~HELICOPTER TIME LINE~
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1974 - January 16 - 19; Three UH-1's from the 48th ARRS at Fairchild AFB, crew's unkn, conducted rescue operations in the Phinhurst, ID. area. During January, the mountains of the northwestern United States, which had accumulated heavy early winter snow, experienced two weeks of relatively warm weather accompanied by heavy rain. The combination of rain and melted snow drove rivers and creeks over their banks in northern Idaho. Floods from the Coeur d’Alene River and Pine Creek struck the vicinity of Pinehurst, Idaho, a community of about 2,000 some 40 miles east of Spokane. High water washed out bridges, including a section of Interstate 90, closing off access to food supplies. The floods interrupted electrical power, leaving hundreds of people without heat or communications. On January 16th, Governor Cecil Andrus declared the Coeur d’Alene wilderness region around Pinehurst a disaster area and appealed for federal assistance. That same day, the 48th ARRS, based at Fairchild AFB, WA., began four days of rescue and relief operations in the Pinehurst area. After setting up a command post at a local bank, the unit marshaled three UH–1 Huey helicopters to evacuate flood victims. In two days, the squadron airlifted 93 refugees, some hoisted from the roofs of their inundated homes. Civilian observers helped helicopter crews locate isolated victims. The airlift saved the lives of two women with heart disease and delivered an emergency electrical generator to restore communications and miscellaneous medical supplies. By the end of January, dry winter weather had returned, allowing the swollen streams to subside and residents to return home. The United States Air Force and Humanitarian Airlift Operations 1947–1994 by Daniel L. Haulman Air Force Historical Research Agency Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama |
1974 - February 11; A HH-1H from 1550th Aircrew Training and Test Wing at Hill AB, UT., crewed by Maj. Arlie L. Mustoe (IP), Maj. Hans M. Stobenau (SP) and Capt. Eugene O. White (SP), crashed at Ogden Municipal Airport. All three crewmen escaped serious injury in the mishap. The Ogden Standard-Examiner (Ogden, UT.) Tue, Feb 12, 1974, page 11 |
1974 - March 26; A HH-3E from Det. 2, 39th ARRWg. at Howard AB, Panama Canal Zone, crewed by Capt. William O. Stuart (P), 1st Lt. Robert L. Conner (CP), 1st Lt. Michael O. Rodciako (CP), SSgt. Francaline Tillman (FE), SSgt. William K. Johnson (PJ) and TSgt. John L. Beaty, while on a SAR training mission with a HC-130, both aircraft were directed to fly to the aid of a seaman, aboard the merchant ship "Columbia Land" about 200 miles south of Panama, who was suffering from acute appendicitis. He was hoisted aboard the HH-3E and rushed to Albrook, CZ., for surgery. "Air Rescue" Rescue Review Magazine June 1974, courtesy of Jim Cleer |
1974 - July 30; Det. 10, 40th ARRS at Tahkli RTAFB, Thailand was deactivated. http://www.pjsinnam.com/vn_history/pdf_files/Chronology/1973%20thru%201975.pdf |
1974 - August 20; The 40th ARRS at Ubon RTAFB, Thailand is deactivated. http://www.afsoc.af.mil/shared/media/document/AFD-070906-042.pdf |
1974 - August 30 - 31; Det. 13, 41st ARRWg., saved 36 Koreans from the flood waters surrounding Kwangju, Korea. http://www.afsoc.af.mil/shared/media/document/AFD-070906-042.pdf |
1974 - September 06; A HH-53 from the 40th ARRS at Nakhon Phanom RTAFB, Thailand, crewed by Barry R. Walls (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE), unkn (PJ), unkn (PJ) and Col. (Dr.) Alfred K. Cheng (DR), medevac'd A1C Gary L. VanDyke. Amn. VanDyke had received a stomach wound in a ground aircraft accident. No other details are known at this time. The NKP News, November 15, 1974 |
