Jim Corcoran, presented by Jolly Green Association).

Those in the business of search and rescue (SAR) in combat are among America's greatest heroes, daring, courageous, selfless, committed to service and sacrifice, "That others may live," their motto.

Among the more well known Air Force (USAF) SAR capabilities in the Vietnam War were the "Jolly Green Giants," the HH-3E helicopters, and the "Super Jolly Green Giants" the HH-53 and their fearless air crews --- "Fighter pilots have no fear, Jolly Green Giants are always near."

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HH-3E "Jolly Green Giant"

The HH-3Es arrived in Vietnam in 1965. To many, this ushered in a new age in combat SAR operations. It is a twin-engine, heavy-lift helicopter. It boasts titanium armor plating, jettisonable external fuel tanks, internal self-sealing bladder-type fuel tanks under the cabin floor, a retractable in-flight refueling probe, two 7.62mm machine guns, a forest penetrator and a high speed rescue hoist with 240 feet of cable. Its cruising speed is 154 miles per hour

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Both editions of the Jolly Green were welcome sights to those fighting in Vietnam and Laos. When you examine SAR history in these Southeast Asian wars, you realize, perhaps for the first time, that American military involvement in these wars began in the late 1950s and early 1960s, years before the first Jolly Greens and their heroic crews showed up. You also become absorbed by how the men and machines involved in SAR in the early days made the seemingly impossible work with a brand of ingenuity under fire that makes your "pitter-patter go heart-heart."

You learn about the HH-43 "Huskie," more affectionately known as the "Pedro." Here's one at work, a "Little angel from above," with rotor blades made of wood and men made of steel.

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Major Jay Strayer and his HH-43 crew rescue a downed F-100 Pilot near the Mu Gia Pass in Laos, one of the most dangerous places at the time on Earth. Note the "Bearpaws" (landing gear assemblies) in the trees. This is when HH-43's were equipped with only 100 ft. of cable. They were later equipped with 218 ft. of cable. If you look closely at the bottom, center of the photograph, you can see the PJ being lowered to the ground to assist the injured pilot. Photo provided by Colonel Jay Strayer, USAF (Ret.), and presented by the "Unofficial" US Air Force HH-43 "Pedro" web site. As an aside, Strayer later was a HH-53 Jolly Green Giant co-pilot on the Son Tay POW Camp raid of November 20-21, 1970, Callsign "Apple Two."

The group of these little angels from above who used the call sign “Pedro,” and flew the HH-43 “Huskie,” operated machines that were not designed for the job they had to do. Their arrival, in June 1964, and their subsequent demonstrations of valor, are woven in history that today seems incredulous.

This history is central to understanding and appreciating the service and sacrifice of these Pedro crews, and the professionalism with which they flew their tough little machines.


The HH-43 Helicopter: At first sight, especially when compared to the Jolly Greens, this helicopter looks like a toy. It surely was not made for the job it was given.

The HH-43 deployment to war: The HH-43 was the first USAF SAR bird put into the Vietnam and Laos wars. Its deployment is not easy to understand, lots of acronyms, and a bunch of weird unit designations that said a great deal about the state of affairs with regard to SAR operations at the time they deployed.

Those daily acts of bravery that will mark the Pedros as heroes forever: The Pedro crews like to brag that their rotor blades were made of wood, but the men who flew her were made of steel! That must surely be true. One Medal of Honor, six Air Force Crosses, a host of Silver Stars, some 262 saves, with 1,473 assists and 12, 6123 scrambles to help those in trouble.
 

The fire suppression and local base recovery mission: This is the mission for which this aircraft was designed, one that demanded rapid response and an in-depth knowledge of a wide variety of aircraft carrying a wide variety of munitions. When the SAR mission was added, the Pedro air crews and their mighty machines were truly jacks of all trades, and they had to be exceedingly good at each one.