November-December 1968-page 13,14,15,23

 

“Southeast Asia”

 

TAN SON NHUT AB, Vietnam (MAC) - Col Hollon H. Bridges has assumed command of the 3rd Aerospace Rescue and Recovery Group - one of the best known U.S. Air Force units in Southeast Asia. The former group commander Col Paul E. Leske, retired recently after 25 years military service. He first joined the then Air Rescue Service in 1952.

Three years ago Colonel Leske authored the project requirements study which later became the main planning guide for aerospace rescue and recovery. His aerial refueling concepts for helicopters have been called the most significant development in combat air rescue operations in recent years. In March of this year Colonel Leske was presented the Legion of Merit for: "His inspiring leadership, outstanding foresight and aggressive efforts, consistently demonstrated, which resulted in a revolutionary increase in the capability of the Aerospace Rescue and Recovery Service to prosecute the unique military mission of saving lives. " Colonel Leske's farewell address and tribute to rescuemen from all Services appears at the bottom of the page.

Colonel Bridges, former vice commander of the 3rd ARRGp, followed Colonel Leske to Southeast Asia from ARRS headquarters, where he had succeeded the latter as deputy chief of staff for plans. A former commander of the Air Force Survival School, then at Stead AFB, Nev. , Colonel Bridges now commands many of the same men, especially members of the elite PJ (pararescue) team, he was responsible for training.

The new 3rd ARRG commander began his military career in 1943 as a "buck private" in the U. S. Army's famed Infantry Rangers. Entering the Aviation Cadet program, as did his 3rd ARRG predecessor, Colonel Bridges piloted B-24's and B-29's during World War II.

Returning to civilian life following the war, he served as a civilian personnel officer at the Pentagon. Recalled to active duty in late 1947 he, like Colonel Leske, took part in the Berlin Airlift and served in Korea and Japan. In addition, Colonel Bridges has also served as executive officer to the director of plans at Headquarters, U. S. Air Force, and as commander of Shemya AF Station, Alaska.

Among dignitaries present for the command change ceremonies was Brigadier General Allison C. Brooks, Aerospace Rescue and Recovery Service commander.

Since 1965 the 3rd ARRG's HH-43 and HH-3E helicopter crews have made more than 1,300 combat saves. Rescue units throughout the 1.1-million square mile Southeast Asia combat zone search for and rescue downed combat aircrews and other personnel. Many of the missions are carried out over enemy territory and while under fire.

On Sharing the Credit  ;  By Col.  Paul  E. Leske, USAF

It is with a large measure of pride and sorrow that I depart both the United States Air Force and one of the finest organizations ever to wear its colors. When the history of this war is written, I believe the Rescue story will be the most outstanding human drama of the entire U.S. Air Force effort. It has been a personal pleasure and a deep honor to command the 1,200 dedicated officers and men of the 3d Aerospace Rescue & Recovery Group (MAC).

The accomplishments of our "Jolly Green Giant" and "Pedro" rescue helicopter crews are well known. Their praises have been sung by many. The almost 2, 000 combat aircrews and other per­sonnel of all our Armed Forces who have been rescued from certain death or capture at enemy hands since 1965 have rewarded us with their oft-expressed gratitude to the point that it has become at times embarrassing, yet always appreciated.

Our gallant PJ's (pararescuemen) have become a living legend. It is an honor which each and every man who has ever voluntarily descended "into the valley" richly deserves. I am often asked, "what makes a PJ tick ?" The answer lies within many of us. For most it is an expression of deep personal conviction and dedication, an effort to respond to the guidance so eloquently stated by our late President: "ask what you can do for your country!" They are doers. For them, as for all our rescue crews, there is the psychic reward of being participants, not spectators, in the greatest human drama of our time.

Yet there are still others who richly deserve to share in the credit which has been so generously heaped upon our rescue crews, be they pilots, flight engineers or maroon-beret-clad PJ's. These are the men who search for and locate downed airmen, wherever they may be in our 1.1-million square mile war zone. There are the Joint Search and Rescue Center personnel who spend long hours coordinating and directing the action. And while these are the people from our own 3d ARRG, there are many others who complete the rescue picture too.

