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Trying to trace a UK based HH-53C from 1983; Have a start!


roym

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Looking to try to ID a HH-53C/HC-130 combo that flew right over my head way back in the day, whilst performing an air-air refuelling. This was a cool sight to a young teen in Ireland back in the day. They flew right over my house while plugged in. A conversation with a fellow modeller who saw them as well that day and has been trying to research it put me on the case as well.

There was a rescue mission planned from Ramstien to rescue a sailor from a US Navy nuke sub approx 200 miles off the south coast of Ireland, on or about the 1st July (or possibly the 8th July) 1983.

The mission was launched from Woodbridge, Suffolk, using 2 HH-53Cs (the local paper had them as CH-53s, but I do remember them air-air refuelling so they had to be HH-53s) quoted as being from the 67th ARRS supported by one and possibly 2 HC-130s. No info on their unit.

Is there any way I can ID the helos used (serials??) as well as the Hercs? Even cooler would be the name of the sub, as this might help narrow down the aircraft involved as there may be more literature of the event from that side.

I have the name of the sailor, but don't know how I can use that info to ID the aircraft.

Any help in pointing us down the right road would be appreciated.

Cheers,
Roy

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If any of the aircraft landed in Ireland (SNN or Cork) the serials were most likely noted. You could try emailing the editor of Irish Air letter magazine at this address to see of they hold any information:

ial.magazine(at)upcmail.ie

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The Woodbridge '53s were 68-8284 68-10364 69-5784, 69-5785, 69-5786, 69-5796, 69-5797, 73-1547 and 73-1648.

I would go for the last two. The airframes were rotated and there were two on strength nominally.

As your date was in the '80's it's likely the two newest serials were extant then. The BuNos were displayed as

31547 and 31648

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  • 7 years later...
On 11/1/2013 at 6:58 PM, bentwaters81tfw said:

The Woodbridge '53s were 68-8284 68-10364 69-5784, 69-5785, 69-5786, 69-5796, 69-5797, 73-1547 and 73-1648.

I would go for the last two. The airframes were rotated and there were two on strength nominally.

As your date was in the '80's it's likely the two newest serials were extant then. The BuNos were displayed as

31547 and 31648

Hi bentwaters, can you pm me an email address. I've found a couple of photos on FB of these aircraft. 

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  • 1 year later...

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