Download or read book Combat Search and Rescue in Desert Storm written by Darrel D. Whitcomb and published by . This book was released on 2006 with total page 328 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Budgetary, political, and organizational changes left the USAF unprepared for the combat search and rescue (CSAR) mission going into Desert Storm. Colonel Whitcomb relates his and others2 experiences from CSAR in Southeast Asia and examines the organization that was established to provide CSAR services in the Iraq-Kuwait theater of operations. He traces each incident from beginning to end along with the tactical and sometimes strategic implications. Scores of interviews, e-mails, and published works provide a compendium of lessons learned and recommendations gleaned from those who flew the missions and made the decisions in Iraq.
Download or read book Combat Search and Rescue in Desert Storm written by Retired, Darrel D. Whitcomb,, Darrel DWhitcomb , USAFR, Retired and published by . This book was released on 2011-08-01 with total page 324 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: As a third-class cadet at the US Air Force Academy in July of 1970, I saw the war in Vietnam as a major determinant of my future. I just did not know then what part I might play in the conflict and felt a youthful, impatient need to decide on my Air Force career so I could see myself in what looked like the war of my generation. I found my calling on a beautiful California afternoon when 22 of us cadets were treated to a ride in an HH- 53C Super Jolly Green Giant of the Air Rescue and Recovery Service, a part of the Military Airlift Command. I enjoyed the ride. I sat beside a pararescueman, or "PJ," looking out at the treetops as we skimmed along. Turns were exciting, with the crew windows open up front and the wind flowing through the cabin. Unlike the rides I had taken in fighters and bombers, I was not breathing through a rubber mask, and I felt like I was in touch with the world below-a participant instead of a spectator. Afterwards, TSgt Stu Stanaland, the PJ, explained that the pilot, Maj Marty Donohue, was one of the best in the rescue business. Months later back in school, we were all captivated by news of the attempt to rescue US prisoners of war (POW) at Son Tay in North Vietnam. When I learned that the raid had been conducted using rescue helicopters, I read all I could find about the mission. President Nixon later decorated the mission leaders, saying they had performed flawlessly and fought courageously without losing a man; and the mission had not succeeded only because of bad intelligence-the POWs had been moved from the Son Tay camp. As I watched the presentation on television, I spotted Major Donohue among the honorees. Now I was hooked. I made a career decision to fly helicopters, get into rescue, and join those guys for life. That resolution held up through my senior year when the commandant of cadets told all us prospective helicopter pilots we were making a mistake that would deny us a rewarding career. "If you become helicopter pilots, you will not be in my Air Force," he said. Still, it was what I wanted most to do and what I did. While in HH-53 transition, the most respected instructor pilot-an Air Force Cross recipient named Ben Orrell-told me rescue was a job to be proud of and that it would be sufficient in itself to make a career rewarding. Soon after, and still a second lieutenant, I flew my first combat mission-the Mayaguez recovery in 1975. We flew as wingman to another HH-53, which included Sergeant Stanaland among its crew members. I had joined those rescue guys. The years between then and now have seen many changes but almost nothing new. The rescue men-and now also women- are called to enter dangerous territory, flying low and slow, going where a usually faster, less-vulnerable aircraft has recently been shot down. Instead of having a couple of days' time to prepare and entering the mission into the air tasking order (ATO) several days prior to execution, the rescue folks go there from a "cold start" launch from alert status. They could enhance their preparation by reading the ATO and plotting where the danger areas for shoot-downs might be, but a large, complex air campaign may cover an entire country. As you may deduce from this book, a major lesson learned from Desert Storm is that making the command and control arrangements murky and time-consuming further complicates the task of air rescue. Also, they may not be adequately equipped for the mission, yet the demand for immediate, must-succeed operations remains. During the first Gulf War of 1991, air rescue was in a state of transition and largely performed by aircraft and crews assigned to special operations units.
Download or read book Leave No Man Behind written by George Galdorisi and published by Zenith Press. This book was released on 2008 with total page 672 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The history of a near-century of combat search and rescue, with an account of how the discipline was created and how it is administered—or neglected—today.
