August-September-October 1970-page 12,13,14,15

“Southeast Asia”

Alert At All Times - As the alarm sounds, crewmen from Det 3, 38th ARRSq, scramble to their HH-43 Pedro. Photo at right shows a "downed" pilot being rescued during a practice exercise. (USAF photo by Sgt James Replogle)

Civic Action - When not engaged in flying their primary military missions, Det 3 personnel participate in Medical-Civic Action Missions. To provide medical aid, a detachment HH-43 transports Thai and American doctors to nearby villages. Two epidemics have been prevented so far by this humanitarian effort. Shown is a group of villagers typical of those who greet Pedro. (USAF photo)

THESE THINGS WE DO THAT OTHERS MAY LIVE

By Sgt James Replogle

UBON RTAFB, Thailand - Two semi-articulated counter­rotating rotors with blades made of various kinds of wood, fiberglass, aluminum, stainless steel and a fiber cover, make the aircraft unique. Pilots, firemen, medical technicians and mechanics working together for a common goal make the job unusual. Together they form Detachment 3, 38th ARRSq at Ubon RTAFB.

The unit flies the HH-43 "Pedro" helicopter in support of the 8th Tactical Fighter Wing. "Our mission," said Maj George L. Schmidt, detachment commander, "is to provide local base rescue including suppression of aircraft fire, aircrew recovery, and medical evacuation."

The Pedro, with the fire suppression kit, intercepts aircraft that are attempting an emergency landing. If an aircraft should crash, the Pedro will land next to it, dropping off a fire suppression kit and two firefighters. Pedro then utilizes strong rotor downwash to roll fire extinguishing agent across the fire and provide cooling and oxygen for the trapped aircrew. The suppression kit contains about 80 gallons of water, five gallons of foam agent and compressed air. When deployed, it has enough of the foam-water mixture to lay down a cleared area to the cockpit of a burning aircraft.

The mission of the Pedro crews is to get in fast and rescue the downed aircrew. "Our job actually isn't finished there," Major Schmidt said. "The helicopter then acts as a flying ambulance and takes the recovered aircrew to the nearest hospital for medical attention."

Additional capabilities of Detachment 3, and the HH-43 are to transport explosive ordnance disposal teams to a crash site, to pick up bailed-out aircrews in dense jungle areas and to perform emergency medical evacuations from remote sites.

A Pedro crew consisting of two pilots, two firemen, a medical technician, and a helicopter mechanic maintains a 24-hour alert. The rescue crew can be airborne within 30 seconds. "With a unit such as this," Major Schmidt said, "it takes practice to help the men perfect their duties."

The aircrew often practices for their primary mission ­ fire suppression and aircrew recovery - at a fire pit which has been set up just off the Ubon runway. The helicopter is flown within 50 to 75 feet of the flames and the suppression kit and firefighters are dropped off. Immediately, the firefighters proceed to cut a path through the flames while the helicopter is hovering above and behind them. The crews also practice hoisting men out of the jungle and other emergency situations that they may encounter.

Practice fires are fought both during the day and at night. The late evening drills are designed to enhance the crews' depth perception, which is normally impaired because of inadequate light. Five other Pedro detachments are located in Thailand, and all are self-contained. Like Detachment 3, most of the units are equipped with two Pedros and must perform their own maintenance. "Our maintenance men perform all tasks except for specialties such as repairs on radios and electronic gear," Major Schmidt said.

Det 3 Personnel - Front, left to right, SSgt Hubert Perkins, TSgt James Cordwell, Maj Larry Schmidt (commander), Capt John Higbie, Capt David Parker, Sgt Richard Holmes, Sgt Lawrence Holt, Sgt Gerald Kent.
Standing, Sgt Terry Ourso, Capt John Bouchard, SMSgt Frank Kroupa, Capt John Smith, SSgt William Selke, SSgt Robert Graves, SSgt John Raplee, SSgt Jon McDaniel, SSgt Eric Samuelson, Sgt David Oakes, TSgt Glenn Durham. (USAF photo) 

3rd ARRGp RECORDS  3000th 'SAVE' IN SOUTHEAST ASIA

TAN SON NHUT - The 3,000th save in Southeast Asia was recorded recently by the Air Force's 3d Aerospace Rescue and Recovery Group. Four aircrew members, three of whom were rescuemen shot down while attempting a recovery in the Republic of Vietnam, were picked up within minutes of each other. The fourth man was picked up in Thailand after bailing out of an F-105 Thunderchief.

The three rescuemen were on a search and rescue mission in an area of heavy ground fighting. As the rescuers of the 37th ARRSq from DaNang AB closed in on a downed Army helicopter for their third rescue attempt, their HH-3 Jolly Green helicopter took intense ground fire and crashed in flames. One of the survivors of the crash extinguished the flames which had enveloped two other crewmembers. The accompanying Jolly Green, flying in the area as rescue backup helicopter, lowered a pararescueman and hoisted the three survivors to safety. An Army ground team was dispatched to the area to aid the Army helicopter crew.

The rescue of the F-105 pilot in Thailand was made by an HH-43 Pedro helicopter of the 38th ARRSq, Det 2, Takhli Royal Thai AFB. The pilot bailed out of his aircraft 16 miles north of Takhli. He was picked up minutes later by Capt Lorenzo M. Crowell and his crew and taken to the dispensary at Takhli.
(add by Ragay : Mr Sid Nanson reports on 27 Sep 2009 : the date was 15 April 1970 and involved F-105D  61-0220 of 355 TFW)

Successful rescue in the two missions brought the total number of lives saved by units of the 3d ARRG to 3,000 since the 1965 activation of the rescue organization in Southeast Asia. Of the rescues, more than 2,000 have been recorded as combat saves, in which capture or loss of life due to hostile forces was imminent.

