DD-710 rescues downed airman off of GTMO in February 1965.

During air operations off of
Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, in February
1965, an aircraft received what
was believed to be an accidental
"cold cat" launch from USS Essex,
CVS-9. USS Gearing had the plane
guard assignment and was right
there when the aircraft landed in
the water.

The flight crew scrambled into a life
raft as the plane sank. An Essex
helicopter quickly moved in and,
shown here, begins to lift the
pilots to safety, one at a time.


The next to last air crew
member is lifted to safety in
this photo, but with the raft
now much lighter, the downwash
kept blowing the raft out of
reach of the rescue collar.

(This photo was on page one of
the Providence Journal a couple
of days later.)


DD-710's motor whaleboat
rescue team moves in and
picks up the last pilot.

He was an honored guest of the
Gearing crew for several days
and was highlined back to Essex
only after they paid a "ransom"
of multiple gallons of ice cream.

Left to right in boat below: sailor standing in bow is unidentified; T.L. Jackson, BMSN; W. D. Perry, GMSN;
next two are unidentified; Ltjg P. M. Althouse, DCA; Essex airman; boat engineman is D. R. Schulz, EN3;
J. F. Thibadeau, BM3 is coxswain at tiller. Email if you can help with the names.