~HELICOPTER TIME LINE~

1971 - ??, ??; Two U.S. Coast Guard 'exchange' helicopter pilots arrived at Da Nang AB, RVN for assignment with the 37th ARRS. They were Lt. Cmdr. Joseph L. Crowe and Lt. Roderick Martin III.

http://uscgaviationhistory.aopero.org/images/U.S.%20Coast%20Guard%20Aviation%20in%20Vietnam.pdf

1971 - January ??; HH-43F #59-1556 (Call sign "Pedro 58") from Det. 12, 42nd ARRS, George AFB, CA. crewed by Maj. James L. Wissert (P), Maj. Lyle A. Beck (CP) and SSgt. John L. Hatch (FM), became the first HH-43F model to make a "stateside save" when they rescued 12 members of a stranded ground rescue team from the San Gabriel Mountains during three sorties. Eight of the rescues were at the 6,000 ft. level and the other four were at the 8,700 ft. level. Kaman Rotor Tips Jan-Feb 1971

1971 - January 01; A HH-3E from Det. 1, 37th ARRS at Da Nang AB, RVN, crewed by unkn (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE), William MacDonald (P), Robert Martin (PJ) and Donald J. Pecoraro (PJ), rescued two from a C-123 who had lay injured in the wreckage of their aircraft for six days before being located. Forty four others on the C-123 were KIA. No other details are known at this time. "PJ's in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form

1971 - January 02; UH-1P gunships of the 20th SOS "Green Hornets", one was UH-1P 65-7926 crewed by Capt. James D. Schuman (P), Capt. Ray D. Ostergeard (CP), TSgt James W. Green (FM/AG) and unkn (AG) and a second UH-1P gunship crewed by unkn (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FM/AG) and TSgt. Ronald J. Gray (AG), supported VNAF CH-34 "Kingbee" helicopters inserting a ARVN recon team, and subsequent extraction of the team, under fire, deep in enemy held territory. No other details are known at this time. "Secret Green Beret Commandos In Cambodia" by Lt. Col. Fred S. Lindsey, USA (Ret.)

1971 - January 02; A HH-53 from the 40th ARRS, crewed by Maj. Joe C. Fouts (P), John P. Ditucci (CP), Dennis Stevens (FE), Joseph S. Stanaland (PJ) and John J. Eldridge (PJ), rescued the crew of a F-4E (Call sign "Tiger 02"), Capt. Harvey D. Wier Jr. and 1st Lt. Rayford K. Brown, after they ejected from their AAA damaged aircraft just west of the Ban Ban Valley, Laos. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "PJ's in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form

1971 - January 04; UH-1P gunships of the 20th SOS "Green Hornets", crewed by Capt. James D. Schuman (P), Capt. Ray D. Ostergeard (CP), TSgt James W. Green (FM/AG) and unkn (AG), supported VNAF CH-34 "Kingbee" helicopters extracting a ARVN recon team, under fire, deep in enemy held territory. No other details are known at this time. "Secret Green Beret Commandos In Cambodia" by Lt. Col. Fred S. Lindsey, USA (Ret.)

1971 - January 04; A HH-43F from Det. 13, 38th ARRS at Phu Cat AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Edward W. Gmyrek (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ), medevac'd Trong Nguyen Van in RVN. No other details are known at this time. "PJ's in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form

1971 - January 05; A HH-43F from Det. 13, 38th ARRS at Phu Cat AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Joseph M. Coffman Jr. (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ), medevac'd one Vietnamese in RVN. No other details are known at this time. "PJ's in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form

1971 - January 05; A HH-43F from Det. 13, 38th ARRS at Phu Cat AB, RVN, crewed by Maj. Allan L. Gruer (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ), medevac'd Hon Lee Van in RVN. No other details are known at this time. "PJ's in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form

1971 - January 06; UH-1P gunships of the 20th SOS "Green Hornets", UH-1P #65-7926 crewed by Capt. James D. Schuman (P), Capt. Ray D. Ostergeard (CP), TSgt James W. Green (FM/AG) and unkn (AG), supported VNAF CH-34 "Kingbee" helicopters inserting two ARVN recon team, deep in enemy held territory. No other details are known at this time. "Secret Green Beret Commandos In Cambodia" by Lt. Col. Fred S. Lindsey, USA (Ret.)

1971 - January 06; A HH-43F from Det. 13, 38th ARRS at Phu Cat AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Edward W. Gmyrek (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ), medevac'd Richard L. Lansing in RVN. No other details are known at this time. "PJ's in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form

1971 - January 06; HH-53C #68-10363 (Call sign "Jolly Green 65") saves five members of a downed VNAF aircraft (Call sign "Butterfly 63"). No other details are known at this time.

www.mh-53pavelow.com/documents/airframes/notable_h53_history.pdf

1971 - January 08; A HH-53C from the 37th ARRS, crewed by Rodney S. Griffith (P), Michael C. Sartori (CP), David Garcia (FE), Charles B. Aldean (PJ) and Eugene L. Nardi (PJ), rescued eight from a VNAF H-34 (Call sign "King Bee") that was downed in Cambodia. No other details are known at this time. "PJ's in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form

1971 - January 11; A HH-53C (Call sign "Jolly Green 67") from the 37th ARRS, crewed by Donald L. Jensen (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE), unkn (PJ) and unkn (PJ), attempted the rescue of the crew of a downed USA LOH helicopter, but was hit by ground fire and damaged and made a landing on a sandbar. The crew of "Jolly Green 67" was rescued by another HH-53C (See next entry). No other details are known at this time. "PJ's in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form

1971 - January 11; A HH-53C (Call sign "Jolly Green 77") from the 37th ARRS, crewed by Joseph F. Mudd (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE), unkn (PJ) and unkn (PJ), rescue of the crew of a downed HH-53C (Call sign "Jolly Green 67") that had been hit by ground fire and damaged and made a landing on a sandbar. The crew of "Jolly Green 67", Donald L Jensen (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE), unkn (PJ) and unkn (PJ) were all rescued (See previous entry). No other details are known at this time. "PJ's in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form

1971 - January 16; A HH-43F from Det. 13, 38th ARRS at Phu Cat AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Edward W. Gmyrek (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ), medevac'd Harry R. Statham in RVN. No other details are known at this time. "PJ's in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form

1971 - January 17; A HH-53C from the 40th ARRS, crewed by Donald L. Jensen (P), Glen W. Walder (CP), Edward J. L. Koebeernik (FE), Jules C. Smith (PJ) and Henry C. Kirk (PJ), rescued the WSO of an F-4E (Call sign "Gunfighter 13 Bravo"), Maj. Jerome D. Siderius, after he and his pilot, Maj. Robert Henry Mirrer, after their aircraft had been hit by AAA fire near Ban Kaloung in southern Laos, and they managed to fly their aircraft over the South China Sea before they were forced to eject about 15 miles east of Da Nang AB, RVN. Maj. Mirrer could not be located and is listed as KIA. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "PJ's in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form

1971 - January 19; A HH-43F from Det. 9, 38th ARRS, crewed by Capt. Oliver E. Schmoker (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ), medevac'd PFC Donald L. Phillips in RVN. No other details are known at this time. "PJ's in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form

1971 - January 20; A HH-53 from the 37th ARRS, crewed by Capt. Gary H. Hoven (P), Glen W. Walder (CP), John  C. Kriletich (FE), Williams (PJ) and Jules C. Smith (PJ), rescued the WSO of a F-4E (Call sign "Gunfighter 03 Bravo"), Maj. Harman E. Kiefer, from the South China Sea when his aircraft had its engines catch fire after takeoff and he and Capt. David A. Warner (P), ejected at sea a few miles off the coast of Da Nang AB, RVN (see next entry). Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "PJ's in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form

1971 - January 20; A HH-53 from the 37th ARRS, crewed by Capt. Joseph F. Mudd (P), Merchant (CP), Patrick  B. Wolfe (FE), Allen J. Avery (PJ) and Irving Petty (PJ), rescued the pilot of a F-4E (Call sign "Gunfighter 03 Alpha"), Capt. David A. Warner, from the South China Sea when his aircraft had its engines catch fire after takeoff and he and Maj. Harman E. Kiefer (P), ejected at sea a few miles off the coast of Da Nang AB, RVN (see previous entry). Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "PJ's in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form

1971 - January 20; A UH-1N from the 20th SOS, crewed by unkn (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FM) and unkn (AG), was used as the fifth gunship on a combat mission, along with UH-1P's, for the first time. No other details are known at this time. http://www.mh-53pavelow.com/documents/20thSOS/1971.pdf

1971 - January 22; A UH-1N #69-6614 from the 20th SOS, crewed by Capt. Raymond J. Nozynski (P), Capt. Joseph R. Kolek (CP), unkn (FM) and TSgt James W. Green (AG), inserted one ARVN recon team and extracted another from deep in enemy teratory. No other details are known at this time. "Secret Green Beret Commandos In Cambodia" by Lt. Col. Fred S. Lindsey, USA (Ret.)

1971 - January 23; A UH-1N #69-6619 from the 20th SOS, crewed by Capt. Raymond J. Nozynski (P), Capt. Joseph R. Kolek (CP), unkn (FM) and TSgt James W. Green (AG), inserted one ARVN recon team deep in enemy teratory. No other details are known at this time. "Secret Green Beret Commandos In Cambodia" by Lt. Col. Fred S. Lindsey, USA (Ret.)

1971 - January 24; A UH-1N #69-6619 from the 20th SOS, crewed by Capt. Raymond J. Nozynski (P), Capt. Joseph R. Kolek (CP), unkn (FM) and TSgt James W. Green (AG), inserted one ARVN recon team and extracted another deep in enemy teratory. No other details are known at this time. "Secret Green Beret Commandos In Cambodia" by Lt. Col. Fred S. Lindsey, USA (Ret.)

1971 - January 26; A UH-1N #69-6619 from the 20th SOS, crewed by Capt. Raymond J. Nozynski (P), Capt. Joseph R. Kolek (CP), unkn (FM) and TSgt James W. Green (AG), inserted one ARVN recon team and extracted another deep in enemy teratory. No other details are known at this time. "Secret Green Beret Commandos In Cambodia" by Lt. Col. Fred S. Lindsey, USA (Ret.)

1971 - January 27; A UH-1N #69-6618 from the 20th SOS, crewed by Capt. Raymond J. Nozynski (P), Capt. Joseph R. Kolek (CP), unkn (FM) and TSgt James W. Green (AG), extracted a ARVN recon team deep in enemy teratory. No other details are known at this time. "Secret Green Beret Commandos In Cambodia" by Lt. Col. Fred S. Lindsey, USA (Ret.)

1971 - January 30; A HH-43B crewed by Capt. Michael H. Nelson (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ), rescued four USA troops, WO2 Donald McPherson, E-5 Larry Sapp, E-5 James R. Boerth and E-5 Fredrick Solis from a downed USAF UH-1H in RVN. No other details are known at this time. "PJ's in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form

1971 - January 30; HH-43B from Det. 1, 38th ARRS, crewed by Michael H. Nelson (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE), unkn (PJ) and unkn (PJ), medevac'd Donald McPherson and Larry Sapp in RVN. No other details are known at this time. "PJ's in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe

1971 - February 02; UH-1N #69-6615 from the 20th SOS, crewed by Capt. James D. Schuman Sr. (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FM) and TSgt James W. Green (AG), launched on a village defense mission for a village that was under attack. No other details are known at this time. "Secret Green Beret Commandos In Cambodia" by Lt. Col. Fred S. Lindsey, USA (Ret.)

1971 - February 03; A HH-53 from the 40th ARRS, crewed by unkn (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE), unkn (PJ) and unkn (PJ), participated in the unsuccessful SAR for a F-4D (Call sign "Bigot 02") crew, Lt. Col. Robert Lauren Standerwick (P) and Maj. Norbert Anthony Gotner (WSO), who ejected from their aircraft that was shot down, while on a sensor drop mission over the Ho Ch Minh Trail, near Ban Kantaloung about 10 miles southwest of the Ban Karai Pass in Laos. Col. Standerwick was KIA and Maj. Gotner became a POW. Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "PJ's in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form

1971 - February 06; A HH-53C from the 37th ARRS, crewed by Maj. Ryland R. Dreibelbis (P), Karlton I. Bakke (CP), Robert H. Rogers (FE), Gordon C. Bailey (PJ) and James W. Muelchi (PJ), rescued VANAF troops, 1st Lt. Ngoc Tran Van, 2nd Lt. Boi Hoang, 2nd Lt. Nh Tep Dang, Sgt. Bat Mai Von and Capt. Hao Do, from a downed VANAF UH-1B helicopter. No other details are known at this time. "PJ's in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form

1971 - February 09; HH-53C from Det. 1, 37th ARRS, crewed by Capt. Donald G. Beattie (P), John M. Komich (CP), Jerry L. Burchfield (FE), Smith (PJ) and Daniel Hancock (PJ), medevac'd a Vietnamese woman in RVN. No other details are known at this time. "PJ's in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe

1971 - February 10; UH-1N and UH-1P gunships and slicks from the 20th SOS, with UH-1P slick #63-13161 crewed by Capt. John V. Fineour (P), Robert J. Connolly (CP), unkn (FM) and TSgt James W. Green (AG), launched from Tieu Atar and extracted two ARVN recon team from deep in enemy held territory. No other details are known at this time. "Secret Green Beret Commandos In Cambodia" by Lt. Col. Fred S. Lindsey, USA (Ret.)

1971 - February 10; UH-1P #63-13162 from the 20th SOS, crewed by Capt. William V. Hornung (P), Capt. Marion J. Messenger (CP), unkn (FM) and TSgt James W. Green (FM/AG), moved equipment from Tieu Atar, RVN to Duc Lap, RVN. No other details are known at this time. "Secret Green Beret Commandos In Cambodia" by Lt. Col. Fred S. Lindsey, USA (Ret.)

1971 - February 12; UH-1P #63-131612 from the 20th SOS, crewed by Capt. John V. Fineour (P), Robert J. Connolly (CP), TSgt. Darrell L. Babb (AG) and TSgt James W. Green (FM/AG), launched from Doc Lap, RVN and inserted one ARVN recon team and extracted another team, under fire, deep in enemy territory. No other details are known at this time. "Secret Green Beret Commandos In Cambodia" by Lt. Col. Fred S. Lindsey, USA (Ret.)

1971 - February 16; A HH-53 from the 40th ARRS, crewed by Capt. Charles R. Hagerhjelm (P), George T. MacDonald (CP), Fredrick M. Moorehouse (FE), Henry L. Ochse (PJ), John A. Smith (PJ) and  Rodney L. Olsen (AP), rescued the crew of a F-4D (Call sign "Dudley 02"), Lt. Col. William R. Cox (P) and Maj. William C. Allen (CP), after they ejected from their AAA damaged aircraft in Laos about 40 miles east of Nakhon Phanom RTAFB, Thailand. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "PJ's in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form

1971 - February 18; CH-53C #68-10929 (Call sign "Knife 47") of the 21st SOS and crewed by Roger Korenberg (P), Lyle Horner (CP), Augie Lawson (FE) and Carlos de Mattos (FE) was lost in Laos. The crew and passengers were rescued by another CH-53C (Call sign "Knife 33") that was on this mission. http://www.jollygreen.org/jltnc.htm & "PJ's in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe

1971 - February 19; HH-53C from the 37th ARRS, crewed by unkn (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ), attempted the rescue of an O-2A (Call sign "Covery 275") crew, 1st Lt. James Larry Hull (P) and USA Sgt. William Matthew Fernandez (Observer) that had crashed in the jungle near Ban Pelou, some 55 miles west of Da Nang but both were KIA. No other details are known at this time. "PJ's in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe

1971 - February 19; HH-43F from Det. 6, 38th ARRS, crewed by Capt. Robert J. Franklin (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ), medevac'd USAF SSgt. Jimmy D. Boltan in RVN. No other details are known at this time. "PJ's in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe

1971 - February 20; A USAF helicopter, crewed by unkn (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ), rescued the pilot of a O-1F, 1st Lt. P. Peacock, after he was shot down and crash landed his aircraft near Plei Djereng about 20 miles west of Pleiku AB, RVN. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "PJ's in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe

1971 - February 20; HH-43B from OL-1, crewed by Capt. Alvin J. Machtimes (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ), medevac'd USN E-4 Warden L. Johnson in RVN. No other details are known at this time. "PJ's in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe

1971 - February 23; Two CH–3 helicopters from Sheppard Technical Training Center, Texas, carried 1.5 tons of food—including bread and milk—in six flights to 300 residents stranded along Interstate 40 between Erick, Oklahoma, and Amarillo, Texas. The Jolly Green Giant helicopters also carried 25 persons to safety.. No other details are known at this time. 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

1971 - February 26; HH-53C #68-10363 (Call sign "Jolly Green 65") from the 37th ARRS at Danang AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Karlton I. Bakke (P), John R. Weimer Jr. (CP), TSgt. Carlos J. McKinney II (FE), Eugene L. Nardi (PJ), Michael A. Curtis (PJ) and Steven C. Rhody (PJ), rescued the crew of a F-4D (Call sign "Cobra 23"), Capt. David R. Hedditch (P) and 1st Lt. Thomas M. McLaughlin, after their aircraft was hit by a SAM and they ejected on 25 February 1971 about 10 miles SW of Dong Hoi. HH-53C #68-10363 took nine hits from enemy fire during this rescue and Capt. Bakke, Weimer, McKinney, Nardi and Curtis were awarded the Silver Star for their actions during this rescue. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson &  www.mh-53pavelow.com/documents/airframes/notable_h53_history.pdf & JRCC Save Form & "PJ's in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe

1971 - February 27; A HH-53C from the 37th ARRS, crewed by Capt. David H. Warner (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE), unkn (PJ) and unkn (PJ), rescued an A-7E (Call sign "Chippie 414") pilot, Cmdr. P. F. McCarthy, when he ejected, over the Gulf Of Tonkin, after his aircraft had a flame out. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & JRCC Save Form & "PJ's in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe

1971 - February 27; A HH-43B from Det. 3, 38th ARRS, crewed by Capt. Higbie (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE), unkn (PJ) and unkn (PJ), saved an F-4D crew member, F. T. Payne, in Thailand. No other details are known at this time. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & JRCC Save Form & "PJ's in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe

1971 - February 27; The last of the 22 UH-1N model helicopters for the 20th SOS "Green Hornets" arrived on this date. http://www.mh-53pavelow.com/documents/20thSOS/1971.pdf 

1971 - March 01; CH-53C #68-10931 (Call sign "Knife 34") of the 21st SOS and crewed by Maj. Milton Hardin Ramsey (P), Capt. Albert Tijerina, Jr. (CP), G. Pearson (FE) and F. Deck (FE) operating out of Lima Site 20 and inserting Laotian soldiers was lost when it crashed during landing in Laos. Ramsey & Tijerina were killed in the crash. Pearson & Deck were rescued. http://www.jollygreen.org/jltnc.htm 

1971 - March 01; The conversion from UH-1F/P's to UH-1N's at the 20th SOS at Cam Rahn Bay, AB, RVN, was completed on this date. http://www.mh-53pavelow.com/documents/20thSOS/1971.pdf 

1971 - March 02; A HH-53C from the 37th ARRS, crewed by Capt. Karlton I. Bakke (P), Harrow (CP), Robert H. Rogers (FE), Eugene L. Nardi (PJ), Donald J. Pecoraro (PJ) and Montemayor (FS), medevac'd Le Hoang Nhon in RVN. No other details are known at this time. "PJ's in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe

1971 - March 05; A HH-43 from Det. 9, 38th ARRS, crewed by Maj. Bobby S. Lay (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ), rescued eight crew members, Lt. Col. Robert Cranshaw, Lt. Col. Richard Denfield, MSgt. Gerald Price, Sgt. Bruce Abbott, Sgt. John D.  Bean, Sgt. Donald Gibson, SSgt. Robert Johnson and Lt. Col. Charles L. Tipton, from an AC-119. No other details are known at this time. "PJ's in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form

1971 - March 06; A HH-53C from the 37th ARRS, crewed by Maj. Joseph F. Mudd (P), Merchant (CP), Johnson (FE), James W. Muelchi (PJ) and McDonald (PJ), rescued the pilot of a A-1H (Call sign "Sandy 04"), 1st Lt. Charles L. Tipton, after he ejected from his ground fire damaged aircraft, about 15 miles west of Khe Sanh, RVN. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "PJ's in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form

1971 - March 07; UH-1N #69-6631 from the 20th SOS, crewed by Capt. Ed Blaess (P), Capt. Robert J. Connolly (CP), unkn (AG) and TSgt James W. Green (FM/AG), and "Green Hornet" gunships supported a VNAF CH-34 helicopter in the exfill of a ARVN recon team deep in enemy territory. No other details are known at this time. "Secret Green Beret Commandos In Cambodia" by Lt. Col. Fred S. Lindsey, USA (Ret.)

