UPDATE: Coast Guard helps rescue Marines from downed helicopter

Wednesday, March 30, 2011

Posted by: LT Connie Braesch

Air Station Barbers Point aircrew

HONOLULU – The rescue aircrew, Lt. Cmdr. Dan Long, Lt. j.g. Jason Gross, Aviation Survival Technician 2nd Class Colin Clyne and Aviation Maintenance Technician 3rd Class Brett Watts, stand by the MH-65 Dolphin helicopter at Air Station Barbers Point. Coast Guard photo.

Update: The status of the rescued aircrew has been updated in paragraph four as well as the efforts to extract the downed aircraft in paragraph five.

When the SAR alarm sounded last night at Coast Guard Air Station Barber’s Point, aircrews launched into action preparing for the search and rescue case – but this case was different. They were being called to rescue fellow Marine Corps servicemembers.

At around 7:20 p.m. local Hawaiian time, a Marine Corps CH-53D Sea Stallion helicopter sent a radio mayday just before executing an emergency landing approximately two miles off the coast of the Marine Corps Air Station in Kaneohe.

When the Coast Guard HC-130 Hercules aircraft and MH-65 Dolphin helicopter arrived on scene, they located the downed Sea Stallion helicopter and the crewmembers in the shallow water off Kaneohe Bay. Between the Honolulu Fire Department and Marine Corps HH‐53 helicopters also on scene, the Coast Guard MH-65 was the only one with hoist capabilities. The aircrew immediately deployed the swimmer, Petty Officer 2nd Class Colin Clyne, to help the Honolulu Fire Department divers rescue the four crew members from the aircraft.

All four crew members were evacuated and transported to the Marine Corps Air Station, for triage. According to a Marine Corps press release, one Marine has died, two are listed in critical condition and one in stable condition. The name of the crewmen are being held until next of kin are notified.

A 25-foot response boat from Station Honolulu was also sent via trailer to assist with the rescue and enforce a safety zone around the Sea Stallion. The Coast Guard continues to provide assistance to the Marine Corps and is enforcing a temporary safety zone around the wreckage to ensure the safe extraction of the downed helicopter. Marine Corps Base Hawaii Waterfront Operations deployed containment booms and is working to minimize any environmental impact. This incident is under investigation by the Marine Corps.

“It’s always difficult when you get a call to rescue fellow aviators and aircrew, especially fellow servicemen, but at the end of the day it is something that we in the Coast Guard train to do on a daily basis,” said Lt. j.g. Jason Gross, co-pilot of the rescue helicopter. “Our thoughts are with the families and friends of these Marines and I’m just happy that we were able to help.”

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  • Ff5456

    Semper P shipmates!!!

  • Lauriepuglia

    Good job Coast Guard! Our prayers are with the Marines and their families.

  • BreeS

    Proud to be in Honolulu around all these wonderful servicemen and women and proud to have service members in my family. Semper Paratus USCG, you’ve made Oahu proud.

  • Claudine Covarrubias

    Thank You Coast Guard men and woman for what yall do,yall are so awesomes I am form Texas on the Gulf Coast P.O.C.Tx. :)

  • Tom

    This article may be updated but as of when I read it does not include this:

    Unfortunately there was a USMC crewmember or pilot who did not survive. Thoughts and prayers to him/her and family.

  • LTJG S. M. Young

    Tom,

    Thank you for the information. I just confirmed with the Marine Corps press release:

    “The crew member removed from the helicopter and pronounced dead by the state medical examiner was taken to Tripler Army Medical Center. The other three crew members were transported from Marine Corps Air Station, Kaneohe Bay, to Queens Medical Center in Honolulu where two are listed in critical condition and one in stable condition. The name of the deceased will be released 24 hours after next of kin notification.”

    (The entire press release can be found here: )

    The loss of a servicemember is felt by many, and our thoughts are with the family and Marine Corps Base Hawaii at this time.

    Very Respectfully,
    LTJG S. M. Young
    Coast Guard Public Affairs

  • Tom

    Thank you for your response Ms. Young….certainly not intending to downgrade the success of the USCG aircrew…just wanted to get the info out for the USMC’s sake.

  • Nickpatnight

    GREAT JOB JASON AND THE CREW

  • Patti s/v Kolibrie

    I love our Coast Guard – they do so much and don’t get the recognition that they soooo deserve!Thanks for always being ready.

  • Banker

    So proud of all our military. God bless you all for keeping the rest of us safe. Proud of you and to be an American.

  • Lopesmichael54

    Cool deal, this is one of the reasons I love working on these aircraft. Giving everything that these guys and gals need to get the job done

  • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100000382560616 Dave Lituma

    yea i just wanted to say you guys do a freaking dam good job..

  • AMTCS Pete MacDougall

    Great job to all of the crews involved! Thanks for taking care of our fellow servicemembers/aviators. Be safe out there.