Post by Anonymous Vet on Dec 1, 2003 11:30:16 GMT -5
'Miracle Division' Choppers pull two Marines from sea.
CHU LAI, (AMERICAL) Americal Division helicopter crews plucked two downed Marine pilots out of the South China sea recently in a daring display of inter-service cooperation.
The two pilots, Maj. Daniel Carroll and Lt. Ralph C. Brown Jr., were returning foam a mission north of Chu Lai when they realized that there was a malfunction in their landing gear.
"I contacted Chu Lai and told them to go ahead and 'foam' the runway," Carroll said. After about 10 or 15 minutes, the two directed their F-4B Phantom jet towards the runway and the cross deck arresting gear pendant, which will cause the aircraft to come to a complete halt after about 200 to 250 feet.
Out of control
"Our speed was slowed down to about 80 miles per hour, when suddenly the pendant broke, causing our aircraft to go of control and start to skid sideways," Carroll continued, "My choice at this time was to hit the burners and attempt to get the aircraft off the.
ground. I believe we did a first in aviation history, when we got the aircraft off the ground without landing gear."
"While I prepared for our ejection, Brown 'headed the aircraft out towards the sea. We both ejected about a half mile from shore."
The first chopper to the scene was that of WOl James M. White from the Americal Division's 176th Aviation Co. Having spotted the red flare Carroll sent up, he proceeded to begin the rescue of the major.
Carroll commented later on the rescue, "The pilot hovered over me beautifully at about three feet and his crewmen tossed me the rope. White did a fantastic jab of holding the chopper steady and his crew really humped in getting me into the chopper. The job was so proficient that it seemed that they had trained far years at air-sea rescues."
Rescue Fails
Brown's rescue was a little more exciting. A Marine CH-34 chopper first appeared to pickup the remaining pilot. The chopper, having Brawn all hooked-up, began to pull him up out of the water, but then the craft began to lose power. The downed pilot was dragged by the CH-34 as it sank to the water. He disengaged himself, then the chopper regained its power and moved out of the way.
All this time another Americal chopper, piloted by Capt; Herman Castle from the 71st Aviation Co., was circling the area. When he saw that the Marine chopper was unable to make the pick-up he immediately lowered his craft to about two feet above the water.
There was no rape aboard Castle's chopper so the pilot was forced to hold onto the skids. Brown said, "The crew pulled me up and I hooked my elbow aver the skid, and locked the other arm to it through my harness. Then we headed far the beach."
Traveling at a speed of 50 knots, the Huey flew just above the surface of the water to carry Brown a mile to land. Because of an injured ankle, I let go in about three feet of water rather than over solid ground."
Praises Crew
Following his unusual rescue, Brawn was quick to praise the professional ability of' the pilot and crew of the Army chopper: "He did a beautiful job of flying . . . held it steady as a rock two feet above the water."
But Carroll's and Brown's day was far from over. That night the two "Leathernecks" went down to the 176th Aviation Company Officer's Club and bought refreshments for the company and especially far White, Castle and their crews. Carroll concluded by saying, "It was just our way of thanking the Army for helping out two Marines."
The Army Reporter, 19 October 1968
CHU LAI, (AMERICAL) Americal Division helicopter crews plucked two downed Marine pilots out of the South China sea recently in a daring display of inter-service cooperation.
The two pilots, Maj. Daniel Carroll and Lt. Ralph C. Brown Jr., were returning foam a mission north of Chu Lai when they realized that there was a malfunction in their landing gear.
"I contacted Chu Lai and told them to go ahead and 'foam' the runway," Carroll said. After about 10 or 15 minutes, the two directed their F-4B Phantom jet towards the runway and the cross deck arresting gear pendant, which will cause the aircraft to come to a complete halt after about 200 to 250 feet.
Out of control
"Our speed was slowed down to about 80 miles per hour, when suddenly the pendant broke, causing our aircraft to go of control and start to skid sideways," Carroll continued, "My choice at this time was to hit the burners and attempt to get the aircraft off the.
ground. I believe we did a first in aviation history, when we got the aircraft off the ground without landing gear."
"While I prepared for our ejection, Brown 'headed the aircraft out towards the sea. We both ejected about a half mile from shore."
The first chopper to the scene was that of WOl James M. White from the Americal Division's 176th Aviation Co. Having spotted the red flare Carroll sent up, he proceeded to begin the rescue of the major.
Carroll commented later on the rescue, "The pilot hovered over me beautifully at about three feet and his crewmen tossed me the rope. White did a fantastic jab of holding the chopper steady and his crew really humped in getting me into the chopper. The job was so proficient that it seemed that they had trained far years at air-sea rescues."
Rescue Fails
Brown's rescue was a little more exciting. A Marine CH-34 chopper first appeared to pickup the remaining pilot. The chopper, having Brawn all hooked-up, began to pull him up out of the water, but then the craft began to lose power. The downed pilot was dragged by the CH-34 as it sank to the water. He disengaged himself, then the chopper regained its power and moved out of the way.
All this time another Americal chopper, piloted by Capt; Herman Castle from the 71st Aviation Co., was circling the area. When he saw that the Marine chopper was unable to make the pick-up he immediately lowered his craft to about two feet above the water.
There was no rape aboard Castle's chopper so the pilot was forced to hold onto the skids. Brown said, "The crew pulled me up and I hooked my elbow aver the skid, and locked the other arm to it through my harness. Then we headed far the beach."
Traveling at a speed of 50 knots, the Huey flew just above the surface of the water to carry Brown a mile to land. Because of an injured ankle, I let go in about three feet of water rather than over solid ground."
Praises Crew
Following his unusual rescue, Brawn was quick to praise the professional ability of' the pilot and crew of the Army chopper: "He did a beautiful job of flying . . . held it steady as a rock two feet above the water."
But Carroll's and Brown's day was far from over. That night the two "Leathernecks" went down to the 176th Aviation Company Officer's Club and bought refreshments for the company and especially far White, Castle and their crews. Carroll concluded by saying, "It was just our way of thanking the Army for helping out two Marines."
The Army Reporter, 19 October 1968