Training Turns into an Actual Again!

Article and Photos by Lt Col. Ted E. Lohr

9 February 2008

It was a busy day for southern Illinois Wing Units. For the second time a Group 1 Emergency Services training weekend held at the Scott Composite Squadron, Scott Air Force Base, turned into the real thing.

Training was underway Saturday morning when the alert was sounded. IC Major Danny Degott deployed 15 Cadets and Officers from the Scott AFB training and two from the 286^th Composite Squadron in Alton.  AFRCC advised the SARSAT coordinants were near Vandalia and Litchfield. The teams were divided and sent both ways. One ILWG and one MOWG aircraft were launched.  The team that arrived in Litchfield was receiving a weak ELT signal, a ramp check was conducted at the local airport with no results.  During our Direction Finding Operations, 2d LT Kelly Sies - a Letter Carrier from Litchfield by day - advised that an aircraft had crash landed in a farm field north of Litchfield on Friday afternoon.  The team advised the aircrews and headed in that direction. Ground teams and air units converged on the scene at almost the same time.

Teams arrived at the scene to find a Cessna 172 RG on its top in a very wet plowed farm field.  No one was in the aircraft. Ground Team leaders set up a perimeter around the scene and called the IC for permission to enter the aircraft. The IC contacted the aircraft owner and they sent a key holder. The ELT was deactivated and the DF units doubled checked it was silenced.  All units were released and returned to Base to refit and rehab.

As if that wasn’t a full day! Shortly after units got back to base, the IC Major Danny Degott called back and advised that there was a second ELT mission with coordinant near Vandalia. The team was deployed again. They arrived at Vandalia with no signal.  They proceeded to Effingham per IC’s instructions and detected a very low ELT signal. Shortly after the signal was undetectable. They search the area until the IC advised to return to base.

Upon return to Scott AFB after 23:30, a debrief was conducted. The training continued Sunday morning. All attendees continued training to refine their skills and re-emphasize what they had already learned and put into practice the day before.  Squadrons attending the Group 1 ES Training Weekend were Scott Composite Squadron, Jefferson Composite Squadron, Metropolis Composite Squadron, and Williamson County Composite Squadron.