Udo Toon's

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Udo Fischer's Drawings
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Udo in 1976 while assigned to 71st Aerospace Rescue and Recovery Squadron, Elmendorf AFB, Alaska

Born in 1929 and passed away in 2021. Udo became a Pararescue legend for both his expert management of PJ teams, exceptional mentorship of his teammates, and his artwork. He was particularly expert in mountaineering and arctic operations and he ended his career with more than a decade assigned to Elmendorf AFB, Alaska.. When his PJs wanted to climb Mt. McKinley, he was an immediate and strong supporter of that project. Since the first PJ team ascent in 1977, hundreds of PJs have had the opportunity to climb North America's tallest mountain (20,310 feet high). Udo supported it even when the air rescue wing command staff did not. They saw only potential negatives; accidents, bad press, etc. Udo saw the positives; team morale, increased team capabilities in arctic operations, better skilled PJ mountaineers, and a high altitude rescue and recovery capability that our military needed. He acknowledged the risks but considered it just one more of the many risky things PJs needed to do to accomplish their rescue mission. In addition to peacetime rescue, Udo realized that the primary mission of Pararescue is combat rescue.

He was one of the earliest PJs joining in 1952 and remaining a PJ until medical conditions forced him out of Pararescue in 1976; a PJ career of over 24-years. Following his medical disqualification, he became the Senior Enlisted Advisor to the Commander of the Alaskan Air Command where he remained until his retirement. He and his wife Rosalie relocated to Alamogordo, New Mexico where he resided until his death.

Following his burial, the Fischer family gave the rights to all of Udo's Air Rescue and Pararescue art and writings to the Pararescue Association (PJA). The PJA is proud to host his art and writings on this website.

PDF SLIDE SHOW OF SOME OF UDO'S DRAWINGS

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Introduction by Robert LaPointe

The PJ Association is pleased and privileged to be able to host many of the drawings created over several decades by Pararescueman Claus Juergen Fischer; who was better known by his nickname "Udo". Most Air Rescue personnel have seen some of these drawings during their USAF careers. But many are unaware of who drew them and few realize how many of these graphics Udo made. In fact, I do not believe that even Udo knew how many he created. Most of his drawings represent some instance of Air Rescue history that Udo decided needed to be documented. Udo's art depicts many of the significant points of Air Rescue history between mid 1950's and late 1970's. Occasionally, when Rescue headquarters made a decision that made absolutely no sense, an irreverent Udo cartoon would pop up and if nothing else, the displeasure of the field troops became known to a sometimes distant staff. Picture number 76 below is a great example of this. HQ 41ARRWg decreed that PJs could not climb above 10,000 feet unless that mission were classified as a "high risk operation." The same year, a Boy Scout troop from Anchorage, Alaska sent an expedition to McKinley.

Probably, his most famous creation is the PJ "Jack of All Trades." That image has been copied into hundreds of documents, silk screened on T-shirts, embroidered on ball caps, and painted on walls and any other place some PJ thought it would look nice on.

Udo typically would create a drawing and then give it to a person who had something to do with the event in question. The recipient of one of these pieces of art was always extremely grateful. These pictures proudly hung in the homes of many of his friends. Udo has never profited financially from his creations. He epitomized the concept that it was better to give than to receive.

Udo was a Pararescueman from 1952 until 1978. During this period he served in both the USAF Reserve and active duty components. In addition to being an exceptional PJ, he was the NCOIC of several PJ teams and mentored many Pararescuemen, including this webmaster. He retired from military service in 1983 with his wife Rosalie to Alamogordo, New Mexico.

Udo is also an accomplished poet. Check out his poem titled "No More"

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Captions were written by Udo

1 "Jack of all Trades" came out in the mid-seventies, in response to the apparent requirement for PJs in the various team locations to "stuff 35 Lbs beans into a 5 Lbs capacity bag" - which mostly was done, including putting some "Xs on the board" to make the HQ wienees happy....	2 Air-Refueling of a Jolly Green made many (not all) PJs nervous, more than going into a 'hot area' for a pick-up of a downed aircrew member - whenever the PJs aboard could, they were near the open back ramp to bailout instantly, should the need arise....	3 Air-Refueling of a Jolly Green made many (not all) PJs nervous, more than going into a 'hot area' for a pick-up of a downed aircrew member - whenever the PJs aboard could, they were near the open back ramp to bailout instantly, should the need arise....	4 "The Bragger" was a pet peeve of mine in regard to (a very few) unnamed PJs' comments of 'kills' during a hot mission - it did not happened too often.....

