An official website of the United States government
A .mil website belongs to an official U.S. Department of Defense organization in the United States.
A lock (lock ) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .mil website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

Home : News : Article View
NEWS | May 24, 2021

Alaska Air National Guard rescue injured snow machiner

By Maj. Chelsea Aspelund, 176th Wing

JOINT BASE ELMENDORF-RICHARDSON, Alaska — Alaska Air National Guardsmen of the 176th Wing rescued an injured snow machiner May 23.

Alaska State Troopers contacted the Alaska Rescue Coordination Center (AK RCC) around 8:15 p.m. on May 23 to request hoist capable assets to rescue an injured snow machiner that Whittier Fire and Rescue personnel were unable to get to by foot.

The RCC contacted the 176th Wing, who dispatched a 210th Rescue Squadron HH-60G Pave Hawk helicopter with a 212th Rescue Squadron Guardian Angel (GA) team and a 211th Rescue Squadron HC-130J Combat King II.

Alaska Air National Guard Master Sgt. Andrew Marron, AK RCC Search and Rescue controller, said the snowmachine party used an inReach device to call for help. Still, the nature of the terrain and injuries were such that ground personnel could not reach the injured person without putting more people at risk.

The Pave Hawk is the only hoist and aerial refueling capable helicopter in the state of Alaska. Dispatching with the Combat King enables the Pave Hawk to refuel and stay airborne in the search area for hours. The Combat King also provides communications relay between rescue assets that may not otherwise communicate across terrain or distance.

Marron said the rescue team worked closely with the Whittier volunteer fire department during the rescue.

After locating the snow machiner, the GA team used a 70-foot hoist to reach the injured person, who was stabilized and transported to Providence Alaska Medical Center in Anchorage.

The 210th RQS, 211th RQS, 212th RQS and AKRCC were awarded one save for this rescue.

 

 

Related Articles
An Alaska Air National Guard HC-130J Combat King II assigned to the 211th Rescue Squadron passes over Malemute Drop Zone during airborne sustainment training at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska, July 10, 2024. A 211th RQS HC-130 worked with a Coast Guard District 17 HH-60 Jayhawk to rescue a plane crash victim Nov. 21, 2024, at Lake Iliamna.
Alaska Air Guard, Coast Guard Rescue Pilot at Iliamna Lake
By David Bedard, | Nov. 27, 2024
JOINT BASE ELMENDORF-RICHARDSON, Alaska - Alaska Air National Guardsmen of the 211th Rescue Squadron helped the Coast Guard rescue the pilot of a downed Cessna 207 Nov. 21 at Iliamna Lake.The Coast Guard dispatched an HH-60...

Nepali Army members await care after a simulated hazardous material emergency during Pacific Angel 24-2 in Kathmandu, Nepal, Sept. 17, 2024. PA 24-2’s objective is to promote humanitarian assistance and disaster response capacity-building by facilitating military, civilian and nongovernmental organization cooperation and improve search and rescue collaboration between the United States and Nepal.
Alaska Air Guard Provides Security at Pacific Angel Exercise
By Senior Master Sgt. Julie Avey, | Oct. 7, 2024
KATHMANDU, Nepal - The 168th Wing Security Forces Defenders provided a fly-away security team to support Pacific Angel 24-2 in Kathmandu Sept. 16-29.PA 24-2 is a bilateral search and rescue exercise sponsored by the United...

Alaska Air National Guard Maj. Dan Warren, right, 212th Rescue Squadron combat rescue officer, and Master Sgt. Harry Bromley, 212th RQS pararescueman, evacuate an injured airplane pilot Aug. 30, 2024, about 50 miles southwest of Tok to a 210th Rescue Squadron HH-60G Pave Hawk. Warren and Bromley jumped from a 211th Rescue Squadron HC-130J Combat King II to reach the injured pilot.
Alaska Air Guard Rescues Plane Crash Victims, Hikers, Hunter
By Maj. David Bedard, | Sept. 9, 2024
JOINT BASE ELMENDORF-RICHARDSON, Alaska - Alaska Air National Guard 176th Wing members rescued eight distressed residents in five missions over the Labor Day Weekend.Two of the missions required 212th Rescue Squadron Guardian...