These Things We Do
ALL
WERE SAVED-December 1960, an Air Force H-43B Huskie from the 4170 Strategic Wing
and its courageous crew have been credited with playing a key role in saving
the lives of the 10 crewmen aboard this B-52 Stratofortress which was destroyed
by fire after a crash landing at Larson AFB (SAC), Moses Lake, WA.
Capt. Howard J. Cochran, was the
Pilot and 1/Lt. Donald R. Couture was the Co-pilot of the H-43B that carried out
the life saving mission while fuel cells exploded one after another in the
furiously burning bomber beneath it, threatening to set off the entire 128,000
pounds of J-4 onboard. One of the explosions blew the little helicopter several
feet backward through the smoke-filled sky, but undamaged it resolutely
returned to its task. Firefighters
aboard the Huskie were MSGt Samuel R. Hoar and TSGt Henry M. Ivey.
Despite the terrific heat, The H-43
hovered between 20 and 30 feet over the crash for approximately 30 minutes
using the Huskie’s rotor wash to drive the flames away from raw fuel splilling
from the bomber’s ruptured tanks. This allowed the B-52 Crewmen to scramble to
safety and also aided the Firefighters on the ground in their battle to save
the Giant aircraft. Only one member of the B-52’s crew, the Tail-Gunner, was
injured after leaping almost 20 feet to the runway. One of the Larson AFB
Firemen, who pressed close while combating the fire in a valiant, but futile
effort suffered burns to both hands.
The H-43’s mission began when the
alert was received that the B-52 and a KC-135 Tanker had been involved in an
aerial accident while refueling. The Bomber with one wing damaged was directed
to Larson, while the Tanker, its refueling boom ripped off, landed safely at
Fairchild AFB,
The H-43B was airborne with its Fire
Suppression Kit and the runway was lined with Fire Trucks when the B-52 landed
and caught fire. The bomber came to a stop and the Huskie, caught up and
immediately positioned the FSK next to the burning aircraft; however, a
decision was made not to deploy the Fire Suppression Kit as the first of the
Fire Department’s Crash Fire Vehicles were arriving on scene. The Helicopter
then took a position over the nose of the burning aircraft, forcing the flames,
heat and smoke back allowing the crew to escape.
DET5 WARC McChord AFB, WA
Members of DET5 launched on a mission
to rescue an 18 year old exchange student from
1/Lt. James L. Cantey was the H-43B
Pilot on the mission, 1/Lt William A. Luther, the Copilot; SSGt Ronal A.
Warren, Crew Chief; A1C Karl F. Aldridge
Paramedic. Because of the rough terrain, tall trees and a nearby cliff,
the pickup was made by hoist. The operation was complicated when the Intercom
System failed during the hoist operation. Dr. Otto T. Trott, of the Seattle
Unit, Mountain Rescue Council, who had gone to his aid, was also hoisted
aboard. The survivor suffering from head and back injuries and a severe
concussion was given oxygen and treated by Dr. Trott and A1C Aldridge on the
flight back to Sand Point Navel Station.
DET7 WARC Malstrom AFB, MT
A H-43B Crew tries valiantly to go to
the aid of a diabetic boy seriously injured while riding horseback in the
rugged mountain area of the
A member of the Aircrew, A1C J.T.
Pease, Flight Medic and a Guide, made a 8 hour horseback trip in the dark over
rugged trails to the victim.
The following morning at 06:00 with
the weather slightly better, the Huskie takes off and picks up the victim a
half hour later and flies him to a waiting Ambulance. Other crewmembers were
Capt. R.M. LeFevre, Pilot, 1/Lt J.H. Pinaud, Copilot and TSGt F.C. Renew Sr.,
Crew Chief.
DET9 WARC
A Huskie from DET9 teams up a member
of the Mountain Rescue Team to rescue a college student who plunged down a
crevasse at the 8,500 foot level of
There was no landing site on the
50-degree slope despite extreme turbulence, 1/Lt Donk placed the Wheels and
Bear Paws on the ice while SSGts Williams and Frantz dropped onto a slippery
surface and lifted the victim into the hovering helicopter. The victim
suffering from a broken leg and severe shock was flown to a waiting ambulance.
DET6 WARC Fairchild AFB, WA
DET6 was called upon after a
Crop-duster with two persons onboard crashed on
The H-43 proceeds to the crash site
in a heavily wooded area where the sole survivor, seriously injured is loaded
aboard the Huskie with the help of Smoke Jumpers from the Washington State
Division of Forestry who had parachuted in earlier.
Crewmembers included: 1/Lt R. H.
Finley, Pilot, 1/Lt P. R. Schildgen, Copilot, SSGt R. H. Meyer, Crew Chief and
SSGt Murray, Flight Medic.
DET4
DET4 was notified of
a female mountain climber who fell or slid almost 500 feet down a 60-degree
slope finally coming to rest on a narrow ledge at the 4,200 foot level. The
H-43 piloted by Capt. Robert D. McDougal, moves in and hovers with the rotor
tips clearing the steep slope by approximately 6 feet as SMSGt Thomas J.
Sternad, Flight Medic is lowered on the sling. The Huskie moved off as SMSGt
Sternad treated the victim and secured the rescuee into the sling, then
returned once again to a precarious position, as the woman was loaded aboard
the helicopter. Advanced treatment was provided by Capt. William B. Kinzie, a
Doctor with the 57th USAF Dispensary, as the H-43 made its way
through the mountains in the gathering dusk.
Other crewmembers included: 1/Lt Karl
G. King, Copilot, TSGt James E. Johnson, Helicopter Mechanic.
Huskie Happenings taken from “KAMAN Rotor Tips” provided by Johan D. Ragay