Posted on 04/04/2018 3:54:06 PM PDT by Saint X
ARLINGTON NATIONAL CEMETERY – Capt. Thomas J. Hudner, Jr., a naval aviator who was awarded the Medal of Honor for his actions during the Korean War, was interred with full military honors at Arlington National Cemetery today.
A native of Fall River, Mass., Hudner was flying as the wingman for Ens. Jessie L. Brown during the Battle of Chosin Reservoir in 1950 when Brown was forced to crash-land his F4U Corsair after being hit by enemy fire. Seeing that Brown had survived the crash but was trapped in the wreckage, Hudner crash-landed his own plane so he could try to free his fellow aviator. Tragically, Hudner and the pilot of the helicopter sent to rescue the men were unable to extract Brown from the aircraft before they had to evacuate the area.
(Excerpt) Read more at news.usni.org ...
Agreed. And pilots since day one have dreaded burning. This brave soul saw Brown’s plane on fire and did the only thing he could to stop it. He was a 25 year old and they do make aggressive moves sometimes.
Looking down, Hudner saw his section leader in a burning plane. Countless Chinese in the vicinity, and he landed his Corsair, and fought the fire with an extinguisher. Soon a helo landed to help. They did all they could to get Brown out. He died before they could. But he died knowing his buddies were busting their asses to help him when they could have been back on the carrier and nobody would have blamed Hudner a bit.
A true hero.
The book “Devotion” tells their story.
According to the article:
“Tragically, Hudner and the pilot of the helicopter sent to rescue the men were unable to extract Brown from the aircraft before they had to evacuate the area.”
Didn’t sound like a Chinese Fire Drill. Any maybe, just maybe, if there was a plane flying CAS this CSAR mission would have successful.
+++++++
CSAR used to be a Chinese fire drill. And in this case, they were a hop and a skip away from 100,000 Chinese troops. The BAT-21 rescue (20 years after the Korean War incident), which was adapted into a HBO film, was instructive. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rescue_of_Bat_21_Bravo
The film was entertaining. I thought it should have been released in movie theaters.
Two things: first is, you appear not to know what the hell you’re talking about - at all.
Second is this: there are men with whom I would gladly go into combat. Hudner was one. You are not.
No, you had two aircraft down, no one dead. Helo guy and Hudner couldn't extract the pilot. In hindsight, the helo pilot wouldn't have been able to extract Brown by himself at any rate. SAR and Hudner depart. Brown dies.
He should have provided CAS while waiting for CSAR.
Right, in the face of 40000+ chinks. Massive effort to save his squadron mate.
No doubt, but those f$%ks aren't there when the decision has to be made.
” Any maybe, just maybe, if there was a plane flying CAS this CSAR mission would have successful.”
No, it would not have been because no Chinese attacked their position as they worked. But he would have watched Brown burn alive before the helo arrived. And CAS wasn’t needed over that remote mountaintop meadow 10 miles away from the battle.
The body recovery attempt went on for two days with the helo going for more tools and then returning for another try.
They couldn’t recover his body from the twisted wreckage and 3 days later napalmed him as his body lay in the wreckage.
Don’t turn this thread for a true hero, a 93 year old man who was the best America made into your keyboard commando jihad.
BAT 21 was released in theaters.
Dammit, I always see guys like you and wish I could be that succinct.
This happened during the Battle of the Frozen Chosin. Talk about a desperate fight in appalling conditions.
Thomas Hudner wiki:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thomas_J._Hudner_Jr.
Jesse Brown was the first black US Navy pilot:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jesse_L._Brown
Thanks for the ping. May he rest in peace.
In the post WWII tv series “12 O’clock High” this incident was an inspiration for a story about the same except it was a P 51 and set in France where the rescue was successful.
Hudner was an inspiration to us all. May he RIP.
My first thought.
As a kid, watching William Holden get it in the ditch affected me greatly. I thought he was going to make it.
Spoiler alert!
Didn’t sound like a Chinese Fire Drill. Any maybe, just maybe, if there was a plane flying CAS this CSAR mission would have successful.
That was good. LOL!
A good man gone west.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.