Bat-21: The Most Expensive Rescue Operation in US Air Force History

[@PaperSkiesAviation]

*New video is coming soon! Meanwhile, help my channel to grow by clicking Subscribe.*

[@razen9766]

@Alex Tyson I fucking love his voice. Shut up.

[@levanoni]

@Alex Tyson get AdBlock. No more ads

[@pauloscartefernandez9530]

@Alex Tyson ads can help their youtube channel if you want documentry wkrhout ads theres a lot of yt channel yhere withput ads well, thank you for your comment and still you watch this docmentary video, why not do it your self as well ? Maybe you need a lecture or something to learn more about ads

[@davideli1999]

Do you have a works cited page?

[@vthegoose]

Imagine being the north Vietnamese intelligence people, hearing some stupid Americans talking about golf while you try to figure out what they’re smoking

[@bombsaway6340]

As a former USAF combat search and rescue helicopter pilot I can assure you there is no limit to the efforts we will make to get our people back.

[@dan0alda568]

I can say as a tax payer....if we can save even one of our guys, who cares what it costs? We put those guys over there, it is an obligation to bring them back one way or another.

[@giancarlogarlaschi4388]

Dear Sir Joseph Personett was my B 777 Sim Instructor at Qatar Airways .He was a former FAC OV10 Pilot , He was a USAF Hero. I did my Military Jet Training at Webb AFB , Tx. 1975/76. " Desert Hunters ". Air Force of Chile. Ps. We took All the Awards .

[@bombsaway6340]

@@giancarlogarlaschi4388 didn’t know the man, but the Vietnam rescue guys were all heros

[@stewartgrindlay9760]

This is why Mog in 1993 should also have a positive added to it despite the losses. There is nothing we won’t do to get people back. It’s a huge tool in the mind of those who are cut off.

[@possibly_a_retard]

The video commenter notes the cost of lives and the cost of money, but never once of pride or esprit de corp for which those seemingly imbalanced efforts impact not just every member then serving, but every that comes after.

[@kvant13]

29:30 After watching this, I really hoped that Kiệt made it out to the US after the fall of the south and, thankfully, turns out he did. He became a US citizen in 1984.

[@arthas640]

Its crazy how many people fled Vietnam. I've got a friend who had to ride a raft full of people to float over to Thailand around Cambodia, spent years in a refugee camp, then got smuggled into the US where he got asylum. Most of his family were killed by the communists. It's kind of depressing people still support the communist government when they were so cruel to enemies and to their own people

[@kvant13]

@@arthas640 Yeah, I used to live in a city with a huge South Vietnamese expat population. I would imagine they (and a lot of veterans, too) aren't super thrilled with how buddy-buddy the US is now with the Hanoi regime thanks to our shared enemy in China.

[@planescaped]

@@arthas640 For me it was growing up with tons of Bosnians. Didn't even know about the Yugoslavian wars until I was much older, never really thought about why I had so many Bosnian classmates and friends.

[@isolinear9836]

This particular episode of the Vietnam War is not well-received by Communist elements in the USA. If you look at any of the Popular "Protest pamphlets" and American documentation of their Media of the 60s and 70s, even unto today, you see can see this Lie displayed rather openly, and mendaciously: Their entire false narrative throughout the years of the war and the afterwards to this very day, has been that the "Vietnamese People" were against an "Imperialist Power", and that the United States was fighting against a spontaneous insurgency, NOT a well-armed and well-funded Communist Army and heavily-supported Communist Infiltrators in South Vietnam. Also heavily blacked out: South Vietnam was a democratically elected Republic, whereas North Vietnam did not even have a pretense of elections - Veterans who mentioned this to Juice and Communists in America back home literally were literally screamed at, spat at, and physically attacked. *KZbin algorithm programmers censor any facts about the Juice used in a negative context, which is why KZbin is heavily sanitized of any of their history, especially as regards the Cold War and their domination of the illicit trades throughout history.

[@somnathroy6251]

@@isolinear9836 who is juice here ?. Why is your comment like a riddle ?

[@williamm.7433]

These videos are terrible if you want to SLEEP. Couldn't stop watching. Well done 👍

[@davidrichards2237]

Same

[@Biggestsquid23]

And same brother

[@michaeldro]

True words

[@angelachouinard4581]

But I found him one night when I couldn't sleep. Distracted and entertained me so much I didn't mind any more.

[@igameidoresearchtoo6511]

And even worse when you have final exams within 2 days and you just found him

[@keeftaylor834]

Iceal Hambleton may not have been the only Bat21 crewman to survive the shoot-down. Though he never observed any other parachutes, Hambleton did say that he thought he heard someone behind him punch out before him. The airmen directly behind him in the aircraft was Lt. Col. Henry Serex. NSA intercepts of NVA communications claimed that on 4/2/1972 they had shot down an EB66 and had captured one of the crewmen. 6/5/1992 satellite imagery of Dong Vai Prison in NVN showed numerous english characters dug into the surrounding dry rice fields, including "SEREX 72 TA 88." "TA" was Lt. Col. Henry Serex's monthly and long term Escape and Evasion codes.

