August-September-October 1969-page 6, 12,13,22,23,24

SSgt Duane D. Hackney receives reenlistment oath from astronaut Col James A. McDivitt. (USAF photo)

ELLINGTON AFB, TEX, - SSgt Duane D. Hackney was recently reenlisted in the United States Air Force by astronaut Col James A. McDivitt at a ceremony here.

Sergeant Hackney, a member of Det 21, CARRC at Ellington, is one of the most highly decorated enlisted men in the Air Force. He wears the Air Force Cross, the Silver Star, the Bronze Star, Distinguished Flying Cross with two Oak Leaf Clusters, Airman's Medal, Air Medal with seven Oak Leaf Clusters, Air Force Commendation Medal and Purple Heart.

Hackney also was the Military Airlift Command's Airman of the Year in 1968 and recipient of the Cheney Award - an award given for acts of valor, extreme fortitude or self-sacrifice in a humanitarian interest.

Det 21, commanded by Maj Robert A. Bunton, has the unique mission of providing rescue coverage for the Apollo astronauts training in the Lunar Landing Training Vehicle. Activated in April, 1969, the unit is part of the ARRS headquartered at Scott AFB, Ill. 

 

“Southeast Asia”

 

New Commander for 3rd ARRGp

TAN SON NHUT AB - Col Malcolm C. Frazee, a 20-year veteran of air rescue assignments, took command recent­ly of the 3rd ARRGp and became the senior Military Airlift Command commander in Southeast Asia. Colonel Frazee replaces Col Rayvon Burleson, who departs for a new assignment at Ramstein AB, Germany, in a few weeks.

Colonel Frazee takes command of the 3rd ARRGp after serving as vice commander of the 41st ARRWg at Hickam AFB, Hawaii. The 41st ARRWg has direct administrative control over all USAF rescue forces in the Pacific, including those in Southeast Asia.

The Colonel entered flight training school in 1943 after he was graduated from Vista High School, Vista, Calif. , and was commissioned Dec 4, 1943. He flew 264 combat tours in B-17s over Europe in World War II.

With the exception of assignments in Washington, D.C., the Republic of the Philippines and at March AFB, Calif., all of Colonel Frazee's assignments since 1945 have been associated with air rescue. From November 1965, to December 1968, he served as deputy commander, operations, of the 89th Military Airlift Wing (Special Missions) at Andrews AFB, Md.

Colonel Frazee wears the Legion of Merit, Distinguished Flying Cross with one oak leaf cluster, the Air Medal with three oak leaf clusters, the Air Force Commendation Medal with one oak leaf cluster and numerous other decorations.

 

RESCUE IS THEIR BUSINESS - Shown are the men from Det 10, 38th ARRSq, Binh Thuy AB, RVN, with their HH-43 "Pedro" helicopters.
Kneeling, left to right, are Alc J. D. Selfridge, Sgt R. L. Wright, SSgt G. H. Jones, SSgt J. H. Hogan, Sgt R. E. Neil, Sgt J. B. Potthier, Alc R. C. Stiefken, Alc W. M. Tutwiler, SSgt W. J. Juchem, SSgt D. A. Filut, SSgt G. L. Villeneuve (holding mascot Figmo), Sgt E. L. Cartwright, Sgt K. P. Johnson, Alc T. J. Polys.
Standing are SMSgt J. F. McCue, MSgt J. G. Regan, Jr. , Capt R. A. White, Capt J. D. Cusano, Sgt T. S. Wellington, Sgt H. F. Bayne, TSgt D. R. Peckinpaugh, Capt J. L. Debevec, Capt P. H. Kammann, Capt C. A. Jessee, and Maj R. L. Gaede. (USAF photo)

 

TO SAVE A LIFE - An HH-43 crew runs toward helicopter during typical Det 10 "scramble. " Shown are Capts Cecil A. Jessee and John L. Debevec, Sgt Terry S. Wellington and TSgt Dudley R. Peckinpaugh.

In another typical mission, Capt Philip H. Kammann holds an HH-43 in position as Sgt Kenneth P. Johnson hoists a wounded Navyman from a speeding river patrol boat.