There are the Rescort (rescue escort) A-1 Sandy and Spad pilots, the men without whom our proud record could never have been achieved. These on-the-scene commanders, flying low and slow, endure unbelievable challenges, yet time and again are more than equal to every challenge. They are our strong right arm. There are the Rescap pilots who fly top cover, when required - and it usually is, for our missions. Our people call them "fast movers. " That they are. If we blink at their speed, so too do we nod our gratitude.

There are the FAC's (forward air controllers), probably the most unsung of all heroes in this war, who fly their slow prop­driven aircraft right into the enemy's midst to provide the eyes, and frequently the ears, for our mission.

And, just as far more than half of all those whom we have rescued to date are from the U.S. Army, U. S. Navy and friendly foreign forces, so too have members of all of our sister services become deeply involved in rescue activities. The U.S. Navy's "Big Mother" crews, the Army "Slicks" and "Gunships," and the Marines, too, have made many a pickup in addition to the statistics compiled by 3d ARRG personnel. In fact, when it comes to total involvement, there are U.S. Coast Guard and U.S. Navy rescue pilots who fly with us on "Jolly Green Giant" missions, just as our 3d Group pilots in turn fly with our sea-going services. Army personnel are an integral part of our JSARC operation. We work with the Marines every day. If ever there was inter-service teamwork, there is in rescue. I have yet to hear the man who has been rescued complain about what branch of service got him to safety.

Many, many people contribute to the rescue drama. None, however, is more important than the man who is being rescued. When a man is downed, he is far more than a statistic. He is a fellow American, with a family at home, with hopes and dreams and a potential that cannot be measured. He is a man in trouble, and he needs help fast. And that is what air rescue is all about.

To each of those who have contributed to the Aerospace Rescue and Recovery Services' proud record, I offer my sincerest "Well done!"

 

NEW COMMANDER - Col Hollon H. Bridges, holding model of HH-43 HUSKIE, discusses rescue mission with three of four Det 14, 38th ARRSq, crewmembers who received ceived Kaman Scrolls of Honor recently. Left to right are SSgt William R. Gladish, HH-43 flight engineer; TSgt Raul Rodriguez, medical technician; and Maj Donald L. Jordon, copilot. They, and rescue crew commander Capt Paul D. McComb (reassigned before the award presentation) were honored for the rescue, in the face of enemy fire, of five crewmembers of a helicopter gunship that had been downed near Saigon's Phu To Racetrack. The HUSKIE crew is based at Tan Son Nhut AB. Colonel Bridges, vice commander of the 3rd ARRGp at the time, has since assumed command of the Group. (USAF photo)

SPECIAL EQUIPMENT-The "water basket" shown in the left photo is one of the devices used by rescue men from Det 12, 38th ARRSq, at Nha Trang AB to pluck rescuees from the waters of the South China Sea. Sgt Allen D. Scroggin, a flight mechanic, is demonstrating the device to LtCol Edward J. Renth, Jr. , squadron commander, during his recent visit to Nha Trang. LtCol Angus D. McIntyre, Jr. , right, Det 12 commander, and Alc Steve A. Bowers look on. (USAF photo by Alc Alexander VanLeeuwen)

In the second photo, an HH-43 rescue crew from Det 12 is shown with another piece of equipment, the Kaman-developed forest penetrator, which was used to save a downed pilot from a mountainside covered with dense jungle. Ignoring the sounds of firing a short distance away, and the fact that rescue cover aircraft had not yet arrived, the rescuemen lowered the penetrator from the hovering HUSKIE and plucked the survivor, Capt Alan R. Zaiser, USAF, from the midst of 100-foot trees. Left to right are, Sgt James R. Pospichel, airborne firefighter; Maj Bruce C. Bowden, copilot; Alc Timothy M. Reynolds, pararescueman; Capt Melroy Borland, pilot; and SSgt Huel W. Wilson, airborne firefighter. (USAF photo)