1971 - March 09; A HH-53C from the 37th ARRS, crewed by Donald G. Beattie (P), John M. Komich (CP), Jerry L. Burchfield (FE), Smith (PJ) and Daniel Hancock (PJ), medevac'd one Vietnamese in RVN. No other details are known at this time. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "PJ's in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form

1971 - March 10; UH-1N #69-6631 from the 20th SOS, crewed by Capt. Maurie P. Bois Jr. (P), Capt. Robert J. Connolly (CP), unkn (AG) and TSgt James W. Green (FM/AG), and "Green Hornet" gunships supported a ARVN recon team deep in enemy territory. No other details are known at this time. "Secret Green Beret Commandos In Cambodia" by Lt. Col. Fred S. Lindsey, USA (Ret.)

1971 - March 10 - May 24; In a mass transpacific ferrying deployment between the United States and Southeast Asia, ARRS personnel flew five HH-53C's from Eglin AFB, FL. to Udorn RTAFB, Thailand. Intermediate stops along the transpacific route were: McChord AFB, WA., Elmendorf AFB, AK, Shemya AFB, AK., Misawa AB, Japan, Kadena AB, Okinawa, and Clark AB, PI. All flights received enroute refueling from ARRS HC-130P/N's.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/37th_Aerospace_Rescue_and_Recovery_Squadron#Operations_and_losses

1971 - March 11; UH-1N #69-6631 from the 20th SOS, crewed by Capt. Cormney (P), Capt. Ed Blaess (CP), unkn (AG) and TSgt James W. Green (FM/AG), and "Green Hornet" gunships supported a ARVN recon team deep in enemy territory. No other details are known at this time. "Secret Green Beret Commandos In Cambodia" by Lt. Col. Fred S. Lindsey, USA (Ret.)

1971 - March 13; A HH-53C (Call sign "Jolly Green 64") of the 37th ARRS, crewed by Lt. Col. Royal A. Brown, Jr. (P), Maj. Frank J. Pehr (CP), TSgt. Charles C. Jack (FE), A1C Michael A. Curtis (PJ) and A1C Steven Rhoady made two attempts to rescue U.S. Navy A-7E (Call sign "Battle Cry 315") pilot, Lt. Barton Sheldon Creed after he had ejected when his aircraft was hit by 23mm AAA fire near the intersection of Hwy's 92 and 922 and the Hoi An River in Laos. "Jolly Green 64" made two attempts under heavy ground fire before being forced to break off his hover and leave the area with numerous hits from ground fire and two crew members wounded. "Leave No Man Behind: The Saga of Combat Search and Rescue" by George Caldorisi & Thomas Phillips & "PJ's in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe

1971 - March 13; A HH-53C (Call sign "Jolly Green 73") of the 37th ARRS, crewed by Maj. Donald L. Jensen (P), Maj. William J. Osley (CP), SSgt. David Cutillo (FE), TSgt. Eugene L. Nardi (PJ), TSgt. Richard M. Crowley (PJ) and A1C Gust Dinos (PJ) continued the attempt to rescue U.S. Navy A-7E (Call sign "Battle Cry 315") pilot Lt. Barton Sheldon Creed from Laos. During "Jolly Green 73's" rescue attempt two of the P.J.'s were wounded and the aircraft was his by enemy ground fire and driven off their rescue attempt. "Leave No Man Behind: The Saga of Combat Search and Rescue" by George Caldorisi & Thomas Phillips & "PJ's in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe

1971 - March 13; A HH-53C (Call sign "Jolly Green 73") of the 37th ARRS, returned, this time crewed by Lt. Col. Harry S. Copperthite, Jr. (P), Capt. Donald G. Beattie (CP), TSgt. Alfred R. Priante (FE), MSgt. James D. Scott (PJ) and A1C Ervin A. Petty (PJ) and despite the knowledge of the results of the previous rescue attempts, again attempted to rescue U.S. Navy A-7E (Call sign "Battle Cry 315") pilot, Lt. Barton Sheldon Creed. As "Jolly Green 73" came to a hover it was raked with enemy ground fire, wounding Lt. Col. Copperthite (P) and MSgt. James D. Scott (PJ) and damaging one engine, forcing them to leave the area. Another attempt by another helicopter was made after dark, but no trace of U. S. Navy A-7E pilot, Lt. Barton Sheldon Creed could be found. It was known that Lt. Creed was held captive in Laos, but he was not returned at the end of the war and he has been listed as KIA. "Leave No Man Behind: The Saga of Combat Search and Rescue" by George Caldorisi & Thomas Phillips & "PJ's in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe

1971 - March 23; A HH-53C (Call sign "Jolly Green 72") from the 37th ARRS, crewed by Maj. Donald L. Jensen (P), Capt. Glen W. Walder (CP), TSgt. Carlos J. McKinney II (FE), SSgt John C. Ratliff (PJ), Henry C. "Cliff" Kirk (PJ), A1C Daniel D, Hancock (PJ) and Shapiro (AP) rescued the crew of a F-4D (Call sign "Falcon 84"), Maj. Robert D. Priest (P) and Maj. Robert L. Cubberly (WSO), after they ejected from their aircraft when it was hit by SA-2 SAM about 10 miles southwest of Dong Hoi, NVN. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & JRCC Save Form & 15 Nov. 14 FaceBook Post by John Ratliff & "PJ's in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe

1971 - March 23; The 20th SOS began a new operation at a temporay FOL, Quan Loi, RVN, and its sub-FOL, Loc Ninh, RVN on this date. No other details are known. http://www.mh-53pavelow.com/documents/20thSOS/1971.pdf

1971 - March 25; UH-1N #69-6630 from the 20th SOS, crewed by Capt. Blois (P), Capt. Priebe (CP), unkn (AG) and TSgt James W. Green (FM/AG), and "Green Hornet" gunships supported a ARVN recon team deep in enemy territory. Flew from BMT to Quan Loi, then to sub-FOL at Loc Ninh and pulled one team. No other details are known at this time. "Secret Green Beret Commandos In Cambodia" by Lt. Col. Fred S. Lindsey, USA (Ret.)

1971 - March 26; UH-1N gunships from the 20th SOS, one crewed by Capt. Charles D. Svoboda (P), Lt. Col. Harmon Brotnov (CP), unkn (AG) and unkn (FM/AG), and another "Green Hornet" gunships crewed by Capt. James D. Schuman (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FM/AG) and unkn (AG), supported VNAF CH-34 "Kingbee" helicopters in the extraction of a ARVN recon team deep in enemy territory. No other details are known at this time. "Secret Green Beret Commandos In Cambodia" by Lt. Col. Fred S. Lindsey, USA (Ret.)

1971 - March 26; UH-1N #69-6621 from the 20th SOS, crewed by Capt. Blois (P), Capt. Priebe (CP), unkn (AG) and TSgt James W. Green (FM/AG), and "Green Hornet" gunships supported a ARVN recon team deep in enemy territory. as they pulled one team. No other details are known at this time. "Secret Green Beret Commandos In Cambodia" by Lt. Col. Fred S. Lindsey, USA (Ret.)

1971 - March 27; UH-1N #69-6612 from the 20th SOS, crewed by Capt. Blois (P), Capt. Priebe (CP), unkn (AG) and TSgt James W. Green (FM/AG), and "Green Hornet" gunships inserted two ARVN recon teams and pulled another team from deep in enemy territory. No other details are known at this time. "Secret Green Beret Commandos In Cambodia" by Lt. Col. Fred S. Lindsey, USA (Ret.)

1971 - March 27; A HH-43 from Det. 7, 38th ARRS, crewed by Capt. Alvin J. Machtmecs (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ), medevac'd Roger D. Caskey and one other USMC troop in RVN. No other details are known at this time. "PJ's in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe

1971 - March 28; UH-1N #69-6611 from the 20th SOS, crewed by Capt. Blois (P), Capt. Priebe (CP), unkn (AG) and TSgt James W. Green (FM/AG), and "Green Hornet" gunships extracted a ARVN recon teams, under fire, deep in enemy territory. No other details are known at this time. "Secret Green Beret Commandos In Cambodia" by Lt. Col. Fred S. Lindsey, USA (Ret.)

1971 - March 28; A HH-43F from Det. 13, 38th ARRS, crewed by Capt. Joseph M. Coffman Jr. (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ), medevac'd Tam Thi Hieu in RVN. No other details are known at this time. "PJ's in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe

1971 - March 28; A HH-43F from Det. 13, 38th ARRS, crewed by Capt. Joseph M. Coffman Jr. (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ), medevac'd Pham Bo in RVN. No other details are known at this time. "PJ's in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe

1971 - March 30; UH-1N #69-6627 from the 20th SOS, crewed by Capt. Priebe (P), Capt. Lanier (CP), unkn (AG) and TSgt James W. Green (FM/AG), and "Green Hornet" gunships inserted a ARVN recon team deep in enemy territory near Mondol Kiri. No other details are known at this time. "Secret Green Beret Commandos In Cambodia" by Lt. Col. Fred S. Lindsey, USA (Ret.)

1971 - March 31; UH-1N #69-6627 from the 20th SOS, crewed by Capt. Priebe (P), Capt. Lanier (CP), unkn (AG) and TSgt James W. Green (FM/AG), and "Green Hornet" gunships inserted an ARVN recon team, from Doc Lap, deep in enemy territory. No other details are known at this time. "Secret Green Beret Commandos In Cambodia" by Lt. Col. Fred S. Lindsey, USA (Ret.)

1971 - April 01; A HH-43F, crewed by Capt. Lawrence K. Wilber (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ), medevac'd one foreign national in RVN. No other details are known at this time. "PJ's in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe

1971 - April 01; UH-1N #69-6624 from the 20th SOS, crewed by Capt. Ronnie D. Lanier (P), Capt. Priebe (CP), unkn (AG) and TSgt James W. Green (FM/AG), and "Green Hornet" gunships inserted a ARVN recon team, from Doc Lap, deep in enemy territory. No other details are known at this time. "Secret Green Beret Commandos In Cambodia" by Lt. Col. Fred S. Lindsey, USA (Ret.)

1971 - April 01; UH-1N’s from the 20th SOS, crew’s unkn, supported the insertion of PIKE HILL and STRATA security teams. They were inserted in the vicinity of Pu Char Village, east of BQ 712, with a mission of making contact with and capturing a communist sympathizer named Muc. No other details are known at this time. "Secret Green Beret Commandos In Cambodia" by Lt. Col. Fred S. Lindsey, USA (Ret.)

1971 - April 08; UH-1N #69-6625 from the 20th SOS, crewed by Capt. Smith (P), Capt. Stutgart (CP), unkn (AG) and TSgt James W. Green (FM/AG), flew a visual recon mission with a team of a possible insertion LZ. No other details are known at this time. "Secret Green Beret Commandos In Cambodia" by Lt. Col. Fred S. Lindsey, USA (Ret.)

1971 - April 09; UH-1N #69-6624 from the 20th SOS, crewed by Capt. Smith (P), Capt. Stutgart (CP), unkn (AG) and TSgt James W. Green (FM/AG), launched from Ban Don and inserted two ARVN recon teams. No other details are known at this time. "Secret Green Beret Commandos In Cambodia" by Lt. Col. Fred S. Lindsey, USA (Ret.)

1971 - April 09; A HH-53C from the 37th ARRS, crewed by Lt. Col. Clarence D. Fried (P), Bruce M. Carskadon (CP), David M. Curtillo (FE), Ervin A. Petty (PJ), Duane D. Hackney (PJ) and Donald J. Pecoraro (PJ), rescued four members of a ARVN ground team (Call sign "Ballgame" in contact in RVN. No other details are known at this time. "PJ's in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form

1971 - April 13; UH-1N #69-6631 from the 20th SOS, crewed by Capt. Ralph H. Bacue (P), Col. Alfred G. Houston (CP), unkn (AG) and TSgt James W. Green (FM/AG), launched from Duc Lap and inserted one ARVN recon team. No other details are known at this time. "Secret Green Beret Commandos In Cambodia" by Lt. Col. Fred S. Lindsey, USA (Ret.)

1971 - April 13; A HH-43 from Det. 13, 38th ARRS, crewed by Maj. Allan L. Gruer (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ), medevac'd Nguyen Thi in RVN. No other details are known at this time. "PJ's in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe

1971 - April 14; UH-1N #69-6631 from the 20th SOS, crewed by Capt. Ralph H. Bacue (P), Col. Alfred G. Houston (CP), unkn (AG) and TSgt James W. Green (FM/AG), launched from Duc Lap and inserted two ARVN recon teams. No other details are known at this time. "Secret Green Beret Commandos In Cambodia" by Lt. Col. Fred S. Lindsey, USA (Ret.)

1971 - April 14; A HH-43F from Det. 13, 38th ARRS, crewed by Capt. Bruce W. Staples (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ), medevac'd Tran Thi Ly in RVN. No other details are known at this time. "PJ's in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe

1971 - April 15; UH-1N #69-6631 from the 20th SOS, crewed by Capt. Ralph H. Bacue (P), Col. Alfred G. Houston (CP), unkn (AG) and TSgt James W. Green (FM/AG), launched from Duc Lap and inserted one 8 man ARVN recon team and extracted another 8 man team. No other details are known at this time. "Secret Green Beret Commandos In Cambodia" by Lt. Col. Fred S. Lindsey, USA (Ret.)

1971 - April 16; A HH-43B from Det. 1, 38th ARRS, crewed by unkn (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ), saved eight USAF troops from an AC-119 and "Knife 47" got another one out in Thailand. No other details are known at this time. "PJ's in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe

1971 - April 17; A HH-43F from Det. 13, 38th ARRS, crewed by Capt. Edward W. Gmyrek (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ), medevac'd Pnh Phu in RVN. No other details are known at this time. "PJ's in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe

1971 - April 18; HH-53C #68-10363 (Call sign "Jolly Green 65") crewed by Glen W. Walder (P), Otto G. Gemmill Jr. (CP), TSgt, Carlos J. McKinney II (FE), Ralph R. Moreno (PJ), Randy L. Zonker (PJ) and Michael D. Morris (PJ) rescued USN A-7E (Call sign "Battle Cry 305") pilot, Lt. Richard E. Forman Jr., after his aircraft was hit by enemy 23 mm AAA fire as he was attacking trucks near the village of Ding, about 35 miles north of Muang Fangdeng, Laos. "PJ's in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & www.mh-53pavelow.com/documents/airframes/notable_h53_history.pdf & JRCC Save Form

1971 - April 19; UH-1F #65-7964 was written off at Edwards AFB, CA. No other details are available at this time. http://www.helis.com/database/accidents/?org=133&f2mod=545

1971 - April 21; UH-1N's from the 20th SOS, crew's unkn, supported a ARVN recon team that had discovered a weapons cache. No other details are known at this time. "Secret Green Beret Commandos In Cambodia" by Lt. Col. Fred S. Lindsey, USA (Ret.)

1971 - April 22; A HH-53C from the 40th ARRS, crewed by Capt. Alferd M. Meyers (P), Allan K. Macaulay (CP), Dennis C. Chriswell (FE), Wayne L. Fisk (PJ), Lorenzo E. Willis Jr. (PJ) and Wille E. Madison (AP), rescued a F-4D (Call sign "Wolf 07") crew, Capt. Robert S. Dotson (P) and Capt. Benjamin D. Smith (WSO) after they ejected when their aircraft was shot down in southern Laos. No other details are known at this time. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "PJ's in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form

1971 - April 23; UH-1N slick #69-6623 from the 20th SOS, crewed by Capt. Bois (P), Capt. Wilson (CP), TSgt. James W. Green (FM/AG) and unkn (AG), inserted a company of troops from Duc Lap. No other details are known at this time. "Secret Green Beret Commandos In Cambodia" by Lt. Col. Fred S. Lindsey, USA (Ret.)

1971 - April 24; A HH-43F from Det. 13, 38th ARRS, crewed by Capt. Charles W. Vickery (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ), medevac'd Boa Tai Diep in RVN. No other details are known at this time. "PJ's in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe

1971 - April 25; A HH-43F from Det. 13, 38th ARRS, crewed by Capt. Stanley R. Menze (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ), medevac'd Binh Trinh Vo in RVN. No other details are known at this time. "PJ's in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe

1971 - April 26; A HH-53 from the 40th ARRS, crewed by unkn (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ), rescued (Call sign "Tiger 60") in Laos. No other details are known at this time. "PJ's in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe

1971 - April 26; A HH-43 from Det. 13, 38th ARRS, crewed by Capt. Joseph M. Coffman Jr. (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ), medevac'd Buong Sung in RVN. No other details are known at this time. "PJ's in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe

1971 - April 26; A HH-43, crewed by Capt. Walter R. Connally (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ), medevac'd two in Laos, details are classified. No other details are known at this time. "PJ's in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe

1971 - April 27; A HH-53 from the 40th ARRS, crewed by Capt. William M. McGeorge (P), Carl Kaufhold (CP), Wayne Estry (FE), Gary P. Bryant (PJ), Joseph S. Stanaland (PJ) and Rodney L. Olsen (PJ), rescued a 0-2A (Call sign "Nail 83") crew, 1st Lt. Guy L. Mellor (P) and 1st Lt. Len J. Fleming (CP) after their aircraft was shot down and they bailed out in Laos, about 30 miles east of Nakhon Phanom RTAFB, Thailand. No other details are known at this time. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "PJ's in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form

1971 - April 29; A HH-43, crewed by Alfred H. Nader (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ), rescued Dennis J. O'Connor from a U-6 in RVN. No other details are known at this time. "PJ's in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe

1971 - April 30; A HH-43, crewed by Capt. Kenneth B. Schroeder (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ), medevac'd William O'Dell in RVN. No other details are known at this time. "PJ's in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe

1971 - April 30; A HH-43F from Det. 14, 38th ARRS, crewed by Capt. Henry G. Hamby III (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ), medevac'd one Vietnamese in RVN. No other details are known at this time. "PJ's in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form

1971 - May 01; UH-1N slick #69-6613 from the 20th SOS, crewed by Capt. Ronald T. Blazejewski (P), Paul R. Holser (CP), TSgt. James W. Green (FM/AG) and unkn (AG), inserted ARVN recon team from Duc Lap late in the afternoon. No other details are known at this time. "Secret Green Beret Commandos In Cambodia" by Lt. Col. Fred S. Lindsey, USA (Ret.)

1971 - May 03; UH-1N slick #69-6621 from the 20th SOS, crewed by Capt. Charles R. Merriott (P), Capt. Hanson (CP), TSgt. James W. Green (FM/AG) and unkn (AG), launched from Tieu Atar and inserted ARVN recon team late in the afternoon. No other details are known at this time. "Secret Green Beret Commandos In Cambodia" by Lt. Col. Fred S. Lindsey, USA (Ret.)

1971 - May 04; UH-1N slick #69-6617 from the 20th SOS, crewed by Capt. James M. Taylor (P), Capt. Hanson (CP), TSgt. James W. Green (FM/AG) and unkn (AG) and "Green Hornet" gunships supported VNAF CH-34 "Kingbee" helicopters as they picked up one ARVN recon team and inserted another ARVN recon team. No other details are known at this time. "Secret Green Beret Commandos In Cambodia" by Lt. Col. Fred S. Lindsey, USA (Ret.)

1971 - May 05; HH-53 #66-8285 lost one engine due to enemy ground fire and 'settled' into trees. It was recovered and returned to service after repairs. No other details are known at this time.

http://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/USDemocrat-National/conversations/topics/16570

1971 - May 06; A HH-53C from the 37th ARRS, crewed by Thompson (P), John O. Lindgren Jr. (CP), Edward J. Kobernik (FE), Dennis T. Duffy (PJ) and John F. Heitsch (PJ), rescued a F-4E (Call sign "Gunfighter 01") crew, Maj. Arthur S. Blissett (P) and Capt. J. E. Seaton (CP) after their aircraft was shot down near Muang Fandeng in the southern tip of Laos and they ejected. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "PJ's in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form

1971 - May 06; A HH-43 from Det. 13, 38th ARRS, crewed by Maj. Allan L. Gruer (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ), medevac'd Nyguen Tam in RVN. No other details are known at this time. "PJ's in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe

1971 - May 08; UH-1N slick #69-6618 from the 20th SOS, crewed by Capt. Priebe (P), Capt. James R. Wagner (CP), TSgt. James W. Green (FM/AG) and unkn (AG) and "Green Hornet" gunships supported VNAF CH-34 "Kingbee" helicopters as they inserted a company of ARVN troops from Tieu Atar. No other details are known at this time. "Secret Green Beret Commandos In Cambodia" by Lt. Col. Fred S. Lindsey, USA (Ret.)