1974 - October 06; A HH-53 from the 40th ARRS at Nakhon Phonom RTAFB, Thailand, crewed by Barry R. Walls (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE), unkn (PJ), unkn (PJ) and Col. (Dr.) Alfred K. Cheng (DR), medevaced A1C Gary L. VanDyk. Amn. VanDyk had received a stomach wound in a ground aircraft accident. No other details are known at this time. The NKP News, November 15, 1974 |
1974 - October 13; A HH-43 "Pedro" from Det. 12, 40th ARRS at U-Tapao RTAFB, Thailand, crewed by Capt. Russel J. Spahr (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE), unkn (PJ) and Maj. (Dr.) William L. Burner III (DR), medevac'd the baby of an American couple to Bangkok. No other details are known at this time. The NKP News, November 15, 1974 |
1974 - October 21; A HH-53 from the 40th ARRS at Nakhon Phanom RTAFB, Thailand, crewed by Capt. Joseph M. Gilbert (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE), unkn (PJ) and Maj. (Dr.) Lin Ho, medevac'd MSgt. Winfred P. Williams from the Phu Mu Communications Relay Station to Udorn RTAFB, Thailand. No other details are known at this time. The NKP News, November 15, 1974 |
1974 - December 07; HH-3E #69-5807 of the 5040th HS, Elmendorf AFB, AK, crewed by 1st Lt. Edward Solomon (P), 1st Lt. Mason (CP), Sgt. Flanner (FE), Shorty Mutchler (PJ) and Dave Headley (RS), crashed at Portage Pass near Anchorage when it encountered a white out condition as it was attempting a landing. The pilot, 1st. Lt. Solomon, was killed in the crash; the remaining crew members onboard were rescued. http://www.helis.com/database/accidents/?model=53 & Gerald Armstrong facebook post 16 Jul. 2014 |
1974 - December 07; An HH-3E of the 5040th HS, Elmendorf AFB, AK, crewed by Lt. Col. Ray Long (P), 1st Lt. Thomas Hooper (CP), unkn (FE), unkn (PJ) and unkn (RS), rescued two USAF guys from the site of the crash of their Cessna 310 about 19.5 miles south of the Anchorage VORTAC. This rescue was accomplished at night in near zero visibility and the HH-3E was vectored to the crash site by an overhead C-130. email from Thomas Hooper, 07 March 2016 |
1975 - January 09; The first two CH-53C's, #69-0924 and #70-1632 for the 601st TASS, arrived at Wiesbaden AB, Germany. http://mobileradar.org/Documents/601st_tcw_history_pt_2.pdf |
1975 - January 16; A HH-43F (Call sign "Pedro ?") from Det. 12, 40th ARRS at U-Tapao RTAFB, Thailand, crewed by Capt. Russell J. Spahr (P), 2nd Lt. Kenneth H. Charfauros (CP), Sgt. Michael P. Misiewicz (FM), medevac'd Mrs. Jean Wallace, a dependent wife, after she collapsed at U-Tapao's front gate, to a Bangkok hospital. "Rescue Review" magazine, March, 1975, courtesy of Jim Cleer & "PJ's in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
1975 - January 24; CH-53C #70-1628 (Call sign "Knife ?") of the 21st SOS and crewed by Capt. Gary C. Hall (P), Capt. Bryan A. Rye (CP), SSgt. James K. Hurley (FE) and Sgt. Garry W. Hermanson (MX) was lost when it suffered a rotor head failure and crashed 50 miles southwest of Nakhon Phanom RTAFB, Thailand [17.04N, 104.29E] while on a Functional Check Flight at NKP RTAFB, Thailand. The entire crew was killed in the crash. http://www.jollygreen.org/jltnc.htm |
1975 - January 24; A HH-43F (Call sign "Pedro ?") from Det. 12, 40th ARRS at U-Tapao RTAFB, Thailand, crewed by Capt. Russell J. Spahr (P), 2nd Lt. Kenneth H. Charfauros (CP), Sgt. Michael P. Misiewicz (FM), medevac'd Baby Bettis in Thailand. No other details are known at this time. "Rescue Review" magazine, March, 1975, courtesy of Jim Cleer & "PJ's in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
