July-August 1973-page 25

 

“Southeast Asia”

 

HH-43 Pedro Saves Downed Pilot

LAST COMBAT RESCUE FOR FAMED 37th

DA NANG AFLD, RVN - To an HH-43 crew from Pedro Flight fell the honor of making the 37th ARRSq's last - and one of the quickest - combat rescues before the squadron was inactivated several months ago.

1stLt William I. Latham, Jr., and his crew were enroute to a training area when the HH-43, "Pedro 61," heard a nearby OV-10 declare an emergency. Lieutenant Latham immediately headed back to the base for the fire suppression kit. On the way the OV-10 was sighted and seconds later the pilot ejected.

Pedro 61 set down in a rice paddy and was on the ground just before the survivor landed 20 feet away. He was checked for injuries and then taken aboard the HH-43 for return to the base. The quick response to the emergency later won the rescuemen praise from both the Da Nang Base Wing Commander and the president of the accident in­vestigation board from the downed aircraft's home station.

Sharing in the mission were 2ndLt James P. Moulton, HH-43 copilot; Sgt Michael P. Parchment, helicopter mechanic; Sgt Jesse McCoy, medical technician; and Sgt Bobby Gaskins, fireman.

 

In another mission, as members of the 37th's Pedro Flight, two members of the crew aboard an Army helicopter were picked up after it made an emergency landing at night in a rice paddy. After the HH-43 landed, the airborne firemen, SSgt Allen W. Knipher and Sergeant Gaskins, stepped out onto what appeared to be solid ground but which - turned out to be knee - deep mud. Capt Allan O. Spitler hovered the helicopter next to a dry spot so the firemen and survivors could board without sinking farther. The HH-43 then returned to base where arrangements were made to safeguard the downed aircraft and pickup the rest of the crew left on the scene.

Others with Captain Spitler were 1stLt Robert O. Cavazos, copilot; Sergeant Parchment, helicopter mechanic; and SSgt Gregory A. Brown, medical technician.

 

In a third mission, an HH-43 crew on a training flight responded when an Army helicopter crashed on a small, heavily-populated island in the Song Han River. Pedro 61 immediately flew to the scene and SSgt David E. Newman and Sgt Pete Reyes, the airborne firemen, were let down to evacuate survivors from the burning aircraft. It was found, however, that all five crewmembers were clear of the downed helicopter.

Pedro 60 (add by Ragay :  must be "61")  returned to base, picked up the fire suppression kit and flew back to the island to prevent the flames from spreading to the shelters which had been erected by refugees - already made homeless by the North Vietnamese invasion. While the firemen controlled the flames and kept ammunition on the wrecked aircraft from exploding, the rest of the crew kept the crowds of spectators from the vicinity.

Others aboard the HH-43 with Captain Latham, the pilot, were Lieutenant Cavazos, SSgt Edwin Gay, and Sergeant Brown.

  

last update : 31/12/2007