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Posted on 08/22/2003 2:52:36 AM PDT by snippy_about_it
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 are acknowledged, affirmed and commemorated.
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| Our Mission: The FReeper Foxhole is dedicated to Veterans of our Nation's military forces and to others who are affected in their relationships with Veterans. In the FReeper Foxhole, Veterans or their family members should feel free to address their specific circumstances or whatever issues concern them in an atmosphere of peace, understanding, brotherhood and support. The FReeper Foxhole hopes to share with it's readers an open forum where we can learn about and discuss military history, military news and other topics of concern or interest to our readers be they Veteran's, Current Duty or anyone interested in what we have to offer. If the Foxhole makes someone appreciate, even a little, what others have sacrificed for us, then it has accomplished one of it's missions. We hope the Foxhole in some small way helps us to remember and honor those who came before us.
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Air Rescue Service  Air Rescue Service (ARS) Shield The blue represents the sky, the golden light--a ray of hope for those in need. The angel symbolizes protection and rescue from danger, while the red robe signifies the valor with which ARS carries out its humanitarian mission. In March 1946, the Air Rescue Service (ARS) was established under the Air Transport Command to provide rescue coverage for the continental United States. By 1949 ARS aircraft covered the world's transport routes and has served the USAF proudly since its inception. Rescue's worth has been proven time and again--996 combat saves in Korea and 2,780 in Southeast Asia. During the Korean War, the increased use of helicopters on rescue missions became a dominant factor in saving lives. By the war's end, ARS crews were credited with the rescue of 9,898 United Nation's personnel; 996 were combat saves. After the Korean War, the USAF Air Rescue Service (ARS) resumed worldwide operations for rescue coverage and ARS Squadrons flew hundreds of humanitarian relief and rescue missions. In 1966, the ARS was redesignated as the ARRS (Aerospace Rescue and Recovery Service) to reflect its additional role of support for the U.S. space flights.  HU-16 Albatross, a rescue workhorse from the late 1940s to the early 1970s. Rocket units, mountable in flight on the fuselage, could be used to improve take-off performance. In 1953, ARS adopted the SC-54D, a modified C-54 which could carry four MA-1 droppable rescue kits. Each kit contained a 40-person inflatable life raft that could be dropped more safely than the rigid boats. Flood victims rescued by a USAF H-21 helicopter crew near Eureka, California (1965). An HH-3C helicopter assigned to provide emergency recovery and transportation service in the Project Apollo launch area located at then-Patrick AFB, Florida (1967). Apollo Command Module mock-up used by the 67th ARRS to train for potential emergency rescue missions. Subsequently used as a squadron "sign" at RAF Woodbridge, UK (c. 1981). B-17E "My Gal Sal"  On Jun. 27, 1942, the pilot of a B-17E named "My Gal Sal" was forced to make a belly-landing on the Greenland icecap while on a flight from the U.S. to England. He made an excellent landing, the only damage to the plane being bent propeller blades. Once the downed plane had been located, Col. Balchen set out for its location in a PBY amphibian and landed on a lake about 25 miles distant. He and a Sgt. Healy then began walking to the B-17 across treacherous crevasses, snow bridges, drifts, and ice-cold rivers and pits of slush. It took them hours to reach the airplane and its 13 crew members. After a night of rest, Balchen and his companion led the 13 survivors slowly and carefully back to the lake where they boarded the Catalina and took off for Bluie West 8. The rescued men had been marooned for 10 days. "My Gal Sal" was forgotten until Oct. 1964 when it was rediscovered from the air. It was still in fairly good condition, although the tail had been broken off by the constant movement of ice.  With USAF cooperation, the Society of Automotive Engineers sent a representative to the isolated site by helicopter in 1965 to gather samples of hydraulic fluid, rubber, canvas, and plexiglass materials, and navigational, hydraulic, and aircrew equipment items. These items were desired for laboratory evaluation as to the long-term effects on them by the cold, wet environment of the Arctic. Many significant facts were learned from the evaluation, facts which could be applied to such current military programs as the Titan and Minuteman ballistic missiles being maintained in an operational-readiness status in underground silos. Tail Section of My Gal Sal as it appeared in 1965. When My Gal Sal was rediscovered in 1964, the plane was relatively undamaged. By the time the recovery team reached the site a year later, the plane appeared as in this photo--A strong winter wind had blown the forward part onto its back, severely damaging it.  