Roy Spencer
Fellow, Air Force, Vietnam Veteran
Rescue Heros
On 27, March 1972, Capt., David E Pannabecker, pilot; Capt., Richard E Dreher, co-pilot; Sgt., James Manor, flight engineer; Sgt., Raymond J Crow, Jr, and A1C, Raymond A. Wagner, pararescueman/recovery specialist; comprised, the crew of a HH53C, Super Jolly, Green Giant, Call Sign, Jolly 23, on an morning, escort mission, into Cambodia. The aircraft departed, Nakhom Phanom, Airbase, at 0830, hours, as the #2, aircraft, in a flight, of two. Following aerial refueling, over southern Thailand, the two, Super Jolly's rendezvoused, with the rest, of the flight. Upon sighting the aircraft, to be escorted, Lead radioed, "Tally Ho," the signal acknowledging, he had visual contact, with the other, aircraft. When there was no response, from Capt., Pannabecker's helicopter, Lead attempted, to locate him, visually. After completing, a 180-degree turn, Lead reported seeing a column, of black smoke, rising, from the dense, jungle, 5, miles away. Small hamlets and villages, were scattered throughout, the area along, with small clearings, rice fields and patches, of bamboo. A search and rescue/recovery, (SAR.) pararescue team, from the Lead helicopter, was lowered to the ground, at the crash site, to check, for survivors. During the over, three hours, the team spent, on the ground, they could not, approach near enough, to the burning, wreckage, to determine, if there were crew members, trapped, inside the aircraft, due, to the intense heat. However, the team searched, the surrounding area and reported finding, two partially deployed, parachutes, but no trace, of the men, who, had used them, near the burning helicopter. Later that afternoon, a second, rescue team, was deployed, in the immediate area, of the crash. They reported, the fire was, out and the aircraft, had been completely, destroyed. They also reported, no remains, were visible. There were no further attempts, to locate, or recover, any crewmen, from the downed, Super, Jolly Green, due, to the presence, of hostile forces, who had moved, into the area. At the time, the formal, search effort, was terminated, Richard Dreher, David Pannabecker, Raymond Wagner, James Manor and Raymond Crow, were all declared, Killed in Action/Body Not Recovered, even though it, was never determined, if they all actually died, in the crash.
Mar 27, 2007 |
