Operation Pony Express
Operation Pony Express | |||||
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Part of Vietnam War | |||||
Helicopters and pilots of the 20th SOS at a helicopter base designated Lima Site 20A, June 1969 | |||||
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Belligerents | |||||
South Vietnam Thailand | North Vietnam |
Operation Pony Express was the covert transportation of, and the provision of aerial support for, indigenous soldiers and material operating across the
History
The 20th Helicopter Squadron was formed at
Mission
The flight at Da Nang performed several missions in the six months they were located there. One of the missions was to support the Forward Air Controller units at the
In late spring of 1966, the flights at Cam Ranh Bay and Da Nang were reassigned to
Background
The
to execute an intensified program of harassment, diversion, political pressure, capture of prisoners, physical destruction, acquisition of intelligence, generation of propaganda, and diversion of resources, against the Democratic Republic of Vietnam.[5]
On 21 September 1965 the JCS authorized
Typically the 20th SOS carried unconventional forces across the border for secret missions into North Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia, such as the special operations group inserted by CH-3C/E helicopter across the Vietnamese border on June 30, 1968.[3] Most of these SOG recon teams were made up of personnel indigenous to the population, reducing American combat casualties.[1]
Operations
The 20th Helicopter Squadron "Pony Express" was one of the most extraordinary and outstanding combat units in Southeast Asia. The Pony Express' primary highly classified mission was counterinsurgency. They flew their unarmed helicopters from Thailand to various friendly airstrips in Laos where they could refuel and await to launch their missions. They would fly indigenous troops into unprepared sites in Laos and North Vietnam to gather intelligence on troop/truck movements, etc. This information would in turn be forwarded to the appropriate Military agencies to select targets for air strike missions.
The unit aircraft were basic CH-3C Sikorsky helicopters models. No armor was deemed necessary at this time since the mission was to be clandestine and the power/weight ratio was considered more important. Even then, with the equipped engines, power was sometimes very marginal. In early 1968, the engines were upgraded from the 1300 hp model to the 1500 hp models which was a vast improvement in the high temperature/humidity environment. With the upgrading of the engines, armor was installed on the engine cowling doors, the transmission doors, and around the tail rotor gearbox. Designation was changed from CH-3C to CH-3E.
Due to the classified nature of their mission, the 20th CH-3's did not display any U.S. markings or insignia. They were equipped with slotted hangers to insert the USAF insignia when flying "in country". The pilots had no insignia on their flight suits. The helicopters were painted the standard camouflage pattern, except one. CH-3C #63-09676 was painted flat black to determine the color feasibility for our mission. It soon was given the nickname of "Black Mariah". (It was the only black H-3 to serve in SEA and is now on display at the USAF Museum at Wright-Patterson AFB, Dayton, Ohio.)
The infil/exfil site would be selected and studied. Previous to the flight an airborne "recon" of the site would be made, often using CAS Beech Baron or
As previously stated, the helicopters were not equipped with armor. The crew would wear the "flak vest" and place another flack vest under the pilot seats to provide personal protection. Their only weapons were the crew member's personal weapons, an
The Pony Express other mission was in support of
In the spring of 1968, some pilots and CH3s of the 20th HES were transferred to
In July 1968, four UH-1F's and 10 pilots from the 20th Helicopter Squadron, "E" Flight, "Green Hornets," arrived from Nha Trang. The "new" Pony Express Hueys flew virtually all the same missions as the H-3's. There were a few of the H-3 missions in Northern Laos that the Hueys were not involved in due to the extreme distance and limited range of the UH-1. On occasion, the Huey would carry a 55-gallon barrel of fuel in the cabin. If the Huey required the extra fuel, the crew chief would hook up his safety strap, step out onto the chopper's skid and hold the refueling hose as the other crewman pumped the fuel into the Huey's fuel tank. This was done at cruising altitude.
In August 1968 the 20th Helicopter Squadron was redesignated the 20th Special Operations Squadron (SOS). The Pony Express continued to fly many missions in support of DOSA (Director of Operations for Special Activities) through 1968 and into 1969. The Ponies flew 75% of their flying time as combat time and over 75% of their time flying their primary DOSA missions. The Pony Express always had two large and important missions, TACAN support and DOSA missions fragged by 7/13th AF in support of the secret war in Laos. The Ponies did not have sufficient helicopters and pilots to accomplish every mission adequately. Some of their large missions required the use of up to 20 CH-3E helicopters and they only had nine CH-3's and four UH-1's assigned. On many occasions the Pony Express called upon the 21st SOS at NKP to help with these large missions. Many times they were assisted by helicopters from Air America.
As early as June 1968, higher Headquarters began talk of merging the 20th and 21st began which would allow them to work more closely together and utilize the 21st flying time more for combat missions. The Pony Express would remain at Udorn as a Forward Operating Location (FOL) with basically the same people, aircraft and mission. Little did anyone know of the problems to follow. Apparently the ego and petty jealousy of the Wing Commander at NKP who insisted that all assets be transferred to NKP created a severe demoralizing effect on all concerned. The Ponies crews still accomplished their mission in an excellent manner despite the difficulties.
On 5 Sep 1969, the 20th SOS CH-3E aircraft and personnel at Udorn were reassigned to the 21st SOS at NKP. The FOL at Udorn lost three helicopters to NKP and many pilot spaces which amounted to one third of its capability, yet the FOL still flew 63% of the DOSA missions and 60% of the TACAN and an amazing 53.8% of the overall mission of the entire newly formed 21st SOS headquartered at NKP with the FOL stationed at Udorn RTAFB, Thailand.
When the 20th SOS CH-3 E's were transferred to the 21st SOS, without ceremony or fanfare, the "Pony Express" part of the 20th Special Operations Squadron ceased to exist.
Notes
- ^ a b Rosenau p. 18
- ^ Dorr p. 54
- ^ a b Dunstan p. 169
- ^ Global Security's 20th Special Operations Squadron (20th SOS) retrieved June 6, 2007
- ^ Annex A to MACV Command History, 1964, p. A-1.
- ^ MACV Command History 1965, Annex N, N-VIII-4
- ^ Kirkpatrick, Matthew D. Special Operations Squadron: Pony Express from Air War Vietnam retrieved June 6, 2007
References
Printed sources:
- Dorr, Robert F. Air War Hanoi, 1988 ISBN 0-7137-1783-1
- Dunstan, Simon Vietnam Choppers: helicopters in battle 1950-75, 2003 ISBN 1-84176-796-4
- Rosenau, William Special Operations Forces and Elusive Enemy Ground Targets, 2001 ISBN 0-8330-3071-X
Websites:
- USAFHPA (http://www.usafhpa.org/20poniesnew/20ponies.html) Text written by Major Kyron V. Hall, Historian, USAF Helicopter Pilot Association founded 1987. Most pictures taken by said Historian in Southeast Asia as pilot in 20th Helicopter Squadron/Special Operation Squadron in 1967-68. Other pictures and information donated by other squadron pilots. Website established in 2005. Much of the information shown in this article taken from USAFHPA website.
- Global Security's 20th Special Operations Squadron (20th SOS) retrieved June 6, 2007
- Kirkpatrick, Matthew D. Special Operations Squadron: Pony Express from Air War Vietnam retrieved June 6, 2007
External links
- Media related to Operation Pony Express at Wikimedia Commons