Thanksgiving Eve search and rescue a success

  • Published
  • By Airman Daniel Brosam
  • 341st Missile Wing Public Affairs
MALMSTROM AIR FORCE BASE, MONT. --  The 40th Helicopter Squadron received a search and rescue request Nov. 25, 2015 at 7:35 a.m. for a hunter lost in the Little Belt Mountains south of Stanford, Montana.

The day crew launched at 9 a.m. and began search operations. The crew launched two flights, totaling 6.6 flying hours and were not able to find the hunter.

The night crew took over at 5:25 p.m. to resume the search. Immediately upon entering the search area, the crew noticed a fire and spotted the man at 5:50 p.m.

After one attempt to hover, the crew determined the aircraft was too heavy to carry another passenger and landed to shed all unnecessary weight.

The crew performed site reconnaissance and observed the landscape for a safer location to land and burned additional fuel before Staff Sgts. Eric McElroy and Justin Ogden, 40th HS special missions aviators, performed a 110-foot hoist for Staff Sgt. Brian Milner, 341 Medical Operations Squadron independent duty medical technician, to attend to the stranded man.

The crew hoisted the survivor out of the confined area at 7:05 p.m., landed to retrieve their gear and flew directly to Benefis Hospital in Great Falls.

The patient was dropped off at 7:40 p.m. and the crew landed safely at 7:48 p.m., logging a total of 2.4 flying hours.

This search and rescue marks number 413 in saves for the 40th HS.

Senior Master Sgt. Shawn Watkins, 40th HS superintendent, said he is just glad they found the lost man.

"This is what we do as professional helicopter aircrew members," said Watkins. "We train every day and I have complete faith in our Airmen to accomplish the mission each and every day."

The man was lost and without food and water for nearly 36 hours.