November-December 1971-page 24,25,26,27,28,29,30,31

“Southeast Asia”

The 3rd Aerospace Rescue And Recovery Group – 1971

Col Herbert Leong , Commander  3^rd ARRGp

Locating and recovering downed aircrew personnel and local base rescue in Southeast Asia are the responsibilities of the 3d Aerospace Rescue and Recovery Group (MAC), headquartered at Tan Son Nhut Airfield, RVN. This area of responsibility encompasses more than 1.1 million square miles. The 3d Group is composed of approximately 950 officers and airmen. Its main units are the 37th and 40^th squadrons with HH-53's (Super Green Giants); the 39th squadron, equipped with HC-130s; and the eight Local Base Rescue Detachments, equipped with the HH-43's (Pedros).

"That others may live" has been a reality to the 3d ARRGp whose crewmen have made more than 3314 successful rescues during the Vietnam conflict. 

The Seventh Air Force Joint Rescue Coordination Center, manned by 3d ARRGp personnel, controls and coordinates all rescue missions in Southeast Asia. Search and Rescue controllers obtain tactical mission plans and after careful analysis, preposition rescue forces of the 3d Group. Excellent communications insure up-to-date information during missions. In addition to the JRCC, 3d Group mans two satellite Rescue Coordination Centers (RCC). One is located at Udorn RTAFB, Thailand, the other northeast of Da Nang Airfield, RVN on Monkey Mountain. Each RCC controls Search and Rescue (SAR) missions within its area of responsibility.

The HC-130 Hercules serves as an airborne command post called King, and is equipped for in-flight refueling of the Jolly Green Giants. The HH-53 is the primary SAR aircraft. It is equipped with three miniguns and protective armor plate. Its aerial refueling capability gives the Super Jolly Green Giant the range and on-station capability required to fulfill its mission.

The smaller Pedros, operating from 10 locations in SEA, are used for the Local Base Rescue mission, fire fighting, and recovery of downed pilots in proximity to their bases.

All crew members in SEA wear survival vests which contain the basic tools with which a downed airman can summon rescue forces. The most important items are the personal locator beacons and survival radios. In addition there are navigation aids and manual signalling devices. During SAR missions in hostile areas, 3d Group aircraft receive protective air cover from fighter aircraft. They are normally escorted by A-1E Sandies and JRCC can send additional fighter support.

Once a survivor has been located, and the area made "safe" for a rescue attempt by the Sandies and other fighter aircraft, the Jollies move into position over the survivor. If he has been injured or his position cannot be pin-pointed a highly trained pararescueman is lowered to the ground on the Kaman-designed forest penetrator rescue seat to assist him. Of the more than 3314 successful rescues by 3d ARRGp since December 1964, more than 2253 have been combat saves.

The group has been awarded the Presidential Unit Citation two times for outstanding operations in SEA. MajGen Tran Van Minh, Republic of Vietnam Air Force Commander, presented the Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry with Palm to the 3d ARRGp in January 1970. It has also been awarded the Air Force Outstanding Unit Award. Individuals in the group have been awarded over 13,000 individual awards and decorations.

FAMED  38th ARRSq  INACTIVATED

TAN SON NHUT AB, Republic of Vietnam (7AF) - The story of one of the most famous rescue squadrons in the Republic of Vietnam came to an end a few months ago with the unit's inactivation. The 38th Aerospace Rescue and Recovery Squadron, based here at Tan Son Nhut AB, was inactivated on July 1, marking the end of six years of service as a part of its parent organization, 3rd Aerospace Rescue and Recovery Group, also headquartered here.

During the past six years, the unit has operated its HH-43 "Pedros" throughout Southeast Asia. With the advent of the HH-3 Jolly Green Giants and the larger HH-53 Super Jolly Greens, the mission of the Pedro unit became one of base rescue. HH-43's equipped with fire suppression equipment were often found hovering over crashed and burning aircraft, using their rotor wash and firefighting equipment to keep the flames away from the pilots and aircrews until firemen could extract them from the wreckage of the aircraft. On occasion, however, the reliable Pedro has still filled in for its bigger brothers. Recently, an HH-43 crew from the Da Nang Afld detachment of the 38th ARRS pulled two F-4 Phantom crewmen from the South China Sea only three minutes after they were forced to eject from their battle damaged aircraft.

During its period of operations, the 38th ARRS controlled 10 rescue detachments. The aircraft operated by the 38th ARRS will be absorbed by other squadrons in the group, as will the aircrews of the HH-43s.

