From Balloons to Super Jollies: Stan Nelson’s High-Stakes Journey in Air Force Rescue (Military Tales Episode 37)

Episode 37 of “Military Tales” introduces us to Stan Nelson, a retired Air Force Senior Master Sergeant whose diverse career spanned from recovering high-altitude balloons to the perilous world of combat search and rescue in Southeast Asia. His journey highlights the unexpected paths military service can take and the intense experiences faced by those in the Air Force’s rescue units.

Stan’s Air Force story began almost on a whim with a friend in freezing Minnesota, deciding Texas and the Air Force sounded warmer. After basic training, he was assigned to helicopters, a path that first led him to the 1110th Balloon Activity Squadron at Goodfellow AFB. For five years, he was involved in the unusual mission of recovering high-altitude air samples for the Atomic Energy Commission, using H-43 helicopters, eventually transitioning into Rescue in 1963. His early rescue experience included a tour at Moron Air Base, Spain, where he participated in the search efforts during the infamous 1966 Palomares Incident, involving a B-52 collision and lost H-bombs.

His career took a significant turn with training on the HH-53, known as the “Super Jolly”. This powerful helicopter became his primary aircraft in the 40th Aerospace Rescue Recovery Squadron, operating out of Thailand and supporting missions across Southeast Asia. Stan’s role as a helicopter flight engineer was multifaceted and critical: he handled pre-flight checks, weight and balance calculations, takeoff/landing data, served as a gunner, and most crucially, operated the hoist.

The challenges of hoist operations in the triple canopy jungles of Laos and Vietnam were immense, often requiring hovers at over 200 feet due to trees that could reach 250-300 feet. This led to harrowing situations where aircraft sometimes had to settle into the treetops to reach survivors, causing significant damage to rotor blades. Stan recounts improvised repairs using duct tape and even deliberately shooting holes in blades for balance.

Stan shares gripping accounts of his missions. His very first combat SAR operation saw his HH-53 become the “Low Bird” (the primary rescue aircraft) unexpectedly. Operating near the North Vietnamese border, they encountered heavy ground fire, taking hits to the fuselage. During the ingress, a drop tank was hit, spewing atomized jet fuel into the cabin, creating an incredibly dangerous environment. Despite counting 57 holes on landing and seeing a severed wire bundle, they survived, a testament Stan attributes to divine protection.

He describes the notorious McGea Pass as a major choke point on the Ho Chi Minh Trail, surrounded by karst outcrops filled with enemy guns – likening it to “flying an air show in the Rose Bowl” due to the tight, deadly terrain. Stan also recounts the Laredo mission in April 1970, where an F-4 and later a Sandy (A-1) were shot down, leaving three Americans on the ground. His crew’s swift 10-minute ingress and egress, where he successfully hoisted two F-4 crew members while under fire and narrowly avoided friendly fire when his minigun jammed as an A-1 flew across his path, highlights the speed, coordination, and sheer danger of these missions.

Beyond direct rescues, Stan’s unit played a role in the secretive Son Tay Raid in November 1970, preparing and “sterilizing” aircraft (removing identifying markings) and loading double the normal ammunition. He witnessed the Green Berets arrive and observed preparations, including planting explosives on an H-3 intended to be crashed into the compound. Though the POWs had been moved prior to the raid due to flooding, Stan notes the raid was well-executed and indirectly benefited other POWs by leading to consolidation.

Stan’s interview also provides poignant glimpses into the broader context of the war in Laos, supporting the Studies and Observations Group (SOG) and local allies like Vang Pao’s Hmong army, which included remarkably young soldiers. He touches upon the surreal nature of operating in officially neutral Laos, the heavy bombing of the Ho Chi Minh Trail, and the primitive conditions at forward operating bases like Long Tieng. He shares anecdotes about the skill of Laotian pilots and the unique escape and evasion procedures, such as “blood chips” promising gold for safe return.

Reflecting on his experiences, Stan openly discusses the delayed impact, experiencing symptoms of PTSD years later. He emphasizes that talking about his experiences has been crucial in managing these effects, particularly connecting with other veterans. His stories underscore the bravery, skill, and sacrifices of the Air Force rescue crews and their allies who faced incredible odds to save American lives.