5 "BUFF Sucks!" - I made this cartoon per request of PJ Gene Nardi, when he was at DaNang and I at Udorn - we had HH53 BUFFs and they still had HH3s, which were to be replaced....	6 "Daisy Chain" of Sandies, who were our baby-sitters on combat missions, and who did their best to 'sanitize the area' before and during the Jolly Green Low Bird went in for a pickup - SUPER SIERRA HOTEL GUYS!	7 Drew this one in 1964 while NCOIC PJs at Selfridge, 305ARRSres.....	8 "Hard Landing" - this cartoon was used by Ted Hawkins, "Royal Order of Whomp" for those PJs who could prove to him that on such and such date, at such and such place, and under such and such circumstances the applicant actually experienced a super-hard parachute landing - the one he certified for me, was for 4 June 1954 at Zambowanga, Philippines, where he was the jumpmaster and I went out first as the Wind-Dummy.....

9 "Royal Order of Whomp" certificate. Example of a request to be recognized as a WHOMP!	10 "Parascuba" display used in PJ section for visitors to understand what gear PJs wear during a parascuba jump	11 "H-19 Exit" - this actually happened in 1953, 32ARS, Clark Field, when I was 'ground party' and John Shumann came down, trailing the ripped-out seat - he pulled the reserve and made a 'good' landing.....	12 Sent to this site by Jolly Pilot Joe Fouts. Drawn by Udo after the PJs on a Jolly bailed out after a maintenance problem caused the helo to temporarily become uncontrollable.

13 "Been Eating In The Mess hall!" - it seemed like that too much grease was used in the mess hall chow at Udorn, and those who were scheduled to fly, did not visited the chow hall for this reason - well, most Jolly Green crews did not eat breakfast there.....	14 "PJ and his gun" I drew this while at Udorn (70-71) - Jolly Green BUFF minigun position at the open ramp....	15 Drew this for one of the PJ Reunions at Albuquerque - it shows the various types of parachutes used since Pararescue came into existence....	16 Drew this for one of the PJ Reunions at Albuquerque - it shows the various types of parachutes used since Pararescue came into existence....

17 This drawing I made for one of the Pararescue Association Cookbooks	18 "Six Emblems" I made for PJ comrades, depicting six qualification emblems, known by those who were there - - the Son Tay Raid emblem I drew the day after the raid - it was adopted by the aircrews, Pararescuemen and Special Forces men, who were on this raid to free USA prisoners - -during this mission, I was on one of the two Jollies orbiting at 'Fishes Mouth', with the intent to rescue any downed raiders - - fortunately, none were downed on this brilliantly executed rescue attempt!	19 "Avalanche Fiasco" - drew this cartoon per request of Gene Nardi (71 ARRS, Elmendorf) and gave it to him - he subsequently forwarded it to a local area newspaper - at the time, I no longer was a PJ, but was on this particular search mission with the Alaska Mountain Rescue Group, which located and dug up the body....	20 The "Fast Pickup Snatch" cartoon came in response to us (in the Udorn BUFFs) orbiting for hours, while the Sandies and Fast-Movers sanitized the area around a downed aircrew member - then a DaNang-based HH-3 'Nitnoy' was ordered to do the pickup - "We had been in orbit too long," we were told.....

21 "Spectre" gunships were stationed at Ubon (south of Udorn) - whenever the Jolly crews were TDY at Ubon Royal Thai Air Base, they could buy no drinks at the NCO Club, having rescued some of the Specter troops - I made this poster for them, which supposedly was taken to Hurlburt Field after the war was over....	22 This is a small portion of a cartoon I drew for the Air Rescue Troops during the "Iraqi War" - it depicts such of the locations and witty comments.....	23 "Thank You!" I drew for one of the PJ Reunion wall-posters....	24 "Pickup Scenario" is obviously very much exaggerated to cause some chuckles by those who had the experience.....

