Beags posted the following:
"At one ARSAG we had an excellent presentation about an AAR-supported SAR mission way out in the Atlantic successfully carried out by the US with its UK-based Jolly Greens supported by C-130 AAR. Well beyond the range of a land-based Sea King."
Al-bert then posted the following:
"If it's the one I was involved in Beags, not strictly true!
Two Brawdy cabs (moi captain of R190) sat at Shannon as the casualty had come into range but were ordered to remain on the ground so that the UK based JG's and C130, which had taken rather a long time to get there but nonetheless had Presidential approval, overflew us in a fine display of capability. We could have been at the casualty a good hour or so before them. Don't believe all that you are told in official presentations!"
Well Al-bert, below are details of all the long-range SAR's that the USAF have completed using UK-based Pave Lows, Combat Shadows and Pave Hawks so take your pick of the last two HH-60 missions.
14 Jan 1989 - "Yarrawonga", 240 miles west of Ireland, 2 x MH-53, 2 x MC-130, 32 saves.
21 May 1998 - Russian Trawler, 200 miles south west of Iceland, 2 x HH-60, 1 x MC-130, 1 save.
21 May 2002 - "Persuader", 500 miles south west of Lands End, 2 x MH-53, 2 x MC-130, 2 saves.
10 Dec 2008 - "MV Anna Rickmers", 460 miles offshore, 2 x HH-60, 1 x MC-130, 1 save.
26 Jun 2009 - "Pascha", 700 miles west of Ireland, 2 x HH-60, 1 x MC-130, 1 save.
Maybe they had taken "rather a long time to get there" but refueling a Helicopter in-flight is a highly dangerous and complicated activity. Have you tried it? How long would it have taken you, in your limited-range Helicopter, to fly a 920 or 1400 mile round trip into the North Atlantic and where would you have refueled?
Was the grand plan really to transfer the casualty from the HH-60 to your cab once the Jolly Greens were within range of your aircraft?
"We could have been at the casualty a good hour or so before them"
Really?! Could have been where? Rather than protesting that you could have done it better, give credit where credit is due and ask yourself why the UK has never exploited the enviable and unique capability to refuel a Helicopter in-flight.