In photos at right, Army medics rush sailor to emergency treatment at the 29th Evac Hospital near Binh Thuy. Captain Debevec is the HUSKIE pilot. Weary rescuemen return after a mission - one of hundreds carried out by ARRS crews in South­east Asia. Left to right are, Sergeant Peckinpaugh, Captain Debevec, and Captain Jessee. (USAF photos)

 

BINH THUY AB (7AF) - Det 10, 38th ARRSq - the world's busiest base rescue detachment -recently recorded the 2,500th "save" in Southeast Asia. Two HH-43 rescue crews from the detachment flew to the Mekong Delta town of Rach Gia to pick up three U. S. Navymen after they were wounded in a mortar explosion. The rescues, which brought the total to 2,500 , were listed as non-combat saves.

Both the detachment's HH-43 "Pedro" helicopters were used in the evacuation. Maj Ralph Gaede was pilot of one helicopter and Capt John Debevec was pilot of the other. With Major Gaede were Capt Cecil L. Jessee and Sergeants Michael F. Dean and Kenneth P. Johnson. Captain Debevec's crew included Capt Jack D. Cusano and TSgt Dudley R. Peckinpaugh.

The three saves brought Det 10's 1969 total to 71. All but 15 of the total have been made during enemy attacks. Since elements of the 3rd Aerospace Rescue and Recovery Group came to Vietnam in 1964, its Pedro and Jolly Green Giant rescue helicopter crews have recorded 1,693 com­bat and 808 non-combat saves. Det 10 has recorded nearly one-fourth of the 3rd ARRGp's total saves for 1969 and one third of the group's 176 combat saves have been credited to the busy Delta unit.

The detachment was activated in December, 1965, and HH-43 crews attached to the unit began making saves a few weeks later. During 1966 a total of 10 combat saves were made by Det 10, plus eight additional medevacs. (Non-combat saves were not recorded for that, or the following, year.) In 1967, Det 10 made 66 combat saves, plus an additional 16 medevacs. A total of 69 combat saves, 21 non-combat saves, and five medevacs were made in 1968.

 

DET 10's BUSINESS CARD - On the back are a number of questions, all concerned with less than desirable situations - "Blue Monday?" ... "Your aircraft quit?"... "Wife send a dear John?".. . "Got a tiger by the tail?" etc. , and the advice to call Binh Thuy for air rescue.

 

HONORED BY KAMAN - Numerous Scrolls of Honor and Mission Awards have been presented by Kaman Aerospace Corp to Det 10 in recognition of the many rescue, medevac and other flights made by the HH-43 crews. Among the latest recipients are, front row, left to right, Sgt Kenneth P. Johnson, TSgt Dudley R. Peckinpaugh, Alc Theodore J. Polys, Alc Richard C. Stiefken, Capt John L. Debevec, Capt Cecil A. Jessee and Capt Robert A. White. Rear row, Capt Philip H. Kammann and Sgt James B. Potthier. (USAF photo)

 

From RotorTips issue November-December 1969 - page 13 :

2,500th "SAVE"-Shown are the Rescuemen from Det 10, 38th ARRSq, Binh Thuy AB, who made the 2,500th "save" in Southeast Asia several weeks ago (see August-September-October Rotor Tips). Front row, left to right, are Capt Jack D. Cusano, TSgt Dudley R. Peckinpaugh, and Capt John L. Debevec. They manned one of the two HH-43 Pedros used during the evacuation of three U. S. Navymen wounded in a mortar explosion. In the rear row is the crew of the other helicopter: Sgt Kenneth P. Johnson, SSgt Michael F. Dean, Capt Cecil A. Jessee and Maj Ralph L. Gaede.

Major Gaede, detachment commander, was recently presented the Silver Star-the United States' third highest award for heroism - for another Pedro mission last January (1969). The major was pilot of an HH-43 which rescued a downed airman while under heavy en­emy fire. Others aboard the battle - damaged helicopter received the Distinguished Flying Cross. They are Captain Cusano, SSgt Gerald H. Jones and Alc Richard C. Stiefken. (USAF photo)

 

A downed Vietnamese pilot undoubtedly owes his life to the courageous efforts of a pararescueman from Det 7, 38th ARRSq, Da Nang AB. Ignoring the obvious danger from a large shark in the immediate area, Sgt Norman C. Kohlstrand leaped into the water from an HH-43 and attempted to unbuckle the pilot from his encumbering straps and equipment. The sergeant worked steadily although the shark was less than 50 feet away and occasionally disappeared in the five-foot swells with their breaking whitecaps. The survivor, seasick and in a mild state of shock, was tangled in his parachute, his ejection seat was still attached, and his life preserver had inflated behind his neck and was forcing his head down into the water. Sergeant Kohlstrand finally cut the survivor loose after attempts at unbuckling failed. Meanwhile, in the Pedro overhead, TSgt William H. Sands, SSgt William N. Shannon, and Sgt Bruce J. Bell kept weapons trained on the shark in case any move was made to attack the two men in the water. For almost 10 minutes, Capt Johnny R. Johnson, RCC, and his copilot, Capt John S. Murray, held the HH-43 in a hover until the rescuee and Sergeant Kohlstrand were safely aboard. Maintaining position had been extremely difficult for the rescue pilots due to the combination of light rain driven by winds gusting to 26 knots and the greyness of the day which obliterated reference points. 

