At sunrise Jolly 17 returned to the search area. As they came to the rescue area they saw a pilot hanging from his harness from a tree. Doug King the PJ volunteered to be lowered to pick up the pilot. He found the pilot had been killed & loaded his body onto a stretcher. The crew began winching the both up when the enemy opened fire. Doug called he'd been hit pull up, so the pilot fearing the helicopter could crash killing them all pulled up, hoping they could be pulled through the trees and then winched aboard. However the cable snapped & the airmen fell back to the ground. Doug then made one last call "Jolly get out of here, they are almost on to of me". Badly damaged the H-3 was forced to depart. The crew were unable to fire at the enemy as they were too close to the downed airmen.
After two days of searching both crew were reported as MIA. While listed as MIA Doug was promoted from A1C to Chief Master Sergeant.
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Jolly Green 17 |
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Pararescueman  CMSgt. Charles Douglas King
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Air Force Cross & Silver Star
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