1975 - January 29; A HH-43F (Call sign "Pedro ?") from Det. 5, 40th ARRS, crewed by Lt. J. B. Gilloon (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FM), medevac'd USAF Capt. A. P. Mauro in Thailand. No other details are known at this time. "PJ's in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form |
1975 - March 18; UH-1F #65-7920 was written off at F. E. Warren AFB, WY. The helicopter crashed on a FCF flight and was distroyed by fire. The crew survived the crash. No other details are available at this time. http://www.helis.com/database/accidents/?org=133&f2mod=545 |
1975 - April 12; Nine CH-53C's of the 21st SOS and two HH-53's of the 40th ARRS launched from Ubon RTAFB, Thailand to participate in the complete evacuation of all Americans and selected allied personnel from Phnom Penh, Cambodia (Operation "Eagle Pull"). The two HH-53's carried and inserted combat controll teams, with the nine CH-3C's holding north of the city. All the evacuees were taken out by USMC CH-53's and CH-46's so the 21st CH-53C's and the 40th HH-53's (after picking up the combat control team) returned to Ubon. "On a Steel Horse I Ride" by Darrel D. Whitcomb |
1975 - April 19; Eight CH-53C's of the 21st SOS and seven HH-53's of the 40th ARRS from Nakhon Phanom RTAFB, Thailand deployed to U-Tapao RTAFB, Thailand as preparations for Operation Frequent Wind (the evacuation of Americans and others from Vietnam. "On a Steel Horse I Ride" by Darrel D. Whitcomb |
1975 - April 20; Six CH-53C's of the 21st SOS and four HH-53's of the 40th ARRS departed U-Tapao RTAFB, Thailand and flew to the USS Midway, located in the South China Sea, 50 miles SE of Saigon, as preparations for Operation Frequent Wind (the evacuation of Americans and others from Vietnam). They joined CH-53's and CH-46's from other services. "On a Steel Horse I Ride" by Darrel D. Whitcomb |
1975 - April 29; Two HH-53's from the 40th ARRS, one crewed by Lt. D. Backlund (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE), unkn (PJ) and unkn (PJ), the other crewed by unkn (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE), unkn (PJ) and unkn (PJ), rescued USMC Cpl. Paul Cantu, with a broken back, off a USN ship in the Gulf of Thailand. The two crews made the 2,000 mile round trip with no difficulties. No other details are available at this time. "On a Steel Horse I Ride" by Darrel D. Whitcomb & JRCC Save Form |
1975 - April 29 - 30; About 3 p.m. on the afternoon of the 29th, the collected CH-53's, HH-53's and CH-46's on the USS Midway took off in a coordinated fashion to begin the evacuation (Operation Frequent Wind) of Saigon. For the next 13 ½ hours, they shuttled back and forth form the ship to several landing zones in Saigon. "On a Steel Horse I Ride" by Darrel D. Whitcomb |
1975 - May 02; The CH-53's and HH-53's of the 21st SOS and 40th ARRS departed the USS Midway and returned to U-Tapao RTAFB, Thailand. "On a Steel Horse I Ride" by Darrel D. Whitcomb |
1975 - May 02 - 06; The CH-53's and crews of the 21st SOS spent five days sling loading South Vietnamese aircraft that had been flown to U-Tapao RTAFB, Thailand during the evacuation of Saigon. They sling loaded 27 A-37 and 14 F-5 aircraft from the base to the USS Midway for shipment to the United States. On May 06, 1975 the CH-53's of the 21st SOS returned to Nakhon Phanom RTAFB, Thailand. "On a Steel Horse I Ride" by Darrel D. Whitcomb |
