Go Back   Professional Soldiers ® > Special Forces > Base Camp

Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
Old 02-17-2018, 20:07   #16
rick-socom
Asset
 
Join Date: May 2017
Location: Tampa Bay
Posts: 14
Quote:
Originally Posted by Noah Werka View Post
Anybody heard of a project code named Starlift?

"A C-130 flew in low, snagged the rope, which cut the balloon free, and the load master and this assistant slowly reeled me in. The procedure, code-named Starlift and used by Special Forces to exfil forces from behind enemy lines, went smoothly, but the force of the plane pulling me messed up my back."

Sounds a lot like Skyhook.

From the book
Poke here for Full Battle Rattle
My Story as the Longest-Serving Special Forces A-Team Soldier in American History

Changiz Lahidji and Ralph Pezzullo


Noah W

Started reading Changiz book and looks like an editors slip up. good book. Thanks for posting that link and bringing it up. v/r rick

Last edited by rick-socom; 02-22-2018 at 02:31. Reason: new info
rick-socom is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-14-2018, 19:30   #17
rick-socom
Asset
 
Join Date: May 2017
Location: Tampa Bay
Posts: 14
Quote:
Originally Posted by rick-socom View Post
We’ve identified another SF who was picked up by Skyhook. He was William “Mark” Wylie from 5th SFG who was part of a two man training pickup conducted in Monrovia, Liberia on 25 April 1982. He retired as MSG but we're not sure what his rank was in 1982. He's the 53rd SF identified thus far as participating in Fulton Skyhook. MSG Wylie passed away in 2009 and his son Tom mentioned that 5th SFG honor guard participated in his father’s funeral. v/r rick
we've found new info and the Monrovia double pickup that included Mark Wylie from 5th SFG was on 13 April 1982, not the 25th. v/r rick
rick-socom is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-19-2018, 01:20   #18
rwt_bkk
Quiet Professional
 
rwt_bkk's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: Thailand
Posts: 104
Skyhook in SEA

I know that one Thai SF trooper was also picked up in a Skyhook demo I believe in Thailand.
__________________
Robert "Bru" Taylor

"Fortune Favors the Bold!"
rwt_bkk is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-21-2018, 15:26   #19
rick-socom
Asset
 
Join Date: May 2017
Location: Tampa Bay
Posts: 14
Quote:
Originally Posted by rwt_bkk View Post
I know that one Thai SF trooper was also picked up in a Skyhook demo I believe in Thailand.
Thanks Bru, we have a Thai SF officer picked up a Lopburi on 25 Feb 1970.

v/r rick
rick-socom is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-03-2018, 11:54   #20
MDH
Asset
 
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: N/A
Posts: 2
I knew Mark Wylie back in the 83-85 timeframe, he was an E-6 back then, had gotten out after VN then came back in. Believe he was working the Commo Committee. Used to ride dirt bikes with him and his son, sorry to hear that he passed.
MDH is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-04-2018, 14:26   #21
rick-socom
Asset
 
Join Date: May 2017
Location: Tampa Bay
Posts: 14
Quote:
Originally Posted by MDH View Post
I knew Mark Wylie back in the 83-85 timeframe, he was an E-6 back then, had gotten out after VN then came back in. Believe he was working the Commo Committee. Used to ride dirt bikes with him and his son, sorry to hear that he passed.
thanks MDH. Didn't know Mark. Have talked with his son quite a bit about his dad's skyhook pickup and he mentioned the dirt bikes and working on cars. I've sent you a PM.

thanks
v/r rick

Last edited by rick-socom; 08-04-2018 at 18:46.
rick-socom is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-26-2018, 19:00   #22
rick-socom
Asset
 
Join Date: May 2017
Location: Tampa Bay
Posts: 14
SGT Bradford S. Taylor, ODA 333, 3/10 SFG

The second live pickup conducted in Europe was SGT Bradford Taylor with ODA 333, 3/10 SFG. We have a few pictures of SGT Taylor suiting up for the pickup but don't yet have an exact date. we've heard it may have been about a week after COL Tyler, COMSOFTE was picked up on 23 April 1979.
rick-socom is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-24-2019, 17:09   #23
Uman
Quiet Professional
 
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Texas
Posts: 286
Research Operation Cold Feet

Operation Cold Feet was the first operational use of the Fulton Surface To Air Recovery System aka Skyhook. This operation was also the background for the movie Ice Station Zebra.

Operation Cold Feet is were the US parachuted two Navy Intelligence personal onto the Arctic Icecap to recon an abandoned Soviet Ice Station. They were looking form more than weather data, ie data on what the Soviet submarines where doing under the ice. The Ice Station was abandoned because of the ice breaking up, so the only way off was to use the Fulton Surface To Air Recovery System. The recovery aircraft was the original B-17G bomber that was converted by one of the CIA Air Branch companies.

The mission was somewhat of a success according to the CIA. Just like the recovery of the Soviet submarine or the deep sea recovery of the satellite film pod, or the etc etc.

So buying Greenland is a very strategic move. I bet after one f those WH intel briefings on what the Russians and the Chinese are doing under the Arctic prompted Trump to say lets buy the place.
Uman is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-07-2020, 03:23   #24
rick-socom
Asset
 
Join Date: May 2017
Location: Tampa Bay
Posts: 14
great point Uman. the book "Project COLDFEET: Secret Mission to a Soviet Ice Station" by Leary and LeSchack is back in print in paperback and covers a lot of details I've not seen elsewhere.

thanks also for mentioning "ice station zebra."
v/r rick
rick-socom is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply


Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)
 
Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump



All times are GMT -6. The time now is 05:21.



Copyright 2004-2022 by Professional Soldiers ®
Site Designed, Maintained, & Hosted by Hilliker Technologies