USAF at RAF Upper Heyford 4
40th Aerospace Rescue and Recovery Wing Detachment 2 1966-1972
Firefighting Helicopters
The 40th Aerospace Rescue & Recovery Wing (40th ARRW) had deployed eleven Kaman HH-34 Huskie helicopters from Ramstein, West Germany, to Laon in France in 1965.
The French Government demanded the withdrawal of all USAF units from France by 22 February 1966. The USAF 66th Tactical Reconnaissance Wing RF-101C Voodoos relocated from Laon to RAF Upper Heyford. In September 1966 Detachment 2 of the 40th ARRW arrived at Upper Heyford. Other detachments went to USAF bases at Alconbury, Lakenheath, Wethersfield and Woodbridge.
Call-sign 'Pedro'
The 40th ARRW Detachment 2 was equipped with two Kaman HH-34B Huskie helicopters. These had the call-sign ‘Pedro’ with the 44th ARRW and so were usually called ‘Pedroes’.
The Pedro was used for aircraft firefighting and rescue on base or close to it. Fire suppression chemicals were carried slung beneath the Pedro for release over fires.
Housing Pedro
The Pedroes were based in Nose Dock Building 335 off the Transit Ramp, near the Flightline Fire Station and Control Tower, until 1972.
Originally built for the USAF Strategic Air Command (SAC) to allow maintenance of aircraft too large for the A-Type hangars, Nose Dock 335 became a Security Police Guard Mount.
An Upper Heyford Pedro has been preserved by the Midland Air Museum at Coventry Airport.
Find Out More
Discover more about Heyford’s Firefighting Helicopters and visit their airbase home.
- Monday: Closed
- Tuesday: Closed
- Wednesday: 10am - 4:30pm
- Thursday: Closed
- Friday: Closed
- Saturday: 12 - 4:30pm
- Sunday: 10am - 4:30pm