Air Force Reservists gather to remember PONY 1-2 rescue crew, passengers at memorial

  • Published
  • By Master Sgt. Bryan Ripple
  • 920th Rescue Wing Public Affairs
DAVIS-MONTHAN AIR FORCE BASE, Ariz. --  More than 300 people including Airmen from Air Force Reserve Command's 943rd Rescue Group, officials from the 355th Wing, the Davis-Monthan AFB host unit, retired 943rd and 71st Special Operations Squadron military members, and local dignitaries gathered at Heritage Park here March 8 to honor and remember 15 lives that were lost in the line of duty during a nighttime training mission 20 years ago.

The memorial service coincided with the same weekend as the Air Combat Command Heritage Flight Conference held here from March 4-8. The Heritage Flight Conference allows civilian and military pilots to train together in preparation for the spring and summer air show seasons. Heritage formations, during which modern and historic fighters fly together, are a popular highlight event at air shows throughout the United States and Canada.

On Sunday evening, March 12, 1989, while participating in a joint-service training exercise, four aircrew members from the Air Force Reserve's 71st Special Operations Squadron, now known as the 943rd Rescue Group, and 11 soldiers from the 5th Special Forces Group from Fort Bragg, N.C., died in the crash of a CH-3E Jolly Green Giant Helicopter, tail number 65-05692, call sign PONY 1-2. The crash happened in a desolate desert region 20 miles northwest of Tucson.

By day, these helicopters were merrily called "Jolly Green Giants." At night, they were transformed into more sinister giants, neither "jolly" nor discernibly "green." At night, they were dark, old engines of war.

The memorial ceremony provided an opportunity for long-time unit members to share the unit's heritage with the younger members of the unit and was held in front of a CH-3E Jolly Green Giant static display replica of PONY 1-2, to honor and remember the men who served on it. The static display was put together piece by piece by unit members who volunteered their time to create the memorial to honor the service and sacrifice of the 15 men who perished that clear, moonless night when the crash happened.

Retired Air Force Reserve Chief Master Sgt. Craig Bergman was the Avionics Superintendent for the 71st SOS 20 years ago and spoke of the background involved in creating the memorial display.

"This unit has always been a small, very close-knit family, and we swore that we'd never forget about PONY 1-2 and the 15 men who lost their lives that night," he said. "After the initial grieving phase and the accident investigation, we decided the best way to remember them was to place a CH-3E helicopter on display here at Heritage Park for all to see."

The first task then Senior Master Sgt. Bergman and others from the unit such as Maj. Mike Williams, commander of the 943rd Maintenance Squadron and Master Sgt. Chuck Ruth a crew chief back then with the maintenance division, faced was to help expand Heritage Park to make room to put a helicopter on display. Personnel from the base civil engineer squadron delivered dirt and gravel for the landscaping, but it would have to be spread into place by members of the unit who volunteered countless hours with shovels, rakes, and hoes to prepare the site.

"Then we contacted Mr. Ed Cigahn, who was the H-3 Program Manager at the time at Warner Robins Air Logistics Center and asked him if he could help us locate an appropriate helicopter we could use to memorialize Pony 1-2. Soon after, Ed called us back and said the Army had an H-3 sitting in a field at Fort Rucker, Ala. they couldn't use anymore and they donated it to the Heritage Park display and even shipped it to us by truck."

When the aircraft arrived, the team knew they had to roll up their sleeves and get ready for a lot of work.

"It was in terrible shape. It came to us in pieces on two flatbed trucks. We built cradles for it, put on landing gear and manufactured many other parts to make the aircraft a fitting resemblance of 692. This helicopter was actually a sister ship of 692 at one time. We worked on it for a year and a half with Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm getting in the way for a while. We eventually got it all cleaned up and put together, painted it and towed it down the street from our hangar to the park. The civil engineer squadron moved it into place with a crane for us. This was a truly Herculean effort by everybody. People volunteered on weekends, in the evenings, whenever they were off work--it was an all volunteer effort by a lot of people. Finally, on May 3, 1992 the display was dedicated."

"This was a very special occasion for us. It was special because we had a chance to remember and reflect on our friends, our loved ones, our heritage and our motto: "These Things We Do...That Others May Live. The crew of PONY 1-2 and their passengers gave their lives because they believed in being prepared. In the same spirit, we train and are also prepared and engaged in today's global fight on terrorism," said Col. Robert Dunn, commander of the 943rd Rescue Group.

Since the evening of the crash that claimed the lives of those on board PONY 1-2, many reservists have come and gone through the unit. The squadron is now a group; the name of the unit and the mission have changed, but there were still many people in attendance at the memorial ceremony who still recall the event, some of which spent countless hours preparing the static display at Heritage Park. They've done this for their comrades who have gone before them. The memorial of PONY 1-2 is dedicated to their memory, standing for future generations who make the same commitment for their nation.

"I think it's critical for current members to know the history behind the unit. It helps build e sprit de corps to remain true to the past. Without knowing your unit's history, how can you look forward to the future?" said Chief Bergman.

Many will remember that the 71st Special Operations Squadron was, by nature, always a close-knit organization. The aircrew flying PONY 1-2, and the 11 Special Forces Soldiers on board that fateful night were more than comrades-in-arms; they were, in the truest sense of the word, family.