459th AS aircrew participate in search, rescue mission Published Jan. 31, 2011 374th Airlift Wing Public Affairs YOKOTA AIR BASE, Japan -- Members of the 459th Airlift Squadron, stationed at Yokota, were preparing to depart the Philippines Jan. 22, when they received a short-notice tasking to assist with locating a missing sailboat named the Pineapple. Two C-12 aircraft assigned to the 459th AS, participated in a search and rescue mission in the Philippine Sea. After coordination was made between all of the official agencies, the C-12 aircrews prepositioned their aircraft from Manila International Airport, Philippines, to Mactan Air Base, Philippines, to commence search operations the following day. Two Coast Guard HC-130 Hercules aircraft, two Navy P-3 Orion aircraft and the two C-12 aircraft, along with the Coast Guard Cutter Sequoia, searched more than 63 hours and covered approximately 122,600 square nautical miles in the Philippine Sea. Rescue crews with the Philippine Coast Guard also aided in the search for the sailboat Pineapple. After completing their morning search pattern, the Airmen from the 459th AS returned to base and were briefed that a Philippine Coast Guard boat had made positive contact with the missing boat. The five missing boaters who left Guam on Jan. 6, bound for Cebu, Philippines have been located Sunday at 1:30 p.m. Chamorro standard time. The husband of one of the missing boaters was contacted by his wife via cell phone Sunday 1:30 p.m. He immediately called Rescue Coordination Center Guam and gave the Pineapple's position in Leyte Gulf, Philippines. The husband confirmed the vessel ran into bad weather and suffered a rudder and radio casualty. This delayed the Pineapple's voyage but it was never in danger of sinking. "This was a tremendous international multi-service search effort that covered an expansive area of the open ocean," said Capt. Thomas Sparks, U.S. Coast Guard Guam sector commander. "Although we didn't find the Pineapple, reports indicate we were looking in exactly the right spot." "These open ocean cases are extremely challenging. Even under ideal conditions it is very difficult to spot a vessel from an aircraft," said Captain Sparks. The Coast Guard also received assistance from the neighboring island nations of the Republic of Palau and the Federated States of Micronesia. "I'm elated for the family and friends of the Pineapple, but compelled to point out that this voyage was made without taking basic, common-sense precautions. The vessel did not have long distance communications or emergency distress equipment, and a comprehensive float plan was not filed," said Captain Sparks. "As a result, the families and friends experienced days of needless anxiety and hundreds of thousands of dollars were expended on search efforts that were potentially dangerous for our service members and ultimately unnecessary," said Captain Sparks. "Bottom line though, Coast Guard rescue crews are grateful the crew of the Pineapple was found safe. Family and loved ones have been notified and I am sure they are anxiously awaiting their safe return back home," said Captain Sparks. The Philippine Coast Guard escorted the Pineapple crew to Cebu, Philippines, which was their final destination. "The excellent coordination between all of the agencies involved, including the U.S. Air Force, USCG, U.S. Navy and Philippine Coast Guard is what made this search and rescue mission such a success," said Capt. Anders Hedberg, C-12 mission pilot from the 459th AS. The C-12 aircraft commander from the 459th AS, 1st Lt. Michael Emery accompanied Captain Hedberg on the mission and expressed his gratitude for the role that he played in this event. "It was a privilege to support such an important operation," said Lieutenant Emery, "I was glad to be a part of the rescue mission."