The 38th ARRS retires with the record for the total number of rescues in Southeast Asia. Since it began operations in 1965, the unit has effected the rescue of over 1,700 men. Official records kept since January 1967 reflect 1,253 saves of which 666 were in combat.

The unit will be long remembered in Southeast Asia by all those who came to depend upon it for dependable rescues in case of trouble, more than living up to the ARRS motto, "That Others May Live."   

AS IT WAS - The few photographs on these pages represent thousands of missions flown in Southeast Asia by HH-43 Pedro crews. In the beginning, as the conflict grew, "provisional detachments" were formed or units transferred to the Vietnam area from other bases. Later, they were drawn together in the 38th ARRSq and continued their life-saving work.

During the "early years" of the war, the Kaman HH-43 was the only helicopter available to the ARRS for rescuing downed pilots and evacuating wounded. Although the helicopter was primarily designed for Local Base Rescue work, the Pedro crews utilized the HH-43 to the fullest extent. They flew missions, many of them under heavy fire, over jungles, mountains, rivers and the sea. They even flew through the North Vietnamese air defense system to within 40 miles of Hanoi to rescue downed airmen. Although as ready as ever to fly any type rescue mission, the HH-43 crews are now again primarily concerned with LBR. But the wounded, like those shown on the next page, and the downed airmen rescued from enemy hands will never forget the part played in their lives by "little Pedro" and the men of the 38th. (Wide World Photo)

PEDRO IN ACTION - Rain-streaked lens catches an HH-43 hovering over wounded during jungle battleground medevac. USAF photo was taken approximately six years ago.

As far back as 1966, when it received the Presidential Unit Citation for "gallantry in action," the 38th ARRSq had already flown 8700 combat missions. While rescuing 1700 persons during its comparatively brief life, thousands of decorations were awarded to squadron personnel, several were wounded, and others were killed in action.

In a scene repeated hundreds of times, top left photo shows an HH-43 crew being decorated for valor. Receiving Silver Stars are Capt Joe E. Ballinger, Capt Bruce C. Hepp, 1stLt Walter F. Turk and SSgt Robert Rodriguez. At top right is the late AlC William H. Pitsenbarger, an HH-43 crewman, who died while defending wounded Army personnel from the Viet Cong. Last year a hangar was dedicated at Craig AFB, Ala., to the young pararescueman from the 38th and the Air Force Sergeants Association has established an award in his memory.

The third photo shows a memorial erected amid the stark lonliness of Vietnam's central highlands to another crew­member of the squadron. It reads' "In memory of Major David H. Pittard, That Others May Live." Major Pittard, pilot of an HH-43 Pedro from the 38th, was killed in an enemy ambush while trying to save the crew of a downed Army helicopter. (USAF photos) 

When the history of this war is finally written, I feel that the story of Air Rescue may well become one of the most outstanding human dramas in the entire history of the Air Force. Air Rescue did not begin, of course, with the war in Vietnam. But the extent of the operation, the dangers involved, and the dedication shown on an every day basis - month after month - makes these rescue operations something unique in our military history... These men are all heroes, but they're also normal Americans from all walks of life. They come from the cities and the farms.
They share the same hopes and fears that concern us all... Certainly, the ARRS people deserve their immortality. For they have lived up to their motto as if it were a solemn pledge:      "That others may live. "

...Dr. Harold Brown, Former Secretary of the Air Force 

Downed Pilot Rescued By Det 5

Less than one hour after ejecting from his crippled aircraft, a downed pilot had been located, recovered and delivered to the base hospital by an HH-43 crew from Det 5, 38th ARRSq, Udorn RTAFB, Thailand.

Capt Lawrence K. Wilbur and his crew launched as soon as they were notified of the emergency. "Pedro 69" was given general directions by King Rescue and then was able to get a UHF/DF steer from the survivor's radio. Soon afterward, he was located, the helicopter landed, he was taken aboard and returned to base. Others manning the HH-43 were Capt Robert C. Ricketson, copilot; SSgt Thomas E. McDowell, flight mechanic; SSgt David L. Goins, medical technician; SSgt William H. Wade and Sgt Floyd H. Koppenhaver, firefighters.  

Nakhon Phanom Unit Saves Child, Pilot

Flying at night through a sky filled with thunderstorms and laced with blinding streaks of lightning, an HH-43 Pedro crew medevaced a seriously-ill baby-only five months old - from a special forces camp 45 miles from Nakhon Phanom RTAFB, Thailand.

