ROYAL AIR FORCE STATION UPPER HEYFORD Memorial Web Site "Gone But Not Forgotten"
DET 2 - 40th Aerospace Rescue and Recovery Wing (MAC) Deployed to RAF Upper Heyford, UK: 8 Sep 1966 - Deactivated: 22 May 1973
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"Pedro" Rescue Helicopter
PEDRO SCRAMBLE - INFLIGHT EMERGENCY Submitted by Steve Mock, MSgt, (Ret), ABR57170 Airborne Rescue Specialist DET 2, 40thARRWg, Aug 1969 - May 1973.	"In the 1960s and '70s the Kaman HH-43B was extensively used by the USAF as a short range SAR helicopter. Here, 62-4533 demonstrates its firefighting capability at RAF Upper Heyford, England, on 29 August 1970. Note the based F-100 Super Sabre in the background." - Photo used by permission, coutesy of the 'Barry Hickman - Collection'. http://homepage.eircom.net/~helicopters/24533.htm

"Det 2 was a separate organization. It was part of the 40th Air Rescue & Recovery Wing which was Headquarted in Germany. The HH-43 mission was to provide "Local Base Rescue". The pilots and mechs were all part of Det 2. Each mission required a pilot, 2 airbourne firefighters, and a med tech. The firefighters were assigned to DET 2 from the Crash Station and the med tech from the base hospital. When not on standby duty, we filled our jobs at the firestation or hospital." Paul J. Metzner, Sgt, ABR57150, 66th CES Fire Dept, Det 2 40th ARRW Rescue, Aug 1966 - Aug 1969.

Det 2(AARC/AARRC/40thARRWg) was activated on 8 Jan 1963 at Laon AB, France, was transferred to RAF Upper Heyford, England on 8 Sep 1966 and deactivated on 22 May 1973. During its stay at RAF Upper Heyford, two aircraft were assigned HH-43B/F 62-4533* and HH-43B/F 62-4535*. On 20 Feb 1970, using three C-130 aircraft the Detachment deployed to Bodo AB, Norway in support of ”Operation Artic Express”.