A few weeks earlier, Sergeant Kohlstrand volunteered to be lowered from an HH-43, at night, into an old French mine field with unexploded mines still in it. After a 10­minute search through the dark forest, the pararescue­man located the downed pilot he sought and both were hoisted to the rescue helicopter. Earlier another pilot, who had ejected from the same aircraft, was rescued by the Pedro which was manned by Captain Johnson, Capt Henry E. Hooke, Sgt Brian D. Morris, Sgt Roger D. Elam, and Sgt George S. Gladu. Captain Johnson hovered the helicopter in the darkness just above the tree tops to make the rescue.

 

Maj Morgan A. Downing recently assumed command of Det 11, 38th ARRSq (MAC), at Tuy Hoa AB. He previously served three years as commander of the Athens Flight Service Center, Athens, Greece. This new assignment is Major Downing's first experience with rotorcraft. He attended helicopter school at Sheppard AFB, Texas, in September 1968 and was subsequently assigned to the 38th ARRSq.

Since taking command of the unit, the Major says, "I enjoy it very much. There is a real sense of accomplishment in taking part in a combat rescue. We've had twenty combat saves since the first of the year. When we come back from a mission and touch down with the men we've picked up, everyone in the detachment from the pilots to the maintenance men can see first hand that they had a part in it. It's a very rewarding experience, " Major Downing, a senior pilot, has personally participated in nine of the rescues.

 

LtCols Richard W. Burkholder and Harold V. Wright were rescued from mountainous, jungle-covered terrain by Det 13, 38th ARRSq, after they ejected from their crippled aircraft 11 miles from Phu Cat AB where the ARRS unit is based. One of the downed pilots was rescued by an HH-43 crew consisting of Capt Richard J. Bouckhout, RCC; Capt Robert S. Morita, RCCP; Sgt Daniel L. Lange, RS and Alc Barry D. Herbert, RS. The other rescue was carried out by 1stLt Wayne A. Grant, III, RCC; and his crew: Maj Juan H. Migia, RCCP; SSgt Delbert B. Dunn, FE; and Sgt James E. DeGraw. Sergeant DeGraw was lowered from the helicopter and worked for 20 minutes to free the survivor who was hanging from his shroud lines.

 

PHU CAT AB (7AF) - Six men assigned to Det 13, 38th ARRSq, at Phu Cat AB recently received Distinguished Flying Crosses for their parts in a massive rescue operation near Vinh Thanh several months ago. The rescue took place when an Army UH-1 Huey gunship was shot down 15 miles northwest of Phu Cat.

HH-43 Pedro crews from Phu Cat, along with one from Pleiku AB, successfully extracted 11 injured soldiers, three of them critically wounded, despite intense enemy ground fire. In addition to the 11 injured, another 17 men who were part of the rescue team, had to be pulled from the triple-canopied jungle area. A fireman, three pararescuemen, and a fire suppression team, were all lowered into the area before the rescue could be successfully completed.

Crew members from Det 13 were Maj Juan H. Migia, Maj Dwight C. Hageman, Capt Richard J. Bouckhout, and SSgts Jesse Franklin, Jr., Larry H. Knefelkamp and Delbert B. Dunn.

 

A Record Many Share

By Col Hollon H. Bridges
Commander - 3rd Aerospace Rescue and Recovery Group

 

On the eve of my departure from Southeast Asia, I take great personal satisfaction in having had the opportunity to have served with the most decorated unit in Air Force history.

During the past year we have witnessed many changes and the establishment of new records throughout Southeast Asia. None, however, is more meaningful- than a record which can be measured in the numbers of human lives which have been saved from probable death. Recently

the men of the 3rd ARRGp completed the 2,500th aerial save of an Allied Serviceman-men who would otherwise probably have died or been taken enemy prisoner.

