Angels With Rotors (Part 2): U.S. MEDEVAC Helicopter Operations From Vietnam to Present Day

“When I have Your Wounded”: the evolution of U.S. MEDEVAC chopper operations.

The chopper hovered over the area the wounded soldier was located, it was reported as a secure area and the patient’s needs were urgent. Maj. Charles Kelly of the U.S. Army 57th Medical Detachment (Helicopter Ambulance) sat at the controls of the UH-1 Huey, determined to rescue the man like he had done so many times before. Suddenly the jungle erupted with fire; the enemy had mixed in close to the friendlies, and was awaiting the predicted arrival of the MEDEVAC (Medical Evacuation) chopper. They opened up on the Huey, and an American advisor on the ground repeatedly called for Kelly to abort and withdraw, but Kelly , a man who let few obstacles stop him from his mission, stubbornly refused, replying “When I have your wounded.”

Moments later a bullet zipped through the window of the helicopter, struck Kelly in the heart, his helicopter rolled over into the earth, and he became the 149th American casualty in Vietnam, the “Helicopter War.”

Kelly had been known by the call sign “Dustoff”. Uncertainty remains as to the actual origin of the call sign. It is said that it was used for MEDEVAC flights because of the dust stirred by the chopper rotors during the dry season, and also stated an innocuous name was needed for such mercy flights and Dustoff was chosen. Whatever the reason, Dustoff was Maj Kelly’s call sign that fateful day, and in honor of Maj. Kelly and his sacrifice, dedication, and passion for the MEDEVAC operations, ever since that day the US Army has used the call sign “Dustoff” for medical evacuations.

Kelly flew the very symbol of the Vietnam War, footage of the war filled the evening news, and almost always there was footage of the UH-1 Huey somewhere in the reports. The UH-1 (Utility Helicopter) was first designated the HU-1, thereby receiving its nickname “Huey”. It arrived in Vietnam in 1962.

The MEDEVAC UH-1B model could carry up to three patients on a stretcher at a time, two sitting personnel, medical equipment and supplies, as well as a medic. The onboard medic enabled the casualties to be triaged on the way to medical facilities, speeding up the process of treatment and increasing the rates of survival for wounded soldiers. The Huey had huge side doors enabling the quick and easy loading and unloading of the wounded.

Various versions of the Huey were produced, with over 16,000 built in total. The UH-1B had a top speed of 138 mph, and a ceiling of 12,500 ft. Range of the helicopter was 230 miles, it was over 39 ft. long, 14 ft. high and weighed in at over 4,500 lbs. The UH-1 in one form or another found a home in all branches of the U.S. military, U.S. Coast Guard, several other federal and state agencies, civilian operators, and was widely exported and license-built around the globe. The Huey also served in every subsequent military conflict the United States has been involved in since Vietnam, including Granada (Operation Urgent Fury), Panama (Operations Just Cause), Iraq, and Afghanistan by the DEA (Drug Enforcement Agency). Retired from U.S. Army service in 2016, it still remains in service today in various variants in the U.S. Air Force, U.S. Marine Corps as well as many countries and by civilian operators.

Other Helicopters used in Vietnam and Recent Conflicts for Medical Operations

One of the more interesting concepts of assisting the wounded in the field was the use of the Sikorsky CH-54 Skycrane, a skeletal boom helicopter.  This helicopter was normally used as a heavy lifting helicopter for recovery of downed aircraft or externally transporting heavy cargo. However, it also had the capability of attaching an enclosed pod under the craft that could transport troops or cargo internally. One configuration of this pod was a mobile medical facility that could be airlifted to needed locations where casualties would be transported to.

The CH-54 had a service ceiling of 13,000 ft. It had a payload of over 20,000 lbs. and a maximum speed of 126 mph, with a range of 230 miles. It served with the Army National Guard until 1993.

Sikorsky HH-3 “Jolly Green Giants” and HH-53 “Super Jolly Green Giants”  also gained fame in the Vietnam War. Used for rescuing downed and sometimes wounded fliers, the HH-53’s range extended by being the first helicopter with in-flight refueling. Jolly Greens could fly over 200 mph and could carry up to 24 stretchers and the necessary medics.

CH-53s also served in Grenada, Operation Iraqi Freedom, Operation Enduring Freedom (Afghanistan), and served different variations with the U.S. Marines, Navy, and Air Force. It was also exported to several other nations and many are still in service today.

The Boeing CH-47 Chinook twin-engine helicopter is another rotary-winged aircraft seen in the skies of Vietnam and still today. Normally used for heavy lifting and transport, it first flew in 1961. Pressed into service for casualty transports, it could carry up to 24 litters along with needed medical supplies, equipment, and medical personnel. The Chinook can reach around 200 mph and has a range of around 460 miles. The U.S. Army, Army Reserve, and Army National Guard are the U.S. operators, while the helicopter has been widely exported as well. Like most long serving US helicopters, it has seen service in almost every military conflict after Vietnam including the Iraq wars and Afghanistan, and has been used in several rescues and humanitarian aid operations as well.

Present Day

Current rotary aircraft used by the U.S. forces for MEDEVAC include the Sikorsky UH-60 Black Hawk, with the latest dedicated MEDEVAC version being the HH-60M.  The HH-60M is specifically designed for evacuating wounded troops and ambulatory transport. This helicopter has a MEP (Medical Equipment Package) kit, has the ability to generate oxygen on-board, with a capability to be configured for transporting up to six patients on litters, along with the flight crew and medics. The aircraft also sports a fully digitized cockpit instead of traditional gauges. It flies at close to 170 mph with a range of around 316 miles. The HH-60M can also be reconfigured to perform other missions should the need arise. Variations of the UH-60 fly with the U.S. Air Force, Army, Navy, and Coast Guard. It is widely exported. Black Hawks served in Grenada, Panama, Iraq, Afghanistan, and of course the infamous Somalian operations.

Entering service in late 2006, the UH-72 is the newest light utility helicopter in the U.S. inventory that can be utilized for MEDEVAC operations. The UH-72 Lakota MEDEVAC can fly 167 mph, carry two patients and a medic, has a rescue hoist, and a computerized cockpit complete with touch-screen displays and a moving map system. Range is 426 miles with a service ceiling of 13,182 ft. The concept behind the UH-72 is to free up the more expensive Black Hawk helicopters for front line duty and to replace the older light utility helicopters in service. It is produced by Airbus Helicopters.

Perhaps the most unique aircraft used by US forces for medical evacuations is the Bell-Boeing V-22 Osprey. Being of tiltrotor design, it has both VTOL (Vertical Takeoff and Landing) and STOL (Short Takeoff and Landing) capabilities, combining the functionality of a helicopter with the performance of longer range and higher speed conventional aircraft. It first flew in 1989.

The USMC (United States Marine Corps) version of the Osprey is designated the MV-22. When operated for casualty evacuation, it can carry up to twelve stretchers. Equipped with heart monitors and carrying medical supplies, medics, and crew, the Osprey has a greater range and is much faster than conventional helicopters, greatly increasing the survival chances of the wounded. It can also land in brownout conditions more easily than some conventional helicopters.

The V-22 is currently operated by the U.S. Air Force, Navy, Marine Corps, and also by Japan.

Results

As techniques and training advance along with aircraft design and technology, the statistics for MEDEVAC casualties also improve. During World War 2 the evacuated casualty survival rate was at 80.9%, in Iraq and Afghanistan the percentage climbed to over 90%. A vast majority of those receiving outpatient treatments after evacuations were eventually discharged back to normal duty.

The first part of this report, “Angels with Rotors: The Early use of US Medical Evacuation Helicopters” can be found here.