20th Helicopter Squadron 20th Special Operations Squadron "Pony Express"
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20TH HELICOPTER SQUADRON Jim Burns/Dale Robinson/Chuck Severns |
20TH SPECIAL OPERATIONS SQUADRON |
Webmaster note: This page contains text extracted from several Internet locations and from various individuals that served with the Pony Express. The intent of this website page is to document small pieces of the unit history, not an in-depth history.
The 20th Helicopter Squadron (HS) was formed in 1956 to perform traditional helicopter missions with H-21's for the Tactical Air Command. In 1965 under Project "Pony Express", the unit's 14 CH-3C helicopters were transferred to Southeast Asia. The unit's aircraft call sign and infamous nickname of Pony Express evolved from the project name. |
COURTESY OF JIM MARDOCK |
USAF PHOTO COURTESY OF JOHAN RAGAY HELICOPTERS AWAIT BUILD UP AT TSN
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~62-12579 ~ 62-12582 ~ 63-09676 ~ 63-09678 ~ 63-09681 ~ 63-09682~ ~63-09685 ~ 63-09689 ~ 64-14222 ~ 64-14236 ~ 64-14237 ~ 65-05690~ ****** ****** 63-09676 went to Nakhon Phanom 28/6/65 63-09681 went to Da Nang 20/12/65 63-09685 went to Nakhon Phanom 28/6/65 63-09682 went to Da Nang 20/12/65
63-09681 went to Da Nang 20/12/65 63-09682 went to Da Nang 20/12/65
The 20th's primary mission was considerable in scope to augment combat search rescue forces, perform casualty evacuation, support communications sites as well as airfield construction and the tactical air control system, transport air liaison officers and engage in counterinsurgency. The squadron's secondary mission was to support MACV.
The 20th began combat operations in December 1965. By March of 1966 the squadron was flying an average of nearly 1,000 sorties per month from Tan Son Nhut (home base to "A" FLIGHT, with five aircraft), from Da Nang ("B" Flight with three aircraft) and from Nha Trang ("C" flight, with six aircraft).
Phil Amstrong stated he was part of a group that took two helicopters to Cam Ran Bay to provide airlift support to the base as a result of continual rain causing the runways to become to soft to support fixed wing aircraft. There is humor in most everything. Phil said they were supporting the Army by slinging a 105 mm howitzer. Phil and the Army Sgt. Major were observing the helicopter lift off. At about the time the helicopter reached transitional lift the gun was pickled landing in a cloud of dust. The Sgt. Major threw his hat on the ground saying he had just spent several hours cleaning it. He was not very happy with the Air Force.
The squadron was assigned to the 14th Air Commando Wing in March 1966. An official US Air Force history written in 1982 notes: “The unit was soon occupied in tasks beyond its [original] mission statement ”. Indeed they were. A less formal but more contemporary and candid history might observe that the “rotorheads” were now up to their knickers with Green Beret “snake eaters” in places no official history is about to discuss in detail.
As a result of a request by the government of Thailand, two aircraft and crews were deployed to Nakhon Phanom RTAFB, Thailand, from Tan Son Nhut, to form "D" Flight. In April 1968 the entire flight at Nha Trang AB, RVN was transferred to Udorn RTAFB in Thailand. In May 1968 operations at Da Nang AB, RVN halted and that flight was moved to Udorn as well.
A total of 388 friendly troops were flown into or out of Laos in the first five months of operations in Thailand. In June of 1966 20th CH-3C's, flying from South Vietnam inserted a combat team into North Vietnam just above the DMZ. CH-3C crews flew a total of 315 insert sorties during that year.
The 20th became known as the "Pony Express" and used the call sign "Pony". By June 1966 only a single 20th flight, based at Tan Son Nhut AB, remained in Vietnam. The Squadron headquarters moved to Nha Trang AB, RVN, but with the bulk of its assets in Thailand, the 20th began to concentrate on an unconventional warfare role. Missions into Laos soon took precedence for the Pony Express.
Less than three months after joining the 14th ACW, 11 of the 14 CH-3C's were flown to Udorn RTAFB, Thailand to support MACV SOG’s incursions into Laos “in support of the unconventional role.’’ |
Thus evolved the “Pony Express” flights that inserted both South Vietnamese agents and "Operation 35" teams into the Laotian panhandle in the Shining Brass and Prairie Fire operations. That June, the 20th flew its first infiltration mission further north, into North Vietnam. The pace of infiltrations over the next several months hardly slowed, and by year’s end, Pony Express had infiltrated North Vietnam and Laos no less than 315 times. | CLICK TO ENLARGE |
LS-85
The "Pony Express" flew numerous missions in support of LS-85. This photo is from the estate of Colonel F. D. McGowan and is believed to be CH-3E 64-14236 which went down and was later destroyed on 23 June 1967.
