1st Lieutenant John Markle and the Sandy pilots in on his rescue.
L to R : 2nd Lt Lance Smith, Markle, 1st Lt Byron Hukee,
2nd Lt Tex Brown, and Capt Ron Smith
This photo appeared in the Air Force Magazine.
This article appeared in the Anoka County Union June 16, 1997 in the "Looking Back" section where they look at past events 100, 50, and 25 years ago.
U.S. Air Force search and rescue forces penetrated within 35 miles of Hanoi May 20 to rescue an F-4 Phantom pilot. Playing an important part in the operation.was 1st Lt. Byron Hukee of St. Francis.
This is an email from Ron Smith on 19 May 1998
In response to my question of whether my recollection matched his:
I don't think it is very different from your version. If you read your paragraph on the Bowleg SAR, you will see one difference. Zeke was not already airborne with Tex. I think his wingman was Lance. We had been sending flights of 2 up to the SAR area all day. They would run out of gas before they could organize the pickup. Zeke and I went to LTC Barbena, and told him we would go as a 4 ship, and coordinate the mission before we left. He agreed. When we got to the area, Zeke and Lance went directly to the Jolly holding location, and relieved the flight covering them, and you and I went directly to the survivors location. I would have given a lot to have a recorder attached to the radio that day since Bravo said something just before he went off the air. He was almost yelling, and it was impossible to understand him. He was on top of a small mountain, and Alpha was about half way up the side of the same mountain.
Since I did not know what had caused Bravo to go off the air, and he was above the location of Alpha, I was not sure which direction the bad guys might be coming from. You might remember we put smoke down in a V shape that lead the Jolly directly to Alpha. I remember that the smoke was much closer to Alpha than I had planned because he was not exactly where I thought -- too many trees. It looked like we had planned it that way, but once again we had a Good Buddha watching over us. I also remember you and I stayed behind for several minutes trying desperately to get Bravo to come up on the radio or give us some other signal. We got nothing. I would like to know if he got captured and later released or was killed. Have you ever heard? I also remember how low on fuel you were. You did a great job of getting everything out of that old plane. We gave you the lead about half way home to try to help. I think you still owe the taxpayers for the mini-gun! $18000 in 1972 is worth much more today.
That was the first mission I flew that qualified for the River Rats, and the last mission I flew with Zeke. Zeke was going to sign us all up. After he was killed, it somehow lost meaning, and I never joined.
Ron
This is an email from John Markle on 20 May 1998
I will be glad to share what I remember of the events of 20 May 72. Since I would not have remembered my call sign, you may want to check this out pretty closely!
It seems the SAR took place 80-100 miles WNW of Bullseye. Terrain was hilly and heavily foliaged. Time starts about 1200 hrs. Is this even close? As trained, I had moved a very short distance after getting on the ground. I was not injured and, as the events unfold, I learn that Jim Williams (02B) was also in good shape. We probably were actually no more than 400 yds apart, although I never saw Jim other than briefly in the parachute descent.
After hiding under some thick foliage, I camoflauged my face and hands, then came up on the radio. At some point I remembered to use the radio earpiece...this I believe becomes VERY important as time goes on! Jim was communicating with our flight members loud and clear. I listened as they cycled to/from the tanker and believe it was about 2 hours before the first two Sandys arrive in the area. Jim did a nice job of helping Sandys define our "exact" position.
Probably an hour EARLIER I heard people and a dog near me. I later learned from the Sandys that there was a village nearby. I never saw anyone because of the foliage, but people moved around sporadically throughout the afternoon. It was a liitle confusing that Jim didn't seem to notice anybody yet, in my mind, we were reasonably close together.
What I didn't know, but later learned, was the Jollys had mechanical problems and it took a while for the spares to arrive. Glad we weren't told...that would have been disappointing. The Sandys continued to define our position and eventually flew over for a "mark position". Jim called the mark right over me...again confirming that we were not far apart.
Approximately 4-5 hours into the event the Sandys delivered some ordnance and smoke in an attempt reduce the visability and give the locals something else to concentrate on. This was shortly before the Jollys were to enter the area for pick-up. Evening and clouds in the valley are becoming factors.
Shortly thereafter, Jim acknowledged that people are near him. I heard one shot fired then no further contact with Jim. (I speculate they may have been attracted by the radio speaker). With contact lost Sandy called for me(02A). After I responded, the SAR continueed as Sandy guided me through the appropriate actions. I prepared and used the survival flares as instructed and soon a Jolly hovered nearby and lowered the tree-penetrator/pick-up device. I climbed aboard and the winch lifted me into the Jolly. The PJ and I traded "thumbs up" and away we went.
As we egressed the area I realized how young the Jolly crew was. Seven TOTAL stripes among the three PJs and a 2Lt and Capt up front!! We were escorted out by Sandys and eventually rendezvoued with C-130 tanker for refueling enroute to NKP. Great job by everyone involved!
We eventually learn Jim is residing in Hanoi Hilton. I complete my tour and PCS to Clark AB in Dec 72. I am able to greet and visited with Jim when he arrived Clark AB in Apr 73. He later graduateed UPT and flew the F-15!
Apparently he'd had enough of other guys getting him into trouble!!
You're probably saying "this isn't even close". Time takes it's toll but that's it as I remember the events. Please use as you see fit.
Thanks again to everyone involved!
Regards,
John