed by Maj. Fred Eaton (P), unkn (CP), SSgt Gene Stuifbergen (AG) and SSgt. Paul "JJ" Jensen (AG), the second slick crewed by unkn (P), unkn (CP), Sgt. Jess Rowland (AG) and unkn (AG) and the third crewed by unkn (P), unkn (CP), unkn (AG) and unkn (AG), made a nighttime "pitch black" McGuire rig extraction of a MACV Recon team that had been discovered in their RON location by enemy forces and were in a fire fight and being chased by the enemy forces. The first slick extracted three team members and the second slick was lifting off with the last three when the team radio man slipped out of the McGuire rig and radioed that he was still on the ground. The third slick went in and lifted out the last team member on the McGuire rig. Supporting this extraction were "Green Hornet" gunships, one crewed by Capt. David W. Miller (P), unkn (CP), Sgt. Leroy Milton Jr. (FM/AG) and unkn (AG) and the other crewed by Maj. Leonard A. Gonzales (P), unkn (CP), Sgt. Richard L. Schwartz. Maj. Gonzales is known to have been awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross for his actions during this mission. "Secret Green Beret Commandos In Cambodia" by Lt. Col. Fred S. Lindsey, USA (Ret.) |
| 1968 - November 26 | A UH-1P gunship #65-7924 of the 20th SOS "Green Hornets", crewed by Capt. David W. Miller (P), Maj. Russel J. Simonetta (CP), Sgt. Larry D. Reynolds (AG) and Sgt. Leroy Milton Jr. (AG) were part of flight of three UH-1F 'slicks' and two gunships that was launched in response to a call from an Army Special Forces team that had been surrounded by superior enemy force and was in danger of being overrun. After several passes, Capt. Miller's helicopter was hit by enemy fire and the engine seized but Capt. Miller successfully landed in a jungle clearing and the rescue of the crew was accomplished by a 20th SOS 'slick' crewed by Maj. Dale L. Eppinger (P), Maj. Gene E. Hamman (CP), Sgt. Larry D. Reynolds (AG) and Sgt. Leroy Milton Jr. (AG), within three minutes. Enemy forces set fire to the helicopter, and it was destroyed only 25 minutes after the crew had been rescued. Maj. Eppinger is known to have been awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross for his actions on this mission. See the next mission below. http://www.mh-53pavelow.com/documents/20thSOS/1968.pdf |
| 1968 - November 26 | UH-1P (#2 mission slick) #64-15492 of the 20th SOS "Green Hornets", crewed by 1st Lt. James P. Fleming (P), Maj. Paul E. McClellan (CP), SSgt. Fred J. Cook (FM/AG), SSgt. Paul R. ("J. J.") Johnson [Jensen] (AG), while returning to base with four other Bell UH-1F/P helicopters, get an urgent message from an Army Special Forces MACV SOG team pinned down near a riverbank for an immediate extraction. During the action, one of the ‘gunships’ is downed by enemy ground fire and after the ‘lead slick’ rescued the downed ‘gunship’ crew, it and the #3 mission slick’ had leave the fight and return to base due to low fuel. 1ST Lt. Fleming’s ‘slick’ and one ‘gunship’ pressed on with the rescue effort. The first try fails due to heavy enemy fire pinning the team down and driving his helicopter off the attempt, but not willing to give up, Lt. Fleming hovers over the river bank a second time, under heavy enemy fire, and is successful in picking up the team. He then lands at a base near Duc Co, South Vietnam, nearly out of fuel. Fleming is later awarded the Medal of Honor for his actions during this mission. A UH-1P 'gunship' flying cover for Lt. Fleming’s rescue attempt crewed by Maj. Leonard A. Gonzales (P), Capt. Perry Russell (CP), SSgt. William R. Combs (AG) and Sgt. Kevin R. Kogan (AG) quelled the hostile fire to allow the rescue. Maj. Gonzales was awarded the Air Force Cross for his actions during this mission. The lead ‘slick’ was crewed by Maj. Dale L. Eppinger (P), Maj. Gene A. Hamman (CP), Sgt. Larry D. Reynolds (AG) and Sgt. Leroy Milton (AG) along with another ‘gunship’ crewed by Capt. David W. Miller (P), Maj. Russell J. Simonetta (CP), SSgt. Ronald W. Brodeur (AG) and SSgt. Dennis C. Miller (AG) were also involved in this action and their helicopter was severely damaged and went down in a clearing on the other side of the river. When Capt. Miller’s helicopter went down, Maj. Dale L. Eppinger and his crew landed behind them and rescued the crew. At this time Maj. Eppinger and the third ‘slick’ had to break off and head back to base due to critical shortage of fuel. In addition to the awards noted above, Maj. McClellan was awarded the Silver Star, Maj. Eppinger, Capt. David W. Miller, Maj. Russell J. Simonetta, SSgt. Cook, Sgt. Johnson, Sgt. Reynolds and Sgt. Milton are known to have been awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross. See the mission above. "Secret Green Beret Commandos In Cambodia" by Lt. Col. Fred S. Lindsey, USA (Ret.) & Air Force Magazine & http://projects.militartimes.com/citations-medals-awards/recipient.php?recipientid=3478 |
| 1968 - November 26 | A HH-43F from Det. 13, 38th ARRS, Phu Cat AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. James F. Brannan III (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ), medevacked one Vietnamese in RVN. No other details are known at this time. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1968 - November 27 | UH-1F #65-7942 of the 20th SOS from Ban Me Thuot, RVN and crewed by Capt. Robert L. Dryer (P), Maj. John B. "Jim" Walker (CP), TSgt. Victor R. Adams (FE/AG) and SSgt. Gene P. Stuifbergen (FE/AG) was shot down near Phu Nhai Village, Cambodia while trying to infiltrate a Special Forces team. SSgt. Gene P. Stuifbergen and 4 members of the Special Forces team were KIA, the rest of the crew and the remaining team members were rescued. TSgt. Victor R. Adams was awarded the Air Force Cross for his actions on this mission. "Secret Green Beret Commandos In Cambodia" by Lt. Col. Fred S. Lindsey, USA (retired) & http://en.wikipedia.org/20th_Special_Operations_Squadron & http://www.veterantributes.org/TributeDetail.php?recordID=430 |
| 1968 - November 27 | HH-43F from Det. 7, 38th ARRS, Da Nang AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Robert S. Henderson (P), Capt. Henry E. Hooke (CP), SSgt. Kenneth R. Jones (FE) and A1C. Charles R. Ingulli Jr. (PJ), medevacked Robert Laudat in RVN. No other details are known at this time. JRCC Save Form & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1968 - November 27 | A HH-3E from Det. 1, 40th ARRS at Nakhon Phanom RTAFB, Thailand, crewed by Capt. James E. Oliver (P), Maj. Dale N. Weeden (CP), Sgt. Gregory G. Gallagher (FE), TSgt. Dalford R. V. Widner (PJ), recovered the body of a O-1 (Call sign "Raven 30"), Maj. Edward E. McBride and one Lao national both KIA in Laos. No other details are known at this time. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1968 - November 27 | A HH-43F from Det. 10, 38th ARRS, Binh Thuy AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. John L. Debevec (P), Lt. Col. Roland E. Speckman (CP), A1C James E. Tarantino (FE) and TSgt. Dudley R. Peckinpaugh (PJ), rescued a USN sailor, Wayne D. Maxwell from a river patrol boat in RVN. No other details are known at this time. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form |
| 1968 - November 27 | A HH-53B from the 40th ARRS at Udorn RTAFB, Thailand, crewed by Lt. Col. Chester R. Ratcliffe Jr. (P), Capt. Claude E. Stowell (CP), SSgt. John B. Mahoney (FE), Sgt. Donald C. Johnson (PJ), Lawrence R. Zettervall (PJ) and SSgt. Raymond H. Windham (AP), rescued four foreign military troops. No other details are known at this time. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form |
| 1968 - November 28 | UH-1F/Ps of the 20th SOS "Green Hornets", crew's unkn, were used to extract a MACV SOG recon team RT/ST Idaho that was under fire from a large enemy force and was in danger of being overran. No other details are known at this time. "Secret Green Beret Commandos In Cambodia" by Lt. Col. Fred S. Lindsey, USA (Ret.) |
| 1968 - November 28 | A HH-43F from Det. 7, 38th ARRS, Da Nang AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Robert S. Henderson (P), Capt. Henry E. Hooke (CP), SSgt. Kenneth R. Jones (FE), A1C Charles R. Ingulli Jr. (PJ), Sgt. Samuel D. Hamilton (FF) and Sgt. Roger D. Elam (FF), using the FSK rescued a USAF F-4 WSO, Kenneth R. Crist after his aircraft crashed on the runway. The F-4D pilot, Maj. Thomas Laird Brattain was KIA during the crash. No other details are known at this time. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & JRCC Save Form |
| 1968 - November 29 | A HH-43F from Det. 1, 38th ARRS, Phan Rang AB, RVN, crewed by Maj. John C. Neville Jr. (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ), rescued the pilot of a F-100D, 1st Lt. Wendell L. Cook, after he ejected from his small arms fire damaged aircraft near the village of Phu Hiep about 45 miles west of Phan Rang AB, RVN. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson |
| 1968 - November 29 | HH-43F from Det. 7, 38th ARRS, Da Nang AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Robert S. Henderson (P), Capt. John E. Murray Jr. (CP), SSgt. William H. Sands (FE) and SSgt. Donald H. Goolett Jr. (PJ), medevacked two USA troops in RVN. No other details are known at this time. JRCC Save Form |
| 1968 - November 30 | UH-1F/Ps of the 20th SOS "Green Hornets", crew's unkn, were used to extract a MACV SOG recon team RT/ST Idaho that was pulled from a POW snatch mission in Cambodia before they were able to capture a prisoner. No other details are known at this time. "Secret Green Beret Commandos In Cambodia" by Lt. Col. Fred S. Lindsey, USA (Ret.) |
| 1968 - November 30 | A HH-3E #67-14712 (Call sign “Jolly Green 31”) from the 37th ARRS at Da Nang AB, RVN, crewed by Lt. Col. Charles R. Klinkert (P), Maj. Russell G. Mills (CP), SSgt. Robert T. Anderson (FE) and John D. Nusbaum (PJ), rescued five USMC troops, 1st Lt. R. A. Bayse, 1st Lt. B. B. Wiley, Cpl. R. Torres, SSgt. J. A. Williams and 1st Lt. R. Fleming, from a downed USMC CH-46 helicopter (Call sign "Highboy 32"). No other details are known at this time. JRCC Save Form & 37th ARRS Operations Logbook 01 Jan 68 to 31 Dec 68 |
| 1968 - November 30 | A HH-43F from Det. 10, 38th ARRS, Binh Thuy AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. John L. Debevec (P), Capt. Cecil A. Jessee (CP), SSgt. Gerald H. Jones (FE) and A1C Richard C. Stiefken (PJ), rescued eight ARVN troops in contact in RVN. No other details are known at this time. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form |
| 1968 - November 30 | A HH-43F from Det. 13, 38th ARRS, Phu Cat AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Richard J. Bouckhout (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ), medevacked one Vietnamese child in RVN. No other details are known at this time. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form |
| 1968 - December 01 | UH-1F/Ps of the 20th SOS "Green Hornets", crew's unkn, were used to extract a MACV SOG recon team RT/ST Idaho that pulled from a recon mission in Cambodia before they were able to complete their mission. No other details are known at this time. "Secret Green Beret Commandos In Cambodia" by Lt. Col. Fred S. Lindsey, USA (Ret.) |
| 1968 - December 03 | A HH-3E #67-14708 (Call sign “Jolly Green 21”) from the 37th ARRS at Da Nang AB, RVN, crewed by Maj. Charles E. Wicker (P), Maj. Robert D. Shular (CP), MSgt. Charles L. Manes (FE), Sgt. Thomas T. Winters (PJ) and Denver Nelson (FS), rescued two from a Greek Ship, Thanos Loncas and Voulgarelis Stylianos, in the South China Sea 110 miles off the coast of RVN at night. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form & 37th ARRS Operations Logbook 01 Jan 68 to 31 Dec 6 |
| 1968 - December 03 | A HH-43F from Det. 10, 38th ARRS, Binh Thuy AB, RVN, crewed by Lt. Col. Roland E. Speckman (P), 1st Lt. Philip H. Kamman (CP), SSgt. Gerald H. Jones (FE) and A1C Richard C. Steifken (PJ), medevacked Daniel Cook from a patrol river boat in RVN. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form |
| 1968 - December 03 | A HH-3E #66-13290 (Call sign “Jolly Green 04”) from the 37th ARRS at Da Nang AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. John E. Hannan (P), Maj. Robert D. Shular (CP), TSgt. Charles D. Severns (FE) and SSgt. Eugene L. Nardi (PJ), rescued the crew of a USA OV-1 (Call sign "Redeye 22"), Capt. Norman Svarrer and Sgt. Robert Christensen, in RVN. No other details are known at this time. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form & 37th ARRS Operations Logbook 01 Jan 68 to 31 Dec 6 |
| 1968 - December 04 | HH-3E, (Call sign "Jolly Green 17"), from Det. 1, 40th ARRS, Nakhon Phanom RTAFB, Thailand and crewed by Capt. Richard J. Harwood (P), Maj. William J. Warwick (CP), Sgt. Henry L. Burnett (FE) and TSgt. Donald A. Beasley (PJ) rescued the crew of a F-4D (call sign "Tampa 02"), Maj. Clifford L. Gallagher (P) and 1st Lt. David K. Chastain (CP), after they had ejected from their AAA damaged aircraft near Ban Senphan, Laos. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & JRCC Save Form & www.jollygreen.org/Research/JohnMorse/john_morse-nkp-missions.html |
| 1968 - December 04 | A HH-43F from Det. 13, 38th ARRS, Phu Cat AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Richard J. Bouckhout (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ), medevacked one Vietnamese child in RVN. No other details are known at this time. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form |
| 1968 - December 06 | HH-3E #65-12785 (Call sign "Jolly Green 36"), from Det. 1, 40th ARRS at Nakhon Phanom RTAFB, Thailand, crewed by Lt. Col. Royal A. Brown Jr. (P), Maj. Dale N. Weeden (CP), MSgt. Lee R. Maples (FE) and A1C Charles D. King (PJ) rescued F-105D (Call sign "Dallas 03") pilot, Capt. Ronald M. Walker after he ejected from his 57 mm AAA fire damaged aircraft a few miles from Ban Soppeng Laos. High bird on this mission was HH-3E #64-14230 (Call sign “Jolly Green 17”) crewed by Capt. James E. Oliver (P), Capt. Glen A. Lintner (CP), Sgt. Gregory G. Gallagher (FE) and A1C Leonard C. Johnson (PJ). "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & www.jollygreen.org/Research/JohnMorse/john_morse-nkp-missions.htm & Det. 1, 40th ARRS Mission Narrative Report (02-02-074-8341, 6 Dec 68)(U) |
| 1968 - December 07 | UH-1F/P's of the 20th SOS "Green Hornets", a slick crewed by unkn (P), unkn (CP), Sgt. Ronald J. Keersmackers (FE) and unkn (AG), one gunship crewed by Maj. Ronald N. Guy (P), Capt. David W. Miller (CP), SSgt. Clarence F. Burdick (AG) and Patrick J. Dolan (AG) and a second gunship crewed by unkn (P), unkn (CP), SSgt. Clarence F. Burdick (AG) and unkn (AG), were used to extract a MACV SOG recon team, led by SFC Bob Willman, that was surrounded and about to be overrun by enemy forces. No other details are known at this time. "Secret Green Beret Commandos In Cambodia" by Lt. Col. Fred S. Lindsey, USA (Ret.) |
| 1968 - December 07 | A HH-43F from Det. 10, 38th ARRS, Binh Thuy AB, RVN, crewed by Maj. Ralph L. Gaede (P), Capt. Jack D. Cusano (CP), Lonnie N. Davidson (PJ) and A1C John C. Wilkins (PJ), medevacked USA troop Samual D. Hogan Jr in RVN. No other details are known at this time. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form |
| 1968 - December 07 | A HH-43F from Det. 1, 38th ARRS, Phan Rang AB, RVN, crewed by 1st Lt. Phillip H. Kamman (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ), rescued three USN sailors, RM2 J. A. Viggiano, E-2 Jones and SM! Brown. No other details are known at this time. JRCC Save Form |
| 1968 - December 07 | A HH-43F from Det. 1, 38th ARRS, Phan Rang AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Walter D. Murphy (P), Capt. Harvey B. Bell (CP), SSgt. Willaim E. Niemann (FF) and A1C Edward S. Bevens (FF), rescued eight USA troops, CW/O Charles Graham, CW/O Render C. Guinn, 1st Lt. Gerald Waldman, SP5 James A. Pinto, SP4 Michael Piercy, SP4 James E. Sauers, SP4 Richard G. Nigos and SP4 Joe F. Hartinez, from a downed USA CH-47 helicopter (Call sign "Laserbeam 143"). No other details are known at this time. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form |
| 1968 - December 08 | A HH-43F from Det. 10, 38th ARRS, Binh Thuy AB, RVN, crewed by 1st Lt. Phillip H. Kamman (P), unkn (CP), unkn (PJ) and unkn (PJ), medevacked one Vietnamese in RVN. No other details are known at this time. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form |
| 1968 - December 08 | A HH-43F from Det. 10, 38th ARRS, Binh Thuy AB, RVN, crewed by 1st Lt. Phillip H. Kamman (P), unkn (CP), unkn (PJ) and unkn (PJ), medevacked one Vietnamese in RVN. No other details are known at this time. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form |
| 1968 - December 08 | A HH-53B from the 40th ARRS from Udorn RTAFB, Thailand, crewed by Capt. James R. Miears (P), Maj. Barton C. Libby (CP), SSgt. Ralph Frazier (FE), Sgt. William K. Johnson (PJ) and Dennis C. O'Conner (PJ), rescued the pilot of a A-1J (Call sign "Firefly 34"), Maj. Thomas H. O'Connor, after he ejected from his small arms fire damaged aircraft near the northern village of Sopka, Laos. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & JRCC Save Form |
| 1968 - December 08 | A HH-43F from Det. 7, 38th ARRS, Da Nang AB, RVN, crewed by Maj. Keaver C. Holley III (P), Capt. John E. Murray Jr. (CP), SSgt. William H. Sands (FE) and A1C Robert K. Cassidy (PJ) medevacked one Vietnamese, Son Honk Lak, in RVN. No other details are known at this time. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form |
| 1968 - December 08 | A HH-43F from Det. 10, 38th ARRS, Binh Thuy AB, RVN, crewed by 1st Lt. Phillip H. Kamman (P), Capt. Jack D. Cusano (CP), A1C Archelaus Whitehead Jr. (FE), A1C Larry D. Nicholson (PJ) and A1C Richard C. Stiefken (PJ), medevacked three USN sailors, Brown, J. A. Viggiano, Brown and EN-2 Jones, from a patrol river boat in RVN. No other details are known at this time. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form |
| 1968 - December 09 | A HH-43F from Det. 10, 38th ARRS, Binh Thuy AB, RVN, crewed by 1st Lt. Phillip H. Kamman (P), unkn (CP), unkn (PJ) and unkn (PJ), medevacked a Vietnamese baby in RVN. No other details are known at this time. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form |
| 1968 - December 09 | A HH-3E #66-13280 (Call sign “Jolly Green 27”) from the 37th ARRS at Da Nang AB, RVN, crewed by Lt. Col. Lamar G. Tullos (P), Capt. Vincent A. Ziccardi (CP), TSgt. Jackie L. Mangrum (FE) and Nathaniel T. Smith Jr. (PJ), rescued the co-pilot of a RF-4C (Call sign "Slovak 01 Bravo"), Capt. Carl. B. Koebberling (CP), after he and his pilot, Maj. Robert I. McCann (P), ejected from their 37 mm AAA damaged aircraft about 1 mile offshore of the North Vietnamese coast near Dong Hoi, NVN. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form & 37th ARRS Operations Logbook 01 Jan 68 to 31 Dec 6 |
| 1968 - December 09 | A HH-3E #66-13290 (Call sign “Jolly Green 04”) from the 37th ARRS at Da Nang AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. John D. Oliver (P), Capt. George B. Stokes (CP), TSgt. Charles D. Severns (FE) and SSgt. Allen J. Avery (PJ) made a water landing to rescue the pilot of a RF-4C (Call sign "Slovak 01 Alpha"), Maj. Robert I. McCann (P) after he and his co-pilot, Capt. J. B. Koebberling (CP), ejected from their 37 mm AAA fire damaged aircraft about one mile off the coast of North Vietnam, near Dong Hoi. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form & 37th ARRS Operations Logbook 01 Jan 68 to 31 Dec 6 |
| 1968 - December 10 | A HH-43F from Det. 7, 38th ARRS, Da Nang AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Johnny R. Johnson (P), Capt. Henry E. Hooke (CP), SSgt. Kenneth R. Jones (FE) and A1C Robert K. Cassidy (PJ), medevacked a Vietnamese, Pham Tuy, in RVN. No other details are known at this time. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form |
| 1968 - December 10 | A HH-53B from the 40th ARRS at Udorn RTAFB, Thailand, crewed by Capt. Clarence C. Campbell (P), Capt. William J. Biebel (CP), SSgt. Maurice W. Willner (FE), Sgt. Thomas R. Pope (PJ), Dee W. Nelson (PJ) and Stanley J. Nagrocki (AP), rescued the pilot of a A-1H (Call sign "Firefly 22"), Capt. Jerry J. Jenkinson, after he ejected from his 12.7 mm AAA damaged aircraft a few miles south of the village of Sopka, Laos. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form |
| 1968 - December 11 | HH-43F from Det. 13, 38th ARRS, Phu Cat AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Jack S. Brannen (P), 1st Lt. Wayne A. Grant III (CP), SSgt. Delbert B. Dunn (FE) and Sgt. Larry H. Knefelcamp (MT), in five sorties rescued eleven people from a downed USA UH-1H helicopter (Call sign "Casper 721") and the soldiers that were sent to secure the crash area in RVN. No other details are known at this time. "PJ's in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form |
| 1968 - December 11 | HH-43F from Det. 9, 38th ARRS, Pleiku AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. James G. Ellis III (P), Capt. William E. Clark (CP), TSgt. Donald W. Gooding (FE), A1C Leif E. Arvidson (PJ) and Sgt. Lonnie G. Conner (PJ), rescued nine people from a downed USA UH-1H helicopter (Call sign "Casper 721") and the soldiers that were sent to secure the crash area in RVN. PJ’s A1C Leif Arvidson and Sgt. Lonnie C. Conner were awarded the Silver Star for his actions on this mission. No other details are known at this time. "PJ's in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form & http://www.pjsinnam.com/vn_history/pdf_files/Chronology/1968.pdf & http://www.homeofheroes.com/members/04_SS/5_RVN/citations/airforce/a.html |
| 1968 - December 11 | HH-43F from Det. 13, 38th ARRS, Phu Cat AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Richard J. Bouckhout (P), Capt. Robert J. Morita (CP), Sgt. Arthur Charlton (FE), A1C Jones Stamey (PJ), Sgt. James E. DeGraw (MT) and Capt. George W. Atkinson (FS), rescued four people from a downed USA UH-1H helicopter (Call sign "Casper 721") and the soldiers that were sent to secure the crash area in RVN. No other details are known at this time. JRCC Save Form |
| 1968 - December 11 | HH-43F from Det. 13, 38th ARRS, Phu Cat AB, RVN, crewed by Maj. Juan H. Magia (P), Maj. Dwight C. Hageman (CP), SSgt. Jesse Franklin Jr. (FE) and Sgt. John Henry (MT) rescued two USA troops from a downed USA UH-1H helicopter (Call sign "Casper 721") and the soldiers that were sent to secure the crash area in RVN. An Army OH-6 also crashed during this mission and that crew was also rescued. No other details are known at this time. JRCC Save Form & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1968 - December 12 | HH-3E, #65-12783 (Call sign "Jolly Green 15"), from Det. 1, 40th ARRS at Nakhon Phanom RTAFB, Thailand crewed by Maj. Thomas E. Reinhardt (P), Capt. Roger C. Gibson (CP), Sgt. Gregory G. Gallagher (FE) and A1C Charles D. King (PJ) rescued RF-4C (Call sign "Ridge 01") pilot, Capt. Harlan J. Drewery, after he ejected from his ground fire damaged aircraft from near Ban Muangsen, Laos. The RF-4C WSO, Capt. Russell Dale Galbraith, was KIA. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & www.jollygreen.org/Research/JohnMorse/john_morse-nkp-missions.htm & "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson |
| 1968 - December 12 | HH-43F from Det. 10, 38th ARRS, Binh Thuy AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. John L. Debevec (P), Capt. Jack D. Cusano (CP), A1C Archelaus Whitehead Jr. (FE) and A1C John C. Wilkins (PJ), medevacked three USN sailors, David C. Funk, Ronald R. Norris, Louis Duty and one Vietnamese military troop, from a patrol river boat in RVN. No other details are known at this time. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form |
| 1968 - December 13 | HH-43F from Det. 10, 38th ARRS, Binh Thuy AB, RVN, crewed by Lt. Col. Ronald E. Speckman (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ), rescued a USN sailor, Alan L. Sandvig. No other details are known at this time. JRCC Save Form |
| 1968 - December 13 | A HH-43F from Det. 6, 38th ARRS, Bien Hoa AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Walter D. Murphy (P), Capt. Harvey B. Bell (CP), William E. Nieman (FF) and A1C Edward S. Bevens (FF), saved the crew, Maj. F. D. Reeder (P), 1st Lt. P. N. Rose (CP) and several other unkn crew members, of a AC-47D when it crashed during landing at Bien Hoa AB, RVN after they had been involved in a mid-air collision with a OV-10A. The OV-10A crew, Capt. Charles Farrell Griffin (P) and Capt. Bruce Brian Greene, were KIA in the crash of their aircraft. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form |
| 1968 - December 13 | HH-43F from Det. 10, 38th ARRS, crewed by Maj. Ralph L. Gaede (P), Capt. Cecil A. Jessee (CP), SSgt. Gerald H. Jones (FE) and A2C Theodore J. Polys (PJ), medevacked Oliver W. Morton, Tony R. Brown and E-3 Larry R. Bell, in RVN. No other details are known at this time. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form |
| 1968 - December 13 | HH-43F from Det. 7, 38th ARRS, Da Nang AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Johnny R. Johnson (P), Capt. Henry E. Hooke (CP), Sgt. Brian D. Morris (FE), Sgt. Norman C. Kohlstrand (PJ), Sgt. George W. Gladu (FF) and Sgt. Roger D. Elam (FF), saved a USMC TA-4F (Call sign "Ringneck 293 Alpha") pilot, James T. Smith, after his aircraft had crashed in RVN. The co-pilot, Robert N. Smith was rescued by an HH-3E, see entry below. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form |
| 1968 - December 13 | HH-3E #66-13280 (Call sign "Jolly Green 27") from the 37th ARRS at Da Nang AB, RVN, crewed by Maj. John G. Kakacek (P), Capt. Joseph J. Dillon (CP), TSgt. Jackie L. Mangrum (FE) and Nathaniel T. Smith Jr. (PJ), saved a USMC TA-4F (Call sign "Ringneck 293 Bravo") co-pilot, Robert N. Smith, after his aircraft had crashed in RVN. The pilot, James T. Smith, was rescued by an HH-43F, (see previous entry). The PJ from the HH-43F, Sgt. Norman C. Kohlstrand, who was on the ground to help recover the TA-4F pilot was also picked up by "Jolly Green 27". "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form |
| 1968 - December 14 | HH-3E, (Call sign "Jolly Green 16"), from Det. 1, 40th ARRS at Nakhon Phanom RTAFB, Thailand crewed by Capt. Richard J. Harwood (P), Maj. William J. Warwick (CP), Sgt. D. A. Scott (FE) and TSgt. Dolford R. V. Widner (PJ) rescued C-123K pilot, Lt. Thomas. M. Turner (Call sign "Candlestick 44"), when he bailed out of his aircraft on 13 December 1968, near Ban Nampakhon, Laos, after a mid-air collision with a B-57E that was attacking a target nearby. The remainder of the C-123K's crew, 1st Lt. Joseph Peter Fanning, 1st Lt. John Scott Albright, 1st Lt. Douglas Vincent Dailey, 1st Lt. Morgan Jefferson Donahue, SSgt Samuel Franklin Walker and TSgt FredrickLee Clarke were KIA. The B-57E crews KIA in this collision were Maj. Thomas Wayne Dugan and Maj. Francis Jay McGouldrick. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & www.jollygreen.org/Research/JohnMorse/john_morse-nkp-missions.html |
| 1968 - December 14 | HH-43F from Det. 10, 38th ARRS at Binh Thuy AB, RVN, crewed by Lt. Col. Roland E. Speckman (P), 1st Lt. Philip H. Kamman (CP), A1C James E. Tarantno (FE) and A1C Larry D. Nicholson (PJ), medevacked Alan L. Sandvig in RVN. No other details are known at this time. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form |
| 1968 - December 15 | HH-43F from Det. 13, 38th ARRS, Phu Cat AB, RVN, crewed by Maj. Juan H. Magia (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ), medevacked one Vietnamese in RVN. No other details are known at this time. JRCC Save Form |
| 1968 - December 15 | HH-43F from Det. 13, 38th ARRS, Phu Cat AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Richard J. Bouckhout (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ), medevacked USA troop, Kenneth Devine, in RVN. No other details are known at this time. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form |
| 1968 - December 15 | HH-43F from Det. 13, 38th ARRS, Phu Cat AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Richard J. Bouckhout (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ), medevacked one Vietnamese in RVN. No other details are known at this time. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form |
| 1968 - December 16 | HH-43F from Det. 7, 38th ARRS, Da Nang AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Johnny R. Johnson (P), Capt. John E. Murray Jr. (CP), SSgt. Kenneth R. Jones (FE) and A1C Robert K. Cassidy (PJ), medevacked one Vietnamese, in RVN. No other details are known at this time. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form |
| 1968 - December 17 | HH-43F from Det. 14, 38th ARRS, Bien Hoa AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Lawrence E. Bielsetin (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ), saved the crew of a RF-4C, Eugene Barnhart and Gerald O. Miller, in RVN. No other details are known at this time. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form |
| 1968 - December 18 | A HH-43F from Det. 7, 38th ARRS, Da Nang AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Robert S. Henderson (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ), rescued the pilot of a F-100C, 1st Lt. Harry W. Roberts Jr., from the South China Sea after he ejected from his ground fire damaged aircraft off the coast of Da Nang AB in RVN. No other details are known at this time. JRCC Save Form |
| 1968 - December 18 | A HH-43F from Det. 7, 38th ARRS, Da Nang AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Robert S. Henderson (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ), medevacked George Brown in RVN. No other details are known at this time. JRCC Save Form |
| 1968 - December 19 | A HH-43F from Det. 10, 38th ARRS at Binh Thuy AB, RVN, crewed by 1st Lt. Phillip H. Kamman (P), Capt. Cecil A. Jessee (CP), SSgt. Gerald H. Jones (FE), A2C Theodore J. Polys (PJ) and A1C Richard C. Stiefken (PJ), medevacked USCG sailor Joseph C. Nelson from the South China Sea in RVN. No other details are known at this time. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form |
| 1968 - December 20 | A HH-3E #67-14709 (Call sign “Jolly Green 22”) from the 37th ARRS at Da Nang AB, RVN, crewed by Maj. Harvie L. Stringer (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ), rescued the co-pilot of a USN A-6A, Lt. Robert W. Colyar (Call sign Milestone 407), after he ejected from his ground fire damaged aircraft about 20 miles southwest of the A Shau Valley, RVN. The A-6A pilot, Lt. Michael Lora Bouchard was KIA. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & JRCC Save Form & 37th ARRS Operations Logbook 01 Jan 68 to 31 Dec 6 |
| 1968 - December 20 | A HH-43F from Det. 8, 38th ARRS, Cam Ranh Bay AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Bruce K. Ware (P), Capt. John F. Patterson (CP), Sgt. James W. Simmons (FE), and TSgt. Joseph Fernandez (PJ), medevacked Venny Gonzales Jr. in SVN. No other details are available currently. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1968 - December 20 | A HH-43F from Det. 10, 38th ARRS, Binh Thuy AB, RVN, crewed by Lt. Col. Roland E. Speckman (P), 1st Lt. Philip H. Kamman (CP), A1C James E. Tarantino (FE) and A1C Richard C. Stiefken (PJ), medevacked USA troop Edward J. Beasley in RVN. No other details are available currently. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1968 - December 21 | HH-3E, #65-12785 (Call sign "Jolly Green 36"), from Det. 1, 40th ARRS, Nakhon Phanom RTAFB, Thailand and crewed by USCG Lt. Lance A. Eagan (P), Lt. Col. John H. I. Morse (CP), MSgt. Lee R. Maples (FE), A1C Robert J. Sully (PJ) and A1C Charles D. King (PJ), rescued F-100D (Call sign "Litter 81") pilot, Maj. Forrest B. Fenn, from near Ban Kate, Laos. Maj. Fenn was the 1,500th man saved by SAR forces since the beginning of the Vietnam War. HH-3E #65-12781 (Call sign "Jolly Green 09), crewed by unkn (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ) was the high bird on this mission. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. &LaPointe/Research/JohnMorse/john_morse-nkp-missions.html |
| 1968 - December 22 | HH-43F from Det. 10, Binh Thuy AB, RVN, 38th ARRS, crewed by 1st Lt. Phillip H. Kamman (P), Lt. Col. Roland E. Speckman (CP), A1C James E. Tarantino (FE) and TSgt. Dudley R. Peckinpaugh (PJ), rescued two USN sailors, G. D. Cole and H. B. Azbell from a patrol river boat. No other details are known at this time "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form |
| 1968 - December 22 | HH-53B from the 40th ARRS at Udorn RTAFB, Thailand, crewed by Capt. Clarence C. Campbell (P), Capt. Jack C. Schwank (CP), SSgt. Maurice W. Willner (FE), Tommy W. Meyer (PJ) and Sgt. Thomas R. Pope (PJ), rescued the co-pilot, 1st Lt. Robert E. Hoffman, of a RF-4C (Call sign "Danube 01 Bravo") after he and his pilot crash landed their AAA fire damaged aircraft at Udorn RTAFB, Thailand. The RF-4C pilot, Capt. Terry Lynn Crennhalgh was KIA. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form |
| 1968 - December 23 | HH-3E from Det. 1, 40th ARRS at Nakhon Phanom RTAFB, Thailand, crewed by Capt. Richard J. Harwood (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ), medevacked Kris Solheim in RVN. No other details are known at this time. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form |
| 1968 - December 24 | HH-43F from Det. 8, 38th ARRS, Cam Ranh Bay AB, RVN, crewed by Maj. Andrew E. Kralj (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ), medevacked an unkn person in RVN. No other details are known at this time. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form |
| 1968 - December 24 | HH-43F from Det. 10, 38th ARRS, Binh Thuy AB, RVN, crewed by 1st Lt. Phillip H. Kamman (P), Capt. Cecil A. Jessee (CP), SSgt. Gerald H. Jones (FE) and A1C Richard C. Stiefken (PJ), medevacked Larry K. Morton in RVN. No other details are known at this time. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form |
| 1968 - December 25 | A HH-3E #64-14230 (Call sign "Jolly Green 17") from Det. 1, 40th ARRS at Nakhon Phanom RTAFB, Thailand, crewed by Lt. Col. William Cameron (P), Capt. Robert C. Heron Jr. (CP), TSgt. Jerome M. Casey (FE) and A1C Charles Douglas King (PJ) (KIA) were attempting to rescue the pilot of a F-105D (Call sign "Panda 01"), Maj. Charles "Dick" R. Brownlee, after he ejected from his ground fire damaged aircraft about 10 miles southwest of Ban Thapachon, Laos. The PJ, A1C King was sent down the hoist to retrieve the unconscious F-105D pilot, Maj. Brownlee, and just as they were about to be hoisted to the helicopter A1C King was wounded and the helicopter was attacked by enemy troops. As the damaged helicopter began to fly away the hoist cable, with A1C King and Maj. Brownlee still on it, they were caught in the trees and the hoist cable was sheared resulting in A1C King and Maj. Brownlee falling some distance to the ground. No other contact was made with them, and they were not recovered and were declared KIA. A1C Charles Douglas King was awarded the Air Force Cross (Posthumously) for his actions during this mission. http://taskforceomegainc.org/k019.html & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & http://www.veterantributes.org/TributeDetail.php?recordID=418 & Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & https://www.vhpa.org/KIA/incident/68122537KIA.HTM |
| 1968 - December 25 | A HH-3E from Det. 1, 40th ARRS, crewed by USCG Lt. Lance A. Eagan (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE), and unkn (PJ), medevacked Billy J. Diggs in Thailand. No other details are available currently. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1968 - December 25 | A HH-43F from Det. 8, 38th ARRS, Cam Ranh Bay AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Bruce K. Ware (P), Capt. John P. Smariga (CP), SSgt. Benjamin J. Marshall (FE), and SSgt. Gary P. Bryant (PJ), medevacked John A. Grills in RVN. No other details are available currently. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1968 - December 26 | A HH-43F from Det. 8, 38th ARRS, Cam Ranh Bay AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Peter W. Gissing (P), Maj. Andrew E. Kralj (CP), Sgt. James W. Simmons (FE), and SSgt. Donald H. Goodlett Jr. (PJ), medevacked Frank Weeks in RVN. No other details are available currently. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1968 - December 26 - 29 | Two HH-43B's from Det. 11 (TUSLOG Det. 84) at Incirlik AB, Turkey, crews unkn, supported rescue operations during a flood disaster in the vicinity of Tarsus, Turkey. During the mission ARRS aided 416 persons and saved 72 persons. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/37th_Aerospace_Rescue_and_Recovery_Squadron#Operations_and_losses |
| 1968 - December 27 | A HH-43F from Det. 10, 38th ARRS, Binh Thuy AB, RVN, crewed by 1st Lt. Phillip H. Kamman (P), Capt. Cecil A. Jessee (CP), SSgt. Gerald H. Jones (FE) and A1C Richard C. Stiefken (PJ), rescued three USN sailors, Nicholas Brooks, Curtis L. Denison and Francis P. Flemming. No other details are known at this time. JRCC Save Form |
| 1968 - December 29 | A HH-43F from Det. 14, 38th ARRS Tan Son Nhut AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Peter J. Kerrigan (P), Maj. Robert B. Vaughn (CP), Sgt. Gerald J. Wiersma (FE) and A1C Reedus L. Haraway (MT), medevacked To Phong Giong in RVN. No other details are known at this time. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1968 - December 29 | A HH-43F from Det. 12, 38th ARRS, Nha Trang AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Cortland D. Field (P), Maj. Richard G. Lauderdale Jr. (CP), A1C Louis C. Felker (PJ), Harold R. Terrell (PJ) and Sgt. Joseph R. Capper (PJ), rescued a USA troop, Barry G. Crubbs, from a downed USA UH-1 helicopter. No other details are known at this time. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form |
| 1968 - December 30 | A HH-43F from Det. 14, 38th ARRS, Tan Son Nhut AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Laurence E. Bielstein (P), Maj. Donald L. Jordan (CP), Sterling R. Hare (PJ), Loren L. Blocher (PJ) and unkn (MT), saved the crew of a RF-4C (Call sign "Sarge 22"), Eugene L. Barnhart (P) and Gerald O. Miller (CP) in RVN. No other details are known at this time. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form |
| 1968 - December 31 | A HH-43F from Det. 8, 38th ARRS, Cam Ranh Bay AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Peter W. Gissing (P), Maj. Andrew E. Kralj (CP), Sgt. James W. Simmons (FE) and SSgt. Gary P. Bryant (MT), medevacked USA E-6 Charles B. Henson in RVN. No other details are known at this time. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1969 - January 01 | UH-1F/Ps of the 20th SOS "Green Hornets", crew's unkn, were used to extract a MACV SOG recon team, RT Level, and a NVA POW they had captured, using rope ladders to make the extraction. No other details are known at this time. "Secret Green Beret Commandos In Cambodia" by Lt. Col. Fred S. Lindsey, USA (Ret.) |
| 1969 - January 02 | A HH-43F from Det. 10, 38th ARRS, Binh Thuy AB, RVN, crewed by Lt. Col. Ronald E. Speckman (P), 1st Lt. Philip Kammann (CP), SSgt. Gerald H. Jones (FE) and A1C Richard C. Stiefken (PJ), rescued a USN sailor, E-4 Daniel Cook. E-4 Cook was rescued from a navy river patrol boat, suffering from being hit by .50 caliber bullets, and taken to the Army’s 29th Evac. Hospital near the base. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form & Pacific Stars & Stripes, Thursday, Jan. 21, 1969, pg. 7 |
| 1969 - January 02 | A HH-43F from Det. 7, 38th ARRS, Da Nang AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Robert S. Henderson (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ), medevacked Norman C. Kohlstran in RVN. No other details are known at this time. JRCC Save Form |
| 1969 - January 03 | UH-1F #63-13164 (Call Sign "Green Hornet ?") of the 20th SOS from Ban Me Thuot, RVN, crewed by Maj. Paul E. McClellan (P), Maj. Thomas M. Courtney (CP), Sgt. Jess P. Rowland (FE) and Sgt. Ronald Zenga (FE), was making their second attempt to extract a Special Forces team from Cambodia when they were hit by enemy ground fire setting the UH-1F on fire and it crashed into the trees. When the burning helicopter crashed Sgt. Ronald Zenga (FE) was pinned under it and was killed in the crash. The rest of the crew was rescued. Also known to have been involved in this mission was a 2nd slick crewed by unkn (P), unkn (CP), Sgt. Erick L. Roberts (FM/AG), Sgt. Fred J. Cook (AG), a third slick crewed by unkn (P), unkn (CP), Sgt. Richard L. Schwartz (AG) and Sgt. Ron Winkles (AG) and gunbird #1 crewed by Maj. Del Oldenburg (P), Maj. Carroll Rands (CP), unkn (AG) and unkn (AG). "Secret Green Beret Commandos In Cambodia" by Lt. Col. Fred S. Lindsey, USA (Ret.) & http://en.wikipedia.org/20th_Special_Operations_Squadron & http://www.mh-53pavelow.com/documents/20thSOS/1969.pdf |
| 1969 - January 03 | A HH-3E from the 37th ARRS at Da Nang AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Richard D. Griffiths (P), Lt. Col. James H. Grady (CP), A1C James A. Thibodeau (FE) and MSgt. Glenwood C. Wilkinson (PJ), rescued a USN A-4C (Call sign "Diamond Back 601") pilot, Lt. (Jg.) Richard M. Aaron, after he ejected from his aircraft about 10 miles off the coast of Chu Lai. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form |
| 1969 - January 03 | A HH-43F from Det. 8, 38th ARRS, Cam Ranh Bay AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Peter W. Gissing (P), Maj. Andrew E. Kralj (CP), A1C Wilber L. Jeffcoat Jr. (FE) and SSgt. Gary P. Bryant (PJ), medevacked one ARVN troop in RVN. No other details are known at this time. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form |
| 1969 - January 04 | A HH-43F from Det. 7, 38th ARRS, Da Nang AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Robert S. Henderson (P), Capt. John E. Murray Jr. (CP), SSgt. Kenneth R. Jones (FE) and Sgt. Norman C. Kohlstrand (PJ), medevacked Joseph D. VonSchultz in RVN. No other details are known at this time. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form |
| 1969 - January 04 | A HH-43F from Det. 8, 38th ARRS, Cam Ranh Bay AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. John F. Patterson (P), Capt. John P. Smariga (CP), A1C Wilber L. Jeffcoat Jr. (FE) and SSgt. Donald H. Goodlett Jr. (PJ), medevacked two USA troops in RVN. No other details are known at this time. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form |
| 1969 - January 05 | A HH-43F from Det 7, 38th ARRS, Da Nang AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Johnny R. Johnson (P), Capt. John E. Murray Jr. (CP), Sgt. Brian D. Morris (FE) and Sgt. John D. Nausbaum (PJ), rescued Charles Cribbs and two unkn ARVN troops in Vietnam. No other details are known at this time. JRCC Save Form & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form. |
| 1969 - January 06 | A HH-43F from Det. 10, 38th ARRS, Binh Thuy AB, RVN, crewed by Maj. Ralph L. Gaede (P), Capt. Cecil A. Jesse (CP), Sgt. James E. Tarantino (FE) and A2C Theodore J. Polys (PJ), medevacked Douglas McVeis in RVN. No other details are known at this time. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form |
| 1969 - January 06 | A HH-43F from Det. 7, 38th ARRS, Da Nang AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Robert S. Henderson (P), Maj. Roy L. Huffman (CP), SSgt. Kenneth R. Jones (FE) and Sgt. Norman C. Kohlstrand (PJ), medevacked John R. Jainton in RVN. No other details are known at this time. JRCC Save Form |
| 1969 - January 07 | A HH-43F from Det. 14, 38th ARRS, Tan Son Nhut AB, RVN crewed by Capt. Larry D. Salmans (P), Maj. Robert B. Vaughn (CP), SSgt. Jerry L. Ball (FF), Roosevelt Bray (FF) and A1C Reedus L. Haraway (MT), rescued the crew of a F-4C (Call sign "Sharkbait 71"), Capt. William F. Needham (P) and 1st Lt. Steve D. Adams (WSO), after they ejected from their ground fire damaged aircraft about 2 miles north of Tan Son Nhut AB, RVN. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1969 - January 08 | A HH-43F from Det. 10, 38th ARRS, Binh Thuy AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Phillip H. Kamman (P), Capt. Jack D. Cusano (CP), MSgt. John G. Regan Jr. (FE) and TSgt. Dudley R. Peckinpaugh (PJ), medevacked Frank Vonfara, in RVN. No other details are known at this time. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1969 - January 09 | A HH-43F from Det. 13, 38th ARRS, Phu Cat AB, RVN, crewed by 1st Lt. Wayne A. Grant III (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ), medevacked David C. Ming in RVN. No other details are known at this time. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form |
| 1969 - January 09 | A HH-43B/F from Det. 10, 38th ARRS, Binh Thuy AB, RVN, crewed by Maj. Ralph L. Gaede (P), Capt. Cecil A. Jessee (CP), SSgt. Gerald H. Jones (FE) and A1C Richard C. Stiefken (PJ), rescued four USA troops from a downed USA UH-1 (Call sign "Outlaw 192") helicopter in RVN. No other details are known at this time. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form |
| 1969 - January 10 | A HH-43B/F from Det. 10, 38th ARRS, Binh Thuy AB, RVN, crewed by Maj. Ralph L. Gaede (P), Capt. Cecil A. Jessee (CP), MSgt. John G. Regan Jr. (FE) and Sgt. Lonnie G. Conner (PJ), medevacked USN sailor, Francis Fleming, from a patrol river boat in RVN. No other details are known at this time. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form |
| 1969 - January 10 | A HH-3E from the 37th ARRS at Da Nang AB, RVN, crewed by Maj. Charles E. Wicker (P), Lt. Col. James McGrady (CP), MSgt. Arthur L. Ambrose (FE) and Sgt. Earnest D. Casbeer (PJ), rescued a A-1H (Call sign "Spad 03") pilot, Maj. James B. Wheeler, after he ejected from his .50 caliber ground fire damaged aircraft about 25 miles southwest of Da Nang AB, RVN. Another downed A-1H (Call sign "Spad 12") pilot, Maj. Arthur Roy Sprott, was discovered to be KIA on this same mission. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form |
| 1969 - January 10 | A HH-43F from Det. 10, 38th ARRS, Binh Thuy AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. John L. Debevec (P), Capt. Cecil A. Jessee (CP), MSgt. John G. Regan Jr. (FE) and Sgt. Lonnie G. Conner (PJ), medevacked two USN sailors, Paul T. Hunt and James W. Mildenstein, from a patrol river boat in RVN. No other details are known at this time. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form |
| 1969 - January 10 - 15 | CH-3E's and UH-1F's of the 20th & 21st SOS along with other aircraft provided airlift support for the emergency evacuation of tribesmen in northern Laos. http://www.mh-53pavelow.com/documents/20thSOS/1968.pdf |
| 1969 - January 11 | HH-43F, from Det. 10, 38th ARRS, Binh Thuy AB, RVN, crewed by Maj. Ralph L. Gaede (P), Capt. Jack D. Cusano (CP), SSgt. Gerald H. Jones (FE) and A1C Richard C. Stiefken (PJ) saved F-100D (Call sign "Bobcat 11") pilot, James D. Thames, in RVN. No other details are known at this time. Maj. Gaede received the Sliver Star and the rest of the crew received DFCs for their actions under fire during this mission. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & www.jollygreen.org/Research/JohnMorse/john_morse-nkp-missions.htm & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1969 - January 11 | HH-43F, from Det. 1, 38th ARRS, Phan Rang AB, RVN, crewed by Maj. Jimmy D. Gammon (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ) medevacked one ROK troop in RVN. No other details are known at this time. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form |
| 1969 - January 12 | HH-3E, (Call sign "Jolly Green 16"), from Det. 1, 40th ARRS, Nakhon Phanom RTAFB, Thailand and crewed by Lt. Col. Royal A. Brown Jr. (P), Capt. Roger C. Gibson (CP), TSgt. Jerome M. Casey (FE) and A1C Wayne L. Samuelson (PJ) rescued F-105D (Call sign "Bison 04") pilot, Maj. Willis M. Thompson after he ejected from his 37mm AAA damaged aircraft a few miles west of Ban Nammi, Laos. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & www.jollygreen.org/Research/JohnMorse/john_morse-nkp-missions.html |
| 1969 - January 12 | A HH-43F from Det. 10, 38th ARRS, Binh Thuy AB, RVN, crewed by Maj. Ralph L. Gaede (P), Jack D. Casuno (CP), SSgt. Gerald H. Jones (FE), and A1C Richard C. Stiefken (PJ), medevacked seven troops in contact from a patrol river boat, James L. Sanders, G. H. Ghildres and five unkn, in SVN. No other details are available at this time. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1969 - January 12 | A HH-3E from the 37th ARRS at Da Nang AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Richard D. Griffiths (P), Lt. Col. Homer H. Howell (CP), TSgt. Leslie E. Bunting (FE) and Sgt. Thomas T. Winters (PJ), rescued the pilot of a F-100F (Call sign "Misty 31 Alpha"), Capt. Robert F. Cassard (P), after he and his co-pilot, 1st Lt. Robert E. Bryan (Call sign "Misty 31 Bravo"), ejected from their ground fire damaged aircraft about 30 miles west of Da Nang AB, RVN. Lt. Bryan was rescued by an OH-6 helicopter. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form |
| 1969 - January 12 | A HH-43F from Det. 8, 38th ARRS, Cam Ranh Bay AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Peter W. Gissing (P), Maj. Andrew E. Kralj (CP), A1C Wilber L. Jeffcoat Jr. (FE), and TSgt. Joseph Fernandez (PJ) medevacked two ROK troops, Chan Chang Whoan and Pak Guon Bang, in SVN. No other details are available currently. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1969 - January 12 | A HH-43F from Det. 8, 38th ARRS, Cam Ranh Bay AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Bruce K. Ware (P), Lt. Col. Flavious F. Drake (CP), Sgt. James W. Simmons (FE), and TSgt. Joseph Fernandez (PJ), medevacked ROK troop, Kim Killavng, in SVN. No other details are available currently. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1969 - January 12 | A HH-3E from the 37th ARRS from Da Nang AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Gerald W. Moore (P), Herman C. Stafford Jr. (CP), SSgt. Ernest R. Cyrus (FE) and A1C Robert K. Cassidy (PJ), rescued the crew of a USMC F-4B (Call sign "Manual 06"), 1st Lt. Gary L. Bain (P), and 1st Lt. William C. Ryan, after they ejected from their aircraft when it caught fire over the South China Sea. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form |
| 1969 - January 12 | A HH-43F from Det. 10, 38th ARRS, crewed by Maj. Ralph L. Gaede (P), Capt. Jack D. Cusano (CP), Sgt. James E. Tarantino (FE), and A2C Theodore J. Polys (PJ), medevacked two unkn USN sailors from a patrol river boat, in RVN. No other details are available currently. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1969 - January 13 | A HH-43F from Det. 7, 38th ARRS, Da Nang AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Johnny R. Johnson (P), Capt. John E. Murray Jr. (CP), SSgt. William H. Sands (FE), and Sgt. George P. Hoffman (PJ), medevacked Benny E. Arrowwood in SVN. No other details are available currently. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1969 - January 14 | A HH-43F from Det. 7, 38th ARRS, Da Nang AB, RVN, crewed by Maj. Keaver Holley III (P), Maj. Roy L. Huffman (CP), SSgt. Kenneth R. Jones (FE), and John D. Nusbaum (PJ), medevacked one unkn USA troop in SVN. No other details are available currently. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1969 - January 14 | A HH-3E (Call sign “Jolly Green 17”) from the 40th ARRS at Udorn RTAFB, Thailand, crewed by USCG Lt. Cmdr. Lonnie L. Mixon (P), Capt. Jack C. H. Schwank (CP), Sgt. Barry D. Burnett (FE), Henry L. Hebert (PJ) and TSgt. Dalford R. V. Widner (PJ), medevacked a Thai woman delivering triplets from a small, isolated village in Thailand. No other details are known at this time. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1969 - January 14 | A HH-43F from Det. 11, 38th ARRS, Tuy Hoa AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Daniel A. Nicholson (P), Capt. Henry P. Fogg (CP), SSgt. Leroy W. King (FE) and A1C Paul E. Fatka (PJ), medevacked Howard L. Givens in RVN. No other details are known at this time. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1969 - January 15 | CH-3E #67-14702 (Call sign "Knife 54") of the 21st SOS crewed by Maj. Gerald T. Henery (P), Capt. Robert F. Adams (CP), SSgt. Gerald J. Bucknall (FE) and TSgt. Hernand E. Wilson (FE) was shot down and lost while on a Prairie Fire emergency extraction in Laos. The entire crew was rescued by another CH-3E on this mission, piloted by Capt. Dave Shetter (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (FE). http://www.jollygreen.org/jltnc.html |
| 1969 - January 15 | A HH-43F from Det. 7, 38th ARRS, Da Nang AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Johnny R. Johnson (P), Capt. John S. Murray (CP), TSgt. William H. Sands (FE), SSgt. William N. Shannon (FF) and Sgt. Bruce J. Bell (FF), rescued a downed VNAF pilot, 1st Lt. Truong Ngog Dinh. No other details are known at this time. JRCC Save Form |
| 1969 - January 15 | A HH-43F from Det. 10, 38th ARRS, Binh Thuy AB, RVN, crewed by Maj. Ralph L. Gaede (P), Capt. Jack D. Cusano (CP), Sgt. James E. Tarantino (FE) and A2C Theodore J. Polys (PJ), medevacked two ROK troops in RVN. No other details are known at this time. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1969 - January 16 | UH-1F/P's of the 20th SOS from Ban Me Thuot, RVN, the extraction slick crewed by 1st Lt. James P. Fleming (P), Maj. Carroll C. Rands (CP), SSgt. William R. Combs (FE) and Sgt. Paul R. "J. J." Jensen (FE), rescued a MACV SOG team, with two team members wounded, that was in a fire fight with a large enemy force, by using rope ladders to extract the team. 1st Lt. Fleming is known to have been awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross for this mission, awards status for the other crew members is unknown at this time. "Secret Green Beret Commandos In Cambodia" by Lt. Col. Fred S. Lindsey, USA (Ret.) |
| 1969 - January 16 | A HH-43F from Det. 10, 38th ARRS at Binh Thuy AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Phillip H. Kamman (P), Capt. Cecil A. Jessee (CP), Sgt. James E. Tarantino (FE) and A2C Theodore J. Polys (PJ), medevacked Robert Livingstone from a LST in RVN. No other details are known at this time. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1969 - January 16 | A HH-53B from the 40th ARRS at Udorn RTAFB, Thailand, crewed by Capt. Dan L. Reeder (P), Capt. Martin W. Weeks Jr. (CP), TSgt. Truman W. McDonald (FE), TSgt. Jack D Moran (PJ), A1C Robert L. Harris (PJ) and A1C Jeffrey L. Whitted (AP), rescued the crew of a F-4C (Call sign "Boxer 24"), Maj. Larry L. Davis (P) and 1st Lt. Auvern A. Ernst (WSO), when they ejected from their ground fire damaged aircraft near the southern end of the Mu Gia Pass, a few miles north of Ban Senphan, Laos. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form |
| 1969 - January 16 | A HH-43F from Det. 7, 38th ARRS, Da Nang AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Walter E. Hogan (P), Capt. David A. Voight (CP), TSgt. Gordon L. Ball (FE) and SSgt. Curtis W. Phythian Jr. (PJ), rescued the crew of a USMC A-6A (Call sign "Ringneck 377"), 1st Lt. D. R. Jessen (P) and 1st Lt. R. D. Tutor (CP), when they ejected from their ground fire damaged over Da Nang Bay, RVN. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form |
| 1969 - January 16 | A HH-43B from Det. 5, 38th ARRS, Udorn RTAFB, Thailand, crewed by Maj. Alfred W. Lamkin (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ), rescued the crew of a RF-4C (Call sign "Bullwhip 11"), Capt. C. P. Sloan (P) and 1st Lt. A. L. Guise (CP), when they nursed their 37mm AAA damaged aircraft back into Thailand where they ejected about 7 miles southeast of Udorn RTAFB, Thailand. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form |
| 1969 - January 16 | A HH-3E from the 37th ARRS at Da Nang AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Robert A. Reichert (P), Capt. Ronald A. Merino (CP), Sgt. Karl H. Chunn (FE), Sgt. Edward K. Rendell (PJ) and A1C Robert H. Fields (PJ), rescued the crew of a RF-4C (Call sign "Yoyo 41"), Maj. Elery P. Morphew (P) and Capt. Robert C. Cotton (CP), when they nursed their 37mm AAA damaged aircraft over the South China Sea, about 7 miles from Da Nang, where they ejected. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form |
| 1969 - January 17 | A CH-3E #62-12582 (call sign “Pony Express 20”) from the 20th SOS, crewed by Maj. Walter Wesley Martin (P), Capt. Richard Alan Fleming (CP) and SSgt. Albert Jackson Davis (FE), while supporting TACAN site (LS-36) at Na Khang in northern Laos (location of loss 20° 02’N 103° 28’E) experienced small arms fire, while hovering, sending the helicopter over the side of a hill where it crashed, rolled over and exploded. Major Martin, Capt. Fleming, SSgt. Davis along with passengers Lt. Col. Wayne Franklin Bolton, TSgt. George Albert Kurtyka and TSgt. Huan Arturo Maldonado were killed with two crew chiefs, SSgt. Gary E. Wingate, SSgt. W. C. Brown and one other airman passenger, MSgt J. P. Pholman Jr. surviving (See next entry). No other details are known at this time. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & http://hupi.org/map/vietnam/helicopt.html & http://hupi.ort/map/vietnam/helicopt.html & http://thewall-usa.com/guest.asp?recid=12089 |
| 1969 - January 17 | A HH-53B from the 40th ARRS at Udorn RTAFB, Thailand, crewed by Capt. John L. Harvell (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE), unkn (PJ), unkn (PJ) and unkn (AP), rescued the two crew chiefs and a surviving passenger of a CH-3E (Call sign "Pony Express 20"), Sgt. Gary E. Wingate, SSgt. W. C. Brown and MSgt. J. P. Pholman Jr. No other details are known at this time (See previous entry). "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form |
| 1969 - January 17 | A HH-3E from the 37th ARRS at Da Nang AB, RVN, crewed by Lt. Col. Henry E. Simpson Jr. (P), Capt. Vincent A. Ziccardi (CP), A1C James A. Thibodeau (FE), Sgt. Steven T. White (PJ and unkn (AP), rescued the crew of a USA O-1E (Call sign "Black Ace 23"), CW/O John C. Chatterton (P) and Sallette (Observer). No other details are known at this time. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form |
| 1969 - January 17 | A HH-3E #67-14722 (Call sign “Jolly Green 32”) from the 37th ARRS at Da Nang AB, RVN, crewed by Maj. Robert E. Booth (P), Capt. Joseph J. Dillon (CP), SSgt. William L. Crawford (FE) and SSgt. Eugene L. Nardi (PJ), was launched from alert at Quang Tri to attempt the rescue the crew of F-4D (Call sign "Stormy 02), Capt. Victor Arlon Smith (P) and 1st Lt. James R. Fegan (CP) whose F-4D had been shot down by enemy 37 mm AAA fire near Ban Vangthon, Laos. The ‘high bird’ on this mission was HH-3E #67-14725 (Call sign “Jolly Green 34”), crewed by Maj. Charles E. Wicker (P), Maj. Ronald L. Haglund (CP), SSgt. Jackie L. Mangrum (FE) and A1C Joel E. Talley (PJ). Also participating in this mission was HH-3E #67-14712 (Call sign “Jolly Green 31”), crewed by Capt. Gerald W. Moore (P), Capt. Charles P., Lowry (CP), TSgt. Leslie E. Bunting (FE) and Sgt. Thomas T. Winters (PJ) along with HH-3E #66-13289 (Call sign “Jolly Green 03”) crewed by Maj. John G. Kakacek (P), Capt. Joseph R. Hall (CP), TSgt. Charles D. Severns (FE) and A1C Dennis C. Palmer (PJ). The Jolly Greens orbited away from the survivor, refueling several times, as air strikes continued, throughout the afternoon, to suppress enemy fire. As darkness fell there was still too much enemy fire for the Jolly Greens to make a rescue attempt, so the mission was called off for the day, with a first light attempt planned for the morning (see entries below). Combat Search & Rescue, Mission: Stormy 02 Bravo document. |
| 1969 - January 18 | A HH-53B (Call sign “Jolly Green 68”) from the 40th ARRS at Udorn RTAFB, Thailand, crewed by Capt. Kenneth E. Ernest (P), Arthur E. Smith (CP), SSgt. Howard M. Lord (FE), A1C Leland H. Sorensen (PJ) and TSgt. Leon Fullwood (PJ) and Arnold Magill (AP) rescued the co-pilot of a F-4D (Call sign "Stormy 02 Bravo"), 1st Lt. James R. Fegan, after he and his pilot had ejected on January 17, 1969, from their 37 mm AAA damaged aircraft near Ban Vangthon, Laos. The F-4D pilot, Capt. Victor Arlon Smith, was KIA. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form |
| 1969 - January 18 | HH-53B #66-14430 (Call sign "Jolly Green 67") of the 40th ARRS from Udorn RTAFB, Thailand, crewed by Maj. Paul J. Darghty (P), Maj. Barton C. Libby (CP), SSgt. James R. Purdue (FE), Sgt. Thomas R. Pope (PJ) and Sgt. Donald C. Johnson (PJ) was hit by ground fire and lost, about 9 miles southeast of Tchephone, Laos, after rescuing A-1H pilot Lt. Col. Lurie J. Morris (Call sign "Sandy 02"). The crew of HH-53B #66-14430 and A-1H pilot Morris were rescued by other HH-53B's on the mission, #68-10366 (Call sign "Jolly Green 70") crewed by Maj. Fredrick M. “Marty” Donohue (P), Capt. Carl W. Oliver (CP), SSgt. Maxie L. Hilligoss Jr. (FE), Tommy W. Meyer (PJ) and A1C Daniel E. Galde (PJ) and one other HH-53, call sign and crew unkn. A flight of F-4's destroyed HH-53B #66-14430 to prevent it from falling into enemy hands, thus becoming the FIRST HH-53B lost in combat. http://www.jollygreen.org/jltnc.htm & "On a Steel Horse I Ride" by Darrel D. Whitcomb & http://pjsinnam.com/vn_history/pdf_files/Chronology/1969.pdf |
| 1969 - January 18 | HH-53B #68-10366 (Call sign "Jolly Green 70") of the 40th ARRS from Udorn RTAFB, Thailand, crewed by Maj. Fredrick M. “Marty” Donohue (P), Capt. Carl W. Oliver (CP), SSgt. Maxie L. Hilligoss Jr. (FE), Tommy W. Meyer (PJ) and A1C Daniel E. Galde (PJ) rescued the crew of "Jolly Green 67" and the A-1H pilot that they had rescued, about 9 miles SE of Tchephone, Laos (See previous entry). http://www.pjsinnam.com/vn_history/pdf_files/Chronology/1969.pdf |
| 1969 - January 18 | A HH-3E #67-14722 (Call sign “Jolly Green 32”), from the 37th ARRS at Da Nang AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. John E. Hannan (P), Capt. Charles P. Lowry (CP), TSgt. Leslie E. Bunting (FE) and Sgt. Thomas T. Winters (PJ), rescued O-2A (Call sign "Covey 285") pilot, Maj. George H. Blair, after he and his observer, 2nd Lt. William (Bill) E. Townsley (Call sign "Covey 264") bailed out of their AAA damaged near the village of Ban Palin, Laos. High bird for “Jolly Green 32” was HH-3E (Call sign “Jolly Green 04”) crewed by unkn (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ). "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form |
| 1969 - January 18 | A HH-3E (Call sign “Jolly Green 16”), from the 37th ARRS at Da Nang AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Kenneth D. Murphy (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ), attempted to rescue O-2A (Call sign "Covey 264") observer, 2nd Lt. William (Bill) E. Townsley, after he and his pilot, Maj. George H. Blair (Call sign "Covey 285") bailed out of their AAA damaged near the village of Ban Palin, Laos. However, “Jolly Green 16” was driven off the attempt after receiving damaging enemy ground fire. Due to darkness the rescue attempt for the day was called off and a first light attempt for the next morning was planned (See 1969, January 19 entry below). High bird for “Jolly Green 16” was HH-3E (Call sign “Jolly Green 20”) crewed by unkn (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ). (See next entry). "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form |
| 1969 - January 18 | A HH-43F from Det. 10, 38th ARRS, Binh Thuy AB, RVN, crewed by Maj. Ralph L. Gaede (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ), rescued two unkn foreign military troops. No other details are known at this time. JRCC Save Form |
| 1969 - January 18 | HH-43F from Det. 13, 38th ARRS, Phu Cat AB, RVN, crewed by Maj. Juan H. Magia (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ), medevacked six in RVN. No other details are known at this time. JRCC Save Form & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1969 - January 19 | CH-3E #63-9689 (Call sign "Knife 26") of the 21st SOS at Nakhon Phanom RTAFB, Thailand, crewed by Capt. Phillip J. Conran (P), Capt. Tryon S. Lindabury Jr. (CP), TSgt. James J. Clouse (FE) and Sgt. Bill Sawyer (AG), crashed at the scene of a fire that had started when an A-26 jettisoned its bomb load in Thailand. The co-pilot suffered vertigo and the helicopter settled into the trees (see next entry). http://20thhelicoptersquadronreunion.com/3/miscellaneous5.htm & JRCC Save Form |
| 1969 - January 19 | HH-3E of Det. 1, 40th ARRS from Nakhon Phanom RTAFB, Thailand, crewed by Capt. Richard J. Harwood (P), Capt. James P. O'Pry (CP), Sgt. Gregory G. Gallagher (FE), Leonard C. Johnson (PJ) and Ember A. Curry (PJ) rescued the crew of a CH-3E #63-9689 (Call sign "Knife 26"), Capt. Phillip J. Conran (P), Capt. T. S. Lindaburry (CP), TSgt. James J. Clouse (FE) and Sgt. William B. Sawyer (AG), from the 21st SOS and five passengers, TSgt. James L. Bell, Sgt. Richard Matthews, A1C Terry C. Mayo, A1C George Mequillian and Thai national Somran Bumbongluska, that had gone down in Thailand (see previous 1969, January 18 entry). No other details are known at this time. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form |
| 1969 - January 19 | A HH-53B (Call sign “Jolly Green 69”), from the 40th ARRS at Udorn RTAFB, Thailand, crewed by Capt. Kenneth D. Murphy (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ), rescued observer, 2nd Lt. William (Bill) E. Townsley after he and his pilot, Maj. George H. Blair bailed out of their AAA damaged O-2A (Call sign "Covey 264") on 18 January 1969, near the village of Ban Palin, Laos. Lt. Townsley had to spend the night in hiding and spent the morning of his rescue directing air strikes on enemy forces around him. ‘High bird’ on this mission was HH-53C #69-5784 (Call sign “Jolly Green 71”) crewed by unkn (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE), unkn (PJ) and unkn (PJ). "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & JRCC Save Form |
| 1969 - January 19 | A HH-43F from Det. 10, 38th ARRS, Binh Thuy AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. John L. Debevec (P), Capt. Cecil A. Jessee (CP), MSgt. John G. Regan Jr. (FE) and Sgt. Lonnie G. Conner (PJ), rescued one VNAF troop. No other details are known at this time. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form |
| 1969 - January 19 | A HH-43F from Det. 10, 38th ARRS, Binh Thuy AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. John L. Debevec (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ), rescued two USN sailors, E3 Paul T. Hunt and E6 James W. Milkenstein. No other details are known at this time. JRCC Save Form |
| 1969 - January 20 | A HH-43F from Det. 10, 38th ARRS, Binh Thuy AB, RVN, crewed by Maj. Ralph L. Gaede (P), Capt. Jack D. Cusano (CP), A1C Richard C. Stiefken (FE) and SSgt. Gerald H. Jones (PJ), rescued the pilot of a F-100D, 1st Lt. James D. James, after he ejected from his ground fire damaged aircraft about 5 miles south of Vinh Long, RVN. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form |
| 1969 - January 20 | A HH-43F from Det. 10, 38th ARRS, Binh Thuy AB, RVN, crewed by Maj. Ralph L. Gaede (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ), rescued seven USN sailors, E7 James L. Sangers, E-6 G. H. Chidress and five others. No other details are known at this time. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form |
| 1969 - January 20 | A HH-43F from Det. 8, 38th ARRS, Cam Ranh Bay AB, RVN, crewed by Lt. Col. Flavious F. Drake (P), Capt. John P. Smariga (CP), Sgt. James W. Simmons (FE) and TSgt. Joseph Fernandez (PJ), medevacked Michael W. Walsh in RVN. No other details are known at this time. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form |
| 1969 - January 21 | A HH-43F 60-0278 (Call sign "Pedro 20") from Det. 11, 38th ARRS, Tuy Hoa AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Daniel A. Nicholson (P), Maj. Robert J. Kazmerchak (CP), A1C Timothy M. Reynolds (PJ) and Sgt. Joseph R. Capper (FF), rescued USMC troop, PFC Thomas Teague under fire in RVN. "Pedro 20" was hit by enemy fire while in a hover and made an emergency landing about 5 miles away (See next entry). No other details are known at this time. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1969 - January 21 | A HH-43F from Det. 12, 38th ARRS, Nha Trang AB, RVN, crewed by 1st Lt. Willis J. Thayer (P), Maj. Richard G. Lauderdale Jr. (CP), John M. Dunbar Jr. (FE) and SSgt. James R. Pospichel (FF), rescued four crew members of a downed USAF HH-43B, Capt. Daniel A. Nicholson (P), Maj. Robert J. Kazmerchak (CP), Sgt. Joseph R. Capper (FF), and A1C Timothy M. Reynolds (PJ). No other details are known at this time. (See previous entry) "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form |
| 1969 - January 21 | A HH-3E from the 37th ARRS, Da Nang AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. John E. Hannan (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ), rescued PJ A1C Jennings. No other details are known at this time. JRCC Save Form |
| 1969 - January 21 | A HH-43F from Det. 6, 38th ARRS, Bien Hoa AB, RVN, crewed by 1st Lt. John F. Kolar (P), Maj. Richard W. Lorey (CP), SSgt. Joseph A. Renaud (FF) and Lawrence B. McKenzie (FF), using their FSK saved the pilot of an F-100D, Capt. Milo G. Maahs when his ground fire damaged aircraft crashed while attempting to land a Bien Hoa, AB, RVN. Capt. Maahs died later from injuries he received when his aircraft crashed. No other details are known at this time. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form |
| 1969 - January 21 | A HH-43F from Det. 10, 38th ARRS, Binh Thuy AB, RVN, crewed by Maj. Ralph L. Gaede (P), Capt. Jack D. Cusano (CP), Sgt. James E. Tarantino (FE) and A2C Theodore J. Polys (PJ), medevacked David Register and Granland Martin in RVN. No other details are known at this time. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form |
| 1969 - January 21 | A HH-43F from Det. 7, 38th ARRS, Da Nang AB, RVN, crewed by Maj. Keaver Holley III (P), Maj. Roy L. Huffman (CP), SSgt. Kenneth R. Jones (FE) and Sgt. Norman C. Kohlstrand (PJ), medevacked one USA troop in RVN. No other details are known at this time. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form |
| 1969 - January 21 | A HH-43F from Det. 10, 38th ARRS, Binh Thuy AB, RVN, crewed by Maj. Ralph L. Gaede (P), Capt. Jack D. Cusano (CP), Sgt. James E. Tarantino (FE) and A2C Theodore J. Polys (PJ), medevacked two ROK troops in RVN. No other details are known at this time. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form |
| 1969 - January 22 | A HH-3E (Call sign "Jolly Green 33") from the 37th ARRS at Da Nang AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. William M. Campbell (P), Capt. Lawrence C. Davis Jr. (CP), TSgt. Leslie E. Bunting (FE) and William Jennings IV (PJ), rescued the pilot of a USMC F-4B (Call sign "Lovebug 456 Alpha), 1st Lt. W. E. Collins, after he and his WSO, 1st Lt. Daniel J. Minahan, ejected from their ground fire damaged aircraft about 19 miles south of Hue, RVN. Lt. Minahan was KIA. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form |
| 1969 - January 22 | A HH-3E from the 37th ARRS at Da Nang AB, RVN, crewed by Lt. Col. James H. Grady (P), Maj. Donald P. Olsen (CP), MSgt. Charles L. Manes (FE) and A1C Robert K. Cassidy (PJ), rescued the co-pilot of a F-100F (Call sign "Misty 51 Bravo"), Capt. Colin Arnie Clarke, after he and his pilot, Maj. J. M. Grathwol ejected from their ground fire damaged aircraft about 40 miles west of Chu Lai, RVN. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form |
| 1969 - January 22 | A HH-3E from the 37th ARRS at Da Nang AB, RVN, crewed by Maj. Charles E. Wicker (P), Maj. Russell G. Mills (CP), MSgt. Arthur L. Ambrose (FE) and Sgt. Thomas T. Winters (PJ), rescued a F-100F (Call sign "Misty 51") pilot, Maj. John M. Grathiwol, after he and his co-pilot, Capt. Colin Arnie Clarke, ejected from their ground fire damaged aircraft about 40 miles west of Chu Lai, RVN. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form |
| 1969 - January 22 | A HH-3E from the 37th ARRS at Da Nang AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. John E. Hannan (P), Herman C. Stafford (CP), SSgt. Ernest R. Cyrus (FE) and SSgt. Eugene L. Nardi (PJ), rescued PJ William Jennings IV who had been left on the ground during the F-100F (Call sign "Misty 51") SAR. No other details are known at this time. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form |
| 1969 - January 22 | A HH-43F from Det. 12, 38th ARRS, Nha Trang AB, RVN, crewed by 1st Lt. Willis J. Thayer (P), Maj. John A. Lerda (CP), TSgt. Harold R. Massengale (FE) and SSgt. James L. Miller (PJ), flew eight sorties taking parts to and from "Pedro 20" (that had gone down the day before) to assist in the recovery of the HH-43F. No other details are known at this time. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form |
| 1969 - January 23 | UH-1F/Ps of the 20th SOS from Ban Me Thuot, RVN, the extraction slick crewed by unkn (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (FE) and one of the gunships crewed by Maj. Carrol C. Rands (P), Maj. Russ Simonetta (P), unkn (AG) and unkn (AG), rescued a MACV SOG team, that was in a fire fight with a large enemy force. No other details are known at this time. "Secret Green Beret Commandos In Cambodia" by Lt. Col. Fred S. Lindsey, USA (Ret.) |
| 1969 - January 24 | A HH-3E #66-13290 (Call sign “Jolly Green 04”) from the 37th ARRS at Da Nang AB, RVN, crewed by Maj. Donald P. Olsen (P), Lt. Col. James H. Grady (CP), SSgt. Edgar W. Hooper (FE) and A1C Robert H. Fields (PJ), rescued the crew of a F-4C (Call sign "Hammer 51"), Maj. Robert D. Russ and 1st Lt. Richard J. Rybak, after they ejected from their .50 cal. ground fire damaged aircraft about 25 miles southwest of Hue, RVN. ‘High bird’ on this mission was Jolly Green 28, crewed by Lt. Col. John J. Devlin Jr. (P), Capt. Laurens C. Davis Jr. (CP), SSgt. Howard J. Presley (FE) and Sgt. Stephen T. White (PJ). "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form |
| 1969 - January 24 | HH-3E #64-14230, (Call sign "Jolly Green 17"), from Det. 1, 40th ARRS, Nakhon Phanom RTAFB, Thailand and crewed by USCG Lt. Lance A. Eagan (P), Capt. Roger C. Gibson (CP), MSgt. Arthur H. Krum (FE), A1C Douglas L. Horka (PJ), and TSgt. Dolford R. V. Widener (PJ) rescued the crew of a F-4D (Call signs "Honda 03"), Lt. Col. Robert W. Clement (P) & Capt. James A. Nash (CP) after they ejected from their 37 mm AAA damaged aircraft few miles west of Ban Talan, Laos. JRCC Save Form & www.jollygreen.org/Research/JohnMorse/john_morse-nkp-missions.htm & Vietnam Air Losses by Chris Hobson |
| 1969 - January 24 | A HH-43F from Det. 6, 38th ARRS, Bien Hoa AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Raymond L. Murden (P), Capt. Charles P. Nadler (CP), TSgt. Kenneth L. Perkins (FE) and A1C Henry J. O'Beirne (PJ), rescued the co-pilot of an F-100F, 1st Lt. J. D. Mullere after he ejected from his ground fire damaged aircraft a few miles south Truc Giang, RVN. The F-100F pilot, Capt. G. G. Potter, was rescued by an Army helicopter. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1969 - January 24 | A HH-3E from the 37th ARRS at Da Nang AB, RVN, crewed by Maj. Charles E. Wicker (P), Capt. Joseph J. Dillon (CP), Billy G. Benson (FE) and A1C Robert K. Cassidy (PJ), recovered a USMC A-4E (Call sign "Hellborne 162") pilot, Capt. Michael B. Green from a USN boat that had rescued him and returned him to his base at Chu Lai, RVN, after he had ejected from his ground fire damaged aircraft about 3 miles at sea. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1969 - January 25 | A HH-3E from the 37th ARRS at Da Nang AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Joseph R. Hall Jr. (P), Capt. Harry W. Hagen Jr. (CP), SSgt. Billy R. Bloomer (FE) and SSgt. Eugene L. Nardi (PJ), rescued the crew of a F-4C (Call sign "Sharkbait 61"), Maj. Paule E. Gushwa (P) and 1st Lt. William J. Arland (WSO) after they ejected from their .50 cal. ground fire damaged aircraft about 15 miles west of Hue, RVN. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form |
| 1969 - January 25 | A HH-43F from Det. 13, 38th ARRS, Phu Cat AB, RNV, crewed by Capt. David A. Cochenour (P), Maj. Joseph D. Price (CP), Sgt. Stephen L. Stover (FE), SSgt. Edward E. Scott (MT), SSgt. Robert A. Twigg (FF) and A1C James J. Washbeck (FF) medevacked Melford A. King from a ship about 20 miles offshore in RVN. No other details are known at this time. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form |
| 1969 - January 25 - 26 | Two HH-43's from Det. 11 (TUSLOG Det. 84) at Incirlik AB, Turkey flew to the village of Arslankoy, Turkey, three-fourths of which had been completely covered by snow, carrying medical teams, 1,400 pounds of food and medicine, and 1,100 pounds of fuel oil. They saved 14 lives. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/37th_Aerospace_Rescue_and_Recovery_Squadron#Operations_and_losses |
| 1969 - January 26 | HH-43F #63-9712 (Call sign "Pedro 74") from Det. 7, 38th ARRS, Da Nang AB, RVN and crewed by Capt. William E. Clark (P), 1st Lt. Warren F. Kaufman (CP), TSgt. Donald W. Gooding (FE), Sgt. Luther T. Jones (PJ), SSgt. Gus Jones (FF) and George Bogner (observer) was hit by ground fire and crashed about 10 miles north of Da Nang AB. The HH-43F crew was rescued. No other details are known at this time. http://www.jollygreen.org/jltnc.html |
| 1969 - January 28 | HH-3E #65-12785 (Call sign "Jolly Green 36") from Det. 1, 40th ARRS, Nakhon Phanom RTAFB, Thailand and crewed by Lt. Col. Royal A. Brown Jr. (P), Capt. Glen A. Lintner (CP), MSgt. Arthur H. Krum (FE), TSgt. Dolford R. V. Widner (PJ) and A1C Robert L. Harris (PJ) rescued the crew of a F-4D (Call sign ""Wolf 02"), Capt. Gary M. Smith (P) and 1st Lt. Harold R. Dobbs (CP) from a few miles southeast of Ban Xam Tai, Laos. High bird on this mission was HH-3E #68-10360 (Call sign “Jolly Green 20”) crewed by unkn (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ). www.jollygreen.org/Research/JohnMorse/john_morse-nkp-missions.htm & http://www.pjsinnam.com/vn_history/pdf_files/Chronology/1969.pdf & "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson |
| 1969 - January 29 | HH-43F from Det. 10, 38th ARRS, Binh Thuy AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. John L. Debevec (P), Capt. Jack D. Cusano (CP), Gerald H. Cusano (FE) and A1C Richard C. Stiefken (PJ), rescued four crew members, Maj. John A. Fesmire, Capt. S. E. Draper, 1st Lt. Billy J. Hendrix, 1st Lt. Tim Petersen and one Vietnamese, Maj. Thonh, from a downed USA UH-1 gunship in RVN. No other details are known at this time. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form |
| 1969 - January 30 | HH-43F from Det. 12, 38th ARRS, Nha Trang AB, RVN, crewed by 1st Lt. Willis J. Thayer (P), Maj. Robert J. Kazmerchak (CP), TSgt. John B. Gent (FE), A1C Louis C. Felker (PJ) and A1C Timothy M. Reynolds (PJ), attempted an unsuccessful rescue of a RF-4C (Call sign "Sage 30") crew, Maj. Harper Brown Keeler (P) and Maj. Ludwig George Baumann (CP) when it crashed into a hill about 5 miles south of Nha Trang AB, RVN. Both Maj.'s Keeler and Baumann were KIA. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form |
| 1969 - January 30 | HH-43F from Det. 13, 38th ARRS, Phu Cat AB, RVN, crewed by Maj. Juan H. Magia (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ), rescued five unkn crew members from a downed USA CH-47 helicopter. No other details are known at this time. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form |
| 1969 - January 31 | HH-43F from Det. 11, 38th ARRS from Tuy Hoa AB, RVN crewed by Capt. William F. Austin (P), Capt. Charles T. Wohlnick (CP), SSgt. Raphael C. Martin (FE) and A1C Paul E. Fatka (PJ), rescued the pilot of an F-100C (Call sign "Taco 11"), Capt. Jerry N. Williams, after he ejected from his small arms fire damaged aircraft near the village of My Thanh, RVN. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form |
| 1969 - January 31 | HH-43F from Det. 10, 38th ARRS, Binh Thuy AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Phillip H. Kamman (P), Capt. Cecil A. Jessee (CP), SSgt. Gerald H. Jones (FE) and A2C Theodore J. Polys (PJ), rescued one unkn sailor from a USN UH-1 (Call sign "Seawolf"). No other details are known at this time. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form |
| 1969 - February 01 | HH-43F from Det. 7, 38th ARRS, Da Nang AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Johnny R. Johnson (P), Capt. John E. Murray (CP), Sgt. Brian D. Morris (FE) and John D. Nusbaum (PJ), medevacked Rosemond Prysock in RVN. No other details are known at this time. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form |
| 1969 - February 04 | HH-43F from Det. 11, 38th ARRS, Tuy Hoa AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Henry P. Fogg (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ), medevacked Clinton Crawford in RVN. No other details are known at this time. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form |
| 1969 - February 06 | HH-43F from Det. 7, 38th ARRS, Da Nang AB, RVN, crewed by Maj. Tom W. Brumfield Jr. (P), Capt. John E Murray Jr. (CP), TSgt. William H. Sands (FE) and SSgt. John J. Eldridge (PJ), medevacked James L. Bruno in RVN. No other details are known at this time. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form |
| 1969 - February 06 | HH-43F from Det. 1, 38th ARRS, Phan Rang AB, RVN, crewed by Maj. John C. Neville Jr. (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ), medevacked USA troop named Baxter in RVN. No other details are known at this time. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form |
| 1969 - February 07 | A HH-43F from Det. 10, 38th ARRS, Binh Thuy AB, RVN, crewed by Maj. Ralph L. Gaede (P), Capt. Jack D. Cusano (CP), MSgt. John G. Regan Jr. (FE) and Sgt. Lonnie G. Conner (PJ), medevacked USN E4 Mitchel Decleene in RVN. No other details are known at this time. JRCC Save Form |
| 1969 - February 07 | A HH-3E from the 37th ARRS at Da Nang AB, RVN, crewed by Maj. Watson D. Burnfield (P), Maj. Paul B. Davis Jr. (CP), SSgt. Billy R. Bloomer (FE), Sgt. Robert H. Fields (PJ) and William T. Coffey (AP), attempted the unsuccessful rescue of the crew of a USMC F-4J (Call sign "Love Bug 456"), Capt. Richard Augustine Deleidi (P) and 1st Lt. J. W. Maxwell (CP). Their aircraft was hit by 50 cal. enemy fire about 3 miles west of Da Nang AB, RVN and they headed out to sea where Lt. Maxwell ejected and was rescued by a USMC helicopter and Capt. Deleide was KIA in the crash of their aircraft. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form |
| 1969 - February 07 | A HH-3E from the 37th ARRS at Da Nang AB, RVN, crewed by Maj. Watson D. Burnfield (P), Maj. Paul B. Davis Jr. (CP), SSgt. Billy R. Bloomer (FE) and Sgt. Robert H. Fields (PJ) rescued Stanley A. McCoric, the only survivor of an unknown helicopter (Call sign "High Box 32") downed in RVN. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form |
| 1969 - February 07 | A CH-3E from the 21st SOS, crewed by Captain Philip J. Conran (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (FE) rescued indigenous personnel deep into hostile territory while under extremely hostile fire. No other details are known at this time. "http://valor.militarytimes.com/recipient.php?recipientid=3605 |
| 1969 - February 09 | UH-1F/Ps of the 20th SOS from Ban Me Thuot, RVN, the UH-1F slick crewed by unkn (P), unkn (CP), SSgt Ronald J. Keersmaekers (FE) and unkn (FE), had just came to a hover in a landing zone deep in enemy territory to insert a MACV SOG recon team when they came under heavy enemy fire, wounding the pilot and SSgt. Keersmaekers and damaging the helicopter. The unkn co-pilot was able to take control of the helicopter and fly out of the landing zone while the two gunners and the team members were returning enemy fire. No other details are known at this time. "Secret Green Beret Commandos In Cambodia" by Lt. Col. Fred S. Lindsey, USA (Ret.) |
| 1969 - February 09 | A HH-43F from Det. 10, 38th ARRS, Binh Thuy AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Phillip H. Kamman (P), Capt. Robert A. White (CP), Sgt. James E. Tarantino (FE) and A1C Theoddore J. Polys (PJ) medevacked one USN sailor in RVN. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form |
| 1969 - February 10 | A HH-43F from Det. 11, 38th ARRS, Tuy Hoa AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Henry P. Fogg (P), Capt. Charles T. Wohinick (CP), A1C Charles F. Soderboom (FE) and Sgt. Richard E. Evans (PJ), rescued five USA troops, W/O Kenneth, W/O Robert Register, Steven Wheeler, Graig Osborne, Van Bailey, from a downed USA UH-1(Call sign “Blue Star”) helicopter in RVN. No other details are known at this time. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form |
| 1969 - February 10 | A HH-43F from Det. 11, 38th ARRS, Tuy Hoa AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. William F. Austin (P), Maj. Morgan A. Downing (CP), SSgt. Leroy W. King (FE) and A1C Paul E. Fatka (PJ), rescued six USA troops, Williams, Bloniart, Donald Manning, Marsh and Joe Millier, from a downed USA UH-1(Call sign “Blue Star”) helicopter in RVN. No other details are known at this time. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form |
| 1969 - February 12 | A HH-43F from Det. 11, 38th ARRS, Tuy Hoa AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. William F. Austin (P), Maj. Morgan A. Downing (CP), SSgt. Leroy W. King (FE) and A1C Ian T. Burr (PJ), rescued the pilot of a USA 0-1, Capt. James Jenkins. No other details are known at this time. JRCC Save Form |
| 1969 - February 12 | Two HH-43F's from Det. 6, 38th ARRS, Bien Hoa AB, RVN crewed by unkn (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and TSgt. Dave Rhody (PJ), rescued three injured members of a U.S. Army Long Range Reconnaissance Patrol team. Names of all the crew members are not known, however the PJ on one bird was A2C Terry M. Wells and TSgt. Dave Rhody is on the other. http://pjsinnam.com/vn_history/pdf_files/Chronology/1969.pdf |
| 1969 - February 12 | A HH-3E, (Call sign "Jolly Green 37"), from Det. 1, 40th ARRS, Nakhon Phanom RTAFB, Thailand and crewed by Lt. Col. John H. Morse Sr. (P), Capt. Gerald E. McCullough (CP), SSgt. Leroy W. King (FE) and Leonard C. Johnson (PJ), rescued F-105 (Call sign "Hot Rod 01") pilot, Maj. Vincent Colasuonno, from about 50 miles northwest of Ubon, Thailand. High bird on this mission was HH-3E #64-14233 (Call sign “Jolly Green 20”) crewed by Capt. John L. Harvell (P), Capt. Marshall B. Nash (CP), SSgt. David M. Gutillo (FE) and TSgt. Aaron D. Farrior (PJ). Det. 1, 40th ARRS Misson Narrative Report (2-3-001, 12 Feb 69) (U) & PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form &"Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & www.jollygreen.org/Research/JohnMorse/john_morse-nkp-missions.html |
| 1969 - February 13 | UH-1P #64-15492 of the 20th SOS, crewed by Capt. Ronald Andrews (P), Maj. Ronald N. Guy (CP), TSgt Jesse C. Bowman (FE) and A1C Isidro Arroyo, was hit by enemy fire, catching the fuel tanks on fire, while attempting to rescue a Special Forces patrol that was in contact with a large enemy force. Capt. Andrews was able to crash land his helicopter a scant kilometer from the enemy forces and he and the rest of the crew were rescued by another 20th SOS slick as 64-15492 went up in flames. Of special note is that this helicopter, UH-1P #64-15492, was the bird that 1st Lt. James P. Fleming was flying on the 26 November 1968 mission for which he was awarded the Medal of Honor. http://www.helis.com/database/accidents/?org=133&f2mod=545 & http://www.mh-53pavelow.com/documents/20thSOS/1969.pdf |
| 1969 - February 13 | A HH-43F from Det. 6, 38th ARRS, Bien Hoa AB, crewed by Capt. Walter D. Murphy (P), Maj. Richard W. Lorey (CP), Sgt. Gary D. McGrew (FE) and A1C Jones L. Stamey Jr. (PJ), medevacked a unkn ARVN troop in RVN. No other details are known at this time. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form |
| 1969 - February 13 | HH-43F from Det. 13, 38th ARRS, Phu Cat AB, RNV, crewed by Maj. Juan H. Magia (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ), medevacked a USAF airman, McKeon, in RVN. No other details are known at this time. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form |
| 1969 - February 14 | HH-53B from the 40th ARRS at Udorn RTAFB, Thailand, crewed by Louis D. Durham (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ), medevacked an unkn Thai from Laos. No other details are known at this time. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form |
| 1969 - February 14 | A HH-43F from Det. 8, 38th ARRS, Cam Ranh Bay AB, RVN, crewed by Lt. Col. Flavious F. Drake (P), Capt. Horace P. Holland Jr. (CP), TSgt. Joseph Fernandez (PJ) Larry E. Cunningham (PJ) and MSgt. Glenwood C. Wilkinson (PJ), using their FSK saved the crew (names unkn) of an F-4C when their aircraft slid off the runway and caught fire. No other details are known at this time. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1969 - February 14 | A HH-3E from the 37th ARRS, crewed by Capt. Richard D. Griffiths (P), Capt. Lawrence E. Davis Jr. (CP), MSgt. Arthur L. Ambrose (FE) and MSgt. Glenwood C. Wilkinson (PJ), rescued, from the South China Sea, the pilot, Lt. Cdr. James F. Meehan, of a USN A-4C (Call sign "Diamond Back 601") after he ejected from his damaged aircraft about 20 miles off the coast near Hue, RVN. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1969 - February 14 | A HH-3E from Det. 1, 40th ARRS, crewed by Capt. Richard J. Harwood (P), Capt. Roger C. Gibson (CP), SSgt. Robert T. Anderson (FE), Sgt. Clifton L. Caffall (PJ) and A1C Barry D. Hebert (PJ), rescued the WSO, 1st Lt. Gordon K. Breault, of an F-4D (Call sign "Pintail 01 Bravo") after he ejected from his 37 mm AAA fire damage aircraft. The F-4D pilot, Lt. Col. Stanley Scott Clark was KIA. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & JRCC Save Form |
| 1969 - February 15 | HH-53B, (Call sign "Jolly Green 37), from Det. 1, 40th ARRS, Nakhon Phanom RTAFB, Thailand and crewed by Capt. Richard J. Harwood (P), Capt. Roger C. Gibson (CP), SSgt. Robert T. Anderson (FE), Sgt. Clifton L. Caffall (PJ) and A1C Barry D. Hebert (PJ) rescued F-4D (Call sign "Pintail 01 Bravo") co-pilot, 1st Lt. Breault from near Ban Bouang Nam, Laos. The F-4D pilot, Lt. Col. Stanley Scott Clark was KIA. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & www.jollygreen.org/Research/JohnMorse/john_morse-nkp-missions.html |
| 1969 - February 17 | CH-3E #63-9682 (Call sign "Pony Express 16") of the 20th SOS crewed by Capt. G. R. Belanger (P) and Maj. Bruce L. Athon (CP) made an emergency landing in a rice paddy in Laos, about 23 miles southeast of Nakhon Phanom, Thailand due to main transmission oil system failure. The crew was picked up by another CH-3E (Call sign "Pony Express 15") crewed by Maj. William H. Chambers (P), unkn (CP) and unkn (FE). Maj. Chambers picked up some guards from a friendly SGU camp about 10 minutes away to provide security for 63-9682, but when they returned to the location 63-9682 was found burning and destroyed by the fire. http://www.jollygreen.org/jltnc.htm & http://www.mh-53pavelow.com/documents/20thSOS/1969.pdf |
| 1969 - February 17 | Four CH-3E's and two UH-1F's of the 20th SOS, crew's unkn, along with twelve other helicopters and fourteen fixed wing strike aircraft were involved in a large-scale infill operation. After the strike aircraft sanitized the LZ, the helicopters successfully inserted the 360 plus FAR and SGU assault force troops. http://www.mh-53pavelow.com/documents/20thSOS/1967.pdf |
| 1969 - February 18 | HH-43F #60-0254 (Call sign "Pedro 05") from Det. 11, 38th ARRS, Tuy Hoa AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Daniel A. Nicholson (P), Capt. Charles T. Wohlnick (CP), Sgt. Michael E. Fish (PJ), Sgt. Richard E. Evans (PJ) and SSgt. Norman Reeves (FF), in separate sorties, rescued three USA troops, E-4 Jim Norris, E-7 Van D. Bailey and PFC George Carler, from a crashed USA UH-1 (Call sign “Mardigras 715”) in a hostile area about 25 miles southwest of Tuy Hoa AB, RVN. Five persons were reported trapped inside the aircraft wreckage. The HH-43F aircrew reached the scene and lowered Sgt. Fish and SSgt. Reeves to the ground. Despite sporadic enemy fire, three of the trapped survivors were quickly freed and hoisted aboard the HH-43F. Another survivor and a deceased soldier were picked up by an Army UH-1. One injured man remained trapped, and Sgt. Fish remained with him overnight following the departure of the rescue task force. Early on 19 February 1969 the task force returned, encountering small arms fire. The trapped survivor was freed and evacuated, by "Pedro 05", from the area. Sgt. Fish, a PJ from Det. 11, 38th ARRS, was awarded the Air Force Cross as the result of his actions during this mission and the pilot of the HH-43F, Capt. Daniel A. Nicholson, was later awarded the annual Helicopter Heroism Award in 1970 (see next entry). http://pjsinnam.com/vn_history/pdf_files/Chronology/1969.pdf http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/37th_Aerospace_Rescue_and_Recovery_Squadron#Operations_and_losses & JRCC Save Form & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1969 - February 18 | A HH-43F #60-0282 (Call sign "Pedro 24") from Det. 11, 38th ARRS, Tuy Hoa AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. William F. Austin (P), Maj. Morgan A. Downing (CP), SSgt. Raphael C. Martin (FE) and Sgt. Richard E. Evans (PJ), rescued W/O Victor Rose and W/O Frank Martin from a downed USA UH-1 helicopter (Call sign Mardigras 715") in RVN (see previous and next entry). No other details are known at this time. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1969 - February 19 | A HH-43F (Call sign "Pedro 05") from Det. 11, 38th ARRS, Tuy Hoa AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Daniel A. Nicholson (P), Maj. Edgar R. Whitney (CP), TSgt. Thomas B. Margagliano (FE), SSgt. Leroy W. King (FE) and SSgt. Robert A. McAllister (MT), rescued one USA troop from a UH-1 (Call sign "Mardigras 715") helicopter in RVN (see previous entry). No other details are known at this time. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1969 - February 19 | A HH-43F #60-0282 (Call sign "Pedro 24") from Det. 11, 38th ARRS, Tuy Hoa AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Henry P. Fogg (P), Maj. Edgar R. Whitney (CP), SSgt. Leroy W. King (FE) and SSgt. Robert A. McAllister (MT) rescued one USA troop and picked up Sgt. Fish in RVN. (See entries on February 18, 1969, above.) No other details are known at this time. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form |
| 1969 - February 20 | UH-1P's of the 20th SOS from Ban Me Thuot, RVN, the slick crewed by Maj. Richard D. Cox (P), Maj. Joseph Henjum (CP), Sgt. Eric Roberts II (FE/AG) and Sgt. Ronald W. Brodeur (FE), extracted a B-50 Omega recon team, RT Pick, from a landing zone deep in enemy territory. The team had been on the run for some time and had reached the landing zone only to have the enemy set the landing zone on fire. The slick could only come to a low hover, and they extracted the team by rope ladder while under enemy fire. All the UH-1P slick crew members were awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross for their actions on this mission. The DFCs for Sgt’s Roberts and Brodeur were later upgraded to Silver Stars. No other details are known at this time. "Secret Green Beret Commandos In Cambodia" by Lt. Col. Fred S. Lindsey, USA (Ret.) |
| 1969 - February 20 | A HH-43F from Det. 8, 38th ARRS, Cam Ranh Bay AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Bruce K. Ware (P), Capt. John P. Smariga (CP), SSgt. Willie A. Burchett (FE) and TSgt. Joseph Fernandez (PJ), medevacked USN sailor, Aaron Young, who had fallen on some rocks on a beach in SVN. No other details are available currently. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1969 - February 20 | A HH-3E from the 37th ARRS, crewed by Maj. Edward G. Quinlan (P), Maj. Paul B. Davis Jr. (CP), Sgt. Walter A. Swenson (FE) and TSgt. Allen J. Avery (PJ) medevacked a Vietnamese girl named Trang in SVN. No other details are available currently. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1969 - February 22 | A HH-43F from Det. 10, 38th ARRS, Binh Thuy AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Phillip H. Kamman (P), Capt. Cecil A. Jessee (CP), Sgt. James E. Tarantino (FE) and A1C Theodore J. Polys (PJ), rescued one USN sailor, E4 Robert G. Webster from a patrol river boat in RVN. No other details are known at this time. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form |
| 1969 - February 22 | A HH-43F from Det. 7, 38th ARRS, Da Nang AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Johnny R. Johnson (P), Capt. John E. Murray Jr. (CP), SSgt. William A. Olson (FE) and SSgt. John J. Eldridge (PJ), medevacked Dale F. Deroy in RVN. No other details are known at this time. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form |
| 1969 - February 22 | A HH-43F from Det. 11, 38th ARRS, Tuy Hoa AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Henry P. Fogg (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ), medevacked Dale F. Deroy in RVN. No other details are known at this time. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form |
| 1969 - February 22 | A HH-53B from Udorn RTAFB, Thailand, crewed by unkn (P) unkn (CP), unkn (FE), unkn (PJ) and unkn (PJ) rescued the WSO of an F-4D, 1st Lt. M. E. Heenan, after he ejected from their ground fire damaged aircraft in the Plane of Jars, near the village of Ban Thuang, Laos. The pilot on the F-4D, Capt. Wayne Edward Pearson was KIA. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson |
| 1969 - February 23 | A HH-43F from Det. 10, 38th ARRS, Binh Thuy AB, RVN, crewed by Maj. Ralph L. Gaede (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ), rescued one USN sailor, Donald M. Reed. No other details are known at this time. JRCC Save Form |
| 1969 - February 23 | A HH-43F from Det. 7, 38th ARRS, Da Nang AB, RVN, crewed by Maj. Tom W. Brumfield Jr. (P), Capt. John E. Murray Jr. (CP), TSgt. William H. Sands (FE) and Sammy J. Thompson (PJ), medevacked USMC troop Jack Moorey and one Vietnamese in RVN. No other details are known at this time. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form |
| 1969 - February 24 | A HH-43F crewed by Capt. Louis A. Ruddle (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ), rescued a crew member from a F-4, 1st Lt. Michael. E. Denanon. No other details are known at this time. JRCC Save Form |
| 1969 - February 24 | A HH-43F from Det. 10, 38th ARRS, Binh Thuy AB, RVN, crewed by Maj. Ralph L. Gaede (P), Capt. Robert A. White (CP), MSgt. John G. Regan (FE) and TSgt. Dudley R. Peckinpaugh (PJ), medevacked Donald M. Reed in RVN. No other details are known at this time. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1969 - February 24 | A HH-43F from Det. 7, 38th ARRS, Da Nang, AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Johnny R. Johnson (P), Maj. Roy L. Huffman (CP), SSgt. Kenneth R. Jones (FE) and SSgt. John J. Eldridge (PJ), medevacked Duane Banks in RVN. No other details are known at this time. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1969 - February 24 | A HH-43F from Det. 11, 38th ARRS, Tuy Hoa AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Daniel A. Nicholson (P), unkn (CP), unkn (PJ), SSgt. Leroy W. King (FE) and unkn (PJ), medevacked one Vietnamese in RVN. No other details are known at this time. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1969 - February 25 | A HH-43B from Det. 10, 38th ARRS, Binh Thuy AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. John L. Debevac (P), Capt. Jack D. Cusano (CP), James E. Tarntino (FE) and Sgt. Lonnie G. Conner (PJ), medevacked two troops, James H. Abbott and Larry R. Tuzinkenich, in contact in RVN. No other details are known at this time. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1969 - February 26 | CH-3E #64-14237 (Call sign "Knife 51") of the 21st SOS crewed by Maj. John L. Holt (P), Capt. John W. Hughes (CP), SSgt. Charles F. Hill (FE), TSgt. Winiford J. Smith (FE) and Sgt. Billy D. Copelin (ACM) was shot down in Laos while on an Igloo White mission. All crew members were rescued by a second CH-3E in the flight crewed by Maj. James K. Dunn (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (FE). CH-3E #64-14237 was later destroyed by friendly fire. http://www.jollygreen.org/jltnc.html |
| 1969 - February 26 | A HH-43F crewed by Capt. John L. Devbever (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ), rescued two USN sailors, James H Abbott and EN3 L. R. Tulinkenich. No other details are known at this time. JRCC Save Form |
| 1969 - February 27 | A HH-43F from Det. 10, 38th ARRS, Binh Thuy AB, RVN, crewed by Maj. Ralph L. Gaede (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ), medevacked Delmar R. Glaser in RVN. No other details are known at this time. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form |
| 1969 - February 27 | A HH-43F from Det. 10, 38th ARRS, Binh Thuy AB, RVN, crewed by Maj. Ralph L. Gaede (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ), medevacked two USN sailors, Teddy A. Shefler and one unkn. No other details are known at this time. JRCC Save Form |
| 1969 - February 27 | A HH-43F from Det. 11, 38th ARRS, Tuy Hoa AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Daniel A. Nicholson (P), Capt. Charles T. Wohinick (CP), SSgt. Leroy W. King (FE) and Sgt. Michael E. Fish (PJ), medevacked one unkn in RVN. No other details are known at this time. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1969 - February 27 | A HH-43F from Det. 7, 38th ARRS, Da Nang AB, RVN, crewed by Maj. Tom W. Brumfield Jr. (P), Capt. John E. Murray Jr. (CP), TSgt. William H. Sands (FE) and SSgt. John J. Eldridge (PJ), medevacked Michael Harvey in RVN. No other details are known at this time. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form |
| 1969 - February 28 | A HH-43F from Det. 6, 38th ARRS, Bien Hoa AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Walter D. Murphy (P), Maj. Richard W. Lorey (CP), Sgt. Dell C. Cady (FE) and A2C Terry M. Wells (PJ), medevacked one USA troop in RVN. No other details are known at this time. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1969 - February 28 | A HH-43F from Det. 10, 38th ARRS, Binh Thuy AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. John L. Debevac (P), Capt. Jack D. Cusano (CP), Sgt. Kenneth P. Johnson (FE) and Sgt. Lonnie G. Conner (PJ), medevacked Lloyd E. Ewald and Richard A. Abbs in RVN. No other details are known at this time. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form |
| 1969 - February 28 | A HH-43F from Det. 6, 38th ARRS, Bien Hoa AB, RVN, crewed by 1st Lt. John F. Kolar (P), Capt. Harvey B. Bell (CP), SSgt. Gary D. McGrew (FE) and TSgt. David D. Rhody (PJ), rescued two unkn USA troops. Also known to have also participated in the mission were Capt. Walter D. Murphy (P), Maj. Richard W. Lorey (CP), Sgt. Dale C. Cady (FE) and A1C Terry M. Wells (PJ). No other details are known at this time. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form |
| 1969 - February 28 | HH-3E, (Call sign "Jolly Green ?"), from Det. 1, 40th ARRS, Nakhon Phanom RTAFB, Thailand and crewed by Maj. Stuart M. Silver (P), Capt. Samuel P. Wheat (CP), Sgt. Robert E. Hunt (FE), A1C Leland H. Sorenson (PJ) and A1C Robert J. Sully (PJ), rescued O-2A (Call sign "Nail 77 Bravo") photographer, SMSgt Douglas W. Morrell from near Ban Senphan, Laos. The O-2 pilot, 1st Lt. Stephen G. Long, became a POW. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & Vietnam Air Losses by Chris Hobson & www.jollygreen.org/Research/JohnMorse/john_morse-nkp-missions.html |
| 1969 - March 01 | Two UH-1F's of the 20th SOS from Udorn RTAFB, Thailand, one crewed by Capt. James (P), Capt. Delbert W. Harkness (CP), SSgt. Victor R. Adams (FE) and Sgt. Carl Lloyd (FE) and the other crewed by Maj. William P. Bunn (P), Maj. Paul E. McClellan, unkn (FE) and unkn (FE) were flying a support mission for CH-72 in Laos when they heard a mayday call from a U.S. Army OV-1 aircraft. The OV-1 had been hit by enemy ground fire and the crew ejected near Saravan, Laos. The UH-1F piloted by Capt. James successfully rescued the two downed OV-1 crew members despite heavy enemy small arms fire and .50 cal. machine gun fire. http://www.mh-53pavelow.com/documents/20thSOS/1969.pdf |
| 1969 - March 01 | A HH-43F from Det. 13, 38th ARRS, Phu Cat AB, RNV, crewed by Maj. Dwight C. Hageman (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ), medevacked one Vietnamese in RVN. No other details are known at this time. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form |
| 1969 - March 02 | A HH-43F from Det. 7, 38th ARRS, Da Nang AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Robert S. Henderson (P), Capt. John E. Murray Jr. (CP), SSgt. William A. Olson (FE) and MSgt. Glenwood C. Wilkinson (PJ), medevacked Daniel Stockdale in RVN. No other details are known at this time. JRCC Save Form |
| 1969 - March 02 | A HH-3E from the 37th ARRS at Da Nang AB, RVN, crewed by Lt. Col. James H. Grady (P), Capt. Vincent A. Ziccardi (CP), MSgt. Charles L. Manes (FE) and James F. Spears (PJ) rescued a floundering swimmer from the South China Sea buy putting the PJ into the water and he towed the floundering swimmer to shore. No other details are known at this time. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form |
| 1969 - March 03 | A HH-43F from Det. 13, 38th ARRS, Phu Cat AB, RNV, crewed by Capt. Richard J. Bouckhout (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ), medevacked one, named Gray, in RVN. No other details are known at this time. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form |
| 1969 - March 05 | A HH-3E from the 37th ARRS at Da Nang AB, RVN, crewed by Maj. Edward G. Quinlan (P), Capt. Vincent A. Ziccardi (CP), A1C James A. Thibodeau (FE) and George P. Hoffman III (PJ) rescued the pilot of a F-4D (Call sign "Gunfighter 08 Alpha"), Capt. Edward A. Davis, after he and his WSO, 1st Lt. Charles J. Wiles ejected from their small arms fire damaged aircraft about 4 miles off the coast of Da Nang AB, RVN. See next entry. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & JRCC Save Form |
| 1969 - March 05 | A HH-3E from the 37th ARRS at Da Nang AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Richard D. Griffiths (P), Capt. George B. Stokes (CP), SSgt. Ernest R. Cyrus (FE) and SSgt. Earnest D. Casbeer (PJ), rescued the WSO of a F-4D (Call sign "Gunfighter 08 Bravo"), 1st Lt. Charles J. Wiles, after he and his pilot Capt. Edward A. Davis, ejected from their small arms fire damaged aircraft about 4 miles off the coast of Da Nang AB, RVN. See previous entry. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & JRCC Save Form |
