HMH-463 CH-53 Lifting Crashed MAG-16 Huey, Oct 1969

I was crew chief Stationed at Phu Bai with HMH-462 '68-69. We went south of our base to pick up a downed Huey. A perimeter was set up with CH 46s offloading troops to secure the site .We landed our '53 & picked up the crew chief of the Huey and proceeded to lift off and take it back to Phu Bai. After lifting off & climbing to altitude. the tie down ropes on the Huey came loose and the rotor started to pick up turns and flap towards the belly of our aircraft. I informed the pilot (Maj. McMinime I believe)- he said Chamberlain, if you think we should pickle it - pickle it. So I did, believing the blades may come in contact with our extended landing gear from my perspective looking through the cargo hook access hole. The Huey picked up turns as it descended and appeared to land in a rice paddie. The crew chief seemed somewhat upset that we pickled his plane. Ron Chamberlain ronco46@hotmail.com -Submitted by: ron chamberlain [ronco46@hotmail.com] 2009-03-07