Seagull Search and Rescue Squadron 海鷗中隊

Renowned as the CAF's Seagull- a symbol of sea survivor escort, this SAR Sqn’s original Sikorsky H-5G Dragonfly has been followed by Consolidated PBY-5A/OA-10A Catalina, Sikorsky H-19B Chickasaw, Grumman HU-16A/B Albatross, Bell HH-1H Iroquois, and Sikorsky S-70C Bluehawk over six decades.  Amid an Albatross was shot down by MiGs at the height of the cross Taiwan Straight hostility.

In a secret ferry along the Fujian coast after the darkness fell, Jan 8, 1967, three PROC coastal militias shot another seven comrades on a 50 ton LCU, s/n F-131, and diverted to the ROC outpost Matsu.  Soon Beijing learned that a VIP plane will arrive Matsu on Jan 9, to transfer the “Anti-Communist Heroes” to Taiwan, this info leakage prompted the retaliation plan of the Red centre.  At that point an ambush by the PLAAF 24^th Div was ready for launch, which was approved by PM Zhou Enlai.

0837 Jan 9, a C-47 landed at Matsu, but its wing was badly damaged due to the PSP mats.  In an effort to recover the crippled transport, a PBY urgently departed Jiayi with repair crewmen, material, plus reporters onboard.  Considering the Cat’s limited payload, 1211 another SA-16 touched down for all the defectors and reporters.  To countermeasure the Albatross’s three probing radio calls, PLAAF had remained inaction until 1533, two minutes later the unaware amphibian took off.  Covered by two J-6 fighters, 1551, two J-5s started four firing passes at 400 Km/hr.  With its left engine and empennage destroyed, the SA-16 descended sharply before crashing into the sea.  Wreckage was never found by three dozen search sorties, all 17 men onboard were killed.