Donald R. Backlund collection, 1967-1979.

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Donald R. Backlund collection, 1967-1979.

http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/716312392

A collection of materials which are divided into three major areas: Southeast Asia, the Mayaguez incident, and rescue and recovery service during which time Captain Backlund was a helicopter pilot for the United States Air Force. Southeast Asia documents contain background for the evacuation of Phnom Penh (Operation Eagle Pull) and of Saigon (Operation Frequent Wind) beginning April 11th, 1975. The evacuation of helicopters, the means of evacuation, and its chronology through April 12, 1975 are discussed through various briefings, narratives of events, and reports. The second area of the collection deals with the Mayaguez incident during this same time period. Included is an hour by hour account of the Mayaguez rescue along with data pertaining to damages sustained, analysis of the problems involved with the rescue, and the outcomes of the operation. The third aspect of the collection includes aerospace rescue and recovery service in which Backlund played a major role. Numerous accounts of the "Aspen rescue" in 1977 are contained in the collection along with details of other rescues in which Backlund and his crew were participants.

14 linear feet

US Air Force Academy, McDermott Library

Information

SNAC Resource ID: 8084996

US Air Force Academy, McDermott Library

Related Entities

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United States. Air Force

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w6pc6qkd (corporateBody)

At Harris Neck, Georgia, in the remote northern reaches of McIntosh County, the United States government, in the fall of 1942, confiscated the lands along the South Newport and Barbour Island Rivers. Paved runways were constructed for aircraft, and Harris Neck became an air reconnaissance base for the United States Army Air Force during World War II. A number of support buildings were constructed at the Harris Neck Air Base, such as barracks for personnel, an officers club, and PX, to serve the ...

Mayagūez (Ship).

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w65b4w6s (corporateBody)

Backlund, Donald R., 1949-1979.

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w62r4hb7 (person)

Born in 1949, Major Donald R. Backlund was a native of Kenosha Wisconsin. He was accepted to the Air Force Academy in 1967 where he received many honors. He was named the Outstanding Cadet in Military History and in 1970 he published a paper on air power in Aerospace Historian Magazine. He was a distinguished graduate from the Academy in 1971 and then went on to receive his Masters' Degree in history from the University of Indiana. He entered helicopter training school and completed advanced hel...