1971 - May 11; A HH-43 from Det. 13, 38th ARRS, crewed by Charles W. Vickery (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ), medevac'd Ng Thai Thienl in RVN. No other details are known at this time. "PJ's in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe

1971 - May 12; A HH-53C from the 37th ARRS, crewed by Glen W. Walder (P), Robert W. Uljua (CP), George P.  Ojala (FE), Charles S. Salome (PJ), Ralph R. Moreno (PJ) and Ralph R. Moreno (PJ), rescued three OH-58A (Call sign "Charlie Horse 828") crew members, Bjarni O. Bradwell, Simon and Sgt. Gary Westphal in RVN. No other details are known at this time. "PJ's in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe

1971 - May 14; A HH-43F from Det. 13, ARRS, crewed by Maj. Allan L. Gruer (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ), medevac'd Van Hung Pham in RVN. No other details are known at this time. "PJ's in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe

1971 - May 15; A HH-43B from Det. 7, ARRS, crewed by Capt. Kenneth R. Bissett Jr. (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ), medevac'd Van Hung Pham in RVN. No other details are known at this time. "PJ's in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe

1971 - May 18; A HH-43 from Det. 9, ARRS, crewed by Capt. G. Hopkins (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ), medevac'd Paul J. Micus in Thailand. No other details are known at this time. "PJ's in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe

1971 - May 23; A HH-43F from Det. 13, ARRS, crewed by Capt. Bruce W. Staples (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ), medevac'd Tran Thi Dien in RVN. No other details are known at this time. "PJ's in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe

1971 - May 24; A HH-53C from the 37th ARRS, crewed by Charles E. Posey (P), John R. Weimer (CP), George P. Ojala (FE), Eugene L. Nardi (PJ) and William P. McDonald (PJ), attempted the rescue of one USA troop, Spc. Robert A. Wolf from a O-1A (Call sign "Headhunter 12") downed in RVN, however they had to pull off the attempt due to low fuel status of their helicopter (see next entry). "PJ's in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe

1971 - May 24; A HH-53C from the 37th ARRS, crewed by Maj. Robert H. Heiges Jr. (P), Roger T. Colgrove (CP), James B. Barrett (FE), J. K. Ashdown (FE), Henry C. Kirk III (PJ), Jon H. Young (PJ) and Charles B. Aldean (PJ), rescued one USA troop, Spc. Robert A. Wolf from a O-1A (Call sign "Headhunter 12") downed in RVN. No other details are known at this time. "PJ's in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form 

1971 - May 27; A HH-43F from Det. 13, ARRS, crewed by Capt. Edward W. Gmyrek (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ), medevac'd Nugyn Duone in RVN. No other details are known at this time. "PJ's in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe

1971 - May 28; A HH-43F from Det. 13, ARRS, crewed by Capt. Stanley R. Menze (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ), medevac'd Le Vaiu Hank in RVN. No other details are known at this time. "PJ's in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe

1971 - June 04; A HH-53C (Call sign "Jolly Green 64") of the 37th ARRS and crewed by Maj. Donald L. Jensen (P), USCG Joseph L. Crowe Jr. (CP), Jerry L. Burchfield (FE), George R. Ande (PJ), Michael D. Morris (PJ), Allen J. Avery and J. W. Wines (AP) rescued the FAC pilot and co-pilot, Major B. R. Ross and 1st Lt. Arthur L. Moxon, after they had successfully ejected from their enemy ground fire damaged OV-10 (Call sign "Covey 504") over a heavily defended area, near the village of Ban Thakkapang on the Boloven's Plateau in southern Laos. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & http://uscgaviationhistory.aoptero.org/history06.html & JRCC Save Form & "PJ's in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe

1971 - June 05; A HH-43B from Det. 7, ARRS, crewed by Capt. Kenneth R. Bissett (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ), medevac'd USAF Sgt. James Hall in RVN. No other details are known at this time. "PJ's in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe

1971 - June 14; A HH-43F from Det. 14, 38th ARRS, crewed by Maj. Louis C. Lewis Jr. (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ), rescued two unkn ARVN troops in RVN. No other details are known at this time. "PJ's in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & RCC Save Form

1971 - June 21; A HH-53C of the 37th ARRS and crewed by USCG Lt. Cmdr. Jay Crowe (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE), unkn (PJ) and unkn (PJ) rescued the FAC pilot and co-pilot, Major Samuel R. Ross and 1st Lt. Arthur L. Moxon, after they had successfully ejected from their enemy ground fire damaged OV-10 (Call sign "Covey 504") near the conjunction of the borders of South Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "PJ's in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & http://uscgaviationhistory.aoptero.org/history06.html

1971 - June 29; A HH-43F crewed from the 37th ARRS, crewed by Maj. Floyd A. Lockhardt (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ), rescued, from the South China Sea, a F-4D (Call sign "Wolf 02") crew, Capt. William R. Ricks (P) and 1st Lt. Bobby D. Buffkin (WSO), after their aircraft was hit by37mm AAA fire on the western edge of the DMZ and they ejected when on final approach at Da Nang AB, RVN. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "PJ's in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & RCC Save Form

1971 - June 30; UH-1N gunships from the 20th SOS, crewed by unkn (P), unkn (CP), TSgt. Ronald J. Gray (FM/AG) and unkn (AG) supported VNAF CH-34 "Kingbee" helicopters as they extracted an ARVN recon team that was surounded and in a fire fight with enemy forces. No other details are known at this time. "Secret Green Beret Commandos In Cambodia" by Lt. Col. Fred S. Lindsey, USA (Ret.)

1971 - June 30; Det. 5, 38th ARRS departs Udorn RTAFB, Thailand. http://udornrtafb.tripod.com/id61.html

1971 - July 02; A HH-53C from the 40th ARRS, crewed by Clyde E. Bennet (P), Henry T. Demmons (CP), Michael W. Burdett (FE), John J. Eldridge (PJ), Eldridge M. Neal (PJ) and Paul E. Perry (PJ), medevac'd one USAF airmen in Thailand. No other details are known at this time. "PJ's in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & RCC Save Form 

1971 - July 05; A HH-43F from Det. 7, 37th ARRS, crewed by Kenneth R. Bissett Jr. (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ), rescued two, Gilbert Ledgere and Windol McNutt, in RVN. No other details are known at this time. "PJ's in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & RCC Save Form

1971 - July 10; A HH-43, crewed by Maj. Louis C. Lewis Jr. (P) unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ), rescued the crew of a RF-4C, Capt. Richard C. Wheeler (P) and 1st Lt. Jeffery F. Stuermver (Nav), after they ejected from their ground fire damaged aircraft, about 45 miles west of Saigon, RVN. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson

1971 - July 17; A HH-53 from the 40th ARRS, crewed by unkn (P) unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ), medevac'd E-4 Robert M. Carrera in Thailand. No other details are known at this time. "PJ's in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & RCC Save Form

1971 - July 21; A HH-53 #66-8285 (Call sign "Jolly Green 54") of the 40th ARRS, crewed by Maj. Clyde Bennett (P), Capt. Hugh "Butch" Robben (CP), James D. "JD" Adams (FE), SSgt. Jon K. Hoberg (PJ) and SSgt. Charles "Chuck" D. McGrath (PJ) was lost while attempting to recover an AQM-34 "Buffalo Hunter" unmanned reconnaissance drone that had gone down some distance north of the Plains of Jars in Laos. The HH-53 flight engineer, Adam and PJ, Holberg, were severely injured in the crash and were rescued by an Air America UH-1 Huey helicopter and the rest of the crew were rescued by an Air America H-34 helicopter. Both the drone and the HH-53 were subsequently destroyed by air strike to prevent sensitive material from falling into enemy hands. "PJ's in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe &

 http://alaska.net/~jcassidy/pdf_files/HART%20History.pdf &

http://www.jollygreen.org/jltnc.htm & http://www.rotorheadsrus.us/documents/204.html

1971 - July 21; A HH-53C from the 37th ARRS, crewed by USCG Lt. Cmdr. Joseph L. Crowe Jr. (P) Robert W. Uljua (CP), Priante (FE), Daniel G. Manion (PJ), George R. Ande (PJ) and Ralph R. Moreno (PJ), medevac'd Korean seaman Joo One Kim from his ship in the Gulf Of Tonkin. No other details are known at this time. "PJ's in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & RCC Save Form

1971 - July 22 and over the next several days; The 40th ARRS moved to Nakhon Phanom RTAFB, Thailand, and absorbed its Detachment 1, consolidating its operations at one location. The two oldest HH-53B's #66-14431 & #66-14432 were shipped out to Hill AFB, UT., for use as trainer aircraft. "On a Steel Horse I Ride" by Darrel D. Whitcomb

1971 - July 22; A HH-53C from the 37th ARRS, crewed by Capt. John M. Komich (P) Rodney S. Griffith (CP), Jadrosich (FE), Eugene L. Nardi (PJ), William J. Thompson (PJ) and William R. Pearson (PJ), medevac'd Bud Riggle from a LST in RVN. No other details are known at this time. "PJ's in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & RCC Save Form

1971 - July 26; HH-53C #68-10363 from the 37th ARRS, crewed by Maj. Robert H. Heiges Jr. (P), Tyler (CP), Hank L. Theriot (FE), Thomas D. Prose (PJ), Daniel G. Manion (PJ) and Richard Crowley (PJ), rescued eight passengers from a downed USA UH-1H helicopter in RVN. No other details are known at this time. "PJ's in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & www.mh-53pavelow.com/documents/airframes/notable_h53_history.pdf

1971 - July 26; HH-53C from the 37th ARRS, crewed by Lt. Col. Harold R. Walthall (P), Robert W. Uljua (CP), Carlos J. McKinney II (FE), Dinos (PJ), James W. Muelchi (PJ) and Gray (PJ), rescued three crew members from a downed  USA UH-1H helicopter in RVN. No other details are known at this time.

 www.mh-53pavelow.com/documents/airframes/notable_h53_history.pdf & "PJ's in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe

1971 - July 26; HH-53C from the 37th ARRS, crewed by Maj. Robert H. Heiges Jr. (P), Lt. Col. Harold R. Walthall (CP), unkn (FE), unkn (PJ), unkn (PJ) and unkn (PJ), rescued twelve members of the U.S. Army 45th Engineering Btn. in RVN. No other details are known at this time. "PJ's in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe

1971 - July 26; HH-53C from the 37th ARRS, crewed by Maj. Robert H. Heiges Jr. (P), Lt. Col. Harold R. Walthall (CP), unkn (FE), unkn (PJ), unkn (PJ) and unkn (PJ), rescued the crew of a UH-1H downed in RVN. No other details are known at this time. "PJ's in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe

1971 - August 01; UH-1F #66-1214, crewed by unkn (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ), crashed at Ellsworth AFB, SD. No other details are known at this time. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "PJ's in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe

1971 - August 02; HH-43, crewed by Capt. W. J. Welch (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ), rescued a QU-22 pilot, Capt. Guillermo Perez, when his aircraft had an engine failure and crashed in Thailand. No other details are known at this time. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "PJ's in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe

1971 - August 05; UH-1N gunships from the 20th SOS, crewed by unkn (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FM/AG) and unkn (AG) supported a U.S. led WACO CITY Bright Light recovery mission for the crew of a downed U.S. Army O-1G. No other details are known at this time. "Secret Green Beret Commandos In Cambodia" by Lt. Col. Fred S. Lindsey, USA (Ret.)

1971 - August 07; HH-43F from Det. 7, 37th ARRS, crewed by Capt. Charles W. Miller (P), Ralph H. Bell (CP), Wallace  H. Long (FE), Terry R. Miller (MT), Louis J. Maloney (FF) and John W. Bryant (FF), rescued  Tran Tuan Khai from a raft in the South China Sea. No other details are known at this time. "PJ's in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe

1971 - August 12; UH-1N gunships from the 20th SOS, one crewed by unkn (P), unkn (CP), TSgt. Ronald J. Gray (FM/AG) and unkn (AG) supported the extraction of an long range recon team that was under heavy opposing automatic weapons fire from enemy forces deep in enemy held territory. No other details are known at this time. "Secret Green Beret Commandos In Cambodia" by Lt. Col. Fred S. Lindsey, USA (Ret.)

1971 - August 12; HH-43 from Det. 1, 38th ARRS, crewed by Capt. Robert M. Albers (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ), medevac'd USAF SSgt. Eugene D. Aldrich in RVN. No other details are known at this time. "PJ's in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe

1971 - August 16; HH-43 from Det. 1, 38th ARRS, crewed by Capt. Daniel J. Biezad (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ), medevac'd USAF MSgt. Woodrow Wells in RVN. No other details are known at this time. "PJ's in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe

1971 - August 18; HH-53C from the 40th ARRS, crewed by Capt. Harold O. Jones (P), Allan K. MacAulay (CP), Michael Stagliano (FE), Donald R. Snyder (PJ) and Michael P. McManus (PJ), rescued two foreign nationals from a downed T-28 (Call sign "Tiger 11") in Thailand. No other details are known at this time. "PJ's in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & RCC Save Form

1971 - August 20; HH-53C from the 37th ARRS, crewed by Gerald J. Lange (P), Ronald L. Vanlperin (CP), Hank L. Theriot (FE), Eugene L. Nardi (PJ), Daniel G. Manion (PJ) and Roger L. Goodwin (AP), rescued three USA troops and nine ARVN troops from a downed UH-1H (Call sign "Bluestar 790") helicopter from the DMZ. No other details are known at this time. "PJ's in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe

1971 - August 25; HH-43F from Det. 13, 38th ARRS, crewed by Maj. John R. Cassarini (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ), medevac'd Hy Han in RVN. No other details are known at this time. "PJ's in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe

1971 - September 01; A HH-53C from the 37th ARRS, crewed by USCG Lt. Cmdr. Roderick Martin (P), Norman R. Foley (CP), William A. Simm (FE), Allen J. Avery (PJ) and William R. Pearson (PJ), rescued eight USA troops from a UH-1H downed in RVN. No other details are known at this time. "PJ's in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe

1971 - September 02; A HH-43F from Det. 7, 37th ARRS, crewed by Capt. Isamu S. Cmomu (P), unkn (CP),  unkn (FE), unkn (FE) and (PJ), medevaced SSgt. Monwel F. Madrid and E-4 Gregory Thesis in RVN. No other details are known at this time. "PJ's in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe

1971 - September 03; A HH-43F from Det. 7, 37th ARRS, crewed by Capt. Ralph H. Bell (P), Charles W. Miller (CP),  Richard G. Cobbett (FE), Terry Miller (MT), Robert S. Cruz (FF) and Randie M. Olson (FF), medevac'd Air America employee, Fernando S. Velasco, who had been in a motorcycle accident in RVN. No other details are known at this time. "PJ's in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe

1971 - September 04; A HH-43F from Det. 13, 38th ARRS, crewed by Capt. Edward W. Gmyrek (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ), medevac'd Nugyen Van Cu in RVN. No other details are known at this time. "PJ's in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe

1971 - September 05; A HH-53C from the 40th ARRS, crewed by Maj. Jerry R. Thompson (P), Gary L. Gamble (CP),  Raymond Duarte (FE), William D. Brinson (PJ) and Michael D. Vogele (PJ), rescued Som Neion from a CH-3E (Call sign "Knife 33" in Laos. No other details are known at this time. "PJ's in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe

1971 - September 09; A HH-53C #68-10363 (Call sign "Jolly Green 65") crewed by USCG Lt. Cmdr. Roderick Martin (P), Norman Foley (CP), William A. Simm (FE), William R. Pearson (PJ), Allen J. Avery (PJ) saved seven crew members of a downed U.S. Army UH-1H (Call sign "Woodstock 40") in RVN. No other details are known at this time. "PJ's in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & www.mh-53pavelow.com/documents/airframes/notable_h53_history.pdf

1971 - September 09; A HH-43F from Det. 13, 38th ARRS, crewed by Capt Stanley R. Menze (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE), and unkn (PJ), medevac'd Tan Nguyen, Em Ty, Nguyen Van Thong and Thomas McLaughlin in RVN. No other details are known at this time. www.mh-53pavelow.com/documents/airframes/notable_h53_history.pdf & "PJ's in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe

1971 - September 10; A HH-43F from Det. 7, 38th ARRS, crewed by Capt. Charles W. Miller (P), Michael F. Schmidt (CP), Leon J. Raska (FE), Grant J. Matsunaga (MT), Louis J. Maloney (FF) and Ronald G. Treadwell (FF), medevac'd one wounded Viet Cong in RVN. No other details are known at this time. "PJ's in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe &

www.mh-53pavelow.com/documents/airframes/notable_h53_history.pdf

1971 - September 13; A HH-43F from Det. 13, 38th ARRS, crewed by Capt. Joseph M. Coffman Jr. (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ), medevac'd Nguyn Dung in RVN. No other details are known at this time. "PJ's in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe

1971 - September 14; A HH-43F from the 37th ARRS, crewed by Capt. Ralph H. Bell (P), Michael F. Schmidt (CP), Robert S. Bos (FE), Grant J. Matsunaga (MT), Terry R. Miller (FF) and Ronald G. Treadwell (FF), medevac'd one USAF airman in RVN. No other details are known at this time. "PJ's in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe

1971 - September 15 - 16; A HH-43's of ARRS airlifted 91 persons to high ground when Hurricane Fern caused flash floods in the Rio Salado Valley, approximately 45 miles south of Nuevo Laredo, TX.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/37th_Aerospace_Rescue_and_Recovery_Squadron#Operations_and

1971 - September 22; A HH-43F from Det. 13, 38th ARRS, crewed by Lt. Col. Edward W. Hamilton (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ), medevac'd Lee Thi Cue and Tran Duy Binh in RVN. No other details are known at this time. "PJ's in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe

1971 - September 26; A HH-53C crewed by USCG Lt. Cmdr. Joseph L. Crow, Jr. (P), Hampton (CP), William Simm (FE), Daniel G. Manion (PJ) and Richard L. Steed (PJ), rescued the crew of a OV-10A (Call sign "Rustic 07"), Lt. Lansford E. Trapp Jr. and Cambodian observer, Sgt. Chap Khorn, after they ejected from their 12.7mm damaged aircraft, about 10 miles northwest of Kampong Cham, Cambodia. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "PJ's in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form

1971 - October 01; HH-53C #68-10360 (Call sign "Jolly Green 20:), crew unkn, rescued the navigator of a RF-4C (Call sign "Falcon 33 Bravo"), Capt. J. J. Sigler, after his aircraft was shot down about 5 miles northeast of An Loc, RVN. The pilot "Falcon 33 Alpha", James Vernon Newendorp, was KIA. "PJ's in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe http://www.mh-53pavelow.com/documents/airframes/notable_h53_history.pdf

1971 - October 03; A HH-43 from Det. 13, 38th ARRS, crewed by Capt. Joseph M. Coffman Jr. (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ), medevac'd Do Toi Thi in RVN. No other details are known at this time. "PJ's in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe

1971 - October 04; A HH-53C from the 40th ARRS, crewed by unkn (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ), medevac'd one USA troop in Thailand. No other details are known at this time. "PJ's in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe

1971 - October 05; A HH-43 from Det. 1, 38th ARRS, crewed by Capt. Phillip W. Loper (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ), medevac'd Cuc Huynh Thi in RVN. No other details are known at this time. "PJ's in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe

1971 - October 06; A HH-53C from the 40th ARRS, crewed by Lt. Col. John H. Morse II (P), George T. MacDonald (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ), diverted to Savannakhet to pick up the crew of a O-1 (Call sign "Raven ?"), the pilot was DOA and the USA observer was taken to Nakhon Phanom RTAFB, Thailand. No other details are known at this time. "PJ's in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe

1971 - October 07; Two helicopters from the 31st ARRS at Clark AB, PI responding to an SOS during Typhoon Elaine, rescued 25 Hong Kong Chinese from their sinking ship, the Kee Lung.

http://www.afsox.af.mil/shared/media/document.AFD-070906-042.pdf

1971 - October 08; A HH-43 from Det. 13, 38th ARRS, crewed by Capt. Joseph M. Coffman Jr. (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ), medevac'd Bi Thai Houng, Gran Thi Trong and Nguyen Thi Tun in RVN. No other details are known at this time. "PJ's in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe

1971 - October 09; UH-1F (believed to be # 66-1214) from Det. 2, 37th ARRS at Ellsworth AFB, SD, piloted by Capt. Norman G. Schuessler (no co-pilot on this flight) crashed in an open field about 11 miles north of Wall, SD. near the entrance to Minuteman II Launch Control Facility C-1. Capt. Schuessler survived but passengers; SSgt. Terry L. Wright, Sgt. Glen G. Wilson, Sgt. David H. Cloe, Sgt. Bernard N. Blakes, A1C Larry D. Hughes, Amn. Johnny R. Brock (all from the 821st Security Police Squadron at Ellsworth AFB) were fatalities in the crash. 