[@rustyshakelford9777]

That’s intriguing

[@call_me_kay]

Did Serex make it out?

[@cglees]

Interesting articles online about this 👍

[@aybaws]

​@@call_me_kay according to several articles, he was never found again after he ejected from his EB-66 reconnaissance over Vietnam in 1972

[@PrezVeto]

Why would the Vietnamese hold an American prisoner all this time without letting the U.S. know of them? They'd get nothing out of it but a mouth to feed and potential for bad relations were they to be discovered. It makes no sense.

[@GTgaming69]

18:45 damn.. you can really feel his pain and the conflicting emotions here, had me tearing up

[@kwilson5745]

The best historical account of BAT21. The shoot down was informative.

[@Archangelm127]

28:00 - The phrase I've always heard in US military media and once in a while from veteran friends is "No one gets left behind." Subtle distinction, at least in my opinion. Great work as always!

[@cottoncandyman8274]

Excellent, high-quality documentary on a rather unknown event. These sorts of screw-ups, like Operation Eagle Claw, are such defining of parts of the US military and must be remembered so we don't do it again. It's rather disappointing you don't have near as many views as you should for the production value, but it will come with time, I'm sure.

[@PaperSkiesAviation]

Thank you, Cottoncandyman82! I'm glad you liked the video and I appreciate your support.

[@orneryokinawan4529]

They've only been around since March this year. A year from now you'll take that back lol.

[@john-hl5tq]

Gene Hackman and Danny Glover were in the film of the same name, but I confess I hadn't realized that it was based on a true story until I saw this vid.

[@Jr-uh2so]

Unknown? Movie starring two A-list actors. It’s a pretty well known tale. Just gotta be old like me. Haha.

[@tisoy909]

They even made a movie about this, where have you been?

[@420folife]

This particular guy was shot down flying a signals intelligence plane that was used to track and jam enemy radar systems when flying bombing missions. He also was a ballistic missile expert with top security clearance. If you factor in that Vietnam was not just a nva vs USA war but also a ussr vs USA war then why they went to the lengths to pick this guy up made perfect sense.

[@tylergeist1261]

Thank you for saying exactly what the video explained, doof.

[@johntaylor-lo8qx]

I've never heard this story told properly. Excellent documentary here. Bravo 👏, everyone who worked on this. Love the narrator!!! Accient is perfect, along with talking speed.

[@prerakkalla]

Man I literally had tears in my eyes for Tom Norris. Guy saved 2 lives without caring for his and basically refused glory saying he was just doing his job. You have to be based af to do this.

[@johnpatz8395]

Yeah, much respect for this real warrior and man!

[@rockyraab8290]

I was a Forward Air Controller in 1971, and know many of the FACs who were involved not only in the Bat-21 event, but were consultants for the movie. The movie was but a pale shadow of the real FAC involvement in those days. They were men who strapped into aircraft knowing they were probably on suicide missions. Duty, Honor, and Country meant something.

[@stingginner1012]

Go out in a slow bird and come home in a Jolly Green. Covey 242 where are you? 20th TASS!

[@fetilu0975]

Ah yes, dying in a stupid war "for the motherland"

[@sparkling925]

@@fetilu0975 you dont get it

[@Melody_Raventress]

God bless you sir, you and all those who fought with you.

[@melgoy2094]

Well being a retired Spec Ops guy I never knew this story. Today I went to a funeral for a retired SF member. I actually met and talked with one of the two who rescued this pilot Kiet Van Nguyen. He told me the story in broken english. I said I never heard of this mission but I will research it and thanked him for the service to the US. I did not know I was shaking hands with a real Hero.

[@KR4FTW3RK]

This is such a great story. I am sure USAF command was sweating bullets the whole time - after all Hambleton used to be with SAC.

[@stevesmith2171]

He had commanded a SAC wing. He should of never been allowed in the air over there.

[@arturopalos2739]

I Remember reading this story in reader's digest back in the 70's. It is very important to know the rest of the story 40 years later and to honor those dead and wounded in Viet Nam.

[@00calvinlee00]

LtCol Hambleton aside from being an Electronic Warfare expert was also very familiar with the USAF ICBM and nuclear weapons. He should have never been on that bird with knowledge of the ICBM.

[@ligmasack9038]

Well, like most Officers, he wanted to "Pad his Jacket"; hence why Hambleton was a "Blue Falcon" and should have been given a "Napalm Baptism" for his "Clout Chasing".

[@Aldnon]

@@ligmasack9038 This is stupid, if there are no ambitious officer you wouldn't win a war. Officer are by nature preconditioned to be this way always trying to win, and therefore they act as a career soldier who want to further his career and promote his own rank.

[@Laotzu.Goldbug]

@@ligmasack9038 I think it's more than that. this wasn't some desk jockey who wanted to get in a little bit of action, this guy had been flying combat sorties for 25+ years. I think he was mostly just doing his job, though he admittedly it is true he probably should not have been flying there that day

[@PanzerMan332]

@@ligmasack9038 We get it, you used Urban Dictionary once.

