CIA-RDP96-00788R000600300016-7

Approved For Release 2003/09/09 : CIA-RDP96-00788R000600300016-7
CONFIDENTIAL
12
4
DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
JOINT CHIEFS OF STAFF MESSAGE CENTER
OTTC ZFF4 RUESQIA1328 0491640
IMMEDIATE
/0 181624Z FEB 81 ZFF4
FM AMEMBASSY QUITO
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC NIACT IMMEDIATE 9504
RUESLM/AMEMBASSY LIMA NIACT IMMEDIATE 5485
RUESUZ/AMEMBASSY BRASILIA NIACT IMMEDIATE 559
INFO RUESBA/ AMEMBASSY BUENOS AIRES IMMEDIATE 1631
RUESNA/AMEMBASSY SANTIAGO IMMEDIATE 2399
RUESGY/AMCONSUL GUAYAQUIL IMMEDIATE 5236
RULPALJ/USCINCSO QUARRY HTS PN IMMEDIATE
BT
CONFIDENTIAL
LIMITED OFFICIAL USE QUITO 1328
E.O. 12065: N/A
TAGS : EAIR, PBOR, PE, EC
SUBJECT: MISSING HELICOPTER SITREP NO.1
REF: QUITO 1311
1. AS OF 1000 LOCAL TIME, FEBRUARY 18, AIR SEARCH FOR
OBSERVER COMMISSION MISSING UH-1H HELICOPTER CONTINUES.
THIS MORNING, TWO GOE AIR FORCE HELICOPTERS AND THE U.S.
C-130 SEARCHED IN THE VICINITY OF YANGANA, LAST KNOWN .
POSITION OF THE MISSING HELICOPTER. CLOUDY WEATHER IMPEDED
SEARCH EFFORTS THIS MORNING, BUT REPORTS FROM LOJA INDICATE
CLOUD COVER OVER AREA MAY BREAK UP LATER TODAY. TWO
ECUADOREAN ARMY PATROLS ARE CONTINUING THEIR GROUND SEARCH
13
(U. 6,7,8)
ACTION
INFO
NIDS(*) SAGA(*) J3: NMCC( *) J5(*)
IADB(*) RDJTF:LO( *) SECDEF : (*) SECDEF (* ) USDP ( ** )
NMIC( *) SWS (*) AT (*) VP-A2 FRD(*) DE(*) DE-28(*)
......
--
DB-3E(*) DB-4A(*) 08-5(*) DIA FILE(*) ARMY(5)
NAVY( 5) AIR FORCE (3)
< TOTAL COPIES REQUIRED
13
MC N=81049/17432
TOR=81049/1708Z
TAD=81049/1710Z
COSN=PRB594
**
**
PAGE 01
Approved For Release CARD9-078800000
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Approved For Release 2003/09/09 : CIA-RDP96-00788R000600300016-7
CONFIDENTIAL
.
DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
JOINT CHIEFS OF STAFF MESSAGE CENTER
IN AREA.
2. SEARCH AREA IS ABOUT FIVE MILES BY TEN MILES (I.E.,
50 SQUARE MILES). THE AREA IS EXTREMELY RUGGED,
RANGING BETWEEN 600 METERS AND 3000 METERS IN ALTITUDE.
THERE IS FREQUENT RAIN THIS TIME OF YEAR.
3. THE FOLLOWING PERSONNEL WERE ABCARD THE UH-1H:
SGFOIA3
CREW CHIEF. NO FOREIGN PERSONNEL ON BOARD.
SUPPORT GROUP AT LOJA BELIEVED THEY PICKED UP VCICE
OF
ONCE ON FEBRUARY 17, ABOUT 1200 LOCAL TIME.
SGFOIA3
SGFOIA3
4. AS OF 2000 LOCAL TIME FEBRUARY 17, REMAINING U.S.
HELICOPTER IN LOJA WAS TAKEN OFF OBSERVER COMMISSION
DUTY AFTER JOINT DECISION OF USSOUTHCOM AND HELICOPTER
CREW. REASONS ARE THAT HELICOPTER IS BEING USED FOR
SEARCH, AND PILOTS DO NOT RECOMMEND FLYING CBSERVER
COMMISSION MISSIONS UNLESS THERE IS A SECOND HELICOPTER
TO SERVE AS WING MAN. HELICOPTER WILL NOT RESUME
OBSERVER COMMISSION SERVICE UNTIL ORDERED TO DO SO.
5. MISSING HELICOPTER SUPPLIED WITH ONE JUNGLE
SURVIVAL KIT, FIVE GALLONS OF WATER, ONE CASE C-RATIONS,
FLIGHT JACKETS, ONE PONCHO LINER, AND ONE WORKING
PRC-90 SURVIVAL RADIO.
SGFOIA3
VUNZ ALLE
BI
.....
<
-
MCN=81049/17432
TOR= 81049/1708Z
TAO= 81 049/1710Z
CDSN=PRB594
Approved For R
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CONFIDENT CIA-
1816242 FEB 81
WH