The Unofficial U.S. Air Force HH-43B/F "PEDRO" Crash Rescue - Air Rescue Web Site

Pedro Honor Roll

 

Eagle Flag Bookend

Honor Roll

 Eagle Flag Bookend

Distinguished Flying Cross

Sergeant Edward L. Cartwright

"Sergeant Edward l. Cartwright Distinguished himself by extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight as an HH-43F Helicopter Rescue Specialist in Southeast Asia on 8 May 1968.  On that date Sergeant Cartwright was flying on a rescue and recovery mission in a hostile area.  Responding to the distress call of a burning United States Army helicopter Sergeant Cartwright voluntarily jumped from his helicopter into a barbed wire and booby trapped field and initiated a fire suppression rescue of personnel trapped inside the burning wreckage. Maneuvering the fire hose carefully over three sets of barbed wire fences he immediately began laying down a foam rescue path for his rescueman.  Disregarding his own personal safety and to provide better protection for his rescueman Sergeant Cartwright moved right up next to the burning aircraft despite the fact that ammunition was exploding from the intense fire sending missiles flying through the air in all directions.  He did not withdraw from the aircraft until he was absolutely certain that all personnel were safely evacuated from the burning wreckage.  The professional competence, aerial skill, and devotion to duty displayed by Sergeant Cartwright reflect great credit upon himself and the United States Air Force."

"...That Others May Live."

Staff Sergeant Robert A. McAllister

A band of infiltrators had breached the base perimeter undetected and set off satchel charges on the flight line.  McAllister, a Rescue Specialist with Det. #11, 38th Aerospace Rescue and Recover Squadron (Military Airlift Command) Tuy Hoa Air Base, Republic of Viet Nam was a member of the HH-43B "Pedro" crew that scrambled to fight the fires.  As base security policemen fought off attackers, subsequently killing nine of them, McAllister exposed himself to hostile fire while directing firefighting operations.  Colonel Thomas L. Shockley, Commander, 41st Aerospace Rescue and Recovery Wing, Hickam AFB, Hawaii presented the DFC to McAllister during a special ceremony.

"...That Others May Live."

Sergeant James A. Nelson

A band of infiltrators had breached the base perimeter undetected and set off satchel charges on the flight line.  Nelson, a Rescue Specialist with Det. #11, 38th Aerospace Rescue and Recover Squadron (Military Airlift Command) Tuy Hoa Air Base, Republic of Viet Nam was a member of the HH-43B "Pedro" crew that scrambled to fight the fires.  As base security policemen fought off attackers, subsequently killing nine of them, Nelson exposed himself to hostile fire while directing firefighting operations.  Colonel Thomas L. Shockley, Commander, 41st Aerospace Rescue and Recovery Wing, Hickam AFB, Hawaii presented the DFC to McAllister during a special ceremony.

"...That Others May Live."

This Web Page Updated February 16, 2007 .

 

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Firefighter Memorial Page USAF Firefighters Who Have Given Their Lives in The Line of Duty POW Memorial Page Pedro POW's from the Viet Nam War
Pedro Memorial Page Pedro Crew Members Who Have Given Their Lives in The Line of Duty Our Adopted POW/MIA's The United States POW/MIA's adopted by this web site.
We Shall Never Forget!
Military Firefighters Heritage Foundation Learn about the foundation and support its efforts. September 11th Archives Web site with an outstanding collection of archives
Pedro Honor Roll Those Pedro Crew Members Who Truly Dedicated Themselves to the Oath "...That Others May Live."

Firefighter Training

Images and a Video of Firefighters in Training
Airescue Information Newsletter The March - April 1964 Edition of this Newsletter. Casper 721 Is Down! The story of the Rescue of an Army Helicopter Crew
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HH-43 Organization/Unit Histories

33d Air Rescue Squadron The First Search and Rescue Squadron Deployed to Southeast Asia Detachment #10, Eastern Air Rescue Center One of the Units Making Up the Provisional Group Sent To SEA During the Buildup Following The Gulf of Tonkin Incident
  Detachment #1, Provisional   2nd Search and Rescue Unit Assigned to Southeast Asia Detachment #2, Provisional Part of the 2nd Search and Rescue Units Assigned to Southeast Asia.
3rd Aerospace and Recovery Group All of the Rescue Squadrons in Southeast fell under the 3rd Group 38th Aerospace Rescue & Recovery Squadron All of the HH-43 Units in Southeast Asia fell under this squadron
Detachment #1, 38th Aerospace Rescue & Recovery Squadron History of the unit out of Phan Rang AB, RVN Detachment #2, 38th Aerospace Rescue & Recovery Squadron History of the unit out of Takli RTAFB, Thailand
Detachment #3, 38th Aerospace Rescue & Recovery Squadron History of the unit out of Ubon RTAFB, Thailand Detachment #4, 38th Aerospace Rescue & Recovery Squadron History of the unit at Khorat RTAFB, Thailand
Detachment #6, 38th Aerospace Rescue & Recovery Squadron History of the unit out of Bien Hoa AB, RVN Detachment #9, 38th Aerospace Rescue & Recovery Squadron History of the unit out of Pleiku AB, RVN/Nakhon Phanom Royal Thai Air Base, Thailand
Detachment #10, 38th Aerospace Rescue & Recovery Squadron History of the unit out of Binh Thuy AB, RV Detachment #11, 38th Aerospace Rescue & Recovery Squadron History of the unit out of Thuy Hoa AB, RV
Det. #4, 36th Aerospace Rescue & Recover Squadron History of the unit stationed in Osan, Korea. Det. #7, 40th Aerospace Rescue & Recovery Wing History of the unit out of Terrejon, Spain
Det. #1, Atlantic Air Rescue Center History of the unit at Spangdahlem AB, Germany Det. #32, Central Air Rescue Center History of the unit at Webb AFB, Texas
Det. #37, Central Air Rescue Center History of the unit at England AFB Det. #7, Western Air Rescue Center I currently have no info. available. Looking for contributions
Det. #16, Western Air Rescue Center History of this unit based out of Williams AFB, Arizona HH-43 Southeast Asia Aircraft Locator Database Containing Dates and Unit Locations Where Aircraft Were Assigned
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