[Vhfcn-l] TINS Rescue of Wolfman 44

[Darryl James]

I wrote this article for the VHPA Aviator. It was published in the most
recent edition. Hope you enjoy.

Rescue of Wolfman 44

Darryl James

Americal Divarty Air 68-69

Midland, Texas

 

By A. Darryl James, VHPA # L08838

This story was told to me by my friend Warren Fuller (VHPA # M13995) who
flew with me at Americal in his first tour. We drove Loaches with Americal
Divarty Air Section out of Chu Lai in I Corps in 1968 and 1969. CPT Fuller's
second tour was in 1972 and 1973 flying the Army King Air variant, RU-21D
near the DMZ with North Vietnam. He was with the 138th RR Avn. Co. out of
Phu Bai and later they moved to Da Nang when the NVA came across the DMZ in
October 1972. His mission flying the RU-21D was Airborne Direction Finding.
The aircraft utilized an airborne radio direction finding system called
'Laffing Eagle.'

The aircraft was configured with radios and electronics positioned along one
wall of the passenger compartment with two operators monitoring the
electronics for enemy radio activity to get position fixes and targets.

He typically flew these missions simultaneously with an OV-10, forward air
controller. The RU21D would find enemy radio positions and the OV-10 would
investigate potential targets. He called his OV-10 mission partner his 'sky
brother,' as they would only talk and saw each other's aircraft in the air
on missions. When their aircraft were in the Area of Operation, they would
announce their call signs and altitudes. They would remain at different
altitudes for safety. His frequent mission partner was CPT Frank Eagan,
USAF, call sign Covey 64 and back-seater, CPT Jon Patterson, USMC, call sign
Wolfman 44. CPT Fuller's call sign was Vanguard 969. CPT Fuller received the
DFC for his efforts in managing the rescue of the shot-down pilot in hostile
territory.

December 19, 1972

Warren Fuller climbed out of bunk and checked the time on his large gold and
silver Fossil watch he bought at the ROK PX in Da Nang on his first tour
driving the Loach. He jumped out of bed and stretched. It was still dark
with no sign of the approaching dawn. He showered, shaved and met up with
his co-pilot, CW2 Robert Collins for breakfast at the Officers Club. After
breakfast, Warren returned to his hootch and strapped on his M1911 Colt
pistol and holster. He draped his chicken plate over his shoulder and
grabbed his M16 and threw a bandoleer of M-16 ammunition over his other
shoulder. In his first tour, Warren carried the M1921 Thompson machine gun.
He longed for that gangster gun but could not get his hands on one this
tour. He grunted carrying all that heavy gear and sauntered down to
Operations.

He walked in and nodded to CW2 Collins. He no soon set his gear down and was
barked at by his CO, Major Charles Simerly who was sitting at his desk,
"About time you got here Fuller."

Fuller looked at his watch, "What the hell, Sir. My fancy watch says I am
not late. Why are you so grumpy at 'O Dark Thirty' this morning?"

"I am just messing with you. You and Collins are to take 521Z and surveille
within Sector IA just south of the DMZ. There you should meet up with your
Air Force sky buddy on Fox Mike 75 kHz channel."

"Roger, Boss," replied Fuller."

"And Captain, watch your ass. We lost an F4 there last week."

"Always Boss." Fuller turned to Collins and asked, "Did you get the weather
briefing, Bob?"

"Roger, Cap. No weather concerns."

"Good let's go."

"They retrieved their flight helmets and walked down to the flight line.
They met their crew chief who went over aircraft logs and exterior preflight
walk around with them. Inside the cabin, two electronics operators;
Intercept Operator, Sp5 Don Munn, and Direction Finding Operator, Sp5 Ed
Noltensmeyer, sat at their stations. They looked up as Fuller and Collins
climbed in.

Fuller quipped as he hefted his heavy gear on board, "How is it hanging this
morning, Gents?"

"Good, Cap," they replied.

"We will be surveilling Sector IA this morning. Keep us out of trouble, you
hear?"

"You got it, Sp5 Munn replied.

"Always," replied Sp5 Don Munn.

"Just another dull day in paradise," quipped CW2 Robert Collins.

"Yeah, whatever, let's get this pig in the air," stated CPT Fuller.

Fuller climbed in the left seat and Collins the right. Collins then went
through the checklist with Fuller as they started up the engines on the U21.

Fuller pressed the radio button on his control yoke, "Da Nang Tower this is
Vanguard Niner, Six Niner, requesting permission to taxi, over."

"Niner, Six Niner, you are cleared to the active, runway three five right.
Winds are from the northwest at 10 knots. The altimeter is two niner zero
zero. Information Romeo."

"Roger information Romeo."

"Da Nang Tower, Vanguard Niner, Six Niner is holding short of runway three
five right."

"Vanguard Niner, Six Niner, Da Nang Tower, you are cleared for takeoff.