http://rotorheadsrus.us/documents/uh_1f_ellisworth_arb_1971.html

1971 - October 08; A HH-43 from Det. 13, 38th ARRS, crewed by Joseph M. Coffman Jr. (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ), medevaced Bi Thai Houng and Gran Thi Trong in RVN. No other details are known at this time. "PJ's in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe

1971 - October 18; UH-1N #69-6631 of the 20th SOS "Green Hornets", crewed by unkn (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FM) and unkn (AG), had a tail rotor failure and crashed into the South China Sea about a half mile off the coast of South Vietnam. No other details are known at this time. http://www.mh-53pavelow.com/documents/20thSOS/1971.pdf & "Green Hornets" by Wayne Mutza

1971 - October 18; A HH-43 crewed by Capt. Robert M. Albers (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ), rescued two crewmen, Lt. James H. Partridge and Lt. Dennis H. Busch of a downed USAF UH-1. No other details are known at this time. JRCC Save Form 

1971 - October 19; A HH-43F from Det. 1, 3rd ARRGp., crewed by unkn (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ), conducted a SAR for four USA troops on a missing U-6 (Call sign "Castle 176") in RVN, once located the PJ deployed and found all four were KIA. No other details are known at this time. "PJ's in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe

1971 - October 20; A HH-53C from the 40th ARRS, crewed by Evan C. Christian (P), Gary L. Gamble (CP), Dennis C. Chriswell (FE), Daniel L. Schmidt (PJ) and Richard A. Wallace (PJ), medevac'd John E. Levings in Thailand. No other details are known at this time. "PJ's in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe

1971 - October 30; A HH-53C from the 40th ARRS, crewed by Maj. George T. MacDonald (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE), unkn (PJ) and unkn (PJ), medevac'd one USAF airman in Thailand. No other details are known at this time. "PJ's in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe

1971 - October 31; A HH-53C from the 40th ARRS, crewed by Lt. Col. McAllister (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE), unkn (PJ) and unkn (PJ), medevac'd USAF E-5 Anthony Sconza in Thailand. No other details are known at this time. "PJ's in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe

1971 - November 02 - 05; ARRS ferried two HH-53's from Goose AB, Canada, to RAF Woodbridge, United Kingdom, with an intermediate stop at Keflavik, Iceland. The flight left Goose AB on 2 November and landed at RAF Woodbridge on 5 November. When the cost was tallied, it was determined that shipment by airlift or sealift would have been less expensive. However, ferrying was a viable option, and airlift or sealift might not be available.

http://www.afsox.af.mil/shared/media/document.AFD-070906-042.pdf

1971 - November 08; HH-53C #68-10363 (Call sign "Jolly Green 65") crewed by Capt. Rodney S. Griffith (P), Michael C. Sartori (CP), David Garcia (FE), Charles B. Aldean (PJ) and Eugene L. Nardi (PJ) rescued eight survivors from a downed ARVN CH-34 (Call sign "King Bee") Helicopter in Cambodia. No other details are known at this time. www.mh-53pavelow.com/documents/airframes/notable_h53_history.pdf & JRCC Save Form & "PJ's in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe

1971 - November 11; A HH-43F from Det. 1, 38th ARRS at Phan Rang AB, RVN, crewed by unkn (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ), medevac'd one Vietnamese in RVN. No other details are known at this time. "PJ's in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form

1971 - November 12; A HH-53C #68-10363 (Call sign "Jolly Green 65") from the 37th ARRS, crewed by Capt. Rodney S. Griffith (P), Michael C. Sartori (CP), David Garcia (FE), Charles B. Aldean (PJ) and Eugene L. Nardi (PJ), rescued seven VNAF troops from a downed ARVN UH-1 helicopter in RVN. "PJ's in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form & www.mh-53pavelow.com/documents/airframes/notable_h53_history.pdf

1971 - November 15; A HH-43F from Det. 14, 38th ARRS, crewed by unkn (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ) rescued two foreign military troops, Lt. Hon Tran Van and Lt. Hai Ho Van. No other details are known at this time. "PJ's in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form

1971 - November 16; A HH-53C from the 40th ARRS, crewed by Maj. Frederick C. Hartstein (P), Anthony E. Holland (CP), Rufus B. Russell (FE), Dennis C. Williamson (PJ), John S. Lackeos (PJ), Wayne L. Fisk (PJ), TSgt. E. M. Neal (PJ) and Dr. J. W. Howington (FS) medevac'd Thomas P. Misner from Nakhon Phanom RTAFB, to Udorn RTAFB, Thailand. No other details are known at this time. "PJ's in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form

1971 - November 17; A HH-43, crew unkn, rescued two foreign military troops, Lt. Hon Tran Van and Lt. Hi Ho Van. No other details are known at this time. JRCC Save Form 

1971 - November 20; A HH-43 from Det. 1, 38th ARRS, crewed by Capt. Daniel J. Biezad (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ), medevac'd Nhuyen Van Bin in RVN. No other details are known at this time. "PJ's in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form

1971 - November 25; HH-53C #68-10366 (Call sign "Jolly Green 70") of the 37th ARRS operating out of Bien Hoa AB, RVN and crewed by Maj. Robert Bennett Swenck (P), Capt. John William George (CP), Sgt. Hank L. Theriot (FE), A1C Thomas Dean Prose (PJ), TSgt. James "Jim" Richard Thomas (PJ) and Sgt. Richard L. Sneed (PJ) and HH-53C (Call sign "Jolly Green 73), tail number and crew unkn, assisted U. S. Army and U. S. Navy helicopter in the rescue of the passengers and crew of a U. S. Navy CH-46 (Call sign "Cuckly 447"), with 21 personal on board, that had been shot down about 90 miles south of Bien Hoa AB, RVN. "Jolly Green 70 landed at the crash site and recovered 14 people and proceeds to Binh Thuy AB, RVN to drop them off. "On a Steel Horse I Ride" by Darrel D. Whitcomb & "PJ's in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe

1971 - November 25; HH-53C #68-10366 (Call sign "Jolly Green 70") of the 37th ARRS operating out of Bien Hoa AB, RVN and crewed by Maj. Robert Bennett Swenck (P), Capt. John William George (CP), Sgt. H. L. Theriot (FE), A1C Thomas Dean Prose (PJ), TSgt. James "Jim" Richard Thomas (PJ) and Sgt. R. L. Sneed (PJ) was shot down and crashed into the Song Na River near the town of Nha Be, RVN while returning to Bien Hoa AB, RVN from the mission described above. Swenck (P), George (CP), Prose (PJ) & Thomas (PJ) were KIA. Theriot (FE) & Sneed (PJ) were rescued, by "Joly Green 73" and the other by a U. S. Navy helicopter (See next entry). "On a Steel Horse I Ride" by Darrel D. Whitcomb & http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/37th_Aerospace_Rescue_and_Recovery_Squadron#Operations_and_losses & "PJ's in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe

1971 - November 25; HH-53C (Call sign "Jolly Green 73") crewed by Capt. Richard L. Wall (P), Gary A. Dake (CP), David Garcia (FE), Eugene L. Nardi (PJ) and Charles B. Aldeen (PJ), rescued Sgt. H. L. Theriot (FE) from the crash of "Jolly Green 70"). Sgt. Richard L. Steed (PJ) on "Jolly Green 70" was rescued by a USN helicopter. The other crew members of "Jolly Green 70" were KIA (see previous entry). "PJ's in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe

1971 - November 27; HH-53C from the 40th ARRS, crewed by unkn (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE), unkn (PJ) and unkn (PJ), medevac'd Harold Perkins in Thailand. No other details are known at this time. "PJ's in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe

1971 - November 29; A HH-53C from the 37th ARRS, crewed by Capt. Stephen R. Tyler (P), Norman Foley (CP), John Drayer (FE), Jon H. Young (PJ) and Charles D. Aldean (PJ), rescued the pilot of a A-37B (Call sign "Hawk 05"), Capt. Alan W. Moore II, after he ejected from his ground fire damaged aircraft, about 25 miles northwest of Kampong Cham, Cambodia. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "PJ's in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form

1971 - November 30; CH-53C #68-10922 of the 1551st CCTW at Kirtland AFB, NM., impacted the ground during a night unaided approach to a remote LZ. No other details are known at this time.

http://aviation-safety.net/wikibase/wiki.php?id=56220

1971 - December 04; UH-1N #69-6621 (Call sign "Green Hornet ?") of the 20th SOS from Ban Me Thuot, RVN came under enemy fire near Saigon and one of the gunners, Sgt. Thomas E. Fike, was killed. This was the only USAF UH-1N lost to enemy actions in Vietnam. http://en.wikipedia.org/20th_Special_Operations_Squadron &

http://www.helis.com/database/modelorg/786/

1971 - December 06; A HH-43 from Det. 13, 38th ARRS at Phu Cat AB, RNV, crewed by Capt. Howard A. Randall (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ), medevac'd USAF TSgt. Robert Z. Beatty in RVN. "PJ's in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form

1971 - December 07; A HH-43F from Det. 7, 38th ARRS at Da Nang AB, RNV, crewed by Capt. John N. Drexler (P), Michael F. Schmidt (CP), Robert S. Bos (FE), Earl Brooks Jr. (MT) and Richard T. Emerson (FS), medevac'd USAF Lt. Col. R. Prentiss, USAF Capt. A. Cardona and USAF Capt. W. Camper in three separate sorties in RVN. "PJ's in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form

1971 - December 11; A HH-53C (Call sign "Jolly Green 30") from the 40th ARRS, crewed by Maj. Kenneth Ernest (P), Joel L. Summers (CP), John C. Repper (FE), Leon Fullwood (PJ), Kelsey R. Adams (PJ) and Kenneth E. Ernest (PJ), rescued the co-pilot of a F-105G (Call sign "Ashcan 01 Bravo"), Maj. Robert E. Belli after he and his pilot, Lt. Col. Scott Winston McIntire (P) had ejected from their SAM damaged aircraft over the Mu Gia Pass on 10 December 1971. The rescue of "Ashcan 01 Bravo" marked the first time an IFR recovery had been made. Maj. Ernest had found a hole in the cloud cover about two miles from the survivor and let down to tree top level then hovered from tree top to tree top with guidance from his crew and vectors from the survivor, taking almost an hour, to a point where he could make the pickup. Maj. Belli described being able to see the belly of the HH-53C and the PJ's on the hoist coming down to get him, but said he could not see any more of the helicopter than the belly as the rest of it was in the clouds. Lt. Col. Scott Winston McIntire was KIA. "On a Steel Horse I Ride" by Darrel D. Whitcomb & "PJ's in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & http://www.jollygreen.org/Stories/Ashcan_01.htm

1971 - December 18; A HH-53C (Call sign "Jolly Green 30") from the 40th ARRS, crewed by Maj. Clyde E. Bennett (P), Maj. Donald L. Roston (CP), A1C William T. Lyles (FE), MSgt. Daniel L. Schmidt (PJ), SSgt. William E. Brown Jr. (PJ) and Sgt. Dennis E. Williamson (PJ), rescued the crew of a F-4E (Call sign "Gunfighter 82"), Lt. Col. Arthur S. Blissett and 1st Lt. Michael H. Murray, after they ejected from their SAM damaged aircraft, just north of the Mu Gia Pass in Laos. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "PJ's in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe

1971 - December 19; HH-53C #68-8284 (Call sign "Jolly Green 55") from the 44th ARRS, crewed by Capt. Harold O. Jones (P), David G. Daus (CP), Jerrold T. Dearman (FE), Leon Fullwood (PJ) and William D. Brinson (PJ), rescued the crew of a F-4D (Call sign "Falcon 74"), Maj. William T. Stanley and Capt. Lester O'Brien, after their aircraft was shot down by an attacking MiG near Ban Poung Ban. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "PJ's in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & http://www.mh-53pavelow.com/documents/airframes/notable_h53_history.pdf

1971 - December 19; HH-43 from Det. 1, 3th ARRGp., crewed by unkn (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE), and unkn (PJ), medevac'd one Vietnamese in RVN. http://www.mh-53pavelow.com/documents/airframes/notable_h53_history.pdf & "PJ's in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe

1971 - December 19; HH-43F from Det. 7, 38th ARRS, crewed by Capt. Michael F. Schmidt (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE), and unkn (PJ), medevac'd USAF A1C Sammy K. Brady in RVN. No other details are known at this time. "PJ's in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & http://www.mh-53pavelow.com/documents/airframes/notable_h53_history.pdf

1971 - December 28; A HH-43 from Det. 2, 3rd ARRGp., crewed by Capt. Robert Raggio (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ), medevac'd Robert Fore in Thailand. No other details are known at this time. JRCC Save Form & "PJ's in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe

1971 - December 31; HH-53C #68-10361 (Call sign "Jolly Green ??") of the 37th ARRS, crewed by Peter Chapman (P), Michael Sartori (CP), John Drayer (PJ), William Thompson (PJ) and Roger Goodwin (AP), unsuccessfully attempted to rescue seven U.S. Army troops, Capt. Noel M. Harvey,  Lt. V. F. Flynn, Sgt. F. Figuroa, S-4 G. F. Cobb, Pfc. D. McMillan, D. W. Trimble and S-4 R. A. Mickle, from a downed USA UH-1H (Call sign "Charlie Horse 26") helicopter in RVN but they were driven off the attempt by enemy ground fire (see next entry). JRCC Save Form & http://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/USDemocrat-National-conversations/topics/16570 & "PJ's in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe

1971 - December 31; HH-53C #68-10361 (Call sign "Jolly Green ??") of the 37th ARRS, crewed by Capt. Rodney  S. Griffith (P), Leslie C. Hart (CP), James K. Ashdown (FE), Charles S. Salome (PJ), Michael L. Wagner (PJ) and James Wines (AP), rescued seven U.S. Army troops, Capt. Noel M. Harvey,  Lt. V. F. Flynn, Sgt. F. Figuroa, S-4 G. F. Cobb, Pfc. D. McMillan, D. W. Trimble and S-4 R. A. Mickle, from a downed USA UH-1H (Call sign "Charlie Horse 26") helicopter in RVN. No other details are available at this time. JRCC Save Form & "PJ's in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe &

http://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/USDemocrat-National-conversations/topics/16570

1972 - ??, ??; Two U.S. Coast Guard 'exchange' helicopter pilots arrived at Da Nang AB, RVN for assignment with the 37th ARRS. They were Lt. Jack Stice and Lt. Robert E., Long.

http://uscgaviationhistory.aopero.org/images/U.S.%20Coast%20Guard%20Aviation%20in%20Vietnam.pdf

1972 - January 02; HH-43 from Det. 1, 3th ARRGp., crewed by unkn (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE), and unkn (PJ), medevac'd USA Capt. Erickson in RVN. "PJ's in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe

1972 - January 05; HH-53C from the 40th ARRS, crewed by Maj. Richard M. Bigelow (P), Ralph L. Allred (CP), William T. Liles (FE), John S. Lackeos (PJ) and Raymond J. Crow Jr. (PJ), medevac'd USAF Sgt. George L. Quillan in RVN. No other details are known at this time. "PJ's in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe

1972 - January 06; HH-43F from the 37th ARRS, crewed by Allan C. Spitler (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE), unkn (PJ) and unkn (PJ), rescued Gary L. Knupp and Scott Hansen from a downed UH-1D in RVN. No other details are known at this time. "PJ's in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe

1972 - January 06; HH-43F from Det. 14, 3rd ARRGp., crewed by Donald Eudy (P), Jack Roberts (CP), Robert Montgomery (FF) and Ernest Taylor (FF), rescued a VNAF A-1 pilot in RVN. No other details are known at this time. "PJ's in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe

1972 - January 14; HH-53C from the 40th ARRS, crewed by unkn (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FF) and unkn (FF), medevac'd Robert S. Guess in RVN. No other details are known at this time. "PJ's in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe

1972 - January 20; HH-53C from OL-A 37th ARRS, crewed by Lt. Col. William M. Harris IV (P), Donald A. Sutton (CP), Thayer D. Pope (FE), Michael A. Aillett (PJ), William R. Pearson (PJ) and Roger Goodwin (AP), rescued four USA troops from a UH-1 (Call sign "Charlie Horse 26") helicopter downed in RVN. No other details are known at this time. "PJ's in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe

1972 - January 30; HH-53C #68-10363 (Call sign "Jolly Green 65") from the 37th ARRS, crewed by Capt. Roger T. Colgrove (P), Jackson K. Scott Jr. (CP), Jimmie D. Minshaw  (FE), Jarvey R. Pickelsimer (PJ), William R. Pearson (PJ) and Roger Goodwin (AP) recorded the 700th "save" for the 37th ARRS by rescuing two USA troops,  Capt. Hugh Mills and WO John Bryant, from a downed USA AH-1G (Call sign "Charlie Horse 38") helicopter, near Phu Bai, RVN. No other details are known at this time. www.mh-53pavelow.com/documents/airframes/notable_h53_history.pdf &JRCC Save Form & "PJ's in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe

1972 - February 11; A HH-53C from the 40th ARRS, crewed by Capt. James W. McIntrye (P), Joel L. Summers (CP), Rufus B. Russell (FE), Charles D. Morrow (PJ) and Michael D. Vogele (PJ), using the newly introduced Limited Night Recovery System that enabled a rare night-time recovery, rescued the crew of a F-4E (Call sign "Seafox 01"), Capt. John S. Murphy (P) and 1st Lt. Thomas W. Dobson (WSO), after they ejected from their ground fire damaged aircraft about 15 miles northeast of Muang Fangdeng, Laos. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & JRCC Save Form & "PJ's in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe

1972 - February 13; A HH-43F from Det. 3, 3rd ARRGp., crewed by Capt. Richard W. Standish (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ), rescued an RF-4C (Call sign "Red Top 02") crew, 1st Lt. J. F. McCarthy (P) and Capt. Glen A. Profitt (CP) when their aircraft suffered hydraulic failure and they ejected over Thailand. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & JRCC Save Form & "PJ's in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe

1972 - February 16; A HH-43 from the 37th ARRS, crewed by Capt. Miller (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ), medevac'd USA Sgt. Rodney L. Jarvis in RVN. No other details are known at this time. JRCC Save Form & "PJ's in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe

1972 - February 17; A HH-53C from the 40th ARRS, crewed by Maj. Frederick C. Hartstein (P), David Pannabecker (CP), George Wright (FE), Gary P. Bryant (PJ) and Gary T. Osborne (PJ), rescued the observer, SSgt. William E. Silva, after his O-2A was hit by ground fire killing the pilot, 1st Lt. Richard Neil Christy, and crashing during a mission over Cambodia. JRCC Save Form & "PJ's in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe 

1972 - February 21; A HH-53C from the 40th ARRS, crewed by unkn (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ), medevac'd David L. Kero in Thailand. No other details are known at this time. "PJ's in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe

1972 - February 22; A HH-53C from the 40th ARRS, crewed by Robert A. Rossi (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ), rescued twelve foreign mercenaries from an H-34 downed in Laos. No other details are known at this time. "PJ's in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe

1972 - February 25; A HH-53C from the 37th ARRS, crewed by unkn (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ), rescued three USA troops from a UH-1 helicopter down in the South China Sea. No other details are known at this time. "PJ's in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe

1972 - March 02; A HH-53C #68-10357 (Call sign "Jolly Green 57"), of the 40th ARRS crewed by Robert L. "Bob" Paul (P), Capt. Dale "Ricohet" Stovall (CP), Denny R. Sanders (FE), Paul C. Perry (PJ) and Jon H. Young (PJ) rescued the pilot of a OV-10A (Call sign "Covey 219") Capt. Malon H. Long III after he had ejected from his AAA damage aircraft about 15 miles north of Saravan in southern Laos. "Taking Fire" by Kevin O'Rourke & Joe Peters & JRCC Save Form & "PJ's in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe

1972 - March 05; A HH-43 from Det. 12, 3rd ARRGp., crewed by Capt. Dante O. Fierros (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ), medevac'd USAF TSgt. Paul D. Adkins in Thailand. No other details are known at this time. JRCC Save Form & "PJ's in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form

1972 - March 08; A HH-53C from the 37th ARRS, crewed by Capt. Horace E. Johnson (P), David E. Mullenix (CP), Jimmy D. Minshew (FE), Richard C. Steed (PJ) and Allen J. Avery (PJ), rescued an USN A-4F pilot, Cmdr. George J. Fenzl, when he ejected from his AAA fire damaged aircraft about twelve miles northwest of Da Nang, RVN. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "PJ's in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe

1972 - March 11; A HH-53C from the 40th ARRS, crewed by unkn (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE), unkn (PJ) and unkn (PJ), medevac'd James P. Berstreate. No other details are known at this time. "PJ's in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe

1972 - March 12; A HH-43F from Det. 4, 38th ARRS, crewed by Capt. Daniel J. Biezad (P), unkn (CP), Dwight L. Berry (FE) and Geraro Ramos (MT), rescued an F-105G (Call sign "Alamo 02 Bravo") co-pilot, Maj. Harold W. Stoll. No other details are known at this time. "PJ's in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form