[@ligmasack9038]

@@PanzerMan332 or you could try doing your own Research instead of failing at Trolling; and being a Jack-Wagon.

[@jackr2287]

A factor to consider: during the Vietnam era, it was noted by one Dick Rutan--who earned his fame flying around the world on a single tank of fuel without landing or air to air refueling--stated that there was an agreement the army had with the pilots, the crews, and all other men who were put into harms way. That they, the army, would do what it could to get a man back. Dick Rutan once was asked to break that promise, and managed to shame a general into carrying forward the rescue operation he had minutes ago attempted to call off.

[@jimhaney6384]

Yes, and its still a thing to this day. It is a basic promise in the US military that you will not be left behind. The question is always how are we going to get them back, not if. Pilots can end up in some really far and away places, but its the extreme efforts we go through in the most extreme cases that upholds the promise, and it builds trust more than anything.

[@tegli4]

Watching this made me think Tom Clancy took inspiration from this to write Without Remorse. At least the rescue part (mentioned briefly as something Kelly has done) and the down pilot's intimate knowledge about military secrets.

[@USN1985dos]

One of the biggest rabbit holes about this story was learning more about Lt. Tom Norris and Petty Officer Michael Thornton. 6 months after the rescue of Bat 21, Norris and Thornton accompanied S. Vietnamese special forces on an intelligence gathering operation, but inadvertently landed 5 miles inside North Vietnam. They were discovered and engaged in a protracted firefight with 100+ enemy soldiers, only surviving likely due to US warships providing gunfire support offshore. Lt. Norris was shot in the head and presumed dead by his Vietnamese colleagues, but upon hearing this, Thornton returned under enemy fire to recover his body, and realized he was still alive. Dragging both Norris and a wounded S. Vietnamese soldier into the water, he kept both of them afloat while swimming himself for two hours until they were rescued. As a result of the injuries, Lt. Norris lost an eye and part of his skull, resulting in a medical discharge from the Navy. He applied in 1979 to join the FBI, but his injuries disqualified him, so he wrote asking for a medical waiver. The Director authorized it provided he could pass the same physical and mental standards of applicants, which he did. When the FBI's Hostage Rescue Team was created in 1983 as the nation's premier domestic counter-terrorism unit (in the same league as the US Army's 1st Special Forces Operational Detachment - Delta [aka Delta Force] and the US Navy's Naval Special Warfare Development Group [aka SEAL Team Six]), Norris was a founding member and one of the fist assault team leaders of the unit. These guys were the epitome of badass.

[@eriktruchinskas3747]

Oh cool someone else who knows that story. Isnt it something straight outta a movie? I wish that a film company would make short films about battles like that and other medal of honor recipient stories

[@GeorgeSemel]

What is even more interesting is that Norris received a MOH for the BAT-21 rescue mission, then Thornton received the MOH for going and getting Norris the only time to date where one MOH recipient saved the life of another MOH recipient. It's a rabbit hole to end all rabbit holes.

[@h8GW]

It's almost like Chuck Norris rose to fame off of Tom Norris's IRL memeability.

[@gbonkers666]

Tom Norris....that is one tough SOB!

[@jakedavids9017]

@@GeorgeSemel It’s actually mentioned at 30:02, very interesting.

[@rayban5067]

I remember the movie Bat21. Especially the minefield scene.

[@PaperSkiesAviation]

It was very intense.

[@sylvesterstewart868]

BS 21 was an entertaining movie but is fictional.

[@Robert-ff9wf]

Yes, it was a very good. I had no idea what it was about but was pleasantly surprised! I highly recommend it!

[@sylvesterstewart868]

@Tyler Buckley And Lt.Col. Henry M. Serex survived the EB-66 with Hambleton.

[@snoopstp4189]

what I remember where the great shots of the Cessna Skymaster that Glover was(supposedly) flying. Whoever flew and filmed those scenes did some outstanding work.

[@brianrmc1963]

This is an amazing channel. As a former Marine Officer, it is my opinion is that how we treat our people directly affects how hard they fight. This is one of the basic tenets of leadership.

[@kpz1234]

A week later they returned to the area to try to rescue Maj Henry Serex. In 1986, a DOD satellite picked up Serex's evasion code - 72TA88 - in an overflight photo. The DOD later claimed this was an anomaly in the grass patterns.

[@ronin47-ThorstenFrank]

The best account of the incident I´ve seen so far - either the internet or television.

[@frankmango6594]

Very nice work! In a time when so many short documentaries on KZbin are lazy copy-and-paste jobs with terrible synthetic narration, yours are thoughtful and well crafted.

[@Jixxor]

Rarely have I seen a this criminally underrated channel. Amazing content, I hope you keep it up. I stumbled across the channel 3 hours ago and couldn't turn off so far.