| 1969 - March 06 | A HH-43F from Det. 11, 38th ARRS, Tuy Hoa AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Henry P. Fogg (P), Maj. Morgan A. Downing (CP), SSgt. Ralphael C. Martin (FE) and Sgt. Michael E. Fish (PJ), medevacked John D. Reed, in RVN. No other details are known at this time. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1969 - March 06 | A HH-3E from the 37th ARRS at Da Nang AB, RVN, crewed by Maj. Ronald L. Haglund (P), Maj. Anthony F. Argo (CP), SSgt. William L. Crawford (FE) and SSgt. James L. Miller (PJ), rescued the pilot of a O-2A (Call sign "Nail 12"), Maj. Tracy A. Scanlan, after he bailed out of his AAA fire damaged aircraft about 12 miles east of Muang Phine, southern Laos. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1969 - March 09 | A HH-43F from Det. 1, 38th ARRS, Phan Rang AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. James G. Ellis III (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ), medevacked one U.S. person, in RVN. No other details are known at this time. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1969 - March 09 | A HH-43F from Det. 7, 38th ARRS, Da Nang AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Johnny R. Johnson (P), Maj. Roy L. Huffman (CP), Sgt. Brian D. Morris (FE) and A1C Joel E. Talley (PJ), medevacked John C. Flickinger, in RVN. No other details are known at this time. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1969 - March 09 | A HH-43F from Det. 11, 38th ARRS, Tuy Hoa AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Henry P. Fogg (P), Maj. Morgan A. Downing (CP), Sgt. Robert J. Christian (FE) and A1C Paul E. Fatka (PJ), medevacked Ramon Navorette, a civilian AAFES individual in RVN. No other details are known at this time. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1969 - March 10 | A HH-3E from the 37th ARRS at Da Nang AB, RVN, crewed by Maj. John G. Kakacek (P), Lt. Col. Homer H. Howell Jr. (CP), MSgt. Charles L. Manes (FE) and SSgt. Dennis C. Palmer (PJ), rescued the WSO of a F-4D (Call sign "Papaya 02 Bravo"), Capt. Aldis P. Rutyna, after he ejected from his ground fire damaged aircraft about 10 miles west of Ban Loumpoum, Laos. The F-4D pilot, Lt. Col. Carter Purvis Luna was KIA. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & JRCC Save Form |
| 1969 - March 10 | A HH-43F from Det. 13, 38th ARRS, Phu Cat AB, RNV, crewed by Maj. Juan H. Magia (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ), rescued one USA crewman, W/O1 Robert E. Dennis and three USAF airmen, Sgt. David H. Westphal, A1C Douglas E. Drager and Sgt. Alen A. Volkert, from a downed USA LOH-6A helicopter in RVN. No other details are known at this time. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form |
| 1969 - March 11 | A HH-43F from Det. 14, 38th ARRS, Tan Son Nhut AB, RVN, RVN, crewed by Capt. Larry D. Salmans (P), Capt. Jimmy D. Griffin (CP), SSgt. William R. Gladish (FE) and SSgt. Claude A. Duke (MT), rescued three Vietnamese civilians in RVN. No other details are known at this time. JRCC Save Form |
| 1969 - March 13 | A HH-43F from Det. 11, 38th ARRS, Tuy Hoa AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Henry P. Fogg (P), Maj. Edgar R. Whitney (CP), Sgt. Robert J. Christian (FE) and Sgt. Michael E. Fish (PJ), medevacked Dennis J. Vannuci in RVN. No other details are known at this time. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1969 - March ?? | UH-1P's of the 20th SOS from Ban Me Thuot, RVN, crew's unkn, extract a MACV SOG Recon team, RT Trowell, who had recovered the remains of Sgt. Ronald Paul Zenga, a crew member that had been killed on a "Green Hornet" helicopter that had crashed on January 01, 1969. No other details are known at this time. "Secret Green Beret Commandos In Cambodia" by Lt. Col. Fred S. Lindsey, USA (Ret.) |
| 1969 - March 15 | A HH-3E from the 37th ARRS at Da Nang AB, RVN, crewed by Lt. Col. Lamar G. Tullos (P), Maj. Bruce E. Prouse (CP), TSgt, Charles D. Severns (FE) and Sgt. Stephen T. White (PJ), medevacked one ARVN troop in RVN. No other details are known at this time. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form |
| 1969 - March 15 | A HH-43F from Det. 1, 38th ARRS, Phan Rang AB, RVN, crewed by Maj. Jimmy D. Gammon (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ), medevacked one USA troop in RVN. No other details are known at this time. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form |
| 1969 - March 15 | A HH-43F from Det. 1, 38th ARRS, Phan Rang AB, RVN, crewed by Maj. Jimmy D. Gammon (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ), rescued the crew of a B-57B, Lt. Col. E. Tiddy and Maj. Michael A. DeSousa, after they crash landed their ground fire damaged aircraft at Phan Rang AB, RVN. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form |
| 1969 - March 15 | A HH-3E from Det. 1, 40th ARRS at Nakhon Phanom RTAFB, Thailand, crewed by Maj. Stuart J. Silver (P), Capt. Marshall B. Nash (CP), Sgt. Gregory G. Gallagher (FE), A1C Grady F. Allen (PJ) and TSgt. Dolford R. V. Widner (PJ), waiting for take-off at NKP became involved in the rescue of an A-1E pilot, (Call sign "Sandy 04"), Capt. Wayne A. Warner, after his aircraft crashed on take-off and caught fire. The HH-3E hovered over the burning aircraft allowing Capt. Warner to be rescued. News article on Facebook post by Bill Moyle, Aug.13, 2014 & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1969 - March 15 | A HH-43F from Det. 1, 38th ARRS, Phan Rang AB, RVN, crewed by Maj. John C. Neville Jr. (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ), medevacked two ARVN troops in RVN. No other details are known at this time. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form |
| 1969 - March 16 | A HH-43F from Det. 14, Tan Son Nhut AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Maxie L. Trainer (P), Capt. Jimmy D. Griffin (CP), SSgt. Claude A. Duke (FE) and SSgt. Donald J. Nason (MT), rescued one unkn Vietnamese civilian. No other details are known at this time. JRCC Save Form |
| 1969 - March 17 | A HH-43F from Det. 10, 38th ARRS, Binh Thuy AB, RVN, crewed by Maj. Ralph L. Gaede (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ), rescued two unkn USN sailors in RVN. No other details are known at this time. JRCC Save Form |
| 1969 - March 17 | A HH-53B from the 40th ARRS at Udorn RTAB, Thailand, crewed by unkn (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE), unkn (PJ) and A1C Leland H. Sorensen (PJ) attempted the rescue of F-105D pilot 1st Lt. David Thomas Dinan (KIA) after he was forced to eject from his AAA fire damaged aircraft near the eastern edge of the Pane of Jars in northern Laos. The HH-53B lowered PJ A1C Leland H. Sorenson to the ground to search for the F-105D pilot after another helicopter had attempted to do the same thing but was driven off. Sorensen located 1st Lt. Dinan's lifeless body but he was not able to recover his remains. http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2014/feb/22/idaho-war-hero-enlisted-to-help-find-remains/ |
| 1969 - March 18 | A HH-53B from the 40th ARRS at Udorn RTAFB, Thailand, crewed by Capt. Louis A. Ruddle (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE), unkn (PJ) and unkn (PJ), rescued the pilot of an A-1E (Call sign "Zero 32"), 1st Lt. Martin A. Riopelle, after he ejected from his automatic weapons fire damaged aircraft on the southeastern edge of the Plane of Jars near the village of Ban Pho Xiangkhoang, Laos. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & JRCC Save Form & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form |
| 1969 - March 18 | A HH-43F from Det. 10, 38th ARRS, Binh Thuy AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. John L. Debevac (P), Capt. Jack D. Cusano (CP), Sgt. Ernest L. Long (FE) and A1C Theodore J. Polys (PJ), rescued four crew members, Capt. T. Coles, Capt. R. Nash, SP4 Archer and SP4 Phillips, from a downed USA UH-1 (Call sign "T Bird 02") helicopter in RVN. No other details are known at this time. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form |
| 1969 - March 20 | A USAF SAR helicopter rescued the pilot of a USMC A-4E, Maj. A. D. Miller, after he ejected from his ground fire damaged aircraft near the village of Thon Cam Son, NVN. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson |
| 1969 - March 21 | A HH-43F from Det. 14, 38th ARRS, Tan Son Nhut AB, RVN, RVN, crewed by Maj. Peter J. Kerrigan (P), Capt. Patrick J. McDaniel (CP), Michael R. Heister (FE) and Carl S. Trantham (MT), rescued two unkn USN sailors from a patrol river boat in RVN. No other details are known at this time. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form |
| 1969 - March 22 | A HH-43F from Det. 7, 38th ARRS, Da Nang AB, RVN, crewed by Maj. Tom W. Brumfield Jr. (P), Capt. John E. Murray Jr. (CP), Sgt. Brian D. Morris (FE) and Sgt. Thomas T. Winters (PJ), rescued two USMC troops, Jack Dulforth and Noygan Janson in RVN. No other details are known at this time. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form |
| 1969 - March 24 | A HH-43F from Det. 7, 38th ARRS, Da Nang AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Johnny R. Johnson (P), Capt. Henry E. Hooke (CP), TSgt. William H. Sands (FE) and A1C Joel E. Talley (PJ), medevacked one Vietnamese female and Trang Sang in RVN. No other details are known at this time. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1969 - March 24 | A HH-3E #67-14712 (Call sign "Jolly Green 31") from the 37th ARRS at Da Nang AB, RVN, crewed by Maj. Charles E. Wicker (P), Capt. Edwin L. Shobert Jr. (CP), SSgt. James E. Smith (FE) and Sammie J. Thompson (PJ), attempted unsuccessfully to rescue O-1E (Call sign "Bilk 23") pilot, Capt. Kerry C. Herron after he had crash landed his small arms damaged aircraft in the A Shau Valley, RVN. "Jolly Green 31" was shot off during the rescue attempt by heavy enemy ground fire. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & JRCC Save Form & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1969 - March 24 | A HH-3E from the 37th ARRS at Da Nang AB, RVN, crewed by Lt. Col. Henry E. Simpson Jr. (P), Capt. Robert E. Nash (CP), A1C James A. Thibodeau (FE) and SSgt. Eugene L. Nardi (PJ), rescued O-1E (Call sign "Bilk 23") pilot, Capt. Kerry C. Herron after he had crash landed his small arms damaged aircraft in the A Shau Valley, RVN. No other details are known at this time. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & JRCC Save Form & "PJ's in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1969 - March 25 | A HH-43F from Det. 7, 38th ARRS, Da Nang AB, RVN, crewed by Maj. Tom M. Brumfield Jr. (P), Capt. John E. Murray Jr. (CP), SSgt. Kenneth R. Jones (FE) and Sgt. Thomas T. Winters (PJ), medevacked John Smeerenk in RVN. No other details are known at this time. JRCC Save Form & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1969 - March 25 | A HH-43F from Det. 7, 38th ARRS, Da Nang AB, RVN, crewed by Maj. Tom M. Brumfield Jr. (P), Capt. John E. Murray Jr. (CP), SSgt. Kenneth R. Jones (FE), Sgt. Roger D. Elam (FF), SSgt. Lawrence E. Boykin (PJ) and Sgt. Thomas T. Winters (PJ), rescued USA O-2A (Call sign "Black Ace 01") pilot, Capt. Gene D. Rollins and Vietnamese observer, Lt. Va Dinh Manh in RVN. No other details are known at this time. JRCC Save Form & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1969 - March 25 | A HH-43F from Det. 10, 38th ARRS, Binh Thuy AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Phillip N. Kamman (P), Capt. Jack D. Cusano (CP), MSgt. John G. Regan Jr. (FE) and A1C Richard C. Stiefken (PJ), medevacked a USN sailor, E-5 Glenn D. Green in RVN. No other details are known at this time. JRCC Save Form & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1969 - March 25 | A HH-43F from Det. 11, 38th ARRS, Tuy Hoa AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Henry P. Fogg (P), Maj. Morgan A. Downing (CP), Sgt. Robert J. Christian (FE) and Sgt. Michael E. Fish (PJ), medevacked Jerry Bristow in RVN. No other details are known at this time. JRCC Save Form & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1969 - March 25 | CH-3E's and UH-1F's of the 20th SOS took part in a CAS mission that involved 18 helicopters being utilized to infill 230 SGU assault force troops. Three of the 20th SOS CH-3E's and one of the UH-1F's received battle damage. Wounded were CH-3E Maj. Donald Berger (P), CH-3E Lt. Col. Cason (P). CH-3E Lt. Col. Ernest L. MacQuarrie took over the controls from one of the wounded pilots and another CH-3E piloted by Maj. Ray Hoff received 15 bullet holes that resulted in the loss of an engine. Of the then USAF helicopters in the formation, six received battle damage. No other details are known at this time. http://www.mh-53pavelow.com/documents/20thSOS/1967.pdf |
| 1969 - March 26 | A HH-3E (Call sign “Jolly Green 17”) from Det. 1, 40th ARRS at Nakhon Phanom RTAFB, Thailand, crewed by Maj. Robert E. Smith (P), Capt. Samuel P. Wheat (CP), Sgt. William J. Jordan (FE), TSgt. Dolford Widener (PJ) and A1C Robert J. Sully Jr. (PJ), rescued A-1E (Call sign “Hobo”) pilot, Capt. Kenneth E. Gilmore, after he ejected from his AAA fire damaged aircraft about 15 miles east of Ban Napoung in southern Laos on 25 March 1969. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form |
| 1969 - March 26 | HH-3E, (Call sign "Jolly Green 17"), from Det. 1, 40th ARRS at Nakhon Phanom RTAFB, Thailand and crewed by Maj. Robert E. Smith Sr. (P), Capt. Samuel P. Wheat (CP), Sgt. William J. Jordan (FE), A1C Grady F. Allen (PJ) and A1C Donald G. Faber (PJ) rescued A-1E pilot, 1st Lt. Michael J. Faas (Call sign "Hobo 63") from about 15 miles east of Ban Napoung, Laos. Vietnam Air Losses by Chris Hobson & www.jollygreen.org/Research/JohnMorse/john_morse-nkp-missions.html |
| 1969 - March 26 | UH-1F #63-13158 (Call sign "Green Hornet ?") from the 20th SOS at Ban Me Thuot, RVN crewed by Lt. Col. Frank Anthony Di Figlia (P), Capt. Walter C. Booth (CP/MO), TSgt. Jesse C. Bowman (FE), Sgt. Antonio Lopez Alho (AG) and Capt. Robert W. Fields (FS) crashed and burned near Duc My, RVN. Along with the crew killed, passengers Col. Donald G. Lepard, Col. J. B. Levesque and civilian Mr. Abb Greer were also killed. Two other crewmen, Sgt. James P. O'Gorman and Sgt. David E. Joslin were critically wounded. http://en.wikipedia.org/20th_Special_Operations_Squadron |
| 1969 - March 26 | A HH-43F from Det. 10, 38th ARRS, Binh Thuy AB, RVN, crewed by Maj. Ralph L. Caede (P), Capt. Cecil A. Jessee (CP), Sgt. Ernest L. Long (FE) and SSgt. Michael F. Dean (PJ), rescued a USN sailor, EN-2 Morace W. Fielden from a patrol river boat in RVN. No other details are known at this time. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form |
| 1969 - March 27 | A HH-43F from Det. 13, 38th ARRS, Phu Cat AB, RNV, crewed by Capt. Richard J. Bouckout (P), Capt. Robert S. Morita (CP), A1C Barry D. Hebert (PJ) and Sgt. David L. Lange (PJ), rescued the crew of a B-57B (Call sign "Yellowbird 40"), Lt. Col. Richard Burkholder (P) and Lt. Col. Harold V. Wright (CP), after they had ejected from their 37 mm AAA damaged aircraft near Phu Cat AB, RVN. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form |
| 1969 - March 27 | A HH-43F from Det. 13 Phu Cat AB, RVN, crewed by 1st Lt. Wayne A. Grant III (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ), rescued the co-pilot of a B-57B, Lt. Col. Harold V. Wright after he and his pilot, Lt. Col. Richard Burkholder, had ejected from their 37 mm AAA damaged aircraft near Phu Cat. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & JRCC Save Form |
| 1969 - March 29 | A HH-3E from the 37th ARRS at Da Nang AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Charles P. Lowry (P), Maj. Bruce E. Prouse (CP), SSgt. Billy R. Bloomer (FE) and SSgt. John J. Eldridge (PJ), rescued the pilot of an F-4D (Call sign "Lariet 03"), Capt. William J. Popendorf, after he ejected from his small arms fire damaged aircraft near the village of Ban Topen, Laos. The WSO on this F-4D, 1st Lt. Frederick William Hess was MIA (later changed to presumptively KIA). "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1969 - March 29 | A HH-3E #67-14708 (Call sign “Jolly Green 21”) from the 37th ARRS at Da Nang AB, RVN, crewed by Maj. Robert E. Booth (P), Capt. Martin E. Reichert (CP), Sgt. Duane I. Beland (FE) and Sgt. Stephen T. White (PJ), rescued the pilot of a F-105D (Call sign "Detroit 01"), 1st Lt. Ronald A. Stafford, after he ejected from his AAA fire damaged aircraft about 25 miles SE of Saravan, Laos. High bird on this mission was #67-14709 (Call sign “Jolly Green 22”) crewed by Lt. Col. Henry E. Simpson Jr. (P), Lt. Col. Homer H. Howell (CP), SSgt. James K. Hall (FE) and SSgt. Allen J. Avery (PJ). "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form & 37th ARRS Mission Narrative Report (1-3-037-29 Mar 69) |
| 1969 - March 29 | A HH-43F from Det. 7, 38th ARRS, Da Nang AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Johnny R. Johnson (P), Capt. Henry E. Hooke (CP) and Sgt. Brian D. Morris (FE), medevacked troops in contact, Capt. Cliff E. Lambert, Capt. Serge Chenay, Capt. Joseph G. Conrad, Sgt. Paul W. Niehoff and Sgt. David Baker, in RVN. No other details are known at this time. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form |
| 1969 - March 29 | A HH-43F from Det. 13, 38th ARRS, Phu Cat AB, RNV, crewed by Maj. Juan H. Magia (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ), rescued one Vietnamese in RVN. No other details are known at this time. JRCC Save Form |
| 1968 - March 30 | UH-1F/P helicopters from the 20th HS, crew's unkn except that Capt. Leo W. Thacker was a pilot on one of the UH-1's, extracted MACV SOG recon team, R. T. Hammer, that was deep in enemy territory and in a fire fight with superior force of enemy troops and had two team members wounded. No other details are known at this time. "Secret Green Beret Commandos In Cambodia" by Lt. Col. Fred S. Lindsey, USA (Ret.) |
| 1969 - April ?? | Three U.S. Coast Guard 'exchange' helicopter pilots arrived at Da Nang AB, RVN for assignment with the 37th ARRS, as replacements for USCG Lt. Cmdr. Lonnie L. Mixon, Lt. Jack C. Rittichier and Lt. Lance A. Eagan who arrived on 03 April 1968. They were Lt. Richard V. Butchka, Lt. James M. Loomis and USCG Lt. JG. Robert T. Ritchie. http://uscgaviationhistory.aopero.org/images/U.S.%20Coast%20Guard%20Aviation%20in%20Vietnam.pdf |
| 1969 - April 01 | April 01; A HH-43F from Det. 10, 38th ARRS, Binh Thuy AB, RVN, crewed by Maj. Ralph L. Gaede (P), Capt. Cecil A. Jessee (CP), Sgt. Kenneth P. Johnson (FE) and A1C Theodore J. Polys (PJ) and SSgt. Michael F. Dean, medevacked three USN sailors, William L. Lowe, Roy N. Muzandan and Robert N. Kennedy from a patrol river boat in RVN. This mission is believed to have been the 2,500 “save” recorded in Southeast Asia. A second Det. 10, 38th ARRS HH-43F involved in this mission was crewed by Capt. John L. Debevec (P), Capt. Jack D. Cusano (CP) and TSgt. Dudley R. Peckinpaugh. No other details are known at this time. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form and Kaman Rotor Tips Magazine |
| 1969 - April 01 | A HH-3E (Call sign "Jolly Green 04") from the 37th ARRS at Da Nang AB, RVN, crewed by Lt. Col. Henry E. Simpson Jr. (P), Capt. Robert A. Reichert (CP), TSgt. Charles D. Severns (FE), SSgt. Eugene L. Nardi (PJ) and Sgt. Donald M. Lester (AP), rescued the crew of a F-100F (Call sign "Misty 51"), Maj. Ronald G. Standerfer (P) and 1st Lt. Charles L. Veach (CP), after they ejected from their ground fire damaged aircraft near the village of Ban Talan, Laos. High bird on this mission was HH-3E #66-13280 (Call sign "Jolly Green 27") crewed by Major Robert E. Booth (P), Capt. Robert E. Nash (CP), Sgt. Edgar W. Hooper (FE) and SSgt. Earnest D. Casbeer (PJ). "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & http://www.rotorheadsrus.us/documents/93.html & "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson |
| 1969 - April 02 | A HH-3E from the 37th ARRS at Da Nang AB, RVN, crewed by Maj. Leo M. Wright (P), Capt. Edwin L. Shobert Jr. (CP), TSgt. Charles D. Severns (FE), MSgt. Glenwood C. Wilkinson (PJ) and Thomas A. Dotson Jr. (AP), rescued the crew of a F-4D (Call sign "Flamingo 01"), Lt. Col. Cecil G. Foster and 1st Lt. Joseph P. McMahon, after they ejected from their 37 mm AAA damaged aircraft about 30 miles SW of Da Nang AB, RVN. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form |
| 1969 - April 02 | HH-53B, (Call sign "Jolly Green 78"), from the 40th ARRS at Udorn RTAFB, Thailand, and crewed by Capt. Charles R. Cole (P), SSgt. James E. Nash (PJ) and Sgt. Donald C. Johnson (PJ) crashed about 10 miles south of Udorn RTAFB, Thailand. The crew was rescued. The helicopter was later recovered and apparently rebuilt. http://www.jollygreen.org/jltnc.html |
| 1969 - April 03 | HH-3E, #65-12785 (Call sign "Jolly Green 36"), from Det. 1, 40th ARRS at Nakhon Phanom RTAFB, Thailand and crewed by Maj. Robert E. Smith Sr. (P), Capt. Marshall B. Nash (CP), Sgt. Tracey P. Brown (FE) and A1C Wayne L. Samuelson (PJ) rescued a USN A-6A (Call sign "Cupcake 507 Bravo") co-pilot, Lt. John F. Ricci, from near Ban Sang, Laos. Vietnam Air Losses by Chris Hobson & JRCC Save Form & www.jollygreen.org/Research/JohnMorse/john_morse-nkp-missions.html |
| 1969 - April 03 | HH-3E, (Call sign "Jolly Green 19"), from Det. 1, 40th ARRS, at Nakhon Phanom RTAFB, Thailand and crewed by Capt. Donald L. Carty (P), Capt. Roger C. Gibson (CP), Sgt. Sgt. Henry L. Burnett (FE), A1C Robert L. Harris (PJ) and A1C David M. Davidson (PJ) rescued a USN A-6A (Call sign "Cupcake 507 Alpha") pilot, Lt. Cmdr. Edward G. Redden from near Ban Sang, Laos. JRCC Save Form & www.jollygreen.org/Research/JohnMorse/john_morse-nkp-missions.htm & Vietnam Air Losses by Chris Hobson |
| 1969 - April 03 | A HH-3E from Det. 1, 40th ARRS at Nakhon Phanom RTAFB, Thailand and crewed by Capt. Richard J. Harwood (P), Capt. Robert C. Heron Jr. (CP), Maj. Robert E. Smith (CP), SSgt. Benjamin Selph (FE) and Sgt. Arthur M Davis (PJ), medevacked USA troop Dennis A. Wright, in Thailand. No other details are known at this time. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1969 - April 03 | A HH-43F from Det. 7, 38th ARRS, Da Nang AB, RVN, crewed by Maj. Tom W. Brumfield Jr. (P), Capt. John E. Murray Jr. (CP), Sgt. Brian D. Morris (FE) and A1C Joel E. Talley (PJ), medevacked USMC troops, J. W. Roney, T. A. Ross, Capt. S. M. Lambereth, Capt. J. F. Giles and LCpl. J. R. Wall, in RVN. No other details are known at this time. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1969 - April 03 | A HH-53B from the 40th ARRS at Nakhon Phanom RTAFB, Thailand, crewed by unkn (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ), unsuccessfully attempted the rescue of a F-105D (Call sign "Hatchet 01") pilot, Maj. Peter Bugbee Christianson, when it was discovered, he was KIA when his aircraft crashed. The helicopter crew was able to recover Maj. Christianson's body.” Vietnam Air Losses” by Chris Hobson & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1969 - April 05 | A HH-43F from Det. 7, 38th ARRS, Da Nang AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Johnny R. Johnson (P), Capt. Henry E. Hooke (CP), TSgt. William H. Sands (FE) and Sammy J. Thompson (PJ), medevacked John N. Edwards in RVN. No other details are known at this time. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1968 - April 05 | UH-1 helicopters from the 20th HS, crew's unkn, extracted MACV SOG recon team, R. T. Pick, that was deep in enemy territory and in a fire fight with enemy troops and had two team members wounded. No other details are known at this time. "Secret Green Beret Commandos In Cambodia" by Lt. Col. Fred S. Lindsey, USA (Ret.) |
| 1969 - April 06 | A HH-53B from Udorn RTAFB, Thailand, crewed by Capt. Dan L. Reeder (P), Capt. James P. O'Pry (CP), unkn (FE), unkn (PJ) and unkn (PJ), made a first light rescue of the crew of a F-4D (Call sign "Night Owl"), Capt. Rand Brandt and 1st Lt. Charles R. Koster, after they ejected from their ground fire damaged aircraft about 35 miles northeast of NKP near the village of Nam Theun, Laos. http://www.pjsinnam.com/vn_history/pdf_files/Chronology/1969.pdf & JRCC Save Form & "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson |
| 1969 - April 06 | A HH-43F from Det. 13, 38th ARRS, Phu Cat AB, RNV, crewed by Maj. Dwight C. Hageman (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ), medevacked one Vietnamese in RVN. No other details are known at this time. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1968 - April 06 | UH-1 extraction ‘slick’ helicopter from the 20th HS, crewed by Capt. Robert Bedell (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (AG), extracted MACV SOG recon team, R. T. Pick, that was deep in enemy territory and in a fire fight with enemy troops. No other details are known at this time. "Secret Green Beret Commandos In Cambodia" by Lt. Col. Fred S. Lindsey, USA (Ret.) |
| 1969 - April 07 | A HH-43F from Det. 13, 38th ARRS, Phu Cat AB, RNV, crewed by Maj. Dwight C. Hageman (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ), medevacked one Vietnamese in RVN. No other details are known at this time. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form |
| 1969 - April 07 | A HH-43F from Det. 1, 38th ARRS, Phan Rang AB, RVN, crewed by Maj. John C. Neville Jr. (P), unkn (CP), SSgt Jeffery L. Bailey (FE) and SSgt Joseph Defeo (M), rescued three ROK troops in RVN. No other details are known at this time. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form |
| 1969 - April 09 | A HH-53C (Call sign “Jolly Green 79”) from the 40th ARRS crewed by Capt. Donald L. Carty (P), Capt. G. Rynearson (CP), TSgt. D. V. McEleod (FE), A1C David M. Davidson (PJ) and TSgt. George Schipper (PJ), rescued the crew of a USMC TA-4F, Maj. Robert S. Miecznikowski (P) and Capt. John J. Buffington (CP) after they ejected from their 37 mm AAA damaged aircraft near the A Shau Valley, RVN. ‘High’ bird on this mission was “Jolly Green 76”, crewed by unkn (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE), unkn (PJ) and unkn (PJ). One of the two Jolly Greens on this mission chopped off its refueling probe as it disconnected from the tanker and diverted to CH-113 for an emergency landing. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & JRCC Save Form & http://www.pjsinnam.com/vn_history/pdf_files/Chronology/1969.pdf |
| 1969 - April 09 | A HH-43F from Det. 10, 38th ARRS, Binh Thuy AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Phillip H. Kamman (P), Capt. Jack D. Cusano (CP), SSgt. Gerald H. Jones II (FE) and A1C Richard C. Stiefken (PJ), medevacked one Vietnamese child in RVN. No other details are known at this time. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form |
| 1969 - April 09 | A rescue helicopter, crewed by unkn (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ), rescued an A-1E pilot, when his aircraft was hit by ground fire while attacking a target near the village of Man Pho on the southern edge of the Plain of Jars, Laos, and he ejected, after flying back into Thailand, about 55 miles northwest of Nakhon Phanom RTAFB, Thailand. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form |
| 1969 - April 09 | A UH-1 slick from the 20th SOS, crewed by unkn (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (FE), was able to rescue a Long-Range Reconnaissance team, with two wounded members that were pinned down and under mortar attack. http://www.mh-53pavelow.com/documents/20thSOS/1969.pdf |
| 1969 - April 10 | A HH-43F from Det. 11, 38th ARRS, Tuy Hoa AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Daniel A. Nicholson (P), Capt. William F. Austin (CP), SSgt. Ralphael C. Martin (FE) and Sgt. Richard E. Evans (PJ), medevacked Frederick Suttle in RVN. No other details are known at this time. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1969 - April 11 | A HH-43B from Det. 2, 38th ARRS, Takhli RTAFB, Thailand, crewed by Capt. W. B. Fredenberger (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ), saved three crew members, Otto Kovar Jr., Harry C. Wilderson and Maj. Hugh M. Morgan, from a RB-66. No other details are known at this time. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1969 - April 12 | A HH-43F from Det. 10, 38th ARRS, Binh Thuy AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Phillip H. Kamman (P), Capt. Robert A. White (CP), MSgt. John G. Regan Jr. (FE) and A1C Theodore J. Polys (PJ) medevacked Dennis M. Williams and Willet L. Thomas in RVN. No other details are known at this time. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1969 - April 12 | A HH-3E crewed by Maj. Ronald L. Haglund (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ) rescued the pilot of a USN A-7 after the pilot, Lt. M. A. Bunker, ejected from his aircraft after he had an engine flame out. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & JRCC Save Form |
| 1969 - April 12 | A HH-43F from Det. 10, 38th ARRS, Binh Thuy AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. John L. Debevec (P), Capt. Jack D. Cusano (CP), SSgt. Gerald H. Jones II (FE) and A1C Richard C. Stiefken (PJ) medevacked E-4 Robert L. Ellis, Art R. Ruby and Lawane D. Holtt in RVN. No other details are known at this time. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1969 - April 12 | A HH-43F from Det. 11, 38th ARRS, Tuy Hoa AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Henry P. Fogg (P), Capt. Charles T. Wohlnick (CP), SSgt. Leroy W. King (FE) and Sgt. Michael E. Fish (PJ) medevacked one Vietnamese boy in RVN. No other details are known at this time. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1969 - April 12 | A HH-43F from Det. 11, 38th ARRS, Tuy Hoa AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Daniel A. Nicholson (P), Capt. William F. Austin (CP), SSgt. Leroy W. King (FE) and Sgt. Richard E. Evans (PJ), medevacked a Vietnamese boy in RVN. No other details are known at this time. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1969 - April 12 | A HH-43F from Det. 6, 38th ARRS, Bien Hoa AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Thomas R. Scharf (P), Capt. Edward L. Coleman (CP), SSgt. Gary D. McGrew (FE) and Sgt. Roland C. Schmidt (PJ), rescued the WSO of a RF-4C (Call sign "Sage 13 Bravo"), Capt. Charles E. Mattern after he ejected in Lam Dong province in central RVN. The pilot of this aircraft, Capt. Arnold William Lamp was KIA. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form |
| 1969 - April 12 | A UH-1P slick from the 20th SOS operating out of Duc Co, RVN, crewed by unkn (P), unkn (CP), Sgt. Eric Roberts II (FE/AG) and unkn (FE), was able, after several attempts, to rescue a Long-Range Reconnaissance team after a sustained battle. http://www.mh-53pavelow.com/documents/20thSOS/1969.pdf |
| 1969 - April 13 | UH-1F #65-7937 (Call sign "Green Hornet #?") from the 20th SOS at Ban Me Thuot, RVN, crewed by Capt. John E. Johnson (P), Capt. James Oliver Lynch (CP), SSgt. Harry W. Mattox (FE/AG) and Sgt. Isidro Arroyo (AG), was extracting a reconnaissance team from near Pleiku, RVN when Capt. James O. Lynch (P) was hit and killed by enemy ground fire. Capt. Johnson was wounded but managed to land in a nearby clearing. The aircraft came to rest with its tail boom broken and its skids ripped out from under it. Sgt. Arroyo, although wounded in the back, helped move the dead and wounded pilots to a rescue UH-1P slick. Unable to board the rescue UH-1P because there was no room, Arroyo waited on the ground for another slick, crewed by Maj. Massey (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FM/AG) and unkn (AG), to pick him up. The wrecked UH-1F was destroyed in place. http://www.virtualwall.org/dl/LynchJ001a.htm & http://en.wikipedia.org/20th_Special_Operations_Squadron |
| 1969 - April 14 | A HH-43F from Det. 7, 38th ARRS, Da Nang AB, RVN, crewed by Maj. Tom W. Brumfield Jr. (P), Capt. John E. Murray Jr. (CP), Sgt. Brian D. Morris (FE) and Sammie J. Thompson (PJ), medevacked Raymond L. Murphy in RVN. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form |
| 1969 - April 14 | A HH-43F from Det. 7, 38th ARRS, Da Nang AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Johnny R. Johnson (P), Capt. Henry E. Hooke (CP), Sgt. Brian D. Morris (FE), Sammie J. Thompson (PJ), SSgt. Lawrence E. Boykin (FF) and Sgt. George S. Gladu (FF), medevacked an F-4 crew member, Richard C. McCarthy after his F-4 slid into a barrier crew bunker in RVN. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form |
| 1969 - April 14 | A CH-3E of the 20th SOS "Pony Express" at Udorn RTAFB, Thailand, crewed by Capt. G. R. Belanger (P), unkn (CP) unkn (FE) and unkn (FE), preformed an emergency exfiltration of a wounded SGU team member deep in enemy territory. http://www.mh-53pavelow.com/documents/20thSOS/1968.pdf |
| 1969 - April 16 | HH-3E, (Call sign "Jolly Green 17"), from Det. 1, 40th ARRS Nakhon Phanom RTAFB, Thailand and crewed by Capt. Edward W. Heft (P), Capt. Marshall B. Nash (CP), Sgt. D. A. Scott (FE) and A1C Robert L. Harris (PJ) rescued a F-4D (Call sign "Pintail 01") crew, Maj. Dennis W. Winkels (P) & Capt. Richard P. Anderson (CP) from about 10 miles NE of Nakhon Phanom, Thailand. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & www.jollygreen.org/Research/JohnMorse/john_morse-nkp-missions.html |
| 1969 - April 16 | A HH-43F from Det. 6, 38th ARRS, Bien Hoa AB, RVN, crewed by unkn (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and Sgt. Roland C., Schmidt (PJ), attempted the rescue of the two-man crew of a 0-2A, Capt. William O. Burkett and Capt. Leon J. Pierce in RVN but they were both KIA. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form |
| 1969 - April 16 | A HH-3E from Det. 1, 40th ARRS, crewed by Maj. Thomas E. Reinhardt (P), Maj. William J. Warwick (CP), A1C Robert E. Hunt (FE), Sgt. Richard G. Beasley (PJ) and A1C Steven D. Brooks (PJ), medevacked USA troop, Larry E. Martin, in Thailand. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form |
| 1969 - April 17 | A UH-1P from the 20th SOS, crewed by Capt. Robert B. Swenck (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (FE), was involved in the rescue of a Long-Range Reconnaissance team. Capt. Swenck is known to have been awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross for his actions on the mission. Unknown at this time is if Capt. Swenck’s helicopter was a gunship covering this team's extraction of if it was the slick that made the actual rescue. No other details are known at this time. http://www.mh-53pavelow.com/documents/20thSOS/1969.pdf |
| 1969 - April 18 | A HH-43B from Det. 3, 38th ARRS, Ubon RTAFB, Thailand, crewed by Capt. Ernest L. Neville (P), Maj. Robert C. Collom (CP), SSgt Michael W. Mulvany (FE) and TSgt Thomas P. Gratton (MT), rescued the crew of a RF-4C, Capt. Jack Bartholomew (P) and Capt. B. Fred Doyle (NAV) after they ejected from their aircraft about 10 miles east of Ubon RTAFB, Thailand. Their aircraft was damaged by enemy ground fire flying at 3,500 feet near the town of Ban Topen, Laos. Capt. Bartholomew managed to fly the aircraft back across Laos into Thailand before they had to eject. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & JRCC Save Form & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form |
| 1969 - April 18 | A HH-43F from Det. 1, 38th ARRS, Phan Rang AB, RVN, crewed by Maj. John C. Neville Jr. (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE), unkn (PJ) and unkn (PJ), medevacked Gary L. Champion in RVN. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form |
| 1969 - April 20 | A HH-43F from Det. 13, 38th ARRS, Phu Cat AB, RNV, crewed by Maj. Juan H. Magia (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ), rescued one Vietnamese in RVN. No other details are known at this time "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form |
| 1969 - April 21 | UH-1F #63-13152 of the 20th SOS crewed by Maj. Dale L. Eppinger (P), Capt. Ronald N. Guy (CP), Sgt. James R. Woodbury (AG) and Sgt. William Waterman (FE/AG) was shot down and lost while attempting the rescue a seven-man, long range reconnaissance patrol, near Duc Co, RVN. After and all-day battle three U.S. Army LOH (OH-6A’s) helicopters were able to land in the landing zone and rescue the UH-1F crew members and the team. Maj. Eppinger was awarded the Air Force Cross for his actions during this mission, others known to have received awards for their actions during this battle are Sgt. James R. Woodbury, awarded the Silver Star and Maj. Russ Simonetta (P), SSgt. Paul R. Johnson (AG), Sgt. Michael J. Hagquist (AG), SSgt. Clarence F. Burdick (AG), Maj. Carroll C. Rands (P), Maj. John B. Walker (AG), Capt. Edward B. Connerat Jr. (AG), Capt. James W. Foster (P), Capt. Theodore C. Sharpe (P), SSgt. Barron C. Cornell (AG), SSgt. Leroy Milton Jr. (AG) and SSgt. Robert G. Strong (AG) all received the Distinguished Flying Cross for their actions during this mission. No other details are available currently. "Secret Green Beret Commandos In Cambodia" by Lt. Col. Fred S. Lindsey, USA (Ret.) & http://www.helis.com/database/accidents/?org=133&f2mod=545 & http://www.veterantributes.org/TributeDetail.php?recordID=452 & http://projects.militarytimes.com/citations-medals-awards/recipient.php?recipientid=3600 |
| 1969 - April 21 | A HH-43F from Det. 11, 38th ARRS, Tuy Hoa AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. William F. Austin (P), Capt. Daniel A. Nicholson (CP), SSgt. Gwendold G. Nelson (FE) and Cole E. Panning (PJ), medevacked one Vietnamese in RVN. No other details are known at this time. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LA Pointe & JRCC save Form |
| 1969 - April 21 | Five CH-3E's and three UH-1F's from the 20th SOS at Udorn RTAFB, Thailand was tasked to infiltrate a 215-man SGU assault force on a hill to gain a position over a main road that was controlled by enemy forces. The mission was led by Maj. Fred Forby with another helicopter piloted by Capt. John O'Nell. The remaining helicopter crew members are unkn currently. The mission was a success, however Capt. O'Nell's helicopter was hit by enemy fire, wounding one of the SGU troops. http://www.mh-53pavelow.com/documents/20thSOS/1969.pdf |
| 1969 - April 22 | A HH-3E from the 37th ARRS, crewed by Capt. Charles P. Lowry (P), Maj. Bruce E. Prouse (CP), SSgt. James H. Jenereaux (FE) and TSgt. John J. Eldridge (PJ), rescued the pilot of a F-100D (Call sign "Sun Valley 61"), 1st Lt. Ross C. Detwiler, after he ejected from his AAA damaged aircraft about 25 miles east of Saravan, Laos. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form |
| 1969 - April 23 | A HH-43F from Det. 10, 38th ARRS, Binh Thuy AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Phillip H. Kamman (P), Capt. Robert A. White (CP), Sgt. Kenneth P. Johnson (FE) and SSgt. Michael F. Dean (PJ), rescued the pilot of a F-100D, 1st Lt. Robert M. Hargett, after he ejected from his small arms fire damaged aircraft about 12 miles west of Binh Thuy, RVN. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form |
| 1969 - April 23 | A HH-43F from Det. 11, 38th ARRS, Tuy Hoa AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Daniel A. Nicholson (P), Maj. Morgan A. Downing (CP), Sgt. Robert J. Christian (FE) and Sgt. Michael E. Fish (PJ), medevacked Gerald A. Leary in RVN. No other details are known at this time. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1968 - April 24 | Four UH-1P gunship helicopters from the 20th HS "Green Hornets", crew's unkn, were involved, along with U. S. Army slicks and gunships, in support of a CCS Hatchet Force reinforced with Recon Teams that were in fierce battle with enemy forces near Mimot, Cambodia. Of the five Americans and 25-30 Montagnard’s on the ground in this battle, three Americans were killed or MIA's and about half of the Montagnard’ s were killed and virtually all the other survivors were wounded. Hatched Force and Recon Team Americans listed as KIA or MIA in this action are 1st Lt. Gregory Michael Harrigan, Medic Sgt. Ernest C. Jamison and SFC Jerry "Mad Dog" Michael Shriver. No other details are known at this time. "Secret Green Beret Commandos In Cambodia" by Lt. Col. Fred S. Lindsey, USA (Ret.) |
| 1968 - April 26 | The quick response of ARRS crews to an emergency was clearly demonstrated to Secretary of Defense Melvin Laird and several other dignitaries by ARRS crews when three HH-43B's from Det 14, EARRC (MAC), MacDill AFB, Fla. were flying rescue coverage for Mr. Laird and his party when the helicopter in which they we're passengers was forced to make a precautionary landing, at night, on the grass median of heavily-traveled Interstate Highway 75. Immediately, two of the HH-43B's dropped down to assist. Landings were made in almost complete darkness in an area surrounded by thick woods. Several power lines were also in the vicinity. The Secretary and nine other persons were quickly taken aboard the two HH-43B's and then flown to MacDill. Among those with Mr. Laird were General Conway, commander in chief, U. S. Strike Command: Rear Admiral Lynch, U. S. Strike Command; and U. S. Congressmen William C. Cramer and Robert L. F. Sikes. Later, the third HH-43B crew flew a precautionary orbit when the Secretary's jet aircraft departed from the air base for Washington. Manning one of the two HH-43B's which made the highway landings were Capt. Thomas F. Madden (P), Sgt. Larry D. Kniss (FE), TSgt. Harold A. Kerr (MT), SSgt. Harold J. Marten (FF) and SSgt. Gerald W. Psalmond (FF). In the other HH-43B were Maj. Edwin J. Christy, (P), Maj. Stanley L. Thompson (CP), Sgt. Michael Monetti (FE) and Sgt. Paul A. Erickson (MT). In the third HH-43B were Capt. Billy C. Marcontell (P), Maj. Dale W. Eder (CP), Sgt. Coy N. Carrington (FE), MSgt. Haydn T. Poore (MT), Sgt. Steven Stegelvik (FF) and A1C Jerry L. Payton, (FF). RotorTips Aug-Sep-Oct 69 - page.6 |
| 1968 - April 27 | A HH-43F from Det. 10, 38th ARRS, Binh Thuy AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Thomas D. Precious (P), Capt. Leslie E. Johnson (CP), A1C Archelaus Whitehead Jr. (FE), Lonnie N. Davidson (PJ) and Charles Caton (FS), were involved in a rescued of USCG sailor, R. D. Heilesen, in RVN. No other details are available currently. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form |
| 1968 - April 27 | CH-3E's of the 20th SOS "Pony Express" from Udorn RTAFB, Thailand, crew's unknown, inserted a SGU team in an LZ after crossing a road that was heavily defended by 37mm and 57mm anti-aircraft guns. Their crossing was covered by eight F-4 fighter aircraft that attacked the enemy guns at the road crossing point, allowing the helicopter to cross and successfully insert the team. http://www.mh-53pavelow.com/documents/20thSOS/1968.pdf |
| 1969 - April 29 | A HH-43F from Det. 10, 38th ARRS, Binh Thuy AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Phillip H. Kamman (P), Capt. Cecil A. Jessee (CP), Sgt. Kenneth P. Johnson (FE) and A1C Theodore J. Polys (PJ), rescued four USN sailors, Corles R. Julien, Bobby L. Creager, Alton M. Woolard and Rafael Compor in RVN. No other details are known at this time. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form |
| 1969 - April 30 | A HH-43F from Det. 7, 38th ARRS, Da Nang AB, RVN, crewed by Maj. Tom W. Brumfield Jr. (P), Capt. John E. Murray (CP), SSgt. Kenneth R. Jones (FE), A1C Joel E. Talley (PJ), Sgt. George S. Gladu (FF) and Sgt. Roger D. Elam (PJ), deployed their FSK in an attempt to save the crew of a badly damaged RF-4C that had flipped over when attempting a gear up landing at Da Nang AB, RVN. Both crew, Maj. Glenn Allyn Gorden (P) and Maj. Francis Ernest Stewart (NAV) were KIA in the crash. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "PJ's in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form |
| 1969 - May 01 | A HH-43B from Det. 11, 38th ARRS, Tuy Hoa AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Daniel A. Nicholson (P), Capt. William F. Austin (CP), TSgt. Leonard T. Hess (FE) and SSgt. Cole E. Panning (PJ), medevacked Francis J. Harmon in RVN. No other details are known at this time. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LA Pointe |
| 1969 - May 02 | A HH-3E from the 37th ARRS, crewed by Maj. Anthony F. Argo (P), Lt. Col. Homer H. Howell Jr. (CP), MSgt. Charles L. Manes (FE) and SSgt. Eugene L. Nardi (PJ), rescued the pilot of a USN A-7A (Call sign "Canyon Passage 413"), Lt. Cdr. William J. O'Conner, after he ejected from his ground fire damaged aircraft near the A Shao Valley, RVN. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "P's in Vietnam" by Robert L. LA Pointe & JRCC Save Form |
| 1969 - May 02 | A HH-43B from Det. 2, 38th ARRS, Takhli RTAFB, Thailand, crewed by Capt. W. B. Fredenberger (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ), rescued the crew of a F-105F (Call sign "Dallas 02"), R. M. Viscarra (P) and R. M. Reed (CP), when they ejected from their aircraft near Takhli AB, Thailand when their aircraft had an engine failure. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "P's in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1969 - May 02 | A CH-3E from the 20th SOS at Udorn RTAFB, Thailand, crewed by Maj. Donald Burger (P), Capt. Gordon Lowery (CP) Sgt. Mel Laite (FE) and Sgt. S. Wing, airlifted a crashed Thai U-10 aircraft from the crash site in a valley near Ban Lao, Thailand to Maung Nan, Thailand. http://www.mh-53pavelow.com/documents/20thSOS/1969.pdf |
| 1969 - May 03 | A HH-53 from the 40th ARRS, crewed by Lt. Col. Chester R. Ratcliffe Jr. (P), Capt. James P. O'Pry (CP), SSgt. Ralph Frazier (FE), TSgt. John E. Wilson (PJ), A1C David M. Davison (PJ) and Timothy (AP), medevacked one foreign military troop in Laos. No other details are known at this time. “PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1969 - May 04 | A HH-53 from the 40th ARRS, crewed by unkn (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE), unkn (PJ) and unkn (PJ), unsuccessfully attempted the rescue of a F-100C (Call sign "Litter 22") pilot, Capt. Michael T. Adams, after he ejected from his automatic weapons fire damaged aircraft near Ban Nathom Mai, Laos. Capt. Adams was KIA during the ejection, his body was located and recovered by the PJ on the HH-53. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1969 - May 04 | UH-1's of the 20th SOS "Green Hornets", crew’s unkn, rescued an MACV SOG recon team that was completely surrounded by enemy forces after 20th SOS gunships were able to suppress most of the enemy fire. No other details are known at this time. "Secret Green Beret Commandos In Cambodia" by Lt. Col. Fred S. Lindsey, USA (Ret.) |
| 1969 - May 05 | A HH-43F from Det. 10, 38th ARRS, Binh Thuy AB, RVN, crewed by Maj. Ralph L. Gaede (P), Capt. Cecil A. Jessee (CP), MSgt. John G. Regan Jr. (FE) and SSgt. Michael F. Dean (PJ), medevacked one USN sailor, E4 Edward Jordan. No other details are known at this time. JRCC Save Form & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1969 - May 06 | Two UH-1's slicks of the 20th SOS, one crewed by unkn (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (FE) and the other crewed by unkn (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (FE), rescued a seven-man reconnaissance team (“RT Hammer”) that was surrounded by enemy forces after 20th SOS gunships were able to suppress most of the enemy fire. Slick two landed under fire to pick up one wounded team member and four others with slick lead landing to pick up the rest of the team. This extraction was supported by 20th SOS UH-1P gunships, crews unknown. (Note: It is believed that “Green Hornet” James Bedingfield may have been one of the UH-1P slick gunners involved in this mission.) Facebook message traffic from Green Hornets Kokomo Reunion Group 2 May 2023 & http://www.mh-53pavelow.com/documents/20thSOS/1969.pdf & "Secret Green Beret Commandos In Cambodia" by Lt. Col. Fred S. Lindsey, USA (Ret.) http://www.mh-53pavelow.com/documents/20thSOS/1969.pdf & "Secret Green Beret Commandos In Cambodia" by Lt. Col. Fred S. Lindsey, USA (Ret.) |
| 1969 - May 07 | A HH-43F from Det. 13, 38th ARRS, Phu Cat AB, RNV, crewed by Capt. Richard J. Bouckhout (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ), medevacked one Vietnamese in RVN. No other details are known at this time. JRCC Save Form & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1969 - May 07 | A UH-1 slick of the 20th SOS, crewed by unkn (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (FE), after 20th SOS gunships were able to suppress most of the enemy fire, rescued a reconnaissance team that was receiving enemy fire on three sides. The slick landed in a low hover in the LZ and picked up the team and as they were departing, they began to receive enemy fire, but they were not hit. http://www.mh-53pavelow.com/documents/20thSOS/1969.pdf |
| 1969 - May 08 | A HH-3E from the 37th ARRS, crewed by Maj. Anthony F. Argo (P), Lt. Col. Homer H. Howell Jr. (CP), Sgt. Walter A. Swenson (FE), SSgt. Eugene L. Nardi (PJ) and Jimmy L. Lester (AP), unsuccessfully attempted to rescue the crew of a F-4C (Call sign "Boxer 31"), Maj. William James Brashear (P) and 1st Lt. Henry Gerald Mundt (WSO), after the ejected from their AAA damaged aircraft near the village of Ding, Laos. Although two parachutes were reported and one of the SAR aircraft spoke to one of the crewmen on his survival radio, neither Maj. Brashear nor Lt. Mundt could be located, and they were declared KIA. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1969 - May 08 | A UH-1P gunship of the 20th SOS, crewed by Capt. Waldon B. Byers (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and SSgt. Ronald J. Keersmaekers (FE), after several 20th SOS gunship attacks were able to suppress most of the enemy fire, allowing a 20th SOS UH-1P slick to rescue, while under fire, a reconnaissance team that was in contact with enemy forces. The pilot of one of the gunships on this mission, Capt. Byers, was wounded in the leg on one of his gunships' passes. http://www.mh-53pavelow.com/documents/20thSOS/1969.pdf & "Secret Green Beret Commandos In Cambodia" by Lt. Col. Fred S. Lindsey, USA (Ret.) |
| 1969 - May 09 | UH-1P #63-13163 of the 20th SOS at Udorn RTAFB, Thailand, crewed by Capt. John Davids (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE), autorotated to a safe landing about 8 miles southeast of Udorn after it suffered an engine failure while on a local FCF flight. The helicopter was left under guard until May 13, 1969, when a replacement engine had been received from Nha Trang AB, RVN and had replaced the bad engine. The helicopter was test flown and returned to Udorn RTAFB, Thailand. http://www.mh-53pavelow.com/documents/20thSOS/1969.pdf |
| 1969 - May 10 | A CH-3E from the 20th SOS at Udorn, crewed by Maj. Fred Forby (P), unkn (CP), SSgt. McLaskey, was leading a mass exfiltration mission with five CH-3E's and three UH-1F's when his aircraft developed a main transmission oil leak while deep in enemy territory. Maj. Forby landed at a friendly CV site where SSgt. McLaskey determined that the Garlock seal on the transmission oil pump was the cause of the leak and that it would require replacement. Guards were brought in to guard the helicopter and the next day a flight crew and maintenance crew consisting of Sgt.'s Barber and McLaskey were flown into the site, made the repairs in an hour and half and the CH-3E was flown back to Udorn RTAFB, Thailand. http://www.mh-53pavelow.com/documents/20thSOS/1969.pdf |
| 1969 - May 11 | A HH-3E from the 37th ARRS, crewed by Capt. Joseph R. Hall Jr. (P), Capt. Martin E. Richard (CP), A1C James S. Thibodeau (FE) and SSgt. Dennis C. Palmer (PJ), rescued the pilot of a USMC F-4B (Call sign "Manual 42"), 1st Lt. Gary L. Bain, after he ejected from his ground fire damaged aircraft in southern Laos near the village of Ban Kate, Laos. The co-pilot, 1st Lt. William Cornelius Ryan, was KIA. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1969 - May 11 | A HH-43F from Det. 10, 38th ARRS, Binh Thuy AB, RVN, crewed by Maj. Ralph L. Gaede (P), Capt. Cecil A. Jessee (CP), Sgt. Kenneth P. Johnson (FE) and SSgt. Michael F. Dean (PJ), rescued two USN sailors, O3 James Greene, E4 Raymond D. Rathburn and one Vietnamese troop from a patrol river boat in RVN. No other details are known at this time. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1969 - May 12 | A HH-3E from the 37th ARRS, crewed by Maj. John G. Kakacek (P), USCG Lt. Jg. Robert T. Ritchie (CP), SSgt. Billy R. Bloomer (FE), SSgt. Eugene L. Nardi (PJ) and Michael F. Orcutt (AP), rescued the co-pilot of a USMC F-4J (Call sign "Love Bug 232 Bravo"), 1st Lt. Patrick E. Daly (P) after he and his pilot, 1st Lt. Dean H. Matzko, ejected from their ground fire damaged aircraft about 10 miles off the coast of Da Nang AB, RVN. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form |
| 1969 - May 12 | A HH-3E from the 37th ARRS, crewed by Maj. John G. Kakacek (P), USCG Lt. Jg. Robert T. Ritchie (CP), SSgt. Billy R. Bloomer (FE), SSgt. Eugene L. Nardi (PJ) and Michael F. Orcutt (AP), rescued the co-pilot of a USMC F-4J (Call sign "Love Bug 232 Bravo"), 1st Lt. Patrick E. Daly (P) after he and his pilot, 1st Lt. Dean H. Matzko, ejected from their ground fire damaged aircraft about 10 miles off the coast of Da Nang AB, RVN. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form |
| 1969 - May 12 | A UH-1 slick of the 20th SOS, crewed by unkn (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (FE), after 20th SOS gunships were able to force enemy forces to stop their pursuit, rescued a reconnaissance team that had been discovered and was being chased by enemy forces. http://www.mh-53pavelow.com/documents/20thSOS/1969.pdf |
| 1969 - May 12 | A CH-3E from the 20th SOS at Udorn RTAFB, Thailand, crewed by Lt. Col. Ernest L. MacQuarrie (P), Lt. Col. McCluney (CP), unkn (FE), rescued nine passengers from a U. S. Army UH-1 that had made and emergency landing about 60 miles southwest of Nakhon Phanom, Thailand. The four man UH-1 crew stayed with their helicopter to guard it and attempt to repair the engine. http://www.mh-53pavelow.com/documents/20thSOS/1969.pdf |
| 1969 - May 13 | For the second day in a row a UH-1 slick of the 20th SOS, crewed by unkn (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (FE), after 20th SOS gunships were able to force enemy forces to stop their pursuit, rescued another reconnaissance team that had been discovered and was being chased by enemy forces. http://www.mh-53pavelow.com/documents/20thSOS/1969.pdf |
| 1969 - May 14 | A HH-43B from Det. 5, 38th ARRS, Udorn RTAFB, Thailand, crewed by Maj. Lester B. Langston (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ), rescued the pilot of a F-105F (Call sign "Mantis"), Maj. Alfred M. Yahanda (no co-pilot aboard), after he flew his ground fire damaged aircraft back into Thailand before he ejected about 5 miles from Udorn RTAFB, Thailand. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form |
| 1969 - May 14 | A HH-43F from Det. 13, 38th ARRS, Phu Cat AB, RNV, crewed by Capt. Richard J. Bouckhout (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ), medevacked one Vietnamese in RVN. No other details are known at this time. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1969 - May 14 | A HH-3E from the 37th ARRS, crewed by Lt. Col. James H. Grady (P), Martin E. Richard (CP), Sgt. Karl H. Chunn (FE), Sgt. Donald M. Lester (AP) and Denver Nelson (FS), medevacked Dionisio Z. Pangilinan from the USS Muskegon in the South China Sea. No other details are known at this time. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1969 - May 15 | A HH-43B from Det. 13, 38th ARRS, Phu Cat AB, RNV, crewed by 1st Lt. Wayne A. Grant III (P), Capt. Robert S. Morita (CP), SSgt. Delbert B. Dunn (FE) and TSgt. Lawrence Wellington (PJ), medevacked one Vietnamese. No other details are known at this time. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form |
| 1969 - May 15 | A HH-43B from Det. 1, 38th ARRS, Phan Rang AB, RVN, crewed by Maj. John C. Neville Jr. (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ), rescued three USA troops, C/WO Wendt, SP4 Gymon, and PFC Metzenberg from a downed USA UH-1 helicopter in RVN. No other details are known at this time. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form |
| 1969 - May 16 | A HH-43F from Det. 8, 38th ARRS, Cam Ranh Bay AB, RVN, crewed by Maj. Calvin W. Capper (P), Capt. John L. Poorman (CP), SSgt. Donald H. Goodlett (PJ), A1C Kenneth J. Musnicki (PJ) and TSgt. Delon (MT), medevacked one Vietnamese girl in RVN. No other details are known at this time. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form |
| 1969 - May 16 | CH-3E #65-15692 of the 20th SOS at Udorn RTAFB, Thailand, crewed by Major C. Taylor (P), Capt. Donald F. Berger (CP), unkn (FE), landed at a FOL in Laos to refuel. After they had refueled, they were unable to get the number one engine to start. The helicopter was left overnight guarded by indigenous troops. It was determined that the best way to repair the engine was to fly the CH-3E, on one engine, to Nakhon Phanom RTAFB, Thailand to have the engine replaced there. All the extra equipment was removed to ensure the lightest weight possible and a two-man crew, Maj. Donald F. Berger (P) and Maj. C. Taylor (CP) flew it to Nakhon Phanom. The engine was changed there and #65-15692 returned to Udorn RTAFB, Thailand on May 18th. http://www.mh-53pavelow.com/documents/20thSOS/1969.pdf |
| 1969 - May 17 | A HH-43F from Det. 10, 38th ARRS, Binh Thuy AB, RVN, crewed by Maj. Ralph L. Gaede (P), Capt. Cecil A. Jessee (CP), Sgt. Kenneth P. Johnson (FE) and SSgt. Michael F. Dean (PJ), medevacked USN sailors, Robert Mozes and Robert McDonald in RVN. No other details are known at this time. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1969 - May 17 | A HH-43F from Det. 10, 38th ARRS, Binh Thuy AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. John L. Debevec (P), Capt. Jack D. Cusanno (CP) and TSgt. Dudley R. Peckinpaugh (PJ), medevacked USN sailors, Thomas McHenry and Lin Mahner, in RVN. No other details are known at this time. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1969 - May 17 | A HH-53C (Call sign “Jolly Green 76”) from the 40th ARRS, crewed by Maj. Gerald A. Jones (P), unkn (CP), unkn (PJ) and unkn (PJ), rescued a F-4D (Call sign "Cobalt 01") crewman (name unkn), after he and his other crewman, 1st Lt. Virgil Grant Stewart, ejected from their ground fire damaged aircraft over the Mu Gia Pass. A PJ was lowered to the ground and discovered Lt. Stewart was KIA and they were not able to recover his body. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1969 - May 18 | A HH-3E from the 37th ARRS, crewed by Maj. Anthony F. Argo (P), USCG Lt. Jg. Richard V. Butchka (CP), SSgt. Billy R. Bloomer (FE) and Sgt. Stephen T. White (PJ), was involved in a SAR for survivors of a USMC KC-130F and two USMC F-4B's (Call sign "Lovebug") that had been involved with a mid-air collision with another USMC F-4B that was on a different track. All on board the KC-130F and two of the F-4B's were KIA and the third F-4B was able to land safely at Da Nang AB, RVN. The HH-3E crew was able to locate and recover one body from the downed aircraft. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1969 - May 19 | UH-1F #63-13151 of the 20th SOS, crewed by unkn (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (FE) was written off at Ban Don, Vietnam when it went down due to a fuel control malfunction. The helicopter was recovered and returned to Nha Trang AB, RVN where it was stripped of all usable parts. No other details are available currently. http://www.helis.com/database/accidents/?org=133&f2mod=545 |
| 1969 - May 20 | http://www.helis.com/database/accidents/?org=133&f2mod=545 |
| 1969 - May 21 | A HH-43F from Det. 10, 38th ARRS, Binh Thuy AB, RVN, crewed by Maj. Ralph L. Gaede (P), Capt. David L. Bachman (CP), Sgt. Kenneth P. Johnson (FE) and SSgt. Michael F. Dean (PJ), medevacked USN sailors, Gerry Carpenter and Robert A. Moore in RVN. No other details are known at this time. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1969 - May 21 | A HH-43F from Det. 10, 38th ARRS, Binh Thuy AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Phillip H. Kamman (P), Capt. Jack D. Cusano (CP), SSgt. George E. Hubbard III (FE) and A1C Theodore J. Polys (PJ), medevacked USN sailors, Frank R. Boone and Tommy E. Ennis and one wounded Vietnamese in RVN. No other details are known at this time. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1969 - May 21 | A U.S. Army UH-1 slick, after 20th SOS gunships, crew's unkn (except that Capt. Robert B. Swenck is known to have been a pilot in one of the gunships), were able to suppress most enemy fire, to rescue a reconnaissance team that that was in contact with enemy forces. During the fight both 20th SOS gunships were hit by enemy fire, but they continued the fight and just as the slick was going in for the pickup both 20th SOS gunships had used up the last of their 18,000 rounds of mini-gun ammo and they continued to provide overhead suppressive fire using their personal weapons as the slick successfully rescued the team. http://www.mh-53pavelow.com/documents/20thSOS/1969.pdf |
| 1969 - May 22 | CH-3E 67-14713 of the 20th SOS at Udorn RTAFB, Thailand was retrofitted with fixed landing gear. http://www.mh-53pavelow.com/documents/20thSOS/1969.pdf |
| 1969 - May 23 | 20th SOS gunships, crew’s unkn, provided cover for a U. S. Army slick that had been shot down while attempting to rescue a reconnaissance team that had captured two POW's and the subsequent rescue attempts to recovery the down crew, the team and the POW'S. http://www.mh-53pavelow.com/documents/20thSOS/1969.pdf |
| 1969 - May 24 | A HH-43B from Det. 3, 38th ARRS, Ubon RTAFB, Thailand, crewed by Capt. Allen E. Spalt (P), Capt. Lamont K. Churchill (CP), A1C Roger A. Klaes (FE) and SSgt. Avo R. Vanbeuzekom (MT), rescued six crew members, Maj. Kenneth E. Stockard, Maj. Vernon E. O'Meally, Capt. Norman Clanton, Sgt. Charles R. Kelly, Sgt. Edward Marreo and SSgt. David A. Sayre, of an AC-130A (Call sign "Carter 01") gunship that had been hit by two 37 mm AAA rounds over the A Shau Valley, RVN. The AC-130A crew, Lt. Col. William H. Schwehm (P), Maj. Gerald H. Piehl (CP) and SSgt. Cecil Taylor, managed to fly the badly damaged aircraft back to Ubon RTAFB, Thailand where the pilot had most of the crew bail out before he attempted a landing. SSgt. Troglen, the illuminator operator had been mortally wounded when the aircraft was hit and died on the way back to Ubon and SSgt. Taylor (FE) was killed when the AC-130A crashed during landing at Ubon RTAFB, Thailand. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form |
| 1969 - May 24 | A HH-43B from Det. 3, 38th ARRS, Ubon RTAFB, crewed by Maj. Gerald A. Jones (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ), rescued one crew member, A1C Richard A Baasca, of a AC-130A (Call sign "Carter 01") that had bailed out of his AAA ground fire damaged aircraft (see entry above). "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form |
| 1969 - May 24 | A HH-53 from the 40th ARRS, crewed by Maj. Gerald A. Jones (P), Capt. William B. Lehman (CP), SSgt. Ralph Frazier (FE), A1C Grady F. Allen (PJ), A1C Ronald F. Sopata (PJ) and Sgt. Lawrence T. Brown Jr. (AP), rescued one crew member, Maj. Vernon E. O'Meally, of a AC-130A (Call sign "Carter 01") that had bailed out of his AAA ground fire damaged aircraft (see entry above). "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form |
| 1969 - May 25 | A HH-43F from Det. 8, 38th ARRS, Cam Ranh Bay AB, RVN, crewed by Maj. Calvin W. Capper (P), Capt. Calvin E. Chapin (CP), TSgt. James L. Johnson (FE) and TSgt. Lawrence Wellington (PJ), medevacked one Vietnamese woman in RVN. No other details are known at this time. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1969 - May 25 | A HH-3E from the 37th ARRS, crewed by Maj. Paul B. Davis Jr. (P), Capt. Charles D. Langham (CP) and Harold G. Alves (FE), rescued four people named Hardeman, Newman, Sgt. Larven and Sgt. Jenkins, from a sailboat in the South China Sea. No other details are known at this time. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1969 - May 26 | A HH-43F from Det. 9, 38th ARRS, Pleiku AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Joseph T. Herr (P), Capt. James F. Hinkel (CP), TSgt. Robert A. Brouillette (FE) and TSgt. Colin A. Lane (PJ), medevacked Robert A. Gillespie in RVN. No other details are known at this time. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1969 - May 26 | A HH-43F from Det. 10, 38th ARRS, Binh Thuy AB, RVN, crewed by Maj. Ralph L. Gaede (P), Capt. David L. Bachman (CP), SGT. Kenneth P. Johnson (FE) and TSgt. Dudley R. Peckinpaugh (PJ), medevacked one ARVN troop in RVN. No other details are known at this time. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form |
| 1969 - May 27 | A HH-43F from Det. 10, 38th ARRS, Binh Thuy AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. John L. Debevec (P), Capt. Jack D. Cusano (CP), SSgt. George E. Hubbard III (FE) and SSgt. Michael F. Dean (PJ), rescued one unkn Vietnamese civilian in RVN. No other details are known at this time. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form |
| 1969 - May 28 | A HH-43B from Det. 1, 38th ARRS, Phan Rang AB, RVN, crewed by Maj. Jimmy D. Gammon (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ), medevacked one USAF airman in RVN. No other details are known at this time. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form |
| 1969 - May 28 | A HH-43B from Det. 14, 38th ARRS, Tan Son Nhut AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Maxie L. Trainer (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ), medevacked two ARVN troops in RVN. No other details are known at this time. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form |
| 1969 - May 29 | A HH-43B from Det. 11, 38th ARRS, Tuy Hoa AB, RVN, crewed by Maj. Edgar R. Whitney (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ), medevacked John W. Powell in RVN. No other details are known at this time. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form |
| 1969 - May 31 | A HH-43B from Det. 1, 38th ARRS, Phan Rang AB, RVN, crewed by Maj. Jimmy D. Gammon (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ), medevacked one Vietnamese in RVN. No other details are known at this time. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form |
| 1969 - June 03 | A HH-43F from Det. 9, 38th ARRS, Pleiku AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Joseph T. Herr (P), Capt. James F. Hinkel (CP), A1C Charles F. Soderboom (FE) and Howard J. Holloway (PJ), searched for the pilot of an O-1 (Call sign "Headhunter 12") in RVN His body was discovered 500 meters from the crash site and was recovered by a UH-1 helicopter. No other details are known at this time. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form |
| 1969 - June 03 | A CH-3E from the 21st SOS, crewed by Captain Philip J. Conran (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (FE) rescued indigenous personnel deep into hostile territory while under extremely hostile fire. No other details are known at this time. "http://valor.militarytimes.com/recipient.php?recipientid=3605 |
| 1969 - June 04 | A HH-43B, #59-1554 (call sign Pedro 02") from MacDill AFB, FL., crewed by Maj. Dale W. Eder (P), Sgt. Coy N. Carrington (FE), SSgt. Patrick J. Geisler (FF), Sgt. Jerry B. Evans (FF), A1C Jon H. Showers (MT), A1C Graig A. Carver (Passenger), SSgt. Joseph W. G. Mills (Passenger) and Army SSgt. Walter Williams Jr. (Passenger), crashed into a scrub brush field and burned on a return flight from Avon Park bombing range to MacDill AFB. All crewmembers and passengers were killed. No other details are known at this time. USAF Accident/Incident Report, 26 June 1969 & The Indianapolis Star (Indianapolis, IN) Mon, Jun 9, 1969 [first Edition] page 34 |
| 1969 - June 04 | A HH-43F from Det. 10, 38th ARRS, Binh Thuy AB, RVN, crewed by Maj. Charles E. Trapp Jr. (P), Capt. Jack D. Cusano (CP), Sgt. Kenneth P. Johnson (FE) and TSgt. Dudley R. Peckinpaugh (PJ), rescued the crew, Lt. Cmdr. W. M. Crowe and Capt. E. H. Kidd, of a downed USN UH-1 helicopter. No other details are known at this time. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form |
| 1969 - June 05 | A HH-3E (Call sign “Jolly Green 35”) from the 37th ARRS, crewed by Capt. Joseph R. Hall Jr. (P), Maj. Walter E. Barnes III (CP), SSgt. James K. Hall (FE), SSgt. David W. Lilliston (FE) and SSgt. Jon K. Hoberg (PJ), rescued the crew, Col. Ralph F. Findlay (P) and Capt. Don M. Moy (NAV), of a RF-4C after they ejected just off the cost of Dong Hoi, NVN, from their 57mm AAA damaged aircraft. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form & 1969 37th ARRSq. Operations Logbook |
| 1969 - June 05 | A HH-43F from Det. 1, 38th ARRS, Phan Rang AB, RVN, crewed by Maj. John C. Neville Jr. (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ), medevacked one Vietnamese in RVN. No other details are known at this time. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form |
| 1969 - June 05 | A HH-43B from Det. 14, EARRC at MacDill AFB, FL., crewed by unkn (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE), Unkn (FF) and SSgt Joseph Patrick Geisler (FF), crashed into a scrub brush field on a return flight from Avon Park bombing range to MacDill AFB. The five crew members along with three passengers were all killed in the crash. No other details are known at this time. Delaware County Daily Times (Chester, PA.), Thu, Jun 5, 1969, page 2 & The Progress (Clearfield, PA.), Sat. Jun 7, 1969, page 1 |
| 1969 - June 07 | A HH-43B from Det. 3, 38th ARRS, Ubon RTAFB, Thailand, crewed by Capt. Ernest L. Neville (P), Capt. Lamont K. Churchill (CP), A1C Roger A. Klaes (FE), SSgt. Avo R. Vanbeuzekom (MT), Sgt Booker T. McCoy (FF) and Sgt. David R. Oakes (FF), saved D. M. Perry, D. C. Abbes, 1st Lt. A. T. Simon and Sgt. D. M. Nielson, from a EC-47P, after it crashed from engine failure in Thailand. No other details are known at this time. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form |
| 1969 - June 07 | A HH-43F from Det. 1, 38th ARRS, Phan Rang AB, RVN, crewed by Maj. John C. Neville Jr. (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ), medevacked two USAF airmen in RVN. No other details are known at this time. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form |
| 1969 - June 07 | Four UH-1P gunships of the 20th SOS "Green Hornets", crew’s unkn, were launched, at 0230 hours, from Ban Me Thout East to attack enemy forces who were attacking the base with heavy rocket & mortar fire. The fight lasted about four hours, during which time it was necessary to land and take on fuel at Ban Me Thout City, even though it too was under attack. http://www.mh-53pavelow.com/documents/20thSOS/1968.pdf |
| 1969 - June 09 | A HH-43F from Det. 10, 38th ARRS, Binh Thuy AB, RVN, crewed by Maj. Ralph L. Gaede (P), David L. Bechman (CP), Sgt. Kenneth P. Johnson (FE) and TSgt. Dudley R. Peckinpaugh (PJ), medevacked one USAF airman in RVN. No other details are known at this time. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form |
| 1969 - June 10 | UH-1's from the 20th SOS "Green Hornets", the slick crewed by Lt. Col. Stephen Von Phul (P), Capt. Maurice Lange (CP), unkn (FM) and unkn (AG), rescued a MACV SOG recon team that was under fire from enemy forces using rope ladders to bring the team aboard their helicopter. "Secret Green Beret Commandos In Cambodia" by Lt. Col. Fred S. Lindsey, USA (Ret.) |
| 1969 - June 11 | A HH-43F from Det. 13, 38th ARRS, Phu Cat AB, RNV, crewed by Capt. Richard J. Bouckhout (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ), medevacked one USAF airman in RVN. No other details are known at this time. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form |
| 1969 - June 11 | A HH-3E from Det. 1, 40th ARRS, Phan Rang AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Robert C. Heron Jr (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ), rescued the pilot, Maj. Edward Schroeder, of an YQU-22A (Call sign “Vampire 02”) after he had bailed out when his aircraft suffered an engine failure in Laos. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form |
| 1969 - June 11 | A HH-43F from Det. 9, 38th ARRS, Pleiku AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. William E. Clark (P), Maj. Robert C. Gordon (CP), A1C Charles F. Soderboom (FE) and Howard J. Holloway (PJ), medevacked troops in contact, Bill Wilkinson, Frank Kohari, James Gibson and Richard Horch, in RVN. No other details are known at this time. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form |
| 1969 - June 11 | A HH-43F from Det. 9, 38th ARRS, Pleiku AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Joseph T. Herr (P), Capt. Arthur A. May (CP), Sgt. Floyd M. Barnes (FE) and A1C Leif E. Arvidson (PJ), rescued two USA troops, Arthur Woodley and Reginald Salinas, in RVN. No other details are known at this time. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1969 - June 11 | A HH-43B crewed by Capt. William B. Lehman (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ), rescued four USA troops. No other details are known at this time. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & JRCC Save Form |
| 1969 - June 12 | A HH-3E from the 37th ARRS, crewed by Maj. Ronald L. Haglund (P), Maj. Walter E. Barnes III (CP), SSgt. Vincent P. Freeman (FE) and Michael J. Sherman (PJ), rescued the crew of a F-4D (Call sign "Sullivan 01"), Maj. William R. Deans and Maj. Cornelius A. Thomas, after they ejected from their small arms fire damaged aircraft a few miles from their target near Hiep Duc, RVN. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form |
| 1969 - June 12 | A HH-43F from Det. 10, 38th ARRS, Binh Thuy AB, RVN, crewed by 1st Lt. Philip H. Kammann (P), Capt. David L. Bachman (CP), MSgt. John G. Regan Jr. (FE) and TSgt. Dudley R. Peckinpaugh (PJ), medevacked four ARVN troops, in RVN. No other details are known at this time. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1969 - June 12 | A HH-43F from Det. 10, 38th ARRS, Binh Thuy AB, RVN, crewed by John L. Wells (P), Capt. Jack D. Cusano (CP), Sgt. Ernest L. Long (FE) and SSgt. Michael F. Dean (PJ), medevacked two ARVN troops, in RVN. No other details are known at this time. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1969 - June 13 | A H-21 from the 5040th Helicopter Squadron, crewed by unkn (P), unkn (CP) and unkn (FM) was dispatched from Galena Airport to pick up F-102 pilot, Capt. Jack E. Keeter, and B-57 pilots, Lt. Col. Donald C. Hall and Maj. Jimmie R. Smith who had ejected from their respective aircraft after they had a mid-air collision about 156 miles south of Galena Airport, Alaska. Pacific Stars & Stripes, Sunday, June 15, 1969, pg. 5 |
| 1969 - June 13 | A UH-1 of the 20th SOS ("Green Hornets") crewed by Capt. Maury Lange (P) unkn (CP), SSgt. Gary Coffman (AG) and unkn (AG), crashed at Duc Co, RVN. The crew survived; no other details are known at this time. http://www.macvsog.cc/green_hornet_memories-20th_sos.html |
| 1969 - June 14 | A CH-3E #63-9681 of the 20th SOS (Call sign "Pony Express 10") from Udorn RTAFB, Thailand, crewed by Capt. J. Roberts (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (FE), rescued the pilot of a F-4D (Call sign "Wolf 05 Alpha"), Capt. James William Grace, after he and his pilot, 1st Lt. Wayne J. Karas, ejected from their ZPU AAA fire damaged aircraft near Ban Kapay, Laos. Capt. Grace was being hauled up on the jungle penetrator when he hit a tree and fell off, most probably to his death. He could not be found despite a later ground search and was declared KIA. (See the next entry.) "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "PJ's in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & http://www.macvsog.cc/green_hornet_memories-20th_sos.html |
| 1969 - June 14 | A UH-1F of the 20th SOS (Call sign "Pony Express 12") from Udorn RTAFB, Thailand, crewed by Maj. Paul E. McClellan (P), Maj. William Bunn (CP), unkn (FE), rescued the co-pilot of a F-4D (Call sign "Wolf 05 Bravo"), 1st Lt. Wayne J. Karas, after he and his pilot, Capt. James William Grace, ejected from their ZPU AAA fire damaged aircraft near Ban Kapay, Laos. When Lt. Karas was being lifted on the hoist, the hoist stuck with 100 feet to go and Lt. Karas was carried three miles away and set down and the helicopter landed beside him, and he climbed aboard. (See previous entry.) http://www.macvsog.cc/green_hornet_memories-20th_sos.html |
| 1969 - June 16 | A HH-43B (Call sign "Pedro 77") from Det. 6, 38th ARRS, Bien Hoa AB, RVN, crewed by Maj. Richard W. Lorey (P), Paul L. Lantz (CP), Elbert M. Dewberry (FE), MSgt. David D. Rhody (PJ) and A1C Terry M. Wells (PJ), recovered the body of a crewman from a OH-6 helicopter downed in RVN and picked up the PJ A1C Terry M. Wells who had been sent down from "Pedro 95" to help recover the body. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1969 - June 16 | A HH-53C #69-5784 (Call Sign “Jolly Green 71”) from the 40th ARRS crewed by Maj. William B. Lehman (P), Capt. James P. O’Pry (CP), TSgt. Howard M. Lord (FE), TSgt. Lorenzo E. Willis (PJ), A1C Ronald F. Sopata (PJ), A1C Timothy J. Monk (AP) and AE2 (Navy) B. Childer (ACM), rescued the pilot of a F-105D (Call sign “Kingfish 01”), 1st Lt. James L. DeVoss, after he ejected from his 14.5 mm ground fire damaged aircraft near Ban Thasi, Laos. High bird on this mission was HH-53C #68-8286 (Call Sign “Jolly Green 79”), crewed by Capt. John H. Hartman (P), Capt. Gerald E McCullough (CP), SSgt. Aron P. Hodges (FE), TSgt. Donald R. Snyder (PJ), Sgt. Michael E. Fish (PJ) and HM-1 (Navy) H. G. Mills (ACM). "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & http://www.11alive.com/news/nation-now/battered-and-broken-behind-enemy-lines-story-of-survival-in-vietnam-war/219102377?=o & 40th ARRS Mission Narrative Report #2-3-038-16 June 1969 |
| 1969 - June 17 | A HH-43F from Det. 10, 38th ARRS, Binh Thuy AB, RVN, crewed by Maj. Ralph L. Gaede (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ), rescued two unkn USA troops. No other details are known at this time. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1969 - June 18 | A HH-43B from Det. 13, 38th ARRS, Phu Cat AB, RNV, crewed by unkn (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ), medevacked two unkn USAF airmen in RVN. No other details are known at this time. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1969 - June 19 | A HH-43B from Det. 13, 38th ARRS, Phu Cat AB, RNV, crewed by unkn (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ), medevacked two unkn USAF airmen in RVN. No other details are known at this time. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1969 - June 19 | A HH-43B 60-0278 at U-Tapo RTNB, Thailand crashed…details to be added… |
| 1969 - June 19 | A HH-43B from Det. 1, 38th ARRS, Phan Rang AB, RVN, crewed by Maj. John C. Neville Jr. (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE), unkn (PJ) and unkn (PJ), medevacked one USAF airman in RVN. No other details are known at this time. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & JRCC Save Form |
| 1969 - June 21 | A HH-3E #66-13281 (Call sign “Jolly Green 28”) from from the 37th ARRS, crewed by USCG Lt. JG. Robert T. Ritchie (P), Lt. Col. Sidney A. Sosnow (CP), SSgt. James K. Hall (FE), Sgt. George P. Hoffman III (PJ), SSgt. Jon K. Hoberg (PJ) and Sgt. John H. Bullock Jr. (PJ) were sent to recover the crew of a unkn aircraft (Call sign "Lady Ace 94") in RVN, however when they arrived, they were told they were not needed. High bird on this mission was HH-3E #67-14708 (Call sign “Jolly Green 21”) crewed by unkn (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ). No other details are known at this time. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & 1969 37th ARRSq. Operations Logbook |
| 1969 - June 21 | A HH-3E #66-13281 (Call sign “Jolly Green 28”) from the 37th ARRS, crewed by USCG Lt. JG. Robert T. Ritchie (P), Lt. Col. Sidney A. Sosnow (CP), SSgt. James K. Hall (FE), Sgt. George P. Hoffman III (PJ), SSgt. Jon K. Hoberg (PJ) and Sgt. John H. Bullock Jr. (PJ) provided airborne rescue escort for for a C-121 (Call sign "Bat Cat 13") inbound for an emergency landing in RVN. High bird on this mission was HH-3E #67-14708 (Call sign “Jolly Green 21”) crewed by unkn (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ). No other details are known at this time. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & 1969 37th ARRSq. Operations Logbook & 1969 37th ARRSq. Operations Logbook |
| 1969 - June 22 | A HH-3E #66-13289 (Call sign “jolly Green 03”) from the 37th ARRS, crewed by USCG Lt. James M. Loomis (P), Capt. Charles D. Langham (CP), TSgt. Frank Gaydos Jr, (FE) Sgt. Robert H. Fields (PJ) and Capt. Bistricky (FS) using aerial refueling three times, medevacked USN sailor, B. J. Crowell, suffering from self-inflicted multiple chest wounds, from the USS Durango Victory in the South China Sea. HH-3E (Call Sign “Jolly Green 33”) was the high bird on this mission, crew names unknown. No other details are known at this time. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & 1969 37th ARRSq. Operations Logbook |
| 1969 - June 23 | The 20th SOS "Pony Express" from Udorn RTAFB, Thailand was involved in a mass infill of three SGU companies, utilizing five CH-3E's and two UH-1F's along with two CAS UH-34's and a UH-1. The LZ was deep in the Steel Tiger area, and they moved 301 SGU personnel and approximately 7,000 pounds of equipment. http://www.macvsog.cc/green_hornet_memories-20th_sos.html |
| 1969 - June 24 | A HH-43F from Det. 1, 38th ARRS, Phan Rang AB, RVN, crewed by Maj. Jimmy D. Gammon (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ), medevacked one Vietnamese in RVN. No other details are known at this time. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1969 - June 24 | A HH-53B from the 40th ARRS, crewed by Lt. Col. Franklin S. Catlin (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ), evacuated three USA troops and three other unkn troops from Laos. No other details are known at this time. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1969 - June 24 | A HH-3E (Call sign “Jolly Green 21”) from the 37th ARRS, crewed by USCG Lt. James M. Loomis (P), Capt. John K. Coder (CP), MSgt. Arthur L. Ambrose (FE) and Michael J. Sherman (PJ), medevacked USN sailor, Roger A. Hornbecker, from the USS Kennebec located 300 miles out in the South China Sea. High bird on this mission was HH-3E #66-13281 (Call sign “Jolly Green 28”) crew names unkn. No other details are known at this time. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & 1969 37th ARRSq. Operations Logbook |
| 1969 - June 25 | A HH-3E (Call sign “Jolly Green 35”) from the 37th ARRS, crewed by Maj. Paul B. Davis Jr. (P), Maj. John H. Winter (CP), SSgt. James K. Hall (FE) and SSgt. Jon K. Hoberg (PJ), rescued a USMC F-4B (Call sign "Ringneck 008") pilot, 1st Lt. Andrew Vadyak (P), after he and his co-pilot, 1st Lt. S. S. Talbot, ejected from their ground fire damaged aircraft near Dong Ha, RVN, just south of the DMZ. Lt. Talbot was rescued by "Dustoff 76", a UH-1 helicopter. High bird on this mission was HH-3E #65-12783 (Call sign “Jolly Green 15”) "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & RCC Save Form & 1969 37th ARRSq. Operations Logbook |
| 1969 - June 27 | A HH-53B from the 40th ARRS, crewed by Lt. Col. Chester R. Ratcliffe (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE), unkn (PJ) and unkn (PJ), rescued seventy-seven foreign troops. No other details are known at this time. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & RCC Save Form |
| 1969 - June 27 | A HH-53B from the 40th ARRS, crewed by Capt. James P. O'Pry (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE), unkn (PJ) and unkn (PJ), rescued twenty-five foreign troops. No other details are known at this time. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & RCC Save Form |
| 1969 - June 27 | A HH-53 from the 40th ARRS, crewed by Capt. Louis D. Durham (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE), unkn (PJ) and unkn (PJ), rescued nine foreign troops. No other details are known at this time. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & RCC Save Form |
| 1969 - June 27 | The 20th SOS "Pony Express" was fragged to make an emergency exfils of a neutralist camp deep in the Barrel Roll area that was being attacked by approximately 800 NVA and was expected to fall into enemy hands. Helicopters employed in this mission included five CH-3E's and two UH-1F's from the 20th SOS from Udorn RTAFB, Thailand, along with three ARRS HH-53's and three CH-3E's from the 21st SOS, nine H-34"s and four Huey’s from CAS resource...a total of 26 helicopters were committed. http://www.macvsog.cc/green_hornet_memories-20th_sos.html |
| 1969 - June 27 | CH-3E #65-15691 (Call sign "Pony Express 22") of the 20th SOS crewed by Gerald T. Henery (P), F. L. Mattos (CP), J. S. Adams (FE), Hernand E. Wilson (FE) was shot down in Laos while picking up a Special Forces team involved in a firefight. The crew was rescued. http://www.jollygreen.org/jltnc.html |
| 1969 - June 27 | HH-43F #59-1590 (Call sign "Pedro 92") from Det. 1, 38th ARRS, Phan Rang AB, crewed by Maj. Jimmy D. Gammon (P), Capt. William D. McColl (CP), A1C D. R. Pomerpleu (FE) and SSgt. Henry L. Jones (MT), was shot down and crashed during a SAR for F-100D (Call sign "Blade 04") pilot Capt. John H. Casper. The HH-43F crew and Capt. Casper were all rescued (see next entry). http://www.jollygreen.org/jltnc.html & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1969 - June 27 | A HH-43F from Det. 1, 38th ARRS, Phan Rang AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. James G. Ellis (P), Capt. John L. Poorman (CP), TSgt. Allen Spaltz (FE) and TSgt. Lawrence Wellington (PJ), rescued the HH-43F #59-1590 (Call sign "Pedro 92") crew members, Maj. Jimmy D. Gammon (P), Capt. William D. McColl (CP), A1C D. R. Pomerplue and SSgt. Henry L. Jones (PJ) from their crashed helicopter as well as Capt. John H. Casper, pilot of the F-100D (Call sign "Blade 04") (See previous entry.) "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1969 - June 28 | Two of the four 20th SOS UH-1's #63-13163 & #63-13155, operating from Udorn RTAFB, Thailand departed to return to Nha Trang AB, RVN. http://www.mh-53pavelow.com/documents/20thSOS/1969.pdf |
| 1969 - June 29 | CH-21B #53-4364 of the 5040th Helicopter Squadron crashed on a mountain in Alaska. The wreck is still there. No other details available currently. http://cgibin.rcn.com/jeremy.k/cgi-bin/gzUsafSearch.pl?target=&content=H-21 |
| 1969 - June 29 | A HH-43F from Det. 10, 38th ARRS, Binh Thuy AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Philip H. Kammann (P), Capt. John L. Debevac (CP), Sgt. Kenneth P. Johnson (FE) and SSgt. Michael F. Dean (PJ), rescued one USN sailor, E7 William T. Leatherwood in RVN. No other details are known at this time. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form |
| 1969 - July 01 | The 1001st Helicopter Squadron at Andrews AFB, MD was redesignated as the 1st Helicopter Squadron. http://www.popflock.com/learn?s=1st_Helicopter_Squadron |
| 1969 - July 01 | A HH-43B from Det. 2, 38th ARRS, Takhli RTAFB, Thailand, crewed by Capt. Jack C. Moore (P), Capt. Charles C. Holman (CP), SMSgt. William M. Mintun (FE) and SSgt Richard L. Smith (MT), medevacked two Thais in Thailand. No other details are known at this time. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1969 - July 01 | A HH-43F from Det. 13, 38th ARRS, Phu Cat AB, RNV, crewed by Maj. Dwight C. Hageman (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ), medevacked Jack Williams in RVN. No other details are known at this time. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1969 - July 01 | A HH-43F from Det. 11, 38th ARRS, Tuy Hoa AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Walter F. Turk (P), Maj. Morgan A. Downing (CP), SSgt. Leroy W. King (FE) and Sgt. Michael E. Fish (PJ), medevacked Michael Coschin in RVN. No other details are known at this time. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1969 - July 01 | A HH-3E from Det. 1, 40th ARRS, crewed by unkn (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ), saved one foreign national from a T-28 (Call sign "Tiger 13") in Thailand. No other details are known at this time. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1969 - July 02 | A HH-43F from Det. 11, 38th ARRS, Tuy Hoa AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. William F. Austin (P), Capt. Charles T. Wohlnick (CP), Sgt. Robert J. Christian (FE) and A1C Paul E. Fatka (PJ), medevacked Charles Coburn from a river patrol boat in RVN. No other details are known at this time. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1969 - July 04 | A HH-43F from Det. 10, 38th ARRS, Binh Thuy AB, RVN, crewed by Maj. Ralph L. Caede (P), Capt. Jack D. Cusano (CP), Sgt. Ernest L. Long (FE) and Jackie L. Porter (PJ), medevacked two USN sailors, E8 Robert T. Galligan and one other along with two Vietnamese troops in RVN. No other details are known at this time. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form |
| 1969 - July 06 | A HH-3E #66-13281 (Call sign “Jolly Green 28”) from the 37th ARRS, crewed by Maj. Ronald L. Haglund (P), Capt. John K. Coder (CP), SSgt. James E. Smith (FE) and MSgt. William C. Sutton (PJ), rescued the pilot of a USN F-8H (Call sign "Old Nick 103"), Lt. (Jg.) Gordon P. Hahn, after he ejected from his aircraft when the engine quit. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form & 1969 37th ARRSq. Operations Logbook |
| 1969 - July 10 | HH-43F #60-0278 (Call sign "Pedro 20") of Det. 12, 38th ARRS, U-Tapao RTAFB, Thailand, crewed by unkn (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ), is listed in the USAF loss list. The pilot thought he had an engine failure while on a training flight, crashed and damaged beyond economical repair; crew received only minor injuries. No other information is available at this time. This accident is listed in some places as happening on 17 October 1969. http://www.jollygreen.org/jltnc.htm & http://www.thai-aviation.net/files/Air_Accidents.pdf & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1969 - July 10 | A HH-43F from Det. 10, 38th ARRS, Binh Thuy AB, RVN, crewed by Maj. Ralph L. Gaede (P), Capt. Jack D. Cusano (CP), Sgt. Ernest L. Long (FE) and SSgt. Michael F. Dean (PJ), rescued the pilot of an F-100D, 1st Lt. Robert M. Hargett, after he ejected from his ground fire damaged aircraft near Sa Dec a few miles south of Cao Lanh, RVN. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form |
| 1969 - July 11 | A HH-53 from the 40th ARRS crewed by unkn (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ), retrieved a UH-1 by sling and transported it from LS 184 to FOL in Laos. No other details are known at this time. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1969 - July 11 | A HH-43F from Det. 6, 38th ARRS, Bien Hoa AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Walter D. Murphy (P), Paul L. Lantz (CP), SSgt. Gary D. McGrew (FE) and Sgt. Joseph M. Duffy (PJ), rescued one USA troop, W/O Leonard T. Sevile, from a downed UH-1 in RVN. No other details are known at this time. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form |
| 1969 - July 12 | A USAF helicopter rescued the pilot of an F-100D, Capt. F. T. Brady, after he ejected from his small arms fire damaged aircraft near the Ap Lac Vien, about 30 miles NW of Phan Rang AB, RVN. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1969 - July 13 | UH-1P #65-7929 of the 20th SOS "Green Hornets", crewed by unkn (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (FE) was making a normal approach to the Duc Co, RVN airstrip when the engine lost power and they made a successful autorotational landing on the airstrip suffering only a bent crossover tube. No one on the helicopter was injured. http://www.mh-53pavelow.com/documents/20thSOS/1969.pdf |
| 1969 - July 14 | UH-1P #65-7929 of the 20th SOS "Green Hornets", crewed by an Capt. Phillip Lerum (P), TSgt. Billy C. Lundy (FM) and Richard A. Whitaker (Eng. Mech.) was involved in an accident while on a FCF at Pleiku AB, RVN. The aircraft was autorotated to an unsuccessful landing onto a slope and rolled to the right. The only injury was to the pilot who suffered a minor back injury. http://www.macvsog.cc/green_hornet_memories-20th_sos.html |
| 1969 - July 14 | A HH-43F from Det. 9, 38th ARRS, Pleiku AB, RVN, crewed by Maj. Robert C. Gordon (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ), rescued three crew members of a USAF UH-1F (Call sign "Green Hornet") helicopter, Capt. Phillip Lerum (P), TSgt. Billy C. Lundy (FE) and Richard A. Whitaker (Eng. Mech.) in RVN. No other details are known at this time. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1969 - July 16 | A HH-43F from Det. 10, 38th ARRS, Binh Thuy AB, RVN, crewed by Maj. Ralph L. Gaede (P), Capt. Jack D. Cusano (CP), Sgt. Ernest L. Long (FE) and Jackie L. Porter (PJ), medevacked two USN sailors, E5 Robert Easton and E6 Robert Quarm. No other details are known at this time. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form |
| 1969 - July 16 | A HH-43F from Det. 8, 38th ARRS, Cam Ranh Bay AB, RVN, crewed by Maj. Calvin W. Capper (P), Capt. James L. McAfee (CP), TSgt. James L. Johnson (FE), TSgt. Thomas M. White (PJ) and SSgt. Donald Occhialini (FF), medevacked one ROK troop, Kang Ho, in RVN. No other details are known at this time. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form |
| 1969 - July 16 | A HH-43F from Det. 10, 38th ARRS, Binh Thuy AB, RVN, crewed by Maj. Ralph L. Gaede (P), Capt. Jack D. Cusano (CP), Sgt. Ernest L. Long (FE) and Jackie L. Porter (PJ), rescued four crew members of a USA UH-1D helicopter, W/O1 Robert L. Johnson, 1st Lt. Michael C. Heavy, SP4 Casimia Z. Saczynski and PFC Michael A. Prante, downed in RVN. No other details are known at this time. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form |
| 1969 - July 17 | A HH-43B from Det. 2, 38th ARRS, Takhli RTAFB, RVN, crewed by Maj. Phillip J. Knobel (P), unkn (CP), SSgt Richard L. Smith (MT), SSgt. Donald R. Stebbins (FF) and Sgt. Charles T. Thomas (FF) rescued a F-105D (Call sign "Hotrod 01") pilot, Maj. Fred W. Shattuck, when his aircraft blew a tire on takeoff, the landing gear collapsed and exploded. Unfortunately, Maj. Shattuck died in the hospital on Okinawa two days later. No other details are known at this time. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form |
| 1969 - July 19 | HH-43B #59-1562 (Call sign "Pedro 70") from Det. 12, 38th ARRS at U-Tapao Air Base, crewed by Maj. Warren K. Davis (P), TSgt. Harry M. Cohen (PJ) and SSgt. Tommy Miles Jr. (PJ) was flying rescue cover over a B-52 which had aborted its takeoff run and crash with a full load of fuel and bombs. "Pedro 70" was looking for the tail gunner who was believed to be trapped in the B-52 when the B-52 exploded causing "Pedro 70" to crash killing 2 crew members, Maj. Davis & TSgt. Cohen. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/38th_Rescue_Squadron & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1969 - July 19 | A UH-1P #65-7930 of the 20th SOS ("Green Hornets") crewed by Lt. Col. Dave Sparks (P), Capt. Maury Lange (CP) SSgt. Gary Coffman (AG) and A2C Harold Alkire Jr. (AG) were involved in a crash of their helicopter, due to an engine problem, at Phan Rang AB, RVN. The crew survived, and this aircraft is believed to have been recovered and repaired and put back into service. No other details are available currently. http://www.macvsog.cc/green_hornet_memories-20th_sos.html |
| 1969 - July 19 | A HH-43F from Det. 10, 38th ARRS, Binh Thuy AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. John L. Debevac (P), Capt. David L. Bachman (CP), Sgt. Ernest L. Long (FE) and A1C Paul E. Fatka (PJ), medevacked two ARVN troops, Troung Thi Xuan and one unkn, in RVH. No other details are known at this time. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form |
| 1969 - July 19 | A HH-43F from Det. 10, 38th ARRS, Binh Thuy AB, RVN, crewed by unkn (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ), rescued nine USA troops, from a downed UH-1 (Call sign "Alligator 390") in RVH. No other details are known at this time. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form |
| 1969 - July 19 | A HH-43F from Det. 7, 38th ARRS, Da Nang AB, RVN, crewed by Maj. Tom W. Brumfield Jr. (P), Capt. John E. Murray Jr. (CP), Bernard F. Drummond (FE), Sgt. John H. Bullock Jr. (PJ), SSgt. Cecil H. James (FF) and William R. Hawkins (FF), rescued an A-1H (Call sign "Spad 12") pilot, Leslie C. Jensen, after he had to abandon his aircraft while on a SAR mission when the engine failed. No other details are known at this time. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form |
| 1969 - July 19 | A HH-43F from Det. 13, 38th ARRS, Phu Cat AB, RNV, crewed by Capt. Richard J. Bouckhout (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ), medevacked two USA troops. No other details are known at this time. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form |
| 1969 - July 19 | A HH-43F from Det. 13, 38th ARRS, Phu Cat AB, RNV, crewed by Maj. Dwight C. Hageman (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ), rescued three USA troops in RVN. No other details are known at this time. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form |
| 1969 - July 19 | HH-43F 59-1587 was hit by mortar attack at Tan Son Nhut AB, RVN. No other details are known at this time. http://www.joebaugher.com/usaf_serials/1959.html |
| 1969 - July 21 | A HH-43B from Det. 13, 38th ARRS, crewed by Maj. Dwight C. Hageman (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ), rescued three USA troops in RVN. No other details are known at this time. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form |
| 1969 - July 22 | A first light SAR by a HH-53B from Det. 1, 40th ARRS, crewed by Maj. Gerald A. Jones (P), Capt. Gerald E. McCullough (CP), unkn (FE), unkn (PJ) and unkn (PJ) rescued two Marine A-4F pilots, Lt. Kenneth T. Sanger and Lt. William E. Franson, that had a mid-air collision in the Steel Tiger area north of CH-72 and returned them to CH-89. This was Capt. McCullough’s first CSAR and his bird made the pickup with only one tip tank jettisoned and it also had a hoist malfunction. One of the rescued pilots had no radio and he attracted the attention of the Jolly Green using flares. “PJs in Vietnam” by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form & http://www.pjsinnam.com/vn_history/pdf_files/Chronology/1969.pdf |
| 1969 - July 22 | A HH-53B from the 40th ARRS, crewed by Maj. Gerald A. Jones (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE), unkn ((PJ) and unkn (PJ) made a first light rescue of two USMC A-4F pilots whose aircraft had a mid-air collision while on a combat mission on 21 July 1969. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson |
| 1969 - July 23 | A HH-3E #67-14704 (Call sign “Jolly Green 33”) from the 37th ARRS, crewed by Maj. Duane W. Fisher (P), Capt. Kenneth T. Kelly (CP), SSgt. Wilson E. Cavano (FE) and Sgt. Harry C. Chalmers (PJ), rescued the pilot of an O-2A (Call sign "Trail 39"), 1st Lt. Kenneth W. Haman, after he survived his aircraft being shot down near the city of Hue, RVN. High bird on this mission was HH-3E #66-13280 (Call sign “Jolly Green 27”) crew names unkn. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form & 1969 37th ARRSq. Operations Logbook |
| 1969 - July 24 | A USAF helicopter rescued the pilot of an F-100D, 1st Lt. S. M. Morehouse, after he ejected from his ground fire damaged aircraft near his target in South Vietnam. No other details are known at this time. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson |
| 1969 - July 29 | A HH-3E from the 37th ARRS, crewed by Maj. John G. Kakacek (P), unkn (CP), SSgt. Edgar W. Hopper (FE), TSgt. John J. Eldridge (PJ) and SSgt. Dennis T. Duffy (PJ), flying off the coast of North Vietnam spotted a fishing boat with 5 people frantically waving flags and bailing their sinking boat. The HH-3E crew hoisted the 5 North Vietnamese fishermen aboard and delivered them to a U.S. ship, the USS Renshaw, nearby. The next day they were taken to Da Nang AB, RVN and eventually returned to their homes. "PJ's in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & http://www.pjsinnam.com/vn_history/pdf_files/Chronology/1969.pdf |
| 1969 - July 29 | UH-1P #65-7930 of the 20th SOS was written off at Tuy Hoa, RVN after a crash believed to be due to engine failure. No other details are known at this time. http://www.helis.com/database/accidents/?org=133&f2mod=545 |
| 1969 - July 30 | A HH-43F from Det. 11, 38th ARRS, Tuy Hoa AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. William F. Austin (P), Capt. James H. Brittingham (CP), Sgt. Robert J. Christian (FE) and TSgt. Richard N. Stone (PJ), rescued a ROK troop in RVN. No other details are known at this time. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form |
| 1969 - July 31 | HH-43 aircrews from Det. 4 and Det. 11, 41st ARRWg, saved 41 persons from flood areas of Korea. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/37th_Aerospace_Rescue_and_Recovery_Squadron#Operations_and_losses |
| 1969 - August 01 | The 20th SOS "Green Hornets" relocates from Nha Trang AB, RVN to Tuy Hoa AB, RVN. Air Enthusiast 32, "Covertly to Cambodia" by Wayne Mutza |
| 1969 - August 01 | The CH-3E’s of the 20th SOS "Pony Express" at Udorn RTAFB, Thailand, merged with and became part of the 21st SOS at Nakhon Phanom RTAFB, Thailand. Lt. Col. Theodore D. Silvia from the "Pony Express” became the commander of the 21st SOS. http://www.macvsog.cc/green_hornet_memories-20th_sos.html |
| 1969 - August 03 | A USAF helicopter, crewed by unkn (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ), rescued an F-4D crew, Capt. A. C. Stripe (P) and 1st Lt. A. G. Hendrick (CP), when they ejected, near Ubon RTAFB, Thailand, from their aircraft that had been and damaged by enemy AAA fire in southern Laos about 20 miles west of Khe Sanh, RVN. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1969 - August 07 | HH-43F #60-0282 (Call sign "Pedro 24") of Det. 11, 38th ARRS at Tuy Hoa AB, RVN and crewed by Capt. Charles T. Wohlnick (P), Capt. James H. Brittingham (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ), was lost on a ferry flight to Cam Ranh Bay AB, RVN when it had an engine failure and crashed into the water. The crew was rescued by the U.S. Army. This was the LAST HH-43 lost in the Vietnam War. http://www.jollygreen.org/jltnc.htm & "PJ's in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1969 - August 07 | A HH-43B from Det. 11, 41st ARRWg. at Kunsan AB, Korea, crewed by Maj. Franklin L. Chase (P), Capt. Edward C. Dillmann (CP), TSgt. Merle G. Draper (FM), and A1C John C. Ratliff (PJ), in a nighttime rescue saved a total of 34 Korean Nationals from rising river flood waters, who had become trapped on small islands, some of which islands had already been covered with the flood waters. Kaman Mission Report 8 Aug. 69 |
| 1969 - August 07 | UH-1P #63-3146 of the 20th SOS "Green Hornets", crewed by unkn (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (FE) was taxiing back to the parking area at Tan Son Nhut AB, RVN when it suffered an engine failure. No one on the helicopter was injured. http://www.mh-53pavelow.com/documents/20thSOS/1969.pdf |
| 1969 - August 08 | A HH-43F from Det. 1, 38th ARRS at Phan Rang AB, RVN, crewed by Maj. Ronald K. Dalrymple (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ), rescued the pilot of a F-100D, 1st Lt. Edward L. Daniel, after he ejected from his ground fire damaged aircraft about 5 miles from Phan Rang AB, RVN. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form |
| 1969 - August 08 | A HH-53B from the 40th ARRS, crewed by Capt. Jack C. H. Schwank (P), Maj. Carroll N. Keesler (CP), SSgt. Thomas D. Blakeney (FE), TSgt. John E. Wilson (PJ), Sgt. Terry E. Caffery (PJ) and Sgt. Ronald L. Surratt (AP), rescued two of four, crew members of a U.S. Navy RA-3B that had been downed near CH-72. The other two survivors were rescued by an Air America H-34. No other details are available currently. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form & http://www.pjsinnam.com/vn_history/pdf_files/Chronology/1969.pdf |
| 1969 - August 08 | A HH-43F from Det. 9, 38th ARRS, Pleiku AB, RVN, crewed by unkn (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ), rescued two unkn's from an OH-1 helicopter downed in RVN. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form |
| 1969 - August 10 | HH-43B #59-1556 crashed into Mt. Whitney, CA. No other details are known at this time. http://wwwh43-huskie.info/framesetmix.html |
| 1969 - August 10 | A HH-53B from the 40th ARRS and crewed by Maj. Jimmy D. Moore (P), Capt. William J. Biebel (CP), SSgt. Maxie L. Hilligoss Jr. (FE), A1C David M. Davison (PJ), A1C Robert L. Harris (PJ) and A1C Timothy J. Monk (AP), rescued the crew of a F-4E (Call sign "Tiger 02") (the 1st "Tiger" FAC mission), Capt. Paul M. Lang (P) and Capt. Charles. W. Magsig (CP), after they ejected from their ground fire damaged aircraft near Muong Soumi, Laos, on 09 August 1969. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1969 - August 13 | HH-43F #62-4508 (Call sign "Pedro 39") assigned to Det. 10, 38th ARRS at Bin Thuy AB, RVN and crewed by unkn (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ), was extensively damaged when it crashed on the runway and rolled over on its side after snagging a runway barrier cable during landing roll after a practice autorotation. The crew escaped with only minor injuries. Sold for scrap at Clark AB, Philippines Jun 1975. Location or other details are not known at this time. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & http://www.joebaugher.com/usaf_serials/1959.html |
| 1969 - August 15 | A HH-53C from the 40th ARRS, crewed by Capt. William B. Lehman (P), Roger G. Beamer (CP), SSgt. Thomas D. Blakeney (FE), SSgt. James B. Gerwert (PJ), Sgt. Gregory J. McDonald (PJ) and Ronald G. Gimbert (AP), rescued three unkn survivors from a downed Porter aircraft on the PDJ in Laos. No other details are known at this time. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1969 - August 18 | A HH-43F from Det. 6, 38th ARRS, Bien Hoa AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Walter D. Murphy (P), Paul L. Lantz (CP), SSgt. John A. Hudson (FF) and Sgt. Edward S. Bevens (FF), rescued a USA troop, W/O1 Kenneth L. Cavera from a downed USA OH-6 helicopter in RVN. No other details are known at this time. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form |
| 1969 - August 21 | A HH-53, from the 40th ARRS, crewed by Maj. Robert E. Smith Sr. (P), Maj. Jimmie D. Moore (CP), Harold N. Bailey (FE), Sgt. Anthony J. McFarr (PJ) and Sgt. Arthur M. Davis (PJ) attempted the rescue of the civilian pilot, Mr. Raymond F. Fugit, of a YQU-22A (Call sign "Hope 32") when his aircraft crashed in Laos due to an engine failure however he was discovered to have been KIA during the crash. No other details are known at this time. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form & http://www.westin553.net/batcatTXT01/qu22.txt |
