Hosted by PJs
in Vietnam
Last Update:
Sunday, July 15, 2007
Site Mission:
Provide Pararescue
and
Air Rescue History
The Kaman Helicopter Corporation manufactured the HH-43 helicopter. This helicopter was never intended to be used it combat. It was designed to be a local base rescue and fire fighting helicopter. This helicopter was known officially by the USAF as the "Husky." But to the the air rescuemen who flew it, and to the men it rescued, it was better known as "Pedro." There was normally only one Jolly Green Giant base in Thailand and another in Vietnam. The Pedro's were assigned to several bases inside Vietnam and Thailand. They were assigned as detachments to the 38 ARRS and at one time during the war, there were 14 Pedro detachments. Pedros were designated as local base rescue (LBR) and/or aircrew recovery (ACR). LBR units did not have PJs assigned to them. For most of the war, PJs were assigned to HH-43s designated to accomplish ACR missions. Helicopter mechanics were also assigned as aircrew members at ACR units. Most Pedro units were classified as LBR and they used base hospital medics instead of PJs. All Pedro units also had fire fighters assigned. The normal LBR Pedro crew was a pilot, copilot, medic and two fire fighters. The normal ACR crew consisted of pilot, copilot, PJ and flight mechanic.
This nickname "Pedro" came from the call sign used to identify it in flight. Few Americans are aware that the HH-43 was the first USAF SAR helicopter in the war, the last USAF SAR helicopter to leave Vietnam, and that it was credited with more combat saves than either the HH-3 or the HH-53 Jolly Green Giants. This is remarkable considering that it was unarmed, very small, had a relatively short range and its rotor blades were made of wood. But the men who flew it were made out of steel.
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During the Vietnam War, the Kaman Corporation put out a monthly news magazine titled "Kaman Rotor Tips." One of the monthly features was news reports of missions flown. Click on the links below to read about the missions flown by the brave air rescue men and their "Pedro." The Nov-Dec 1967 copy is in jpg format. All others are in Adobe Acrobat pdf format. If you need a free copy of Acrobat Reader, go to the bottom of my homepage and there is a link that will allow you to download a copy.
| Nov - Dec 1967 #1 | Nov - Dec 1967 #2 | Nov - Dec 1967 #3 |
| Jan - Feb 1968 (pdf file) | Kaman Forest Penetrator (pdf file) | Aug Sept 1968 (pdf file) |
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to: rlapointe@gci.net |
© Copyright 1999 Robert L. LaPointe. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part, in any form or medium, without the expressed written permission of Robert L. LaPointe is Prohibited |
