Thursday, February 29, 1968
44. THURS. 29 FEB., 1968. AT SEA SAR STATION. CONDITION III SET. CLOUDY, COOL. 1700 — GENERAL QUARTERS, MIG IN AREA, 70 MILES
Original Logbook Page
From Mike's letter, 21 Feb 1968: "No, as you probably have figured out by now Bill and I were unable to see each other in Da Nang. For obvious reasons that is not a liberty port... I figure that Bill and I are about 10,000 miles from home now that we are here." [Letter]
From Mike's letter, 22 Feb 1968: "Tomorrow is payday. I will get $167. Thats tax-free base pay for two weeks and combat pay for 22 days." [Letter]
From Mike's letter, 26 Feb 1968: "Over the weekend two planes did go down somewhere away from our station. They rescued the pilot from one with a helo from one of the carriers. The other ones they gave up for lost. There are three carriers operating in our vicinity. They are the Enterprise, Bon Homme Richard, and Ticonderoga. Watch for them in the news, of course they get all the publicity. The only time someone pays any attention to the other ships is when they get captured (the Pueblo)." [Letter]
Photos
Cruise Book
Cruise Book — Pages 78-79USS Jouett (DLG-29) 1968 Cruise Book
USS JOUETT (DLG-29) 1968 CRUISE BOOK — PAGES 78-79
[Photo: UH-2A helicopter silhouetted against dramatic sunset clouds over the Tonkin Gulf, lowering a crew member on a cable]
During our first period "on the line" in the Tonkin
Gulf, JOUETT became familiar with the procedures re-
quired for a search and rescue (SAR) unit. To enhance
our ability to rescue downed aviators, the ship oper-
ated as one-half of a SAR team. The other member of
this team was a UH-2A helicopter, which flew aboard
the day the ship steamed out of Subic Bay, and operated
off our flight deck throughout the remainder of deploy-
ment. The helicopter itself, in its protective coloration
of black and olive drab, presents a sleek and stream-
lined appearance, whether resting on JOUETT's deck
or in flight. It is capable of proceeding to the locale of
a downed aircraft at high speeds, hovering over the
scene, locating survivors, lowering crew members to
the ground or into the sea, and effecting a rescue that
would have been otherwise impossible.
Cruise Book — Pages 80-81USS Jouett (DLG-29) 1968 Cruise Book
USS JOUETT (DLG-29) 1968 CRUISE BOOK — PAGES 80-81
Equally adept at hovering or flying at
speeds well in excess of 100 knots, the UH-
2A helicopter is uniquely fitted to its role in
the search and rescue effort.
[Photo: UH-2A helicopter in flight low over the ocean, seen from above/side angle, showing black and olive drab coloration]
[Photo: HC-7 helicopter detachment crew posed in front of UH-2A on Jouett's flight deck, approximately 8 men in flight suits and uniforms, flight helmets visible on deck]
The UH-2A helicopter carries a pilot, co-pilot, and crew of two, all of whom are
expert swimmers and marksmen, skilled in rescue techniques and first-aid
procedures. Other Helo detachment members function as a ground crew, responsible
for maintaining the aircraft in a condition ready for instantaneous response.