LETTERS to the EDITOR
Steve,
I don't have much info about this incident but I thought maybe you could put it
in the newsletter and maybe someone with more knowledge of it could provide
more info in the next newsletter. I am not too sure that it happened as I
remember because I had just gotten to Udorn was still wondering what I was doing
there anyway.
At Det. 5, 38th ARS Udorn in mid September 1965 the
alert chopper was scrambled for an F-105 coming in from NVN with battle damage.
His wingman was along side staying with his buddy. About 10 miles south of the
base the Thunderchiefs had a mid air and the pilots
ejected. The alert bird got rid of the fire kit and started to the site. As
Pedro got near the location it had radio failure and couldn't make contact with
2 other F-105's circling overhead for the exact location of the down pilots.
Anyway I believe one of the Thunderchief pilots put 2
& 2 together and realized there were radio problems so he went into a dive
to indicate where the pilots were and they were both picked up. So far so good!
But here is what I remember as kind of scary and was never talked about much.
The 2 birds crashed about a mile apart, like I said about 10 miles south of the
base. After the pilots were safely back to base it was decided that the 43's
should fly 2 Air Policemen out and have 1 guy at each of the crash sites
overnight until the next day
when the investigators could start their work. Anyway the next day when the
43's went back to the crash sites one AP was at one plane but the guy who was
guarding the other one was no where to be found and as far as I can remember
nobody had any idea what happened to him nor did anyone talk about it much that
I can recall.
We had a lot of aircraft with battle damage coming to Udorn, including some Air
America planes and choppers. Most of them made it some didn't. But this thing
with the 2 F-105's was different. I am sure it happened but I can't remember
who all was involved. Maybe it is just another fuzzy memory in an old guy's
mind.
Can anyone out there fill in the blanks?????
Tony Desmond
If
anyone knows and can provide additional information, let TONY and me know. Steve
***************************************************
Important News Announcement
“Operation Hook Up”
ARA Invites Pedros to
Reunion 2004 in
Greetings,
I was invited in October 2003 to meet with the Air
Rescue Association's board to discuss the possibility of the PRHA joining them at their reunion this year in
I have been to several ARA reunions, and I can tell you that they do an
outstanding job and their programs are great. They also have a contact in the
Pentagon who shares current events and future plans Hq.
USAF has for Air Rescue.
Most of you already know that we are a small organization with limited
manpower. This offer is great for us because we won't have to do anything
except, show up for the reunion. This saves us the worries of setting up and
all the other last minute problems that pop up. The PRHA board has voted to give
it a try this year.
The reunion will be in
The ARA would like for as many of us as possible to join them in furthering the
history of Air Rescue by joining their membership ranks. ARA dues are $10.00
annually and can be paid at the reunion. However, joining the ARA is not
mandatory to coming to the PRHA reunion in
I’m hoping to hook up with
you again, meet some new members and share our memories and friendship.
Written By:
Robert F: Gerstenberg
PRHA, President
|
|
|||||
|
|
|
|
|
||