A Night of Ice

by Daniel J. O'Brien, Major. USAF, Retired

On 8 February 1952 a fighter pilot bailed out as dusk was approaching over North Korea. He was picked up by Air Rescue Helicopter and taken to an island off the North Korean shore. His foot had been severed hitting the canopy during ejection. Immediate evacuation was required. A Rescue SA-16 was in the area and responded to the call for immediate help. It landed on the water in the lee of the island and taxied up onto the beach where the transfer was made. Although pitot heat was on, the attitude gyro. An/air speed indicator malfunctioned due to icing on take off. Emergency was declared! Using needle ball and the sound of the props a climb out was maintained to the point where a F-82 on a night fighter mission responded. It dropped its gear and formed ahead of the SA-16 whose windscreen. On this pitch-black Korean night, was covered with ice. Using the red and green position lights of the F-82, the SA-16 was led back to K-14. On final approach, with the F-82 above and ahead calling out airspeed, the SA-16 proceeded toward the runway outlined vaguely through the ice-covered windscreen. The landing gear was frozen! Quickly it had to be broken free through the fuselage wall. Upon landing and rolling to a stop, those outside had to break the ice to open the rear door. The fighter pilot was saved! The SA-16 returned to K-16 where the pilot. Lt. Daniel J. O'Brien was admonished for landing in what turned out to be hazardous icing conditions. The crew, including Lt. Jack Ashby co-pilot, Lt. Martin. Fox. Navigator, and Sgt. McKenna, flight engineer were subsequently rewarded for the save. The mission whiskey disappeared on the flight home although all were cold sober but shaking!