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The Coast Guard and Marine Corps responded to an injured fisherman who sustained head injuries on board a shrimp trawler in the Pamlico Sound nearby Swan Quarter, N.C., Thursday.
A 25-foot boat crew from Coast Guard Station Hatteras Inlet, N.C., and a PEDRO helicopter from Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, N.C., responded to a 47 year-old male crew member on board the 67-foot fishing vessel Captain Alex. The victim sustained head injuries when he was hit by a shrimp net.
The fisherman was transported to Carteret County General Hospital in Moorhead City, N.C.
Posted : 2007-10-11 13:06
40 Years Earlier
This item reminded me of a duplicate mission 40 years earlier (see attached).
However, the Cherry Point SAR helo I flew was a UH-2B Seasprite, one of only a few in the Corps. The letter was written to then BGen Marion Carl, end endorsed down the chain to me.
Very satisfying work.
Posted : 2007-10-11 18:59
Wow, Norm!
Still saving lives after RVN!! Good job, Sir!
Posted : 2007-10-12 06:43
Marine UH-2B
Marine UH-2B Seasprite SAR helo at Cherry Point in 1967.
Posted : 2007-10-21 15:11
1967?
Norm,
Must have been fairly early in the year. Isn't that an HMM-262 UH-34D in the background? THey went to RVN with CH-46's pretty soon after that.
Neat story about the H-2 Seasprite. Never knew we had 'em. I saw a mostly Orange colored one at Cherry Point once, about late 1966 or early 1967, but thought is was Coast Guard....Didn't get too close to it.
Posted : 2007-10-22 08:23
UH-2B Fishpole
My previous photo is a scan of a postcard from that period. I don't know the actual picture date, but I flew the Seasprite at Cherry Point from 10/66 to 1/68.
FYI: The UH-2B was a GREAT SAR helo. Turbine powered, retractable gear, dropable aux tanks, a main rotor with blades controlled by little ailerons which allowed blade tracking adjustments in flight, a built in loudspeaker, retractable hoist and even more unique, the "Fishpole".
The Fishpole was an electro/hydraulic pole with a fitting on the end. For a hoist extraction, the hoist cable was run through the fishpole eye. The fishpole then took the hoist hook into the pilot's field of vision, from where it was lowered to the ground or water. This allowed the pilot to position the hook exactly where he wanted it. No Forward, Back, Left, Right, Up, Down, Steady verbal direction from the Crew Chief was necessary. This was especially valuable in a hover over water, where the pilot has no visual cues to movement. (see attached)
Posted : 2007-10-22 13:27
Great info!
Neat stuff, Norm....I didn't even know we had 'em.....Live and learn.:D
Posted : 2007-10-23 11:39
More on UH-2B Seasprite
For another view on the Cherry Point UH-2B, search "Seasprite" in the POPASMOKE photo archive. It's pretty self explanatory, but I'd be happy to answer any questions.
Posted : 2007-12-13 02:28
First UH-2B Solo
I've posted a story on my first solo in the Seasprite. I am probably one of the few pilots in the world with this claim to "fame". See "Joe Cool" in the stories section.
Posted : 2008-01-17 21:37
Great Story!
When I unbuckled to exit the aircraft, I noticed I didn’t have far to go to touch the ground. Joe Cool had neglected one important detail. The gear was still retracted in the wells!
LOL!! Glad it turned out well! You found TWO things to do BEFORE you initiate fuel shut off!!
1. Check to see if you have an actual fire!
2. Lower the landing gear if you do!
Posted : 2008-01-21 08:35