There is no way to measure the value of a life saved, but each pilot rescued represents a savings of at least $1­million, plus the savings of a like amount to train his replacement. While we have rescued men of all services, enough pilots have been brought back to safety to man several combat flying wings.

I cannot say enough in praise for the men who daily fly the rescue mission. They are the most dedicated, most determined, most courageous men I have ever been privileged to serve with. There is not a man among them who does not put the safety of others above his own personal desires and comfort. Not once has a rescue crew of the 3rd ARRGp failed to fly its mission, regardless of the hazards involved. These are 1,200 men of whom I am justly proud.

 

By the same token, my appreciation goes out to the many others who participate in the rescue mission, but who are not an integral part of the 3rd ARRGp. These include the A-1 "Sandy" and "Spad" pilots who work hand-in-glove with our "Jolly Green Giants" and "Crowns" on every rescue mission involving those aircraft. It goes to the Army "Huey Cobras" and "Gunships" who provide firepower support for our unarmed "Pedros" on their local base rescue recoveries. And it most assuredly goes to the many fighter pilots, forward air controllers and others without whom our accomplishments would not have been possible. Without the galantry of all members of the rescue team, whose gallantry is well documented, we could not possibly have compiled the record number of saves with which we have been credited.

Air Force, Army, Navy and Marine personnel have all contributed to the success of our mission. Many have risked their lives for the most noble of all causes ..."that others may live!"

Finally, my thanks to each of those who have acknowledged the contribution which we have made in performance of the U.S. mission in Southeast Asia. To each I offer my heartfelt thanks and sincere "Well Done!"

 

 

FLIGHT ENGINEERS - Their knowledge and competence is an important factor in every rescue flown by ARRS crews. In top photo, Sgt Clint Berg, Det 8, 38th ARRSq, Cam Ranh Bay AB, works on an HH-43 rotor hub. Below, Sgt John Dougherty, Det 11, Tuy Hoa AB, performs a pre­flight inspection. (USAF photos by Alc Robert Mulica and SSgt Chuck Henderson)

 

MEMORIAL FOR A COMRADE - Amid the stark loneliness of Vietnam's central highlands stands a memorial to Maj David H. Pittard, an HH-43 Pedro helicopter pilot who was killed on a rescue mission Sept. 27, 1968. Det 13, 38th ARRSq, recently dedicated a plaque in memory of the major who died while trying to save the crew of an Army helicopter in the Soui Ca Mountains. During the rescue attempt, the Pedro crew was ambushed by North Vietnamese Army troops. Though only here five months, Major Pittard heroically distinguished himself by winning two Silver Stars, the Distinguished Flying Cross, a Bronze Star and six Air Medals.
The memorial, see inset, reads: "In memory of Major David H. Pittard, That Others May Live, " the motto of rescuemen the world over, and one that the major fulfilled to the limit. (USAF photo by Alc Nick Grisanti)

 

Ignoring enemy small arms and mortar fire, an HH-43 crew from Det 1, 38th ARRSq, Phan Rang AB, recently evacuated three critically wounded Republic of Korea (ROK) soldiers.

When Maj John C. Acton, Jr., RCC, and his rescue crew arrived at the battle location, the ROK's were still exchanging fire with the hostile forces. Overhead flares to light the helicopter landing zone could not be used - they would expose friendly troops to enemy fire. As a final resort, ground flares were ignited to give the chopper crew a landing position. Major Acton came in over a minefield surrounded by concertina wire, hover-taxied the HH-43B over the wire and landed on the rough, unprepared surface outside the ROK compound perimeter.

SSgt Joseph Defeo, medical technician, and SSgt Jeffery L. Bailey, flight engineer, darted from the chopper to aid the Korean soldiers in boarding the helicopter but were pinned down as enemy forces renewed their small arms and mortar attack against the compound. As the HH-43's fuel supply was becoming dangerously low, the ROK soldiers threw a defensive perimeter around the rescue helicopter and the crewmen quickly placed the wounded aboard. The Pedro immediately took off and headed for Phan Rang.

add by Ragay : the mission took place on 7 April 1969 , see this "News Release" , received from Mr. Bailey at the "Pedro Rescue Helicopter Association"  reunion of  3-5 August 2006 

 