Det 9, 38th ARRSq, responded to a call for assistance from Camp Cloudy, when the child, a military dependent, became semi-conscious and convulsive. After a flight over rugged mountain territory, Capt George H. Hopkins landed at the camp's helipad which was illuminated by automobile lights. The tiny patient and his parents were placed aboard and the rescue helicopter headed back for its base at Nakhon Phanom and medical assistance.
Captain Hopkins said afterward that Paul Jack Micus, the patient, was probably one of the youngest people to ride in a Pedro.

In another mission, an HH-43 crew from the Nakhon Phanom unit found and rescued a pilot who crash-landed his plane after an engine failure. The survivor was located in a rice paddy and the helicopter landed after a remote area approach to a hover about 30 feet from the survivor. Bear paws on the Pedro landing gear kept the helicopter from sinking in the muddy ground.

SSgts Ernest Rivers and Roy A. Moselet, firefighters, left the HH-43 and escorted the survivor, with his equipment, back to the helicopter. He was examined by Sgt Thomas G. Zidel, medical technician, and Pedro headed back to the base. Flying copilot on the mission was Capt William H. Austin.

Det 13 Aids Injured Vietnamese

An HH-43 crew from Det 13, 3rd ARRGp, Phu Cat AB, airlifted a critically-injured Vietnamese civilian from the base to the Qui Nhon Army Hospital 18 miles away. The patient, who was unconscious from a skull fracture when placed in the helicopter, was revived on the flight by SSgt Alton R. Matthews from the base dispensary emergency room. Others manning the Pedro were Maj John R. Cassarini, pilot; Capt Richard W. Standish, copilot; A1C David R. Knibbs, helicopter mechanic.

Two days earlier a fire-fighting team from Det 13 extinguished a blaze involving a USA Cobra gunship downed 11 miles from Phu Cat.  

Accident Victims Aided By Det 3

Two missions involving the evacuation of seriously­injured military motorcyclists were flown by HH-43 crews from Det 3, 3rd ARRGp, Ubon RTAFB, Thailand. On the first mission, Maj Lowell D. Ketchum and his crew flew to Pibol and landed in a soccer field surrounded by tall trees. The patient was placed aboard the helicopter and airlifted to the 8th USAF Dispensary at Ubon. Others in the rescue crew were Capt Samuel L. Ferguson, copilot; TSgt Robert C. Payton and MSgt Jose A. Castillo, Jr., crewmen.

To evacuate the second accident victim, from the village of Amphoe Amnat Charoen, Capt James DeCerbo also landed in a soccer field. The field was surrounded by tall trees and power lines; three, 200-foot antennas nearby also presented a hazard. The patient was placed aboard the HH-43 and taken to medical facilities at Ubon. With Captain DeCerbo were 1stLt James S. Akovenko, copilot; Capt Wilbur G. Sandbulte (MC), flight surgeon; Sgt Jack W. Demler and SSgt Richard C. Former, crewmen. 

Patient Airlifted By Det 12

A seriously-ill patient at the USAF hospital at U-Tapao RTNB, Thailand, was airlifted to the 5th Army Field Hospital, Bangkok, by an HH-43 crew from Det 12, 3rd ARRGp. Piloting the helicopter, which is based at U-Tapao, were Capt Frank C. Andreaus II and Capt Dante O. Fierros. Crewman was Helicopter Mechanic James T. Reed.

DET 1 MISSION - Sgt Parks H. Long, Jr., left, helps A1C Howard J. Warren from Phan Rang HH-43 upon arrival at hospital helipad (see report below). Standing near the door is SSgt Lawrence Rosen. Pilots are Capts Michael H. Nelson and Kevin M. Mahan. (USAF photo by TSgt Donald Burley) 

Injured Airman Aided By Det 1

An airman who needed immediate surgery to repair severed tendons in his hand was airlifted in an HH-43 from Phan Rang AB to the 483d USAF Hospital at Cam Ranh Bay AB. Det 1, 3rd ARRGp, at Phan Rang was called upon to furnish emergency air transportation to the hospital after medical authorities examined the airman's injuries, suffered while performing duties as a food services specialist. Pedro lifted off at 2:45 p.m. and set down at the 483d half an hour later.
Manning the HH-43 were Capt Michael H. Nelson, pilot; Capt Kevin M. Mahan, copilot; SSgt Lawrence Rosen, flight mechanic; and Sgt Parks H. Long, Jr., aeromedical technician.   

Last Rescue For The 38th

Two U. S. Air Force pilots were rescued from the sea by an HH-43 crew from Det 7, 38th ARRSq, after they ejected from their battle-damaged F-4 Phantom. The rescue detachment is based at Da Nang Afld where the survivors had been attempting to bring the crippled aircraft.

