dinomartino1
Well-Known Member
This whole story was very much like that portrayed in the closing stages of 'The Bridges of Toko-Ri.'
In another parallel to the 'Bridges of Toko-Ri', however, it seems that Callis Gooding was an absolutely irreverent character, something like the Mickey Rooney helicopter crewman portrayed in the film.
During its deployment to Korea the RAN carrier HMAS Sydney was loaned a USN S-51 helicopter [UP28 ] and USN aircrew for air sea rescue,.
The USN aircrew where
Pilot, Chief Aviation Machinists Mate Arlene Keith 'Dick' Babbit
Aircrewman Machinist Mate 3rd Class Callis C. Gooding
Oct. 26, 1951 five RAN fireflies form the carrier HMAS Sydney attempted to block the Chaeryong-Haeju railway tunnel. One firefly was downed by AA and Sub-Lt. Neil MacMillan and his observer CPO Phillip Hancox came down in a frozen rice paddy 50 miles behind enemy lines, they took cover in a ditch and were forced to defend themselves from Chinese troops with their Owen sub-machine guns, while Seafuries from HMAS Sydney and later RAAF Meteor jets from Kimpo airport near Seoul put up a protective umbrella and around them.
There were doubts that a rescue helicopter could reach the crash site and return safely as it was at the extreme limit of helicopter range and some of the return flight would occur after dark. Despite this, Uncle Peter's USN aircrew volunteered to try, and Gooding was quickly taught how to use an Australian Owen SMG.
A helicopter was also sent from Kimpo however had been forced to turn back.
From HMAS SYDNEY, Babbit and Gooding set out with Uncle Peter' at 16:32, a 176km journey against fading light into enemy territory, during which Babbit set a 120kph speed record for the helicopter
Four Seafuries arrived and shortly after a flight of RAAF Meteors from Kimpo to provide aircover for the two downed airmen. Sydney's air group cmdr dropped the airmen a message canister telling them help was on the way and was hit by 40mm AA and had to divert to Kimpo as his ailerons had been damaged and would only move about an eight of an inch.
Crossing the coast the helicopter escorted by two Seafuries met with 40mm fire but received no hits
The Meteors had to depart the scene as they where low on fuel as did two of the Seafuries. The two remaining sea furies continued strafing the attacking Chinese troops.
They arrived in gloom and were guided to MacMillan and Hancox's position in a rice paddy ditch by the tracers of incoming machine gunfire. The Chinese troops now diverted their fire to the landing helicopter.
Gooding who had been given a hurried lesson in the use of the Australian Owen sub-machine gun, jumped out and shot down two Chinese troops as they landed. Once MacMillan and Hancox were safely in the helicopter it lifted off as the Seafuries laid down covering fire on either side.
All three aircraft were at extreme fuel limits on their return, the two Fireflies barely made it back to Sydney, while Uncle Peter arrived at Kimpo airfield at 1830 hours and had to land with the aid of truck headlights,
It was unable to taxi having run out of fuel. It returned to Sydney with its passengers the following day.
The rescue was the longest helicopter rescue transit over North Korean territory during the war, The Sikorsky pilot Arlene Babbit received both the Commonwealth DSM and the United States Navy Cross the only instance of these two medals being awarded to the same person for the same action.
Gooding was awarded the US Navy Cross.
Significant in the rescue where the use of fluorescent panels, very signal pistols and message canisters.
Each of these innovations where the inspiration of HMAS Sydney's commander who had studied the problems of rescuing airmen and took action to solve persistent communication problems with downed aircrew. It was well known that enemy troops targeted cockpits of crashed aircraft to disable the radios.
His ideas where passed on the commander of the US navy's seventh fleet for general adoption.
Arlene Babbit (left) and Phillip Hancox in 1980.
A RAN Firefly (on loan from the RN) bearing the black and white markings of the UN.
Up-28 'Uncle Peter' on HMAS Sydney, Korea
HMAS sydney Seafuries and Fireflies Korea
Seafury HMAS Sydney
'Uncle Peter'
Owen smg, ww2 jungle paint.
