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Yikes!!






Rescue



After a sheep hunting trip went sideways on Aug. 11, members of the 176th Wing of the Alaska Air National Guard were called on to execute a daring rescue near Tonsina, approximately 165 miles east of Anchorage.

The two hunters found themselves in an untenable situation as they clung to a cliff, shown in the photo above, unable to move to safety.

The hunters’ quick thinking led them to send out an SOS signal using a two-way satellite communication device. The call for help was picked up by the Alaska State Troopers, who alerted the Alaska Rescue Coordination Center located at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson.

The AKRCC called upon the expertise of the 176th Wing.

The rescue team, comprising members from various units, was dispatched using a 210th Rescue Squadron HH-60G Pave Hawk helicopter and a 211th Rescue Squadron Lockheed HC-130J Combat King II, both manned with elite 212th Rescue Squadron Guardian Angel pararescue men. The crew also had with them U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Nathan Weltman of the 57th Rescue Squadron, joining from Aviano Air Base, Italy.

Upon approaching the site, the team had to tread carefully. Major Benjamin Leonard, piloting the 210th RQS HH-60, noted the danger of rotor-wash affecting the stranded hunters, which ruled out a direct overhead hoist.

After assessing the situation, the rescuers were inserted onto the site to prepare the hunters for the hoist. One hunter had managed to find shelter on a rock, while the other was precariously clinging to a ledge.


Pararescueman approaches the cliff where the two hunters were stranded. Photo credit: Alaska Air National Guard Maj. David Bedard.
Tech. Sgt. Michael Rogers of the 212th RQS PJ and Sgt. Weltman had the task of setting up a belay line for the trapped hunters.

After successfully securing the hunters, the special mission aviators aboard the HH-60 managed to hoist both the pararescuers and the stranded hunters.

The hunters were then ferried to the Alaska State Troopers at Mile 65 of the Richardson Highway. The mission was extended as the Lockheed HC-130 refueled the HH-60 in the air, amplifying the helicopter’s range.

The 212th Rescue Squadron is the Department of Defense’s busiest rescue force, and is part of the 176th Wing and consists of elite pararescuemen (PJs), combat rescue officers (CROs), and SERE specialists. These PJs and CROs undergo intense training, similar to the Army Special Forces and Navy SEALs, and don the unique flash patch on their berets.

Flatlanders?

My son and I were outside when these two helicopters flew over the house and I made a comment to him that they were probably going to pick up a sheep hunter that had fallen.

God bless those that risk their lives to save others!

^^ THIS ^^

I'm not afraid of heights, but there's no way you find me out on that cliff face! There's no critter in the world that could get me out there. Pretty damn hardcore hunting!

Lucky they made it. One false move and mission turns to recovery.

You're in good hands when a PJ shows up. Those guys train hard. Somehow had an Airforce PJ at black rapids northern warfare training center, he rucked the fkn doors off everyone, as if the mountains were flat ground......

I would love the details on how they ended up in that situation. They got there somehow and obviously could not back track. Amazing rescue that took balls.

I've known the 212th Rescue Squadron Commander since before he got his commission. You want to talk about one of the most unassuming badasses you'll ever meet! Those guys are (as my kids would say) just built different!

Must have been a damned big sheep!

Once in a while we get a glimpse of what our Special Operations folks do for us daily. This is a great example.

That's a full spectrum blessing of God, all parties concerned.

Used to backcountry ski with several of them. You aren’t wrong; and they are especially awesome when putting in a skin track.

Speculating the hunters were trying to recover a ram; I’m sure it will come out. Glad everyone came out of it relatively unscathed.

We worked alot with PJ'S back in late 90's to run the drop zone at malamute. Crazy bastards. Loved working with them.

Same deal with this PJ. He was tall, goofy, soft looking and liked to joke. Till the packs went on the shoulders, and the snowshoes went on the bunny boots. Absolute fkn ANIMAL.

Had finished the summer mountaineering course in June 2007 August-October 2007, hike 90 lb loads of tools, 5 gal jugs of gas and grub 28 miles to my remote property. We had a company-wide sapper competition through that time as well. Squad against squad. I was the squad leader. I was very fit.

Then in that winter course, that PJ blew by me with his eyes glazed over. I simply couldn't catch him. Nobody could catch up.

In 2009/2010 we built the 176th Wing Operations & Training Facility & the Pararescue Facility on Elmendorf (the tall ones next to the big fuel cans)

What you can't see from the outside is a small swimming pool with a wave/current machine that these guys are pushed into with full packs/gear on and they have to swim for dear life

Some tough dudes for sure

People may laugh at the two dudes but they got caught on one of the walls of the Magic Kingdom. People have packed it in and left the outfitter with a 14000 dollar deposit rather than finishing that 1.5 mile walk on that knife edge.

Wow!! What a story! Thank goodness for the rescuers!

Must be. No commons, their gears aren't doggn' in just right.