| 1969 - August 21 | A HH-43B from Det. 2, 38th ARRS, Takhli RTAFB, Thailand, crewed by Maj. C. O. Williams (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ), medevacked Samuel Buruano in Thailand. No other details are known at this time. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form |
| 1969 - August 23 | A HH-43B from Det. 2, 38th ARRS, Takhli RTAFB, Thailand, crewed by Capt. Leonard D. Fialko (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ), saved two, Maj. Donald Meek and Fred Platt, from a T-28 in Thailand. No other details are known at this time. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form |
| 1969 - August 25 | A UH-1P #66-1217 from the 20th SOS, crewed by unkn (P) and unkn (FE), was involved in an accident, due to engine failure, at Ban Me Thout East, RVN, while on an FCF. At about 300 feet the engine lost power and an autorotation was initiated, and a landing was attempted in a sloping field. Upon impact the left skid gave away, and the aircraft rolled and pivoted over coming to rest on the top left side of the fuselage. The FE had minor injuries and the pilot was not injured. http://jupi.org/map/vietnam/helicopt.html & http://www.macvsog.cc/green_hornet_memories-20th_sos.html |
| 1969 - August 28 | UH-1P #64-15476 of the 20th SOS "Green Hornets", crewed by unkn (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (FE) suffered a loss of engine power on takeoff and a successfully slide-on landing was completed without damage to the aircraft. http://www.mh-53pavelow.com/documents/20thSOS/1969.pdf |
| 1969 - August 31 | UH-1P #65-7927 of the 20th SOS "Green Hornets", crewed by unkn (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (FE) suffered engine compressor stalls shortly after launching from Ban Me Thout East. Autorotation was initiated and a landing was accomplished safely in a field about one mile west of the airfield. http://www.mh-53pavelow.com/documents/20thSOS/1969.pdf |
| 1969 - September 01 | A HH-3E from Det. 1, 38th ARRS, Phan Rang AB, RVN, crewed by USCG Lt. James M. Loomis (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ), medevacked Gary F. LaBree in Thailand. No other details are known at this time. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1969 - September 02 | A UH-1F #65-7943, of the 4409th Combat Training Sq., Eglin AFB, FL crewed by Maj. Leonard Ciemniecki (P), Capt. Richard M. Ryan (CP), Sgt. Gene Lally (AG), Sgt. Eddie Hagerman (AG) and Amn. Carl E. Troyer (AG) crashed in a marshy ravine 2 miles west of Highway 87 on the northwest part of the Eglin AFB reservation. The helicopter was on a routine training mission when it apparently struck 110,000-volt transmission line 65 feet above the ground. The Kansas City Star (Kansas City, Missouri), 3 September 1969, page 21 |
| 1969 - September 03 | A HH-43B from Det. 5, 38th ARRS, Ubon RTAFB, Thailand, crewed by Maj. Lester B. Langston (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ), rescued an F-4D crew, Col. D. N. Stanfield (P) and 1st Lt. C. E. Dorn (WSO) when they ejected from their aircraft 5 miles south of Udorn RTAFB, Thailand. They had flown back into Thailand after their aircraft had been hit by enemy ground fire about 10 miles south of Sam Neua, Laos. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1969 - September 04 | A HH-53B #69-5787 (Call sign "Jolly Green 72") from the 40th ARRS, crewed by Maj. Jimmy D. Moore (P), Capt. Robert M. Horne (CP), SSgt. Thomas D. Blakeney (FE), A1C Ronald F. Sopata (PJ) and A1C Grady F. Allen (PJ), rescued the foreign military pilot, Su Vang, of a T-28 (Call sign “Tiao Pha Khoa”) that had been shot down on the PDJ in Laos. "Jolly Green 79" crewed by unkn (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE), unkn (PJ) and unkn (PJ), was driven off by ground fire on its attempt to rescue the pilot. Both HH-53B's on this mission were damaged by ground fire and were left at LS-20A for repairs. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form & http://www.pjsinnam.com/vn_history/pdf_files/Chronology/1969.pdf |
| 1969 - September 05 | The 20th Helicopter Sq. relocates from Nha Trang AB, RVN, to Tuy Hoa AB, RVN. http://www.mh-53pavelow.com/documents.20thSOS/history2.pdf |
| 1969 - September 05 | The 20th SOS CH-3E "Pony Express" aircraft and personnel at Udorn were reassigned to the 21st SOS at Nakhon Phanom RTAFB, Thailand. This marked the end of the "Pony Express" in the 20th SOS, however the missions they performed continued but now in the 21st SOS. 20th SOS History |
| 1969 - September 06 | A HH-43B from Det. 4, 38th ARRS, Korat RTAFB, Thailand, crewed by Capt. Frith (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ), rescued four crew members from an EC-121R that crashed while attempting to land in a heavy rainstorm. Of the sixteen on board the EC-121R twelve survived, including the four saved by the HH-43B crew, four others were KIA in the crash. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1969 - September 07 | A HH-43F from Det. 1, 38th ARRS, Phan Rang AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Charles E. Mayes (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ), rescued three USA troops, W/O1 H. Green, W/O1 T. McClellan and SP4 C. McCray from a downed USA UH-1C helicopter in RVN. No other details are known at this time. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form |
| 1969 - September 07 | A HH-43F from Det. 1, 38th ARRS, Phan Rang AB, RVN, crewed by Maj. Ronald K. Dalrymple (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ), rescued one USA troop, Pvt. R. Nesbitt, from a downed USA UH-1C helicopter in Vietnam. No other details are known at this time. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form |
| 1969 - September 07 | A HH-3E from the 37th ARRS, crewed by Maj. Duane W. Fisher (P), Maj. Charles W. Bond (CP), Sgt. Edgar W. Hooper (FE) and Reginald E. Bickham (PJ), rescued two swimmers, Donald Boroughs and Kenneth Bigham, from a raft in the South China Sea. No other details are known at this time. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1969 - September 08 | A HH-43B from Det. 2, 38th ARRS, Takhli RTAFB, Thailand, crewed by Maj. Charles E. Trapp Jr. (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ), rescued the crew of an F-4 after their aircraft had an engine failure and they ejected in Thailand. No other details are known at this time. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & JRCC Save Form |
| 1969 - September 09 | A HH-53B from the 40th ARRS, crewed by Capt. James T. O'Pry (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ), rescued the pilot, Edward K. Goethe, in Thailand. No other details are known at this time. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1969 - September 09 | A USAF helicopter from the 33rd ARRS at Naha AB, Okinawa, crewed by unkn (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ) made an emergency evacuation of a 12-year-old girl, Kiyomi Arakaki, suffering from acute appendicitis, from Tokashiki Island to a Naha hospital. Pacific Stars & Stripes, Friday, Sept. 12, 1969, pg. 7 |
| 1969 - September 14 | A HH-43F from Det. 9, 38th ARRS, Pleiku AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. William F. Clark (P), Capt. Eugene L. Round (CP), Sgt. Lief E. Arvidson (PJ), SSgt. Jack E. Harris (FF) and Roland M. Nash (FF), attempted the rescued the crew of a downed UH-1 helicopter, but there were no survivors. No other details are known at this time. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1969 - September 15 | A HH-43F from Det. 8, 38th ARRS, Cam Ranh Bay AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. John F. Patterson (P), Capt. James L. McAfee (CP), SSgt. Thomas W. Seibert (FE) and TSgt. Thomas M. White (PJ), medevacked one ROK troop in RVN. No other details are known at this time. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1969 - September 18 | A HH-43F from Det. 11, 38th ARRS, Tuy Hoa, RVN, crewed by Capt. Charles T. Wohlnick (P), Capt. James H. Brittingham (CP), Sgt. Richard E. Evans (PJ), SSgt. Osby Hunter Jr. (FF), SSgt. Gwenold G. Nelson (FF) and Sgt. James W. Nelson (FF), rescued the pilot, Capt. Larry D. Leppa, of a F-100D (Call sign "Litter 52") after his aircraft had an engine failure and he ejected over the South China Sea. No other details are known at this time. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form |
| 1969 - September 21 | UH-1P #63-13155 of the 20th SOS suffered an engine fire, 1 mile NE of Ban Me Thout, SVN, and autorotated to the ground where it hit a tree stump, crashed and burned. It was written off near Ban Me Thout, Vietnam. No other details are known at this time. http://www.helis.com/database/accidents/?org=133&f2mod=545 |
| 1969 - September 21 | A USAF helicopter crewed by unkn (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ) rescued a ground team (Call sign "Prairie Fire"). No other details are known at this time. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1969 - September 24 | A HH-43F from Det. 13, 38th ARRS, Phu Cat AB, RNV, crewed by Capt. David A. Gochenour (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ), medevacked one USA troop in RVN. No other details are known at this time. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1969 - September 24 | A HH-43F from Det. 1, 38th ARRS at Phan Rang AB, RVN crewed by Capt. Charles E. Mayes (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ), rescued the pilot of a F-100D, H. A. Hornbarger, after he ejected from his aircraft near Phan Rang AB, RVN. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form |
| 1969 - September 27 | A HH-3E from the 33rd ARRS at Naha AB, Okinawa, crewed by unkn (P), unkn (CP) unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ) rescued 37 crewmen from the Republic of Korea fishing boat “Young Poong”. The boat had broken in half and sank in heavy seas spawned by Typhoon Elsie on September 26, 1969, and the crewmen had made it to the beaches of Iriomote Island, 250 miles south of Naha. Pacific Stars & Stripes, Monday, Sept. 29, 1969, pg. 7 |
| 1969 - October 01 | A HH-53B from the 40th ARRS crewed by Capt. Donald L. Carty (P), Capt. Robert M. Horne (CP), TSgt. Maurice F. Tasker (FE), Warren ? (PJ), TSgt. Jack D. Moran (PJ) and Sgt. Anthony J. McFarr (PJ), rescued the pilot of a USN A-7A (Call sign "War Ace 300"), Lt. Penn E. Mullowney, after he ejected from his aircraft after attacking his target near Ban Napoung and while trying to return to his carrier. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form |
| 1969 - October 01 | A HH-53B from the 40th ARRS, crewed by Capt. Holly G. Bell (P), Capt. Robert M. Horne (CP), SSgt. Jack L. Hartman (FE), Sgt. Anthony J. McFarr (PJ) and TSgt. William E. Lester (PJ), rescued the WSO of a F-4D (Call sign "Laredo 01 Bravo"), 1st Lt. George R. Zesinger (WSO) after he and his pilot, Capt. Ronald A. Gieleghem, ejected from their 37 mm AAA damaged aircraft near the Thai border south of their target at Ban Ban, Laos. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form |
| 1969 - October 01 | A HH-3E, from Det. 1, 40th ARRS, crewed by Maj. Ted L. Smith (P), Joseph R. Brown (CP), John J. Livengood (CP) and Sgt. Ronnie L. Painter (FE), rescued the pilot of a F-4D (Call sign "Laredo 01 Alpha"), Capt. Ronald A. Gieleghem (P) after he and his WSO, 1st Lt. George R. Zesinger, ejected from their 37 mm AAA damaged aircraft near the Thai border south of their target at Ban Ban, Laos. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form |
| 1969 - October 02 | A HH-53B from the 40th ARRS crewed by Capt. Donald L. Carty (P), Capt. Robert M. Horne (CP), TSgt. Maurice F. Tasker (FE), Warren ? (PJ), TSgt. Jack D. Moran (PJ) and Sgt. Anthony J. McFarr (PJ), rescued the pilot of a USN A-7A (Call sign "War Ace 300"), Lt. Penn E. Mullowney, after he ejected from his aircraft after attacking his target near Ban Napoung and while trying to return to his carrier. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1969 - October 02 | A USAF helicopter, crewed by unkn (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ), saved the crew of a F-4D, 1st Lt. R. D. Ballentine (P) and 1st Lt. M. E. Stone (WSO), when they crash landed their aircraft at Udorn RTAFB, Thailand after being hit by AAA fire near Ban Ban in northern Laos and being able to fly it back to the air base. No other details are known at this time. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1969 - October 02 | A USAF helicopter, crewed by unkn (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ), rescued the WSO of an F-4D, Capt. P. E. Rider (WSO) after he was able to eject after being hit by small arms fire in Ninh Thuan province in RVN. The F-4D pilot, Capt. John Arnold Quinn, was KIA in the crash of their aircraft. No other details are known at this time. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1969 - October 04 | CH-3E #67-14721 was written off. No other information is available currently. http://www.thai-aviation.net/files/Air_Accidents.pdf |
| 1969 - October 06 | CH-3C #64-14222 (Call sign "Knife 61") of the 21st SOS crewed by Maj. Claret D. Taylor (P), Lt. Col. Theodore D. Silvia (CP), SSgt. Clarence W. Cossiboom (FE) and MSgt. Kenneth G. Reynolds (FE) was shot down and lost on an indigenous troop (about 26 troops) insert at the Muang Phine, Laos airport. All were rescued by HH-53s later in the afternoon. (see the next three entries) http://www.jollygreen.org/jltnc.html |
| 1969 - October 06 | CH-3C #62-12579 (Call sign "Knife 62') of the 21st SOS crewed by Maj. Philip J. Conran (P), Capt. Pete L. Costa (CP), TSgt. Wilburn T. Franklin (FE) and MSgt. Homer L. Ramsey (FE) was shot down and lost on an indigenous troop (about 26 troops) insert at the Muang Phine, Laos airport. All were rescued by HH-53s late that afternoon. Major Philip J. Conran was awarded the Air Force Cross for his actions during this mission. (see the above and the next two entries) http://www.jollygreen.org/jltnc.html & http://www.veterantributes.org/TributeDetail.php?recordID=445 |
| 1969 - October 06 | A HH-3E from Det. 1, 40th ARRS at NKP, Thailand, crewed by Capt. Charles D. Langham (P), unkn (CP), Sgt. David R. Southward (FE) and unkn (PJ) made the first attempt to rescue the crews of 21st SOS CH-3E #62-17579 (Call sign "Knife 62") & CH-3E #64-14222 (Call sign "Knife 61") and 52 indigenous troops from the Muang Phine, Laos airport but was driven off and damaged by heavy enemy ground fire (see the two entries above and the next entry). "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form & 37th ARRS History 1 Apr 1970-30 Jun 1970 |
| 1969 - October 06 | HH-53B #60-0258 (Call sign “Jolly Green 71”) from Det. 2, 40th ARRS, crewed by Capt. Holly G. Bell (P), 1st Lt. Gary F. Sanderson (CP), SSgt. Jack L. Hartman (FE), TSgt. John E. Wilson (PJ), MSgt. Anthony R. Gargano (PJ) and A1C Jeffrey L. Whitted (AP) and a second HH-53, crewed by Capt. Gray L. Nelson (P), James H. Wegman (CP), SSgt. Stephen L. LeBeau (FE), TSgt. Jack D. Moran (PJ) and Sgt. Anthony J. McFarr (PJ), rescued both crews of 21st SOS CH-3E #62-12579 & CH-3E #64-14222 and 52 indigenous troops from the Muang Phine, Laos airport after a day long battle (see the three entries above). "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form |
| 1969 - October 06 | A HH-3E from the 37th ARRS crewed by Maj. John F. Deghuee (P), Robert W. Packer (CP), Sgt. Robert J. P. LaFramboise (FE), Harry C. Bullock (PJ), Dennis B. Bealick (FS) and Emery J. Hopp (FS), using aerial refueling, rescued, Sylvan M. Ulrey and Donald W. Sivits, from the USS Norwitch Victory in the South China Sea. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form |
| 1969 - October 07 | A HH-43B from Det. 2, 38th ARRS, Takhli RTAFB, Thailand, crewed by Maj. B. C. Gaizauskas (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ), saved the pilot of an F-105D, Thomas J. Davey, when it suffered an engine failure and he crashed while attempting to land back at Takhli RTAFB, Thailand. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form |
| 1969 - October 08 | A HH-3E from Det. 1, 40th ARRS, crewed Capt. Marshall B. Nash (P), John J. Livengood (CP), Sgt. Brian W. Murray (FE), TSgt. Lehman L. Booher (PJ) and SSgt. Roy D. Bloebaum (PJ), rescued the two-man crew, James C. Searcy (P) and Thongdy (?) of an O-2A, after they had a mid-air collision with an OV-10A (see entry below) as they orbited over a SAR operation for "Boxer 61". "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form |
| 1969 - October 08 | HH-53 from the 40th ARRS, crewed Maj. Jerry A. Crupper (P), Lt. Col. Alan Mateer (CP), SSgt. Aron P. Hodges (FE), SSgt. James A. Hunt (PJ), Sgt. Richard G. Beasley (PJ) and A1C Jeffrey L. Whitted (AP), rescued the two-man crew, Lt. Jim B. Swisher (P) and James B. Mitchell (AP) of an OV-10A, after they had a mid-air collision with an O-2A (see entry below) as they orbited over a SAR operation for "Boxer 61". "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form |
| 1969 - October 08 | A HH-53 from the 40th ARRS, crewed by Capt. Dan L. Reeder (P), Capt. Donald Y. Thompson (CP), SSgt. David C. Lohrengel (FE), MSgt. Edward M. Willis (PJ) and Sgt. Brenton D. Schicker (PJ), rescued an F-4C (Call sign "Boxer 61 Bravo") WSO, Capt. David L. Stevenson after he ejected from his ground fire damaged aircraft, off the coast, about 15 miles SE of Da Nang AB, RVN (see entry above). "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form |
| 1969 - October 08 | A HH-3E (Call sign “Jolly Green 42”) from the 37th ARRS, crewed by Capt. Charles W. Hoilman (P), USCG Lt. JG. Robert T. Ritchie (CP), SSgt. James E. Smith (FE) and Sgt. Edward K. Rendall (PJ) rescued a F-4C (Call sign "Boxer 61 Alpha") pilot, Capt. Neal A. Jacobs after he ejected from his groundfire damaged aircraft, off the coast, about 15 miles SE of Da Nang AB, RVN (see entry above). High bird for “Jolly Green 42’, was HH-3E #66-13290 (Call sign “Jolly Green 04”) crewed by Capt. Miguel Garcia (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ). "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form |
| 1969 - October 08 | HH-53C #67-14996 from the 55th ARRS at Eglin AFB crewed by Capt. Carl W. Oliver (IP), Capt. Thomas E. Kenny (P) and MSgt. William T. Lewis (FE) went out of control and crashed in the Gulf of Mexico 36 miles southwest of Eglin AFB during aerial refueling. All on board were killed. No other details are available currently. http://www.vhpa.org/DAT/datk/g61375.HTM & Democrat & Chronicle (Rochester, NY) Fri, Oct 10, Metro Edition, Page 17 |
| 1969 - October 08 - November 04 | Tunisian Flood Relief. The 58th ARRS at Wheelus AB, Libya, was notified that more than half of neighboring Tunisia was under water. Between 08 & 14 October, and again between 25 October and 04 November, the 56th ARRS saved a total of 2,516 Tunisians. GG-3/e crews flew around the clock, carrying food, clothing, water, blankets, tents, and medicine, in addition to transporting people out of endangered areas. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/37th_Aerospace_Rescue_and_Recovery_Squadron#Operations_and_losses |
| 1969 - October 08 | A UH-1P of the 20th SOS, crewed by unkn (P), unkn (CP), SSGT Ron Eberhardt (FE) and unkn (AG) landed at the fuel pit at Duc Co, RVN and then it went into an unusual attitude, became airborne a short distance and crashed, eventually landing on its side. One gunner was pinned beneath the aircraft, and the engine began to burn. After a few tense moments the fire was extinguished and the gunner, suffering possible internal injuries, was removed from the wreckage. http://www.mh-53pavelow.com/documents/20thSOS/1969.pdf & Robert Davis FB post 03/29/2018 |
| 1969 - October 11 | A HH-43B from Det. 14, 38th ARRS, Tan Son Nhut AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Jack D. Reak (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ), saved two crew members from a AC-119G (Call sign "Shadow 76") that had an engine failure and crashed on takeoff at Tan Son Nhut AB, RVN. Six of the AC-119G crew members were KIA in the crash, two others survived, but how they were rescued is not known. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form |
| 1969 - October 14 | UH-1P gunships of the 20th SOS "Green Hornets" flying in support of a U. S. Army slick attempting to rescue a Vietnamese Long-Range Reconnaissance Patrol. One gunship co-pilot was wounded in his left arm, and another took a hit which went through the left cockpit door, through the co-pilots left leg, and hit the pilot on his knee. http://www.mh-53pavelow.com/documents/20thSOS/1969.pdf |
| 1969 - October 15 | A HH-43B from Det. 1, 38th ARRS, Phan Rang AB, RVN, crewed by Maj. Raymond L. Foster (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ), medevacked Cung Diew Ly, in RVN. No other details are known at this time. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form |
| 1969 - October 17 | A HH-3E from Det. 1, 40th ARRS, crewed by Lt. Col. T. G. Long (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ), medevacked Jack “Rocky” Rambo, in Thailand. No other details are known at this time. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form |
| 1969 - October 21 | UH-1P's of the 20th SOS "Green Hornets" were instrumental in the rescue of a MACV SOG recon team from deep in enemy held territory that was being chased by enemy forces. 20th SOS crew members that are known to have been in this action are Capt. Robert B. Swenck (P), Sgt. Robert G. Davis (AG), Sgt. Terry L. Curry (AG) and A1C Jerry L. LeChien (AC). No other details are known at this time. "Secret Green Beret Commandos In Cambodia" by Lt. Col. Fred S. Lindsey, USA (Ret.) |
| 1969 - October 21 | A UH-1P #63-13155, crewed by Capt. Robert B. Swenck (P), Capt. Marvin Loper (CP), Sgt. Robert Davis (FE) and Sgt. E. C. Owen (AG), suffered a loss of engine power and autorotated into a clearing covered with five-foot-tall elephant grass. As the helicopter settled into the grass it rolled over on its side with Sgt. Robert G. Davis pinned under the helicopter as it started to burn. Other 20th SOS helicopters in the flight landed quickly and their crews hoped out and ran to the burning helicopter to help manhandle the helicopter wreckage off of Sgt. Davis enough to free him. The rest of the crew of the crashed helicopter had exited and they, along with Sgt. Davis, suffered only minor injuries as the helicopter was destroyed by fire. 20th SOS crew members know to receive the Airman’s Medal for their action to save the other crew member from the crashed helicopter are Capt. Swenck, Sgt. Terry L. Curry, Sgt. Jerry L. LeChien and Sgt. Larry Boynton. No other details are known at this time. From a Robert Davis (FE) 29 January 2016 Facebook post "no serious injuries, only pride. GE T-58 sucked in a compressor blade and down we went, to close to the ground for autorotation and in a steep bank turn, no chance". No other details are known at this time. "Secret Green Beret Commandos In Cambodia" by Lt. Col. Fred S. Lindsey, USA (Ret.) & http://jupi.org/map/vietnam/helicopt.html & Robert Davis Facebook post 29 Jan 2016 & http://www.mh-53pavelow.com/documents/20thSOS/1969.pdf |
| 1969 - October 24 | HH-3E #66-13281 (Call sign "Jolly Green 28") of the 37th ARRS, alert location at Quang Tri, RVN, crewed by Capt. Charles D. Langham (P), Maj. Charles W. Bond (CP), SSgt. James E. Smith (FE) and TSgt. Donald G. Smith (PJ) was shot down and lost in Laos while on a CSAR attempting to rescue F-100F Pilot, 1st Lt. Alvin D. Muller (Call sign "Misty 11A") & co-pilot Capt. Jack K. Clapper (Call sign "Misty 11B") after they had ejected from their ground fire damaged aircraft near the village of Ban Bouang Nam, about 20 miles southeast of Ban Talan. The PJ, TSgt. Donald G. Smith was lowered to help Lt. Alvin D. Muller, who had a broken leg, and they were both left on the ground when the hoist was severed, and the helicopter crashed. TSgt. Donald G. Smith was awarded the Air Force Cross for his actions during this mission. (See next four entries.) "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/37th_Aerospace_Rescue_and_Recovery_Squadron#Operations_and_losses & JRCC Save Form & http://uscgaviationhistory.aoptero.org/history06.html |
| 1969 - October 24 | A HH-3E #66-13290 (Call sign “Jolly Green 04”), from the 37th ARRS alert location at Quang Tri, RVN, crewed by USCG Lt. Richard V. Butchka (P), Capt. John K. Coder (CP), Sgt. Joseph J. Vai (FE) and Sgt. George P. Hoffman III (PJ), rescued "Jolly Green 28's" crew members Capt. Charles D. Langham (P), Maj. Charles W. Bond and SSgt. James E. Smith (FE) of the downed HH-3E. The bird had some rotor blade damage but was able to safely recover to Lima Site 61, near Muang Phalan, Laos. (See entry above.) Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & JRCC Save Form & http://uscgaviationhistory.aoptero.org/history06.html & http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/37th_Aerospace_Rescue_and_Recovery_Squadron#Operations_and_losses |
| 1969 - October 24 | A HH-53C (Call sign “Jolly Green 76”) from the 40th ARRS at Udorn RTAFB, Thailand, crewed by Capt. Donald H. Almanzar (P), Capt. Peter L. Fekke (CP), SSgt. Harold R. Hailey (FE), Sgt. Anthony J. McFarr (PJ), Sgt. Douglas W. Crowder (PJ) and SSgt. Gregory L. Anderson (AP), attempted the rescue "Jolly Green 28's" crew member, TSgt. Donald G. Smith (PJ) of the downed HH-3E and the F-100F pilot, Lt. Alvin D. Muller (See entry above) but were unsuccessful and were damaged and driven off by enemy ground fire and made an emergency landing Lima Site 44, near Saravane, Laos. JRCC Save Form & "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & http://uscgaviationhistory.aoptero.org/history06.html & http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/37th_Aerospace_Rescue_and_Recovery_Squadron#Operations_and_losses |
| 1969 - October 24 | A HH-3E #65-12783 (Call sign “Jolly Green 15”) from the 37th ARRS, crewed by USCG Lt. Jg. Robert T. Ritchie (P), Lt. Col. Sidney S. Sosnow (CP), TSgt. Frank Gaydos Jr. (FE), SSgt. Jon K. Hoberg (PJ) and Sgt. Edward K. Rendall (PJ), rescued "Jolly Green 28's" PJ, TSgt. Donald G. Smith and the F-100F (Call sign "Misty 11 Alpha") pilot, 1st Lt. Alvin D. Miller, from Laos after he had ejected from his ground fire damaged aircraft near the village of Ban Bouang Nam, about 20 miles southeast of Ban Talan, Laos (see entries above). Next Lt. Ritchie and crew made two attempts to rescue Capt. Jack K. Clapper (“Misty 11B”) but were driven off the attempt when the hoist was disabled by enemy ground fire. In spite of the battle damage, “Jolly Green 15” was able to make and emergency landing at Lima Site 61 near Muang Phalan, Laos. Lt. Jg. Ritchie is known to have been awarded The Silver Star for his actions on this mission, awards for other crew members are not known at the present time. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & JRCC Save Form & http://uscgaviationhistory.aoptero.org/history06.html & http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/37th_Aerospace_Rescue_and_Recovery_Squadron#Operations_and_losses |
| 1969 - October 24 | A HH-3E from Det. 1, 40th ARRS (Call sign “Jolly Green 19”), crewed by Maj. Ted L. Smith (P), Maj. Edward B. Robbins (CP), SSgt. Robert E. Hunt (FE), MSgt. Paul L. Jenkins (PJ) and A1C Leland H. Sorensen (PJ), rescued the F-100F (Call sign "Misty 11A") pilot, 1st Lt. Alvin D. Muller, from Laos after he had ejected from his ground fire damaged aircraft near the village of Ban Bouang Nam, about 20 miles southeast of Ban Talan, Laos (See entries above.) "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & http://uscgaviationhistory.aoptero.org/history06.html & JRCC Save Form & http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/37th_Aerospace_Rescue_and_Recovery_Squadron#Operations_and_losses |
| 1969 - October 24 | A HH-43B from Det. 1, 38th ARRS, Phan Rang AB, RVN, crewed by Maj. Raymond L. Foster (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ), medevacked on ROK troop, Kwan Je Maeng, in RVN. No other details are known at this time. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1969 - October 26 | A HH-43F from Det. 1, 38th ARRS, Phan Rang AB, RVN, crewed by Maj. Ronald K. Dalrymple (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ), medevacked one USA troop in RVN. No other details are known at this time. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1969 - October 28 | UH-1P's of the 20th SOS "Green Hornets", crews unkn, were instrumental in the rescue of a MACV SOG recon team from deep in enemy held territory that was being chased by enemy forces. No other details are known at this time. "Secret Green Beret Commandos In Cambodia" by Lt. Col. Fred S. Lindsey, USA (Ret.) |
| 1969 - October 30 | A HH-43B from Det. 2, 38th ARRS, Takhli RTAFB, Thailand, crewed by Capt. Jack C. Moore (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ), medevacked one USA troop in Thailand. No other details are known at this time. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1969 - November 01 | A HH-3E from Det. 1, 40th ARRS, crewed by Capt. John H. Fette (P), Lawrence A. Marino (PJ), Sgt. Robert J. P. Laframboise (PJ) and A1C Leland H. Sorensen (PJ), rescued the pilot of a A-1E (Call sign "Firefly 27 Alpha"), Peter D. Williams from Laos. The co-pilot, Maj. Richard W. Lytle was KIA. No other details are known at this time. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1969 - November 01 | A HH-43F from Det. 7, 38th ARRS, Da Nang AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. James A. Tassie (P), Capt. David A. Voigt (PJ), Sgt. Randy L. Luke (FE) and Sgt. Harry C. Chalmers (PJ), under flares at night rescued two from a USMC CH-53A (Call sign "Las Vegas 7") from the South China Sea. No other details are known at this time. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form |
| 1969 - November 01 | A HH-43F from Det. 7, 38th ARRS, Da Nang AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. James A. Tassie (P), Capt. David A. Voigt (PJ), Randy L. Luke (PJ) and Sgt. Harry C. Chalmers (PJ), rescued two from a USMC from an YN-28 in RVN. No other details are known at this time. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form |
| 1969 - November 02 | A HH-43F from Det. 1, 38th ARRS, Phan Rang AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Wayne R. Crowther (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ), medevacked a USAF airman in RVN. No other details are known at this time. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form |
| 1969 - November 12 | A HH-53B 68-8286 (Call sign "Jolly Green 70") from the 40th ARRS crewed by Maj. Robert L. Smith (P), Capt. Robert M. Horne (CP), Harold H. Bailey (FE), TSgt. William E. Lester (PJ), A1C Grady F. Allen (PJ) and A1C David M. Davison (PJ), rescued the pilot of a F-4D (Call sign "Owl 07 Alpha"), Maj. Carrol W. Killen, after he and his WSO, 1st Lt. James G. Hoyler, ejected from their AAA damaged aircraft near the Mu Gia Pass. Lt. Hoyler was rescued by a HH-3E, see next entry. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & Carlos DeMattos Facebook post & JRCC Save Form & http://www.pjsinnam.com/vn_history/pdf_files/Chronology/1969.pdf |
| 1969 - November 12 | A HH-3E 65-12785 from Det. 1, 40th ARRS crewed by Lt. Col. Joe Lyle Jr. (P), John J. Livengood (CP), Daryl I. Durant (FE), MSgt. Paul L. Jenkins (PJ) and Lewis J. Roberts Jr. (PJ), rescued the WSO of an F-4D (Call sign "Owl 07 Bravo"), 1st Lt. James G. Hoyler after he and his pilot, Maj. Carrol W. Killen, ejected from their AAA damaged aircraft near the Mu Gia Pass. Maj. Killen was rescued by a HH-53B, see previous entry. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & http://www.pjsinnam.com/vn_history/pdf_files/Chronology/1969.pdff & Carlos DeMattos Facebook post & JRCC Save Form |
| 1969 - November 12 | A HH-53B from the 40th ARRS, crewed by Capt. Donald L. Carty (P), Capt. Leroy C. Shaneberg (CP), TSgt. Carlos W. DeMattos (FE), MSgt. Rodney D. Ohman (PJ), Sgt. Gregory J. McDonald (PJ) and A1C Raymond G. Banas (AP), rescued the pilot of a A-1E (Call sign "Zorro 65"), Capt. George H. Porter, after he ejected from his AAA damaged aircraft near Ban Ban, Laos. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & Carlos DeMattos Facebook post & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form & http://www.pjsinnam.com/vn_history/pdf_files/Chronology/1969.pdf |
| 1969 - November 15 | A HH-3E #67-14712 (Call sign “Jolly Green 31”) from the 37th ARRS crewed by USCG Lt. JG. Robert T. Ritchie (P), Capt. James Blackwood (CP), Sgt. Robert J. P. Laframboise (FE), MSgt. William C. Sutton (PJ) and SSgt. Luther E. Davis (PJ), rescued the pilot of a USN A-7A (Call sign “Charger 413”), Jess A. Dawkins Jr., from the South China Sea when his aircraft crashed during a strike mission. This rescue was made at night by making a landing on the South China Sea. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson |
| 1969 - November 16 | A HH-53B from the 40th ARRS, crewed by Capt. Dan L. Reader (P), Capt. Martin W. Weeks Jr. (CP), TSgt. Truman W. McDonald (FE), TSgt. Jack D. Moran (PJ), A1C Robert L. Harris (PJ) and A1C Jeffrey L. Whitted (AP), rescued the crew of a F-4C (Call sign "Boxer 24"), Maj. Larry L. Davis (P) and 1st Lt. Auvern A. Ernst (WSO), after they ejected from their ground fire damaged aircraft near the Mu Gia Pass. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & JRCC Save Form & http://www.pjsinnam.com/vn_history/pdf_files/Chronology/1969.pdf |
| 1969 - November 16 | A HH-43F from Det. 7, 38th ARRS, Da Nang AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Walter E. Hogan (P), Capt. David A. Voigt (CP), TSgt. Gordon L. Ball (FE) and SSgt. Curtis W. Phythian Jr. (PJ), rescued the crew of a USMC A-6A, 1st Lt. D R. Jessen (P) and 1st Lt. R. D. Tutor (CP), from the South China Sea after they ejected over Da Nang Bay about 8 miles north of Da Nang AB, RVN. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form |
| 1969 - November 16 | A HH-43B from Det. 5, 38th ARRS, Udorn RTAFB, Thailand, crewed by Maj. Alfred W. Lamkin Jr. (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ), rescued the crew of a RF-4C (Call sign "Bullwhip 11"), Capt. C. P. Sloan (P) and 1st Lt. A. L. Guise (CP), after they ejected from their 37 mm AAA damaged aircraft after it was hit about 10 miles south of Sam Neua, Laos and they nursed it into Thailand. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form |
| 1969 - November 16 | A HH-3E from the 37th ARRS, crewed by Robert A. Reichert (P), Capt. Ronald A. Merino (CP), Sgt. Karl H. Chunn (FE), Sgt. Edward K. Rendell (PJ) and Sgt. Robert H. Fields (PJ), rescued the crew of a RF-4C (Call sign "Yoyo 41"), Maj. Elery P. Morphew (P) and Capt. Robert C. Cotton (CP), from the South China Sea after they ejected from their 37 mm AAA damaged aircraft about 7 miles off the coast of Da Nang AB, RVN. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form |
| 1969 - November 17 | A HH-43F from Det. 8, 38th ARRS, Cam Ranh Bay AB, RVN, crewed by Maj. Calvin W. Capper (P), Capt. James L. McAfee (CP), SSgt. Willie A. Burchett (FE) and Larry C, Meyers (PJ), rescued the crew of a F-4D (Call sign "Pussy 02"), Capt. J. J. Rabeni (P) and Maj. D. A. Bowie (WSO) after they ejected from their aircraft on final approach about one mile short of the runway at Da Nang AB, RVN. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form & JRCC Save Form |
| 1969 - November 19 | A HH-53C from the 40th ARRS, crewed by Lt. Col. Alan Mateer (P), Capt. Richard M. Baskett (CP), Sgt. William C. Shinn (FE), TSgt. John J. Eldridge (PJ), Sgt. Anthony J. McFarr (PJ) and A1C Raymond G. Banas (AP), rescued the crew, Capt. J. J. Austin (P) and E5 Mackintosh (Obsv.) of a U.S. Army OV-1A Mohawk (Call sign "Spud 06") in Laos. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form & http://www.pjsinnam.com/vn_history/pdf_files/Chronology/1969.pdf |
| 1969 - November 22 | A HH-53C (Call sign "Jolly Green 76") from the 40th ARRS, crewed by Capt. Gary L. Nelsen (P), Capt. Stephen R. Olsen (CP), SSgt. Donald LaBarre (FE), Sgt. Terry E. Caffery (PJ), Sgt. Charles L. Colbert (PJ) and SSgt. Gregory L. Anderson (AP), rescued the pilot of a USN F-4J (Call sign "Tap Room 02"), Lt. (jg) Herbert C. Wheeler, after he and his co-pilot, Lt. (jg) Henry James Bedinger (who became a POW), ejected from their damaged aircraft near the village of Ban Nampakhon, Laos, about 20 miles southwest of the Ban Karai Pass. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & http://www.pjsinnam.com/vn_history/pdf_files/Chronology/1969.pdf |
| 1969 - November 22 | A HH-3E from Det. 1, 40th ARRS, crewed by Maj. Emmet E. Hatch Jr. (P), Maj. Edward B. Robbins (CP), Sgt. Robert E. Hunt (FE) and Sgt. Richard G. Beasley (PJ), rescued the co-pilot of a RF-4C (Call sign "Spunk 01 Bravo"), 1st Lt. Frederick O. Paige, after he and his co-pilot, Capt. Lynn P. Wright, after their aircraft was hit by ground fire about 3 miles south of Ban Topen, Laos, west of the Ban Karai Pass and they nursed it back to Thailand and ejected a few miles from Nakhon Phanom RTAFB, Thailand. (See next entry). "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & http://www.pjsinnam.com/vn_history/pdf_files/Chronology/1969.pdf & JRCC Save Form |
| 1969 - November 22 | A HH-3E from Det. 1, 40th ARRS, crewed by Capt. Marshall B. Nash (P), Maj. Charles W. Bond (CP), SSgt. Joseph J. Vai (FE), SSgt. Roy D. Bloebaum (PJ) and SSgt. Charles D. Morrow (PJ), rescued the pilot of a RF-4C (Call sign "Spunk 01 Alpha"), Capt. LLynn P. Wright (P) and 1st Lt. Frederick O. Paige (NAV), after their aircraft was hit by ground fire about 3 miles south of Ban Topen, west of the Ban Karai Pass and they nursed it back to Thailand and ejected a few miles from Nakhon Phanom RTAFB, Thailand. (See the previous entry). "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & http://www.pjsinnam.com/vn_history/pdf_files/Chronology/1969.pdf & JRCC Save Form |
| 1969 - November 22 | A HH-3E #66-13280 (Call sign “Jolly Green 27) from the 37th ARRS, crewed by Capt. Robert A. Reichert (P), Capt. James Blackwood (CP), SSgt. David W. Lilliston (FE) and SSgt. Curtis W. Phythian Jr. (PJ) rescued the pilot of a USN A-6A (Call sign "Milestone 513 Alpha"), Cmdr. L. W. Richards after his aircraft lost a wing while pulling out of a dive after attacking a target about 15 miles south of the A Shau Valley, RVN. His NFO, Lt. (jg) Richard Carl Deuter was not able to eject and was KIA. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & http://www.pjsinnam.com/vn_history/pdf_files/Chronology/1969.pdf & JRCC Save Form & 37th ARRSq. (MAC) Controller’s Log 19 Nov 69 – 21 May 70 |
| 1969 - November 22 | A HH-43B from Det. 7, 38th ARRS, Da Nang AB, RVN, crewed by Maj. Tom W. Brumfield Jr. (P), Maj. Loran M. Nichols (CP), Sgt. Randy L. Luke (FE) and Lewis J. Roberts Jr. (PJ), rescued the crew of a F-4E, Capt. C. E. Williams (P) and Capt. J. T. Harrison (WSO), after their aircraft was hit by ground fire about 7 miles northeast of Quang Ngai, and the nursed it north and ejected over the South China Sea about 5 miles from Da Nang AB, RVN. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & http://www.pjsinnam.com/vn_history/pdf_files/Chronology/1969.pdf & JRCC Save Form |
| 1969 - November 25 | A HH-43F from Det. 13, 38th ARRS, Phu Cat AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. David A. Cochenour (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ), medevacked Melford A. King in RVN. No other details are known at this time. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1969 - December 01 | A HH-3E from Det. 1, 40th ARRS, crewed by Capt. Leonard D. Fialko (P), Maj. Edward L. Hlavaty (CP), Daryl I. Durant (FE), SSgt. Charles D. Morrow (PJ) and SSgt. Roy D. Bloebaum (PJ), saved the pilot of a A-1G (Call sign "Firefly 55"), Richard D. Horlins (P), when his aircraft had an engine failure on take-off at Nakhon Phanom RTAFB, Thailand. No other details are known at this time. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & JRCC Save Form |
| 1969 - December 03 | A HH-3E from Det. 1, 40th ARRS, crewed by Capt. Charles W. Hoilman Jr. (P), John J. Livengood (CP), Sgt. Robert E. Hunt (FE), TSgt. Lehman L. Booher (PJ) and SSgt. Jon K. Hoberg (PJ), rescued the crew of a F-4D (Call sign "Wolf 01"), Maj. Bradford L. Sharp (P) and 1st Lt. John C. Mangels (WSO), after their aircraft was shot down about 15 miles southwest of Ban Senphn in southern Laos. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson &"PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form |
| 1969 - December 05 | A HH-53C HH-3E #64-14230 (call sign “Jolly Green 17”) from the 40th ARRS, crewed by Capt. Phillip O. Pfanschmidt (P), Maj. Edward L. Hlavaty (CP), TSgt. Claude C. Franks (FE) and A1C Douglas L. Horka (PJ), attempted two times to rescue the WSO of an F-4C (Call sign "Boxer 22"), 1st Lt. Woodrow J. Bergeron after he and his pilot, Capt. Benjamin Franklin Danielson, ejected from their 37mm AAA damaged aircraft near the village of Ban Phanop in southern Laos. They made two attempts but were unsuccessful and they were driven off their attempt by heavy enemy ground fire (See next entry). "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & JRCC Save Form & http://www.pjsinnam.com/vn_history/pdf_files/Chronology/1969.pdf & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1969 - December 05 | A HH-53C (call sign “Jolly Green 76”) from the 40th ARRS, crewed by Capt. Holly G. Bell (P), Capt. Martin W. Weeks Jr. (CP), Sgt. James E. Corcoran (FE), A1C David M. Davison (PJ), Sgt. Douglas W. Crowder (PJ) and Sgt. Lawrence R. Brown (AP), attempted to rescue the WSO of a F-4C (Call sign "Boxer 22"), 1st Lt. Woodrow J. Bergeron after he and his pilot, Capt. Benjamin Franklin Danielson, ejected from their 37mm AAA damaged aircraft near the village of Ban Phonop in southern Laos. They were unsuccessful and shot off their attempt by heavy enemy ground fire. During this action, A1C David Davison (PJ) operating the tail gunner position was hit and died of his injuries (See next entry). "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson &"PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form & http://www.pjsinnam.com/vn_history/pdf_files/Chronology/1969.pdf |
| 1969 - December 05 | A HH-53B #68-8286 (call sign “Jolly Green 79”) from the 40th ARRS, crewed by Capt. Jerald A. Brown Jr. (P), Capt. Donald Y. Thompson (CP), TSgt. Truman W. McDonald (FE), SSgt. James E. Nash (PJ) and MSgt. Ronald R. Jaczala (PJ), attempted to rescue the WSO of a F-4C (Call sign "Boxer 22"), 1st Lt. Woodrow J. Bergeron after he and his pilot, Capt. Benjamin Franklin Danielson, ejected from their 37mm AAA damaged aircraft near the village of Ban Phanop in southern Laos. They were unsuccessful and shot off their attempt by heavy enemy ground fire. The helicopter caught fire, but Capt. Brown was able fly his burning aircraft to make a landing at a safe airbase and successfully landed his severely damaged helicopter. Capt. Brown was awarded the Silver Star for his actions to save his crew (see next entry). "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & http://www.pjsinnam.com/vn_history/pdf_files/Chronology/1969.pdf & JRCC Save Form & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1969 - December 05 | A HH-53B (call sign “Jolly Green 69”) from the 40th ARRS, crewed by Maj. Jerry A. Crupper (P), Capt. Stephen R. Olsen (CP), SSgt. Jack L. Hartman (FE), Sgt. Terry E. Caffrey (PJ), Sgt. Charles L. Colbert (PJ), and Craft (PJ), attempted to rescue the WSO of a F-4C (Call sign "Boxer 22"), 1st Lt. Woodrow J. Bergeron after he and his pilot, Capt. Benjamin Franklin Danielson, ejected from their 37mm AAA damaged aircraft near the village of Ban Phanop in southern Laos. They were unsuccessful and shot off their attempt when they were hit in the cargo hook area by a 37mm AAA fire and heavy enemy ground fire (see next entry). HH-53C #69-5785 (Call sign “Jolly Green 77”), crewed by Capt. Dan L. Reeder (P), Capt. Tedd N. Griffith (CP), MSgt. Henry A. Perry (FE), TSgt. William E. Lester (PJ) and SSgt. James A. Hunt (PJ) was the ‘high bird’ in this flight. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "PJ's in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form & 40th ARRS Mission Narrative Report #2-3-078-5 Dec 69 & 37th ARRS History 1 Apr 1970-30 Jun 1970 & http://www.pjsinnam.com/vn_history/pdf_files/Chronology/1969.pdf |
| 1969 - December 05 | A HH-53C #69-5787 (call sign “Jolly Green 72”) from the 40th ARRS, crewed by Maj. Hubert M. Berthold (P), Capt. Leroy C. Shaneberg (CP), SSgt. David C. Lohrengel (FE), A1C Steven D. Brooks (PJ) and TSgt. John E. Wilson (PJ), attempted to rescue the WSO of a F-4C (Call sign "Boxer 22"), 1st Lt. Woodrow J. Bergeron after he and his pilot, Capt. Benjamin Franklin Danielson, ejected from their 37mm AAA damaged aircraft near the village of Ban Phanop in southern Laos. They were unsuccessful and shot off their attempt by heavy enemy ground fire (see next entry). "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & http://www.pjsinnam.com/vn_history/pdf_files/Chronology/1969.pdf & JRCC Save Form & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1969 - December 05 | A HH-53 from the 40th ARRS, crewed by Capt. Donald L. Carty (P), Capt. Robert M. Horne (CP), TSgt. Maurice F. Tasker (FE), Warren ? (PJ), TSgt. Jack D. Moran (PJ) and Sgt. Anthony J. McFarr (PJ), attempted to rescue the WSO of a F-4C (Call sign "Boxer 22"), 1st Lt. Woodrow J. Bergeron after he and his pilot, Capt. Benjamin Franklin Danielson, ejected from their 37mm AAA damaged aircraft near the village of Ban Phanop in southern Laos. They were unsuccessful and shot off their attempt by heavy enemy ground fire (see next entry). "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form & http://www.pjsinnam.com/vn_history/pdf_files/Chronology/1969.pdf |
| 1969 - December 05 | A HH-53C from the 40th ARRS crewed by 1st Lt. Edward J. Sichterman Jr. (P), Lt. Col. Charles King (CP), SSgt. Stephen L. LeBeau (FE), MSgt. Rodney D. Ohman (PJ), SSgt. James B. Gerwert (PJ) and Sgt. Ronald L. Surratt (AP), attempted to rescue the WSO of a F-4D (Call sign "Boxer 22"), 1st Lt. Woodrow J. Bergeron after he and his pilot, Capt. Benjamin Franklin Danielson, ejected from their 37mm AAA damaged aircraft, near the village of Ban Phanop in southern Laos. Their attempt was unsuccessful, and they were driven off their attempt by heavy enemy ground fire (see next entry). "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & Carlos DeMattos Facebook post & JRCC Save Form & http://www.pjsinnam.com/vn_history/pdf_files/Chronology/1969.pdf |
| 1969 - December 05 | HH-53B (Call sign "Jolly Green 69") from the 40th ARRS, crewed by Joseph R. Brown (P), Maj. Holly G. Bell (CP), SSgt. James E. Nash (PJ) and MSgt. Ronald R. Jeczala (PJ) was shot down during the "Boxer 22" mission. The crew was rescued by another helicopter on this mission. The helicopter was later recovered and apparently rebuilt. http://www.jollygreen.org/jltnc.html |
| 1969 - December 05 | A HH-43F from Det. 13, 38th ARRS, Phu Cat AB, RNV, crewed by Lt. Col. Ernest A. Headburg Jr. (P), unkn (CP), SSgt. Kenneth C. Meyer (FE) and SSgt. Edward E. Scott (MT) rescued a security policeman who entered a mine field and was injured by the blast of an exploding mine. SSgt.’s Meyer and Scott were both awarded The Airmans Medal for their actions during this rescue. Kaman Rotor Tips Magazine |
| 1969 - December 06 | A HH-53C #69-5787 (call sign “Jolly Green 72”) from the 40th ARRS, crewed by Lt. Col. Frank S. Catlin (P), Maj. John H. Gill (CP), SSgt. Donald LaBarre (FE), A1C Robert L. Harris (PJ) and TSgt. Donald R. Snyder (PJ), attempted to rescue the WSO of a F-4C (Call sign "Boxer 22"), 1st Lt. Woodrow J. Bergeron after he and his pilot, Capt. Benjamin Franklin Danielson, ejected from their 37mm AAA damaged aircraft, on 05 December 1969, near the village of Ban Phanop in southern Laos. They were unsuccessful and shoot off their attempt by heavy enemy ground fire (see next entry) "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form & http://www.pjsinnam.com/vn_history/pdf_files/Chronology/1969.pdf |
| 1969 - December 06 | A HH-53B (call sign “Jolly Green 68”) from the 40th ARRS, crewed by Maj. Robert L. Smith (P), Capt. Dennis H. Sattler (CP), Sgt. Haven V. Richardson (FE), Sgt. Brenton D. Schicker (PJ), Sgt. Gregory J. McDonald (PJ) and A1C Raymond G. Banas (AP), attempted to rescue the WSO of a F-4C (Call sign "Boxer 22"), 1st Lt. Woodrow J. Bergeron after he and his pilot, Capt. Benjamin Franklin Danielson, ejected from their 37mm AAA damaged aircraft, on 05 December 1969, near the village of Ban Phanop in southern Laos. They were unsuccessful and shot off their attempt by heavy enemy ground fire (see next entry). "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form http://www.pjsinnam.com/vn_history/pdf_files/Chronology/1969.pdf |
| 1969 - December 06 | A HH-3E #66-13289 (call sign “Jolly Green 03”) from the 37th ARRS, crewed by Maj. Bruce E. Prouse (P), Maj. George C. Hitt (CP), SSgt. Vincent P. Freeman (FE), SSgt. Curtis W. Pythian Jr. (PJ) and SSgt. Eugene L. Nardi (PJ), attempted to rescue the WSO of a F-4C (Call sign "Boxer 22"), 1st Lt. Woodrow J. Bergeron after he and his pilot, Capt. Benjamin Franklin Danielson, ejected from their 37mm AAA damaged aircraft, on 05 December 1969, near the village of Ban Phanop in southern Laos. They were unsuccessful and shot off their attempt by heavy enemy ground fire (see next entry). "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & JRCC Save Form & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & http://www.pjsinnam.com/vn_history/pdf_files/Chronology/1969.pdf |
| 1969 - December 06 | A HH-3E (call sign “Jolly Green 19”) from Det. 1, 40th ARRS, crewed by Capt. Charles W. Hoilman Jr. (P), Maj. Robert M. Martin III (CP), Sgt. Ronnie L. Painter (FE), Sgt. Ricky L. Fleming (PJ) and SSgt. Charles D. Morrow (PJ), attempted to rescue the WSO of a F-4C (Call sign "Boxer 22 Bravo"), 1st Lt. Woodrow J. Bergeron after he and his pilot, Capt. Benjamin Franklin Danielson, ejected from their 37mm AAA damaged aircraft, on 05 December 1969, near the village of Ban Phanop in southern Laos. They were unsuccessful and shoot off their attempt by heavy enemy ground fire (see next entry on 07 December 1969). "Vietnam "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form & Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & http://www.pjsinnam.com/vn_history/pdf_files/Chronology/1969.pdf |
| 1969 - December 06 | A HH-43F from Det. 9, 38th ARRS, Pleiku AB, RVN, crewed by Maj. Robert C. Gordon (P), Capt. Arthur A. May (CP), SSgt. Larry E. Palmer (PJ), Norman L. Sonnenberg (FF) and Joseph L. Gieve (FF), utilized their FSK in an attempt to save troops from a USA UH-1H, however there were no survivors. No other details are known at this time. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form |
| 1969 - December 07 | HH-53C #69-5785 (call sign “Jolly Green 77”) of the 40th ARRS, crewed by Lt. Col. Clifton A. Shipman (P), Capt. Richard M. Baskett (CP), Sgt. William C. Shinn (FE), MSgt. Edward M. Willis (PJ), A1C Steven D. Brooks (PJ) and SSgt. Gerald G. Boswell (AP), rescued, on their second attempt, the WSO of a F-4C, 1st Lt. Woodrow J. Bergeron (Call sign "Boxer 22B Bravo") after he and his pilot, Capt. Benjamin Franklin Danielson (KIA), ejected from their 37 mm damaged aircraft, on 05 December 1969, near the village of Ban Phonop in southern Laos (See previous entries on 05 - 06 December 1969). ). It is noted that during the three-day rescue attempt on the “Boxer 22” mission that a total of 336 sorties participated in the rescue and 21 different types of ordnance were used, ranging from 20-mm cannon fire to air-to-ground missiles. Ten helicopters and five A-1s suffered battle damage. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & JRCC Save Form & http://www.mh-53pavelow.com/documents/airframes/notable_h53_history.pdf |
| 1969 - December 08 | UH-1P #65-7935 of the 20th SOS, crewed by unkn (P), unkn (CP), unkn (AG) and unkn (AG), was shot down in the vicinity of Ban Don, RVN, crashing into the trees. The pilot was knocked unconscious, and his feet and legs were trapped in the wreckage. The left gunner was also knocked unconscious, and the right gunner and co-pilot were able to extract themselves from the wreckage. The left gunner regained consciousness and assisted the co-pilot and right gunner in trying to extract the pilot from the wreckage. An Army slick landed nearby and one of its gunners helped extract the pilot from the wreckage. The crew of the downed UH-1P was loaded on the U. S. Army slick and flown from the area. http://www.helis.com/database/accidents/?org=133&f2mod=545 & http://www.mh-53pavelow.com/documents/20thSOS/1969.pdf |
| 1969 - December 10 | A HH-3E (Call sign “Jolly Green 35”) from the 37th ARRS, crewed by USCG Lt. JG. Robert T. Ritchie (P), Maj. John H. Winter (CP), SSgt. James E. Smith (FE), Sgt. Paul D. Brown (PJ) and SSgt. Gary T. Osborne (PJ) rescued the pilot of a F-100D (Call sign "Litter 15"), Maj. Ronald E. Boyle (P) after ejected from his aircraft when it was hit by 37 mm AAA fire near Kay Bong, 30 miles southeast of Saravan, Laos. ‘High bird’ on this mission was HH-3E #67-14709 (Call sign “Jolly Green 22”) and known to have been available for the rescue attempt were HH-3E’s #65-12780 (Call sign “Jolly Green 07”), (Call sign “Jolly Green 42”), HH-53B (Call sign “Jolly Green 68”) and HH-53C #69-5785 (“Jolly Green 77”). "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form & This Day In Coast Guard Aviation History |
| 1969 - December 14 | A HH-43F from Det. 1, 38th ARRS, Phan Rang AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Wayne R. Crowther (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ), rescued one ARVN troop in RVN. No other details are known at this time. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form |
| 1969 - December 14 | A HH-43F from Det. 1, 38th ARRS, Phan Rang AB, RVN, crewed by Maj. Ronald K. Dalrymple (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ), rescued three unkn Vietnamese troops in RVN. No other details are known at this time. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form |
| 1969 - December 15 | UH-1P gunships of the 20th SOS "Green Hornets", crews unkn, were supporting the rescue of a MACV SOG recon team from deep in enemy held territory that was being chased by enemy forces. No other details are known at this time. "Secret Green Beret Commandos In Cambodia" by Lt. Col. Fred S. Lindsey, USA (Ret.) |
| 1969 - December 18 | A HH-53B from the 37th ARRS, crewed by Lt. Col. Harry S. Copperthite Jr. (P), Maj. Frank L. Pehr (CP), SSgt. Jerry L. Burchfield (FE), MSgt. Gordon C. Bailey (PJ) and TSgt. Henry C. Kirk III (PJ), recovered the unresponsive pilot, James P. Allenburg of an OV-10A (Call sign "Helix 39"), after his aircraft went down in the South China Sea. Attempts to revive James Allenburg were not successful and he was KIA. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form |
| 1969 - December 19 | A HH-43B from Det. 3, 38th ARRS, Ubon RTAFB, Thailand, crewed by Capt. Michael C. Kiefl (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ), rescued the crew, Capt. T. R. Webb Jr. (P) and Capt. L. M. Bonner (WSO) of a F-4E (Call sign "Stormy") after their aircraft was hit by 23 mm AAA fire 15 miles northeast of Ban Talan in southern Laos and they nursed the aircraft back to about 2 miles from Ubon RTAFB, Thailand, where they eject. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form |
| 1969 - December 19 | A HH-43B from Det. 1, 38th ARRS, Phan Rang AB, RVN, crewed by Maj. Raymond L. Foster (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ), medevacked one ARVN troop in RVN. No other details are known at this time. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form |
| 1969 - December 20 | A HH-43B from Det. 3, 38th ARRS, Ubon RTAFB, Thailand, crewed by Capt. Allen E. Spalt (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ), rescued the crew, Capt. D. S. Catchings (P) and 1st Lt. W. R. Daley (WSO) after their aircraft was hit by 23 mm AAA fire near Ban Namm, Laos, 30 miles west of the DMZ and he nursed the aircraft back to within a few miles from Ubon RTAFB, Thailand, where they ejected. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form |
| 1969 - December 20 | Det. 10, 38th ARRS at Binh Thuy AB, RVN was deactivated on this date. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1969 - December 21 | HH-3E from Det. 1, 40th ARRS, crewed by Maj. Edward B. Robbins (P), Joseph R. Brown (CP), A1C David J. Bond (FE), MSgt. Paul L. Jenkins (PJ) and Sgt. Richard G. Beasley (PJ), rescued the pilot of a A-1H (Call sign "Firefly 11"), Robert L. Bohan, when his aircraft had an engine failure on takeoff in Thailand. http://www.pjsinnam.com/vn_history/pdf_files/Chronology/1969.pdf & "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1969 - December 21 | HH-53B (Call sign "Jolly Green 76") of the 40th ARRS, crewed by Capt. Gary F. Sanderson (P), 1st Lt. Edward J. Sichterman (CP), SSgt. Jack L. Hartman (FE), A1C Ronald F. Sopata (PJ), Sgt. Charles L. Colbert (PJ) and Sgt. Ronald L. Surratt (AP), rescued the crew of a RF-4C (Call sign "Bullwhip 12"), Capt. Charles P. Sloan and 1st Lt. Albert L. Guise, after they ejected from their 37 mm AAA damaged aircraft 20 miles southeast of Ban Ban, Laos. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & http://www.pjsinnam.com/vn_history/pdf_files/Chronology/1969.pdf & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1969 - December 23 | A HH-43F from Det. 1, 38th ARRS, Phan Rang AB, RVN, crewed by Maj. Raymond L. Foster (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ), medevacked one ARVN troop in RVN. No other details are known at this time. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form |
| 1969 - December 25 | A HH-43B from Det. 2, 38th ARRS, Takhli RTAFB, Thailand, crewed by Capt. Charles C. Holman (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ), medevacked one Thai troop in Thailand. No other details are known at this time. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form |
| 1969 - December 27 | HH-53B (Call sign "Jolly Green 76") of the 40th ARRS, crewed by Capt. Gary F. Sanderson (P), Michael V. Kinsinger (CP), TSgt. Maurice F. Tasker (FE), TSgt. John J. Eldridge (PJ) and A1C Ronald F. Sopata (PJ), rescued the crew of a USMC TA-4F (Call sign "Playboy 16"), Maj. Richard E. Lewis (P) and 1st Lt. Paul E. Phillips (CP), after they ejected from their 23 mm AAA damaged aircraft near the town of Ban Kate in southern Laos. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & http://www.pjsinnam.com/vn_history/pdf_files/Chronology/1969.pdf |
| 1969 - December 27 | |
| 1969 - December 28 | A HH-43F from Det. 13, 38th ARRS, Phu Cat AB, RNV, crewed by Lt. Col. Ernest A. Headburg (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ) rescued the crew of a F-4C (Call sign "Boxer"), Capt. Ellis and Capt. B. Ray, after they ejected from their aircraft, over Laos, after failure of its radios and navigation gear and they ran out of fuel before they could locate a base. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & http://www.pjsinnam.com/vn_history/pdf_files/Chronology/1969.pdf & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form |
| 1969 - December 28 | A HH-3E from Det. 1, 40th ARRS, crewed by Capt. Leonard D. Fialko (P), Capt. Joseph M. Nall (CP), Daryl I. Durant (FE), MSgt. Paul L. Jenkins (PJ) and Sgt. Ricky L. Fleming (PJ), rescued the crew of a USMC F-4B (Call sign "Lovebug 206"), 1st Lt. E. M. Franger (P) and Lt. Douglas K, McLellan (CP), after they ejected from their 37 mm AAA damaged aircraft near Muang Phine, Laos. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & JRCC Save Form & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1969 - December 29 | A HH-3E from Det. 1, 40th ARRS, crewed by unkn (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ), rescued the pilot of a A-1H (Call sign "Firefly 13"), 1st Lt. Norman E. Frisbie, after he ejected from his 37 mm AAA damaged aircraft about 8 miles south of Nakhon Phanom RTAFB, Thailand. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1969 - December 30 | UH-1P gunships of the 20th SOS "Green Hornets" were supporting the rescue of a MACV SOG recon team from deep in enemy held territory that was being chased by enemy forces. No other details are known at this time. "Secret Green Beret Commandos In Cambodia" by Lt. Col. Fred S. Lindsey, USA (Ret.) |
| 1969 - December 31 | A HH-3E from Det. 1, 40th ARRS, crewed by Capt. Edwin L. Shobert Jr. (P), Capt. Joseph M. Nall (CP), Sgt. Jimmie D. Rash (FE), MSgt. Paul L. Jenkins (PJ) and SSgt. Roy D. Bloebaum (PJ), rescued the pilot of a OV-10A (Call sign "Nail 37"), Capt. Ronald R. Russell, after he ejected from his 37 mm AAA damaged aircraft about 10 miles west of Ban Thapachono, Laos. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form |
| 1970 - January 07 | The 39th ARRWg (MAC) was activated with headquarters located at Richards-Gebaur AFB, Missouri. The Wing functions under the command of Headquarters ARRS (MAC), Scott AFB, IL. The period from 1 January 1970 to 1 April 1970 was an organizational period with the Wing having neither command nor control over subordinate units. https://www.ragay.nl/kaman-h-43-huskie/h-43-usaf-units-conus |
| 1970 - January 07 | A HH-3E (Call sign “Jolly Green 35”) from the 37th ARRS, crewed by USCG Lt. JG. Richard C. Butchka (P), Capt. Charles C. Adams (CP), SSgt. Robert W. Edgar (FE), SSgt. Eugene L. Nardi (PJ) and SSgt. Dennis T. Duffy (PJ), rescued the WSO, 1st Lt. Dana F. Campbell, of an F-4E (Call sign "Gunfighter 55 Bravo") after he had ejected from his aircraft, over the South China Sea, when it had a mid-air collision with another F-4E while on a training flight near Da Nang AB, RVN. Lt. Campbell was rescued by use of a water landing by JG 35. The search for the pilot, Capt. Robert Ochab (Call sign "Gunfighter 55 Alpha") continued by a second HH-3E (Call sign “Jolly Green 42”) but he could not be located and it was finally determined that he was fatally injured in the accident. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & JRCC Save Form & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & Today In Coast Guard Aviation History |
| 1970 - January 07 | A HH-3E from the 33rd ARRS, crewed by unkn (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ), rescued a Greek sailor, Roussos Ioannis, from the Creek freighter “Prosso” about 100 miles east of Okinawa. He had suffered head injuries in a shipboard fall and was delivered to the U.S. Army Hospital at Camp Kue. Pacific Stars & Stripes, Sunday, Jan 11, 1970, pg. 7 |
| 1970 - January 09 | UH-1P gunships and slicks of the 20th SOS "Green Hornets" rescued part of a MACV SOG recon team from deep in enemy held territory that was being chased by enemy forces. The two Americans on the team had been KIA. "Green Hornet" crew members known to have been involved in this action are Capt. Robert B. Swenck (P) (awarded the Silver Star Medal), Capt. David T. Spencer (P) (awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross), TSgt. Larry Sanders (FM/AG) and A1C John Bruchey (AG). No other details are known at this time. "Secret Green Beret Commandos In Cambodia" by Lt. Col. Fred S. Lindsey, USA (Ret.) |
| 1970 - January 09 | A HH-53C from the 40th ARRS, crewed by Lt. Col. Charles R. Campbell (P), Maj. John W. Goeglein (CP), SSgt. Thomas D. Blakeney (FE), TSgt. John J. Eldridge (PJ), TSgt. Colin A. Lane (PJ) and A1C Raymond G. Banas (AP), rescued the pilot of a A-1G (Call sign "Firefly 43"), Capt. Jackson L. Hudson, after he ejected from his small arms fire damaged aircraft near the village of Muang Poi on the SW edge of the Plane of Jars in Laos. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & JRCC Save Form & http://www.pjsinnam.com/vn_history/pdf_files/Chronology/1970.pdf & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1970 - January 09 | A HH-43B of Det. 6, 41st ARRS at Kadena AB, Okinawa crewed by unkn (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ), rescued the pilot, Lt. Edwin A. Tarr, who had ejected from his crashing F-8 Crusader approximately 25 miles southwest of Okinawa. He spent about 30 minutes in his life raft before being hoisted aboard the HH-43B. Pacific Stars & Stripes, Sunday, Jan. 11, 1970, pg. 7 |
| 1970 - January 13 | A HH-3E from the 37th ARRS, crewed by Capt. George M. Hittle III (P), Capt. Charles C. Adams (CP), Sgt. Robert J. P. Laframboise (FE), TSgt. Donald G. Smith (PJ) and SSgt. Curt W. Phythian Jr. (PJ), rescued a C-130 (Call sign "Blind Bat 13") crew member, Capt. Laurence C. Johnson, who had fallen out of his aircraft while on a night mission over Laos on January 12, 1970. No other details are known at this time. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form |
| 1970 - January 15 | A HH-43B from Det. 3, 38th ARRS, Ubon RTAFB, Thailand, crewed by Capt. Michael C. Kiefl (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ), rescued the WSO of a F-4D (Call sign "Stormy Bravo"), 1st Lt. Ralph D. Leblanc, after he ejected from his ground fire damaged aircraft in southern Laos, near the village of Ban Kate. The pilot, Maj. Tommy Ray Warren (Call sign "Stormy Alpha") did not eject and was KIA. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & JRCC Save Form & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1970 - January 15 | A HH-43B from Det. 3, 38th ARRS, Ubon RTAFB, Thailand, crewed by Capt. Michael C. Kiefl (P), Capt. Allen E. Spalt (CP), Sgt. John D. Chilson (FE), Sgt Jeffery W. Fehr (MT) and Capt. John R. Pettigrove (Doctor), medevacked one Thai in Thailand. No other details are known at this time. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form |
| 1970 - January 16 | A HH-43F from Det. 13, 38th ARRS, Phu Cat AB, RVN, crewed by unkn (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ), medevacked Edward W. Gmyrek in RVN. No other details are known at this time. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form |
| 1970 - January 17 | HH-3E 3E #66-13278 (Call sign "Jolly Green 25") was destroyed when it was dropped from a CH-54 that was slinging it. No other details are known at this time. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & http://www.jollygreen.org/Research/RonThurlow/H3RosterSEA.html & 37th ARRSq. (MAC) Controller’s Log 19 Nov 69 – 21 May 70 |
| 1970 - January 17 | A HH-53B from the 40th ARRS, crewed by Lt. Col. Allan Mateer (P), Maj. John H. Gill (CP), TSgt. Maurice F. Tasker (FE), Sgt. Anthony J. McFarr (PJ) and Sgt. Douglas W. Crowder (PJ), rescued the pilot of an A-1H (Call sign "Sandy 04"), Capt. Terry F. Bolstad after he made an emergency landing at LS-22 in Laos. No other details are known at this time. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form |
| 1970 - January 18 | A HH-3E from Det. 1, 40th ARRS, crewed by Maj. Ted L. Smith (P), Maj. John A. Raper (CP), TSgt. Daryl I. Durant (FE), Sgt. Ricky L. Fleming (PJ) and TSgt. Lehman L. Booher (PJ), rescued the crew of a F-100F (Call sign "Misty 30"), 1st Lt. Josiah L. Merrill (P) and Capt. Harry D. Scott (CP), after they ejected from their 23 mm AAA damaged aircraft near the village of Ban Tok, Laos. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & JRCC Save Form |
| 1970 - January 19 | A HH-43F from Det. 7, 38th ARRS, Da Nang AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. David A. Voigt (P), Maj. John A. Tyson (CP), Randy L. Luke (FE) and Sgt. Luther E. Davis (PJ), rescued the pilot of a F-100F, (Call sign "Misty 40 Alpha") Capt. Daniel F. Brown, after he and his co-pilot, Capt. Ernest L. Farnsworth, ejected from their 23mm AAA damaged aircraft about 12 miles off the coast of Tam Ky. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form |
| 1970 - January 19 | A HH-43F from Det. 9, 38th ARRS, crewed by Capt. Oliver E. Schmoker (P), Capt. George H. Hopkins (CP), SSgt. Alvin A. Malone (FE) and SSgt. Charles E. Vickers (MT) medevacked U. S. Army PFC Donald L. Phillips from Camp Cloudy. No other details are known at this time. Det. 9, 38th ARRS Logbook 02 Jan 70-30 Dec 71 |
| 1970 - January 19 | A HH-3E #67-14704 (Call sign “Jolly Green 33”) from the 37th ARRS crewed by Maj. John H. Winter (P), Maj. James Z. Elkington (CP), Sgt. Joseph J. Vai (FE), SSgt. Gary T. Osborne (PJ) and Sgt. George P Hoffman III (PJ) rescued the co-pilot of a F-100F (Call sing "Misty 40 Bravo"), Capt. Ernest L. Farnsworth, after he and his pilot, Capt. Daniel F. Brown, ejected from their 23 mm AAA damaged aircraft about 12 miles off the coast of Tam Ky. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form & 37th ARRSq. (MAC) Controller’s Log 19 Nov 69 – 21 May 70 |
| 1970 - January 21 | A HH-53B from the 40th ARRS, crewed by Lt. Col. Allan Mateer (P), Capt. John C. Cody (CP), TSgt. Carlos W. DeMattos (FE) TSgt. Colin A. Lane (PJ), MSgt. Ronald R.. Jeczala (PJ), Charles L. Colbert (PJ) and A1C Raymond G. Banas (AP), rescued the pilot of a A-1E (Call sign "Sandy 04"), Maj. Tommy L. Manley after he made an emergency landing at LS-22 in Laos. No other details are known at this time. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form |
| 1970 - January 22 | A HH-3E from Det. 1, 40th ARRSq. crewed by Maj. Edward B. Robbins (P), Capt. James Blackwood (CP), A1C David J. Bond (FE) and MSgt. Paul L. Jenkins (PJ), rescued the pilot of a A-1H (Call sign "Zorro 16"), Capt. Ernest F. Anderson, after he ejected from his automatic weapons fire damaged aircraft about 20 miles NE of Nakhon Phanom RTAFB, Thailand. This was the 2,000th "combat save" by 3rd ARRG in SEA. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & JRCC Save Form & 37th ARRSq. (MAC) Controller’s Log 19 Nov 69 – 21 May 70 |
| 1970 - January 26 | A HH-43F from Det. 1. 38th ARRS, Phan Rang AB, RVN, crewed by Maj. Raymond L. Foster (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ), rescued an F-100D pilot, Lt. Stephen J. Shook, after he hit some trees while on a napalm bombing run and he ejected from his aircraft before it crashed in RVN. No other details are known at this time. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form |
| 1970 - January 26 | A HH-43F from Det. 1, 38th ARRS, Phan Rang AB, RVN, crewed by Maj. Ronald K. Dalrymple (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ), medevacked an unkn ARVN troop in RVN. No other details are known at this time. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form |
| 1970 - January 26 | UH-1P gunships and slicks of the 20th SOS "Green Hornets" rescued a MACV SOG recon team from deep in enemy held territory that was being chased by enemy forces. "Green Hornet" crew members known to have been involved in this action are Capt. David T. Spencer (P) (awarded the Silver Star Medal), Lt. Col. Jack H. Wenning (P), SSgt. Robert W. Hall (FM) and Maj. James W. Foster (P). No other details are known at this time. "Secret Green Beret Commandos In Cambodia" by Lt. Col. Fred S. Lindsey, USA (Ret.) |
| 1970 - January 27 | A HH-53B from the 40th ARRS, crewed by Capt. Dan L. Reeder (P), Capt. Donald Y. Thompson (CP), SSgt. Jack L. Hartman (FE), TSgt. William E. Lester (PJ), Sgt. Michael J. Howard (PJ) and A1C Raymond G. Banas (AP), rescued the pilot of a USA OV-10 (Call sign "Nail 35"), Capt. James E. Norman. His aircraft had been hit by 37mm AAA fire west of the DMZ and he flew it into Thailand before he ejected. "PJ's in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form |
| 1970 - January 27 | A HH-53B (Call sign “Jolly Green 76”) of the 40th ARRS, crewed by Capt. Jerald A. Brown Jr. (P), Maj. Herbert L. Ingram (CP), Sgt. Haven V. Richardson (FE), SSgt. Randall S. Carmichael (PJ), TSgt. John J. Eldridge (PJ) and Sgt. Ronald L. Surrat (AP), rescued the pilot of a F-105D (Call sign "Cookie 02"), Maj. David W. Livingston, after he ejected from his AAA fire damaged aircraft south of the village of Sam Nuea, High bird on this mission was HH-53B #68-10366 (Call sign “Jolly Green 70”) crewed by unkn (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE), unkn (PJ) and unkn (PJ). 40th ARRS Mission Narrative Report #2-3-008-27 January 70 & http://www.pjsinnam.com/vn_history/pdf_files/Chronology/1970.pdf & JRCC Save Form & "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson |
| 1970 - January 28 | HH-53B #66-14434 (Call sign "Jolly Green 71") from the 40th ARRS, Udorn RTAFB, Thailand, crewed by Maj. Holly Gene Bell (P), Capt. Leonard Charles Leeser (CP), SSgt. William Charles Shinn (FE), SMSgt. William David Pruett (PJ), MSgt. William Carl Sutton (PJ) and SSgt. Gregory Lee Anderson (AP) was lost in NVN on a SAR mission for F-105G pilot, Capt. Richard J. Mallon (KIA) and EWO, Capt. Robert J. Panek (KIA), when the helicopter was hit by a air-to-air missile fired by a MiG-21 piloted by Lt. Vu Ngoc Dinh. The entire HH-53B crew was lost in this shoot down. This was the first HH-53B to be lost in air-to-air action. Other ARRS helicopters known to have been participating in this mission were two HH-3E’ (tail numbers and call signs are unknown) and three other HH-53’s tail numbers 68-10366 (Call sign “Jolly Green 70”), 69-5787 (Call sign “Jolly Green 72”) and 69-5785 (Call sign “Jolly Green 77”). http://www.jollygreen.org/jltnc.htm & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1970 - January 31 | A HH-3E from Det. 1, 40th ARRS, crewed by Maj. Lewis E. Garrett (P), Maj. Robert M. Martin III (CP), SSgt. Thayer D. Pope (FE) and MSgt. Paul L. Jenkins (PJ), medevacked Somrit Namsorn in Thailand. No other details are known at this time. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form |
| 1970 - January ?? | A CH-3E 63-9681 of the 21st SOS, named “Ain’t this a Bitch”, was cleared to hover taxi and was hit by a RLAF T-28 that had also been cleared for take-off from the same runway at LS-98 at Long Tien, Laos. The CH-3E landed with damage and the T-28 crashed off the side of the runway. http://www.rotorheadsrus.us/documents/489.html |
| 1970 - February 02 | A HH-43F from Det. 13, 38th ARRS, Phu Cat AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. David A. Cochenour (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ), medevacked two unkn USAF enlisted men in RVN. No other details are known at this time. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form |
| 1970 - February 03 | CH-3E #66-13288 (Call sign "Knife 51") of the 21st SOS crewed by Maj. John C. Hughes (P), Maj. John P. Stuart (CP), TSgt. Homer L. Ramsey (FE) and B. A. Smith (FE) was hit by ground fire and crashed in Laos. Another helicopter on the mission rescued all the crew of CH-3E #66-13288. http://www.jollygreen.org/jltnc.html |
| 1970 - February 03 | A HH-43B from Det. 8, 38th ARRS, Cam Ranh Bay AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Peter F. Dineen (P), Capt. Jay W. Hansen (CP), SSgt. Thomas W. Seibert (FE), Sgt. Kenneth J. Musnicki (PJ) and TSgt. Thomas M. White (PJ) rescued one USA troop (Call sign "Uniform 64") in RVN. No other details are known at this time. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form |
| 1970 - February 03 | A HH-3E from Det. 1, 40th ARRS, Phan Rang AB, RVN, crewed by Maj. Edward B. Robbins (P), Maj. Robert M. Martin III (CP), TSgt. Claude C. Franks (FE), TSgt. Lehman L. Booher (PJ) and David T. Upchurch (FS), medevacked a Thai woman in Thailand. No other details are known at this time. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form |
| 1970 - February 03 | A HH-43B from Det. 8, 38th ARRS, Cam Ranh Bay AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Peter F. Dineen (P), Jay W. Hansen (CP), SSgt. Thomas W. Seibert (FE), Kenneth J. Musnicki (PJ) and TSgt. Thomas M. White (PJ), rescued ARVN troop, CPL. Chin Vo in RVN. No other details are known at this time. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form |
| 1970 - February 07 | HH-53C #69-5784 (Call sign “Jolly Green 71”) from the 40th ARRS, crewed by Maj. Edward B. Robbins (P), Capt. Royce W. Terrell (CP), Sgt. Ronne L. Painter (FE), TSgt. Lehman L. Booher (PJ) and Charles D. Morrow (PJ), rescued USN A-6A (Call sign “Milestone 516") crew, Lt. Cdr. Evan P. Reese (P) and Lt. (jg) Donald R. Fraser (CP) after they had ejected from their AAA damaged aircraft near Tchepone, Laos. “Jolly Green 81” was ‘high’ bird on this mission. PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form & http://www.angelfire.com/home/laoslist/cr170.html |
| 1970 - February 08 | UH-1P #64-15476 of the 20th SOS at Ban Me Thout East, crewed by unkn (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FM) and unkn (AG), while on a gun training mission in a free fire area lost engine oil pressure and the pilot autorotated to a safe landing in a clear field without any damage to the helicopter. A U.S. Army CH-47 slung it back to Ban Me Thout East the same day. http://www.mh-53pavelow.com/documents/20thSOS/1970.pdf |
| 1970 - February 08 | UH-1P gunships of the 20th SOS "Green Hornets" rescued a MACV SOG recon team from deep in enemy held territory that was being chased by enemy forces. "Green Hornet" crew members known to have been involved in this action are Sgt. Jerry L. LeChien (AG). No other details are known at this time. "Secret Green Beret Commandos In Cambodia" by Lt. Col. Fred S. Lindsey, USA (Ret.) |
| 1970 - February 08 - 09 | CH-3E #65-15695 of the 21st SOS (Call sign "Knife ??"), crewed by unkn (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (FE), while on a mission in Laos had an engine failure and they attempted to return to Nakhon Phanom RTAFB, Thailand but while trying to maintain altitude over-tempted the remaining engine and the helicopter was rapidly becoming unsafe to fly. The crew landed at a simi-secure Lima-Site in Laos and the crew was picked up by one of the other CH-3E's in the flight. The helicopter was left at the site overnight. On 09 February 1979 two replacement engines, maintenance crews and a flight crew were flown to the Lima-Site, by Air America "Porter" aircraft, to replace both engines and recover the helicopter. Using the H-3 portable hoist, everyone pitched in and had both engines changed and the helicopter ready to fly out just before darkness was setting in. Shortly before dusk they were notified that a large enemy force had been spotted heading for the Lima-Site and they were able to take off and return to Thailand before the enemy could set up their attack. Individuals known to have been involved in the double engine change are Lt. Col. Hubert F. Weitzel (P), Maj. John P. Stuart (AC), MSgt. James W. Boss (Maint.), TSgt. Eugene G. Beaulieu (Maint.), TSgt. Welburn T. Franklin (FE), SSgt. James W. Burns (FE) SSgt. John J. Napoli Jr. (Maint.), SSgt Richard S. Watts (Maint.), A1C Michael A. Boyer (Maint.), A1C Eugene G. Christensen (Maint.), A1C Frank F. Gillespie Jr. (Maint.) and A1C Paul Romans (Maint.). Personal experience of SSgt. Burns |
| 1970 - February 10 | A HH-43B from Det. 1, Phan Rang AB, RVN, crewed by Maj. Ronald K. Dalrymple (P), Capt. Thomas E. Rodgers (CP), SSgt James A. Taylor (FE), MSgt Anthony R. Gargano (PJ) and Sgt. David Hernandez (MT), rescued the pilot of a F-100D, 1st Lt. James V. Phillips, after he ejected from his small arms fire damaged aircraft off the coast about 10 miles from Phan Ly, RVN. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & JRCC Save Form |
| 1970 - February 16 | HH-43B #59-1586 of Det. 7, 38th ARRS, Da Nang AB, RVN suffered crash damage on base. The helicopter was transferred to Clark AB, PI., where it was written off on July 10, 1970. http://www.h43-huskie.info/framesetnew.html |
| 1970 - February 16 | HH-43F from Det. 6, 38th ARRS, Bien Hoa AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Richard S. Dunlap (P), Capt. Edward L. Coleman (CP) and Sgt. Roy T. Vogel (PJ), rescued two USA troops from a downed USA LOH-6 helicopter. No other details are known at this time. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & JRCC Save Form |
| 1970 - February 16 | Det. 9, 38th ARRS relocates from Pleiku AB, RVN to Nakhon Phanom RTAFB, Thailand. http://www.pjsinnam.com/vn_history/pdf_files/Chronology/1970.pdf |
| 1970 - February 18 | A HH-53C #68-8286 (Call sign “Jolly Green 79”) of the 40th ARRS, Da Nang AB, RVN, crewed by Maj. Hubert M. Berthold (P), Maj. John W. Goeglein (CP), TSgt. Stanton R. Nelson (FE) TSgt. Jack D. Moran (PJ) and Johnny L. Reddick (PJ), unsuccessfully attempted to rescue the WSO, Capt. Robert S. Dotson, of a F-4D (Call sign "Banyan 03 Bravo") after he ejected from his ground fire damaged aircraft near Ban Paka, Laos. The F-4D pilot, Maj. Thomas Eldon Gillen, did not eject and was KIA. “Jolly Green 79” was damaged by enemy ground fire and was forced to return to base. The original “low bird” on this mission was crewed by Capt. Connally (P), unkn (CP), MSgt. Maurice Tasker (FE), unkn (PJ) and unkn (PJ). “Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson &"PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & http://www.pjsinnam.com/vn_history/pdf_files/Chronology/1970.pdf & JRCC Save Form & Aug. 15, 2020, Facebook post by Stan Nelson & Facebook post from Stanton R. Nelson Jan 2021 |
| 1970 - February 18 | A HH-53C (Call sign "Jolly Green 81") of the 40th ARRS, crewed by Lt. Col. Clifton A. Shipman (P), Capt. Donald Y. Thompson (CP), Sgt. Inus G. Crawford (FE) MSgt. Edward M. Willis (PJ) and A1C Steven D. Brooks (PJ), rescue the WSO, Capt. Robert S. Dotson, of a F-4D (Call sign "Banyan 03 Bravo") after he ejected from his ground fire damaged aircraft near Ban Paka, Laos. The F-4D pilot, Maj. Thomas Eldon Gillen, did not eject and was KIA. “Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & http://www.pjsinnam.com/vn_history/pdf_files/Chronology/1970.pdf |
| 1970 - February 18 | A HH-53C of the 40th ARRS, crewed by Lt. Col. Harry S. Copperthite Jr. (P), Maj. Frank L. Pehr (CP), SSgt. Jerry L. Burchfield (FE) unkn (PJ) and Frank L. Burchfield (PJ), recovered the unresponsive pilot, Maj. James P. Allenberg, of an OV-10A from the South China Sea. Maj. Allenberg was found floating face down and given mouth to mouth enroute but was declared KIA at the hospital. “Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form & http://www.pjsinnam.com/vn_history/pdf_files/Chronology/1970.pdf |
| 1970 - February 19 | A HH-43F crewed by Capt. Walter E. Hogan (P), Capt. Roger F. Hill (CP), TSgt Gordon L. Ball (FE), TSgt. Donald G. Smith (PJ), SSgt. Cecil H. James (FF) and SSgt Reginald Ramseur (FF) rescued two unkn crew members from an AC-119K (Call sign "Freon") that landed short at Da Nang AB, RVN. The other 8 crew members received minor injuries. No other details are known at this time. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & JRCC Save Form |
| 1970 - February 20 | A HH-43F from Det. 7, 38th ARRS, Da Nang AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. David A. Voight (P), Maj. Loran M. Nichols (CP), SSgt. Joseph L. Coburn (FE) and SSgt. Gary T. Osborne (PJ), medevacked Paul J. Dowling in RVN. No other details are known at this time. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson |
| 1970 - February 21 | UH-1P gunships of the 20th SOS "Green Hornets", crew unkn, rescued a MACV SOG recon team from deep in enemy held territory that was being chased by enemy forces. No other details are known at this time. "Secret Green Beret Commandos In Cambodia" by Lt. Col. Fred S. Lindsey, USA (Ret.) |
| 1970 - February 21 | A HH-43 from Det. 5, 38th ARRS, Udorn RTAFB, Thailand, crewed by Capt. Donold H. Almanzar (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ), rescued the pilot of a F-105G (Call sign "Bucket 03 Alpha"), Maj. G. B. Hurst (P) after he and Capt. Clive S. Bevan (CP), nursed their small arms fire damaged aircraft back into Thailand and ejected a few miles from Udorn RTAFB, Thailand. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form |
| 1970 - February 21 | A HH-53 from the 40th ARRS, crewed by Maj. Harry E. Raisor (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ), rescued the co-pilot, Capt. Clive S. Bevan, of a F-105G (Call sign "Bucket 03 Bravo") after he and his pilot, nursed their small arms fire damaged aircraft back into Thailand and ejected a few miles from Udorn RTAFB, Thailand. No other details are known at this time. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form |
| 1970 - March 01 | A HH-53C (Call sign “Jolly Green 81”) from the 40th ARRS, crewed by Capt. John C. Cody (P), Maj. Robert W. Bleier (CP), Sgt. Inus G. Crawford (FE), TSgt. Lawrence Wellington (PJ), Sgt. Johnny L. Riddrick (PJ) and Wickley (AP), rescued the pilot of a Marine A-7A (Call sign "Charger 411"), Lt. Raleigh E. Karp, after he ejected from his 23 mm AAA damaged aircraft near Ban Kate on 28 February 1970. ‘High bird on this mission was HH-53C (Call sign “Jolly Green 80”) crewed by unkn (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE), unkn (PJ) and unkn (PJ). http://www.pjsinnam.com/vn_history/pdf_files/Chronology/1970.pdf & "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson |
| 1970 - March 05 | A HH-53C #69-5785 (Call sign "Jolly Green 77") from the 40th ARRS crewed by Capt. Donald H. Almanzar (P), Maj. William D. Eastman Jr. (CP), SSgt. Jack L. Hartman (FE), MSgt. Rodney D. Ohman (PJ), SSgt. Charles L. Colbert (PJ) and Willson A. Glass (FE), rescued the pilot of a A-1E (Call sign "Firefly 32"), Capt. David E. Friestad, after he had ejected from his 37 mm AAA damaged aircraft near Ban Boung, Laos. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & http://www.pjsinnam.com/vn_history/pdf_files/Chronology/1970.pdf |
| 1970 - March 08 | UH-1P gunships of the 20th SOS "Green Hornets", crews unkn, rescued a MACV SOG recon team from deep in enemy held territory that was being chased by enemy forces. One of the "Green Hornet" crew members known to have been involved in this action is SSgt. Terry L. Curry who was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross for his actions on this mission. No other details are known at this time. "Secret Green Beret Commandos In Cambodia" by Lt. Col. Fred S. Lindsey, USA (Ret.) |
| 1970 - March 08 | A HH-43F from Det. 7, 38th ARRS, Da Nang AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. David A. Voight (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ), medevacked L/Cpl. Steven W. Lessard in RVN. No other details are known at this time. PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1970 - March 09 | A HH-3E (Call sign “Jolly Green 35”) from the 37th ARRS, crewed by Maj. Lewis E. Garrett (P), Maj. Albert W. Palmer (CP), Sgt. Jimmie D. Rash (FE) MSgt. Harold W. Harvey (PJ), Sgt. Terry L. Wetzel (PJ) and Lewis J. Roberts (PJ), rescued the badly injured pilot of a F-100D (Call sign "Bobcat 72"), Capt. Richard John Cowell, after he ejected from his AAA damaged aircraft about 21 miles west of Kham Duc. Capt. Cowell died the next day from his injuries. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form & 37th ARRSq. (MAC) Controller’s Log 19 Nov 69 – 21 May 70 |
| 1970 - March 09 | A HH-43F from Det. 6, 38th ARRS, Bien Hoa AB, RVN, crewed by Lt. Col. Donald E. Jensen (P), Paul L. Lantz (CP), TSgt. William G. Wilson (FE) and Roy T. Vogel (PJ), rescued one USA troop and recovered two unkn KIA in RVN. No other details are known at this time. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1970 - March 10 | HH-43B #63-9710 with the 31st ARRS at Clark AB, PI suffered damage due to a crash. No other information is available currently. http://www.h43-huskie.info/framesetnew.html |
| 1970 - March 13 | A HH-43B from Det. 2, 38th ARRS, Takhli RTAFB, Thailand, crewed by Capt. Lorenzo M. Crowell Jr. (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ), rescued Edgar C. Wallace in RVN. No other details are known at this time. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1970 - March 14 | A HH-3E #64-14704 (Call sign “Jolly Green 33”) from the 37th ARRS, crewed by Capt. Gerald L. Keyser Jr. (P), James Z. Elkinton (CP), Sgt. Karl H. Chunn (FE), MSgt. Harold W. Harvey (PJ) and SSgt. Eugene L. Nardi (PJ), rescued the pilot of a USN A-4F (Call sign "Garfish 502"), Lt. (jg) Peter A. Schranz, after he ejected from his 37 mm AAA fire damaged aircraft near Ban Kate, Laos. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form & 37th ARRSq. (MAC) Controller’s Log 19 Nov 69 – 21 May 70 |
| 1970 - March 14 | UH-1P #64-15491 (Call sign "Green Hornet ?") of the 20th SOS from Ban Me Thuot, RVN crewed by Capt. Dana Allen Dilley (P), Capt. Marvin R. Lepper (CP), SSgt. John Andrew Thorburn (AG) and A1C David A. Carpenter (AG) were shot down while supporting an LRRP mission near Duc Lap, RVN. Capt. Dana A. Dilley (P) was killed in the crash. A USA helicopter on the same mission rescued the surviving crew members. http://en.wikipedia.org/20th_Special_Operations_Squadron |
| 1970 - March 16 | A HH-43F from Det. 7, 38th ARRS, Da Nang AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. James A. Tassie (P), Capt. Roger E. Hill (CP), Sgt. Joseph L. Coburn (FE) and SSgt. Jules C. Smith (PJ) rescued a crew member of an O-2A (Call sign "Rage 447"), SSgt. William K. Kastner in RVN. No other details are known at this time. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form |
| 1970 - March 16 | A HH-3E from the 37th ARRS, crewed by USCG Lt. Jg. Robert T. Ritchie (P), Capt. Charles C. Adams (CP), A1C David J. Bond (FE), SSgt. Curtis W. Phythian Jr. (PJ) and SSgt. Edward K. Rendall (PJ), rescued the pilot of an OV-10A (Call sign "Nail 53"), Capt. David J. Erickson, after he ejected from his 37 mm AAA fire damaged aircraft near the village of Ban Vat. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form |
| 1970 - March 16 | A HH-53C from the 40th ARRS, crewed by Maj. Owen A. Heeter (P), William D. Eastman Jr. (CP), TSgt. Maurice F. Tasker (FE), SSgt. Wayne L. Fisk (PJ) and Sgt. Terry E. Caffery (PJ) rescued the pilot of a F-105D (Call sign "Newark 03"), Maj. William J. Wycoff, after he ejected from his 37 mm AAA damaged aircraft about 10 miles south of Udorn RTAFB, Thailand. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form |
| 1970 - March 16 | A HH-43F from Det. 7, 38th ARRS, Da Nang AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. James A. Tassie (P), Capt. Roger E. Hill (CP), SSgt. Joseph L. Coburn (FE), SSgt. Jules C. Smith (PJ), SSgt. Reginald Ramseur (FF) and Carroll H. Bledsoe (FF), saved Lt. D. T. Young, AE-2 Dean A. Merrill, Lt. (jg.) V. E. Watkins, AER2 D. W. Holder, AEAN C. M. Bingham, E-5 H. E. Shannon, E-5 S. E. Westacott and E-5 G. T. Denton, survivors from a USN EC-121M. The EC-121M crashed on landing at Da Nang AB, RVN, killing 23 others that were on board. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form |
| 1970 - March 17 | A HH-3E (Call sign “Jolly Green 42”) from the 37th ARRS, crewed by Capt. Charles W. Hoilman Jr. (P), Maj. Travis Wofford (CP), SSgt. Wilson E. Cavano (FE), SSgt. Dennis T. Duffy (PJ) and SSgt. Terry L. Wetzel (PJ), searched in fog (10 - 40 ft. visibility) for a downed USA UH-1 (Call sign "Skater 67") helicopter in RVN. No other information is available at this time. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form & 37th ARRSq. (MAC) Controller’s Log 19 Nov 69 – 21 May 70 |
| 1970 - March 17 | A HH-3E #65-12780 (Call sign “Jolly Green 07) from the 37th ARRS, crewed by Capt. Kenneth T. Kelly (P), Maj. James Z. Elkinton (CP), Sgt. Jimmie D. Rash (FE) and MSgt. Harold W. Harvey (PJ), searched in fog (10 - 40 ft. visibility) for a downed USA UH-1 (Call sign "Skater 67") helicopter in RVN. No other information is available at this time. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form & 37th ARRSq. (MAC) Controller’s Log 19 Nov 69 – 21 May 70 |
| 1970 - March 17 | A HH-3E #65-12781 (Call sign “Jolly Green 09”) from the 37th ARRS, crewed by Maj. Walter E. Barnes III (P), Maj. Albert W. Palmer (CP), Sgt. Robert J. P. Laframboise (FE), SSgt. Jules C. Smith (PJ) and Sgt. Stephen V. Samo (PJ), rescued two USA troops, Lloyd B. Ramsey and Thomas J. Ruffing, from a downed USA UH-1 (Call sign "Skater 67") helicopter in RVN. No other information is known at this time. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form & 37th ARRSq. (MAC) Controller’s Log 19 Nov 69 – 21 May 70 |
| 1970 - March 17 | HH-3E (Call sign “Jolly Green 35”) from the 37th ARRS, crewed by Capt. Miguel Garcia (P), Maj. John A. Raper (CP), TSgt. Frank Gaydos Jr. (FE), TSgt. John F. Heitsch (PJ) and John W. Mayers (AP), rescued four USA troops, John P. Tucker, Stephen C. Pike, WO1 R. D. Fransor and Sp4 M. L. Reed, from a downed USA UH-1 (Call sign "Skater 67") helicopter and recovered PJ's and a USA doctor in RVN. No other information is available currently. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form & 37th ARRSq. (MAC) Controller’s Log 19 Nov 69 – 21 May 70 |
| 1970 - March 17 | A HH-43F from Det. 7, 38th ARRS, Da Nang AB, RVN, crewed by Larry D. Boyle (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ), medevacked one unkn in RVN. No other information is available currently. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form |
| 1970 – March 18 | A HH-3E from the 37th ARRS, crewed by unkn (P), unkn (CP), Sgt. Robert J. P. LaFramboise (FE), SSgt. Jules Smith (PJ) and Sgt. Steven Samo (PJ), rescued Major General Lloyd Ramsey, Commanding General of the 23rd Infantry Division, famously known as the Americal Division. General Ramsey who was one of the survivors of a US Army UH-1H that had crashed the day before. The two PJs were lowered through the trees to the jungle floor to secure and bring up the survivors. General Ramsey, semi-conscious with a badly broken arm and severe back injuries, was the first to be hoisted aboard the hovering helicopter, followed by Battalion Surgeon Captain Oliver. http://www.lyonairmuseum.org/blog/docent-spotlight-bob-laframboise |
| 1970 - March 19 | UH-1P #65-7927 of the 20th SOS, crewed by unkn (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FM) and unkn (AG), while on a support mission of a long-range patrol, suddenly developed a severe vibration. The aircraft was flown back to Duc Lap and safely landed in a slide on landing. It was discovered that a hanger bearing just in front of the 42-degree gear box had disintegrated. http://www.mh-53pavelow.com/documents/20thSOS/1970.pdf |
| 1970 - March 19 | UH-1P #65-7944 (Call sign "Green Hornet #?") of the 20th SOS from Ban Me Thuot, RVN was shot down near Darlac, RVN. Maj. Clyde Wilson Enderle (P), Capt. Carlos Albert Estrada, Jr. (CP) and TSgt. James William Greenwood (AG) were killed in the crash the other crew member, A1C John Visnesky (AG) was rescued. A second "Green Hornet" gunship, crewed by Capt. David T. Spencer (P), Capt. Ross Phillippe (CP), A1C Terry Curry (FM/AG) and SSgt. Robert W. Hall (AG) was also involved with this action. "Secret Green Beret Commandos In Cambodia" by Lt. Col. Fred S. Lindsey, USA (Ret.) & http://jupi.org/map/vietnam/helicopt.html & http://en.wikipedia.org/20th_Special_Operations_Squadron |
| 1970 - March 19 | A HH-53C crewed by Capt. Richard M. Baskett (P), 1st Lt. Edward J. Sichterman Jr. (CP), SSgt. Jack L. Hartman (FE) and Sgt. Michael J. Howard (PJ) unsuccessfully attempted the rescue the co-pilot of a F-4D (Call sign "Wolf 06 Bravo"), 1st Lt. Dennis Gerald Pugh (P) after he and his pilot, Capt. William A. Rash, had ejected from their 37 mm AAA fire damaged aircraft near Ban Senphan at the southern end of the Mu Gia Pass, Laos. The hoist cable was severed by ground fire, and they were driven off the rescue attempt. Any father rescue attempts were delayed until the morning of 20 March 1970 due to darkness and enemy resistance. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form |
| 1970 - March 19 | A HH-3E #66-13280 (Call sign “Jolly Green 27”) from the 37th ARRS, crewed by Maj. Edward David Vaughan (P), Maj. James Z. Elkinton (CP), TSgt. Claude C. Franks (FE) and SSgt. Terry L. Wetzel (PJ) rescued the pilot of a F-100F (Call sign "Misty 50 Alpha"), Capt. Ernest L. Farnsworth (P) after he and his co-pilot, 1st Lt. James D. Davies, ejected from their 37 mm AAA fire damaged aircraft a few miles northeast of Ban Talan, Laos. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form & 37th ARRSq. (MAC) Controller’s Log 19 Nov 69 – 21 May 70 |
| 1970 - March 19 | A HH-3E (Call sign “Jolly Green 42”) from the 37th ARRS, crewed by Capt. John H. Fette (P), Capt. Charles C. Adams (CP), TSgt. Gerald L. Hartzell (FE), SSgt. Robert T. Reisig (PJ) and Jon K. Hoberg (PJ), rescued the co-pilot of a F-100F (Call sign "Misty 50 Bravo"), 1st Lt. James D. Davies II (CP) after he and his pilot, Capt. Ernest L. Farnsworth, ejected from their 37 mm AAA fire damaged aircraft a few miles northeast of Ban Talan, Laos. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form & 37th ARRSq. (MAC) Controller’s Log 19 Nov 69 – 21 May 70 |
| 1970 - March 19 | A HH-43B from Det. 9, 38th ARRS, Nakhon Phanom RTAFB, Thailand, crewed by Grove (P), Miller (CP), Lamareaux (FE) and Murtha (MT), rescued the pilot of a A-1H (Call sign "Firefly 26"), Maj. J. Evanson, after he ejected from his ground fire damaged aircraft after flying it back into Thailand. This was the first rescue for Det. 9 after their move to Nakhon Phanom RTAFB, Thailand from Pleiku AB. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form |
| 1970 - March 19 | A HH-43F from Det. 7, 38th ARRS, crewed by Capt. David A. Voigt (P), Maj. Loran M. Nichols (CP), SSgt. Joseph L. Coburn (FE) and Curtis W. Phythian Jr. (PJ), rescued the pilot of a USMC A-4 (Call sign "Playboy 12"), Lt. Col. George W. Ward. No other information is available currently. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form |
| 1970 - March 20 | A HH-53 (Call sign "Jolly Green 68") from the 40th ARRS, crewed by Capt. John C. Cody (P), Maj. Joe C. Fouts (CP), SSgt. Marvin E. Bell (FE), TSgt. Jack D. Moran (PJ) and SSgt. James B. Gerwert (PJ), rescued the pilot of a A-1E (Call sign "Strike 63"), 1st Lt. Dale P. Townsend, after he ejected from his 37 mm AAA fire damaged aircraft, on 19 March 1979, about 10 miles from Ban Senphan, Laos. http://www.pjsinnam.com/vn_history/pdf_files/Chronology/1970.pdf "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson |
| 1970 - March 20 | A HH-53C (Call sign “Jolly Green 81”) from 40th ARRS, crewed by Capt. Donald H. Almanzar (P), Capt. John O. Lindgren Jr. (CP), SSgt. Thomas D. Blakeney (FE), TSgt. Lehman L. Booher (PJ) and SSgt. James A. Hunt (PJ), unsuccessfully attempted the rescue the co-pilot of a F-4D (Call sign "Wolf 06 Bravo"), 1st Lt. Dennis Gerald Pugh (CP) after he and his pilot, Capt. William A. Rash, had ejected from their 37 mm AAA fire damaged aircraft near Ban Senphan at the southern end of the Mu Gia Pass, Laos on 19 March 1970. Lt. Pugh reported that he was surrounded by enemy forces and call air strikes in on his position. See the next two entries dated 1970 - March 21. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form |
| 1970 - March 20 | UH-1P gunships of the 20th SOS "Green Hornets" rescued a MACV SOG recon team from deep in enemy held territory that was being chased by enemy forces. One of the "Green Hornet" crew members known to have been involved in this action is SSgt. Alfonso M. Rivero, who was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross for his actions on this mission. No other details are known at this time. "Secret Green Beret Commandos In Cambodia" by Lt. Col. Fred S. Lindsey, USA (Ret.) |
| 1970 - March 21 | A first light rescue was attempted by a HH-53C (Call sign “Jolly Green 84”) from 40th ARRS, crewed by Lt. Col. Charles R. Campbell (P), Capt. James R. Blewitt (CP), SSgt. Travis R. Hendrix (FE), TSgt. William E. Lester (PJ) and MSgt. Paul L. Jenkins (PJ), attempted an unsuccessful SAR, due to heavy enemy ground fire, for the co-pilot of a F-4D (Call sign "Wolf 06 Bravo"), 1st Lt. Dennis Gerald Pugh (CP) after he and his pilot, Capt. William A. Rash, had ejected from their 37 mm AAA fire damaged aircraft near Ban Senphan at the southern end of the Mu Gia Pass, Laos on 19 March 1970. After more fighter aircraft pounded the area around one of the survivors a second rescue was attempted by another HH-53C #68-10360 (Call sign “Jolly Green 83”) from the 40th ARRS. This bird was crewed by Capt. Richard M. Baskett (P), Capt. Edward J. Sichterman Jr. (CP), SSgt. Jack L. Hartman (FE), TSgt. John J. Eldridge (PJ) and SSgt. Jon K. Hoberg (PJ). This attempt again received heavy enemy ground fire that even severed the deployed host cable and they were driven off the attempt. See previous and next entries. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form & Facebook post by Stan Nelson on 3 Dec. 2017 |
| 1970 - March 21 | A first light rescue was attempted by a HH-53C (Call sign “Jolly Green 76”) of the 40th ARRS, crewed by unkn (P), unkn (CP), SSgt. Thomas D. Blakeny (FE), unkn (PJ) and unkn (PJ) and they were again driven off by heavy enemy ground fire. This attempt was to rescue the co-pilot of an F-4D (Call sign "Wolf 06 Bravo"), Capt. Capt. William A. Rash. The Jolly Green FE, SSgt. Blakeny, reported he saw one of the survivors come out of hiding, running toward the penetrator, when several NVA grabbed and captured him. See the previous two entries dated 1970-March 20 & 21 entries above. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form & FaceBook post by Stan Nelson on 3 Dec. 2017 |
| 1970 - March 21 | A HH-53C (Call sign “Jolly Green 76”) from the 40th ARRS, crewed by Maj. Richard F. Hegewald (P), Maj. Robert W. Bieier (CP), Sgt. Haven V. Richardson (FE), Sgt. Gregory J. McDonald (PJ), Sgt. Charles L. Colbert (PJ) and Sgt. Johnny L. Riddick (PJ), rescued the pilot of a F-4D (Call sign "Wolf 06 Alpha"), Capt. William A. Rash, after he ejected from his 37 mm AAA fire damaged aircraft, on 19 March 1979, near Ban Senphan, Laos. The WSO, 1st Lt. Dennis Gerald Pugh was seen being captured by NVA forces, but is now listed as KIA. (See previous entry). "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form |
| 1970 - March 22 | A HH-43F from Det. 8, 38th ARRS, Cam Ranh Bay AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Peter F. Dineen (P), Capt. Michael P. Bolline (CP), SSgt Thomas W. Seibert (FE) and Sgt Larry C. Meyers (PJ), evacuated civilians W. B. Estes, J. J. Eyers, Billy Valiente, Rogille De La Cruz and G. Santisteban, from a tug in the South China Sea. No other details are known at this time. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form |
| 1970 - March 22 | A HH-43F from Det. 8, 38th ARRS, Cam Ranh Bay AB, RVN, crewed by Capt James L. McAfee (P), Munro G. Dearing (CP), SSgt Thomas F. Brownlee (FF) and Sgt Kenneth J. Musnicki (PJ), evacuated two unkn sailors from a ship in the South China Sea. No other details are known at this time. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form |
| 1970 - March 22 | A HH-43F from Det. 8, 38th ARRS, Cam Ranh Bay AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. James L. McAfee (P), Capt. Munro G. Dearing (CP), SSgt. Thomas F. Brownlee (FE), Kenneth J. Musnicki (PJ) and Larry C. Meyers (PJ), evacuated Eduard Berujo, Rocando Direcho, M. B. Villegas and R. Panunciales from a tug in the South China Sea. No other details are known at this time. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form |
| 1970 - March 23 | A HH-43B from Det. 8, 38th ARRS, crewed by James L. McAfee (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ), evacuated R. Latham from a tug in the South China Sea. No other details are known at this time. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form |
| 1970 - March 23 | A HH-43F from Det. 8, 38th ARRS, Cam Ranh Bay AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. James L. McAfee (P), unkn (CP), SSgt Thomas F. Brownlee (FE) and Sgt Kenneth J. Musnicki (PJ), evacuated R. Latham and three other sailors from a tug in the South China Sea. No other details are known at this time. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form |
| 1970 - March 23 | A HH-43F from Det. 7, 38th ARRS, Da Nang AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. James A. Tassie (P), Capt. David A. Voigt (CP), SSgt. Ernest L. Long (FE) and Sgt. Edward K. Rendall (PJ), rescued the pilot of a USMC OV-10, Capt. Frank H. Adams. No other details are known at this time. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form |
| 1970 - March 27 | HH-3E #65-12781 (Call sign “Jolly Green 09”), from 37th ARRS, crewed by Maj. Lewis E. Garrett (P), Capt. James Blackwood (CP), SSgt. Vincent P. Freeman (FE), Sgt. Edward K. Rendall (PJ), attempted to rescue any survivors from a downed UH-1 (Call sign "Empire 18") in RVN. Their aircraft was hit by enemy fire, wounding the FE and they set their damaged helicopter down on a sandbar and the crew was rescued by another HH-3E on this mission. No other details are known at this time. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form |
| 1970 - March 27 | A HH-3E (Call sign “Jolly Green 35”) from the 37th ARRS, crewed by Maj. Emmett E. Hatch Jr. (P), Capt. Charles C. Adams (CP), SSgt. David W. Lilliston (FE), SSgt. Ernest D. Casbeer (PJ), rescued the crew, Lewis E. Garrett (P), Jimmie Blackwook (CP), SSgt. Vincent P. Freeman (FE) and Edward K. Rendle (PJ), from a downed HH-3E (see previous entry). No other details are known at this time. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form & 37th ARRSq. (MAC) Controller’s Log 19 Nov 69 – 21 May 70 |
| 1970 - March 30 | A HH-43F from Det. 9, 38th ARRS, Pleiku AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Oliver E. Schmoker (P), Maj. Harold L. Edwards (CP), SSgt. Jerry L. Price (FF), SSgt. Michael F. Dean (PJ) SSgt. Donald E. " (??) rescued the crew of a F-4D, Lt. Col. William E. Brown (P) and Lt. Col. Lennard L. Melton (WSO) when their aircraft had been hit by AAA fire about 15 miles northwest of the Mu Gia Pass and they nursed the aircraft back into Thailand and they then ejected about 5 miles northwest of Nakhon Phanom RTAFB, Thailand. JRCC Save Form & "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson |
| 1970 - March 30 | A HH-43B from Det. 1, 38th ARRS, Phan Rang AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Wayne R. Crowther (P), Capt. Thomas E. Rodgers (CP), SSgt James A. Taylor (FE) and SSgt Henry L. Jones, III (MT), rescued two ARVN troops. No other details are known at this time. JRCC Save Form & "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson |
| 1970 – March {mid-to late, exact date had not been determined}; | CH-3E #63-9681 (Named “Ain’t This A Bitch) of the 21st SOS was damaged in a mid-air collision with a Lao Air Force T-28 when taking off from Lima Site 20A in Laos. The CH-3E was damaged, but able to return to Thailand for repairs, the T-28 crashed, and the pilot was killed. Historical photos and documents and Facebook memory post |
| 1970 - April 04 | CH-3E #66-13292 of the 21st SOS was hit by 37 mm AAA and damaged over Tchepone, Laos, but was able to recover safely at Nakhon Phanom RTAFB, Thailand. http://www.rotorheadsrus.us/documents/Tom_Mason_37mm-story.pdf |
| 1970 - April 04 | UH-1P slicks and gunships of the 20th SOS "Green Hornets", crew’s unkn, supported the rescue of MACV SOG recon team, RT Trowel, from deep in enemy held territory that was being chased by enemy forces. No other details are known at this time. "Secret Green Beret Commandos In Cambodia" by Lt. Col. Fred S. Lindsey, USA (Ret.) |