Four items recovered from "My Gal Sal" Top left - Sextant from "My Gal Sal" which was severely corroded. This corrosion was not due to prolonged exposure of the instrument to the Arctic weather; rather it was caused by the chemical action from the badly decomposed batteries which were in the box with the sextant. Top center - Bombsight stabilizer unit from the nose of "My Gal Sal." One half inch layer of powdered rust was found inside the unit, indicating that one side of it had been in constant contact was snow or ice. Top right - Octant from "My Gal Sal" which when examined was found to have fungus growths on it. Cultures were taken and numerous types of fungi were identified. Surprisingly, they were the same types found on equipment returned to the U.S. from tropical areas following WWII. Bottom - Mess kit from "My Gal Sal." The carbon deposits on the bottom indicate it had been used by the crew for heating food over an open frame sometime during the 10-day period they were marooned. The Aerospace Rescue and Recovery Service peacetime force was not equipped to meet the demands of war in Southeast Asia in the early 1960s. As rescue capability increased during that war, ARRS crews saved 4,120 people--2,780 people in combat situations. A-7 jets replaced A-1s for rescue escort in November, 1972. An A-7D was flown by Maj. Colin A. Clarke on a successful 9-hour rescue mission for which he received the Air Force Cross as Sandy 01, on-scene commander. About 75 aircraft participated in that search and rescue operation. Clarke's A-7D is displayed in the Museum's Modern Flight Hangar.  Firefighters at Phan Rang AB, South Vietnam, battle a simulated aircraft fire using an HH-43's airborne fire suppression kit plus downdraft from the rotors to open a path for "rescuers" (1970). Designed for base fire and crash rescue, the slow, unarmed "Huskie" was adapted for rescue early in the Vietnam War with the new nickname "Pedro." Its combat radius of only 75 miles was increased with added fuel drums strapped in the cabin and, before the availability of improved rescue helicopters, HH-43s sometimes flew deep into North Vietnam. HH-43s accounted for more lives saved than any other rescue helicopter in the Vietnam War.  The low and slow-flying FAC (forward air controller or "Nail") was a frequent rescue force component who served as on-scene commander until Sandy's arrival, helping locate the downed crewman, marking his location with smoke for the Sandys and pickup helicopter, and directing aircraft ground attacks.  In 1970, OV-10 "Broncos," such as this one at Ubon Air Base, Thailand, began working with search and rescue forces, replacing slower unarmed O-1s and O-2s as FAC aircraft. OV-10s equipped with PAVE NAIL night observation equipment could locate survivors at night or in bad weather and helped development of rescue operations relying more on advanced technology than merely courage, firepower, and tactics. Lt. Col. Albert Vollmer flew 100 F-105 combat missions in Southeast Asia. He has the dubious distinction of having been shot down and rescued twice.  On January 13, 1965, while attacking a bridge in Laos, he ejected after his aircraft was hit by anti-aircraft fire. The following day, he made radio contact with a civilian Air America (CIA) C-123 which directed an Air America H-34 helicopter to him for the pickup. The H-34 was on a supply mission when it received the emergency call. The H-34 pilot landed in an open field, made all personnel but the winch operator exit the aircraft, then proceeded to make the rescue.  On August 17, 1967, Vollmer's F-105 was damaged by anti-aircraft fire over North Vietnam. He nursed his failing aircraft to the China Sea and ejected, sustaining severe leg injuries. His wingman and two A-1's provided cover during his descent and within 15 minutes, two Jolly Green Giant helicopters (Sikorsky H-3's) arrived to make the rescue. Vollmer spent the next two years in and out of hospitals, recovering from his injuries, but 26 months after the rescue returned to flying status. The 37th ARRS crew which rescued Col. Vollmer from the China Sea visited him at the hospital in Da Nang. The crew signed the "business card" (copy described below) which they presented to him on August 18, 1967 and for years he carried it for good luck. (Donated by Lt. Col. Albert C. Vollmer, USAF (Ret). Gahanna, Ohio) The business card presented to Lt. Col. Vollmer reads: CONFUSED? FOLLOW THESE STEPS: Stay with chute/aircraft. Conserve flares and radio. Advise others of your position and condition. Stay calm--others have been rescued under worse conditions than yours. The bearer of this card, upon being suitably rescued, agrees to provide free cheer at the nearest bar for those making said rescue possible. 