Features "MAYDAY" over North Korea
As written by USS Iowa helicopter pilot, LT R.L. Dolton (Received from grandson Adam Dalton with edits from Dave Way, USS Iowa’s Curator)
I
t was midafternoon on July 15, 1952. I was flying over the coast of North Korea on a gun spotting mission with a Marine gunner in the rear seat. He held a chart showing the "coordinates” he used to direct gun fire from the battleship. Our mission was to find targets of opportunity, The big 16inch guns of USS Iowa were directed by computers so as to automatically correct for ship movement and azimuth of the target. While thus engaged, the helicopter radio began receiving a “MAYDAY” call from a pilot who was "bailing out" over the mountains of North Korea. He gave his coordinates before jumping. He reported that he was flying an F4U Corsair Fighter and his engine had been hit by anti-aircraft fire near the target he was strafing. The message was also received by Iowa and I was immediately recalled to base. Four rescue helicopters stationed at strategic points around Korea were always on guard duty. My helicopter (a Sikorsky HO3S “Horse”) was one of the four and I was in the best location for this emergency. Upon landing back on board, I learned that planes from the aircraft carrier USS Princeton were bombing and strafing bridges that crossed the Yalu River (northern border of Korea) in an effort to slow down the flow of Chinese crossing over from their base in China. LTJG H.A. Riedl of Boone, Iowa was one of those pilots. In getting back to the ship, I instructed my crew to refuel and be ready for immediate takeoff. Captain Smedberg (Conmanding Officer of USS Iowa) informed me that Reidl's Squadron Leader was in touch with Iowa and wanted to attempt a rescue today if possible. Pilots of Reidl's squadron were remaining on station to see where Reidl had landed with his parachute. The planes were running low on fuel and the day was getting late with bad weather. Could we do it? My answer was, “affirmative.” I needed one crewman with a carbine semiautomatic rifle. Every man in my crew volunteered to go. I chose W.A. Meyer, as he was the smallest, and therefore the lightest in weight. Meyer was an AD1 (mechanic) in case we went down, and his light weight would mean more flying time over the target if we had trouble finding our man. Guided to the downed pilot's location by his Squadron Leader flying an F-4U Corsair, we arrived on location just at dusk. Reidl was using his walkie-talkie on the ground. He reported that he was OK, but the batteries were now very low and he was looking for a hiding place, as troops were in the area. We could not see him, but thought he was about midway up the mountain. Darkness settled in quickly, so visibility was poor. The escorting planes reported that they were very low on fuel and had only enough to get back to their carrier some distance away. I was left alone to do what I could, which was nothing without backup guns to strafe while I attempted to land. And, of course I did not know his exact location. What Rotor Review #154 Fall '21
LT Robert Dolton congratulated for rescue by helicopter commander.
to do? It did not take long to figure that I had better get out of those mountains before total darkness. The enemy would have probably been happy to turn on some lights for me to land, but somehow it didn't seem like the thing to do. The battleship had rigged lights on the helicopter pad to aid in landing. It was just after dark when we touched down. I told Captain Smedberg that I would like to try again when the weather cleared somewhat. I checked the weather and went to bed. About 4:30 AM the next morning, a Marine guard was shaking me out of my sleep to inform me that the Captain was in touch with Princeton and the Squadron Leader was willing to assist in another rescue attempt. The weather had now moved out to sea and engulfed Iowa in heavy fog and light drizzle. The plan was that the Corsair would swing out of the clouds to our deck level and if I would lift off immediately, I could guide on his wings up through the clouds. The HO3S helicopter we were flying did not have instrument capabilities, thus the need to use another airplane for an artificial horizon. We topped out at 4,000 feet and continued toward the target. The weather improved as we approached our location, but low lying clouds still hung like bed sheets between mountain peaks. The Squadron Leader's code name was “Red Leader.” Other fighter planes of the squadron were now on station to help. It was to be an all-out effort to get their pilot back to safety. "Red" Reidl had been on the ground all night and his radio was dead, so we did not know what we would find. Red Leader said he thought Reidl was under that cloud and gave me a reference as to which one. I flew over the spot, holding my altitude, as I did not want to commit too soon. I had seen a village nearby. 50
