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.

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

Click Here:  The book.