Britton, Warner Alexander, Col

Deceased
 
 Service Photo   Service Details
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Last Rank
Colonel
Last Primary AFSC/MOS
1021A-Pilot
Last AFSC Group
Aircrew
Primary Unit
1972-1973, Headquarters Air Rescue and Recovery Service, Military Airlift Command (MAC)
Service Years
1943 - 1973
Officer srcset=
Colonel

 Last Photo   Personal Details 

74 kb


Home State
Kansas
Kansas
Year of Birth
1925
 
This Military Service Page was created/owned by SSgt Robert Bruce McClelland, Jr. to remember Britton, Warner Alexander, Col USAF(Ret).

If you knew or served with this Airman and have additional information or photos to support this Page, please leave a message for the Page Administrator(s) HERE.
 
Contact Info
Home Town
Liberal, Kansas
Last Address
Mobile, Alabama
Date of Passing
Jun 10, 2005
 
Location of Interment
Pine Crest Cemetery - Mobile, Alabama

 Official Badges 

Air Training Command Instructor (pre-1966) Combat Rescue Officer Combat Crew Air Force Retired




 Unofficial Badges 

Cold War Medal


 Military Associations and Other Affiliations
Air Force Memorial (AFM)
  2016, Air Force Memorial (AFM) - Assoc. Page


 Additional Information
Last Known Activity:

He served in many air rescue units and flew combat rescue missions in WWII and Vietnam.
 
His AF Cross citation:
Awarded for actions during the Vietnam War

The President of the United States of America, authorized by Title 10, Section 8742, United States Code, takes pleasure in presenting the Air Force Cross to Colonel Warner A. Britton (AFSN: 0-42368), United States Air Force, for extraordinary heroism in military operations against an armed enemy of the United States as Helicopter Flight Leader aboard an HH-53 Rescue Helicopter of the 40th Aerospace Rescue and Recovery Squadron, 3d Aerospace Rescue and Recovery Group, as part of an all-volunteer joint U.S. Army and Air Force raiding force in the Joint Chiefs of Staff-directed heliborne assault mission to rescue United States military personnel held as prisoners of war at Son Tay prison in North Vietnam, on 21 November 1970. On that date, Colonel Britton led a flight of troop-carrying helicopters on a night mission into an extremely hostile environment in the heart of North Vietnam. Although initial conditions following off-loading troops in the objective area were considerably different than planned, he correctly assessed the new circumstances and at risk of life under direct close range ground fire, again landed, picked up a load of troops, and moved them to a new location. His final departure from the objective area was through an intense array of surface-to-air missiles which he evaded with calm, exceptional flying skill. Colonel Britton, without regard for his personal safety, contributed immeasurably to the tactical success of the rescue attempt. Through his extraordinary heroism, superb airmanship, and aggressiveness in the face of the enemy, Colonel Britton reflected the highest credit upon himself and the United States Air Force.

General Orders: Department of the Air Force, Special Orders GB-985 (December 15, 1970)

Action Date: November 21, 1970

Service: Air Force

Rank: Colonel

Company: 40th Aerospace Rescue and Recovery Squadron

Regiment: 3d Aerospace Rescue and Recovery Group

Division: Son Tay Volunteer Task Force





 
 

   
Other Comments:

Sources:
http://veterantributes.org/TributeDetail.php?recordID=434
http://www.pbyrescue.com/Rescues/Crewmembers/britton.htm
http://valor.militarytimes.com/recipient.php?recipientid=3507
http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=63702907
http://www.psywarrior.com/sontay.html
http://home.earthlink.net/~aircommando1/SONTAYRA1.htm
http://www.americanmilitaryhistorymsw.com/blog/596154-the-raid-on-the-son-tay/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Ivory_Coast
http://www.pjsinnam.com/vn_history/stories/Son_Tay.htm
http://www.nationalmuseum.af.mil/factsheets/factsheet.asp?id=12440
http://home.ancestry.com
 

   

 1966-1971, HH-3/CH-3E Jolly Green Giant
From Year
1966
To Year
1971
   
Personal Memories
Not Specified
   
Image
 HH-3/CH-3E Jolly Green Giant Details
 


Aircraft/Missile Information


Later, 50 CH-3Es were modified for combat rescue missions with armor, defensive armament, self-sealing fuel tanks, a rescue hoist and in-flight refueling capability. They were redesignated HH-3Es and used extensively in Southeast Asia under the nickname "Jolly Green Giant."

USAF variants served in numerous air rescue squadrons and aerospace rescue and recovery squadons of the Military Airlift Command (MAC), rescue squadrons of the Air Combat Command (ACC) and other USAF major commands world-wide. The aircraft was also used by a number of Air Force Reserve and Air National Guard rescue squadrons. All USAF HH-3Es, to include Air Force Reserve and Air National Guard, were retired in the 1990s and replaced by the current HH-60G Pavehawk.