Fuller pushed the throttles forward and lifted off. Collins pulled up the
gear and flaps as Vanguard 969 turned right and climbed to 10,000 feet.
Collins tuned the FM radio to 75 kHz. Fuller saw this and keyed the FM and
said, Vanguard Niner, Six Niner is approaching Sector I Alpha to work at
Angles 10 (10,000 feet MSL)."

"Roger, Vanguard Niner, Six, Niner, you got Covey Six, Four with you today
ol' buddy. I am at Angles 10 but will slide down to Angles 9."

"Roger, Covey Six, Four, replied Fuller.

"The Air Force & Marines have arrived, look out behind your left side ol'
buddy."

To Fuller's shock there was an OV-10 just a few feet off his left wing. He
replied "What the F**k. Are you crazy? Back off you nitwit!"

"Vanguard Niner, Six Niner, Easy does it wise guy. The Air Force taught us
how to fly."

"Yeah, Six, Four, but we are not the F**King Blue Angles."

"I just wanted to see what you Army pukes looked like. Hey what brown bag
lunch did the Air Force give you today?" Asked Covey 64.

"The usual gourmet fare, tuna fish, crackers and a sucky can of peaches that
I never eat," replied Vanguard 969.

"Hey I love those peaches," replied Covey 64.

"Hey Ass Holes this is Wolfman Four, Four in the back seat. I too especially
like them ol' peaches."

"You both can have them," replied Vanguard 969.

real realclose to you? Close enough to smell the tuna fish. Hell I knew you
were having tuna fish already."

This is Wolfman Four, Four, tell you what, I'll just open the hatch and grab
them off your wing when we come back."

"Hey Vanguard Niner Six Niner, before we leave, let me ask you a question,
Now what exactly is it you're doing up here with all those antennas hanging
off of your wings?"

"Covey Six, Four you ask me this every day. Your shtick does get old ol
buddy. I don't know how many times I have told you these are not antennae.
Their cooling fans. You know that ice cream you enjoy at the Officer's Club
in Da Nang has to be chilled at a certain altitude temperature and that's
why we have these cooling fans."

"That never was funny Niner, Six, Niner! Silly actually, your shtick always
sucked. Hey ol' buddy did I tell you I am getting pretty short, just thirty
short days and a wake-up and I am going home."

"You lucky devil you. I have a long way to go." Fuller paused then said, "Be
safe, Amigo. Hey, Six Four, are we going to work today or what?"

"Yeah, oh buddy, find me a target to work."

The OV-10 pilots gave him a thumbs up, did a double squelch break on the
radio, then drifted below and eased to the left of the U-21.

Thirty Minutes Later

Sp5 Don Munn poked Sp5 Ed Noltensmeyer seating next to him and said, "Ed I
got something. Ed also picked it up spun his dials creating a signal null,
pushed a button, and a printed slip of paper with the shot direction and
aircraft position came out. He pushed his intercom switch and said, "Captain
we got something come to course two five zero and we will shoot another
fix."

"Wilco," replied Captain Fuller.

Ten minutes later, Fuller switched radios and pressed his radio button and
said, "Covey Six Four, this is BAMA..I have coordinates."

"This is Covey Six, Four. Go ahead BAMA..ready to copy."

"Roger Covey Six, Four, Coordinates one six foxtrot lima one three five
seven eight niner."

"This is Covey Six, Four, I have Coordinates one six foxtrot lima one three
five seven eight niner."

This is Bama. That's a good copy.

Several minutes later, Covey 64 radioed standby fighter bomber support. "Jay
Hawk Niner, Two, this is Covey Six, Four, I have enemy artillery along a
tree line, will mark with Willy Peat (white phosphors rockets), Over.

"Roger, Covey Six Four, the lead fighter replied. Two minutes later, he
radioed, "Talley Ho Willy Peat...rolling in hot."

Covey 64 circled the target and keyed his mike, "This is Covey Six, Four.
Good shooting Air Force. Thanks for your help today. You are cleared to
base.

"Roger that Covey Six, Four, the Air Force is here to please.

Cover 64 double squelched his radio and drifted away south.

Twenty Minutes Later

Fuller and Collins's helmet headsets suddenly came alive over the guard
radio, "Mayday, Mayday, This is Covey Six Four, we have been hit with an
anti-aircraft rocket east of Dong Ha, turning east."

"Covey Six Four, this is Vanguard Niner Six Niner. We are heading your way.
Say altitude and status."

"Vanguard Niner Six Niner, good to hear your voice. We lost the port engine,
struggling with control and have a whole panel of caution lights flashing at
me. We are at 8,000 feet and descending."

"Roger, ol' buddy hang in there, we see you up ahead. Be there is ten
mikes."

"Aircraft on guard, this is Centaur Three."

"Centaur Three, this is Vanguard Niner, Six, Niner."

