Helicopter Heroism Award Nominations
| U.S. Coast Guard A Blinding Flare from the Cherokee Rose | vote for this nominee |
| San Francisco, CA - Aug 5, 2007 | |
| Late on Aug. 5, 2007, the crew of U.S. Coast Aircraft 6548 was launched to the sailboat Cherokee Rose, a sailboat foundering 55 nm northwest of Air Station San Francisco. The pilots flew at about 150 ft agl below a fog layer to reach the area, then zigzagged until they regained the very faint signal from the survivors’ emergency position-indicating radio beacon. As Aircraft 6548 approached the life raft, the survivors unexpected lit a flare, blinding the night vision of both pilots.... read more | |
| Hunter Region SLSA Helicopter Rescue Service A Record Rescue Off New South Wales | vote for this nominee |
| Nobbys Beach Newcastle - 8th June 2007 | |
| A Westpac Rescue BK117 hoists 18 crewmembers from a ship threatening to break up after running aground in gale-force winds off New South Wales. The operation is considered the largest such rescue operation in Australia's history. On the 8th June 2007, the Panama-registered bulk carrier Pasha Bulker, with 22 crew on board, ran aground on a reef off Nobbys Beach, Newcastle in gale-force conditions and driving rain. The ship was in danger of breaking up and two Westpac Rescue helicopters... read more | |
| United States Marine Corps Pulling Five From a Crashed Aircraft Engulfed in Flames | vote for this nominee |
| Havelock, NC - 3 May 2007 | |
| At 1413 on the afternoon of 3 May 2007, SSgt Tony Allen was in the SAR office with the rest of the duty crew when the crash phone rang in response to a downed aircraft. This occurred during the MCAS Cherry Point Air Show, and a civilian US4B had crashed moments before on final approach into the airfield, just 1 mi south of the approach end of Runway 05. The crew sprang into action to man the SAR aircraft for launch and they were airborne in just 7 min. They proceeded directly to the crash... read more | |
| U.S. Customs and Border Protection Saving a Truck Driver From Swirling Waters | vote for this nominee |
| Del Rio, Texas - 07/29/07 | |
| The crewmembers of a Border Patrol Search, Trauma, and Rescue Team helicopter pull a truck driver who got his tractor-trailer stranded in swiring floodwaters that threatened to sweep the rig and driver away. On July 29, 2007, at approximately 1435 hrs, Val Verde Emergency Medical Services requested assistance from the Del Rio Border Patrol Sector’s Border Patrol Search, Trauma, and Rescue Team (BORSTAR) in reference to a person who was stranded on top of a semi-truck in a low-water... read more | |
| U.S. Coast Guard Air Station Kodiak Four in a life raft off Unalaska Island | vote for this nominee |
| Unalaska Island, Alaska - 10 February 2007 | |
| Aeronautical abilities and judicious use of risk management enabled a U.S. Coast Guard/Eurocopter HH-65 to rescue four mariners from a life raft in dark, churning waters off Alaska’s Unalaska Island. SUMMARY OF ACTION HH-65B CGNR 6525 MISLE CASE # 337488 RESCUE OF 4 SURVIVORS FROM THE F/V Illusion LIFERAFT 10 FEB 2007 1. At 2345 on 9 February 2007, the Coast Guard Air Station Kodiak HH-65B aviation detachment deployed onboard Coast Guard Cutter Mellon received a... read more | |
| Search&Rescue Helicopter Service Civil Guard Saving an Injured Mountaineer From Spain's Margalida Peak | vote for this nominee |
| Spanish Pyrenees - 2007 | |
During 2007, the Search and Rescue Helicopter Service of the Spanish Civil Guard, rescuing nearly 300 people, of whom 202 were injured. Almost all the rescues were performed in very severe conditions--over 3,000 meters (9,000 feet) altitude, in low visibility, high winds and turbulence. | |
| Mexico Government State Air Rescue Unit Rescuing Hundreds From the Tabasco Floods | vote for this nominee |
| State of Tabasco, Mexico - Nov 1st - Nov 11th 2007 | |
| Crews of two helicopters from the Mexico Government State Air Rescue Unit save the lives of more than 400 people in the wake of massive flooding in the Mexican state of Tabasco. In 85 hr of flying over 10 days, they performed 19 hoist extractions and transported 1,320 boxes of food and 35 tons of water, blankets medicines and tools. “Relampagos”, Mexico Government State Air Rescue Unit. Toluca de Lerdo, Estado de México, México. Late on Nov. 1, 2007 Mexican President... read more | |
