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Show lnge 10A, Lakeside Review, April 15, 1981 Defi. 4s Sinmfiiim) Jfa Coon D only Ofl By JIM SAWDEY , i - t ' Staff Writer The woman fell 500 feet HILL AFB down a glacier into a deep ravine. She fractured her back, her chest, and broke her leg. Her two friends can't help her out. She is hurt too bad. Shes trapped. One friend hikes out of the mountains, the other one stays behind to comfort her. A November storm is brewing in the Teton Mountains of Wyoming, a poor condition for even healthy winter hikers. The sound of helicopter blades cutting into the thick stormy air reaches down into the deep ravine where stranded hikers wait. The helicopter flew all the way from Hill Air Force Base to try to save the womans life. The crew cant land in the rugged terrain. The only way to get her out is by using the hoist. The hoist has a basket attached to it and can lift the woman to safety. The storm gets worse, Gusts up to 50 knots make it impossible for the helicopter to hover long enough to drop the basket. It leaves. Two paramedics from the forest service return with the second hiker. They will stay with the woman through the freezing winter and try to keep her alive. night Its daybreak now. The helicopter crew is back, high overhead. The crew cant get too close because of the terrain and the easing storm. The storm, although moving out, leaves behind gusting winds and deadly fog. Things look hopeless. They find an opening in the storm. They barely have time to drop the hoist before the storm closes in on them again. The basket attached to the hoist is dropped. 50 feet ... 100 feet ... 200 feet . 240 feet of rope dangling from the hovering craft and a red warning marker appears, indicating that only 20 no more and no feet of rope is left other way to save the womans life. The basket hits the ground with 20 feet to spare. The wind and fog make it difficult to put her in the basket. They manage. The woman is saved. A dramatic rescue. A job well done flying by the seat of their pants. Detachment Aerospace Rescue and Recovery Service (Det. 4) has been credited with saving the lives of 84 people during 135 rescue missions in the last five years. But 2nd Lt. Kit K. Workman, a pilot and the units public affairs officer, said a day in the life of a Det. 4 crew isnt usually as dramatic as the day last November when they saved the .. EVERY DAY THE Det. 4 crew flies training missions and uses the map to check position. Search areas are circled. 4-- womans life. The primary mission of Det. 4 is as a combat rescue detachment. Since crews are equipped to perform combat rescues they offer their rescue services to the surrounding community, Work- man said. Det. 4 cant compete with private business. The commercial operations in FLYING ABOVE TREETOPS is a common practice of the maneuvering at 50 feet above the ground, a necessity when Jet.-- 4 Rescue Squadron. Part of their training is flying and rescuing an injured or lost person. I; procedures of the flight and emergency procedures in case the unexpected happens. jPUfJ-DA- e Y l l Every Wednesday l ::: I 'MANUFACTURING Otters? j; Citizen's at... at 1 p.m. At Westwood's wo build only the finest quality furniture at a lower cost to you. care about the quality of family Efe for others e tf you can accept and respect people with problems If you are willing to spend time . to be their friend If you Custom building to satisfy you the customer. YOU MAY WANT H I : I ROY BOl'JUUG 5160 So. 1900 W., Roy Prizes Each Week : TOC! find a better way. DAVIS SCHOOL G51 5071 A fabric. a Over 25 different Working to help abusive and neglectful parents For information call: DISTRICT PARE! EDUCATE select the size, style PAairjY AlcsvcicrjSLin RedHaadpin For more information call 8251621 Too A Lucky Number Drawing l I para-rescu- Service installed the Hospital man was critically injured when Emergency Ambulance Radio (HEAR) thrown off a horse while hiking on in several of the helicopters. HEAR Skyline Trail near Ogden. He had spinal keeps the crew in constant touch with and head injuries, and Workman didnt ground rescue teams including crews from the sheriff and U.S. Forest Serthink the man would pull through. We knew he made it when several vice. HEAR also gives the crew a direct months later he walked through the line to the emergency rooms of doors of our unit and thanked us for hospitals to inform them of their arrival ' saving his life. That was very and condition of the victim. A BRIEFING b required before every mission. From left, 1st Lt. John Grimes, Staff Sgt. Larry Williams, top Sgt. Phillip White and tod Lt. Kit K. Workman discuss standard To Help ji'Rctircd l , satisfying, Workman said. Det. 4 crews have flown premature babies from the base hospital to the Primary Childrens Hospital in Salt Lake City rescued automobile accident victims aided a man buried alive in a mining accident, and assisted in the search of downed military and private planes. Det. 4 has six Heuy helicopters. The e 17 pilots, five specialists, six flight engineers, 35 maintenance workers and two administration clerks keep the Heuys flying, Workman said. Recently, Weber County Emergency Would You Litre e I ' Salt Lake City are called before Det. 4. But if the rescue requires a hoist, a journey of more than 150 miles, or a very powerful helicopter, Det. 4 is often called, Workman said. When not on rescue missions, a day includes routine training missions and service missions for the base. In training missions, the crews learn to fly at low levels through all types of terrain. 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