Download or read book United States Army Special Forces In DESERT SHIELD DESERT STORM How Significant An Impact written by Major William M. Johnson and published by Pickle Partners Publishing. This book was released on 2014-08-15 with total page 143 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This study investigates the contributions made by the U.S. Army Special Forces (SF) during the Persian Gulf conflict. Particular emphasis is placed on each mission performed by the SF during operations DESERT SHIELD/ DESERT STORM. Emphasis is placed initially on the building-block foundation of how a Special Forces Group (Airborne) is organized, paying particular attention to the operational A-detachment and the makeup of the SF soldier, which is paramount to this study. Brief accounts and descriptions are made of the various missions assigned to SF's coalition warfare support, which involved providing "ground truth" and close air support to the Arab-allied units, border surveillance; direct action; special reconnaissance; and combat search and rescue. This provides a base of knowledge into the myriad of operations conducted by the SF during Operations DESERT SHIELD/STORM. The study concludes by examining published quotes from key leadership within the Department of Defense which provides this study with a measurable means of determining what significance the missions executed by the SF did have on the success of DESERT SHIELD/STORM.
Download or read book Combat Search and Rescue written by Brandon T. Losacker and published by . This book was released on 2019 with total page 100 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: "This research paper analyzes historical data from Southeast Asia, Operation Desert Storm, and Operation Allied Force to identify combat search and rescue (CSAR) helicopter shortfalls that endanger viable personnel recovery in a major theater war. It identifies still- relevant survivability requirements and suggests a helicopter fleet size based on historical asset density ratios. A comparative mission planning analysis reframes the benefit of increased helicopter speed in terms of reduced fighter and tanker requirements for long- range CSAR. This analysis of historical and contemporary issues informs a four- phase proposal to equip and organize the CSAR helicopter force for future relevance. The phased proposal leverages existing solutions--such as vectored thrust ducted propeller (VTDP) technology--to upgrade the forthcoming HH-60W at a significant cost and time advantage over other potential vertical lift CSAR solutions. Implementing the proposed upgrades to the HH-60W will produce 200-210 knot helicopters well suited for CSAR, Light Attack Support, and Strike Control. This multi- role utilization provides operational value and is aligned with Air Force precedent and existing roles and missions agreements. This paper assumes major war is markedly possible in the next ten years, but absent such a war, it still seeks to posture Air Force combat helicopters as an airpower contributor for lower- intensity conflict. Viable and effective CSAR is an asymmetric advantage during attritional air warfare; it is also a moral obligation. The current and planned CSAR helicopter fleet is not adequate to fulfill the Air Force's sacred assurance that it will not leave its warriors behind. Change is required, and time may be short."--Abstract.
Download or read book Moral Imperative written by Darrel Whitcomb and published by University Press of Kansas. This book was released on 2020-12-13 with total page 384 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: In 1972, America was completing its withdrawal from the long and divisive war in Vietnam. Air power covered the departure of ground forces, and search and rescue teams from all services and Air America covered the airmen and soldiers still in the fight. Day and night these military and civilian aircrews stood alert to respond to “Mayday” calls. The rescue forces were the answer to every man’s prayer, and those forces brought home airmen, sailors, marines, and soldiers downed or trapped across the breadth and depth of the entire Southeast Asia theater. Moral Imperative relies on a trove of declassified documents and unit histories to tell their tales. Focusing on 1972, Darrel Whitcomb combines stories of soldiers cut off from their units, advisors trapped with allied forces, and airmen downed deep in enemy territory, with the narratives of the US Air Force, Army, Navy, Marines, contract pilots, and special operations teams ready to conduct rescues in Laos, Cambodia, North Vietnam, and South Vietnam. All of these missions occur against the backdrop of our withdrawal from the war and our diplomatic efforts to achieve a lasting peace. In detail, Whitcomb shows how American rescue forces supported the military response to the North Vietnamese’s massive three-pronged invasion of South Vietnam, America’s subsequent interdiction operations against North Vietnam, and ultimately the strategic bombing of Linebacker II.