[@RaceChapman]

the question "how many lives is it worth to save one" is a fallacy in this context. it is worth infinite lives, because the point is not the value of one man, the point is the value of every other soldier from that point on fighting with confidence that you will not be abandoned and people will not give up on you. that is a HUGE value to any armed force, and the potential difference between soldiers making heroic stands and being routed easily.

[@user-jt7bx3ek8w]

yes but there is a limit, after that limit, moral of the solders ordered in to the meatgrider may cause major problems

[@michaelwilson8804]

I'm sure the South Vietnamese soldiers who were told they wouldn't be getting artillery or air support because there was an American missing somewhere in their general area would disagree.

[@pmp2559]

I’m pretty sure it was status thing so your statement is wrong. If Hamilton was just a lowly cook or corporal no one would come out to save him or even look once.

[@chaosXP3RT]

@@michaelwilson8804 There's always some reason to hate Americans Give me a break 🙄

[@possibly_a_retard]

Esprit de corp

[@erictaylor5462]

There is also a measurable effect on moral. If your fighter (pilot, solder, crew member) can focus on their job better and become more effective if they know every effort will be expended on their rescue should it be needed.

[@willienelsongonzalez4609]

Would love to see a proper accurate version of this, either as a TV mini-series or film. Realise that “Bat 21” was made, starring Danny Glover and Gene Hackman, but that was a Hollywoodised version based on the actual mission. Fascinating story.

[@richiec7700]

You earned a subscription! You covered this incident very well.

[@UmbrellaXR]

It's not about how many lives are lost in pursuit of saving one or how much money it costs but that we never leave a man behind, no matter how hard or how many lives are lost.

[@dragonsdynamite6403]

Hundreds for one and one for hundreds

[@rosbif4095]

Excelent video and research! Way higher standard than most of what KZbin has to offer. Much appreciated

[@1benny09]

*Being born inside of "Iron Fence" I remember reading in the communist newspaper about this, but from a totally different perspective, until I found this video and I learned about the connection between these two stories, finally I've learned the truth...thank you, Paper Skies*

[@myview5840]

Gene Hackman played Lt Ham in the film BAT-21. Worth a watch.

[@dougcoombes8497]

As a long time air and military buff I really enjoyed this video. I hope many more people sub your channel and you have a long career here.

[@rogerpallavicini637]

Your reports are very special. And your pronounciation has a humorous undertone and turns the documentary into entertainment. Thank you so much.

[@packardexelence]

I FIRST saw the movie "BAT 21" ABOUT 26 YEARS AGO; & LOVED IT!!!; BUT I ALSO LOVED this step by step FACTUAL retelling of the story!!!!!!!, THANKS!!!!!!!!!!

[@masaharumorimoto4761]

Fantastic video!!!!!! Every now and then KZbin recommends me a kick ass channel I've never heard of :)

[@erictaylor5462]

All of your videos are really good. Have you considered doing a video on Matias Rust, the West German teenager who flew a Cessna to Moscow, landing in Red Square in the 1980's? It would be perfect for your type of content.

[@horusfalcon]

Your research, and your resulting understanding of this mission, its rationales, and its objectives is nothing short of stunning. Well done!

[@madyogi6164]

Nicely told! I'v seen the Bat 21 VHS back in '92 (I think). Must admit, I didn't realize the story was that far away from what happened in real!

[@tubewatcher3100]

Hey thanks for the visuals. You did an awesome job with the video editing.

[@topiasr628]

Excellent work! I've been binging your channel for the last 2 hour. Keep up the great work!

[@adamfrazer5150]

If you want to learn about some of this conflict's most dangerous, clandestine actions and hear from the surviving members who carried out these missions, I highly recommend the book S.O.G. 👍

[@rockyraab8290]

I was a FAC working with MACV/SOG in '71. We got the real "Mission Impossible" speech where we were told if we were shot down we would not be rescued and would be disavowed.

[@adamfrazer5150]

@@rockyraab8290 man, thank you so much for commenting - I've only really touched the surface on the exploits and experiences yourself and your fellow operators endured, but even that one book has left an impact. What someone like me wouldn't give to simply open my ears, understand and appreciate whatever you might choose to share. The highest, highest level of respect to you Sir, I couldn't express that any other way and for so many different reasons. Thank you for dropping that reply, I'm really grateful to have made contact with someone who was there, lived it and returned.

[@ianjacka469]

Epic, the best one of your's that I've seen so far. What a crazy story. I wonder, with him being so highly ranked, if he knew something they were scared the enemy would torture out of him.

[@charlessaint7926]

As a direct result of the operation to get BAT 21 Bravo out of a hornet's nest, eleven men were killed and two were captured, later released in March 1973. Some of the remains of those killed or missing were recovered, Ghost 39 crewmembers; Kulland, Frink, and Paschall were recovered in 1995 and returned to the US. They are buried in Arlington National Cemetery. The remains of Jolly Roger 67 crew were returned to the US on 1 October 1997. Over the years the families of the crew buried them in separate cemeteries.

