September-October 1974-page 08

"Lucky Seven"                              

The seven agencies depicted in the sketch coordinated to save a Chinese National who was injured in an accident aboard a ship off the coast of Thailand. The professional competence shown by Capt Charles T. Gelatka, the HH-43 pilot, as he guided his craft to a landing on the small landing pad aboard a foreign vessel also was a major factor in saving the rescuee. As usual, the brief mission report belies the true nature of the operation by making a severe test of human effort resemble a routine training flight.

The series of events started when Det 12, 40 ARRS, received a call to stand by for a possible medevac mission. A Chinese National seaman had been injured in an accident aboard a Chinese destroyer located in the Gulf of Siam. Forty-five minutes later, "Pedro 36" as the helo was identified, launched with copilot, Capt Hal S. Schwartz, flight surgeon, Capt Adam H. Romeiser, Jr., flight mechanic, SSgt Gary W. Brown, and medical technician, SSgt Gail E. Stokes aboard to aid Capt Gelatka. The Joint Rescue Coordination Center (JRCC), 3ARRG, Nakhon Phanom, Thailand, advised Pedro 36 to rendez­vous with King 21, a C-130, which would fly cover and aid during the mission. The C-130 was launched from 56 ARRS, Korat. The larger aircraft was to prove crucial for the safe accomplishment of the mission by providing superior navigation and communication assistance. The two aircraft met at the mouth of the Chao Phya River and started to search. King 21 located the surface vessel about eight miles away and the two rescue aircraft hastened to the site. Pedro 36 made a low pass and positively identified the Chinese Nationalist destroyer.

After carefully considering the numerous conning towers, cables, and other obstructions, Capt Gelatka proceeded to cautiously set the chopper down on the destroyer's aft helipad. In addition to the problems of superstructure and the small landing pad, the Huskie crew were advised of numerous thunderstorms which were making their presence felt around the Bangkok area. Upon landing, the rescuee was brought up on deck to be loaded into the aircraft. It was found he was suffering from severe head and spinal injuries and required immediate hospital attention.

While Pedro 36 was onloading the patient, King 21 was acting as air coordinator between the Nationalist Chinese Embassy, the American Embassy and the Joint Rescue Coordination Center. As soon as the helo took off from the ship, the two aircraft flew to Bangkok where the Huskie was landed in an unlighted soccer field near the 5th Army Field Hospital. King 21 headed for home as the patient was placed into a waiting ambulance which had been sent by the American Embassy.

Its mission of mercy accomplished, Pedro 36 departed for Bangkok International Airport for refueling. During the return trip, those severe thunderstorms and lightning caught up with them. In order to circumvent the storm, the HH-43 returned to U-Tapao Air Base, Thailand, via VFR and, at 2300 hours, the mission was officially closed with another life saved.

4,6,9 = 3 WITHIN 6, A LIFE-SAVING FORMULA!

That is correct! Missions on July 4th, 6th and 9th, resulted in three saves within six days for Det 12, 40 ARRS, Tapai, RTNA, Thailand. The first mission, on July 4th, Independence Day, saw the HH-43 manned by pilot, Capt Hal S. Schwartz, copilot, 1st Lt James W. Bizzell, crewman, SSgt Gary W. Brown, medical technician, SSgt Gail E. Stokes, and a doctor, Capt Tommy L. Hilsman.

A Thai National, hired to conduct the fireworks display for the base 4th of July celebration, was severely burned over 40 percent of her body. Base hospital requested PEDRO (the Kaman HH-43 helicopter) to provide medevac assistance to save her life. The helo quickly onloaded the patient and rushed her to Bangkok where a landing was made in a soccer field near the US Army's Fifth Field Hospital. While the aircraft remained in the landing zone, riots occurred in Bangkok's Chinatown area. The crew reported "some tense moments while sitting in the land­ing zone." This was the sixth save for Capt Schwartz and the third time in the last two months he teamed-up with SSgt Brown and Dr Hilsman.

last update : 31/12/2007