1975 - May 14; CH-53C #68-10933 (Call sign "Knife 13") of the 21st SOS and crewed by James G. Kayes (P), 1st Lt. Laurence E. Froehlich (CP), Robert P. Weldon (FE) and George E. McMullen (FE) and Paul J. Raber (CC), carrying 18 USAF Security Police onboard to assist in "The Mayaguez Incident" recovery effort crashed and was destroyed in Phannanikhom District, 70 km southwest of Nakhom Phanom RTAFB, Tahiland [17.20N, 104.02E] 40 miles west of Nakhon Phanom RTAFB, Thailand. All of the crew and all 18 passengers were killed in the crash. http://www.jollygreen.org/jltnc.htm |
1975 - May 15; CH-53C #68-10925 (Call sign "Knife 31") of the 21st SOS and crewed by Maj. Howard A. Corson, Jr. (P), 2nd Lt. Richard Vandergeer (CP), Jon D Harston (FE) and Randly L. Hoffmaster (FE) was lost during "The Mayaguez Incident" while attempting an troop assault landing on the East Beach of Koh Tang Island, Cambodia. Corson, Harston, Hoffmaster and ten troops survived and were rescued. Vandegeer & twelve troops were KIA. SSgt. Jon D. Harston was awarded the Air Force Cross for his actions on this mission. http://www.jollygreen.org/jltnc.htm & http://www.veterantributes.org/TributeDetail.php?recordID=1694 |
1975 - May 15; CH-53C #68-10926 (Call sign "Knife 52") of the 21st SOS and crewed by Col. John H. Denham (P), Karl W. Poulsen (CP), Robert A. Boissonnault (FE) and Elwood E. Rumbaugh (FE) was lost during "The Mayaguez Incident" during a troop assault landing on the West Beach of Koh Tang Island, Cambodia. The helicopter was hit by ground fire and crashed at sea about a mile off the beach. Denham, Poulsen, Boissonnault were rescued. Rumbaugh was KIA. http://www.jollygreen.org/jltnc.htm |
1975 - May 15; CH-53C #68-10927 (Call sign "Knife 51") of the 21st SOS and crewed by 1st Lt. John H. Schramm (P), John P. Lucas (CP), Ronald A. Gross (FE), Eduardo E. Arrieta (FE) and James M. Barschow (Photographer) was lost during "The Mayaguez Incident" while attempting an troop assault landing on the East Beach of Koh Tang Island, Cambodia. The entire crew was later rescued. http://www.jollygreen.org/jltnc.htm |
1975 - May 15; CH-53C #70-1627 (Call sign "Knife 23") of the 21st SOS and crewed by Capt. Terry D. Ohlemeier (P), David W. Greer (CP), Michael C. Wilson (FE) and Norman A. Paul (FE) was hit by ground fire during "The Mayaguez Incident" while attempting an troop assault landing on the West Beach of Koh Tang Island, Cambodia. The helicopter made it back to the mainland of Thailand where it was later recovered. http://www.jollygreen.org/jltnc.htm |
1975 - June 17; T/UH-1F's of Det. 5, 37th ARRS at Malmstrom AFB, MT., saved 131 flood victims during a flood in a 13-county area of Montana. http://www.afsoc.af.mil/shared/media/document/AFD-070906-042.pdf |
1975 - June 17; Det. 6, 37th ARRS at McConnell AFB, KS., transported 36 persons to safety near Peck, KS., during a flood along the Minnescah River. http://www.afsoc.af.mil/shared/media/document/AFD-070906-042.pdf |
1975 - July 03; A HH-43F (Call sign "Pedro ?") from Det. 12, 40th ARRS, crewed by Capt. Russell Spahr (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FM), medevac'd civilian Mrs. S. Hannah in Thailand. No other details are known at this time. "PJ's in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe |
1975 - July 08; A HH-43F (Call sign "Pedro ?") from Det. 12, 40th ARRS, crewed by Kevin Clatanoff (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FM), medevac'd H. Booker in Thailand. No other details are known at this time. "PJ's in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form |
1975 - August 13; A HH-43F (Call sign "Pedro ?") from Det. 12, 40th ARRS, crewed by Maj. G Passey (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FM), medevac'd Baby Haiphitan in Thailand. No other details are known at this time. "PJ's in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form |