[@Alex-cw3rz]

I think one thing that is often overlooked is that at the time North Vietnam had the most advanced Anti Aircraft defense system in the world. We often think of the Vietcong fighting with minimal equipment, but this is in stark contrast to the North Vietnamese Army. This isn't even to get onto the performance of the North Vietnamese air force that caused the creation of Top Gun in response, due to the skill of the North Vietnamese fighter pilots.

[@hhjones9393]

Were they really NV pilots? I'm not as familiar with Vietnam air power but in Korea the first hand accounts from US pilots say that it was pretty obvious when the Soviet pilots were in the air vs the Korean or Chinese pilots. The B-team was much easier to handle. Did that happen in Vietnam as well?

[@Alex-cw3rz]

@@hhjones9393 yeah a lot of NV pilots, they were very well trained due to them being a much smaller force than the Americans. So their was no B-team, Top Gun was created due to the skill of North Vietnamese fighter pilots. The north Vietnamese air force was well established but mainly used older aircraft. So the main place soviet advisors were present was in North Vietnamese anti-aircraft warfare, which with soviet help became the most comphesive and most advanced anti aircraft system in the world at the time. Well from what we know it turns out those American pilots seem to have believed that it had to be Soviets as they couldn't think a NK pilot could be good. Although this wasn't true (a bit like how Americans couldn't believe the Japanese made the Zero etc.), as their were quite a number of North Korean aces, who were also present in Vietnam and help train their too.

[@anhduc0913]

@@Alex-cw3rz Yep, the AA operators was trained by the soviet to great effects, while taking advantages of the unchanging tactics the US used in Vietnam, sometime dating back to WW2. NV pilots used outdated soviet fighters and were not present much as their priority was to protect the limited fighter number.

[@rbeck3200tb40]

@@Alex-cw3rz The Soviet military was in Vietnam . Soviet pilots flew in fighter planes against the US. Also there were Soviet special forces in Vietnam and Cambodia and Laos . Many US special forces people saw them

[@lehoang3532]

@@rbeck3200tb40 Soviet advisors were in Viet Nam, yes, but very few were in actual combat, most of that combat was probably self-defense. None Soviet pilot was deployed in any combat against the US. And Soviet special forces? They were a coincidence, assume that they were actually deployed

[@georgesakellaropoulos8162]

Pro tip: Memorize a golf course.

[@frankpinmtl]

Also - train to become a very expensive asset. Try to fly an F-22, which costs the AF $10+ million to train you and they will bend over backwards to save your life.

[@testaccount4191]

@@frankpinmtl or just lob a tomahawk at you out of spite

[@RalphColmar]

Love these docs, pretty sure that is a clip from The Good, The Bad and The Ugly at 0:46, nice touch !

[@americanhat3766]

8:05 I didn't understand the scale of those missiles till I saw one compared to the personnel firing it, good god that missile is *huge*

[@thelovertunisia]

A specialist or high ranking officer may cost more than the hardware and even if not, hardware can be replaced quickly in an industrialised country but not people.

[@peterjones596]

As always, @Paper Skies tells it as it is.. Lovin' your work, thanks, you set the record straight.

[@MultiSciGeek]

What a gripping story! Really well written and presented!

[@karanmarwaha6605]

Please make more videos, I love your channel. You’re narration style is non paralleled.

[@petesheppard1709]

There were a number of cases prior to BAT-21 where rescue had to be called off due to excessive risk; especially when close to Hanoi or Haiphong. In fact, there's at least one published photo of a pilot actually being captured, taken from a rescue aircraft as it flew over.

[@crf80fdarkdays]

I would like to see this photo

[@darrennicol2442]

Outstanding, well researched, well presented. Bravo, and subscribed.

[@Mrcrisis2012]

I spoke to the LtCol on the phone after reading his story....

[@kukensson]

absolutely incredible storytelling

[@brybish]

Never heard of bat21 of course it was worth it, the effort to rescue one man is always worth it, the moment you put value on rescuing one man devalues everyone else.

[@rlicon1970]

Yeah, that story is amazing and I first heard about it when in the USAF bmt.

[@AlanTheBeast100]

Great videos. Fantastic detail, well presented.

[@johnsaucedo1131]

Another great video. Kudos to you!

[@Mtlmshr]

That was a good telling of a true story that I knew but you did shed some light on some facts that I was not aware of, thanks

[@gepflegtePCSpieleKultur]

Thanks for the BAT-21 Documentary.

[@neromastic4512]

I am learning so much from just these (Not to long) videos. I'll even watch the Bat 21 Movie if I can find it. Just because I love history.

[@fernando13e]

I just subbed yesterday and loving every minute of your content already!.

[@thewatcher5271]

This Is A Very Good Account Of The Event & I've Seen A Few More Of Your Videos Which Is Why I Subscribe To Your Channel.

[@mingming9604]

The reason why german pilots in wwii racked up dozens and dozens of kills so often is because they were able to be rescued and recycled back into the aircraft to fly again.

[@calvinnyala9580]

Vice versa, not rescuing the pilots led tp the downfall of the Imperial Japanese Navy pilots, where most of the ace are all killed in action, either by enemy fire and kamikaze. Can't save any if they died willingly.

