The place have been you on February 8, 1973? For those who have been a member of an Air Drive Fight management staff that was rescued by a C-130 from Tuy Hoa Air Base in South Vietnam, we want to discover you. Why? Let me inform you the remainder of the story.
My husband, Courtney Brye, was flying off the coast of South Vietnam that day. He was a 1st Lt and a copilot on a C-130 hooked up to the Blue Tail Flies (The 37th Tactical Airlift Squadron) primarily based at Langley Air Drive Base. In preparation for many of the Forces pull out in March 1973, many bases, together with Tuy Hoa, had been shut down. So, Courtney and his Plane Commander, Captain Jack Frost, have been stunned to listen to a radio misery name from Tuy Hoa Air Base. An Air Drive Fight Management Group was pinned down and in hazard of being overrun. They have been asking for rescue.
The state of affairs was very sophisticated. There have been no navigation aids remaining and the climate was horrible. However in a split-second choice, the crew determined to attempt to get in and save this staff. They have been acquainted with the define of the bottom’s location and proceeded to make use of outdated fashion navigation to heart in on the runway. They have been in a position to get to 50 ft above the water and had some clear visibility. My husband stated certainly one of his largest considerations was hitting a Vietnamese fishing trawler. At one level he appeared proper to see that they had simply flown below the deck of a ship that missed the wing by just a few ft.
They have been below fireplace as they landed and taxied to show round. They deployed the ramp whereas nonetheless taxiing and the Fight Management Group all made it onboard efficiently. Everybody was very relieved once they have been lastly over the South China Sea once more.
Fifty-plus years have passed by, and life takes its toll. Courtney was identified with Agent Orange presumptive metastatic prostate most cancers 18 months in the past. A analysis like that may make you replicate in your life. One in every of his regrets was he by no means acquired to speak to the staff they rescued. He lately related together with his Plane Commander and he expressed the identical regrets. So, I made a decision to take the time to attempt to discover any of the survivors. If you understand anybody who matches this description we’d love to attach with them. It’s not an expertise somebody would overlook. For those who or somebody you understand was a part of this rescue, please electronic mail us at editor@wearethemighty with the topic line: BRYE RESCUE.