1972 - March 12; A HH-53C from the 40th ARRS, crewed by Maj. Ralph L. Allred (P), Douglas C. McGraw (CP), Dennis L. Chriswell (FE), William M. Hughes Jr. (PJ) and Raymond T. Crow Jr. (PJ), rescued a F-105G (Call sign "Alamo 02 Alpha") pilot, Capt. James P. Berstreate. No other details are known at this time. "PJ's in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form

1972 - March 15; A HH-43F from Det. 14, 3rd ARRGp., crewed by Capt. Henry G. Hamby III (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE), and unkn (PJ), medevac'd three USN sailors in RVN. No other details are known at this time. "PJ's in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe

1972 - March 15; The 20th Helicopter Sq. "Green Hornets" stood down from all missions in anticipation of being deactivated. http://www.mh-53pavelow.com/documents.20thSOS/history2.pdf

1972 - March 16; A HH-43F from Det. 12, 38th ARRS, crewed by unkn (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE), and unkn (PJ), rescued a Thai O-1 crew in Thailand. No other details are known at this time. "PJ's in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe

1972 - March 18; A HH-43 at Holloman AFB, NM., crewed by unkn (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FF), unkn (FF) and unkn (MT) responded with the FSK when an F-4 of the USAF Thunderbirds crashed on takeoff. The Thunderbird pilot ejected and was okay. Facebook post by Joseph Luther via Jim Olson July 18, 2014

1972 - March 19; A HH-53C #68-10357 (Call sign "Jolly Green 57") from the 40th ARRS, crewed by Maj. Kenneth E. Ernest (P), Mark C. Schibler (CP), Wolfgang Beuninghoven (FE), Michael L. Walker (PJ), Craig A. Marsh (PJ) and Kelly K. Shuman (AP), rescued the crew of a OV-10A ("Call sign "Nail 31"), 1st Lt. David G. Breskman (P) and Capt. Steven L. Boretsky (CP), after they ejected from their AAA damaged aircraft about 10 miles east of Pakse, Laos. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & JRCC Save Form & "PJ's in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe

1972 - March 22; A HH-43 from the 37th ARRS, crewed by unkn (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE), and unkn (PJ), medevac'd USA Sp4 Lee Gonzales. No other details are known at this time. "PJ's in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form

1972 - March 27; HH-53C #68-10359 (Call sign "Jolly Green 61") from the 40th ARRS, crewed by Capt. David Eric Pannabecker (P), Capt. Richard E. Dreher (CP), Sgt. James Manor (FE), Sgt. Raymond Jack Crow, Jr. (PJ), A1C Raymond Anthony Wagner (PJ) crashed in Cambodia from unknown causes. None of the crew was recovered.

http://www.jollygreen.org/jltnc.htm & "PJ's in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe

1972 - March 27; A HH-53C from the 40th ARRS, crewed by Ralph L. Allred (P), Mark C. Schibler (CP), Raymond Duarte (FE), Michael D. Vogele (PJ), Donald H. Goddlett (PJ) and George M. Holland (AP), was in a flight with "Jolly Green 61") but was not able to recover any of the crew (see entry above). None of the crew was recovered. "PJ's in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & http://www.jollygreen.org/jltnc.htm

1972 - March 30; The 20th Helicopter Sq. was deactivated.

http://www.mh-53pavelow.com/documents.20thSOS/history2.pdf

1972 - March 31; A HH-53C #69-5785 (Call sign "Jolly Green 63") from the 40th ARRS, crewed by Kenneth E. Ernest (P), Bennie D. Orrell (CP), Michael W. Taylor (FE), Charles D. Morrow (PJ), Gary T. Osborne (PJ) and Jeffrey A. Fox (AP), rescued two AC-130E crew members Capt. Waylon O. Fulk (Call sign "Spectre 22 Alpha") and SSgt. Anthony Dendi (Call sign "Spectre 22 India") after they bailed out of their 57mm AAA damaged aircraft over a 40 mile distance between where it had been hit, 35 miles north of Muang Fangdeng in southern Laos and Saravan, Laos, where the aircraft crashed. HH-53's picked up a total of thirteen crew members and Air America UH-34D helicopters picked up two other crew members, Capt. Eddie N. Bolling (Call sign "Specter 22 Bravo") and Robert Jacobs (Call sign Specter 22 Mike") (see next entries). "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "PJ's in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & "Taking Fire" by Kevin O'Rourke & Joe Peters & http://www.mh-53pavelow.com/documents/airframes/notable_h53_history.pdf

1972 - March 31; A HH-53C #69-5792 (Call sign "Jolly Green 62") from the 40th ARRS, crewed by Maj. Frederick C. Hartstein (P), Charles M. Swager (CP), Denny R. Sanders (FE), William D. Brinson (PJ) and Michael D. Vogele, rescued one AC-130A crew member Capt. C. C. Johnson, Jr. (Call sign "Spectre 22 Foxtrot") after they bailed out of their 57mm AAA damaged aircraft over a 40 mile distance between where it had been hit, 35 miles north of Muang Fangdeng in southern Laos and Saravan, Laos, where the aircraft crashed. HH-53's picked up a total of thirteen crew members and Air America UH-34D helicopters picked up two other crew members, Capt. Eddie N. Bolling (Call sign "Specter 22 Bravo") and Robert Jacobs (Call sign Specter 22 Mike") (see next and previous entries). "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "PJ's in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & "Taking Fire" by Kevin O'Rourke & Joe Peters & http://www.mh-53pavelow.com/documents/airframes/notable_h53_history.pdf

1972 - March 31; A HH-53C #68-10358 (Call sign "Jolly Green 60") from the 40th ARRS, crewed by Capt. Dale E. Stovall (P), Stephen R. Connelly (CP), Rufus B. Russell (FE), Donald H. Goodlet (PJ), Charles D. McGrath (PJ) and Hal Smith (AP), rescued eight AC-130A crew members (Call sign "Spectre 22 Charlie, Delta, Golf, Hotel, Juliett, Kilo, Lima and Oscar"), Capt. R. Cardosi, Lt. Col. O. F. Lentz, Maj. D. C. Dixon, SSgt. C. Davis, Sgt. M. D. Frost, MSgt. J. R. Thrasher, Sgt. D. Tiskon and Sgt. M. Teach, after they bailed out of their 57mm AAA damaged aircraft over a 40 mile distance between where it had been hit, 35 miles north of Muang Fangdeng in southern Laos and Saravan, Laos, where the aircraft crashed. HH-53's picked up a total of thirteen crew members and Air America UH-34D helicopters picked up two other crew members, Capt. Eddie N. Bolling (Call sign "Specter 22 Bravo") and Robert Jacobs (Call sign Specter 22 Mike") (see next and previous entries). "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "PJ's in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & http://www.mh-53pavelow.com/documents/airframes/notable_h53_history.pdf & "Taking Fire" by Kevin O'Rourke & Joe Peters

1972 - March 31; A HH-53C from the 40th ARRS, crewed by Major David G. Daus (P), Joel L. Summers (CP), Raymond Duarte (FE), Michael D. Nunes (PJ), Paul C. Perry (PJ) and Kenneth D. Nevitt (AP), rescued two AC-130A crew members Capt. Robert Rayburn (Call sign "Spectre 22 Echo") and Sgt. Stanley R. Reeves (Call sign "Spectre 22 November") after they bailed out of their 57mm AAA damaged aircraft over a 40 mile distance between where it had been hit, 35 miles north of Muang Fangdeng in southern Laos and Saravan, Laos, where the aircraft crashed. HH-53's picked up a total of thirteen crew members and Air America UH-34D helicopters picked up two other crew members, Capt. Eddie N Bolling (Call sign "Specter 22 Bravo") and Robert Jacobs (Call sign Specter 22 Mike") (see previous entries). "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "PJ's in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & "Taking Fire" by Kevin O'Rourke & Joe Peters & http://www.mh-53pavelow.com/documents/airframes/notable_h53_history.pdf

1972 - April 02; A HH-53C from the 37th ARRS, crewed by Capt. Rodney S. Griffith (P), Douglas A. Peck (CP), Roy D. Prater (FE), Robert L. LaPointe (PJ) and Michael A. Aillett (PJ), rescued the crew of a AH-1G  (Call sign "Blue Ghost 28") Cobra helicopter, Michael Rosebery and Charles Gorski, who were involved with the initial attempt to rescue a EB-66C (Call sign "Bat 21") crew member, Lt. Col. Iceal E. Hambleton, after he ejected from his SAM damaged aircraft in the DMZ. The heavily damaged AH-1G made it to the coast and landed on the beach, south of Quant Tri, RVN, where the crew members were rescued. http://www.pjsinnam.com/vn_history/pdf_files/Chronology/1972.pdf & "PJ's in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form

1972 - April 03; Jolly Greens of the 37th ARRS made two attempts to pick up Lt. Col. Iceal Hambleton (Call sign "Bat 21 Bravo") near Quang Tri, RVN, both times, they were driven off with heavy damage to their aircraft.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/37th_Aerospace_Rescue_and_Recovery_Squadron

1972 - April 06; HH-53C #68-10365 (Call sign "Jolly Green 67") of the 37th ARRS and crewed by Capt. Peter Hayden Chapman II (P), 1st Lt. John Henry Call III (CP), TSgt. Roy Dewitt Prater (FE), TSgt. Allen Jones Avery (PJ) Sgt. William Roy Pearson (PJ) and Sgt. James Harold Alley (AP) was shot down in RVN, while on a SAR mission attempting to recover a crewmember of EB-66C (Call sign "Bat 21 Bravo"), Lt. Col. Iceal E. Hambleton, with the loss of all 6 crew members. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/37th_Aerospace_Rescue_and_Recovery_Squadron#Operations_and_losses &

http://www.jollygreen.org/jltnc.htm

1972 - April 09; A HH-53C from the 40th ARRS, crewed by Maj. David G. Davis (P), Stephen R. Connolly (CP), Raymond Duarte (FE), Edward F. Padilla (PJ) and Michael P. McManus (PJ) rescued the crew, Capt. William M. Banks Jr. (P), and Capt. Martin J. Jacobs (WSO), of a F-4D (Call sign 'Musket 01") when they ejected from their ground fire damaged aircraft near Ban Kate in southern Laos. JRCC Save Form & "PJ's in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe

1972 - April 12; HH-3E #66-13289 (Call sign "Jolly Green 36") of the 31st ARRS at Clark AB, PI, crewed by Maj. Bruce Ware (P), Lt. Col. Dick Smith (CP), SSgt. Bob Baldwin (FE) and A1C Kim Robinson (PJ) flying over 600 miles to the rescue site rescued 46 members of television news team which included, 70 year old, famed pioneer aviator and USAF Reserve Brigadier General Charles A. Lindbergh. This news team was investigating reports of a "lost tribe" in the Tasaday Mountains, Mindanao, PI and were stranded on a 3,000 foot jungle ridge line when their support helicopter developed mechanical trouble. Due to conditions on the ground Maj. Ware was not able to land and had to hover out of ground effect with the boarding steps a few feet over the ridge top. Very high temperatures restricted the number that could be picked up at any one time and the HH-3E picked up the entire team by making eight trips, and making two partial air refuelings, to a drop off point about 15 minutes away.  Lindbergh commented that although he had helped to develop in-flight refueling, he had never been aboard an aircraft with it was taking place. Upon landing back at Clark AB the crew had a total elapsed time for the mission of 12 hours, 20 minutes, with a total actual flight time logged of 11 hours, 30 minutes. 

http://www.jollygreen.org/Stories/BruceWare/rescue_of_general_charles_lindbe.htm & http://www.thisdayinaviation.com/tag/66-13289/

1972 - April 13; A HH-53C #69-5793 of the 40th ARRS, crewed by Capt. Bennie D. Orrell (P), Lt. James R. Casey (CP), William T. Liles (FE), Sgt. William D. Brinson (PJ) and Kenneth W. Cakebread (PJ), rescued the pilot of a USMC A-6A (Call sign "Bengal 505"), Maj. Clyde D. Smith, after he and his NFO, 1st Lt. Scott Douglas Ketchie, had ejected from their AAA ground fire damaged aircraft near Ban Bamran, Laos (just across the border from the DMZ) on 09 April 1972. No trace of Lt. Ketchie was found and he was presumed to be KIA. Capt. Orrell was awarded the Air Force Cross and Sgt. Brinson the Silver Star for Their actions during this mission. "Taking Fire" by Kevin O'Rourke & Joe Peters & JRCC Save Form & http://projects.militarytimes.com/citations-medals-awards/recipient.php?recipientid=3526 & "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & http://www.homeofheroes.com/members/04_SS/5_RVN/citations/airforce/a.html

1972 - April 13; A HH-53C from the 40th ARRS, crewed by Maj. Frederick C. Hartstein (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE), unkn (PJ) and unkn (PJ), medevac'd USAF Sgt. Thomas Dewayne. No other details are known at this time. JRCC Save Form & "PJ's in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe

1972 - April 15; A HH-53C from the 37th ARRS, crewed by Capt. Donald A. Sutton (P), David E. Mullenix (CP), John W. Drayer (FE), Robert L. LaPointe (PJ) and Michael A. Aillet (PJ), rescued the crew members of an OV-10A, USAF Capt. James D. Harrison (P) and USN Cprl. Greg Metzger (Observer). No other details are known at this time. JRCC Save Form & "PJ's in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe

1972 - April 16; A HH-43F from Det. 14, 3rd ARRGp., crewed by Capt. Howard A. Randall (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ), rescued the pilot of a F-4D, 1st Lt. V. Parkhurst, after he and his WSO, 1st Lt. M. DeLong, ejected, in RVN, from their aircraft after it had a utility hydraulic failure (see next entry). No other details are known at this time. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & JRCC Save Form & "PJ's in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe

1972 - April 16; A HH-43F from Det. 14, 3rd ARRGp., crewed by Lt. Col. Gerald F. Foss (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ), rescued the WSO of an F-4D, 1st Lt. M. DeLong, after he and his pilot, 1st Lt. V Parkhurst, ejected, in RVN, from their aircraft after it had a utility hydraulic failure (see previous entry). No other details are known at this time. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & JRCC Save Form & "PJ's in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe

1972 - April 20; A HH-43F from Det. 14, 3rd ARRGp., crewed by Capt. Coston (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ), medevac'd USAF CMSgt. Wilber H. Childress. No other details are known at this time. JRCC Save Form & "PJ's in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe

1972 - April 23; A HH-53C from the 40th ARRS, crewed by Capt. Dennis M. Boroczk (P), Douglas C. McCraw (CP), Dennis C. Chriswell (FE), Charles D. McGrath (PJ) and Charles D. Morrow (PJ) rescued the co-pilot of a RF-4C (Call sign "Cosmic 16B"), 1st Lt. Ernest "Woody" S. Clark after he had ejected from his SAM damaged aircraft about 5 miles west of Dong Hoi on 20 April 1972. His pilot, Maj. Edward Knight Elias, had also ejected but became a POW. "Taking Fire" by Keven O'Rourke & Joe Peters & "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson

1972 - April 28; HH-53C #68-10363 (Call sign "Jolly Green 65") from the 37th ARRS, crewed by Capt. Donald A. Sutton (P), Charles R. Hagerhjelm (CP), Jimmie R. Cherry (FE),  Michael A. Aillett (PJ) and Michael L. Wagner (PJ) rescued the crew of a F-4E, Capt. Michael C. Francisco (P) and Capt. Arch S. Arthur (CP), after they ejected from their ground fire damaged aircraft in North Vietnam. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson &

www.mh-53pavelow.com/documents/airframes/notable_h53_history.pdf

1972 - May 01; Five HH-53's of the 37th ARRS evacuated 132 persons from the Citadel in the besieged and surrounded city of Quang Tri, to Da Nang AB, Vietnam. The first HH-53C # 69-5784 (Call sign "Jolly Green 71") to land in the LZ, crewed by Maj. Jackson R. Scott, Jr., (P), Capt. David F. Mullenix (CP), Sgt. Ronald W. Blackwell (FE), SSgt. Robert L. LaPointe (PJ) and Sgt. David W. Young, rescued 37 people, the second HH-53C #68-10363 (Calls sign "Jolly Green 65") into the LZ, crewed by Capt. Rodney S. Griffith (P), Maj. Anthony A. Gates (CP), SSgt. David Garcia (FE), SSgt. Cole E. Panning (PJ) and Sgt. Charles B. McQuiod (PJ), rescued 45 people and the last HH-53C to land in the LZ, crewed by Capt. John R. Weimer, Jr. (P), Capt. Garry A. Dake (CP), SSgt. William A. Simm (FE), Sgt. Michael A. Aillet (PJ), and Sgt. Richard L. Steed (PJ), rescued the last 45. Two of the HH-53C on this mission orbited over the coastline as backups, one crewed by Capt. Donald A. Sutton (P), Maj. Gerry J. Gilbert (CP), SSgt. Jimmy D. Minshew (FE), Sgt. Willaim J. Thompson (PJ) and Sgt. Daniel G. Manion (PJ) and the other crewed by Capt. Richard L. Wall (P), James M. McCorkle (CP), John W. Drayer (FE), John W. Stephens (PJ) and Michael L. Wagner (PJ). "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & http://uscgaviationhistory.aoptero.org/history/06.html & "PJ's in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe &

http://www.pjsinnam.com/vn_history/pdf_files/Chronology/1972.pdf & www.mh-53pavelow.com/documents/airframes/notable_h53_history.pdf

1972 - May 02; A HH-3E from Det. 14, 3rd ARRGp., crewed by Maj. Joe E. Ballinger (P), Larry D. McLaughlin (CP), Graham B. Bradshaw (FE), Rodney D. Ohman (PJ) and Jerome E. Rarie (PJ), rescued crew members of a AC-119K, Lt. Jimmy R. Barkalow, Lt. Col. Bryant J. Taschioglou and Lt. Larry D. Barbee, a USA UH-1 helicopter rescued A1C Richard Craig Corbett, after they had bailed out of their AAA damaged aircraft about 5 miles from An Loc, RVN. AC-119K crew members KIA were Capt. Terrance Francis Courtney, Capt. David Roddy Slagle and SSgt. Kenneth R. Brown (see next entry). "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & JRCC Save Form & "PJ's in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe

1972 - May 02; A HH-3E from Det. 14, 3rd ARRGp., crewed by Lt. Col. John J. McGuire Jr. (P), Paul P. Kreider (CP), Allen W. Bare (FE), Anthony B. Christian (PJ) and Timothy Zarnowski (PJ), rescued SSgt Allen W. Bare, SSgt. Francis J. "Ski" Sledzinski and SSgt. Delanor E. Iman, a USA UH-1 helicopter rescued A1C Richard Craig Corbett, after they had bailed out of their AAA damaged aircraft about 5 miles from An Loc, RVN. AC-119K crew members KIA were Capt. Terrance Francis Courtney, Capt. David Roddy Slagle and SSgt. Kenneth R. Brown (see previous entry). "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & JRCC Save Form & "PJ's in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe

1972 - May 05; HH-53C #68-10363 (Call sign "Jolly Green 65") of the 37th ARRS, crewed by Maj. Anthony A. Gates (P), Gary A. Dake (CP), David Garcia (FE), Michael L. Wagner (PJ) and Craig A. Marsch (PJ) rescued a F-4E (Call sign "Musket 03") WSO, Capt. Peter G. Kulzer, when he and his pilot, Capt. R. W. Comstock, ejected from their aircraft when it was hit by AAA fire near Ba Long about 10 miles west of Quang Tri, RVN (see next entry). JRCC Save Form & "PJ's in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & www.mh-53pavelow.com/documents/airframes/notable_h53_history.pdf

1972 - May 05; HH-53C from the 37th ARRS, crewed by Jerry J Gilbert (P), Darrel R. Knutson (CP), William A. Simm (FE), Cole E. Panning (PJ) and Charles B. McQuoid II (PJ) rescued a F-4E (Call sign "Musket 03") pilot, Capt. R. W. Comstock when he and his WSO, Capt. Peter G. Kulzer, ejected from their aircraft when it was hit by AAA fire near Ba Long about 10 miles west of Quang Tri, RVN (see previous entry). JRCC Save Form & "PJ's in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & www.mh-53pavelow.com/documents/airframes/notable_h53_history.pdf

1972 - May 07; HH-43F from Det. 14, Det. 14, 38th ARRS, crewed by Capt. Donald E. Dudy (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ), rescued the Vietnamese pilot of an A-1E, Capt. Phan Anh Phat in RVN. No other details are known at this time. JRCC Save Form & "PJ's in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe

