131st Rescue Squadron
50 Miles East, Palawan Island, Philippines
The AN/PRQ-7 radio set is part of the CSEL (Combat Survivor/Evader Locator) System User segment. The CSEL system uses GPS, other national and international satellite systems, and national assets to provide geo-position and radio communication. The primary use of the CSEL system is for search and rescue.
Aircrew Survival Equipmentman Course (PR) NAVEDTRA 14218A
“You have the beacon?”
“Yes sir. Good read, tracking true.”
“Have been able to talk to the pilot?”
“No, sir. No answer yet.”
As the MC-130P Combat Shadow made it’s slow way towards the crash location, the PJ’s in the back began their preparations to deploy. While sending four highly trained special operators into potentially hostile territory to rescue two pilots who might not even be alive may have seemed like a poor risk/reward tradeoff, the decision to approve the rescue mission had been made in seconds with zero hesitation. It was simply part of the contract. If a US flyer went down, they would be rescued if at all possible.
In this case, the two Naval aviators had ejected from their EA-18G two hours ago and their rescue beacons had automatically signaled their location. However, they had been unable to raise either crew member on their AN/PRQ-7 radios. In theory, a downed airman equipped with an AN/PRQ-7 could be reached anywhere in the world via an encrypted satellite radio system. If they could not answer, it may mean that the radio was damaged or it may mean the pilot is incapacitated or even dead.
As the loadmaster checked the Rigging Alternate Method Zodiac (RAMZ), the other members of the team prepared to jump. Rigged with fins and all manner of rescue gear, they waddled awkwardly to the rear of the airplane in anticipation of their parachute drop. As the rear cargo ramp opened, they could see the early morning sun peeking over the distant smudge of Palawan island on the eastern horizon.
In a planned maeuver, the cargo plane dropped down to about five hundred feet off the deck. This reduced the distance at which they could be spotted by Chinese naval patrols and also made it easier to spot their downed crewman.
“Sir, we are overhead.”
A securely tethered crew member eased out on the ramp with a pair of binoculars in hand. Sometimes the Mark 1 eyeball was what you really needed. In this case, the strobe of the fallen aviator’s rescue beacon was clearly visible in the early morning light.
“Eyes on! Looks like a good chute. OK, there is the raft!”
If the emergency survival raft had been deployed, this meant that the pilot had most likely survived because the raft didn’t auto deploy. As the C-130 continued to circle, they saw what they had hoped to see.
“Mirror flash! I see a mirror flash from the raft.”
The pilot was using a simple signal mirror to attract the attention of the rescue crew. A polished piece of stainless steel, the signal mirror was one of the oldest and yet most useful tools in every air crew survival kit.
“Stand Ready! Dropping in ten!”
The crew swung into action, preparing to drop the rescue boat.
“Drop! Drop! Drop!”
As the loadmaster and his assistant shoved the boat out the back of the plane, the four PJ’s waddled back to the ramp and quickly jumped out after it.
Technical Sergeant Williams guided his parachute down to land close to the deployed Zodiac but not so close as to foul in the parachute. The best thing about jumping over the ocean was the soft landing, the worst thing was the salt water enema you inevitably gave yourself, even when wearing a wetsuit as he was. Taking a deep breath immediately before impact, he plunged down into the sea.
He quickly got out of his harness and got his flippers set onto his feet. Flippers in place, he was able to swim over to the packaged Zodiac. The RAMZ rig was very specifically designed to be quickly un-rigged by a swimmer in the water. A few clips to be undone and then he was able to open up the valve on the dive bottle attached to the rig which inflated the Zodiac which already had a motor attached. Seconds later he was piloting the boat to pick up the other members of his team.
“Williams, you have eyes on?”
“Yeah, the first beacon is about hundred yards west.”
They piloted the small inflatable boat towards the downed pilot’s survival raft. As they approached, a hand reached up to unzip the top of the raft and a man wearing a flight suit and Lieutenant Commander’s insignia put his head out.
“You Lake?”
“Yeah. Glad to see you gents.”
“All part of the service, sir.”
“I’m fine, get my EWO. My radio’s dead and I haven’t been able to find him!”
“Will do sir, as soon as we have you aboard.”
Williams and the rest of the crew quickly got Lake aboard the small inflatable boat. While the team medic checked him over, Williams piloted the boat over to the other beacon which was about a mile away.
They were not as lucky the second time.
“Damn, looks like he was out when he hit the water.”
“Cougar!” Lake tried to leap into the water to save his back seater but the beefy medic at his side restrained him.
“Easy sir, nothing you can do for him now.”