| U.S. Army Saving Downed Airmen With "Spur Rides" | vote for this nominee |
| Taji, Iraq - July 02 2007 | |
| Chief Warrant Officer 3rd Class (CW3) Micah R. Johnson and CW3 Allan Davison distinguished themselves through conspicuous gallantry in action while serving as Boeing AH-64D pilots operating against enemy forces in Baghdad, Iraq. At the time, they were with the 227th Aviation Regiment, 1st Air Cavalry Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division, based in Taji, Iraq, on the north side of Baghdad. On July 2, 2007, they distinguished themselves by locating and extracting a downed Bell Helicopter OH-58D... read more | |
| U.S. Coast Guard Air Station Atlantic City, NJ A Captain Overboard as a Towed Fishing Vessel Sinks | vote for this nominee |
| Great Egg Harbor Inlet, New Jersey - 06 November, 2007 | |
| A U.S. Coast Guard crews saves the captain of a fishing vessel that sank as they hovered on station above it. The crew’s quick action helped the captain receive swift treatment for the onset of hypothermia. On the night of Nov. 6, 2007, the crew of U.S. Coast Guard Helicopter 6568 was launched to assist the fishing vessel Linda C, which was taking on water in Great Egg Harbor Inlet, N.J. The Tow Boat US had Linda C under tow and was proceeding to shallower waters. The 6568 crew... read more | |
| Air Evac An Aircrew Perishes Searching for a Missing Hunter | vote for this nominee |
| Muscle Shoals, Alabama - 12/30/2007 | |
| This is nomination is made posthumously. All three crewmembers were killed in the line of duty. Not only were the actions of the crew selfless in respect to their willingness to go and search for a missing individual, the actions of Pilot Michael Baker in recognizing an issue with the aircraft and diverting the path of the helicopter away from ground personal should be honored. The following is an except from the NTSB preliminary report. On Dec. 30, 2007, at 0306 Central Standard Time, a... read more | |
| US Coast Guard Air Station Humboldt Bay A Rescue in 45-Kt Winds and No Illumination | vote for this nominee |
| 50 Miles offshore, North West of Mckinleyville CA - 02 December 2007 | |
Craig Peterson, a native of Chetco River, Oregon, departed his home town on a 25-foot Catalina sailing vessel, S/V JACK, on 23 November with the plan of either sailing north to Alaska or fishing locally. Peterson had a history of mental instability and a habit of heading offshore in his boat into heavy seas. Not having had contact with the S/V JACK for several days, the family of Mr. Peterson became concerned over his well being and notified the U.S. Coast Guard. On 30... read more | |
| Hellenic Air Force (HAF) Saving Greek Villagers from Wildfires | vote for this nominee |
| Frixa village West Peloponnesus Greece - 27-8-07 | |
On middle August 2007, West Peloponnesus in Greece was on fire. The fire had been burning for almost a week, destroying forests and had started to threaten residential areas. The fire smoke was extending up to 10.000 feet. 384 SAR Squadron of Hellenic Air Force (HAF), stationed in Elefsis Air Base, was assigned to evacuate people from villages that were burning. For that purpose 4 Super Puma helicopters were detached to Andravida Air Base. | |
| 66 Rescue Squadron Plucking Three Hikers and Two Dogs From a Mountain | vote for this nominee |
| St. George, UT - 24 April 2007 | |
| The crewmembers of U.S. Air Force Rescue (AFR) 010 distinguished themselves while participating in an Air Force Rescue Coordination Center (AFRCC)-tasked civil search and rescue mission to locate and rescue three hikers and two dogs atop a mountain ridge near St. George, Utah. The three hikers had set off for a four-day trek, but one experienced back problems, and one hiker was without medication and became immobilized. Civil rescuers were unable to rescue them due to deep snow, high... read more | |
| afb Heroism in the Colombian Jungle | vote for this nominee |
| COLOMBIAN JUNGLE - UKNOWn | |
| This nomination was submitted in Spanish, the original of which is included at the end. Gentlemen, Good Afternoon. My name is Carlos Andres Tulcan Delgado, I am a member of the Colombian Air Force. I flew as a crewmember for four years in a Sikorsky Aircraft UH-60 A/L helicopter. I am honored to have been contacted. I want to tell you that I lost the hearing in my left ear flying about 1,000 hours in public service. I was... read more | |