| 1970 - April 05 | A HH-3E #67-14708 (call sign “Jolly Green 21”), from the 37th ARRS, crewed by Capt. Kenneth T. Kelly (P), Maj. Walter E. Barnes III (CP), TSgt. Gerald L. Hartzel (FE) and SSgt. Terry L. Wetzel (PJ) rescued nine troops, USMC Maj. L. J. Zilka, 1st Lt. C. H. Silver, L/CPL. S. D. Erxleben, CPL. J. A. Bowling, CPL. A. A. Morelli, 1st Lt. R. L. Campbell, L/CPL. J. B. Kelly, L/CPL. S. E. Smiley and ARVN CPL. Vo-Ba, from a downed USMC CH-46 (Call sign "Cattle Call 05") helicopter in RVN. No other details are known at this time (see next entry). "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form |
| 1970 - April 05 | HH-3E #65-12780 (call sign “Jolly Green 07”), from the 37th ARRS, crewed by Capt. Charles W. Hoilman Jr. (P), Capt. Travis H. Scott Jr. (CP), Sgt. Joseph J. Vai (FE) and Sgt. Edward K. Rendall (PJ), rescued five troops, USMC Sgt. E. E. Jarrell, L/CPL. A. R. Kendall, CPL. R. P. Fornal, PFC D. V. Delozier and ARVN Cprl. Nguyen-Minh, from a downed USMC CH-46 (Call sign "Cattle Call 05") helicopter in RVN. No other details are known at this time (See previous entry). "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form |
| 1970 - April 06 | A HH-53C from the 40th ARRS at Udorn RTAFB, Thailand, crewed by Lt. Col. Franklin S. Catlin (P), Capt. Dennis H. Sattler (CP), SSgt. Stephen L. LeBeau (FE), Sgt. Terry E. Caffery (PJ), Donald G. Behrends (PJ) and SSgt. Gerald G. Boswell (AP) rescued the pilot of a A-1H (Call sign "Sandy 03"), 1st Lt. James R. Matthews, after he ejected from his 23 mm AAA fire damaged aircraft about 10 miles SE of Ban Ban, Laos. http://www.pjsinnam.com/vn_history/pdf_files/Chronology/1970.pdf & "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "PJ's in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1970 - April 06 | A HH-53C from the 40th ARRS at Udorn RTAFB, Thailand, crewed by Lt. Col. Franklin S. Catlin (P),Capt. Dennis H. Sattler (CP), SSgt. Stephen L. LeBeau (FE), Sgt. Terry E. Caffery (PJ), Donald G. Behrends (PJ) and SSgt. Gerald G. Boswell (AP) rescued the pilot of a T-28, Bryan Wages, T-28 (Call sign "Raven 48") from Laos at night using flares for illumination. (Note: this was the second rescue of the day for Lt. Col. Catlin and his crew, see previous). No other details are known at this time. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form |
| 1970 - April 07 | HH-53C #69-5785 (Call sign "Jolly Green 77") from the 40th ARRS at Udorn RTAFB, Thailand, crewed by Lt. Col. Richard F. Hegewald (P), Maj. Robert "Bob" W. Bleier (CP), TSgt. Stanton R. Nelson (FE), Sgt. T. E. Carmichael (PJ), Sgt. Michael J. Howard (PJ) and MSgt. Richard F. Howard (AP) rescued the crew of a F-4D (Call sign "Loredo 02"), Maj. Ralph S. VanBrunt (P) and 1st Lt. Oliver H. Lloyd (WSO), after they ejected from their ground fire damaged aircraft, on 06 April 1979, about 10 miles SE of Ban Ban, Laos. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form & "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & http://www.pjsinnam.com/vn_history/pdf_files/Chronology/1970.pdf & Stan Nelson Facebook post |
| 1970 - April 07 | HH-3E #67-14708 (call sign “Jolly Green 21”), from the 37th ARRS at Da Nang AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Charles W. Hoilman Jr. (P), Capt. Leonard A. Seagren (CP), Sgt. Jimmie D. Rash (FE), SSgt. Curtis W. Phythian Jr. (PJ), and SSgt. Gary T. Osborne (PJ) rescued the pilot of a USN A-7A (Call sign "War Ace 302"), Lt. (Jg) M. P. Hamilton, after his aircraft was hit by 23 mm AAA fire while bombing a truck park near Ban Dakpok, about 30 miles north of Muang Fangdeng, Laos. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form |
| 1970 - April 07 | UH-1P slicks and gunships of the 20th SOS "Green Hornets", crew’s unkn, supported the rescue of MACV SOG recon team, RT Trowel, from deep in enemy held territory that was being chased by enemy forces. This was the same team they had rescued on April 04, 1907. No other details are known at this time. "Secret Green Beret Commandos In Cambodia" by Lt. Col. Fred S. Lindsey, USA (Ret.) |
| 1970 - April 08 | A HH-43F from Det. 9, 38th ARRS at Pleiku AB, RVN, crewed by Lt. Col. Charles E. Lansdale (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ), medevacked Kenneth Hazen in RVN. No other details are known at this time. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1970 - April 09 | A HH-53C (Call sign "Jolly Green 80") from the 40th ARRS at Udorn RTAFB, Thailand, crewed by Lt. Col. Frank S. Catlin (P), Maj. Joe C. Fouts (CP), SSgt. Jack L. Hartman (FE), Richard T. Odineck (PJ), and TSgt. John J. Eldridge (PJ) had utility hydraulic failure and flight control problems and Col. Catlin ordered Maj. Fouts (CP), Richard Odineck (PJ) and John Eldrige (PJ) to bail out over Thailand. Col. Catlin (P) and SSgt. Jack L. Hartman (FE) stayed with the helicopter and was able to make a successful emergency landing in a rice paddy. Fouts, Odinek and Eldridge were picked up by another HH-53C and Catlin and Hartman were picked up by a third HH-53C (see next two entries). No other details are known at this time. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & http://www.pjsinnam.com/vn_history/pdf_files/Chronology/1970.pdf |
| 1970 - April 09 | A HH-53C from the 40th ARRS at Udorn RTAFB, Thailand, crewed by Capt. David M. Barber (P), Capt. Donald Y. Thompson (CP), Inus G. Crawford (FE), Jon K. Hoberg (PJ), and Sgt. Ricky L. Fleming (PJ), rescued the "Jolly Green 80" crewmen, Maj. Joe E. Fouts (CP), Richard T. Odinek (PJ) and TSgt. John J. Eldridge (PJ), that had bailed out of their helicopter, in Thailand, when it had utility hydraulic failure and flight control problems (see previous and next entries). No other details are known at this time. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & http://www.pjsinnam.com/vn_history/pdf_files/Chronology/1970.pdf |
| 1970 - April 09 | A HH-53C from the 40th ARRS at Udorn RTAFB, Thailand, crewed by Capt. Edward J. Sichterman Jr. (P), Joseph R. Brown (CP), SSgt. Haven V. Richardson (FE), Charles L. Colbert (PJ), and SSgt. Terry E. Caffery (PJ), rescued the "Jolly Green 80" crewmen, Lt. Col. Frank S. Catlin (P) and SSgt. Jack L. Hartman (FE) after they ordered the rest of the crew to bail out of their helicopter, in Thailand, when it had utility hydraulic failure and flight control problems and Lt. Col. Catlin and SSgt. Hartman was able to make a safe emergency landing in a rice paddy. (See previous two entries). No other details are known at this time. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & http://www.pjsinnam.com/vn_history/pdf_files/Chronology/1970.pdf |
| 1970 - April 11 | The FIRST three HH-53C’s (#68-10362, #68-10363 & #68-10364) to be assigned to the 37th ARRS at Da Nang AB, RVN, arrived on a Seatrain Lines ship at the port in Sattahip, Thailand where they were assembled, test flown and moved to U-Tapao RTNB prior to being flown to Da Nang AB. 37th ARRS History 1 Apr 1970-30 Jun 1970 |
| 1970 - April 12 | UH-1P gunships of the 20th SOS "Green Hornets", crew's unkn, supported the rescue of MACV SOG recon team, RT Plane, from deep in enemy held territory that was being chased by enemy forces. No other details are known at this time. "Secret Green Beret Commandos In Cambodia" by Lt. Col. Fred S. Lindsey, USA (Ret.) |
| 1970 - April 13 | HH-3E #67-14709 (Call sign “Jolly Green 22”) from the 37th ARRS at Da Nang AB, RVN, crewed by Maj. Lewis E. Garrett (P), Maj. Travis Wofford (CP), Sgt. Jimmie D. Rash (FE), Sgt. Stephen V. Samo (PJ) and SSgt. Luther E. Davis (PJ) rescued five USA troops, Lt. Col. Pickett, Maj. Bonwette, 1st Lt. Khoa, CWO Robert Waltz, and WO James E. Welty, from a downed USA UH-1 (Call sign "Brandy 22") helicopter in RVN. No other details are known at this time. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form & 37th ARRSq. (MAC) Controller’s Log 19 Nov 69 – 21 May 70 |
| 1970 - April 13 | HH-3E #65-12780 (Call sign “Jolly Green 07”) from the 37th ARRS at Da Nang AB, RVN, crewed by Maj. Edward David Vaughan (P), Capt. James Blackwood (CP), TSgt. Claude C. Franks (FE) and SSgt. Dennis T. Duffy (PJ) rescued two USA troops, SP4 Charles E. Ulmer and SP4 Dennis J. Burke, from a downed USA UH-1 (Call sign "Brandy 22") helicopter in RVN. No other details are known at this time. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form & 37th ARRSq. (MAC) Controller’s Log 19 Nov 69 – 21 May 70 |
| 1970 - April 14 | HH-43F from Det. 13, 38th ARRS, Phu Cat AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. David A. Cochenour (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ), rescued three USA troops, CW2 Reide A. Morrell, WO1 Allan F. Gramando and SP4 Nil R. Sautin, from a downed USA UH-1 in RVN. No other details are known at this time. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form |
| 1970 - April 14 | Two HH-3E’s, #67-14709 & #65-12780 (call signs “Jolly Green 22 & 07”), from the 37th ARRS at Da Nang AB, RVN, crews unkn, were scrambled at first light to recover the crew from a downed UH-1 helicopter. “Jolly Green 22” rescued five of the crewmen and “Jolly Green 07” rescued two. The recovery was made in low weather and gusty winds. Two PJs were deployed to aid the injured. No other details are known at this time. 37th ARRS History 1 Apr 1970-30 Jun 1970 |
| 1970 - April 15 | HH-3E #66-13280 (Call sign "Jolly Green 27") of the 37th ARRS at Da Nang AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Travis Henry Scott, Jr. (P), Maj. Travis Wofford (CP), TSgt. Gerald Lester Hartzel (FE) SSgt Luther Eugene Davis (PJ) was shot down and lost in RVN while on a CSAR mission. Capt. Travis Henry Scott, Jr. (P) died in the crash, Maj. Travis Wofford (CP), TSgt. Gerald Lester Hartzel (FE) SSgt Luther Eugene Davis (PJ). Maj. Travis Wofford (CP), TSgt. Gerald Lester Hartzel (FE) & SSgt. Luther Eugene Davis (PJ) were all rescued by another HH-3E (See next entry). Capt. Scott and Maj. Wofford both were awarded the Air Force Cross. Maj. Wofford later received the Cheney Award for 1970. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form & http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/37th_Aerospace_Rescue_and_Recovery_Squadron#Operations_and_losses |
| 1970 - April 15 | HH-3E #67-14708 (Call sign "Jolly Green 21") of the 37th ARRS at Da Nang AB, RVN, crewed by Maj. Lewis E. Garrett (P), Capt. James Blackwood (CP), SSgt. Thayer D. Pope (FE) and SSgt. Gary T. Osborne (PJ), rescued crew members, Maj. Travis Wofford (CP), TSgt. Gerald Lester Hartzel (FE), SSgt. Luther Eugene Davis (PJ) from "Jolly Green 27". TSgt. Harzel (FE) and SSgt. Davis (PJ) both died later from the injuries received during the crash of their helicopter, Harzel on April 20, 1970, and Davis on May 25, 1970. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form & http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/37th_Aerospace_Rescue_and_Recovery_Squadron#Operations_and_losses |
| 1970 - April 15 | A HH-43F from Det. 2, 38th ARRS at Takhli RTAFB, Thailand, crewed by Capt. Lorenzo M. Crowell Jr. (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ), rescued the pilot of a F-105D (Call sign “Madman 04”), 1st Lt. Alan V. Shukle, when his aircraft experienced engine failure and he ejected in Thailand. No other details are known at this time. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form |
| 1970 - April 18 | The FIRST HH-53C to be assigned to the 37th ARRS at Da Nang AB, RVN, crewed by Lt. Col. Albert L. Holcomb (P) Maj. Albert “Al” Palmer (CP), SSgt. Edward J. Koebernik (FE), arrived after a flight from U-Tapao RTNB, Thailand. 37th ARRS History 1 Apr 1970-30 Jun 1970 |
| 1970 - April 20 | UH-1P gunships of the 20th SOS "Green Hornets", one crewed buy Capt. David T. Spencer (P), Capt. Jackie P. Heil (CP), unkn (AG) and unkn (AG), supported the rescue of twelve-man MACV SOG recon team on a POW snatch mission from deep in enemy held territory that was being chased by enemy forces. Also supported the rescue of a surviving crew member of a U.S. Army UH-1 slick that had been shot down during this mission. No other details are known at this time. "Secret Green Beret Commandos In Cambodia" by Lt. Col. Fred S. Lindsey, USA (Ret.) |
| 1970 - April 20 | UH-1P gunships of the 20th SOS "Green Hornets", one crewed buy Capt. David T. Spencer (P), Capt. Jackie P. Heil (CP), Sgt Robert W. Hall (AG) and Sgt. John W. Bruchey (AG) and the other crewed by unkn (P), unkn (CP), SSgt. Richard P. Lessentine (AG) and SSgt. Morris Pickel (AG) supported the rescue of a surviving crew member of a U.S. Army UH-1 slick that had been shot down during this mission. (See previous entry). No other details are known at this time. "Secret Green Beret Commandos In Cambodia" by Lt. Col. Fred S. Lindsey, USA (Ret.) |
| 1970 - April 20 | UH-1P gunships of the 20th SOS "Green Hornets", crew's unkn, supported the rescue of a second MACV SOG recon team, RT Plane, on a POW snatch mission from deep in enemy held territory that was being chased by enemy forces. No other details are known at this time. "Secret Green Beret Commandos In Cambodia" by Lt. Col. Fred S. Lindsey, USA (Ret.) |
| 1970 - April 20 | A HH-43F from Det. 7, 38th ARRS at Da Nang AB, RVN, crewed by Maj. John A. Tyson (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ), medevacked Sgt. Michael L. Nelson in RVN. No other details are known at this time. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form |
| 1970 - April 21 | A HH-53C from the 40th ARRS at Udorn RTAFB, Thailand, crewed by Capt. Edward J. Sichterman Jr. (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE), SSgt. Charles L. Colbert (PJ) and unkn (PJ), unsuccessfully attempted the rescue of the pilot of a A-1H (Call sign "Sandy 01"), Capt. John M. Dyer, after he ejected from his 23 mm AAA damaged aircraft about 12 miles west of Kham Duc, but they were shot off the attempts by enemy fire with the PJ wounded (see next two entries). "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form |
| 1970 - April 21 | A HH-53C from the 40th ARRS at Udorn RTAFB, Thailand, crewed by Maj. Richard F. Hegewald (P), Capt. Dennis H. Sattler (CP), SSgt. James E. Corcoran (FE), Richard G. Panbrum (PJ) and William A. Werber Jr. (PJ), unsuccessfully attempted the rescue of the pilot of a A-1H (Call sign "Sandy 01"), Capt. John M. Dyer, after he ejected from his 23 mm AAA damaged aircraft about 12 miles west of Kham Duc, but they were shot off the attempts by enemy fire (see previous and next entries. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form |
| 1970 - April 21 | A HH-53C (Call sign “Jolly Green 82”) from the 40th ARRS at Udorn RTAFB, Thailand, crewed by Capt. Donald Y. Thompson (P), Maj. Robert W. Bleier (CP), SSgt. Travis R. Hendrix (FE), SSgt. Terry E. Caffery (PJ) and Sgt. Gregory J. McDonald (PJ), rescued of the pilot of a A-1H (Call sign "Sandy 01"), Capt. John M. Dyer, after he ejected from his 23 mm AAA damaged aircraft about 12 miles west of Kham Duc, Laos (see previous two entries). "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form |
| 1970 - April 21 | HH-3E #65-12780 (“Jolly Green 07”) from the 37th ARRS at Da Nang AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Charles W. Hoilman Jr. (P), Maj. Edward David Vaughn (CP), Sgt. Robert J. P. LaFramboise (FE), Sgt. Stephen V. Samo (PJ) and SSgt. Terry L. Wetzel (PJ) unsuccessfully attempted the rescue of the co-pilot of a USMC OV-10 (Call sign "Cowpoke 18 Bravo"), Capt. D. Charles E. Hatch, after he and his pilot, Maj. Eugene Lacy Wheeler, ejected from their 37 mm AAA damaged aircraft about 12 miles west of Kham Duc, but they were driven off by enemy ground fire. Maj. Wheeler was KIA. ‘High’ bird on this mission was "Jolly Green 35", crewed by unkn (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ). "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form |
| 1970 - April 21 | A HH-43F from Det. 7, 38th ARRS at Da Nang AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Roger E. Hill (P), Maj. Loran M. Nichols (CP), Sgt. Joseph L. Coburn (FE) and MSgt. Anthony R. Gargano (PJ), rescued Charles L. Colbert (PJ) from HH-53C #69-5785 (Call sign "Jolly Green 77"). No other details are known at this time. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form |
| 1970 - April 21 | A HH-53B (Call sign “Jolly Green 68”) from the 40th ARRS at Udorn RTAFB, Thailand, crewed by Capt. William A. Furst (P), J. B. Scoggins (CP), TSgt. Maurice F. Tasker (FE) A1C Douglas L. Horka (PJ) and SSgt. Charles D. Morrow (PJ) rescued the pilot of a A-1J (Call sign "Sandy 03"), Maj. Clarence E. Whinery, in Laos, after he ejected from his 14.5 mm ground fire damaged aircraft about 12 miles west of Kham Duc. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form |
| 1970 - April 22 | A HH-53C (Call sign “Jolly Green 83”) from the 40th ARRS at Udorn RTAFB, Thailand, crewed by Lt. Col. Richard F. Hegewald (P), Capt. Dennis H. Sattler (CP), SSgt. James E. Corcoran (FE) Richard G. Panbrum (PJ) and William A. Werber Jr. (PJ), rescued the co-pilot of a USMC OV-10 (Call sign "Cowpoke 18 Bravo"), Capt. D. Charles E. Hatch, after he and his pilot, Maj. Eugene Lacy Wheeler, ejected from their 37 mm AAA damaged aircraft about 12 miles west of Kham Duc. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form |
| 1970 - April 22 | A HH-53C (Call sign “Jolly Green 82”) from the 40th ARRS at Udorn RTAFB, Thailand, crewed by Capt. William A. Furst (P), J. B. Scoggins (CP), TSgt. Maurice F. Tasker (FE) A1C Douglas L. Horka (PJ) and SSgt. Charles D. Morrow (PJ) rescued the pilot of an A-1J (Call sign "Spad 01"), Capt. David F. Friestad (CP), after he ejected from his 37mm AAA fire damaged aircraft about 12 miles west of Kham Duc. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form |
| 1970 - April 22 | A HH-43B/F from Det. 5, 38th ARRS, Udorn RTAFB, Thailand, crewed by Maj. Alfred W. Lamkin Jr. (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ), rescued the crew of a F-4D (Call sign "Falcon ?"), Maj. Thomas A. Rush (P) and Capt. Bruce E. Foster (CP) after their aircraft was hit while bombing a target 7 miles southwest of Ban Ban, in northern Laos, and they nursed it back to about 10 miles south of Udorn RTAFB, Thailand where they ejected. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form |
| 1970 - April 22 | Six HH-53's of the 40th ARRS rescued seven crew members of an EC-47P (Call sign "Cowpoke 18"), 1st Lt. R. M. Nasipak and six other unknown crew members, after their aircraft crashed when it was hit by ground fire about 20 miles SE of Hue. Two crew members, 1st Lt. George M, Wall and SSgt. Michael R. Conner were KIA in the crash. No other details are known at this time. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & http://www.pjsinnam.com/vn_history/pdf_files/Chronology/1970.pdf & "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson |
| 1970 - April 23 | A HH-53C #69-5787 (call sign Jolly Green 72) from the 40th ARRS at Udorn RTAFB, Thailand, crewed by Maj. Hubert M. Berthold (P), Capt. Martin W. Weeks Jr. (CP), SSgt. Marvin E. Bell (FE), Sgt. Douglas W. Crowder (PJ), and SSgt. Wayne L. Fisk (PJ) rescued one AC-130A (Named "War Lord") (Call sign "Adlib 12") crew member, SSgt. A. G. Fields. The rest of the eleven-man crew, Maj. William Leslie Brooks, 1st Lt. John Cline Towle, Lt. Col. Charlie Brown Davis, Lt. Col. Charles Stoddard Rowley, Maj. Donald Garth Fisher, MSgt. Robert Newell Ireland, SSgt Thomas Yuji Adachi, SSgt. Stephen Warren Harris, SSgt Ronnie Lee Hensley and A1C Donald Michael Lint, were KIA when their aircraft was hit by 37 mm AAA fire over the Ho Chi Minh Trail in southern Laos about 25 miles east of the town of Saravan. “Jolly Green 70” was the high bird on this mission (crew unknown at this time). "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & JRCC Save Form & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form |
| 1970 - April 23 | A HH-3E (Call sign “Jolly Green 42”) from the 37th ARRS from Da Nang AB, RVN, crewed by Maj. Charles W. Bond (P), Capt. Leonard A. Seagren (CP), Joseph J. Vai (FE) and SSgt. Dennis T. Duffy (PJ) rescued the crew of a, F-4D (Call sign "Stormy 03"), Capt. Michael W. Nelson (P) and 1st Lt. John D. Holmquist (WSO), after they ejected from their 23mm AAA damaged aircraft in southern Laos near the village of Tavouac. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & 37th ARRSq. (MAC) Controller’s Log 19 Nov 69 – 21 May 70 |
| 1970 - April 24 | Two HH-3E’s (Call signs “Jolly Green 42 & 22”) of the 37th ARRS at Da Nang AB, RVN, crew’s unkn, were scrambled to the scene of a downed F-4D in southern Laos. There was negative ground fire, and the helicopter was able to immediately rescue the crew, Capt. M. W. Nelson and 1st Lt. J. D. Holmquist. No other details are available currently. 37th ARRS History 1 Apr 1970-30 Jun 1970 |
| 1970 - April 24 | The second and third HH-53C’s to be assigned to the 37th ARRS at Da Nang AB, RVN, one crewed by Capt. John O. Lindgren (P) and Capt. Jerald A. Brown Jr. (CP) and unkn (FE) arrived after separate flights from U-Tapao RTNB, Thailand. 37th ARRS History 1 Apr 1970-30 Jun 1970 |
| 1970 - April 24 | A HH-43F from Det. 7, 38th ARRS at Da Nang AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. David A. Voight (P), Maj. John A. Tyson (CP), SSgt. Ernest L. Long (FE) and Sgt. Johnny L. Riddrick (PJ), rescued one USA Troop, E-6 Roger E. West. No other details are known at this time. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form |
| 1970 - April 24 | A HH-43F from Det. 11, 38th ARRS at Tuy Hoa AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Charles E. Mayes (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ), rescued one Vietnamese in RVN. No other details are known at this time. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form |
| 1970 - April 25 | A HH-43F from Det. 7, 38th ARRS at Da Nang AB, RVN, crewed by Maj. John A. Tyson (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ), medevacked one USA Troop, SP4 Raymond Kearney in RVN. No other details are known at this time. JRCC Save Form |
| 1970 - April 25 | A HH-53C from the 40th ARRS at Udorn RTAFB, Thailand, crewed by Capt. Richard M. Baskett (P), Capt. James T. Jewett (CP), SSgt. Travis R. Hendrix (FE), SSgt. Terry E. Caffery (PJ) and Ronald R. Jeczalla (PJ), rescued the WSO of an F-4E (Call sign "Rancho 42"), 1st Lt. Stanley R. Hancock, after he ejected from his AAA damaged aircraft about 7 miles west of Ban Ban, Thailand. The F-4 pilot, Capt. Charles K. Hackett was KIA. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson |
| 1970 - April 25 | A HH-43F from Det. 11, 38th ARRS, Tuy Hoa AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Charles E. Mayes (P), Capt. John H. Williams (CP), MSgt. Derald D. Parks (PJ), SSgt. Earl E. Hoal (FF) and Sgt. Louis L. Toups (FF) rescued one Vietnamese woman and the pilot of a C-47 that had ran off the runway. Kaman Rotor Tips Magazine |
| 1970 - April 27 | A HH-43F from Det. 7, 38th ARRS, Da Nang AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Roger E. Hill (P), John A. Tuson (CP), SSgt. Joseph L. Coburn (FE) and SSgt. Gary T. Osborne (PJ) medevacked one ARVN Troop, Mai Bui, in RVN. No other details are known at this time. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form |
| 1970 - April 28 | A HH-3E (Call sign "Jolly Green 33") from the 37th ARRS at Da Nang AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Joseph M. Nall (P), Capt. Richard C. Tobin (CP), Sgt. Ronnie L. Painter (FE) and SSgt. Jules C. Smith (PJ) rescued one crew member, 1st Lt. Bill Clark, of a downed USMC UH-1 (Call sign "Comprise 45") helicopter in RVN. Lt. Clark was burned and PJ SSgt. Smith was lowered to the ground to assist in his recovery. As Lt. Clark was being hoisted into the helicopter enemy ground fire drove them off, leaving SSgt. Smith on the ground with the other survivor. With one survivor aboard and the helicopter suffering mechanical failure JG-33 returned to base, with JG-86, the second bird on this mission, crew’s unkn, escorting them. No other details are known at this time. (See the entry below) "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form & 37th ARRS History 1 Apr 1970-30 Jun 1970 |
| 1970 - April 28 | HH-3E #65-12783 (Call sign "Jolly Green 15") from the 37th ARRS at Da Nang AB, RVN, crewed by Maj. Edward L. Lavaty (P), Maj. George C. Hitt (CP), Sgt. Joseph J. Vai (FE) and SSgt. Robert T. Reisig (PJ), rescued one crew member, 1st Lt. James S. Meyers, of a downed USMC UH-1 (Call sign "Comprise 45") helicopter and the PJ, SSgt. Jules C. Smith from "Jolly Green 33", in RVN. The second HH-3E on this part of the mission was JG-36, crew unkn. No other details are known at this time. (See the entry above) "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form & 37th ARRS History 1 Apr 1970-30 Jun 1970 |
| 1970 - April 29 | A HH-43F from Det. 7, 38th ARRS, Da Nang AB, RVN, crewed by Maj. John A. Tyson (P), Capt. Roger E. Hill (CP), SSgt. Joseph L. Coburn (FE) and Robert Reisig (PJ) rescued three crew members, 1st Lt. R. J. Norton, Cpl. W. O. Burger and SSgt. R. M. Young, of a downed USMC CH-46 (Call sign "Cattle Call 72") helicopter in RVN. No other details are known at this time. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form |
| 1970 - April 30 | A HH-43B/F from Det. 3, 38th ARRS, Ubon RTAFB, Thailand, crewed by Capt. John S. Bouchard (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ), medevacked Byron R. Harris in Thailand. No other details are known at this time. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1970 - May 02 | A HH-3E (Call sign “Jolly Green 35”) from the 37th ARRS from Da Nang AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Richard C. Tobin (P), Capt. Dale R. Clark (CP), SSgt. Joseph J. Vai (FE) and SSgt. Jules C. Smith (PJ) rescued the crew of an F-4D (Call sign "Falcon 93"), Capt. Bodie R. Bodenheim (P) and 1st Lt. Gary R. Jackman (CP), after they ejected from their AAA damaged aircraft just north of the DMZ. The second bird on this mission was “Jolly Green 87”, crew unkn. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form & 37th ARRS History 1 Apr 1970-30 Jun 1970 |
| 1970 - May 02 | A HH-43F from Det. 8, 38th ARRS, Cam Ranh Bay AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Munro G. Dearing (P), aj. Donald F. Donk (CP), Sgt. Thomas W. Hooker (FE) and Larry C. Meyers (PJ), medevacked Wayne Williams in RVN. No other details are known at this time. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1970 - May 05 | HH-53C #68-10363 (Call Sign “Jolly Green 65”) from the 37th ARRS at Da Nang AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Donald Y. Thompson (P), Capt. John O. Lindgren Jr. (CP), SSgt. Edward J. Kobernik (FE), SSgt. Dennis T. Duffy (PJ) and TSgt. John F. Heitsch (PJ) rescued the crew of a RF-4C (Call sign "Strobe 52"), Maj. Richard E. Moffitt (P) and Lt. Col. Donald A. Kellum (CP), after they ejected from their 37 mm AAA damaged aircraft about 25 miles SE of Hue, RVN. This was the first HH-53C save for the 37th ARRS. Another HH-53C (Call Sign “Jolly Green 64”) crewed by Capt. Jerald A. Brown (P), Capt. Aaron T. Stasey (CP), SSgt. William K. Johnson (FE), MSgt. Harold W. Harvey (PJ), SSgt. Michael K. Van Brunt (PJ) and Sgt. Michael M. Enos (AP) was “high bird” on this mission. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & email with John Lindgren & http://www.mh-53pavelow.com/documents/airframes/notable_h53_history.pdf & JRCC Save Form & Mission Report & 37th ARRS History 1 Apr 1970-30 Jun 1970 |
| 1970 - May 07 | A HH-53 from the 40th ARRS at Udorn RTAFB, Thailand, crewed by Capt. William A. Furst (P), Capt. James T. Jewett (CP), TSgt. Maurice F. Tasker (FE), MSgt. Edward M. Willis (PJ), Sgt. T. E. Carmichael (PJ) and A1C Raymond G. Banas (AP), rescued the pilot of a OV-10A (Call sign "Nail 28"), Capt. Michael L. Taylor, after he ejected from his ground fire damaged aircraft near Ban Tanbok, Laos, about 25 miles southwest of the A Shau Valley. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form |
| 1970 - May 08 | A USAF helicopter, crew unkn, rescued the crew of an F-100F, Maj. G. M. Marks and 1st Lt. J. P. Richards, after they ejected from their 23 mm AAA damaged aircraft near the village of Ban Pakha in the tri-border area of Laos, NVN and RVN. No other details are known at this time. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson |
| 1970 - May 14 | A HH-43B from Det. 8, 38th ARRS at Cam Ranh Bay AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Peter F. Dineen (P), 1st Lt. Harold I. Visnick (CP), A1C Thomas W. Hooker (FE), TSgt Gilbert L. Devoe (PJ) and SSgt Lester W. Clements (FF), medevacked two USN sailors, Henry Scott and Ryan, in RVN. No other details are known at this time. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form |
| 1970 - May 15 | A HH-43F from Det. 7, 38th ARRS, Da Nang AB, RVN crewed by Capt. David A. Voight (P), Maj John A. Tyson (CP), SSgt Joseph L. Coburn (FE) and SSgt Reginald Ramseur (FF), rescued the crew, 1st Lt. Richard C. Rissel (P) and 1st Lt. J. F. Fitzmaurice (CP), of a USMC F-4B after their aircraft was hit while attacking a target near the Song Cu De River about 7 miles northeast of Da Nang AB, RVN and they ejected after getting near Da Nang AB. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form |
| 1970 - May 15 | A HH-43B from Det. 2, 38th ARRS, Takhli RTAFB, Thailand, crewed by Capt. Lorenzo M. Crowell Jr. (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ), rescued an F-105D (Call sign "Madman 04") pilot, Alan V. Shukle, after his aircraft had an oil pump failure forcing him to eject in Thailand. No other details are known at this time. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form |
| 1970 - May 20 | A HH-43F from Det. 9, 38th ARRS at Nakhon Phanom RTAFB, Thailand, crewed by Capt. R. K. Dairymple (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ), medevacked Maj. Michael J. Cannon, in RVN. No other details are known at this time. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form |
| 1970 - May 21 | A HH-43F from Det. 8, 38th ARRS at Cam Ranh AB, RVN, crewed by unkn (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ), medevacked one unkn in RVN. No other details are known at this time. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form |
| 1970 - May 21 | A HH-3E from Det. 1, 40th ARRS at Nakhon Phanom RTAFB, Thailand, crewed by Lt. Col. Owen R. Fletcher Sr. (P), Capt. Leo P. May (CP), SSgt. John P. Rogerson (FE) and A1C Michael P. Benne (PJ) rescued the crew of an F-4B, Hugh Wisely (P) after him and his WSO, James Laing, ejected from their aircraft over Laos. No other details are known at this time. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form |
| 1970 - May 21 | A HH-3E from Det. 1, 40th ARRS at Nakhon Phanom RTAFB, Thailand, crewed by Capt. Robert J. Svoboda (P), 1st Lt. George Gonos (CP), SSgt. Robert S. Riley (FE) and A2C William D. Brotton (PJ) rescued the crew of a USN SH-3A helicopter downed in Laos, David Georgus, Samuel Payne, Dale B. Kome and Teddy R. Ray, from Laos. No other details are known at this time. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form |
| 1970 - May 25 | HH-3E #67-14710 (“Jolly Green 23”) from the 37th ARRS, crewed by Maj. Charles W. Bond (P), Capt. James Blackwood (CP), Capt. John H. Fette (CP2), MSgt. Carroll H. Tatley (FE) and SSgt. Jules C. Smith (PJ) rescued one of the pilots of a F-4D (Call sign "Wolf 51 Alpha"), 1st Lt. Gary M. Rubus after he and his WSO, 1st Lt. John T. Sornberger, ejected, over the South China Sea, from their 23mm AAA damaged aircraft that had been hit near the village of Ban Dakbong Noy in southern Laos about 30 miles west of Kham Duc. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form & 37th ARRS History 1 Apr 1970-30 Jun 1970 |
| 1970 - May 25 | A HH-3E #66-13280 (“Jolly Green 27”) from the 37th ARRS at Da Nang AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Dale R. Clark (P), Capt. Royce W. Terrell (CP), Sgt. James R. Cloyes (FE) and Sgt. Stephen V. Samo (PJ), rescued the WSO of a F-4D, (Call sign "Wolf 51 Bravo") 1st Lt. John T. Sornberger, after he and his pilot, 1st Lt. Gary M. Rubus, ejected, over the South China Sea, from their 23mm AAA damaged aircraft that had been hit near the village of Ban Dakbong Noy in southern Laos about 30 miles west of Kham Duc. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form |
| 1970 - May 26 | A HH-43F from Det. 11, 38th ARRS, Tuy Hoa AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Kenneth F. Merlin (P), 1st Lt. John A. Hall (P), Sgt. Robert A. Yund (FE) and MSgt. Derald D. Parks (PJ) rescued the pilot of an F-100D, Capt. William D. Croom, after he ejected from his small arms fire damaged aircraft about 10 miles northwest of Tuy Hoa AB, RVN. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form |
| 1970 - June 01 | HH-53C #68-10363 (Call sign "Jolly Green 65") from the 37th ARRS at Da Nang AB, RVN, crewed by Lt. Col. Royal A. Brown Jr. (P), Capt. Aaron T. Stacy (CP), Sgt. John C. Kriletich (FE), TSgt. John F. Heitsch (PJ) and Sgt. Michael K. VanBrunt (PJ), rescued 10 personal, 1st Lt. J. L. Kosinski, CPL. F. D. Delaughter, CPL. J. L. Benton, CPL. F. C. Pipich, 1st Lt. R. L. Campbell, HM3 C. W. Royce, L/CPL. A. R. Henderson, E-4 C. E. Peterson, L/CPL. F. D. Gibson and 1st Lt. D. K. Larson, from a downed USMC CH-46 (Call sign "Chatterbox 07") helicopter in RVN. High bird on this mission was “Jolly Green 27”, crew unkn. . Sgt. Kriletich is known to have been awarded The Distinguished Flying Cross for his actions on this mission, awards for the other crew members are unkn. No other details are available currently. PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form & Order of the Jolly Green Giants Certificate & 37th ARRS History 1 Apr 1970-30 Jun 1970 & http://www.mh-53pavelow.com/documents/airframes/notable_h53_history.pdf |
| 1970 - June 03 | UH-1P gunships of the 20th SOS "Green Hornets", crew's unkn, supported the rescue, using ropes, of a MACV SOG recon team from Cambodia deep in enemy held territory about 35 miles northwest of Duc Co, RVN. One of the U.S. Army Huey slicks on this mission was lost due to fuel starvation, none of those onboard were injured. No other details are known at this time. "Secret Green Beret Commandos In Cambodia" by Lt. Col. Fred S. Lindsey, USA (Ret.) |
| 1970 - June 04 | HH-53C #68-10364 (Call sign “Jolly Green 66”) from the 37th ARRS at Da Nang AB, RVN, crewed by Lt. Col. Royal A. Brown Jr. (P), Capt. John O. Lindgren Jr. (CP), William Johnson (FE), MSgt. Harold W. Harvey (PJ) and MSgt. James D. Scott (PJ) rescued two crew members, 1st Lt. Peter Perez and 1st Lt. Henry L. Ballance, from a downed USA OH-6 (Call sign "Phoenix 04") helicopter in RVN. The high bird on this mission was JG-65, crew unkn. No other information is known at this time. PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form & 37th ARRS History 1 Apr 1970-30 Jun 1970 |
| 1970 - June 06 | A HH-3E #66-13280 (Call sign “Jolly Green 27”) from the 37th ARRS at Da Nang AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Charles C. Holman (P), Capt. Ronald A. Merino (CP), SSgt. John W. Alcorn (FE) and SSgt. Larry E. Myers (PJ) made a water landing in the South China Sea to rescue two crew members from an AC-119K (Call sign "Lemon 07"), William Kwiecinski, and S. C. Michless, after the ten-man crew bailed out over the sea just east of Da Nang AB, RVN. TSgt. Clyde Douglas Allowy was KIA and the other crew members survived with two more being rescued by a HH-53C (see next entry). The other survivors were recovered by various means. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form & 37th ARRS History 1 Apr 1970-30 Jun 1970 |
| 1970 - June 06 | HH-53C #68-10362 (Call sign “Jolly Green 64”) from the 37th ARRS, crewed by Maj. Albert W. Palmer (P), Capt. Aaron T. Stacy (CP), A1C Patrick B. Wolfe (FE), SSgt. Larry E. Palmer (PJ) and SSgt. Curtis W. Pythian Jr. (PJ) rescued two crew members, R. F. Hay and Merle Williams, from an AC-119K (Call sign "Lemon 07"), after the ten-man crew bailed out over the South China Sea just east of Da Nang AB, RVN. TSgt. Clyde Douglas Allowy was KIA and the other crew members survived with two more being rescued by a HH-3E (see previous entry). The other survivors were recovered by various means. This was the first night water recovery made by a HH-53C of the 37th ARRS. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form & 37th ARRS History 1 Apr 1970-30 Jun 1970 |
| 1970 - June 07 | A HH-3E #66-13280 (Call sign “Jolly Green 27”) from the 37th ARRS at Da Nang AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Miguel Garcia (P), Maj. Edward L. Hlavaty (CP), MSgt. Carroll H. Tatley (FE) and SSgt. Duane D. Hackney (PJ), rescued the navigator, 1st Lt. W. T. Pepper, of a USMC F-4B (Call sign "Love Bug 208 Bravo") after their aircraft was hit by .50 cal. ground fire over a target near An Hoa, RVN, about 15 miles southwest of Da Nang and flew on about 15 miles west where he ejected. The pilot, 1st Lt. Kurt Michael Wilbrecht was KIA. The high bird on this mission was HH-53C #68-10362 (Call sign “Jolly Green 64”). “Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "PJ's in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form & 37th ARRS History 1 Apr 1970-30 Jun 1970 |
| 1970 - June 10 | A HH-53C #68-10362 (Call sign “Jolly Green 64”) from the 37th ARRS at Da Nang AB, RVN, crewed by Lt. Col. Royal A. Brown Jr. (P), Maj. Ryland R. Drieibelbis (CP), A1C David M. Cutillo (FE), MSgt. Malcolm E. Williams (PJ) and SSgt. Michael K. VanBrunt (PJ) rescued the crew of a F-4E ("Call sign "Sea Fox 02"), Capt. Ronald L. Clingaman (P) and Capt. Carrey W. Ripple (WSO), after they ejected from their 37 mm AAA damaged aircraft near the village of Tavouac in southern Laos. ‘High bird’ on this mission was HH-53C #68-10364 (Call sign Jolly Green 66”), crew unkn. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form & 37th ARRS History 1 Apr 1970-30 Jun 1970 |
| 1970 - June 11 | A HH-43F from Det. 6, 38th ARRS, Bien Hoa AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Richard S. Dunlap (P), Capt. Leo P. May (CP), Sgt. Timothy J. Thomsen (MT), SSgt. Elex R. Scroggins (FF), Sgt Thomas Mack (FF), and John H. Baxt (FS) medevacked Charles E. Walton in RVN. No other details are known at this time. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form |
| 1970 - June 12 | A HH-43B from Det. 3, 38th ARRS, Ubon RTAFB, Thailand, crewed by Capt. John S. Bouchard (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE), and unkn (PJ) rescued the WSO of a F-4D, 1st Lt. Eddie T. Payne, after his aircraft had and engine failure while in the landing pattern and he safely ejected. The pilot, Capt. Richard D. Massari was KIA in the crash. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form |
| 1970 - June 13 | CH-3E #63-9681 was destroyed at Tan Son Nhut AB, RVN. No other details are known at this time. http://www.jollygreen.org/Research/RonThurlow/H3RosterSEA.html |
| 1970 - June 14 | UH-1P gunships of the 20th SOS "Green Hornets", crew's unkn, supported the rescue of a 32 man Platoon Exploitation from Cambodia, deep in enemy held territory northwest of Duc Co, RVN. The "Green Hornet" gunships were supporting VNAF H-34 "King Bee" slick helicopters during this extraction. No other details are known at this time. "Secret Green Beret Commandos In Cambodia" by Lt. Col. Fred S. Lindsey, USA (Ret.) |
| 1970 - June 19 | A HH-53C from the 40th ARRS, crewed by Capt. Donald Y. Thompson (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE), and unkn (PJ) medevacked Mr. Chamrus in Thailand. No other details are known at this time. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form |
| 1970 - June 20 | A HH-53C from the 40th ARRS at Udorn RTAFB, Thailand, crewed by Capt. Martin W. Weeks Jr. (P), Capt. Dennis H. Sattler (CP), TSgt. Stanton R. Nelson (FE), TSgt. Jack D. Moran (PJ) and SSgt. Wayne L. Fisk (PJ) rescued the pilot of an OV-10A (Call sign "Nail 42") Capt. Robert J. Ewen, after he ejected from his aircraft when he was hit in mid-air by an RF-4C. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form & http://www.pjsinnam.com/vn_history/pdf_files/Chronology/1970.pdf & "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson |
| 1970 - June 20 | UH-1P gunships of the 20th SOS "Green Hornets", crew's unkn, supported the rescue of a 32 man Platoon Exploitation from Cambodia, deep in enemy held territory northwest of Duc Co, RVN. The "Green Hornet" gunships were supporting VNAF H-34 "King Bee" slick helicopters during this extraction. No other details are known at this time. "Secret Green Beret Commandos In Cambodia" by Lt. Col. Fred S. Lindsey, USA (Ret.) |
| 1970 - June 22 | A HH-43F from Det. 6, 38th ARRS, Bien Hoa AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Roy M. Litzen (P), Capt. Raymond F. Hunter (CP), Sgt. John A. Debell (FE), and Sgt. Roy T. Vogel (PJ) medevacked VNAF troop, Huyend, in RVN. No other details are known at this time. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC save Form |
| 1970 - June 24 | UH-1P gunships of the 20th SOS "Green Hornets", crew's unkn, supported the rescue of a 32 man Platoon Exploitation from Cambodia, deep in enemy held territory northwest of Duc Co, RVN. The "Green Hornet" gunships were supporting VNAF H-34 "King Bee" slick helicopters during this extraction. No other details are known at this time. "Secret Green Beret Commandos In Cambodia" by Lt. Col. Fred S. Lindsey, USA (Ret.) |
| 1970 - June 30 | HH-3E #67-14708 (Call sign "Jolly Green 21") from Det. 1, 40th ARRS, at Nakhon Phanom RTAFB, Thailand, crewed by Capt. James Blackwood (P), Maj. John A. Raper (CP), SSgt. Jimmie D. Rash (FE), MSgt. Gary T. Osborne (PJ), Sgt. Michael H. Enos (AP) unsuccessfully attempted to rescue USA observer, SFC. Albert H. Mostello (US Army SF), of an OV-10A (Call sign "Fatcapper 07 Bravo"), near Ban Kapay, Laos, but was hit by enemy ground fire, damaged and driven off the rescued attempt (see next entry). ‘High bird’ on this mission was HH-53C #68-10363 (Call sign “Jolly Green 65”), crew unkn. (See next entry.). "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC save Form & 37th ARRS History 1 Apr 1970-30 Jun 1970 |
| 1970 - June 30 | HH-53C #68-8283 (Call sign "Jolly Green 54") from the 40th ARRS at Udorn RTAFB, Thailand, crewed by Capt. Leroy Clyde Schaneberg (P), Maj. John Winfred Goeglein (CP), SSgt. Marvin Earl Bell (FE), MSgt. Paul Laverne Jenkins (PJ), SSgt. Michael Frank Dean (PJ) was hit by ground fire and crashed near Ban Kapay, Laos while on a SAR for an OV-10A (Call sign "Nail 44") crewed by Capt. William Stephen Snaders (P) & SFC. Albert H. Mostello (US Army SF). The helicopter crew and the OV-10A pilot were KIA. SFC. Albert H. Mostello from the OV-10 was rescued by an HH-3E from Da Nang AB, RVN. Capt. Leroy C. Schaneberg was awarded the Air Force Cross for his actions during this mission (See previous and next entry). “PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & 37th ARRS History 1 Apr 1970-30 Jun 1970 & http://www.jollygreen.org/jltnc.htm & Vietnam Air Losses by Chris Hobson |
| 1970 - June 30 | A HH-3E #65-12786 (Call sign "Jolly Green 24") from the 37th ARRS at Da Nang AB, RVN, crewed by Maj. James Z. Elkinton (P), Capt. Dale R. Clark (CP), SSgt. John W. Alcorn (FE) and SSgt. Jules C. Smith (PJ) rescued the airborne observer from OV-10A (Call sign "Fatcapper 07 Bravo"), SFC. Albert "Al" E. Mostello (US Army SF). “Jolly Green 24” was damaged during this rescue, but they were able to recover at a forward base. The second bird on this part of the mission was HH-53C #68-10363 (Call sign “Jolly Green 65”). (See the previous entry). 37th ARRS History 1 Apr 1970-30 Jun 1970 & http://taskforceomegainc.org/s362.html & “PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1970 - July 08 | A HH-43F from Det. 7, 38th ARRS, Da Nang AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Wayne R. Crowther (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ) rescued the pilot, 1st Lt. David P. Egelston, of a F-100D (Call sign "Blade 01") after his aircraft was hit while attacking a target 10 miles northeast of Phan Thiet and he managed to head back to base before having to eject over the sea about 35 miles south of Phan Rang AB, RVN. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & “PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC save Form |
| 1970 - July 09 | A USAF helicopter crewed by unkn (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ), rescued the pilot of a F-100D, 1st Lt. G. K. Newsom, after he ejected from his ground fire damaged aircraft near Loi Tan about 30 miles NE of Bien Hoa AB, RVN . "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson |
| 1970 - July 11 | Two HH-53C’s from the 37th ARRS at Da Nang AB, RVN, the ‘low bird’ was HH-53C #68-10365 (Call sign “Jolly Green 67”), crewed by Maj. Harry S. Copperthite Jr. (P), Capt. Donald G. Beattie (CP), Sgt. John C. Kriletich (FE), TSgt. Gary T. Osborne (PJ) and SSgt. Robert T. Reisig (PJ) rescued the pilot of a USMC TA-4F (Call sign "Playboy 45 Alpha"), Capt. Ronald T. Rasmussen, after he and his co-pilot, 1st Lt. Wallace W. Mills, ejected from their .50 cal. gunfire damaged aircraft in the A Shau Valley, RVN. The second bird on this mission was HH-53C #69-5786 (Call sign “Jolly Green 30”) which had an engine failure just as it was establishing a hover over Capt. Rasmussen and had to pull off and let “Jolly Green 67” make the rescue. At the time “Jolly Green 67” was not able to rescue Lt. Wallace due to the intense ground fire in his location. Sgt. Kriletich is known to have been awarded The Distinguished Flying Cross for his actions on this mission, awards for the other crew members are unkn. (See next entry). "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & “PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC save Form |
| 1970 - July 11 | Two HH-53C’s from the 37th ARRS from Da Nang AB, RVN, one was HH-53C #68-10363 (Call sign “Jolly Green 65) crewed by Lt. Col. Albert L. Holcomb (P), Capt. David H. Wammer (CP), SSgt. Donald R. Erickson Jr. (FE), MSgt. James D. Scott Jr. (PJ) and TSgt. John F. Heitsch (PJ) rescued the co-pilot of a USMC TA-4F (Call sign "Playboy 45 Bravo"), 1st Lt. Wallace W. Mills, after he and his pilot, Capt. Ronald T. Rasmussen, ejected from their .50 cal. gunfire damaged aircraft in the A Shau Valley, RVN (see previous entry). The high bird on this mission was HH-53C #68-10364 (Call sign “Jolly Green 66”), crew unkn. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form |
| 1970 - July 17 | A HH-43F from Det. 13, 38th ARRS, Phu Cat AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Richard L. Oliver (P), Maj. Joseph D. Price (CP), Carl S. Buskell (MT) and Robert J. Kyle Jr. (MT) medevacked George B. Rice and Darby J. Kelly in RVN. No other details are known at this time. “PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form |
| 1970 - July 20 | UH-1P gunships of the 20th SOS "Green Hornets", crew's unkn, supported the rescue of a MACV SOG team from deep in enemy held territory in RVN. The "Green Hornet" gunships were supporting VNAF H-34 "King Bee" slick helicopters during this extraction. No other details are known at this time. "Secret Green Beret Commandos In Cambodia" by Lt. Col. Fred S. Lindsey, USA (Ret.) |
| 1970 - July 24 | A HH-3E #64-14233 (Call sign “Jolly Green 20”), from the 37th ARRS, Cam Ranh AB, RVN, crewed by Maj. Lewis E. Garrett (P), Capt. Charles C. Adams (CP), SSgt. John W. Alcorn (FE), and SSgt. Robert T. Resig (PJ) medevacked John Brown from a CH-54 that had rolled over in a revetment in RVN. No other details are known at this time. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC save Form |
| 1970 - July 24 | A HH-43F from Det. 8, 38th ARRS, Cam Ranh Bay AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Peter F. Dineen (P), Capt. Bruce W. Staples (CP), Sgt. Thomas W. Hooker (FE), and A1C Thomas P. Gratton (MT) medevacked Terrence Billings in RVN. No other details are known at this time. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC save Form |
| 1970 - July 24 | UH-1P gunships of the 20th SOS "Green Hornets", crew's unkn, supported the rescue of a MACV SOG team, RT Nail, from deep in enemy held territory in RVN. The "Green Hornet" gunships were supporting VNAF H-34 "King Bee" slick helicopters during this extraction. No other details are known at this time. "Secret Green Beret Commandos In Cambodia" by Lt. Col. Fred S. Lindsey, USA (Ret.) |
| 1970 - July 26 | HH-53C’s from the 37th ARRS at Da Nang AB, RVN, one HH-53C #68-10362 (Call sign “Jolly Green 64”), crewed by Lt. Col. Royal A. Brown Jr. (P), Capt. Donald G. Beattie (CP), SSgt. Donald R. Erickson Jr. (FE), MSgt. James D. Scott (PJ) and TSgt. Lewis Craig (PJ) rescued the crew of a F-4D (Call sign "Dipper 01"), Lt. Col. Richard W. Pennington (P) and Capt. Raymond L. Rigel (WSO), after they ejected from their 37 mm AAA damaged aircraft near the village of Ban Pha Bong-tai, Laos, about 12 miles west of the DMZ. Lt. Col. Pennington died the next day of his injuries. The ‘high bird’ on this mission was HH-53C #68-10363 (Call sign “Jolly Green “65), crew unkn. “Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form |
| 1970 - July 26 | Two HH-3E’s from the 37th ARRS at Da Nang AB, RVN, one HH-3E #67-14710 (Call sign “Jolly Green 23”), crewed by Capt. Leonard A. Seagren (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE), unkn (PJ) and unkn (PJ) medevacked one Vietnamese sailor from a LST in RVN. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form |
| 1970 - July 29 | A HH-3E #65-13283 (Call sign “Jolly Green 30”) from the 37th ARRS, crewed by Maj. George C. Hitt (P), Maj. Howard G. Stalnecker Jr. (CP), Sgt. Joseph J. Vai (FE) and TSgt. John F. Heitsch (PJ) rescued the pilot of an A-1H (Call sign "Hobo 20"), Maj. Petter B. Lee, after he ejected from his 37 mm AAA damaged aircraft, on 28 July 1970, a few miles SW of the Ban Karai Pass. The high bird on this mission was HH-53C #68-10363 (Call sign “Jolly Green 65”), crew unkn. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form |
| 1970 - July 29 | UH-1P #65-7930 (Call sign "Green Hornet #?") from the 20th SOS at Tuy Hoa, RVN crewed by Capt. John R. Clapper (P), 1st Lt. Marion J. Messenger Jr. (CP), SSgt. Roby J. Farmer (FE), A1C Brian R. McGregor (AG) and Sgt. Ronald M. Clark (AG) while on a local gun training mission was downed and autorotated into the trees in RVN. The UH-1F was recovered but was written off due to the damage sustained. Capt. Clapper received a triple fracture to his hand, Lt. Messenger and one gunner received lacerations, the second gunner received facial fractures’ and lacerations in both legs and the third gunner received back injuries. http://en.wikipedia.org/20th_Special_Operations_Squadron & http://www.mh- 53pavelow.com/documents/20thSOS/1970.pdf & http://hupi.org/map.vietnam/helicopt.html |
| 1970 - July 29 | A HH-43F from Det. 7, 38th ARRS, Da Nang AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Robert E. Hill (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE), unkn (PJ) and unkn (PJ) medevacked Ronald G. Shelton in RVN. No other details are known at this time. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC save Form |
| 1970 - August 03 | A HH-43F from Det. 8, 38th ARRS, Cam Ranh AB, RVN, crewed by Maj. Alfred W. Lamkin Jr. (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE), unkn (PJ) and unkn (PJ) medevacked John D. Louk in RVN. No other details are known at this time. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC save Form |
| 1970 - August 04 | UH-1P #65-7948 of the 20th SOS, crewed by unkn (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FM) and unkn (AG), departed Ban Me Thout East AB, RVN, headed for Tuy Hoa AB, RVN had an engine failure shortly after departure and autorotated safely into to a field without damage or injury. The UH-1P was recovered the same day by a U.S. Army CH-47 helicopter and sling loaded back to Ban Me Thout East AB, RVN. http://www.mh-53pavelow.com/documents/20thSOS/1970.pdf |
| 1970 - August 05 | A HH-43F from Det. 6, 38th ARRS, Bien Hoa AB, RVN crewed by Maj. Elmer Funderburk Jr. (P), Capt. Richard S. Dunlap (CP), SSgt. Glenn A. Mumpower (MT) SSgt. Harry W. Bryant (FF) and SSgt. George W. Tatum (FF) rescued the crew of an O-2 (Call sign "Sleepy Time 08"), 1st Lt. Robert D. Messer and 1st Lt. Glen Bell in RVN. No other details are known at this time. “PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC save Form |
| 1970 - August 08 | The 21st SOS at Nakhon Phanom RTAFB, Thailand received its first CH-53C. "On a Steel Horse I Ride" by Darrel D. Whitcomb |
| 1970 - August 10 | A HH-43F from Det. 8, 38th ARRS, Cam Ranh AB, RVN, crewed by Maj. Alfred W. Lamkin Jr. (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ) rescued the only survivor from a C-123K, R. D. Argifoglio, after the aircraft had an engine failure and crashed. The other C-123K crew members, Maj. Grant R. Waugh (P), Capt. Dwaine Elbyrne Mattox (CP) and TSgt. Bernard Francis Morrill (FE), were KIA in the crash. No other details are known at this time. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form |
| 1970 - August 11 | A HH-43F from Det. 6, 38th ARRS, Bien Hoa AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Roy M. Litzen (P), Capt. Russell T. Birmingham (CP), Sgt. Earl S. Wright (FE) and TSgt. Grady J. Mullins (FF) medevacked A1C Albert J. Fischer in RVN. No other details are known at this time. “PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC save Form |
| 1970 - August 13 | CH-3E #63-9681 (Call sign "Skycap 36") of the 21st SOS crewed by Capt. Alan B. Cheeseman (P), Capt. Victor L. Genez (P), Capt. George D. Henry, Jr. (CP), SSgt. Terry D. Reams (FE) and Sgt. William L. Ripley (FE) crashed after being hit by 12.7 mm gun fire near Ubon RTAFB, Thailand. Cheeseman, Henry, and Ripley were killed and Genez and Reams survived the crash and were rescued (See next entry). http://www.jollygreen.org/jltnc.htm & PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1970 - August 13 | A HH-43B from Det. 3, 38th ARRS, Ubon RTAFB, Thailand, crewed by Capt. Roy M. Litzen (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ), rescued two crew members of CH-3E "Skycap 36", Capt. Victor Genez (CP) and SSgt. Terry D. Reams (FE) from the crash of their enemy ground fire damaged helicopter near Ubon RTAFB, Thailand. SSgt. Reams later died from his injuries while enroute to a hospital in Japan (See previous and next entry). No other details are known at this time. “PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC save Form |
| 1970 - August 13 | HH-53C #68-8285 (Call Signs "Jolly Green 56”), crewed by unkn (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE), unkn (PJ and unkn (PJ), and HH-53C #68-10359 (Call sign “Jolly Green 61"), crewed by unkn (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE), unkn (PJ and unkn (PJ), lowered PJ's to the ground to search for any surviving crew members of the crash of the enemy ground fire damaged helicopter, CH-3E "Skycap 36", near Ubon RTAFB, Thailand. None were found, but they did recover and return two bodies to Ubon RTAFB, Thailand (See previous two entries). No other details are known at this time. “PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC save Form |
| 1970 - August 14 - 22 | Two Air Force crews complete the first trans-Pacific helicopter flight as they land their Sikorsky HH-53C's #69-5787 (lost in a crash 26 Feb. 79) and #69-5788 (lost in NVN 27 Dec. 72) at Da Nang AB, RVN, after nine days, 9,000-mile, 69 hour 42 minutes of flight time, on eight legs, flight from Eglin AFB, Florida. The helicopters were refueled several times in flight allowing them to fly non-stop legs of almost 13 hours. The Mission Commander was Maj. James L. “Larry” Butera. One HH-53C #69-5787 was crewed by pilots Maj. Frederic M. Donohue, Capt. Larry N. Young and Maj. Clarence C. Campbell, flight engineers, SSgt. Edward F. Pinero and TSgt. David V. McLeod Jr. and the other HH-53C #69-5788 was crewed by pilots Maj. William F. Williams, Maj. Owan A. Heeter and Maj. William E. Cowell and flight engineers SSgt. Donald LaBarre and TSgt. Charles S. Tilley. Here is a breakdown of the Itinerary. 15 Aug.–Eglin AFB to Minot AFB-1,353 NM-10:28 hrs-2 refueling’s. 16 Aug.-Minot AFB to Elmendorf AFB-1,850 NM-13:10 hrs-3 refueling’s. 17 Aug.-Elmendorf AFB to Shemya AFS-1,272 NM-9:56 hrs-1 refueling. 18/19 Aug.- Shemya AFS to Misawa AB-1,514 NM-14:18 hrs-4 refueling’s. 20 Aug.-Misawa AB to Kadena AB-1,137 NM-8:51 NM-1 refueling. 21 Aug.-Kadena AB to Clark AB-815 NM-7:18 hrs-1 refueling. 22 Aug.-Clark AB to Da Nang AB-798 NM-6:10 hrs-1 refueling. Air Force Magazine & "On a Steel Horse I Ride" by Darrel D. Whitcomb & CHECO REPORT USAF Search & Rescue In Southeast Asia 1 Jul 69-31 Dec 70 dated 23 Apr 71 |
| 1970 - August 23 | A HH-43F from Det. 8, 38th ARRS, Cam Ranh AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Michael Bolling (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ), medevacked PFC Joseph Mayfield in RVN. No other details are known at this time. “PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC save Form |
| 1970 - August 29 | A HH-43F from Det. 8, 38th ARRS, Cam Ranh AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Peter F. Dineen (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ), medevacked two Vietnamese in RVN. No other details are known at this time. “PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form |
| 1970 - August 29 | A HH-43B from Det. 5, 38th ARRS, Udorn RTAFB, Thailand, crewed by Capt. Glynn McGregor (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ), medevacked one USA troop in Thailand. No other details are known at this time. “PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form |
| 1970 - September 02 | A HH-53C #68-10366 (Call sign "Jolly Green 70") from the 37th ARRS at Da Nang AB, RVN, crewed by Maj. Clarence D. Fried (P), Capt. Donald G. Beattie (CP), SSgt. Donald R. Erickson Jr. (FE), SSgt. Terry L. Wetzel (PJ), MSgt. Derald D. Parks (PJ) and Robert R. Taylor (PJ) medevacked a sailor, SP-4 Melvin Shumaker, from an LST in the South China Sea. No other details are known at this time. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & http://www.mh-53pavelow.com/documents/airframes/notable_h53_history.pdf |
| 1970 - September 02 | A HH-43F from Det. 7, 37th ARRS, Da Nang AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Isamu S. Momii (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE), unkn (FE) and (PJ), medevacked SSgt. Monwel F. Madrid and E-4 Gregory Thesis in RVN. No other details are known at this time. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1970 - September 11 | UH-1P gunships of the 20th SOS "Green Hornets", crew's unkn, except it is known that Capt. Charles D. Svoboda (P) and Maj. Harvey Donald “Don” Gilzean (P) were on one of the gunships on this mission, they supported, in extremely hazardous weather conditions, the rescue of a MACV SOG team from deep in enemy held territory in RVN. The "Green Hornet" gunships were supporting VNAF H-34 "Kingbee" slick helicopters during this extraction. No other details are known at this time. "Secret Green Beret Commandos In Cambodia" by Lt. Col. Fred S. Lindsey, USA (Ret.) |
| 1970 - September 14 | Two HH-53's rescue a U.S. Army Long Range Reconnaissance Team that had been under fire and on the run for two days. No other details are available currently. "The A-1 Skyraider in Vietnam: The Spad's Last War" by Wayne Mutza |
| 1970 - September 15 | 15; UH-1P gunships of the 20th SOS "Green Hornets", one of which was UH-1P #65-7931 crewed by Capt. Bud Jenkins (P), Capt. James D. Schuman (CP), TSgt. James W. Green (FM/AG) and unkn (AG), supported the extraction of a MACV SOG from deep in enemy held territory in RVN. The "Green Hornet" gunships were supporting VNAF H-34 "Kingbee" slick helicopters during this extraction. No other details are known at this time. "Secret Green Beret Commandos In Cambodia" by Lt. Col. Fred S. Lindsey, USA (Ret.) |
| 1970 - September 15 | Det. 8, 38th ARRS, Cam Ranh Bay AB, RVN is deactivated. http://www.pjsinnam.com/vn_history/pdf_files/Chronology/1970.pdf |
| 1970 - September 16 | Two HH-3E’s from Det. 1, 37th ARRS at Da Nang AB, RVN, one was HH-3E #67-14708 (Call sign “Jolly Green 21”), crewed by Maj. James Z. Elkinton (P), Maj. Howard G. Stalnecker Jr. (CP), SSgt. John W. Alcorn (FE) and SSgt. Robert T. Reisig (PJ), rescued the pilot of a F-100D (Call sign "Blade 05"), 1st Lt. James V. Phillips, after he ejected over water from his ground fire damaged aircraft that had been hit near the village of Kratie during the Cambodian incursion. High bird on this mission was HH-3E #67-14710 (Call sign “Jolly Green 23”), crew unkn. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form |
| 1970 - September 16 | A HH-3E #67-14710 (Call sign “Jolly Green 23”), from the 37th ARRS at Da Nang AB, RVN, crewed Maj. Howard G. Stainecker (P), Maj. James Z. Elkinton (CP), SSgt. John W. Alcorn (FE) and SSgt. Robert T. Resig (PJ) rescued the pilot of an F-100D, 1st Lt. J. V. Phillips, after he ejected from his ground fire damaged aircraft near the village of Kratie during the Cambodian incursion. This was the last rescue CSAR by and HH-3E assigned to the 37th ARRS at Da Nang AB, all future rescues by the 37th ARRS were by HH-53C’s. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson |
| 1970 - September 20 | UH-1P gunships of the 20th SOS "Green Hornets", one of which was UH-1P #63-13163 crewed by Capt. Bud Jenkins (P), Capt. James D. Schuman (CP), TSgt. James W. Green (FM/AG) and unkn (AG), supported the extraction of a MACV SOG from deep in enemy held territory in RVN. The "Green Hornet" gunships were supporting VNAF H-34 "Kingbee" slick helicopters during this extraction. No other details are known at this time. "Secret Green Beret Commandos In Cambodia" by Lt. Col. Fred S. Lindsey, USA (Ret.) |
| 1970 - September 23 | HH-53C #68-10362 (Call sign “Jolly Green 64”), from the 37th ARRS at Da Nang AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. John O. Lindgren Jr. (P), Capt. David H. Wammer (CP), SSgt. Robert H. Rogers (FE), SSgt. Duane D. Hackney (PJ) and A1C Ervin A. Petty (PJ) rescued the pilot of an F-105D (Call sign "Dallas 01"), Capt. John W. Newhouse, after he ejected from his 37 mm AAA damaged aircraft about 10 miles west of Hue, RVN. The ‘high bird’ on this mission was HH-53C #68-10364 (Call sign “Jolly Green 66”), crew unkn. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form |
| 1970 - September 25 | UH-1P #64-15484 (Call sign "Green Hornet ?") of the 20th SOS from Ban Me Thuot, RVN crashed while trying to avoid a mid-air collision with a VNAF CH-34 "Kingbee" helicopter near Mondol Kire, Cambodia. Capt. Jackie Phillip Heil (P) and MSgt. Gerald Allan Cooper (AG) were killed in the crash and fire; the other crew members, Capt. Henry B. Carrington (CP), SSgt. David J. Galvan (AG) were injured and were rescued, using ropes, by another helicopter in the flight crewed by Capt. Charles Svoboda (P), Capt. Louis Glass (CP), unkn (AG) and unkn (AG). Also, in support of this action was another "Green Hornet" gunship, UH-1P #63-13162, crewed by unkn (P), unkn (CP), TSgt. James W. Green (FM/AG) and unkn (AG). http://en.wikipedia.org/20th_Special_Operations_Squadron |
| 1970 - September 25 | The 20th Helicopter Sq. relocates from Tuy Hoa AB, RVN, to Cam Ranh Bay AB, RVN. http://www.mh-53pavelow.com/documents.20thSOS/history2.pdf |
| 1970 - October 01 | The LAST HH-53C rescue helicopters to be delivered by ship arrived at Thailand’s deep-water port of Sattahip. This was the last helicopters to be delivered to SEA for Rescue by this mode of transportation. It is proposed that all future helicopter deliveries will be accomplished by air-ferry, utilizing air-to-air refueling techniques. 3rd ARRGp Vietnam 1970, 01 Jul – Sep pg. 59 |
| 1970 - October 05 | The U.S. Air Force 1st Special Operations Wing at Hurlburt Field, Florida (Eglin AFB Auxiliary Field #9), took possession of the very first Bell UH-IN Iroquois, UH-1N-BF 68-10772 (Bell Helicopter Co. serial number 31001) |
| 1970 - October 05 | UH-1P gunships of the 20th SOS "Green Hornets", one of which was UH-1P #63-13146 crewed by Capt. Marion J. Messenger (P), Capt. Bud Jenkins (CP), TSgt. James W. Green (FM/AG) and unkn (AG), supported VNAF CH-34 "Kingbee" helicopters in the insertion of a MACV SOG team deep in enemy held territory in Cambodia and they were fired on during this mission. No other details are known at this time. "Secret Green Beret Commandos In Cambodia" by Lt. Col. Fred S. Lindsey, USA (Ret.) |
| 1970 - October 05 | UH-1P gunships of the 20th SOS "Green Hornets", one of which was UH-1P #63-13146 crewed by Capt Marion J. Messenger (P), Capt. Bud Jenkins (CP), TSgt. James W. Green (FM/AG) and unkn (AG), supported VNAF CH-34 "Kingbee" helicopters in the extraction of a MACV SOG team deep in enemy held territory in Cambodia. No other details are known at this time. "Secret Green Beret Commandos In Cambodia" by Lt. Col. Fred S. Lindsey, USA (Ret.) |
| 1970 - October 07 | UH-1P gunships of the 20th SOS "Green Hornets", one of which was UH-1P #63-13146 crewed by Capt. Marion J. Messenger (P), Capt. Bud Jenkins (CP), TSgt. James W. Green (FM/AG) and unkn (AG), supported VNAF CH-34 "Kingbee" helicopters in the extraction, under fire, of a MACV SOG team deep in enemy held territory in Cambodia and the rescue of O-2A FAC pilot, 1st Lt. W. W. Galvani and his VNAF observer, Lt. Dau after their aircraft was shot down and crashed near Bu Krak, Cambodia. No other details are known at this time. "Secret Green Beret Commandos In Cambodia" by Lt. Col. Fred S. Lindsey, USA (Ret.) |
| 1970 - October 07 | A HH-53C #69-5784 (Call sign “Jolly Green 71”) from the 37th ARRS, crewed by Lt. Col. Albert L. Holcomb (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE), TSgt. Allen J. Avery (PJ) and Raphael R. Moreno (PJ), medevacked Cardinal McKenzie, an Australian seaman suffering from burns, from a ship 100 miles out in the South China Sea. “PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1970 - October 08 | UH-1P gunships of the 20th SOS "Green Hornets", one of which was UH-1P #63-13146 crewed by Capt. Marion J. Messenger (P), Capt. Bud Jenkins (CP), TSgt. James W. Green (FM/AG) and unkn (AG), supported VNAF CH-34 "Kingbee" helicopters in the insertion of a MACV SOG team deep in enemy held territory in Cambodia. No other details are known at this time. "Secret Green Beret Commandos In Cambodia" by Lt. Col. Fred S. Lindsey, USA (Ret.) |
| 1970 - October 10 | A HH-53C #69-5788 (Call sign “Jolly Green 73”) from the 37th ARRS, crewed by Capt. Aaron T. Stacy (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE), unkn (PJ) and MSgt. Malcolm E. Williams (PJ), medevacked Arvid Kristiansen and Hansen Arneige from a Norwegian ship, the SS Tore Knudsen in the South China Sea. HH-53C #68-10365 (Call sign “Jolly Green 67”) was launched on this mission as well, but had a hydraulic failure and diverted into Phu Cat AB. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1970 - October 11 | UH-1P gunships of the 20th SOS "Green Hornets", one of which was crewed by unkn (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FM/AG) and TSgt. Darrell L. Babb (AG) supported VNAF CH-34 "Kingbee" helicopters in the extraction, under intense ground fire, of a MACV SOG team deep in enemy held territory in Cambodia. No other details are known at this time. "Secret Green Beret Commandos In Cambodia" by Lt. Col. Fred S. Lindsey, USA (Ret.) |
| 1970 - October 13 | A HH-53C #69-5787 (Call sign “Jolly Green 72”) from the 37th ARRS, crewed by unkn (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE), unkn (PJ) and unkn (PJ), picked up a Greek seaman suffering from appendicitis off the deck of the Liberian freighter “Buena Ventura and flew him to the Army’s 3rd Field Hospital in Saigon for treatment. Pacific Stars & Stripes, Thursday, Oct. 15, 1970 & 37th ARRS (MAC) Controller’s Log 28 May 70 - 13 Jul 71 |
| 1970 - October 15 | UH-1P gunships of the 20th SOS "Green Hornets", one of which was UH-1P #63-13160 crewed by Capt. David C. Goodard (P), Capt. William V. Hornung (CP), TSgt. James W. Green (FM/AG) and unkn (AG), supported VNAF CH-34 "Kingbee" helicopters in the resupply of a MACV SOG team deep in enemy held territory. No other details are known at this time. "Secret Green Beret Commandos In Cambodia" by Lt. Col. Fred S. Lindsey, USA (Ret.) |
| 1970 - October 15 | Det. 11, 38th ARRS, Tuy Hoa AB, RVN is deactivated. http://www.pjsinnam.com/vn_history/pdf_files/Chronology/1970.pdf |
| 1970 - October 17 | UH-1P gunships of the 20th SOS "Green Hornets", one of which was UH-1P #63-13160 crewed by Capt. David Goodard (P), Capt. William V. Hornung (CP), TSgt. James W. Green (FM/AG) and unkn (AG), supported VNAF CH-34 "Kingbee" helicopters in the extraction, under fire, of a MACV SOG team deep in enemy held territory. No other details are known at this time. "Secret Green Beret Commandos In Cambodia" by Lt. Col. Fred S. Lindsey, USA (Ret.) |
| 1970 - October 17 | UH-1P gunships of the 20th SOS "Green Hornets", one of which was UH-1P #63-13160 crewed by Capt. David Goodard (P), Capt. William V. Hornung (CP), TSgt. James W. Green (FM/AG) and unkn (AG), supported VNAF CH-34 "Kingbee" helicopters in the insertion of a MACV SOG team deep in enemy held territory. No other details are known at this time. "Secret Green Beret Commandos In Cambodia" by Lt. Col. Fred S. Lindsey, USA (Ret.) |
| 1970 - October 18 | UH-1P gunships of the 20th SOS "Green Hornets", one of which was UH-1P #63-13160 crewed by Capt. David Goodard (P), Capt. William V. Hornung (CP), TSgt. James W. Green (FM/AG) and unkn (AG), supported VNAF CH-34 "Kingbee" helicopters in the insertion of a MACV SOG team deep in enemy held territory. No other details are known at this time. "Secret Green Beret Commandos In Cambodia" by Lt. Col. Fred S. Lindsey, USA (Ret.) |
| 1970 - October 20 - November 02 | Det. 12, 42nd ARRS at George AFB, CA became the first LBR unit in the U.S. to receive a HH-43F #59-1556 and was the first unit to ferry a Huskie 2,800 miles across the country. Crew members on this mission were Maj. James L. Wissert (P), Capt. Robert A. Sheppard (CP) (from Det. 17, 42nd ARRS at Davis-Monthan AFB, AZ) and SSgt. Robert E. Crites (FM). This is the longest Huskie ferry flight on record, taking 37.9 hours flying time. Kaman Rotor Tips Jan-Feb 1971 |
| 1970 - October 20 | UH-1P gunships of the 20th SOS "Green Hornets", one of which was UH-1P #63-13160 crewed by Capt. David Goodard (P), Capt. William V. Hornung (CP), TSgt. James W. Green (FM/AG) and Sgt. Francis G. Reilly (AG) supported VNAF CH-34 "Kingbee" helicopters in the extraction, under intense enemy fire, of a MACV SOG team deep in enemy held territory. They then supported a second MACV SOG team extraction, under intense enemy fire. No other details are known at this time. "Secret Green Beret Commandos In Cambodia" by Lt. Col. Fred S. Lindsey, USA (Ret.) |
| 1970 - October 21 | UH-1P gunships of the 20th SOS "Green Hornets", one of which was UH-1P #63-13160 crewed by Capt. David Goodard (P), Capt. William V. Hornung (CP), TSgt. James W. Green (FM/AG) and unkn (AG), supported VNAF CH-34 "Kingbee" helicopters in the extraction, under intense enemy fire, of a MACV SOG team deep in enemy held territory. No other details are known at this time. "Secret Green Beret Commandos In Cambodia" by Lt. Col. Fred S. Lindsey, USA (Ret.) |
| 1970 - October 22 | UH-1P gunships of the 20th SOS "Green Hornets", one of which was UH-1P #63-13160 crewed by Capt. David Goodard (P), Capt. William V. Hornung (CP), TSgt. James W. Green (FM/AG) and unkn (AG), supported VNAF CH-34 "Kingbee" helicopters in the infiltration of a MACV SOG team deep in enemy held territory. No other details are known at this time. "Secret Green Beret Commandos In Cambodia" by Lt. Col. Fred S. Lindsey, USA (Ret.) |
| 1970 - October 23 | A USAF helicopter from Det. 14, 41st ARRWg at Naha AB, Okinawa, crewed by unkn (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ) airlifted a 5-year-old Okinawan boy, Masayuki Akamine, suffering from acute appendicitis from Aguni Islet, 25 miles northwest of Naha. The boy was rushed to Naha General Hospital for surgery after arriving at Naha AB. Pacific Stars & Stripes, Monday, Oct 26, 1970, pg. 7 |
| 1970 - October 24 | CH-3E #66-13287 (Call sign "Knife 33") of the 21st SOS crewed by Capt. Craig Brian Schiele (P), Maj. Ronald R. Kunz (CP), MSgt. Thomas Edward Heideman (FE) and SSgt. Wallace Spivey Jr. (FE) crashed and was lost when lifting off from a hilltop LZ, in the Mu Ghai Pass area near the Laos - North Vietnam border, after picking up 11 indigenous personnel. Schiele and Heideman were killed in the crash. The surviving indigenous personnel were picked up by another CH-3E (Call sign "Knife 34") on the mission (see next entry). http://www.jollygreen.org/jltnc.html |
| 1970 - October 24 | A HH-53B from the 40th ARRS, crewed by Maj. William D. Eastman Jr. (P), Capt. John P. Di’Tucci (CP), SSgt. Donnie R. Stevens (FE), Donald G. Behrends (PJ) and Sgt. Frederick D. Jenkins (PJ), rescued two crew members, Maj. Ronald R. Kunz and SSgt. Wallace Spivey Jr., from a downed CH-3E (see entry above). “PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form |
| 1970 - October 24 | A HH-43F from Det. 4, 38th ARRS, Korat RTAFB, Thailand, crewed by Maj. Richard Heitz (P), Capt. David Loveland (CP). Sgt. Marlow Warren (FE), Sgt. Phillip Binnie (?), Sgt. Terry Rasso (FF), Sgt. Stuart Lindberg (?) rescued the six-man crew (names unkn) of an EB-66 that had ejected before their aircraft crashed near Korat RTAFB, Thailand, after returning from a combat mission. U.S. Air Force Photo by A1C Sandy Cheek |
| 1970 - October 26 | A HH-43B/F from Det. 4, 38th ARRS, Korat RTAFB, Thailand, crewed by Maj. Donald L. Eversole (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE), unkn (PJ) and unkn (PJ), medevacked one USAF airman in Thailand. No other details are known at this time. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1970 - October 28 | HH-3E aircrew from the 31st ARRS saved 39 persons from the disabled Chinese tanker Tong Lam, aground on the Scarborough Reef, 150 miles west of Clark AB, PI. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/37th_Aerospace_Rescue_and_Recovery_Squadron#Operations_and_losses |
| 1970 - October 31 | A HH-43F from Det. 13, 38th ARRS, Phu Cat AB, RVN, crewed by unkn (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ), rescued three USA troops, E-2 Benson, E-3 Smith and E-3 Star in RVN. No other details are known at this time. “PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form |
| 1970 - November 01 | A HH-53 from the 40th ARRS, crewed by Maj. Dean C. Carman (P), Maj. Robert W. Bleier (CP), Sgt. Inus G. Crawford (FE), TSgt. John J. Eldridge (PJ), SSgt. Wayne L. Fisk (PJ) and Robert M. Zahrowski (AP), rescued 4 USAF and 2 others, details are classified. No other details are known at this time. “PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form |
| 1970 - November 02 | An HH-43B from Perring AFB, crewed by Maj. Robert C. Gordon (P) and SSgt. Weldon D. Davenport (FM) crashed about 3 miles northeast of the base near Farm Road 691, killing both crewmembers. San Antonio Express (San Antonio, Texas) – Tue, Nov 3, 1970, Page 40 |
| 1970 - November 11 | A HH-43B (Call sign "Pedro 01") from Det. 12, 40th ARRWg., RAF Woodbridge, UK, crewed by Maj. John H. Larson (P), Sgt. Terry H. Richardson (FE) and SSgt. Regis J. Freed (MT) rescued the crew, Capt. Johnny J. Jones (P) and Capt. David C. Allen (WSO), of an F-4C (Call sign "Yo-Yo 91") when they ejected while on radar final to RAF Woodbridge after their engines caught fire. After less than 10 minutes both pilots were picked out of the North Sea, near Orford Village, Suffolk and taken to their base at RAF Brentwaters. http://user.acninc.net/padipaul/pnl_08-2004_8grnft.html |
| 1970 - November 13 | A HH-43F from Det. 6, 38th ARRS, Bien Hoa AB, RVN, crewed by Maj. Elmer Funderburk Jr. (P), Capt. John C. Troolin (CP), Sgt James W. Warf (FE) and SSgt. Glenn A. Mumpower (MT), rescued seven USA troops, Col. Bergner, Lt. Col. Ainslie, Lt. Col. Terry, Maj. Teska, CWO Pratt, Maj. Burwell, SFC Dorey and one civilian, GS-11 Cheney, from a downed USA UH-1H (Call sign "Hustler 442") helicopter in RVN. No other details are known at this time. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form |
| 1970 - November 14 | A HH-53 from the 40th ARRS, crewed by Capt. William E. Cowell (P), unkn (CP), TSgt. Stanton R. Nelson (FE), John Smith (PJ) and TSgt. Lorenzo E. Willis (PJ) medevacked two USAF airmen that had been in a car wreck in Thailand. No other details are known at this time. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form |
| 1970 - November 14 | A HH-43F from Det. 13, 38th ARRS, Phu Cat AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Lorenzo M. Crowell Jr. (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ), medevacked Than Vo Thuong in RVN. No other details are known at this time. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form |
| 1970 - November 14 | A HH-3E from Det. 14, 41st ARRWg at Osan AB, Korea, crewed by Lt. Col. Ronald L. Ingraham (P), Capt. John L. MacIntosh Jr. (CP), SSgt. Paul D. Kreider (FE) and Sgt. Douglas E. Wilson airlifted a seriously ill Japanese merchant seaman from a U.S. Navy tanker 10 miles west of Osan to the Army Support Command Hospital in Soul. The seaman became ill aboard the USMS Nodaway while it was de-fueling at a site on the South Korean coast. Pacific Stars & Stripes, Wednesday, Nov 18, 1970, pg. 7 |
| 1970 - November 15 | A HH-53C #68-10363 (Call sign “Jolly Green 65”) from the 37th ARRS at Da Nang AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Karlton I. Bakke (P), Lt. Col. Joseph F. Mudd (CP), Sgt. Edward J. Koebernik (FE), MSgt. James D. Scott (PJ) and Raphael R. Moreno (PJ), medevacked Crubu Mito from a Romanian ship in the South China Sea. High bird on this mission was HH-53C #68-10366 (Call sign “Jolly Green 70”). No other details are known at this time. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form |
| 1970 - November 15 | A HH-43F from Det. 9, 38th ARRS, Nakhon Phanom RTAFB, Thailand, crewed by Maj. Bobby S. Lay (P), Capt. Robert P. Starnes (CP), Sgt. Charles E. Vickers (MT), SSgt. Earl L. Miller (FF) and SSgt. Edward L. Brickner (FF), rescued the crew, Maj. Orville L. McPherson (P) and Maj. John T. Halley (CP), from a F-105G (Call sign "Alamo 02") after it had an engine failure, and they eject in Thailand. No other details are known at this time. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form |
| 1970 - November 17 | A HH-53C #68-10362 (Call sign “Jolly Green 64”) from the 37th ARRS, crewed by Maj. William J. Osley (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE), unkn (PJ) and unkn (PJ), medevacked one German seaman from his ship in the South China Sea. High bird on this mission was HH-53C #69-5785 (Call sign “Jolly Green 77”). No other details are known at this time. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form |
| 1970 - November 18 | UH-1P gunships of the 20th SOS "Green Hornets", one of which was UH-1P #63-13161 crewed by Capt. Somerville (P), Maj. Bey L. Brown (CP), TSgt. James W. Green (FM/AG) and unkn (AG), supported VNAF CH-34 "Kingbee" helicopters in the exfiltration, under heavy fire, of a MACV SOG team deep in enemy held territory. No other details are known at this time. "Secret Green Beret Commandos In Cambodia" by Lt. Col. Fred S. Lindsey, USA (Ret.) |
| 1970 - November 20 | A HH-43F from Det. 13, 38th ARRS, Phu Cat AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Richard L. Oliver (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ), medevacked Le Thi Thua in RVN. No other details are known at this time. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form |
| 1970 - November 20 | UH-1P gunships of the 20th SOS "Green Hornets", one of which was UH-1P #63-13161 crewed by Capt. Somerville (P), Maj. Bey L. Brown (CP), TSgt. James W. Green (FM/AG) and unkn (AG), supported VNAF CH-34 "Kingbee" helicopters in the exfiltration of a MACV SOG team and resupply of another team deep in enemy held territory. No other details are known at this time. "Secret Green Beret Commandos In Cambodia" by Lt. Col. Fred S. Lindsey, USA (Ret.) |
| 1970 - November 21 | HH-3E #65-12785 (Call sign "Banana 01") of the 40th ARRS, crewed by Maj. Herbert D. "Herb" Kalen (P), Lt. Col. Herbert R. "Herb" Zehnder (CP) & TSgt. LeRoy M. Wright (FE) along with a 14-man Special Forces assault team, was lost when it was deliberately crashed in the Son Tay POW Camp in North Viet Nam as part of "Operation Ivory Coast". The crew and passengers were rescued by HH-53C's that were part of the mission. Maj. Kalen & TSgt. Wright were awarded the Air Force Cross for their actions during this mission. This was the last H-3 lost in the Vietnam War. "The Son Tay Raid" by John Gargus & http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/37th_Aerospace_Rescue_and_Recovery_Squadron#Operations_and_losses |
| 1970 - November 21 | HH-53C #68-10357 (Call sign "Apple 01"), crewed by Lt. Col. Warner A. Britton (P), Maj. Alfred C. Montrem (CP), MSgt. Maurice F. Tasker (FE), MSgt. Harold W. Harvey (PJ) and SSgt. Jon K. Hoberg (PJ) took part in the Son Tay POW Camp prison airlifting the "Greenleaf Support Group". Lt. Col. Britton was awarded The Air Force Cross and Maj. Montrem, MSgt. Tasker, MSgt. Harvey, and SSgt. Hoberg were awarded The Silver Star for their actions on this mission. http://www.mh-53pavelow..com/documents/airframes/notable_h53_history.pdf & "The Son Tay Raid" by John Gargus |
| 1970 - November 21 | HH-53C #68-10361 (Call sign "Apple 02"), crewed by Lt. Col. John V. Allison (P), Maj. Jay M. Strayer (CP), TSgt. Charlie J. Montgomery (FE), TSgt. William E. Lester (PJ) and SSgt. Randy S. McComb (PJ) taking part in the Son Tay POW Camp prison raid airlifted the "Redwine Security Group" during the raid. "The Son Tay Raid" by John Gargus & http://www.mh-53pavelow..com/documents/airframes/notable_h53_history.pdf |
| 1970 - November 21 | HH-53C #68-8286 (Call sign "Apple 03"), crewed by Maj. Frederick M. Donohue (P), Capt. Thomas R. Waldron (CP), SSgt. James J. Rogers (FE), SSgt. Aaron P. Hodges (FE) and SSgt. Angus W. Sowell (PJ) taking part in the Son Tay POW Camp prison raid took out the prison gun towers with their miniguns. His aircraft was the last one to depart the camp upon completion of the raid. Maj. Donohue was awarded The Air Force Cross and Waldron, Rogers, Hodges, Sowell were awarded The Silver Star for their actions on this mission. "For Extraordinary Heroism The Air Force Cross" by Jeffrey B. Floyd & http://www.mh-53pavelow..com/documents/airframes/notable_h53_history.pdf & "The Son Tay Raid" by John Gargus |
| 1970 - November 21 | A HH-53C #68-8285 (Call sign "Apple 04"), crewed by Lt. Col. Royal A. Brown Jr. (P), Maj. Ryland “Roy” R. Dreibelbis (CP), TSgt. Lawrence Wellington (FE), SSgt. Donald LaBarre (PJ), and SSgt. Wayne L. Fisk (PJ), as part of the Son Tay POW Camp prison raid, rescued a F-105G (Call sign "Firebird 05 Alpha") pilot, Maj. Donald W. Kilgus (P) after he and his co-pilot, Capt. Clarence T. Lowry, ejected from their SAM damaged aircraft near Pa Doung, about 10 miles south of the Plane of Jars in northern Laos. This F-105G had been providing cover for the Son Tay Raid task force in North Vietnam. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & JRCC Save Form & "The Son Tay Raid" by John Gargus |
| 1970 - November 21 | A HH-53C #68-10359 (Call sign "Apple 05"), crewed by Maj. Kenneth D. Murphy (P), Capt. William M. McGeorge (CP), TSgt. David V. McLeod (FE), SSgt. Daniel E. Galde (PJ) and TSgt. John J. Eldridge (PJ) as part of the Son Tay POW Camp prison raid, rescued a F-105G (Call sign "Firebird 05 Bravo") co-pilot, Capt. Clarence T. Lowry (P) after he and his pilot, Maj. Donald W. Kilgus, ejected from their SAM damaged aircraft near Pa Doung, about 10 miles south of the Plane of Jars in northern Laos. This F-105G had been providing cover for the Son Tay Raid task force in North Vietnam. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & JRCC Save Form & "The Son Tay Raid" by John Gargus |
| 1970 - November 21 | Five UN-1N's #'s 69-6611,69-6612, 69-6614, 69-6615 and 69-6616 for the 20th SOS at Cam Ranh Bay AB, RVN arrived at Cam Ranh Bay AB, RVN. http://www.mh-53pavelow.com/documents/20thSOS/1970.pdf |
| 1970 - November 22 | UH-1P gunships of the 20th SOS "Green Hornets", one of which was UH-1P #63-13161 crewed by Capt. David C. Goddard (P), Capt. William V. Hornung (CP), TSgt. James W. Green (FM/AG) and unkn (AG), along with another UH-1P crewed by Capt. James R. Sells (P), unkn (CP), unkn (AG) and unkn (AG), supported VNAF CH-34 "Kingbee" helicopters in the exfiltration of a MACV SOG team, under heavy enemy fire, deep in enemy held territory. No other details are known at this time. "Secret Green Beret Commandos In Cambodia" by Lt. Col. Fred S. Lindsey, USA (Ret.) |
| 1970 - November 23 | A HH-43F from Det. 13, 38th ARRS, Phu Cat AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Richard L. Oliver (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ), medevacked on Vietnamese in RVN. No other details are known at this time. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form |
| 1970 - November 25 | A HH-43F from Det. 13, 38th ARRS, Phu Cat AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Aram Paquin (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ), medevacked Mai Van Det in RVN. No other details are known at this time. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form |
| 1970 - November 25 | Three UN-1N's #'s 69-6617, 69-6618 and 69-6619 for the 20th SOS at Cam Ranh Bay AB, RVN arrived at Cam Ranh Bay AB, RVN. http://www.mh-53pavelow.com/documents/20thSOS/1970.pdf |
| 1970 - November 29 | A PJ team from the 37th ARRS at Da Nang AB, RVN consisting of MSgt. James D. Scott, SSgt. Robert T. Martin, A1C Donald J. Pecoraro, A1C Randy L. Zonker and A1C William P. McDonald along with Flt. Surgeon Capt. R. N. Montemayor, were involved in the recovery effort of a USAF C-123K that had crashed on 27 November 1970. No other details are known at this time. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form |
| 1970 - December 01 | A HH-43F from Det. 13, 38th ARRS, Phu Cat AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Lorenzo M. Crovell Jr. (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ), medevacked one USAF airman, A1C James G. Vest in RVN. No other details are known at this time. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form |
| 1970 - December 02 | UH-1P gunships of the 20th SOS "Green Hornets", one of which was UH-1P #63-13160 crewed by Capt. Sczyzpien (P), Capt. Herbert W. Cullers Jr. (CP), James W. Green (FM/AG) and unkn (AG), supported VNAF CH-34 "Kingbee" helicopters in supporting a MACV SOG team, deep in enemy held territory. No other details are known at this time. "Secret Green Beret Commandos In Cambodia" by Lt. Col. Fred S. Lindsey, USA (Ret.) |
| 1970 - December 03 | A HH-43F from Det. 13, 38th ARRS, Phu Cat AB, RVN, crewed by Maj. Allan L. Gruer (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ), medevacked Thi Suong Le in RVN. No other details are known at this time. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form |
| 1970 - December 03 | A HH-43F, crewed by Maj. Louis C. Lewis Jr. (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ), medevacked civilian Dewey Henderson in Thailand. No other details are known at this time. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form |
| 1970 - December 03 | A HH-53C #69-5784 (Call sign “Jolly Green 71”) from the 37th ARRS at Da Nang AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Edward D. Harrow (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ), medevacked Eric Grant from a USCG ship in the South China Sea. No other details are known at this time. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form |
| 1970 - December 03 | A HH-53C #69-5787 (Call sign “Jolly Green 72”) from the 37th ARRS, crewed by Lt. Col. Royal A. Brown Jr. (P), unkn (CP), TSgt. Charles H. Jack (FE), unkn (PJ) and unkn (PJ), rescued an A-7E (Call sign "Canasta ?") pilot, Wit T. Wallace, from the South China Sea after he ejected from his aircraft when it ran out of fuel before he could locate his ship. High bird on this mission was HH-53C #69-5788 (Call sign “Jolly Green 73”). "PJ's in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form |
| 1970 - December 04 | UH-1P gunships of the 20th SOS "Green Hornets", one of which was UH-1P #63-13160 crewed by Capt. Bud Jenkins Jr. (P), Capt. Herbert W. Cullers (CP), TSgt. James W. Green (FM/AG) and unkn (AG), supported VNAF CH-34 "Kingbee" helicopters supporting a MACV SOG team, deep in enemy held territory. No other details are known at this time. "Secret Green Beret Commandos In Cambodia" by Lt. Col. Fred S. Lindsey, USA (Ret.) |
| 1970 - December 04 | A PJ team from the 37th ARRS at Da Nang AB, RVN, consisting of MSgt. James D. Scott, SSgt. Robert T. Martin, A1C Donald Pecoraro, A1C Randy Zonker and A1C William P. McDonald were involved in the recovery effort of a USAF C-123K (Call sign Bookie 540") that had crashed in bad weather, about 15 miles southwest of Cam Ranh Bay AB, RVN, on 29 November 1970. There were eleven USAF airmen and about 20 ARVN troops killed in the crash. There were two survivors when the wreckage was located but no other details are known at this time. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form |
| 1970 - December 05 | UH-1P gunships of the 20th SOS "Green Hornets", one of which was UH-1P #63-13160 crewed by Capt. Bud Jenkins (P), Capt. Herbert W. Cullers Jr. (CP), TSgt. James W. Green (FM/AG) and unkn (AG), supported VNAF CH-34 "Kingbee" helicopters inserting a MACV SOG team, deep in enemy held territory. No other details are known at this time. "Secret Green Beret Commandos In Cambodia" by Lt. Col. Fred S. Lindsey, USA (Ret.) |
| 1970 - December 06 | A HH-3E #66-14430 (Call sign “Jolly Green 65”) from Det. 1, 37th ARRS at Da Nang AB, RVN, crewed by unkn (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE), William P. MacDonald (PJ), SSgt. Robert T. Martin (PJ) and A1C Donald J. Pecoraro (PJ), rescued two from a C-123 who had lay injured in the wreckage of their aircraft for six days before being located. Forty-four others on the C-123 were KIA. High bird on this mission was HH-3E (Call sign “Jolly Green 72”). No other details are known at this time. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form |
| 1970 - December 07 | A HH-43F from Det. 6, 38th ARRS, Bien Hoa, RVN, crewed by Capt. Roy M. Litzen (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ), medevacked two persons, Trong and Prince, in RVN. No other details are known at this time. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form |
| 1970 - December 11 | A HH-53C from the 40th ARRS, crewed by Maj. Jay M. Strayer (P), Lt. Col. Burwell Block (CP), Sgt. Inus G. Crawford (FE), SSgt. Jon K. Hoberg (PJ) and Robert A. Wheeler (PJ), medevacked USAF SSgt. Willy M. Burke in Thailand. No other details are known at this time. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1970 - December 11 | A HH-43F from Det. 2, 38th ARRS, Takhli RTAFB, Thailand, crewed by Maj. Bobby S. Lay (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE), unkn (PJ) and unkn (PJ), medevacked Ervin Thomas in Thailand. No other details are known at this time. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1970 - December 11 | A HH-43F from Det. 13, 38th ARRS, Phu Cat AB, RCN, crewed by Capt. Aram Paquin (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE), unkn (PJ) and unkn (PJ), medevacked Nguyen Thi Ke in RVN. No other details are known at this time. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1970 - December 12 | A HH-53C from the 40th ARRS at Da Nang AB, RVN, crewed by Lt. Col. Phillip S. Prince (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE), SSgt. Joseph Stuart Stanaland (PJ) and unkn (P), rescued the crew of a B-57G, Lt. Col. Paul R. Pitt (P) and Lt. Col. Ed Buschette (CP) after they ejected near Ban Vangthon, Loas, 25 miles west of the DMZ, when their aircraft was hit by enemy fire. SSgt. Stanaland descended to the ground to aid the survivors and was awarded the Silver Star for his actions on this mission. http://valor.militarytimes.com/recipient.php?recipientid=23914 |
| 1970 - December 13 | A HH-53C from the 40th ARRS, crewed by Lt. Col. Phillip S. Prince (P), Lt. Col. William A. Lyell (CP), SSgt. Jerry L. Burchfield (FE), Richard G. Panbrum (PJ), Billy R. Davidson (PJ) and Roy B. Bagwell (AP), rescued a B-57G (Call sign "Manna 01") crew, Lt. Col. Paul R. Pitt (P) and Lt. Col. Edward Buschette (CP), after they ejected from their ground fire damaged aircraft near Ban Vangthon, Laos, about 25 miles west of the DMZ. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form |
| 1970 - December 13 | A HH-53C from the 37th ARRS crewed by Lt. Col. Phillip S. Prince (P), Maj. Joe C. Fouts (CP), Dennis R. Stevens (FE), SSgt. Ernest R. Cyrus (FE), SSgt. Joseph S. Stanaland (PJ) and Donald G. Behrends (PJ) unsuccessfully attempted the rescue of an O-2 (Call sign "Falcon 64") crewed by 1st Lt. Thomas Allen Duckett (P) and Maj. Owen George Skinner (CP), who were KIA. No other details are known at this time. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form |
| 1970 - December 14 | A HH-43F from Det. 1, 38th ARRS, Phan Rang AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Roger K. Coffey (P), Capt. Mike H. Nelson (CP), MSgt. William F. Pell (FE) and SSgt James W. Holden (PJ) rescued two USA troops, 1st Lt. Richard D. Fluharty and WO1 Orvill H. Davidsmeyer, from a downed USA UH-1 helicopter in RVN. No other details are known at this time. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form |
| 1970 - December 18 | A HH-53C #69-5788 (Call sign “Jolly Green 73”) from the 37th ARRS, RVN, crewed by Capt. Harry S. Copperthite Jr. (P), Maj. Frank L. Pehr Jr. (CP), SSgt. Jerry L. Burchfield (FE), MSgt. Gordon C. Bailey (PJ) and TSgt. Henry C. Kirk III (PJ) rescued the pilot, Maj. James Pattee Allenberg, of an OV-10A (Call sign "Helix 38") from the South China Sea after his aircraft had an engine failure and crashed off the coast near Da Nang AB, RVN. Maj Allenberg was found floating face down, given mouth to mouth enroute but declared DOA at the hospital. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe& 37th ARRS (MAC) Controller’s Log 28 May 70 - 13 Jul 71 |
| 1970 - December 20 | A HH-53C from the 40th ARRS, crewed by Maj. Robert W. Hawes (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE), unkn (PJ) and unkn (PJ), rescued the pilot, Maj. Matthew Peach, from a downed QU-22A in Laos. No other details are known at this time. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form |
| 1970 - December 21 | A HH-53C from the 40th ARRS, crewed by Maj. Robert W. Hawes (P), Maj. Evan C. Christiansen (CP), Sgt. Wayne F. Estey (FE), Robert R. Taylor (PJ), Theodore J. Zahrowski (PJ) and Robert M. Zahrowski (AP), participated in a SAR mission for F-105 (Call sign Vampire 03"). No other details are known at this time. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form |
| 1970 - December 21 | A HH-53C from the 40th ARRS, crewed by Maj. William D. Eastman (P), Capt. George F. Armstrong (CP), Sgt. Robert M. Camy (FE), SSgt. Joseph S. Stanaland (PJ), Sgt. Frederick D. Jenkins (PJ) and Robert M. Zahrowski (AP), rescued the crew of a RF-4C (Call sign "Atlanta 10, 1st Lt. Marcus M. Nullis (P) and Maj. Allan F. Rush (CP), after they ejected from their AAA damaged aircraft near Ban Kapay, Laos, about 25 miles west of the DMZ. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form |
| 1970 - December 21 | A HH-53C from the 40th ARRS, crewed by Maj. Harry E. Raisor (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ), rescued one crew member, Clive S. Bevan, of an F-105G in Thailand. No other details are known at this time. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form |
| 1970 - December 21 | A HH-53C from the 40th ARRS, crewed by Capt. Donald H. Almanzar (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ), rescued one crew member, G. B. Hurst, of an F-105G in Thailand. No other details are known at this time. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form |
| 1970 - December 25 | A HH-43F from Det. 13, 38th ARRS, Phu Cat AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Lorenzo M. Crowell Jr. (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ), medevacked Phan Nguyen in RVN. No other details are known at this time. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form |
| 1970 - December 28 | A HH-43F from Det. 9. 38th ARRS, Nakhon Phanom RTAFB, Thailand, crewed by Maj. Bobby S. Lay (P), Capt. Lawrence S. Hagerman (CP), SSgt Alvin A. Malone (FE), SSgt Charles E. Vickers (MT), SSgt Jerry L. Price (FF) and A1C Jean H. Boehm rescued the pilot of a USN A-7E (Call sign "Canasta 40"), Lt. Cdr. Robert N. Castle Jr., after his engine quit and he ejected from his aircraft about 16 miles southeast of Nakhon Phanom RTAFB, Thailand. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form |
| 1970 - December 29 | UH-1P gunships of the 20th SOS "Green Hornets", crewed by unkn (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FM/AG) and unkn (AG), supported VNAF CH-34 "Kingbee" helicopters inserting two ARVN recon teams, deep in enemy held territory. No other details are known at this time. "Secret Green Beret Commandos In Cambodia" by Lt. Col. Fred S. Lindsey, USA (Ret.) |
| 1970 - December 29 | The last HH-3E #67-14710 (Call sign “Jolly Green 23”) departs from Da Nang AB, RVN and it is flown to Japan for reassignment to the rescue unit in Kadena. The era of the “Nitnoy” is declared over in the 37th ARRS duty log. 37th ARRS (MAC) Controller’s Log 28 May 70 - 13 Jul 71 |
| 1970 - December 31 | UH-1P gunships of the 20th SOS "Green Hornets", crewed by unkn (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FM/AG) and unkn (AG), supported VNAF CH-34 "Kingbee" helicopters extracting a ARVN recon team, under fire, deep in enemy held territory. No other details are known at this time. "Secret Green Beret Commandos In Cambodia" by Lt. Col. Fred S. Lindsey, USA (Ret.) |
| TIME FRAME | HISTORY |
|---|---|
| 1971 - ??, ?? | Two U.S. Coast Guard 'exchange' helicopter pilots arrived at Da Nang AB, RVN for assignment with the 37th ARRS. They were Lt. Cmdr. Joseph L. Crowe and Lt. Roderick Martin III. http://uscgaviationhistory.aopero.org/images/U.S.%20Coast%20Guard%20Aviation%20in%20Vietnam.pdf |
| 1971 - January ?? | HH-43F #59-1556 (Call sign "Pedro 58") from Det. 12, 42nd ARRS, George AFB, CA. crewed by Maj. James L. Wissert (P), Maj. Lyle A. Beck (CP) and SSgt. John L. Hatch (FM) became the FIRST HH-43F model to make a "stateside save" when they rescued 12 members of a stranded ground rescue team from the San Gabriel Mountains during three sorties. Eight of the rescues were at the 6,000 ft. level and the other four were at the 8,700 ft. level. Kaman Rotor Tips Jan-Feb 1971 |
| 1971 - January 01 | A HH-3E from Det. 1, 37th ARRS at Da Nang AB, RVN, crewed by unkn (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE), William P. MacDonald (PJ), SSgt. Robert T. Martin (PJ) and A1C Donald J. Pecoraro (PJ), rescued two from a C-123 who had lay injured in the wreckage of their aircraft for six days before being located. Forty-four others on the C-123 were KIA. No other details are known at this time. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form |
| 1971 - January 02 | UH-1P gunships of the 20th SOS "Green Hornets", one was UH-1P #65-7926 crewed by Capt. James D. Schuman Sr. (P), Capt. Ray D. Ostergeard (CP), TSgt. James W. Green (FM/AG) and unkn (AG) and a second UH-1P gunship crewed by unkn (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FM/AG) and TSgt. Ronald J. Gray (AG) supported VNAF CH-34 "Kingbee" helicopters inserting an ARVN recon team, and subsequent extraction of the team, under fire, deep in enemy held territory. No other details are known at this time. "Secret Green Beret Commandos In Cambodia" by Lt. Col. Fred S. Lindsey, USA (Ret.) |
| 1971 - January 02 | A HH-53 from the 40th ARRS, crewed by Maj. Joe C. Fouts (P), Capt. John P. Di’Tucci (CP), Dennis R. Stevens (FE), SSgt. Joseph S. Stanaland (PJ) and TSgt. John J. Eldridge (PJ) rescued the crew of a F-4E (Call sign "Tiger 02"), Capt. Harvey D. Wier Jr. and 1st Lt. Rayford K. Brown, after they ejected from their AAA damaged aircraft just west of the Ban Ban Valley, Laos. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form |
| 1971 - January 04 | UH-1P gunships of the 20th SOS "Green Hornets", crewed by Capt. James D. Schuman Sr. (P), Capt. Ray D. Ostergeard (CP), TSgt James W. Green (FM/AG) and unkn (AG), supported VNAF CH-34 "Kingbee" helicopters extracting an ARVN recon team, under fire, deep in enemy held territory. No other details are known at this time. "Secret Green Beret Commandos In Cambodia" by Lt. Col. Fred S. Lindsey, USA (Ret.) |
| 1971 - January 04 | A HH-43F from Det. 13, 38th ARRS, Phu Cat AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Edward W. Gmyrek (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ), medevacked Trong Nguyen Van in RVN. No other details are known at this time. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form |
| 1971 - January 05 | A HH-43F from Det. 13, 38th ARRS, Phu Cat AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Joseph M. Coffman Jr. (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ), medevacked one Vietnamese in RVN. No other details are known at this time. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form |
| 1971 - January 05 | A HH-43F from Det. 13, 38th ARRS, Phu Cat AB, RVN, crewed by Maj. Allan L. Gruer (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ), medevacked Hon Lee Van in RVN. No other details are known at this time. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form |
| 1971 - January 05 | Two HH-3E’s from the 31st ARRS at Clark AB, RP, one crewed by Maj. Joseph E. Symonds (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ) and the second crewed by David Vaughn (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ), rescued twenty-two crewmen of the ill-fated Japanese freighter Santo Maru that sunk in 25-foot seas about 200 miles east of the Philippines. Pacific Stars & Stripes, Thursday, Jan 7, 1971, pg. 7 |
| 1971 - January 06 | UH-1P gunships of the 20th SOS "Green Hornets", UH-1P #65-7926 crewed by Capt. James D. Schuman Sr. (P), Capt. Ray D. Ostergeard (CP), TSgt James W. Green (FM/AG) and unkn (AG), supported VNAF CH-34 "Kingbee" helicopters inserting two ARVN recon team, deep in enemy held territory. No other details are known at this time. "Secret Green Beret Commandos In Cambodia" by Lt. Col. Fred S. Lindsey, USA (Ret.) |
| 1971 - January 06 | A HH-43F from Det. 13, 38th ARRS, Phu Cat AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Edward W. Gmyrek (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ), medevacked Richard L. Lansing in RVN. No other details are known at this time. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form |
| 1971 - January 06 | HH-53C #68-10363 (Call sign "Jolly Green 65") from the 37th ARRS crewed by unkn (P), unkn (CP) unkn (FE), unkn (PJ) and unkn (PJ) saves five members of a downed VNAF aircraft (Call sign "Butterfly 63"). No other details are known at this time. www.mh-53pavelow.com/documents/airframes/notable_h53_history.pdf |
| 1971 - January 08 | A HH-53C from the 37th ARRS, crewed by Capt. Rodney S. Griffith (P), Capt. Michael C. Sartori (CP), SSgt. David Garcia (FE), Charles B. Aldean (PJ) and SSgt. Eugene L. Nardi (PJ), rescued eight from a VNAF H-34 (Call sign "King Bee") that was downed in Cambodia. No other details are known at this time. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form |
| 1971 - January 10 | A HH-53C #66-14430 (Call sign “Jolly Green 66”) crewed by unkn (P), unkn (CP) unkn (FE), unkn (PJ), unkn (PJ) and unkn (FS) landed on a ships pad and medevacked an unkn patient. High bird on this mission was “Jolly Green 71” crewed by unkn (P), unkn (PJ), unkn (FE), unkn (PJ) and unkn (PJ). No other details or know about this mission. |
| 1971 - January 11 | A HH-53C #68-10365 (Call sign "Jolly Green 67") from the 37th ARRS at Da Nang AB, RVN, crewed by Maj. Donald L. Jensen (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE), unkn (PJ) and unkn (PJ), attempted the rescue of the crew of a downed USA LOH helicopter, but was hit by ground fire and damaged and made a landing on a sandbar. The crew of "Jolly Green 67" was rescued by another HH-53C (See next entry). No other details are known at this time. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form |
| 1971 - January 11 | A HH-53C #69-5785 (Call sign "Jolly Green 77") from the 37th ARRS at Da Nang AB, RVN, crewed by Lt. Col. Joseph F. Mudd (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE), unkn (PJ) and unkn (PJ), rescue of the crew of a downed HH-53C (Call sign "Jolly Green 67") that had been hit by ground fire and damaged and made a landing on a sandbar. The crew of "Jolly Green 67", Maj. Donald L Jensen (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE), unkn (PJ) and unkn (PJ) were all rescued (See previous entry). No other details are known at this time. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form |
| 1971 - January 16 | A HH-43F from Det. 13, 38th ARRS, Phu Cat AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Edward W. Gmyrek (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ), medevacked Harry R. Statham in RVN. No other details are known at this time. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form |
| 1971 - January 17 | A HH-53C #68-10366 (Call sign “Jolly Green 70”) from the 40th ARRS, crewed by Maj. Donald L. Jensen (P), Capt. Glen W. Walder (CP), SSgt. Edward J. L. Koebernik (FE), SSgt. Jules C. Smith (PJ) and TSgt. Henry C. Kirk III (PJ) rescued the WSO of an F-4E (Call sign "Gunfighter 13 Bravo"), Maj. Jerome D. Siderius, after he and his pilot, Maj. Robert Henry Mirrer, after their aircraft had been hit by AAA fire near Ban Kaloung in southern Laos, and they managed to fly their aircraft over the South China Sea before they were forced to eject about 15 miles east of Da Nang AB, RVN. Maj. Mirrer could not be located and is listed as KIA. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form & 37th ARRS Save Logbook 1971 |
| 1971 - January 19 | A HH-43F (Call sign “Pedro 47”) from Det. 9, 38th ARRS at Pleiku AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Oliver E. Schmoker (P), Capt. George H. Hopkins (CP), SSgt. Alvin A. Malone (FE) and SSgt. Charles E. Vickers (MT), medevacked U. S. Army PFC Donald L. Phillips from Camp Cloudy in RVN. No other details are known at this time. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form |
