On that particular mission, I had to use the strings to get the men out and we landed in the Mekong River to pick up the team. I didn't remember a gun ship going down, maybe it was because I was so busy putting the team on the sand bar and dropping down on top of them. We left under fire with the ropes still streaming and the team pulling them in as we headed East. I do remember that we went in force, I think that we went over with six guns and four slicks. My mind was boggled after the departure from the river, and I was worried about the fuel remaining. How could I miss not hearing about a gun going down. I don't think that any of us would have left with a downed ship unless it was a solo to go get more help on the way back to support a downed bird.

Did the gun go down before the pickup, during the pickup, or after it?

Dave