CH/HH-3 Jolly Green Giant
HH-3F Pelican
Specifications
Main rotor diameter 62 ft.
Fuselage Length 73 ft. 0 in.
Height 18 ft. 1 in.
Weight 22,050 lbs. loaded
Armament Provisions for two .50-cal. machine guns
Engines Two General Electric T58-GE-5 turboshaft engines of 1,500 hp. each
Crew Three
Cost $796,000
Maximum speed 177 mph.
Cruising speed 154 mph.
Range 779 miles with external fuel tanks
Service Ceiling 21,000 ft.

   
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Last Updated: Nov 24, 2011
   
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  234 Also There at This Aircraft:
  • Adams, Roy O., CMSgt, (1967-1980)
  • Aizenman, Willie, CMSgt, (1963-1992)
  • Ames, Lawrence, Sgt, (1968-1977)
  • Armstrong, Phil, MSgt, (1959-1979)
  • Baker, Ron, MSgt, (1968-1991)
  • Barboza, Alfred, Sgt, (1966-1970)
  • Bartlett, Robert, Capt, (1966-1971)
  • Barton, Robert, TSgt, (1970-1975)
  • Bashore, James, A1C, (1970-1974)
  • Beyer, Curt R., MSgt, (1966-1991)
  • Blackburn, John, SMSgt, (1967-1987)
  • Bolstad, Victor, SMSgt, (1965-1991)
  • Bourdon, Carl, Sgt, (1965-1969)
  • Bowen, Don, SMSgt, (1963-1977)
  • Bowman, Terry, SMSgt, (1960-1981)
  • Brewster, Michael, TSgt, (1969-1991)
  • Briggs, Pete, MSgt, (1965-1985)
  • Butler, Raymond (Mike), Col, (1969-2008)
  • Butler, William, SSgt, (1966-1970)
  • Butterfield, Robert, SSgt, (1966-1973)
  • Caron, David, SMSgt, (1964-1994)
  • Caron, David, SMSgt, (1964-1994)
  • Carr, Jeffrey, Sgt, (1965-1969)
  • Chavez, Frank B, SSgt, (1967-2001)
  • Chavez, Paul, TSgt, (1968-2003)
  • Chesley, Thomas, TSgt, (1971-1991)
  • Corley, Roy, Sgt, (1967-1971)
  • Cote, Alan, SSgt, (1965-1976)
  • Crandle, Herman, SSgt, (1967-1975)
  • D'Ambrosio, Salvatore, Sgt, (1965-1969)
  • Dangel, Ed, MSgt, (1964-1991)
  • De Mattos, Carlos, SMSgt, (1967-1988)
  • Decker, Daniel, TSgt, (1966-1986)
  • Dillon, Paul, Sgt, (1969-1976)
  • Dodds, Roger, SMSgt, (1965-2002)
  • Douglas, Milton, SSgt, (1965-1969)
  • Duchesneau, Ronald, SSgt, (1966-1971)
  • Durham, Larry, SSgt, (1971-1978)
  • Edwards, James, SSgt, (1968-1972)
  • Ellzey, Billy, SSgt, (1968-1978)
  • Ferenz, George, SSgt, (1970-1978)
  • Flickinger, Steve, Sgt, (1971-1975)
  • FOLLETTE, WILLIAM, Maj, (1968-1990)
  • Franklin, Maurice, SMSgt, (1968-1994)
  • Freeman, Paul, MSgt, (1955-1975)
  • Friedmann, Joseph, MSgt, (1965-1988)
  • Fuller, John, Sgt, (1966-1969)
  • Gerland, Gilbert, CMSgt, (1960-1980)
  • Giambra, Charles, SSgt, (1969-1973)
  • Goldstein, William, Sgt, (1964-1969)
  • Gurk, Richard, MSgt, (1969-1993)
  • Harkey, Troy, Sgt, (1968-1972)
  • Harris, Daniel, SSgt, (1964-1969)
  • Harris, Phillip, MSgt, (1952-1973)
  • Haynes, Tony, TSgt, (1968-1988)
  • Hedderly, James, Sgt, (1966-1970)
  • Heinlein, Thomas, SSgt, (1968-1972)
  • Hendrix, Zane, SSgt, (1962-1969)
  • Henry, Michael, TSgt, (1969-1990)
  • Higa, Clyde, SSgt, (1967-1978)
  • Hopkins, Dick, SSgt, (1961-1969)
  • Horner, Lyle, Lt Col, (1966-1986)
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