1972 - May 07; HH-53C from the 37th ARRS, crewed by Capt. Darrel R. Knutson (P), Gary A. Dake (CP), David Garcia (FE), Michael L. Wagner (PJ) and Craig A. Marsch (PJ), rescued the navigator of a USN F-4J (Call sign "Bootleg 51 Bravo"), CWO3 James J. Casonguay, after he ejected from his AAA damaged aircraft about 10 miles east of Khe Sanh. The F-4J pilot, Capt. John Wadsworth Consolvo, was KIA. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & JRCC Save Form

1972 - May 17; HH-43F from Det. 4, 3rd ARRGp., crewed by Capt. David E. Buchholz (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ), evacuated three USAF airmen in Thailand. No other details are known at this time. JRCC Save Form

1972 - May 20; A HH-53C from the 40th ARRS, crewed by Capt. Mark L. Schibler (P), Clifton L. "Rufus" Hutchinson (CP), SSgt. Tommie Bryant Jr. (FE), Sgt. Paul C. Perry (PJ) and Amn. Robert W. Mason (PJ) flew to within 35 miles of Hanoi to rescue the pilot of an F-4D (Call sign "Bowleg 02 Alpha"), 1st Lt. John D. Markle (P) after he and his back seater, Capt. James W. Williams (CP) ejected from their aircraft after being hit by an Atoll missile fired by a MiG-21. Capt. Williams became a POW before he could be rescued. The HH-53C high bird, from the 40th ARRS, on this mission was crewed by Gary L. Gamble (P), John M. Gillespie III (CP), Denny R. Sanders (FE), Donald H. Goodlet (PJ) and William A. Worber Jr. (PJ). "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "On a Steel Horse I Ride" by Darrel D. Whitcomb & http://www.pjsinnam.com/vn_history/pdf_files/Chronology/1972.pdf & "Taking Fire" by Kevin O'Rourke and Joe Peters

1972 - May 21; HH-43F from the 37th ARRS, crewed by Capt. Donald R. Wagner (P), Robert R. Ames (CP), Charles R. Worley (FE) and Fredrick Stordy (MT), medevac'd Edward G. Heinz in RVN. No other details are known at this time. "PJ's in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe

1972 - May 23; HH-53C from the 40th ARRS, crewed by unkn (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE), unkn (PJ) and unkn (PJ), medevac'd R. V. Meyer in Thailand. No other details are known at this time. "PJ's in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe

1972 - May 25; HH-43F from the 37th ARRS, crewed by Capt. James L. Wilkinson (P), William I. Latham (CP), Ronald D. Littleton (MT) and Frederick Stordy (MT), medevac'd James L. Wilkinson, William I. Latham and two VNAF airmen in RVN. No other details are known at this time. "PJ's in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe

1972 - May 26; A HH-43F from the 37th ARRS, crewed by Capt. Robert R. Ames (P), Michael F. Schmidt (CP), Larry  Johnson (MT), Michael J. Kondask (FF) and David C. Newman (FF), rescued the pilot and observer of a USN TA-4F (Call sign "Wine Leaf 04"), Capt. William E. Ramsbottom and CWO2 Bruce E. Boltz after they ejected from their aircraft over the South China Sea about 10 miles southeast of Da Nang AB, RVN after it was hit and damaged by a SA-7 missile about 15 miles northwest of Hue, RVN. No other details are known at this time. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & JRCC Save Form & "PJ's in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe

1972 - May 26; A HH-53C from the 37th ARRS, crewed by Capt. Garry A. Dake (P), James D. Bruner (CP), Cayetano Pina (FE), John W. Stephens (PJ), Cole E. Panning (PJ) and Dennis Cameron (PJ), rescued the crew of a F-4D (Call sign "Gunsmoke 02"), Capt. Andrew N. Arnold (P) and Capt. Thomas F. Kincaid (CP), after they ejected from their AAA damaged aircraft just south of Khe Sanh, RVN. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & JRCC Save Form & "PJ's in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe

1972 - May 27; A HH-43F from Det. 14, 3rd ARRGp., crewed by Capt. Jackie L. Roberts (P), Howard A. Randal (CP), Robert J. S. Brind (FE) and William T. Mathews (MT), rescued two USA troops, Lt. Gen. William J. McCaffrey and Capt. Allen M. Russo, from a downed USA UH-1 helicopter in RVN. JRCC Save Form & "PJ's in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe 

1972 - May 30; A HH-43F from Det. 14, 3rd ARRGp., crewed by Capt. Verl K. Diamond (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ), rescued a total of 8 VNAF airmen, including Capt. Tam, from a VNAF C-119. No other details are known at this time. JRCC Save Form & "PJ's in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe

1972 - June 01; A HH-53 from the 37th ARRS, crewed by Maj. Christer C. Koreer (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ), rescued WO Martine Thomas from a downed USA OH-6. No other details are known at this time. JRCC Save Form

1972 - June 01; A HH-43F from Det. 5, 3rd ARRGp., crewed by Capt. Larry B. Doege (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ), rescued an F-4E (Call sign "Lover 03") crew, Capt. George W. Hawks (P) and Capt. David B Bngee (WSO), when their aircraft was hit and damaged just south of Yen Bai, NVN, and they were able to fly it back into Thailand and they ejected a few miles from Udorn RTAFB, Thailand. JRCC Save Form & "PJ's in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson

1972 - June 01; A HH-53C of the 40th ARRS, crewed by Capt. Dale E. Stovall (P), Clifford E. Brandon (CP), James F. Walsh (FE), unkn (PJ) and unkn (PJ) attempted to rescue the WSO of a F-4D (Call sign "Oyster 01 Bravo"), Capt. Roger C. Locher, after it had been hit by cannon fire from a MiG-19 and he ejected near the MiG base at Yen Bai, NVN. Capt. Locher had been shot down on 10 May 1972 and E & E'd for 23 days before he made voice contact with a flight of Phantom's and this rescue attempt was initiated. This attempt was unsuccessful and the HH-53C was driven off by enemy fire and enemy MiG fighters. The F-4D pilot, Maj. Robert Alfred Lodge was KIA on 10 May 1972. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobs & "PJ's in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe

1972 - June 02; A HH-53C of the 40th ARRS, crewed by Jerry W. Shipman (P), Stanley J. Zielinski Jr. (CP), William T. Liles  (FE), Donald H. Goodlett (PJ), Dennis C. Williamson (PJ) and Hal Smith (AP) was an airborne backup for the attempt to rescue the WSO of a F-4D (Call sign "Oyster 01 Bravo"), Capt. Roger C. Locher, after it had been hit by cannon fire from a MiG-19 and he ejected near the MiG base at Yen Bai, NVN. Capt. Locher had been shot down on 10 May 1972 and E & E'd for 23 days before he made voice contact with a flight of Phantom's and this rescue attempt was initiated. The F-4D pilot, Maj. Robert Alfred Lodge was KIA on 10 May 1972. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobs & "PJ's in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe

1972 - June 02; A HH-53C #69-5786 (Call sign "Jolly Green 57") of the 40th ARRS and equipped with a new Electronic Location Finder ("ELF") system, crewed by Capt. Dale E. Stovall (P), John M. Gillespie III (CP), James F. Walsh (FE), Charles B. McQuoid II (PJ), Kenneth W. Cakebread (PJ) and Bobbie L. Welborn (AP) rescued the WSO of a F-4D (Call sign "Oyster 01 Bravo"), Capt. Roger C. Locher, after it had been hit by cannon fire from a MiG-19 and he ejected near the MiG base at Yen Bai, NVN. Capt. Locher had been shot down on 10 May 1972 and E & E'd for 23 days before he made voice contact with a flight of Phantom's and this rescue attempt was initiated. The F-4D pilot, Maj. Robert Alfred Lodge was KIA on 10 May 1972. Capt. Dale E. Stovall was awarded the Air Force Cross for his actions during this mission. This was the first SAR using the "ELF". "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "PJ's in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe

1972 - June 04; A HH-53C from the 40th ARRS, crewed by unkn (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ), medevac'd Rodney W. Meek in Thailand. No other details are known at this time. "PJ's in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe

1972 - June 05; A HH-3E from Det. 14, 3rd ARRGp,. crewed by Maj. Walter E. Barnes (P), John C. Woefel (CP), William J. Warren (FE), Kim Robinson (PJ), Larry E. Smith (PJ) and Timothy Hasan (AP), rescued the badly injured pilot of a O-2A, 1st Lt. Craig P. Dunn, after he crash landed his ground fire damaged aircraft about 10 miles NW of Bao Loc, RVN. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & JRCC Save Form & "PJ's in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe

1972 - June 08; A HH-43F from Det. 5, 3rd ARRGp., crewed by Capt. Larry B. Doege (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ), medevac'd USN E-4 Billy W. Ragen in RVN. No other details are known at this time. "PJ's in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe

1972 - June 08; A HH-43F from the 40th ARRS., crewed by unkn (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ), rescued an OV-10A crew, Robert L. Humphrey (P) and unkn (CP) in Thailand when their aircraft had a double engine failure and they ejected. No other details are known at this time. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "PJ's in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe

1972 - June 08; A HH-53C from the 40th ARRS., crewed by Maj. Gary L. Gamble (P), Stephen R. Connelly (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ), rescued a QU-22B pilot, 1st Lt. Charles W. Nanney in Thailand after his aircraft had an engine failure. No other details are known at this time. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "PJ's in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe

1972 - June 10 - 18; 12 UH-1 helicopters belonging to the 28th Bombardment Wing at Ellsworth AFB, flew 55 sorties in 80 flying hours supporting flood relief efforts, rescuing 14 persons and airlifting 251, and delivering almost four tons of food, clothing, and medical supplies. 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

1972 - June 10; A HH-43F from Det. 7, 37th ARRS, crewed by Robert R. Ames (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ), medevac'd one USAF airman in RVN. No other details are known at this time. "PJ's in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe

1972 - June 10; A HH-43F from Det. 7, 37th ARRS, crewed by Capt. Allen C. Spitler (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (FS), medevac'd one USN sailor, Esn. Richard Barber, in RVN. No other details are known at this time. "PJ's in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe

1972 - June 10; A HH-43F from Det. 7, 37th ARRS., crewed by Robert R. Ames (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ), medevac'd one Vietnamese in RVN. No other details are known at this time. "PJ's in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe

1972 - June 10; A HH-53C from the 40th ARRS., crewed by unkn (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE), unkn (PJ) and Alexander Smith (FS), medevac'd Zacheval D. Godwin in Thailand. No other details are known at this time. "PJ's in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe

1972 - June 12; A HH-53C from the 37th ARRS., crewed by Christopher C. Korper (P), Olin F. Land Jr. (CP), Gregory A. Sealander (FE), Douglas E. Wilson (PJ) and Michael L. Wagner (PJ), rescued Sam Martin from an OH-6 helicopter downed in RVN. No other details are known at this time. "PJ's in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe

1972 - June 13; A HH-43F from Det. 14, 3rd ARRGp., crewed by Capt. Clayton L. Costn (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE), unkn (PJ) and unkn (PJ), rescued a VNAF A-1 pilot in RVN. No other details are known at this time. "PJ's in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe

1972 - June 15; A HH-53C from the 37th ARRS, crewed by Maj. Jackson K. Scott Jr. (P), David E. Mullenix (CP), Cayetano Pina (FE), Michael A. Friedrich (PJ), David W. Young (PJ) and William Boardman (FS), rescued one VNAF airman from a downed UH-1 (Call sign "Eagle 02") in RVN. No other details are known at this time. "PJ's in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe

1972 - June 16; A HH-43F from the 37th ARRS, crewed by Capt. Allen C. Spitler (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ), medevac'd, USN Esn Richard Barber, in RVN. No other details are known at this time. "PJ's in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form

1972 - June 18; A HH-43F from Det. 14, 3rd ARRGp., crewed by Capt. Jackie L. Roberts (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ), rescued the pilot, Lt. Daniel W. Olson from an A-37B accident in Thailand. No other details are known at this time. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & JRCC Save Form & "PJ's in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe

1972 - June 19; A HH-53C from 37th ARRS, crewed by Capt. Donald A. Sutton (P), Todd H. Hohberger (CP), Ronald W. Blackwell (FE), Cole E. Panning (PJ) and Kenneth W. Cakebread (PJ), rescued three AC-130A crew members, Capt. Gordon L. Brocher, 2nd Lt. Robert V. Reid and SSgt. William B. Patterson after they bailed out of their SA-7 missile damaged aircraft on 18 June 1972, near the A Shau Valley about 25 miles southwest of Hue, RVN. The remaining 12 AC-130A crew members, Capt. Paul Faris Gilbert, Capt. Robert Allan Wilson, Maj. Gerald Francis Ayres, Maj. Robert Herman Harrison, Capt. Mark Giles Danielson, MSgt. Jacob Edward Mercer, TSgt. Richard Milton Cole, SSgt. Donald Herman Klinke, SSgt. Larry Jerome Newman, SSgt. Richard E. Nyhof, Sgt. Leon Andrew Hunt and Sgt. Stanley Lawrence Lehrke, were KIA. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & JRCC Save Form & "PJ's in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe

1972 - June 21; A HH-53C of the 40th ARRS, crewed by Capt. Bennie D. Orrell (P), Capt. Andrew J. Courtice (CP), Sgt. William T. Liles (FE), Sgt. Charles F. Salome (PJ) and Sgt. George D. Webber (PJ), rescued the pilot of a USN F-8J (Call sign "Nickel 102"), Cmdr. James W. Davis, after he ejected from his 37 mm AAA damaged aircraft, on 20 June 1972, near the Mu Gia Pass. "PJ's in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & http://www.pjsinnam.com/vn_history/pdf_files/Chronology/1972.pdf

1972 - June 21; A HH-53C from the 37th ARRS, crewed by Christopher C. Korper (P), Gerald M. Tonn (CP), Jimmie R. Cherry (FE), Douglas E. Wilson (PJ) and Michael A. Friedrich (PJ), rescued the pilot of a A-1J (Calls sign "Sandy 07"), Capt. Larry G. Highfill, after he ejected from his 23 mm AAA damaged aircraft about 25 miles west of Hue, RVN. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & http://www.pjsinnam.com/vn_history/pdf_files/Chronology/1972.pdf & "PJ's in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe

1972 - June 22 - June 23; Five helicopters from Det. 15 and 16 of the 42d ARRS and the 302nd ARRS, crew's unkn, airlifted 68 flood refugees 10 miles north of Scottsdale, AZ., just east of Phoenix. Dry desert washes became raging rivers and on June 22nd the Arizona Deptartment of Public Safety ask the 42nd ARRS at Hamilton AFB, CA., for helicopter support to rescue flood victims. The squadron alerted Det. 15 at Luke AFB, Arizona, and Det. 16 at Williams AFB, AZ. Both bases were in the flood vicinity, Luke to the southwest and Williams to the southeast of Phoenix. Each detachment dispatched one HH–43 Pedro helicopter for emergency rescue flights. The 302d ARRS, a reserve unit at Williams AFB, also responded to the emergency with three HH–34J's. During two days of rescue operations, the three units used five helicopters to rescue 68 flood victims. Most passenger’s boarded aircraft where they landed at isolated spots of high ground, but some were hoisted aboard helicopters from the isolated spots of high water. The 42nd ARRS was responsible for 49 saved lives among the 68 airlifted. The emergency helicopter flights ended on June 23. 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

1972 - June 25; A HH-53 from the 40th ARRS, crewed by Capt. Doug McGraw (P), 1st Lt. Ben Casey (CP), SSgt. Harry H. Cash (FE), Bill Webber (PJ), Chuck McGrouth (PJ) and unkn (AP) was severely damage by enemy fire while on a rescue mission deep in North Vietnam for a USN A-7E pilot, Lt. Geoffrey Raymond Shumway (who was later determined to have been KIA). SSgt. Cash was severely wounded and was given direct blood transfusions by the PJ's from Lt. Casey (who happened to have the same blood type) as they tried to get back into Thailand. The crew was able to make a crash landing in a clearing near Lima Site 16 in Laos and were picked up by another HH-53 on the mission. SSgt. Cash survived his injuries. This HH-53 is believed to have been recovered, repaired and put back into service as no record of a HH-53 lost on that date can be located. June 25, 2015 facebook post by Harry H. Cash

1972 - June 27; A HH-53C from the 40th ARRS, crewed by Stanley J. Zielinski Jr. (P), Richard P. Tripp (CP), James F. Walsh (FE), Charles F. Salome (PJ) and Roger D. Candill (AP) unsuccessfully attempted the rescue of the pilot of a F-4E (Call sign "Valent 03 Alpha"), Maj. Robert C. Miller, after he and the WSO, 1st Lt. Richard H. McDow, ejected from their aircraft when it was hit by a air-to-air missile fired by a MiG-21 about 80 miles west of Hanoi NVN. The WSO of this F-4E, 1st Lt. Richard H. McDow, became a POW. This HH-53 was damaged during the attempt and driven off by enemy fire (see next entry). "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "On a Steel Horse I Ride" by Darrel D. Whitcomb & "Taking Fire" by Kevin O'Rourke & Joe Peters & "PJ's in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe

1972 - June 27; A HH-53C from the 40th ARRS, crewed by Capt. Bennie D., Orrell (P), Stephen R. Connelly (CP), Denny R. Sanders (FE), Michael L. Walker (PJ), Kenneth J. Musnicki (PJ) and Robbie L. Welborne (AP) rescued the pilot of a F-4E (Call sign "Valent 03 Alpha"), Maj. Robert C. Miller, after he and the WSO, 1st Lt. Richard H. McDow, ejected from their aircraft when it was hit by a air-to-air missile fired by a MiG-21 about 80 miles west of Hanoi NVN. The WSO of this F-4E, 1st Lt. Richard H. McDow, became a POW (see previous entry). "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "On a Steel Horse I Ride" by Darrel D. Whitcomb & "Taking Fire" by Kevin O'Rourke & Joe Peters & "PJ's in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe

1972 - June 27; A HH-53C #69-5788 (Call sign "Jolly Green 73"), of the 40th ARRS crewed by Maj. Leo W. Thacker Jr. (P), 2nd Lt. Frank Mason Jr. (CP), George L. Wright Jr. (FE), Charles D. "Chuck" McGrath (PJ), Charles D. Morrow (PJ) and George M. Holland (AP), unsuccessfully  attempted the rescue of the pilot of a F-4E (Call sign "Valent 04A"), Capt. Lynn A. Aikman, after he  and his WSO, Capt. Thomas J. Hanton, ejected from their aircraft after it was hit by a air-to-air missile fired by a MiG-21 about 80 miles west of Hanoi, NVN. The WSO of this F-4E, Capt. Thomas J. Hanton, became a POW. While in a hover over the survivor, with PJ "Chuck" McGrath on the ground the HH-53 took 23 hits and was forced to shear the hoist and pull off the attempt (see next entry). "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "On a Steel Horse I Ride" by Darrel D. Whitcomb & "Taking Fire" by Kevin O'Rourke & Joe Peters. NOTE: between the two sources for this mission there is some confusion as to who made the pickup of Maj. R. C. Miller-see next entry & "PJ's in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe

1972 - June 27; A HH-53C #68-10357 (Call sign "Jolly Green 57"), of the 40th ARRS crewed by Capt. Dale Stovall (P), Lt. Clifton L. Hutchinson (CP), SSgt. Richard L. Simmon (FE), Sgt. Michael D. Nuenz (PJ), TSgt. Albert J. Reich (PJ) and Kelly K. Schulman (AP) rescued the pilot of a F-4E (Call sign "Valent 03A"), Capt. Lynn A. Aikman, after he ejected from his aircraft after it was hit by a air-to-air missile fired by a MiG-21 about 80 miles west of Hanoi NVN. The WSO of this F-4E, 1st Lt. Richard H. McDow, became a POW. They also rescued the PJ, Sgt. Charles D. McGrath, who had been lowered to help Maj. Aikman get on the hoist when his helicopter, "Jolly Green 73", was driven off by enemy ground fire. Sgt. McGrath was awarded the Air Force Cross for his actions in protecting the survivor during this rescue (see previous entries). "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "On a Steel Horse I Ride" by Darrel D. Whitcomb & "Taking Fire" by Kevin O'Rourke and Joe Peters & http://www.pjsinnam.com/vn_history/pdf_files/Chronology/1972.pdf NOTE: between the two sources for this mission there is some confusion as to who made the pickup of Maj. R. C. Miller-see previous entry

1972 - July 05; A HH-53C (Call sign "Jolly Green 71") of the 37th ARRS, crewed by Capt. David E. Mullenix (P), Capt. Frederich W. Harrington (CP), SSgt. Albert D. Cochran (FE), SSgt. Douglas E. Wilson (PJ) and SSgt. Charles B. "Chip" McQuoid (PJ) rescued a F-4D (Call sign "Gaslight 01 Bravo") WSO, Capt. Michael A. VanWagenen when he and his pilot, Maj. E. K. Johnson, (P), ejected from their aircraft, over the Gulf Of Tonkin, about 35 miles NE of the DMZ after it was hit by a SAM east of Kep, NVN (see next entry). "PJ's in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & http://jollygreen.org/37thhist/Newspaper/1Aug72Page4.htm & JRCC Save Form