25 "Ubon Jolly Alert Hut" - I sketched this one, while on one of the three-day TDYs - this shack also housed the FAC alert crews - seated is Jolly Green FE Turbifield.....	26 Another example of weird humor, depicting a problematic air-refueling attempt during air turbulence.....	27 "Crossing The Fence" depicts a common team of aircraft/aircrew to go across the Mekong River out of NKP for a precautionary orbit over an assigned combat area - 2 Jolly Greens, at least 2 Sandies, an OV-10 FAC, and the high-flying "King" HH-130 bird......	28 "Giggling Bitch" or "Giggling Witch" depicts the "Air Rescue Angel" of the formerly proudly worn "AIR RESCUE SERVICE" patch, designed in the late '40s, when General Kight was Commander-in-Chief - he also wrote the Code of an Air Rescue an, which ends, "....That Others May Live." - drew this one for a PJ Reunion.

29 "The HH-43 PEDRO" I drew to commemorate an exaggerated example of in flight refueling, before air-to-air refueling of helicopters came onto the scene during the S.E.A. War period.	30 Well, this three-in-one combi of Xmas cartoons goes back to the 50s and early 60s, when I made my own greeting cards for PJ friends (I had a few) - recently found the copies of Xerox copies made long ago.	31 "Old Timer PJ/SB-17" was drawn for one of the PJ reunions in the late '80s, where a few of the Old Bones showed up, who had jumped from these birds....	32 This happened sometimes to a jumpmaster, who had slammed down his hand, signifying "STAND IN THE DOOR!", and was not quick enough to pull back his vulnerable hand.....

33 Poem - War is an ugly thing...	34 The four major events of Bob LaPointe's 1977 Mt. McKinley expedition.	35 LtCol Modica was in 1970 the commander of the 40th Aero Space Rescue and Recovery Squadron at Udorn, RTAFB, which used HH-53 Jolly Green helicopters for Combat Search and Rescue missions. Crew members for each chopper were Pilot, Co-Pilot, Flight Engineer, and 2 Pararescuemen. Occasionally a Combat Photographer was aboard. I drew this upon the commander¹s permanent change of station back to the USA.	36 Depicts a fictional Pararescue situation in 1953 on the Clark Field, Philippines, drop zone for conducting currency/training parachute jumps. Standard Pararescue helmets were converted leather football helmets. Normal "Open Field Jumps" were made from either a SA-16 amphibian or a C-47 Goony Bird or a H-19 helicopter from an altitude of 1,000 to 1,200 feet above terrain. Other type currency/training jumps were made at night, into water (Subic Bay, PI), or trees (Zambowanga, PI). Parachutes used were either T-7 or E-1 (steerable and developed by Smokejumpers) or YT-8 (steerable/USMC); occasionally used were regular crew member parachutes to make freefalls from about 2,000 feet above terrain.

37 A special free-hand creation for a special person, who, as a F-4 Weapons Officer, was shot down near Hanoi, and spend 21 days in jungle hiding, before being rescued. The cartoons depict various phases in the individual¹s active duty military life from navigator, to weapons officer, to special SEA combat events, to becoming a jet pilot, and then stationed at Elmendorf AFB, Alaska, in the same HQ building where I had an office after leaving Pararescue in 1976. I made it for him upon his PCS move.	38 "Damn German" depicts Udo passing the 40ARRS squadron mail boxes and lounging area, heading with his equipment bag toward the waiting Jolly Green, fictionally wearing a "Kraut" outfit, since this was his nickname.	39 Iraq Pickup "91" was drawn for the Pararescue School, Kirtland AFB, depicting an actual rescue mission event during the "Iraqi War." Sergeant Pennington was the PJ meeting the rescued pilot, USN Lt. Jones.	40 Opening Shock "50s" is an over-dramatized cartoon emphasizing the severity of impact on the jumper during parachute opening of a chute type with a 28-foot diameter canopy and a cotton-web harness.

