Story 13

PAVE LOW ESCORT

By Anthony Fields

 

I was to escort a Pave Low to the LZ to get a downed crew of an AC-130 that was shot down earlier that day by AAA. The crew was evading capture by the enemy deep behind enemy lines

They were on a hill hiding as enemy BMP-2's rode around below them. We took off at about 9:00 a.m. to meet the big bulky Pave Low. We met up and got in formation and we were on our way. We crossed enemy lines and we started to fly NOE to the LZ. Then to my surprise we came over a hill and there were ten SAMs and AAAs all in a neat circle all beginning to track me. I set a PFZ and me and wing ripple fired at them. They exploded greatly and we were on are way again.

We were ten clicks from the LZ when my wing called in, "We've got enemy fast movers."

I swung around and sure enough there were 4 BMP-2's racing to the LZ. I smoked three and my wing tore the other to a piece of crap. We proceeded to the LZ as I looked for the plain on the ground. Then I saw a piece of green crap laying in a crater. It was torn up real bad. I pulled a head to clear the LZ which was about two clicks ahead of me. I didn't see anything so I pulled into a hover. Then the Pave Low came and landed. As I admired the neat 3d troops they all the sudden came over the radio screaming they were taking fire. Then two Cobras popped up over the hill and as I tore one up the other sent my wing to the ground in flames. It hit the ground and blew up. As my wing mans last word silenced I let three stingers at the Cobra and as he fell I put some thirty rounds in him before hit the ground.

Lets get back to the mission. The troops got the crew and they headed to the Pave Low. I waited when the troops said again they were taking fire. Then on my six a BMP-2 put some iron up my back. I turned around and gunned him down. Then I checked to see what was damaged and to my liking I discovered that the bullets went right through me and didn't catch any wires or an engine. The troops called in and said lets get out of here and we took off and headed home. We had a good trip home and at waypoint two we split up and he headed to the HQ as I headed home to my F.A.R.P.

My wingman was killed that mission. The mission was rated a success and I got a silver star for it.