Sandy 11/12 MISREP - Sandy 07/Nickel 102

UNCLASSIFIED

S T A T E M E N T - - - - - - - - -

21 Jun 1972

SUBJECT: Sandy 11 and 12 (SAR Sandy 07/Nickel 102)

Sandy 11/12, Hukee and Brady with Sandy 03/04, Clevenger and Brown, launched out of Ch 77 at 0040Z. Jolly Greens 72/64/57/62 also launched at this time with Nail 59. Nail 43 was in the SAR area putting in ordnance around Sandy 07's position 272/32/69, since daybreak and on his request the SAR forces were launched from Ch 77 as planned. Sandy 11 contacted Nail 43 at about 0100Z and was informed that he had good radio contact with the survivor and had him on "C" frequency, 248.2. Sandy 11/12, 3/4 and Jolly Green 72/64 proceeded to the holding point at 280/40/69. Sandy 11/12 proceeded directly from the holding point to the survivor's position leaving Sandy 3/4 behind with Jolly Green 72 and 64. At 0130Z Sandy 11 and 12 were in the survivor's area and on scene command was passed to Sandy 11. He first showed Sandy 12 the survivor's position then the location of the ground fire which had been taken the previous day. Sandy 11/12 made several low passes in the survivor's area in an attempt to draw ground fire but could see none. The survivor also reported no ground fire oberved or heard. One flight of Behar was put in on the positions from which ground fire had been taken the previous day. Sandy 11 marked these positions with WP rockets and Nail 43 put them in. Sandy 11 also put in some of his own CBU 25 and 20mm in this area. Sandy 11 now brought Sandy 03/04 in to show them the survivor's exact position leaving Sandy 12 with the Jollys. Shortly after Sandy 03/04 acknowledged that they had Sandy 07's position they returned to the holding point with the Jollys, and Sandy 12 again returned to the survivor's position. As this was taking place Sandy 11 observed tracers coming from the valley to the south west which were directed at his aircraft. Sandy 11 marked the approximate position and Nail 43 put in a flight of fast movers with Behar on it. While this air strike was going in Sandy 11 briefed the survivor that a pickup attempt was imminent and that he should have his smokes ready. The SAR forces were now brought up on 248.2 and the pickup plan was briefed by Sandy 11. Just prior to execution of phase B it was determined that the low Jolly Green (72) was having UHF trouble so Sandy 11 decided to execute phase B on VHF, 133.3. Execute words were given and Jolly 72 began his run in across the ridge lines. Sandy 11 and 12 put down a smoke screen to screen the Jolly from the position from which the ground fire had come on the previous day. No ground fire was taken while the Jolly was in the hover, which was about 5 minutes. All 4 Sandys were laying down ordnance during the pickup. After Jolly 72 had Sandy 07 on board he was told to egress the area via the same route used for ingress. When the holding point was reached, Jolly 72 climbed to 11,000' and exited the area to the east. Time of the pickup was approximately 0240Z. On scene command was now turned over to Sandy 03. The decision to attempt a pickup on Nickel 102 was made by Sandy 03 and was based on several factors. The most important of was the fact that Sandys 03/04/11/12 all had enough ordnance and fuel remaining to prepare the are for a pickup attempt. Sandys 11/12 escorted JG 72 with Sandy 07 on board and JG 64 to a safe feet wet drop off point east of Ch 69. Sandy 03 and 04 proceeded from the holding point used for Sandy 07 to Nickel 102's position and immediately began preparing the area around the survivor. Sandy 11 and 12 now initiatod a rendezvous east of Ch 69 with JG 57/62. Nail 59 again provided navigational assistance in effecting the rendezvous and led Sandy 11/12 and Jolly Green 57 and 62 back to the holdlng point of 280/40/69. Upon arrival at the holding point all forces were brought up 282.8. Sandy 04 now briefed the Jollys and Sandys to proceed to a final holding point about 3 kilometers west of Nickel 102 on a high ridge line. Nickel 102 was located in a small gully which was an off shoot of a large east/west valley. The plan as briefed by Sandy 03 was to bring Jolly Green 57 in low down the valley on an easterly heading and then up the gully to the south. Just prior to execution, Sandy 03 brought Sandy 11 into the survivor's position and instructed the survivor to flash his mirror on the second A-1 that he saw. Sandy 11 immediately saw the flash. Sandy 11 returned to the holding point and the forces were ready to execute. Five minutes prior to execution, Sandy 03 put in Ziggy, a flight of F-4's with smoke. An east west smoke screen was laid down masking Jolly Green 57 from gun positions which were active the previous day. The SAR forces were briefed on 282.8 and phase B began. Since the survivor used both his signal smokes the previous day, he was briefed to use a pengun flare when he saw the helicopter. On the run-in, Sandy 03 and 04 filled in gaps in the smoke screen and then joined Sandy 11/12 in the daisy chain around the hovering helicopter. The smoke screen proved to be very effective as no ground fire was observed from the positions of the previous day. With the survivor on board, Jolly Green 57 was instructed to egress the area on the reciprocal of his ingress heading which was a westerly heading. As Jolly Green 57 exited the area, all 4 Sandys put down ordnance in front of and beside him to discourage any one who may have wanted to shoot at a helicopter. Jolly Green 57 proceeded on the deck to 280/40/69 and then climbed to a safe exit altitude of 11,000 feet msc. The SAR forces then exited the area to the east. Enroute to Channel 77, Sandy 12 discovered hydraulic fluid leaking from his left wing and the loss of all hydraulic pressure followed shortly there after. An approach end arrestment was made by Sandy 12 with Sandy 11 and 3 and 4 making normal landings. Sandy 12 was the only member of the SAR force to sustain battle damage on this day. All 4 Sandys logged 3.7 on the mission.

signed B. HUKEE, 1Lt, USAF Sandy 11

signed T. BRADY, 1Lt, USAF Sandy 12