| 1971 - January 20 | A HH-53C #69-5784 (Call sign “Jolly Green 71”) from the 37th ARRS, crewed by Capt. Gary H. Hoven (P), Capt. Glen W. Walder (CP), Sgt. John C. Kriletich (FE), Williams (PJ) and SSgt. Jules C. Smith (PJ) rescued the WSO of a F-4E (Call sign "Gunfighter 03 Bravo"), Maj. Harman E. Kiefer, from the South China Sea when his aircraft had its engines catch fire after takeoff and he and Capt. David A. Warner (P), ejected at sea a few miles off the coast of Da Nang AB, RVN (see next entry). Sgt. Kriletich is known to have been awarded The Distinguished Flying Cross for his actions on this mission, awards for the other crew members are unkn. “Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form & 37th ARRS Save Logbook 1971 |
| 1971 - January 20 | A HH-53C #69-5785 (Call sign “Jolly Green 77”) from the 37th ARRS, crewed by Capt. Joseph F. Mudd (P), Leonard B. Merchant (CP), A1C Patrick B. Wolfe (FE), TSgt. Allen J. Avery (PJ) and A1C Ervin A. Petty (PJ) rescued the pilot of a F-4E (Call sign "Gunfighter 03 Alpha"), Capt. David A. Warner, from the South China Sea when his aircraft had its engines catch fire after takeoff and he and Maj. Harman E. Kiefer (P), ejected at sea a few miles off the coast of Da Nang AB, RVN (see previous entry). “Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form & 37th ARRS Save Logbook 1971 |
| 1971 - January 20 | For the FIRST time a UH-1N from the 20th SOS, crewed by unkn (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FM) and unkn (AG), was used as the fifth gunship on a combat mission, along with UH-1P's. No other details are known at this time. http://www.mh-53pavelow.com/documents/20thSOS/1971.pdf |
| 1971 - January 22 | A UH-1N #69-6614 from the 20th SOS, crewed by Capt. Raymond J. Nozynski (P), Capt. Joseph R. Kolek (CP), unkn (FM) and TSgt James W. Green (AG), inserted one ARVN recon team and extracted another from deep in enemy territory. No other details are known at this time. "Secret Green Beret Commandos In Cambodia" by Lt. Col. Fred S. Lindsey, USA (Ret.) |
| 1971 - January 23 | A UH-1N #69-6619 from the 20th SOS, crewed by Capt. Raymond J. Nozynski (P), Capt. Joseph R. Kolek (CP), unkn (FM) and TSgt James W. Green (AG), inserted one ARVN recon team deep into enemy territory. No other details are known at this time. "Secret Green Beret Commandos In Cambodia" by Lt. Col. Fred S. Lindsey, USA (Ret.) |
| 1971 - January 24 | A UH-1N #69-6619 from the 20th SOS, crewed by Capt. Raymond J. Nozynski (P), Capt. Joseph R. Kolek (CP), unkn (FM) and TSgt James W. Green (AG), inserted one ARVN recon team and extracted another deep in enemy territory. No other details are known at this time. "Secret Green Beret Commandos In Cambodia" by Lt. Col. Fred S. Lindsey, USA (Ret.) |
| 1971 - January 26 | A UH-1N #69-6619 from the 20th SOS, crewed by Capt. Raymond J. Nozynski (P), Capt. Joseph R. Kolek (CP), unkn (FM) and TSgt James W. Green (AG), inserted one ARVN recon team and extracted another deep in enemy territory. No other details are known at this time. "Secret Green Beret Commandos In Cambodia" by Lt. Col. Fred S. Lindsey, USA (Ret.) |
| 1971 - January 27 | A UH-1N #69-6618 from the 20th SOS, crewed by Capt. Raymond J. Nozynski (P), Capt. Joseph R. Kolek (CP), unkn (FM) and TSgt James W. Green (AG), extracted an ARVN recon team deep in enemy territory. No other details are known at this time. "Secret Green Beret Commandos In Cambodia" by Lt. Col. Fred S. Lindsey, USA (Ret.) |
| 1971 - January 30 | A HH-43F from Det. 1, 38th ARRS, Phan Rang AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Michael H. Nelson (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ), rescued four USA troops, WO2 Donald McPherson, E-5 Larry Sapp, E-5 James R. Boerth and E-5 Fredrick Solis from a downed USAF UH-1H in RVN. No other details are known at this time. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form |
| 1971 - January 30 | HH-43F from Det. 1, 38th ARRS, Phan Rang AB, RVN, crewed by Michael H. Nelson (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE), unkn (PJ) and unkn (PJ), medevacked Donald McPherson and Larry Sapp in RVN. No other details are known at this time. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1971 - February 02 | UH-1N #69-6615 from the 20th SOS, crewed by Capt. James D. Schuman Sr. (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FM) and TSgt James W. Green (AG), launched on a village defense mission for a village that was under attack. No other details are known at this time. "Secret Green Beret Commandos In Cambodia" by Lt. Col. Fred S. Lindsey, USA (Ret.) |
| 1971 - February 03 | A HH-53 from the 40th ARRS, crewed by unkn (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE), unkn (PJ) and unkn (PJ), participated in the unsuccessful SAR for a F-4D (Call sign "Bigot 02") crew, Lt. Col. Robert Lauren Standerwick (P) and Maj. Norbert Anthony Gotner (WSO), who ejected from their aircraft that was shot down, while on a sensor drop mission over the Ho Ch Minh Trail, near Ban Kantaloung about 10 miles southwest of the Ban Karai Pass in Laos. Col. Standerwick was KIA and Maj. Gotner became a POW. “Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form |
| 1971 - February 04 | Three HH-3E’s arrived at Kadena AB, Okinawa from Naha AB, Okinawa, marking the move of Det. 14, 41st ARRWg. to Kadena AB after a 16-year absence. The unit move was part of the scheduled reduction of Air Force activities at Naha AB. Piloting the lead helicopter in their 10-minute flight from Naha AB was Maj. John M. High (P) detachment commander. Names of the other crew members are not known. The unit joins Det. 6, 47th ARRS. Pacific Stars & Stripes, Monday, Feb. 8, 1971 |
| 1971 - February 06 | A HH-53C #68-10363 (Call sign “Jolly Green 65”) from the 37th ARRS, crewed by Maj. Ryland R. Dreibelbis (P), Capt. Karlton I. Bakke (CP), SSgt. Robert H. Rogers (FE), MSgt. Gordon C. Bailey (PJ) and James W. Muelchi (PJ), rescued VANAF troops, 1st Lt. Ngoc Tran Van, 2nd Lt. Boi Hoang, 2nd Lt. Nh Tep Dang, Sgt. Bat Mai Von and Capt. Hao Do, from a downed VNAF UH-1H helicopter. No other details are known at this time. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form & 37th ARRS Save Logbook 1971 |
| 1971 - February 09 | A HH-53C 69-5785 (Call sign “Jolly Green 77”) from the 37th ARRS, crewed by Capt. Donald A. Beattie (P), Capt. John N. Komich (CP), SSgt. Jerry L. Burchfield (FE), B Smith (PJ) and A1C Daniel D. Hancock (PJ) medevacked a unkn Vietnamese woman who was pregnant and hemorrhaging. No other details are known at this time. 37th ARRS record book of Combat Saves & 37th ARRS Save Logbook 1971 |
| 1971 - February 10 | UH-1N and UH-1P gunships and slicks from the 20th SOS, with UH-1P slick #63-13161 crewed by Capt. John V. Fineour (P), Capt. Robert J. Connolly (CP), unkn (FM) and TSgt James W. Green (AG), launched from Tieu Atar and extracted two ARVN recon team from deep in enemy held territory. No other details are known at this time. "Secret Green Beret Commandos In Cambodia" by Lt. Col. Fred S. Lindsey, USA (Ret.) |
| 1971 - February 10 | UH-1P #63-13162 from the 20th SOS, crewed by Capt. William V. Hornung (P), Capt. Marion J. Messenger (CP), unkn (FM) and TSgt James W. Green (FM/AG), moved equipment from Tieu Atar, RVN to Duc Lap, RVN. No other details are known at this time. "Secret Green Beret Commandos In Cambodia" by Lt. Col. Fred S. Lindsey, USA (Ret.) |
| 1971 - February 12 | UH-1P #63-13161 from the 20th SOS, crewed by Capt. John V. Fineour (P), Capt. Robert J. Connolly (CP), TSgt. Darrell L. Babb (AG) and TSgt James W. Green (FM/AG), launched from Doc Lap, RVN and inserted one ARVN recon team and extracted another team, under fire, deep in enemy territory. No other details are known at this time. "Secret Green Beret Commandos In Cambodia" by Lt. Col. Fred S. Lindsey, USA (Ret.) |
| 1971 - February 13 | A HH-53C #69-5785 (Call sign “Jolly Green 77”) from the 37th ARRS operating from Bien Hoa AB, RVN, crewed by unkn (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE), unkn (PJ) and unkn (PJ) medevacked an unknown to the 3rd field Hospital. No other details are known at this time. 37th ARRS 1 Sep – 26 Nov 70 Record book |
| 1971 - February 16 | A HH-53 from the 40th ARRS, crewed by Capt. Charles R. Hagerhjim (P), Maj. George T. MacDonald (CP), Fredrick M. Moorehouse (FE), Henry L. Ochse (PJ), A1C John A. Smith (PJ) and Rodney L. Olsen (AP), rescued the crew of a F-4D (Call sign "Dudley 02"), Lt. Col. William R. Cox (P) and Maj. William C. Allen (CP), after they ejected from their AAA damaged aircraft in Laos about 40 miles east of Nakhon Phanom RTAFB, Thailand. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form |
| 1971 - February 18 | CH-53C #68-10929 (Call sign "Knife 47") of the 21st SOS and crewed by Capt. Roger Korenberg (P), Capt. Lyle Horner (CP), Auggie Lawson (FE) and Carlos de Mattos (FE) was lost in Laos. The crew and passengers were rescued by another CH-53C #66-13287 (Call sign "Knife 33") that was on this mission. http://www.jollygreen.org/jltnc.htm & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1971 - February 19 | HH-53C from the 37th ARRS at Da Nang AB, RVN, crewed by unkn (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ), attempted the rescue of an O-2A (Call sign "Covey 275") crew, 1st Lt. James Larry Hull (P) and USA Sgt. William Matthew Fernandez (Observer) that had crashed in the jungle near Ban Pelou, some 55 miles west of Da Nang but both were KIA. No other details are known at this time. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1971 - February 19 | HH-43F from Det. 6, 38th ARRS, Bien Hoa AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Robert J. Franklin (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ), medevacked USAF SSgt. Jimmy D. Boltan in RVN. No other details are known at this time. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1971 - February 20 | A USAF helicopter, crewed by unkn (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ), rescued the pilot of an O-1F, 1st Lt. P. Peacock, after he was shot down and crash landed his aircraft near Plei Djereng about 20 miles west of Pleiku AB, RVN. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1971 - February 20 | HH-43F from Det 7, 38th ARRSq., crewed by Capt. Alvin J. Machtimes (P), 1st Lt. John A. Hall (CP), MSgt William T. Walker (FE) and Sgt Wallace H. Long (MT), medevacked USN E-4 Warden L. Johnson in RVN. No other details are known at this time. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1971 - February 23 | Two CH–3E helicopters from Sheppard Technical Training Center, Texas, carried 1.5 tons of food—including bread and milk—in six flights to 300 residents stranded along Interstate 40 between Erick, Oklahoma, and Amarillo, Texas. The Jolly Green Giant helicopters also carried 25 people to safety. No other details are known at this time. The United States Air Force and Humanitarian Airlift Operations 1947–1994 by Daniel L. Haulman Air Force Historical Research Agency Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama |
| 1971 - February 26 | HH-53C #68-10363 (Call sign "Jolly Green 65") from the 37th ARRS at Da Nang AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Karlton I. Bakke (P), Capt. John R. Weimer Jr. (CP), TSgt. Carlos J. McKinney II (FE), SSgt. Eugene L. Nardi (PJ), A1C Michael A. Curtis (PJ) and A1C Steven C. Rhody (PJ), rescued the crew of a F-4D (Call sign "Cobra 23"), Capt. David R. Hedditch (P) and 1st Lt. Thomas M. McLaughlin, after their aircraft was hit by a SAM and they ejected on 25 February 1971 about 10 miles SW of Dong Hoi. HH-53C #68-10363 took nine hits from enemy fire during this rescue and Capt. Bakke, Capt. Weimer, TSgt. McKinney, SSgt. Nardi and A1C Curtis were awarded the Silver Star for their actions during this rescue. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & JRCC Save Form & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & www.mh-53pavelow.com/documents/airframes/notable_h53_history.pdf & 37th ARRS Save Logbook 1971 |
| 1971 - February 27 | A HH-53C #69-5787 (Call sign "Jolly Green 72") from the 37th ARRS, crewed by Capt. David H. Wammer (P), Maj. Clarence D. Fried (CP), SSgt. Robert H. Rogers (FE), TSgt. Charles K. W. Schwartz (PJ) and TSgt. Henry C. Kirk III (PJ) rescued an A-7E (Call sign "Chippie 414") pilot, Cmdr. P. F. McCarthy, when he ejected over the Gulf of Tonkin, after his aircraft had a flame out. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & JRCC Save Form & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & 37th ARRS Save Logbook 1971 |
| 1971 - February 27 | A HH-43F from Det. 3, 38th ARRS, Ubon AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. John M. Higbie (P), Capt. Samuel L. Ferguson (CP), SSgt Richard C. Former (FE), Sgt Jack W. Demler (MT), SSgt Blake C. Dow (FF) and Sgt Fred L. Jessee (FF), saved an F-4D crew member, F. T. Payne, in Thailand. No other details are known at this time. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & JRCC Save Form & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1971 - February 27 | The last of the 22 UH-1N model helicopters for the 20th SOS "Green Hornets" arrived in Vietnam on this date. http://www.mh-53pavelow.com/documents/20thSOS/1971.pdf |
| 1971 - March 01 | CH-53C #68-10931 (Call sign "Knife 34") of the 21st SOS and crewed by Maj. Milton H. Ramsey (P), Capt. Albert Tijerina, Jr. (CP), SSgt. Gerald J. Pearson (FE) and Frank Deck (FE) operating out of Lima Site 20 and inserting Laotian soldiers was lost when it crashed during landing in Laos. Maj. Ramsey & Capt. Tijerina were killed in the crash. Pearson & Deck were rescued. http://www.jollygreen.org/jltnc.html |
| 1971 - March 01 | The conversion from UH-1F/P's to UH-1N's at the 20th SOS at Cam Rahn Bay, AB, RVN, was completed on this date. http://www.mh-53pavelow.com/documents/20thSOS/1971.pdf |
| 1971 - March 02 | A HH-53C #69-5788 (Call sign “Jolly Green 73”) from the 37th ARRS at Da Nang AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Karlton I. Bakke (P), Capt. Edward D. Harrow (CP), SSgt. Robert H. Rogers (FE), SSgt. Eugene L. Nardi (PJ), A1C Donald J. Pecoraro (PJ) and Montemayor (FS), medevacked Le Hoang Nhon a Vietnamese sailor with a temperature of 106 degrees and delirious, from Con Son Island to Field Hospital 24 at Long Bien in RVN. No other details are known at this time. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & 37th ARRS Save Logbook 1971 & 37th ARRS 1 Sep – 26 Nov 70 Record book |
| 1971 - March 05 | A HH-43F (Call sign “Pedro 46”) from Det. 9, 38th ARRS, Nakhon Phanom RTAFB, Thailand, crewed by Maj. Bobby S. Lay (P), Capt. Howard E. Casey (CP), Sgt. Talmadge W. Parker (FE), Affelt (?), Sorrells (?), Tindle (?) and unkn (PJ), rescued eight crew members, Lt. Col. Robert Cranshaw, Lt. Col. Richard Denfield, MSgt. Gerald Price, Sgt. Bruce Abbott, and Sgt. John D. Bean, Sgt. Donald Gibson, SSgt. Robert Johnson and Lt. Col. Charles L. Tipton, from an AC-119. No other details are known at this time. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form & Det. 9, 38th ARRS Logbook 02 Jan 70-30 Dec 71 |
| 1971 - March 06 | A HH-53C #69-5784 (Call sign “Jolly Green 71”) from the 37th ARRS at Da Nang AB, RVN, crewed by Maj. Joseph F. Mudd (P), Capt. Leonard B. Merchant (CP), A1C Robert Johnson (FE), A1C James W. Muelchi (PJ), A1C William P. McDonald (PJ), Duane D. Hackney (PJ) and Lewis (AP) rescued the pilot of a A-1H (Call sign "Sandy 04"), 1st Lt. Charles L. Tipton, after he ejected from his ground fire damaged aircraft, about 15 miles west of Khe Sanh, RVN. High bird on the mission was HH-53C #68-10362 (Call sign “Jolly Green 64”) crewed by unkn (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE), A1C Ervin Petty (PJ) and MSgt. James D. Scott (PJ). "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form & 37th ARRS Save Logbook 1971 & Ervin Petty Facebook post 06 Apr 2024. |
| 1971 - March 07 | UH-1N #69-6631 from the 20th SOS, crewed by Capt. Edward M. Blaess (P), Capt. Robert J. Connolly (CP), unkn (AG) and TSgt James W. Green (FM/AG), and "Green Hornet" gunships supported a VNAF CH-34 helicopter in the exfil of a ARVN recon team deep in enemy territory. No other details are known at this time. "Secret Green Beret Commandos In Cambodia" by Lt. Col. Fred S. Lindsey, USA (Ret.) |
| 1971 - March 09 | A HH-53C from the 37th ARRS, crewed by Capt. Donald G. Beattie (P), Capt. John N. Komich (CP), SSgt. Jerry L. Burchfield (FE), Smith (PJ) and A1C Daniel D. Hancock (PJ), medevacked one Vietnamese in RVN. No other details are known at this time. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form |
| 1971 - March 10 | UH-1N #69-6631 from the 20th SOS, crewed by Capt. Maurie P. Bois Jr. (P), Capt. Robert J. Connolly (CP), unkn (AG) and TSgt James W. Green (FM/AG), and "Green Hornet" gunships supported an ARVN recon team deep in enemy territory. No other details are known at this time. "Secret Green Beret Commandos In Cambodia" by Lt. Col. Fred S. Lindsey, USA (Ret.) |
| 1971 - March 10 - May 24 | In a mass transpacific ferrying deployment between the United States and Southeast Asia, ARRS personnel flew five HH-53C's from Eglin AFB, FL. to Udorn RTAFB, Thailand. Intermediate stops along the transpacific route were: McCord AFB, WA., Elmendorf AFB, AK, Shemya AFB, AK., Misawa AB, Japan, Kadena AB, Okinawa, and Clark AB, PI. All flights received enroute refueling from ARRS HC-130P/N's. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/37th_Aerospace_Rescue_and_Recovery_Squadron#Operations_and_losses |
| 1971 - March 11 | UH-1N #69-6631 from the 20th SOS, crewed by Capt. Laney Cormney (P), Capt. Edward M. Blaess (CP), unkn (AG) and TSgt James W. Green (FM/AG), and "Green Hornet" gunships supported an ARVN recon team deep in enemy territory. No other details are known at this time. "Secret Green Beret Commandos In Cambodia" by Lt. Col. Fred S. Lindsey, USA (Ret.) |
| 1971 - March 13 | A HH-53C #68-10362 (Call sign "Jolly Green 64") of the 37th ARRS, crewed by Lt. Col. Royal A. Brown, Jr. (P), Maj. Frank L. Pehr (CP), TSgt. Charles H. Jack (FE), A1C Michael A. Curtis (PJ) and A1C Steven C. Rhody made two attempts to rescue U.S. Navy A-7E (Call sign "Battle Cry 315") pilot, Lt. Barton Sheldon Creed after he had ejected when his aircraft was hit by 23mm AAA fire near the intersection of Hwy's 92 and 922 and the Hoi An River in Laos. HH-53C #68-10362 (Call sign "Jolly Green 64") made two attempts under heavy ground fire before being forced to break off his hover and leave the area with numerous hits from ground fire and two crew members wounded. Lt. Col. Brown, Maj. Pehr, TSgt. Jack, A1C Curtis and A1C Rhody were awarded the Silver Star for their actions during this mission (See next entry). "Leave No Man Behind: The Saga of Combat Search and Rescue" by George Caldorisi & Thomas Phillips & 37th ARRSQ History, 1 July – 30 September 1971 & http://valor.militarytimes.com/recipient.php?recipientid=24232 &"PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1971 - March 13 | A HH-53C #69-5784 (Call sign "Jolly Green 71") of the 37th ARRS at Da Nang AB, RVN, crewed by Maj. Donald L. Jensen (P), Maj. William J. Osley (CP), SSgt. David M. Cutillo (FE), TSgt. Eugene L. Nardi (PJ), TSgt. Richard M. Crowley (PJ) and A1C Gust Dinos (PJ) continued the attempt to rescue U.S. Navy A-7E (Call sign "Battle Cry 315") pilot Lt. Barton Sheldon Creed from Laos. During "Jolly Green 73's” rescue attempt (see next entry) two of the P.J.'s were wounded and the aircraft was his by enemy ground fire and driven off their rescue attempt. ‘High bird’ on this attempt was HH-53C #68-10365 (Call sign “Jolly Green 67”), crewed by Capt. Karlton I. Bakke (P), Capt. Bruce M. Carskadon (CP), SSgt. Patrick B. Wolfe (FE), TSgt. Herbert W. Kee (PJ) and A1C Donald J. Pecoraro (PJ). "Leave No Man Behind: The Saga of Combat Search and Rescue" by George Caldorisi & Thomas Phillips & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1971 - March 13 | A HH-53C #69-5788 (Call sign "Jolly Green 73") of the 37th ARRS, crewed by Maj. Donald L. Jensen (P), Maj. William J. Osley (CP), SSgt. David M. Cutillo (FE), TSgt. Eugene L. Nardi (PJ), TSgt. Richard M. Crowley (PJ) and A1C Gus Dinos (PJ) continued the attempt to rescue U.S. Navy A-7E (Call sign "Battle Cry 315") pilot Lt. Barton Sheldon Creed from Laos. During "Jolly Green 73's" rescue attempt two of the P.J.'s were wounded and the aircraft was his by enemy ground fire and driven off their rescue attempt. "Leave No Man Behind: The Saga of Combat Search and Rescue" by George Caldorisi & Thomas Phillips & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1971 - March 13 | A HH-53C #69-5788 (Call sign "Jolly Green 73") of the 37th ARRS at Da Nang AB, RVN, returned, this time crewed by Lt. Col. Harry S. Copperthite, Jr. (P), Capt. Donald G. Beattie (CP), TSgt. Alfred R. Priante (FE), MSgt. James D. Scott Jr. (PJ) and A1C Ervin A. Petty (PJ) and despite the knowledge of the results of the previous rescue attempts, again attempted to rescue U.S. Navy A-7E (Call sign "Battle Cry 315") pilot, Lt. Barton Sheldon Creed. As "Jolly Green 73" came to a hover it was raked with enemy ground fire, wounding Lt. Col. Copperthite (P) and MSgt. James D. Scott (PJ) and damaging one engine, forcing them to leave the area. Another attempt by another helicopter was made after dark, but no trace of U. S. Navy A-7E pilot, Lt. Barton Sheldon Creed could be found. It was known that Lt. Creed was held captive in Laos, but he was not returned at the end of the war, and he has been listed as KIA. Lt. Col. Copperthite was awarded The Silver Star for his actions on this mission. HH-53C #68-10366 (Call sign “Jolly Green 70”), crewed by Capt. Gary H. Hoven (P), Capt. John C. Graves (CP), MSgt. Willard S. Richards (FE), TSgt. Henry C. Kirk III (PJ) and A1C James W. Muelchi (PJ) was ‘high bird’ on this mission "Leave No Man Behind: The Saga of Combat Search and Rescue" by George Caldorisi & Thomas Phillips & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & 37th ARRSQ History, 1 July – 30 September 1971 |
| 1971 - March 23 | A HH-53C #69-5787 (Call sign "Jolly Green 72") from the 37th ARRS at Da Nang AB, RVN, crewed by Maj. Donald L. Jensen (P), Capt. Glen W. Walder (CP), TSgt. Carlos J. McKinney II (FE), SSgt John C. Ratliff (PJ), TSgt. Henry C. "Cliff" Kirk III (PJ), A1C Daniel D, Hancock (PJ) and Sgt. Lewis Shapiro (AP) rescued the crew of a F-4D (Call sign "Falcon 84"), Maj. Robert D. Priest (P) and Maj. Robert L. Cubberly (WSO), after they ejected from their aircraft when it was hit by SA-2 SAM about 10 miles southwest of Dong Hoi, NVN on March 22nd. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & JRCC Save Form & 15 Nov. 14 FaceBook Post by John Ratliff & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1971 - March 23 | The 20th SOS began a new operation at a temporary FOL, Quan Loi, RVN, and its sub-FOL, Loc Ninh, RVN on this date. No other details are known. http://www.mh-53pavelow.com/documents/20thSOS/1971.pdf |
| 1971 - March 25 | UH-1N #69-6630 from the 20th SOS, crewed by Capt. Maurice P. Bois (P), Capt. Authur G. Priebe Jr. (CP), unkn (AG) and TSgt James W. Green (FM/AG), and "Green Hornet" gunships supported an ARVN recon team deep in enemy territory. Flew from BMT to Quan Loi, then to sub-FOL at Loc Ninh and pulled one team. No other details are known at this time. "Secret Green Beret Commandos In Cambodia" by Lt. Col. Fred S. Lindsey, USA (Ret.) |
| 1971 - March 26 | UH-1N gunships from the 20th SOS, one crewed by Capt. Charles D. Svoboda (P), Lt. Col. Harmon Brotnov (CP), unkn (AG) and unkn (FM/AG), and another "Green Hornet" gunships crewed by Capt. James D. Schuman (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FM/AG) and unkn (AG), supported VNAF CH-34 "Kingbee" helicopters in the extraction of an ARVN recon team deep in enemy territory. No other details are known at this time. "Secret Green Beret Commandos In Cambodia" by Lt. Col. Fred S. Lindsey, USA (Ret.) |
| 1971 - March 26 | UH-1N #69-6621 from the 20th SOS, crewed by Capt. Maurice P. Blois (P), Capt. Authur G. Priebe Jr. (CP), unkn (AG) and TSgt James W. Green (FM/AG), and "Green Hornet" gunships supported an ARVN recon team deep in enemy territory as they pulled one team. No other details are known at this time. "Secret Green Beret Commandos In Cambodia" by Lt. Col. Fred S. Lindsey, USA (Ret.) |
| 1971 - March 27 | UH-1N #69-6612 from the 20th SOS, crewed by Capt. Maurice P. Blois (P), Capt. Authur G. Priebe Jr. (CP), unkn (AG) and TSgt James W. Green (FM/AG), and "Green Hornet" gunships inserted two ARVN recon teams and pulled another team from deep in enemy territory. No other details are known at this time. "Secret Green Beret Commandos In Cambodia" by Lt. Col. Fred S. Lindsey, USA (Ret.) |
| 1971 - March 27 | A HH-43F from Det. 7, 38th ARRS at Da Nang AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Alvin J. Machtimes (P), Maj Stanley O. Schaetzle (CP), Sgt John W. Bryant (FE) and SSgt. Louis J. Maloney (PJ), medevacked Roger D. Caskey and one other USMC troop in RVN. No other details are known at this time. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1971 - March 28 | UH-1N #69-6611 from the 20th SOS, crewed by Capt. Maurice P. Blois (P), Capt. Authur G. Priebe Jr. (CP), unkn (AG) and TSgt James W. Green (FM/AG), and "Green Hornet" gunships extracted an ARVN recon team, under fire, deep in enemy territory. No other details are known at this time. "Secret Green Beret Commandos In Cambodia" by Lt. Col. Fred S. Lindsey, USA (Ret.) |
| 1971 - March 28 | A HH-43F from Det. 13, 38th ARRS, Phu Cat AB, RNV, crewed by Capt. Joseph M. Coffman Jr. (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ), medevacked Tam Thi Hieu in RVN. No other details are known at this time. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1971 - March 28 | A HH-43F from Det. 13, 38th ARRS, Phu Cat AB, RNV, crewed by Capt. Joseph M. Coffman Jr. (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ), medevacked Pham Bo in RVN. No other details are known at this time. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1971 - March 28 | Three of the PAVE IMP, Limited Night Recovery System (LNRS), modified HH-53C’s arrived at the 40th ARRS, Udorn RTAFB, Thailand. CHECO REPORT Search And Rescue Operations In SEA (U) 1 January 1971-31 March 1972 dated 17 October 1972 |
| 1971 - March 30 | UH-1N #69-6627 from the 20th SOS, crewed by Capt. Authur G. Priebe Jr. (P), Capt. Ronnie D. Lanier (CP), unkn (AG) and TSgt James W. Green (FM/AG), and "Green Hornet" gunships inserted an ARVN recon team deep in enemy territory near Mondol Kiri. No other details are known at this time. "Secret Green Beret Commandos In Cambodia" by Lt. Col. Fred S. Lindsey, USA (Ret.) |
| 1971 - March 31 | UH-1N #69-6627 from the 20th SOS, crewed by Capt. Authur G. Priebe Jr. (P), Capt. Ronnie D. Lanier (CP), unkn (AG) and TSgt James W. Green (FM/AG), and "Green Hornet" gunships inserted an ARVN recon team, from Doc Lap, deep in enemy territory. No other details are known at this time. "Secret Green Beret Commandos In Cambodia" by Lt. Col. Fred S. Lindsey, USA (Ret.) |
| 1971 - April 01 | The 1550th Aircrew Training and Test Wing was activated at Hill AFB, UT. The wing brought with it seven squadrons, with an authorized strength of 1,400 military and 100 civilian personnel and it became Hill AFB’s largest tenant upon its arrival at the installation. https://www.hill.af.mil/News/Article-Display/Article/2184533/hill-afb-and-the-1550th-aircrew-training-and-test-wing/fbclid/IwAR00rkY8zmx1IWCl5FY28vSFAhAhUt2IFg3Diozw-eOS4obM42p72J2jc08/fbclid/IwAR0uwD8Y_liyVcPLXd-yGa7eHUzk5u4IJ9CJiDZheqxs45BNeUATajaFOcQ/ |
| 1971 - April 01 | A HH-43B/F from Det. 5, 38th ARRS at Udorn RTAFB, Thailand, crewed by Capt. Lawrence K. Wilber (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ), medevacked one foreign national in RVN. No other details are known at this time. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1971 - April 01 | UH-1N #69-6624 from the 20th SOS, crewed by Capt. Ronnie D. Lanier (P), Capt. Authur G. Priebe Jr. (CP), unkn (AG) and TSgt James W. Green (FM/AG), and "Green Hornet" gunships inserted an ARVN recon team, from Doc Lap, deep in enemy territory. No other details are known at this time. "Secret Green Beret Commandos In Cambodia" by Lt. Col. Fred S. Lindsey, USA (Ret.) |
| 1971 - April 01 | UH-1N’s from the 20th SOS, crew’s unkn, supported the insertion of PIKE HILL and STRATA security teams. They were inserted in the vicinity of Pu Char Village, east of BQ 712, with a mission of making contact with and capturing a communist sympathizer named Muc. No other details are known at this time. "Secret Green Beret Commandos In Cambodia" by Lt. Col. Fred S. Lindsey, USA (Ret.) |
| 1971 - April 08 | UH-1N #69-6625 from the 20th SOS, crewed by Capt. Robert E. Smith (P), Capt. Mark T. Stutgart (CP), unkn (AG) and TSgt James W. Green (FM/AG), flew a visual recon mission with a team of a possible insertion LZ. No other details are known at this time. "Secret Green Beret Commandos In Cambodia" by Lt. Col. Fred S. Lindsey, USA (Ret.) |
| 1971 - April 09 | UH-1N #69-6624 from the 20th SOS, crewed by Capt. Robert E. Smith (P), Capt. Mark T. Stutgart (CP), unkn (AG) and TSgt James W. Green (FM/AG), launched from Ban Don and inserted two ARVN recon teams. No other details are known at this time. "Secret Green Beret Commandos In Cambodia" by Lt. Col. Fred S. Lindsey, USA (Ret.) |
| 1971 - April 09 | A HH-53C #68-10366 (Call sign “Jolly Green 70”) from the 37th ARRS at Da Nang AB, RVN, crewed by Lt. Col. Clarence D. Fried (P), Capt. Bruce M. Carskadon (CP), SSgt. David M. Curtillo (FE), A1C Ervin A. Petty (PJ), SSgt. Duane D. Hackney (PJ) and A1C Donald J. Pecoraro (PJ), rescued four members of an ARVN ground team (Call sign "Ballgame") in contact in RVN. No other details are known at this time. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form |
| 1971 - April 13 | UH-1N #69-6631 from the 20th SOS, crewed by Capt. Ralph H. Bacue (P), Lt. Col. Alfred G. Houston (CP), unkn (AG) and TSgt James W. Green (FM/AG), launched from Duc Lap and inserted one ARVN recon team. No other details are known at this time. "Secret Green Beret Commandos In Cambodia" by Lt. Col. Fred S. Lindsey, USA (Ret.) |
| 1971 - April 13 | A HH-43F from Det. 13, 38th ARRS, Phu Cat AB, RNV, crewed by Maj. Allan L. Gruer (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ), medevacked Nguyen Thi in RVN. No other details are known at this time. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1971 - April 14 | UH-1N #69-6631 from the 20th SOS, crewed by Capt. Ralph H. Bacue (P), Lt. Col. Alfred G. Houston (CP), unkn (AG) and TSgt James W. Green (FM/AG), launched from Duc Lap and inserted two ARVN recon teams. No other details are known at this time. "Secret Green Beret Commandos In Cambodia" by Lt. Col. Fred S. Lindsey, USA (Ret.) |
| 1971 - April 14 | A HH-43F from Det. 13, 38th ARRS, Phu Cat AB, RNV, crewed by Capt. Bruce W. Staples (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ), medevacked Tran Thi Ly in RVN. No other details are known at this time. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1971 - April 15 | UH-1N #69-6631 from the 20th SOS, crewed by Capt. Ralph H. Bacue (P), Lt. Col. Alfred G. Houston (CP), unkn (AG) and TSgt James W. Green (FM/AG), launched from Duc Lap and inserted one 8-man ARVN recon team and extracted another 8-man team. No other details are known at this time. "Secret Green Beret Commandos In Cambodia" by Lt. Col. Fred S. Lindsey, USA (Ret.) |
| 1971 - April 16 | A HH-43F from Det. 1, 38th ARRS, Phan Rang AB, RVN, crewed by unkn (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ), saved eight USAF troops from an AC-119 and a CH-53C (Call sign "Knife 47") of the 21st SOS at Nakhon Phanom RTAFB, Thailand, rescued another one after they bailed out in Thailand. No other details are known at this time. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1971 - April 17 | A HH-43F from Det. 13, 38th ARRS, Phu Cat AB, RNV, crewed by Capt. Edward W. Gmyrek (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ), medevacked Pnh Phu in RVN. No other details are known at this time. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1971 - April 18 | HH-53C #68-10363 (Call sign "Jolly Green 65") from the 37th ARRS at Da Nang AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Glen W. Walder (P), Capt. Otto G. Gemmill Jr. (CP), TSgt, Carlos J. McKinney II (FE), Raphael R. Moreno (PJ), A1C Randy L. Zonker (PJ) and Michael D. Morris (PJ) rescued USN A-7E (Call sign "Battle Cry 305") pilot, Lt. Richard E. Forman Jr., after his aircraft was hit by enemy 23 mm AAA fire as he was attacking trucks near the village of Ding, about 35 miles north of Muang Fangdeng, Laos. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form & www.mh-53pavelow.com/documents/airframes/notable_h53_history.pdf |
| 1971 - April 19 | UH-1F #65-7964 was written off at Edwards AFB, CA. No other details are available currently. http://www.helis.com/database/accidents/?org=133&f2mod=545 |
| 1971 - April 21 | UH-1N's from the 20th SOS, crew's unkn, supported an ARVN recon team that had discovered a weapons cache. No other details are known at this time. "Secret Green Beret Commandos In Cambodia" by Lt. Col. Fred S. Lindsey, USA (Ret.) |
| 1971 - April 22 | A HH-53C from the 40th ARRS at Udorn RTAFB, Thailand, crewed by Capt. Alfred M. Meyer (P), Capt. Allan K. MacAulay (CP), Sgt. Dennis C. Chriswell (FE), SSgt. Wayne L. Fisk (PJ), TSgt. Lorenzo E. Willis Jr. (PJ) and Wille E. Madison (AP) rescued a F-4D (Call sign "Wolf 07") crew, Capt. Robert S. Dotson (P) and Capt. Benjamin D. Smith (WSO) after they ejected when their aircraft was shot down, south of Savannakhet, in southern Laos. No other details are known at this time. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form |
| 1971 - April 23 | UH-1N slick #69-6623 from the 20th SOS, crewed by Capt. Maurice P. Bois Jr. (P), Capt. Walter L. Wilson (CP), TSgt. James W. Green (FM/AG) and unkn (AG), inserted a company of troops from Duc Lap. No other details are known at this time. "Secret Green Beret Commandos In Cambodia" by Lt. Col. Fred S. Lindsey, USA (Ret.) |
| 1971 - April 24 | A HH-43F from Det. 13, 38th ARRS, Phu Cat AB, RNV, crewed by Capt. Charles W. Vickery (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ), medevacked Boa Tai Diep in RVN. No other details are known at this time. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1971 - April 25 | A HH-43F from Det. 13, 38th ARRS, Phu Cat AB, RNV, crewed by Capt. Stanley R. Menze (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ), medevacked Binh Trinh Vo in RVN. No other details are known at this time. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1971 - April 26 | A HH-53 from the 40th ARRS, crewed by unkn (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ), rescued (Call sign "Tiger 60") in Laos. No other details are known at this time. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1971 - April 26 | A HH-43F from Det. 13, 38th ARRS, Phu Cat AB, RNV, crewed by Capt. Joseph M. Coffman Jr. (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ), medevacked Buong Sung in RVN. No other details are known at this time. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1971 - April 26 | A HH-43F from Det. 5, 38th ARRS, crewed by Capt. Walter R. Connally (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ), medevacked two in Laos, details are classified. No other details are known at this time. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1971 - April 27 | A HH-53C from the 40th ARRS, crewed by Capt. William M. McGeorge (P), Capt. Carl L. Kaufhold (CP), Sgt. Wayne F. Estey (FE), SSgt. Gary P. Bryant (PJ), SSgt. Joseph S. Stanaland (PJ) and Rodney L. Olsen (PJ), rescued a 0-2A (Call sign "Nail 83") crew, 1st Lt. Guy L. Mellor (P) and 1st Lt. Len J. Fleming (CP) after their aircraft was shot down and they bailed out in Laos, about 30 miles east of Nakhon Phanom RTAFB, Thailand. No other details are known at this time. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form |
| 1971 - April 29 | A HH-43F, crewed by Alfred H. Nader (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ), rescued Dennis J. O'Connor from a U-6 in RVN. No other details are known at this time. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1971 - April 30 | A HH-43F from Det. 7, 38th ARRS at Da Nang AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Kenneth B. Schroeder (P), Capt. Kennith R. Bissett Jr. (CP), TSgt. Jon H. Young (P) and SSgt. Robert Cruz (FF), medevacked William O'Dell in RVN. No other details are known at this time. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1971 - April 30 | A HH-43F from Det. 14, 38th ARRS, Tan Son Nhut AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Henry G. Hamby III (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ), medevacked one Vietnamese in RVN. No other details are known at this time. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form |
| 1971 - May 01 | UH-1N slick #69-6613 from the 20th SOS, crewed by Capt. Ronald T. Blazejewski (P), Capt. Paul R. Holser (CP), TSgt. James W. Green (FM/AG) and unkn (AG), inserted ARVN recon team from Duc Lap late in the afternoon. No other details are known at this time. "Secret Green Beret Commandos In Cambodia" by Lt. Col. Fred S. Lindsey, USA (Ret.) |
| 1971 - May 03 | UH-1N slick #69-6621 from the 20th SOS, crewed by Capt. Charles R. Merriott (P), Capt. Hans E. Hanson (CP), TSgt. James W. Green (FM/AG) and unkn (AG), launched from Tieu Atar and inserted ARVN recon team late in the afternoon. No other details are known at this time. "Secret Green Beret Commandos In Cambodia" by Lt. Col. Fred S. Lindsey, USA (Ret.) |
| 1971 - May 04 | UH-1N slick #69-6617 from the 20th SOS, crewed by Capt. James M. Taylor (P), Capt. Hans E. Hanson (CP), TSgt. James W. Green (FM/AG) and unkn (AG) and "Green Hornet" gunships supported VNAF CH-34 "Kingbee" helicopters as they picked up one ARVN recon team and inserted another ARVN recon team. No other details are known at this time. "Secret Green Beret Commandos In Cambodia" by Lt. Col. Fred S. Lindsey, USA (Ret.) |
| 1971 - May 05 | HH-53C #68-8285 (Call sign “Jolly Green 56”) from the 40th ARRS crewed by unkn (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE), unkn (PJ) and unkn (PJ) lost one engine due to enemy ground fire and 'settled' into trees. It was recovered and returned to service after repairs. No other details are known at this time. http://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/USDemocrat-National/conversations/topics/16570 |
| 1971 - May 06 | A HH-53C from the 37th ARRS, crewed by Maj. Jerry R. Thompson (P), Capt. John O. Lindgren Jr. (CP), SSgt. Edward J. Kobernik (FE), SSgt. Dennis T. Duffy (PJ) and TSgt. John F. Heitsch (PJ) rescued a F-4E (Call sign "Gunfighter 01") crew, Maj. Arthur S. Blissett (P) and Capt. J. E. Seaton (CP) after their aircraft was shot down near Muang Fandeng in the southern tip of Laos and they ejected. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form |
| 1971 - May 06 | A HH-43F from Det. 13, 38th ARRS, Phu Cat AB, RNV, crewed by Maj. Allan L. Gruer (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ), medevacked Nyguen Tam in RVN. No other details are known at this time. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1971 - May 08 | UH-1N slick #69-6618 from the 20th SOS, crewed by Capt. Authur G. Priebe (P), Capt. James R. Wagner (CP), TSgt. James W. Green (FM/AG) and unkn (AG) and "Green Hornet" gunships supported VNAF CH-34 "Kingbee" helicopters as they inserted a company of ARVN troops from Tieu Atar. No other details are known at this time. "Secret Green Beret Commandos In Cambodia" by Lt. Col. Fred S. Lindsey, USA (Ret.) |
| 1971 - May 11 | A HH-43F from Det. 13, 38th ARRS, Phu Cat AB, RNV, crewed by Capt. Charles W. Vickery (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ), medevacked Ng Thai Thienl in RVN. No other details are known at this time. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1971 - May 12 | A HH-53C #68-10366 (Call sign “Jolly Green 70) from the 37th ARRS, crewed by Capt. Glen W. Walder (P), Capt. Robert W. Uljua (CP), A1C George P. Ojala (FE), TSgt. Charles F. Salome (PJ), SSgt Roy A. Taylor (PJ) and Raphael R. Moreno (PJ), rescued three OH-58A (Call sign "Charlie Horse 828") crew members, from “D” Co. 3rd Sq., 5th Cav. From Quang Tri, WO-1 Bjarni O. Bradwell, SP5 Simon and Sgt. Gary Westphal in RVN. No other details are known at this time. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & 37th ARRS Save Logbook 1971 |
| 1971 - May 14 | A HH-43F from Det. 13, ARRS, Phu Cat AB, RNV, crewed by Maj. Allan L. Gruer (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ), medevacked Van Hung Pham in RVN. No other details are known at this time. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1971 - May 15 | A HH-43BF from Det. 7, ARRS, Da Nang AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Kenneth R. Bissett Jr. (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ), medevacked Van Hung Pham in RVN. No other details are known at this time. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1971 - May 18 | A HH-43F (Call sign “Pedro 46”) from Det. 9, ARRS, Nakhon Phanom RTAFB, Thailand, crewed by Capt. George H. Hopkins (P), Lay (CP), Dennis E. O’Leary (FE) and Mynatt (MT), medevacked Paul J. Micus in Thailand. No other details are known at this time. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1971 - May 23 | A HH-43F from Det. 13, ARRS, Phu Cat AB, RNV, crewed by Capt. Bruce W. Staples (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ), medevacked Tran Thi Dien in RVN. No other details are known at this time. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1971 - May 24 | A HH-53C #68-10366 (Call sign “Jolly Green 70”) from the 37th ARRS at Da Nang AB, RVN, crewed by Maj. Charles E. Posey (P), Capt. John R. Weimer Jr. (CP), A1C George P. Ojala (FE), TSgt. Eugene L. Nardi (PJ) and A1C William P. McDonald (PJ), attempted the rescue of one USA troop, SPC. Robert A. Wolf from an O-1A (Call sign "Headhunter 12") downed in RVN, however they had to pull off the attempt due to low fuel status of their helicopter (see next entry). "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & 37th ARRS (MAC) Controller’s Log 28 May 70 – 13 Jul 71 |
| 1971 - May 24 | A HH-53C #68-10365 (Call sign “Jolly Green 67”) from the 37th ARRS at Da Nang AB, RVN, crewed by Maj. Robert H. Heiges Jr. (P), Capt. Roger T. Colgrove (CP), TSgt. James B. Barrett (FE), A1C James K. Ashdown (FE), TSgt. Henry C. Kirk III (PJ), TSgt. Jon H. Young (PJ) and Charles B. Aldean (PJ), rescued one USA troop, SPC. Robert A. Wolf from an O-1A (Call sign "Headhunter 12") downed in RVN. No other details are known at this time. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form Form & Pacific Stars & Stripes, Jun 09, 1971 |
| 1971 - May 24 | Two more HH-53C’s with the PAVE IMP System (LNRS) arrived at the 40th ARRS, after being ferried from Eglin AFB, FL. to Udorn RTAFB, Thailand. Crew’s unkn. This brought the total PAVE IMP equipped aircraft at the 40th ARRS to five. 40th ARRS History 1971 01 Apr – 30 Jun & CHECO REPORT Search And Rescue Operations In SEA (U) 1 January 1971-31 March 1972 dated 17 October 1972 |
| 1971 - May 27 | A HH-43F from Det. 13, ARRS, Phu Cat AB, RNV, crewed by Capt. Edward W. Gmyrek (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ), medevacked Nugyn Duone in RVN. No other details are known at this time. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1971 - May 28 | A HH-43F from Det. 13, ARRS, Phu Cat AB, RNV, crewed by Capt. Stanley R. Menze (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ), medevacked Le Vaiu Hank in RVN. No other details are known at this time. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1971 - June 04 | A HH-53C #68-10362 (Call sign "Jolly Green 64") of the 37th ARRS at Da Nang AB, RVN, crewed by Maj. Donald L. Jensen (P), USCG Lt. Cmdr. Joseph L. Crowe Jr. (CP), SSgt. Jerry L. Burchfield (FE), SSgt. George R. Ande (PJ), Michael D. Morris (PJ), TSgt. Allen J. Avery (PJ) and James W. Wines (AP) rescued the FAC pilot and co-pilot, Major Samual R. Ross and 1st Lt. Arthur L. Moxon, after they had successfully ejected from their enemy ground fire damaged OV-10 (Call sign "Covey 504") over a heavily defended area, near the village of Ban Thakkapang on the Boloven's Plateau in southern Laos. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & JRCC Save Form & http://uscgaviationhistory.aoptero.org/history06.html & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & 37th ARRS Save Logbook 1971 |
| 1971 - June 05 | A HH-43F from Det. 7, ARRS, Da Nang AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Kenneth R. Bissett Jr. (P), 1st Lt John N. Drexler (CP), TSgt. William N. Brooks (FE) and A1C Donald J. Pecoraro (PJ, medevacked USAF Sgt. James Hall in RVN. No other details are known at this time. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1971 - June 14 | A HH-43F from Det. 14, 38th ARRS, Tan Son Nhut AB, RVN, crewed by Maj. Louis C. Lewis Jr. (P), Capt. Jones (CP), SSgt. Stelk (FE) and SSgt. Grimes (MT) rescued two unkn ARVN troops in RVN. No other details are known at this time. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & RCC Save Form & 38th ARRS History 1971 01 Apr – 30 Jun |
| 1971 - June 21 | A HH-53C of the 37th ARRS at Da Nang AB, RVN, crewed by USCG Lt. Cmdr. Joseph “Jay” L. Crowe (P), Maj. Donald L. Jensen (CP), SSgt. Jerry L. Burchfield (FE), TSgt. Allen J. Avery (PJ) and Michael D. Morris (PJ) rescued the FAC pilot and co-pilot, Major Samuel R. Ross and 1st Lt. Arthur L. Moxon, after they had successfully ejected from their enemy ground fire damaged OV-10 (Call sign "Covey 504") on 20 June 1971, near the conjunction of the borders of South Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia. Maj. Ross and Lt. Moxin had also been rescued by this same HH-53C crew on 04 Jun 1971 (See entry above). "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & http://uscgaviationhistory.aoptero.org/history06.html & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1971 - June 29 | A HH-43F from Det. 7, 38th ARRS at Da Nang AB, RVN, crewed by Maj. Floyd A. Lockhart (P), Capt. Kenneth R. Bissett Jr. (CP), A1C Leon J. Raska (FE), Sgt Richard G. Cobbett (MT), SSgt Louis J. Maloney (FF) and SSgt Joseph J. Gula, Jr. (FF), rescued a F-4D (Call sign "Wolf 02") crew, Capt. William R. Ricks (P) and 1st Lt. Bobby D. Buffkin (WSO), after their aircraft was hit by37mm AAA fire on the western edge of the DMZ and they ejected when on final approach at Da Nang AB, RVN. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & RCC Save Form |
| 1971 - June 30 | UH-1N gunships from the 20th SOS, crewed by unkn (P), unkn (CP), TSgt. Ronald J. Gray (FM/AG) and unkn (AG) supported VNAF CH-34 "Kingbee" helicopters as they extracted an ARVN recon team that was surrounded and in a fire fight with enemy forces. No other details are known at this time. "Secret Green Beret Commandos In Cambodia" by Lt. Col. Fred S. Lindsey, USA (Ret.) |
| 1971 - June 30 | A HH-3E, crewed by Capt. James Blackwood (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ) attempted the rescue of a U.S. Army aircrewman but they were driven off by heavy enemy fire and after his helicopter had sustained extensive battle damage. Capt. Blackwood was awarded the Silver Star medal for his actions during this rescue attempt. No other details are known at this time. https://valor.militarytimes.com/hero/350265?fbclid=IwAR2cquioH4fsjtaZmKohqRMbfUBQ9nan7l50Wx9sJCUcim9-QoaRZ2-WgBY |
| 1971 - June 30 | Det. 5, 38th ARRS departs Udorn RTAFB, Thailand. http://udornrtafb.tripod.com/id61.html |
| 1971 - June 30 | The Air Rescue and Recovery Training Center (ARRTC) at Eglin AFB, FL., was inactivated. These Training functions were acquired by the new 1550th ATTWg. at Hill AFB, UT. ARS USAF 1945-1981,pdf |
| 1971 - July 01 | The 38th ARRS based at Tan Son Nhut AB, RVN, was deactivated on July 1, marking the end of six years of service as a part of its parent organization, the 3rd Aerospace Rescue and Recovery Group, also headquartered Tan Son Nhut AB, RVN. LBR detachments remaining in SEA become detachments of the 3rd ARRGp. Kaman Rotor Tips Magazine |
| 1971 - July 01 | Detachment 1, 40th ARRSq was deactivated on this date. 40th ARRSq History 1 Jul 71 – 30 Sep 71 |
| 1971 - July 02 | A HH-53C from the 40th ARRS at Udorn RTAFB, Thailand, crewed by Maj. Clyde E. Bennet (P), Capt. Henry T. Demmons (CP), Sgt. Michael W. Burdett (FE), TSgt. John J. Eldridge (PJ), TSgt. Eldridge M. Neal (PJ) and Sgt. Paul C. Perry (PJ) medevacked one USAF airmen from an unlighted helo pad about two miles north of Khon Khaen in Thailand. No other details are known at this time. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & RCC Save Form |
| 1971 - July 05 | A HH-43F from Det. 7, 3rd ARRGp, Da Nang AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Kenneth R. Bissett Jr. (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ), rescued two, Gilbert Ledgere and Windol McNutt, in RVN. No other details are known at this time. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & RCC Save Form |
| 1971 - July 10 | A HH-43F from Det. 14, 3rd ARRGp, Tan Son Nhut AB, RVN, crewed by Maj. Louis C. Lewis Jr. (P) unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ), rescued the crew of a RF-4C, Capt. Richard C. Wheeler (P) and 1st Lt. Jeffery F. Stuermver (Nav), after they ejected from their ground fire damaged aircraft, about 45 miles west of Saigon, RVN. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson |
| 1971 - July 17 | A HH-53 from the 40th ARRS, crewed by unkn (P) unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ), medevacked E-4 Robert M. Carrera in Thailand. No other details are known at this time. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & RCC Save Form |
| 1971 - July 21 | The 40th ARRSq moved from Udorn RTAFB to Nakhon Phanom RTAFB effective this date. Following the move, alert was no longer pulled at Udorn while the FOL was retained at Ubon. Project CHECO Southeast Asia Report, Search and Rescue Operations in SEA, 1 January 1971-31 March 1972, page 8 |
| 1971 - July 21 | A HH-53C #68-8285 (Call sign "Jolly Green 56") of the 40th ARRS at Nakhon Phanom, crewed by Maj. Clyde E. Bennett (P), Capt. Hugh "Butch" Robben (CP), TSgt. James D. "JD" Adams (FE), SSgt. Jon K. Hoberg (PJ) and SSgt. Charles "Chuck" D. McGrath (PJ) was lost while attempting to recover an AQM-34 "Buffalo Hunter" unmanned reconnaissance drone that had gone down some distance north of the Plains of Jars in Laos. The HH-53C flight engineer, Adams and PJ, Holberg, were severely injured in the crash and were rescued by an Air America UH-1 Huey helicopter and the rest of the crew were rescued by an Air America H-34 helicopter. Both the drone and the HH-53C were subsequently destroyed by air strike to prevent sensitive material from falling into enemy hands. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & http://alaska.net/~jcassidy/pdf_files/HART%20History.pdf & http://www.jollygreen.org/jltnc.htm & http://www.rotorheadsrus.us/documents/204.html |
| 1971 - July 21 | A HH-53C #68-10364 (Call sign “Jolly Green 66”) from the 37th ARRS at Da Nang AB, RVN, crewed by USCG Lt. Cmdr. Joseph L. Crowe Jr. (P) Capt. Robert W. Uljua (CP), TSgt. Alfred R. Priante (FE), Sgt. Daniel G. Manion (PJ), George R. Ande (PJ), Raphael R. Moreno (PJ) and Capt. Richard J. Emerson (FS), medevacked Korean seaman Joe One Kim from his ship in the Gulf of Tonkin. HH-53C (Call sign “Jolly Green 74”) crewed by unkn (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE), unkn (PJ) and unkn (PJ) was high bird on this mission. No other details are known at this time. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & 37th Rescue Controller Log 15 Jul 71- 31 Dec 71 & RCC save Form |
| 1971 - July 22 and over the next several days | The 40th ARRS moved to Nakhon Phanom RTAFB, Thailand, and absorbed its Detachment 1, consolidating its operations at one location. The two oldest HH-43B's #66-14431 & #66-14432 were shipped out to Hill AFB, UT., for use as trainer aircraft. "On a Steel Horse I Ride" by Darrel D. Whitcomb |
| 1971 - July 22 | A HH-53C #69-5785 (Call sign “Jolly Green 77”) from the 37th ARRS at Da Nang AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. John N. Komich (P) Capt. Rodney S. Griffith (CP), Capt. John F. Jadrosich (CP), TSgt. James B. Barrett (FE), TSgt. Eugene L. Nardi (PJ), Sgt. William J. Thompson (PJ) and Sgt. William R. Pearson (PJ), medevacked Bud Riggle, who had severe hand injuries, from an LST in RVN. No other details are known at this time. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & RCC Save Form |
| 1971 - July 26 | HH-53C #68-10363 (Call sign “Jolly Green 65”) from the 37th ARRS at Da Nang AB, RVN, crewed by Maj. Robert H. Heiges Jr. (P), Capt. Stephen R. Tyler (CP), Sgt. Hank L. Theriot (FE), A1C Thomas D. Prose (PJ), Sgt. Daniel G. Manion (PJ) and TSgt. Richard M. Crowley (PJ) rescued eight passengers from a downed USA UH-1H helicopter in RVN. No other details are known at this time. www.mh-53pavelow.com/documents/airframes/notable_h53_history. & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1971 - July 26 | HH-53C #68-10366 (Call sign “Jolly Green 70”) from the 37th ARRS at Da Nang AB, RVN, crewed by Lt. Col. Harold R. Walthall (P), Capt. Robert W. Uljua (CP), TSgt. Carlos J. McKinney II (FE), A1C Gus Dinos (PJ), A1C James W. Muelchi (PJ) and MSgt. David L. Gray (PJ) rescued three crew members from a downed USA UH-1H helicopter in RVN of the U.S. Army 45th Engineering Btn. No other details are known at this time. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & www.mh-53pavelow.com/documents/airframes/notable_h53_history.pdf |
| 1971 - July 30 | The LAST two HH-53B’s of the 40th ARRS were airlifted, by C-5 Galaxy, out of Thailand. 40th ARRS History 1971 01 Jul – 30 Sep |
| 1971 - August 01 | UH-1F #66-1214, crewed by unkn (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ), crashed at Ellsworth AFB, SD. No other details are known at this time. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1971 - August 02 | HH-43F #62-4510 (Call sign “Pedro 41”) from Det. 9, 3rd ARRGp. at Nakhon Phanom RTAFB, Thailand, crewed by Capt. W. J. Welch (P), Austin (CP), Rivers (FE) and unkn (PJ), rescued a QU-22 pilot, Capt. Guillermo Perez, when his aircraft had an engine failure and crashed in Thailand. No other details are known at this time. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1971 - August 05 | UH-1N gunships from the 20th SOS, crewed by unkn (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FM/AG) and unkn (AG) supported a U.S. led WACO CITY Bright Light recovery mission for the crew of a downed U.S. Army O-1G. No other details are known at this time. "Secret Green Beret Commandos In Cambodia" by Lt. Col. Fred S. Lindsey, USA (Ret.) |
| 1971 - August 07 | HH-43F from Det. 7, 3rd ARRGp. at Da Nang AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Charles W. Miller (P), Capt. Ralph H. Bell (CP), SSgt. Wallace H. Long (FE), Sgt. Terry R. Miller (MT), Sgt. Louis J. Maloney (FF) and Sgt. John W. Bryant (FF), rescued Tran Tuan Khai from a raft in the South China Sea. No other details are known at this time. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1971 - August 12 | UH-1N gunships from the 20th SOS, one crewed by unkn (P), unkn (CP), TSgt. Ronald J. Gray (FM/AG) and unkn (AG) supported the extraction of an long-range recon team that was under heavy opposing automatic weapons fire from enemy forces deep in enemy held territory. No other details are known at this time. "Secret Green Beret Commandos In Cambodia" by Lt. Col. Fred S. Lindsey, USA (Ret.) |
| 1971 - August 12 | HH-43F from Det. 1, 3rd ARRGp., Phan Rang AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Robert M. Albers (P), Capt. Michael H. Nelson (CP), SSgt. Lawrence Rosen (FE) and SSgt David P. Dickensheets (MT), medevacked USAF SSgt. Eugene D. Aldrich in RVN. No other details are known at this time. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1971 - August 15 | A CH-3E from the 21st SOS at Nakhon Phanom RTAFB, Thailand crewed by Lt. Col. Harold J. Birkhofer (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (FE) led a formation of three helicopters to place a friendly reconnaissance team deep inside hostile territory. Despite severe weather conditions, the constant threat of hostile fire, and the limited capabilities of the aircraft, they successfully accomplished their mission undetected using precision navigation. Lt. Col. Birkhofer was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross, awards for the rest of the crews on this mission are unkn. The Distinguished Flying Cross News, Vol. 12, Issue 12, Summer 2012 |
| 1971 - August 16 | HH-43 from Det. 1, 38th ARRS, crewed by Capt. Daniel J. Biezad (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ), medevac'd USAF MSgt. Woodrow Wells in RVN. No other details are known at this time. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1971 - August 18 | HH-53C from the 40th ARRS at Nakhon Phanom RTAFB, Thailand, crewed by Capt. Harold O. Jones (P), Capt. Allan K. Macaulay (CP), Sgt. Michael D. Stagliano (FE), TSgt. Donald R. Snyder (PJ) and TSgt. Michael P. McManus (PJ) rescued two foreign nationals from a downed T-28 (Call sign "Tiger 11") 20 miles southeast of Udorn RTAFB, Thailand. No other details are known at this time. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & RCC Save Form |
| 1971 - August 20 | HH-53C from the 37th ARRS at Da Nang AB, RVN, crewed by Maj. Gerald J. Lange (P), Capt. Ronald L. Van Iperin (CP), Sgt. Hank L. Theriot (FE), TSgt. Eugene L. Nardi (PJ), Sgt. Daniel G. Manion (PJ) and Roger L. Goodwin (AP), rescued four USA troops, WO-1 Landis L. Lingren, 1st Lt. Larry W. Niebuhr, SP4 Morten D. Wilson, SP4 David Silva and nine ARVN troops from a downed UH-1H (Call sign "Bluestar 790") helicopter from the DMZ. No other details are known at this time. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1971 - August 25 | HH-43F from Det. 13, 3rd ARRGp, Phu Cat AB, RNV, crewed by Maj. John R. Cassarini (P), Capt. Larry B. Doege (CP), SSgt. Leslie B. Terbeest (??), SSgt. Raymond B. Campbell (??) and Capt. Gary L. Kissel (FS), medevacked Hy Han in RVN. No other details are known at this time. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1971 - September 01 | A HH-53C from the 37th ARRS at Da Nang AB, RVN, crewed by USCG Lt. Cmdr. Roderick Martin III (P), Capt. Norman R. Foley (CP), SSgt. William A. Simm (FE), TSgt. Allen J. Avery Jr. (PJ) and Sgt. William R. Pearson (PJ) rescued eight USA troops from a UH-1H downed in RVN. No other details are known at this time. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1971 - September 02 | A HH-43F from Det. 7, 3rd ARRGp, Da Nang AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Isamu S. Cmomu (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE), unkn (FE) and (PJ), medevacked SSgt. Monwel F. Madrid and E-4 Gregory Thesis in RVN. No other details are known at this time. "PJ's in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1971 - September 03 | A HH-43F from Det. 7, 3rd ARRGp, Da Nang AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Ralph H. Bell (P), Capt. Charles W. Miller (CP), Sgt. Richard G. Cobbett (FE), Sgt. Terry R. Miller (FF), SSgt. Robert S. Cruz (FF) and SSgt. Randie M. Olson (FF), medevacked Air America employee, Fernando S. Velasco, who had been in a motorcycle accident in RVN. No other details are known at this time. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1971 - September 04 | A HH-43F from Det. 13, 3rd ARRGp, Phu Cat AB, RNV, crewed by Capt. Edward W. Gmyrek (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ), medevacked Nugyen Van Cu in RVN. No other details are known at this time. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1971 - September 05 | A HH-53C #68-8284 (Call sign "Jolly Green" 55) from the 40th ARRS at Nakhon Phanom RTAFB, Thailand, crewed by Maj. Jerry R. Thompson (P), Maj. Gary L. Gamble (CP), SSgt. Raymond Duarte (FE), Sgt. William D. Brinson (PJ) and Sgt. Michael D. Vogele (PJ), rescued Som Neion from a CH-3E (Call sign "Knife 33") that had crashed 25 miles south of Nakhon Phanom. No other details are known at this time. https://www.thisdayinaviation.com/27-september-2008/ & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1971 - September 09 | A HH-53C #68-8284 (Call sign "Jolly Green" 55) from the 40th ARRS at Nakhon Phanom RTAFB, Thailand, crewed by Maj. Jerry R. Thompson (P), Maj. Gary L. Gamble (CP), SSgt. Raymond Duarte (FE), Sgt. William D. Brinson (PJ) and Sgt. Michael D. Vogele (PJ), rescued Som Neion from a CH-3E (Call sign "Knife 33") that had crashed 25 miles south of Nakhon Phanom. No other details are known at this time. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1971 - September 09 | HH-53C #68-10363 (Call sign "Jolly Green 65") from the 37th ARRS at Da Nang AB, RVN, crewed by USCG Lt. Cmdr. Roderick Martin (P), Capt. Norman R. Foley (CP), SSgt. William A. Simm (FE), Sgt. William R. Pearson (PJ), TSgt. Allen J. Avery (PJ) saved eight passengers and crew members of a downed U.S. Army UH-1H (Call sign "Woodstock 40") in RVN. No other details are known at this time. www.mh-53pavelow.com/documents/airframes/notable_h53_history.pdf & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1971 - September 09 | A HH-43F from Det. 13, 3rd ARRGp, Phu Cat AB, RNV, crewed by Capt. Stanley R. Menze (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE), and unkn (PJ), medevacked Tan Nguyen, Em Ty, Nguyen Van Thong and Thomas McLaughlin in RVN. No other details are known at this time. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & www.mh-53pavelow.com/documents/airframes/notable_h53_history.pdf |
| 1971 - September 10 | Det. 9, 38th ARRGp located at Nakhon Phanom RTAFB, Thailand was deactivated on this day and merged into the 40th ARRS as the LBR Flight. Det. 9, 38th ARRSq Logbook |
| 1971 - September 10 | A HH-43F from Det. 7, 3rd ARRGp at Da Nang AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Charles W. Miller (P), Capt. Michael F. Schmidt (CP), A1C Leon J. Raska (FE), Sgt. Grant J. Matsunaga (MT), SSgt. Louis J. Maloney (FF) and Sgt. Ronald G. Treadwell (FF) medevacked one wounded Viet Cong in RVN. No other details are known at this time. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & www.mh-53pavelow.com/documents/airframes/notable_h53_history.pdf |
| 1971 - September 13 | A HH-43F from Det. 13, 3rd ARRGp, Phu Cat AB, RNV, crewed by Capt. Joseph M. Coffman Jr. (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ), medevacked Nguyn Dung in RVN. No other details are known at this time. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1971 - September 14 | A HH-43F from Det 7, 3rd ARRGp., Da Nang AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Ralph H. Bell (P), Capt. Michael F. Schmidt (CP), A1C Robert S. Bos (FE), Sgt. Grant J. Matsunaga (MT), SSgt. Terry R. Miller (FF) and Sgt. Ronald G. Treadwell (FF) medevacked one USAF airman in RVN. No other details are known at this time. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1971 - September 15 - 16 | HH-43's of ARRS airlifted 91 persons to high ground when Hurricane Fern caused flash floods in the Rio Salado Valley, approximately 45 miles south of Nuevo Laredo, TX. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/37th_Aerospace_Rescue_and_Recovery_Squadron#Operations_and |
| 1971 - September 22 | A HH-43F from Det. 13, 3rd ARRGp, Phu Cat AB, RNV, crewed by Lt. Col. Edward W. Hamilton (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ), medevacked Lee Thi Cue and Tran Duyu Binh in RVN. No other details are known at this time. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1971 - September 26 | A HH-53C #68-10361 (Call sign “Jolly Green 21”) from the 37th ARRS at Da Nang AB, RVN, crewed by USCG Lt. Cmdr. Joseph L. Crowe Jr. (P), Capt. Bruce R. Hampton (CP), SSgt. William A. Simm (FE), Sgt. Daniel G. Manion (PJ) and Sgt. Richard L. Steed (PJ), rescued the crew of an OV-10A (Call sign "Rustic 07"), Lt. Lansford E. Trapp Jr. and Cambodian observer, Sgt. Chap Khorn, after they ejected from their 12.7mm damaged aircraft, about 10 miles northwest of Kampong Cham, Cambodia. USCG Lt. Cmdr. Joseph L. Crowe Jr. is known to have been awarded The Distinguished Flying Cross for his actions on this mission, awards for the other crew members are not known at this time. High bird on this mission was HH-53C #68-10360 (Call sign “Jolly Green 20”), crewed by Capt. Stephen R. Tyler (P), Capt. Darrel R. Knutson (CP), SSgt. David Garcia (FE), Michael D. Morris (PJ) and SSgt. John W. Stephens (PJ). "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form |
| 1971 - October 01 | HH-53C #68-10360 (Call sign "Jolly Green 20”) of the 37th ARRS crewed by Maj. Harold R. Walthall (P), Capt. Darrel R. Knutson (CP), SSgt. David Garcia (FE), Michael D. Morris (PJ) and SSgt. John W. Stephens (PJ) rescued the navigator of an RF-4C (Call sign "Falcon 33 Bravo"), Capt. J. J. Sigler, after his aircraft was shot down about 5 miles northeast of An Loc, RVN. The pilot "Falcon 33 Alpha", James Vernon Newendorp, was KIA. HH-53C #68-10361 (Call sign “Jolly Green 21”) was the high bird on this mission, crewed by USCG Lt. Cmdr. Joseph L. Crowe Jr. (P), Capt. Bruce R. Hampton (CP), SSgt. William A. Simm (FE), Sgt. Daniel G. Manion (PJ) and TSgt. James R. Thomas (PJ). "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe http://www.mh-53pavelow.com/documents/airframes/notable_h53_history.pdf |
| 1971 - October 03 | A HH-43F from Det. 13, 3rd ARRGp, Phu Cat AB, RNV, crewed by Capt. Joseph M. Coffman Jr. (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ), medevacked Do Toi Thi in RVN. No other details are known at this time. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1971 - October 04 | A HH-53C #69-5795 (Call sign “Jolly Green 53”) from the 40th ARRS at Nakhon Phanom RTAFB, Thailand, crewed by unkn (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ) and unkn (PJ) medevacked one USA troop from Phu Bu Communications Site to Ubon RTAFB in Thailand. No other details are known at this time. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1971 - October 05 | A HH-43F from Det. 1, 3rd ARRGp, Phan Rang AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Phillip W. Loper (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ), medevacked Cuc Huynh Thi in RVN. No other details are known at this time. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1971 - October 07 | Two HH-3E helicopters from the 31st ARRS at Clark AB, PI responding to an SOS during Typhoon Elaine, rescued 25 Hong Kong Chinese from their sinking ship, the Kee Lung. http://www.afsox.af.mil/shared/media/document.AFD-070906-042.pdf |
| 1971 - October 08 | A HH-43F from Det. 13, 3rd ARRGp, Phu Cat AB, RNV, crewed by Capt. Joseph M. Coffman Jr. (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ), medevacked Bi Thai Houng, Gran Thi Trong and Nguyen Thi Tun in RVN. No other details are known at this time. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1971 - October 09 | UH-1F (believed to be # 66-1214) from Det. 2, 37th ARRS at Ellsworth AFB, SD, piloted by Capt. Norman G. Schuessler (no co-pilot on this flight) crashed in an open field about 11 miles north of Wall, SD. near the entrance to Minuteman II Launch Control Facility C-1. Capt. Schuessler survived but passengers, SSgt. Terry L. Wright, Sgt. Glen G. Wilson, Sgt. David H. Cloe, Sgt. Bernard N. Blakes, A1C Larry D. Hughes, Amn. Johnny R. Brock (all from the 821st Security Police Squadron at Ellsworth AFB) were fatalities in the crash. http://rotorheadsrus.us/documents/uh_1f_ellisworth_arb_1971.html |
| 1971 - October 18 | UH-1N #69-6631 of the 20th SOS "Green Hornets", crewed by 1st Lt. James H. Partridge (P), 1st Lt. Dennis H. Busch (CP), (no other crew onboard) had a baring failure causing tail rotor failure and it spiraled down in a high rate of descent with a 10 degree nose high flight attitude, crashing into the South China Sea about 25 miles southwest of Phan Rang AB, RVN, about a half mile off the coast of South Vietnam at about 1710 hours local time. Both pilots, though injured, egressed the aircraft and were rescued by local national fisherman and were then picked up by an HH-43F from Phan Rang AB, RVN (see next entry). At the time of the crash UH-1N #69-6631 was on a ferry flight from Tan Son Nhut AB, RVN to Cam Ranh Bay AB, RVN. Because of some delay with the helicopter being ready to fly earlier in the day the two other crew members, Sgt. Thomas E. Fike (FM/AG) and Michael Caler (AG) had been instructed by the pilots to catch a fixed wing hop out of Tan Son Nhut AB back to Cam Ranh Bay AB and the pilots would fly the helicopter back by themselves once it was ready to fly. For the accident investigation, after several days of delays due to Typhoon “Hester”, the helicopter was salvaged from a depth of 20 feet, however due to extensive structural damage along with the time spent submerged in salt water it was determined to be beyond economical repair. Of note, this was the first UH-1N lost during their Vietnam War service however this was due to mechanical failure, not from enemy action. "Green Hornets" by Wayne Mutza & http://www.mh-53pavelow.com/documents/20thSOS/1971 & Facebook message traffic from squadron members who was there at the time and accident investigation documentation from Michael Caler |
| 1971 - October 18 | A HH-43F from Det.1, 3rd ARRGp, Phan Rang AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Robert M. Albers (P), Capt. Kevin M. Mahan (CP), SSgt. Allyn L. Matheson (FE) and SSgt. David P. Dickensheets (MT), rescued two pilots, Lt. James H. Partridge, and Lt. Dennis H. Busch of a downed USAF UH-1N (see previous entry). No other details are known at this time. JRCC Save Form |
| 1971 - October 19 | A HH-43F from Det. 1, 3rd ARRGp., crewed by unkn (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ), conducted a SAR for four USA troops on a missing U-6 (Call sign "Castle 176") in RVN, once located the PJ deployed and found all four were KIA. No other details are known at this time. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1971 - October 20 | A HH-53C #68-10359 (Call sign “Jolly Green 61”) from the 40th ARRS at Nakhon Phanom RTAFB, Thailand, crewed by Maj. Evan C. Christian (P), Maj. David G. Days (CP), Maj. Gary L. Gamble (CP2), Sgt. Dennis C. Chriswell (FE), TSgt. Daniel L. Schmidt (PJ), TSgt. Richard A. Wallace (PJ), SSgt. George M. Holland (AP) and SSgt. John L. Mannings (AP) medevacked John E. Levings from Camp Hunky in Thailand to the hospital at NKP. No other details are known at this time. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & 37th ARRS Record Book 26 May 71 – 9 Jan 72 |
| 1971 - October 20 | A HH-53C #69-5792 (Call sign “Jolly Green 62”) from the 40th ARRS, crewed by unkn (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE), unkn (PJ and unkn (PJ) was scrambled to medevacked 1 American and 2 Thai from a location 80 miles southeast of Bangkok. (No additional information is known at this time.). 37th ARRS Record Book 26 May 71 – 9 Jan 72 |
| 1971 - October 30 | A HH-53C #69-5792 (Call sign “Jolly Green 62”) from the 40th ARRS at Nakhon Phanom RTAFB, Thailand, crewed Lt. Col. John H. Morse Sr. (P), Maj. George T. MacDonald (CP), unkn (FE), unkn (PJ) and was diverted to Savannakhet to pick up the crew of a O-1 (Call sign "Raven ?"), that had crashed while attempting a landing at Savannakhet, in west central Laos. the pilot was DOA and the USA observer was taken to Nakhon Phanom RTAFB, Thailand for immediate. After immediate medical treatment at NKP he was evacuated to Udorn RTAFB, Thailand by HH-53C #62-5793 (Call sign “Jolly Green 32”) crewed by unkn (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE), unkn (PJ), unkn (PJ) and unkn (FS). "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & 37th ARRS Record Book 26 May 71 – 9 Jan 72 |
| 1971 - October 31 | A HH-53C #68-10357 (Call sign “Jolly Green 57”) from the 40th ARRS at Nakhon Phanom RTAFB, Thailand, crewed by Lt. Col. Charles N. McAllister (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE), unkn (PJ) and unkn (PJ), medevacked USAF E-5 Anthony Sconza, suffering from acute appendicitis, from Nakhon Phanom RTAFB to Udorn RTAFB in Thailand. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & 37th ARRS Record Book 26 May 71 – 9 Jan 72 |
| 1971 - November 01 | Det. 14 of the 39th Air Rescue and Recovery Wing arrived at NAS Kelflavik, Iceland. https://www.globalsecurity.org/military/agency/usaf/56rqs.html |
| 1971 - November 02 - 05 | ARRS ferried two HH-53's from Goose AB, Canada, to RAF Woodbridge, United Kingdom, with an intermediate stop at Keflavik, Iceland. The flight left Goose AB on 2 November and landed at RAF Woodbridge on 5 November. When the cost was tallied, it was determined that shipment by airlift or sealift would have been less expensive. However, ferrying was a viable option, and airlift or sealift might not be available. http://www.afsox.af.mil/shared/media/document.AFD-070906-042.pdf |
| 1971 - November 08 | Three HH-3E's arrived at Det. 14, 39th Air Rescue and Recovery Wing at NAS Keflavik, Iceland. https://www.globalsecurity.org/military/agency/usaf/56rqs.html |
| 1971 - November 08 | HH-53C #68-10363 (Call sign "Jolly Green 65") from the 37th ARRS, Da Nang AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Rodney S. Griffith (P), Capt. Michael C. Sartori (CP), SSgt. David Garcia (FE), Charles B. Aldean (PJ) and TSgt. Eugene L. Nardi (PJ) rescued eight survivors from a downed ARVN CH-34 (Call sign "King Bee") helicopter in Cambodia. High bird on this mission was HH-3C #68-10366 (Call sign “Jolly Green 70”) crewed by Capt. Robert W. Uljua (P), Capt. Douglas A. Peck (CP) A1C Ronald G. Hager FE), Sgt. Michael A. Aillet (PJ) and Sgt. William R. Pearson (PJ). No other details are known at this time. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & www.mh-53pavelow.com/documents/airframes/notable_h53_history.pdf & JRCC Save Form |
| 1971 - November 11 | A HH-43F from Det. 1, 3rd ARRGp. at Phan Rang AB, RVN, crewed by unkn (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ), medevacked one Vietnamese in RVN. No other details are known at this time. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form |
| 1971 - November 12 | A HH-53C #68-10363 (Call sign "Jolly Green 65") from the 37th ARRS, crewed by Capt. Rodney S. Griffith (P), Capt. Michael C. Sartori (CP), SSgt. David Garcia (FE), Charles B. Aldean (PJ) and TSgt. Eugene L. Nardi (PJ), rescued seven VNAF troops from a downed ARVN UH-1 helicopter in RVN. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form & www.mh-53pavelow.com/documents/airframes/notable_h53_history.pdf |
| 1971 - November 15 | A HH-43F from Det. 14, 38th ARRS, Tan Son Nhut AB, RVN, crewed by unkn (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ) rescued two foreign military troops, Lt. Hon Tran Van and Lt. Hai Ho Van. No other details are known at this time. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form |
| 1971 - November 16 | A HH-3E from Det. 14, 39th ARRWg. performed the units FIRST rescue mission since their arrival on 08, November 1971. The unit's FIRST mission took place when the Icelandic Lifesaving Association requested the airlift of a nine-year old boy suffering from epileptic seizures. https://www.globalsecurity.org/military/agency/usaf/56rqs.htm |
| 1971 - November 16 | A HH-53C from the 40th ARRS, crewed by Maj. Frederick C. Hartstein (P), Lt. Col. Anthony E. Holland (CP), TSgt. Rufus B. Russell (FE), Sgt. Dennis C. Williamson (PJ), A1C John S. Lackeos (PJ), SSgt. Wayne L. Fisk (PJ), TSgt. Eldridge M. Neal (PJ) and Dr. J. W. Howington (FS) medevacked SSgt. Thomas P. Misner from Nakhon Phanom RTAFB, to Udorn RTAFB, Thailand. No other details are known at this time. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form & 37th ARRS Record Book 26 May 71 – 9 Jan 72 |
| 1971 - November 17 | A HH-43, crew unkn, rescued two foreign military troops, Lt. Hon Tran Van and Lt. Hi Ho Van. No other details are known at this time. JRCC Save Form |
| 1971 - November 20 | A HH-43F from Det. 1, 3rd ARRGp at Phan Rang AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Daniel J. Biezad (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ), medevacked Nhuyen Van Bin in RVN. No other details are known at this time. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form |
| 1971 - November 25 | HH-53C #68-10366 (Call sign "Jolly Green 70") of the 37th ARRS operating out of Bien Hoa AB, RVN and crewed by Maj. Robert Bennett Swenck (P), Capt. John William George (CP), Sgt. Hank L. Theriot (FE), A1C Thomas Dean Prose (PJ), TSgt. James "Jim" Richard Thomas (PJ) and Sgt. Richard L. Sneed (PJ) and HH-53C #69-5788 (Call sign "Jolly Green 73), crewed by Capt. Richard L. Wall (P), Capt. Gary A. Dake (CP), SSgt. David Garcia (FE), TSgt. Eugene L. Nardi (PJ) and Charles B. Aldean (PJ), assisted U. S. Army and U. S. Navy helicopters in the rescue of the passengers and crew of a U. S. Navy CH-46 (Call sign "Cuckly 447"), with 21 personals on board, that had been shot down about 90 miles south of Bien Hoa AB, RVN. "Jolly Green 70 landed at the crash site and recovered 14 people and proceeded to Binh Thuy AB, RVN to drop them off. "On a Steel Horse I Ride" by Darrel D. Whitcomb & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1971 - November 25 | HH-53C #68-10366 (Call sign "Jolly Green 70") of the 37th ARRS operating out of Bien Hoa AB, RVN and crewed by Maj. Robert Bennett Swenck (P), Capt. John William George (CP), Sgt. Hank L. Theriot (FE), A1C Thomas Dean Prose (PJ), TSgt. James "Jim" Richard Thomas (PJ) and Sgt. Richard L. Sneed (PJ) was shot down and crashed into the Song Na River near the town of Nha Be, RVN while returning to Bien Hoa AB, RVN from the mission described above. Maj. Swenck (P), Capt. George (CP), A1C Prose (PJ) and TSgt. Thomas (PJ) was KIA. Sgt. Theriot (FE) & Sgt. Sneed (PJ) were rescued, Sgt. Theriot by "Jolly Green 73” and Sgt. Steed by a U. S. Navy helicopter (See next entry). "On a Steel Horse I Ride" by Darrel D. Whitcomb & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/37th_Aerospace_Rescue_and_Recovery_Squadron#Operations_and_losses |
| 1971 - November 25 | HH-53C #69-5788 (Call sign "Jolly Green 73") crewed by Capt. Richard L. Wall (P), Capt. Gary A. Dake (CP), SSgt. David Garcia (FE), TSgt. Eugene L. Nardi (PJ) and Charles B. Aldean (PJ), rescued Sgt. Hank L. Theriot (FE) from the crash of "Jolly Green 70"). Sgt. Richard L. Steed (PJ) on "Jolly Green 70" was rescued by a USN helicopter. The other crew members of "Jolly Green 70" were KIA (see previous entry). "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1971 - November 27 | HH-53C #69-5794 (Call sign “Jolly Green 52”) from the 40th ARRS at Nakhon Phanom RTAFB, Thailand, crewed by unkn (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE), unkn (PJ) and unkn (PJ), medevacked TSgt. Harold L. Perkins from Nakhon Phanom RTAFB to Udorn RTAFB in Thailand. No other details are known at this time. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & 37th ARRS Record Book 26 May 71 – 9 Jan 72 |
| 1971 - November 29 | A HH-53C #68-10364 (Call sign “Jolly Green 66”) from the 37th ARRS at Da Nang AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Stephen R. Tyler (P), Capt. Norman R. Foley (CP), Sgt. John W. Drayer (FE), TSgt. Jon H. Young (PJ) and Charles D. Aldean (PJ), rescued the pilot of a A-37B (Call sign "Hawk 05"), Capt. Alan W. Moore II, after he ejected from his ground fire damaged aircraft, about 25 miles northwest of Kampong Cham, Cambodia. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe JRCC Save Form & Pacific Stars & Stripes, 05 Dec 1971 |
| 1971 - November 30 | CH-53C #68-10922 of the 1551st CCTW at Kirtland AFB, NM., impacted the ground during a night unaided approach to a remote LZ. No other details are known at this time. http://aviation-safety.net/wikibase/wiki.php?id=56220 |
| 1971 - December 01 | Two HH-3E from the 33rd ARRS at Kadena AB, Okinawa, one crewed by unkn (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and (PJ) and the second crewed by unkn (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ), rescued 10 survivors of the 3,000-ton Philippine cargo ship Yakal, which capsized and sank 240 miles east of Okinawa during a storm the day before. Pacific Stars & Stripes, Dec. 03, 1971, pg. 7 |
| 1971 - December 04 | UH-1N #69-6621 (Call sign "Green Hornet ?") of the 20th SOS from Ban Me Thuot, RVN, crewed by Capt. Bernard D. Claxton (P), Capt. David L. Vesley (CP), Sgt. Thomas E. Fike (AG) and Richard King (AG), came under enemy fire near Saigon and one of the gunners, Sgt. Thomas E. Fike, was killed. This mission was to be a milk run out of Saigon and back. His helicopter was shot down as they were returning to Saigon. The pilot thought that they had seen a rocket launcher set up in a rice paddy. They went in low level to check it out (flying a UH-1N slick), and they received heavy ground fire. Sgt Tom Fike, a door gunner was killed, the other door gunner was seriously wounded and at least one other crew member was wounded as well. Sgt. Fike is believed to be the last member of the Green Hornet Squadron killed in Vietnam. The crew and passengers were rescued by U.S. Army UH-1 aircraft and the injured were flown directly to a hospital landing pad in Saigon. UH-1N #60-6621 was recovered, repaired and returned to service with the 20th SOS. Roy Spencer entry on The Wall website http://thewall-usa.com/guest.asp?recid=16112 & Jim Green Facebook post 16 Sept. 2019 & http://en.wikipedia.org/20th_Special_Operations_Squadron & Facebook post by Ken Barber, crew chief on the U.S. Army rescue UH-1 & http://www.helis.com/database/modelorg/786/ |
| 1971 - December 06 | A HH-43F from Det. 13, 3rd ARRGp, Phu Cat AB, RNV, crewed by Capt. Howard A. Randall (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ), medevacked USAF TSgt. Robert Z. Beatty in RVN. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form |
| 1971 - December 07 - 08 | A HH-43F (Call sign “Pedro 60”) from Det. 7, 3rd ARRGp at Da Nang AB, RNV, crewed by Capt. John N. Drexler (P), Capt. Michael F. Schmidt (CP), A1C Robert S. Bos (FE), Sgt. Earl Brooks Jr. (MT) and Capt. Richard T. Emerson (FS), medevacked USAF Lt. Col. R. Prentiss, USAF Capt. A. Cardona and USAF Capt. W. Camper in three separate sorties in RVN. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form |
| 1971 - December 09 | A HH-53C #68-8284 (Call sign “Jolly Green 55”) from the 40th ARRS at Nakhon Phanom RTAFB, Thailand, crewed by unkn (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE), unkn (PJ) and unkn (PJ), medevacked an unkn person from Nakhon Phanom RTAFB to Udorn RTAFB in Thailand. No other details are known at this time. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & 37th ARRS Record Book 26 May 71 – 9 Jan 72 |
| 1971 - December 11 | A HH-53C #69-5786 (Call sign "Jolly Green 30") from the 40th ARRS at Nakhon Phanom RTAFB, Thailand, crewed by Maj. Kenneth E. Ernest (P), Capt. Joel L. Summers (CP), Sgt. John C. Repper (FE), MSgt. Leon C. Fullwood (PJ), TSgt. Kelsey R. Adams (PJ, Sgt. Paul C. Perry (PJ) and Sgt Marty Cavasos (AP), rescued the co-pilot of a F-105G (Call sign "Ashcan 01 Bravo"), Maj. Robert E. Belli after he and his pilot, Lt. Col. Scott Winston McIntire (P) had ejected from their SAM damaged aircraft over the Mu Gia Pass on 10 December 1971. The rescue of "Ashcan 01 Bravo" marked the first time an IFR recovery had been made. Maj. Ernest had found a hole in the cloud cover about two miles from the survivor and let down to tree top level then hovered from treetop to treetop with guidance from his crew and vectors from the survivor, taking almost an hour, to a point where he could make the pickup. The survivor, Maj. Belli, described being able to see the belly of the HH-53C and the PJs on the hoist coming down to get him, but said he could not see any more of the helicopter than the belly as the rest of it was in the clouds. Lt. Col. Scott Winston McIntire was KIA. "On a Steel Horse I Ride" by Darrel D. Whitcomb & http://www.jollygreen.org/Stories/Ashcan_01.html & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1971 - December 18 | A HH-53C #69-5786 (Call sign "Jolly Green 30") from the 40th ARRS, crewed by Maj. Clyde E. Bennett (P), Maj. Donald L. Roston (CP), A1C William T. Lyles (FE), MSgt. Daniel L. Schmidt (PJ), SSgt. William E. Brown Jr. (PJ) and Sgt. Dennis C. Williamson (PJ) rescued the crew of a F-4E (Call sign "Gunfighter 82"), Lt. Col. Arthur S. Blissett and 1st Lt. Michael H. Murray, after they ejected from their SAM damaged aircraft, just north of the Mu Gia Pass in Laos. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1971 - December 19 | A HH-53C #69-5786 (Call sign "Jolly Green 30") from the 40th ARRS at Nakhon Phanom RTAFB, Thailand, crewed by Maj. Clyde E. Bennett (P), Maj. Donald L. Roston (CP), A1C William T. Lyles (FE), MSgt. Daniel L. Schmidt (PJ), SSgt. William E. Brown Jr. (PJ) and Sgt. Dennis C. Williamson (PJ) rescued the crew of a F-4E (Call sign "Gunfighter 82"), Lt. Col. Arthur S. Blissett and 1st Lt. Michael H. Murray, after they ejected from their SAM damaged aircraft, just north of the Mu Gia Pass in Laos. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1971 - December 19 | HH-53C #68-8284 (Call sign "Jolly Green 55") from the 40th ARRS at Nakhon Phanom RTAFB, Thailand, crewed by Capt. Harold O. Jones (P), Maj. David G. Daus (CP), SSgt. Jerrold T. Dearman (FE), MSgt. Leon C. Fullwood (PJ) and Sgt. William D. Brinson (PJ) rescued the crew of an F-4D (Call sign "Falcon 74"), Maj. William T. Stanley and Capt. Lester O'Brien, after their aircraft was shot down by an attacking MiG near Ban Poung Ban. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & http://www.mh-53pavelow.com/documents/airframes/notable_h53_history.pdf & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1971 - December 19 | HH-43F from Det. 1, 3rd ARRGp at Phan Rang AB, RVN, crewed by unkn (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE), and unkn (PJ), medevacked one Vietnamese in RVN. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & http://www.mh-53pavelow.com/documents/airframes/notable_h53_history.pdf |
| 1971 - December 19 | HH-43F (Call sign “Pedro 61”) from Det. 7, 38th ARRS, Da Nang AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Michael F. Schmidt (P), Capt. John N. Drexler (CP), A1C Leon J. Raska (FE), and SSgt Wallace H. Long (MT), medevacked USAF A1C Sammy K. Brady, a SP who had been wounded by an enemy sniper, in RVN. No other details are known at this time. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & http://www.mh-53pavelow.com/documents/airframes/notable_h53_history.pdf |
| 1971 - December 19 | A USAF HH-53C helicopter from the 41st ARRS at Hamilton AFB, CA., crewed by Captain John O. Lindgren (P), unkn (CP), Ricco Ches (FE) SSgt. Michael Fish (PJ) and TSgt. Lewis Craig (PJ), rescued Capt. Donald Henderson, pilot of a C-7 with an engine failure on a flight from Hawaii to the mainland. The C-7 ditched 25 miles west of San Francisco, the co-pilot and flight mechanic were able to get out of the sinking aircraft, but Capt. Henderson was pinned inside an unable to get out. SSgt. Fish and TSgt. Graig was able to tear away the debris and metal that had Capt. Henderson pined in the aircraft and bring him to the surface just two minutes before the C-7 sank. Pacific Stars & Stripes, Wednesday, Dec. 22 |
| 1971 - December 28 | A HH-43F from Det. 5, 3rd ARRGp, Udorn RTAFB, Thailand, crewed by Capt. Robert Raggio (P), Maj. Walter A. Malkiewicz (CP), A1C LeMayne E. DeWild (FE) and Sgt Robert W. Mosteller (MT), medevacked Robert Fore in Thailand. No other details are known at this time. JRCC Save Form & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1971 - December 31 | HH-53C #69-5788 (Call sign "Jolly Green 73") from the 37th ARRS at Da Nang AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Peter H. Chapman III (P), Capt. Michael C. Sartori (CP), Sgt. John W. Drayer (PJ), Sgt. William J. Thompson (PJ) and Roger L. Goodwin (AP), unsuccessfully attempted to rescue seven U.S. Army troops, Capt. Noel M. Harvey, Lt. V. F. Flynn, Sgt. F. Figuroa, S-4 G. F. Cobb, Pfc. D. McMillan, D. W. Trimble and S-4 R. A. Mickle, from a downed USA UH-1H (Call sign "Charlie Horse 26") helicopter in RVN but they were driven off the attempt by enemy ground fire (see next entry). JRCC Save Form & “PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe http://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/USDemocrat-National-conversations/topics/16570 |
| 1971 - December 31 | HH-53C #68-10361 (Call sign "Jolly Green 21") of the 37th ARRS, crewed by Capt. Rodney S. Griffith (P), Capt. Leslie C. Hart (CP), A1C James K. Ashdown (FE), TSgt. Charles F. Salome (PJ), Sgt. Michael L. Wagner (PJ) and James W. Wines (AP), rescued seven U.S. Army troops, Capt. Noel M. Harvey, 1st Lt. Viel F. Flynn, Sgt. Fernando Figuroa, S-4 George F. Cobb, Pfc. David McMillan, PFC David W. Trimble and S-4 Ronnie A. Mickle (WIA), from a downed USA UH-1H (Call sign "Charlie Horse 26") helicopter in RVN. S-4 Robert L. Denmark on the downed bird was (KIA). No other details are available currently. The second helicopter on this mission was “Jolly Green 21”, crewed by unkn (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE), unkn (PJ) and unkn (PJ). JRCC Save Form & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & http://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/USDemocrat-National-conversations/topics/16570 & 37th ARRS Save Logbook 1971 |
| 1972 - January 02 | HH-43F from Det. 1, 3rd ARRGp. at Phan Rang AB, RVN, crewed by unkn (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE), and unkn (PJ), medevacked USA Capt. Erickson in RVN. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1972 - January 05 | HH-53C #69-5793 (Call sign “Jolly Green 32”) from the 40th ARRS at Nakhon Phanom RTAFB, Thailand, crewed by Maj. Richard M. Bigelow (P), Maj. Ralph L. Allred (CP), A1C William T. Liles (FE), A1C John S. Lackeos (PJ) and Sgt. Raymond J. Crow Jr. (PJ), medevacked USAF Sgt. George L. Quillan to Udorn RTAFB, Thailand. No other details are known at this time. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & 37th ARRS Save Logbook 1971 |
| 1972 - January 06 | HH-43F from Det. 7, 3rd ARRGp., Da Nang AB, RVN, crewed by Maj. Allan C. Spitler (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE), unkn (PJ) and unkn (PJ), rescued Gary L. Knupp and Scott Hansen from a downed UH-1D in RVN. No other details are known at this time. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1972 - January 06 | HH-43F from Det. 14, 3rd ARRGp., Tan Son Nhut AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Donald Eudy (P), Capt. Jackie “Jack” Roberts (CP), SSgt. Robert Montgomery (FF) and SSgt. Ernest L. Taylor (FF) rescued a VNAF A-1 pilot in RVN. No other details are known at this time. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1972 - January 14 | HH-53C from the 40th ARRS at Nakhon Phanom RTAFB, Thailand, crewed by unkn (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FF) and unkn (FF), medevacked Robert S. Guess to Udorn RTAFB, Thailand. No other details are known at this time. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1972 - January 20 | HH-53C #69-5784 (Call sign “Jolly Green 71”) from OL-A of the 37th ARRS at Da Nang AB, RVN, crewed by Lt. Col. William M. Harris IV (P), Capt. Donald A. Sutton (CP), SSgt. Thayer D. Pope (FE), A1C Michael A. Aillett (PJ), Sgt. William R. Pearson (PJ) and Roger L. Goodwin (AP), rescued four USA troops from a UH-1 (Call sign "Charlie Horse 26") helicopter downed in RVN. HH-53C #68-10364 (Call sign “Jolly Green 66”), crewed by unkn (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE), unkn (PJ) and unkn (PJ) was high bird on this mission. No other details are known at this time. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1972 - January 26 | A USAF helicopter from the 33rd ARRS at Kadena AB, Okinawa, crewed by unkn (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ), flew to Tokashiki Island and air-evacuated a 16-year-old girl suffering acute gastric pains. The girl, Mineko Matsumoto of Tokashiki-son, was taken to the Izumizaki Hospital in Naha. Pacific Stars & Stripes, Feb. 02, 1972, pg. 22 |
| 1972 - January 30 | HH-53C #68-10363 (Call sign "Jolly Green 65") from the 37th ARRS at Da Nang AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Roger T. Colgrove (P), Maj. Jackson K. Scott Jr. (CP), SSgt. Jimmie D. Minshew (FE), SSgt. Harvey R. Pickelsimer (PJ), Sgt. William R. Pearson (PJ) and Roger L. Goodwin (AP) recorded the 700th "save" for the 37th ARRS by rescuing two USA troops, Capt. Hugh Mills (WIA) and WO John Bryant (WIA), from a downed USA AH-1G (Call sign "Charlie Horse 38") helicopter, near Phu Bai, RVN. No other details are known at this time. 37th ARRS Save Logbook 1971 & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form & www.mh-53pavelow.com/documents/airframes/notable_h53_history.pdf |
| 1972 - February 04 | UH-1N #69-6621 (Call sign “Green Hornet #?) of the 20th SOS “Green Hornets” out of Ban Me Thuot AB, crewed by Capt. Bruce Knapp (P), Donald Hickman (CP), SSgt Robert W. Hall (AG) and Jon S. McDaniel (AG) was shot down in Cambodia. Jon McDaniel had suffered a head wound but he and the rest of the crew was rescued by rope ladder from a Huey slick that had followed them down. UH-1N #69-6621 was destroyed later in the day by VNAF A-1 Skyraider aircraft. This was the second “Green Hornet” UH-1N lost and the only “Green Hornet” UH-1N lost due to enemy ground fire during the Vietnam War. “Green Hornets” by Wayne Mutza & Facebook post from Bruce Knapp |
| 1972 - February 11 | A HH-53C from the 40th ARRS at Da Nang AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. James W. McIntrye (P), Capt. Joel L. Summers (CP), TSgt. Rufus B. Russell (FE), SSgt. Charles D. Morrow (PJ) and Sgt. Michael D. Vogele (PJ), using the newly introduced Limited Night Recovery System that enabled a rare night-time recovery, rescued the crew of a F-4E (Call sign "Seafox 01"), Capt. John S. Murphy (P) and 1st Lt. Thomas W. Dobson (WSO), after they ejected from their ground fire damaged aircraft about 15 miles northeast of Muang Fangdeng, Laos. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & JRCC Save Form & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1972 - February 13 | A HH-43F from Det. 3, 3rd ARRGp, Ubon RTAFB, Thailand crewed by Capt. Richard W. Standish (P), Capt. Charles T. Jernigan (CP), Sgt. Harvey B. Long (FE), Sgt. Larry G. Bull (MT), SSgt. Danny J. Chaney (FF) and SSgt. Stewart P. Smith (FF) rescued an RF-4C (Call sign "Red Top 02") crew, 1st Lt. J. F. McCarthy (P) and Capt. Glen A. Profitt (CP) when their aircraft suffered hydraulic failure and they ejected over Thailand. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & JRCC Save Form & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1972 - February 16 | A HH-43F from the 3rd ARRGp, Det. 7 at Da Nang AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Charles W. Miller (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ), medevacked USA Sgt. Rodney L. Jarvis in RVN. No other details are known at this time. JRCC Save Form & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1972 - February 17 | A HH-53C from the 40th ARRS at Nakhon Phanom RTAFB, Thailand, crewed by Maj. Frederick C. Hartstein (P), Capt. David E. Pannabecker (CP), Sgt. George L. Wright (FE), SSgt. Gary P. Bryant (PJ) and MSgt. Gary T. Osborne (PJ) rescued the observer, SSgt. William E. Silva, after his O-2A (Call sign “Sun Dog 12”) was hit by ground fire, killing the pilot, 1st Lt. Richard Neil Christy, and crashing during a mission over Cambodia. JRCC Save Form & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1972 - February 21 | A HH-53C from the 40th ARRS at Nakhon Phanom RTAFB, Thailand, crewed by unkn (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ), medevacked USAF Sgt. David L. Kero, a 56th SOS security policeman, to Udorn RTAFB in Thailand. No other details are known at this time. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1972 - February 22 | A HH-53C from the 40th ARRS at Nakhon Phanom RTAFB, Thailand, crewed by Capt. Robert A. Rossi (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ), rescued twelve foreign mercenaries from an H-34 downed in Laos. No other details are known at this time. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1972 - February 25 | A HH-53C from the 37th ARRS at Da Nang AB, RVN, crewed by unkn (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ), rescued three USA troops from a UH-1 helicopter down in the South China Sea. No other details are known at this time. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1972 - March 02 | A HH-53C #68-10357 (Call sign "Jolly Green 57"), of the 40th ARRS at Nakhon Phanom RTAFB, Thailand, crewed by Robert L. "Bob" Paul (P), Capt. Dale E. "Ricohet" Stovall (CP), Sgt. Denny R. Sanders (FE), Sgt. Paul C. Perry (PJ) and TSgt. Jon H. Young (PJ) rescued the pilot of a OV-10A (Call sign "Covey 219") Capt. Malon H. Long III after he had ejected from his AAA damage aircraft about 15 miles north of Saravan in southern Laos. "Taking Fire" by Kevin O'Rourke & Joe Peters & JRCC Save Form & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1972 - March 05 | A HH-43F from Det. 12, 3rd ARRGp, U-Tapao RNAFB, Thailand, crewed by Capt. Dante O. Fierros (P), Capt. Ralph H. Bell (CP), Sgt. Thomas W. Hooker (FE), Sgt. Frederic A. Praitano (MT) and Col. John R. Hoch (FS), medevacked USAF TSgt. Paul D. Adkins in Thailand. No other details are known at this time. JRCC Save Form & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form |
| 1972 - March 08 | A HH-53C #68-10361 (Call sign “Jolly Green 21”) from the 37th ARRS at Da Nang AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Horace E. Johnson (P), Capt. David E. Mullenix (CP), SSgt. Jimmy D. Minshew (FE), Sgt. Richard L. Steed (PJ) and TSgt. Allen J. Avery (PJ) rescued an USN A-4F pilot, Cmdr. George J. Fenzl, when he ejected from his AAA fire damaged aircraft about twelve miles northwest of Da Nang, RVN. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & 37th ARRS Save Logbook 1971 |
| 1972 - March 10 | A UH-1N gunship from the 20th SOS, crewed by unkn (P), unkn (CP), unkn (AG) and SSgt. Wilbert H. Kaseman (AG) braved heavy small arms and rocket fire to provide covering fire that was instrumental in the rescue of a beleaguered Long Range Reconnaissance Patrol deep in hostile territory near Dak To, RVN. DFC Citation awarded to SSgt. Wilbert H. Kaseman |
| 1972 - March 11 | A HH-53C from the 40th ARRS at Nakhon Phanom RTAFB, Thailand, crewed by unkn (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE), unkn (PJ) and unkn (PJ), medevacked James P. Berstreate. No other details are known at this time. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1972 - March 12 | A HH-43F from Det. 4, 3rd ARRGp, Korat RTAFB, Thailand, crewed by Capt. Daniel J. Biezad (P), unkn (CP), SSgt. Dwight L. Berry (FE) and SSgt. Geraro Ramos (MT), rescued an F-105G (Call sign "Alamo 02 Bravo") co-pilot, Maj. Harold W. Stoll. No other details are known at this time. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form |
| 1972 - March 12 | A HH-53C from the 40th ARRS at Nakhon Phanom RTAFB, Thailand, crewed by Maj. Ralph L. Allred (P), Capt. Douglas C. McGraw (CP), Sgt. Dennis C. Chriswell (FE), A1C William M. Hughes Jr. (PJ) and Sgt. Raymond J. Crow Jr. (PJ), rescued a F-105G (Call sign "Alamo 02 Alpha") pilot, Capt. James P. Berstreate. No other details are known at this time. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form |
| 1972 - March 15 | A HH-43F from Det. 14, 3rd ARRGp, Tan Son Nhut AB, RVN, Capt. crewed by Capt. Henry G. Hamby III (P), Capt Donald H. Eudy (CP), MSgt Ralph E. Smith (FE), and unkn (PJ), medevacked three USN sailors in RVN. No other details are known at this time. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1972 - March 15 | The 20th Special Operations Sq. "Green Hornets" stood down from all missions in anticipation of being deactivated. http://www.mh-53pavelow.com/documents.20thSOS/history2.pdf |
| 1972 - March 15 | A CH-53C from the 21st SOS at Nakhon Phanom RTAFB, Thailand, crewed by unkn (P), unkn (CP), Sgt. Richard F. Ropski (FE) and unkn (FE) were part of a formation of eight helicopters assigned the mission to move a large contingent of allied soldiers into an area of operations deep inside hostile territory. Despite the threat of antiaircraft fire along the route and a large number of hostile forces in the area of the landing zone they made repeated landings to off-load his troops, making possible the start of a new allied offensive in a vital area. The Distinguished Flying Cross News Magazine, Vol. 19, Issue 1, Summer 2019 |
| 1972 - March 16 | A HH-43F from Det. 12, 38th ARRS, U-Tapao RNAFB, Thailand, crewed by unkn (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE), and unkn (PJ), rescued a Thai O-1 crew in Thailand. No other details are known at this time. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1972 - March 18 | A HH-43B at Holloman AFB, NM, crewed by unkn (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FF), unkn (FF) and unkn (MT) responded with the FSK when an F-4 of the USAF Thunderbird's crashed on takeoff. The Thunderbird pilot ejected and was okay. Facebook post by Joseph Luther via Jim Olson July 18, 2014 |
| 1972 - March 19 | A HH-53C #68-10357 (Call sign "Jolly Green 57") from the 40th ARRS at Nakhon Phanom RTAFB, Thailand, crewed by Maj. Kenneth E. Ernest (P), Capt. Mark C. Schibler (CP), SSgt. Tommie Bryant Jr. (FE), unkn (PJ) and unkn (PJ), rescued the crew of an OV-10A ("Call sign "Nail-31"), 1st Lt. David G. Breskman and Capt. Steven L. Boretsky, after they ejected from their AAA damaged aircraft about 10 miles east of Pakse, Laos. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & JRCC Save Form |
| 1972 - March 22 | A HH-43F from the 3rd ARRGp, Det. 7 at Da Nang AB, RVN, crewed by unkn (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE), and unkn (PJ), medevacked Lee Gonzales. No other details are known at this time. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form |
| 1972 - March 27 | HH-53C #68-10359 (Call sign "Jolly Green 61") from the 40th ARRS at Nakhon Phanom RTAFB, Thailand, crewed by Capt. David Eric Pannabecker (P), Capt. Richard E. Dreher (CP), Sgt. James Manor (FE), Sgt. Raymond Jack Crow, Jr. (PJ), A1C Raymond Anthony Wagner (PJ) crashed in Cambodia from unknown causes. None of the crew was recovered. http://www.jollygreen.org/jltnc.htm & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1972 - March 27 | A HH-53C from the 40th ARRS from Nakhon Phanom RTAFB, Thailand, crewed by Maj. Ralph L. Allred (P), Capt. Mark C. Schibler (CP), SSgt. Raymond Duarte (FE), Sgt. Michael D. Vogele (PJ), SSgt. Donald H. Goodlett Jr. (PJ) and George M. Holland (AP), was on a flight with "Jolly Green 61") but was not able to recover any of the crew (see entry above). None of the crew was recovered. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & http://www.jollygreen.org/jltnc.html |
| 1972 - March 30 | A HH-53C from Hamilton AFB, CA, crewed by unkn (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE), unkn (PJ) rescued two fliers from a life raft in the Pacific Ocean Wednesday day night. Frank H. Watson and Howard Hansen, from Agana, Guam were lifted by hoist 280 miles from the California coast. The two had ditched their four-engine plane after it ran out of fuel on a flight from San Francisco to Honolulu. PJs in wetsuits and fins were lowered to reach the raft. Pacific Stars & Stripes, Monday, April 3, 1972 |
| 1972 - March 30 | The 20th Special Operations Sq. was deactivated. http://www.mh-53pavelow.com/documents.20thSOS/history2.pdf |
| 1972 - March 31 | A HH-53C #69-5785 (Call sign "Jolly Green 63") from the 40th ARRS at Nakhon Phanom RTAFB, Thailand, crewed by Maj. Kenneth E. Ernest (P), Capt. Bennie D. Orrell (CP), SSgt. Michael W. Taylor (FE), SSgt. Charles D. Morrow (PJ), MSgt, Gary T. Osborne (PJ) and Jeffrey A. Fox (AP), rescued two AC-130E crew members Capt. Waylon O. Fulk (Call sign "Spectre 22 Alpha") and SSgt. Anthony Dendi (Call sign "Spectre 22 India") after they bailed out of their 57mm AAA damaged aircraft over a 40-mile distance between where it had been hit, 35 miles north of Muang Fangdeng in southern Laos and Saravan, Laos, where the aircraft crashed. HH-53's picked up a total of thirteen crew members and Air America UH-34D helicopters picked up two other crew members, Capt. Eddie N Bolling (Call sign "Specter 22 Bravo") and Robert Jacobs (Call sign Specter 22 Mike") (see next entries). Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & "Taking Fire" by Kevin O'Rourke & Joe Peters & http://www.mh-53pavelow.com/documents/airframes/notable_h53_history.pdf |
| 1972 - March 31 | A HH-53C #69-5792 (Call sign "Jolly Green 62") from the 40th ARRS at Nakhon Phanom RTAFB, Thailand, crewed by Maj. Frederick C. Hartstein (P), Capt. Charles M. Swager (CP), Sgt. Denny R. Sanders (FE), Sgt. William D. Brinson (PJ) and Sgt. Michael D. Vogele (PJ) rescued one AC-130A crew member Capt. C. C. Johnson, Jr. (Call sign "Spectre 22 Foxtrot") after they bailed out of their 57mm AAA damaged aircraft over a 40 mile distance between where it had been hit, 35 miles north of Muang Fangdeng in southern Laos and Saravan, Laos, where the aircraft crashed. HH-53's picked up a total of thirteen crew members and Air America UH-34D helicopters picked up two other crew members, Capt. Eddie N. Bolling (Call sign "Specter 22 Bravo") and Robert Jacobs (Call sign Specter 22 Mike") (see next and previous entries). Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & "Taking Fire" by Kevin O'Rourke & Joe Peters & http://www.mh-53pavelow.com/documents/airframes/notable_h53_history.pdf |
| 1972 - March 31 | A HH-53C #68-10358 (Call sign "Jolly Green 60") from the 40th ARRS at Nakhon Phanom RTAFB, Thailand, crewed by Capt. Dale E. Stovall (P), 1st Lt. Stephen R. Connelly (CP), TSgt. Rufus B. Russell (FE), SSgt. Donald H. Goodlet (PJ), SSgt. Charles D. McGrath (PJ) and Sgt. Hal Smith (AP) rescued eight AC-130A crew members (Call sign "Spectre 22 Charlie, Delta, Golf, Hotel, Juliett, Kilo, Lima and Oscar"), Capt. R. Cardosi, Lt. Col. O. F. Lentz, Maj. D. C. Dixon, SSgt. C. Davis, Sgt. M. D. Frost, MSgt. J. R. Thrasher, Sgt. D. Tiskon and Sgt. M. Teach, after they bailed out of their 57mm AAA damaged aircraft over a 40 mile distance between where it had been hit, 35 miles north of Muang Fangdeng in southern Laos and Saravan, Laos, where the aircraft crashed. HH-53's picked up a total of thirteen crew members and Air America UH-34D helicopters picked up two other crew members, Capt. Eddie N. Bolling (Call sign "Specter 22 Bravo") and Robert Jacobs (Call sign Specter 22 Mike") (see next and previous entries). Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & "Taking Fire" by Kevin O'Rourke & Joe Peters & http://www.mh-53pavelow.com/documents/airframes/notable_h53_history.pdf |