"Vanguard Niner, Six, Niner, We are 'balls to the wall,' and coming your
way. What kind of aircraft are you?"

"Uniform two one, Over.

"Roger, Vanguard Niner Six Niner, we are a flight of two, Hueys out of Tan
My. We are heading your way to assist."

"Roger, Centaur Three."

CWO Joe Bowen, call sign Centaur 3, of F Troop 4th Cav flying the right seat
of his Huey headed north. His flight of two UH-1D's pushed ahead toward the
developing drama in the sky near Dong Ha.

Covey Six Four, this is Vanguard Niner, Six, Niner. I have you insight ol'
buddy I am descending towards you from the southeast."

"Roger, Niner, Six, Niner. I'm descending through two thousand. We will
eject at eight hundred feet."

"Roger, Covey Six Four, we are diving through five thousand and will follow
you all the way down. Chopper help is on the way!

"Vanguard Niner Six Niner, We are punching out!"

"Roger, Covey Six Four, We will escort you down, my friend. God's speed!"

Fuller said anxiously to Collins on the intercom, "Bob, I only see one
shoot."

"Shit, I only got one chute," he replied.

They saw the stricken OV-10 pass across the shoreline and crash into the
South China Sea. Other assets listening on guard to the developing scene
offered came on the radio offering help. A Navy Destroyer turned to assist,
jet fighters that were assisting Covey Six Four earlier zoomed overhead
making a lot of noise to deter enemy on the ground and a ground commander on
the beach offered assistance. The radio became a chaotic jumble of
transmissions. CPT Fuller declared himself on-site commander to gain control
of the airwaves. From that point on coordinated efforts to assist.

Meanwhile, Fuller had his hands full flying as he descended lower.

CWO Collins in the right seat pointed and yelled over the intercom, "Cap I
see a rocket coming toward us."

Fuller turned and descended to the deck evading the handheld SA-7 rocket
only to be shot at by small arms fire.

Collins said, "Shit, Cap, we were not designed to be down here in the weeds
with bad guys shooting at us."

It was reported that at least three SA-7 rockets were fired at them as they
flew on the deck.

Jon Paterson now on the ground spoke into his handheld emergency radio,
"Vanguard Niner, Six, Niner, this is Wolfman Four, Four. I am on the ground,
unhurt. Some ARVN soldiers showed me where Covey Six, Four hit the ground.
Dear God, his chute never opened."

"That sucks," replied Vanguard 969 on the radio. "Huey's are inbound for you
Four, Four."

"Indeed we are," replied Centaur 3. Vanguard Niner, Six, Niner, this is
Centaur Three. I see you circling below us. I think I see your guy on the
beach waving with some ARVN soldiers. We are coming in."

Vanguard 969 replied, "Roger, we have some fast movers above and friendlies
moving in by ground."

"Roger that," replied Centaur 6. "How about climbing out of there and giving
me and my buddy some room?

"Roger, Centaur 6, we are climbing to two grand. Thanks!"

__________________________________________

CWO Joe Bowen, call sign Centaur 3, rescued Jon Paterson and the body of
Frank Eagan and took them to closest medical facility ARVN 1st Inf Div HQ.
The pilot, CPT Frank Eagan, and his back seat observer, CPT Jon Paterson,
were shot down east of Dong Ha with SA-7 shoulder-mounted heat-seeking
rocket. They punched out at 800 feet at the beach near the village of Trung
Nam in northernmost South Vietnam. Frank's chute didn't deploy and he died
on impact. Interestingly, the rescue was facilitated on the ground by what
were thought to be deserting NVA recon soldiers not ARVN soldiers (not
confirmed). The deserters apparently were traveling south along the beach to
Hue to surrender. They were given food and water by Joe Bowen's Huey crew.

Warren Fuller and his wife, Janie, met up Jon Peterson and his wife, Gail,
in September 2010 at lunch in Winston-Salem, Georgia. When he and Jon talked
about the shootdown and rescue, Jon pulled out the ejection seat handle from
38 years ago from a bag by his chair. They remain good friends.

You can read the Army's official description of the DFC award from the
following link:
<https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.wefpages.com%2Ffamily%2FDFC
%2520Award.pdf%3Ffbclid%3DIwAR3R-VnHM2UeAkwFrNRf3yDuoP2OxhPxVYoAxcYBAyZyZi0I
Hwq8qYDNjWs&h=AT29rSQaCl-tI6tEBdNz5gDl0RrW-5afmHwSivyh31HbnxCTKnCGliAO9qQcDd
Wk6f8iqTJ9fExEaBSEVncUY_YBjP-UH6e_MhT_7loVyf7tawdBNVbEYpuydiQcsTLTKkxKiSyDNn
T8YMCA7o1_JKOIxrZryrSIh44gOQ> http://www.wefpages.com/family/DFC%20Award.pdf