Combat Air Rescue in Vietnam and Laos

Experienced test pilot, veteran combat pilot, and author George Marrett shares his experience flying combat rescue missions in Vietnam and Laos. Produced by Jarel & Betty Wheaton for Peninsula Seniors www.pvseniors.org

[@j.w.perkins6004]

I had a buddy who drove Sandy's at Udorn. Bill Buice was shot down on his first solo mission. Marrett writes of him in Cheating Death. Bill lives in Pensacola today at 82yo. We flew together in Central America for a couple years. A dear friend for life. A great guy.

[@valuedhumanoid6574]

It's guys like this that makes freedom possible. A dedication to the craft, loyalty, strong sense of patriotism, the courage of ten men and a little humor to wrap it all together. If you see a guy like this still around, and they're getting thin in numbers these days, shake their hand, tell them thank you and God bless.

[@fastsetinthewest]

Nice presentation. I was in Army Aviation. Got back from the Republic of Vietnam and then was involved with training Vietnamese helicopter pilots at Hunter Army Airfield in Savannah, Georgia. So many good helicopter pilots got rifted out of the armed service in the 70s. My brother was a Cobra combat pilot in Vietnam. I lived for a couple of years down the street from the Torrance airport before the Rodney King riots. After the riots some hoodlums stole my pickup from a locked garage, I left California and moved to Texas. Eaglegards...

[@1sknightjazz]

RESPECT I was a Aircrew Life Support Specialist with the 38th Aerospace Air Rescue Squadron ARRS at Osan AB South Korea 1987-1988

[@pollydor07]

The place he mentioned was at or near DMZ where HMONG , THAI mercenary since 60’s. I was at Ho Chi Minh trail LAOS ATTAPEU BOLOVENS PAK SONG area 1970 . I was on few top hills PS-38 , PS- 72 , PS-165 . I got wounded on top hill PS-165 porter single engine picked me up next morning brought me to Laotian army base at PS-22 awaited C-123 landed brought me to the CIA hospital PS-18 training boots camp on the edge of Mekong River half Laos , half Thai near UBON province . My memory 1970 in LAOS as KHMER REPUBLIC ARMY Mercenary served the U.S CIA 1970 .

[@rick91443]

My dad's FAVORITE airplane, may his soul rest in peace. The stories he'd tell from the Korean War and the beatings they could take and keep on flying; loved them...rr

[@Rayhid1956]

Very interesting story and of course, unique to Mr. Marret's experiences in Viet Nam. These rescue guys were part of the teams of unsung heroes of the war this war.

[@pianoz4u1]

I was at Udorn also. 1970. A strategically located base for rescue missions.

[@Chriszlaststand]

I liked the story about Dieter Dengler's story. Poor guy shot down on he's first combat mission. I could relate to parts of his life experience. George is a Amazing man. I truly admire these aviators.

[@TrinhNguyen-nu3vy]

Thanks to all who served in the military and in Vietnam.

[@vliegendehollander55]

From Holland. All respect for him, he must have been a great pilot. We only can live longer with a bit more luck then another one. But for me its also a matter of knowledge and skills. Then you need less luck then other people...

[@dks13827]

Thank you Jarel, Betty, and Cindy for the most fabulous shows of all.

[@PacificAirwave144]

What an excellent talk! I love your presentations on KZbin.

[@nomorebikes]

Thank you for your service, sir and for an entertaining story. Though my Navy service was as an avionics tech (repaired that F-14 radar and inertial nav) and flight deck troubleshooter, I thoroughly appreciate the dedication and devotion to duty by those who fearless sought out to save our airmen.

[@ne1cup]

excellent , I was stationed at NKP so this brings back a lot of memories , thank you so much for posting this video , God Bless

[@56hueycobra]

Thank You For Your Service to Our Country and Welcome Home Sir!!! I Have Always Liked the F-4D Phantom II Jetfighters Mr.Marrett!!!