Download or read book Combat Search and Rescue written by Victor E. Renuart and published by . This book was released on 1992 with total page 0 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Combat search and rescue (CSAR) was born during World War II as attempts to rescue airmen returning from bombing raids in Germany proved viable. In every war since then rescue forces have proven invaluable as they have saved thousands of American lives. The problem has always been the manning and training of rescue forces after the completion of a conflict. Attempts to increase the force structure and the budget have routinely failed due to a lack of interest in peacetime search and rescue and failure to document the capability in wartime. Following the U.S. return from Vietnam the Aerial Rescue Service (ARS) was mission capable. During the subsequent draw-down of the services it was again gutted. Its nadir was recently when it could not meet the requirements for deployment to Desert Storm. The problems include a lack of force structure and training. Additionally, many of the assets are in the reserve component and are very difficult to deploy on short notice. Most modernized rescue assets have been transferred to the Special Operations Command, including the HH53 helicopters and the HC-130 refuelers. This command currently has the capability to perform CSAR, but not the mission. The Air Staff has recommended four options to solve the problems of rescue in the future. The authors have recommended a fifth option that would transfer command of the ARS from Military Airlift Command and align it with the Air Combat Command, the principal user.
Download or read book All for One written by Robert L. LaPointe and published by PJs in Vietnam. This book was released on 2002-05-27 with total page 178 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The official United States Air Force report is called “Rescue at Ban Phanop.” But, to the hundreds of men who flew on this mission, it is simply known as “Boxer 22.” It was the largest search and rescue (SAR) mission in the Vietnam War that resulted in a survivor being rescued by a USAF helicopter. The recovery area was on the Ho Chi Minh Trail near the small village of Ban Phanop. For 3 days hundreds of airplanes fought to protect and rescue two pilots. Hundreds of NVA troops were equally determined to prevent the rescue. The resulting heroics by the air rescue force against seemingly impossible odds are legends that are still told at USAF fighter squadrons around the world. Read to what extremes your Air Force went to rescue “Just One Man”.
Download or read book Special Ops Search and Rescue Operations written by Carol Hand and published by The Rosen Publishing Group, Inc. This book was released on 2014-12-15 with total page 66 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The heroic combat search and rescue work of the United States Air Force’s pararescue jumpers, or PJs, is something worth knowing about. After all, these courageous PJs are the first in line to find and rescue fallen soldiers and civilians in the most dangerous of war zones—often risking their own lives in the process. In these pages, the basic principles, history, and structure of American combat search and rescue teams is thoroughly covered, with particular focus on true stories of PJ rescue missions and the equipment, vehicles, and weapons they use.
Download or read book Combat Search and Rescue written by Victor E. Renuart and published by . This book was released on 1992 with total page 32 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Combat search and rescue (CSAR) was born during World War II as attempts to rescue airmen returning from bombing raids in Germany proved viable. In every war since then rescue forces have proven invaluable as they have saved thousands of American lives. The problem has always been the manning and training of rescue forces after the completion of a conflict. Attempts to increase the force structure and the budget have routinely failed due to a lack of interest in peacetime search and rescue and failure to document the capability in wartime. Following the U.S. return from Vietnam the Aerial Rescue Service (ARS) was mission capable. During the subsequent draw-down of the services it was again gutted. Its nadir was recently when it could not meet the requirements for deployment to Desert Storm. The problems include a lack of force structure and training. Additionally, many of the assets are in the reserve component and are very difficult to deploy on short notice. Most modernized rescue assets have been transferred to the Special Operations Command, including the HH53 helicopters and the HC-130 refuelers. This command currently has the capability to perform CSAR, but not the mission. The Air Staff has recommended four options to solve the problems of rescue in the future. The authors have recommended a fifth option that would transfer command of the ARS from Military Airlift Command and align it with the Air Combat Command, the principal user.