| Miami-Dade Fire Rescue Department Fighting Back a South Florida Wildfire | vote for this nominee |
| Miami-Dade County, Florida - April 28, 2008 | |
| At approximately 12:33 Miami-Dade Fire Rescue was dispatched on a major wildland fire.The wildland fire grew to a fifth alarm fire that threatened a correctional facility. Air Rescue 3 performed about 135 air drops and Air Rescue 1 performed about 50. Both units work with operational units in stopping this fire from engulfing the correctional facility. The crews skillfully assisted in getting this fire under control and the correctional facilty was saved. Commander Diaz, Copilot... read more | |
| C Company, 3-82nd General Support Aviation Battalion Saving Wounded Warriors From an Afghanistan Battlefield | vote for this nominee |
| Near Asadabad, Afghanistan - November 9th, 2007 | |
| The following narrative is a declassified account of a Combined Joint Task Force 82 aviation rescue mission conducted in eastern Afghanistan in the fall of 2007. The names of the wounded and other crewmembers are not contained in this narrative. We have only included the name of the flight medic that we are nominating for this most prestigious award. On the evening of Nov. 9, 2007, two medevac Sikorsky Aircraft UH-60s and the two Boeing AH-64 Apaches assigned to the 82nd Combat Aviation... read more | |
| C Co, 2nd General Support Aviation Battalion, 1st Aviation Regiment, 1st Armored Division, Multi-National Corps-Iraq First Combat Medic Badges Awarded to Flight Medics | vote for this nominee |
| Contingency Operating Base Speicher, Iraq - 28 July 2008 | |
These seven U.S. Army flight medics, along with SPC Stacey Dill, all assigned to Co. C, 2nd General Support Aviation Battalion, 1st Aviation Regiment, received the first Combat Medic Badges (CMB) awarded to medical evacuation crews for their actions during combat operations in northern Iraq while flying in support of Task Force Iron, 1st Armored Division. The seven awardees are based out of Fort Riley, Kan. and deployed to Iraq with the Combat Aviation Brigade, 1st Infantry Division during... read more | |
| U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), Office of CBP Air and Marine, Bellingham Air and Marine Branch Quick Thinking and Expert Flying Save a Missing Hiker | vote for this nominee |
| North Cascades National Park, Newhalem, Washington - September 21, 2007 | |
| On Friday, Sept. 21, 2007, a U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) helicopter crew comprised of CBP Air Interdiction Agents Christopher Rosen and Wayne Gore from the CBP Bellingham Air and Marine Branch in Bellingham, Wash., assisted local search and rescue teams as they looked for a hiker lost in the remote North Cascades National Park. Search and rescue teams had been dispatched to the park soon after the hiker failed to return from a camping trip. She had been missing for six days by... read more | |
| Yuma Air Branch, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), Office of CBP Air and Marine Customs and Border Patrol Agents Rescue Marine Pilot After Crash | vote for this nominee |
| Yuma, Arizona - November 27, 2007 | |
| On Tuesday, Nov. 27, 2007, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Air Interdiction Agent Gabriel Mourik worked the 1600-2400 hour shift near Yuma, Ariz. with CBP Border Patrol Agent Juan Arroyo as his observer. Although it is doubtful that any CBP agent working at the southwest border would call the job predictable, even Mourik was surprised to hear what would come from the Yuma Control Tower that night. At about 2100, Mourik and Arroyo launched on their second flight of the night in CBP... read more | |
| 41st Rescue Squadron Providing SAR Protection in Iraq | vote for this nominee |
| Iraq - Mar-Jun 2007 | |
| From March to June 2007, Capt. Andy Gray’s HH-60G combat search and rescue aircrew displayed exemplary professionalism and heroism during combat actions in Operation Iraqi Freedom. The crew provided all-weather combat search and rescue coverage day and night for all coalition forces in the Iraqi area of operations, flying more than 100 combat hours. On one mission, en route to a forward staging location to provide alert rescue coverage for high-risk operations, Gray’s crew was ambushed... read more | |
