“Roger, I have you in sight and am taking up positions.”
Frank turned back to the company VHF radio and briefed Bob Zuccardi and Lieutenant Alston Gore,
“Chicken-man flight, Flight Lead, over.”
“Go ahead, Lead,” Bob Zuccardi responded.
“Chicken-man Two-Three go ahead,” Alston answered.
“Okay, Flight, here’s the plan. Chalk Two and Three, you will pick up an ammo load internally, possibly for a low-pass kick-out. I will land, kick out ammo and pick up the crew. You two take up a two-minute separation, but don’t come in until I’m out and give an all clear. If you can, drop the ammo and take some wounded. Once we’re done, we’ll join the Chuck Chuck aircraft and wait to see what they want us to do. Once we’re on approach in, Cobra gunships will be laying down suppressive fire. We’ll stay south on a south approach and departure. Stay away from the other sides as much as you can. How do you copy?”
“Lead, Two-Three here. What’s the frequency for the guns?”
“Death Dagger Three-One are the guns on two three five Uniform Hotel Foxtrot. Any other questions, Flight?”
“Chicken-man Two-Three is good,” Alston indicated.
“Chicken-man One-Eight is good,” Bob Zuccardi said.
“Roger. Here comes the ammo. When you’re loaded, give me a heads-up,” Flight Lead instructed.
A few minutes passed. “Lead, this is Two-Three, we’re up.”
“Roger.”
“One-Eight is up,” Bob Zuccardi announced.
“Roger, Flight, on the go.” Switching FM radios, Frank called the senior advisor in the command-and-control aircraft.
“Gambler Six, Chicken-man One-Three, over.”
Captain Jim Guidone was flying copilot today with Frank and was also an aircraft commander. He was from a small town southwest of Pittsburgh Pennsylvania called Jeannette and had attended Youngstown State University in Ohio. His Dad was a hard working Italian immigrant that had instilled the values of duty, honor and country since Jim was a small child.
“Chicken-man One-Three, Gambler Six. Over.”
“Chicken-man flight of three is on the go with two-minute separation between aircraft. Has Gambler Four-One marked the touchdown point with a panel?”
“Chicken-man One-Three, the touchdown point is marked.”
“Roger, Gambler Six.” As the flight proceeded to Firebase Six, it was obvious where it was located as the intensity of smoke had only increased since Reid had attempted to insert the second load.
“Chicken-man One-Three, Death Dagger Three-One, over.”
“Go ahead, Death Dagger.”
“Death Dagger is in position. Good luck.”
“Roger.” I’m going to need it, Frank thought.
“Jim, get on the controls with me,” Frank instructed Jim in case he was hit. “Okay, guys, we’re going to drop to treetop, so be ready.” As the aircraft pressed forward, small-arms fire was not only seen coming up at them but could be heard hitting the side of the aircraft like small hammer blows.
Shit, we’re a mile out and already taking hits. Someone really doesn’t want us getting in there, do they? “Are you guys okay back there? I don’t hear any gunfire from you,” Frank questioned.
“Sir, we’re holding off until we get past the tree line so we can see them,” Specialist John Jarboe, the crew chief, answered. Private Orlando Carreras said nothing. Rockets began impacting along the perimeter of the firebase as Death Dagger was laying down suppressive fire.
“Well, here comes the tree line, so just start shooting,” Frank growled, and immediately the M60s could be heard above the sound of the declining engine. Frank and Jim both immediately looked at the engine tachometer, which was in a rapid counterclockwise rotation to zero, with the master caution light flashing and the caution panel lighting up like a Christmas tree. Rotor was still in the green, but only because Frank pushed the collective down and raised the nose, decelerating the aircraft, which increased rotor rpm.
“Shit, we’ve lost the engine,” he said to no one and everyone. Jim reached over and turned the fuel flow switch and the battery off, reducing the chances of a fire if they should roll the aircraft up. There was only one place to land, and that was right on the panel that Salley had laid out for them to pick up the downed crew. Frank set up his low-level autorotation and landed almost perfectly on the spot. Immediately, Gordon, Patterson and Tonjes were on the aircraft, eager to leave.