Navy's VP-45 Finds Missing Mariner Near Micronesia | Aero-News Network
Aero-News Network
RSS icon RSS feed
podcast icon MP3 podcast
Subscribe Aero-News e-mail Newsletter Subscribe

Airborne Unlimited -- Most Recent Daily Episodes

Episode Date

Airborne-Monday

Airborne-Tuesday

Airborne-Wednesday Airborne-Thursday

Airborne-Friday

Airborne On YouTube

Airborne-Unlimited-04.21.25

Airborne-NextGen-04.22.25

AirborneUnlimited-04.23.25

Airborne-FltTraining-04.24.25

AirborneUnlimited-04.25.25

Mon, Jun 14, 2021

Navy's VP-45 Finds Missing Mariner Near Micronesia

Patrol Squadron (VP) 45 Executed A Successful SAR Mission From Andersen AFB

A mariner onboard a 19-foot long skiff was reported missing on June 5 off the coast of the Federated States of Micronesia. VP-45 received tasking from the Rescue Coordination Center (RCC) Guam and executed a search of an assigned search box 900 nautical miles south east in the waters off the coast of Guam.

The crew launched from Kadena Air Force base, Japan in the pre-dawn hours, stopping at Andersen AFB to refuel before entering their search grid. Combat Aircrew (CAC) 7 began their search pattern at approximately 1 p.m. local time.

After searching for nearly one hour, CAC-7 reported sighting a vessel fitting the description given of the missing mariner. According to Lt. Michael Clark, CAC-7’s Tactical Coordinator, “An open white 19 foot long skiff with a single outboard motor and a chainsaw onboard.”

Naval Air Crewman Operator (AWO) 2nd Class Peter Shephard spotted a small vessel on the surface while utilizing the P-8A Poseidon’s radar system. Shepard captured an Inverse Synthetic Aperture Radar (ISAR) image of the small skiff.

ISAR is a radar technique using radar imaging to generate a two-dimensional high-resolution image of a target. From the imagery, the crew was able to determine that the radar contact was a small vessel drifting with the ocean currents. Although outside of their generated search area the crew determined it was worth investigating.

The crew flew inbound at 200 feet above the water to investigate the contact. After several low passes over the skiff, AWO3 Tyler Wooldridge, operating the camera, was able to confirm it was the missing mariner.

Clark went on to explain the poor condition of the mariner, “He looked totally depleted; it was unclear whether he had any food or water in the last couple of days. He just slumped over and basically collapsed once it was clear we had seen him,” said Clark.

The crew then proceeded to tactically deploy a SAR kit containing a raft with food, water and first aid accessories, in the vicinity of the isolated skiff. CAC-7 then contacted FSS Micronesia, the surface vessel participating in the search, roughly 25 nautical miles from their location. The Micronesia arrived at approximately 3:15 p.m. local time to rescue the stranded mariner.

Clark said, “It was enormously satisfying for all the crew to be working together to save a life. We expertly developed and executed a search plan in coordination with the Federated States of Micronesia National Police and found the missing mariner within an hour of searching.”

CAC-7 remained on scene throughout the rescue by the Federated States of Micronesia National Police and were “thrilled to hear that the mariner is doing well after receiving medical attention,” added Clark.

VP-45, based out of Naval Air Station Jacksonville, is currently operating from Kadena Air Base in Okinawa, Japan. The squadron conducts maritime patrol and reconnaissance as well as theater outreach operations as part of a rotational deployment to the U.S. 7th Fleet area of operations.

FMI: www.navy.mil

Advertisement

More News

ANN's Daily Aero-Term (04.23.25): Quadrant

Quadrant A quarter part of a circle, centered on a NAVAID, oriented clockwise from magnetic north as follows: NE quadrant 000-089, SE quadrant 090-179, SW quadrant 180-269, NW quad>[...]

ANN's Daily Aero-Linx (04.23.25)

Aero Linx: Aircraft Rescue & Fire Fighting Working Group (ARFFWG) The Aircraft Rescue & Fire Fighting Working Group (ARFFWG) is a non-profit organization established in 199>[...]

NTSB Prelim: Beech A36TC

(Pilot) Noticed The Airplane’s Airspeed Was Not Increasing And Immediately Looked For A Place To Land On March 9, 2025, about 1530 eastern daylight time, a Beech A36TC, N347M>[...]

Classic Aero-TV: ERAUÂ’s Matthew Gailey-2019 Bob Hoover Presidential Scholarship

From 2019 (YouTube Edition): One Of Four Winners Of A 2019 Bob Hoover Legacy Foundation Scholarship The recipients of the 2019 Bob Hoover Legacy Foundation scholarship were announc>[...]

Airborne 04.23.25: CAF C-47 Skytrain, Tough Low-Level Drone Regs, NEW NOTAMs

Also: Astronaut Pettit & Cosmonauts Return, Malaysia Wants Boeing Slots, Germany Nixes Typhoon Sale, More Boeing Woes The CAF’s restored C-47 Skytrain “Ready 4 Duty>[...]

blog comments powered by Disqus



Advertisement

Advertisement

Podcasts

Advertisement

© 2007 - 2025 Web Development & Design by Pauli Systems, LC