evacuation report information
for 40 ARRS
For date 720413
40 ARRS was a US Air Force unit
Primary service involved, US Air Force
South Vietnam
Aircraft lost in 40 ARRS were HH-53
Description: Following the enemy spring offensive through the DMZ on 30 March, rescue activity increased dramatically. On 13 April the 40th ARR Squadron was tasked to find USMC MAJ Clyde D. Smith who was down between Tchepone, Laos, and the DMZ. CPT Bennie D. Orrell, piloting an HH-53, approached the search area, and MAJ Smith "popped his smoke" to show his location. The smoke drifted uphill before it emerged from the trees. When CPT Orrell hovered at that spot, MAJ Smith made a "max effort" run uphill to the hoist. He grabbed it, but CPT Orrell encountered enemy fire and was forced to retract the hoist and didn't know MAJ Smith was there until the hoist cleared the trees.
Comments: CPT Orrell, Bennie D.; aircraft commander; ;
The source for this information was ARRS History
Additional information is available on CD-ROM.
Please send additions or corrections to: Gary Roush Email address: webmaster@vhpa.org
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Date posted on this site:
05/13/2023