We were called in to dive on a crashed Huey. We set down at FSB Granite. Someone showed us how to open a panel on the nose of a Huey and instructed us how to remove an avionics "box." Turned out that was not going to happen as the crash had damaged the nose and there was no way to get it open underwater. The Huey would be raised. The whole operation was a cooperative effort.
A cropped portion from the last frame on the film roll. One can see the damaged nose.
Thirty five years later, I've learned more about the crash from The Vietnam Helicopter Pilots Association (VHPA)
Helicopter UH-1H 67-17551
More info here:
http://www.flyarmy.org/incident/70072213.HTM
Chinooks brought in several small boats.
The pilot of this LOACH guided us to the wreck.
The numbers 9 8 0 appear on the tail.
The pilot of this LOACH put us directly over the Huey wreck site. It was uncanny. He even dropped a purple smoke grenade over the spot. I guess he must have picked out shoreline reference points or something because I'm certain he could not see it. The water was pure murk . We snagged the Huey with our grappling hook on the first try but it pulled off. The second attempt was a lock. We used the grappling line as our descent line. The current was raging...
SPC 5 Danny Mchale getting ready for an inspection dive. Al is the standby diver, lower right.
The river was scary; muddy brown and swift.
Note the line running from the direction of the shore line. It was run across the river and served to keep our boats in place.
I remember someone yelling out, "What do I tie it to?"
The shouted response was, "A BFT."
"A BFT?"
"A big f---in' tree."
A Skycrane, above the inverted starboard side of the Huey. Nylon slings were attached to two hard points. Just seconds after the lift; near disaster. The Huey lurched as a hardpoint tore off sending it and the sling flying upwards. A disaster was just barely avoided by the operator's quick reaction. He dropped the sling, sending the Huey back to the bottom.
Bachelor saved the day. He made the last dive on it and secured the Huey by wrapping the main rotor hub with a nylon sling and tying a knot in it.
Copyright © 2005 by Christopher Chulamanis