Oscar 8
US Special Forces suffered a devastating defeat while attacking an NVA base deep inside Laos
- History
Boxer 22 Rescue in the Phanop Valley
Largest Rescue Operation on the Ho Chi Minh Trail
The largest rescue operation of the war occurred in the Phanop Valley. A total of 336 sorties were flown by various aircraft over the three-day operation, including 242 sorties flown by A-1 Skyraiders and over 40 sorties by HH-3 and HH-53 helicopters. F-4 Phantoms, F-100 Super Sabres, F-105 Thunderchiefs, Navy A-6 Intruders, and A-37s pounded NVA gun positions throughout the valley.
Rescue aircraft expended a total of 1,463 munitions, encompassing a wide range of weaponry: smart bombs, cluster bombs, smoke bombs, anti-riot bombs, napalm, and rocket pods.
Rescue aircraft expended a total of 1,463 munitions, encompassing a wide range of weaponry: smart bombs, cluster bombs, smoke bombs, anti-riot bombs, napalm, and rocket pods.
The First Day
On December 5, 1969, two US Air Force F-4C Phantoms, call sign “Boxer,” targeted a ford where the Ho Chi Minh Trail crossed the Nam Ngo River just south of Phanop Village.
The trailing aircraft, Boxer 22, piloted by Captain Benjamin Danielson and 1st Lt. Woodrow Bergeron, was hit by enemy fire around 10 am shortly after dropping their ordnance. Forced to eject, Danielson and Bergeron landed some 50 feet apart on opposite sides of the Nam Ngo River in a valley heavily defended by enemy troops.
Immediately, a rescue operation involving A-1 Skyraiders and HH-3E Jolly Green Giant rescue helicopters was launched.
Danielson reported enemy troops closing in on his position, and the Skyraiders engaged the enemy with 20mm cannon fire while the Jolly Greens prepared for extraction. However, the enemy responded with intense anti-aircraft fire from the surrounding karst cliffs, making the rescue extremely dangerous.
Seven rescue attempts were launched throughout the first day. However, each attempt was met with a barrage of bullets, forcing the helicopters to retreat. During the third attempt, David Davison, a tail gunner in a Super Jolly Green helicopter, was killed by a bullet wound to his head.
By nightfall, five of the seven Jolly Greens were severely damaged and unable to fly. Bergeron and Danielson were forced to spend the night in hiding, communicating with each other via survival radios.
The trailing aircraft, Boxer 22, piloted by Captain Benjamin Danielson and 1st Lt. Woodrow Bergeron, was hit by enemy fire around 10 am shortly after dropping their ordnance. Forced to eject, Danielson and Bergeron landed some 50 feet apart on opposite sides of the Nam Ngo River in a valley heavily defended by enemy troops.
Immediately, a rescue operation involving A-1 Skyraiders and HH-3E Jolly Green Giant rescue helicopters was launched.
Danielson reported enemy troops closing in on his position, and the Skyraiders engaged the enemy with 20mm cannon fire while the Jolly Greens prepared for extraction. However, the enemy responded with intense anti-aircraft fire from the surrounding karst cliffs, making the rescue extremely dangerous.
Seven rescue attempts were launched throughout the first day. However, each attempt was met with a barrage of bullets, forcing the helicopters to retreat. During the third attempt, David Davison, a tail gunner in a Super Jolly Green helicopter, was killed by a bullet wound to his head.
By nightfall, five of the seven Jolly Greens were severely damaged and unable to fly. Bergeron and Danielson were forced to spend the night in hiding, communicating with each other via survival radios.
The Second Day
In the early morning, Bergeron reported hearing enemy soldiers close to Danielson’s position, followed by a burst of gunfire and Danielson’s scream. He did not hear from Danielson again, and later attempts to contact him via radio were unsuccessful.
The rescue operation resumed, and virtually all available US air power in Southeast Asia was directed to support the rescue. A-1 Skyraiders, F-4 Phantoms, and other aircraft conducted heavy airstrikes on enemy guns on the karst above the rescue site.
The A-1 Skyraiders created a smoke corridor using CBU-22 smoke bombs, at times visible from space, which helped conceal the Jolly Green helicopters. Pilots described the smoke as looking like a “Texas sandstorm” from a distance.
In addition to smoke bombs, the US forces also deployed CBU-30 riot gas bombs to flush out enemy troops from their hiding positions. Bergeron described a tear gas bomblet bouncing off his chest, causing him to “urinate and retch all at the same time”.
Six rescue attempts by the Jolly Greens were unsuccessful, driven back by heavy ground fire each time. On three occasions, Beregon almost made it to the helicopter.
During the second night, Beregon evaded NVA soldiers sent to look for him and spent the night concealed in tree roots.
The rescue operation resumed, and virtually all available US air power in Southeast Asia was directed to support the rescue. A-1 Skyraiders, F-4 Phantoms, and other aircraft conducted heavy airstrikes on enemy guns on the karst above the rescue site.
The A-1 Skyraiders created a smoke corridor using CBU-22 smoke bombs, at times visible from space, which helped conceal the Jolly Green helicopters. Pilots described the smoke as looking like a “Texas sandstorm” from a distance.
In addition to smoke bombs, the US forces also deployed CBU-30 riot gas bombs to flush out enemy troops from their hiding positions. Bergeron described a tear gas bomblet bouncing off his chest, causing him to “urinate and retch all at the same time”.
Six rescue attempts by the Jolly Greens were unsuccessful, driven back by heavy ground fire each time. On three occasions, Beregon almost made it to the helicopter.
During the second night, Beregon evaded NVA soldiers sent to look for him and spent the night concealed in tree roots.
The Final Day
On the third day, three rescue attempts were made. A-1 Skyraiders maintained a constant “daisy chain” formation, providing continuous cover for the rescue helicopters. Lt. Col. Clifton Shipman, piloting HH-53 JG-77, made the final rescue attempt at noon, flying through a thick smoke screen to reach Bergeron’s position. The helicopter successfully extracted Bergeron and flew him to the Nakhon Phannon Base in Thailand.
All told, sixteen helicopter rescue attempts were made over the three-day mission. Five were so severely damaged that they never flew again. Five A-1 Skyraiders were damaged. Danielson’s remains were recovered in 2003, and he was laid to rest in Minnesota in 2007.
All told, sixteen helicopter rescue attempts were made over the three-day mission. Five were so severely damaged that they never flew again. Five A-1 Skyraiders were damaged. Danielson’s remains were recovered in 2003, and he was laid to rest in Minnesota in 2007.
Upcoming Documentary
In 2023, I was contracted to film drone shots of the Phanop Valley of the perspective of the airmen as they descended into the Phanop Valley by parachute. I also filmed the karst rock formations and caves where the NVA hid their AAA guns and mimicked the flight paths of the various rescue helicopters and fighter jets.
By Digby Greenhalgh
Digby Greenhalgh is the founder of Explore Indochina, and a recognized expert on the Ho Chi Minh Trail. All motorcycle tours are designed and guided by Digby.
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