NOTE: This is a verbatim transcript of a very poor quality primary source document. The original document is a press release. It and the photograph were provided to me by Ed Koebernik. Ed was a flight engineer at the 37^th ARRS and he flew on this mission on 5 May 1970

“BUFF MAKES FIRST SAVE” DM05-70-6

by Capt. Mike Fresl

DA NANG AB, Republic of Vietnam (7AF) – An HH-53 Rescue Helicopter from the 37^th Aerospace Rescue and Recovery Squadron (ARRS), stationed here, has recently chalked up its first rescue.

Prior to the arrival of the “Buffs” (Big Ugly Friendly Fellows) as they are called by Southeast Asia aircrews, all search and rescue (SAR) operations originating from the Republic of South Vietnam had been conducted with the HH-3E helicopter, commonly called the “Jolly Green Giant.” The Buffs at Da Nang AB are the first and only HH-53s flying SAR missions from the Republic of South Vietnam.

The “Buffs” have now augmented the “Jolly Green’s” at Da Nang AB. The 37^th ARRS had up to the Buff save compiled a record of 557 individual saves since becoming operational in 1965.

The credit for the first rescue with the newly arrived “Buff” went to Captain Donald T. Thompson, aircraft commander, and his crew Captain John T. Lindgren, copilot, Staff Sergeant Edward J. Koebernik, flight engineer; Technical Sergeant John F. Heitch and Staff Sergeant Dennis T. Duffy, both rescue specialists.

“Actually, the rescue was a double save,” stated Capt. Thompson, “as the downed aircraft was an RF-4 south of here. We picked both crew members out of very thick jungle east of the A Shau valley. They were saves 558 and 559 for the 37^th, but the first rescue with our recently arrived “Buffs.”

“When we landed back at Da Nang our crew chief Staff Sergeant Billie J. Barnes had his paint brush handy and stenciled the “Buff” with its first save,” concluded Capt. Thompson.

“This is the beginning of a new era for the 37^th here at Da Nang Air Base,” stated Lieutenant Colonel Albert L. Holcomb, 37^th ARRS Commander. “That Others May Live,” is the motto of the Aerospace Rescue and Recovery Service, and we are happy that the “Buff” has chalked up its first satisfied customers,” concluded Lt. Col. Holcomb.

back row, left to right; John Lindrren (coilot), Richard Moffitt (survivor), Don Thompson (pilot) Ed Koebernik (FE)

front row, left to right; Dennis Duffy (PJ), John Heitch (PJ), Billie Barnes (crew chief)

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