 

An HH-43 crew from Det 1, 38th ARRSq, Phan Rang AB, rescued an F-100 pilot a few minutes after he ejected from his flaming aircraft and landed in dense jungle. The rescue helicopter, piloted by Majors William C. Emrie and Donald R. Brooks, arrived over the survivor just as he fired a flare. Sgt Richard L. McNeese threaded the forest penetrator through the jungle canopy and landed the rescue device at the feet of the rescuee, Major Gregory J. Butler of the 35th Tactical Fighter Wing. Once aboard the HUSKIE, the rescuee was treated for minor injuries by SSgt Angel Luna, medical technician. During their return to Phan Rang, red streaks of enemy tracer fire went past the helicopter but an AC-47 Dragonship used its rapid-firing miniguns to suppress the groundfire. (add by Sid Nanson :  the rescue took place on 18 June 1968)

In another Det 1 mission, two platoons of the Republic of Korea's White Horse Division were evacuated to safety in an HH-43 after a flood, caused by heavy tropical storms, left them stranded on a small section of high ground. The ROK soldiers had been conducting a sweep of suspected VC areas. Capt Glen P. Walther and his crew made three flights to complete the mission. An Army helicopter from Cam Ranh Bay AB aided in the rescue work. Others aboard the HUSKIE were Capt Gaylon R. Overton, copilot; SSgt Donald B. Lucia, flight engineer and Sgt James W. Bailey, helicopter mechanic.

Two pilots who ejected from an F-105F after it started losing oil pressure, were picked up from rice paddies by an HH-43 crew from Det 3, 38th ARRSq, Ubon AB, Thailand. The downed airmen, Maj George C. Forstner and Maj John T. Kensinger, were uninjured. Capt Clarence L. Hansell was pilot of the HUSKIE; Maj Robert C. Collom, copilot; Sgt Bobby G. Trott, medical technician; Sgt Glenn A. Todd, flight engineer.  (add by Sid Nanson : the rescue possibly took place on 25 Aug 1968 ; F-105F of 357 TFS, 355 TFW )

Operating under night conditions and with the base still on red alert after an enemy rocket and mortar attack, an HH-43 crew from Det 7, 38th ARRSq, Da Nang AB, evacuated a critically injured airman to the naval hospital. The attack was made shortly before 3 a. m. and two minutes later the HUSKIE, piloted by Capt Johnny R. Johnson, was airborne and headed for the ramp where the airman had been working when the first enemy rocket landed nearby. Clearance for a landing on the ramp, where several aircraft were parked, was called out by the copilot, Capt Robert S. Henderson, and SSgt Lawrence E. Boykin, and Sgt Bruce J. Bell, rescue specialists. Ground operations were supervised by Sgt William P. Owens, the flight engineer, and SSgt James L. Miller, pararescueman, contacted first aid personnel. After the patient was placed aboard, the HUSKIE lifted off and made the flight to the hospital without incident despite the danger of im­minent enemy action.

An HH-43 crewman from Det 8, 38th ARRSq, Cam Ranh Bay AB, went to the aid of two pilots who were tangled in parachute and harness lines after they ejected from their F-4C and landed in the shark-infested waters of the South China Sea. Alc Donald H. Goodlett, a pararescue specialist, braved eight-foot waves to aid one survivor, LtCol P. A. Kauttu, aircraft commander, and then went back in the water again when it became apparent the seccond survivor, 1stLt G. A. D'Angelo , also needed help. Capt Andrew J. M. Archer was pilot of the HUSKIE and Capt John P. Smargia was copilot. The flight engineer was Sgt James W. Simmons. (add by Sid Nanson : the rescue took place on 31 Aug 1968 )

 

Standing waist deep in water and surrounded by floating fuel and oil, three HH-43 crewmen fought a fire in a downed Army helicopter and then pried and hacked their way into the wreckage to aid any soldiers who might be trapped in the wreckage. Two HUSKIES from Det 9, 38th ARRSq, Pleiku AB, had scrambled when the Army chopper went down in hostile territory a few miles from the base. At the crash site, Capt Derry A. Adamson, pilot of the first HUSKIE, set the fire suppression kit down and then backed off and held the helicopter in a partial hover as the three crewmen - airborne firemen Sgts Robert W. Colclough and Henry Michalski, Jr. , and pararescue specialist Alc Nicholas Gala, Jr.- leaped into the murky three-foot-deep water and headed for the blazing wreckage.

