During the Vietnam War, amidst the complex air operations over Southeast Asia, the A-1 Skyraider, known by its call sign “Sandy” when performing a crucial mission, played a vital role in Search and Rescue (SAR), particularly Combat Search and Rescue (CSAR). These missions were often flown into heavily defended areas, demanding immense skill and courage from the pilots. Episode 17 of “Military Tales” features Lt. Byron Hookey, an A-1 Skyraider pilot, recounting one such harrowing mission.

Lt. Byron Hookey served with the 1st Special Operations Squadron at Nakhon Phanom (NKP), Thailand, flying the A-1 Skyraider from October 1971 to October 1972. As a checked-out Sandy flight lead, he flew search and rescue missions in both Laos and North Vietnam. He shared a particular mission that stood out in his mind, one that significantly impacted him and brought home the realities of the war.

The mission began as a search and rescue effort for a downed Navy F-8 Crusader pilot with the call sign “Nickel 102”. However, the dangerous nature of the work became brutally clear when a fellow Sandy pilot, Captain Larry Highfill (Sandy 77), was shot down while conducting the rescue attempt for Nickel 102. Highfill's aircraft was hit by a 23 millimeter battery, and his wingman watched him bail out.

Suddenly, the scenario changed from one man down to two. In such critical situations, there was a strict and vital rule: if there is more than one man on the ground, you go for the one that is most recently downed. The reasoning behind this rule was simple and stark: the longer someone is on the ground, the more time the enemy has to move in and potentially capture them before rescue forces can arrive. Due to this rule, the original objective, Nickel 102, was superseded by the immediate need to rescue the recently downed Sandy 77.

Byron Hookey entered this unfolding scenario as a wingman, flying out of Nakhon Phanom on June 20, 1972. Although initially potentially tasked to replace ground alert crews at Da Nang who had been put airborne for the SAR, as they approached the area, they monitored the radio and heard Sandy 77's distress call. During the intense mission, Hookey, whose flight lead subsequently had engine problems and had to leave the area, focused on the critical task at hand. He recalls thinking about the legendary Bernie Fisher's Medal of Honor rescue as he worked to locate the survivor. Ultimately, Byron Hookey was successful in locating the downed Sandy 77.

The mission to rescue Sandy 77, as recounted in Episode 17, highlights the extreme dangers faced by SAR crews, the critical importance of operational rules developed from harsh experience, and the unwavering dedication of pilots like Byron Hookey who flew into hazardous airspace to ensure that others may live.