The Pilot of This C-130 Landed Safely with his Flight Engineer Dead, with his Co-Pilot Wounded, with Just One Engine
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C-130 versus Mig-21:
While in a holding pattern awaiting the contact from survivors, necessary to initiate the rescue attempt, the helicopters were air-refueled. While the HH-53s trailed King, which had its refueling drogues deployed, one of the Sandy pilots saw a missile fired from a MiG-21 explode against a mountainside. Radios came alive with shouted warnings-"MiGs! MiGs!- Take it down!" A second missile disappeared into the open rear ramp section of HH-53 "Jolly 7-1," which exploded and disintegrated.
A second MiG flew into the scattering, diving formation, heading for the biggest target, Casey's HC-130. Gunners on the HH-53 "Jolly 7-2" fired at the MiG as it passed. After its drop tanks were released, the Hercules exceeded redline on the way down to the weeds, tearing off both refueling drogues. Casey flew into a canyon, doing erratic maneuvers between the walls at treetop level. He saw bursts against the canyon walls, which probably were cannon fire from the MiG. Moments later, the HC-130 emerged from the canyon, alone. The MiG didn't make it. Perhaps Casey's skillful jinking, or minigun fire from Jolly 7-2's gunners had hit their mark, or both combined to end the MiG's chase against a mountainside. Regardless, Casey never got confirmation for the kill. And what a bar tale that would have been.
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Wolfhag