As they began fighting the fire, Capt Jerald D. Briscoe arrived in the second HH-43 just as an Army helicopter already at the scene finished picking up three survivors. Since there was no medic aboard the Army helicopter, Captain Briscoe sent his pararescue specialist, Alc Patterson, to assist. SSgt Floyd M. Barber, flight engineer, was dispatched to help those on the ground who began searching the downed helicopter when the fire was extinguished.

Meanwhile, as he was hovering over the wreckage after using rotor downwash to aid in suppressing the flames, Captain Adamson spotted an injured man, partially submerged, 10 feet in front of the burned helicopter. Using the loud hailer, he directed Airman Gala to the survivor while simultaneously lowering the HH-43 into an extremely confined area in order to be as close to the survivor as possible. Captain Adamson knew the waist to chest deep water could seriously hamper the rescue effort and "time was of the essence. " Maj Robert A. Bunton, the copilot, plunged into the water and aided Gala in placing the injured soldier aboard. As the HUSKIE headed for the hospital, Major Bunton and Airman Gala administered first aid to the survivor. The HH-43 crew returned to the area afterward with additional crash access equipment to assist in searching the wreckage. Sergeants Colclough and Michalski were credited with performing an "exceptionally fine job" while hooking up the FSK, now empty, which was floating in the water and very difficult to manage. 

The efforts of an HH-43 crew from Det 11, 38th ARRSq, were credited with being the prime factor in saving a C-130 during an enemy night attack on Tuy Hoa AB where the detachment is stationed. Several aircraft on the C-130 ramp were damaged by the satchel charges, rockets and mortars used during the attack.
(add by Ragay  :  29 July 1968  HC-130P  66-0214 destroyed ; HC-130P  66-0218 destroyed)

Alerted by the explosions, Maj Delmar G. Worsech, RCC, and Capt Henry P. Fogg flew to the ramp and hovered over the burning HC-130P. One of the crewmen aboard, Robert A. McAllister, a rescue specialist, used the interphone to guide the pilots into position and the rotorwash from the HH-43 was used to control the flames and aid base fire trucks in fighting the blaze. When the trucks were empty, the HUSKIE returned to the alert pad and picked up a fire suppression kit. The HH-43 crewmen used the FSK at the ramp until the base fire trucks returned and then, when the kit was expended, joined ground personnel in fighting the flames. Again the rotor downwash from the HUSKIE was used to aid the firefighters. This action was credited with saving the C-130 since the flame control and cooling air allowed the crewchief to taxi his aircraft away from the burning HC-130P. During the entire 30-minute mission, base defense forces were engaging the enemy nearby. Sgt Robert E. Thompson, HH-43 flight engineer, continually exposed himself to hostile fire on the alert pad in order to successfully launch, recover and relaunch the helicopter. Other HUSKIE crewmen who braved enemy fire to save the C-130 were Sgt James W. Nelson, rescue specialist, Alc Stephen R. Tuttle, pararescue specialist, and Sergeant McAllister.

To avoid enemy fire during a night medical evacuation, an HH-43 pilot dropped to an altitude of 100 feet and followed a highway partially lighted by the vehicles traveling on it. 1stLt Wayne A. Grant, III, from Det 13, ARRSq, Phu Cat AB, took the action after he was unable to receive the radar vector he had requested to avoid heavy ground fire, including artillery, in the path of the rescue helicopter. The hazardous 18-mile flight was made after a Vietnamese soldier was picked up at the scene of a truck accident. He had been wounded earlier on patrol and then suffered additional injuries in the accident. Other members of the HUSKIE crew were 1stLt Jack F. Brannan, co-pilot; Sgt Stephen B. Jones, medical technician; Sgt Ronald L. Regan, flight engineer; and Sgt Andrew J. Andrews, rescue specialist.