[@defenestrationismyfavoriteword]

Not really the whole story. They racked up so many kills because they were never rotated out from the front. It's not like everyone else just left their pilots to die, hell the US' PBY Catarina was famous for search and rescue ops.

[@A_barrel]

Once us pilots got a couple kills they were sent back to go teach classes

[@lentlemenproductions770]

@@defenestrationismyfavoriteword also consider most air battles were fought over land that was decisively controlled by Germany on the ground, making search and rescue much simpler and safer.

[@adamfrazer5150]

The next time I'm watching a war film, Marines are engaged and asking for fire support and that pesky ol' officer denies it...... @12:19 I'll try to remember this as a potential reason 🤔😬

[@SebSN-y3f]

Great story! Very instructive! Thank you very much. I've seen some of your videos. It's excellent content! Continued success! And all the best for you and your loved ones.

[@pete2251]

I'm a Vietnam Era Paratrooper 1st/508th 3Bde 82nd Airborne and my Dad, Gen. Attilio Pedroli then Major was the First BAT 21...1968 [Based on Ned Colburn’s recollection of events and what Pete Pedroli and Jim Thompson related to me]. Rivet Top [EC-121] had just arrived in theater for Operational Suitability Testing and was so successful that it remained in SEA rather than return to the U.S. for modification. River Top had intercept gear that reportedly did the impossible of showing on a PPI exactly what the N. Vietnamese radar controllers saw on their ground scopes. On or about 12 January 1968, Rivet Top observed and reported to Saigon what they correctly deemed was preparation to shoot down a B-66, since we were the first on station preceding a bomb strike and flew unescorted without fighter cover. The B-66 always got its share of attention since there was time for one MIG sweep into the B-66 orbit area, before the Fighter Bombers arrived. Following the completion of Rolling Thunder operations for the afternoon and after all USAF & USN activity ceased over North Vietnam, Rivet Top observed MIGs taxi and take-off without any radio transmissions whatsoever during the entire flight profile. Prior to this time, the usual radio calls were made to Ground Control, Tower and GCI as the MIGs called for Taxi-Take Off, with IFF on and the mission controlled by GCI Radar Operators. The MIGs taxied out, took-off and flew with their transponders off, tracked 240 from Hanoi and then started a climbing turn into the orbit area and altitude that the B-66s flew West of Hanoi. Rivet Top passed the information to Saigon with the correct analysis that a B-66 shoot-down was being rehearsed - with not a peep from Hanoi relayed as a warning to Takhli. On 14 January 1968, Sonny Mercer(Preview 01) and crew arrived on station and began their orbit to perform their dual mission of jamming and missile threat warning - when, without any warning, the right engine was hit by an air-to-air infrared heat seeking missile. All 7 successfully ejected. Sonny Mercer, Jim Thompson and Pete Pedroli landed in the jungle on a mountain - with Irby Terrell, Tom Sumpter, Ronald Lebert and Hubert Walker landing in a valley where they were immediately captured by the North Vietnamese Army and held as POWs for the duration of the war. Pete Pedroli drifted toward the valley and was saved from becoming a POW when his chute snagged the only tree that grew out over a cliff. One of Pete’s arms was completely numb and useless from his shoulder and arm being injured in the ejection. The NVA started shooting at Pete but never hit him as he tied stair-steps in his shroud lines to climb up into the tree - proving that necessity is truly the Mother of Invention when it is virtually impossible to tie knots in string with only one good hand. Once into the tree, Pete faced the dilemma of how to get to the jungle floor perhaps 200 feet below him. He found 2 growths of bamboo that were parallel to one another and curved down toward the ground. Sitting on the lower bamboo limb, Pete got his bad arm draped over the top branch of bamboo and grabbed the bad arm with his good hand as he shimmied down the bamboo inch by inch. Eventually the bamboo went straight down, and at this point no doubt totally exhausted, Pete let go and went crashing to the jungle floor - 100 or more feet below him. Pete told us how everything was pitch black in the jungle foliage, with vegetation so dense that you couldn’t possibly hack your way through such jungle to escape and evade - so he had no option but to stay put in an area about 8’ x 8’ until he was rescued. Sonny Mercer, Pete Pedroli and Jim Thompson all made radio contact with airborne friendlies - and settled down for their first night in North Vietnam. Preview 1, a single EB-66, was launched for a selective jamming mission in support of an afternoon strike mission in Route Package VIA. The orbit point was approximately 50 nautical miles WNW of Than Hoa near the Laotian border. The 7AF CC first became aware that Preview was down at 1805H as a result of beeper signals reported by Crown aircraft. Later checks revealed that no GCI sites or Ethan Allen aircraft had received distress calls. Other ECM aircraft had made calls to Preview without receiving a response. SAR activities on the day of the downing were restricted due to adverse weather and approaching darkness but voice contact was established with 4 of the 7 downed crewmen. The survivors were advised that pick-up would be attempted early on the morning of 15 January. The following day adverse weather precluded first light pick-up but a flight of A-1 Sandies re-established voice contact with the survivors. A flight of 4 F-4s provided continuous RESCAP by cycling elements between the CAP station and a tanker, Later in the afternoon, Jolly Green 20, an HH-3 searching for the survivors of Preview, was operating between cloud layers at 6 000 feet. The aircraft descended through an opening to VFR conditions with poor visibility. While descending, a power loss was experienced. Recovery could not be accomplished before ground impact; however, a flare-out was made which reduced the ground impact. The aircraft received major damage but there were no crew fatalities. Immediately, Jolly Green 15 and 72 were launched from Lima Site 36 in an attempt to pick up 1 the crew of #20, The 2 rescue helicopters encountered cloud cover near the crashisite of #20 and could not proceed further. While attempting to cross a ridge small arms fire was encountered which struck #15. Due to approaching darkness, weather, and ground fire, the rescue forces were withdrawn from the area. The entire crew of Jolly Green 20, downed 15 January at 1723H was successfully recovered by Jolly Green 71 on 17 January at 1550H hours. During egress from the area. #71 was hit by ground fire which caused the loss of the #1 engine but he was able to proceed to Lima Site 36 where the crew of #20 was transferred to another helicopter and taken to Udorn for medical attention, All but 2 of the crewmen were in good condition; a broken leg and another a broken arm. On the same date 3 crewmen of Preview were recovered by Jolly Green 69. 1 of these crewmen also had a broken leg. More beepers from the remaining crewmen of Preview were identified but search efforts were suspended due to darkness. Subsequent searches failed to locate any beepers or survivors and the search for the remaining survivors was finally suspended. Also on the ground in the same vicinity was an F-4 crew who had likewise made contact and were awaiting Search and Rescue. As the rescue helicopter went in the next day, they crashed in heavy rains and low visibility - and now, there was a multitude of unfortunates awaiting rescue. A day or so later when the weather cleared, an HH-53 and Sandys arrived, first picking up the downed helicopter crew and then the F-4 crew before beginning the recovery of the B-66 crew. The rescue chopper reestablished radio contact with Mercer, Pedroli & Thompson and had them mark their positions with orange smoke flares. Mercer and Pedroli were picked-up, but when they went to Jim Thompson’s smoke he wasn’t anywhere to be found. It seems that Jim put thirst ahead of rescue, had left his hiding place and headed for a nearby stream for a drink. The helicopter came under hostile fire, and as they were exiting the area, someone saw Jim Thompson who was quickly scooped-up and they headed for friendly territory. After intelligence debriefing, a happy Pete Pedroli was surrounded by everyone in the officer’s club as we welcomed one of the greatest guys ever back into our midst. Pete repeatedly muttered “Why Me?” - which knowing Pete Pedroli, only meant “Why was I rescued and not the others?” Pete went on to complete his 100 missions over North Vietnam - and was still at Takhli several weeks after he should have rotated, when ***Colonel Giraudo saw Pete in the officer club and asked why he was still at Takhli. When Pete replied that he didn’t have an assignment, Colonel Giraudo got on the phone to MPC and was told that Pete Pedroli was MIA. Pete’s classification was quickly cleared-up, with the phone handed to Pete to state his assignment preference to MPC - Mather AFB. ***Maj. Gen. John C. Giraudo... Prisoner of War Medal (2) Not the Medal you want to be awarded TWICE!