41 Peace Time was drawn for the 1986 Pararescue Reunion, not to be taken serious.	42 PJ Medical Training "70s" is one of several drawn about 1971 for the Pararescue School at Hill AFB, Utah (where the unit stayed until late 1976). The students, even though having gone already elsewhere through a medical training course, experienced additional medical training at the PJ-School, including classroom lectures, practical laboratory work and realistic situational field training.	43 One of many wall-poster type cartoons drawn for the 1986 Pararescue Reunion.	44 "Reunion Liar" was also in the bunch drawn for the1986 reunion. At one time or another, just about every "Old Bone PJ" is jestingly accused of lying or exaggerating, when reciting "war stories." But everyone laughs and listens, since the individual stories are spiced with humorous connotations, and always have a new twist to it, making it worth while for listening.

45 Made for the USAF Pararescue School Medical Section	46 "Iraq 91Stuck Hand" - Incident took place at Al Jouf, Saudi Arabia, while two PJs tried to hang blankets to darken out the windows. This in case they have to use light to give medical aid to a patient during night flight over hostile terrain. One PJ poked a hole right through his hand, instead of the blanket to fasten 550-cord.	47 "Iraq Dune Hit" - Supposed to have happened on 19 January 1991 over Arabian desert terrain. No damage happened to chopper and crew.	48 "Iraq NVG" - drawn on the input from a PJ, who was there when it happened during a Iraqi War night mission. Someone threw out a lit cigarette butt, which appeared greatly illuminated to viewers with Night Vision Goggles.

49 An exaggeration of a near miss on a flight over Iraqi Bad Guy territory in 1991.	50 Iraq War Map - Shows the various locations of Pararescue teams, as well as others of CSAR deployment. Also shows location of the RCC (Rescue Coordination Center) and where once before, many years ago (late 40s and early 50s) USAF Air Rescue Service aircraft (SB-17/SA-16/H-5/C-47) crews, PJs, ground-Rescue and ground support were located. The cartoon was given to the Pararescue School, Kirtland AFB, NM.	51 PJ Hootch in Iraq - An look at life in the PJ hootch during the 1991 Iraq War.	52 OPS Normal - this I drew after it happened over hostile territory in 1971, when warnings came of SAM and MiG threats. I made the wisecrack over the intercom, which made our Jolly Green pilot not too happy at the time.

53 JG #3Gun Position - This was one of my ridiculous suggestions to place an armored garbage can on the tailgate of the Super Jolly Green HH-53.	54 305th ARRS Iceland 1968/69 and HC-97 Iceland 1968 and Scramble! are sketches I made while TDY in Iceland. The pictures were later done in color and given away. The 305th ARRS had been activated (Pueblo Crisis) in January 1968. The unit was tasked on a continuing basis to provide two HC-97s and air rescue crews, with ground support personnel, for the Keflavik stationed USAF fighter squadron. Soviet Bears often penetrated the sea around Iceland, prompting the launching of F-102s to intercept.	55 HC-97 Iceland 1968	56 SCRAMBLE

57 PJ Advanced Medical Training - Drawn (along with other posters) in about 1971/72 for the Pararescue School, 1550ATTW, Hill AFB, Utah.	58 PJ on Ground - was sketched while on a training mission in a friendly area - the PJ with me on the ground was Colin Lane.	59 Hard Landing - depicts an exaggeration of how hard some of the no-wind-open-field parachute landings were, using 28-foot canopies in the early 1950s.	60 PJs & UFO - Beginning in the early 1960s, PJs were much involved in support of Space Hardware and Astronaut recovery operations. I drew this for a dude to settle a dispute over the German AF in WWII, who already had and used air-sea rescue aircraft from 1938 to 1945. Depicted is the primary type of amphibian rescue aircraft.

