The White Falcon - 28.05.1993, Blaðsíða 4

56th Rescue Squadron pulls in three awards for ‘92
By J03 (SW) Andreas Walter
“These things we do, that others may live,”
A motto that illustrates the unselfishness and
dedication of the 100 members of the 56th
Rescue Squadron (RQS).
The 56th was recently the recipient of three
Air Force-wide awards: RQS Unit of the
Year for 1992, Aircrew of the Year for 1992
and Aircrew of the Quarter for 1992(for the
third quarter). With an aircrew of 40, split
among four helicopters and maintenance
crews cm alert status 24 hours-a-day, the RQS
stands ready 365 days of the year to perform
their mission, rescuing those in peril.
“We are the finest squadron operating in
the worst possible weather to do our job to the
best of our ability,” stated Col. James A. Sills,
Commander, 56th Rescue Squadron.
The RQS, one of 12 such squadrons world-
wide, tasked with combat rescue for military
aviators, first became operational in Iceland
in November 1971. Within one year, the
crews had recorded 11 saves. Ten years later,
the number had ballooned to 173. In those
days, HH-3E helicopters, or “Jolly Green
Giants” were used to perform the varied
rescue operations that the crews were called
upon. Although a reliable and trustworthy
craft, the HH-3Es were not known for then-
agility and top speed. By September 1991,
Detachment 14, 56th Air Rescue Squadron,
as it was formerly known, received four new
HH-60G Sikorsky Pave Hawk aircraft, amove
that guaranteed faster response times, and
modem, up to date electronics and navigation
systems.
The squadron has now logged 258 saves,
including fishermen and seamen from: Aus-
tria, Bulgaria, Canada, Denmark, East Ger-
many, Faeroe Islands, Finland, Greenland,
Iceland, Norway, Poland, Soviet Union,
Spain, Sweden, United Kingdom, United
States and West Germany.
These long hours spent flying and per-
forming rescues do not come without a price.
The men on the ground and behind the scenes
guarantee the readiness of the aircraft, night
and day.
“The maintenance guys are a sharp group
of people. Without their support and exper-
tise, the squadron would not have stood the
chance they did at winning the awards,”
declared IstLt. Damon Reynolds, Public Af-
fairs Officer and helicopter pilot for the RQS.
“Everybody worked real hard during the
winter months. We seemed to have the
heaviest work load during this time, and this,
combined with the harsh weather, made for
some very long hours,” recalled Sgt. Nick
Grba, Hydraulic Technician for the 56th.
“The aircrews were out flying in some of
the worst weather imaginable to log night
flying time,” he added.
With only four aircraft to cover a total of
one million square miles of turbulent seas
and barren landmass, including the North
Pole, the RQS has their hands full.
“Of the four helicopters, one is always on
an alert status, while another is usually down
for inspection, an intensive troubleshooting
operation performed every 500hours of fly ini
time. The maintenance folks and the afl
crews really work well together to acconS
plish our mission,” Grba explained.
The RQS also spends many hours interact-
ing with local and national Icelandic rescue
teams. Each must familiarize with the other’s
methods and equipment. This proves to be
valuable when the efforts of the Icelandic and
American crews are needed for a rescue.
(■M
The 56th Rescue Squadron made the transition to the Sikorsky HH-60G helicopters in late
1991. The move increased their overall efficiency and response times. (File photo)
932nd Air Control Squadron wins Top Scope ‘93
Five members of the 932nd Air Control Squadron, Rockville, recently traveled to Griffiss
Air Force Base, N.Y., to compete in the inaugural Top Scope ‘93 Air Defense Competition.
The competition is designed to test the strength of the air defense control centers. Teams from
Alaska, Canada, Iceland and the United States competed in five different positions within the
operational field. The awards were in the surveillance, identification and weapons control
categories.
The competition was divided into two parts. First, the competitors were given a written
examination, immediately followed by a computer generated scenario. Individually, the
members of “Team Iceland” demonstrated their professionalism, skills, and knowledge by
finishing the competition with one first place and four second place showings, earning them
the overall Top Air Defense Team trophy.
Additionally, the five winners were awarded the Air Force Achievement Medal by Col.
Thomas Allen, Commander, Air Forces Iceland, for their oustanding efforts. The members
of “Team Iceland”, their competition areas and final standings are as follows:
Capt. Michael P. Maag
TSgt. John V. Poreider
SSgt. Wade A, Schroeder
SSgt. Robert J. Pavlovich
A 1C John E. Proniewicz
Weapons Director First Place
Weapons Director Technician Second Place
Identification Technician Second Place
Tracking Technician Second Place
Tracking Technician Second Place
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