Where were you on February 8, 1973? If you were a member of an Air Force Combat Control Team that was rescued by a C-130 from Tuy Hoa Air Base in South Vietnam, we would like to find you. Why? Let me tell you the rest of the story.
My husband, Courtney Brye, was flying off the coast of South Vietnam that day. He was a 1st lieutenant and co-pilot on a C-130 attached to the Blue Tail Flies (the 37e Tactical Airlift Squadron), stationed at Langley Air Force Base. In preparation for the withdrawal of most of the forces in March 1973, many bases, including Tuy Hoa, were closed. So Courtney and his aircraft commander, Captain Jack Frost, were surprised when they heard a radio distress call from Tuy Hoa Air Base. An Air Force combat control team was trapped and in danger of being overrun. They asked for rescue.
The situation was very complicated. There were no more navigational aids and the weather was terrible. But in a split second, the crew decided to try to get in and save this team. They were familiar with the contours of the base’s location and used old-style navigation to focus on the runway. They could reach up to 15 meters above the water and had a clear view. My husband said one of his biggest worries was hitting a Vietnamese fishing boat. At one point he looked closely and saw that they had just flown under the deck of a boat that was missing its wing by a few feet.
They were under fire when they landed and taxied to turn around. They pulled into the ramp while still taxiing and the Combat Control Team all successfully boarded. Everyone was very relieved when they were finally back above the South China Sea.
More than fifty years have passed and life is taking its toll. Courtney was diagnosed with suspected Agent Orange metastatic prostate cancer 18 months ago. Such a diagnosis can make you think about your life. One of his regrets was that he never got to talk to the team they rescued. He recently contacted his aircraft commander and expressed the same regret. So I decided to make the effort to try and find one of the survivors. If you know someone who fits this description, we would like to get in touch with him/her. It’s not an experience anyone would forget. If you or someone you know was part of this rescue effort, please email us at editor@wearethemighty with the subject line: BRYE RESCUE.