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Missions – Salvador Allende Rescue, December 1994

This was not a regular mission. It started out with leaders disagreeing with the proposed course of action. Due to the delay in planning, it may have led to a loss of untold lives. That said, this record breaking over-water mission showed the world that the aircrews and pararescuemen of the 102nd knew how to save lives, despite long odds, dangerous weather, and a helicopter that couldn't hold many survivors. It gave us a lifelong friend in Alex Taranov, the lone Ukranian seaman who was plucked from the warm waters of the Gulf Stream in the Atlantic by Doc Dougherty. For Alex, we will always remember.

Newsday EditorialNewsday Editorial LI Heroes

Long Island Heroes: The 106th Air Rescue Group

Few places on Earth are more inhospitable and dangerous than the middle of an Atlantic Ocean storm. Nonetheless, navigators must sometimes disregard all prudence and head into great tempests. Helping those in distress is maritime tradition and law.

 

Last weekend, as shopping mall louspeaders played the music of a season dedicated to peace on Earth and good will to mankind, resuers serving under many flags honored that tradition. They ventured into harm's way to save others. There was no peace there. The storm whipped white the surface of the ocean. But good will was manifest aboard the six merchant ships that turned in their courses and steamed toward the place 750 miles off Nova Scotia where the Salvador Allende went down. That was the spiritual cargo aboard the Canadian and U.S. planes and helicopters that flew far out to sea in great turbulence to search for survivors.

 

Among the men who flew into the violent darkness from a shoreline brightened by the lights of the season were members of the 106th Air Rescue Group of the New York Air National Guard, which is based in Westhampton. The Salvador Allende went down in 50-foot waves. It sank so far from shore that rescue helicopters had to refuel in the air, a dangerous and difficult procedure. Three years ago, a member of the 106th, Tech. Sgt. Arden Smith, was lost when repeated attempts to refuel failed. The helicoper went down with five aboard. Four survivors were picked up. Smith was never found.

 

In the latest sotrm, one survivor was picked up by a German tanker. The other was lifted into a helicopter after James Dougherty of Rocky Point, a member of the 106th, went into the sea to rig the exhausted man to the hoist. Then the helicopter retrieved Dougherty. The Atlantic claimed 29 of the 31 seaman aboard the Salvadore Allend. Were it not for the brave men of this rescue force, it would have claimed them all.

 

 

 

Pararescue book cover

Michael Hirsh Writes the Book, Pararescue

Subtitled, The Skill and Coverage of the Elite 106th Rescue Wing -- the True Story of an Incredible Rescue at Sea and the Heroes Who Pulled it Off.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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