Rescue Airmen save two German citizens stranded at sea

Air Force Link ^ | 7/10/2017 | 920th Rescue Wing Public Affairs

[Excuse_My_Bellicosity]

PATRICK AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. (AFNS) -- In a concerted effort from July 7, and into the early hours of July 8, 2017, approximately 80 Airmen and four aircraft assigned to the 920th Rescue Wing successfully rescued two German citizens whose vessel caught fire approximately 500 nautical miles off the east coast of southern Florida.

At the request of the Coast Guard's Seventh District in Miami, the 920th RQW was alerted by the Air Force Rescue Coordination Center at Tyndall Air Force Base, to assist in the long-range search and rescue.

“The rescue was a culmination of skill and teamwork that involved many throughout the 920th RQW, the Coast Guard, The AFRCC and the 45th Space Wing, who provided critical support to allow our aircraft to launch and recover,” said Col. Kurt Matthews, the 920th RQW commander.

“The specific capability with our Guardian Angel Airmen, combined with our air refueling and extended-range airlift makes us uniquely able to accomplish this mission where few others in the world can. I’m very humbled and glad to be a part of this noble mission,” he continued.

Aircraft maintainers launched an HC-130P/N “King” fixed-wing combat rescue aircraft piloted by eight Airmen at approximately 2:30 p.m. transporting six Airmen who specialize in all types of rescue disciplines.

It was discovered during the planning stages that only one of the German victims spoke broken English, but was badly burned, therefore Master Sgt. Isabelle Kleirgraham, the 920th RQW Equal Opportunity noncommissioned officer in charge, was tasked to join the team due to her ability to speak fluent German.

The team arrived on scene two hours later and orbited overhead while King Ops, from the 39th Rescue Squadron at Patrick AFB, communicated with the ship below, the Nord Nightingale.

“We had the lifeboat in the water and the freighter was about 2 miles away,” said Capt. Dan Morgese, an aircraft commander. Finally, five pararescuemen plunged into the ocean.

“Anytime you are putting someone out over the Atlantic (Ocean), it’s concerning,” said Morgese. “We train for this. It all worked out just fine. If there was a day to do it, it was today; the weather was perfect.”

At the scene, the Nightingale motored a small boat toward the victims which allowed the pararescue Airmen to hoist the father-son duo onboard while several of the other rescue Airmen zoomed over to pick up the parabundles of medical equipment that splashed down just after them.

Around the same time the HC-130 arrived on scene 500 miles away, two HH-60G Pave Hawk helicopters departed Patrick AFB with full tanks of gas to retrieve everyone and transport the victims to Orlando Regional Medical Center. Fortunately a Pave Hawk can fly approximately 500 miles on one tank of gas, the approximate distance to the scene. To top off their gas tanks, the helicopters met up with the HC-130 on its return to Patrick AFB for aerial refueling.

About an hour later, an additional HC-130 took off from Patrick AFB to serve as fuel reserve for the helicopter's return trip.

“Kudos to maintenance for getting us airborne,” said Morgese. “They (the HC-130s) are 93 models; our maintainers work hard.”

The pararescuemen treated and stabilized the patients, then transfered them to the Nightingale to be picked up by the inbound helicopter.

At approximately 8:20 p.m., the two Pave Hawk crews hoisted and recovered all seven from the ship and journeyed back to central Florida where they landed on an Orlando High School football field at 1:30 a.m. and handed off the patients to the Orlando Fire Department to get them to their final destination, the Orlando Regional Medical Center.

“When you actually get to do something you train for; it’s really satisfying,” said Morgese. “Excellent communication and planning among all involved, made the mission successful.”