[@edwardhuett7924]

was crewchief at nkp 69 and danang A-1S WERE THE ANSWER IN THAT AREA OF LAOS AND NORTH VIETNAM FOR CLOSE AIR SUPPORT AND WE ALSO SUPPORTED SOG MISSONS OVER THE FENCE 5TH SPECIAL FORCES MANY PILOTS SAVED MANY TRAIL TEAMS IN CONTACT . GOOD TO HEAR FROM GEORGE THOSE GUYS DID AHELL OF AJOB 22S0S IN NKP AND OLAA IN DANANG

[@12gauge1oz]

Great stories, great American! Thank you for your service.

[@nbadhorse]

Sir. First let me say Welcome Home. I was a crew chief with the 40th ARRS from Jan 71 to Jan 72. About your comment on no night rescues. Two of our Jolly's were modified by the addition of a night vision system. Called LNRS for Limited Night Recovery System. To my knowledge they were not used in combat. At the time we were told the system was to costly to put in harms way. Needless to say this did not sit very well with us. Also about your open canopy. I did a 30 day TDY at Ubon supporting the two alert helicopters we kept there. One day I watched an A-1 taxi out and he had his canopy open and was wearing a long white scarf that streamed down the side of the airplane. It looked great!By the way, we hated it when Air America got to the downed pilot first. Obviously it was for the best that they did.

[@rainbowher7609]

Mr. George Marrett your story was at my times over p d j(Barelroll) on our head doing refueling like a group of dragonfly circle around and around. that nice to hear your ford.

[@erictaylor5462]

17:00 Which is why these guys were not allowed to buy their own alcohol. They could drink it of course, but these guys never paid for their own drinks. Huge balls, these guys had.

[@parrotraiser6541]

Converting to a propellor aircraft after flying jets must have been tricky, starting with the start procedure. The cockpit's about twice the distance off the ground. A prop taildragger has all sorts of nasty little habits that can bite you taxiing, taking off, and landing. It will decide it wants to go somewhere other than where it's pointing, and that takes some dancing to prevent. Jet jockeys are notoriously dead from the waist down, they're not used to playing footsie with the machine.

[@cleeshann1928]

Thanks for sharing Great Stories!

[@davidtrindle6473]

Kama kaze wore helmets for same reason all pilots. Radio communication, warmth, crew communication (many flights required 3 crewman

[@burtthebeast4239]

Thank you Sir 👍

[@robertreese2518]

What an incredibly entertaining story, Sir! Thank you for your remarkable account, and above all else, Thank you for your Service and Welcome Home!

[@philbyd]

Awesome channel:great presentations every one: thanks

[@mrcarlo1966]

That was great..Thanks!🇺🇸

[@lostcreek163]

Good video! Was in 602nd flying in the same squadron 7/69-70.

[@robertATC60]

Thank You

[@bellazuniga993]

Well done and good presentation to group.

[@taofledermaus]

Great stories. Very cool to have a model made of his plane.

[@zman1508]

A fantastic channel

[@TheFietek]

700k subs and views this channel! That how you know it's good ;) :D

[@smokster0604]

God Bless You.....

[@treim94968]

I do have the hobby master model of your plane.And it's great to put a story behind it.Thank's for your service and I'm going to read your book.Enjoyed your video too.

[@danmatthews7055]

I have a friend flying A1 in1965 was lost 10 minutes after takeoff and has not found to my knowledge.

[@TheRokko66]

So entertaining and cool talk! I enjoyed it :)

[@ytugtbk]

Great stuff. You are a well-spoken combat vet.

[@rolandprotoy5752]

Yeap, as a retired French military helicopter pilot, (born in 1944) I enjoy listening to you Mr Marrett. I find your diction very articulate. Your story bring me back a LOT of good memories.I grew up 8 km from Chaumont AFB in France.They were some F86 low flying I saw once a delta wing landing, F105, the Skyblazer team ... Some US families lived in my very small village (Bricon) during their tour and the father of one of the families was a chief sergeant on the Air Police and sometimes he brought me with his family at the Base in the PX and the cinema. They were very very very friendly people.

[@paser11385]

Sandys did provide support for ground units operating in Laos, 6 to 9 man S.O.G Recon teams operating across the fence.

[@walkaway6353]

You are absolutely correct sir. Big Big help went time to break contact and sneak back home.

[@ne1cup]

I called them Ravens?