[@pete2251]

The Aviation Geek Club: Only one EB-66 lost to MiGs....""The story of the North Vietnamese MiG-21 Fishbed fighters tasked to attack USAF EB-66 Destroyer electronic attack aircraft"" in the comments to this article, I gave the author more details on the Air Rescue operation.

[@lordofdiscord9941]

Well produced and enjoyable..well done

[@poiu477]

There's a great book about the SEALs rescue, called Saving Bravo. Great book

[@mandywalkden-brown7250]

Thanks for the reminder, I completely forgot it’s sitting in my library!

[@poiu477]

@@mandywalkden-brown7250 No sweat! Really enjoyed it on my first read, def earned a spot on the bookshelf

[@PvtPartzz]

Very happy to have found your channel! Thank you for your work. As someone else commented on another of your videos, these make for the perfect morning video to to with my coffee and breakfast

[@Wolfhound_81]

Wow, that was one of the best videos I saw on such a topic, well done and ofc I subbed.

[@kellihorton1142]

That carriers captain is a LEGEND and there is a monument to this event here in US

[@mr.nemesis6442]

No matter how costly a rescue operation, we must carry it out. This booze morale by letting people know that they’re not gonna get left behind no matter what.

[@frankie8000]

I live in Arizona and see the omni almost everyday its cool to see it was used in a rescue operation

[@nebulaone908]

What an absolutely amazing story. I admire the lengths the USAF went to save one single American. The policy of everyone goes home is something that I'm sure is very inspiring for everyone in the Air Force. However, that isn't without sacrifice, and sometimes, the price is high to rescue someone. But in my eyes, every life is priceless, which makes it difficult for me to come to a moral conclusion with this rescue when so many people died in the process. But then again, many heros have died in the process of saving someone. All who died for this pilot are heros; deserving of great remembrance and respect. "No greater love is there to sacrifice your life for a friend." -Bible.

