The White Falcon - 19.03.1971, Side 14

Page 14
THE WHITE FALCON
March 19, 1971
Local Air Rescue and Recovery Service #
marks 25 years of service to Free World
The Keflavik detachment of the
Aerospace Rescue and Recovery
Service last Friday joined with
120 of its brother units in ob-
serving 25 years of service to
air and sea travelers around the
world.
The Keflavik unit, officially
designated Detachment 14, is part
of the 40th AAR Wing home based
at Ramstein AFB, Germany. It is
one of 120 such units throughout
the world providing search and
rescue capabilities to ships and
aircraft in need of their ser-
vices, regardless of nationality
or flag. Thirty men and two
HC—130 aircraft make up the local
unit, insuring complete search
and rescue capabilities for their
diversified operations.
Three men of DET 14 are here
on permanent orders, with the re-
maining 27 spending only one week
temporary duty tours. Despite a
weekly turnover of men, the crews
require little or no adjustment
to their new duties. The profes-
sionalism acquired through count-
less air hours of on the job
training enables DET 14 to main-
tain a 45 minute alert, 24 hours *
a day.
Of primary importance to the
Keflavik unit, is its direct sup-
port to the 57th Fighter Inter- '
ceptor Squadron. While F-102 in-
tercept aircraft are airborne,
DET 14 maintains a 30 minute a-
lert, ready to assist In the event
of an aircraft emergency or ap-
peal for aid.
Each of the 130s used by DET 14
is manned by a crew of 10. Life
rafts, radios, medical supplies
and various types of rescue and
survival equipment are among the
items used for operations. A
para-medic is also a member
each crew. Equipped with oxyge^^^H
a life raft, medical kit,
preservers and other equipment,
the para-medic is prepared to jump
on land or sea, wherever the call
may bec
DET 14 has participated in many
search and rescue operations. A
highlight of their operations was
(See RESCUE Page 9)