Download or read book DANGER CLOSE The Rescue of ODA 525 written by Rhys Thomas and published by Lulu.com. This book was released on 2016-12-21 with total page 258 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: February 24th, 1991: It's the first day of the ground war in Operation Desert Storm. To support the massive attack, an eight man US Army Special Forces team is inserted 150 miles inside Iraq to covertly reconnoiter a key highway connecting Baghdad and Kuwait. The members of the team--designated "Operational Detachment Alpha-525"-are known among their peers as "The Sharkmen." This is their first combat mission in Desert Storm. If this had been a perfect mission no one would have known they were there. They would have dropped in, done their job for a week, then exited under cover and returned to base. But this isn't a perfect mission. Within hours it will all go to hell. This is the true story of the improbable rescue of ODA-525, told in the words of the men who were there, on the ground and in the air.
Download or read book U S Air Force Air Combat Command Takes Control of Rescue Forces written by and published by . This book was released on 2006 with total page 26 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The USAF moving of the Combat Search and Rescue (CSAR) mission from Air Combat Command (ACC) to Air Force Special Operations Command (AFSOC) in 2003 left out many of the key players involved in a traditional CSAR task force (CSARTF), specifically the On Scene Commander (OSC), Rescue Mission Commander (RMC), Rescue Escort (RESCORT), and the Airborne Mission Coordinator (AMC). Moving helicopters and support aircraft under the guise of moving the CSAR mission to AFSOC, without considering the other key players of CSAR, placed an overemphasis on the helicopter as the key element of CSAR. This organizational focus on the helicopter as CSAR has led to a lack of unity of effort. This has had negative implications in the organizing, training, and equipping of CSAR forces. While the capability of the USAF to conduct CSAR has not degraded to the same level as pre-Desert Storm, it is critical that it not regress further due to a continual disassociation of the AMC, OSC, RMC, and RESCORT roles from the CSAR mission. In April 2006, the Chief of Staff of the Air Force moved the CSAR mission back to ACC. This move offers the USAF a unique opportunity to align its Tactics, Techniques, and Procedures with Air Force and Joint Doctrine. Additionally, the move allows the USAF to reemphasize its role in organizing, training, and equipping CSAR forces to bring unity of effort to this critical mission. ACC should consider assigning a single person to act as both the Point of Contact (POC) and the Program Element Monitor (PEM) for all CSAR matters. The CSAR POC/PEM could act as team leader for a CSAR working-group that should include experts in the following roles: Joint Personnel Recovery Center, AMC, OSC, RMC, RESCORT, Recovery Vehicle (RV)-helicopters, RV support, Pararescue Jumpers, and Survival, Evasion, Resistance, and Escape.
Download or read book Five Nickels written by Jim “Boots” Demarest and published by Permuted Press. This book was released on 2022-02-15 with total page 221 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: On February 15, 1991, Captain Steve Phillis was leading his wingman, Lieutenant Rob Sweet, on their thirtieth combat mission of Desert Storm flying the A-10 Warthog. They were tasked with attacking Iraq’s vaunted Medina Division of the Republican Guards—by far their most dangerous mission of the war. Near the end of their attacks, Rob was forced to eject from his aircraft and began a five-minute parachute ride down to the troops he and Steve had just finished bombing. Steve, an experienced combat search and rescue pilot and distinguished graduate of the Air Force Fighter Weapons School, immediately sprang into action to save the life of his wingman. After spending three minutes and forty-five seconds circling Sweet, Steve’s A-10 was hit by an enemy surface-to-air missile. Five Nickels: True Story of the Desert Storm Heroics and Sacrifice of Air Force Captain Steve Phillis, is a love story. Steve loved his family, fiancée, fellow fighter pilots, country, wingman, and life. Yet he was willing to risk them all to fight—and if necessary, die—for what he believed in. Steve’s story—from Rock Island, Illinois to the Air Force Academy, to his life as an A-10 fighter pilot—is the stuff of heroes. As Steve’s Academy classmate and boxing partner, fellow fighter pilot and “Top Gun” graduate, Jim “Boots” Demarest is uniquely qualified to tell Steve’s story. A gifted storyteller, Boots shares his experience with Steve from the Academy Boxing Team to paint a complete picture of the man who had so much to live for, yet was willing to risk it all to do the right thing. Five Nickels is filled with the details of Steve’s life and loves that will capture, enchant, and pull readers in. His story of combat heroics in the face of incredible danger will captivate and inspire all who read it.