[@loukeith]

Ken P, Hondo, Walkaway: SOG Mobile Launch Team 3 was located at NKP with 15 Green Berets. The USAF 21st SOS provided three CH3 helos for insertion and extraction of the CCN recon teams in and out of Laos. Sandy A1Es were the primary escorts for the CH3s and they saved our butts on many occasions. De Oppresso Liber, Delta Oscar Charlie.

[@kennettle]

interesting to hear your story

[@erictaylor5462]

45:30 We didn't lose Vietnam by failing to defeat the Enemy, we lost because our goal was to protect the South Vietnam Government. The US was never defeated in Vietnam, but they never tried to take out the threat. They just played deference the entire time.

[@American.Prometheus]

Everyone seems to forget the Walker Family and the > Øne Million TS/S/Q Clearance Secrets they just gave away to the USSR and North Vietnam 🇻🇳..... THAT'S WHY WE LOST......... RËGÄRDS COMMANDER JOHN

[@simonjester0074]

Really enjoyed this 🌞 💜

[@erictaylor5462]

6:00 Now those guys had real balls. To go into combat in the 60's in a prop plane!

[@ne1cup]

the sandy pilots were the easiest going and would talk to us ground crews

[@joescheller6680]

The old prop version of the F4 I believe A 4 fighter shot down a Russian. Mig. In nam. Officially recorded. They could out maneuver them

[@mattb8436]

I think I met him years ago at sun n fun in Lakeland FL.

[@robertpayne2717]

The spad, skyraider, replaced by A-10 warthog but, not by much

[@philgiglio7922]

Every A1 I've ever seen has that black oily soot near the exhaust stacks.

[@jeffreyskoritowski4114]

The Navy pilots call sign was stage coach 304.

[@erikkunkle9574]

Sir, I have that model. You will be proudly on display in my garage.

[@jeffreyskoritowski4114]

I miss wings and airpower. Mr. Howard's story ran 3 issues.

[@SEOTeamBerlin]

:-D good humor - it's a very interesting story and biography .. maybe for me most amazing is George's personal contact to "The Aviator" for so many years, - me having been an aviation freak ever since I was 12 y.o., the movie I've already seen, so I'll check out how I can order his book about Howard Hughes over here in good old EU (well yes, EU is in difficult times ;-) ) - so may George enjoy many more years of good and healthy life

[@wigglethemiddle1]

Wow great talk, funny guy too

[@Juzgames]

as modeller doing miniature plan...holycow tht is cool ....having ur own plane into model...he should build it !

[@ne1cup]

I build the balsa and paper model, the airframe design is so good , it just wants to fly..sadly after many crash landing my model had to be buried..

[@catchaser52]

Good Man.

[@iangarrott21]

Good one

[@goutvols103]

Just interesting that although he was a test jet pilot, he flew prop planes in Vietnam.

[@joescheller6680]

the prop planes did all the dirty work in nam they were very well represented and could do very well in observation and strikes and were capable of landing in unfinished air strips where it was nessesary at times. many troops were escorted and dropped by parachute from old prop cargo planes and much needed supplies

[@j.w.perkins6004]

When your a USAF pilot, you could be flying F-4s in a squadron for 2-3 years and get an assignment that would maybe put you as a test pilot at Edwards. Generally if you flew fighters, you would stay in fighters. If you were assigned as a tanker pilot or "Heavy" aircraft ... you stayed there. Fighters are included as "closer air support" whether it was jet or prop. The fact is.... If your a rated pilot, you can be assigned to anywhere or anything, but generally you stayed in the class of aircraft you were originally trained in.

[@erictaylor5462]

57:00 If you are rescued him sure, but they put him back, so yea, it doesn't count.

[@seanberthiaume3279]

serious balls and quite intelligent...gimmie some flying lessons Damn!

[@donbrassco301]

Now para resue come save you👏

[@jackhume4532]

Interesting story from someone who actually saw combat in south east Asia?????.

[@non.ya.business3610]

Who named The Gooney Bird?

[@hughsmith4008]

Bring the Troops home

[@KurtAlfemberg]

FLY AIR AMERICA! SHUTTLE SERVICE...