1975 - September 18; HH-53B #66-14433 was converted and rolled out as the prototype HH-53H on this date. No other details are available at this time. http://www.mh-53pavelow.com/documents/airframes/notable_h53_history.pdf |
1975 - September 23; The 21st SOS at Nakhon Phanom RTAFB, Thailand was deactivated, with most of its aircrews and helicopter being transferred to the 601st TASS in Germany, with a few going to Hurlburt Field, FL. and a few other locations. "On a Steel Horse I Ride" by Darrel D. Whitcomb |
1975 - September 26; CH-53C #70-1632 of the 601st TASS crashed, near the town of Gutersloh, Germany, when it suffered dual engine failure due to ice ingestion, autorotation attempted too late, the crew of four and twelve passengers were killed. No other details are available at this time. |
1975 - November 30; Five CH-53C's #70-1625, #70-1626, #68-10927, #68-10928 and #68-10930 arrived at Wiesbaden AB, Germany during October and November 1975. After being uncrated and reassembled, which took several months, the helicopters were released to the 601st TASS. http://mobileradar.org/Documents/601st_tcw_history_pt_2.pdf |
1976 - January 01; The 20th Helicopter Sq. was reactivated at Hurlburt Field, FL. The mission remained unconventional warfare/special operations using UH-1N gunships and CH-3E's. http://www.mh-53pavelow.com/documents.20thSOS/history2.pdf |
1976 - January 31; The 3rd Air Rescue and Recovery Group lowered its flag on this date and Nakhon Phanom Royat Thai Air Force Base (NKP) was returned to the Thai government. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nakhon_Phanom_Royal_Thai_Navy_Base |
1976 - March 17; CH-53C #68-10927 of the 601st TASS at Sembach AB, Germany, crewed by Capt. John G. Piroutek (P), Capt. William H. McGeorge (IP), Sgt. Ronald G. Bridges (FM), Sgt. Richard D. Seaman (FE), rolled over and crashed inverted from a hover due to primary servo bolt breakage. All four crewmembers on board were killed. "On a Steel Horse I Ride" by Darrel D. Whitcomb & Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund |
1976 - June 05 - 06; Two UH-1's from the 37th ARRS at Hill AFB, Ut. and two UH-1's from the 48th ARRS at Mountain Home AFB, ID., began search and rescue operation after the new Teton Dam—a huge earthen structure 310 feet high and 2,500 feet long on the Teton River in southeastern Idaho—collapsed around noon on June 5th. A 15-foot wall of water, carrying four million cubic yards of dirt and rock from the dam, descended on the towns of Rexburg, Sugar City, and Teton. Seven communities, with a total population of 30,000, evacuated their homes as the flood engulfed 35 miles of the Teton and upper Snake River valleys. Millions of gallons of muddy water swept cars and mobile homes downstream. The disaster left 11 people dead and destroyed $500 million in property. Governor Cecil Andrus closed roads north of Idaho Falls and declared a state of emergency, and Senator Frank Church wired President Ford for federal assistance on June 5. The president declared the region a major disaster area the next day. Within hours of the dam’s collapse on June 5, the Air Force responded to appeals for helicopter support from the Booneville County Sheriff’s Office. Det. 10 of the 37th ARRS at Hill AFB, Utah, used two UH–1 helicopters to fly 33 search and rescue sorties over the flooded region the same day. Meanwhile, the 48th ARRS's Det. 22 from Mountain Home AFB, ID., also used two UH–1 helicopters to fly 24 sorties in the disaster area. The four helicopters picked up flood victims stranded on high ground or rooftops and shuttled relief workers, medical personnel, and law enforcement officials along the Teton River valley. On June 5, the 41st ARRS at McClellan AFB, California, sent an HC–130 to fly over the flood area to provide radio communications for rescue workers on the ground and in the helicopters. The aircraft also searched for victims as it circled the inundated valley. Fortunately, the water receded rapidly, and communities began drying out as early as June 6. The United States Air Force and Humanitarian Airlift Operations 1947–1994 by Daniel L. Haulman Air Force Historical Research Agency Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama |
1976 - July 01; Today in post-sea history, SAC transfers its drone reconnaissance program at Davis Monthan AFB to TAC: All drones, six DC-130s and 7 CH-3E recovery helicopters. (Citation: AFHS) |
1976 - October 01; CH-53C #68-10932 arrived for assignment with the 601st TASS in Germany. http://mobileradar.org/Documents/601st_tcw_history_pt_2.pdf |
1977 - January 14; An HH-53 aircrew from the 55th ARRS and an H-3 aircrew from Det. 5, 39th ARRWg., saved 32 U.S. Army Rangers who were unexpectedly caught in cold rainy swamps during an exercise near Eglin AFB, FL. http://www.afsoc.af.mil/shared/media/document/AFD-070906-042.pdf |
1977 - March 11 - 15; H-1 aircrews from Det. 3, 37th ARRS, at Grand Forks AFB, SD., saved 13 persons trapped during a blizzard in South Dakota. http://www.afsoc.af.mil/shared/media/document/AFD-070906-042.pdf |
1977 - April 25; A UH-1N from the 20th SOS at Hurlburt Field, FL., crewed by unkn (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and SSgt. James T. Carter, diverted from a training mission over the Eglin Range to rescue the downed crew from an F-4 crew from near the burning wreckage of the F-4. The recovery was accomplished in spite of exploding ordance from the F-4's burning wreakage. SSgt. James T. Carter won the Cheney Award for his part in the rescue. http://www.wikiwand.com/en/List_of_aircraft_accidents_at_Eglin_Air_Force_Base#/1970s |
1977 - June 24; HH-53C #68-10368 of the 67th ARRS at RAF Woodbridge, UK settled with power and crashed near Stuttgart, Germany, during a hurried approach to a U.S. Army Air Base. All 14 aboard were injured but survived. |
1977 - July 17; Twentynine Palms, Calif. (UPI) - Air Force helicopter crewman SSgt. Martin D. Magee, Chillicothe, Ill., was killed Sunday in a helicopter accident, the Air Force said Monday. Magee jumped from the craft because the pilot declared an emergency. His chute failed to open. The helicopter, with a crew of six, was participating in training exerccised in the California desert. Two of the men parachuted on the pilot's order. Airman 1C John Greschel, Fairdale, KY., suffered a broken ankle. After the two men had jumped, the pilot overcame the mechanical difficulty and landed the helicopter safely. Galesburg Register-Mail (Galesburg, IL.) Tue, Jul 19, 1997, page 3 |
1977 - August 03; The 71st ARRS at Elmendorf AFB, AK., participated in the rescue of 17 persons from the Skookum Glacier in Alaska. http://www.afsoc.af.mil/shared/media/document/AFD-070906-042.pdf |
1977 - November 01; A HH-1H from the 304th ARS at Portland IAP, crewed by Capt. Jack Kaseburg (P), Capt. John Basic (CP), TSgt. Bob McCreery (FE), TSgt. Greg McDonald (PJ), TSgt. Mike Cooney (PJ) and SSgt. Richard Eselgroth (PJ), rescued two Longview teenage girls, 17 year old Mary Darret and 19 year old Donna Young, by hoist, from the raging torrent of the Toutle River at 12:25 a.m. The two girls had been rafting on the river and got pitched out and had been stranded, hanging onto a rock in the middle of the river, since 6:00 p.m. on October 31, 1977. This rescue was not only accomplished at night, under the light of a large illumination