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"Neat" Pictures


Dr. Anomaly

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Re: "Neat" Pictures

 

0gss2ou.jpg

 

He passed away at 80, not 70, but otherwise it seems correct.

 

EDIT: Oh, and it seems to neglect to mention his commanding officer Bruce Crandall, who flew with him and is apparently still alive. Oh, and who, in another battle, picked up some more pinned down soldiers

 

On January 31, 1966, during the first combined American and South Vietnamese Army operation, "Operation Masher", Crandall had just finished a full day supporting the 1/12th Infantry Battalion. As he returned to refuel and shut down for the night, he learned that "X' Company of the 1/7th was in heavy enemy contact and had 12 wounded soldiers that needed evacuation. The soldiers were pinned down in a tight perimeter. The unit was led by his friend and fellow veteran of the Battle of la Drang, Infantry Commander Captain Tony Nadal. Crandall refueled and flew to the area. He learned the pick up zone was surrounded by trees on three sides. He also was told that even during daylight, Med Evac had refused to land there. To minimize the chances of hitting the trees, he decided to descend vertically. The night was pitch dark with an overcast sky, making flying extremely difficult.[5]

Crandall also wanted to avoid giving the enemy an illuminated target and risk backlighting the soldiers defending the landing zone and wounded soldiers. Instead of using search or landing lights, he instructed Nadal to point a flashlight up in the center of the touchdown area. Crandall landed twice under intense enemy fire and successfully evacuated all 12 wounded soldiers.[5]

 

So: he landed, twice, at night in a spot with trees so think MedEvac wouldn't land during the day, without search or landing lights, guided in by a flashlight.

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