Excerpt from "Perils of Pegasus" by Duane Thorin Compiled by Earl Lanning   (Webmaster's Note:  Some photos were taken from newspapers and the scans are marginal)

Hollis would fly the first part of the "air-taxi" service on the morning of January 22, so my presence on deck was not necessary.  A leisurely cup of coffee was helping meditation if I could demand of TF 95 a written order to continue flying beyond the time when the inspection check was due, without embarrassment to CAPT Smith or CDR Copeland.  Both coffee and meditation were interrupted by the arrival of one of the crew to say I was needed on deck.  As they moved the helicopter into position for launch, the left main landing gear had wobbled.  There was a broken weld in the machine's lower framework where part of the gear's bracing was attached.  I slid beneath the machine for a look.

There it was, at last!--The impact point of a hit it had taken during the rescue of AF CAPT Waid.  The bullet had struck and weakened a weld cluster in the lower truss assembly, at the point where the landing gear drag strut was attached.  Now the welded point had broken.  I rolled out from under the machine, probably with a grin on my face, and said "Great!" as I hurried to a phone.  Stoddard looked at me curiously and asked "Do  you think you can repair it on board?" "Not so's we can haul tourists to the island," I replied while dialing the Exec's number.  "But we can fix it so we can fly for any real emergency."

There was hesitance in CDR Copeland's response to my report of the circumstance.  Quite understandably, in view of the objections I'd made to him the night before.  Also because he would remember I'd spoken of faking trouble with the radio if I'd known I'd be recalled to the ship when I had the infiltrators trapped on the beach.  For I now told him the machine was damaged in a manner which could not be repaired suitably for hauling passengers to the island as scheduled, but that I could jury-rig repairs which would make it flyable for any real emergency.

"Well, all right," he finally said.  "I'll pass the word to the chief of staff.  And I'll be making my morning rounds soon.  I'll stop by to see how you're doing with the repairs."  There was inflection in his voice as though of worry that he might find I was pulling some trick that he would have to expose.

Hollis arrived in flight gear well ahead of scheduled first flight time.  His smile bespoke better than words could have his appreciation of the overall situation.

The first two scheduled passengers arrived, equipped with the usual cameras and film pouches for "inspections".  Hollis told them the helicopter was "down" and they could see we were working on it.  One asked how soon it would be ready.  When told it could not be adequately repaired on board to fly him to the island he asked, "Well then how are we supposed to get there?"

There was some sober-faced pleasure in politely suggesting that they should check with their "boss" about that.  They mumbled themselves away as we affixed a tie-down reel between the left wheel and the step beneath the door of the crew compartment.  That would prevent the wheel from swinging aft.

To keep the wheel from swinging forward, we needed bracing within the framework where the welded joint was broken.  Crawford and I were beneath the machine working on that when Copeland arrived.  First in view was a pair of well-shined shoes and sharply creased trouser cuffs.  Next appeared a cap visor with "scrambled eggs" (gilded lacing), followed by the Exec's inverted face.  He smiled a bit and deftly touched his own visor in return as I managed to touch my cap in salute.  Still there was anxiety in his expression.  His eyes followed my finger to the broken weld and the anxiety disappeared.

Assured that the emergency repairs would serve the purposes I claimed, he directed that he be notified as soon as they were completed.  He could then advise 7th Fleet and TF 77 that we were again available for emergency service.  I asked if the "inspections" of the island had been cancelled, "No," he replied, "they'll go in the ship's boat."

Chief Duane Thorin and M.E. Cowden, 1951

The boat was called away just as we had finished the repairs.  We moved to the lee rail and watched the inspection party depart.  As the small craft wallowed its way toward the island, it seemed appropriate to tell the crew that proved the importance of the inspection and the dedication of TF 95 to their duties. In about three hours, shortly before noon, the inspection party returned.

Which proved (as was also mentioned to the crew) that the ship's boat was more efficient than our helicopter for conducting inspections of islands.  The unmet flight schedule for the doing the job would have taken all day.

As soon as the boat was back aboard, Rochester set course back to the fleet's operating area.  Every turn of her screws took us precious seconds closer to the place where we would soon be desperately needed.