Download or read book The Praetorian STARShip the untold story of the Combat Talon written by and published by DIANE Publishing. This book was released on 2001 with total page 507 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Jerry Thigpen's study on the history of the Combat Talon is the first effort to tell the story of this wonderfully capable machine. This weapons system has performed virtually every imaginable tactical event in the spectrum of conflict and by any measure is the most versatile C-130 derivative ever produced. First modified and sent to Southeast Asia (SEA) in 1966 to replace theater unconventional warfare (UW) assets that were limited in both lift capability and speed the Talon I quickly adapted to theater UW tasking including infiltration and resupply and psychological warfare operations into North Vietnam. After spending four years in SEA and maturing into a highly respected UW weapons system the Joint Chief of Staff (JCS) chose the Combat Talon to lead the night low-level raid on the North Vietnamese prison camp at Son Tay. Despite the outcome of the operation the Talon I cemented its reputation as the weapons system of choice for long-range clandestine operations. In the period following the Vietnam War United States Air Force (USAF) special operations gradually lost its political and financial support which was graphically demonstrated in the failed Desert One mission into Iran. Thanks to congressional supporters like Earl Hutto of Florida and Dan Daniel of Virginia funds for aircraft upgrades and military construction projects materialized to meet the ever-increasing threat to our nation. Under the leadership of such committed hard-driven officers as Brenci Uttaro Ferkes Meller and Thigpen the crew force became the most disciplined in our Air Force. It was capable of penetrating hostile airspace at night in a low-level mountainous environment covertly to execute any number of unconventional warfare missions.
Download or read book Gulf War Air Power Survey written by Thomas A. Keaney and published by . This book was released on 1993 with total page 0 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:
Download or read book Rescuing Downed Aircrews written by Christopher A. Mouton and published by Rand Corporation. This book was released on 2015 with total page 0 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This report describes research to quantify the "rescuability window" of downed aircrews to assist the U.S. Air Force's reassessment of its personnel recovery force structure.
Download or read book Combat Search and Rescue A Longer Look written by and published by . This book was released on 2000 with total page 9 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: In this article, Colonel Whitcomb looks at a casualty status unique to combat aviation -- that of the downed air crew. In this sense, casualty aversion relates to our strong desire to rescue our people and our historical practice of doing so. As Whitcomb points out, however, an inverse relationship appears to exist between the level of effort directed toward combat search and rescue (CSAR) and the level of military and political effort/commitment involved in any particular conflict. Important to the issue is recognizing that CSAR is combat, not just rescue. Looking at CSAR historically, the accomplishment of five things dramatically increases the chances of a successful rescue. First is the matter of position -- we have to find the survivor(s). Position appears to have value on four levels: strategically, operationally. tactically, and precision. Second, we must establish communication with the survivor(s) and those agencies necessary to plan, coordinate, command, and execute the rescue. Third, we have to have a recovery vehicle. Fourth, we need to have smart survivors. As a recent CSAR report states, "Survivor actions are an integral part of the success or failure of any rescue operation." Fifth, we must be able to establish around that survivor the necessary level of situational superiority so that we can control events long enough to effect the recovery. The article includes descriptions of several historical examples of CSAR from World War II, the Korean War, the Vietnam War, the Persian Gulf War, and the Balkans War. Finally, the author turns to pathos, the emotional "why" of all this. Several reasons come to mind. First is human nature. Second is the fact that we can. Third, rescue operations involve a morale factor for our troops, something General Hap Arnold noted in World War II. Fourth, rescuing our people denies the enemy a valuable resource. Last, a covenant or bond binds the brotherhood of airmen.