[Excuse_My_Bellicosity]

Maj. Chris Ferrara, a HC-130P/N "King" co-pilot, operates his aircraft as part of a concerted rescue effort of approximately 80 personnel from the 920th Rescue Wing who rescued two German citizens in distress at sea July 7-8, 2017. The victim's vessel caught fire approximately 500 nautical miles off the east coast of southern Florida. At the request of the Coast Guard's Seventh District in Miami, the 920th RQW was alerted by the Air Force Rescue Coordination Center at Tyndall Air Force Base, Fla., to assist in the long-range search and rescue. Approximately 80 Airmen and four aircraft helped execute the rescue mission to include, maintenance, operations and support personnel. (U.S. Air Force photo/Master Sgt. Mark Borosch)

Airmen assigned to the 920th Rescue Wing prepare to dive into the ocean from a C-130P/N “King” during efforts to successfully rescue two German citizens whose vessel caught fire approximately 500 nautical miles off the east coast of southern Florida, July 7-8, 2017. At the request of the Coast Guard's Seventh District in Miami, the 920th RQW was alerted by the Air Force Rescue Coordination Center at Tyndall Air Force Base, Fla., to assist in the long-range search and rescue. (U.S. Air Force photo/Master Sgt. Mark Borosch)

[Minutemen]

If those stranded seamen didn’t believe in God,I bet they do now!

[proxy_user]

“...Master Sgt. Isabelle Kleirgraham, the 920th RQW Equal Opportunity noncommissioned officer in charge, was tasked to join the team due to her ability to speak fluent German.”

I guess Equal Opportunity Officers are of some use after all...

[NEMDF]

It took 80 airmen and 4 aircraft? Seems a bit extreme, but I admit to ignorance about the “rescues at sea” subject matter.

[henkster]

I think this was an opportunity to do some real life implementation of their training. A “live training” exercise as it were. Sad for the Germans, particularly the injuries, but good that we can do these things.

[tophat9000]

funny got a buddy in the army that would have been a natural for this mission and used to be station the area ....Master sergeant former Delta team now Combat medic and speaks fluent German from being stationed there for years

[Excuse_My_Bellicosity]

The thing to remember is that it’s 500 miles off the coast and the helicopters have to refuel. I’m not quite getting the requirement for 80 people, either. Maybe that’s the grand total counting the air traffic controllers, maintenance and fuel guys to get the planes and copters airborne, loadmasters to load up the supplies, and all that.

[Oldexpat]

The way this works within NATO, the German government will bill us several million dollars for the cooperation of German citizens in our training. Then we will have to pay a green fine for fuel used and the US will have to agree to purchase some military goods from Germany on a sole source contract.

[Excuse_My_Bellicosity]

This is one for the “what does our military do for us?” crowd. You don’t get charged when your boat starts taking on water offshore or you get 3/4 of the way up Telescope Peak, break an ankle, and somebody has to come get you, for starters.

[jagusafr]

And that NCOIC of EO got to do something that actually matters! The mission! I bet she’ll never be satisfied with her EO job again.

Colonel, USAFR (ret)

[Minutemen]

They gotta look busy to justify their paycheck?

[truth_seeker]

“I guess Equal Opportunity Officers are of some use after all...”

What was your rank?

[Oatka]

If those stranded seamen didn’t believe in God,I bet they do now!

I read where, after a tornado wrecked a house, the rescue team worked dug through the debris, found the cellar door, opened it and saw an old guy standing there. They asked him if there was anyone else with him. He replied, "Just me and Jesus."

[Excuse_My_Bellicosity]

Haha!! I’ll bet you’re right.

[Svartalfiar]

I guess Equal Opportunity Officers are of some use after all...

Depends on your level of organization. Each unit, subunit, subsubunit, etc has to have one. For example, I'm in a Guard Cav troop that has about 40 people. We only have two full-time guys, but you have tons of specific 'jobs': readiness, EEO, motor sgt, retention, supply, and so on. So generally some random E5 gets something to do, and EEO is like that: just a small thing you're responsible for on the side. Which is mostly giving an hour-long powerpoint once or twice a year.

[NonValueAdded]

Brevard County, Florida ping.



Let me know if you want on or off this low volume ping list.
(not associated with the county government)

[LuvFreeRepublic]

Thanks for the ping. During the 70’s my dad was flight commander on most of the Apollo and Sky Lab missions, so I know that base well. He loved that base and he loved participating in historical missions. Most of all, he loved flying.