**Note**Anyone having more information and photos on LS-85 missions please contact us. | CLICK TO ENLARGE |
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CLICK TO ENLARGE MATTHEW KIRKPATRICK WEBSITE COURTESY OF SON JOE |
CLICK TO ENLARGE COURTESY OF K. V. HALL |
CLICK TO ENLARGE MATTHEW KIRKPATRICK WEBSITE COURTESY OF SON JOE |
CLICK TO ENLARGE (67-14718) COURTESY OF JIM BURNS |
(Mar 69) Lt. Col. MacQuarrie established three projects to improve the Pony Express performance and expand their operations.
One of the projects was aimed at weight reduction of the CH-3E helicopters to provide crew members with better aircraft performance which was greatly needed with hot temperatures and high density altitudes they were required to work with.
It was determined if the helicopters had fixed landing gear instead of the retractable gear the amount of weight loss would vastly improve the overall performance of the aircraft in the disciplines they were working in.
Two kits were ordered from Sikorsky to be utilized to modify the aircraft. One kit came in with all parts complete; the other was missing parts so only one aircraft (67-14718) was converted.
NATIONAL MUSEUM OF THE UNITED STATES AIR FORCE PHOTOS/CLICK TO ENLARGE THE USAFHPA WEBSITE HAS ADDITIONAL PHOTOS-CLICK HERE CH-3E 63-09676 "Black Mariah" This aircraft was one of the first two CH-3Cs in SEA that were sent from TAC to NKP. According to George Martin (one of the CH-3C pilots) this helicopter made the second combat rescue of the Vietnam War while it was assigned to Air Rescue. Where, when and why this aircraft was first painted black has been a topic of numerous conversations concluding with several opinions:
a. Former Pony pilot Jack Mecham stated the aircraft was painted black when he arrived in Udorn in Nov 1966. He indicated it had been painted black as a result of no camouflage paint being available. Jack Mecham was a pilot assigned to the 20th Pony Express at Udorn during the 1967 time frame. Jack wrote an article for the Air Force Museum relating some to his experiences during his year with Pony Express. Jack has been kind enough to allow us the use of his article, and may be read here.
b. (Courtesy of Jim Henthorn from the history of the 20th Oct, Nov, Dec 1968)
According to the Squadron History the paint scheme was supposed to make it harder to see at night. It was painted this way for the two attempted night infils. The infils were deemed too hazardous and stopped.
The 20th SOS conducted one night infiltration and one night exfiltration, details of which are highly classified. The crewmembers concluded after the missions that night missions were so hazardous that unless a dire emergency existed, operations of this nature were not worth the potential loss of men and machines.
The infiltration was unsuccessful, largely due to a lack of light. The exfiltration was conducted with the assistance of two “Moonlight” flare ships and was successful. However, lighted missions are particularly dangerous. Operations conducted under flares can be observed by the enemy several kilometers away, eliminating the element of surprise and subjecting the operation to ground fire.
NOTE: IF THIS HAPPENED DURING OCT/NOV/DEC 68 THE AIRCRAFT HAD BEEN PAINTED BLACK FOR AT LEAST TWO YEARS PRIOR. (SEE a. ABOVE)
c. The aircraft was painted black when it went to Don Muong for scheduled maint in April 1968. It is possible that it may well have been repainted black while in overhaul.
d. The aircraft was hastily painted a dark green at Eglin prior to shipment to NKP. |
CLICK TO ENLARGE COURTESY OF JIM HOWERTON | This picture is believed to be the first picture of a Jolly Green rescue crew and the downed pilot. It was made on 24 August 1965 and the pickup was made in North Viet Nam. This particular "save" was the second combat save by the Jolly Greens in SEA. The aircraft appears to be very dark in this picture. Joe Ballinger was at NKP during this time and believes the aircraft was most likely sheep-dipped (painted) a very dark green appearing nearly black. |
The "Black Mariah" has found a permanent home where she is proudly displayed at The National Museum of the United States Air Force, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Dayton Ohio. |
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"FREEDOM ISN'T FREE" ~SOMEONE PAYS FOR YOU AND ME~ "HELICOPTERS" - THE ONLY WAY TO FLY ~NEVER FORGOTTEN~ |
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