40th HS records save number 382

  • Published
  • By Valerie Mullett
  • 341st Missile Wing Public Affairs Office
MALMSTROM AIR FORCE BASE, Mont. --  A UH-1N Huey helicopter crew assigned to the 40th Helicopter Squadron recorded the unit's 382nd save when they rescued an injured hiker north of Six-Mile Peak in the Mission Mountain Range, northeast of Missoula, Mont., June 26.

The crew consisted of Capt. Joe Evans, aircraft commander/pilot; Capt. Michael Scott, co-pilot; Staff Sgt. Justin Smith, flight engineer; and Dr. (Maj.) Glenn Donnelly, flight surgeon.

"We were alerted late Saturday evening by the Air Force Rescue Coordination Center, who had received a request from the Missoula County Sheriff's Department that a hiker had been injured," said Captain Scott.

A 62-year-old man sustained a fall which resulted in him injuring his back and rendering him unable to walk.

The helicopter crew was off the ground and on their way by 10:30 p.m. They were able to get to the hiker shortly after midnight. The injured man had been stabilized by a crew on the ground made up of medics, search and rescue members, and the sheriff's department.

"We lowered Dr. Donnelly down first on the hoist, then lowered the Stokes litter stretcher down after him," Captain Scott said.

"When we arrived, the ground party had already bundled him on a backboard and rendered all the necessary initial care, even medicating him for his pain," said Dr. Donnelly. "They had traveled about two miles over very difficult terrain in case we were unable to assist. This preparation made the extrication much less complicated. We simply loaded their litter onto our Stokes litter and hoisted him up."

After the injured man was safely secured in the aircraft, the crew rushed him to the Missoula airport where he was transferred to the care of emergency medical services.

This was the first search and rescue Dr. Donnelly has participated in since arriving at Malmstrom in September 2010.

"Being part of a team that successfully completed this rescue was a rewarding experience," the flight surgeon said. "We all realize that many searches do not end with a rescue. I was very grateful for the ground party, which made this rescue much smoother. Without their help, finding and treating the survivor would have been much more challenging."