The Loss Of Busy Bee 604
Some of you have asked so I'm re-posting this for BzB. We have included new pictures and an Mp3 of the radio transmissions that day. Story is posted as a PDF attachment.
http://www.mediafire.com/?n7mdshwscahivs1
“20 min. of patience is required…there are often periods of just a low hummm especially before the HIT.
*Recorded by “OVERPASS” (RANGER C-2); on SAR freq.
Players on the tape:
“BUSYBEE 6XX” VA-146, A-4 (us, RANGER)
“CROWN ALPHA” – USAF UH-16 Albatross, SAR Coordinator from Danang.
“FETCH 53” – RANGER’s SAR helo SH-3A
“POWERHOUSE 3XX” – VA-153, A-4 from CONNIE
“SILVER FOX” – VA-155, A-4 from CONNIE
“ELECTRON” – VA-145, A-1 from RANGER
“CUPCAKE 406” – VA-65, A-6 from CONNIE, downed A/C w/ crew in water, 1 rescued, 1 KIA
“GREY EAGLE” – USS RANGER
“WAR CHIEF” – USS CONSTELLATION
Starts as RESCAP A-4s arrive, various chit chat about where to find/bomb the mortars along the beach firing at survivors (killed A-6 B/N).
A-4 lead “BEE 1” our CO rolls in first (each short beepon the radio is a 250# Mk-81 bomb being pickled, multiple beeps = multiple bombs being rippled on the run.
“BEE 3” 604 (me) calls rolling in, then shortly after “BEE 4” calls in, the 85 mm flak hits 604 beneath the cockpit. First indication on radio is “607 this is 604”…”604 this is 607, go”….”Roger, I’ve taken a hit…it’s getting pretty smoky in the cockpit and I have no left rudder at all”!
From here on it’s self explanatory through the ejection, descent , and efforts of my wingie to get the helo on course and guide him toward me after he picked up the A-6 driver. Unfortunately, the tape ran out just as Fetch was approaching for the successful pickup.
You will note that my survival radio transmitter (PRC-45, I think), was very weak.
I could hear everyone fine, but it took about 4 calls about my physical condition before “Bee 1” heard my ”not hurt bad” response. None of my transmissions are on the tape!
*I’m often asked if it bothers me to listen to the tape? I say only that it still hurts that we couldn’t find/save LTJG MARIK. Had we gotten him, it would have been the most successful Yankee Station “feet wet” rescue of the air war in Vietnam.
Enjoy, the rest is history…..” BzB
Some of you have asked so I'm re-posting this for BzB. We have included new pictures and an Mp3 of the radio transmissions that day. Story is posted as a PDF attachment.
http://www.mediafire.com/?n7mdshwscahivs1
“20 min. of patience is required…there are often periods of just a low hummm especially before the HIT.
*Recorded by “OVERPASS” (RANGER C-2); on SAR freq.
Players on the tape:
“BUSYBEE 6XX” VA-146, A-4 (us, RANGER)
“CROWN ALPHA” – USAF UH-16 Albatross, SAR Coordinator from Danang.
“FETCH 53” – RANGER’s SAR helo SH-3A
“POWERHOUSE 3XX” – VA-153, A-4 from CONNIE
“SILVER FOX” – VA-155, A-4 from CONNIE
“ELECTRON” – VA-145, A-1 from RANGER
“CUPCAKE 406” – VA-65, A-6 from CONNIE, downed A/C w/ crew in water, 1 rescued, 1 KIA
“GREY EAGLE” – USS RANGER
“WAR CHIEF” – USS CONSTELLATION
Starts as RESCAP A-4s arrive, various chit chat about where to find/bomb the mortars along the beach firing at survivors (killed A-6 B/N).
A-4 lead “BEE 1” our CO rolls in first (each short beepon the radio is a 250# Mk-81 bomb being pickled, multiple beeps = multiple bombs being rippled on the run.
“BEE 3” 604 (me) calls rolling in, then shortly after “BEE 4” calls in, the 85 mm flak hits 604 beneath the cockpit. First indication on radio is “607 this is 604”…”604 this is 607, go”….”Roger, I’ve taken a hit…it’s getting pretty smoky in the cockpit and I have no left rudder at all”!
From here on it’s self explanatory through the ejection, descent , and efforts of my wingie to get the helo on course and guide him toward me after he picked up the A-6 driver. Unfortunately, the tape ran out just as Fetch was approaching for the successful pickup.
You will note that my survival radio transmitter (PRC-45, I think), was very weak.
I could hear everyone fine, but it took about 4 calls about my physical condition before “Bee 1” heard my ”not hurt bad” response. None of my transmissions are on the tape!
*I’m often asked if it bothers me to listen to the tape? I say only that it still hurts that we couldn’t find/save LTJG MARIK. Had we gotten him, it would have been the most successful Yankee Station “feet wet” rescue of the air war in Vietnam.
Enjoy, the rest is history…..” BzB