The White Falcon - 16.09.1977, Side 1

Volume 33 Number 37
Keflavik. Iceland
September 16, 1977
WITH THEIR BOAT-LIKE gondola afloat at the "Five Finger Area," a crewman of the
helium-filled balloon, "Double Eagle," is plucked to safety from an Icelandic
fjord by a Det. 14 HF-3E "Jolly Green Giant." The rescue, which took place
Monday, involved crews from a Patrol Squadron P-3C "Orion" and a Det. 14 H3-130
"Hercules" tanker. (U.S. Air Force Photo)
Fire Department inspectors
safety hazards
Fire hazard inspection in base
housing units continues into the second
week. Naval Station Fire Department in-
spectors are seeking out fire and
safety hazards in family quarters.
One of the main items included in
the fire inspection is planning a home
escape route—should main exits be
blocked in case of fire.
To aid families in planning an
escape route, fire inspectors will out-
line with each family an alternate plan
to exit from the home during Exit Drill
in the Home (Operation "EDITH"), slated
at 5:30 p.m. Oct. 14.
The fire inspection schedule for Mon-
day through Sept. 23 follows:
Monday—9:30 to 11:30 a.m. Bldg. 672;
1 to 3 p.m. Bldg. 926-1 and 3 to 6 p.m.
Bldg. 3005, 3006, 3007, 2310, 2495,
2496 and 2497.
Tuesday—9:30 to 11:30 a.m. Bldg.
926-2; 1 to 3 p.m. Bldg. 927-1 and
3 to 6 p.m. Bldg. 928-1 and 927-2.
Wednesday—9:30 to 11:30 a.m. Bldg.
928-2; 1 to 3 p.m. Bldg. 929-1 and 3 to
6 p.m. Bldg. 929-2 and 930-1.
Thursday—9:30 to 11:30 a.m. Bldg.
950-2; 1 to 3 p.m. Bldg. 950-3 and 950-4
and 3 to 6 p.m. Bldg. 951-1 and 950-2.
A responsible family member should
be present during accompany the fire
inspectors.
seek out risk,
A FIRE ALARM TEST—is conducted by
Naval Station Fireman Gudnunur
Gunnarsson. He conducts the test on
alarms in the base housing units by
igniting a piece of cotton and holding
it near the alarm.
‘Jolly Green Giant’ rescues two
men in transatlantic crossing
Three Keflavik flight crews fought a
building weather front, a 2,000-foot
ceiling and heavy winds to aid in the
search and rescue of two Americans who
attempted a transatlantic crossing in a
balloon Monday.
Members of Patrol Squadron 24 and De-
tachment 14, 39th Aerospace Recovery and
Rescue Wing, spent nearly 14 hours in
flight to find, track and rescue the men
Monday.
Ben Abruzzo, 47, and Maxie Anderson,
43, of Albuquerque, NM, ran into the de-
veloping storm center of a low pressure
area when their helium-filled balloon,
"Double Eagle," began icing over. The
balloon was then forced to a 300-foot
altitude at the southern tip of Green-
land.
With all other radio equipment
flooded out, the men used a sealed
automatic transmitter to relay the
first 3 a.m. distress call to Iceland.
Since no lighting conditions existed
on the balloon, the patrol squadron
search crew was delayed from takeoff un-
til dawn. By 9:30 a.m., however, the
P-3C "Orion" had reached the balloon-
ists, who were at 9,500 feet—330 miles
west southwest of Iceland. The plane
was in continual radio and visual con-
tact with the men.
An HH-3E "Jolly Green Giant" and an
HC-130 "Hercules" tanker reached the
scene about noon. Crewmen fought a
low weather ceiling and an overcast
weather front to reach the balloonists,
who were 40 miles from the northwest
corner of Iceland by 3:13 p.m.
The balloon went down in water at
5:03 p.m. at the mouth of Isafjordur
in the "Five Finger Area," 160 miles
north of Keflavik. The men were
pulled from their gondola and were in
the helicopter by 5:30. They were
then transported to Reykjavik.
Combined Federal Campaign overseas
Tuesday-slated for twelfth year
Fall brings the world series, foot-
ball and the annual Combined Federal
Campaign Overseas Area.
The twelfth CFCOA will begin Tuesday
at the NATO base.
This year, according to Lieutenant
Colonel James S. Godwin, project offi-
cier, the drive will enable 13 Inter-
national Service Agencies, the American
National Red Cross and 16 National
Health Agencies to serve people at
home and around the world.
The campaign finances relief and
other projects for people the world
over, through ISA agencies. It pro-
vides funds for the multi-service
emergency-oriented Red Cross. It sup-
ports health programs which combat
disease and crippling disabilities
through medical research, patient care
and rehabilitation.
Stressing the agencies' personal
approach to assistance, the upcoming
campaign carries the slogan, "Make
Someone Happy Through Your CFC."
Gifts may be made through payroll
allotment or by direct contributions.
Through the payroll allotment plan,
donations may be spread over a 12-month
period, beginning Jan. 1, 1978. If de-
sired, one or more agencies may be
designated at donation time.
Total participation is the primary
goal, according to LCol Godwin. Key
persons in each unit have been
designated as CFC leaders, and will
provide additional information about
participating agencies and campaign
details.
The drive on the NATO base will
run from Tuesday to Oct. 31.
Air Force to exhibit 30th birthday
The United States Air Force will be
30-years-old this month. Air Force per-
sonnel in Iceland will celebrate the
event with an exhibit which promises to
be fun for all who attend.
The celebration, which is sponsored
by the Air Force Junior Officers' Coun-
cil and the Enlisted Advisory Council,
will take place tomorrow at Hangar 830
from 2 to 4 p.m. The public is invited.
A cake-cutting ceremony will begin at
3 p.m. Aircraft will be on display,
including an F-4C, EC-121 and an HH-3E
"Jolly Green Giant" rescue helicopter.
Pilots and crewmen will be on hand to
talk with visitors.
In addition to the aircraft displays,
an AIM-9E Sidewinder missile and an AIM
7E-3 Sparrow missile will be exhibited.
Visitors will also be able to see J79
and J33 Turbo jet engines. Movies,
slides and other audio visual exhibits
will be offered for visitors of all
ages.
There will be plenty of parking space.
The area adjacent to Hangar 830 will ac-
commodate 200 vehicles, and the ramp area
east of Hangar 885 near the water tower
will be an overflow parking area.
Happy Birthday
Air Force
Reflective tape needed for winter
Summer is ending and it’s time to
bring out the warm clothing and heavy
coats. But, before you start out the
winter, make sure that you and your de-
pendents have reflective tape sewn on
the edges and backs of outer garments.
Visibility will be sometimes poor for
NATO base motorists, especially when only
a few hours of daylight exist.
AIMD will be doing this job Monday
through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. for
departments only by appointments, PRC
Roger L. McGinnis, aircrew survival
equipment shop chief, said.
For those individuals who are not
part of a department, meaning dependents
and non-school-age dependents, the Rec-
reation Department will handle your
coats from Monday through Friday from 9
to 4:30 p.m. without an appointment.
Just bring your coats in between these
hours and you will be ready for the
darkness. Contact Chief Floyd C. Fesler
at the Recreation Department at 4393/
7500 for further information.