61 PJ Crew Position - No explanation needed	62 Udo 1973 presentation	63 Another Udo presentation	64 "Giggling Bitch"

65 Airborne PJ Patch (patch not designed by Udo Fischer)	66 305th ARS Patch (patch not designed by Udo Fischer)	67 HU16 Combat - was drawn for Old Bone PJ Tony Willis, who often remarked in the 1970s, his puzzlement that hardly anyone was aware that the the "Albatross" (SA-16/HU-16) actually was used in the combat zones of the Korean War and in the Vietnam War (Gulf of Tonkin).	68 Son Tay Raid - This famous patch was designed by Udo

69 Crazy PJ - A copy of a cartoon drawn circa 1971	70 Crazy PJ Colorized - Revised drawing #69	71 Go get e'm! Drawn for Stu Stanaland circa 1971	72 "Sawadee Party" - Sawadee is Thai for goodbye. After a Rescueman's last flight over the fence, the unit held a Sawadee party to celebrate the guy going home. Most of these parties got pretty wild.

73 Picture from Col Jay Strayer. Picture of Udo's rendering of Jolly 56 which he was crewing with me as we returned from a CSAR mission over Laos -- unknown to me, my UHF GUARD channel had been inadvertently switched off during one of the few MiG alerts we encountered circa 1970-71. Indeed it was not long after we lost a JG to a MiG -- we did not hear about the alert till I noticed GUARD was off as we were about to return across the border from Laos into Thailand -- we were sure fortunate that day.	74 Keflavik Iceland	75 HH-53 air refueling	76 No PJ climbing above 10,000 feet was ordered by HQ 41st ARRWg in 1980; even though there had been no problems associated with climbs above that altitude. The 71st ARRS was still assigned to Elmendorf AFB, Alaska. This arbitrary altitude restriction remained in effect until the AK ANG took over the rescue mission in Alaska 10 1990. The ANG immediately rescinded the restriction and PJ ascents of Mt. McKinley resumed.

	77 Udo's very last ornamental calligraphy creation he made in (1982) for a special occasion. Every item on it had been hand-drawn and is of original design. Due to increasing tremors and pain in his right arm, he was forced to abandoned such type free-hand artwork.

1 "Jack of all Trades" came out in the mid-seventies, in response to the apparent requirement for PJs in the various team locations to "stuff 35 Lbs beans into a 5 Lbs capacity bag" - which mostly was done, including putting some "Xs on the board" to make the HQ wienees happy....	2 Air-Refueling of a Jolly Green made many (not all) PJs nervous, more than going into a 'hot area' for a pick-up of a downed aircrew member - whenever the PJs aboard could, they were near the open back ramp to bailout instantly, should the need arise....	3 Air-Refueling of a Jolly Green made many (not all) PJs nervous, more than going into a 'hot area' for a pick-up of a downed aircrew member - whenever the PJs aboard could, they were near the open back ramp to bailout instantly, should the need arise....
4 "The Bragger" was a pet peeve of mine in regard to (a very few) unnamed PJs' comments of 'kills' during a hot mission - it did not happened too often.....	5 "BUFF Sucks!" - I made this cartoon per request of PJ Gene Nardi, when he was at DaNang and I at Udorn - we had HH53 BUFFs and they still had HH3s, which were to be replaced....	6 "Daisy Chain" of Sandies, who were our baby-sitters on combat missions, and who did their best to 'sanitize the area' before and during the Jolly Green Low Bird went in for a pickup - SUPER SIERRA HOTEL GUYS!
7 Drew this one in 1964 while NCOIC PJs at Selfridge, 305ARRSres.....	8 "Hard Landing" - this cartoon was used by Ted Hawkins, "Royal Order of Whomp" for those PJs who could prove to him that on such and such date, at such and such place, and under such and such circumstances the applicant actually experienced a super-hard parachute landing - the one he certified for me, was for 4 June 1954 at Zambowanga, Philippines, where he was the jumpmaster and I went out first as the Wind-Dummy.....	9 "Royal Order of Whomp" certificate. Example of a request to be recognized as a WHOMP!
"Parascuba" display used in PJ section for visitors to understand what gear PJs wear during a parascuba jump	10 "H-19 Exit" - this actually happened in 1953, 32ARS, Clark Field, when I was 'ground party' and John Shumann came down, trailing the ripped-out seat - he pulled the reserve and made a 'good' landing.....	Sent to this site by Jolly Pilot Joe Fouts. Drawn by Udo after the PJs on a Jolly bailed out after a maintenance problem caused the helo to temporarily become uncontrollable.

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