Det 6 Crew Aids Mine-Blast Victim

A Vietnamese airman who had stepped on a mine near Bien Hoa AB, was evacuated by an HH-43 from Det 6, 38th ARRSq, which is stationed at the base. When Capt Roy M. Litzen and his crew arrived, it was obvious that the ac­cident victim needed immediate medical attention. A mine field was nearby and rough terrain and swamps on the other side would have delayed a ground party from reaching the airman so Captain Litzen landed alongside the wounded man. Sgt John A. DeBell, helicopter mechanic, and Sgt Rot T. Vogel, pararescuemen, leaped out, placed the victim on a litter and then loaded him aboard the helicopter. As the two sergeants administered first aid, Pedro headed for the hospital at Long Binh Army Post. Copilot on the life-saving mission was Capt Raymond F. Hunger.

Det 11 Wins Rescue Race

Winning a race with the weather, an HH-43 Pedro crew from Det 11, 38th ARRSq, rescued a pilot who ejected from his crippled F-100 and landed on the jungle-covered side of a mountain. A rain squall was moving into the valley as Capt Kenneth F. Merlin held the Pedro in position over the survivor and the forest penetrator was lowered. The last few minutes of the rescue were conducted in the rain. Had the operation been delayed by even two or three minutes, the rescue would have been possible only after the storm cleared three hours later. Later, Sgt Robert A. Yund, flight engineer, was commended for doing an excellent job of directing the pilot's hover in "less than ideal conditions." Other members of the rescue crew were 1stLt John A. Hall, copilot and MSgt Derald D. Parks, rescue specialist.

Det 7 Rescues Downed Marines

Two Marines who ejected from their flaming F-4 were rescued shortly afterward by an HH-43 Pedro crew from Det 7, 38th ARRSq, DaNang AB. One survivor was located in what appeared to be a cistern. He was hoisted to the helicopter on the forest penetrator. To pick up the second survivor, Capt David A. Voight landed the HH-43 on a road near the DaNang perimeter. Other members of the helicopter rescue crew were Maj John A. Tyson, copilot; SSgt Joseph L. Coburn, helicopter mechanic; and SSgt Reginald Ramseur, firefighter.

Det 13 Crewmen Honored

PHU CAT-An Air Force aeromedical specialist and a helicopter flight engineer have been awarded the Airman's Medal for risking their lives Dec. 5, 1969, to retrieve a seriously wounded security policeman from an active mine field here.

Receiving the Air Force's highest non-combatant award for heroism were SSgts Edward E. Scott of the 12th U.S. Air Force Dispensary and Kenneth C. Meyer, an HH-43 Pedro helicopter flight engineer with Det 13, 38th ARRSq.

The side of Hill 151 was the scene of the incident. Two security policemen on duty had detected noises the previous night, and had gone out at daybreak to investigate. Because of the large area, the two separated to cover the area more effectively. Hearing an explosion, one of the men rushed back to check on the other and found him lying in the center of a mine field about three feet from the hole in the ground caused by a blast. Seeing the man was seriously injured, he called security police operations, and an HH-43 from Det 13 was dispatched to the scene. The wounded policeman was about 300 yards away from the Pedro's landing site. The rough terrain and high winds around the outpost prevented the helicopter from getting any closer.

Sergeant Meyer said, "The victim was lying in the mine field, there was also the danger of the Pedro's rotor downdraft detonating additional explosives. We cautiously worked our way to the victim and did our best to stop the bleeding."

Recalling the events which followed, Sergeant Scott said, "We got the man back to the helicopter as quickly as possible, and LtCol Ernest A. Headberg, the pilot on the mission, decided to take the man to the Army Evacuation Hospital at Qui Nhon.

"We made the man as secure as possible, and during the trip I administered mouth-to-mouth resuscitation and heart massages," concluded the aeromedical specialist. 

Det 8 Medevacs Critically Injured Soldier

A member of an Army patrol, critically injured after falling from a steep mountain slope into a 30-foot-deep crevice, was evacuated by an HH-43 Pedro crew from Det 8, 38th ARRSq, Cam Ranh Bay AB. SSgt Eugene E. Cramer, medical technician, was lowered on the forest penetrator into the crevice and freed the injured man with the assistance of two members of the ground party. He was secured to a Stokes litter and hoisted to the Pedro.

In order to clear the rocks and trees on the mountainside during the hoisting operation, Capt Peter F. Dineen held a 100-foot hover until the litter was clear. He then backed the HH-43 over an adjoining lake and lowered to a 10-foot hover so the patient could be taken into the cabin. Other members of the Pedro crew were Maj Alfred W. Lamkin, Jr., and SSgt Thomas W. Seibert, crew chief.

Det 1 Rescues Pilot From Sea

A pilot who ejected from his F-100 after the engine failed, was rescued from the sea by an HH-43 crew from Det 1, 38th ARRSq, Phan Rang AB. The downed airman was located in a raft 10 miles from shore and the forest penetrator seat was utilized to make a hoist pickup. Manning the rescue helicopter were Capt Wayne R. Crowther, pilot; Capt John J. Geubtner, copilot; Sgt Donald K. Mayo, flight mechanic; and Sgt Robert P. Jaglowski, medical technician. Flying cover in another HH-43 from Det 1 were Capt Thomas E. Rodgers, pilot; Maj James O. Dritt, copilot; SSgt Donald W. Bruns, flight mechanic; and SSgt Henry L. Jones II, medical technician.

last update : 28/09/2009