In another parallel to the 'Bridges of Toko-Ri', however, it seems that Callis Gooding was an absolutely irreverent character, something like the Mickey Rooney helicopter crewman portrayed in the film.
During its deployment to Korea the RAN carrier HMAS Sydney was loaned a USN S-51 helicopter [UP28 ] and USN aircrew for air sea rescue,.
The USN aircrew where
Pilot, Chief Aviation Machinists Mate Arlene Keith 'Dick' Babbit
Aircrewman Machinist Mate 3rd Class Callis C. Gooding
Oct. 26, 1951 five RAN fireflies form the carrier HMAS Sydney attempted to block the Chaeryong-Haeju railway tunnel. One firefly was downed by AA and Sub-Lt. Neil MacMillan and his observer CPO Phillip Hancox came down in a frozen rice paddy 50 miles behind enemy lines, they took cover in a ditch and were forced to defend themselves from Chinese troops with their Owen sub-machine guns, while Seafuries from HMAS Sydney and later RAAF Meteor jets from Kimpo airport near Seoul put up a protective umbrella and around them.
There were doubts that a rescue helicopter could reach the crash site and return safely as it was at the extreme limit of helicopter range and some of the return flight would occur after dark. Despite this, Uncle Peter's USN aircrew volunteered to try, and Gooding was quickly taught how to use an Australian Owen SMG.
A helicopter was also sent from Kimpo however had been forced to turn back.
From HMAS SYDNEY, Babbit and Gooding set out with Uncle Peter' at 16:32, a 176km journey against fading light into enemy territory, during which Babbit set a 120kph speed record for the helicopter
Four Seafuries arrived and shortly after a flight of RAAF Meteors from Kimpo to provide aircover for the two downed airmen. Sydney's air group cmdr dropped the airmen a message canister telling them help was on the way and was hit by 40mm AA and had to divert to Kimpo as his ailerons had been damaged and would only move about an eight of an inch.
Crossing the coast the helicopter escorted by two Seafuries met with 40mm fire but received no hits
The Meteors had to depart the scene as they where low on fuel as did two of the Seafuries. The two remaining sea furies continued strafing the attacking Chinese troops.
They arrived in gloom and were guided to MacMillan and Hancox's position in a rice paddy ditch by the tracers of incoming machine gunfire. The Chinese troops now diverted their fire to the landing helicopter.
Gooding who had been given a hurried lesson in the use of the Australian Owen sub-machine gun, jumped out and shot down two Chinese troops as they landed. Once MacMillan and Hancox were safely in the helicopter it lifted off as the Seafuries laid down covering fire on either side.
All three aircraft were at extreme fuel limits on their return, the two Fireflies barely made it back to Sydney, while Uncle Peter arrived at Kimpo airfield at 1830 hours and had to land with the aid of truck headlights,
It was unable to taxi having run out of fuel. It returned to Sydney with its passengers the following day.
The rescue was the longest helicopter rescue transit over North Korean territory during the war, The Sikorsky pilot Arlene Babbit received both the Commonwealth DSM and the United States Navy Cross the only instance of these two medals being awarded to the same person for the same action.
Gooding was awarded the US Navy Cross.
Significant in the rescue where the use of fluorescent panels, very signal pistols and message canisters.
Each of these innovations where the inspiration of HMAS Sydney's commander who had studied the problems of rescuing airmen and took action to solve persistent communication problems with downed aircrew. It was well known that enemy troops targeted cockpits of crashed aircraft to disable the radios.
His ideas where passed on the commander of the US navy's seventh fleet for general adoption.
Arlene Babbit (left) and Phillip Hancox in 1980.
A RAN Firefly (on loan from the RN) bearing the black and white markings of the UN.
Up-28 'Uncle Peter' on HMAS Sydney, Korea
HMAS sydney Seafuries and Fireflies Korea
Seafury HMAS Sydney
'Uncle Peter'
Owen smg, ww2 jungle paint.
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