Unclassified (formerly Confidential)
S T A T E M E N T:
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20 June 1972
SUBJECT: Sandy 03 and 04 (Nickel 102 SAR/Sandy 07)
On 20 June 72, Sandy 03/04 were launched out of Ch 89 at 0620Z [1320L NKP] to escort Jolly Green 73/30 and Nail 27 and to proceed to the 280 degree radial for 40 nm north of Ch 69. The objective was Nickel 102 a Navy F-8 pilot. Sandys on scene at the time we launched were Sandy 07/08 from Da Nang, and Sandy 01/02 from NKP. Jolly Green 73/30 and Nail 27 were about 30 minutes ahead of us when we launched, and we were to rendezvous with them and proceed to the SAR area. We were just crossing the trail north of Saravane when we heard Sandy 08 say that 07 had been hit and had extracted. The position passed was close enough to Nickel 102 that we proceeded direct to the area which at the time was 027 degrees for 25 miles from our position. At about 0745Z [1545L DNG], we arrived on scene and rendezvoused with Jolly 73/30 and Nail 27. Sandy 08 and Sandy 01/02 had RTB'd to Ch 77 [Da Nang] prior to our arriving on the scene. We received no positive position and were working with Nail 12 and conducted a search of the suspected area. Due to the adverse weather, none of the previous Sandys had been able to determine a firm position of Sandy 07. Frequency 282.8 at this time was really loaded as was 243.0 [UHF guard] because the Navy aircraft in the area were using those channels and were not aware that the primary objective had shifted to Sandy 07, and Nickel 102 had become the second priority. The radio chatter from the Navy on the main SAR freqs made communications with Sandy 07 next to impossible. It was later learned that Nickel 102 had only those two frequencies available. Sandy 03/04 were now trying to locate the position of Sandy 07. Sandy 04 was able to talk to Sandy 07 at certain times, but it was later learned that S-03/04 were searching too far north. Nail 12 was also helping in the search. Sandy 04 had a good ADF [automatic direction finder] so cuts were taken to locate his position. At about 0805Z [1605L DNG], Sandy 03 was experiencing engine problems and thought he might have to RTB to Ch 77. About 10 minutes later, Sandy 04 sighted 07's chute and established good radio communications with him. Sandy 03 now took up a heading for Ch 77 due to engine problems. Sandy 04 stayed in the area of the survivor. Nail 59 was now the FAC on scene and he put in strikes in the valley and route structure nearby. Several small arms positions were located as close as 100 meters from the survivor and Sandy 04 concerned himself with silencing these to make the area secure for an attempted pick-up. Sandy 04 also FAC'ed in a flight of F-4s to strafe the gun pits. It was now becoming apparent to Sandy 04 that his fuel state was deteriorating and that he would soon have to RTB to Ch 77. At 0915Z [1715L DNG] Sandy 04 RTB'd, turning over on-scene command to Nail 59 who was still working the area. About 20 minutes later, Sandy 09/10 from NKP arrived on scene, and Sandy 08 had returned with Sandy 03 from Da Nang to the SAR area. The Nail was working with fast mover strikes in the area and was drawing heavy 23/37 AAA fire from the valley. The four Sandys held out of the area. The weather was getting worse and darkness was approaching, so it was decided that we would bed the survivors down for the night, and return first light. Sandy 09/10 RTB'd to Ch 89 and Sandy 03/08 RTB'd to Ch 77 as did Sandy 01/02 with the helicopters.
Signed
W. SEITZ, 1Lt, USAF
Sandy 03
Signed
B. HUKEE, 1Lt, USAF
Sandy 04