March-April 1968-page 5

“DET TEN   38th ARRSq”

ONE-A-DAY RESCUEMEN-HH-43 crews from Det 10, 38th ARRSq, Binh Thuy AB, recently established a one-a-day aver­age in combat rescue saves. Each day, for 11 straight days, the rescuemen flew into combat areas to evacuate a wounded man. Shown are nine of the 11 crewmen who participated. Front left to right, are Maj Harold Pickering, RCC and detachment commander; Sgt James A. Crawford, Jr., and SSgt William L. Crawford, flight engineers; Capt Laurence W. Conover, RCC. Back row, Sgt Ronald K. Sholes and James L. Parks, pararescuemen; Capts William J. Haugen and Albert E. Tollefsen, rescue pilots; Sgt Gary G. Harold, pararescueman. (USAF photo)  

Recoiless rifles, mortars, hand guns -these and many other types of weapons have been fired at the US Navy River Patrol Boats (PBRs) operating in South Vietnam. As the small craft make their way up winding channels and between overgrown river banks -ideal for an ambush - the crews have the comforting knowledge that they can call on helicopters for either suppressive fire or medical evacuation, if necessary. The US Air Force's Det 10, 38th ARRSq, Binh Thuy AB, has played a key role in such medevac missions in addition to its combat rescue activities. The following accounts typify the unit's PBR activities:

On Christmas Day, Capt Thomas D. Precious and his HH-43 crew hoisted a wounded sailor to the helicopter from a patrol boat which had come under enemy fire despite the announced 24-hour truce. The HUSKIE scrambled at 3:02 p.m., picked up the wounded man from the PBR at 3:20 and delivered him to medical facilities at 3:35 p.m. On the flight to the hospital, the sailor's multiple shrapnel wounds were treated by Sgt Ronald K. Sholes, pararescueman. Capt William P. Shea was co­pilot on the mission and TSgt Dean S. Aaron was flight engineer. Cover was flown by two Navy armed helicopters and a second Det 10 HUSKIE piloted by Capt Laurence W. Conover. Capt William J. Haugen was co­pilot; SSgt William L. Crawford, flight engineer; and Alc James L. Parks, pararescueman. It was the unit's 66th combat save in 1967. 

In another mission, while Navy armed helos flew cover, an HH-43 piloted by Maj Harold Pickering picked up three wounded men from a PBR as it moved upstream. Sgt Gary G. Harold, pararescueman, verbally guided Major Pickering as he hovered the HUSKIE over the boat. As the pickups were being made, light ground fire was heard on shore. The Navy gunships immediately swept in and began pounding the area. Capt Albert E. Tollefsen was copilot of the HUSKIE and Sergeant Craw­ford was flight engineer. 

To evacuate a seriously wounded PBR sailor, two HH­43s from Det 10 made a night, overwater flight to the LST where he had been taken. One HUSKIE piloted by Captain Precious, landed and took the patient aboard while the other HH-43, flown by Major Pickering, flew top cover. With Captain Precious were Captain Shea, SSgt Larry E. Hawkins and Airman Parks. Aboard the other HUSKIE were Captain Tollefsen and Sergeants Aaron and Sholes. Captain Precious flew back to Binh Thuy, refueled, and picked up Capt Charles Caton (MC), a flight surgeon. The HH-43 then headed for the hospital at Dong Tam. To avoid mortar fire in the vicinity, the pilot made a circling night approach and landed in a confined area surrounded on three sides by radio towers and telephone poles. The patient was offloaded and the HUSKIE headed homeward - another save added to Det 10's growing record.

When not braving enemy fire, Det 10 crews often fly other missions almost as hazardous. In the above photo, an HH-43 piloted by Major Pickering is shown lowering a heavy duty water pump to the Thai merchant ship Prosper. Two HUSKIES from Det 10 responded after the slowly sinking vessel, 33 miles from shore and buffeted by 12­foot seas, called for assistance. To deliver the 150-pound pumps and other items, the helicopters had to hover near the tall funnel between the 85-foot masts. Extensive antenna wiring on the masts presented an additional hazard. A total of 535 pounds of equipment was lowered by the HUSKIES. "Much of the credit for the success of our deliveries, under trying conditions, goes to the flight engineers and pararescuemen. They did a fantastic job during hoist operations, "Major Pickering said. With the Major were Capt Leslie E. Johnson, copilot; Sgt Gary G. Harold, pararescueman; and SSgt Charles H. Herring, flight engineer. The second helicopter was manned by Capt Laurence W. Conover, pilot; Capt William J. Haugen, copilot; Alc James L. Parks, pararescueman; and SSgt William L Crawford, flight engineer. The photograph was taken by Captain Haugen.

last update : 30/06/2007