1972 - July 05; HH-53C (Call sign "Jolly Green 72"), of the 37th ARRS, crewed by Capt. Gerald M. Tonn (P), Lt. Dale Stout (CP), Sgt. Cayetano Pina (FE), SMSgt. Rick Chapman (PJ) and Sgt. Jack Stephens (PJ) rescued a F-4D (Call sign "Gaslight 01 Alpha") pilot, Maj. E. K. Johnson when he and his WSO, Capt. Michael D. Vanwagenen, ejected from their aircraft, over the Gulf Of Tonkin, about 35 miles NE of the DMZ after it was hit by a SAM east of Kep, NVN (see previous entry). "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & http://jollygreen.org/37thhist/Newspaper/1Aug72Page4.htm & JRCC Save Form & PJ's in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe

1972 - July 08; A HH-43F from Det. 5, 3rd ARRGp., crewed by Capt. Thomas Meyer (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ), rescued the crew of a F-4E, Lt. Col. Robert E. Ross (P) and Capt. Stanley M. Imaye (WSO), after their aircraft was attacked and damage by a air-to-air missile fire by a MiG, they then managed to fly their aircraft back to Thailand where they ejected just north of Udorn RTAFB. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & JRCC Save Form & PJ's in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe

1972 - July 15; A HH-53C from the 40th ARRS, crewed by Capt. Charles M. Swager (P), Clifton L. Hutchinson (CP), Rourk (FE), Michael P. McManus (PJ), Robert K. Schneider (PJ) and Samuel K. Schneider (FS), medevac'd USAF MSgt. Samuel K. Demoranville in Thailand. No other details are known at this time. JRCC Save Form & "PJ's in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe

1972 - July 17; A HH-53C from the 37th ARRS, crewed by Capt. Dennis M. Boroczk (P), Jerry D. Stout (CP), Cayetano Pina (FE),  Douglas E. Wilson (PJ) and Michael L. Wagner (PJ), rescued the pilot of a USN A-7C (Call sign "Sidewinder 405"), Lt. David K. Anderson, after he ejected over the South China Sea, about 15 miles northeast of Da Nang AB, RVN and the pilot of a second USN A-7C (Call sign "Sidewinder 401"), Cmdr. William D. Yonke, after he ejected just south of Hue, RVN. Both of these aircraft had been damaged by an Mk-82 bomb that exploded prematurely. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & PJ's in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe

1972 - July 18; A HH-53C (Call sign "Jolly 71") from the 37th ARRS at Da Nang AB, RVN, crewed Capt. by Frederick W. Harrington (P), 1st Lt. Harry "Doc" W. Holliday (CP), Charles J. Rouhier (FE), A1C Lawrence E. Kimball (PJ) and Sgt. William E. Stevens (PJ), rescued the pilot of a F-4D (Call sign "Owl 02 Alpha"), 1st Lt. Gordon K. Tushek, after he and his WSO, Capt. Wayne Gordon Brown, ejected from their aircraft after it was damaged by a Mk-82 bomb dropped by a USN A-7C that exploded prematurely. They ejected, on July 17, 1972, about 20 miles south of Hue, RVN. An earlier attempt by HH-53C (Call sign "Jolly 66"), crewed by Capt. Gerald Tonn (P), Capt. Charlie Baldwin (CP), Jimmie Cherry (FE), unkn (PJ) and unkn (PJ) to rescued Capt. Wayne Gordon Brown (Call sign "Owl 02 Bravo") was unsuccessful. The WSO, Capt. Wayne Gordon Brown (Call sign "Owl 02 Bravo"), of this F-4D ejected safely and was injured during his ejection or landing and was believed KIA by enemy forces before he could be rescued. Also known to have been involved in this mission were HH-53C's (Call sign "Jolly 72 & Jolly 73"). "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & PJ's in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & "Friends Journal" Summer 2015

1972 - July 18; A HH-43F from Det. 12, 3rd ARRGp., crewed by Capt. Carr E. Flournoy (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ), medevac'd Darrell H. Smith in Thailand. No other details are known at this time. "PJ's in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe

1972 - July 29; A HH-53C (Call sign "Jolly Green 72") from the 37th ARRS at Da Nang AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Denny M. Boroczk (P), Michael "Mac" McDaniel (CP), Gary L. Trotter (FE), Arden Conard (PJ), Michael L. Wagner (PJ) and Stephen Caldwell (PJ), rescued the pilot of a F-105G (Call sign "Eagle 03 Alpha"), Maj. Thomas J. Coady, from the South China Sea about 5 miles off the coast of Da Nang AB, RVN after he and his co-pilot, Maj. Perry F. Murphy, had ejected from their aircraft after it was damaged during a dog fight with a MiG-21 (see next entry). "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & http://www.jollygreen.org/37thhist/Newspaper/16Aug72Page6.jpg & PJ's in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe

1972 - July 29; A HH-43F (Call sign "Pedro") from Det. 7, 3rd ARRGp., at Da Nang AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Donald R. Wagner (P), Allan C. Spitler (CP), Charles R. Worley (FE), Robert W. Parrish (MT), David Newman (FF) and Samuel J. McElhaney (FF) rescued the co-pilot of a F-105G (Call sign "Eagle 03 Bravo") from the South China Sea about 5 miles off the coast of Da Nang AB, RVN after he and his pilot, Maj. Thomas J. Coady, had ejected from their aircraft after it was damaged during a dog fight with a MiG-21 (see previous entry). "PJ's in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & http://www.jollygreen.org/37thhist/Newspaper/16Aug72Page6.jpg

1972 - July 30; A HH-53C from the 40th ARRS, crewed by Capt. Robert A. Rossi (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE), unkn (PJ), unkn (PJ) and unkn (PJ) medevac'd USAF MSgt. Eugene C. Gries and USAF Sgt. Dennis C. Williams in Thailand. No other details are known at this time. "PJ's in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe

1972 - August 04; A USAF helicopter from Fairchild AFB, WA., crewed by unkn (AC), unkn (P) and unkn (CP), plunged into the water and exploded after striking a power line over the Spokane River, the Spokane county sheriff's office reported friday. Sheriff's Lt. Larry Erickson said there were no survivors. No other details are known at this time. The Des Moines Register (Des Moines, Iowa), sat, Ajug 5, 1972, page 5

1972 - August 08; A HH-53C from the 37ts ARRS, crewed by Fredrich W. Harrington (P), Michael McDaniel (CP), Gary L. Trotter (FE), Michael L. Wagner (PJ), Steven L. Caldwell (PJ) and David Tesdal (AP) medevac'd Donald C. Ferrell in RVN. No other details are known at this time. "PJ's in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe

1972 - August 09; A HH-53C from the 37th ARRS at Da Nang AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Dennis M. Boroczk (P) USCG  Lt. Jack K. Stice (CP), Sgt. Jimmie R. Cherry (FE), Sgt. Curtis Towne (PJ), Michael L. Wagner (PJ), Robert L. LaPointe (PJ), Sgt. D. W. Wilson (PJ) and Beauchamp (AP), rescued the crew of a F-4D (Call sign "Joyce 01"), Capt. James L. Beavers and 1st Lt. William A. Haskell, after they ejected from their small arms fire damaged aircraft, over the South China Sea, about 15 miles north of Da Nang AB, RVN. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & http://www.jollygreen.org/37thhist/Newspaper/18Oct72Page4.jpg & JRCC Save Form

1972 - August 18; HH-53C #68-10361 was destroyed on the ramp at Da Nang AB, RVN by a Vietcong 122mm rocket. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/37th_Aerospace_Rescue_and_Recovery_Squadron#Operations_and_losses 

1972 - August 19; HH-53C from the 40th ARRS, crewed by Capt. John M. Gillespie III (P), Capt. Frank Mason (CP), unkn (FE), unkn (PJ) and unkn (PJ), rescued the pilot of a QU-22B (Call sign "Vampire 26"), Capt. Gerald L. Lawrence, after he lost control of the aircraft in turbulence in Laos. No other details are known at this time. JRCC Save Form & "PJ's in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe

1972 - August 25; A HH-53C from the 37th ARRS, crewed by Capt. David E. Mullenix (P), Todd Hohberger (CP), Charles J. Rouhier (FE), Ronald Buchanan (PJ), Curtis Towne (PJ) and  David Tesdal (AP), rescued the pilot of a F-4D (Call sign "Buick 01 Alpha"), Lt. Col. Carl G. Bailey, after he and his WSO, Capt. Jeffrey S. Feinstein, ejected from their 37mm AAA damaged aircraft, over the Gulf Of Tonkin, about 45 miles NE of Vinh, NVN (see next entry). "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & http://www.pjsinnam/vn_history/pdf_files/Chronology/1972.pdf & JRCC Save Form & "PJ's in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe

1972 - August 25; A HH-53C from the 40th ARRS, crewed by Capt. Gerald W. Tonn (P), Olin F. Land Jr. (CP), Cayetano Pina (FE), Robert L. LaPointe (PJ), and Ronald Charlesworth (PJ), rescued the WSO of a F-4D (Call sing "Buick 01 Bravo"), Capt. Jeffrey S. Feinstein, after he and his pilot, Lt. Col. Carl G. Bailey, ejected from their 37 mm AAA damaged aircraft, over the Gulf Of Tonkin, about 45 miles NE of Vinh, NVN. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & http://www.pjsinnam/vn_history/pdf_files/Chronology/1972.pdf & JRCC Save Form & "PJ's in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe

1972 - August 25; A HH-53C from the 37th ARRS, crewed by Capt. John M. Gillespie III (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE), unkn (PJ) and unkn (PJ) rescued the pilot of a QU-22B, 1st Lt. Lanny A. York, when his aircraft had an engine failure and crashed on takeoff from Nakhon Phanom RTAFB, Thailand. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "PJ's in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & http://www.pjsinnam/vn_history/pdf_files/Chronology/1972.pdf & JRCC Save Form

1972 - August 25; A HH-53C from the 37th ARRS, crewed by Capt. David E. Mullenix (P), USCG Jack K. Stice (CP), Charles J. Rouhier (FE), Ronald Buchanan (PJ) and Curtis Towne (PJ), medevac'd USN PC-3 Steven J. Buonarati from the ship USS Hornblower in the Gulf Of Tonkin. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "PJ's in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & http://www.pjsinnam/vn_history/pdf_files/Chronology/1972.pdf & JRCC Save Form

1972 - August 26; A HH-53C, from the 40th ARRS, crewed by Capt. Thomas J. Laut (P), Gilbert A. Rovito (CP), David V. McLeod Jr. (FE), Daniel T. Nungesser (PJ), Charles B. Kinser (PJ) and Donald Looper (AP), unsuccessfully attempted rescued the pilot of a USMC F-4J, 1st Lt. Sam Gary Cordova (Call sign "Motion 02 Alpha"), after he ejected in Laos from his aircraft when it was damaged by an Atoll missile fired by a MiG, about 25 miles NE of Sam Neua, Laos. The attempt was unsuccessful when the HH-53C was damaged by enemy fire and driven off the attempt. The F-4J pilot, 1st Lt. Sam Gary Cordova was KIA on the ground by enemy troops (see next entry). "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & JJRC Save Form & "PJ's in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe

1972 - August 26; A HH-53C, from the 40th ARRS, crewed by Capt. Charles M. Swager (P), Stephen O. Boyd (CP), Herschel E. Fannin (FE), Michael L. Walker (PJ), Charles B. McQuiod II (PJ) and James Cockerill (AP), rescued the navigator of a USMC F-4J, 1st Lt. Darrell L. Borders (Call sign "Motion 02 Bravo"), in Laos, after he ejected from his aircraft when it was damaged by an Atoll missile fired by a MiG, about 25 miles NE of Sam Neua, Laos. The F-4J pilot, 1st Lt. Sam Gary Cordova (Call sign "Motion 02 Alpha") was KIA (see previous entry). "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & JJRC Save Form & "PJ's in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe

1972 - August 26; A HH-3E, from Det. 14, 3rd ARRGp., crewed by Capt. Richard Odell (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE), unkn (PJ) and unkn (PJ), medevac'd one Vietnamese in RVN. No other details are known at this time. JJRC Save Form & "PJ's in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe

1972 - September 02; A HH-53C from the 37th ARRS, crewed by Capt. Mark C. Schibler (P), William K. Bartlett (CP), unkn (FE), LaPointe (PJ) and Donald H. Goodlet, rescued eleven USA troops, CWO William Dunsmore, 1st  Lt. Kizie Bryant, S-4 Michael McNeil, Sgt. John Tracy, Maj. Moiser, Sgt. Couch, Sgt. Mullins, S-4 Chitwood, S-4 Trotta, S-4 Young and Capt. Garcia, from a downed USA UH-1 (Call sign "Volunteer 538") helicopter in RVN. No other details are known at this time. JRCC Save Form & "PJ's in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe

1972 - September 08; A USAF helicopter from MacDill AFB, FL. crewed by unkn (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ), rescued one of the crew members, Capt. Paul A. Poppe and 2nd Lt. David Johnson (CP) when they ejected from their crippled F-4E shortly before it plunged into Sarasota Bay. The second crewmember was rescued by a USCG helicopter. No other details are known at this time. Playground Daily News (Fort Walton Beach, FL) 10 Sep 1972, page 2

1972 - September 09; A HH-53C from the 40th ARRS, crewed by Capt. Bennie D. Orrell (P), Stephen R. Connelly (CP), Denny R. Sanders (FE), Daniel P. Nungesser (PJ), Charles B. Kinser (PJ) and Kelly Shuman (AP), rescued the crew of a F-4E (Call sign "Olds 04"), Capt. William J. Dalecky (P) and Capt. Terrence M. Murphy (WSO) after their aircraft was damaged by AAA fire about 10 miles north of Hanoi, North Vietnam and they ejected from their aircraft over Laos. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & JRCC Save Form

1972 - September 17; A HH-53C (Call sign "Jolly Green 65") from the 37th ARRS, crewed by Maj. Raymond D. Long (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE), unkn (PJ) and unkn (PJ), rescued the crew of a F-4D (Call sign "Cactus 03"), Capt. Everett B. Dyer (P) and Capt. Douglas E. Henneman (WSO), after they ejected from their aircraft while trying to land at Ubon RTAFB, Thailand. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & JRCC Save Form & "PJ's in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe

1972 - September 17; A HH-53C (Call sign "Jolly Green 65") from the 37th ARRS, crewed by USCG Lt. Robert E. Long (P), Jerry D. Stout (CP), Jimmie D. Victor (FE), Lawrence Kimball (PJ) and Stephen Caldwell (PJ), rescued the crew of a OV-10A (Call sign "Nail 60"), 1st Lt. Ronald L. Kuhl and Maj. Allan W. Bowers, after they had an engine failure and ejected from their aircraft over southern, Laos. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "PJ's in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe

1972 - September 17; A CH-3E "Buffalo Hunter" from Da Nang AB, RVN and crewed by Maj. Long (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and Sgt. Beauchamp (PJ) (from the 37th ARRS) rescued two downed pilots a little south of Tiger Island. No other details are know at this time. http://www.jollygreen.org/37thhist/Newspaper/2Oct72Page3.jpg

1972 - September 22; A HH-53C (Call sign "Jolly Green 65") of the 37th ARRS, crewed by Capt. Dennis M. Boroczk (P), Olin F. Land Jr. (CP), Edward D. Foy (FE), Robert Johnson (PJ) and Ronald Buchanan (PJ) rescued the WSO of a RF-4C, Capt. 1st Lt. John H. Pomeroy when he and his pilot, Capt. James G. Watts, ejected from their 23mm AAA fire damaged aircraft, over the Gulf Of Tonkin, about 3 miles off the coast of the DMZ (see next entry). JRCC Save Form & "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & http://www.jollygreen.org/37thhist/Newspaper/2Oct72Page2.jpg & "PJ's in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe

1972 - September 22; A HH-53C (Call sign Jolly Green 72") of the 37th ARRS, crewed by Capt. Gerald W. Tonn (P), Jerry D. Stout (CP), Cayetano Pina (FE), Ronald Charlesworth (PJ) and Delbert Beauchamp (PJ), rescued the pilot of a RF-4C, Capt. J. G. Watts (P) after he and his WSO, 1st Lt. John H. Pomeroy, ejected from their 23mm AAA fire damaged aircraft, over the Gulf Of Tonkin, about 3 miles off the coast of the DMZ (see previous entry). JRCC Save Form & "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & http://www.jollygreen.org/37thhist/Newspaper/2Oct72Page2.jpg & "PJ's in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe

1972 - October 03; A HH-53 from the 37th ARRS, crewed by Capt. Dennis M. Boroczk (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE), unkn (PJ) and unkn (PJ), rescued the pilot of a VNAF A-37, 1st Lt. L. E. Phieu. No other details are known at this time. JRCC Save Form

1972 - October 04; A HH-53 from the 37th ARRS, crewed by Capt. Dennis Boroczk (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE), unkn (PJ) and unkn (PJ), rescued on troop from a downed UH-1 helicopter. No other details are known at this time. JRCC Save Form

1972 - October 04; A HH-53 from the 37th ARRS, crewed by Capt. James D. Bruner (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE), unkn (PJ) and unkn (PJ), rescued on troop from a downed UH-1 helicopter. No other details are known at this time. JRCC Save Form

1972 - October 12; A HH-53C from the 37th ARRS, crewed by USCG Lt. Robert E. Long (P), Jerry D. Stout (CP), Charles J. Rouhier (FE), Delbert Beauchamp (PJ), Dennis C. Baker (PJ), James Hathcox (AP) and Capt. William J. Howell (FS), medevaced Jorge Enrikue (Call sign "Timberjack") from the South China Sea. No other details are known at this time. "PJ's in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe

1972 - October 12; A HH-43F from Det. 12, 3rd ARRGp., crewed by unkn (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ), medevac'd one U.S. person in RVN. No other details are known at this time. "PJ's in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe

1972 - October 17; A HH-43F from Det. 3, 40th ARRS, crewed by Capt. Donald C. Blair (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ), rescued the crew of an F-4D, Capt. Lonnie W. Parrish (P) and 1st Lt. Kirby E. Allen (WSO) when they ejected from their aircraft about 25 miles north of Ubon RTAFB, Thailand. No other details are known at this time. "PJ's in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form

1972 - October 24; A HH-53C from the 37th ARRS, crewed by Capt. James D. Bruner (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ), evacuated USN Carroll E. Myers, David Sawyer, Marod A. Susi, Michael W. McElwain, J. B. Brown Jr., David Berg, Kenneth Grattacot and Anthony Denning from the Gulf Of Tonkin. No other details are known at this time. "PJ's in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form

1972 - October 25; A HH-53C from the 37th ARRS, crewed by Capt. James D. Bruner (P), Jerry D. Stout (CP), Edward D. Foy (FE), Dennis C. Baker (PJ), Delbert H. Beauchamp (PJ) and Dr. Jerry Howell (FS), medevac'd eight USN sailors from the USS Midway in the Gulf Of Tonkin. No other details are known at this time. "PJ's in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe

1972 - October 27; A HH-53C from the 37th ARRS, crewed by Capt. Dennis Boroczk (P), Olin F. Land Jr. (CP), Edward D. Foy (FE),  Dennis C. Baker (PJ), Ronald Charlesworth (PJ) and Stout (PJ), rescued the pilot of a F-4E (Call sign "Wolf 01 Alpha"), Capt. Robert B. Jones, after he and his WSO, Capt. Eldon L. Bleakthey, ejected from their 57mm AAA fire damaged aircraft over the Gulf Of Tonkin about 40 miles north of Hue, RVN (see next entry). "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & JRCC Save Form & "PJ's in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe

1972 - October 27; A HH-53C from the 37th ARRS, crewed by USCG Lt. Jock K. Stice (P), Mike McDaniel (CP), Jerome Tuttle (FE), Hulen C. Hammock (PJ), John Richardson (PJ) and James Hathcox (AP), rescued the WSO of a F-4E (Call sign "Wolf 01 Bravo"), Capt. Eldon L. Bleak, after he and his pilot, Capt. Robert B. Jones, ejected from their 57mm AAA fire damaged aircraft over the Gulf Of Tonkin about 40 miles north of Hue, RVN (see previous entry). "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & JRCC Save Form & "PJ's in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe

1972 - October 27; A HH-53C from the 37th ARRS, crewed by Capt. Dennis M. Boroczk (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE),  unkn (PJ), unkn (PJ) and unkn (PJ), rescued two USA troops from a UH-1 downed in RVN. "PJ's in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe

