Category Archives: POW

0800 this morning: a debrief of last night’s mission…

Air Force, Army, POW,

Wednesday October 7th, 1970

…exactly 50 years ago today.

Story by USAF Capt Tom Waldron, Apple 3

Memorable Moment #1: When we Apple crews first were told about Son Tay and saw its location, we kind of took a really deep breath and wondered if they had the wrong target!

When we first met “Barbara” and saw the camp’s location relative to the river bend and the trees inside the compound, we proposed that the approach path of the HH-3, Banana, should be a 45 degree angle off the west wall of the camp. The guard towers were at the north and south ends of that wall. Colonel Simons did not like that angle. He worried that it would make the gun towers hard to hit with the HH-3’s miniguns.

Major Marty Donohue spoke up, “Sir, I have a solution to your problem.” Col Simons asked, “Now who are you?”

“Sir, I’m Donohue, pilot of one of the Apple HH-53 helicopters. During the final approach, our HH-53 could drop down and speed ahead to cross the wall of the POW camp first. We’d be at 20 feet and 50 knots. My door/window gunners can take the towers out with our miniguns. We have another gun in the rear.” Col Simons was open to the idea and decided he wanted to see how Air Force guys shoot guns.

So, we set up a mission at one of Eglin’s gunnery ranges. The staff had set up strafing material sheets to simulate where our “items” would be located—no holes would be allowed there. Col Simons went along on the flight. After an hour’s flying, we were done.

At the debriefing, the major who was in charge of the range explained to Colonel Simons, “Sir, I did not find any bullet holes in the sheets.” Col Simons said, “Do it.”

So, now our Flight Engineer Staff Sgt Aaron Hodges would be on the crew entry gun (left side), PJ Staff Sgt Jim Rogers on crew window (right side) and PJ Staff Sgt Angus Sowell would be on the rear. That is how Apple 3 became the mission gunship.

A night run on the Mockup in October 1970.

Read Tom Waldron’s full story in Who Will Go.

Click Here:  The book.

Gen Manor and Bull brief the CIA and Joint Chiefs of Staff…

Air Force, Army, Marines, Navy, POW,

…exactly 50 years ago this past weekend.

Story by USAF 1st Lt Mickey Batsell, General’s Aide for Brig General Leroy Manor

As preparations for the Son Tay rescue mission began, the daily routine changed. It was important to continue as much as possible all appearances of “everything as usual.” Normal duty hours continued from 7:30am to 4:30pm. Head home for dinner as normal. But then it was back to the office around 8pm until the early hours of the morning.

Security was of utmost concern. We made several trips to Andrews AFB and the Pentagon. I was charged with carrying a briefcase containing a number of classified documents.

One night back at SOF HQ (USAF Special Operations Forces headquarters at Eglin AFB) around 2am, BGen Manor called me and asked me to round up Colonel Bull Simons to come to a meeting in his office. I promptly went to Colonel Simons quarters to extend the invitation.

When I arrived, one of Colonel Simons’ NCOs was sitting outside the front door. I explained to the NCO that BGen Manor would like Colonel Simons to come to a meeting. The sergeant told me that Colonel Simons was asleep. I asked the sergeant to wake him up. His reply: “With all due respect, lieutenant, you can wake him up.”

I was a bit stunned by that and started to take a step through the door. “You might want to think twice about that sir, because the Colonel sleeps with a loaded 45 under his pillow.”

I heeded the sergeant’s advice and paused to consider my options. After a few pensive moments, I said, “Sarge, when he wakes up, would you tell him that BGen Manor needs to see him?” The good sergeant replied, “Yes sir,” and I went on my way.

In the image from the Log, you see that Bull Simons (BGen Manor was there too) briefed the Director of the CIA, the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and the commander of Pacific Command (John McCain’s father).

The Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff: Admiral Thomas Moorer.
The Commander of Pacific Command:
Admiral McCain (father of Senator John McCain, who was a POW at the time).
The Director of the CIA : Richard Helms

Read the rest of Mickey Batsell’s story in Who Will Go.

Click Here:  The book.