OLAA Operating Date 29-Jul-1970

Roster

ROSTER… 12 Men

Lt. Col. Melvin G. Swanson (Mel)
Maj. Otis C. Morgan (KIA 28Jul70)
Maj. Albro L Lundy Jr. (Al)
Maj. Willard R. Van Dusen Jr. (Will)
Capt. Terry F. Bolstad
Capt. Edwin A. Gullion (Ed)
Capt. Richard P. Kent III (Dick)
Capt. Robert N. Senko (Bob)
1st Lt. Richard L Engel (Rich)
1st Lt. Charles I Kasbeer (Chuck)
1st Lt. Thomas K. Stump (Tom)
1st Lt. Larry R. Warren

On This Date in OLAA History

Terry Bolstad received 2 DFC’s on this date flying the SAR below:

A-1H   52-135263  1 SOS, 56 SOW, USAF,  Nakhon Phanom

Maj. Petter “Pete” B Lee (survived)

The other Skyraider lost on the 28th was flying a night-time Steel Tiger Strike over the Trail in Southern Laos.  Maj Lee had found a convoy of five trucks a few miles southwest of the Ban Karai Pass and commenced to attack his target.  On his final pass the aircraft was hit by 37mm flak and the Skyraider’s rear fuselage caught fire.  He ejected at 4,000 feet and landed on the side of a hill just above a river.  Maj Lee climbed up the hill as far as he could and dug in under the foliage for the rest of the night.  FAC aircraft orbited near Maj Lee throughout the night and spoke to him via his emergency radio every 30 minutes.  A first Light rescue attempt had to be postponed due to low cloud and while waiting for rescue Maj Lee radioed the positions of enemy troops and guns to the FAC overhead who then brought in air strikes.  By late afternoon the weather had cleared enough for a 37th ARRS HH-53 flown by Maj G C Hitt to make an attempt.  The helicopter swept in along a valley protected by smoke screens laid down by the Sandys as more A-1s, F-4s and F105s continued to pound enemy positions to keep them away from the survivor.  Maj Lee was quickly hoisted to safety after more than 18 hours on the ground.

From:  Vietnam Air Losses by Chris Hobson

29 July 70    Hobo 20, A-1, rescued by 37th ARRS. (pjsinnam)

1970 – July 29; A HH-3E from the 37th ARRS, crewed by Maj. George C. Hitt (P), Howard G. Stalnecker Jr. (CP), Joseph J. Vai (FE) and John F. Heitsch (PJ), rescued the pilot of a A-1H (Call sign “Hobo 20”), Maj. Peter B. Lee, after he ejected from his 37 mm AAA damaged aircraft, on 28 July 1970, a few miles SW of the Ban Karai Pass. “Vietnam Air Losses” by Chris Hobson & “PJ’s in Vietnam” by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form

1970 – July 29; A HH-43F from Det. 7, 38th ARRS at Da Nang AB, RVN, crewed by Capt. Robert E. Hill (P), unkn (CP), unkn (FE), unkn (PJ) and unkn (PJ), medevace’d Ronald G. Shelton in RVN. No other details are known at this time. “PJ’s in Vietnam” by Robert L. LaPointe & JRCC Save Form

OLAA-ID: 262-1      
Flight Date: 29 Jul 70
Pilot: Terry Bolstad
Mission ID: FCF
Tail # 063-J
Location:
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Hours Flown: (0.50)
  
Remarks:
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OLAA-ID: 262-2      
Flight Date: 29 Jul 70
Pilot: Terry Bolstad–11
Mission ID:
Tail # 258-H
Location:
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Hours Flown: (7.8)* N1.0
  
Remarks: DFC mission for Terry. This Form 5 entry represents 2 missions!!!!
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OLAA-ID: 262-3      
Flight Date: 29 Jul 70
Pilot: Terry Bolstad
Mission ID:
Tail # 258-H
Location:
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Hours Flown: (7.8)* N1.0
  
Remarks: DFC mission for Terry. This Form 5 entry represents 2 missions!!!!
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OLAA-ID: 262-4      
Flight Date: 29 Jul 70
Pilot: Robert M. Senko
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Location: DNG-NKP
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OLAA-ID: 262-5      SAR
Flight Date: 29 Jul 70
Pilot: Charles I. Kasbeer
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Location: DNG-NKP
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Remarks: Awarded an Air Medal on this date for escorting the rescue helicopters to the Pete Lee SAR
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OLAA-ID: 262-6      
Flight Date: 29 Jul 70
Pilot: Robert M. Senko
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Location: NKP-DNG
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OLAA-ID: 262-6      
Flight Date: 29 Jul 70
Pilot: Charles I. Kasbeer
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Location: NKP-DNG
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OLAA-ID: 262-7      
Flight Date: 29 Jul 70
Pilot: Albro Lundy
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Remarks: Al Lundy and Rich Engel were launched with 2 more Jolly’s from NKP???to replace those taken by Senko/Kasbeer after they aborted.
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OLAA-ID: 262-7      
Flight Date: 29 Jul 70
Pilot: Richard Engel
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