1972 - October 30; A HH-43F from the 37th ARRS, crewed by 1st Lt. William I. Latham Jr. (P), Robert O. Cavazos (CP), Edwin Gay Jr. (FE), David C. Newman (PJ) and Pete N. Reyes (PJ), rescued five USA troops, Capt. Clifford D. Baker, WO Richard R. Neely, Capt. John E. Biancon, E-6 Hoang Ho and SP4 Rocky Welch, from a downed USA UH-1 helicopter in RVN. No other details are known at this time. JRCC Save Form & "PJ's in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe

1972 - October 31; A HH-43F from Det. 14, 40th ARRS, crewed by Capt. Robert M. Gehbauer (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ), rescued the pilot, WO2 Joe R. Hooton, of a downed USA OH-6 helicopter in RVN. JRCC Save Form & "PJ's in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe

1972 - November 05; A HH-43F from Det. 12, 3rd ARRGp., crewed by Capt. Ronald C. Green (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE), unkn (PJ) and unkn (PJ), medevac'd Samual Childress in Thailand. No other details are known at this time. JRCC Save Form & "PJ's in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe

1972 - November 05; A HH-53C from the 40th ARRS, crewed by Maj. Leo W. Thacker Jr. (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE), unkn (PJ) and unkn (PJ), medevac'd USAF A1C Jerry C. Green in Thailand. No other details are known at this time. JRCC Save Form & "PJ's in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe

1972 - November 05; A HH-43F from the 40th ARRS, crewed by Maj. Gary L. Gamble (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE), unkn (PJ) and unkn (PJ), medevac'd a seven year old girl in Thailand. No other details are known at this time. "PJ's in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe

1972 - November 06; A HH-43F from the 37th ARRS, crewed by Capt. Allan C. Spitler (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE), unkn (PJ), unkn (PJ) rescued two survivors, Gary L. Knupp and Scott Hansen, of a U.S. Army UH-1D helicopter that had went down in RVN due to a typhoon. Of note is that this was the last CSAR mission that had A-1 Skyraiders fly as escorts. "The A-1 Skyraider in Vietnam-The Spad's Last War" by Wayne Mutza & "PJ's in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form

1972 - November 07; A HH-53C from the 37th ARRS, crewed by Capt. James D. Bruner (P), Houk (CP), Jimmie D. Victor (FE), Douglas E. Wilson (PJ), John Richardson (PJ) and Summerfield (AP), rescued four survivors of a U.S. Army UH-1D (Call sign "Coachman 159") helicopter that had went down due to a typhoon. Of note is that this was the last CSAR mission that had A-1 Skyraiders fly as escorts. "The A-1 Skyraider in Vietnam-The Spad's Last War" by Wayne Mutza & JRCC Save Form & "PJ's in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe

1972 - November 09; A HH-43F from Det. 14, 3rd ARRGp., Capt. crewed by Andrew B. Comrie (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE), and unkn (PJ), medevac'd USMC 1st Lt. J. M. Kemper in RVN. No other details are known at this time. "PJ's in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form

1972 - November 17; A HH-53C from the 40th ARRS, crewed by Capt. John M. Gillespie III (P), Kenneth D. Musnicki (CP), Gary Osborne (FE), Richard Simmon (PJ), John Gilespie (PJ) and Brayan McDonald (PJ), rescued the crew of a F-105G (Call sign "Bobbin 01"), Maj. Norbert J. Maier (P) and Capt. Kenneth D. Theaet (CP), after their aircraft was hit by a SA-2 missile and they ejected, on 16 November 1972, near the town of Dong Xuon, North Vietnam. This was the first CSAR mission that the A-7D's were used to support the rescue helicopters in its new role as the "Sandy" replacement for the A-1's. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & JRCC Save Form &  "PJ's in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe

1972 - November 20; A HH-53C from the 40th ARRS, crewed by Capt. Roger C. Bradley (P), unkn (CP), unkn  (FE), unkn (PJ) and unkn (PJ), rescued the pilot of a USMC F-4J (Call sign "Motion 05 Alpha"), Capt. W. D. Anderson, after he ejected from his AAA damaged aircraft near Ban Tampanko, Laos. The F-4J navigator, Capt. Donald Charles Breuer, was KIA. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "PJ's in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe

1972 - November 21; A HH-43F from the 40th ARRS, crewed by Capt. Thomas J. Laut (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE), unkn (PJ) and unkn (PJ), rescued 1st Lt. Edgar H. Harshouer from a EC-47Q (Call sign "Baron 56") that crashed on landing in Thailand. Two of the ten crewmembers, Capt. Robert Alan Kohn and MSgt. John W. Ryon, onboard were KIA in the crash and others were rescued by two additional rescue helicopters (see next two entries). "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "PJ's in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form

1972 - November 21; A HH-53C from the 40th ARRS, crewed by Capt. Roger C. Bradley (P), unkn (CP), unkn  (FE), unkn (PJ) and unkn (PJ), rescued 1st Lt. Michael G. Danielle, Lt. Col. Howe L. Vandegriff, SSgt. Paul W. Weyandt and Sgt. Thomas E. Way Jr., from a EC-47Q (Call sign "Baron 56") that crashed on landing in Thailand. Two of the ten crewmembers, Capt. Robert Alan Kohn and MSgt. John W. Ryon, onboard were KIA in the crash and others were rescued by two additional rescue helicopters (see previous and next entries). "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "PJ's in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form

1972 - November 21; A HH-43F from the 40th ARRS, crewed by Capt. Theodore McKnight (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE), unkn (PJ) and unkn (PJ), rescued Sgt. Charles F. Fidroeff, SSgt. Arthur L. Morin, SSgt. Claude W. Pennell and one other unkn from a EC-47Q (Call sign "Baron 56") that crashed on landing in Thailand. Two of the ten crewmembers, Capt. Robert Alan Kohn and MSgt. John W. Ryon, onboard were KIA in the crash and others were rescued by two additional rescue helicopters (see previous two entries). "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "PJ's in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form

1972 - November 22; A CH-53C (Call sign Knife) from the 21st SOS, crewed by Lt. Mike Humphres (P) unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (FE), that was airborne on a night reconniassance and flair drop mission, rescued crew members, Capt. Robert Estes (NAV), SSgt. Ron Sellers (AG), Capt. John Ellinger (AC) and one other unkn, from a B-52D (Call sign "Olive 02") that had been hit and heavily damaged, at high altitude, by a SAM about twenty five miles north of Vinh, NVN and flown into Thailand before they were forced to abandon their aircraft about fifteen miles southwest of Nakhon Phanom RTAFB, Thailand. Of special interest is that one of the B-52D crew members, Larry Stephens (EWO), 'rescued' himself by flagging down and catching a local Thai "Baht Bus" for a ride to the main gate of Nakhon Phanom RTAFB, Thailand. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "More Memories of Naked Fanny" by Robert Dennard & JRCC Save Form & http://aviation-safety.net/wikibase/wiki.php?id=48322 & "PJ's in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe

1972 - November 22; A HH-43F from the 40th ARRS, crewed by Lt. Col. Robert F. Reeves (P), Robert D. Thompson (CP), unkn (PJ) and unkn (FF), rescued crew members, Capt. Norbert J., Ostronzny (P) and Capt. P. A. Foley (CP), from a B-52D (Call sign "Olive 02") that had been hit and heavily damaged, at high altitude, by a SAM about twenty five miles north of Vinh, NVN and flown into Thailand before they were forced to abandon their aircraft about fifteen miles southwest of Nakhon Phanom RTAFB, Thailand. Of special interest is that one of the B-52D crew members, Larry Stephens (EWO), 'rescued' himself by flagging down and catching a local Thai "Bhat Bus" for a ride to the main gate of Nakhon Phanom RTAFB, Thailand. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "More Memories of Naked Fanny" by Robert Dennard & JRCC Save Form & http://aviation-safety.net/wikibase/wiki.php?id=48322 & "PJ's in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe

1972 - November 23; A HH-43F from the 37th ARRS, crewed by 1st Lt. William I. Latham Jr. (P), Lt. James Moulton (CP), Parchment (FE), Gaskins (PJ) and McCoy (PJ), rescued the pilot of a OV-10A (Call sign "Nail 36"), Lt. John Sundgren, within one minute and thirty seconds after he ejected from his aircraft when it had an engine failure on take-off, from Da Nang AB, RVN, and crashed. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & JRCC Save Form & "PJ's in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe

1972 - November 24; Two HH-53's (Call signs "Jolly Green 65 & Jolly Green 71") of the 37th ARRS at Da Nang  AB, RVN, "Jolly Green 65 was crewed by Lt. Col. Steve Sutton (P), Lt. Doc Holliday (CP), SSgt Vic Victor (FE), TSgt. Quil Quillian (PJ) and Sgt. J. H. Jones (PJ) were sent to the aircraft carrier the U. S. Midway just after mid-night of the 23rd of November 1972, about 65 miles northeast of Da Nang, to medevac 8 litter patients and four bodies of sailors who were injured when a landing A-6 collapsed one of its landing gear, missed the arresting cables and slid sideways down the deck injuring 22 and killing 4. http://www.jollygreen.org/37thhist/Newspapr/Nov72Page3.jpg

1972 - November 28; A HH-53C from the 37th ARRS, crewed by Capt. Charles C. Baldwin (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE), unkn (PJ) and unkn (PJ), medevac'd Nugent Vandang in RVN. No other details are known at this time. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & JRCC Save Form & "PJ's in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe

1972 - November 30; The 37th ARRS was in-activated as part of the continuing drawdown of U.S. Forces in Vietnam. All remaining personnel, aircraft and equipment were transferred to the 40th ARRSq. "On a Steel Horse I Ride" by Darrel D. Whitcomb

1972 - December 02 - 03; Two HH-3E's from the 31st ARRS at Clark AB, PI, hoisted 29 Philippine sailors and one pet orangutan from lifeboats after their logging ship, the San Martin, sank about 500 miles east northeast from the island of Luzon. Twenty-nine plus saves. http://www.afsoc.af.mil/shared/media/document/AFD-070906-042.pdf

1972 - December 10; A HH-53C from the 40th ARRS, crewed by Capt. Robert A. Rossi (P), Gilbert A. Rovito (CP), Denny  R. Sanders (FE), Kenneth J. Musnicki (PJ), Michael L. Walker (PJ) and William Werber (PJ), attempted an unsuccessful rescue of an RF-4C (Call sign "Kansas 01") crew, Maj. Billie Joe Williams (P) and 1st Lt. Hector Michael Acosta (CP) when their aircraft was hit by a SAM near Nghai Hung, about 35 miles north of Vinh, NVN. Two chutes were seen, but the rescue helicopter was shot off their hover over one of te RF-4C crew members. Maj. Williams was KIA and Lt. Acosta became a POW before he could be rescued (see next entries). "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & JRCC Save Form & "PJ's in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe

1972 - December 10; A HH-53C from the 40th ARRS, crewed by Louis E. Campbell (P), Stephen D. Boyd (CP), James F. Walsh (FE), Donald H. Goodlet Jr. (PJ), Dale W. Morgan (PJ) and James W. Cockerill (AP), attempted an unsuccessful rescue of an RF-4C (Call sign "Kansas 01") crew, Maj. Billie Joe Williams (P) and 1st Lt. Hector Michael Acosta (CP) when their aircraft was hit by a SAM near Nghai Hung, about 35 miles north of Vinh, NVN. Two chutes were seen, but the rescue helicopter was shot off their hover over one of the RF-4C crew members. Maj. Williams was KIA and Lt. Acosta became a POW before he could be rescued (see previous and next entries). "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & JRCC Save Form & "PJ's in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe

1972 - December 10; A HH-53C from the 40th ARRS, crewed by Capt. Wyman M. Rish (P), Bouteerse (CP), Smith (FE),  Gonzales (PJ) and Young (PJ), attempted an unsuccessful rescue of an RF-4C (Call sign "Kansas 01") crew, Maj. Billie Joe Williams (P) and 1st Lt. Hector Michael Acosta (CP) when their aircraft was hit by a SAM near Nghai Hung, about 35 miles north of Vinh, NVN. Two chutes were seen, but the rescue helicopter was shot off their hover over one of the RF-4C crew members. Maj. Williams was KIA and Lt. Acosta became a POW before he could be rescued and this SAR attempt was determined to be a NVA trap (see previous entries). "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & JRCC Save Form & "PJ's in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe

1972 - December 19; A CH-53C of the 21st SOS at Nakhon Phanom RTAFB, Thailand, crewed by Ron Stiles (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (FE) was flying a base security mission when they rescued the crew members of a B-52G (Call sign "Peach 2") that had been hit by a SAM over Hanoi. The B-52G crew, Maj. Cliff Ashley (P), Capt. Gary Vickers (CP), Maj Archie Myers (CM), 1st Lt. Forrest Stegelin (CM), Capt. Jim Tramel (CM), MSgt. Ken Connor (G) and Lt. Col. Hendsley Conner (CM) was observed by the CH-53C as they ejected and bailed out of their aircraft near Nakhon Phanom RTAFB, Thailand, and were rescued by the CH-53C crew using night vision Starlight Scopes that they had onboard their helicopter. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "On a Steel Horse I Ride" by Darrel D. Whitcomb

1972 - December 20; A HH-53C from the 40th ARRS, crewed by Capt. Robert F. Reeves (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE), unkn (PJ) and unkn (PJ), rescued one crew member of a B-52D (Call sign "Straw 02"), Capt. Lawrence A. Casazza. No other details are known at this time. JRCC Save Form & "PJ's in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe

1972 - December 20; A HH-53C from the 40th ARRS, crewed by Capt. Douglas F. Strahl (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE), Sgt. Stephen L. Caldwell (PJ) and John K. Carlson (PJ), rescued crew members of a B-52D (Call sign "Straw 02"), Capt. Harmon D. Johnson and Capt. Vincent D. Russo, after they abandoned their SAM damaged aircraft about 10 miles northeast of the Ban Ban Valley, Laos. One other crew member, Maj. Frank Alton Gould was KIA. This may have been the first night combat recovery in SEA by a HH-53C using a new Night Recovery System. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & JRCC Save Form & http://www.afsoc.af.mil/shared/media/document/AFD-070906-042.pdf & "PJ's in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe

1972 - December 20; A HH-53C from the 40th ARRS, crewed by Capt. Roger C. Bradley (P), unkn (CP), Jimmie D. Victor (FE), Charles F. Salome (PJ) and Hulen C. Hammock Jr. (PJ), rescued the crew members of a B-52D (Call sign "Straw 02"), 1st Lt. Thomas J. Farmer, Capt. James P. Fairbanks, Charles E. Archie, Silverio Barroquerion and TSgt. Walter R. Barclift, after they abandoned their SAM damaged aircraft about 10 miles NE of the Ban Ban Valley, Laos. One other B-52D crewmember, Maj. Frank Alton Gould was KIA. This may have been the first night combat recovery in SEA by and HH-53 using a new Night Recovery System. "PJ's in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form http://www.afsoc.af.mil/shared/media/document/AFD-070906-042.pdf & "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson

1972 - December 22; A HH-53 from the 40th ARRS, crewed by Capt. Robert A. Rossi (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE), unkn (PJ) and unkn (PJ), rescued 12 foreign military from a downed H-34 helicopter in Laos. JRCC Save Form & "PJ's in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe

1972 - December 22; A HH-53C #69-5793 (Call sign "Jolly Green 32") from the 40th ARRS, crewed by Capt. Jerry W. Shipman (P), 1st Lt. Rabaja (CP),  Sgt. Tommy Bryant (FE), Sgt. Jack Stephens (PJ) and TSgt. Mike Walker (PJ) rescued two crew members, Sgt. Richard M. Williams and Sgt. Carl E. Stevens, Jr., of a AC-130A gunship (Call sign "Spectre 17") (known by its nose art as "Thor"). The other 14 crew members on the AC-130A were KIA. This was the first successful rescue using the LNRS installed on the HH-53C. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & "On a Steel Horse I Ride" by Darrel D. Whitcomb & http://www.pjsinnam.com/vn_history/pdf_files/Chonology/1972.pdf & "PJ's in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe

1972 - December 27; A HH-53C #69-5788 (Call sign "Jolly Green 73") of the 40th ARRS and crewed by Capt. Richard D. Shapiro (P), Miguel A. Pereira (CP), Sgt. Charles J. Rouhier (FE), Robert W. Jones (PJ), John R. Carlson (PJ) and Sgt. James W. Cockerill (AP) was lost in Laos while on a SAR mission attempting to rescue F-111A Co-Pilot, 1st Lt. William W. Wilson (Call sign "Jackel 33B"). The HH-53C was hit while hovering over Wilson and had to abandon the attempt. Apparently hit in the air refueling probe, the helicopter, which could not air-refuel and was about to run out of fuel, landed and was abandon on a mountain top northeast of Ban Ban, Laos. The crew was rescued by another HH-53 (Jolly Green “63”) from the 40th ARRS on this mission, and then HH-53C #69-5788 was destroyed by a flight of A-7's. Both crew members of the F-111A, Capt. Robert David Sponeybarger (P) and Lt. William W. Wilson (CP) became POW's (see next entry). http://www.jollygreen.org/jltnc.htm & Vietnam Air Losses by Chris Hobson & "PJ's in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe

1972 - December 27; A HH-53C (Call sign "Jolly Green 63") of the 40th ARRS and crewed by USCG Lt. Robert E. Long (P), Lt. Ackerson (CP), Sgt. Foy (FE), Sgt. Hammock (PJ), Sgt. Mueller (PJ) and Sgt. Strong (PJ), rescued the crew of HH-53C ("Jolly Green 73"), Capt. Richard D. Shapiro (P), Miguel A. Pereira (CP), Sgt. Charles J. Rouhier (FE), Robert W. Jones (PJ), John R. Carlson (PJ) and Sgt. James W. Cockerill (AP), that was lost in Laos while on a SAR mission attempting to rescue F-111A Co-Pilot, 1st Lt. William W. Wilson (Call sign "Jackel 33B") (see previous entry). "PJ's in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe & http://www.jollygreen.org/jltnc.htm & Vietnam Air Losses by Chris Hobson

1972 - December 27; A HH-53C from the 40th ARRS, crewed by Capt. Roger C. Bradley (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ), attempted to land near "Jolly Gree 73" to recover classified materials but was forced to withdraw due to enemy ground forces (see previous entires). "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & JRCC Save Form & "PJ's in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe

1972 - December 27; A HH-43 from Det. 14, 40th ARRS, crewed by Capt. Andrew B. Commrie (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE), and unkn (PJ, rescued four Vietnamese civilians in RVN. No other details are known at this time. JRCC Save Form & "PJ's in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe

1972 - December 27; A HH-53C from the 40th ARRS, crewed by Capt. Robert D. Thompson (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ), rescued a crew member of a B-52D (Call sign "Ash 02"), Capt. John D. Mize, after he abandoned his SAM damaged aircraft about 15 miles southwest of Nakhon Phanom RTAFB, Thailand. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & JRCC Save Form & "PJ's in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe

1972 - December 27; A HH-53C from the 40th ARRS, crewed by Capt. Stephen Gemlich (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE), unkn (PJ) and unkn (PJ), rescued crew members of a B-52D (Call sign "Ash 02"), Capt. Terrence C. Gruters, and Capt. Dennis W. Anderson, after they abandoned their SAM damaged aircraft about 15 miles southwest of Nakhon Phanom RTAFB, Thailand. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & JRCC Save Form & "PJ's in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe

1972 - December 28; A HH-53C from the 40th ARRS, crewed by Capt. Robert A. Rossi (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE) and unkn (PJ), rescued crew members of a B-52D (Call sign "Ash 02"), Capt. William North, Lt. William Robinson and TSgt. Peter E. Whalen, after they abandoned their SAM damaged aircraft about 15 miles southwest of Nakhon Phanom RTAFB, Thailand. "Vietnam Air Losses" by Chris Hobson & JRCC Save Form & "PJ's in Vietnam" by Robert L. LaPointe

1972 - December 29 - 30; Det. 1, 44th ARRS from Homestead AFB, FL., aided in a SAR mission 18 miles west of Miami International Airport for an Eastern Airlines flight that had crashed in a swampy area at night. Early Saturday morning, they flew four UH–1N Huey helicopters on 14 sorties to lift 22 injured passengers to Miami hospitals. In the predawn darkness, an AC–130 gunship from the 415th Special Operations Training Squadron at Hurlburt Field at Eglin AFB, Florida, circled over the crash site with a powerful searchlight to help emergency rescue personnel locate the victims. At the same time, the 301st ARRSq (AF Res) from Homestead used two HH–34 helicopters to airlift seven paramedics and two flight surgeons from the base hospital to the crash site in five sorties. By shuttling medical personnel from Homestead to the disaster scene and carrying victims from the crash vicinity to Miami area hospitals, the six Air Force helicopters helped 77 survivors receive prompt medical attention. 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

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