| 1972 - March 31 | A HH-53C from the 40th ARRS at Nakhon Phanom RTAFB, Thailand, crewed by Maj. David G. Daus (P), Capt. Joel L. Summers (CP), SSgt. Raymond Duarte (FE), A1C Michael D. Nunes (PJ), Sgt. Paul C. Perry (PJ) and Kenneth D. Nevitt (AP), rescued two AC-130A crew members Capt. Robert Rayburn (Call sign "Spectre 22 Echo") and Sgt. Stanley R. Reeves (Call sign "Spectre 22 November") after they bailed out of their 57mm AAA damaged aircraft over a 40 mile distance between where it had been hit, 35 miles north of Muang Fangdeng in southern Laos and Saravan, Laos, where the aircraft crashed. HH-53's picked up a total of thirteen crew members and Air America UH-34D helicopters picked up two other crew members, Capt. Eddie N Bolling (Call sign "Specter 22 Bravo") and Robert Jacobs (Call sign Specter 22 Mike") (see previous entries). Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & "Taking Fire" by Kevin O'Rourke & Joe Peters & http://www.mh-53pavelow.com/documents/airframes/notable_h53_history.pdf |
| 1972 - April 02 | A HH-53C #68-10365 (Call sign “Jolly Green 67”) from the 37th ARRS at Da Nang AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Rodney S. Griffith (P), Capt. Douglas A. Peck (CP), TSgt. Roy D. Prater (FE), Sgt. Robert L. LaPointe (PJ) and A1C Michael A. Ailllet (PJ), rescued the crew of a AH-1G (Call sign "Blue Ghost 28") Cobra helicopter, Michael Rosebery and Charles Gorski, who were involved with the initial attempt to rescue a EB-66C (Call sign "Bat 21") crew member, Lt. Col. Iceal E. Hambleton, after he ejected from his SAM damaged aircraft in the DMZ. The heavily damaged AH-1G made it to the coast and landed on the beach, south of Quant Tri, RVN, where the crew members were rescued. ‘High bird’ on this mission was HH-53C # 68-10363 (Call sign “Jolly Green 65”), crewed by Maj. Gerald J. Lange (P), Capt. Gary A. Drake (CP), SSgt. William A. Simm (FE), TSgt. Allen J. Avery (PJ) and A1C William R. Pearson (PJ). "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form & http://www.pjsinnam.com/vn_history/pdf_files/Chronology/1972.pdf |
| 1972 - April 03 | Two helicopters from the 37th ARRS at Da Nang AB, RVN, HH-53C #68-10363 (Call sign “Jolly Greens 65”) crewed by USCG Lt. Cmdr. Joseph L. Crowe Jr. (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE), unkn (PJ) and unkn (PJ) and HH-53C #68-10364 (Call sign “Jolly Green 66”), crewed by unkn (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE), unkn (PJ) and unkn (PJ), made two attempts to pick up Lt. Col. Iceal Hambleton (Call sign "Bat 21 Bravo") near Quang Tri, RVN, both times, they were driven off with heavy damage to their aircraft. USCG Lt. Cmdr. Joseph L. Crowe Jr. is known to have been awarded The Distinguished Flying Cross for his actions on this mission, awards for the other crew members are not known at this time. |
| 1972 - April 06 | HH-53C #68-10365 (Call sign "Jolly Green 67") of the 37th ARRS at Da Nang AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Peter Hayden Chapman III (P), 1st Lt. John Henry Call III (CP), TSgt. Roy Dewitt Prater (FE), TSgt. Allen Jones Avery (PJ) Sgt. William Roy Pearson (PJ) and Sgt. James Harold Alley (AP) was shot down in RVN, while on a SAR mission attempting to recover a crewmember of EB-66C (Call sign "Bat 21 Bravo"), Lt. Col. Iceal E. Hambleton, with the loss of all 6 crew members. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/37th_Aerospace_Rescue_and_Recovery_Squadron#Operations_and_losses & http://www.jollygreen.org/jltnc.html |
| 1972 - April 09 | A HH-53C #69-5795 (Call sign “Jolly Green 53”) from the 40th ARRS at Nakhon Phanom RTAFB, Thailand, crewed by Maj. David G. Davis (P), Capt. Stephen R. Connelly (CP), SSgt. Raymond Duarte (FE), MSgt. Edward F. Padilla (PJ) and TSgt. Michael P. McManus (PJ) rescued the crew, Capt. William M. Banks Jr. (P), and Capt. Martin J. Jacobs (WSO), of a F-4D (Call sign 'Musket 01") when they ejected from their ground fire damaged aircraft near Ban Kate in southern Laos. JRCC Save Form & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & Jolly Green Duty Controller’s Log 10 Jan – 11 Nov 72 |
| 1972 - April 12 | HH-3E #66-13289 (Call sign "Jolly Green 36") of the 31st ARRS at Clark AB, PI, crewed by Maj. Bruce Ware (P), Lt. Col. Dick Smith (CP), SSgt. Bob Baldwin (FE) and A1C Kim Robinson (PJ) flying over 600 miles to the rescue site rescued 46 members of television news team which included, 70-year-old, famed pioneer aviator and USAF Reserve Brigadier General Charles A. Lindbergh. This news team was investigating reports of a "lost tribe" in the Tasaday Mountains, Mindanao, PI. and were stranded on a 3,000-foot jungle ridge line when their support helicopter developed mechanical trouble. Due to conditions on the ground Maj. Ware was not able to land and had to hover out of ground effect with the boarding steps a few feet over the ridge top. Very high temperatures restricted the number that could be picked up at any one time and the HH-3E picked up the entire team by making eight trips, and making two partial air refueling’s, to a drop off point about 15 minutes away. Lindbergh commented that although he had helped to develop in-flight refueling, he had never been aboard an aircraft when it was taking place. Upon landing back at Clark AB, the crew had a total elapsed time for the mission of 12 hours, 20 minutes, with a total actual flight time logged of 11 hours, 30 minutes. http://www.thisdayinaviation.com/tag/66-13289/ & http://www.jollygreen.org/Stories/BruceWare/rescue_of_general_charles_lindbe.html |
| 1972 - April 13 | A HH-53C #69-5793 (Call sign “Jolly Green 32”) of the 40th ARRS at Nakhon Phanom RTAFB, Thailand, crewed by Capt. Bennie D. Orrell (P), 1st Lt. James R. Casey (CP), A1C William T. Liles (FE), Sgt. William Doug Brinson (PJ) and A1C Kenneth W. Cakebread III (PJ), rescued the pilot of a USMC A-6A (Call sign "Bengal 505"), Maj. Clyde D. Smith, after he and his NFO, 1st Lt. Scott Douglas Ketchie, had ejected from their AAA ground fire damaged aircraft near Ban Bamran, Laos (just across the border from the DMZ) on 09 April 1972. No trace of Lt. Ketchie was found, and he was presumed to be KIA. Capt. Orrell was awarded the Air Force Cross and Sgt. Brinson the Silver Star and a Purple Heart for a leg wound, for their actions during this mission. The ‘high bird’ on this mission was crewed by Capt. Dale Stoval (P) unkn (CP), SSgt. Harry Cash (FE), unkn (PJ) and unkn (PJ). http://www.homeofheroes.com/members/04_SS/5_RVN/citations/airforce/a.html & "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "Taking Fire" by Kevin O'Rourke & Joe Peters & JRCC Save Form & http://projects.militarytimes.com/citations-medals-awards/recipient.php?recipientid=3526 |
| 1972 - April 13 | A HH-53C from the 40th ARRS at Nakhon Phanom RTAFB, Thailand, crewed by Maj. Frederick C. Hartstein (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE), unkn (PJ) and unkn (PJ), medevacked USAF Sgt. Thomas Dewayne. No other details are known at this time. JRCC Save Form & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1972 - April 15 | A HH-53C #69-5784 (Call sign “Jolly Green 71”) from the 37th ARRS at Da Nang AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Donald A. Sutton (P), Capt. David E. Mullenix (CP), Sgt. John W. Drayer (FE), Sgt. Robert L. LaPointe (PJ) and A1C Michael A. Aillet (PJ), rescued the crew members of an OV-10A, USAF Capt. James D. Harrison (P) and USMC CPL. Greg Metzger (Observer). The ‘high bird’ on this mission was HH-3C #68-10364 (Call sign “Jolly Green 66”), crewed by Capt. Rodney S. Griffith (P), Maj. Christopher C. Korper (CP), SSgt. William A. Simm (FE), SSgt. Cole E. Panning (PJ) and Sgt. William J. Thompson (PJ). No other details are known at this time. JRCC Save Form & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1972 - April 16 | A HH-43F from Det. 14, 3rd ARRGp, Tan Son Nhut AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Howard A. Randall (P), 2nd Lt. Billy E. Heslip (CP), Sgt. Stephen T. Missy (MT), SSgts Truman O. Blake (FF) and SSgt. Clifton R. Davis (FF) rescued the pilot of a F-4D, 1st Lt. V. Parkhurst, after he and his WSO, 1st Lt. M. DeLong, ejected, in RVN, from their aircraft after it had a utility hydraulic failure (see next entry). No other details are known at this time. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & JRCC Save Form & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1972 - April 16 | A HH-43F from Det. 14, 3rd ARRGp, Tan Son Nhut AB, RVN, crewed by Lt. Col. Gerald P. Foss (P), Capt. Donald H. Eudy (CP), unkn (FE) and Sgt. Richard A. Johnson (MT), rescued the WSO of an F-4D, 1st Lt. M. DeLong, after he and his pilot, 1st Lt. V Parkhurst, ejected, in RVN, from their aircraft after it had a utility hydraulic failure (see previous entry). No other details are known at this time. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & JRCC Save Form & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1972 - April 20 | A HH-43F from Det. 14, 3rd ARRGp, Tan Son Nhut AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Clayton L. Coston (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ), medevacked USAF CMSgt. Wilber H. Childress. No other details are known at this time. JRCC Save Form & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1972 - April 23 | A HH-53C from the 40th ARRS at Nakhon Phanom RTAFB, Thailand, crewed by Capt. Dennis M. Boroczk (P), Capt. Douglas C. McCraw (CP), Sgt. Dennis C. Chriswell (FE), SSgt. Charles D. McGrath (PJ) and SSgt. Charles D. Morrow (PJ) rescued the co-pilot of a RF-4C (Call sign "Cosmic 16B"), 1st Lt. Ernest "Woody" S. Clark after he had ejected from his SAM damaged aircraft about 5 miles west of Dong Hoi on 20 April 1972. His pilot, Maj. Edward Knight Elias, had also ejected but became a POW. High bird on this mission was another HH-53C from the 40th ARRS at Nakhon Phanom crewed by unkn (P), unkn (CP), SSgt. Harry H. Cash (FE), SSgt. Charles D. “Chuck” Morrow (PJ) and SSgt. Gary T. Osborn (PJ). "Taking Fire" by Keven O'Rourke & Joe Peters, “Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & Harry Cash mission logs |
| 1972 - April 26 | A TH-1F #66-1242 from the 5th BWg. At Minot AFB, ND., crewed by 1st Lt. David O. Henneke crashed about 3 miles northwest of Garrison, ND. Lt. Henneke along with passengers Sgt. Jerome A. Ciereszewski, A1C Frederick G. Smith and A1C William F. Urban of the 862nd Security Police Sq. were all killed in this crash. No other details are known at this time. Memorial placard. |
| 1972 - April 28 | HH-53C #68-10363 (Call sign "Jolly Green 65") from the 37th ARRS at Da Nang AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Donald A. Sutton (P), Capt. Charles R. Hagerhjim (CP), Sgt. Jimmie R. Cherry (FE), A1C Michael A. Aillett (PJ) and Sgt. Michael L. Wagner (PJ) rescued the crew of a F-4E (Call sign “Gunsmoke 01”) , Capt. Michael C. Francisco (P) and Capt. Arch S. Arthur (CP), after they ejected, about 5 miles off shore, from their aircraft that had been damaged by ground fire while over North Vietnam. ‘High bird’ on this mission was HH-53C #69-5784 (Call sign “Jolly Green 71”) crewed by Capt. Rodney S. Griffith (P), Capt. Douglas A. Peck (CP), Capt. David E. Mullenix (CP). SSgt. Jimmie D. Minshew (FE), Sgt. John W. Drayer (FE), Sgt. Cayetano Pina (FE), Sgt. Robert L. LaPoint (PJ) and Sgt. David W. Young (PJ). www.mh-53pavelow.com/documents/airframes/notable_h53_history.pdf & "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson |
| 1972 - May ?? | Two U.S. Coast Guard 'exchange' helicopter pilots arrived at Da Nang AB, RVN for assignment with the 37th ARRS. They were Lt. Jack K. Stice and Lt. Robert E., Long. http://uscgaviationhistory.aopero.org/images/U.S.%20Coast%20Guard%20Aviation%20in%20Vietnam.pdf |
| 1972 - May 01 | Five HH-53's of the 37th ARRS. at Da Nang AB, RVN, evacuated 132 persons from the Citadel in the besieged and surrounded city of Quang Tri to Da Nang AB, Vietnam. The first HH-53C #69-5784 (Call sign "Jolly Green 71") to land in the LZ, crewed by Maj. Jackson K. Scott, Jr., (P), Capt. David E. Mullenix (CP), Sgt. Ronald W. Blackwell (FE), SSgt. Robert L. LaPointe (PJ) and Sgt. David W. Young rescued 37 people, the second HH-53C #68-10363 (Calls sign "Jolly Green 65") into the LZ, crewed by Capt. Rodney S. Griffith (P), Maj. Anthony A. Gates (CP), SSgt. David Garcia (FE), SSgt. Cole E. Panning (PJ) and Sgt. Charles B. McQuiod II (PJ), rescued 47 people and the last HH-53C #68-10361 (Call sign “Jolly Green 21”) to land in the LZ, crewed by Capt. John R. Weimer, Jr. (P), Capt. Garry A. Dake (CP), SSgt. William A. Simm (FE), Sgt. Michael A. Aillet (PJ), and Sgt. Richard L. Steed (PJ), rescued the last 45. Two of the HH-53C on this mission orbited over the coastline as backups, one, HH-53C #69-5787 (Call sign “Jolly Green 72”), crewed by Capt. Donald A. Sutton (P), Maj. Jerry J. Gilbert (CP), SSgt. Jimmy D. Minshew (FE), Sgt. William J. Thompson (PJ) and Sgt. Daniel G. Manion (PJ) and the other HH-53C #68-10358 (Call sign “Jolly Green 60”), crewed by Capt. Richard L. Wall (P), 2nd Lt. James M. McCorkle (CP), Sgt. John W. Drayer (FE), SSgt. John W. Stephens (PJ) and Sgt. Michael L. Wagner (PJ). "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & http://uscgaviationhistory.aoptero.org/history/06.html & www.mh-53pavelow.com/documents/airframes/notable_h53_history.pdf & http://www.pjsinnam.com/vn_history/pdf_files/Chronology/1972.pdf |
| 1972 - May 02 | A HH-3E from Det. 14, 3rd ARRGp. at Tan Son Nhut AB, RVN, crewed by Maj. Joe E. Ballinger (P), Larry D. McLaughlin (CP), Graham B. Bradshaw (FE), MSgt. Rodney D. Ohman (PJ) and Jerome E. Rarie (PJ), rescued crew members of an AC-119K (call sign “Stinger 41”), Lt. Jimmy R. Barkalow, Lt. Col. Bryant J. Taschioglou and Lt. Larry D. Barbee. A USA UH-1 helicopter rescued A1C Richard Craig Corbett, after they had bailed out of their AAA damaged aircraft about 5 miles from An Loc, RVN. AC-119K crew members KIA were Capt. Terrance Francis Courtney, Capt. David Roddy Slagle and SSgt. Kenneth R. Brown (see next entry). "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & JRCC Save Form & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1972 - May 02 | A HH-3E from Det. 14, 3rd ARRGp. at Tan Son Nhut AB, RVN, crewed by Lt. Col. John J. McGuire Jr. (P), Paul P. Kreider (CP), SSgt. Allen W. Bare (FE), Anthony B. Christian (PJ) and Timothy Zarnowski (PJ), rescued SSgt. Francis J. "Ski" Sledzinski and SSgt. Delanor E. Iman, a USA UH-1 helicopter rescued A1C Richard Craig Corbett, after they had bailed out of their AAA damaged aircraft about 5 miles from An Loc, RVN. AC-119K (call sign “Stinger 41”) crew members KIA were Capt. Terrance Francis Courtney, Capt. David Roddy Slagle and SSgt. Kenneth R. Brown (see previous entry). "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & JRCC Save Form & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1972 - May 05 | HH-53C #68-10363 (Call sign "Jolly Green 65") of the 37th ARRS at Da Nang AB, RVN, crewed by Maj. Anthony A. Gates (P), Capt. Gary A. Dake (CP), SSgt. David Garcia (FE), Sgt. Michael L. Wagner (PJ) and Craig A. Marsch (PJ) rescued a F-4E (Call sign "Musket 03") WSO, Capt. Peter G. Kulzer, when he and his pilot, Capt. R. W. Comstock, ejected from their aircraft when it was hit by AAA fire near Ba Long about 10 miles west of Quang Tri, RVN (see next entry). JRCC Save Form & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & www.mh-53pavelow.com/documents/airframes/notable_h53_history.pdf |
| 1972 - May 05 | HH-53C #68-10361 (Call sign “Jolly Green 21”) from the 37th ARRS at Da Nang AB, RVN, crewed by Maj. Jerry J Gilbert (P), Capt. Darrel R. Knutson (CP), SSgt. William A. Simm (FE), SSgt. Cole E. Panning (PJ) and Sgt. Charles B. McQuoid II (PJ) rescued a F-4E (Call sign "Musket 03") pilot, Capt. Robert W. Comstock when he and his WSO, Capt. Peter G. Kulzer, ejected from their aircraft when it was hit by AAA fire near Ba Long about 10 miles west of Quang Tri, RVN (see previous entry). JRCC Save Form & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & www.mh-53pavelow.com/documents/airframes/notable_h53_history.pdf & 37th ARRS Save Logbook 1971 |
| 1972 - May 07 | HH-43F from Det. 14, 3rd ARRGp., Tan Son Nhut AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Donald E. Dudy (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ), rescued the Vietnamese pilot of an A-1E, Capt. Phan Anh Phat in RVN. No other details are known at this time. JRCC Save Form & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1972 - May 07 | HH-53C from the 37th ARRS at Da Nang AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Darrel R. Knutson (P), Capt. Gary A. Dake (CP), SSgt. David Garcia (FE), Sgt. Michael L. Wagner (PJ) and A1C Craig A. Marsch (PJ), rescued the navigator of a USMC F-4J (Call sign "Bootleg 51 Bravo"), CWO3 James J. Casonguay, after he ejected from his AAA damaged aircraft about 10 miles east of Khe Sanh. The F-4J pilot, Capt. John Wadsworth Consolvo, was KIA. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & JRCC Save Form |
| 1972 - May 08 | HH-53C #68-10363 (Call sign “Jolly Green 65”) from the 37th ARRS at Da Nang AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Darrel R. Knutson (P), Capt. Gary A. Dake (CP), SSgt. David Garcia (FE), Sgt. Michael L. Wagner (PJ) and A1C Craig A. Marsh (PJ) rescued CWO-3 James J. Castonguay. No other details are known at this time. 37th ARRS Combat Saves logs 1972 |
| 1972 - May 17 | HH-43F (Call sign “Pedro 26”) from Det. 4, 3rd ARRGp at Korat RTAFB, Thailand, crewed by Capt. David E. Buchholz (P), Maj Jack A. Weatherford (CP), TSgt James E. Morse (MT), Sgt Norman R. Jones (FF) and Sgt Peter Marcotte (FF), evacuated three USAF airmen in Thailand. No other details are known at this time. JRCC Save Form |
| 1972 - May 20 | A HH-53C #69-5795 (Call sign “Jolly Green 53”) from the 40th ARRS at Nakhon Phanom RTAFB, Thailand, crewed by Capt. Mark C. Schibler (P), Capt. Clifton L. "Rufus" Hutchinson (CP), SSgt. Tommie Bryant Jr. (FE), Sgt. Paul C. Perry (PJ) and Amn. Robert W. Mason (PJ) flew to within 35 miles of Hanoi to rescue the pilot of an F-4D (Call sign "Bowleg 02 Alpha"), 1st Lt. John D. Markle (P) after he and his back seater, Capt. James W. Williams (CP) ejected from their aircraft after being hit by an Atoll missile fired by a MiG-21. Capt. Williams became a POW before he could be rescued. The HH-53C ‘high bird’, from the 40th ARRS, on this mission was crewed by Maj. Gary L. Gamble (P), Capt. John M. Gillespie III (CP), Sgt. Denny R. Sanders (FE), SSgt. Donald H. Goodlet (PJ) and William A. Worber Jr. (PJ). "Taking Fire" by Kevin O'Rourke and Joe Peters & "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "On a Steel Horse I Ride" by Darrel D. Whitcomb & http://www.pjsinnam.com/vn_history/pdf_files/Chronology/1972.pdf |
| 1972 - May 21 | HH-43F (Call sign “Pedro 61”) from the 3rd ARRGp., Det. 7 at Da Nang AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Donald R. Wagner (P), Capt. Robert R. Ames (CP), SSgt. Charles R. Worley (FE) and SSgt. Fredrick Stordy (MT), medevacked Sgt. Edward G. Heinz in RVN. No other details are known at this time. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1972 - May 23 | HH-53C #69-5795 (Call sign “Jolly Green 53”) from the 40th ARRS at Nakhon Phanom RTAFB, Thailand, crewed by unkn (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE), unkn (PJ) and unkn (PJ), medevacked SSgt. R. V. Meyer of the 56th CES who suffered a compound fracture of his left leg, in Thailand. No other details are known at this time. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & Jolly Green Duty Controller’s Log 10 Jan – 11 Nov 72 |
| 1972 - May 25 | HH-43F (Call sign “Pedro 61”) from the 3rd ARRGp. at Da Nang AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. James L. Wilkinson (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (MT), medevacked two VNAF personnel, one with 1st, 2nd and 3rd degree burns and the other with light burns. No other details are known at this time. 37th ARRS 1972 01 Apr – 30 Jun |
| 1972 - May 26 | A HH-43F (Call sign “Pedro 61”) from Det. 7, 3rd ARRGp. at Da Nang AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Robert R. Ames (P), Capt. Michael F. Schmidt (CP), Sgt. Larry Johnson (MT), SSgt. Michael J. Kondask (FF) and SSgt. David C. Newman (FF) rescued the pilot and observer of an USMC TA-4F (Call sign "Wine Leaf 04"), Capt. William E. Ramsbottom and CWO2 Bruce E. Boltz after they ejected from their aircraft over the South China Sea about 10 miles southeast of Da Nang AB, RVN after it was hit and damaged by a SA-7 missile about 15 miles northwest of Hue, RVN. No other details are known at this time. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & JRCC Save Form & "PJ's in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1972 - May 26 | A HH-53C #68-10361 (Call sign “Jolly Green 21”), from the 37th ARRS at Da Nang AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Garry A. Dake (P), Capt. James D. Bruner (CP), Sgt. Cayetano Pina (FE), SSgt. John W. Stephens (PJ), SSgt. Cole E. Panning (PJ) and civilian Mr. Dennis Cameron rescued the crew of an F-4D (Call sign "Gunsmoke 02"), Capt. Andrew N. Arnold (P) and Capt. Thomas F. Kincaid (CP), after they ejected from their AAA damaged aircraft just south of Khe Sanh, RVN. The ‘high bird’ on this mission was HH-53C #69-5784 (Call sign “Jolly Green 71”) crewed by Maj. Jerry J. Gilbert (P), Capt. Frederick W. Harrington (CP), A1C Charles J. Rouhier (FE), SSgt. Douglas E. Wilson (PJ) and Sgt. Michael L. Wagner (PJ). "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & JRCC Save Form & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1972 - May 27 | A HH-43F from Det. 14, 3rd ARRGp., Tan Son Nhut AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Jackie L. Roberts (P), Capt. Howard A. Randall (CP), Sgt. Robert J. S. Brind (FE) and SSgt. William T. Mathews (MT) rescued two USA troops, Lt. Gen. William J. McCaffrey and Capt. Allen M. Russo, from a downed USA UH-1 helicopter in RVN. JRCC Save Form & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1972 - May 30 | A HH-43F from Det. 14, 3rd ARRGp., Tan Son Nhut AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Verl K. Diamond (P), 1st Lt. William K. Rubertus (CP), Sgt. Teddy L. Jones (FE), Sgt. Melvin C. Evans (MT), SSgt. Kenneth Daniels (FF) and SSgt. Ernest Taylor (FF), rescued a total of 8 VNAF airmen, including Capt. Tam, from a VNAF C-119. No other details are known at this time. JRCC Save Form & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1972 - June 01 | A HH-53C from the 37th ARRS at Da Nang AB, RVN, crewed by Maj. Christopher C. Korper (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ), rescued WO Martine Thomas from a downed USA OH-6. No other details are known at this time. JRCC Save Form |
| 1972 - June 01 | A HH-43F from Det. 5, 3rd ARRGp., Udorn RTAFB, Thailand, crewed by Capt. Larry B. Doege (P), 1st Lt. Russell G. Hill (CP), Sgt. Alfred P. Avila (FE) and SSgt. Foster D. Smith (MT) rescued an F-4E (Call sign "Lover 03") crew, Capt. George W. Hawks (P) and Capt. David B Bngee (WSO), when their aircraft was hit and damaged just south of Yen Bai, NVN, and they were able to fly it back into Thailand and they ejected a few miles from Udorn RTAFB, Thailand. JRCC Save Form & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson |
| 1972 - June 01 | A HH-53C of the 40th ARRS at Nakhon Phanom RTAFB, Thailand, crewed by Capt. Dale E. Stovall (P), Lt. Col. Clifford E. Brandon (CP), A1C James F. Walsh (FE), unkn (PJ) and unkn (PJ) attempted to rescue the WSO of a F-4D (Call sign "Oyster 01 Bravo"), Capt. Roger C. Locher, after it had been hit by cannon fire from a MiG-19 and he ejected near the MiG base at Yen Bai, NVN. Capt. Locher had been shot down on 10 May 1972 and E & E'd for 23 days before he made voice contact with a flight of Phantom's and this rescue attempt was initiated. This attempt was unsuccessful and the HH-53C was driven off by enemy fire and enemy MiG fighters. The F-4D pilot, Maj. Robert Alfred Lodge was KIA on 10 May 1972. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobs & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1972 - June 02 | A HH-53C of the 40th ARRS at Nakhon Phanom RTAFB, Thailand, crewed by Capt. Jerry W. Shipman (P), Stanley J. Zielinski Jr. (CP), A1C William T. Liles (FE), SSgt. Donald H. Goodlett, Jr. (PJ), Sgt. Dennis C. Williamson (PJ) and Sgt. Hal Smith (AP) was an airborne backup for the attempt to rescue the WSO of a F-4D (Call sign "Oyster 01 Bravo"), Capt. Roger C. Locher, after it had been hit by cannon fire from a MiG-19 and he ejected near the MiG base at Yen Bai, NVN. Capt. Locher had been shot down on 10 May 1972 and E & E'd for 23 days before he made voice contact with a flight of Phantom's and this rescue attempt was initiated. The F-4D pilot, Maj. Robert Alfred Lodge was KIA on 10 May 1972. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobs & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1972 - June 02 | A HH-53C #69-5786 (Call sign "Jolly Green 57") of the 40th ARRS at Nakhon Phanom RTAFB, Thailand and equipped with a new Electronic Location Finder ("ELF") system, crewed by Capt. Dale E. Stovall (P), Capt. John M. Gillespie III (CP), A1C James F. Walsh (FE), Sgt. Charles B. McQuoid II (PJ), A1C Kenneth W. Cakebread III (PJ) and Sgt. Robbie L. Welborn (AP) rescued the WSO of a F-4D (Call sign "Oyster 01 Bravo"), Capt. Roger C. Locher, after it had been hit by cannon fire from a MiG-19 and he ejected near the MiG base at Yen Bai, NVN. Capt. Locher had been shot down on 10 May 1972 and E & E'd for 23 days before he made voice contact with a flight of Phantom's and this rescue attempt was initiated. The F-4D pilot, Maj. Robert Alfred Lodge was KIA on 10 May 1972. Capt. Dale E. Stovall was awarded the Air Force Cross for his actions during this mission. This was the FIRST SAR using the "ELF". "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1972 - June 04 | A HH-53C from the 40th ARRS at Nakhon Phanom RTAFB, crewed by unkn (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ), medevacked Rodney W. Meek in Thailand. No other details are known at this time. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1972 - June 05 | A HH-3E from Det. 14, 3rd ARRGp. at Tan Son Nhut AB, RVN, crewed by Maj. Walter E. Barnes III (P), John C. Woefel (CP), MSgt. William J. Warren (FE), Kim Robinson (PJ), Larry E. Smith (PJ) and Timothy Hasan (AP), rescued the badly injured pilot of an O-2A, 1st Lt. Craig P. Dunn, after he crash landed his enemy ground fire damaged aircraft about 10 miles NW of Bao Loc, RVN. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & JRCC Save Form & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1972 - June 08 | A HH-43F from Det. 5, 3rd ARRGp., Udorn RTAFB, Thailand, crewed by Capt. Larry B. Doege (P), Capt. Thomas J. Meyer (CP), Sgt. Thomas M. Holloway (FE), MSgt. Benny F. Stegall (MT) and SSgt. Paul A. Harshman (FF), medevacked USN E-4 Billy W. Ragen in RVN. No other details are known at this time. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1972 - June 08 | A HH-43F from Det. 9, 3rd ARRGp. at Nakhon Phanom RTAFB, Thailand, crewed by unkn (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ), rescued an OV-10A crew, Robert L. Humphrey (P) and. unkn (CP) in Thailand when their aircraft had a double engine failure and they ejected. No other details are known at this time. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1972 - June 08 | A HH-53C #68-8285 (Call sign “Jolly Green 56”) from the 40th ARRS at Nakhon Phanom RTAFB, Thailand, crewed by Maj. Gary L. Gamble (P), Capt. Stephen R. Connelly (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ), rescued a QU-22B pilot (Call sign “Vampire”), 1st Lt. Charles W. Nanney in Thailand after his aircraft had an engine failure. No other details are known at this time. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & Jolly Green Duty Controller’s Log 10 Jan – 11 Nov 72 |
| 1972 - June 10 - 18 | 12 UH-1 helicopters belonging to the 28th Bombardment Wing at Ellsworth AFB, flew 55 sorties in 80 flying hours supporting flood relief efforts, rescuing 14 persons and airlifting 251, and delivering almost four tons of food, clothing, and medical supplies. The United States Air Force and Humanitarian Airlift Operations 1947–1994 by Daniel L. Haulman Air Force Historical Research Agency Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama |
| 1972 - June 10 | A HH-43F (Call sign “Pedro 61”) from Det. 7, 3rd ARRGp at Da Nang AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Robert R. Ames (P), Capt. James L. Wilkinson (CP), Sgt Ronald D. Littleton (FE) and SSgt Gregory A. Brown (MT), medevacked one USAF airman in RVN. No other details are known at this time. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1972 - June 10 | A HH-43F from Det. 7, 3rd ARRGp. at Da Nang AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Allen C. Spitler (P), 1st Lt. William I. Latham Jr. (CP), SSgt. John Szczecina (FE) and SSgt. Randall S. Swens (MT), medevacked one USN sailor, ENS. Richard Barber, in RVN. No other details are known at this time. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form |
| 1972 - June 10 | A HH-43F from Det. 7, 3rd ARRGp. at Da Nang AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Robert R. Ames (P), Capt. James L. Wilkinson (CP), Sgt Ronald D. Littleton (FE) and SSgt Gregory A. Brown (MT), medevacked one Vietnamese in RVN. No other details are known at this time. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1972 - June 10 | A HH-53C from the 40th ARRS at Nakhon Phanom RTAFB, Thailand, crewed by unkn (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE), unkn (PJ) and Capt. Alexander Smith (FS), medevacked Sgt. Zacheval D. Godwin in Thailand. No other details are known at this time. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & Jolly Green Duty Controller’s Log 10 Jan – 11 Nov 72 |
| 1972 - June 12 | A HH-53C #68-10363 (call sign “Jolly Green 65”) from the 37th ARRS at Da Nang AB, RVN, crewed by Maj. Christopher C. Korper (P), Olin F. Land Jr. (CP), Sgt. Gregory A. Sealander (FE), SSgt. Douglas E. Wilson (PJ) and Sgt. Michael L. Wagner (PJ), rescued Sam Martin from an OH-6 helicopter downed in RVN. No other details are known at this time. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1972 - June 13 | A HH-43F from Det. 7, 3rd ARRGp., Tan Son Nhut AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Clayton L. Coston (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE), unkn (PJ) and unkn (PJ), rescued a VNAF A-1 pilot in RVN. No other details are known at this time. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1972 - June 15 | A HH-53C #68-10362 (Call sign “Jolly Green 64”) from the 37th ARRS at Da Nang AB, RVN, crewed by Maj. Jackson K. Scott Jr. (P), Capt. David E. Mullenix (CP), Sgt. Cayetano Pina (FE), A1C Michael A. Friedrich (PJ), Sgt. David W. Young (PJ) and William Boardman (AP), rescued one VNAF airman from a downed UH-1 (Call sign "Eagle 02") in RVN. ‘High bird’ on this mission was HH-53C #68-10361 (Call sign “Jolly Green 21”), crewed by Capt. Gary A. Drake (P), Capt. Gerald M. Tonn (CP), A1C Charles J. Rouhier (FE), Sgt. Charles B. McQuold II (PJ) and Sgt. Michael L. Wagner (PJ). No other details are known at this time. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1972 - June 15 | A CH-53C #68-10925 (Call sign “Knife 25”) from the 21st SOS at Nakhon Phanom RTAFB, Thailand, crewed by Gary Stevens (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE), unkn (FE) and unkn (FE) was left in an LZ in Laos after breaking though the surface on touchdown. When it broke through it was buried up to the belly, which stopped the forward motion, causing it to pitch forward hard enough to lock the pilots’ shoulder harnesses and flex the rotor blades down into the cockpit to within a few inches of the pilots’ helmets. The helicopter was slung out to Ubon RTAFB, Thailand on 25 June 1972. CH-53C #68-10925 was repaired and put back into service. Facebook post by Gary Stevens on 14 Feb – Note: HH-53C #68-10925 (Call sign “Knife 31”) was shot down and destroyed by ground fire on a beach of Koh Tang Island during Mayaguez rescue on 15 May 1975 & Jolly Green Duty Controller’s Log 10 Jan – 11 Nov 72 |
| 1972 - June 16 | A HH-43F (Call sign “Pedro 61”) from Det. 7, 3rd ARRGp, Da Nang AB, RVN, crewed by Maj. Allen C. Spitler (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ), medevacked Richard Barber in RVN. No other details are known at this time. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1972 - June 18 | A HH-43F from Det. 14, 3rd ARRGp., Tan Son Nhut AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Jackie L. Roberts (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ), rescued the pilot, Lt. Daniel W. Olson from an A-37B accident in Thailand. No other details are known at this time. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & JRCC Save Form & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1972 - June 19 | A HH-53C #69-5787 (Call Sign “Jolly Green 72”) from 37th ARRS at Da Nang AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Donald A. Sutton (P), Capt. Todd H. Hohberger (CP), Sgt. Ronald W. Blackwell (FE), SSgt. Cole E. Panning (PJ) and A1C Kenneth W. Cakebread III (PJ), rescued three AC-130A crew members, Capt. Gordon L. Brocher, 2nd Lt. Robert V. Reid and SSgt. William B. Patterson after they bailed out of their SA-7 missile damaged aircraft on 18 June 1972, near the A Shau Valley about 25 miles southwest of Hue, RVN. The remaining 12 AC-130A crew members, Capt. Paul Faris Gilbert, Capt. Robert Allan Wilson, Maj. Gerald Francis Ayres, Maj. Robert Herman Harrison, Capt. Mark Giles Danielson, MSgt. Jacob Edward Mercer, TSgt. Richard Milton Cole, SSgt. Donald Herman Klinke, SSgt. Larry Jerome Newman, SSgt. Richard E. Nyhof, Sgt. Leon Andrew Hunt and Sgt. Stanley Lawrence Lehrke, were KIA. ‘High bird’ on this mission was HH-53C #68-10362 (Call sign “Jolly Green 64”), crewed by Capt. James D. Bruner (P), Capt. David E. Mullenix (CP), Sgt. Gregory A. Sealander (FE), Sgt. David Mueller (PJ) and A1C Michael A. Aillet (PJ). "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & JRCC Save Form & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1972 - June 21 | A HH-53C of the 40th ARRS at Nakhon Phanom RTAFB, Thailand, crewed by Capt. Bennie D. Orrell (P), Capt. Andrew J. Courtice (CP), Sgt. William T. Liles (FE), TSgt. Charles F. Salome (PJ) and Sgt. George D. Webber Jr. (PJ) rescued the pilot of a USN F-8J (Call sign "Nickel 102"), Cmdr. James W. Davis, after he ejected from his 37 mm AAA damaged aircraft, on 20 June 1972, near the Mu Gia Pass. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & http://www.pjsinnam.com/vn_history/pdf_files/Chronology/1972.pdf |
| 1972 - June 21 | A HH-53C #69-5787 (Call sign “Jolly Green 72”) from the 37th ARRS at Da Nang AB, RVN, crewed by Maj. Christopher C. Korper (P), Capt. Gerald M. Tonn (CP), Sgt. Jimmie R. Cherry (FE), SSgt. Douglas E. Wilson (PJ) and A1C Michael A. Friedrich (PJ) rescued the pilot of an A-1J (Calls sign "Sandy 07"), Capt. Larry G. Highfill, after he ejected from his 23 mm AAA damaged aircraft about 25 miles west of Hue, RVN. ‘High bird’ on this mission was HH-53C #68-10362 (Call sign “Jolly Green 64”) crewed by Capt. Gary A. Dake (P), 2nd Lt. Jerry D. Stout (CP), A1C Charles J. Rouhier (FE), Sgt. David W. Young (PJ) and Sgt. Charles B. McQuoid (PJ). "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & http://www.pjsinnam.com/vn_history/pdf_files/Chronology/1972.pdf & 37th ARRS History 1972, 01 Apr – 30 Jun |
| 1972 - June 22 - 23 | Five helicopters from Det. 15 and 16 of the 42nd ARRS and the 302nd ARRS, crew’s unkn, airlifted 68 flood refugees 10 miles north of Scottsdale, AZ., just east of Phoenix. Dry desert washes became raging rivers and on June 22nd the Arizona Department of Public Safety asked the 42nd ARRS at Hamilton AFB, CA., for helicopter support to rescue flood victims. The squadron alerted Det. 15 at Luke AFB, Arizona, and Det. 16 at Williams AFB, AZ. Both bases were in the flood vicinity, Luke to the southwest and Williams to the southeast of Phoenix. Each detachment dispatched one HH–43 Pedro helicopter for emergency rescue flights. The 302nd ARRS, a reserve unit at Williams AFB, also responded to the emergency with three HH–34J's. During two days of rescue operations, the three units used five helicopters to rescue 68 flood victims. Most passengers boarded aircraft where they landed at isolated spots of high ground, but some were hoisted aboard helicopters from the isolated spots of high water. The 42nd ARRS was responsible for 49 saved lives among the 68 airlifted. The emergency helicopter flights ended on June 23. The United States Air Force and Humanitarian Airlift Operations 1947–1994 by Daniel L. Haulman Air Force Historical Research Agency Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama |
| 1972 - June 25 | A HH-53C 70-1625 from the 40th ARRS at Nakhon Phanom RTAFB, Thailand, crewed by Capt. Douglas C. McGraw (P), 1st Lt. Ben Casey (CP), SSgt. Harry H. Cash (FE), William A. Webber (PJ), SSgt. Charles D. McGrath (PJ) and unkn (AP) was severely damage by enemy fire while on a rescue mission deep in North Vietnam for a USN A-7E pilot, Lt. Geoffrey Raymond Shumway (who was later determined to have been KIA). SSgt. Cash was severely wounded and was given direct blood transfusions by the PJs from Lt. Casey (who happened to have the same blood type) as they tried to get back into Thailand. The crew was able to make a crash landing in a clearing near Lima Site 16 in Laos and were picked up by another HH-53 on the mission. SSgt. Cash survived his injuries. This HH-53C was repaired and recovered on or about July 05, 1972, and returned to base where additional repairs were completed, and it was put back into service. June 25, 2015, Facebook post by Harry H. Cash |
| 1972 - June 27 | A HH-53C #69-5794 (Call sign “Jolly Green 52”) from the 40th ARRS at Nakhon Phanom RTAFB, Thailand, crewed by Stanley J. Zielinski Jr. (P), Richard P. Tripp (CP), A1C James F. Walsh (FE), TSgt. Charles F. Salome (PJ) and Roger D. Candill (AP) unsuccessfully attempted the rescue of the pilot of a F-4E (Call sign "Valent 03 Alpha"), Maj. Robert C. Miller, after he and the WSO, 1st Lt. Richard H. McDow, ejected from their aircraft when it was hit by a air-to-air missile fired by a MiG-21 about 80 miles west of Hanoi NVN. The WSO of this F-4E, 1st Lt. Richard H. McDow, became a POW. This HH-53C was damaged during the attempt and driven off by enemy fire (see next entry). "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "On a Steel Horse I Ride" by Darrel D. Whitcomb & "Taking Fire" by Kevin O'Rourke & Joe Peters & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1972 - June 27 | A HH-53C #68-8285 (Call sign “Jolly Green 56”) from the 40th ARRS at Nakhon Phanom RTAFB, Thailand, crewed by Capt. Bennie D. Orrell (P), 1st Lt. Stephen R. Connelly (CP), Sgt. Denny R. Sanders (FE), TSgt. Michael L. Walker (PJ), SSgt. Kenneth J. Musnicki (PJ) and Sgt. Bobbie L. Welborne (AP) rescued the pilot of a F-4E (Call sign "Valent 03 Alpha"), Maj. Robert C. Miller, after he and the WSO, 1st Lt. Richard H. McDow, ejected from their aircraft when it was hit by a air-to-air missile fired by a MiG-21 about 80 miles west of Hanoi NVN. The WSO of this F-4E, 1st Lt. Richard H. McDow, became a POW (see previous entry). "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "On a Steel Horse I Ride" by Darrel D. Whitcomb & "Taking Fire" by Kevin O'Rourke & Joe Peters & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1972 - June 27 | A HH-53C #69-5788 (Call sign "Jolly Green 73"), of the 40th ARRS crewed by Maj. Leo W. Thacker Jr. (P), 2nd Lt. Frank R. Mason Jr. (CP), Sgt. George L. Wright Jr. (FE), SSgt. Charles D. "Chuck" McGrath (PJ), SSgt. Charles D. Morrow (PJ) and George M. Holland (AP) unsuccessfully attempted the rescue of the pilot of a F-4E (Call sign "Valent 04A"), Capt. Lynn A. Aikman, after he and his WSO, Capt. Thomas J. Hanton, ejected from their aircraft after it was hit by a air-to-air missile fired by a MiG-21 about 80 miles west of Hanoi, NVN. The WSO of this F-4E, Capt. Thomas J. Hanton, became a POW. While in a hover over the survivor, with PJ "Chuck" McGrath on the ground the HH-53C took 23 hits and was forced to shear the hoist and pull off the attempt (see next entry). "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "On a Steel Horse I Ride" by Darrel D. Whitcomb & "Taking Fire" by Kevin O'Rourke & Joe Peters. NOTE: between the two sources for this mission there is some confusion as to who made the pickup of Maj. R. C. Miller-see next entry & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1972 - June 27 | A HH-53C #68-10357 (Call sign "Jolly Green 57"), of the 40th ARRS crewed by Capt. Dale E. Stovall (P), 1st Lt. Clifton L. Hutchinson (CP), SSgt. Richard L. Simmon (FE), Sgt. Michael D. Nuenz (PJ), TSgt. Albert J. Reich (PJ) and Kelly K. Schulman (AP) rescued the pilot of an F-4E (Call sign "Valent 03A"), Capt. Lynn A. Aikman, after he ejected from his aircraft after it was hit by a air-to-air missile fired by a MiG-21 about 80 miles west of Hanoi NVN. The WSO of this F-4E, 1st Lt. Richard H. McDow, became a POW. They also rescued the PJ, Sgt. Charles D. McGrath, who had been lowered to help Maj. Aikman get on the hoist when his helicopter, "Jolly Green 73", was driven off by enemy ground fire. Sgt. McGrath was awarded the Air Force Cross for his actions in protecting the survivor during this rescue (see previous entries). "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "On a Steel Horse I Ride" by Darrel D. Whitcomb & "Taking Fire" by Kevin O'Rourke and Joe Peters & http://www.pjsinnam.com/vn_history/pdf_files/Chronology/1972.pdf NOTE: between the two sources for this mission there is some confusion as to who made the pickup of Maj. R. C. Miller-see previous entry |
| 1972 - June 30 | A HH-3E from the 33rd ARRS at Kadena AB, Japan crewed by Maj. William A. Chambers (P), 1st Lt. Donnie R. Rowland (CP), SSgt. Larry R. Collins (FE) and TSgt. Randy S. McComb (PJ) medevacked a 19-year-old Ryukyuan girl with intense abdominal pain. She was airlifted shortly after 2 a.m. from an Iheya Jima school athletic field illuminated by the lights of 3 cars. The patient, Teruko Nishime, apparently suffering from acute appendicitis, was flown to Naha AB. Pacific Stars & Stripes, Sunday, July 2, 1972 |
| 1972 - July 05 | A HH-53C #69-5784 (Call sign "Jolly Green 71") of the 37th ARRS at Da Nang AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. David E. Mullenix (P), Capt. Frederick W. Harrington (CP), SSgt. Albert D. Cochran (FE), SSgt. Douglas E. Wilson (PJ) and SSgt. Charles B. "Chip" McQuoid II (PJ) rescued a F-4D (Call sign "Gaslight 01 Bravo") WSO, Capt. Michael D. VanWagenen when he and his pilot, Maj. E. K. Johnson, (P), ejected from their aircraft, over the Gulf of Tonkin, about 35 miles NE of the DMZ after it was hit by a SAM east of Kep, NVN (see next entry). http://jollygreen.org/37thhist/Newspaper/1Aug72Page4.htm & JRCC Save Form & PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson |
| 1972 - July 05 | HH-53C #69-5787 (Call sign "Jolly Green 72"), of the 37th ARRS at Da Nang AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Gerald M. Tonn (P), 2nd Lt. Dale Stout (CP), Sgt. Cayetano Pina (FE), SMSgt. Charles Rick Chapman (PJ) and Sgt. Jack Stephens (PJ) rescued a F-4D (Call sign "Gaslight 01 Alpha") pilot, Maj. Earl K. Johnson when he and his WSO, Capt. Michael D. Vanwagenen, ejected from their aircraft, over the Gulf of Tonkin, about 35 miles NE of the DMZ after it was hit by a SAM east of Kep, NVN (see previous entry). JRCC Save Form & "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & http://jollygreen.org/37thhist/Newspaper/1Aug72Page4.htm & PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & 37th ARRS Save Logbook 1971 |
| 1972 - July 08 | A HH-43F from Det. 5, 3rd ARRGp, Udorn RTAFB, Thailand, crewed by Capt. Thomas J. Meyer (P), Capt. Peter J. Buley (CP), Sgt. Thomas M. Holloway (FE), Sgt. Alfred P. Avila (MT), SSgt. Freddie J. Senters (FF) and SSgt. Stanley B. Glowniak (FF), rescued the crew of a F-4E, Lt. Col. Robert E. Ross (P) and Capt. Stanley M. Imaye (WSO), after their aircraft was attacked and damage by a air-to-air missile fire by a MiG, they then managed to fly their aircraft back to Thailand where they ejected just north of Udorn RTAFB. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & JRCC Save Form & PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1972 - July 11 | HH-3E’s from the 31st ARRS, Clark AB, PI were re-deployed TDY to Tan Son Nhut AB, RVN. It is noted that the last HH-3E #67-14783 to depart Da Nang AB, RVN in early 1971 was one of the HH-3E’s that the 31st ARRS brought back to the Vietnam War. Comments from P.J. Bill Preble who was part of this HH-3E unit. |
| 1972 - July 15 | A HH-53C from the 40th ARRS at Nakhon Phanom RTAFB, Thailand, crewed by Capt. Charles M. Swager (P), 1st Lt. Clifton L. Hutchinson (CP), Rourk (FE), TSgt. Michael P. McManus (PJ), Robert K. Schneider (PJ) and Samuel K. Schneider (FS), medevacked USAF MSgt. Samuel K. Demoranville in Thailand. No other details are known at this time. JRCC Save Form & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1972 - July 17 | A HH-53C #69-5784 (Call sign “Jolly Green 71”) from the 37th ARRS at Da Nang AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Dennis M. Boroczk (P), 2nt Lt. Jerry D. Stout (CP), Sgt. Cayetano Pina (FE), SSgt. Douglas E. Wilson (PJ) and Sgt. Michael L. Wagner (PJ) rescued the pilot of a USN A-7C (Call sign "Sidewinder 405"), Lt. David K. Anderson, after he ejected over the South China Sea, about 15 miles northeast of Da Nang AB, RVN and the pilot of a second USN A-7C (Call sign "Sidewinder 401"), Cmdr. William D. Yonke, after he ejected just south of Hue, RVN. Both aircraft had been damaged by an Mk-82 bomb that exploded prematurely. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1972 - July 18 | A HH-53C #69-5784 (Call sign "Jolly 71") from the 37th ARRS at Da Nang AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Frederick W. Harrington (P), 1st Lt. Harry "Doc" L. Holliday (CP), A1C Charles J. Rouhier (FE), A1C Lawrence E. Kimball (PJ) and Sgt. William E. Stevens (PJ), rescued the pilot of a F-4D (Call sign "Owl 02 Alpha"), 1st Lt. Gordon K. Tushek, after he and his WSO, Capt. Wayne Gordon Brown, ejected from their aircraft after it was damaged by a Mk-82 bomb dropped by a USN A-7C that exploded prematurely. They ejected, on July 17, 1972, about 20 miles south of Hue, RVN. An earlier attempt by HH-53C #68-10364 (Call sign "Jolly 66"), crewed by Capt. Gerald M. Tonn (P), Capt. Charlie C. Baldwin (CP), Sgt. Jimmie R. Cherry (FE), unkn (PJ) and unkn (PJ) to rescued Capt. Wayne Gordon Brown (Call sign "Owl 02 Bravo") was unsuccessful. The WSO, Capt. Wayne Gordon Brown (Call sign "Owl 02 Bravo"), of this F-4D ejected safely and was injured during his ejection or landing and was believed to be KIA by enemy forces before he could be rescued. Also known to have been involved in this mission were HH-53C's #69-5787 and #69-5788 (Call sign’s "Jolly 72 & Jolly 73") along with some of the following crew members, Olin F. Land Jr. (P), SSgt. Albert D. Cochran (FE), Sgt. Richard L. Steed (PJ), Sgt. Michael L. Wagner (PJ) and A1C Kenneth W. Cakebread III (PJ) were known to have been on those aircraft. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "Friends Journal" Summer 2015 & PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & Charles Rouhier Air Rescue Association Facebook post on Jun 13, 2022 |
| 1972 - July 18 | A HH-43F #60-0279 (Call sign “Pedro 36”) from Det. 12, 3rd ARRGp, U-Tapao RNAFB, Thailand, crewed by Capt. Carr E. Flournoy (P), 1st Lt. David G. Rousseau (CP), Sgt. Thomas W. Hooker (FE), Sgt. Oliver Chapel (MT) and SSgt. George E. Cotton, medevacked Darrell H. Smith in Thailand. No other details are known at this time. PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1972 - July 29 | A HH-53C #69-5787 (Call sign "Jolly Green 72") from the 37th ARRS at Da Nang AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Denny M. Boroczk (P), 1st Lt. Michael "Mac" McDaniel (CP), Capt. Todd Hohberger (CP2), Gary L. Trotter (FE), Arden Conard (PJ), Sgt. Michael L. Wagner (PJ) and Sgt. Stephen L. Caldwell (PJ), rescued the pilot of a F-105G (Call sign "Eagle 03 Alpha"), Maj. Thomas J. Coady, from the South China Sea about 5 miles off the coast of Da Nang AB, RVN after he and his co-pilot, Maj. Perry F. Murphy, had ejected from their aircraft after it was damaged during a dog fight with a MiG-21 (see next entry). http://www.jollygreen.org/37thhist/Newspaper/16Aug72Page6.jpg & "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1972 - July 29 | A HH-43F (Call sign "Pedro 61") from Det. 7, 3rd ARRGp., Da Nang AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Donald R. Wagner (P), Maj. Allan C. Spitler (CP), SSgt. Charles R. Worley (FE), Sgt. Robert W. Parrish (MT), SSgt. David C. Newman (FF) and SSgt. Samuel J. McElhaney (FF) rescued the co-pilot, Maj. Perry F. Murphy, of a F-105G (Call sign "Eagle 03 Bravo") from the South China Sea about 5 miles off the coast of Da Nang AB, RVN after he and his pilot, Maj. Thomas J. Coady, had ejected from their aircraft after it was damaged during a dog fight with a MiG-21 (see previous entry). "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & http://www.jollygreen.org/37thhist/Newspaper/16Aug72Page6.jpg |
| 1972 - July 30 | A HH-53C from the 40th ARRS at Nakhon Phanom RTAFB, Thailand, crewed by Capt. Robert A. Rossi (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE), unkn (PJ), unkn (PJ) and unkn (PJ) medevacked USAF MSgt. Eugene C. Gries and USAF Sgt. Dennis C. Williams in Thailand. No other details are known at this time. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1972 - August 04 | A UH-1N, #69-6647, from Det. 24, 42nd ARRS at Fairchild AFB, WA., crewed by Maj. John C. Allen (P), Maj. Keith E. Kirchmeier (CP) and 1st Lt. Stephen V. Webb (CP), struck a power line over the Spokane River and plunged into the water and exploded, the Spokane county sheriff's office reported Friday. Sheriff's Lt. Larry Erickson said there were no survivors. No other details are known at this time. The Des Moines Register (Des Moines, Iowa), sat, Aug. 5, 1972, page 5 |
| 1972 - August 08 | A HH-53C #68-10363 (Call sign “Jolly Green 65”) from the 37th ARRS at Nakhon Phanom RTAFB, Thailand, crewed by Capt. Frederick W. Harrington (P), 1st Lt. Michael McDaniel (CP), Capt. Paul D. Ashley (CP2), Gary L. Trotter (FE), Sgt. Michael L. Wagner (PJ), Sgt. Steven L. Caldwell (PJ) and David Tesdal (AP) medevacked Donald C. Ferrell in RVN. No other details are known at this time. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1972 - August 09 | A HH-53C #69-5787 (Call sign “Jolly Green 72”) from the 37th ARRS at Da Nang AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Dennis M. Boroczk (P) USCG Lt. Jack K. Stice (CP), Sgt. Jimmie R. Cherry (FE), Sgt. Curtis Towne (PJ), Sgt. Michael L. Wagner (PJ), Sgt. Robert L. LaPointe (PJ), Sgt. Douglas E. Wilson (PJ) and Sgt. Delbert H. Beauchamp (PJ), rescued the crew of a F-4D (Call sign "Joyce 01"), Capt. James L. Beavers and 1st Lt. William A. Haskell, after they ejected from their small arms fire damaged aircraft, over the South China Sea, about 15 miles north of Da Nang AB, RVN. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & http://www.jollygreen.org/37thhist/Newspaper/18Oct72Page4.jpg & JRCC Save Form |
| 1972 - August 18 | HH-53C #68-10361 (Call sign “Jolly Green 21”) was destroyed on the ramp at Da Nang AB, RVN by a Vietcong 122mm rocket. HH-53C #68-10362 (Call sign “Jolly Green 64”), HH-53C #68-10363 (Call sign “Jolly Green 65” and HH-53C 69-5787 (Call sign “Jolly Green 72) all received some battle damage from this rocket attack. 37th ARRS Logbook 12 Jul 72 thru & http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/37th_Aerospace_Rescue_and_Recovery_Squadron#Operations_and_losses |
| 1972 - August 19 | HH-53C from the 40th ARRS at Nakhon Phanom RTAFB, Thailand, crewed by Capt. John M. Gillespie III (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE), unkn (PJ) and unkn (PJ), rescued the pilot of a QU-22B (Call sign "Vampire 26") “Pave Eagle” reconnaissance aircraft, Capt. Gerald L. Lawrence, after he lost control of the aircraft in turbulence near the Ho Chi Minh Trail in Laos. No other details are known at this time. JRCC Save Form & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & https://avgeekery.com/wherever-whenever-the-jolly-greens-never-left-a-man-behind/?fbclid=IwAR2OzQbjavnzkL-xRUF3pCPw0St9DFwO_sdCNuYO1GFH174vM7Tj8ExduIw |
| 1972 - August 20 | Four USAF helicopters in South Korea, crews unkn, were used along with several U.S. Army helicopter to provide search and rescue support for victims of severe flooding that had occurred in South Korea. No other details are known at this time. Pacific Stars & Stripes, Aug. 22, 1972, pg. 1 |
| 1972 - August 20 | 1972 - August 20; A HH-53 from the 40th ARRS at Nakhon Phanom RTAFB, Thailand, crewed by unkn (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE), unkn (PJ) and unkn (PJ), rescued the pilot, Capt. Gerald Lawrence, of a QU-22B “Pave Eagle” reconnaissance aircraft that had been shot down near the Ho Chi Minh Trail. No other details are known at this time. https://avgeekery.com/wherever-whenever-the-jolly-greens-never-left-a-man-behind/?fbclid=IwAR2OzQbjavnzkL-xRUF3pCPw0St9DFwO_sdCNuYO1GFH174vM7Tj8ExduIw |
| 1972 - August 20 | The 37th ARRS, 40th ARRS, 56th ARRS and Det. 14, 3rd ARRGp., came under the command and technical control of the 41st ARRWg. at Hickham AFB, Hawaii, with operational control remaining with the 3rd ARRGp. |
| 1972 - August 25 | A HH-53C #69-5787 (Call sign “Jolly Green 72”) from the 37th ARRS at Da Nang AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. David E. Mullenix (P), Capt. Todd Hohberger (CP), A1C Charles J. Rouhier (FE), Ronald Buchanan (PJ), Sgt. Curtis Towne (PJ) and David Tesdal (AP), rescued the pilot of a F-4D (Call sign "Buick 01 Alpha"), Lt. Col. Carl G. Bailey, after he and his WSO, Capt. Jeffrey S. Feinstein, ejected from their 37mm AAA damaged aircraft, over the Gulf Of Tonkin, about 45 miles NE of Vinh, NVN (see next entry). "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & JRCC Save Form & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & http://www.pjsinnam/vn_history/pdf_files/Chronology/1972.pdf |
| 1972 - August 25 | A HH-53C #68-10364 (Call sign “Jolly Green 66”) from the 37th ARRS at Da Nang AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Gerald W. Tonn (P), Olin F. Land Jr. (CP), Sgt. Cayetano Pina (FE), Sgt. Robert L. LaPointe (PJ), and Ronald Charlesworth (PJ), rescued the WSO of a F-4D (Call sing "Buick 01 Bravo"), Capt. Jeffrey S. Feinstein, after he and his pilot, Lt. Col. Carl G. Bailey, ejected from their 37 mm AAA damaged aircraft, over the Gulf Of Tonkin, about 45 miles NE of Vinh, NVN (see previous entry). "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & http://www.pjsinnam/vn_history/pdf_files/Chronology/1972.pdf & JRCC Save Form & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1972 - August 25 | A HH-53C from the 40th ARRS at Nakhon Phanom RTAFB, Thailand, crewed by Capt. John M. Gillespie III (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE), unkn (PJ) and unkn (PJ) rescued the pilot of a QU-22B, 1st Lt. Lanny A. York, when his aircraft had an engine failure and crashed on takeoff from Nakhon Phanom RTAFB, Thailand. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson &"PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form & http://www.pjsinnam/vn_history/pdf_files/Chronology/1972.pdf |
| 1972 - August 25 | A HH-53C #69-5787 (Call sign “Jolly Green 72”) from the 37th ARRS at Da Nang AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. David E. Mullenix (P), USCG Lt. Jack K. Stice (CP), A1C Charles J. Rouhier (FE), Ronald Buchanan (PJ) and Sgt. Curtis Towne (PJ), medevacked USN PC-3 Steven J. Buonarati from the ship USS Hornblower in the Gulf of Tonkin. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & http://www.pjsinnam/vn_history/pdf_files/Chronology/1972.pdf & JRCC Save Form & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1972 - August 26 | A HH-53C, from the 40th ARRS at Nkahon Phanom RTAFB, Thailand, crewed by Capt. Thomas J. Laut (P), Capt. Gilbert A. Rovito (CP), TSgt. David V. McLeod Jr. (FE), Sgt. Daniel T. Nungesser (PJ), A1C Charles B. Kinser (PJ) and TSgt. Donald Looper (AP) unsuccessfully attempted rescued the pilot of a USMC F-4J, 1st Lt. Sam Gary Cordova (Call sign "Motion 02 Alpha"), after he ejected in Laos from his aircraft when it was damaged by an Atoll missile fired by a MiG, about 25 miles NE of Sam Neua, Laos. The attempt was unsuccessful when the HH-53C was damaged by enemy fire and driven off the attempt. The F-4J pilot, 1st Lt. Sam Gary Cordova was KIA on the ground by enemy troops (see next entry). "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & JJRC Save Form & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1972 - August 26 | A HH-53C, from the 40th ARRS, crewed by Capt. Charles M. Swager (P), Stephen O. Boyd (CP), Herschel E. Fannin (FE), TSgt. Michael L. Walker (PJ), Sgt. Charles B. McQuiod II (PJ) and Sgt. James Cockerill (AP), rescued the navigator of a USMC F-4J, 1st Lt. Darrell L. Borders (Call sign "Motion 02 Bravo"), in Laos, after he ejected from his aircraft when it was damaged by an Atoll missile fired by a MiG, about 25 miles NE of Sam Neua, Laos. The F-4J pilot, 1st Lt. Sam Gary Cordova (Call sign "Motion 02 Alpha") was KIA (see previous entry). "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & JJRC Save Form & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1972 - August 26 | A HH-3E, from Det. 14, 3rd ARRGp., crewed by Capt. Richard Odell (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE), unkn (PJ) and unkn (PJ), medevacked one Vietnamese in RVN. No other details are known at this time. JJRC Save Form & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1972 - September 02 | A HH-53C from the 37th ARRS at Da Nang AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Mark C. Schibler (P), William K. Bartlett (CP), unkn (FE), Sgt. Robert L. LaPointe (PJ) and SSgt. Donald H. Goodlet Jr. (PJ), rescued eleven USA troops, CWO William Dunsmore, 1st Lt. Kizie Bryant, S-4 Michael McNeil, Sgt. John Tracy, Maj. Moiser, Sgt. Couch, Sgt. Mullins, S-4 Chitwood, S-4 Trotta, S-4 Young and Capt. Garcia, from a downed USA UH-1 (Call sign "Volunteer 538") helicopter in RVN. No other details are known at this time. JRCC Save Form & "PJ's in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1972 - September 08 | A USAF helicopter from MacDill AFB, FL. crewed by unkn (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ), rescued one of the crew members, Capt. Paul A. Poppe and 2nd Lt. David Johnson (CP) when they ejected from their crippled F-4E shortly before it plunged into Sarasota Bay. The second crewmember was rescued by a USCG helicopter. No other details are known at this time. Playground Daily News (Fort Walton Beach, FL) 10 Sep 1972, page 2 |
| 1972 - September 09 | A HH-53C from the 40th ARRS at Nakhon Phanom RTAFB, Thailand, crewed by Capt. Bennie D. Orrell (P), 1st Lt. Stephen R. Connelly (CP), Sgt. Denny R. Sanders (FE), Sgt. Daniel T. Nungesser (PJ), A1C Charles B. Kinser (PJ) and Kelly Shuman (AP), rescued the crew of a F-4E (Call sign "Olds 04"), Capt. William J. Dalecky (P) and Capt. Terrence M. Murphy (WSO) after their aircraft was damaged by AAA fire about 10 miles north of Hanoi, North Vietnam and they ejected from their aircraft over Laos. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & JRCC Save Form |
| 1972 - September 15 | Four HH-3E’s that were TDY with the 3rd ARRGp/40th ARRS, Det. 14 at Tan Son Tan Son Nhut AB, RVN from the 31st ARRS at Clark AB, PI returned to Clark AB on this date. Comments from P.J. Bill Preble who was part of this HH-3E unit. |
| 1972 - September 17 | A HH-53C #68-10363 (Call sign "Jolly Green 65") from the 37th ARRS at Da Nang AB, RVN, crewed by Maj. Raymond D. Long (P), Jerry D. Stout (CP), Jimmie D. Victor (FE), Lawrence Kimball (PJ) and Stephen Caldwell (PJ), rescued the crew of a F-4D (Call sign "Cactus 03"), Capt. Everett B. Dyer (P) and Capt. Douglas E. Henneman (WSO), after they ejected from their aircraft while trying to land at Ubon RTAFB, Thailand. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & JRCC Save Form & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & Sean M. Cross Facebook post 17 Sep 2023 |
| 1972 - September 17 | A HH-53C #68-10363 (Call sign "Jolly Green 65") from the 37th ARRS at Da Nang AB, RVN, crewed by USCG Lt. Robert E. Long (P), 2nd Lt. Jerry D. Stout (CP), SSgt. Jimmie D. Victor (FE), A1C Lawrence E. Kimball (PJ) and Sgt. Stephen L. Caldwell (PJ), rescued the crew of an OV-10A (Call sign "Nail 60"), 1st Lt. Ronald L. Kuhl and Maj. Allan W. Bowers, after they had an engine failure and ejected from their aircraft over southern, Laos. USCG Lt. Robert E. Long is known to have been awarded The Distinguished Flying Cross for his actions on this mission; awards for the other crew members are not known at this time. High bird on this mission was HH-53C #68-10364 Call sign “Jolly Green 66”), crew names unkn. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1972 - September 17 | A CH-3E "Buffalo Hunter" from Da Nang AB, RVN and crewed by Maj. Long (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and Sgt. Beauchamp (PJ) (from the 37th ARRS) rescued two downed pilots a little south of Tiger Island. No other details are known at this time. http://www.jollygreen.org/37thhist/Newspaper/2Oct72Page3.jpg |
| 1972 - September 22 | A HH-53C #69-5787 (Call sign "Jolly Green 72") of the 37th ARRS at Da Nang AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Dennis M. Boroczk (P), Olin F. Land Jr. (CP), TSgt. Edward D. Foy (FE), A1C Robert Johnson (PJ) and Ronald Buchanan (PJ) rescued the WSO of a RF-4C, Capt. 1st Lt. John H. Pomeroy when he and his pilot, Capt. James G. Watts, ejected from their 23mm AAA fire damaged aircraft, over the Gulf of Tonkin, about 3 miles off the coast of the DMZ (see next entry). JRCC Save Form & http://www.jollygreen.org/37thhist/Newspaper/2Oct72Page2.jpg & "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & 37th ARRS Save Logbook 1971 |
| 1972 - September 22 | A HH-53C #68-10363 (Call sign Jolly Green 65") of the 37th ARRS at Da Nang AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Gerald M. Tonn (P), 2nd Lt. Jerry D. Stout (CP), Sgt. Cayetano Pina (FE), Ronald L. Charlesworth (PJ), Sgt. Delbert H. Beauchamp (PJ) and Summerfield (AP) rescued the pilot of a RF-4C, Capt. James G. Watts (P) after he and his WSO, 1st Lt. John H. Pomeroy, ejected from their 23mm AAA fire damaged aircraft, over the Gulf Of Tonkin, about 3 miles off the coast of the DMZ (see previous entry). JRCC Save Form & "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & http://www.jollygreen.org/37thhist/Newspaper/2Oct72Page2.jpg & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & 37th ARRS Save Logbook 1971 |
| 1972 - October 03 | A HH-53C #68-10362 (Call sign “Jolly Green 64”) from the 37th ARRS at Da Nang AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Dennis M. Boroczk (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE), unkn (PJ) and unkn (PJ), rescued the pilot of a VNAF A-37, 1st Lt. L. E. Phieu. No other details are known at this time. JRCC Save Form & 37th ARRS Logbook 12 Jul 72 Thru |
| 1972 - October 04 | A HH-53C #68-10363 (Call sign “Jolly Green 65”) from the 37th ARRS at Da Nang AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Dennis M. Boroczk (P), Capt. Miguel A. Pereira (CP), Albert D. Cochran (FE), Sgt. Delbert H. Beauchamp (PJ) and Ronald Buchanan (PJ), rescued one troop from a downed VNAF UH-1 helicopter. No other details are known at this time. JRCC Save Form & 37th ARRS Save Logbook 1971 |
| 1972 - October 04 | A HH-53C #68-10362 (Call sign “Jolly Green 64”) from the 37th ARRS at Da Nang AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. James D. Bruner (P), Olin F. Land Jr. (CP), SSgt. Jimmie D. Victor (FE), Sgt. Steven L. Caldwell (PJ) and Ronald L. Charlesworth (PJ), rescued one troop from a downed VNAF UH-1 helicopter. No other details are known at this time. JRCC Save Form & 37th ARRS Save Logbook 1971 |
| 1972 - October 12 | A HH-53C #69-5787 (Call sign “Jolly Green 72”) from the 37th ARRS at Da Nang AB, RVN, crewed by USCG Lt. Robert E. Long (P), 2nd Lt. Jerry D. Stout (CP), A1C Charles J. Rouhier (FE), Sgt. Delbert H. Beauchamp (PJ), Dennis C. Baker (PJ), SSgt. James Hathcox (AP) and Capt. William J. Howell (FS) medevacked a Bolivian national named Jorge Enrikue (Call sign "Timberjack") from the South China Sea. No other details are known at this time. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & 37th ARRS Save Logbook 1971 |
| 1972 - October 12 | A HH-43F from Det. 12, 3rd ARRGp. U-Tapao RNAFB, Thailand, crewed by unkn (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ), medevacked one U.S. person in RVN. No other details are known at this time. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1972 - October 17 | A HH-43F from Det. 3, 40th ARRS, Ubon RTAFB, Thailand, crewed by Capt. Donald C. Blair (P), 1st Lt. David R. Kraner (CP), Sgt. Walter L. Loftus (FE), TSgt. Noel S. Codner (PJ), SSgt. Donald W. Covington (FF) and Sgt. Duane D. Christensen (FF) rescued the crew of an F-4D, Capt. Lonnie W. Parrish (P) and 1st Lt. Kirby E. Allen (WSO) when they ejected from their aircraft about 2 miles north of Ubon RTAFB, Thailand. No other details are known at this time. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form |
| 1972 - October 17 | A CH-53C of the 21st SOS at Nakhon Phanom RTAFB, Thailand, crewed by unkn (P), unkn (CP), Sgt. Richard F. Ropski (FE) and unkn (FE) was part of formation whose mission was to airlift a contingent of allied soldiers deep into hostile territory. Despite enemy ground fire they were able to aid in the initiation of a new offensive in a vital area. Sgt. Ropski is known to have been awarded The Distinguished Flying Cross for his actions during this mission, awards for other crew members are unkn. The Distinguished Flying Cross Magazine, Vol. 19, Issue 1, Summer 2019 |
| 1972 - October 24 | A HH-53C #69-5784 (Call sign “Jolly Green 71”) from the 37th ARRS at Da Nang AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. James D. Bruner (P), 2nd Lt. Jerry D. Stout (CP), TSgt. Edward D. Foy (FE), Dennis C. Baker (PJ), Sgt. Delbert H. Beauchamp (PJ) and Dr. Jerry Howell (FS), was sent to the aircraft carrier the U. S. Midway just after mid-night on the 23rd of November 1972, about 65 miles northeast of Da Nang AB, to medevacked eight USN sailors, Carroll E. Myers, David Sawyer, Marod A. Susi, Michael W. McElwain, J. B. Brown Jr., David Berg, Kenneth Grattacot and Anthony Denning from the USS Midway in the Gulf of Tonkin. (See next entry). "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form |
| 1972 - October 24 | HH-53C #68-10363 (Call sign "Jolly Green 65) of the 37th ARRS at Da Nang AB, RVN, crewed by Lt. Col. Steven L. Sutton (P), 1st Lt. Harry “Doc” L. Holliday (CP), SSgt Jimmie D. “Vic” Victor (FE), TSgt. Harwell P. “Quil” Quillian (PJ) and Sgt. J. H. Jones (PJ) were sent to the aircraft carrier the U. S. Midway just after mid-night of the 23rd of November 1972, about 65 miles northeast of Da Nang, where they picked up four bodies of sailors who were injured when a landing A-6 collapsed one of its landing gears, missed the arresting cables and slid sideways down the deck injuring 22 and killing 4. (See previous entry). http://www.jollygreen.org/37thhist/Newspapr/Nov72Page3.jpg |
| 1972 - October 25 | A HH-53C #69-5784 (Call sign “Jolly Green 71”) from the 37th ARRS at Da Nang AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. James D. Bruner (P), 2nd Lt. Jerry D. Stout (CP), TSgt. Edward D. Foy (FE), Dennis C. Baker (PJ), Sgt. Delbert H. Beauchamp (PJ) and Dr. Jerry Howell (FS), medevacked eight USN sailors from the USS Midway in the Gulf of Tonkin. No other details are known at this time. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1972 - October 27 | A HH-53C #68-01363 (Call sign “Jolly Green 65”) from the 37th ARRS at Da Nang AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Dennis M. Boroczk (P), Olin F. Land Jr. (CP), TSgt. Edward D. Foy (FE), Dennis C. Baker (PJ), Ronald L. Charlesworth (PJ) and Stout (PJ), rescued the pilot of a F-4E (Call sign "Wolf 01 Alpha"), Capt. Robert B. Jones, after he and his WSO, Capt. Eldon L. Bleakthey, ejected from their 57mm AAA fire damaged aircraft over the Gulf of Tonkin about 40 miles north of Hue, RVN (see next entry). "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & JRCC Save Form & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1972 - October 27 | A HH-53C #69-5784 (Call sign “Jolly Green 71”) from the 37th ARRS at Da Nang AB, RVN, crewed by USCG Lt. Jack K. Stice (P), 1st Lt. Michael McDaniel (CP), SSgt. Jerome G. Tuttle (FE), Sgt. Hulen C. Hammock Jr. (PJ), John T. Richardson (PJ) and TSgt. James Hathcox (AP), rescued the WSO of a F-4E (Call sign "Wolf 01 Bravo"), Capt. Eldon L. Bleak, after he and his pilot, Capt. Robert B. Jones, ejected from their 57mm AAA fire damaged aircraft over the Gulf of Tonkin about 40 miles north of Hue, RVN (see previous entry). "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & JRCC Save Form & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1972 - October 27 | A HH-53C from the 37th ARRS at Da Nang AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Dennis M. Boroczk (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE), unkn (PJ), unkn (PJ) and unkn (PJ), rescued two USA troops from a UH-1 downed in RVN. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1972 - October 30 | A HH-43F (Call sign “Pedro 61”) from Det. 7, 3rd ARRGp, Da Nang AB, RVN, crewed by 1st Lt. William I. Latham Jr. (P), 1st Lt. Robert O. Cavazos (CP), SSgt. Edwin Gay Jr. (FE), SSgt. Gregory A. Brown (MT), SSgt. David C. Newman (FF) and Sgt. Pete N. Reyes (FF) rescued five USA troops, Capt. Clifford D. Baker, WO Richard R. Neely, Capt. John E. Biancon, E-6 Hoang Ho and SP4 Rocky Welch, from a downed USA UH-1 helicopter in RVN. No other details are known at this time. JRCC Save Form & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1972 - October 31 | A HH-43F from Det. 14, 3rd ARRGp, Tan Son Nhut AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Robert M. Gehbauer (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ), rescued the pilot, WO2 Joe R. Hooton, of a downed USA OH-6 helicopter in RVN. JRCC Save Form & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1972 - November 02 | 7th Air Force fragged 12 A-7 aircraft daily for CSAR training missions to replace the A-1 Skyraider aircraft in the “Sandy” role. |
| 1972 - November 05 | A HH-43F from Det. 12, 3rd ARRGp, U-Tapao RNAFB, Thailand, crewed by Capt. Ronald C. Green (P), 2nd Lt. Don E. Bresett (CP), SSgt. William R. Pendleton (FE), Sgt. Larry L. McCall (PJ) and Lt. Col. Wesley E. Romberger (Doctor), medevacked Samual Childress in Thailand. No other details are known at this time. JRCC Save Form & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1972 - November 05 | A HH-53C from the 40th ARRS at Nakhon Phanom RTAFB, Thailand, crewed by Maj. Leo W. Thacker Jr. (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE), unkn (PJ) and unkn (PJ), medevacked USAF A1C Jerry C. Green in Thailand. No other details are known at this time. JRCC Save Form & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1972 - November 05 | A HH-53C from the 40th ARRS, Nakhon Phanom RTAF, Thailand, crewed by Maj. Gary L. Gamble (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE), unkn (PJ) and unkn (PJ), medevacked a seven-year-old girl in Thailand. No other details are known at this time. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1972 - November 06 | A HH-43F from Det. 7, 3rd ARRGp, Da Nang AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Allan C. Spitler (P), 1st Lt. Robert O. Cavazos (CP), Sgt. Michael P. Parchment (FE) and SSgt Gregory A. Brown (MT), rescued two survivors, Gary L. Knupp and Scott Hansen, of a U.S. Army UH-1D helicopter that had went down in RVN due to a typhoon. Of note is that this was the last HH-43F CSAR mission that had A-1 Skyraiders fly as escorts. "The A-1 Skyraider in Vietnam-The Spad's Last War" by Wayne Mutza & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form |
| 1972 - November 07 | A HH-53C #69-5784 (call sign “Jolly Green 71”) from the 37th ARRS at Da Nang AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. James D. Bruner (P), Houk (CP), SSgt. Jimmie D. Victor (FE), SSgt. Douglas E. Wilson (PJ), John T. Richardson (PJ) and Summerfield (AP), rescued, in the threat of a severe typhoon, seven survivors of a U.S. Army UH-1D (Call sign "Coachman 159") helicopter that had gone down due to a typhoon. Those rescued were CWO2 Mickey Wilson (P), Capt. Bertrand Schreibstein (CP), Sp5 William Stephenson (AG), Sp5 Tobias Aguirre (CC), Lt. (jg) Edward Culhane (US Navy), 1st Lt. Francis Meyers (USMC) & Capt. Francis McCabe (US Army). Of note is that this was the last HH-53C CSAR mission that had A-1 Skyraiders fly as escorts. "The A-1 Skyraider in Vietnam-The Spad's Last War" by Wayne Mutza & JRCC Save Form & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & email from Bert Schreibstein |
| 1972 - November 07 | The A-1 Skyraider’s flew their last CSAR “Sandy” mission on this day and the A-7 fighters were tasked to fly the “Sandy” role on future CSAR missions. |
| 1972 - November 09 | A HH-43F from Det. 14, 3rd ARRGp, Tan Son Nhut AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Andrew B. Comrie (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE), and unkn (PJ), medevacked USMC 1st Lt. J. M. Kemper in RVN. No other details are known at this time. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form |
| 1972 - November 18 | A HH-53C from the 40th ARRS at Nakhon Phanom RTAFB, Thailand, crewed by Capt. John M. Gillespie III (P), Kenneth D. Musnicki (CP), SSgt. Richard L. Simmon (FE), MSgt. Gary T. Osborne (PJ), John Gilespie (PJ) and Brayan McDonald (PJ), rescued the crew of a F-105G (Call sign "Bobbin 01"), Maj. Norbert J. Maier (P) and Capt. Kenneth D. Theate (CP), after their aircraft was hit by a SA-2 missile and they ejected, on 16 November 1972, near the town of Dong Xuon, North Vietnam. This was the FIRST CSAR mission that the A-7D's were used to support the rescue helicopters in its new role as the "Sandy" replacement for the A-1's. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & JRCC Save Form & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1972 - November 20 | A HH-53C from the 40th ARRS at Nakhon Phanom RTAFB, Thailand, crewed by Capt. Roger C. Bradley (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE), unkn (PJ) and unkn (PJ) rescued the pilot of a USMC F-4J (Call sign "Motion 05 Alpha"), Capt. W. D. Anderson, after he ejected from his AAA damaged aircraft near Ban Tampanko, Laos. The F-4J navigator, Capt. Donald Charles Breuer, was KIA. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1972 - November 21 | A HH-53C from the 40th ARRS at Nakhon Phanom RTAFB, Thailand, crewed by Capt. Thomas J. Laut (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE), unkn (PJ) and unkn (PJ), rescued 1st Lt. Edgar H. Harshouer from a EC-47Q (Call sign "Baron 56") that crashed on landing in Thaland. Two of the ten crewmembers, Capt. Robert Alan Kohn and MSgt. John W. Ryon, onboard were KIA in the crash and others were rescued by two additional rescue helicopters (see next two entries). "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form |
| 1972 - November 21 | A HH-53C from the 40th ARRS at Nakhon Phanom RTAFB, Thailand, crewed by Capt. Roger C. Bradley (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE), unkn (PJ) and unkn (PJ), rescued 1st Lt. Michael G. Danielle, Lt. Col. Howe L. Vandegriff, SSgt. Paul W. Weyandt and Sgt. Thomas E. Way Jr., from a EC-47Q (Call sign "Baron 56") that crashed on landing in Thailand. Two of the ten crewmembers, Capt. Robert Alan Kohn and MSgt. John W. Ryon, onboard were KIA in the crash and others were rescued by two additional rescue helicopters (see previous and next entries). "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form |
| 1972 - November 21 | A HH-43F from the 40th ARRS, Nakhon Phanom RTAFB, Thailand, crewed by Capt. Theodore McKnight (P), 1st Lt. Jerry M. Brewton (CP), SSgt. Ronald T. Jerome (FE), Sgt. Joseph Castlen (MT), SSgt. Walter J. Heller (FF) and Sgt. Gary R. Brunty (FF), rescued Sgt. Charles F. Fidroeff, SSgt. Arthur L. Morin, SSgt. Claude W. Pennell and one other unkn from a EC-47Q (Call sign "Baron 56") that crashed on landing in Thailand. Two of the ten crewmembers, Capt. Robert Alan Kohn and MSgt. John W. Ryon, onboard were KIA in the crash and others were rescued by two additional rescue helicopters (see previous two entries). "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form |
| 1972 - November 22 | A CH-53C (Call sign Knife) from the 21st SOS, crewed by 1st Lt. Mike Humphres (P) unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (FE), that was airborne on a night reconnaissance and flair drop mission, rescued crew members, Capt. Robert Estes (NAV), SSgt. Ron Sellers (AG), Capt. John Ellinger (AC) and one other unkn, from a B-52D (Call sign "Olive 02") that had been hit and heavily damaged, at high altitude, by a SAM about twenty-five miles north of Vinh, NVN and flown into Thailand before they were forced to abandon their aircraft about fifteen miles southwest of Nakhon Phanom RTAFB, Thailand. Of special interest is that one of the B-52D crew members, Larry Stephens (EWO), 'rescued' himself by flagging down and catching a local Thai "baht bus" for a ride to the main gate of Nakhon Phanom RTAFB, Thailand. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "More Memories of Naked Fanny" by Robert Dennard & JRCC Save Form & http://aviation-safety.net/wikibase/wiki.php?id=48322 & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1972 - November 22 | A HH-43F from the 40th ARRS, Nakhon Phanom RTAFB, Thailand, crewed by Lt. Col. Robert Reves (P), Capt. Robert D. Thompson (CP), unkn (PJ) and unkn (FF), rescued crew members, Capt. Norbert J., Ostronzny (P) and Capt. P. A. Foley (CP), from a B-52D (Call sign "Olive 02") that had been hit and heavily damaged, at high altitude, by a SAM about twenty five miles north of Vinh, NVN and flown into Thailand before they were forced to abandon their aircraft about fifteen miles southwest of Nakhon Phanom RTAFB, Thailand. Of special interest is that one of the B-52D crew members, Larry Stephens (EWO), 'rescued' himself by flagging down and catching a local Thai "baht bus" for a ride to the main gate of Nakhon Phanom RTAFB, Thailand. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "More Memories of Naked Fanny" by Robert Dennard & JRCC Save Form & http://aviation-safety.net/wikibase/wiki.php?id=48322 & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1972 - November 23 | A HH-43F (call sign “Pedro 61) from Det 7, 3rd ARRGp at Da Nang AB, RVN, crewed by 1st Lt. William I. Latham Jr. (P), 1st Lt. James P. Moulton (CP), Sgt. Michael P. Parchment (FE), Sgt. Bobby Gaskins (FF) and Sgt. Jesse McCoy (MT), rescued the pilot of a OV-10A (Call sign "Nail 36"), Lt. John Sundgren, within one minute and thirty seconds after he ejected from his aircraft when it had an engine failure on take-off, from Da Nang AB, RVN, and crashed. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & JRCC Save Form & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1972 - November 24 | Two HH-53C's #68-10363 and #69-5784 (Call signs "Jolly Green 65 & Jolly Green 71") of the 37th ARRS at Da Nang AB, RVN, "Jolly Green 65 was crewed by Lt. Col. Steven L. Sutton (P), 1st Lt. Harry “Doc” L. Holliday (CP), SSgt Jimmie D. “Vic” Victor (FE), TSgt. Harwell P. “Quil” Quillian (PJ) and Sgt. J. H. Jones (PJ) were sent to the aircraft carrier the U. S. Midway just after mid-night of the 23rd of November 1972, about 65 miles northeast of Da Nang, to medevac 8 litter patients and four bodies of sailors who were injured when a landing A-6 collapsed one of its landing gears, missed the arresting cables and slid sideways down the deck injuring 22 and killing 4. http://www.jollygreen.org/37thhist/Newspapr/Nov72Page3.jpg |
| 1972 - November 28 | A HH-53C #69-5784 (Call sign “Jolly Green 71”) from the 37th ARRS at Da Nang AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Charles C. Baldwin (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE), unkn (PJ) and unkn (PJ), medevacked Nugent Vandang in RVN. No other details are known at this time. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & JRCC Save Form & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & 37th ARRS Logbook 12 Jul 72 Thru |
| 1972 - November 30 | The 37th ARRS was in-activated as part of the continuing drawdown of U.S. Forces in Vietnam. All remaining personnel, aircraft and equipment were transferred to the 40th ARRSq. "On a Steel Horse I Ride" by Darrel D. Whitcomb |
| 1972 - December 02 - 03 | Two HH-3E's from the 31st ARRS at Clark AB, PI, hoisted 29 Philippine sailors and one pet orangutan from lifeboats after their logging ship, the San Martin, sank about 500 miles east northeast from the island of Luzon. Twenty-nine plus saves. http://www.afsoc.af.mil/shared/media/document/AFD-070906-042.pdf |
| 1972 - December 10 | A HH-53C #68-10358 (Call sign “Jolly Green 60”) from the 40th ARRS at Nakhon Phanom RTAFB, Thailand, crewed by Capt. Robert A. Rossi (P), Capt. Gilbert A. Rovito (CP), Sgt. Denny R. Sanders (FE), SSgt. Kenneth J. Musnicki (PJ), TSgt. Michael L. Walker (PJ) and William A. Werber Jr. (PJ), attempted an unsuccessful rescue of an RF-4C (Call sign "Kansas 01") crew, Maj. Billie Joe Williams (P) and 1st Lt. Hector Michael Acosta (CP) when their aircraft was hit by a SAM near Nghai Hung, about 35 miles north of Vinh, NVN. Two chutes were seen, but the rescue helicopter was shot off their hover over one of the RF-4C crew members. Maj. Williams was KIA and Lt. Acosta became a POW before he could be rescued (see next entries). "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & JRCC Save Form & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1972 - December 10 | A HH-53C #69-5793 (Call sign “Jolly Green 32”) from the 40th ARRS at Nakhon Phanom RTAFB, Thailand, crewed by Louis E. Campbell (P), Stephen O. Boyd (CP), A1C James F. Walsh (FE), SSgt. Donald H. Goodlet Jr. (PJ), Sgt. Dale W. Morgan (PJ) and Sgt. James W. Cockerill (AP), attempted an unsuccessful rescue of an RF-4C (Call sign "Kansas 01") crew, Maj. Billie Joe Williams (P) and 1st Lt. Hector Michael Acosta (CP) when their aircraft was hit by a SAM near Nghai Hung, about 35 miles north of Vinh, NVN. Two chutes were seen, but the rescue helicopter was shot off their hover over one of the RF-4C crew members. Maj. Williams was KIA and Lt. Acosta became a POW before he could be rescued (see previous and next entries). "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & JRCC Save Form & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1972 - December 10 | A HH-53C from the 40th ARRS at Nakhon Phanom RTAFB, Thailand, crewed by Capt. Wyman M. Rish (P), Bouteerse (CP), Sgt. Joseph Smith (FE), Sgt. George P. Gonzales (PJ) and TSgt. Jon H. Young (PJ) attempted an unsuccessful rescue of an RF-4C (Call sign "Kansas 01") crew, Maj. Billie Joe Williams (P) and 1st Lt. Hector Michael Acosta (CP) when their aircraft was hit by a SAM near Nghai Hung, about 35 miles north of Vinh, NVN. Two chutes were seen, but the rescue helicopter was shot off their hover over one of the RF-4C crew members. Maj. Williams was KIA and Lt. Acosta became a POW before he could be rescued, and this SAR attempt was determined to be a NVA trap (see previous entries). "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & JRCC Save Form & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1972 - December 19 | A CH-53C of the 21st SOS at Nakhon Phanom RTAFB, Thailand, crewed by Ron Stiles (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (FE) was flying a base security mission when they rescued the crew members of a B-52G (Call sign "Peach 2") that had been hit by a SAM over Hanoi. The B-52G crew, Maj. Cliff Ashley (P), Capt. Gary Vickers (CP), Maj Archie Myers (CM), 1st Lt. Forrest Stegelin (CM), Capt. Jim Tramel (CM), MSgt. Ken Connor (G) and Lt. Col. Hendsley Conner (CM) was observed by the CH-53C as they ejected and bailed out of their aircraft near Nakhon Phanom RTAFB, Thailand, and were rescued by the CH-53C crew using night vision Starlight Scopes that they had onboard their helicopter. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "On a Steel Horse I Ride" by Darrel D. Whitcomb |
| 1972 - December 20 | A HH-43F from the 40th ARRS at Nakhon Phanom RTAFB, Thailand, crewed by Capt. Robert F. Reeves (P), Capt. George E. Schrimpf (CP), Sgt. Frederick Thomas (FE), TSgt. Harold D. DeLoma (MT), SSgt. Ricky C. Sheets (FF) and SSgt. Michael J. Kolar (FF) rescued two crew members of a B-52D (Call sign "Straw 02"), Capt. Lawrence A. Casazza and one unkn. No other details are known at this time. JRCC Save Form & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1972 - December 20 | A HH-53C from the 40th ARRS at Nakhon Phanom RTAFB, Thailand, crewed by Capt. Douglas F. Strahl (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE), Sgt. Stephen L. Caldwell (PJ) and TSgt. John R. Carlson (PJ) rescued crew members of a B-52D (Call sign "Straw 02"), Capt. Harmon D. Johnson and Capt. Vincent D. Russo, after they abandoned their SAM damaged aircraft about 10 miles northeast of the Ban Ban Valley, Laos. One other crew member, Maj. Frank Alton Gould was KIA. This may have been the first night combat recovery in SEA by a HH-53C using a new Night Recovery System. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & JRCC Save Form & http://www.afsoc.af.mil/shared/media/document/AFD-070906-042.pdf & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1972 - December 20 | A HH-53C #69-5793 (Call sign “Jolly Green 32”) from the 40th ARRS at Nakhon Phanom RTAFB, Thailand, crewed by Capt. Roger C. Bradley (P), unkn (CP), SSgt. Jimmie D. Victor (FE), TSgt. Charles F. Salome (PJ) and Sgt. Hulen C. Hammock Jr. (PJ) rescued the crew members of a B-52D (Call sign "Straw 02"), 1st Lt. Thomas J. Farmer, Capt. James P. Fairbanks, Charles E. Archie, Silverio Barroquerion and TSgt. Walter R. Barclift, after they abandoned their SAM damaged aircraft about 10 miles NE of the Ban Ban Valley, Laos. One other B-52D crewmember, Maj. Frank Alton Gould was KIA. This may have been the first night combat recovery in SEA by and HH-53C using a new Night Recovery System. CHECO REPORT Search And Rescue Operations In SEA 1 April-30 June 1973 (U) & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & http://www.afsoc.af.mil/shared/media/document/AFD-070906-042.pdf & JRCC Save Form & "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson |
| 1972 - December 22 | A HH-53C from the 40th ARRS at Da Nang AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Robert A. Rossi (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE), unkn (PJ) and unkn (PJ), rescued 12 foreign military from a downed H-34 helicopter. JRCC Save Form |
| 1972 - December 22 | A HH-53C #69-5793 (Call sign "Jolly Green 32") from the 40th ARRS at Nakhon Phanom RTAFB, Thailand, crewed by Capt. Jerry W. Shipman (P), 1st Lt. Ted Rabaja (CP), SSgt. Tommy Bryant Jr. (FE), Sgt. Jack Stephens (PJ) and TSgt. Michael L. Walker (PJ) rescued two crew members, Sgt. Richard M. Williams and Sgt. Carl E. Stevens, Jr., of an AC-130A gunship (Call sign "Spectre 17") (known by its nose art as "Thor"). The other 14 crew members on the AC-130A were KIA. This was the first successful rescue using the LNRS installed on the HH-53C. CHECO REPORT Search And Rescue Operations In SEA 1 April-30 June 1973 (U) & "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & “PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & "On a Steel Horse I Ride" by Darrel D. Whitcomb & http://www.pjsinnam.com/vn_history/pdf_files/Chonology/1972.pdf |
| 1972 - December 27 | A HH-53C #69-5788 (Call sign "Jolly Green 73") of the 40th ARRS and crewed by Capt. Richard D. Shapiro (P), Capt. Miguel A. Pereira (CP), Sgt. Charles J. Rouhier (FE), A1C Robert W. Jones (PJ), TSgt. John R. Carlson (PJ) and Sgt. James W. Cockerill (AP) was lost in Laos while on a SAR mission attempting to rescue F-111A (Call sign “Jackel 33”) crew, Capt. Robert David Sponeybarger (P) and 1st Lt. William Wallace Wilson (CP) that had been shot down 17 miles southwest of Hanoi on 22 December 1972. JG-73 took several hits while hovering over 1st Lt. Wilson, wounding JG-73’s co-pilot Capt. Pereira, and had to abandon the attempt. Apparently hit in the air refueling probe, the helicopter, which could not air-refuel and was about to run out of fuel, landed and was abandon on a mountain top northeast of Ban Ban, Laos. The crew was rescued by another HH-53C #69-5785 (Call sign “Jolly Green 63”), from the 40th ARRS at Nakhon Phanom RTAFB, Thailand that was on this mission, crewed by USCG Lt. Robert E. Long (P), 1st Lt. Ackerson (CP), TSgt. Edward E. Foy (FE), Sgt. Hulen C. Hammock Jr. (PJ), Sgt. Mueller (PJ) and Sgt. Strong (PJ), and then HH-53C #69-5788 was destroyed by a flight of A-7's. Both crew members of the F-111A, Capt. Robert David Sponeybarger (P) and Lt. William W. Wilson (CP) became POW's. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & http://www.jollygreen.org/jltnc.htm & Vietnam Air Losses by Chris Hobson |
| 1972 - December 27 | A HH-53C (Call sign "Jolly Green 63") of the 40th ARRS and crewed by USCG Lt. Robert E. Long (P), 1st Lt. Ackerson (CP), TSgt. Edward D. Foy (FE), Sgt. Hulen C. Hammock Jr. (PJ), Sgt. James G. Mueller (PJ) and Sgt. Strong (PJ), rescued the crew of HH-53C #69-5788 ("Jolly Green 73"), Capt. Richard D. Shapiro (P), Miguel A. Pereira (CP), Sgt. Charles J. Rouhier (FE), Robert W. Jones (PJ), TSgt. John R. O’dell (PJ) and Sgt. James W. Cockerill (AP), that was lost in Laos while on a SAR mission attempting to rescue F-111A Co-Pilot, 1st Lt. William W. Wilson (Call sign "Jackel 33B") (see previous entry). USCG Lt. Robert E. Long is known to have been awarded The Distinguished Flying Cross for his actions on this mission; awards for the other crew members are not known at this time. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & http://www.jollygreen.org/jltnc.htm & Vietnam Air Losses by Chris Hobson |
| 1972 - December 27 | A HH-53C from the 40th ARRS, crewed by Capt. Roger C. Bradley (P), unkn (CP), Tom Green (FE), Sgt. Jack Stephens (PJ), unkn (PJ), unkn (AP) and Lt Col. Robert 'Doc' Lockridge (FS), landed near “JG-73” and attempted to recover classified materials but was forced to withdraw due to enemy ground forces (see previous entries). "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & JRCC Save Form & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1972 - December 27 | A HH-43F from Det. 14, 3rd ARRGp, Tan Son Nhut AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Andrew B. Comrie (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE), and unkn (PJ, rescued four Vietnamese civilians in RVN. No other details are known at this time. JRCC Save Form & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1972 - December 27 | A HH-43F from the 40th ARRS at Nakhon Phanom RTAFB, Thailand, crewed by Capt. Robert D. Thompson (P), 1st Lt. George S. Tarrant (CP), Sgt. Cleveland Sheffield, Jr. (FE), Sgt. Harold D. DeLoma (MT) and Sgt. Lawrence H. Crouch (FF), rescued a crew member of a B-52D (Call sign "Ash 02"), Capt. John D. Mize, after he abandoned his SAM damaged aircraft about 15 miles southwest of Nakhon Phanom RTAFB, Thailand. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & JRCC Save Form & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1972 - December 27 | A HH-53C from the 40th ARRS at Nakhon Phanom RTAFB, Thailand, crewed by Capt. Stephen L. Gemlich (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE), unkn (PJ) and unkn (PJ), rescued crew members of a B-52D (Call sign "Ash 02"), Capt. Terrence C. Gruters, and Capt. Dennis W. Anderson, after they abandoned their SAM damaged aircraft about 15 miles southwest of Nakhon Phanom RTAFB, Thailand. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & JRCC Save Form & "PJ's in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1972 - December 28 | A HH-53C from the 40th ARRS at Nakhon Phanom RTAFB, Thailand, crewed by Capt. Robert A. Rossi (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ), rescued crew members of a B-52D (Call sign "Ash 02"), Capt. William North, 1st Lt. William Robinson and TSgt. Peter E. Whalen, after they abandoned their SAM damaged aircraft about 15 miles southwest of Nakhon Phanom RTAFB, Thailand. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & JRCC Save Form |
| 1972 - December 29 | The 37th ARRS at Da Nang AB, RVN deactivated on this date. The HH-43F “Pedro” unit at Da Nang is the last ARRS unit at Da Nang AB and it becomes a detachment of the 40th ARRS. |
| 1972 - December 29 - 30 | Det. 1, 44th ARRS from Homestead AFB, FL., aided in a SAR mission 18 miles west of Miami International Airport for an Eastern Airlines flight that had crashed in a swampy area at night. Early Saturday morning, they flew four UH–1N Huey helicopters on 14 sorties to lift 22 injured passengers to Miami hospitals. In the predawn darkness, an AC–130 gunship from the 415th Special Operations Training Squadron at Hurlburt Field at Eglin AFB, Florida, circled over the crash site with a powerful searchlight to help emergency rescue personnel locate the victims. At the same time, the 301st ARRSq (AF Reserve) from Homestead used two HH–34 helicopters to airlift seven paramedics and two flight surgeons from the base hospital to the crash site in five sorties. By shuttling medical personnel from Homestead to the disaster scene and carrying victims from the crash vicinity to Miami area hospitals, the six Air Force helicopters helped 77 survivors receive prompt medical attention. The United States Air Force and Humanitarian Airlift Operations 1947–1994 by Daniel L. Haulman Air Force Historical Research Agency Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama |
| 1973 - January 04 | A HH-43F (Call sign "Pedro 61") from Det. 7, 3rd ARRGp. at Da Nang AB, RVN, crewed by 1st Lt. William I. Latham Jr. (P), Capt. Bruce K. Roberts (CP), Sgt. Michael P. Parchment (FE) and Sgt. Jesse McCoy (MT), rescued two of the six crew members, Lt. Col. Gerald F. Wickling and Capt. William F. Milcarke, from the waters near Da Nang after they had bailed out of their battle-damaged B-52 (Call sign "Ruby 02"). One of the other crew members was rescued by a U. S. Navy helicopter and the other three by a U.S. Marine CH-53. JRCC Save Form & http://www.pjsinnam.com/vn_history/pdf_files/Chronology/1973%20thru%201975.pdf |
| 1973 - January 04 | A HH-43F from Det 7, 3rd ARRGp at Da Nang AB, RVN, crewed by unkn (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ), rescued several crewmembers of a B-52D (Call sign "Ruby 02"), Lt. Col. Gerald Wickline and four other crewmembers, who had ejected from their SA-2 SAM damaged aircraft at sea about 24 miles northeast of Da Nang AB, RVN. One B-52D crew member who came down several miles from the rest of the crew was later rescued by a USMC helicopter. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1973 - January 07 | A HH-43B from Mt. Home AFB, ID., crewed by Maj. Aran Paquin (P), Capt. James L. Woolace (CP) and Capt. Orie Kaltern (FS) operating in the Military Assistance for Safety in Traffic (MAST) program picked up Dick Johnson, 73, at the Alzola Ranch about 30 miles southeast of Grassmere near the Nevada border. Johnson had suffered back injuries when he fell. He was taken to the Magic Valley Memorial Hospital in Twin Falls. While at the Magic Valley Memorial Hospital the HH-43B was tasked to transport Earl Vass, 67, who was suffering from internal bleeding to the Boise Veteran’s Administration Hospital, completing their second mission of the day. The Idaho Statesman (Boise, Idaho), 9 Jan 1973, Tue, pg. 12. |
| 1973 - January 07 | A HH-53C from the 40th ARRS at Nakhon Phanom RTAFB, Thailand, crewed by Maj. Ralph K. Gee (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ), rescued the WSO of a F-4D, Maj. George B. Nunez, when he and his pilot, Capt. Thomas E. Wiles, ejected from their SAM damaged aircraft about 15 miles southwest of Nakhon Phanom RTAFB, Thailand. Capt. Wiles 'rescued' himself, returning to the base via a Thai "Baht Bus". "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & JRCC Save Form & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1973 - January 11 | A HH-43F (Call sign "Pedro ?") from Det. 5, 40th ARRS, crewed by Capt. Raymond W. Gundlach (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ), rescued a A-7D pilot, 1st Lt. Larry R. Sadler, after his aircraft had an engine shut down due to fuel starvation and he ejected about 20 miles northeast of Udorn RTAFB, Thailand. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & JRCC Save Form & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1973 - January 16 | A HH-53C from the 40th ARRS at Nakhon Phanom RTAFB, Thailnad, crewed by 1st Lt. Billy E. Heslep (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE), unkn (PJ) and unkn (PJ) medevacked a VNAF airman in RVN. No other details are known at this time. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form |
| 1973 - January 17 | A HH-43F from Det. 14, 40th ARRS at Tan Son Nhut AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Robert M. Gehbauer (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ), medevacked one Vietnamese in RVN. No other details are known at this time. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1973 - January 19 | A HH-53C from the 40th ARRS at Nakhon Phanom RTAFB, Thailand, crewed by Capt. Wyman M. Rish (P), Capt. Gilbert A. Rovito (CP), Andrew Straughn (FE), TSgt. Michael L. Walker (PJ), MSgt. Edward M. Willis (PJ) and Robert P. Glymph (AP), rescued two Air America employees and two Laotians from Bell 206A (Call sign "Ranger 822") helicopter downed in Laos. No other details are known at this time. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1973 - January 20 | The LAST assault mission of the CH-3C's from the 21st SOS took place when seven CH-53C teamed up with two Air America CH-47's to insert 1,166 Laotian troops to reopen a major road from Vientiane on the Mekong River to Luang Praband in the north. "On a Steel Horse I Ride" by Darrel D. Whitcomb |
| 1973 - January 23 | HH-3E's from Det. 14, 40th ARRWg at Tan Son Nhut AB, RVN, crews unkn, evacuated 33 medical patients from Vestmannaeyjar Island to Reykjavik, Iceland. http://www.afsoc.af.mil/shared/media/document/AFD-070906-042.pdf |
| 1973 - January 31 | HH-53C's recovered an allied ground party surrounded by enemy forces in Laos. No other details are available currently. http://www.pjsinnam.com/vn_history/pdf_files/Chronology/1973%20thru%201975.pdf |
| 1973 - January 31 | Det. 8 (P), 40th ARRS, Takhli RTAFB, Thailand is inactivated. http://www.pjsinnam.com/vn_history/pdf_files/Chronology/1973%20thru%201975.pdf |
| 1973 - February 01 | A HH-53C from the 40th ARRS at Nakhon Phanom RTAFB, Thailand, crewed by Capt. Stephen L. Gemlich (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE), unkn (PJ) and unkn (PJ), rescued a ground team (Call sign "Miles 01"), Pugh and two indigenous troops in contact. No other details are available currently. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1973 - February 01 | A HH-43F from the 40th ARRS, crewed by unkn (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ), saved the pilot of an A-7D in Thailand. No other details are known at this time. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1973 - February 01 | A HH-53C from the 40th ARRS, crewed by Capt. Stephen L. Gemlich (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE), unkn (PJ) and unkn (PJ), rescued a ground team (Call sign "Miles 01"), Pugh and two indigenous troops in contact. No other details are available currently. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1973 - February 10 | Det. 7, 40th ARRS at Da Nang AB, RVN and Det. 14, 40th ARRS at Tan Son Nhut AB, RVN are deactivated. The HH-43F's assigned to these two units were sent to units in Thailand, 2 from Da Nang to NKP, 2 from Tan Son Nhut to Ubon and the other 2 from Tan Son Nhut to Udorn. http://www.pjsinnam.com/vn_history/pdf_files/Chronology/1973%20thru%201975.pdf |
| 1973 - February 10 | Six ARRS helicopter personnel who were POWs were released and flown out of Gia Lam Airport, Hanoi, NVN. They were Capt. Thomas Curtis, Capt. Warren Lilly, 1st Lt. Jerry Singleton, SSgt. Arthur Cormier, A1C William Robinson and A2C Arthur Black. http://www.pjsinnam.com/vn_history/pdf_files/Chronology/1973%20thru%201975.pdf |
| 1973 - February 10 - 15 | CH-3E's of the 703rd Tactical Air Support Squadron and a CH-3E from the 1st Helicopter Squadron at Andrews AFB in Maryland, stranded by the heavy snowstorm, at Shaw were pressed into service for rescue operations. Squadron personnel rescued 27 people and delivered antibiotics to a nursing home. Seven CH–3E’s were used to rescue people shivering in snowbound automobiles and trucks. Det. 9 of the 44th ARRSq. used a pair of HH–43B helicopters for similar missions. Two days later, on February 12th, Governor John C. West declared a state of emergency and closed some highways to all but emergency vehicles, such as those from Shaw AFB. On February 12th and 13th, the CH–3E and HH–43B helicopters airlifted blankets and 2,400 food packets to emergency shelters, some at motels along the highways. Between February 10th and 15th, Air Force helicopters flew 30 missions, conducted 304 landings, and consumed 80 flying hours. They airlifted more than 1,000 passengers—mostly stranded motorists—and transported more than 10.5 tons of food, clothing, and medicine. Five 1st Sp. Ops. Wg. C–130 Hercules aircraft flew snow removal equipment and operators from Hurlburt Field at Eglin AFB in Florida to Shaw AFB on February 13th. The next day, the base resumed normal flying operations. On Thursday, February 15th, Shaw AFB rescue and relief activities concluded as snow was cleared from the major highways The United States Air Force and Humanitarian Airlift Operations 1947–1994 by Daniel L. Haulman Air Force Historical Research Agency Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama |
| 1973 - February 14 | CH-3E #62-12577 was destroyed in a ground fire and written off on this date. No other information is available currently. http://www.logbookmag.com/databases/article.asp?ID=201&CatID=55 |
| 1973 - February 17 | A HH-43F from the 40th ARRS at Nakhon Phanom RTAFB, Thailand, crewed by 1st Lt. George S. Tarrant (P), 1st Lt. John S. Ranck (CP), Sgt. Fredrick Thomas (FE), Sgt. Harold D. DeLoma (MT), A2C Jerry L. Allen (FF) and Sgt. Lawrence H. Crouch (FF), rescued the pilot of a A-7D (Call sign "Racer 02"), Maj. John J. Gallagher, after he ejected from his AAA damaged aircraft about 3 miles south of Nakhon Phanom RTAFB, Thailand. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "PJ's in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form |
| 1973 - March 03 | A HH-43F (possibly "Pedro 41" #59-1549) at Nakhon Phanom RTAFB, Thailand, crewed by 1st Lt. Jerry Brewton (P), 1st Lt. Jack Ranck (CP), Sgt. Fredrick Thomas (FE) and Sgt. Walter J. Heller (FF), had an engine failure and crashed. No other details are known at this time. Jack Ranck Facebook post 11 April 2018 |
| 1973 - March 08 | A HH-53C from the 40th ARRS at Nakhon Phanom RTAFB, Thailand, crewed by Capt. Stephan L. Gemlich (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE), unkn (PJ) and unkn (PJ) medevacked USA SP-4 Randy E. Merchant in Thailand. No other details are known at this time. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1973 - March 12 | A HH-43F #62-4517 from 1550th Aircrew Training and Test Wing at Hill AB, UT., crewed by Capt. James Decarbo (IP), Lt. Grover E. Myers (P) and SSgt. Charles L. Byrd (FM), crashed at Ogden Municipal Airport. All three crewmen escaped serious injury in the mishap, Lt. Myers was hospitalized overnight and Capt. Decarbo and SSgt. Byrd were treated for minor injuries. No other details are known at this time. The Ogden Standard-Examiner (Ogden, UT.) Tue, Mar 13, 1973, page 25 |
| 1973 - May 04 | A HH-53C from the 40th ARRS at Nakhon Phanom RTAFB, Thailand, crewed by unkn (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE), unkn (PJ) and unkn (PJ), rescued the pilot of a A-7D, 1st Lt. T. L. Dickens, after he ejected from his ground fire damaged aircraft close to the Phnom Penh airport. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1973 - May 07 | A HH-3E from the 33rd ARRS at Kadena AB, Japan, crewed by unkn (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ) rescued a nine-year old dependent boy, Donald Christensen, with a broken thighbone from a 20-foot-deep drainage ditch that he had fallen into in the base housing area. Also rescued with him was his mother who had also fallen into the ditch trying to rescue him. The crew then flew them to the U. S. Army Hospital. Pacific Stars & Stripes, Thursday, May 16, 1973, pg. 7 |
| 1973 - May 24 | A HH-43F from the 40th ARRS, crewed by 1st Lt. James W. Platz (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE), unkn (PJ) and unkn (PJ), medevacked USA SP-4 Teran Josea in Thailand. No other details are known at this time. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1973 - May 25 | A HH-53 recovered the body of an A7D pilot, Capt. Jeremiah Frederick Costello who was KIA when his aircraft was hit by AAA fire and crashed near Siemreap, Cambodia, just north of Tonle Sap Lake. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson |
| 1973 - May 26 | A HH-53C #68-10362 (Call sign “Jolly Green 64”) from the 40th ARRS at Nakhon Phanom RTAFB, Thailand, crewed by USCG Lt. Jack K. Stice (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ), rescued the crew of a F-4D (Call sign "Wolf 06"), Maj. Jerry Cox and Capt. Wade A. Hubbard, after they ejected from their AAA damaged aircraft about northwest of Kratie, Cambodia. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & JRCC Save Form & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1973 - June 14 | HH-53C #68-10362 (Call sign "Jolly Green 64") of the 40th ARRS and crewed by Capt. Gilbert Allan Rovito (P), 1st Lt. Francis Elmore Meador (CP), MSgt. David Vance McLeod, Jr. (FE), Sgt. Karl C. Morgan (PJ) and Sgt. Stephen L. Caldwell (PJ) was lost in Cambodia, over the Tonle Sap Lake, when it had a tail rotor failure. Capt. Rovito, 1st Lt. Meador & MSgt. McLeod was KIA. Sgt. Morgan & Sgt. Caldwell were rescued by “Jolly Green 32” (see next entry). http://www.jollygreen.org/jltnc.htm & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1973 - June 14 | A HH-53C #69-5793 (Call sign "Jolly Green 32") of the 40th ARRS from Nakhon Phanom RTAFB, Thailand, crewed by Lt. Col. Hubert M. Berthold (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE), unkn (PJ) and unkn (PJ) rescued Sgt. Stephen L. Caldwell (PJ) and Sgt. Karl C. Morgan (PJ) who were thrown out the back of HH-53C #68-10362 and parachuted to safety when their helicopter had a tail rotor failure and crashed into the Tonle Sap Lake in Cambodia (see previous entry). "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & http://www.jollygreen.org/jltnc.html |
| 1973 - June 17 | A HH-53C #68-10358 (Call sign “Jolly Green 60”) from the 40th ARRS at Nakhon Phanom RTAFB, Thailand, crewed by USCG Jack K. Stice (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE), unkn (PJ) and unkn (PJ), en route between Ubon and Nakhon Phenols, were diverted to the Phu Nu Army Communications site in Thailand by JOKER. The patient, Army SSGT Troy Washburn, was unconscious due to a bicycle accident and declared to be in a life-or-death situation. Jolly Green 60 made an expeditious pickup and successfully transported the patient to Udorn. No other details are known at this time. http://www.jollygreen.org/jltnc.htm & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1973 - June 19 | A HH-53 of the 40th ARRS, crewed by Capt. Wyman M. Rish (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE), unkn (PJ) and unkn (PJ), rescued four U.S. Civilians from a Bell 206 helicopter. No other details are known at this time. JRCC Save Form |
| 1973 - June 19 | A HH-3E from the 33rd ARRS at Kadena AB, Japan, crewed by unkn (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) unkn (PJ) and unkn (FS) rescued Hasan Arslaner from a Liberian freighter “Aegian Centaur” about 275 miles southeast of Okinawa. Arslaner had fallen into an empty swimming pool, striking his head on the concrete floor. Stars & Stripes, Saturday, June 23, 1973 |
| 1973 - June 26 | A HH-53C #69-5784 (Call sign “Jolly Green 71”) of the 40th ARRS at Nakhon Phanom RTAFB, Thailand, crewed by Capt. Raymond W. Gundlach (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE), unkn (PJ) and unkn (PJ), rescued an F-4D crew, 1st Lt. Stewart H. Sandrow (P) and 1st Lt. Ralph J. Snider (WSO) in Thailand. No other details are known at this time. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & 37th ARRS Logbook, 04 Mar 73 to 30 Oct 73 |
| 1973 - August 10 | A HH-53C of the 40th ARRS, crewed by Lt. Walter L. Reese (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE), unkn (PJ) and unkn (PJ), medevac'd USAF E-4 Stanley K. Steem in Thailand. No other details are known at this time. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form |
| 1973 - August 23 | A HH-43F of the 40th ARRS, crewed by Lt. Col. Norman C. Buck (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE), unkn (PJ) and unkn (PJ), medevac'd USN E-3 Gerald L. Cantwell and USN E-2 Timothy A. Weis in Thailand. No other details are known at this time. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form |
| 1973 - August 24 | The FIRST U.S.A.F H-3 helicopter simulator became operational at Hill AFB, UT as part of the 1550th ATTWg. https://www.hill.af.mil/News/Article-Display/Article/2184533/hill-afb-and-the-1550th-aircrew-training-and-test-wing/fbclid/IwAR00rkY8zmx1IWCl5FY28vSFAhAhUt2IFg3Diozw-eOS4obM42p72J2jc08/fbclid/IwAR0uwD8Y_liyVcPLXd-yGa7eHUzk5u4IJ9CJiDZheqxs45BNeUATajaFOcQ/ |
| 1973 - August 30 | A HH-53C of the 40th ARRS, crewed by Lt. Theodore E. Keefer (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE), unkn (PJ) and unkn (PJ), medevac'd USAF E-7 Monard G. Sewart in Thailand. No other details are known at this time. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1973 - September ?? | A HH-3E from the 33rd ARRS on Okinawa, crewed by unkn (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and SSgt. Randall S. Carmichael (PJ) rescued Seaman Leon G. Drake who was suffering intracranial bleeding while aboard the tank landing ship Tuscaloosa approximately 115 miles off the coast of Iwo Jima. The HH-3E made a refueling stop at Iwo Jima and HC-130 rescue aircraft from the 33rd ARRS as well as one from the 31st ARRS at Clark AB, RP provided two in-flight refueling. The HH-3E found the ship and hovered over it at 75-100 feet while SSgt. Carmichael (PJ) was lowered by hoist to the deck. Carmichael placed Drake in a litter basket and hoisted into the helicopter. After the ships Dr. C. J. Seilr and Carmichael were hoisted aboard the HH-3E they returned to Iwo Jima where Drake was evacuated by a C-9 Nightingale. Pacific Stars & Stripes, Tuesday, Sept. 25, 1973, pg. 7 |
| 1973 - September 02 | A HH-53C #69-5793 (Call sign “Jolly Green 32”) from the 40th ARRS at Nakhon Phanom RTAFB, Thailand, crewed by Capt. John A. Jordan (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE), unkn (PJ) and unkn (PJ), medevacked Mrs. David Saunders in Thailand. No other details are known at this time. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & Jolly Green Duty Controller’s Log 10 Jan – 11 Nov 72 |
| 1973 - October 15 | An Air Force UH-1N helicopter from Eglin AFB, FL., crewed by Maj. Robert J. Ellinger (P), 1st Lt. Terry G. Ohlemeier, Sgt. Billy R. Essary (FM) crashed in a field off U.S. 402 about 22 miles southwest of Fayetteville, NC., killing two and injuring four others. The helicopter was taking part in an Army-Air Force demonstration called "Brass Key II". Killed were 2nd Lt. John E. Kewer, Co. B., 2nd Bn, 5th Special Forces Group and Sgt. Billy R. Essary, flight mechanic. Injured were SSgt. Elmer D. Adams (from Ft. Bragg), Maj. Robert J. Ellinger, 1st Lt. Terry G. Ohlemeier and SMSgt. David G. Smith (all from Eglin AFB). The Robesonian (Lumberton, NC.), Tue, Oct 16, 1973, page 1 |
| 1973 - October 22 | A HH-3E of Det. 1, 41st ARRWg., Osan AB, Korea, crewed by Lt. Col. Joseph Mudd (P), 2nd Lt. Larry Thorson (CP), SSgt. Jerry Sorentino (FE) and SSgt. Robert P. Koecher crashed into a mountain near Osan AB, killing all onboard. http://www.pjsinnam.com/klod/koecher.htm |
| 1973 - November 31 | A HH-53 of the 40th ARRS, crewed by Capt. Stephen L. Gemlich (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE), unkn (PJ) and unkn (PJ), rescued USA Maj. Pugh and one civilian Laotian. No other details are known at this time. JRCC Save Form |
| 1973 - December 01 | The 37th ARRS at Francis E. Warren AFB, WY., and its detachments, assumed the mission of SAC Intercontinental Ballistic Missile (ICBM) missile site security support. http://www.afsoc.af.mil/shared/media/document/AFD-070906-042.pdf |
| 1973 - December 29 | A HH-3E from the 31st ARRS at Clark AB, PI, crewed by unkn (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE), unkn (PJ) and Capt. Roger E. Landry (FS) performed an overwater rescue over 200 miles at sea. They rescued the wife of the captain of the Indian Vessel State of Orissa who was in premature labor at six months and was hemorrhaging. She was hoisted into the helicopter from the 489-foot vessel that was being whipped by 40 knot winds and 30-foot swells. After picking up the expectant mother, they then raced to deliver her to Manila’s International Airport. Fifteen minutes from the airport Capt. Landry delivered the two-pound, two-ounce infant. The mother and infant were safely delivered to the airport, however after two weeks of struggling for his life, the infant died of respiratory problems. Pacific Stars & Stripes, Wednesday, Feb. 20, 1974, page 7 |
| 1973 - January 03 | A HH-43F (Call sign "Pedro ?") from Det. 7, 40th ARRS at Da Nang AB, RVN, crewed by 1st Lt. William I. Latham Jr. (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ), rescued two of the six crew members, Lt. Col. Gerald F. Wickling and Capt. William F. Milcarke, from the waters near Da Nang after they had bailed out of their battle damaged B-52 (Call sign Ruby 02"). One of the other crew members was rescued by a U. S. Navy helicopter and the other three by a U.S. Marine CH-53. http://www.pjsinnam.com/vn_history/pdf_files/Chronology/1973%20thru%201975.pdf & JRCC Save Form |
| 1973 - January 04 | A HH-43F from the 37th ARRS, crewed by unkn (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ), rescued several crewmembers of a B-52D (Call sign "Ruby 02"), Lt. Col. Gerald Wickline and four other crewmembers, who had ejected from their SA-2 SAM damaged aircraft at sea about 24 miles northeast of Da Nang AB, RVN. One B-52D crew member who came down several miles from the rest of the crew was later rescued by a USMC helicopter. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "PJ's in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1972 - January 07 | A HH-53C from the 40th ARRS, crewed by Maj. Ralph K. Gee (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ), rescued the WSO of a F-4D, Maj. George B. Nunez, when he and his pilot, Capt. Thomas E. Wiles, ejected from their SAM damaged aircraft about 15 miles southwest of Nakhon Phanom RTAFB, Thailand. Capt. Wiles 'rescued' himself, returning to the base via a Thai "Baht Bus". "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & JRCC Save Form & "PJ's in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1973 - January 11 | A HH-43F (Call sign "Pedro ?") from Det. 5, 40th ARRS, crewed by Capt. Raymond W. Gundlach (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ), rescued a A-7D pilot, 1st Lt. Larry R. Sadler, after his aircraft had an engine shut down due to fuel starvation and he ejected about 20 miles northeast of Udorn RTAFB, Thailand. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & JRCC Save Form & "PJ's in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1973 - January 16 | A HH-53C from the 40th ARRS, crewed by 1st Lt. Billy E. Heslep (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE), unkn (PJ) and unkn (PJ) medevac'd a VNAF airman in RVN. No other details are known at this time. "PJ's in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form |
| 1973 - January 17 | A HH-43F from Det. 14, 40th ARRS, crewed by Capt. Robert M. Gehbauer (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ), medevac'd one Vietnamese in RVN. No other details are known at this time. "PJ's in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1973 - January 19 | A HH-53C from the 40th ARRS, crewed by Wyman M. Rish (P), Gilbert A. Rovito (CP), Andrew Straughn (FE), Michael L. Walker (PJ), Edward M. Willis (PJ) and Robert P. Glymph (AP), rescued two Air America employees and two Laotian's from Bell 206A (Call sign "Ranger 822") helicopter downed in Laos. No other details are known at this time. "PJ's in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1973 - January 20 | The last assault mission of the CH-53C's from the 21st SOS took place when seven CH-53C teamed up with two Air America CH-47's to insert 1,166 Laotian troops to reopen a major road from Vientiane on the Mekong River to Luang Praband in the north. "On a Steel Horse I Ride" by Darrel D. Whitcomb |
| 1973 - January 23 | HH-3's from Det. 14, 40th ARRWg., evacuated 33 medical patients from Vestmannaeyjar Island to Reykjavik, Iceland. http://www.afsoc.af.mil/shared/media/document/AFD-070906-042.pdf |
| 1973 - January 31 | HH-53's recovered an allied ground party surrounded by enemy forces in Laos. No other details are available at this time. http://www.pjsinnam.com/vn_history/pdf_files/Chronology/1973%20thru%201975.pdf |
| 1973 - January 31 | Det. 8 (P), 40th ARRS at Takhli RTAFB, Thailand is inactivated. http://www.pjsinnam.com/vn_history/pdf_files/Chronology/1973%20thru%201975.pdf |
| 1973 - February 01 | A HH-53C from the 40th ARRS, crewed by Capt. Stephen L. Gemlich (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE), unkn (PJ) and unkn (PJ), rescued a ground team (Call sign "Miles 01"), Pugh and two indigenous troops in contact. No other details are available at this time. "PJ's in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1973 - February 01 | A HH-43F from the 40th ARRS, crewed by unkn (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ), saved the pilot of an A-7D in Thailand. No other details are known at this time. "PJ's in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1973 - February 10 | Det. 7, 40th ARRS at Da Nang AB, RVN and Det. 14, 40th ARRS at Tan Son Nhut AB, RVN are deactivated. The HH-43F's assigned to these two units were sent to units in Thailand, 2 from Da Nang to NKP, 2 from Tan Son Nhut to Ubon and the other 2 from Tan Son Nhut to Udorn. http://www.pjsinnam.com/vn_history/pdf_files/Chronology/1973%20thru%201975.pdf |
| 1973 - February 10 | Six ARRS personnel who were POW's were released and flown out of Gia Lam Airport, Hanoi, NVN. They were Capt. Thomas Curtis, Capt. Warren Lilly, 1st Lt. Jerry Singleton, SSgt. Arthur Cormier, A1C William Robinson and A2C Arthur Black. http://www.pjsinnam.com/vn_history/pdf_files/Chronology/1973%20thru%201975.pdf |
| 1973 - February 10 - 15 | CH-3's of the 703rd Tactical Air Support Squadron and a CH-3 from the 1st Helicopter Squadron at Andrews AFB in Maryland, stranded by the heavy snow storm, at Shaw were pressed into service for rescue operations. Squadron personnel rescued 27 people and delivered antibiotics to a nursing home. Seven CH�3s were used to rescue people shivering in snowbound automobiles and trucks. Det. 9 of the 44th ARRSq used a pair of HH�43 helicopters for similar missions. Two days later, on February 12th, Governor John C. West declared a state of emergency and closed some highways to all but emergency vehicles, such as those from Shaw AFB. On February 12th and 13th, the CH�3 and HH�43 helicopters airlifted blankets and 2,400 food packets to emergency shelters, some at motels along the highways. Between February 10th and 15th, Air Force helicopters flew 30 missions, con- ducted 304 landings, and consumed 80 flying hours. They airlifted more than 1,000 passengers�mostly stranded motorists�and transported more than 10.5 tons of food, clothing, and medicine. Five 1st Sp Ops Wg C�130 Hercules aircraft flew snow removal equipment and operators from Hurlburt Field at Eglin AFB in Florida to Shaw AFB on February 13th. The next day, the base resumed normal flying operations. On Thursday, February 15th, Shaw AFB rescue and relief activities concluded as snow was cleared from the major highways The United States Air Force and Humanitarian Airlift Operations 1947�1994 by Daniel L. Haulman Air Force Historical Research Agency Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama |
| 1973 - February 14 | CH-3E #62-12577 was destroyed in a ground fire and written off on this date. No other information is available at this time. http://www.logbookmag.com/databases/article.asp?ID=201&CatID=55 |
| 1973 - February 17 | A HH-43F from the 40th ARRS, crewed by 1st Lt. George S. Tarrant (P), John S. Ranck (CP), Fredrick Thomas (FE), Harold D. Deloma (MT), Jerry L. Allen (FF) and Lawrence H. Crouch (FF), rescued the pilot of a A-7D (Call sign "Racer 02"), Maj. John J. Gallagher, after he ejected from his AAA damaged aircraft about 3 miles south of Nakhon Phanom RTAFB, Thailand. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "PJ's in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form |
| 1973 - February 17 | A HH-43F from Det. 14, 40th ARRS, crewed by Capt. Robert M Gehbauer (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE), unkn (PJ) and unkn (PJ) medevaced a VNAF airman in RVN. No other details are known at this time. "PJ's in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form |
| 1973 - March 08 | A HH-53C from the 40th ARRS, crewed by Capt. Stephan L. Gemlich (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE), unkn (PJ) and unkn (PJ) medevac'd USA SP-4 Randy E. Merchant in Thailand. No other details are known at this time. "PJ's in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1973 - March 12 | A HH-43B from 1550th Aircrew Training and Test Wing at Hill AB, UT., crewed by Capt. James Decarbo (IP), Lt. Grover E. Myers (SP) and SSgt. Charles L. Byrd (FM), crashed at Ogden Municipal Airport. All three crewmen escaped serious injury in the mishap. No other details are know at this time. The Ogden Standard-Examiner (Ogden, UT.) Tue, Mar 13, 1973, page 25 |
| 1973 - April 02 | HH-43F #62-4517 with the 1550th ATTW at Hill AFB, UT., crashed. No other information is available at this time. http://www.h43-huskie.info/framesetnew.htm |
| 1973 - May 04 | A HH-53C from the 40th ARRS, crewed by unkn (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE), unkn (PJ) and unkn (PJ), rescued the pilot of a A-7D, 1st Lt. T. L. Dickens, after he ejected from his ground fire damaged aircraft close to the Phnom Penh, Cambodia, airport. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "PJ's in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1973 - May 04 | A HH-3E from the 33rd ARRS at Kadena AB, Japan, crewed by unkn (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ) rescued a nine-year old dependent boy, Donald Christensen, with a broken thighbone from a 20 foot deep drainage ditch that he had fallen into in the base housing area. Also rescued with him was his mother who had also fallen into the ditch trying to rescue him. The crew then flew them to the U. S. Army Hospital. Pacific Stars & Stripes, Thursday, May 16, 1973, pg. 7 |
| 1973 - May 24 | A HH-43F from the 40th ARRS, crewed by 1st Lt. James W. Platz (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE), unkn (PJ) and unkn (PJ), medevac'd USA SP-4 Teran Josea in Thailand. No other details are known at this time. "PJ's in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1973 - May 25 | A HH-53 recovered the body of an A7D pilot, Capt. Jeremiah Frederick Costello who was KIA when his aircraft was hit by AAA fire and crashed near Siemreap, Cambodia, just north of Tonle Sap Lake. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson |
| 1973 - May 26 | A HH-53C from the 40th ARRS, crewed by USCG Lt. Jack K. Stice (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ), rescued the crew of a F-4D (Call sign "Wolf 06"), Maj. Jerry Cox and Capt. Wade A. Hubbard, after they ejected from their AAA damaged aircraft about northwest of Kratie, Cambodia. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & JRCC Save Form & "PJ's in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form |
| 1973 - June 14 | HH-53C #68-10362 (Call sign "Jolly Green 64") of the 40th ARRS and crewed by Capt. Gilbert Allan Rovito (P), 1st Lt. Francis Elmore Meador (CP), MSgt. David Vance McLeod, Jr. (FE), Sgt. Karl C. Morgan (PJ) and Sgt. Stephen L. Caldwell (PJ) was lost in Cambodia, over the Tonle Sap Lake, when it had a tail rotor failure. Rovito, Meador & McLeod were KIA. Morgan & Caldwell were rescued by �Jolly Green 32� (see next entry). http://www.jollygreen.org/jltnc.htm & "PJ's in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1973 - June 14 | A HH-53C (Call sign "Jolly Green 32") of the 40th ARRS and crewed by Hubert M. Berthold (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE), unkn (PJ) and unkn (PJ) rescued Sgt. Stephen L. Caldwell (PJ) and Sgt. Karl C. Morgan (PJ) who were thrown out the back of HH-53C #68-10362 and parachuted to safety when their helicopter had a tail rotor failure and crashed into the Tonle Sap Lake in Cambodia (see previous entry). http://www.jollygreen.org/jltnc.htm & "PJ's in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1973 - June 17 | A HH-53C #68-10358 (Call sign “Jolly Green 60”) from the 40th ARRS at Nakhon Phanom RTAFB, Thailand, crewed by USCG Jack K. Stice (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE), unkn (PJ) and unkn (PJ), en route between Ubon and Nakhon Phenols, were diverted to the Phu Nu Army Communications site in Thailand by JOKER. The patient, Army SSGT Troy Washburn, was unconscious due to a bicycle accident and declared to be in a life or death situation. Jolly Green 60 made an expeditious pickup and successfully transported the patient to Udorn. No other details are known at this time. http://www.jollygreen.org/jltnc.htm & "PJ's in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1973 - June 19 | A HH-53C of the 40th ARRS at Nakhon Phanom RTAFB, Thailand, crewed by Capt. Wyman M. Rish (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE), unkn (PJ) and unkn (PJ), rescued four U.S. Civilians from a Bell 206 helicopter. No other details are known at this time. JRCC Save Form |
| 1973 - June 26 | A HH-53C of the 40th ARRS at Nakhon Phanom RTAFB, Thailand, crewed by Capt. Raymond W. Gundlach (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE), unkn (PJ) and unkn (PJ), rescued an F-4D crew, 1st Lt. Stewart H. Sandrow (P) and 1st Lt. Ralph J. Snider (WSO) in Thailand. No other details are known at this time. "PJ's in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1973 - August 10 | A HH-53C of the 40th ARRS at Nakhon Phanom RTAFB, Thailand, crewed by Lt. Walter L. Reese (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE), unkn (PJ) and unkn (PJ), medevacked USAF E-4 Stanley K. Steem in Thailand. No other details are known at this time. "PJ's in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form |
| 1973 - August 23 | A HH-43F of the 40th ARRS, crewed by Lt. Col. Norman C. Buck (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE), unkn (PJ) and unkn (PJ), medevacked USN E-3 Gerald L. Cantwell and USN E-2 Timothy A. Weis in Thailand. No other details are known at this time. "PJ's in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form |
| 1973 - August 24 | The first U.S.A.F H-3 helicopter simulator became operational at Hill AFB, UT as part of the 1550th ATTWg. https://www.hill.af.mil/News/Article-Display/Article/2184533/hill-afb-and-the-1550th-aircrew-training-and-test-wing/fbclid/IwAR00rkY8zmx1IWCl5FY28vSFAhAhUt2IFg3Diozw-eOS4obM42p72J2jc08/fbclid/IwAR0uwD8Y_liyVcPLXd-yGa7eHUzk5u4IJ9CJiDZheqxs45BNeUATajaFOcQ/ |
| 1973 - August 30 | A HH-53C from the 40th ARRS at Nakhon Phanom RTAFB, Thailand, crewed by Theodore E. Keefer (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE), unkn (PJ) and unkn (PJ), medevacked Monard G. Sewart in Thailand. No other details are known at this time. "PJ's in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1973 - September ?? | A HH-3E from the 33rd ARRS on Okinawa, crewed by unkn (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and SSgt. Randall S. Carmichael (PJ) rescued Seaman Leon G. Drake who was suffering intercranial bleeding while aboard the tank landing ship Tuscaloosa approximately 115 miles off the coast of Iwo Jima. The HH-3E made a refueling stop at Iwo Jima and HC-130 rescue aircraft from the 33rd ARRS as well as one from the 31st ARRS at Clark AB, RP provided two in-flight refueling. The HH-3E found the ship and hovered over it at 75-100 feet while SSgt. Carmichael (PJ) was lowered by hoist to the deck. Carmichael placed Drake in a litter basket and hoisted it into the helicopter. After the ships Dr. C. J. Seilr and Carmichael were hoisted aboard the HH-3E they returned to Iwo Jima where Drake was evacuated by a C-9 Nightingale. Pacific Stars & Stripes, Tuesday, Sept. 25, 1973, pg. 7 |
| 1973 - September 02 | A HH-53C from the 40th ARRS at Nakhon Phanom RTAFB, Thailand, crewed by Capt. John A. Jordan (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE), unkn (PJ) and unkn (PJ), medevacked Mrs. David Saunders in Thailand. No other details are known at this time. "PJ's in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1973 - October 15 | An Air Force UH-1N helicopter from Eglin AFB, FL., crewed by Maj. Robert J. Ellinger (P), 1st Lt. Terry G. Ohlemeier, Sgt. Billy R. Essary (FM) crashed and burned in a field off U.S. 402 about 22 miles southwest of Fayetteville, NC., killing two and injuring four others. The helicopter was taking part in an Army-Air Force demonstration called "Brass Key II". Killed were 2nd Lt. John E. Kewer, Co. B., 2nd Bn, 5th Special Forces Group and Sgt. Billy R. Essary, flight mechanic. Injured were SSgt. Elmer D. Adams (from Ft. Bragg), Maj. Robert J. Ellinger, 1st Lt. Terry G. Ohlemeier and SMSgt. David G. Smith (all from Eglin AFB). The Robesonian (Lumberton, NC.), Tue, Oct 16, 1973, page 1 |
| 1973 - October 22 | A HH-3E #67-14708 of Det. 13, 41st ARRWg., Osan AB, Korea, crewed by Lt. Col. Joseph Mudd (P), 2nd Lt. Larry Thorson (CP), SSgt. Jerry Sorentino (FE) and SSgt. Robert P. Koecher crashed into a mountain near Osan AB, The crew was returning to Osan from Makpo, where they had been working with a submarine during the day. They were on extended downwind to accommodate landing traffic, told by tower to turn base to final, they were too low for the pattern and crashed into paradise mountain. All were killed instantly. https://jollygg.blogspot.com/2020/10/47th-anniversary-of-hh-3e-crash.html?m=1&fbclid=IwAR3EL5HGyntcI-9_fnv2ThQMr6PCmercua88kIWFOYwm4rWgzUjpt5TZuE0 & http://www.pjsinnam.com/klod/koecher.html |
| 1973 - November 31 | A HH-53C of the 40th ARRS at Nakhon Phanom RTAFB, Thailand, crewed by Capt. Stephen L. Gemlich (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE), unkn (PJ) and unkn (PJ), rescued USA Maj. Pugh and one civilian Laotian. No other details are known at this time. JRCC Save Form |
| 1973 - December 01 | The 37th ARRS at Francis E. Warren AFB, WY., and its detachments, assumed the mission of SAC Intercontinental Ballistic Missile (ICBM) missile site security support. http://www.afsoc.af.mil/shared/media/document/AFD-070906-042.pdf |
| 1973 - December 16 | A HH-3E from the 31st ARRS at Clark AB, PI, crewed by unkn (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE), unkn (PJ), rescued 16 crewmen of a South Korean cargo vessel that ran aground in Philippine waters. The 2,000-ton MS Asia Pacific Stroke had run aground about 60 miles west of the central Philippine province of Palawan. The ship was not badly damaged, and the crewmen were waiting for a vessel to tow it to Manila. Pacific Stars & Stripes, Wednesday, Dec. 19, 1973, pg. 6 |
| 1973 - December 29 | A HH-3E from the 31st ARRS at Clark AB, PI, crewed by unkn (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE), unkn (PJ) and Capt Roger E. Landry (FS) performed an over-water rescue over 200 miles at sea. They rescued the wife of the captain of the Indian Vessel State of Orissa who was in premature labor at six months and was hemorrhaging. She was hoisted into the helicopter from the 489 foot vessel that was being whipped by 40 knot winds and 30 foot swells. After picking up the expectant mother, they then raced to deliver her to Manila’s International Airport. Fifteen minutes from the airport Capt. Landry delivered the two pound, two ounce infant. The mother and infant were safley delivered to the airport, however after two weeks of struggling for his life, the infant died of respiratory problems. Pacific Stars & Stripes, Wednesday, Feb. 20, 1974, page 7 |
| TIME FRAME | HISTORY |
|---|---|
| 1974 - January 16 - 19 | Three UH-1's from the 48th ARRS at Fairchild AFB, crew's unkn, conducted rescue operations in the Phinhurst, ID. area. During January, the mountains of the northwestern United States, which had accumulated heavy early winter snow, experienced two weeks of relatively warm weather accompanied by heavy rain. The combination of rain and melted snow drove rivers and creeks over their banks in northern Idaho. Floods from the Coeur d’Alene River and Pine Creek struck the vicinity of Pinehurst, Idaho, a community of about 2,000 some 40 miles east of Spokane. High-water washed-out bridges, including a section of Interstate 90, closing off access to food supplies. The floods interrupted electrical power, leaving hundreds of people without heat or communications. On January 16th, Governor Cecil Andrus declared the Coeur d’Alene wilderness region around Pinehurst a disaster area and appealed for federal assistance. That same day, the 48th ARRS, based at Fairchild AFB, WA., began four days of rescue and relief operations in the Pinehurst area. After setting up a command post at a local bank, the unit marshaled three UH–1 Huey helicopters to evacuate flood victims. In two days, the squadron airlifted 93 refugees, some hoisted from the roofs of their inundated homes. Civilian observers helped helicopter crews locate isolated victims. The airlift saved the lives of two women with heart disease and delivered an emergency electrical generator to restore communications and miscellaneous medical supplies. By the end of January, dry winter weather had returned, allowing the swollen streams to subside and residents to return home. The United States Air Force and Humanitarian Airlift Operations 1947–1994 by Daniel L. Haulman Air Force Historical Research Agency Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama |
| 1974 - February 06 | A HH-3E from the 31st ARRS at Clark AB, RP, crewed by 1st Lt. Mike Dorf (P), 2nd Lt. Rich Heinauer (CP), Sgt. Jack Mabry (FE), MSgt. Rod Ohman (PJ), Sgt. Bryan Berg (PJ) and Capt. Ron Flory (FS), evacuated crewmembers from a ship that had received critical burns from a fuel tank explosion that had occurred on their vessel. The captain had sailed the boat to Catanayan Town, some 150 miles southeast of Clark AB where they were evacuated by the HH-3E to Manila International Airport for treatment at nearby Nichols AB. Pacific Stars & Stripes, Friday, Feb. 8, 1974, pg. 7 |
| 1974 - February 11 | A UH-1H from 1550th Aircrew Training and Test Wing at Hill AB, UT., crewed by Maj. Arlie L. Mustoe (IP), Maj. Hans M. Stobenau (SP) and Capt. Eugene O. White (SP), crashed at Ogden Municipal Airport. All three crewmen escaped serious injury in the mishap. The Ogden Standard-Examiner (Ogden, UT.) Tue, Feb 12, 1974, page 11 |
| 1974 - March 26 | A HH-3E from Det. 2, 39th ARRWg. at Howard AB, Panama Canal Zone, crewed by Capt. William O. Stuart (P), 1st Lt. Robert L. Conner (CP), 1st Lt. Michael O. Rodciako (CP), SSgt. Francaline Tillman (FE), SSgt. William K. Johnson (PJ) and TSgt. John L. Beaty, while on a SAR training mission with a HC-130, both aircraft were directed to fly to the aid of a seaman, aboard the merchant ship "Columbia Land" about 200 miles south of Panama, who was suffering from acute appendicitis. He was hoisted aboard the HH-3E and rushed to Albrook, CZ., for surgery. "Air Rescue" Rescue Review Magazine June 1974, courtesy of Jim Cleer |
| 1974 - July 11 | A HH-53C #68-10363, from the 76th ARRS at Hickam AFB, HI. crewed by Capt. James T. Jewett (P), 1st Lt. John R. Hertzog (CP), SSgt. Lester R. Rourk (FM), Sgt. Michael Nunes (PJ) A1C David Norris (PJ) and Col. James Culver (FS) rescued a critically ill USN Seaman, who had suffered a severe appendicitis attack, aboard the USS “Juneau”. While on the ship they also took on a second Seaman who had an eye injury. This rescue took place some 350 miles out to sea. 76th ARRS History 1 July to 31 December 1974 |
| 1974 - July 16 | A HH-53C, #68-8286, from the 76th ARRS at Hickham AFB, HI. crewed by Capt. David E. Mullenix (P), 1st Lt. David B. Porter (CP), 1st Lt. William A. Nelson (CP), SSgt. Lester R. Rourk (FE), Sgt. Donald L. Ware (PJ), Capt. Gerald B. Pees (FS) and 1st Lt. Ronald G. Fraass (IO), rescued a seriously injured fisherman from the fishing boat “Jacqueline A”. Because of high rigging on the fishing boat the patient was put in a 25-foot skiff next to the boat. The flight surgeon, Capt. Pees, was lowered, by SSgt. Rourk, to the skiff to check on the patient's condition prior to him being hoisted into the HH-53C. SSgt. Rourk then hoisted Capt. Pees back into the helicopter on the forest penetrator and then the patient was hoisted aboard in a Stokes litter. SSgt. Rourk then hoisted aboard the two PJ’s that had been deployed to the fishing boat, from an HC-130, the day before. The patient was then delivered to Honolulu, transferred to an ambulance and taken to the Queen’s Medical Center in Honolulu for treatment. This mission required multiple air refueling's to reach the fishing boat, that was located about 500 miles from Honolulu, and rescue the patient. 76th ARRS History 1 July to 31 December 1974 |
| 1974 - July 30 | Det. 10, 40th ARRS at Takhli RTAFB, Thailand was deactivated. http://www.pjsinnam.com/vn_history/pdf_files/Chronology/1973%20thru%201975.pdf |
| 1974 - July 30 | A HH-3E from the 33rd ARRS at Kadena AB, Japan, crewed by 1st Lt. Donnie Rowland (P), 2nd Lt. F. Randall Starbuck (CP), unkn (FE) and SSgt. Dennis G. Dalmo (PJ) rescued Diosdado Niervies. Nieries, a Filipino cadet seaman stricken with suspected appendicitis aboard the cargo ship, Philippine President Magsaysay, located about 300 miles southeast of Okinawa. Pacific Stars & Stripes, Saturday, August 3, 1974 |
| 1974 - August 08 | A USAF helicopter from the 31st ARRS at Clark AB, RP, crewed by 1st Lt. Michael Dorf (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE), unkn (PJ) and Maj. Richard F. Cole (FS), performed a mercy mission to Laoag City on the northern coast of Luzon, RP, to save the life of five year old Noel Menor and aiding in the recovery of his sister Catherine, 7 and brother Chris, 10. The trio was severely injured in a traffic accident that took the life of their mother. They were delivered to three waiting ambulances at the Philippine Air Force’s Nichols AB in Manila. The children and their uninjured father were then rushed to the National Orthopedic Hospital there. Pacific Stars & Stripes, Wednesday, Aug. 14, 1974, pg. 7 |
| 1974 - August 19 | A HH-53C, #69-5787, from the 76th ARRS at Hickam AFB, HI. crewed by Capt. David E. Mullenix (P), 1st Lt. David B. Porter (CP), SSgt. Cayetano Pina (FE), A1C David B. Norris (PJ) and Capt. Gerald Pees (FS) rescued a Seaman, in serious condition with bleeding ulcers, from the USS “Longview” located about 450 nautical miles from Hawaii. This mission required multiple air-refueling's and after the Seaman was brought aboard the helicopter, Capt. Mullenix then flew the patient directly to Tripler Army Hospital. 76th ARRS History 1 July to 31 December 1974 |
| 1974 - August 20 | The Det. ?, 40th ARRS at Ubon RTAFB, Thailand is deactivated. http://www.afsoc.af.mil/shared/media/document/AFD-070906-042.pdf |
| 1974 - August 23 | A HH-53C, #68-10363, from the 76th ARRS at Hickam AFB, HI. crewed by 1st Lt. Michael P. Boehme (P), 1st Lt. John R. Hertzog (CP), 1st Lt. Clarence D. Bailey (CP), SSgt. Cayetano Pina (FE) and SSgt. Carl C. Woehrle III (PJ) rescued a cook who had received severe burns in an accident on board the Spanish merchant vessel “Marques De Bolarque”. He had been under treatment for two days prior by two PJ’s, SMSgt. Kerry “KO” Kelly and A1C Scott B. Hursh that had been deployed in rough seas to the ship. When the ship neared Honolulu the patient’s condition worsened due to an infection and the helicopter was launched to rescue the cook as the ship was still about 50 miles out of Honolulu. 76th ARRS History 1 July to 31 December 1974 |
| 1974 - August 30 | A HH-53C, #68-10363, from the 76th ARRS at Hickam AFB, HI. crewed by 1st Lt. Michael P. Boehme (P), Capt. David E. Mullenix (CP), 1st Lt. Wiliam A. Nelson (CP), SSgt. Thomas G. Green (FE), MSgt. Lawrence W. Wellington (PJ) and SSgt. Larry E. Kimball (PJ) and Capt. Gerald Pees (FS) rescued a heart attack patient, by Stokes litter, from the ship SS “Bradford Island” about 200 miles at sea. Once on-board Lt. Boehme and crew delivered him to Tripler Army Hospital. 76th ARRS History 1 July to 31 December 1974 |
| 1974 - August 30 | Two HH-3E’s from Det. 13, 41st ARRWg., at Osan AB, Korea, one crewed by 1st Lt. Edward L. Fleming (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ) and the second crewed by Lt. Col. Travis Wofford (P), unkn (CP), unkn (PJ) and unkn (PJ), saved 36 Koreans from the flood waters surrounding Kwangju, Korea. http://www.afsoc.af.mil/shared/media/document/AFD-070906-042.pdf & Pacific Stars & Stripes, Sep. 04, 1974, pg. 24 |
| 1974 - September 06 | A HH-53C from the 40th ARRS at Nakhon Phanom RTAFB, Thailand, crewed by Capt. Barry R. Walls (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE), unkn (PJ), unkn (PJ) and Col. (Dr.) Alfred K. Cheng (DR), medevacked A1C Gary L. VanDyke. Amn. VanDyke had received a stomach wound in a ground aircraft accident. No other details are known at this time. The NKP News, November 15, 1974 |
| 1974 - September 09 | A HH-3E from the 33rd ARRS at Kadena AB, Okinawa, crewed by unkn (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ), rescued a 28-year-old Indian Seaman, G. Parameswaran, who had suffered second degree burns on his face and chest, from the Indian tanker ship Gargi about 330 miles southeast of Okinawa. Pacific Stars & Stripes, Wednesday, Sept. 11, 1974, pg. 7 |
| 1974 - September 24 | HH-53C, #69-5787, from the 76th ARRS at Hickham AFB, HI., crewed by Maj. Richard M. Bigelow (P), 2nd Lt. Richard E. Mole (CP), TSgt. Don E. Cole (FE) and SSgt. Larry E. Kimball (PJ) and A1C Kenneth A. Herdliska (PJ) rescued four injured crewmen from a U.S. Marine CH-46 that had crashed in dense undergrowth on the island of Hawaii. This mission required over two hours of hovering and multiple one air-refueling to accomplish. 76th ARRS History 1 July to 31 December 1974 |
| 1974 - October 06 | A HH-53C from the 40th ARRS at Nakhon Phanom RTAFB, Thailand, crewed by Barry R. Walls (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE), unkn (PJ), unkn (PJ) and Col. (Dr.) Alfred K. Cheng (DR), medevacked A1C Gary L. VanDyk. Amn. VanDyk had received a stomach wound in a ground aircraft accident. No other details are known at this time. The NKP News, November 15, 1974 |
| 1974 - October 13 | A HH-43 "Pedro" from Det. 12, 40th ARRS at U-Tapao RTAFB, Thailand, crewed by Capt. Russel J. Spahr (P), 2nd Lt. Kenneth H. Charfauros (CP), unkn (FE), unkn (PJ) and Maj. (Dr.) William L. Burner III (DR), medevacked the baby of an American couple to Bangkok. No other details are known at this time. The NKP News, November 15, 1974 |
| 1974 - October 21 | A HH-53C from the 40th ARRS at Nakhon Phanom RTAFB, Thailand, crewed by Capt. Joseph M. Gilbert (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE), unkn (PJ) and Maj. (Dr.) Lin Ho, medevacked MSgt. Winfred P. Williams from the Phu Mu Communications Relay Station to Udorn RTAFB, Thailand. No other details are known at this time. The NKP News, November 15, 1974 |
| 1974 – November 05 | Two HH-3E helicopters from the 33rd ARRS from Kadena AB, Okinawa rescued nine Korean fisherman from their sinking ship approximately 180 miles west southwest of Kwang Ju. The first HH-3E was crewed by 1st Lt. Edward L. Fleming (P), 1st Lt. Larry G. Brooks (CP), SSgt. Dennis W. Hales (FE), SSgt. Clegle Chambers Jr. (PJ) and Sgt. Robert L. LaPointe (PJ). Crew members on the second HH-3E were Capt. Charles W. Hinkle (P), 2nd Lt. William W. Naumann III (CP), TSgt. Teddy W. Carter (FE) and SSgt. David W. Young (PJ). Pacific Stars & Stripes, Tuesday, Nov. 12, 1974 |
| 1974 – November 06 | A HH-3E of the 5040th Helicopter Sq., Elmendorf AFB, AK, crewed by 1st Lt. James E. Greider (P), 2nd Lt. Vick Jaroch (CP), SSgt. Edward D. Vaughn (FE) and SSgt. William M. Boitnott (PJ), rescued Alaskan native Fred Hamilton whose Super Cub had crashed while landing at his hunting camp on a ledge above a canyon, at the end of Metal Creek, 45 miles northeast of Anchorage, Alaska. The crew made a night landing, parking as close as possible to the crash site with the HH-3E’s tail hanging over the creek bed and shut down the rotors and engines. The co-pilot stayed with the HH-3E to keep the APU and heater running. Lt. Greider, SSgt. Vaughn & SSgt. Boitnott, taking a rescue litter, medical kits and air/balloon splints, then had to wade across the raging, four foot deep, Metal Creek and then climbing a 30-foot steep slope to reach the unconscious Hamilton. After Hamilton had been prepared for transport and strapped to the litter, the crew then returned to the HH-3E, carrying Hamilton above their heads as they waded back across the creek. Once everyone was back on board and secured the helicopter was started and an instrument takeoff accomplished, they then made a hazardous flight, at night, out of the canyon climbing out through a 100-foot ceiling with 4,000 ft. mountains on either side before finally breaking out on top of the cloud cover. After the 30-minute flight they delivered the survivor to the Providence Hospital in Anchorage, AK. Messenger post from Jim Greider, November 15, 2021 |
| 1974 – November 12 | A HH-3E of the 5040th Helicopter Sq., Elmendorf AFB, AK, crewed by 1st Lt. James E. Greider (P), 2nd Lt. Vick Jaroch (CP), SSgt. Edward D. Vaughn (FE) and SSgt. William M. Boitnott (PJ), rescued Alaskan native Fred Hamilton who’s Super Cub had crashed while landing at his hunting camp on a ledge above a canyon, at the end of Metal Creek, 45 miles northeast of Anchorage, Alaska. The crew made a night landing, parking as close as possible to the crash site with the HH-3E’s tail hanging over the creek bed, and shut down the rotors and engines. The co-pilot stayed with the HH-3E to keep the APU and heater running. Lt. Greider, SSgt. Vaughn & SSgt. Boitnott, taking a rescue litter, medical kits and air/balloon splints, then had to wade across the raging, four foot deep, Metal Creek and then climbing a 30 foot steep slope to reach the unconscious Hamilton. After Hamilton had been prepared for transport and strapped to the litter, the crew then returned to the HH-3E, carrying Hamilton above their heads as they waded back across the creek. Once everyone was back on board and secured the helicopter was started and an instrument takeoff accomplished they then made a hazardous flight, at night, out of the canyon climbing out through a 100 foot ceiling with 4,000 ft. mountains on either side before finally breaking out on top of the cloud cover. After the 30 minute flight they delivered the survivor to the Providence Hospital in Anchorage, AK. Messenger post from Jim Greider, November 15, 2021 |
| 1974 - December 07 | A HH-53C, #68-8286, from the 76th ARRS at Hickam AFB, HI. crewed by 1st Lt. Michael P. Boehme (P), 1st Lt. Herbert L. Stoddard (CP), SSgt. John C. Repper (FM), SSgt. Carl C. Woehrle III and Sgt. Ray A. Cooper (PJ), rescued and injured seaman from the tug “Theriot” about 560 nautical miles southeast of Honolulu. Also picked up were the two PJ’s, TSgt. James A. Hunt (PJ) and A1C David B. Norris, who had been deployed to the injured seaman’s original ship, the “Banderas”, by a HC-130 on December 05, 1974. 76th ARRS History 1 July to 31 December 1974 |
| 1974 - December 07 | HH-3E #69-5807 of the 5040th HS, Elmendorf AFB, AK, crewed by 1st Lt. Edward Solomon (P), 1st Lt. Mason (CP), Sgt. Flanner (FE), Shorty Mutchler (PJ) and Dave Headley (RS), crashed at Portage Pass near Anchorage when it encountered a white out condition as it was attempting a landing. The pilot, 1st Lt. Solomon, was killed in the crash; the remaining crew members onboard were rescued. Gerald Armstrong Facebook post 16 Jul. 2014 & http://www.helis.com/database/accidents/?model=53 |
| 1974 - December 07 | An HH-3E of the 5040th HS, Elmendorf AFB, AK, crewed by Lt. Col. Ray Long (P), 1st Lt. Thomas Hooper (CP), unkn (FE), unkn (PJ) and unkn (RS), rescued two USAF guys from the site of the crash of their Cessna 310 about 19.5 miles south of the Anchorage VORTAC. This rescue was accomplished at night in near zero visibility and the HH-3E was vectored to the crash site by an overhead C-130. email from Thomas Hooper, 07 March 2016 |
| 1975 - January 09 | The FIRST two CH-53C's, #69-0924 and #70-1632 for the 601st TASS, arrived at Wiesbaden AB, Germany. http://mobileradar.org/Documents/601st_tcw_history_pt_2.pdf |
| 1975 - January 16 | 1975 - January 16; A HH-43F (Call sign "Pedro 03") from Det. 12, 40th ARRS at U-Tapao RTAFB, Thailand, crewed by Capt. Russell J. Spahr (P), 2nd Lt. Kenneth H. Charfauros (CP), TSgt. Ronald K. Allen (FM), Sgt. Michael P. Misiewicz (MT) and Capt. Rodger W. Althoff (Doctor), medevacked Mrs. Jean Wallace, a dependent wife, after she collapsed at U-Tapao’ s front gate, to a Bangkok hospital. "Rescue Review" magazine, March 1975, courtesy of Jim Cleer & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1975 - January 21 | A HH-3E from the 31st ARRS at Clark AB, PI, crewed by unkn (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE), TSgt Jon Young (PJ) and A1C Kim Gregory aided in the rescue of 2nd Lt. Joseph S. Owen. 2nd Lt. Owen had been involved in a motorcycle accident. The two PJs had parachuted from a C-130 to Lt. Owen’s location and prepared him to be picked up by the HH-3E. After the C-130 had dropped the two PJ’s, it proceeded to the closest airstrip at Laoag, where the crew waited for the injured lieutenant. The helicopter then picked up Lt. Owen and transported him to Laoag and the C-130. By flying him by C-130 instead of by the HH-3E over 45 minutes was saved in getting Lt. Owen to the Clark AB, hospital. Lt. Owen’s had a leg amputated do to it being severed in the motorcycle accident. Pacific Stars & Stripes, Saturday, Jan. 25, 1975 |
| 1975 - January 24 | CH-53C #70-1628 (Call sign "Knife 07") of the 21st SOS and crewed by Capt. Gary C. Hall (P), Capt. Bryan A. Rye (CP), SSgt. James K. Hurley (FE) and Sgt. Garry W. Hermanson (MX) was lost when it suffered a rotor head failure and crashed 50 miles southwest of Nakhon Phanom RTAFB, Thailand [17.04N, 104.29E] while on a Functional Check Flight at Nakhon Phanom RTAFB, Thailand. The entire crew was killed in the crash. http://www.jollygreen.org/jltnc.html |
| 1975 - January 24 | A HH-43F (Call sign "Pedro 03") from Det. 12, 40th ARRS at U-Tapao RTAFB, Thailand, crewed by Capt. Russell J. Spahr (P), 2nd Lt. Kenneth H. Charfauros (CP), Sgt. John M. Coiro (FM), TSgt. Ronald K. Allen (MT) and Capt. Louis Royal (Doctor), medevacked Baby Bettis in Thailand. No other details are known at this time. "Rescue Review" magazine, March 1975, courtesy of Jim Cleer & "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1975 - January 29 | A HH-43F #64-1759 (Call sign "Pedro 34") from Det. 5, 40th ARRS, crewed by 1st. Lt. Stephen Pendzola (P), 1st Lt. Jon B. Gillon (CP) SSgt. Robert C. Durgdorf (FM), Maj. Mark A. Gittleman (FS) and A1C Richard L. Dean (MT) medevacked USAF Capt. Alex P. Marvo in Thailand. The captain had been in an automobile accident near Khon Kaen and was admitted to the local hospital for emergency treatment after his pickup and return to Udorn RTAFB, he was airlifted to the hospital at Clark AB, RP. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form & Pacific Stars & Stripes, Sunday, Feb. 9, 1975, pg. 7 |
| 1975 - February 11 | An USAF helicopter from the 33rd ARRS at Kadena AB, Okinawa, crewed by unkn (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE), unkn (PJ) and unkn (PJ) airlifted Luis Maria Redondo Bilbao, a seaman from the Spanish vessel “Esso Spain” from the ship located about 540 miles southwest of Naha. The seaman was suffering convulsions, breathing problems and blackouts was delivered to Naha’s Seventh Day Adventist Hospital where he was reported resting comfortably two days later. Pacific Stars & Stripes, Friday, Feb. 14, 1975 |
| 1975 - February 19 | An USAF helicopter from the 1550th Aircrew and Test Wing at Hill AFB, UT, crewed by Capt. David Wammer (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE), Mike Morris (PJ) and Richard Goodlett (PJ), rescued three frostbitten boys, Michael Taylor, and brothers Michael and Marvin Darger, who had been snowbound for three days in the mountains southwest of Richfield. The Salt Lake Tribune, Thursday, Feb 20, 1975, pg. A15 |
| 1975 - February 20 | Two HH-43F “Pedro” helicopters of the 40th ARRS at Nakhon Phanom RTAB (NKP), Thailand, one crewed by Maj. Curtis K. Bayer (P), Capt. Ronald H. White (CP), Sgt. James R. Gillettre (FE) and the other crewed by 1st Lt. Brain D. Roesch (P), 2nd Lt. Michael R. Wetzel (CP) and SSgt. Lawrence Rosen (FE) flew their last mission from NKP as they transferred their two helicopters to Det. 5, 40th ARRS at Udorn RTAFB, Thailand. Pacific Stars & Stripes Tuesday, March 18, 1975 |
| 1975 - March 18 | UH-1F #65-7920 was written off at F. E. Warren AFB, WY. The helicopter crashed on an FCF flight and was destroyed by fire. The crew survived the crash. No other details are available currently. http://www.helis.com/database/accidents/?org=133&f2mod=545 |
| 1975 - April 12 | Nine CH-53C's of the 21st SOS and two HH-53C's Call signs (Jolly Green’s 11 & 12”) of the 40th ARRS launched from Ubon RTAFB, Thailand to participate in the complete evacuation of all Americans and selected allied personnel from Phnom Penh, Cambodia (Operation “Eagle Pull”). The two HH-53C's carried and inserted combat control teams, with the nine CH-3C's holding north of the city. All the evacuees were taken out by USMC CH-53's and CH-46's so the 21st CH-53C's and the 40th HH-53C's (after picking up the combat control team) returned to Ubon. "On a Steel Horse I Ride" by Darrel D. Whitcomb |
| 1975 - April 19 | Eight CH-53C's of the 21st SOS and seven HH-53's of the 40th ARRS from Nakhon Phanom RTAFB, Thailand deployed to U-Tapao RTAFB, Thailand as preparations for Operation Frequent Wind (the evacuation of Americans and others from Vietnam. "On a Steel Horse I Ride" by Darrel D. Whitcomb |
| 1975 - April 20 | Six CH-53C's of the 21st SOS and four HH-53C's of the 40th ARRS departed U-Tapao RTAFB, Thailand and flew to the USS Midway, located in the South China Sea, 50 miles SE of Saigon, as preparations for Operation Frequent Wind (the evacuation of Americans and others from Vietnam). "On a Steel Horse I Ride" by Darrel D. Whitcomb |
| 1975 - April 29 | Two HH-53C's from the 40th ARRS at Nakhon Phanom RTAFB, Thailand, one crewed by 1st Lt. D. Backlund (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE), unkn (PJ) and unkn (PJ), the other crewed by unkn (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE), unkn (PJ) and unkn (PJ), rescued USMC Cpl. Paul Cantu, with a broken back, off a USN ship in the Gulf of Thailand. The two crews made the 2,000-mile round trip with no difficulties. No other details are available currently. "On a Steel Horse I Ride" by Darrel D. Whitcomb & JRCC Save Form |
| 1975 - April 29 - 30 | About 3 p.m. on the afternoon of the 29th, the collected CH-53C's, HH-53C's and CH-46's on the USS Midway took off in a coordinated fashion to begin (Operation Frequent Wind) the evacuation of Saigon. For the next 13 ½ hours, they shuttled back and forth form the ship to several landing zones in Saigon. "On a Steel Horse I Ride" by Darrel D. Whitcomb |
| 1975 - May 01 | A HH-3E from McClellan AFB, CA. crewed by unkn (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE), A1C James Reszel (PJ), unkn (PJ) and unkn (PJ) rescued, by hoist, a seriously injured Russian seaman, Victor Sidorenko, from the Russian fishing trawler Katingli, about 300 miles off the coast of Mendocino County in Northern California. Sidorenko was delivered to the Veterans Administration hospital in San Francisco where he was recovering from a compound skull fracture, a possible spine fracture, a broken leg and a shifted windpipe injuries suffered in a fall on his ship. Pacific Stars & Stripes, May 06, 1975, pg. 09 |
| 1975 - May 02 | The CH-53C's and HH-53C's of the 21st SOS and 40th ARRS departed the USS Midway and returned to U-Tapao RTAFB, Thailand. "On a Steel Horse I Ride" by Darrel D. Whitcomb |
| 1975 - May 02 - 06 | The CH-53C's and crews of the 21st SOS spent five days sling loading South Vietnamese aircraft that had been flown to U-Tapao RTAFB, Thailand during the evacuation of Saigon. They sling loaded 27 A-37 and 14 F-5 aircraft from the base to the USS Midway for shipment to the United States. On May 06, 1975, the CH-53C's of the 21st SOS returned to Nakhon Phanom RTAFB, Thailand. "On a Steel Horse I Ride" by Darrel D. Whitcomb |
| 1975 - May 13 | CH-53C #68-10933 (Call sign "Knife 13") of the 21st SOS and crewed by Capt. James G. Kayes (P), 1st Lt. Laurence E. Froehlich (CP), Sgt. Robert P. Weldon (FE), TSgt. George E. McMullen III (FE) and SSgt. Paul J. Raber (CC), carrying 18 USAF Security Police (SP's) onboard to assist in "The Mayaguez Incident" recovery effort crashed and was destroyed 40 miles west of Nakhon Phanom RTAFB, Thailand. All of the crew and all 18 passengers were killed in the crash. Names of the SP's killed in the crash are; Sgt. Jimmy P. Black, Sgt. Bobby G. Collums, SSgt. Gerald A. Coyle, Sgt. Thomas D. Dwyer, Sgt. Bob W. Ford, Sgt. Gerald W. Fritz, TSgt. Jackie D. Glenn, Sgt. Darrell L. Hamlin, Sgt. Gregory L. Hankamer, Sgt. David A. Higgs, SSgt. Faleagafula Ilaoa, Sgt. Michael D. Lane, Sgt. Dennis W. London, A1C Robert P. Mathias, Sgt. William R. McKelvey, Amn Edgar C. Moran II, A1C Tommy R. Nealis, Sgt. Robert W. Ross. http://www.jollygreen.org/jltnc.htm |
| 1975 - May 15 | CH-53C #68-10926 (Call sign “Knife 21”) of the 21st SOS and crewed by Capt. John H. Denham (P), 1st Lt. Karl W. Poulsen (CP), TSgt. Robert A. Boissonnault (FE) and SSgt. Elwood E. Rumbaugh (FE) was lost during "The Mayaguez Incident" during a troop assault landing on the West Beach of Koh Tang Island, Cambodia. The helicopter was hit by ground fire and crashed at sea about a mile off the beach. Denham, Poulsen and Boissonnault were rescued. Rumbaugh was KIA. This aircraft and CH-53C's #68-10925 (Call sign “Knife 31”), and #68-10927 (Call sign “Knife 23”) and #70-1627 were the last aircraft lost in the Vietnam War. http://www.jollygreen.org/jltnc.html |
| 1975 - May 15 | CH-53C #68-10928 (Call sign “Knife 22”) of the 21st SOS and crewed by Capt. Terry D. Ohlemeier (P), 2nd Lt. David W. Greer (CP), SSgt. Michael C. Wilson (FE) and Sgt. Norman A. Paul (FE) was hit by ground fire during "The Mayaguez Incident" while attempting a troop assault landing on the West Beach of Koh Tang Island, Cambodia. The helicopter made it back to the mainland of Thailand where it was later recovered. This aircraft and CH-53C's #68-10925 (Call sign “Knife 31”), #68-10926 (Call sign “Knife 21”) and #68-10927 (Call sign “Knife 23”) were the last aircraft lost in the Vietnam War. http://www.jollygreen.org/jltnc.html |
| 1975 - May 15 | CH-53C #70-1627 (Call sign “Knife 23”) of the 21st SOS and crewed by 1st Lt. John H. Schramm (P), 1st Lt. John P. Lucas (CP), SSgt. Ronald A. Gross (FE), A1C Eduardo E. Arrieta (FE) and SSgt. James M. Barschow (Photographer) was lost during "The Mayaguez Incident" while attempting a troop assault landing on the East Beach of Koh Tang Island, Cambodia. The entire crew was later rescued. This aircraft and CH-53C's #68-10925 (Call sign “Knife 31”), and #68-10926 (Call sign “Knife 21”) were the last aircraft lost in the Vietnam War. http://www.jollygreen.org/jltnc.html |
| 1975 - May 15 | CH-53C #68-10925 (Call sign "Knife 31") of the 21st SOS and crewed by Maj. Howard A. Corson, Jr. (P), 2nd Lt. Richard Vandergeer (CP), SSgt. Jon D Harston (FE) and SSgt. Randy L. Hoffmaster (FE) was lost during "The Mayaguez Incident" while attempting a troop assault landing on the East Beach of Koh Tang Island, Cambodia. Corson, Harston, Hoffmaster and ten troops survived and were rescued. Vandegeer & twelve troops were KIA. SSgt. Jon D. Harston was awarded the Air Force Cross for his actions on this mission. This aircraft and CH-53C’s 70-1627 (Call sign “Knife 23”) and #68-10926 (Call sign “Knife 21”) were the last aircraft lost in the Vietnam War. http://www.jollygreen.org/jltnc.htm & http://www.veterantributes.org/TributeDetail.php?recordID=1694 |
| 1975 - May 15 | A HH-53C 68-10364 (Call sign “Jolly Green 11”) from the 40th ARRS, crewed by 1st Lt. Donald R. Backlund (P), 1st Lt. Gary Weikel (CP), SSgt. Harry H. Cash (FE), MSgt. John J. Eldridge (PJ), SSgt. Joseph S. "Stu" Stanaland (PJ), A1C Brad E. Max (PJ) and 1st Lt. Ronald T. Rand (AP) landed U.S. Marines on the USS Holt, and on Koh Tang Island during the SS Mayaguez crew recovery operation. 1st Lt. Backlund was awarded the Air Force Cross for his actions during this mission. No other details are known at this time. http://valor.militarytimes.com/about.php |
| 1975 - May 15 | A HH-53C 69-5793 (Call sign “Jolly Green 12”) from the 40th ARRS, crewed by Capt. Paul Jacobs Jr. (P), Capt. Martin A. "Marty" Nickerson (CP), SSgt. Kaiser (FE), MSgt. David L. "Dave" Gray (PJ) and Sgt. Wayne Cook (PJ) were involved in the SS Mayaguez crew recovery operation on the morning of 15 May 1975. No other details are known at this time. http://valor.militarytimes.com/about.php |
| 1975 - May 15 | A HH-53C 69-5794 (Call sign “Jolly Green 13”) from the 40th ARRS, crewed by 1st Lt. Chuck Greer (P), 1st Lt. Charlie Brown (CP), SSgt. King (FE), SSgt. Mark Froehlich (PJ), Sgt. Ronald A. "Ron" Lundrigan (PJ) and Sgt. Steven "Steve" Lemminn (PJ) were involved in the SS Mayaguez crew recovery operation. http://valor.militarytimes.com/about.php |
| 1975 - May 15 | A HH-53C 69-5795 (Call sign “Jolly Green 41”) from the 40th ARRS, crewed by 1st Lt. Tom Cooper (P), 1st Lt. Dave Keith (CP), TSgt. Little (FE), SSgt. Jeffery A. "Jeff" Donovan (FE), Sgt. Thomas E. "Tom" Beranek (PJ) and A1C John Ferris (PJ) were involved in the SS Mayaguez crew recovery operation. http://valor.militarytimes.com/about.php |
| 1975 - May 15 | A HH-53C 69-5785 (Call sign “Jolly Green 42”) from the 40th ARRS, crewed by 1st Lt. Phil Pacini (P), Capt. Bob Dube (CP), TSgt. Straughn Jr. (FE), SSgt. Martin M. Jablonski (FE), Sgt. Michael A. "Mike" Brown (PJ) and A1C Lewis L. Dunham III (PJ) were involved in the SS Mayaguez crew recovery operation. http://valor.militarytimes.com/about.php |
| 1975 - May 15 | A HH-53C 69-5792 (Call sign “Jolly Green 43”) from the 40th ARRS, crewed by Capt. Wayne Purser (P), 1st Lt. Bob Gradle (CP), TSgt. Bill Willingham (FE), TSgt. Peter S. "Pete" Harding (PJ), Sgt. Thomas Bateson (PJ) and A1C Dennis McKiver (PJ) were involved in the SS Mayaguez crew recovery operation. http://valor.militarytimes.com/about.php |
| 1975 - May 15 | A HH-53C 69-5784 (Call sign “Jolly Green 44”) from the 40th ARRS, crewed by 1st Lt. Robert "Bob" Blough (P), 1st Lt. Hank Mason (CP), SSgt. Robert G. Bounds (FE), SSgt. Jim Howell (FE), Sgt. Bruce M. Daly (PJ) and A1C David "Dave" Ash (PJ) were involved in the SS Mayaguez crew recovery operation. http://valor.militarytimes.com/about.php |
| 1975 - May 15 | A HH-53C 69-5793 (Call sign “Jolly Green 12”) from the 40th ARRS, crewed by Capt. Barry R. Walls (P), 2nd Lt. Richard Comer (CP), SSgt. Jesse DeJesus (FE), TSgt. Dave Patterson (PJ) and A1C Fredrick H. Rheinheardt (PJ) were involved in the SS Mayaguez crew recovery operation in the afternoon of 15 May 1975. No other details are known at this time. http://valor.militarytimes.com/about.php |
| 1975 - June 06 | A HH-3E helicopter from Det. 5, 39th ARRWg. at Tyndall AFB, Fl., crewed by Capt. Ray Bouodreaux (P), Capt. David Kramer (CP), SSgt. Tommy Brown (FE), SMSgt. Alex Hudnall (PJ) and Capt. Tom Brown (FS) rescued an F-106 fighter jet pilot, Capt. Stephen R. Damer, from the 2nd FITSq. after he had ejected from his disabled fighter, and he had landed in the bay between the st. Joseph State Park and the mainland. News Herald, Panama City, FL., Saturday, Jun 07, 1975, pg. 01 |
| 1975 - June 17 | T/UH-1F's of Det. 5, 37th ARRS at Malmstrom AFB, MT., saved 131 flood victims during a flood in a 13-county area of Montana. http://www.afsoc.af.mil/shared/media/document/AFD-070906-042.pdf |
| 1975 - June 17 | Det. 6, 37th ARRS at McConnell AFB, KS., transported 36 persons to safety near Peck, KS., during a flood along the Ninnescah River. http://www.afsoc.af.mil/shared/media/document/AFD-070906-042.pdf |
| 1975 - July 03 | A HH-43F (Call sign "Pedro ?") from Det. 12, 40th ARRS, U-Tapao RTAFB, Thailand, crewed by Capt. Russell J. Spahr (P), unkn (CP) and unkn (FM), medevacked civilian Mrs. S. Hannah in Thailand. No other details are known at this time. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form |
| 1975 - July 07 | A USAF helicopter from Tyndall AFB, FL crewed by unkn (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ) rescued the crew, Lt. Col. Richard Lawyer (P) and Maj. Ronald Hagar (CP) from a Kirtland AFB, NM F-4 fighter that crashed in a swampy area about 40 miles southeast of Tallahassee, FL. After they were picked up, they were taken to Moody AFB, GA. Playground Daily News, Tuesday, Jul 08, 1975, pg. 1 |
| 1975 - July 08 | A HH-43F (Call sign "Pedro ?") from Det. 12, 40th ARRS, U-Tapao RTAFB, Thailand, crewed by Capt. Kevin Clatanoff (P), unkn (CP) and unkn (FM), medevacked USAF Sgt. H. Booker in Thailand. No other details are known at this time. "PJs in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
| 1975 - July 24 | A USAF rescue helicopter from Plattsburg AFB, NY, crewed by unkn (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (MT) picked up a 13-year-old New Rochelle boy, Kenneth Handelman, who was suffering a hip injury in a fall against a rock from between Algonquin and Boundary Peaks and delivered him to the Placid Memorial Hospital for treatment. Adirondack Daily Enterprise, Saranac Lake, NY, pg. 2 |
| 1975 - August 07 | A HH-3E from the 33rd ARRS at Kadena AB, Okinawa, crewed by 2nd Lt. George Caldwell (P), 1st Lt. Dan Arnett (CP), SSgt. Larry Morgan (FE) and A1C Neil Schaefer (PJ), a 19-year-old sailor, suffering from a suspected bleeding ulcer, from the deck of the guided missile frigate Ramsey 55 miles at sea west of Okinawa. Pacific Stars & Stripes, Aug. 09, 1975, pg. 29 |
| 1975 - August 13 | A HH-43F (Call sign "Pedro ?") from Det. 12, 40th ARRS, U-Tapao RTAFB, Thailand, crewed by Maj. Glen T. Passey (P), unkn (CP) and unkn (FM), medevacked Baby Haiphitan in Thailand. No other details are known at this time. "PJ's in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form |
| 1975 - August 22 | A rescue helicopter crewed by unkn (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (MT) rescued Capt. Theodore N. Kraemer and F-106 Fighter pilot from the 49th FIS at Griffiss AFB, NY, after he safely ejected from his crashing aircraft, near Colton, NY. After he was picked up, he was flown to Plattsburgh AFB, NY. Pacific Stars & Stripes, Aug 25, 1975, pg. 6 |
| 1975 - August 31 | Det. 12, 40th ARRS at U-Tapao RTNAF, Thailand, completed its conversion from the HH-43F's to the Bell UH-1N helicopter. https://www.ragay.nl/kaman-h-43-huskie/h-43-usaf-units-conus |
| 1975 - September 18 | HH-53B #66-14433 was converted and rolled out as the prototype HH-53H on this date. No other details are available currently. http://www.mh-53pavelow.com/documents/airframes/notable_h53_history.pdf |
| 1975 - September 20 | The FINAL operational flight of a USAF "Huskie" was made on this date by HH-43F 64-17559 assigned to Det. 5, 40th ARRS at Udorn RTAFB, Thailand, flown by Capt. Frederik M. Bergold. Det. 5, 40th ARRS was deactivated on 30 September 1975. https://www.ragay.nl/kaman-h-43-huskie/h-43-usaf-units-conus |
| 1975 - September 22 | The21st SOS was deactivated at U-Tapao RTNAF, Thailand. The 21st SOS History Document |
| 1975 - September 23 | The 21st SOS at Nakhon Phanom RTAFB, Thailand was deactivated, with most of its aircrews and helicopter being transferred to the 601st TASS in Germany, with a few going to Hurlburt Field, FL. and a few other locations. "On a Steel Horse I Ride" by Darrel D. Whitcomb |
| 1975 - September 26 | CH-53C #70-1632 of the 601st TASS crewed by Capt. John Clifford "Cliff" Merrill (P), 1st Lt. Frederick S. Kerry (CP), SSgt. Larry R. Leaming (FE) and SSgt Jeffrey A. Dawson (FE) crashed near the town of Gutersloh, Germany, when it suffered dual engine failure due to ice ingestion, autorotation attempted too late. The crew of four and 12 passengers, Lt. Col. Robert Waldbillig, Maj. Hank L. Donaldson, Capt. Frank J. Sindoni Jr., Capt. Paul L. Hoke, Capt. John H. Dinneen Jr., SMSgt. Ronald C. Elder, MSgt. James H. Elliot, TSgt. Darold G. Tentico, SSgt. Horrace A. Weaver Jr., A1C David Kenneth Russell, Air Force civilian James C. Driscoll and Air Force civilian Johannes H. Browns were killed in this accident. No other details are available currently. "On a Steel Horse I Ride" by Darrel D. Whitcomb |
| 1975 - September 30 | Det. 5, 40th ARRS at Udorn RTAFB, Thailand, flying HH-43F's, Commanded by Maj. Fredrik M. Bergold, was deactivated on 30 September 1975. https://www.ragay.nl/kaman-h-43-huskie/h-43-usaf-units-conus |
| 1975 - November 08 | A USAF helicopter from Mountain Home AFB, ID, crewed by unkn (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (MT), rescued the two-man crew, Capt. Eddie Ortego (P) and 1st Lt. Richard Lewis (CP) who had ejected from their F-111F aircraft before it crashed about 16 miles east of Mountain Home AFB. Las Vegas Sun, Sunday, November 09, 1975, pg. 8 |
| 1975 - November 30 | Five CH-53C's #70-1625, #70-1626, #68-10927, #68-10928 and #68-10930 arrived at Wiesbaden AB, Germany during October and November 1975. After being uncrated and reassembled, which took several months, the helicopters were released to the 601st TASS. http://mobileradar.org/Documents/601st_tcw_history_pt_2.pdf |
| 1975 - December 02 | A HH-3E from Det. 1, 41st ARRS at Clark AB, RP, crewed by 1st Lt. Ronald Fagan (P), 1st Lt. Laurence Jones (CP), TSgt. John Petterson (FE), MSgt. Herbert Key (PJ) and Sgt. Luther Martinez (PJ) rescued a pilot and three passengers of a Philippine light plane after the crashed in mountainous northern Luzone and had been stranded for six days. Rescued were Honorio Composgrado (P) and passengers Venancio Cawilan, Rodolpho Cawilan and his nine-year-old son Rudolopho Jr. Pacific Stars & Stripes, Friday, Dec. 5, 1975 |
| 1975 - December 31 | A HH-1H from Portland AFB, WA, crewed by Capt. Fred Stovell (P), Capt. Doug Smith (CP), Sgt. Patrick Riggs (FE), crashed, after suffering and engine failure, on a sandbar on the banks of the Columbia River, about 22 miles west of Stevenson. The helicopter was medevacking Travis McGraw, a premature 16-days old baby, and carrying Dr. Raoul Bengali (Doctor) and John Silbernagle (Nurse). No one was seriously injured. Longview Daily News (Longview, Washington) – 1 Jan 1975, Wed, Page 11 |
| 1976 - January 01 | The 20th Helicopter Sq. was reactivated at Hurlburt Field, FL. The mission remained unconventional warfare/special operations using UH-1N gunships and CH-3E's. http://www.mh53pavelow.com/documents.20thSOS/history2.pdf & https://usafhpa.org/20hornets76to90/newpage/76to90.html |
| 1976 - January 07 | A HH-3E from Det. 1, 41st Rescue Weather Reconn. Wg., at Clark AB, crewed by Capt. Wayne M. King (P), Capt. Ronald J. Fagan (CP), Sgt. Michael M. Stoyle (FE), Sgt. John H. Young (PJ) and A1C William E. Ebly (PJ) rescued four fliers ejected from their F-4 Phantom jets collided in the air and crashed into the sea west of Luzone Island. The F-4 crewmen assigned to the 90th Tactical Fighter Sq. at Clark AB were Capt. Thomas R. Brady (P), 2nd Lt. Charles T. Bradley (WO), 1st Lt. Frederick C. Richardson (P) and 1st Lt. Robert M. Feeley (WO) were all rescued in good condition. Pacific Stars & Stripes, Jan 09, 1976, pg. 26 |
| 1976 - January 31 | The 3rd Air Rescue and Recovery Group lowered its flag on this date and Nakhon Phanom Royal Thai Air Force Base (NKP) was returned to the Thai government. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nakhon_Phanom_Royal_Thai_Navy_Base |
| 1976 - March 15 | The 1550th ATTWg. officially relocated from Hill AFB, UT. To Kirtland AFB, NM on this date. https://www.hill.af.mil/News/Article-Display/Article/2184533/hill-afb-and-the-1550th-aircrew-training-and-test-wing/fbclid/IwAR00rkY8zmx1IWCl5FY28vSFAhAhUt2IFg3Diozw-eOS4obM42p72J2jc08/fbclid/IwAR0uwD8Y_liyVcPLXd-yGa7eHUzk5u4IJ9CJiDZheqxs45BNeUATajaFOcQ/ |
| 1976 - March 17 | CH-53C #68-10927 of the 601st TASS at Sembach AB, Germany, crewed by Capt. John G. Pirouette (P), Capt. William H. George (IP), Sgt. Ronald G. Bridges (FM), Sgt. Richard D. Seaman (FE), rolled over and crashed inverted from a hover due to primary servo bolt breakage. All four crewmembers on board were killed. "On a Steel Horse I Ride" by Darrel D. Whitcomb & Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund |
| 1976 - June 05 - 06 | Two UH-1's from the 37th ARRS at Hill AFB, UT and two UH-1's from the 48th ARRS at Mountain Home AFB, ID., began search and rescue operation after the new Teton Dam—a huge earthen structure 310 feet high and 2,500 feet long on the Teton River in southeastern Idaho—collapsed around noon on June 5th. A 15-foot wall of water, carrying four million cubic yards of dirt and rock from the dam, descended on the towns of Rexburg, Sugar City, and Teton. Seven communities, with a total population of 30,000, evacuated their homes as the flood engulfed 35 miles of the Teton and upper Snake River valleys. Millions of gallons of muddy water swept cars and mobile homes downstream. The disaster left 11 people dead and destroyed $500 million in property. Governor Cecil Andrus closed roads north of Idaho Falls and declared a state of emergency, and Senator Frank Church wired President Ford for federal assistance on June 5. The president declared the region a major disaster area the next day. Within hours of the dam’s collapse on June 5, the Air Force responded to appeals for helicopter support from the Booneville County Sheriff’s Office. Det. 10 of the 37th ARRS at Hill AFB, Utah, used two UH–1 helicopters to fly 33 search and rescue sorties over the flooded region the same day. Meanwhile, the 48th ARRS's Det. 22 from Mountain Home AFB, ID., also used two UH–1 helicopters to fly 24 sorties in the disaster area. The four helicopters picked up flood victims stranded on high ground or rooftops and shuttled relief workers, medical personnel, and law enforcement officials along the Teton River valley. On June 5, the 41st ARRS at McClellan AFB, California, sent an HC–130 to fly over the flood area to provide radio communications for rescue workers on the ground and in the helicopters. The aircraft also searched for victims as it circled the inundated valley. Fortunately, the water receded rapidly, and communities began drying out as early as June 6. The United States Air Force and Humanitarian Airlift Operations 1947–1994 by Daniel L. Haulman Air Force Historical Research Agency Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama |
| 1976 - July 01 | Today in post-sea history, SAC transfers its drone reconnaissance program at Davis Monthan AFB to TAC: All drones, six DC-130s and 7 CH-3E recovery helicopters. (Citation: AFHS) |
| 1976 - September 21 | A HH-3E from Det. 1, 41st Rescue Weather Reconnaissance Wg., Clark AB, PI, crewed by Capt. Ronald Dietz (P), 1st Lt. Scott Petersen (CP), TSgt. Harold Barber (FE), SSgt. Ken Musnicki (PJ), Sgt. Bill Eby (PJ) and Maj. Earl Yunes (FS) saved the life of a 51-year-old Japanese seaman, injured in an engine room explosion, by airlifting him to Manila from the Norwegian freighter, The Tarantel, located almost 290 miles southeast of Clark AB, near the San Bernardino Straits. The helicopter had to be refueled twice by a HC-130 Hercules tanker from the 33rd ARRS at Kadena AB, Japan. Pacific Stars and Stripes, Sep 25, 1976, pg. 11 |
| 1976 - October 01 | CH-53C #68-10932 arrived for assignment with the 601st TASS in Germany. http://mobileradar.org/Documents/601st_tcw_history_pt_2.pdf |
| 1977 - January 14 | An HH-53C aircrew from the 55th ARRS and an HH-3E aircrew from Det. 5, 39th ARRWg., saved 32 U.S. Army Rangers who were unexpectedly caught in cold rainy swamps during an exercise near Eglin AFB, FL. http://www.afsoc.af.mil/shared/media/document/AFD-070906-042.pdf |
| 1977 - March 11 - 15 | H-1 aircrews from Det. 3, 37th ARRS, at Grand Forks AFB, SD., saved 13 persons trapped during a blizzard in South Dakota. http://www.afsoc.af.mil/shared/media/document/AFD-070906-042.pdf |
| 1977 - April 25 | A UH-1N from the 20th SOS at Hurlburt Field, FL., crewed by unkn (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and SSgt. James T. Carter diverted from a training mission over the Eglin Range to rescue the downed crew from an F-4 crew from near the burning wreckage of the F-4. The recovery was accomplished despite exploding ordnance from the F-4's burning wreckage. SSgt. James T. Carter won the Cheney Award for his part in the rescue. http://www.wikiwand.com/en/List_of_aircraft_accidents_at_Eglin_Air_Force_Base#/1970s |
| 1977 - June 24 | HH-53C #68-10368 of the 67th ARRS at RAF Woodbridge, UK settled with power and crashed near Stuttgart, Germany, during a hurried approach to a U.S. Army Air Base. All 14 aboard were injured but survived. "On a Steel Horse I Ride" by Darrel D. Whitcomb |
| 1977 - July 15 | A HH-53C from Det. 13, 33rd ARRS at Osan AB, Korea, crewed by Capt. Morris Miller (P), 2nd Lt. Donald Laraway (CP), SSgt. Phillip LeDoux (FE) and TSgt. Trelawny Bruce (PJ) rescued four down Korean Navy airmen after their plane crashed in the Sea of Japan. After picking up the four airmen, who were suffering from exposure they were flown to Taegu AB where they were hospitalized for treatment. Pacific Stars & Stripes, Oct 07, 1977, pg. 13 |
| 1977 - July 17 | Twentynine Palms, Calif. (UPI) - Air Force helicopter crewman SSgt. Martin D. Magee, Chillicothe, Ill., was killed Sunday in a helicopter accident, the Air Force said Monday. Magee jumped from the craft because the pilot declared an emergency. His chute failed to open. The helicopter, with a crew of six, was participating in a training exercise in the California desert. Two of the men parachuted on the pilot's order. Airman 1C John Greschel, Fairdale, KY., suffered a broken ankle. After the two men had jumped, the pilot overcame the mechanical difficulty and landed the helicopter safely. Galesburg Register-Mail (Galesburg, IL.) Tue, Jul 19, 1997, page 3 |
| 1977 - August 01 | A HH-3E #67-14722 from Det. 1, 33rd ARRS, Clark AB, PI, crewed by Capt. Ronald E. Dietz (P), 1st Lt. Dennis P. Brooks (CP), SSgt. Michael M. Stoyle (FE), SrA Michael P. Perron (PJ) A1C Gary F. Noel (PJ) and Lt. Col. Robert Buttemiller (Dr.) airlifted a 21-year-old Filipino with stab wounds from San Jose, Mindoro Island to Nichols AB in Manila. Pacific Stars & Stripes, Aug 23, 1977, pg. 12 |
| 1977 - August 03 | The 71st ARRS at Elmendorf AFB, AK., participated in the rescue of 17 persons from the Skookum Glacier in Alaska. http://www.afsoc.af.mil/shared/media/document/AFD-070906-042.pdf |
| 1977 – September 12 | A HH-3E from Keflavik Iceland, crewed by unkn (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE), unkn (PJ) rescued the balloon “Double Eagle” crew, Maxie Anderson & Ben Abruzzo, from the Isafjardardjup inlet of the Denmark Strait 17 miles from shore where it had gone down after encountering bad weather. The two balloonists were attempting to be the first to cross the Atlantic in a balloon when they were forced down. The News (Pateerson, New Jersey) 13 Sep 1977, Tue, page 15 |
| 1977 - October 24 | Two helicopters from the 304th ARRS, crews unkn, were sent from Portland, OR. Sunday night in an attempt to rescue a deer hunter who suffered a broken leg earlier in the day. The man was not identified, was injured in a fall about two miles north of Spirit Lake Lodge. The spokesman said the man would be taken to St. John’s Hospital in Kelso, WA. Kitsap Sun (Bremerton, Washington), 24 Oct 1977, Mon, pg. 19 |
| 1977 - November 01 | A HH-1H from the 304th ARS at Portland IAP, crewed by Capt. Jack Kaseburg (P), Capt. John Basic (CP), TSgt. Bob McCreery (FE), TSgt. Greg McDonald (PJ), TSgt. Mike Cooney (PJ) and SSgt. Richard Eselgroth (PJ) rescued two Longview teenage girls, 17-year-old Mary Darret and 19-year-old Donna Young, by hoist, from the raging torrent of the Toutle River at 12:25 am. The two girls had been rafting on the river and got pitched out and had been stranded, hanging onto a rock in the middle of the river, since 6:00 pm on October 31, 1977. This rescue was not only accomplished at night, under the light of a large illumination lamp called "midnight sun" provided by a USCG H-3 helicopter but was in a river canyon with 30-degree slope on one side and 125-foot trees on the other side. SSgt. Eselgroth was lowered by hoist to the small target of the rock, where he was able to calm things down for the teens and prepare them to be hoisted to safety. For his actions during this mission SSgt. Eselgroth (PJ) was awarded a peace time Distinguished Flying Cross. http://projexts.militarytimes.com/citations-medals-awards/recipient,php?recipientid=42778 & newspaper clipping provided by Felix McLarney |
| 1977 - November 29 | A HH-53B from Kirtland AFB, NM., crewed by Maj. Donald Backlund (P), Flight Lt. Chalmers (CP) (Flt. Lt. Chalmers was an Australian exchange pilot), MSgt. Eugune Cothran (FE), MSgt. Kraft (PJ) and Sgt. Hicks (PJ) rescued six survivors of a twin-engine civilian Cessna 140 aircraft that had crashed on 27 November 1977, at the 11,800-foot level crash site in a snow-covered bowl 15 miles west of Aspen on Capitol Mountain in the Aspen-area back-country when it had hit a ridge between Haystack Mountain and Mount Sopris. Killed in the crash was C. B. Cameron, survivors include his wife Jo Carol Cammeron, their son Bill (18), their daughter Lynda (17), family friends Charles Randloph (17), Karen Mills (16) and pilot Terry DePlois (30). Colorado Springs Gazette Telegraph, Wed, Nov 30, 1977, Pages 1 & 4 & Aspen Times website story May 24, 2015 |
| 1977 – December 01 | A HH-53 from the 33rd ARRS at Kadena, crewed by Lt. Cmdr. (USCG) Gerald F. Arens (P), 2nd Lt. Robert F. Wray (CP), SSgt. Dale A. Follis (FE) rescued a U. S. Marine Corps pilot, Capt. John G. Macnutt, who had ejected from his AV-8A Harrier about 21 miles northwest of Kadena. He was hoisted aboard, and he became the 84th person saved in 1977 by members of the 33rd ARRS. Pacific Stars & Stripes, Dec 05, 1977, pg. 12 |
| 1978 - February 04 | A Fairchild AFB UH-1N #69-6643 (Call sign “Save 43”) assigned to Det. 24, 41st ARRS crewed by Capt. Emerson L. Dyer (P), 1st Lt. Gerard G. Hicks (CP), SSgt. Jerry D. Barnes (FM) and SSgt. Steven A. Tyer (PJ), crashed early in the afternoon about 30 miles west of Las Vegas, NV. They were participating in a weeklong search for two missing Air Force 0-2 Skymasters and a missing civilian light aircraft. They were searching in a box canyon when a strong wind downdraft forced them into the side of the canyon causing the crash. The four crewmembers were listed in stable condition on Sunday with Capt. Dyer and SSgt. Barnes at Southern Nevada Memorial Hospital and 1st Lt. Hicks and SSgt. Tyer at the Nellis AFB Hospital. The aircraft was destroyed. Facebook message from Jerry Barnes Oct 31, 2021 & The Spokesman-Review (Spokane, Washington) · 6 Feb 1978, Mon · Page 6 |
| 1978 - March 02 | A HH-53C from the 41st ARRS, McClellan AFB, CA., crewed by unkn (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ) standing alert for the “Red Flag” exercises at Nellis AFB, NV. was scrambled when an Air National Guard F-105 experienced system malfunctions and the two pilots, Capt. Charles T. Fulop (P) and 1st Lt. William A. Stone (CP), ejected approximately 50 miles west/southwest of Nellis AFB. The F-105 pilot was located and recovered (deceased) about an hour and half after the F-105 had crashed and the co-pilot was located and recovered (with injuries) a couple of miles away from the pilot. Air Rescue Associatino Newsletter, Vol. 76, Issue 1, Feb 2024 & Daily Press, Friday, March 3, 1978-Victorville, California |
| 1978 - April 06 | A CH-53C from the 601st TASS in Germany, crewed by unkn (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (FE), was involved in crash recovery efforts for a downed F-4 near Rheinfels, Germany. No other details are known at this time. http://mobileradar.org/Documents/601st_tcw_history_pt_2.pdf |
| 1978 - June 11 - 18 | Three HH-53's, in Operation Volant Vault, flew from Eglin AFB, FL. across the North Atlantic route to RAF Woodbridge, United Kingdom, touching down at Keflavik. Aerial refueling was provided by ARRS HC-130's. http://www.afsoc.af.mil/shared/media/document/AFD-070906-042.pdf |
| 1978 - June 13 | HH-3E #69-5800 of the 102nd RQS (ARRS) New York Air National Guard crewed by Capt. John Sfeir (P), Capt. John Kleven (CP), TSgt. Ralph Tomassone Jr. (FE), MSgt. Allan Snyder (PJ), TSgt. Ronald Allen (PJ), SSgt. Scott Hursh (PJ) and Sgt. David Lambert (PJ) was lost in inclement weather in upstate N.Y. outside of Plattsburgh AFB when it slammed into the side of a fog-shrouded Adirondack mountain. At the time of the loss there were seven personnel on board and all were lost due to the crash. http://www.helis.com/database/accidents/?model=53 & Valley Morning Star (Harlingen, Texas) – Wed, Jun 14, 1978, page 24 |
| 1978 - June 20 | Detachment 13 33rd ARRS, at Osan AB, Korea, saved 20 people from flooding along the Tong Bok Cho River in Korea. http://www.afsoc.af.mil/shared/media/document/AFD-070906-042.pdf |
| 1978 – September 08 | A HH-3E from Det. 1, 33rd ARRS at Clark AB, PI, crewed by 1st Lt. Patrick J. Harrington (P), Capt. Eric W. Bulfinch (CP), SSgt. Richard G. Rodrigo (PJ) and SSgt. Randy H. Styer (PJ) rescued the lone survivor from a Philippine National Bank helicopter that had crashed after takeoff at the 5,000-foot level of Mount Cabayo, five miles west of the Baguio Airport. Pacific Stars & Stripes, Sep 17, 1978, pg. 8 |
| 1978 – September 10 | A HH-3E from Det. 1, 33rd ARRS at Clark AB, PI, crewed by Capt. Timothy Mason (P), 1st Lt. Thomas Kraft (CP), TSgt. Richard Ches (FE), TSgt. Wayne Fisk (PJ) and SrA. Gregory Heyer (PJ) discovered the wreckage of a Philippine Constabulary helicopter that had crashed into a mountainside and fallen into a ravine near Eba, about 36 miles northwest of Clark AB. TSgt. Fisk and SrA. Heyer were lowered to the crash site where they recovered the three bodies from the downed helicopter. Pacific Stars & Stripes, Sep 17, 1978, pg. 8 |
| 1978 - October 23 | The 33rd ARRS assisted in the rescue of 19 persons from a sinking Indonesian lumber vessel offshore from Luzon, Republic of the Philippines. http://www.afsoc.af.mil/shared/media/document/AFD-070906-042.pdf |
| 1978 - November 22 - 29 | Three HH-53C "Jolly Green Giant" helicopters (#73-1649, #73-1651 & #73-1652) of the 55th ARRS airlift 911 bodies from a mass suicide in Jonestown to Georgetown, Guyana. HC-130's refuel the helicopters as they shuttle between the sites. Air Force Magazine |
| 1978 - December 29 | The 304th ARRS, ARRES, assisted in the recovery of 163 survivors of a DC-8 crash near Portland, OR. http://www.afsoc.af.mil/shared/media/document/AFD-070906-042.pdf |
| 1979 - January 03 | A CH-53C #70-1626 from the 601st TASS in Germany, crewed by unkn (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (FE), was the first sent to the Fokker Plant at Speyer, Germany for and analytical condition inspection (ACI). No other details are known at this time. http://mobileradar.org/Documents/601st_tcw_history_pt_2.pdf |
| 1979 - February 26 | HH-53C #69-5787 of the 33rd ARRS at Kadena AB, Japan crewed by Maj. Johnny R. Johnson (P), Capt. Dennis Ray Young (CP), SSgt. Stephen Hodges (FE) and 1st Lt. Tim Miller (P) was lost when the main rotor blades struck the drogue refueling hose, from the HC-130P, during aerial refueling, the tail rotor pylon separated due to severe vibration and the helicopter crashed into the sea. Johnson, Young and Hodges were killed in the crash. Tim Miller was the lone survivor. (Note: This HH-53C was the lead helicopter in the first trans-Pacific helicopter flight in August 1970.) No other details are available currently. https://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/USDemocrat-National/conversations/topics/16570 & "On A Steel Horse I Ride" by Darrel D. Whitcomb |
| 1979 - March 13 | The FIRST production Pave Low III, HH-53H #69-5791 was rolled out of the hanger at Pensacola NAS. FL. "On A Steel Horse I Ride" by Darrel D. Whitcomb |
| 1979 - March 18 | Det. 1, 37th ARRS, Davis-Monthan AFB, AZ, rescued 17 hikers who had been missing in Sabino Canyon, AZ. http://www.afsoc.af.mil/shared/media/document/AFD-070906-042.pdf |
| 1979 - March 30 - 31 | Major James E. McArdle, Jr., and his HH-3E #67-14709 (Call sign "Rescue 09") crew from the 33rd ARRS detachment 13 at Osan AB, South Korea, safely evacuated 28 persons during a nighttime mission from a wrecked Taiwanese ship, Ta Lai, in the Yellow Sea off the west coast of Korea. Major McArdle later received the Mackay Trophy as a result of this mission. http://www.nationalmuseum.af.mil/factsheets/factsheet.asp?id=17539 & Air Force Magazine & http://www.afsoc.af.mil/shared/media/document/AFD-070906-042.pdf |
| 1979 - April 06 | The 305th ARRS, AFRES, saved 11 persons from a distressed vessel in Lake Erie. http://www.afsoc.af.mil/shared/media/document/AFD-070906-042.pdf |
| 1979 - April 16 | Det. 13, 33rd ARRS, Osan AB, Korea, recovered 24 persons from a sinking vessel and delivered them to Kunsan AB, Korea. http://www.afsoc.af.mil/shared/media/document/AFD-070906-042.pdf |
| 1979 - June 18 - August 03 | Nicaraguan Contingency ARRS forces participated in a contingency deployment to Central America in support of possible rescue evacuation mission into Nicaragua. During this operation, they operated from the U.S. Navy ship USS Saipan. After tension eased, the rescue forces redeployed. A total of 233 ARRS personnel were involved, and 636 flying hours were expended. http://www.afsoc.af.mil/shared/media/document/AFD-070906-042.pdf |
| 1979 - July 12 | A UH-1N from Det. 9, 67th ARRS, Zaragoza AB, Spain, aided civil authorities by rescuing, by hoist, three persons from the roof top and one from an upper floor window of the burning Hotel Corona de Aragon in Zaragoza. Two the crewmen, Capt. Kenneth Rees, Jr., and TSgt. John L. Pighini were later awarded the Cheney Award for their actions during this mission. http://www.afsoc.af.mil/shared/media/document/AFD-070906-042.pdf |
| 1979 - August 20 | A CH-3E of the 20th Special Operations Squadron, Hurlburt Field, crewed by Capt. Andrew Fairlie (P), Maj. David Jones (CP), SSgt. Richard Bobo (FE) and SSgt. Douglas Wyman is forced to make an emergency landing in the Choctawhatchee Bay near Eglin AFB after an engine failure and fire. The aircraft is recovered safely and towed back to Eglin for repairs. The towing operation takes six hours. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of _aircraft_at_Eglin_Air_Force_Base |
| 1979 – September 28 & 29 | A HH-3E from Det. 13, 33rd ARRS at Osan AB, Korea, crewed by Capt. Patrick J. Harrington (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE), unkn (PJ) and SSgt. Steven R. Thomson (PJ) battled the winds and waves of Typhoon Owen to save nine South Korean fishermen in the South China Sea when their 60-foot, 30-ton boat lost its engines and began rapidly taking in water about 75 miles south-southwest of Cheju Island. The helicopter hovered, under the light of flares dropped by a ROK plane, for over two hours over the rocking ship as six fishermen were hoisted aboard. These six were taken to Sae Chon AB where the helicopter was refueled and then returned to the sinking ship to rescue the three remaining fishermen and SSgt. Thomson (PJ) (who had remained with the ship) and returned them all to Sae Chon AB. Pacific Stars & Stripes, Oct 04, 1979, pg. 8 |
| 1979 - December 18 | HH-3E #67-14716 of the 67th ARRS near Reykjavik, Iceland, crewed by Capt. Charles Keith Singleton (P), 1Lt. Manuel Fernandez (CP), TSgt. Thomas Berry (FE). While on a second trip to a Cessna crash site to pick up survivors, the aircraft experienced dual compressor stall due to icing at a low altitude resulting in a hard landing. Aircraft was written off. No other details are available at this time. http://www.helis.com/database/accidents/?model=53, Detroit Free Press (Detroit, MI) Fri, Dec 21, 1979, page 93 & 01 Feb 2017 email from Keith Singleton. |
| TIME FRAME | HISTORY |
|---|---|
| 1980 - January 01 | The 701st TASS was inactivated. "On a Steel Horse I Ride" by Darrel D. Whitcomb |
| 1980 - January 11 | A HH-53H, modified as a “Pave Low III” and still in the testing phase, from the 1550th ATTW at Hill AFB, UT., crewed by Capt. Steve Connelly (P), Maj. Barry Walls (CP), MSgt. John Adrian (FE), TSgt. Rick Simmon (FE), SSgt. Mike Brown (PJ) and SSgt. Pat Sinon (PJ) saved the life of a civilian severely injured in the crash of a private aircraft in the Albuquerque, NM., area. This was the first night/adverse weather rescue with the “Pave Low III” helicopter. The weather conditions were a ceiling of 150 feet and visibility of ¼ mile along with nighttime in rugged terrain. Canadian Marconi Company advertisement & WPAFB Skywriter, Base newspaper, February 1980 & The Evening Times (Sayre, Pennsylvania) · 11 Mar 1980, Tue · Page 12 |
| 1980 - January 28 - February 24 | ARRS provided rescue support for the Winter Olympics at Lake Placid, NY. Four UH-1N's flew 150 flying hours and 59 sorties, resulting in five saves. http://www.afsoc.af.mil/shared/media/document/AFD-070906-042.pdf |
| 1980 - February 01 | The 601st TASG gained possession of an additional CH-53C, #70-1630 helicopter that had been reassigned from the 602nd. TACWg. No other details are known at this time. http://mobileradar.org/Documents/601st_tcw_history_pt_2.pdf |
| 1980 - April 14 | Two CH-53's from the 601st TASS, crews’ unkn, were flown from Germany to Torrejon AB, Spain, to aid in the recovery efforts of a downed F-4. No other details are known at this time. http://mobileradar.org/Documents/601st_tcw_history_pt_2.pdf |
| 1980 - May 14 - 17 | In the wake of the unsuccessful U.S. attempt to rescue the hostages in Iran on 24-25 April 1980, the nation's leaders searched for replacement helicopters for use in another joint rapid deployment force in case of future contingency actions They selected the ARRS HH-53H "Pave Low III's that were just becoming operational. Therefore, on 14 May 1980, the USAF Vice Chief of Staff ordered the reassignment of the nine HH-53H's from MAC/ARRS inventory to the 1st SOW of TAC at Hurlburt Field, FL. On May 17th eight of these helicopters were flown from Kirtland AFB, NM, to Hurlburt Field, FL. The ninth HH-53H was under modification at Pensacola NAS, FL. http://www.afsoc.af.mil/shared/media/document/AFD-070906-042.pdf |
| 1980 - May 18 - June 04 | UH-1N helicopters and aircrews from the 304th ARRS initiated a large rescue operation following the volcanic explosion at Mt. St. Helens, WA on 18 May 1980. Later, other ARRS units participated. The AFRCC at Scott AFB, IL, coordinated rescue operations and recorded a total of 101 saves. Of this number, the 304th saved 61 people. In all USAF, Coast Guard, Army and Civil Air Patrol forces worked 17 days and flew 932 hours during 568 missions. http://www.afsoc.af.mil/shared/media/document/AFD-070906-042.pdf |
| 1980 - May 29 | 1Lt. Mary L. Wittick became the FIRST woman to enter USAF helicopter pilot training with UPT-H Class 81-05 at Fort Rucker, AL. (Air Education & Training Command Significant Events) |
| 1980 - June 02 - June 16 | Six ARRS UH-1N's were airlifted by a C-5 to Indian Springs AAF, NV. and participated in combat rescue operations from June 06 - June 16. http://www.afsoc.af.mil/shared/media/document/AFD-070906-042.pdf |
| 1980 - July 01 | Two CH-53's from the 601st TASS, crew’s unkn, deployed from Germany to a location 40 miles away from Zaragoza AB, Spain, during the first week of the month, to aid in the recovery efforts of a downed F-4. No other details are known at this time. http://mobileradar.org/Documents/601st_tcw_history_pt_2.pdf |
| 1980 - July 18 | HH-53C #69-5786 of the 1550th ATTWg., crewed by Lt. Col. Norm Foley (P), Capt. Russ Rakip (CP), Capt. Randall Davis (CP), TSgt. Thomas Ortiz (FE), Sgt. George Washington (CC), Sgt. Dan Phelps (AG) and Sr. Amn. Jay Schatte (?), crashed at the San Juan County Airport, UT. The helicopter lost cyclic roll authority and crashed, rolled over and burned, due to aux tank fuel imbalance during the Honey Badger Exercises at Dugway Proving Grounds, UT. Of the seven men onboard, the crew chief, SRA. Jay Schatte, was killed and five were injured. "On A Steel Horse I Ride" by Darrel D. Whitcomb & Russell J. Reffitt Facebook post |
| 1980 - September 11 | Det. 13, 33rd ARRS, Osan AB, Korea, saved 94 flood victims in the wake of Typhoon Orchid. http://www.afsoc.af.mil/shared/media/document/AFD-070906-042.pdf |
| 1980 - September 19 | Det. 4, 37th ARRS at Little Rock AFB, AR moved personnel and equipment to the area following a Titan missile mishap at Damascus, AR. and evacuated injured personnel, resulting in three saves. http://www.afsoc.af.mil/shared/media/document/AFD-070906-042.pdf |
| 1980 - September 22 | HH-3E’s were involved in the 20,000th ARRS save when involved in the rescue of survivors of a beached Philippine destroyer. A total of 14 Philippine seamen were saved. http://www.afsoc.af.mil/shared/media/document/AFD-070906-042.pdf |
| 1980 - October 04 - 05 | Resources from the 71st ARRS including a HH-3E crewed by Capt. John J. Walters (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE), SSgt. John F. Cassidy (PJ) and Sgt. Joseph M. Rios (PJ) saved 65 lives after a fire broke out aboard the MS Prinsendam, a Dutch tourist ship, located approximately 125 miles south of Yakataga, AK., in the Gulf of Alaska. The ARRS RCC at Elmendorf AFB, AK., coordinated a rescue effort involving forces of the U.S. Coast Guard and Air Force and Canadian Forces. A supertanker, the Williamsburg, was soon on the scene. All passengers and crew were successfully evacuated. SSgt. John F. Cassidy and Sgt. Joseph M. Rios, both PJ's, jumped from an HH-3E and helped hoist-lift survivors from lifeboats to the helicopter. One of the survivors, Herr Emil Russ, was so grateful that he sent the 71st ARRS a check for $1,000. A substitute check was later donated to the Jolly Green Scholarship Fund. Maj. John J. Walters was awarded the MacKay Trophy for this mission. http://www.afsoc.af.mil/shared/media/document/AFD-070906-042.pdf & http://www.airforcemag.com/magazinearchive/documents/kittyhawkchronology/kitty1980-2013,pdf & http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mackay_Trophy & http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MS_Prinsendam (1973) |
| 1980 - November 21 | Several USAF units, coordinated by the AFRCC, responded to a fire at the MGM Grand Hotel in Las Vegas, NV. A total of 79 saves were credited to all units, including 17 saves by the 302nd SOS of the AFRES. http://www.afsoc.af.mil/shared/media/document/AFD-070906-042.pdf |
| 1980 - December 19 | Two HH-53C's from the 33rd ARRS at Kadena AB, Okinawa, #68-10363 crewed by Capt. Wayne Anderson (P), 1st Lt. Lyle Koenig (CP), Sgt. William Martin (FE), Sgt. Anthony Hughes (PJ), SrA. Lee Tashjian (PJ) and A1C Brian Trubee (PJ) along with flight surgeon Lt. Col. (Dr.) Alfred Studwell (FS) and #68-8286 crewed by Maj. Jerald Brown (P), Capt. Raymond Beltz (CP), SSgt. Wade Lehman (FE), SSgt. Kenneth Musnicki (PJ), SSgt. William Prebble (PJ) and SrA. Jeff Christopher (PJ) along with A1C James Reese and A1C Michael Cunningham from the base fire department crash crew rescued two survivors and recovered the body of a crew member from their USMC CH-46 Sea Knight helicopter from Futenma's Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron that had crashed on a remote area of Okinawa. #363 rescued the two injured Marines and rushed them to medical care while #286 remained on scene and recovered the deceased Marine. Newspaper article Facebook post by Bill Martin |
| 1981 - March 19 | A UH-1N from Yokota AB, Japan, crewed by Capt. Larry Schaefer (P), 2nd Lt. Clyde D. Hanlin (CP), SrA. Richard K. Wolfe (FE) and Maj. Diane Huey (Dr.) (from Kadena AB, Okinawa) rescued Chief Petty officer Mark Rogers, from the Navy oiler Ashtabula. Rogers was a suspected heart attack victim in need of hospitalization. Pacific Stars & Stripes, Apr 07, 1981, pg. 25 |
| 1981 - March 19 | A UH-1N from Kirtland AFB, NM, crewed by unkn (P), unkn (CP) and unkn (FE), rescued two college students off a rugged mountain face ending a three-day ordeal in which they were without food, water or shelter. Francisco Munoz and John Chavez Jr. were found huddled in a deep ravine at the 9,000-foot elevation on the west side of Hermit’s Peak in northeastern New Mexico. Pacific Stars & Stripes, Apr 04, 1981, pg. 4 |
| 1981 - May 26 | Two CH-53's from the 601st TASS, crews’ unkn, deployed from Germany to West Freugh, Scotland to assist in the recovery of parts from an F-111 which crashed in rough terrain the previous year. No other details are known at this time. http://mobileradar.org/Documents/601st_tcw_history_pt_2.pdf |
| 1981 - September 29 | HH-53B #66-14435 of the 1551st CCTW at Kirtland AFB, NM, crewed by Capt. J. P. Grant Jr. (AC), Capt. Randy K. Jensen (P) 2nd Lt. Richard J. Wendin (CP), Sgt. Terry O. Chancy (IFE), Sgt. Luis Caraballo (FE) and Sgt. Robert E. Hoon (CC), crashed, when a main rotor blade struck a tree, and the helicopter impacted the ground during evasive maneuver training. It crashed at the 6,000 ft. level of 11,301-foot Mount Taylor. Capt. Grant, 2nd Lt. Wendin, Sgt. Chancey, Sgt. Caraballo were all killed in the crash, Capt. Jensen and Sgt. Hoon both received burns over 80% of their bodies. Capt. Jensen died from his injuries on 26 November 1981 and Sgt. Hoon died from his injuries on 28 October 1981. http://peacetime-casualties.findthebest.com/1/28722/Robert-E-Hoon & http://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/USDemocrat-National/conversations/topics/16570 & http://peacetime-casualties.findthebest.com/1/36387/Randy-K-Jensen & http://www3.gendisasters.com/new-mexico/16641/grants-nm-helicopter-crash-sep-1981 grants-nm-helicopter-crash-sep-1981 |
| 1981 - October 01 - 09 | A CH-53C from the 601st TASS, crew’s unkn, deployed from Germany to Pisa, Italy to assist in the recovery of a crashed A-10 aircraft. No other details are known at this time. http://mobileradar.org/Documents/601st_tcw_history_pt_2.pdf |
| 1982 – January 22 | A HH-53 helicopter from the 31st ARRS at Clark AB, PI, crewed by unkn (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ), rescued four Navy aviators who had ejected from their EA-6B electronic countermeasures aircraft near Clark AB, Philippines just before the aircraft crashed into an unpopulated area near the base. Pacific Stars & Stripes, Jan 24, 1982, pg. 6 |
| 1982 - June 11 | UH-1F #65-7913 from Det. 9, 37th ARRS at Whiteman AFB, MO., crewed by Capt. Richard Conrardy (P), 2nd Lt. James Hebert (CP), crashed 57 miles southwest of Whiteman AFB, MO, killing both crew members along with four members of the 352nd Missile Security Squadron, SSgt. Richard Bohling, Sgt. Thomas Meredith, Sr. Amn. Marion Pace, and Sr. Amn. David Jones. They were on a routine mission providing security for an Air Force vehicle convoy transporting weapons systems from Whiteman AFB, MO. to a launch silo near Passaic, MO. when part of a main rotor blade separated causing the tail boom to be severed and the helicopter crashed and burned in a rural area 30 miles south of Kansas City, Mo. http://www.helis.com/database/accidents/?org=133&f2mod=545 & http://www.whiteman.af.mil/news/story.asp?id=123067028 |
| 1982 - June 24 | HH-3E #68-18282 of the 38th ARRS at Osan AB, Korea, crewed by Capt. Ziem (P), 2nd Lt. Lentz (CP) and Sgt. Charles Sumerlin (FE) crashed and rolled down hill while attempting to land at the Yung Mun San GCI site in Korea. The helicopter caught fire and was totally destroyed, but the crew and two passengers were able to escape with only minor injuries. Sgt. Sumerlin was with the unit on TDY from his home unit at Clark AB, PI. http://www.jollygreen.org/TailNumbers/68-18282.html |
| 1982 - July 22 | A CH-3E from the 31st ARRS at Clark AB, PI, crewed by 1st Lt. John S. Bicket (P), 2nd Lt. Rick Fontaine (CP), SSgt. Mike Lael (FE), SSgt. Lochland Jeffries (PJ) and A1C Adam Pope (PJ), performed an emergency medical evacuation mission when they airlifted a possible heart attack victim from Wallace AS to Clark AB. Pacific Stars & Stripes, Oct 15, 1982, pg. 32 |
| 1982 - July 27 | HH-53C #69-5792 (Call sign "Jolly Green 43") from the 1551st CCTW at Kirtland AFB, NM impacted the ground and crashed following a decent from a nighttime refueling mission, killing four. hhtp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_accidents_and_incidents_involving_military_aircraft_(1980%E2%80%931989) |
| 1982 – August 12 | A HH-3E from the 31st ARRS at Clark AB, PI, crewed by Capt. Jack Snyder (P), 1st Lt. Steven King (CP), A1C Kelly Seabolt (FE), SSgt. Jon Smith (PJ) gave an immediate airlift of an Air Force Staff Sergeant who had sustained a concussion after being overcome by toxic fumes. Pacific Stars & Stripes, Oct 15, 1982, pg 32 |
| 1982 - September 01 | A UH-1F of Det. 2, 37 ARRS at Ellsworth AFB, SD. crewed by Capt. Albert Trumble (P), 2nt Lt. Marsha L. Allen (CP) crashed 15 miles NW of New Underwood, SD., when components of the helicopter's tail rotor assembly sheared off. 2nd Lt. Allen was killed; Capt. Trumble and passenger SSgt. Kenneth R. Gill were injured. http://www.rotorheadsrus.us/documents/uh_1_ellsworth_afb_1986.html |
| 1982 - September 02 | A HH-3E from the 31st ARRS at Clark AB, PI, crewed by 1st Lt. John Fitzgerald (P), 1st Lt. Steven King (CP), A1C Kelly Seabolt (FE), SSgt. L. D. Jeffries (PJ) provided an emergency medical evacuation of a pneumothorax patient from Wallace AS to the Clark AB Hospital. Pacific Stars & Stripes, Oct 15, 1982, pg. 32 |
| 1982 - September 10 - 12 | ARRS logged its 20,000th save during a mission to rescue survivors of a beached Philippine destroyer near Laong. A total of 14 Philippine seamen were saved by ARRS forces. President Reagan passed his personal congratulations as ARRS attained this significant milestone. http://www.afsoc.af.mil/shared/media/document/AFD-070906-042.pdf |
| 1983 - July 04 | A UH-1N from the 20th SOS, Hurlburt Field, FL., crewed by unkn (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (AG) was involved in an Operation BAT mission in the Bahamas that resulted in the capture of a Cessna 404 aircraft, its pilot, and 863 pounds of cocaine, plus the capture of a 70 foot motor vessel and more than 3,000 bales of marijuana, weighing more than 30 tons. https://usafhpa.org/20hornets76to90/newpage/76to90.html |
| 1983 – November 01 | The 4460th Helicopter Squadron was activated at Indian Springs Air Force Auxiliary Air Field (AAF), NV. and was assigned to the 57th FWW. History of The Tactical Air Command, 1 Jan-31 Dec 1983 |
| 1984 - January 09 | A UH-1N #69-6644 (Call sign "Alpha 44") of the 20th SOS, Hurlburt Fld., FL. crewed by Capt. Dyke H. Whitbeck (P), 1st Lt. Thomas L. Hamby (CP), SSgt. Edgardo L. Acha (FE) and SSgt. Paul B. Cartter (AG) (Whitbeck, Hamby and Acha were killed and Cartter was seriously injured) that was on an "Operation BAT" mission, crashed at sea off of Nassau, Bahamas after it suffered double engine failure. Also killed in this accident were three Strike Force men and one DEA Agent, with Cartter and two Strike Force men surviving. 8 Jan 2016 Facebook post by Bruce Davis & http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_aircraft_accidents_at_Eglin_Air_Force_Base |
| 1984 - April 07 | A HH-3E #65-12794 (Call sign "Jolly Green 18") from Det. 15, 39th ARRWg., crashed while flying surface surveillance for a scheduled launch of a Trident 1 missile from the USS Georgia, shortly after 2 a.m., about 60 miles off the coast of Patrick AFB, FL. Three survivors were recovered before the helicopter, found floating upside down, sunk to its final resting place 2,400 feet below the surface of the Atlantic Ocean. The survivors were Capt. William Fizgerald (P) and Lt's James O'Heam (CP) and Scott Schafer (CP). Killed in the crash and not recovered were Captains Jan F. Fuchs (ES & M Ctr.) and David K. Shaffner (ES &M Ctr.), TSgt. Ronald L. Martinez (FE), SSgt. Mark R. Judy (PJ) and A1C James A. Ferreira (PJ). http://www.920rqw.afrc.af.mil/news/story.asp?id=123407703 |
| 1984 - September 02 | HH-3E #66-13290 of the 38th ARRS at Osan, Korea crewed by Capt. James Parks (P), 1st Lt. Sullivan (CP), Jeff Lewis (FE), unkn (PJ) and unkn (PJ) was aiding flood victims in the Soul area when it suffered mechanical difficulty and made a forced landing on top of three homes. A second HH-3E crewed by Joe Falzone (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ) picked up the crew of HH-3E #66-13290. On September 06, 1984, it was lifted off the homes by an Army CH-47 Chinook helicopter and returned to Osan AB for repairs. None of the crew or eight Koreans on board were injured. MiG Alley Flyer new article Wednesday, September 19, 1984, Osan AB, Korea |
| 1984 - October 17 | MH-53 Pave Low #73-1647 of the 20th SOS participating in exercise "Cope Thunder 85-1" crashed into a ridgeline in Crow Valley, near Clark AB, Philippines, during a night TF mission in a heavy rain squall and was destroyed, killing its crew, Maj. James S. Prowell (P), Capt. Michael W. Skeen (CP), TSgt Thomas "Rocky" M. Ortiz, Jr. (FE), SSgt. Robert G. Barker (FE), TSgt. Wayne Johnson (?) and Sgt. Max B. "Paco" Lincks, Jr. (AG). http://www.rotorheadsrus/documents/mh_53_philippines_html |
| 1984 - November 14 | MH-53J #73-1650 (Call sign “Chalk ?”) of the 20th SOS, crewed by Capt. Jack Kelly (P), Capt. Dave Harris (CP), TSgt David Rech (FE), Roger Sather (FE), TSgt. Jerry Price (AG), Robert Hall (AG), and Bo Johnson (P), autorotated to a field near Pope AFB, NC. when the tail rotor gearbox separated from the aircraft in flight. The helicopter landed hard and was not repairable, all seven crewmembers and eight Army Rangers on board were injured, three seriously, including Lt. Col. Bo Johnson, who was also aboard. Cause of the mishap was failure of the TGB pylon mount lugs due to corrosion. http://www.helis.com/database/accidents/?org=133&f2mod=83 & "On A Steel Horse I Ride" by Darrel D. Whitcomb |
| 1985 - January 07 | An HH-53 from Hawaii hoisted a seriously ill crew member from a distant cruise ship. The 1,380-mile round-trip marked a world record for the longest over-water helicopter rescue without a landing. No other details are available at this time. Sikorsky Archives News July 2018 |
| 1985 - January 14 | An Air Force helicopter from Kirtland AFB, NM, crew unkn, along with an Air National Guard helicopter rescued Laurel Auchampaugh and Todd Fredrick after their car had gone off a cliff in the Overlook parking oval, White Rock, NM. No other details are available currently. The New Mexican, Santa Fe/Northern New Mexico, Tuesday, January 15, 1985, page 1 |