Maj Floyd R. Lockhart, pilot of the helicopter, said, "We scrambled out over the bay and were orbiting the area when the pilots ejected," he said. "We could see the chutes and contacted our control point for clearance to go in for the pickup. We went in and picked up one man then went for the other - it was as simple as that!"

Operating the rescue hoist were SSgt Louis J. Maloney and SSgt Joseph J. Gula, Jr., airborne firefighters from the 366th Civil Engineering Squadron and attached to the 38th.

"We spotted both people in the water and they gave the thumbs up sign signifying that they were okay," Sergeant Maloney said. "We sent down the penetrator and the first survivor climbed on. We pulled him in and then went after the other one and did the same thing."

Alc Leon J. Raska, helicopter mechanic, helped the men through the helicopter door to safety. "It really went smoothly," he said. "Everybody seemed to get right in there and do the job. It was really like a textbook rescue."

Sgt Richard G. Cobbett, a medical technician from the 366th USAF Dispensary and attached to the 38th, examined the survivors and found them in good shape and good spirits."

Copilot on the rescue mission, probably the last to be carried out before deactivation of the 38th, was Capt Kenneth R. Bissett.

BIRD'S EYE VIEW - An HH-43 rescue helicopter, lower left, from the 38th ARRSq is shown rescuing the crew of a battle-damaged F-4 Phantom which plunged into the sea, right, near Da Nang. In left photograph is the Pedro crew from Det 7 that made the saves. Left to right, TSgt Cobbett, SSgt Gula, SSgt Maloney, A1C Raska, Capt Bissett, Maj Lockhart. (USAF photos)

Variety Of Missions By Veteran Da Nang Unit

Until recently, the men who manned and maintained the HH-43's at Da Nang Afld were members of Det 7, 3rd ARRGp. Before that, their unit was attached to the 38th ARRSq, since inactivated. Now the group is known as the "Pedro Division" and is a part of the 37th ARRSq at Da Nang.

One thing that hasn't changed, however, are the rescue and similar activities which the veteran unit has been per­forming for seven years.

The following are missions performed while the unit was operating as Det 7, 3rd ARRGp.

Rocket Attack Medevac

Two sergeants, wounded after a night rocket attack on the base, were medevaced by an HH-43 Pedro crew consisting of Capt Kenneth R. Bissett, Jr., pilot; Capt Ralph H. Bell, copilot; SSgt John W. Bryant, helicopter mechanic; and Sgt Grant L. Matsunaga, medical technician.
The alert Pedro scrambled during the blackout, picked up the wounded men and then delivered them to the 366th Dispensary helipad two miles away. During the flight and landing, the base was still blacked out and a second attack was a strong possibility. Afterwards, the helicopter returned to the alert pad - ready if needed. 

LBR Mission

A Det 7 HH-43 scrambled with a fire suppression kit after notification that a battle-damaged F-4 was inbound with a negative fuel reading. As the rescue helicopter began to orbit the field, the crew saw that the F-4, on final, had begun to roll. Anticipating ejection, Maj Floyd R. Lockhart, the Pedro pilot, deposited the FSK adjacent to the runway and immediately took off again. At the same time, the rescue crew saw both F-4 pilots eject and notified the tower. Within a minute or two after landing the survivors had been picked up by the HH-43 and were on their way to the hospital. Others manning the HH-43 were Captain Bissett, copilot; A1C Leon J. Raska, helicopter mechanic; SSgt Louis J. Maloney and SSgt Joseph J. Gula, Jr., firefighters; Sgt Richard G. Cobbett, medical technician. 

At-Sea Rescue

In another mission, an HH-43 crew from Det 7 used the Kaman-designed forest penetrator rescue seat with its flotation collar to rescue a Vietnamese sergeant from the South China Sea.

Capt Charles W. Miller and his crew responded after notification that a man on a raft about a mile off-shore was drifting out to sea. Two passes were made during which the loud hailer was utilized to call to the nearly naked survivor in both English and Vietnamese; however, no response was received.

The Pedro crew prepared for a possible inert recovery using the forest penetrator with a flotation collar. On final approach the rotor downwash rocked the raft violently. The survivor became semi-conscious and fell out of the raft, which was blown 100 yards away by the downwash. Quickly, Sergeant Bryant maneuvered the penetrator within the rescuee's reach and he grabbed it. Captain Miller held the helicopter in a low hover and the Vietnamese, still semi-conscious, was brought aboard. Later, it was learned from the hospital that he was responding to treatment for heat exhaustion and exposure.
Other members of the Pedro crew were Capt Bell, co­pilot; Staff Sergeant Wallace H. Long, Sergeant Maloney and Sgt Terry R. Miller. 

