Prince Philip Helicopter Rescue Award for 'outstanding courage and devotion to duty'
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Prince Philip Helicopter Rescue Award for 'outstanding courage and devotion to duty'
The Prince Philip Helicopter Rescue Award
Awarded to an individual member, or a complete crew of a helicopter, for an act of outstanding courage or devotion to duty in the course of land or sea search and rescue operations, or for any innovation leading to the more effective or safer use of a helicopter for such purposes.
Awarded to: CREW OF ‘RESCUE 193’ of 771 NAVAL AIR SQUADRON
Lt Cdr M J Ford RN AFC, Lt G D Wappner RN, P/O S R Worley, Lt D J E Gibbs RN
Citation:
On the night of 23 Oct 05, the crew of Rescue 193, a Royal Navy Search and Rescue Sea King Helicopter of 771 Naval Air Squadron, was tasked to assist a critically ill fisherman onboard a vessel 240mn south west of Culdrose. The weather was extremely poor, with visibility less than 500 metres in fog, a cloud base of 100 ft and south‑westerly winds of 3 5 knots, gusting to 50 knots; the sea state on scene was assessed as 7. Given the prevailing conditions, the crew, Lt Cdr M J Ford AFC (Aircraft Commander), Lt G D Wappner (First Pilot), Lt D J Gibbs (Co‑Pilot) and Petty Officer Aircrewman S Worley, elected to refuel at the Scilly Isles en route, where the extremely poor weather required them to attempt a helicopter controlled radar approach. The first approach was aborted when sufficient visual references were not gained by the pilots but, following a second attempt, R193 finally became visual with St Mary's runway at just 200 metres and landed safely. During the refuel, R193 developed a fault requiring a return to Culdrose where once again, very poor weather meant that the Flying Pilot could not see the runway until the very last moment.
The crew re‑launched for St Mary's after a swift aircraft change and conducted a further radar controlled approach to refuel before continuing their battle against fierce headwinds and extreme conditions to reach the fisherman. Once on scene, the crew were faced with continuing atrocious weather conditions and a vessel that was pitching and rolling wildly in a combined swell and sea of 6 ‑ 8 metres. Assessing the options for the transfer was particularly difficult as the pilots battled with the elements to maintain a stable hover in reduced visibility, with no discernable horizon and the added burden of very high radio masts located along the length of the vessel. Compounding the already demanding situation, the vessel's crew spoke no English and after several unsuccessful attempts to have the fishing boat change to a more suitable transfer course, it was decided to attempt a Hi‑Line transfer to the port quarter.
Petty Officer Aircrewman Worley was lowered to a safe height above the water alongside the deck in preparation for the transfer; the conditions were on the absolute limits for winch operations, with visibility barely the length of the vessel due to driving sea spray, giving the pilots limited visual cues. The winch operator, Lt Cdr Ford, made his first attempt to place Worley on the deck, but as the vessel bucked violently, the deck crew found it impossible to tend the Hi‑line effectively; each time Worley neared the transfer area, the vessel would fall away into another trough. Maintaining contact through the Polycon radio, Worley and Ford were able to guide the aircraft by predicting quiescent periods and, after some 25 minutes and numerous attempts, Worley was successfully placed on the deck. Once onboard, Worley rapidly assessed the casualty and, despite having to maintain a continual hold on the guardrail to avoid being thrown across the deck, he managed to prepare the casualty for transfer. The casualty was lifted without further incident and Worley was recovered to the aircraft.
R193's return to Culdrose was equally challenging and lengthy. During the transit Lt Cdr Ford and Petty Officer Aircrewman Worley administered medical support to the casualty who was assessed as having suffered a stroke, whilst also making preparations for a low level approach into FalmouthBay and a transit to RCH Treliske that required the use of Night Vision Goggles. Having handed the casualty to paramedics at Treliske the aircraft returned to Culdrose with limited fuel.
Throughout this gruelling seven hour mission the crew of Rescue 193 remained utterly professional, calm and rational whilst demonstrating exceptional flying skills and alacrity in extremely difficult meteorological conditions.
For their demonstration of outstanding courage and devotion to duty in successfully completing this very demanding and dangerous rescue mission, the crew of Rescue 193 is awarded the Prince Philip Helicopter Rescue Award.
The crew re‑launched for St Mary's after a swift aircraft change and conducted a further radar controlled approach to refuel before continuing their battle against fierce headwinds and extreme conditions to reach the fisherman. Once on scene, the crew were faced with continuing atrocious weather conditions and a vessel that was pitching and rolling wildly in a combined swell and sea of 6 ‑ 8 metres. Assessing the options for the transfer was particularly difficult as the pilots battled with the elements to maintain a stable hover in reduced visibility, with no discernable horizon and the added burden of very high radio masts located along the length of the vessel. Compounding the already demanding situation, the vessel's crew spoke no English and after several unsuccessful attempts to have the fishing boat change to a more suitable transfer course, it was decided to attempt a Hi‑Line transfer to the port quarter.
Petty Officer Aircrewman Worley was lowered to a safe height above the water alongside the deck in preparation for the transfer; the conditions were on the absolute limits for winch operations, with visibility barely the length of the vessel due to driving sea spray, giving the pilots limited visual cues. The winch operator, Lt Cdr Ford, made his first attempt to place Worley on the deck, but as the vessel bucked violently, the deck crew found it impossible to tend the Hi‑line effectively; each time Worley neared the transfer area, the vessel would fall away into another trough. Maintaining contact through the Polycon radio, Worley and Ford were able to guide the aircraft by predicting quiescent periods and, after some 25 minutes and numerous attempts, Worley was successfully placed on the deck. Once onboard, Worley rapidly assessed the casualty and, despite having to maintain a continual hold on the guardrail to avoid being thrown across the deck, he managed to prepare the casualty for transfer. The casualty was lifted without further incident and Worley was recovered to the aircraft.
R193's return to Culdrose was equally challenging and lengthy. During the transit Lt Cdr Ford and Petty Officer Aircrewman Worley administered medical support to the casualty who was assessed as having suffered a stroke, whilst also making preparations for a low level approach into FalmouthBay and a transit to RCH Treliske that required the use of Night Vision Goggles. Having handed the casualty to paramedics at Treliske the aircraft returned to Culdrose with limited fuel.
Throughout this gruelling seven hour mission the crew of Rescue 193 remained utterly professional, calm and rational whilst demonstrating exceptional flying skills and alacrity in extremely difficult meteorological conditions.
For their demonstration of outstanding courage and devotion to duty in successfully completing this very demanding and dangerous rescue mission, the crew of Rescue 193 is awarded the Prince Philip Helicopter Rescue Award.
The Award was presented at the Guild's annual held at the Guildhall, London.
More details of the event here: Trophies & Awards Banquet
Other awards here: Awards
Link: Guild of Air Pilots
(Picture © Gerald Sharp Photography)
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