From Saigon to Kabul, the tragically ironic tale of the “little Sea Knight that could”
Featured August 16, 2021 Staff Writer 0
As US forces withdraw and panicked allies flee a newly Taliban-controlled Afghanistan in one of the most humiliating moments of recent memory, one grizzled veteran -who has seen such a departure before- will be left behind to fall into enemy hands.
A plucky CH-46 Sea Knight, serial number 154038, is believed to have previously participated in the evacuation of Americans and South Vietnamese from Saigon as the North Vietnamese military took the city near the end of the Vietnam War.
Known as “Operation Frequent Wind,” the mission was to evacuate American civilians and “at-risk” Vietnamese from the collapsing country, which had been swept by the North Vietnamese after the US withdrew for political reasons.
Participating in the operation was 154038, which was first issued to the US Marine Corps in 1967. During Frequent Wind, the 154038 was photographed aboard the USS Hancock, immortalizing her presence during this chapter of history.
Old 154038 would change hands many times until 2011, when records obtained by Helis.com indicates that it was transferred to the US State Department’s Bureau of International Narcotics on December 5.
From 2015 to 2020, the venerable ex-Marine workhorse would operate in Afghanistan under its dubious new master before being handed over to Red Air Transport, who decided to keep the helicopter in-country.
Flash forward to August 15, 2021, when 154038 was spotted evacuating US personnel from Afghanistan alongside Chinook helicopters.
In response to a post by the Barstool Operators Facebook page, which featured images of the veteran warbird, an individual wishing to remain anonymous claimed to be the son of the man flying 154038.
“That 46 was being flown by my father,” the poster stated, noting that 154038 was the only DoS CH-46 “up and running all day today, in an out of the embassy.”
The individual went on to state that “After [his father] landed for the last time, they disabled everything they could on that bird and are leaving it there at the airport.”
And thus, it seems, is the end of 154038, which will not join the husked remains of abandoned war equipment of the United States, Soviet Union, and other nations which found humility in the mountainous region that seemingly cannot be conquered.
A loyal workhorse to the very end, the “little Sea Knight that could.”
Rest in peace, 154038. You were not just a good Sea Knight- you were one of the best.
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