These pages are an attempt to have an overview of the use of the Call Sign "PEDRO" by the USAF HH-43 crews worldwide
The most early known use of the PEDRO call sign by HUSKIE crews was found in a mission report of the 33 ARS, Naha AB, Okinawa (source : AFHRA file K318.2 Jan-Dec 65,VOL.3)Mission #8, 12 Jan 65. Naha ADCC advised 33 ARS of an aircraft in distress. Pedro 1 was scrambled and an HU-16B on local airborne alert was diverted to the area of the distressed aircraft. The aircraft, an UH-34, was being escorted by another UH-34. ADCC advised the 33 ARS to recall the HH-43 and allow the HU-16 to continue its original mission when the UH-34 landed at White Beach. The mission was declared false and closed.
For
CONUS, the earliest use of PEDRO was found
in an
article
titled
"DET
5
and
9
HH-43B's
Rescues
138"
Two
HH-43B's
from
Det
9,
WARC,
Portland
International
Airport,
Ore.
,
were
aided
in
the
rescue
work
by
another
HUSKIE
from
Det
5,
WARC
at
McChord
AFB,
Wash.
Detachment
5
was
called
on
after
roads
and
bridges
leading
to
Crystal
Mountain
were
washed
out,
stranding
over
300
skiers
in
the
snow-covered
area.
Operating
under
the
call-names
of
Pedro
1,
2
and
3
,
the
crews
were
faced
with
turbulence
so
bad
that
the
crew
of
Pedro
1 -
Capt
Thomas
D.
Precious,
SSgt
Enoch
Benson,
medic,
and
A3c
George
Lepsey,
crewman
-
was
temporarily
delayed
from
takeoff.
PEDRO Call Sign SEA - Vietnam and Thailand
PEDRO
Call
Sign
PACIFIC
Air
Rescue
&
Recovery
Center
(outside
Vietnam-Thailand)
PEDRO
Call
Sign
ATLANTIC
Air
Rescue
&
Recovery
Center
As a side note : PEDRO was also used by the US Navy at some time , proved by a report in Kaman Rotor Tips issue Sep-Oct 1973,page 37 : the SAR Alert from NAS Whiting Field, FL launched a Kaman UH-2C Seasprite with call-sign "Pedro 163" after a T-28 crashed.
last update 12/05/2010