Episode 051 - South East Asia The Big Picture, Raven Operations, Dedicated Rescue Operations

Episode 051 – South East Asia The Big Picture, Raven Operations, Dedicated Rescue Operations

Get ready for a deep dive into the harrowing world of air rescue in Southeast Asia with Episode 51 of Military Tales. This episode steps beyond dry history to bring you the personal, firsthand accounts of those who lived the missions, including Sandy pilots, Jolly Green drivers, those who were rescued, and Raven Forward Air Controllers. Hear how SAR forces in Southeast Asia achieved the astounding feat of pulling over 4,000 people out of the jungle, a capability revolutionary compared to previous wars. The discussion covers the evolution from SAR to CSAR and modern Personnel Recovery (PR) doctrine, built on the lessons learned “the hard way” in this theater. Explore the core elements of a rescue mission—Report, Locate, Support, and Recover—and the integrated effort involving various Air Force, Navy, Army, Air America, and MACV SOG assets. A significant focus is placed on the often-overlooked role of Laos, its strategic importance concerning the Ho Chi Minh Trail, and the unique, covert operations of the Raven FACs who flew there. Discover how the experiences and sacrifices of these crews laid the foundation for modern personnel recovery practices.

More information on Episode 051 – South East Asia The Big Picture, Raven Operations, Dedicated Rescue Operations

Episode 51 of Military Tales dives deep into air rescue operations in Southeast Asia, offering a unique perspective by featuring the personal stories of the participants. The episode brings together Sandys, Jolly drivers, and even some of those who were rescued to share their experiences. An impressive statistic highlighted early on is that Search and Rescue (SAR) forces in Southeast Asia pulled over 4,000 people out of the jungle. This capability, the ability to recover personnel from behind enemy lines via air, was something that did not exist in World War II or Korea.

Daryl Whitcomb, a former Forward Air Controller (FAC) in Southeast Asia, provides a “big picture” overview of the war and Raven operations. Although not a dedicated rescue pilot, he explains that everyone in Southeast Asia, especially in 1972, was involved in rescue missions because aircraft were frequently going down, making basic SAR knowledge essential for all squadrons.

The episode touches on the evolution of terminology used for these missions. Initially, all such efforts were broadly termed SAR. As many missions involved significant combat to extract personnel from behind enemy lines, the term Combat Search and Rescue (CSAR) was adopted in the late 1980s to distinguish it from non-combat rescues. Today, the overarching term is Personnel Recovery (PR), encompassing various tactical missions performed by different branches, such as Air Force CSAR, Special Forces Unconventional Assisted Recovery (UAR), Marines Tactical Recovery of Aircraft and Personnel (TRAP), and Army Down Aircraft and Aircrew Recovery Teams (DART). The knowledge gained in Southeast Asia, often learned “the hard way,” forms the basis for modern PR doctrine.

The core elements of a Personnel Recovery mission are outlined:

Report: A mission begins with a report of a downed person, typically received on the guard frequency 243.0 in that era.
Locate: Precision is crucial, but ultimate location means physically seeing the survivor. Survivors were prepared to aid location using flash mirrors, survival radios (for ADF vectors or coordinates), and training.
Support: While rescue forces are marshaling, the survivor must be supported, which includes pre-mission training (SERE) and tactical support like having an aircraft overhead for protection. Supporting families back home is also a modern aspect.
Recover: Recovery is usually done by helicopter. However, terrain, weather, or enemy fire can make helicopters unusable. Alternative recovery assets include Navy submarines in maritime environments, ground task forces, and Special Forces. Rescue forces could also be used for deception.

Command and control in 1972 involved GRCCs in Saigon and Navy rescue centers on ships. Mission operations ran out of Udorn (later Mount Phenom) for the north and Monkey Mountain near Danang for the south. HC-130 King Birds often served as overall mission commanders. Various assets were integrated, including units from the 3rd Rescue Group (Jollies, Sandys), fighters, gunships, tankers, the U.S. Navy (HC-7 nomads operating from ships), and even U.S. Army Cavalry units with their own organic air assets suitable for quick “snatches”. In Laos, Air America, a civilian company, played a vital role due to their constant presence and availability. MACV SOG forces also assisted in complex rescues. This integrated effort was driven by a “moral imperative” – the commitment to try and rescue anyone who went down.

A significant focus is placed on the role of Laos. Although often called the Vietnam War, the conflict raged across the entire Southeast Asian theatre, driven by North Vietnam’s objective of regional hegemony. Laos was officially neutral, but North Vietnam violated this, heavily utilizing the country for the Ho Chi Minh trail, a strategic supply network. The US maintained a covert presence in Laos (Project 404) under the Ambassador’s strict control, including Raven FACs. Ravens, flying small civilian-marked aircraft often with windows open, directed air strikes against North Vietnamese targets, particularly along the Ho Chi Minh trail. They operated from bases like Long Tieng. The presenter highlights the difficulty, and ultimately failure, of trying to destroy the Ho Chi Minh trail using only air power, arguing that ground forces would have been the appropriate instrument to cut the supply line. North Vietnam’s history credits the “Trung Song Road” (Ho Chi Minh trail) as providing the strategic advantage that led to their victory.

Raven rescues were common in Laos due to the frequent aircraft losses. The presence and quick availability of assets like Air America helicopters were critical for successful rescues in these areas. Ravens operated covertly, using Embassy ID cards instead of military ones.

The episode aims to provide insights into the realities of air rescue and the broader strategic context of the war in Southeast Asia, especially the often-overlooked conflict in Laos.