SGt Mike Hamilton, 1970. Submitted by Steve Mock, MSgt (Ret), ABR57170 Airborne Rescue Specialist DET 2, 40thARRWg, Aug 1969 - May 1973.
"HH-43F # 62-4535 posed with DET2 Personnel circa 1971." TOP ROW (Left to Right): SGt. Boll, SSGt. Joiner, SSGt. Jerome, SGt. Thompson, CAPT. Schildgen, MAJ. Whitney BOTTOM ROW (Left to Right): SSGt. Pimpsner, SGt. Way, SSGt. Jaynes Photo courtesy of TSgt. William J. Jaynes (Ret).
TSgt. Frank Clubb. From the Richard Goslin Collection.	SSgt. Jay Hughes. From the Paul Metzner Collection. "Hoist Practice (1971)" From the Richard Goslin Collection.
"CAPT Del Britton (in aircraft) and Flt Engineer TSGt Ken Higgs (outside) (1968)" From the Paul Metzner Collection.
"CAPT John Hall (left) and Airborne Rescueman SSGt Hoyd "SANDY" Sanders (right)(1971)" From the Richard Goslin Collection.
SGt Richard "GOOSE" Goslin checking the Fire Suppression Kit (1972). From the Richard Goslin Collection.
"Sundown Alert" From the Richard Goslin Collection.
L to R: SSGt "Wild Bill" Jaynes, Unk, SSGt Mock, MAJ Whitney(Commander), Unk, SSGT Erickson. From the Richard Goslin Collection.
"HH-43F#62-4533 Starting up. 1972" From the Richard Goslin Collection.
"SGt Goslin with RAF PUMA." From the Richard Goslin Collection.
"HH-43F#62-4535 Standing Alert, July 1972." From the Richard Goslin Collection.
SSgt. Daniel Pimpsner. From the Richard Goslin Collection.
"Local Rescuemen Aid Downed British Copter" Submitted compliments of Paul Metzner, from the HEYFORD OBSERVER, March 1968.
Top Row (L to R): SSGT Daniels, UNK, SMSGT Stultz, MAJ Vespico Bottom: SSGT Jaynes Photo from the Paul Metzner Collection.
"SGt Metzner in front of DET2 Building." Photo from the Paul Metzner Collection.
"SGt Metzner and SGt Butera with "Poopie" suit after sea survival training." Photo from the Paul Metzner Collection.
"UH Transit Ramp 1968, (L to R) Control Tower, Crash Fire Station (white bldgs), HH-43 hanger (with 4535 refueling out front), DET2 Building and "PEDRO Alert Pad"." Photo from the Paul Metzner Collection.
"Here are a couple of pics of the HH-43 Unit from Heyford. HH43B-1 is 62-4533 on the "launch pad" over near the Fire Station. HH43B-2 is from the other side of the runway out at the fire training pit. Don't know the exact dates but I think I shot them some time in 1968." Image submitted by Paul J. Metzner, Sgt, ABR57150, 66th CES Fire Dept, Det 2 40th ARRW Rescue, Aug 1966 - Aug 1969.
"HH-43#62-4535 on Alert duty." Image submitted by Steve Mock, MSgt, (Ret), ABR57170 Airborne Rescue Specialist DET 2, 40thARRWg, Aug 1969 - May 1973.
"Ssgt Mock, "Operation Artic Express", Bodo, Norway Feb 1970." Image submitted by Steve Mock, MSgt, (Ret), ABR57170 Airborne Rescue Specialist DET 2, 40thARRWg, Aug 1969 - May 1973.
"HH43F#62-4535 in the Restoration Hanger, Midlands Air Museum, Baggington Airport, Coventry, England." Submitted by Steve Mock. See more about this restoration project on the Restoration Projects page.
DET 2 Alert Facility, Building 358 "The Det2 Alert Facility (building 358) later became the Security Police Armory and Central Security Control dispatch. An extension was added to the facility so we wouldn't have to stand in the pouring rain to check our weapons into, and out of, the armory. The surrounding roads were also paved with concrete, and 8-10 striped parking spaces were added on the north side." Duane Park, 20th SPS, 1976 - 1978. Photo submitted by Steve Mock, MSgt, (Ret), ABR57170 Airborne Rescue Specialist DET 2, 40thARRWg, Aug 1969 - May 1973.
Forgotten Roster/Bio This MS Word document includes detachment commanders, maintenance superintendents, administration, aircrew, and aircraft maintenance personnel who served at RAF Upper Heyford. "To date I've located 36 former members (including Laon AB personnel). I also have 4 emails outstanding and 12 letters to A.F. Personnel Center to be forwarded. - Steve" Compiled and submitted by Steve Mock, MSgt, (Ret), ABR57170 Airborne Rescue Specialist DET 2, 40th ARRWg, Aug 1969 - May 1973.
F-111E 68-024 Crashed and destroyed 11 January 1973 near Crawley UK (Ben Marselis) Upper Heyford (Doc Servo). 20th TFW Upper Heyford. Callsign Sewn 11. Crewed by pilot Maj Bob Kroos and WSO Capt Roger A Beck. The main body of the aircraft fell near in North Crawley, in Buckinghamshire. An engine caught fire just after takeoff at 08:56, melted the rudder linkage so that it froze hard over, and the crew ended up flying around in circles trying to get back to Upper Heyford. The fuel dumping procedure gave rise to several UFO sightings that monring! The crew abandoned the aircraft at 09:47 after Kroos lost control of the aircraft. The capsule came down in a farm, and the startled owner came out and plied the crew with brandy, which rather messed up the USAF's mandatory blood-alcohol test! They were exonerated from blame. (Tony Thornborough) The aircraft went in to a flat stall and crashed in the parking lot of a local airfield. The airfield Crash Trucks quickly extinguished the resulting fire. Image submitted by Steve Mock, MSgt, (Ret), ABR57170 Airborne Rescue Specialist DET 2, 40thARRWg, Aug 1969 - May 1973.
"Whistling S___ House" Image submitted by Steve Mock, MSgt, (Ret), ABR57170 Airborne Rescue Specialist DET 2, 40thARRWg, Aug 1969 - May 1973.
Kaman HH-43 Huskie A service history compiled by Johan D. Ragay, the Netherlands. http://www.h43-huskie.info Submitted by Steve Mock, MSgt, (Ret), ABR57170 Airborne Rescue Specialist DET 2, 40thARRWg, Aug 1969 - May 1973.
The Pedro Newsletter LOOKING FOR AN OLD H-43 FRIEND or CREWMEMBER? Try using the PEDRO NEWS H-43 Personnel Roster and Contact Directory, just click on the link below: http://users.acninc.net/padipaul/pedrohome.htm
For those wishing to make contact with DET2 members, email: pedronews@libby.org.

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This page was last updated on 4 April 2008.