Night Rescue Crashed Cobra Crew - Aug 1968
see also Tom Meeks Video
It was the night of 18 August 1968. CW2 John Gabrielson was flying as my copilot that night in the mission Flare Ship. He flew with me as copilot a lot. We were following the gun team at altitude. Can't recall the altitude, probably the usual 1000 ft or so. Can say it was a dark, moonless night, would say overcast. We oould see both lights from Dau Tieng and Tay Ninh.
We were trailing behind CW2 Tonny Wolfe who was PIC in a charlie model gunship flying wing on a Cobra Gunship with CW2 Tom Meeks (PIC) and CPT Moose Marcenkowski. The Cobra was somewhere much further ahead and not in sight.
Not sure what the alert to a problem was, maybe a keyed mike or no response from a call or what, but we started a search for the Cobra at that point. There was no indication of a crash. No visible flash or radio transmission. We had no clue how far ahead of us the Cobra was. The TOC was notified of the situation, and that a search had begun.
We continued our search along a North, South line back and forth, looking for a reflection off of the aircraft, a light or anything we could possibly pick up. Not sure of the time but as we were getting low on fuel and short on flares the search was desperate
I will never know what went on back at base. I know there was no back up flare ship, so someone had to have been woke up and a crew put together and then moved over to the ammo pit and flares loaded. I think there may have been a ship in the air, enroute, but cannot say for sure. Also I am sure there had to be a second gun team on standby ready to go, but don't remember the call they were enroute. Terrible situation.
We were getting low on fuel and flares, with no sign of the aircraft. I was down to minimal fuel and one flare remaining so I moved further north to drop my last flare and also put me closer to Dau Tieng where we would refuel. I spotted a flashing light on the ground. No idea if it was them or a trap.
I called Tonny to say I had a light, and was going to drop our last flare. Did he have us in sight? He confirmed he did. We dropped the flare and began a high overhead approach to the light. I kept the light on my side of the aircraft. I did not want to loose sight of it. No time to look for the cover ship or make a plan.
We came into the landing area, open rice paddy, heading south. Tom and Moose were moving toward the aircraft as quick as possible but were struggling. Moose apparently had vision problems due to plexiglass or something in his eyes. We landed relatively close but had them outside the tip path of the blades. I asked the crew member on the right to get out and help them get to the aircraft. Left us very vulnerable, but needed to get them on board.
Time was critical, fuel wise and unknown enemy situation, if any. As soon as they were in the aircraft we departed, to the South, turned left, East and continued our turn to Northeast and headed direct for Dau Tieng. The only fire we heard was our own suppression coming out of the LZ. After departing the LZ we contacted Cu Chi that we had them on board and were heading for fuel.
I made a visual for Tonny, but never did see him. I have wondered to this day if they were even on sight, had us covered, or were headed for fuel. I figured he had to be in about the same condition we were, so it has made me think. I know for a fact the aircraft we were in was capable of flying beyond the twenty minute fuel light. I started the timer when the light came on. We landed somewhere between twentytwo and twentythree minutes in the POL
Never did see Tonny at Dau Tieng so assumed he had headed for Tay Ninh.
After the incident, I was never asked what went on, I know I was asked if I would point out where I thought the Cobra could be for recovery. Tony had a spot marked on the map. I thought it was quite a bit north of what he had pinpointed. Never heard where it was finally loca
ted or how long it took to recover.
I think my door gunner was a black guy. Seem to recall the name Smitty. Crew chief, no idea. Russ