lamp call "midnight sun" provided by a USCG H-3 helicopter, but was in a river canyon with 30 degree slope on one side and 125 foot trees on the other side. SSgt. Eselgroth was lowered by hoist to the small target of the rock, where he was able to calm things down for the teen's and prepare them to be hoisted to safety. For his actions during this mission SSgt. Eselgroth (PJ) was awarded a peace time Distinguished Flying Cross. http://projexts.militarytimes.com/citations-medals-awards/recipient, php?recipientid=42778 & newspaper clipping provided by Felix McLarney |
1977 - November 29; A HH-53B from Kirtland AFB, NM., crewed by Maj. Donald Backlund (P), Flight Lt. Chalmers (CP) (Flt. Lt. Chalmers was an Australian exchange pilot), MSgt. Eugune Cothran (FE), MSgt. Kraft (PJ) and Sgt. Hicks (PJ), rescued six survors of a twin engine civilain Cessna 140 aircraft that had crashed on 27 November 1977 , at the 11,800 foot level crash site in a snow covered bowl 15 miles west of Aspen on Capitol Mountain in the Aspen-area backcountry when it had hit a ridge between Haystack Mountain and Mount Sopris. Killed in the crash was C. B. Cameron, survivors include his wife Jo Carol Cammeron, their son Bill (18), their daughter Lynda (17), family friends Charles Randloph (17), Karen Mills (16) and pilot Terry DePlois (30). Colorado Springs Gazette Telegraph, Wed, Nov 30, 1977, Pages 1 & 4 & Aspen Times website story May 24, 2015 |
1978 - April 06; A CH-53C from the 601st TASS in Germany, crewed by unkn (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (FE), was involved in crash recovery efforts for a downed F-4 near Rheinfels, Germany. No other details are known at this time. http://mobileradar.org/Documents/601st_tcw_history_pt_2.pdf |
1978 - June 11 - 18; Three HH-53's, in Operation Volant Vault, flew from Eglin AFB, FL. across the North Atlantic route to RAF Woodbridge, United Kingdom, touching down at Keflavik. Aerial refueling was provided by ARRS HC-130's. http://www.afsoc.af.mil/shared/media/document/AFD-070906-042.pdf |
1978 - June 13; HH-3E #69-5800 of the 102nd RQS (ARRS) New York Air National Guard was lost in inclement weather in upstate N.Y. outside of Plattsburg AFB. At the time of the loss there were seven personnel on board and all were lost due to the crash. http://www.helis.com/database/accidents/?model=53 |
1978 - June 20; Detachment 13 33rd ARRS, at Osan AB, Korea, saved 20 people from flooding along the Tong Bok Cho River in Korea. http://www.afsoc.af.mil/shared/media/document/AFD-070906-042.pdf |
1978 - October 23; The 33rd ARRS assisted in the rescue of 19 persons from a sinking Indonesian lumber vessel offshore from Luzon, Republic of the Philippines. http://www.afsoc.af.mil/shared/media/document/AFD-070906-042.pdf |
1978 - November 22 - 29; Three HH-53C "Jolly Green Giant" helicopters (#73-1649, #73-1651 & #73-1652) of the 55th ARRS airlift 911 bodies from a mass suicide in Jonestown, Guyana to Georgetown, Guyana. HC-130's refuel the helicopters as they shuttle between the sites. Air Force Magazine |
1978 - December 29; The 304th ARRS, ARRES, assisted in the recovery of 163 survivors of a DC-8 crash near Portland, OR. http://www.afsoc.af.mil/shared/media/document/AFD-070906-042.pdf |
1979 - January 03; A CH-53C #70-1626 from the 601st TASS in Germany, crewed by unkn (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (FE), was the first sent to the Fokker Plant at Speyer, Germany for and analytical condition inspection (ACI). No other details are known at this time. http://mobileradar.org/Documents/601st_tcw_history_pt_2.pdf |