[@boli1285]

The best aviation channel I have subscribed to so far.

[@fugguhber4699]

About, 40 years ago, I read the book; it was a great thriller......... and the movie ain't half bad either.

[@aluorine]

>get shot down >eject >land near an enemy convoy >simply designate targets Gigachad behavior

[@miilotheminer]

Go outside

[@valeriangelov5592]

I Really like your videos mate, keep up the great work !

[@change_your_oil_regularly4287]

Wow! Quality upload 👍

[@athiftsabit1208]

Damn, the production quality from Paper Skies is 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥

[@wombatgirl997]

I am imagining a situation like this that turns into a major ground offensive because one side keeps throwing more and more force behind trying to rescue someone, and the other side keeps sending more force there to counter.

[@coltsinglearmy]

You are so talented!These are excellent videos. Thank you! 😊Best of success!

[@revictimator]

Awesome stuff dude. Perhaps more volume? My tablet's speaker is like a mouse with a microphone heh.

[@gordonpeden6234]

I've watched the movie "Bat 21" It's a good movie.......... BUT.........This is much better. Excellent work sir.

[@dan0alda568]

This channel is under subbed. I have found Russia’s Mark Felton. Keep it up.

[@LeviForWaifu]

He's from Canada

[@grimwaltzman]

He's Ukrainian

[@acedogboy8421]

Mark felton. The king reader of wikipedia and stealing others work and no giving credit.

[@mortalclown3812]

@@acedogboy8421 Felton is a real historian, has written 22 books and has a PhD in history.

[@hoyschelsilversteinberg4521]

@@acedogboy8421 Yep Mark Felton really is just wikipedia reader. What ever the political narrative is, he follows.

[@SharpForceTrauma]

"So that others may live." -USAF PJ motto

[@Dancingonthesun]

In Ontario a plane crashed in rural, untracked forest in the 1950s. There were no roads, so the army proceeded to bushwack a trail for more than 50km. They made it in time to save one of the pilots beforw exposure got him, while the other died in the crash. My brother in law and his buddies took their 4 wheelers through the overgrown trail and took pictures. The plane is still there, strewn about across scratched rocks and broken trees. A plaque affixed to a tree describes the accident. Its spooky they didnt clean up at all, just grabbed the men and left. The place looks frozen in time

[@timnor4803]

Charlie Tuna was a terrible tasting cereal😂😂😂

[@myview5840]

What's wrong with farmed tuna fed on cocaine

[@ianababenkova2969]

Very interesting 👍

[@Roy-K]

0:31 Gotta say the coolest thing I’ve seen in a while, a BQ helo pilot from Nam. Gig Em Aggies! For context, the symbols on the back of his helmet stand for Texas A&M, and the treble clef is used in the Aggie Band’s logo. Considering the fact that this is a US Army Officer, I can conclude that pilot was a member of the Fighting Texas Aggie Band (of which I’m a current member)

[@clarencehopkins7832]

Excellent stuff bro

[@GicaForta]

At 2:15 that’s footage of a NATO wargame drill that took place in Romania at Deveselu. The markings on the vehicles is that of the Romanian Army Forces 🇷🇴

[@ThroneOfBhaal]

Rescuing ones comrades is one of the better things you can risk your life for. That was a heavy price to pay.

[@thereal757_ap]

I never knew of this incident. A lot of very real questions being asked, difficult decisions to make.

[@arthas640]

US Government: every life is sacred, we'll spend whatever it takes to get our boys back. No man gets left behind. Civilian: can I some insulin? I think I'm dying and it's like $10 Gov: sorry, we just dont have the money. You'll have to buy you're own $100 shot Civilian: dont mean $10? Gov: ... Civlian: you mean $10, right? Gov: ... Civlian: .... Gov: *flies POW flag*

[@ggoddkkiller1342]

It is just propaganda that ''every life is sacred'' so less American soldiers would defect!! Otherwise they wouldn't enlist 17 years old ignorant boys which still continues even today...

[@BichaelStevens]

@@ggoddkkiller1342 especially in Afghanistan now

[@Randomusername56782]

@@ggoddkkiller1342cant 17 year olds only enlist with permission from their parents in the US??

[@ggoddkkiller1342]

@@Randomusername56782 So? If their parents give permission they should jump from a bridge?? You can not drink, get a driver licence or rent a car in some states at age 17 but you can enlish to the army, ''hurrah''...

[@Randomusername56782]

@@ggoddkkiller1342 Again.. this doesn’t debunk my point that it requires both the decision of the minor and the consent of BOTH parents to join.. Which i might add you were framing it so that you could join at 17 or enlist without the consent of the minors parents and similiar to how someone would enlist above 18.

[@josephcole8875]

spectacular documentary!