Accident Airlifts

Two other medevacs were also made by Det 7 crews. One, at night, was classed as "life or death" and involved air transporting a critically-injured sergeant from the 366th USAF Dispensary to the 95th Evac Hospital. The patient, who had been thrown from a truck during an accident, was having difficulty breathing and was also losing blood from several lacerations. Members of the HH-43 crew were Captain Bissett, pilot; Capt Alvin J. Machtmes, copilot; SSgt Jesse L. Uzzell, medical technician; Airman Baska, helicopter mechanic.

On the other mission, an airman whose foot was seriously injured after a forklift fell on him, was airlifted to the hospital in an HH-43 piloted by Capt Kenneth B. Schroeder. Captain Bissett was copilot; TSgt Jon H. Young, pararescueman; and SSgt Robert Cruz, firefighter. 

Pedro Division At Work

Under its new designation as Pedro Division, 37th ARRSq, the Da Nang unit responded to a request for assistance after a civilian on a motorcycle collided with a pickup truck at night and suffered multiple fractures. The accident victim was taken to the 366th Dispensary. Captain Bell and his crew were on a local flight when the emergency call was received. The helicopter landed near the dispensary and the accident victim was placed aboard. Shortly afterward he was delivered to the 95th Hospital. Time from alert until the injured man was delivered to the hospital-10 minutes. Other members of the Pedro crew were Capt Charles W. Miller, copilot; Sergeant Cobbett, SSgt Randie M. Olson, SSgt Robert Cruz, and Sergeant Miller. 

DaNang Unit Medevacs VC Suspect

Shortly before 3 a.m. the Pedro alert crew was notified that a Viet Cong suspect had been shot in the chest while attempting to penetrate the base perimeter. Due to the seriousness of the suspect's wound, evacuation to the 95th USA Hospital was requested.

After the initial scramble, Captain Miller and his HH-43 crew landed 75 feet outside the base perimeter. The patient and a Vietnamese security guard were taken aboard the helicopter and it headed for the hospital. On the way, Sgt Grant L. Matsunaga, the medical technician, bandaged the suspect's wound, gave mouth-to-mouth resuscitation and otherwise aided the patient. A few minutes later, Pedro landed at the hospital and the injured man was taken to surgery.

Others manning the HH-43 were Capt Michael F. Schmidt, copilot; A1C Leon J. Raska, flight mechanic; SSgt Louis J. Maloney and Sgt Ronald G. Treadwell, firefighters.

On another Pedro Division mission, an HH-43 crew evacuated an airman who had been struck in the mouth by a strut on a C-123. The flight to the hospital was made at night and over known hostile territory. Captain Bell was pilot and Captain Schmidt was copilot on the mission. Other Pedro crew members were A1C Robert S. Bos, helicopter mechanic; Sgt Terry R. Miller and Sergeant Treadwell, firefighters, Sergeant Matsunaga, medical technician.    

Hazardous Medevac For Phan Rang Det

Flying in the rain, over hostile territory at night, an HH-43 crew from Det 1, 3rd ARRGp, Phan Rang AB, evacuated an automobile accident victim to the hospital. The flight took them through a mountain pass without the use of ADF or IFF, which were inoperative, and ground fire was reported enroute.

Capt Daniel J. Biezad and his crew scrambled shortly before midnight after notification that an airman needed an emergency operation on his leg. Pedro landed at the dispensary helipad a minute later, the patient was placed aboard and the helicopter took off on the hazardous flight to the hospital at Cam Ranh Bay. Other members of the HH-43 crew were Capt Kevin M. Mahan, copilot; SSgt Garrett A. Somes, helicopter mechanic; and Sgt David M. Cowher, medical technician.

Det 1 Pedro crews made two other flights over hostile territory to the Cam Ranh Bay hospital to deliver military personnel. Both patients were suffering from acute appendicitis. Manning the HH-43 on one mission were Capt Robert M. Albers, pilot; Capt Michael H. Nelson, copilot; SSgt Lawrence Rosen, helicopter mechanic; and SSgt David P. Dickensheets. An air strike was in progress adjacent to the flight route and required careful clearing of the area.

The other mission was "uneventful" except for an initial diversion due to artillery fire. Captain Biezad was pilot and Captain Mahan was copilot of the rescue helicopter. Crewmen were Sgt Bryant C. Edgerton, III, helicopter mechanic; Sgt Charles L. Williams, airborne fire fighter, and Sgt Michael E. Mennor, medical technician.  

last update : 28/09/2007