1979 - February 26; HH-53C #69-5787 of the 33rd ARRS at Kadena AB, Japan crewed by Maj. Johnny R. Johnson (P), Capt. Dennis Ray Young (CP), TSgt. Stephen K. Hodges (FE) and 1st Lt. Tim Miller (AG), was lost when the main rotor blades struck the drogue refueling hose, from the HC-130P, during aerial refueling, the tail rotor pylon separated due to severe vibration and the helicopter crashed into the sea. Johnson, Young and Hodges were killed in the crash. Tim Miller was the lone survivor. (Note:This HH-53C was the lead helicopter in the first trans-Pacific helicopter flight in August 1970.) No other details are available at this time. |
1979 - March 13; The first production Pave Low III, HH-53H #69-5791 was rolled out of the hanger at Pensacola NAS. FL. "On a Steel Horse I Ride" by Darrel D. Whitcomb |
1979 - March 18; Det. 1, 37th ARRS, Davis-Monthan AFB, AZ, rescued 17 hikers who had been missing in Sabino Canyon, AZ. http://www.afsoc.af.mil/shared/media/document/AFD-070906-042.pdf |
1979 - March 30 - 31; Major James E. McArdle, Jr., and his HH-3E #67-14709 crew from the 33rd ARRS detachment at Osan AB, South Korea, safely evacuated 28 persons during a nighttime mission from a wrecked Taiwanese ship, Ta Lai, in the Yellow Sea off the west coast of Korea. Major McArdle later received the Mackay Trophy as a result of this mission. http://www.afsoc.af.mil/shared/media/document/AFD-070906-042.pdf & Air Force Magazine & http://www.nationalmuseum.af.mil/factsheets/factsheet.asp?id=17539 |
1979 - April 06; The 305th ARRS, AFRES, saved 11 persons from a distressed vessel in Lake Erie. http://www.afsoc.af.mil/shared/media/document/AFD-070906-042.pdf |
1979 - April 16; Det. 13, 33rd ARRS, Osan AB, Korea, recovered 24 persons from a sinking vessel and delivered them to Kunsan AB, Korea. http://www.afsoc.af.mil/shared/media/document/AFD-070906-042.pdf |
1979 - June 18 - August 03; Nicaraguan Contingency ARRS forces participated in a contingency deployment to Central America in support of possible rescue evacuation mission into Nicaragua. During this operation, they operated from the U.S. Navy ship USS Saipan. After tension eased, the rescue forces redeployed. A total of 233 ARRS personnel were involved, and 636 flying hours were expended. http://www.afsoc.af.mil/shared/media/document/AFD-070906-042.pdf |
1979 - July 12; A UH-1N from Det. 9, 67th ARRS, Zaragoza AB, Spain, aided civil authorities by rescuing, by hoist, three persons from the roof top and one from an upper floor window of the burning Hotel Corona de Aragon in Zaragoza. Two the crewmen, Capt. Kenneth Rees, Jr., and TSgt. John Pighini were later awarded the Cheney Award for their actions during this mission. http://www.afsoc.af.mil/shared/media/document/AFD-070906-042.pdf |
1979 – August 13; A Sikorsky CH-3E of the 20th Special Operations Squadron, Hurlburt Field, is forced to make an emergency landing in the Choctawhatchee Bay near Eglin AFB after an engine failure and fire. The aircraft is recovered safely and towed back to Eglin for repairs. The tow operation takes six hours. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of _aircraft_at_Eglin_Air_Force_Base |
1979 - December 18; HH-3E #67-14716 of the 67th ARRS near Reykjavik, Iceland, crewed by unkn (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ), suffered a hard landing, crashed and was written off. No other details are available at this time. http://www.helis.com/database/accidents/?model=53 & Detroit Free Press (Detroit, MI) Fri, Dec 21, 1979, page 93 |
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"FREEDOM ISN'T FREE" ~SOMEONE PAYS FOR YOU AND ME~ "HELICOPTERS" - THE ONLY WAY TO FLY ~NEVER FORGOTTEN~ |
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