Note: This story speaks of the grim realities of
war. It should not be read by young children without an adults permission.
[The Webmaster]
SEAWOLF
Gunships Down
By
Seawolf Gunner Bill Rutledge
Two Seawolf
Gunships that were knocked out of the sky while scrambling under a mortar/rocket
attack at Dong Tam in 69, 7 wounded 1 KIA . Very lucky indeed that all
were not killed.
Two SEAWOLF
Gunships Down
On the afternoon of
March 25 1969
Seawolf Detachment 6 staging from Dong Tam along with Detachment 4 and 7 who
came to help were scrambled to attack a large force of enemy gunners who had
ambushed a Unit of River Patrol Boats (PBRs) in a nearby river. The PBRs had
been hit with heavy automatic weapons and B 40 rockets and had suffered both KIA
and WIA and could not break contact. The Seawolves put in strikes until the PBRs
broke contact and escaped the kill Zone. Rearming/refueling the Gunships
continued putting in strikes all afternoon and into the evening, until the enemy
fire ceased. Dets 4 and 7 returned to their respective staging areas as Det 6
again rearmed/refueled and waited for the nightly scrambles that always came.
Around
2 AM
on the 26th an enemy rocket and mortar barrage began in the
Seawolves staging area. The 2 Gunship crews ran through the explosions and
raining shrapnel to get airborne to save the birds and attack the enemy. As they
lifted off, just clearing the deck, the Army ammo dump near the birds was hit
and the violent explosion knocked both Gunships from the sky wounding the two
Pilots and two Door Gunners in each bird. The lead bird was knocked on its side
pinning the Pilot underneath with the fuel bladder split spreading fuel
everywhere. The trail bird was hit with a huge piece of flying munitions from
the ammo dump blowing off the main rotor and transmission crushing the cabin in
on the air crew pinning them inside. Both Gunners on the trail bird worked their
way free and pulled the wreckage off their Pilots and pulled them from the
wreckage. The Copilot died in their arms as he was extracted. With the ammo dump
still exploding and hot shrapnel hitting in the fuel on the deck, the Door
Gunners from the trail aircraft ran to the lead bird and helped that crew lift
the bird off the pinned Pilot and saved him from certain death. Other Seawolf
also left their bunkers and helped the injured Pilots back to safety in the
Bunker. The Four Gunners were decorated with Silver Stars for Extraordinary
Heroism in the rescue of their Pilots. The above narrative was taken from
documents, citations and first hand information from Seawolf Pilot Ken Lowe and two
of the Seawolf Gunners involved, Aviation Ordnanceman Third Class Neil McDonald
and Airman Michael O’Brien, Both decorated with the Silver Star for this
action.
AECS Bill Rutledge
Always looking for Material
and Scans of "Anything" related to US Fighter/Bomber/Helicopter Units to add to this site.