| 1985 - January 15 | HH-53C #68-10355 (Call sign "Arris 01") from the 6594th Test Group at Hickam AFB, HI., crewed by Capt. David D. Mason (AC), Capt. Stephen Pindzola (P), 2nd Lt. Russell H. Ohl (CP), SSgt. Kyle Dwane Marshall (FE), SSgt. Daniel R. Reihman (FE), SSgt. John Robert Gilbert (PJ) and Sgt. Robert A. Jermyn (PJ) crashed due to a main rotor blade failure, onto the deck of the ship "Asian Beauty", killing the entire crew, while attempting a shipboard rescue 540 miles north of Honolulu. http://www.rotorheadsrus.us/documents/hh_53c_at_hickam_afv_hi.html |
| 1985 - January 26 | MH-60G #82-23707 was written off. No other details are available at this time. http://www.helis.com/database/modelorg/772/ |
| 1985 -April 30 | HH-3E 69-5812 from the 71st ARRS at Elmendorf AFB, AK, crewed by Maj. Quinn (P), Randy McCanne (CP) and Brad Opatz (FE), crashed while attempting to land and rescue a private pilot who had landed on the glacier and broke his landing gear. While trying to land the helicopter rolled to the right and was cut in half ending upside down on the glacier. The crew was banged up and bruised but didn't have any serious injuries. The HH-3E was recovered, repaired and put back into service. No other details are available at this time. Facebook post by George Kleinbaum 5 Jan 2015 |
| 1985 – October 01 | The 20th SOS officially transferred “Operation BAT” and its UH-1N’s to the 48th ARRS at Homestead AFB, FL. During “Operation Batt” the 20th SOS had flown more than 3,000 sorties which had led to the capture or destruction of more than $1.5 billion in drugs and the aircraft, vessels, vehicles and equipment used to smuggle them. https://usafhpa.org/20hornets76to90/newpage/76to90.html |
| 1986 - February 18 - 22 | The 129th ARRGp. and the 41st ARRS employed four HH-3E's and two HH-53 helicopters and three C-130's to assist flood victims of the Russian and Yuba Rivers of northern California. The crews evacuated 520 flood victims, saved 33 lives, and supplied more than 3,000 sandbags to Army troops at the disaster site. http://www.airforcemag.com/magazinearchive/documents/kittyhawkchronology/kitty1980-2013,pdf |
| 1986 - February 25 | Five HH-3E and CH-3E helicopters from the 31st ARRS at Clark AB, PI., crews unkn, evacuated Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos and his family from the Malacañang Palace to Clark Air Base as they prepare to go into exile as their government is overthrown in the Philippine “People Power” Revolution of 1986. Chester Fleming Facebook post Apr 26, 2020 |
| 1986 - May 21 | MH-53J #73-1651 of the 20th SOS at Hurlburt Field, FL. crashed when it impacted a ridgeline at night during formation approach at Exercise "Elated Cyclone" near Nellis AFB, NV. Maj. Richard Brims (P) was killed in the crash. The accident report was highly classified, and no other details are available at this time. http://www.helis.com/database/accidents/?org=1338&f2mod=83 & "On A Steel Horse I Ride" by Darrel D. Whitcomb |
| 1986 - May 29 | A UH-1 from Det. 2, 37th ARRS at Ellsworth AFB, SD, crewed by Capt. Brian H Snider (P), 2nd Lt. David H. Gordon (CP), crashed shortly after 3 p.m. in a field NW of Bear Butte, about 5 miles NE of Sturgis, ND. Both pilots and passengers SrA Donald Heitkamp, A1C Berry P. Holmes and SSgt. Charles L. Huskey were killed in the crash. One passenger, A1C Latania Hugule survived the crash but was in serious condition. http://www.rotorheadsrus.us/documents/uh_1_ellsworth_afb_1986.html |
| 1986 – July 13 | A HH-3E helicopter from the 31st ARRS at Clark AB, PI, crewed by Capt. Mark Kyle (P), Capt. Barry Gottshall (CP), TSgt. Rod Batalon (FE), SSgt. Arsenio Herlihy (PJ) and SrA. Steve Cast (PJ) medevacked a unkn 20-yr. old Air Force male suffering an acute appendicitis attack, from the Holy Spirit General Hospital in Santa Cruz, Philippines to the Clark AB Regional Medical Center. 31st ARRS History 01 Jul – 31 Dec. 1986 |
| 1986 – July 13 | A HH-3E helicopter from the 31st ARRS at Clark AB, PI, crewed by Capt. Mark Kyle (P), Capt. Barry Gottshall (CP), TSgt. Rod Batalon (FE), TSgt. Kevin Russell, SSgt. Arsenio Herlihy (PJ) and SrA. Steve Cast (PJ), launched to conduct an unsuccessful search of a 75 square mile area for a 22-year-old Filipino national who had been reported missing after he was last seen diving off Capones Island. 31st ARRS History 01 Jul – 31 Dec. 1986 |
| 1986 – July 20 | A HH-3E helicopter from the 31st ARRS at Clark AB, PI, crewed by Maj. Dale Cook (P), 2nd Lt. Dan Curtis (CP), SrA. Mickey Dixon (FE), and Sgt. Mark Strombeck (PJ), medevacked a unkn 50-year-old retired Army male, who suffered a heart attack, from Bethany Hospital at San Fernando, Philippines to the Clark AB Regional Medical Center. 31st ARRS History 01 Jul – 31 Dec. 1986 |
| 1986 – July 31 | A HH-3E helicopter from the 31st ARRS at Clark AB, PI, crewed by Capt Barry Gottshall (P), 1st Lt. Dave Fennell (CP), SSgt. Mike Darling (FE) Col. Melvin Antonio (FS), MSgt. Pat Sinon (PJ) and SSgt. Tim Metcalf (PJ) medevacked an active-duty Air Force member who had suffered leg, arm, neck injuries and hypothermia when he fell into a 10-foot pit at a construction site. He was medevacked from Camp O’Donnel and transported to the Clark AB Regional Medical Center. 31st ARRS History 01 Jul – 31 Dec. 1986 |
| 1986 – August 05 | A HH-3E helicopter from the 31st ARRS at Clark AB, PI, crewed by Capt. Mark Kyle (P), 2nd Lt. Dan Curtis (CP), 1st Lt. Dave Fennell (CP), 2nd Lt. Mike Briody (CP) SSgt. Terry Hendrix (FE), and SrA. Mickey Dixon (PJ) medevacked a 22-year-old pregnant wife of an active duty USAF sergeant, a 23-year-old dependent wife of an active-duty USAF sergeant, suffering from abdominal pains, and a 19-year-old Air Force active-duty female suffering from severe head pains from the Wallace AS and transported the 3 patients to the Clark AB Regional Medical Center. 31st ARRS History 01 Jul – 31 Dec. 1986 |
| 1986 – August 14 | A HH-3E helicopter from the 31st ARRS at Clark AB, PI, crewed by Maj. Dale Cook (P), Capt. Guy Dempsey (CP), SSgt. Mike Darling (FE), and SSgt. Yonnie Schlicht (PJ) medevacked a 27-year-old US Navy RMI and a 17-year-old dependent son of a Voice of America employee, who had been injured in a fight with local nationals in Baguio, RP., and transported the 2 patients from the Baguio Airport to the Clark AB Regional Medical Center. 31st ARRS History 01 Jul – 31 Dec. 1986 |
| 1986 – August 22 | A HH-3E helicopter from the 31st ARRS at Clark AB, PI, crewed by Capt. Scott Schafer (P), 1st Lt. Dave Fennell (CP), SSgt. Terry Hendrix (FE), and SSgt Dan Inch (PJ) medevacked a US Marine suffering angina from Wallace AS to the Clark AB Regional Medical Center. 31st ARRS History 01 Jul – 31 Dec. 1986 |
| 1986 – September 17 | A CH-3E helicopter from the 31st ARRS at Clark AB, PI, crewed by Lt. Col. Thomas Marsh (P), Capt. Mark Kyle (CP), SrA. Mickey Dixon (FE), and SrA. Steve Cast (PJ) was sent to medevack a 24-year-old Air Force SSgt. who had suffered severely lacerated and fractured ring finger on his right hand, but the CH-3E was forced to turn back due to rain-showers and fog. 31st ARRS History 01 Jul – 31 Dec. 1986 |
| 1986 – September 17 | A CH-3E helicopter from the 31st ARRS at Clark AB, PI, crewed by Lt. Col. Thomas Marsh (P), Capt. Mark Kyle (CP), SrA. Mickey Dixon (FE), and SrA. Steve Cast (PJ) was sent to medevack an Airman who was suffering severe lower back pains, paralysis of the legs and needed medical assistance, from Crow Valley and transported him to the Clark AB Regional Medical Center. 31st ARRS History 01 Jul – 31 Dec. 1986 |
| 1986 – October 10 | A HH-3E helicopter from the 31st ARRS at Clark AB, PI, crewed by Capt. Charles Shaw (P), 1st Lt. John Grigsby (CP), SrA. Mickey Dixon (FE), that was already at the Cubi Pt. NAS, PR. was launched to medevack a local national who was wounded from a Marien Cobra gunship live fire exercise ricochet and transported him to the Cubi Pt. Hospital for treatment. 31st ARRS History 01 Jul – 31 Dec. 1986 |
| 1986 - October 30 | HH-53C #68-10354 of the 6514th Test Sq. at Hill AFB, UT., settled with power and crashed short of LZ during a ridgeline approach at 9,500 feet, on Swasey Peak, 120 miles southwest of Hill AFB, UT. The helicopter was destroyed in a post-crash fire. The crew and all passengers successfully egressed the aircraft without any significant injuries. "On A Steel Horse I Ride" by Darrel D. Whitcomb & http://helis.com/database/accidents/?org=133&2mod=83 |
| 1986 – November 08 | A HH-3E helicopter from the 31st ARRS at Clark AB, PI, crewed by Major Dale Cook (P), 1st Lt. Dave Fennell (CP), MSgt. Al McCall (FE) and TSgt. Paul Pepin (PJ) medevacked an 18-month-old dependent female with pneumonia from Cubi Pt. NAS, RP to the Clark AB Regional Medical Center. 31st ARRS History 01 Jul – 31 Dec. 1986 |
| 1986 – December 04 | A HH-3E helicopter from the 31st ARRS at Clark AB, PI, crewed by Capt. Charles Shaw (P), Maj Dale Cook (CP), Sgt. Steve Kelley (FE) and SrA. Ron Marshall (PJ) medevacked two male military retirees who had been scuba diving south of Manila Bay, RP. and developed the bends and transported the to Sangley Point NAS for treatment in the Hyperbolic Chamber there. 31st ARRS History 01 Jul – 31 Dec. 1986 |
| 1986 – December 10 | A HH-3E helicopter from Tyndall AFB, FL., crewed by unkn (P), unkn (CP), Floyd Takacs (FE) & Giff ? (FE) made three water landings to rescued 15 crew members of the Norwegian ship, Geco Alpha, from lifeboats, after they had abandoned their burning vessel some 30 miles south of Destin, FL., and took them to the Eglin AFB, Hospital. An H-60 helicopter from Eglin AFB, crewed by unkn (P), unkn (CP) and unkn (FE) arrived on scene and picked up 4 more ship crew members and took them to the Eglin AFB hospital. No other details are known at this time. News-Press (Fort Myers, Florida) – 11 Dec 1986, Thu – page 61 & Jolly Green Giant Helicopter Jun 20, 2023 FB post by Giff Giff |
| 1986 – December 30 | A HH-3E helicopter from the 31st ARRS at Clark AB, PI, crewed by Capt. Charles Shaw (P), 2nd Lt. Frank Russell (CP), MSgt. Richard Simmon (FE) and Sgt. Mark Strombeck (PJ), medevacked a 77-year-old Australian who suffered a heart attack near Borocay Island, RP and transported him to Villamor AB for ground transportation to Makati Medical Center. 31st ARRS History 01 Jul – 31 Dec. 1986 |
| 1987 - July 17 | HH-53C #67-14994 "Black Knight" was converted and rolled out as the first MH-53J "Pave Low III" Enhanced MH-53J. The 20th SOS took possession of this first Pave Low III Enhanced MH-53J when it was flown to Hurlburt Field, FL., on this date, from NARF at NAS Pensacola, FL. "On a Steel Horse I Ride" by Darrel D. Whitcomb & http://www.mh-53pavelow.com/documents/airframes/notable_h53_history.pdf |
| 1987 - August 14 | A UH-60A (Call sign "Hawk 47") from the 55th ARRS at Eglin AFB, FL. crewed by Capt. Ralph Gehringer (IP), Capt. Jeffery Stevens (P), Maj. Kenneth O. Reinhard (CP) and SrA Jeff Beseke (FE) crashed, killing all onboard, in a wooded area of Ft. Bragg, NC., near Pope AFB, NC. while on a training mission. http://www.fayobserver.com/news/local/article_0e7ae519-d247-5cf9-a7bd-57c2cafe581.html |
| 1987 - September 25 | MH-53J 73-1648 crashed during a CAPEX exercise, killing one Ranger. The helicopter was recovered, repaired and put back in service. No other details are available currently. |
| 1988 – January 30 | A HH-3E from the 38th ARRS at Osan AB, Korea, crewed by Capt. Bryan Waugh (P), 1st Lt. John Lipinski (CP), TSgt. Arnold Lamb (FE), Sgt. Max Montgomery (PJ) and A1C Robert Castellani (J), battled a snowstorm to airlift a 27-year-old South Korean fisherman, Choi San-mum, who was suffering from acute peritonitis, from Ullung-do, an island 100 miles off the east coast of the peninsula and deliver him to the Pohang Christian Hospital for treatment. Pacific Stars & Stripes, Jan 30, 1988 |
| 1988 - March 20 | Two MH-60G's from the 55th SOS at Eglin AFB, FL., conducted a record flight from Antigua to Eglin AFB, FL., traveling a distance of 1,640 nautical miles in 11.1 hours. The MH-60G's refueled six times while in transit. AFCOC Facebook post August 20, 2013 |
| 1988 - April 26 | A Pave Low from the 20th SOS, crewed by Colonel Weikel (P), Maj. Mike Letica (CP) and crew were conducting a night training mission with NVG's, was carrying a Flight Surgeon, Capt. Kory Cornum, on board when they were called upon to locate a U.S. Army helicopter that had landed with a mechanical problem while transporting a patient who had suffered a severed arm. The crew located the helicopter, transferred the patient to the Pave Low, Capt. Cornum immediately comforted her and made sure the severed arm was properly cared for as the Pave Low took off and delivered the patient directly to the hospital in Mobile, AL. where surgeons were able to re-attach her arm. "On A Steel Horse I Ride" by Darrel D. Whitcomb |
| 1988 - May 01 | The 21st SOS was reactivated at RAF Woodbridge, England. http://medlibrary.org/medwiki/21st_Special_Operations_Squadron |
| 1988 - May 01 | The 56th ARRSq. was activated at NAS Keflavik, Iceland, assigned to the 39th Special Operations Wing, Eglin AFB, Florida. https://www.globalsecurity.org/military/agency/usaf/56rqs.html |
| 1988 - September 01 | HH-3E #65-12781 with the California Air National Guard, 129th ARRGp. from Moffett Naval Air Station, CA. crewed by Maj. Terry A. Nelson (P), Lt. Col. Leslie E. Spencer (CP), Sr. Amn. Steven E. Courtney (FE) and SSgt. Steven E. Carlyle (PJ) was on a local two-day search and rescue training mission with the 27th TASS. They departed George AFB, CA. at 09:07 am to participate in the first exercise scenario, a simulated survivor pick-up with an OV-10 Bronco escort. The scenario was conducted in the northwest sector of the 29 Palms Marine Corps Reservation restricted area R-2501N. One OV-10 pilot was on board the helicopter as an observer, another was playing the survivor role on the ground. After a routine pick-up, the HH-3E departed the range, returning back to George AFB with both OV-10 pilots, 1st Lt. James K. Dooley & 1st LT. Patrick L. Henry on board. While leaving the training area, the aircraft struck a ridge ten feet below the crest. The helicopter became airborne again for 450 feet before impacting the back side of the same ridge. After the second impact, the aircraft rolled to the left and started burning. The impact forces and fire destroyed the helicopter killing all six on board. http://joeidoni.smugmug.com/Aircraft-Crash Sites/HH/26836549_6RFLxN#!i=2248004896&k=dwn4Nsx |
| 1988 - October 20 | HH-53H #70-1629 and MH-53J #68-8286 were damaged while conducting a training mission at Ft. Pickett, VA. HH-53H #70-1629 was damaged when the crew encountered a "brown out" condition and had a hard landing. MH-53J also encountered a "brown out" condition in a hover, drifted left and hit a power pole, power line, and some large trees and crashed about 75 feet from the LZ. The helicopter was recovered, repaired (costing $6.7 million) and put back into service. "On A Steel Horse I Ride" by Darrel D. Whitcomb |
| 1989 - January 14 | Two MH-53J's #'s 66-14431 & 69-5796, with 66-14431 crewed by Capt. Dennis M. Jones (P), unkn (CP), unkn (CP), unkn (FE), unkn (PJ), unkn (PJ) and MH-53J 69-5796 was crewed by Capt. David W. Freeman (P), Steven W. Wiess (CP), unkn (FE), Sgt. Steven B. Elison (PJ), unkn (PJ) from the 21st SOS at RAF Woodbridge, UK., along with a HC-130N from the 67th SOS rescued 32 crew members from the 42K ton bulk carrier Yarrawonga that was floundering in an Atlantic storm 360 nautical miles northwest of Shannon, Ireland. http://www.rotorheadsrus.us/documents/Airforces%20Monthly%20No.12%20March%20SOS%20Rescue%20Article,%20Larry%20Wielgosz%20collection.a.pdf & "On A Steel Horse I Ride" by Darrel D. Whitcomb |
| 1989 - March 12 | CH-3E #65-15692 (Call sign "Pony 12") of the 71st SOS from Davis-Monthan AFB, AZ., crewed by Maj. Donald D. Thomas (P), Lt. Col. Lawrence M. Rolle (CP & Sq. CO), MSgt. Malte Breitlow (FE) and TSgt. William E. Slaven (FE), crashed at about 1935 hours 20 miles northwest of Tucson in a desolate desert area in an uninhabited area adjacent to the Sahuaro National Monument. The helicopter was number two of a two ship in trail formation on a planned night infiltration mission and was carrying an 11 member Army Special Forces Team from the 3rd Battalion, 5th Special Forces Group assigned to Fort Bragg, NC. The Special Forces Team members were Capt. Ivin L. Broussard, Capt. Alan C. Brown, MSgt Roger D. Berryhill, Sgt. 1st Class Larry K. Evans, Sgt. 1st Class George A. Wayne, SSgt. John W. Bigler II, SSgt. Kenneth W. Campbell, SSgt. Robert L. Griswold, SSgt. Kevin R. Livengood, Sgt. Larry D. Endress and Sgt. Terry M. Hollway. All aboard were killed instantly in the crash and subsequent fire. The accident investigation determined that the cause of the crash was a main rotor blade failure. http://armyaircrews.proboards.com/thread/306/ch-accident-12-mar-tucson?page=1 |
| 1989 - March 14 | HH-3E #67-14719 (Call sign “Torn 02”) of the 33rd ARRS at Kadena AB, Okinawa, Japan, crashed near Lye Island in 800 feet of water, killing three crewmembers, Capt. Tom Bauer (P), 1st Lt. Mike Hodges (CP) and MSgt. Eliud Torres (FE). Two other crewmembers, Capt. Robert A. Young (P) and SSgt. Patrick J. Hogan were rescued from the crash site. No other details are available at this time. http://www.jollygreen.org/Memorials/ARRSPeaceTimeLosses.html |
| 1989 - April 01 | The 56th ARRSq, still at NAS Keflavik, Iceland, was re-assigned under the 41st Rescue and Weather Reconnaissance Wing, McClellan AFB, CA. https://www.globalsecurity.org/military/agency/usaf/56rqs.html |
| 1989 - June 01 | The helicopter unit at NAS Keflavik, Iceland, under the 41st Rescue and Weather Reconnaissance Wing, McClellan AFB, CA. was re-designated as the 56th Air Rescue Squadron. https://www.globalsecurity.org/military/agency/usaf/56rqs.html |
| 1989 - August 01 | The 56th Air Rescue Squadron at NAS Keflavik, Iceland, was reassigned under the Air Rescue Service. https://www.globalsecurity.org/military/agency/usaf/56rqs.html |
| 1989 - August 31 | A CH-3E from the 38th ARRS at Osan AB, Korea, crewed by Maj. John H. Fitzgerald (P), 1st Lt. Timothy Caldewood (CP), TSgt. Gregory Van Hyning (FE), SrA. Kip Meuhart (Maint), SSgt. Brian Douglas (PJ) (Det. 1, 1370th Pararescue Sq.), Sgt. Robert Castellani (PJ) (Det. 1, 1370th Pararescue Sq.) and Capt. Mark J. Rollo (Dr.) (51st Medical Group) braved what was described as “real nasty weather” to save the life of a 29-year-old South Korean woman in danger of bleeding to death on a remote island in the Sea of Japan. Shin Byong-suk had been operated on earlier and doctors on Ullung Island, 180-miles east of Osan, were unable to stop her hemorrhaging and once she was onboard Dr. Rollo and the the two PJs were able to stabilize her condition and she was flown 120 miles south of Osan to Yong Nam University Hospital. Pacific Stars & Stripes, Sep 01, 1989, pg. 2 |
| 1990 – December 01-02 | Two HH-60G’s from the 38th ARRSq. at Kunsan AB, Korea, one crewed by unkn (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE), unkn (PJ) and unkn (PJ) and the other crewed by unkn (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE), unkn (PJ) and unkn (PJ), were scrambled at night, flying through heavy snow showers and 57 mph winds, to rescue 22 people aboard a ship that was sinking in 40-50-foot seas off Kunsan AB, 125 miles south of Seoul. Due to the high seas initial attempts for rescues were unsuccessful. Several hours after the rescue began the ship became lodged on a reef and after sunrise, the winds had died enough that the seamen could be plucked from the deck and be ferried to Kunsan. By the time the rescue was over both crews had logged over 12 hours on night vision goggles. Pacific Stars and Stripes, Feb. 16, 1992 |
| 1990 - August 05 | The 31st ARRS at Clark AB, PI received its first two MH-53J's and the squadron began flying a mix of MH-53J's and HH-3's. "On a Steel Horse I Ride" by Darrel D. Whitcomb |
| 1990 - September 26 | The 31st SOS at Clark AB, PI received two more MH-53J's and the H-3's were shipped back to the United States, and the 31st SOS was a full- fledged MH-53 squadron. "On A Steel Horse I Ride" by Darrel D. Whitcomb |
| 1991 - January 01 | The 66th Air Rescue Sq. was reactivated at Nellis AFB, NV. 66th ARS History Documents |
| 1991 - January 14 | UH-1N #69-6635 of the 6512th Test Squadron at Edwards AFB, CA., crewed by Capt. John Augustine (P), Maj. Alan D. Resnicke (CP), SSgt. Robert Lovell (FE), SSgt William Tyler (FE), crashed killing Capt. Augustine & SSgt. Lovell and injuring the other two. No other details are available currently. The mission was a night instructor upgrade during which the main drive shaft failed. The Baltimore Sun January 18, 1992 & Texas Court of Appeals, Fort Worth, May 02, 1996. & http://www.helis.com/database/modelorg/786/ |
| 1991 - January 17 | Two flights of two MH-53 #68-10356, #68-10367, #68-10369 & #70-1649, one piloted by Capt. Corby Martin with Lt. Col. Rich Comer as co-pilot, the other piloted by Capt. Ben Pulsifer and the second flight with one MH-53 piloted by Capt. Michael Kingsley and the other by Maj. Robert Leonik. Each flight of two MH-53's led four AH-64's as the took off at 0100 hours local time as part of "Task Force Normandy" to lead the strike force to open the war "Desert Storm" attacking Iraq early warning radar sites. Trailing in combat rescue support were two HH-60's from HCS-4/5 and two MH-60's from the 55th SOS. The MH-53J's believed to have flown this first attack mission of the war are believed to be 68-10367 (lead), 68-10369, 70-1630 and 68-10356. http://www.dstorm.eu/pages/en/usa/mh-53j.html & "Combat Search And Rescue In Desert Storm" by Darrel D. Whitcomb & http://www.mh-53pavelow..com/documents/airframes/notable_h53_history.pdf |
| 1991 - January 19 | Two MH-53 "Pave Lows" of the 20th SOS, crewed by Capt. Minish, Capt. Paul Harmon, Capt. Ken Sipperly, unkn pilot, TSgt. Troy Arce, SSgt. Mike Hulin, Sgt. Rob Turner, Sgt. Jeff Mucha, Sgt. Ismael Gonzalez and Sr. Amn. Martin Brown attempted the rescue of an F-16 pilot, Maj. Jeff Trice (Call sign "Stroke 65") after he ejected from his aircraft as it was shot down by a SAM in the Baghdad area. Maj. Trice was able to fly about 1/2 way back to Saudi Arabia before he was forced to eject. Unknown to the "Pave Low" crews, he was captured immediately by Bedouin tribesmen and the rescue attempt was unsuccessful. "On A Steel Horse I Ride" by Darrel D. Whitcomb |
| 1991 - January 21 | The first successful USAF combat rescue since the Southeast Asia War was accomplished when a MH-53J #68-10930 (Call sign "Moccasin 05") of the 20th SOS, crewed by Capt. Tom Trask (P), Maj. Mike Homan (CP), TSgt. Jim Peterson (FE), Sgt. Craig Dock (AG), MSgt. Tim Hadrych (AG), TSgt. Greg Vanhyning (FE) and Sgt. Ben Penningon (PJ) rescued USN F-14 (Call sign "Slate 46") pilot, Lt. Devon Jones who had been shot down deep behind enemy lines in Iraq. The USN F-14 radar intercept officer, Lt. Lawrence Slade, was captured by Iraq forces before he could be rescued. http://www. dstorm.eu/pages/en/usa/mh-53j.html & "On A Steel Horse I Ride" by Darrel D. Whitcomb |
| 1991 - February 07 | Pave Lows of the 20th SOS commanded by Capt. Martin, Maj. Homan, Capt. Kingsley and their crews along with two MH-60's from the 1st Battalion, 160th SOAR led the FIRST insertion mission for the Joint Special Operations Task Force into Iraq. Over the next three weeks Pave Low crews, commanded by Maj. Homan, Capt. Corby Martin, Capt. Mike Kingsley, Capt. Tim Minish, Capt. Kevin Ewing and their crews, flew eight insertion missions leading and sometimes being led by helicopters of the 1st of the 160th SOAR. "On A Steel Horse I Ride" by Darrel D. Whitcomb |
| 1991 - February 12 | A Pave Lows of the 20th SOS led a 55th SOS MH-60G and two 71st SOS MH-3E's on a mission to insert SEAL elements into the water of the northern Gulf. Over the next 11 days, Capt. Harmon, Capt. White, Capt. Sipperly and their crew led several repeats of this mission. "On A Steel Horse I Ride" by Darrel D. Whitcomb |
| 1991 - February 17 | Pave Lows of the 20th SOS commanded by Capt. Minish, Capt. Tim Brown and their crews led another mission with three MH-47's and two MH-60's to insert a ground team deep into Iraq. "On A Steel Horse I Ride" by Darrel D. Whitcomb |
| 1991 - February 22 | Pave Lows of the 20th SOS led by a crew consisting of Capt. Joe Turnage (P), Capt. Brad Webb (CP) and crew flew as part of a four-ship formation to insert more allied teams in support of the operation that started on February 17, 1991. "On A Steel Horse I Ride" by Darrel D. Whitcomb |
| 1991 - February 23 | Pave Lows of the 20th SOS commanded by Capt. Mike Kingsley, Capt. Frank Gray, Capt. Jeff White, Capt. Joe Turnage, Capt. Mike Beard, Capt. Kevin Ewing and Capt. Ken Sipperly led crews that flew up to 150 miles into Iraq inserting ODA road watch teams. The next morning February 24, 1991, Gen. Schwarzkopf unleased his allied ground forces. "On A Steel Horse I Ride" by Darrel D. Whitcomb |
| 1991 - February 26 | Pave Lows of the 20th SOS led by Capt. Tom Trask and crew led a flight of Pave Lows and several helicopters from the 1st of the 160th SOAR on a mission to deliver two teams of Army Rangers to neutralize a heavily defended communications center near the Jordanian border. "On A Steel Horse I Ride" by Darrel D. Whitcomb |
| 1991 - February 27 | Three Pave Lows, flown by Capt. White, Capt. Webb, Capt. Minish and crews, led six other helicopters on two sorties into the Kuwait International Airport to deliver teams to secure the field for Allied use. "On A Steel Horse I Ride" by Darrel D. Whitcomb |
| 1991 - February 28 | The Allied Coalition forces had achieved all of their objectives, and President Bush declared a cease-fire, effective at 8 a.m. Kuwaiti time. "On A Steel Horse I Ride" by Darrel D. Whitcomb |
| 1991 - February 28 | Just before the cease-fire Pave Low Capt. Webb and crew helped deliver the first U.S forces to the American Embassy so that it could be returned to U.S. control. Three Pave Lows led by Capt. Doug Moore and crew flew into the Kuwait International Airport carrying 13 personnel. Two of these crews were then put on rescue alert there. "On A Steel Horse I Ride" by Darrel D. Whitcomb |
| 1991 - March 01 | A Pave Low led seven other helicopters into western Iraq to recover more JSOTF members. "On A Steel Horse I Ride" by Darrel D. Whitcomb |
| 1991 - March 04 | Three Pave Lows flew deep into Iraq to recover more JSOTF teams and their vehicles and ODA's emplaced to support the ground campaign. Capt. Jeff White led one of these flights with Capt. Tim Leahy, a brand-new Pave Low pilot as his co-pilot. "On A Steel Horse I Ride" by Darrel D. Whitcomb |
| 1991 - March 12 | A MH-60 “Pave Hawk” helicopter from Osan AB, Korea, crewed by unkn (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE), and unkn (PJ), while involved in the annual “Team Spirit” war games had a hoist accident which killed Capt. Robert Howlatt and seriously injured Sgt. Roger Ross. (Note: Sgt. Ross died one week later, on March 17, 1991). Pacific Stars & Stripes, 20 Mar 1991, pg. 9 |
| 1991 - May 28 | A MH-60G Pave Hawk from Eglin AFB, FL. crashed off Antigua in the Caribbean, injuring six of eight aboard. The helicopter crashed on a reef in about three feet of water during a search-and-rescue training mission. hhtp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_accidents_and_incidents_involving_military_aircraft_(1990%E2%80%931999) |
| 1991 - June 09 | Three of the 31st SOS MH-53J's were flown to NAS Cubi Point, PI, when Clark AB, PI was ordered evacuated due to the pending major explosion of Mt. Pinatubo, located just 10 miles southwest of the air base. "On A Steel Horse I Ride" by Darrel D. Whitcomb |
| 1991 - June 10 | The fourth MH-53J of the 31st SOS was flown after completion of some heavy maintenance, to NAS Cubi Point, PI, when Clark AB, PI was ordered evacuated due to the pending major explosion of Mt. Pinatubo, located just 10 miles southwest of the air base. "On A Steel Horse I Ride" by Darrel D. Whitcomb |
| 1991 - June 12 - 15 | At 8:50 a.m. Mount Pinatubo erupted and over the next few days the ash, mixed with rain from tropical storm, Typhoon Yunya leaving Clark AB covered with up to 10 inches of muck. Clark AB was no longer a functioning facility. "On A Steel Horse I Ride" by Darrel D. Whitcomb |
| 1991 - June 26 - 29 | The three flyable MH-53J's of the 31st SOS were flown aboard the USS Midway in Subic Bay, P.I. to be sealifted to Okinawa. On 29 June 1991 these three MH-53J's were flown off the USS Midway to USMC Air Station Futenma, located six miles south of Kadena. "On A Steel Horse I Ride" by Darrel D. Whitcomb |
| 1991 - July 05 | The remaining MH-53J of the 31st SOS now flyable after repairs was flown for NAS Cubi Point, PI to USMC Air Station Futenma to join the rest of the 31st SOS fleet. "On A Steel Horse I Ride" by Darrel D. Whitcomb |
| 1991 - August 27 | A MH-60 Pave Hawk helicopter from the 38th ARRS at Osan AB, Korea, crewed by unkn (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ), evacuated a South Korean woman experiencing complications in childbirth from Ullung Island, about 100 miles off the peninsula’s east coast and delivered her to a Korean hospital in Kangnung 120 miles east of Seoul. Pacific Stars & Stripes, Aug 30, 1991, pg. 7 |
| 1991 - October 10 | UH-1N #69-6634 of the 6512th Test Squadron at Edwards AFB, CA. disintegrated and caught fire at about 8,000 and crashed while on a routine parachute training mission. Killed in the crash were Capt. Jay David Burdett (P), SSgt. John R. Anderson (Aerial photographer), SSgt. Kurt H. Ellington (Survival Instructor) and two other crew members were thrown free of the helicopter and parachuted to safety. http://articles.latimes.com/1993-01-09/local/me-902_1air-force-officials & http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~nyorlean/mtalbb8.html |
| 1991 - October 25 | HH-1H 70-2461 from Grand Forks AFB, ND crashed with a crew of 4 (Sherman, Moore, Olson, Wegner) being fatally injured. Gene Becker Facebook comment 23 Oct. 2013 |
| 1991 - October 30 | HH-60G #88-26110 (Call sign “Jolly Green 10”) of the 102nd RQS, New York Air Guard Crewed by Capt. Dave Ruvola (P), Capt. Graham Buschor (CP), SSgt. Jim Mioli (FE), TSgt. Rick Smith (PJ) and TSgt. John Spillane launched to search for a sailboat 270 miles at sea that was caught in what was described as “The Perfect Storm”. They took off in search of the boat and found it in the storm with 80-mile winds and 50 plus foot waves. When they found they were unable to do anything because of the storm conditions. On their way back to base and running low on fuel, they attempted to air refuel with an HC-130 call sign King 88. After numerous attempts and with an engine out they decided to ditch in the ocean. Capt. Buschor was first out, followed by TSgt. Spillane and TSgt. Smith which ended up falling 100 ft. Capt. Ruvola and SSgt. Mioli landed the helicopter in the water. They all finally found each other except for TSgt. Smith. Coast Guard Cutter Tamara picked up the crew. To this day TSgt Rick Smith has never been found. He made the ultimate sacrifice for someone he didn’t know. “These Things We Do That Others May Live”. http://www.helis.com/database/modelorg/772/ & Facebook post by Phillip Schiffman on 29 Oct. 1921 |
| 1992 - March 02 | Two HH-53 Pave Lows from the 1551st FTS rescued 26 lost backpackers from a wilderness area about 180 miles southwest of Albuquerque. "On A Steel Horse I Ride" by Darrel D. Whitcomb |
| 1992 - October 10 | An Air Force helicopter from Nellis AFB, crewed by unkn (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE), unkn (PJ) and unkn (PJ) rescued David F. Bryant who had fallen while climbing in Zion National Park. This rescue was completed after dark with the helicopter crew using night vision glasses. Sadly, Mr. Bryant passed away 10 minutes after he was delivered to Dixie Regional Medical Center in St. George, about 30 miles away. Pacific Stars and Stripes, Friday, Oct. 16, 1992, Page 11 |
| 1992 - October 29 | A MH-60G Pave Hawk #88-26116 (Call sign “Merit 84”) of the 55th SOS at Eglin AFB, FL. crewed by Maj. Stephan J. Laushine (P), Lt. Col. Roland E. Peixoto Jr. (CP), SSgt. Steven W. Kelley (FE) and Sgt. Phillip A. Keesler (FE) crashed into the Great Salt Lake, near Antelope Island, UT., killing five US Army Rangers and seven Air Force Special Operations Airman. Killed were USA Sgt. Blaine A Mishak. USA, Col. John T. Keneally, USA Lt. Col. Kenneth W. Strauss, USA 1st Sgt. Harvey L. Moore, Jr., USA Spc. Jeremy B. Bird, USA Lt. Col. Roland E. Peikotto, Jr. (P), USAF SSgt. Steven W. Kelley (FE), USAF Sgt. Philip A. Kesler (FE), USAF Sr. Amn. Derek C. Hughes, USAF Cpt. Michael L. Nazjonale, USAF Sgt. Mark C. Lee, and USAF TSgt. Mark Scholl. Only the pilot Maj. Laushine survived. hhtp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_accidents_and_incidents_involving_military_aircraft_(1990%E2%80%931999) & https://jollygg.blogspot.com/2020/10/merit-84-28th-anniversary.html?m=1&mibextid=Zxz2cZ&fbclid=IwAR0Lp0f4kcyHuKcQi-S24vcanYk7ESuZnXGEs1qVPds2K8MgcSpZ6tGr5l4 |
| 1992 - December 01 | The 21st SOS was relocated from RAF Woodbridge to RAF Alconbury, England and assigned to the 352nd SOG. http://medlibrary.org/medwiki/21st_Special_Operations_Squadron |
| 1992 - December 17 | The LAST three H-3E's, #69-05806, #67-14714 and #67-14723, at Kirtland AFB, NM departed for the 'boneyard' at Davis-Monthan AFB, AZ. #806 was crewed by the squadron commander, Lt. Col. Mike ?, Capt. J. D. Nelson, MSgt. Tim Colts, TSgt. Dave Waldorf and SRA Jim Hills. #714 was crewed by Capt. David Pacone, Lt. Col. Charles Griffen, SSgt. Wayne Giffin and TSgt. Earl Hamilton. #723 was crewed by Capt. Neal Alson, Lt. Col. Dale Cook, CMSgt. Jack Mazery, TSgt. Mike Thomas and SSgt. Dave Arvirez. Facebook post 14 Dec. 2014 by Richard H. James |
| 1993 - January 05 | Colonel Russell and Major John Brainerd, of the 21st SOS, were awarded the Cheney Award for the actions of their Pave Low crews on 5 January 1993 to recover an injured French officer from Zakho, Iraq. The flew their aircraft into northern Iraq at night in snowstorms and icing conditions and receiving enemy ground fire to recover the injured French officer and deliver him to critically needed medical care at Incirlik AB, Turkey. "On A Steel Horse I Ride" by Darrel D. Whitcomb |
| 1993 - February 01 | The 56th Rescue Squadron (56RQS), at NAS Keflavik, Iceland, was re-designated and assigned under the Air Forces Iceland, under Air Combat Command. https://www.globalsecurity.org/military/agency/usaf/56rqs.html |
| 1993 - May 01 | The 40th Helicopter Flight was activated at Malmstrom AFB, MT. http://www.malmstrom.af.mil/library/factsheet.asp?id=4677 |
| 1993 - September 01 | HH-3E #69-5809 of the 38th ARRS, Kadena AFB, Okinawa, crewed by Capt. Bruce Oyslon (P), 1st Lt. Anthony P. Angello (CP), TSgt. Murk E. Cooper (FE) was destroyed when the taxing helicopters blades hit a concrete light pole while travelling on the taxi way. The three crew members were injured with the pilot being hospitalized. An F-15 crew chief, TSgt. Robert Dale Wade, standing by the left intake of his nearby aircraft, was killed when he was hit by a large chunk of the concrete light pole and another F-15 crew chief was injured by the flying fragments generated by the disintegration helicopter. http://www.jollygreen.org/TailNumbers/69-05809.html & http://www.town.kadena.okinawa.jp/kadena/P08_base%20digest_English.pdf |
| 1993 - September 01 | HH-60G #91-26355 of the 210 RQS, Alaska Air National, crewed by unkn (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE), unkn (PJ) and unkn (PJ) flew to Lake Clark, about 50 miles west of Kenai, AK. to rescue Seymore Hicks of Anchorage, who had crashed his plane there a day earlier. Hicks was loaded into the helicopter and as it took off it came down and made a hard landing when both engines seized up. No one was hurt in the downed helicopter and an Alaska State Trooper helicopter in the area picked up Hicks. The downed helicopter was left to be recovered by an Army Chinook helicopter in a few days. See the September 07 entry below. No other details are available currently. Daily Sitka Sentinel, 10 Sep 1993, Fri, Page 9 |
| 1993 - September 07 | HH-60G #91-26355 of the 210 RQS, Alaska Air National Guard was destroyed when it was dropped while being ferried back to Anchorage for repair work. The 12,500-pound Pavehawk slipped loose from the Army Chinook helicopter's sling and fell about 1,000 feet to the ground and burst into flames. The helicopter was written off. No other details are known at this time. Daily Sitka Sentinel, 10 Sep 1993, Fri, Page 9 & http://www.helis.com/database/modelorg/772/ |
| 1994 - January 10 - 11 | Two HH-60G crews (Call sign "Rescue 206 & 208") from the 56th RQS at NAS Keflavik, Island received the 1994 Cheney Award for their January 10-11, 1994, rescue of six Icelanders from their sunken rescue tug, the Godinn, just off the coast of Vodvlavik, Iceland. This rescue was accomplished at night during extremely bad weather conditions. Crew members known to be involved in this mission include Lt. Col. Jim Sills (P), Capt. Gary Copsey (CP), Capt. John Blumintritt (P), Capt. Gary Henderson (CP), USN Flight Surgeon Lt. Rich Assaf (FS), SrA Jeff Frembling (FE), A1C Bill Payne (FE), Sr. Amn. Jesse Goerz (PJ) and SrA Matt Wells (PJ). http://www.usafe.af.mil/news/story.asp?id=123412883 & Facebook post by Gary Copsey |
| 1994 - May 05 | A MH-53 from Hurlburt Field, FL. rescued the pilot of a F-15C from the Gulf of Mexico after he had safely ejected from his F-15C about 5 miles south of Port St. Joe, FL. hhtp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_accidents_and_incidents_involving_military_aircraft_(1990%E2%80%931999) |
| 1994 - June 26 | A HH-60G from the 305th Rescue Squadron at Davis Monthan AFB in Tucson, AZ., crewed by unkn (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ), was responding to a rescue of a stranded hiker in the Sierra Ancha Mountains. Their HH-60G Blackhawk autorotated into the steep canyon, where it sustained significant damage. The engine continued to run for an hour after the crash, and there was a small fire that resulted as well. One crewmember was pinned between the helicopter and a boulder resulting in amputation of his leg above the knee. Three other crewmembers received minor injuries. The Air Force crew was assisting rescuers from Gila County Sheriff's Department Rescue Team.. http://www.mra.org/ |
| 1994 - October 06 | A HH-60G (Call sign "Jolly 04") TDY at Osan AB, Korea and from the 33rd RQS at Kadena AB, Japan, crewed by Capt. Edward J. Karlson (P), Capt. William M. Alston (CP), Sr. Amn. Frank H. Zurawski (FE), Sr. Amn. Richard M. Setaro (PJ) and A1C Jason C, Kutscher (PJ) crashed near the town of Joch Weon, Korea, about 35 miles south of Osan AB, killing all of the crew. The "Jolly 04" crew were TDY to Korea to provide SAR alert coverage for USAF fighter aircraft assigned to bases in the Republic of Korea. The flight profile on the night of the accident was a training night vision goggle (NVG) flight. "Jolly 04" flew into high tension wires and subsequently crashed. It is believed that all the crew members died on impact. http://www/pjsinnam.com/klod/Setaro.html |
| 1995 – January 29 | An USAF HH-60G #91-26404 (Call sign "Jolly 04") TDY at Osan AB, Korea and from the 33rd RQS at Kadena AB, Japan, crewed by Capt. Gary Bontly (P), Capt. Rob Jones (CP), TSgt. Duane Best (FE), SSgt. Chris Wise (PJ), MSgt. Joe O’Neil (PJ) and Sr.Amn. Ryan Schultz (?), rescued Isaya Saito, a jet skier whose engine had quit, and he was swept out to sea in 10-foot-high seas. Pacific Stars & Stripes, Thursday, Feb 2, 1995 |
| 1995 - June 06 | 1995 - June 06; MH-53J Pavelow III #68-10932 from the 31st SOS at Osan AB, Korea, crewed by Capt. Jonathan Owens (P), Capt. Carlos Halcomb (CP), SSgt. Jeffery Franco (FE) Sr. Amn. Erik Fricsons (FE), SSgt. J. P. Herman (AG) and SSgt. Rick Shore (AG) while on a routine training mission had catastrophic input drive shaft failure on the #2 engine while on short final to a helipad at the Koon-Ni Range, about 15 miles northwest of Osan AB. They made an emergency landing and the ruptured fuel and oil lines caught fire after landing and the aircraft burned in LZ and was completely destroyed. The crew was able to escape the burning aircraft without injury and they were picked up by a rescue helicopter. Pacific Stars & Stripes, Jun 08, 1995, pg. 6 & "On A Steel Horse I Ride" by Darrel D. Whitcomb & http://www.helis.com/database/accidents/?org=133&f2mod=83 |
| 1995 - July 01 | The 56th Rescue Squadron (56RQS), at NAS Keflavik, Iceland, was reassigned to the 85th Group. https://www.globalsecurity.org/military/agency/usaf/56rqs.html |
| 1995 - September 06 - 07 | MH-53 pilots Capt. Charles (Mark) Harmon and Captain Paul Moncrief and crews of "Knife 44" and "Knife 47" entered Bosnia, on 6 September 1995, in the dark of night and at low level, utilizing the Pave enhanced navigation capability and the crew's night vision goggles attempting to rescue the crew of a French Mirage 2000K (Call sign "Ebro 33") that shot down on the morning of 30 August 1995. The French crewmen were not located. These same MH-53 Pave Lows again entered Bosnia on 7 September 1995 in a second attempt to recover the crew of "Ebro 33" and both aircraft received damage from enemy ground fire and again, the crew of "Ebro 33" could not be located. Captain Harmon and Captain Moncrief were dually awarded the 1995 Cheney Award for their outstanding leadership of the mission. "On A Steel Horse I Ride" by Darrel D. Whitcomb |
| 1991 - January 01 | |
| 1996 - January 31 | UH-1N #68-10773 of the 512th SOS (512th RQS) crashed at Kirtland AFB, all six aboard survived. No other details are available currently. http://www.helis.com/database/accidents/?org=133&f2mod=92 |
| 1996 – March 16 | MH-53J #66-14429 crewed by unkn (P), unkn (CP) unkn (FE) and unkn (FE) of the 551st SOS at Kirtland AFB, NM. was damaged about 13 miles west of Hennessey and about one mile north of State Highway 51 when the helicopter was approaching a landing in a pasture and flared too much striking the tail rotor with the ground. The pilot was able to make an immediate landing, after spinning about 180 degrees, avoiding a severe crash. This happened near Vance AFB while conducting incentive flights for UPT students. Three people suffered minor injuries. One was treated at the scene while the others were treated at an Enid hospital. The helicopter was rebuilt and returned to service. No other details are available currently. The Daily Oklahoman (Oklahoma City, Oklahoma) 17 Mar 1996, Sun, Page 11 & https://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/USDemocrat-National/conversations/topics/16570 |
| 1996 - April 03 | Two MH-53's of the 20th and 21st SOS, operating from Brindisi, Italy, one (Call sign "Facet 23") crewed by Capt. Steve Kelly (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE), unkn (AG) and unkn (AG), the other (Call sign "Facet 23") crewed by Capt. John Conley (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE), unkn (AG) and unkn (AG), launched and proceeded to Dubronvnik, Croatia to aid in the search for a USAF CT-43, carrying the U.S. Secretary of State, Mr. Ronald Brown and possibly as many as 30 personnel on his team, that had reportedly crashed. The crash site was located; however, weather prevented the helicopters from landing at the site. Two additional "Pave Low's (with the Call signs "Facet 20 & 26") were sent to the Dubronvnik, Croatia airport carrying a command-and-control team to aid in the recovery of the bodies. "On A Steel Horse I Ride" by Darrel D. Whitcomb |
| 1996 - April 04 | The four "Pave Low's" operating from the Dubronvnik, Croatia airport and despite bad weather, were able to retrieve, by hoist, the bodies of 20 of the personnel on board the crashed CT-43 (see entry above on 03 April 1996). "On A Steel Horse I Ride" by Darrel D. Whitcomb |
| 1996 - April 05 | Two "Pave Low's" operating from the Dubronvnik, Croatia airport and despite terrible weather, were able to retrieve, by hoist, the remaining 15 bodies of the personnel on board the crashed CT-43 (see entry above on 03 April 1996) "On A Steel Horse I Ride" by Darrel D. Whitcomb |
| 1996 - April 08-17 | Four "Pave Low's" from the 20th & 21st SOS participated, along with other JSOCA forces, in the "Operation Assured Response" mission, evacuating 2,126 people from 76 countries from the fighting that was taking place in Monrovia, Liberia. "On A Steel Horse I Ride" by Darrel D. Whitcomb |
| 1996 - April 15-18 | Two "Pave Low's" from the 551st SOS was sent to assist in the recovery operation for an A-10 that had crashed in the Rocky Mountains near Eagle, CO. "On A Steel Horse I Ride" by Darrel D. Whitcomb |
| 1997 - December 30 | A HH-60G (Call sign "Rescue 321") of the 301st RQS at Patrick AFB, FL, crewed by Capt. Phillip Kennedy, Capt. Al Lupenski (CP), TSgt. Guillermo Toca (FE), SMSgt. Dana Beach (PJ) and Sr. Amn. Dave Biddinger (PJ) rescued six sailors, in high seas, from the sinking 493-foot freighter "Merchant Patriot". There was a total of 28 crewmen from the freighter that were rescued in conjunction with several USCG H-60 "Jayhawk" helicopters. http://www.jollygreen.org/Stories/Merchant%20Patriot%20Rescue%20Mission%20Report.html |
| 1998 - March 25 | A HH-60G from Det. 1, 33rd ARRS at Osan AB, RK, crewed by unkn (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (MT) along with several fixed wing USAF aircraft, Korean helicopters and US and Korean Naval ships, participated in the search for the pilot of a F-16 that had crashed into the Yellow Sea about 70 miles west of Osan AB. His body was discovered early on Mar. 26th by a Korean Air Force helicopter and retrieved by a South Korean naval crew. Pacific Stars And Stripes, Friday, March 27, 1998, page 1 & page 7 |
| 1998 - May 21 | A HH-60 (Call sign "Jolly 06") from the 56th Rescue Squadron rescued the captain of a Russian trawler, over 235 miles off the coast of Iceland, after he had been stricken with a heart attack. Facebook post by Scott Swanson 07/12/2013 |
| 1998 - May 27 | A HH-60 from the Alaska Air Guard at Elmendorf AFB, AK., crewed by unkn (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE), unkn (MT) spotted the wreckage of a private Cessna 206 that had crashed on an icy Alaska mountain and rescued six survivors who had huddled in the broken fuselage for more than six hours. None of the survivors had serious injuries but according to National Guard Capt. Mike Haller they appeared to be “right on the edge of going hypothermic” in the subfreezing temperatures and biting wind at 10,300 feet on Mount Torbert. Pacific Stars and Stripes, Saturday, May 30, 1998, page 33 |
| 1998 - June 05 | UH-1N 69-6616 of the 36th RQF written off. No other details are known at this time. http://www.helis.com/database/modelorg/786/ |
| 1998 - June 30 | A HH-60G from Det. 1, 33rd ARRS at Osan AB, RK, crewed by unkn (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE), unkn (FE) and unkn (MT) discovered the wreckage of a U.S. Army UH-60L that had crashed into a mountainside at about the 2,500-foot level northeast of Soul. Ground crews recovered the bodies of the three crew members, 1st Lt. Norman T. Flecker (P), CWO Riley W. Mason Jr. (CP) and Spc. Ryan J. Shears (Crew Chief). Pacific Stars And Stripes, Friday, page 01 - July 04, 1998 & Tuesday, July 07, 1998, page 01 |
| 1998 - September 03 | Two HH-60G's Pave Hawks #'s 88-26105 & 91-26359 (Call signs "Jolly 38 & 39") of the 66th RQS at Nellis AFB, NV. collided in midair and crashed, 25 miles north of Indian Springs, NV. just west of Quartz Peak in the Pintwater Mountain Range, during a routine night training mission killing all 12 crewmembers on board the two helicopters. The "Jolly Green 38" crew consisted of Capt. Greg W. Lewis (P), Capt. Phillip Miller (CP), SSgt. Kevin M. Brunelle (FE), SSgt. Kenneth W "Kenny" Eaglin (FE), MSgt. Matthew Sturtevant (AG) and Sr. Amn Jesse D. Stewart (PJ). "Jolly Green 39" crew consisted of Lt. Col. William H. "Hal" Milton (P), Capt. Karl Youngblood (CP), TSgt. Jeffery R. Armour (FE), SSgt. Adam Stewart (FE), Sr. Amn. Justin Wotasik (PJ) and 2nd Lt. Michael Harwell (MEP). http://www.lasvegassun.com/news/1998/sep/04/twelve-killed-in-nellis-helicopter-crash/ & http://www.helis.com/database/modelorg/772/ |
| 1998 - October 22 | MH-53J #66-14431 of the 58th SOWg. was destroyed by a USMC pilot on an acceptance check flight after NADEP depot maintenance at MCAS Cherry Point. It took off with no oil in the intermediate gear box, which subsequently seized up while in a hover. "On A Steel Horse I Ride" by Darrel D. Whitcomb & http://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/USDemocrat-National/conversations/topics/16570 |
| 1999 - January 28 | A MH-53 Pave Low (Call Sign "Cowboy 22") from the 20th SOS, crewed by unkn (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE), unkn (AG) and unkn (AG), on instrument check-flight out of Hurlburt Field, rescued the pilots after 45 minutes in the water after both had ejected from their F-15C's when they had a mid-air collision at 35,000 feet over the Gulf of Mexico during a 2 versus 3 Dissimilar Air Combat Training mission 80 miles S of Eglin over Eglin water range. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of _aircraft_at_Eglin_Air_Force_Base |
| 1999 - February 04 | A MH-53J Pave Low (Call Sign "Skat 08") from the 21st SOS, crewed by unkn (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE), unkn (AG) and unkn (AG) landed aboard the USS Monongahela (AO-178) operating in the Mediterranean Sea to make an emergency evacuation of a seaman with appendicitis and transported him to a hospital in Lecce, Italy.http://medlibrary.org/medwiki/21st_Special_Operations_Squadron |
| 1999 - March 28 | A MH-53J #67-14495 (Call sign "Moccasin 60") from the 20th SOS, crewed by Col. Stephen J. Laushine (RMC), Capt. Cardoso (P), Capt. John Glass (CP), SSgt. Bill Clemons (FE), TSgt. Ed Hux (FE), MSgt. John Dubuisson (AG) and SrA Chris Bloomfield (AG), a MH-53J (Call sign "Moccasin 61") from the 21st SOS, crewed by Capt. Shawn Cameron (P), Capt. Daley (CP), SSgt. Jim Hessick (FE), SSgt. Bill Rippert (FE), TSgt. Mike Hopkins (AG) and SrA. Mason Minich (AG) along with a MH-60G (Call sign "Gator 07”) from the 55th SOS, crewed by Capt. Chad Franks (P), Capt. Matt Glover (CP), SrA. Shawn Swift (FE), SSgt. Eric Giacchino (PJ), SrA John Jordan (PJ) and SSgt. Gunther Kirsch (AG) proceeded to rescue an F-117A (Call sign "Vega 31") pilot, Lt. Col. Dale Zelko who had been shot down by Serbian forces just south of the city of Ruma. The rescue was accomplished by MH-60G "Gator 07" with the two MH-53J's flying 'gunship' cover during the rescue. "On A Steel Horse I Ride" by Darrel D. Whitcomb |
| 1999 - May 02 | A MH-53J #67-14995 (Call sign "Skat 11") with the 16th SOWg., crewed by Capt. Kent A. Landreth (P), 1st Lt. Tom Palenske (CP), SSgt. William "Scooter" Kerwood (FE), SSgt. Vince DePersio (FE), SSgt. Barry Berschneide (AG) and SSgt. Dub Scott (AG) and a second MH-53J (Call sign "Skat 12"), crewed by Capt. Tom Lang (P), 1st Lt. Dan Nielsen (CP), Sr. Amn. Grady Galvin (FE), Sr. Amn. Erik Fricsons (FE), TSgt. Lou Orrie (AG) and SSgt. Dan Weimer (AG) along with an MH-60G (Call sign "Skat 13") with the 55th SOS, 16th SOWg., crewed by Capt. William F. “Bill” Denehan (P), 1st Lt. Tom Kunkel (CP), SSgt. Rich Kelley (FE), TSgt. Jack Gainer (AG), SSgt. Andy Kubik (Combat Controller), SSgt. Jeremy Hardy (PJ), and SrA. Ron Ellis (PJ) proceeded to rescue a F-16C (Call sign "Hammer 34") pilot, Lt. Col. David Goldfein who had been shot down by a SA-3 fired by Serbian forces about 40 miles southwest of Belgrade. The rescue was accomplished by MH-60G "Skat 13" with the two MH-53J's flying 'gunship' cover during the rescue. 1st Lt. Nielsen is known to have been awarded The Distinguished Flying Cross for heroism for his actions on this mission, awards for other crew members are unkn. "On A Steel Horse I Ride" by Darrel D. Whitcomb & Air Force Magazine article by Jennifer Hlad, Aug. 26, 2016, titled “Survival in Serbia” & The Distinguished Flying Cross News Magazine, Vol. 19, Issue 1, Summer 2019 & Message from John P. Hickman Jr. |
| 1999 - June 02 | MH-53J "Pave Low" #68-10364 (Call sign "Pave 02") from the 20th SOS at Hurlburt Field, FL., crewed by Capt. John Glass (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE), unkn (FE), unkn (AG) and SSgt. Kurt Upton (AG) crashed and was destroyed near Camp Mackall, NC., when the pilots lost situational awareness during an unexpected brown-out condition during their final approach to a landing zone. SSgt. Kurt Upton (AG) died of injuries suffered in the crash, the five other crew members were not seriously injured. http://www.rotorheadsrus.us/documents/mh_53j_near_ft_bragg.html & "On A Steel Horse I Ride" by Darrel D. Whitcomb |
| 1999 - October 03 | UH-1N #69-6602 from the 37th Helicopter Flight, 90th Space Wing at F.E. Warren AFB, WY, and crewed by 1st Lt. Sean Stevens (P), 1st Lt. Joseph Alkire (CP), Capt. (Dr.) Kyle Van De Graff (Flt. Surgeon) and TSgt. Lawrence Mason (MT) crashed approximately 60 miles south southwest of F.E. Warren AFB, WY. The helicopter was on a search mission for a missing three year old boy. The pilot, co-pilot and Med. Tech. suffered minor injuries. The Flt. Surgeon and a civilian, Mr. Mark Sheets, that was aboard suffered fractures and contusions. The helicopter was damaged beyond repair. hhtp://usaf.aib.law.af.mil/ExecSum2000/UH-1_FtCollies_3Oct99.pdf |
| 1999 - December 15 | HH-60G #87-26006 (Call sign "Jolly 12") from the 332nd Expeditionary Rescue Sq., 332nd Air Expeditionary Gp., Al Jaber AB, Kuwait, crewed by Capt. Anderson (P), 1st Lt. Rahman (CP), TSgt. Hodges (FE) and SSgt. Rogers (AG) landed hard and rolled over, approximately 27.3 miles southeast of Al Jaber AB while making an approach to Bigfoot Landing Zone while conducting tactical training. All crewmembers safely egressed the helicopter following the crash with only muscle strains and minor cuts and bruises. http://usaf.aib.law.af.mil/ExecSum2000/HH-60_AlJabar_15Dec99.pdf |
| 2000 - August 02 | MH-53M #69-5784 of the 21st SOS, 352nd SOGp., RAF Mildenhall, United Kingdom crashed on a training flight. The helicopter landed in an eight-foot depression and the tail rotor impacted the ground causing significant damage to the helicopter. All crew members received only minor injuries. http://usaf.aib.law.af.mil/ExecSum2000/MH-53_Mildenhall_2Aug00.pdf |
| 2000 - December 13 | A MH-53M of the 20th HS at Hurlburt Field, FL., crewed by unkn (P), unkn (CP), TSgt. T. J. Carmichael (FE), SSgt. Gary Mishey (FE), unkn (AG) and unkn (AG), was diverted from a local training mission to rescue the pilot of a F-16 who had ejected from his disabled aircraft, about 20 miles off the coast of Apalachicola, Florida. "On A Steel Horse I Ride" by Darrel D. Whitcomb |
| 2001 - October 14 | HH-60G #97-26776 (Call sign "Jolly 83") of the 41st Rescue Sq., Moody AFB, GA., crashed into the Kissimmee River near MacDill AFB, FL., while on a Combat Search and Rescue Exercise, after the helicopter made a steeply banked right turn at low level which they were not able to recover from prior to impacting the river. The crew members were able to safely egress the helicopter with minor injuries. The helicopter was written off (damaged beyond repair). http://usaf.aib.law.af.mil/ExecSum2002/HH-60_Near_MacDill_14Oct01.pdf & https://aviation-safety.net/wikibase/wiki.php?id=183024 |
| 2001 - November 02 | MH-53M #69-5791 of the 20th SOS, crewed by Capt. Frank unkn (P), unkn (CP), SSgt. Clint unkn (FE), unkn (FE), unkn (AG) and unkn (AG), went down in extremely hazardous weather conditions in the mountains and was lost in Afghanistan. A 21st SOS MH-53 that was part of the flight (Call sign "Knife 04") crewed by 1st Lt. Mike Holder (P), Capt. Jay Humphrey (CP), SSgt Vince DePersio (FE), SSgt. Chad Ackman (FE), SSgt. Mark Wolcott (??), SSgt. Al Aguinaldo (??), SSgt. Paul Orse (??), Sgt. Bill Adams (??) and SrA Jason Andrews (??). The crew of "Knife 04" received the 2001 Mackay Trophy for their actions rescuing the crew of the downed MH-53. http://www.helis.com/database/accidents/?org=133&f2mod-83 & hhtp://www.rotorheadsrus.us/documents/512.html |
| 2002 - January 10 | MH-53 #68-10363 of the 551st SOS, 58th SOWg. at Kirtland AFB, NM crashed at 0328 hours while on a SAR mission approximately 22 miles north northwest of Durango, CO. The six-man crew and a civilian SAR responder escaped with minor injuries. The helicopter was severely damaged with a loss value of $5,303,376.00 and the helicopter was recovered and released by the AIB to be reconditioned. http://usaf.aib.law.af.mil/ExecSum2002/MH-53_DurangoCO_10Jan02.pdf |
| 2002 - January 24 | MH-53M #67-4994 of the 21st SOS, 352nd SOGp., Royal Air Force Base Mildenhall, United Kingdom suffered extensive damage to the main rotor blades when they stuck an antenna aboard the USNS Kanawha in the western Mediterranean Sea while they were attempting a night landing on the ship. There were no injuries to the crew of the helicopter or anyone on the ship. http://usaf.aib.law.af.mil/ExecSum2002/MH-53_USNSKanawha_24Jan02.pdf |
| 2002 - March 18 | MH-53M #68-8286 of the 20th SOS was lost in Afghanistan. No other details are available currently. http://www.heis.com/database/accidents/?org=133&f2mod=83 |
| 2002 - May 21 - 22 | A call came on the early evening to rescue two injured passengers aboard a storm-damaged yacht, the Persuader, in rough seas approximately 450 miles off the southwest coast of England. Answering that call was a combined Team Mildenhall effort resulting in hoisting the injured man, Simon Briscoe, 24 and woman, Anya Banks, 27 aboard an MH-53M Pave Low IV helicopter and transferring them to a civilian hospital. Those involved in the daring rescue placed it among their most harrowing experiences. Because the yacht was out of range of British air and sea rescue vessels, the 21st Special Operations Squadron was called upon. Two MH-53M’s, with augmented crews were sent to accomplish the mission, one (Call sign “Chalk 1”) crewed by Sean LeRoy (P), Aaron Barnes (P), Capt. Dan Nielsen (P), Mark Mapely (FE), Ron Durr (FE), Jim Hessick (FE), Brad Parker (AG), Kevin McKinney (AG) and Doug Vachon (AG) and the second (Call sign “Chalk 2”) crewed by Maj. Kevin “Chooch” Churchill (P), Manny Fiterre (P), Roy Oberhaus (P), Chuck Gutshall (FE), John Hickman (FE), Kevin Canders (FE), Tony Gentile (AG), Dub Scott (AG) and Jason House (AG). The duration of the mission stretched over two days and required about 90,000 pounds of fuel via aerial refueling. The two Combat Shadows received about 56,000 pounds during three refueling’s from KC-135s, and the two Pave Low helicopters received about 32,000 pounds during nine aerial refueling’s from the two Combat Shadows. It was the longest non-stop rescue performed from the British Isles. Maj. Kevin Churchill along with Capt. Sean LeRoy were awarded the 2002 Chaney Award for this mission. http://medlibrary.org/medwiki/21st_Special_Operations_Squadron & emails from John Hickman & 21st SOS Mission Summary 27 May 02 |
| 2002 - May 30 | HH-60G #89-26201 Pave Hawk of the 304th Rescue Sq., 939th Rescue Wg., Portland Air National Guard Base, Portland, OR. crewed by Capt. Grant Dysle (P), Capt. Chris Bernard (CP), Martin Mills (FE), Andrew Canfield (PJ), unkn (PJ) and unkn (PJ) crashes on Mt. Hood while attempting to rescue three critically injured climbers who had fallen into a crevasse. While trying to maneuver to land on the 45-degree slope of the mountain, while in a hover the wind shifted suddenly, and the main rotor blades impacted the steeply sloping terrain. The helicopter began to roll side over side down the mountain slope. The helicopter rolled seven-and one-half times before coming to rest inverted, approximately 200 feet below the site of impact. The seven-man crew egressed safely with non-life-threatening injuries. The HH-60G sustained $4,750,385.00 in damages. This accident was videotaped by an orbiting news helicopter and shown on network TV news shows. http://usaf.aib.law.af.mil/ExecSum2002/HH-60G_Portland_ExecSum_30%20May%2002.pdf & Air & Space Mag. Aug. 2014 |
| 2002 – July 28 | 2002 – July 28; UH-60L #93-26528 “Pavehawk” received substantial damaged on taxiway at Bagram airfield, Afghanistan. No other details are known at this time. https://aviation-safety.net/wikibase/wiki.php?id=149185 |
| 2002 - August 08 | UH-1N #69-6612 of the 512 Rescue Sq., 58th SOWg., Kirtland AFB, NM crashed on pad 8 of an auxiliary field approximately 5 nautical miles south of the Albuquerque International Airport while on a training flight. The five-man crew was not injured, and the aircraft was technically destroyed. http://usaf.aib.law.af.mil/ExecSum2002/UH-1N_Kirtland_8Aug02.pdf |
| 2002 - August 12 | HH-60G #97-26779 of the 41st Rescue Sq., 347th Rescue Wg., Moody AFB, GA. on temporary assignment to the 41st Expeditionary Rescue Sq., 416th Air Expeditionary Gp. and while it was deployed in support of Operation Enduring Freedom, performed an unplanned landing, 70 miles southeast of Bagram, and rolled over to its left side shortly after takeoff in a mountainous region of southwest Afghanistan. All crewmembers safely egressed the helicopter with only minor injuries. The HH-60G sustained an estimated $2,833.141 in post impact damage. http://usaf.aib.law.af.mil/ExecSum2002/HH-60G_Moody_12Aug02.pdf |
| 2003 - February 13 | MH-53M #68-10930 (Call sign "Chalk 4") of the 20th SOS, 16th SOWg., Hurlburt Field, FL. on a special operations team training mission near Ali Al Salem AB, Kuwait, was damaged upon landing when the nose landing gear collapsed, intruding upon flight control tubes, causing un-commanded movement of the flight controls. This causes the rotor tip path to dip excessively, resulting in main rotor blade contact with the ground and failure of the tail structure. There were no fatalities among the six crewmembers and 11-man special operations team. The helicopter damage value was over 15 million dollars. The helicopter has been repaired and returned to service. http://usaf.aib.law.af.mil/ExecSum2003/MH-53M_Kuwait_13Feb03.pdf |
| 2003 - March 19 | MH-53M #67-14993 of the 20th SOS was written off 19 Mar. 2003. No other details are available currently. http://www.helis.com/database/accidents/?org=133&f2mod=83 |
| 2003 – March 23 | HH-60G #97-26778 from the 41st Rescue Squadron at Moody Air Force Base in Georgia crashed Sunday in southeastern Afghanistan, killing all six people (four airmen and two PJ's) on board. The HH-60G Pave Hawk helicopter was on a medical evacuation mission when it crashed about 18 miles north of Ghazni. https://aviation-safety.net/wikibase/wiki.php?id=149188 |
| 2003 - May 22 | MH-53M #73-1648 of the 20th SOS, Hurlburt Field, FL. while operating at an overseas operating location, sustained damage to its main rotor system due to failure and separation of the main rotor head balance weights and the associated mounting bracket and bolts. http://www.rotorheadsrus.us/documents/mh_53m_hurlburt_fld_2003_html |
| 2003 - March 23 | HH-60G #97-26778 (Call sign "Komodo 11) of the 347th RW, 41st RQS, crewed by Lt. Col. John Stein (P), Capt. Tamara L. Archuleta (CP), SSgt. Jason Hicks (?), MSgt. Michael Maltz (PJ), SSgt. John Teal (?) and SrA Jason Plite (PJ) crashed while on a medical evacuation mission in Afghanistan. The helicopter was doing a night low level air refueling when it disconnected and impacted the terrain. Six crewmembers were fatally injured, and the helicopter was destroyed. http://usaf.aib.law.af.mil/ExecSum2003/HH-60G_FOL_23Mar03.pdf |
| 2003 - October 01 | The CSAR forces and mission was switched from Air Combat Command to Air Force Special Operations Command. http://www.airforcemag.com/magazinearchive/documents/kittyhawkchronology/kitty1980-2013.pdf |
| 2003 - November 23 | MH-53 Pave Low #70-1625 (Call sign "Beatle 12"), of the 20th SOS, crashes during a combat mission about nine miles from Bagram AB, Afghanistan. Killed in this crash were Maj. Steven "Steve" Plumhoff (P), SSgt. Thomas "Tom" A. Walkup Jr. (FE), MSgt. William "Bill" J. Kerwood (FE) and TSgt. Howard "Howie" A. Walters (AG) and Sergeant Major Phillip R. Albert (U. S. Army), 8 others on the mission survived, 1st Lt. Christopher C. Richardson (CP), SMSgt. Wayne C. Lopez (AG), 2nd Lt. William H. Waggy (passenger), SSgt. Jonathan Purser (passenger), Specialist Diane C. Gilliam (passenger), Specialist Gary L. Craig (passenger), Specialist Juan C. Aguilera (passenger) and Specialist Demetrius C. Kincaid (passenger). The MH-53M experienced #2 engine failure and could not maintain single engine flight and while attempting a precautionary landing the remaining engine lost power and the helicopter landed fast on a level, rocky riverbank, subsequently ran into a 3-foot-high embankment that severed the tail boom, rolled left and came to rest inverted. A post-crash fire rapidly consumed the aircraft. http://usaf.aib.law.af.mil/ExecSum2004/MH-53M_Afghanistan_23Nov03.pdf |
| 2004 - April 13 | MH-53M #69-5797 of the 20th SOS was hit by a RPG at Zawbaa, Iraq. No other details are available currently. http://www.helis.com/database/accidents/?org=133&f2mod=83 |
| 2004 - April 16 | Two HH-60G's crews from the 38th & 41st RQs at Moody AFB, GA., rescued five soldiers from the crash of a U.S. Army CH-47 helicopter in Iraq despite battling a blinding sandstorm and being attacked by SAM's and small arms fire. The crew of HH-60G #92-26463 (Call sign "Jolly Green 11") was 1st Lt. Bryan Creel (P), Capt. Joseph Galletti (CP), SSgt. Patrick Ledbetter (FE), Sgt. Vincent J. Eckert (PJ), SSgt. John Griffin (PJ) & TSgt. Thomas Ringheimer (AG) and the crew of the other HH-60G was Capt. Robert Wrinkle (P), 1st Lt. Gregory Rockwood (CP), TSgt. Michael Preston (FE), TSgt. Paul Silver (AG), SSgt. Matthew Leigh (PJ), SSgt. Michael Rubio (PJ) and Sr. Amn. Edward Ha (PJ). The two HH-60 crews received the 2004 Mackay Trophy. http://www.airforcemag.com/magazinearchive/documents/kittyhawkchronology/kitty1980-2013.pdf & http://www.rotorheadsrus.us/documents/512.html & Air Force Print News, Dec. 5, 2005 |
| 2004 - October 20 | HH-60G #87-26014, Pave Hawk, (Call sign :Halo 42") of the 66th Rescue Sq., Nellis AFB, NV., 347th Rescue Wg., Moody AFB, GA., crewed by Maj. Kevin R. Haff (P), 1st Lt. Benjamin R. Scheutzow (CP), A1C Jesse M. Samek (FE), Sr. Amn. Vanessa E. Dobos (AG), SSgt. Paul Schultz (PJ) and SSgt. Scott J. Bilyeu (PJ), crashed while on a medical evacuation mission approximately 146 nautical miles northwest of Kandahar AB, Afghanistan. The helicopter encountered a 'brown out' condition, impacted the ground and rolled down a hill 5-7 times coming to a rest on its right side approximately 180 feet down the hill from the point of impact. The flight engineer, FE A1C Jesse M. Samek, was killed and PJ SSgt. Scott J. Bilyew was severely injured. The four remaining crewmembers sustained non-permanent injuries. The helicopter was destroyed. http://usaf.aib.law.af.mil/ExecSum2005/HH-60G_Nellis_20Oct04.pdf & http://www.foia.af.mil/shared/media/document/AFD-090731-024.pdf |
| 2005 - May 11 | HH-60G #82-23728 (Call sign "Ghost 69) of the 512th Rescue Sq., 58th SOWg. at Kirtland AFB, NM on an instructor proficiency training sortie impacted the crest of a small knoll, on the Angel Fire Vietnam Memorial property, and then violently rolled left, ejecting the flight engineer, TSgt. Scott A. Bobbitt, from the cabin, then came to a rest on the upper left side of the fuselage. The flight engineer, who was on his "fini" flight prior to retirement, was killed. The pilot and co-pilot were treated for minor injuries. The helicopter caught fire shortly after impact. http://usaf.aib.law.af.mil/ExecSum2005/HH-60G_ExecutiveSummary.pdf |
| 2005 - August 29 | Hurricane Katrina strikes the U.S. Gulf Coast, devastating New Orleans and surrounding area. USAF and other services begin massive relief operations, including four HH-60's and 100 airmen for SAR from the 55th RQ, Davis-Monthan AFB, AZ.; four HH-60's, aircrews, Pararescueman, and maintainers for SAR from the 563rd Gp. Davis-Monthan AFB, AZ.; AFSPC units from F. E. Warren AFB, WY., Malmstrom AFB, MT., Minot AFB, ND., and Vandenberg AFB, CA. provided UH-1N's and crews; the 16th SOS from Hurlburt Field, FL. provided HH-60G's; the 347th RQ Wg., Moody AFB, GA., provided HH-60's and crews for SAR and the 920th RQ Wg., Patrick AFB, FL., provided three HH-60G "Pave Hawks" for SAR. http://www.airforcemag.com/Features/airpower/Pages/box090505katlist.aspx |
| 2005 - November 05 | USAF receives its first TH-1H, a modified UH-1H to be used for training. http://www.airforcemag.com/mahazinearchive/documents/kittyhawkchronology/kitty1980-2013.pdf |
| 2006 – March 20 | The Air Force's first operational CV-22, tail number 04-0026, arrived at Kirtland AFB, NM., to begin operational utility evaluations (OUEs) under AFOTEC. Three additional aircraft arrived through May 2006. OUEs took place through 29 June 2006, followed by a formal transfer of the CV-22s to AETC and the 58 SOW. The first 58th SOW sortie took place on 19 July 2006. 58th SOW History, March 2024 |
| 2006 - April 03 | The CSAR forces and mission was switched from Air Force Special Operations Command back to Air Combat Command. http://www.airforcemag.com/magazinearchive/documents/kittyhawkchronology/kitty1980-2013.pdf |
| 2006 - June 18 | A UH-1N "Huey" from the 40th HS at Malmstrom AFB, MT. crewed by Maj. Newton (P), Capt. Shane Werley (CP), TSgt. Jay Orr (FE), Dr. (Capt.) Ki Lee Milligan (FS) and Capt. Holli Bellusci (Flight Medic) recorded their first night save of 2006 when they rescued an injured, 25-year-old, woman by hoist, near Canary Peak northwest of Gardner, MT in the Beartooth Mountains area. This was the unit's 364th save. http://malmstrom.af.mil/news/story_print.asp?id=123027573 |
| 2006 - July 24 | Two HH-60's of the Alaska National Guard and a Coast Guard helicopter rescued all 23 crew members from an Asian cargo ship, the "Cougar Ace" that was taking on water south of the Aleutian Islands. http://www.cbsnews.com/news/23-sailors-rescued-near-alaska/ |
| 2006 - November 16 | The first CV-22 "Osprey" arrives for duty at Hurlburt Field, FL., where it is assigned to the 8th SOS. http://www.airforcemag.com/magazinearchive/documents/kittyhawkchronology/kitty1980-2013.pdf |
| 2007 - September 07 | MH-53 Pave Low IV #69-05794 (Call sign “Cowboy 21”) of the 20th SOS at Hurlburt Fld., FL. piloted by Lt. Col. Eugene Becker crashed about 5 miles south of Crestview, FL after suffering tail rotor gear box failure while in a hover. Two of the seven crew members aboard, Col. William Nelson (FS) and A1C Bradley Jordan (AG) were injured. hhtp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_aircraft_accidents_at_Eglin_Air_Force_Base |
| 2007 - October 05 | The CV-22 participates in its first search and rescue mission. The aircraft and crew assigned to the 58th SOWg. at Kirtland AFB, NM., was in the air within 1.5 hours of notification. http://www.airforcemag.com/magazinearchive/documents/kittyhawkchronology/kitty1980-2013.pdf |
| 2007 - October 09 | The 21st SOS was inactivated at RAF Mildenhall, England. http://medlibrary.org/medwiki/21st_Special_Operations_Squadron |
| 2007 - November 29 | HH-60G # 91-26401 of the 33rd Expeditionary Rescue Sq., 451st Air Expeditionary Gp. at Kandahar AB, Afghanistan received between 3.7M and $6M in damages. The helicopter was landing in brown out conditions while on a medical evacuation mission to pack up a two-year-old Afghan female. After the hard landing the crew elected to continue the mission. http://usaf.aib.law.af.mil/ExecSum2008/HH-60G_AOR_29Nov07.pdf |
| 2008 - September 27 | A United States Air Force Sikorsky MH-53M Pave Low IV special operations helicopter, serial number 68-8284, assigned to the 20th Expeditionary Special Operations Squadron, flew its final combat mission before being withdrawn from service and retired after 40 years and 12,066.6 flight hours. “Cowboy 26” was flown by Major Philip Cooper, Captain Peter Hettinger, and Colonel Scott Howell, with Technical Sergeant Henry Woodie, Staff Sergeant Shawn Lewis, Senior Airman Eric Harp, and Airman 1st Class Joshua Lucas. After leaving Iraq, 68-8284 was transported by C-17 Globemaster III to England. It was loaned to the Royal Air Force Museum Cosford, where it is on display. https://www.thisdayinaviation.com/27-september-2008/ |
| 2008 - September 27 | The MH-53's flew their last combat missions in Southwest Asia and were sent directly from last combat mission to retirement. The "Pave Lows" had served for 40 years, including combat in the Vietnam War. http://www.airforcemag.com/magazinearchive/documents/kittyhawkchronology/kitty1980-2013.pdf |
| 2008 - September 30 | Air Force Special Operations Command ends operational use of the MH-53 "Pave Low" helicopter. The last six in service completed combat operations in Southwest Asia on 27 September 2008 and were being transported back to the states for retirement. The "Pave Lows" had served for 40 years, including combat in the Vietnam War. http://www.airforcemag.com/magazinearchive/documents/kittyhawkchronology/kitty1980-2013.pdf |
| 2009 - June 30 | TH-1H # 73-21840 of the 23rd Flying Training Sq., 58th SOWg. At Fort Rucker, AL., experienced a hard landing due to loss of tail rotor thrust approximately 43 miles west of Cairns Army Airfield, AL. The pilot and two student pilots were treated for minor injurie. The helicopter sustained $6.7M in damage. http://usaf.aib.law.af.mil/ExecSum2009/TH-1H_FortRucker_30Jun09.pdf |
| 2009 - July 24 | A UH-1N of the 40th Helicopter Squadron at Malmstrom AFB, MT., crewed by Maj. Ryan Dahlin (P), Capt. Andrew Ackles (CP), MSgt. Scott Andrews (FE), Col. Marcel Dionne (FS) and SR Amn. Kenvin Keophakdy (MT) completed the 374th "save" for the squadron when they rescued Julie Elwell, 49, who was hiking along Belt Creek in Sluice Boxes State Park, located about eight miles south of Belt, MT., when she lost her footing and fell more than 30 feet, hit a ledge and landed in the creek. Family members with her pulled her from the creek and local emergency responders had stabilized her when the helicopter arrived to hoist her aboard and transport her to Benefits Hospital. http://www.malmstrom.af.mil/news/story.asp?id=123161504 |
| 2009 - December 28 | A HH-60G “Pavehawk”, crewed by unkn (P), unkn (CP), TSgt. Patrick J. Ledbetter (FE), unkn (AG), unkn (PJ) and unkn (PJ) were part of a four-ship task force sent at night to rescue one urgent casualty, near Nad e Ali, Afghanistan, whose injury put the lives of 160 British soldiers in jeopardy. On their first approach they were driven off by enemy small arms, heavy machine guns, and anti-aircraft fire. They were again driven off the rescue attempt on the second try and then on their third try they successfully rescued the urgent casualty and one more soldier from the area. TSgt. Ledbetter was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross for this mission, awards for the other crew members are unkn. The Distinguished Flying Cross News, Volume 12, Issue 3, Winter 2012 |
| 2010 - April 06 | UH-1N 69-6618 from the 1st HS at Andrews AFB, MD., crewed by unkn (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) was involved in an incident where it suffered a hard landing accident in Brandywine, MD. No other details are known at this time. http://usaf.aib.law.af.mil/indexFY10.html |
| 2010 - April 08 | A U.S. Air Force CV-22B #06-0031, crewed by Maj. Randell D. Voas (P), unkn (CP), MSgt. James B. Lakey (FE) and unkn (FE), crashed in southern Afghanistan, killing the pilot, flight engineer and two passengers, a statement from NATO-led forces said Friday. The cause of the crash of the Air Force CV-22B Osprey was not known, said the International Security Assistance Force statement. The co-pilot and second flight engineer and 14 passengers were injured in the crash late Thursday night. The CV-22B, which conducts long-range infiltration and resupply operations for the U.S. military, went down seven miles west of the city of Qalat, the capital of Zabul province. https://edition.cnn.com/2010/WORLD/asiapcf/04/09/afghanistan.chopper.down/index.html?hpt=T2 |
| 2010 - June 09 | A HH-60G #89-26201 (Call sign “Pedro 66”) (also known as "Snow Ball" - see entry 30 May 2002) and crewed by Capt. David A. Wisniewski (P), Capt. Anthony Simone (CP) SSgt. David C. Smith (FE), TSgt. Michael P. Flores (PJ), Sr. Amn. Benjamin D. White (PJ) 1st Lt. Joel C. Gentz (PJ) and MSgt. Christopher Aguilera (AG) was struck by hostile fire and crashed in southeastern Afghanistan. 1st Lt. Gentz, SSgt. Smith, TSgt. Flores and Sr. Amn. White was killed in the crash. Capt. Wisniewski died on July 2, 2010 from injuries received during the June 09, 2010, crash. Capt. Simone and MSgt. Aquilera were injured and survived. “Pedro 66” was on a mission with “Pedro 66” to rescue a critically injured British Marine near Forward Operating Base Jackson in the Sangin District, Helmand province, in southern Afghanistan. Upon arrival at the scene, both helicopters came under enemy fire. “Pedro 67” landed to recover the wounded Marine, while “Pedro 66” remained in the air to provide cover. While still airborne, “Pedro 66” was hit by and enemy launched rocket-propelled grenade, critically damaging the tail rotor. Prior to the aircraft’s uncontrollable spin and subsequent crash, Capt. Wisniewski was able to guide the aircraft away from the LZ, friendly troops and civilian houses on the ground, avoiding probable additional loss of life. http://www.helis.com/database/modelorg/772/ & That Others May Live Foundation Facebook post, June 8, 2015 |
| 2010 - August 08 | UH-1N #69-6625 of the 40th HS, Malmstrom AFB, MT. with a crew of three who were not injured and an injured hiker, was involved in an hard landing accident and turned over on its side, while on a night medevac mission of an injured hiker at Wise River Airport, MT., southwest of Butte, MT. No other details are known at this time. http://usaf.aib.law.af.mil/indexFY10.html & http://www.helis.com/database/modelorg/786/ |
| 2011 - March 10 | A UH-1N of the 54th HS, from Minot AFB, ND., crewed by Capt. Matthew Sutliff of the 91st Missile Wing (P), 1st Lt. Nelson (CP), TSgt. Jason Fifield (FE) and SSgt. Michael Wright (FE), rescued civilians Jason Nelson and Dennis Schmierer, in the very early morning hours, from their pickup, more than 500 yards from dry land, after it had been swept away by rising flood waters about two miles south of Savage, MT. http://www.kpax.com/news/military-helicopter-rescues-montana-men-swept-away-in-flood-waters/ |
| 2011 - April 23 | Two HH-60G (Call signs “Pedro 83 & Petro 84”) "Pave Hawk" crews responded to a call of a downed Army helicopter in Afghanistan. “Pedro 83”, crewed by unkn (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE), unkn (PJ), unkn (PJ) and unkn (PJ) and “Pedro 84” crewed by unkn (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE), SSgt. Zachary Kline (PJ) and SSgt. Bill Cenna (PJ). “Pedro 83”, dropped three PJ’s onto a ridge several hundred feet from the crash site, where they found one of the Army pilots alive. “Pedro 84”, dropped two PJs closer to the crash site where the discovered the other pilot had been killed in the crash. “Pedro 84” took heavy ground fire, and the flight engineer was wounded in the leg forcing them to return to base to get medical attention for him. The two PJ’s were left at the crash site. “Pedro 83” using a ‘one wheel hover’ on the ridge picked up the three PJs they had dropped off. The two PJs at the crash site were picked up on a latter attempt by the helicopters. https://news.yahoo.com/10-pilot-repeatedly-drew-fire-222930478.html |
| 2011 - April 27 | UH-1N #69-6603 of the 512th Rescue Sq. 58th SOWg. at Kirtland AFB, NM., crashed, rolled over and was destroyed in the post-crash fire, while on a hoist training mission at a remote LZ near Kirtland AFB, NM. During the hoist training the forest penetrator snagged on a stationary F-111 capsule causing loss of control of the helicopter. All the crew exited without major injuries. The helicopter was destroyed by a fire that ignited shortly after impact. http://usaf.aib.law.af.mil/ExecSum2011/UH-1N_Kirtland_ExecSum_27%20Apr%2011.pdf |
| 2011 - May 26 | Two HH-60G "Pave Hawk" crews from Det. 1, 46th Expeditionary Rescue Squadron at Kandahar Airfield, Afghanistan, rescued three critically wounded U. S. Army Pathfinders Soldier's from an active mine field in Shorbak District, Kandahar Province, Afghanistan. Guardian Angel Team Member, Sr. Amn Zachary C. Hoeh (PJ) was awarded The Distinguished Flying Cross with "V" device for his actions during the rescue. http://www.airforcemag.com/DRArchive/Documents/2014/August%202014/Hoeh_DFC.pdf |
| 2011 - July 07 | A UH-1N of the 40th Helicopter Squadron at Malmstrom AFB, MT., crewed by Capt. Leo Gracik (P), Capt. Kurt Ponsor (CP), Sr. Amn. Michael Frank (FE), and Col. Marcel Dionne (FS), completed the 383rdh "save" for the squadron when they rescued Julie Elwell, 49, who was hiking along Belt Creek in Sluice Boxes State Park, located about eight miles south of Belt, MT., when she lost her footing and fell more than 30 feet, hit a ledge and landed in the creek. Family members with her pulled her from the creek and local emergency responders had stabilized her when the helicopter arrived to hoist her aboard and transport her to Benefits Hospital. http://www.malmstrom.af.mil/news/story.asp?id=123264182 |
| 2012 - June 13 | CV-22B #06-0032 of the 8th SOS at Hurlburt Field, FL. crashed on the Eglin AFB range north of Navarre, FL., during a routine training mission. All crew members were rescued. http://www.helis.com/database/cn/4892/ |
| 2012 - August 04 | Two HH-60G "Pave Hawk" crews from the 83rd Expeditionary Rescue Squadron at Bagram Airfield, Afghanistan completed a 7.5-hour, 329-mile mission, under enemy fire, rescuing six wounded New Zealand soldier, and Afghan soldier, an Afghan national and recovered the remains of two New Zealanders killed in action. The crews of "Pedro 83, Capt. Michael H. Kingry (P), Capt. Matthew M. Pfarr (CP), MSgt. Scott Spangler (FE), Sr. Amn. Josha Brown (AG) Capt. Matthew Carlisle (Combat Rescue Officer) and of "Pedro 84", Capt. John Larson (P), Capt. Gavin H. Johnson (CP), TSgt. Scott D. Lagerveld (FE), SSgt. Robert G. Wells (AG). Aughttp://www.airforcemag.com/MagazineArchive/page/204/February%202014/0214rescue.aspx |
| 2012 - August 06 | USAF officials announce the service has created a new enlisted aviator field - 1A9X1 Special Missions Aircraft - that will encompass aerial gunners and flight engineers who serve aboard the HH-60G "Pave Hawks" and CV-22 "Osprey" and loadmasters who serve on AC-130 gunships and special operations non-standard aircraft. http://www.airforcemag.com/magazinearchive/documents/kittyhawkchronology/kitty1980-2013.pdf |
| 2013 - February 25 | UH-1N #69-6660 of the 54th HS, 91st Missile Wg., Minot AFB, ND on a remote area hoist training mission approximately 10 miles south southeast of Parshall, ND., rolled over during an emergency autorotation due to failure of the #2 tail rotor driveshaft flexible coupling. The pilot and co-pilot were not injured and the two flight engineers and one passenger were treated for minor injuries. The helicopter sustained damage to the main rotor, transmission, main driveshaft, fuselage and landing gear with total loss valued at $2,365,515.00. http://usaf.aib.law.af.mil/ExecSum2013/UH%201N%2C%20Near%20Parshall%2C%20ND%2C%2025%20Feb%2013%20Exec%20Sum.pdf |
| 2013 - March 23 | HH-60 (call sign "Komodo 11) crewed by Lt. Col. John Stein (P), 1st Lt. Tamara Archuleta (CP), SSgt. Jason Hick (FE), SSgt. John Teal (FE), MSgt. Michael Maltz (PJ) and Sr. Amn. Jason Plite (PJ) crashed, about 18 miles north of Ghazni, Afghanistan, while attempting to save 2 Afghani children. All crew members were killed in the crash. http://www.pjsinnam.com/war_on_terror/komodo_11/komodo_11.html |
| 2013 - June 05 | The LAST operational USAF UH-1H 73-21721 was transferred from Hurlburt Field, FL. to civilian use by the New York State Police's aviation unit as part of the Law Enforcement Support Organization Program. http://www.helis.com/database/modelorg/1136 |
| 2013 - August 05 | HH-60G Pave Hawk #91-26354 (Call sign "Jolly Green 12") of the 33rd RSq., Kadena AB, Japan, crashes approximately 14 miles NE of Kadena AB in Okinawa's Central Training Area near Camp Hansen while on a training mission. TSgt. Mark A. Smith (FE) was fatally injured in the crash and subsequent fire which destroyed the helicopter. Three other crewmembers were injured but survived. USAF Executive Summary Aircraft Accident Investigation & http://www.rotorheadsrus.us/documents/hh_60g_okinawa_2013.html |
| 2013 - September 12 | HH-60G Pave Hawk #88-26106 of the 129th RSq., California Air National Guard, Moffett Federal Airfield, CA., crewed by unkn (P), unkn (CP), unkn (SMA) and unkn (SMA), along with a civilian member of the High Sierra Volunteer Trail Crew were participating in a California Joint Task Force Domestic Support, Counterdrug operation. The civilian was being hoisted from the helicopter when he mistakenly hooked the hoist cable to a non-load bearing D-ring on his tactical vest once he had his full weight on the hoist the non-load bearing D-ring brook and he fell approximately 40 feet to his death. Executive Summary Aircraft Accident Investigation, HH-60G T/N 88-26106, Sequoia National Forest, Springville, CA., 12 Sept.2013 |
| 2014 - January 02 | A HH-60G Pave Hawk of the 210th Rescue Sq. rescued Devan McDowell, about 5 1/2 miles east of Koliganek, AK., who went missing while snowmobiling from Koliganek, to Levelock, AK. http://www.nationalguard.mil/News/ArticleView/tabid/5563/Article/7589/alaska-air-national-guard-member-rescue-snowmobile-operator.aspx |
| 2014 - January 07 | A HH-60G Pave Hawk #88-26109 (Call sign "Jolly Green 22") of the 56th RSq. crashed, on marshland on the North Norfolk Coast of England, during a night training mission from multiple bird strikes. All crewmembers were killed in the crash, Capt. Christopher Stover (P), Capt. Sean Ruane (CP), TSgt. Dale Mathews (FE) and SSgt. Afton Ponce (FE). http://www.stripes.com/news/europe/4-us-airmen-killed-in-pave-hawk-crash-on-england-coast-1.260936 |
| 2014 - February 25 | A HH-60G Pave Hawk of the 210th Rescue Sq. rescued a four who were lost while snow machining, Jason Coffey, Tara Coffey, Robert Milligan and Jonathan Hines of Wasilla, AK. http://www.alaskapublic.org/2014/02/27/4-snowmachiners-rescued-by-alaska-air-national-guard/ |
| 2014 - March 04 | A HH-60G Pave Hawk of the 210th Rescue Sq. rescued an injured Iditarod musher 61 miles southeast of McGrath, AK. http://www.military.com/daily-new/2014/03/07/alaska-air-guardsmen-rescue-iditarod-musher.html |
| 2014 - March 10 | A UH-1N of the 54th HS, Minot AFB, SD, crewed by Capt. Matthew R. Sutiff (P), 1st Lt. Kyle B. Nelson (CP), TSgt. Jason L. Fifield (FE) and SSgt. Michael R. Wright (FE) rescued two men trapped in the bed of their truck in Savage, MT., when an ice flow caused the river to overrun its banks. http://www.minot.af.mil/news/story.asp?id=1234-3178 |
| 2014 - April 02 | A HH-60G Pave Hawk of the 210th Rescue Sq. conducted a medevac mission for a 2-week-old infant from New Stuyahok, AK., early in the day. Then that evening rescued Nicholas Janes and his sons, ages 11 & 15, who were overdue on a hike on the Crow Pass Trail between Gridwood and Eagle River, AK. http://www.alaskadispatch.com/article/20140413/ak-beat-alaska-air-national-guard-rescues-sick-infant-stranded-hikers-separate |
| 2014 - April 24 | HH-60G Pave Hawk of the 210th Rescue Sq. rescued a man, by hoist, from his sinking raft in the Cook Inlet approximately one mile from Fire Island. http://www.nationalguard.mil/News/ArticleView/tabid/5563/Article/8732/alaska-air-national-guard-member-rescue-man-from-sinking-raft.aspx |
| 2014 - April 30 | HH-60G Pave Hawk of the 210th Rescue Sq. rescued four uninjured survivors of a Cessna 172 crash at the toe of the Skilak Glacie, AK. The four men rescued were Soldotna, AK., residents Logan Sutton, Levi Sutton, and the pilot Donny Joachim along with Reid Nelson of Cokato, MN. http://www.nationalguard.mil/News/ArticleView/tabid/5563/Article/8732/alaska-air-national-guard-member-rescue-man-from-sinking-raft.aspx |
| 2014 - May 25 | UH-1N #69-6622 (Call sign "Air Force Rescue 22") from the 40th HS "Pathfinders" at Malmstrom AFB, MT., crewed by Capt. Jay Murnyack (P), 1st Lt. William Lynn (CP), TSgt. Michael Duffney (FE), TSgt. Justin Nissen (FE) and Lt. Col. Ramon Yambo-Arias a(FS) recorded their 400th rescue when they located and rescued a 50-year-old man who was hiking the Bear Creek Overlook Trail in the Bitterroot National Forest (about 150 miles from the base) and had gone off the trail and fell 30 ft. breaking his leg. Then just minutes after touching down back at Malmstrom AFB following this rescue, the same helicopter crew (except for the Flight Surgeon, who was Maj. Rhodora Beckinger) was dispatched for another one, this time for an avalanche victim on Red Mountain near Butte, Mt. (about 150 miles from the base) and recording the unit's 401st rescue. http://www.afgsc.af.mil/news/story.asp?id=123412432 |
| 2014 - August 27 | HH-60G Pave Hawk from the 210th Rescue Squadron of the Alaska Air National Guard crewed by unkn (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE), unkn (PJ and unkn (PJ) rescued two men, early Wednesday morning, near Coal Creek, AK., after their aircraft had crashed late Tuesday evening. http://www.ktuu.com/news/ak-air-guardsmen-rescue-2-from-coal-creek-plane-crash/27761472 |
| 2014 - August 31 | HH-60G #92-26467 “Pave Hawk” with the 210th RQS at Join Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska, crewed by unkn (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ) was involved in a mishap at Copper Mountain, Lake Clark, Alaska. At approximately 2315 hours local, while the "Pave Hawk" was in a hover performing the rescue of injured civilian hiker, the rotor wash caused a rock to dislodge from the rock-strewn ridge above the rescue site to fall and it struck a second civilian hiker in the forehead, rendering him unconscious and placing him in critical condition. The helicopter crew successfully lifted both injured hikers and two additional uninjured hikers. The two injured hikers were delivered to Providence Hospital in Anchorage, Alaska for treatment and delivered the two uninjured hikers to National Park Service authorities in Anchorage. United States Air Force Aircraft Accident Investigation Board Report. |
| 2014 - September 20 | A UH-1N (Call sign "Rescue 13") of the 36th RQF, 336th Training Support Squadron at Fairchild AFB, WA. and crewed by Capt. Erik Greendyke (P), Capt. Josiah Hart (CP) SSgt. Jeremy Burnite (SMA) and Maj. David Oldham (FS) rescued Ammi Midstokke, a female rock climber, who had been injured and entrapped by a 1.5-ton boulder. This was the 688th rescue for the 36th RQF. Http://www.af.mil/News/ArticleDisplay/tabid/223/Article/500030/injured-idaho-hiker-rescued-by-fairchild-crew-aspx |
| 2014 - December 05 | A CV-22 of the 20th SOS, crewed by Capt. Jonathan Seagle (P), Capt. John Vandenbemden (CP), SSgt. Spencer Seymore (FE) and SSgt. Daniel Teel (FE), while deployed, responded to a special operations assault force that had come under heavy fire from enemy combatants. Their timely actions led to the successful evacuation of critically wounded ground personnel, while under enemy fire, after landing in an extremely difficult, 80-foot restricted-visibility landing. After departing the LZ, the crew made the first CV-22 shipboard contingency landing aboard a U.S. Navy vessel to deliver the wounded for immediate surgery. The CV-22 crew members were awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross and the Air Medal for Valor for their actions on this mission. http://www.cannon.af.mil/News/ArticleDisplay/tabid/136/Article/625225/green-hornet-crew-receives-highest-aerial-honors.aspx |
| 2014 - December 15 | A HH-60G "Pave Hawk" from the 129th RQW at Moffett Federal Airfield, CA., crewed by unkn (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE), unkn (PJ), unkn (PJ) and unkn (PJ), rescued a sick 24-year-old male, from the 65-foot commercial fishing vessel "Temptation" about 160 miles at sea off the coast of Monterey, CA. http://www.129rqw.ang.af.mil/news/story.asp?id=123434468 |
| 2015 - March 26 | A HH-60G "Pave Hawk" of Air Force Reserve Command from the 303rd Expeditionary Rescue Sq. deployed at Camp Lemonnier, Djibouti, crewed by unkn (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE), unkn (PJ), unkn (PJ) and unkn (PJ), rescued two pilots of a Saudi Arabian Air Force F-15S from the Red Sea after the pair ejected during a strike sortie in Yeman. Air Force Magazine Daily Report, Tue, Mar. 31, 2015 |
| 2015 - July 05 | A UH-1N from the 40th HS at Malmstrom AFB, MT., crewed by Capt. Matthew Finnegan (P), Maj. Jeffery Miser (CP), SSgt. Ryan Oliver (SMA), SSgt. Daniel Marchick (SMA) and Capt. Melonie Parmely (FS), rescued an injured female hiker in the Big Horn Mountain Range roughly 15 miles west of Buffalo, WY. at approximately 5:20 a.m. This rescue marked the 408th save for the 40th HS. |
| 2016 - January 05 | A HH-60G in Afghanistan, crewed by unkn (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE), unkn (AG) and unkn (AG), on a mission to attempt the recovery of a U.S. special forces team, was damaged when its rotor blades reportedly struck the wall of a compound. The mishap occurred in the Marja district of southern Helmand province. No other details are known at this time. "Combat Aircraft", March 2016, page 200 |
| 2016 - January 18 | A UH-1N from the 37th Helicopter Squadron, F.E. Warren AFB, WY., crewed by Capt. Stephen Jones (P), 1st Lt. Mathew Brox (CP), Lt. Col. Michael Clay (Medic) and SSgt. Brice Marshall (FE) rescued Two snowmobilers in southern Wyoming. http://www.afgsc.af.mil/News/ArticleDisplay/tabid/2612/Article/643861/helicopter-crew-saves-two-lives-during-search-and-rescue-mission.aspx |
| 2016 - August 18 | A HH-60 #91-26407 “Pave Hawk” rescue helicopter from Nellis AFB, NV., crewed by unkn (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (FE) crashed at an undisclosed location in a remote part of the 2.9-million-acre military range north of Las Vega. The helicopter was on a nighttime training mission at the time. The four crew members were transported to a local medical facility and received treatment for minor injuries. Las Vegas Review-Journal |
| 2018 - March 15 | A HH-60G #92-6466 (Call sign “Jolly Green 51”) from the 332nd Air Expeditionary Wing (106th RQW, 38th RQS & 308th RQS) in Iraqi, crewed by Capt. Chirstopher “Tripp” Zanetis (P), Capt. Andreas B. O’Keefe (CP), MSgt. Christopher Raguso (FE), SSgt. Dashan J. Briggs (FE), Capt. Mark Weber (PJ), MSgt. Bill Posch (PJ) and SSgt. Carl Enis (PJ) crashed in western Iraq killing all seven. “Jolly Green 51” was the lead aircraft in a flight of two HH-60G’s along with “Jolly Green 52”, crewed by unkn (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE), unkn (FE) Lt. Col. Tim Hanks (PJ), TSgt. Lee von Hack-Prestinary (PJ) and SSgt. Josh Langley (PJ) on a night mission to reposition to an undisclosed location. “Jolly Green 51” was descending into an unplanned landing zone when it struck a roughly half-inch thick steel cable stretched between two 341-foot-high towers. “Jolly Green 51’s” main rotor assembly became entangled in the cables, resulting in catastrophic damage and the crash. Another HH-60G, crewed by unkn (P), unkn CP), unkn (FE), unkn (FE), CMSgt. Mike Ziegler (PJ) and Tech. Sgt. Chris Moore (PJ) later joined Jolly Green 52 at the crash site to help with recovery efforts. https://www.tampabay.com/news/military/war/Rescuing-the-rescuers-from-the-trauma-of-seeing-buddies-crash-to-their-deaths_167406724/ & https://www.airforcetimes.com/news/your-air-force/2018/10/29/navigation-error-blamed-for-deadly-helicopter-crash-that-killed-seven-us-troops-in-western-iraq/ |
| 2018, March 18 | A HH-60G from the 129th Rescue Wing at Moffett Air National Guard Base, crewed by unkn (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ) experienced a hard landing south of Mountain Home on Highway 51. There were no injuries to the six-man crew members on board. |
| 2018 - April 18 | Four UH-1N’s #69-6657, #69-6636, #69-6661 & unkn, from the 1st Helicopter Squadron from Joint Base Andrews, MD performed a four-ship flyover during the dedication ceremony for the “Vietnam Pilots and Crew-members Memorial” at Arlington National Cemetery. Names of the crews are not known at this time. Facebook news reports |
| 2019 – July 01 | The new USAF HH-60W “Jolly Green II” makes its first flight. https://www.airforcemag.com/lockheed-martin-and-usaf-stir-the-secret-sauce-of-innovation/ |
| 2019 – July 01 | YOKOTA AIR BASE, Japan, the newly established 21st Special Operations Squadron — the Dust Devils — and the 753rd Special Operations Maintenance Squadron — whose emblem is the Heikegani samurai crab — was activated. The squadrons will fly and maintain five CV-22 Ospreys tiltrotor aircraft (eventually they will have 10 CV-22’s) to its line-up at the home of U.S. Forces Japan in western Tokyo. https://www.stripes.com/news/pacific/special-operations-osprey-squadrons-stand-up-at-us-air-base-in-tokyo-1.588311 |
| 2020 – January 29 | A UH-1N from the 40th HS at Malmstrom AFB, MT., crewed by Maj. Nicholas Morris (P), Maj. Derek Winkler (CP), MSgt. Joe Cox (FE), TSgt. Drew Lambert and TSgt. Tim Rohlfing (MT) rescued two missing snowmobilers south of Neihart, MT. Once airborne the UH-1N joined the search, already in progress by ground parties, in the near freezing temperatures around the Little Belt Mountains. The two missing snowmobilers, one 71 years old and one 75 years old, were located by the ground search team and moved to a lower elevation. The helicopter crew lowered the medic, by hoist, to check the two men and then they were in good health despite staying overnight in deep snow. They were taken abort and transported to emergency medical personnel for further medical assistance. https://www.malmstrom.af.mil/News/Article-Display/Article/2071201/40th-hs-rescues-missing-snowmobilers-in-mt-mountains/ |
| 2020 – February 11 | The Air Force’s newest helicopter, the MH-139A Grey Wolf, completed its first combined test flight on Feb. 11. With a Boeing pilot in command, this test flight allowed the Air Force its first in-flight look at the capabilities of the aircraft. The flight also made Maj. Zach Roycroft, 413th Flight Test Squadron lead test pilot for the program, the first Air Force pilot to fly the MH-139A. “This flight represents a tremendous amount of work, and we are all very excited to see it happen,” said Andrew Whitten, the MH-139 flight chief, who was also on board the flight. Staff Sgt. Alex Graves, Air Force Global Strike Command Det. 7 special mission aviator, was also on board for the historic flight. http://en.aviation-report.com/the-new-usaf-helicopter-mh-139-grey-wolf-begins-testing/ |
| 2020 – October 31 | A CV-22A of the 20th SOS from Kirtland AFB, NM and operating from Rota, Spain, crewed by Maj. Kyle Konkolics (P), unkn (CP) SMSgt. Christopher Reedy (SMA), SSgt. Christin Springs (AG), TSgt. Thomas Morgan (AG), TSgt. Robert Duck (SMA) rescued an American citizen, Philip Walton, who had been kidnaped from his home in Nigeria on October 27 and was being held hostage by seven men who were demanding a $1 million ransom for his release. This CV-22 crew was part of this mission which involved three other CV-22’s, four MC-130J’s, one AC-130J, six KC-135’s and one U.S. Navy P-8A that was required to accomplish this over eleven hours, non-stop, 2,000-mile mission. This CV-22A delivered members of U.S. Navy Seal Team six that recovered and successively rescued Mr. Walton from the hands of his captors. The five listed crewmembers were awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross for their role in this mission, described as the longest-distance nighttime hostage rescue mission in U. S. military history. https://taskandpurpose.com/news/air-force-hostage-rescue-mission-nigeria-awards/?fbclid=IwAR0kn1G5M6cya5P-UfjtcN4XTLhOiRmBTbTPBGbw5BiAAXIB4fszhexZsyU & https://abcnews.go.com/International/american-hostage-philip-walton-rescued-dramatic-military-operation/story?id=73940195 |
| 2020 – November 05 | The US Air Force (USAF) received its first operational pair of Sikorsky HH-60W combat rescue helicopters (#17-14488 & #17-14489) at Moody AFB in Georgia on 5 November. The helicopters were flown from the Sikorsky Training Academy in Stuart, Florida, by unknown pilots from the 41st Rescue Squadron. The HH-60W is an enhanced version of the US Army’s UH-60M Black Hawk. The new variant has additional fuel tanks, giving it an unrefueled 195nm (361km) combat radius. It also comes with technologies to protect against surface-to-air missiles, including digital radar warning receivers, laser warning system and a missile and hostile fire warning system. https://www.flightglobal.com/helicopters/us-air-force-receives-first-two-sikorsky-hh-60w-combat-rescue-helicopters/141018.article#:~:text=The%20US%20Air%20Force%20(USAF,service%20said%20on%206%20November |
| 2021 – March 09 | A HH-60G from the Alaska Air National Guard's 176th Wing, crewed by unkn (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE), unkn (PJ) and unkn (PJ) rescued an injured Iditarod Trail musher, Aliy Sirkle, some 136 miles north of Anchorage. The musher was injured after she fell about 5 miles short of the Rohn Roadhouse checkpoint for the 900-mile dogsled race, which traverses remote Alaskan wilderness. Air Force Magazine May 2021 |
| 2021 – August 29 | A HH-60G (Call sign “Pedro ?”) crewed by Maj. Mark Ross (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE), unkn (PJ) and unkn (PJ) led a flight of three HH-60G’s (crews unkn) out of Afghanistan to an airfield in Pakistan, marking the last HH-60G flights out of Afghanistan as U. S. Armed Forces withdrew from the war in Afghanistan. Air Rescue Association Newsletter, Vol. 76, Issue 1, Feb 2004 |
| 2022 – December 23; | A HH-60W (Call sign “Pedro 11”) with Pararescue team (Call sign “Sheepdog”) from the 449th Air Expeditionary Group operating from Camp Lemonnier adjacent to Djibouti-Ambouli International Airport, crewed by unkn (P), unkn (CP), unkn (SMA), unkn (SMA), unkn (AG) and unkn (PJ) made the first combat rescue for the USAF Jolly Green II when they rescued two injured foreign service members from an undisclosed location. Air Rescue Association Newsletter, Vol. 76, Issue 1, Feb 2004 |
| 2023 – May 26 | The 550th Helicopter Sq. commanded by Lt. Col. Tyler J. Williams, was activated at Malmstrom AFB, MT. This is the first squadron to be equipped with the new MH-139 “Gray Wolf” helicopter. KXLH TV, May 26, 2023, at 9:29 AM CDT |
| 2023 – June 01 | The 66th Rescue Sq. located at Nellis AFB, NV., flying six HH-60G and HH-60W helicopters was inactivated on this date. The 66th RQS first took to the air as the 66th Air Rescue Sq. on 14 November 1952 at RAF Manston (UK). At the time, the squadron flew C-119 “Flying Boxcar” transporters, H-19 “Chickasaw” helicopters and SA-16 “Albatross” seaplanes. The 66th ARS was inactivated on 18 January 1958. https://www.scramble.nl/military-news/usaf-helicopter-rescue-squadron-disbanded |
| 2023 – October 07 | A HH-60G from the 210th Rescue Sq. of the Alaska National Guard crewed by unkn (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE), SSgt, Jared Isaacson (PJ) and unkn (PJ) made two separated saves rescuing a total of three people. In the first mission they medevacked a woman car crash victim, who was critically injured, from Seward, Alaska to Providence Alaska Medical Center in Anchorage for surgery. They were then immediately dispatched to the second mission where they rescued two victims from a Piper PA-18 aircraft that had crashed about 65 miles west of Anchorage near Beluga Lake. https://www.nationalguard.mil/News/Article-View/Article/3563556/alaska-air-guard-rescues-plane-crash-car-accident-victims/ |
| 2023 – November 29 | A CV-22B ‘Osprey’ (Call sign “Gundam 22”) from the 353rd SOWg’s 21st SOS, crewed by Maj. Jeffrey Hoernemann (P), Maj. Luke Unrath (CP), Capt. Terrell Brayman (CP), SSgt. Jake Turnage (FE), SrA Brian Johnson (FE), Maj. Eric Spendlove (FS) and TSgt. Zachary Lavoy (MT) crashed and went down in the ocean near Yakushima, Japan, while on a “routine training mission” with the loss of the seven crew members and one other, SSgt. Jacob Galliher, onboard. https://www.cbsnews.com/boston/news/jacob-galliher-u-s-military-osprey-aircraft-crash-death-japan-pittsfield-massachusetts/ & https://www.airandspaceforces.com/pentagon-8-airmen-missing-japan-osprey-crash/ |
| 2023 - December 06 | The U.S. military is grounding all of its Osprey V-22 aircraft in the wake of last week’s deadly U.S. Air Force crash off the coast of Japan that left eight airmen dead. The coordinated announcement means that all versions of the Osprey flown by the Marine Corps, Air Force and Navy are being grounded as part of an operational stand down (See previous entry). https://abcnews.go.com/US/us-military-grounds-22-ospreys-weeks-deadly-crash/story?id=105442837 |
| 2024 – February 27 | The newly arrived HH-60W, at the 33rd RQS, at Kadena AB, Japan, made its FIRST flight on this date with a full operational Air Force crew, unkn (P), unkn (CP), unkn (SMA), unkn (SMA), unkn (PJ) and unkn (PJ). More of the new HH-60W “Jolly Green II’s" will be replacing the 33rd RQS existing HH-60G’s with an expected completion date by the end of 2025. BULGARIANMILITARY.COM |
| 2024 – March 06 | The first active-duty MH-139A “Grey Wolf” helicopter arrives at Malmstrom Air Force Base, Mont., assigned to the 40th and 550th Helicopter Squadrons. The crew flew roughly 1,600 miles over a course of five days from Duke Field, Florida, where the aircraft had undergone extensive training and preparation prior to its arrival at Malmstrom AFB. The Grey Wolf was designed to be a direct replacement to the Air Force’s aging fleet of Huey helicopters. ttps://www.dvidshub.net/image/8277428/first-mh-139a-grey-wolf-arrives-malmstrom-afb & https://www.scramble.nl/military-news/first-grey-wolf-helicopter-arrives-at-malmstrom |
| 2024 – March 08 | The U.S. military lifted the grounding order (see 2023 Dec. 06 entry above). The AFSOC outlined a three-step approach to getting its CV-22s back in the air and its crews fully qualified and comfortable flying again. Phase 1; Ground and simulator training, Phase 2; A “multi-month program” for aircrews and maintainers to regain proficiency and mission currency. Phase 3; A return to full operations, including exercises and deployments. Air & Space Forces Magazine |
| 2024 – April 03 | The first MH-139A “Gray Wolf” helicopter for the at the 908th Airlift Wing, Maxwell AFB, AL. arrived. The 908th Operations Group is the new home of the U. S. Air Force’s formal training unit for the “Gray Wolf” aircrews, the only such training school in all of the Department of Defense. https://verticalmag.com/press-releases/maxwell-air-force-base-welcomes-first-mh-139a-grey-wolf-helicopter/ |
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