Capts Jack Bartholomew and Fred Doyle, who ejected at night from their crippled F-4, were rescued shortly afterward by an HH-43 crew from Det 3, 38th ARRS, Ubon Afld, Thailand. Capt Ernest L. Neville, RCC, landed in a partially wooded area surrounded by sloping rice paddies and TSgt Thomas P. Gratton, medical technician, and SSgt Michael W. Mulvany, flight engineer, leaped out and began searching for one survivor. Meanwhile, the rescue helicopter headed for the second survivor who was showing a light. Captain Neville made two attempts to land on the uneven ground and then retained enough power to hold the helicopter level while the copilot, Maj Robert C. Collom, jumped out and assisted the rescuee aboard. The HH-43 then returned to pickup the first rescuee and crewmembers.
add by Ragay : the mission took place on 17 April 1969  :  RF-4C   66-0405    14 TRS, 432 TRW

In another night mission, Major Collom landed on a dirt road marked by a bonfire to evacuate an Air Force sergeant injured in a motorcycle accident. Capt Michael C. Kiefl was copilot; Sergeant Gratton, medical technician; Sergeant Mulvany, flight engineer; and Capt Edward V. Hudson (MC), flight surgeon.

 

During a recent at-sea rescue, the sea was just choppy enough to make hovering difficult due to the lack of a good reference. Capt Henry E. Hooke, copilot aboard the Det 7, 38th ARRSq, HH-43 inflated a glove and threw it on the water to provide the pilot, Capt Robert S. Henderson, with a hover reference. Crews have found this technique to work as well as smoke flares in some instances - and sometime more convenient to deploy, as in this case. Other members of the rescue crew were SSgt Kenneth R. Jones and Sgt Steven T. White.

 

Luckily for a wounded Vietnamese soldier, the rescuemen in an HH-43 which flew overhead had sharp eyes. The helicopter, from Det 9, 38th ARRSq, Pleiku AB, was enroute from the base to Kotum when the soldier was spotted near a road in hostile territory. Ignoring the possibility of enemy fire, Maj Robert C. Gordon landed the HH-43 and SSgts Frank B. Deck, Jr., and Colin A. Lane leaped out. A minute or two later they had placed the wounded man aboard the HH-43 and it was once again airborne. Other members of the crew were Capt Arthur A. May and SSgt Teddy E. Lusk. In another Det 9 mission, Capt William F. Clark was on a training flight when notified that an Army UH-1 was making an emergency landing with two wounded soldiers aboard. The Captain maneuvered his HH-43 in behind the Huey on final and landed nearby as the other aircraft came to a stop. Sergeant Deck and Alc David L. Patterson placed the wounded aboard the HH-43 and they were taken to the hospital. Other members of the Pedro crew were Capt James F. Hinkel and Sgt Floyd M. Barnes.

Major Shershun Honored For Work In Vietnam

TAN SON NHUT (7AF)-Maj Carroll S. Shershun was presented the Orville Wright Award, the Silver Anvil Award and the Air Medal recently for his activities while serving as information officer and head of the civic action program for the 3rd ARRGp at Tan Son Nhut.

The Orville Wright Award is presented annually by the Aviation Space Writers Association to an Air Force officer for public information activities. Major Shershun received the award for his significant contributions in establishing public awareness of the humanitarian aspects of the Vietnam War. The Silver Anvil, presented yearly by the Public Relations Society of America for community relations efforts, was awarded to the Major for carrying out the top public relations program in a government or military organization. Previously, he was cited for his community relation efforts in furthering Japanese­American understanding while stationed in Toyko from 1958-1961. The Air Medal was awarded for meritorious achievement while participating in aerial flight.

Major Shershun entered the Air Force in 1951 and was commissioned in 1957 after completing Officer Candidate School. He served as assistant editor of the Airman, official magazine of the Air Force : editorial advisor of the Aerospace Historian, official publication of the USAF Historical Foundation: and worked on the staffs of the Boston Globe and the San Antonio Express.

In addition to his regular duties, Major Shershun teaches English during his off-duty hours to a group of Catholic nuns at an orphanage near Saigon. After his Vietnam tour, he will proceed to L. G. Hanscom Field, Mass. , where he will be director of information in the Electronics System Division, Air Force Systems Command. 

Major Shershun is the author of an article "Never Fear, Pedro's Here! !" which appears in the August, 1969, issue of Airman, the official magazine of the U. S. Air Force. Described in the article are HH-43 operations in Southeast Asia and the activities of the dedicated men from the 38th ARRSq who man the rescue helicopters. In slightly over four years of operation in the area, Pedro crews have made more than half of the recorded combat saves.

 

last update : 06/08/2007