A harrowing 1967 combat rescue where Marine gunships and a CH-46 crew defied odds to save their downed comrades
The Mission
In the summer of 1967, four Marine gunships were assigned to escort two CH-46 helicopters inserting Recon teams near Khe Sanh—one landing zone north and one south of the base. The operation took place along the northern edge of the DMZ (Demilitarized Zone), where dense jungle made territorial boundaries impossible to discern.
First Insertion
The first team insertion, approximately 10 minutes northeast of Khe Sanh, proceeded without incident. The gunships conducted a low-level reconnaissance of the small grassy LZ (Landing Zone) before the CH-46 landed successfully. After the Recon team reported clear, the flight departed for the second insertion point.
The Ambush
The second LZ, located 10-12 kilometers southwest of Khe Sanh, presented immediate concerns. The site featured tall elephant grass on a hillside, with a ridgeline at the top bordered by heavy jungle. During reconnaissance passes, the gunships spotted a freshly dug trench line along the hilltop and a possible tunnel entrance lower on the slope.
Despite these warning signs, the Recon team leader declined to change locations after no suitable alternative LZ could be found. The decision was made to proceed, particularly since the gunships had made multiple low passes without drawing fire.
Disaster Strikes
As the second CH-46 attempted to land on the sloped terrain, hovering on its rear right wheel approximately 30 yards below the crest, the jungle erupted with muzzle flashes. The NVA had deliberately allowed the gunships to pass, waiting for the larger target. The CH-46 was hit immediately, crashed, rolled downhill, and caught fire on its left side.
All four gunships engaged the enemy positions, but the proximity of the downed aircraft to the NVA firing positions on the hilltop made accurate fire extremely difficult. The crew maintained a protective perimeter around the burning helicopter while survivors began crawling out the rear ramp.
Critical Ammunition Shortage
The engagement quickly depleted ammunition reserves. One crew chief resorted to dropping hand grenades during strafing runs, causing momentary confusion when another gunship reported seeing airbursts. Time became critical as fuel and ammunition dwindled.
The Rescue
The pilot of the first CH-46, which had been standing by at a distance, made a crucial transmission in a distinctive Southern drawl: his fuel warning light had activated, and if a rescue was to be attempted, it had to happen immediately.
The gunships scraped together remaining ammunition—linking short belts to load approximately 150-200 rounds per gun. One crew chief even fired all six rounds from his .38 sidearm during the final run. The CH-46 approached from the east, landed just below the burning helicopter using it as a smokescreen, and collected all survivors while the gunships provided covering fire.
Race Against Time
All five helicopters made an emergency dash back to Khe Sanh with critically low fuel levels. One gunship (4-3) ran out of fuel during its landing hover and dropped the final several feet for a hard landing. The CH-46 pilot reported that everyone from the downed aircraft—both crew and Recon team—had been wounded but survived.
Reflection on Fortune
The mission succeeded due to several fortunate factors. Four gunships had been available instead of the typical two-helicopter section that would normally escort Marine Recon missions, providing double the firepower and ammunition. The “King Bees” (likely referring to another helicopter unit) hadn’t shown up that day, which led to the full four-gunship assignment.
Had the helicopters not reached Khe Sanh, all five aircraft would likely have fallen from the sky at different locations over dense jungle—impossible terrain for auto-rotation landings. The 30-35 Marines aboard would have been separated on the ground, many already wounded, with no ammunition, in an area heavily occupied by NVA forces.
Tragic Postscript
Captain Bobby “Gabby” Galbreath, one of the pilots who may have participated in this mission, was killed in action during the Tet cease-fire in early February 1968. Galbreath and his crew—Lieutenant Paul Jensen, Staff Sergeant Jimmy E. Tolliver, and Corporal Harry W. Schneider—were providing fire support for a Recon extraction in the DMZ when their helicopter was shot down after attempting to rescue team members left behind.
The bird crashed and rolled over, pinning Schneider underneath. The NVA executed the survivors but apparently didn’t see Schneider, who either passed out or played dead. A Quick Reaction Team found him alive the next morning, but he died shortly after extraction.
This account represents one of countless dangerous helicopter missions flown by Marine aviators and crew during the Vietnam War, exemplifying the courage and sacrifice of those who flew daily rescue and support operations in hostile territory.
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