| Date: 21 November 1970 |
| Aircraft type: HH-3E Jolly Green Giant |
| Serial Number: 65-12785 |
| Military Unit: 40 ARRS, 3 ARRG |
| Service: |
| Home Base: Udorn |
| Name(s): |
| Maj Herb D Kalen (Survived) |
| Lt Col Herb R Zehnder (Survived) |
| TSgt Leroy M Wrght (Survived) |
| The Son Tay raid called for a HH-3E (call sign Banana 1) of the 40th ARRS to be sacrificed by landing in the prison compound which was known to be too small for the helicopter to land safely. The helicopter’s blades were badly damaged as it touched down in the compound but the troops inside jumped out and blew a hole in the wall so that the main assault force could gain access to where the prisoners were thought to be held. The crew of the HH-3E were evacuated by one of the HH-53s as the task force retired after finding the camp disappointingly empty. The HH-3E was destroyed by the assault troops before they also left in the HH-53s. |
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