| 41st Rescue Squadron Rescuing a Boater From the Seas and Storms of the Gulf of Mexico | vote for this nominee |
| Gulf of Mexico, 90 miles off the Florida coast - 20 September 2007 | |
| On 20 December 2007, Capt. Paul Sheets and his crew received a phone call at Moody AFB. The U.S Air Force Rescue Coordination Center said the U.S. Coast Guard was searching for a boater who had been missing for 48 hours in the Gulf of Mexico. Due to rapidly approaching thunderstorms, the Coast Guard requested Air Force HC-130 and HH-60G assistance. Armed with the coordinates the point from which the boater had launched and a search frequency, Sheets led two HH-60Gs loaded with pararescue... read more | |
| Huntington Beach PD Saving a Choking Baby When Ground Units Are Delayed | vote for this nominee |
| Huntington Beach CA - July 11, 2008 | |
| Emergency units were called to the scene of a choking baby. Heavy construction in the area delayed the response of units on the ground. The baby was turning blue from lack of oxygen, so the Huntington Beach Police helicopter crew landed in a confined area, therefore providing immediate first aid and saving the child's life. They were able to arrive 4 minutes prior to any other first responders.... read more | |
| Maryland State Police Saving Three at the Foot of a Dam | vote for this nominee |
| Susquehanna River, Pennsylvania - April 29, 2007 | |
On April 28, 2007 at about 1530, Maryland State Police helicopter “Trooper 1” was dispatched from its base in Baltimore County, Md. to the Holtwood Dam on the Susquehanna River between York and Lancaster Counties in Pennsylvania for a possible aerial rescue of persons trapped after their boat had fallen over the dam. | |
| Helicopter Sea Combat Weapons School Pacific Saving a Crew From Tail Rotor Failure | vote for this nominee |
| Pacific Ocean, San Diego vicinity - November 9, 2007 | |
| HSC Weapons School, Pacific proudly nominates Lt. Kelly K. Natter for the 2007 Rotor & Wing Helicopter Heroism Award. While serving as Helicopter aircraft commander on an HH-60H assigned to Helicopter Anti-Submarine Squadron Two, deployed with Commander, Carrier Air Wing Two and Commander, Carrier Strike Group Nine aboard USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72), Natter launched on Nov. 9, 2007 as mission commander of a long-range combat search and rescue exercise. On return from East... read more | |
| Anne Arundel County, Md. Police Department Saving a Citizen Trapped by a Fallen Tree | vote for this nominee |
| Pennington Drive, Laurel, Maryland - April 16, 2007 | |
| On April 16, 2007, ground units from the Anne Arundel County Police Department responded to a call for service to locate a missing person who was last seen at about 1230 hours. The victim's fiance left the residence for work and advised that the victim left with the family dog for a walk at the same time. When she arrived home at 1800 hours, he was not at the residence. A neighbor advised that the family dog returned at about 1400 hours alone. Over five hours had passed since anyone had any... read more | |
| Latvian Air Force Rescuing 24 Mariners Stranded in High Winds | vote for this nominee |
| Baltic sea, aprx. 5NM offshore of Ventspils harbor - 15 JAN 2007 | |
| At 0218 Zulu on Jan. 15, 2007, the Latvian Maritime Rescue Coordination Center got a report from the vessel Golden Sky, sailing under the Cyprus flag with 25,000 tons of cargo and 490 tons of the fuel. She was stranded in shallow waters in the vicinity of the Ventspils harbour with 24 crewmen onboard. A Latvian air force search and rescue Mi-171 was scrambled and arrived at the scene at 0357Z. On the first pass, 16 crewmembers were rescued. Winds were reported from 320 degrees at 51 knots,... read more | |
| Air Transport Europe Ltd. Rescuing Four Amid Avalanches | vote for this nominee |
| The High Tatras - 24.6.2008 | |
| The mission was performed at Mala Studena Dolina Valley under the Priecne Sedlo Saddle. After a rocky avalanche, screaming and calls for help could be heard. Four persons were injured, one of them very severely. The helicopter immediately took off and the doctor got to the injured persons on the steep slope by hoist. There he found a four-member family and the most severely injured person was the father of the family. It was necessary to act very quickly, so the doctor started the intubation.... read more | |
