Monday October 12th, 1970

…exactly 50 years ago.

This past Friday, BGen Manor approved the concept of using an HH-53 as a gunship that Major Donohue proposed last week. Here’s the TOC Log. It states that the practicing to be done this coming week will be on Strafing Range 77 at Eglin AFB.

Here’s a story by USAF Major Ryland “Roy” Dreibelbis, Apple 4

The number of aircraft flying in our formation had grown to seven: One MC-130 with six helicopters.

Three helicopters flew behind the left wing. One of them was the HH-3 that was going to land inside the prison walls carrying Green Berets that were going release the POWs from their prison cells and two HH-53s. They would land in a safe area near the prison and stand by for potential rescue needs and pick up POWs as they were released at the prison.

Three HH-53s flew behind right wing on the MC-130. Two would carry the ground assault teams and the third was assigned the responsibility of suppressing ground fire (the Gunship, Apple 3).

I distinctly remember one refueling flight over the Gulf of Mexico at night. I was at the controls and always took pride in my refueling capability – trying to be smooth on the controls and make a connection with the refueling basket deployed from the C-130 always on the first try. This night tested my refueling skills. It was a totally dark night and we were far enough from shore that shoreline lights could not be seen. It seemed like the HC-130P tanker and my H-53 were suspended in space. I could not recognize movement except by looking at the flight instruments and the C-130 ahead of me. It seemed like we were in a dark hole, suspended in space.

Read the rest of Roy Dreibelbis’ story in Who Will Go.

Click Here:  The book.