Earlier, Lieutenants Grant and Brannan, and Sergeants Regan and Jones, manned an HH-43 which evacuated a U. S. Army soldier with a broken back from a rugged mountain area 40 miles from the base. The sun was setting when the crew scrambled and no cover aircraft were available for the mission. To make the litter pickup, Lieutenant Grant held the HUSKIE at tree-top level for 15 minutes despite gusting winds and a considerable down draft. The HUSKIE came underground fire while leaving the area and immediate evasive action was taken.

During a seven-month period, Det 13 helicopter crews flew more than 80 medical evacuations. A great many of their passengers were wounded, injured or sick military personnel. Others were South Vietnamese suffering from a wide variety of illnesses and injuries, including gunshot wounds inflicted by enemy forces. All had one thing in common - their suffering was shortened by the mercy missions flown by the ARRS rescue crews.

He was peering through the dark Vietnamese night as the Navy PBR cautiously made its way up the Mekong River... there were a series of explosions... he was in an Air Force helicopter and being tended by solicitous strangers. The sailor was confused until he found out that: The explosions were enemy rifle grenades which landed beside the patrol boat and knocked him unconscious. An HH-43 crew from Det 10, 38th ARRS, Binh Thuy AB, responding to the call for medical assistance, had landed at a small outpost and taken him aboard. He was on his way to the hospital. It was found that, despite his close call, the sailor was not injured and spent the night as a guest of the Air Force before being returned to duty with the Navy the next day. Pilot of the rescue helicopter was Maj James F. Okonek and LtCol Roland E. Speckman was copilot. Alc James E. Tarantino was flight engineer and Alc Richard C. Stiefken, was rescue specialist.

SIMULATED RESCUE-In the photo at left, an HH-43 from Det 11, 38th ARRSq, Tuy Hoa AB, moves into position to pick up a member of the squadron posing as a downed pilot. The Air Force rescuemen practice on a regular basis to ensure that they will be letter perfect when called onto make an actual save. (USAF photo by Sgt Jim White) At right, a Det 11 HUSKIE with a fire suppression kit is guided into position after a scramble. (USAF photo)

 

100th RESCUE - An HH-43F crew from Det 9, 38th ARRSq, Pleiku AB, recently made the unit's 100th rescue when an Army helicopter crewman was hoisted from a jungle-covered mountainside 18 miles from the base. Shown afterward are, left to right, Sgt Luther T. Jones, pararescueman; Sgt Roger E. Lawson, flight engineer; Maj Robert W. Hastings, copilot; and Capt Jerald D. Briscoe, RCC. While making the rescue, the HUSKIE hovered over hostile territory for 15 minutes. Sergeant Jones was lowered on the forest penetrator and, after administering first aid to the downed airman, strapped him to the penetrator. The rescueman and survivor were hoisted aboard together and the HUSKIE headed for the hospital. In speaking of the rescue, Captain Briscoe said "it seemed like an eternity" during the 15 minutes the HUSKIE remained almost motionless in the air, exposed to possible hostile fire and over dangerous territory. For Major Hastings, having the opportunity to participate in the 100th rescue was particularly satisfying after his long duty with the detachment  - soon afterward he was reassigned from Southeast Asia to Hahn AB, Germany. (USAF photo)

 

IDENTICAL PROBLEMS - Installing antennas atop high towers - at two air bases in South Vietnam were solved by HH-43 crews from the 38th ARRSq. In left photo, a HUSKIE from the squadron's Det 13 at Phu Cat AB hovers over a 45 -foot-high platform after lowering a new high gain antenna into place. In the second photograph, a HUSKIE from Det 14 at Tan Son Nhut AB lowers a 28-foot Military Affiliate Radio System antenna to, the top of a 100-foot tower. The men from MARS showed their appreciation by offering the first available stateside call to the helicopter crew. (USAF photos)

 

 

last update : 18/07/2007