The White Falcon - 09.04.1965, Blaðsíða 5

Friday, April 9, 1965
WHITE FALCON
5
tscue In Action
ic Rescue Teams
SAR Exercise
'.hmieg, JOS A
The Marines under Cpl. James M. Guzniczak, team leader, with ten
men plus photographer Steve L. Weese, AA, and Gary W. Nelson,
HN, from the Station Hospital, arrived at Reykjavik Tower at 10:15
a.m.
Men Found
At 10:15 also, the Neptune, SP-2H plane skippered by Lt Robert
G. Davis, of Crew 7, spotted the grounded parachute about two
miles east of Lake Thingvellir.
Five minutes later, R-6 (Reykjavik Tower) reported that the
SP-2H had sighted the Icelandic Search Parties.
By 10:30 a.m. the Icelandic Rescue Team acknowledged locating
two men near a tiny lake called Stiflisdalsvatn approximately four
miles northwest of Thingvellir.
Fifteen minutes later, part of the Icelandic Rescue Team reached
the fallen pilots and immediately set up a tent for the “injured”
Sergeant Ellis.
The second rescue party to appear on the scene was the Marine
contingent from Keflavik.
Helicopter Flies In Doctor
After being notified by R-6 that the men were found, OPCON dis-
patched a helicopter with a doctor aboard to fly back the two airmen.
Lt Jack C. Hoover, flight surgeon of the U.S. Naval Station Hos-
pital, Keflavik, made the rescue hop with Pilot Lt Gerald L. Hussong
and Crewmembers Ronald S. Rogers, ADR2 and James D. Belcher,
ADRAN.
While the Icelanders were watching over the “injured” airman,
the Marines were preparing a landing spot for the helicopter.
The ’copter arrived about noon and Dr. Hoover immediately went
through the medical procedures of treating an injured back.
The two airmen plus Dr. Hoover returned to the base in the whirly-
bird that landed on the lawn across from the hospital. There, the
patient was placed in an ambulance awaiting him and taken to the
hospital.
In five hours the rescue exercise was finished thanks to the co-
ordination and help of many men here at the base and in Iceland.
Without their help two men’s lives might have been lost if this were
a real live emergency.
Rescued Men Review Exercise
What were the remark’s from the two simulated downed pilots?
As Colonel Tyler put it: “After sleeping in just our sleeping bags
overnight with no shelter from the wind and rain during the night,
you can be sure we both were pretty cold.”
And Sergeant Ellis added, “The area we were situated in had
experienced eight to ten inches of thaw before the rains which meant
eight to ten inches of muck to wade through.”
Commenting on the Icelanders’ speedy rescue both men explained
that the Icelandic Rescue Teams had split up into four teams and
used a high ground-type of search. “They kept to the high ground
using field glasses as deer hunters do when hunting,” explained
Colonel Tyler.
The Icelanders were on a rise when the airmen spotted them. The
Icelandic Team B, headed by Magnus Thorarinsson, rescued the men.
Did the Icelanders perform first aid?
“When they reached us, they pitched a tent and kept me in there
until the helicopter arrived,” said Sergeant Ellis. “They kept saying
to me I’d be all right apparently not knowing I was faking.”
Icelanders And IDF “Thanks”
The sergeant also was impressed by how well-trained the Icelandic
rescuers were.
On the training and effectiveness of the Icelandic Rescue Team
Sergeant Ellis applauded, “I’ve been in quite a few rescue and sur-
vival exercises and as far as rescue teams go, with the exception
of maybe the Canadian Rescue Teams, these Icelanders are by far
the most effectively trained team I’ve encountered.”
When the helicopter landed at the rescue area, “Dr. Hoover really
did an excellent job as though this accident was for real that I almost
felt my back hurt!” exclaimed Sergeant Ellis.
To the Marines who appeared on the rescue point their hats are
off for an outstanding job to anyone who’d literally trudge through
that muck.
On summing up the SAR Exercise both men had this to say that
with the Icelanders, Marines, Navy and Air Force rescue teams
they feel the pilots are much safer.
And a downed military or civilian pilot, an injured hiker or skier
or anyone in distress in Iceland can, with these coordinated Iceland-
U.S. rescue procedures be rescued in a matter of hours.
COMING HOME—The simulated injured airman MSgt Cecil E. Ellis
(on stretcher to right of picture) is carried into the helicopter bound
for the Station Hospital, while both the Icelandic Ground Rescue Team
and the Marine contingent look on.
EASY DOES IT—Dr. Hoover lends a helping hand to the two corpsmen George E. Weaver. HN, (center),
and John F. Dunn, HM3 (right) in moving Sergeant Ellis from the helicopter and into the ambulance.