37th ARRS, APO 96337 TEMPORARILY SUSENDED? NEED A PICK-ME-UP? Contact: [signed] CROWN [signed] SANDY [signed] JOLLY GREEN [signed] PEDRO On November 20-21, 1970, a joint force composed of USAF Special Operations and rescue personnel and U.S. Army Special Forces, supported by U.S. Navy Carrier Task Force 77, made a daring raid on the Son Tay prison camp located less than 30 miles from Hanoi, North Vietnam. The objective was to rescue as many as 100 U.S. captives thought to be held there.  The assault troops, in six ARRS helicopters accompanied by two C-130 aircraft, flew 400 miles to Son Tay from bases in Thailand. U.S. Navy pilots made a diversionary raid while 116 USAF and Navy aircraft from seven air bases and three aircraft carriers flew refueling, surface-to-air missile suppression, fighter cover, close air support, early warning, communications support and reconnaissance missions. Although no prisoners were found in camp, the raid was a brillant success in transporting, landing and recovering an assault force of 92 USAF and 56 Army personnel without the loss of a single man. Although no prisoners were rescued, the raid focused world attention on the plight of the prisoners of war (POWs), raised their morale and resulted in improved living conditions for all U.S. prisoners of the North Vietnamese. The men of the Joint Task Force earned the admiration of their countymen for risking their lives in an attempt to bring freedom to others. In 1983, the ARRS merged with USAF Special Operations and formed the 23rd Air Force. In 1989, the Air Rescue Service (ARS) was reactivated to include the responsibilities for combat rescue and support of NASA space missions and the Strategic Air Command missile sites, as well as atmospheric sampling for nuclear residue. MH-60G Pave Hawk helicopter, developed in the late 1980's for special operations missions and combat rescue. It can be tranported by C-5 or C-141 aircraft, refueled in flight, operated at night in bad weather and is equipped with a hoist which can lift a litter patient, or three people at one time, while hovering 250 feet above the ground.  U.S. Air Force photograph b y MSgt. Rose Reynolds U.S. Air Force MH60-J Pavehawk's onload pararescuemen. MH-60G Pave Hawk helicopters hover in formation as Pararescue Specialists ascend a rope ladder. The MH-60G's primary wartime missions are infiltration, exfiltration and resupply of special operations forces in day, night or marginal weather conditions. Other missions include combat search and rescue. 6:05 a.m. 160 miles inside Iraq, 30 miles from Baghdad: Lts. Devon Jones and Larry Slade bail out of their U.S. Navy F-14 Tomcat when it is struck by an Iraqi missile. 8:00 a.m. Arar Airfield, Saudi Arabia: USAF 20th Special Operations Squadron Capt. Tom Trask (pilot), Maj. Mike Homan (co-pilot) and crew take off in dense fog in an MH-53J Pave Low helicopter enroute to the crash site. 8:15 a.m. Iraqi border: Capt. Trask and Maj. Homan drop their helicopter to a flight altitude of 15 feet to avoid enemy radar and proceed to the crash site. 8:50 a.m. Crash site vicinity, Iraq: An enemy fighter appears, then retreats when two USAF F-15 Eagles pick the fighter up on their radar. Capt. Trask, Maj. Homan and crew join the search and rescue team and begin their search for Lts. Jones and Slade. 10:30 a.m. Unknown to the team, Lt. Slade is captured. (He is not released until March 4th, 1991) Arar Airfield, Saudi Arabia: The MH-53J crew are unable to locate the downed F-14 crew and return to refuel; they fly back to the crash site and resume their search. 1:55 p.m. Crash site vicinity, Iraq: The helicopter crew make radio contact with Lt. Jones; one of the door gunners spots an enemy truck heading toward Jones. Two USAF A-10A Thunderbolt IIs, components of the search and rescue team, remain despite critically low fuel and destroy the vehicle. 2:15 p.m. Capt. Trask lands the MH-53J less than 150 yards from the smoldering truck, and a crewman, Sgt. Ben Pennington, helps an exhausted but grateful Lt. Jones into the helicopter. 3:15 p.m. Iraqi border: Capt Trask, Maj. Homan, the crew and Lt. Jones return safely to Saudi Arabia. (This mission was the first rescue of a downed airman in Iraq during Operation Desert Storm.)      |
I can only tell you some. Otherwise, I'd have to shoot you.;)
Once, we were flying range security before a missle launch. Our job was to make sure any fishing boats were clear of the downrange area in case the missle had to be destroyed after launch. We cleared out a couple and I spotted something about a mile to the right and told the Aircraft commander to fly towards it. At first, I thought it might be a periscope from a Soviet sub. (Like we could have done anything other than take pictures)
When we got to the area it turned out to be a school of gray whales migrating south. We circled at a safe altitude (Marine Mammal Protection Act, ya know) and watched them for a few minutes. Awesome.
Darn it! Can't have that.
The whale watching sounds cool.
Cool! I've only been able to spot pods of Killer Whales when we've gone whale watching. P.S. No killing of my partner is allowed.
Wouldn't harm a hair on her head. I'll just stick to unclassified stories.
Unofficial Motto: "If you can't hover, you're GAY!"
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