Connecticut Wing Credited With Two Finds in Two Days

By Capt. Peter Milano, Public Affairs Officer, 399th Danbury Composite Squadron, Connecticut Wing

HARTFORD, Connecticut (July, 25 2013) – Civil Air Patrol’s Connecticut Wing executed two distress signal searches last week, resulting in two find credits from the Air Force Rescue Coordination Center (AFRCC).             

On July 15 and 16 Connecticut Wing’s Emergency Services Officer, Lt. Colonel Michael Heath, received notification from the AFRCC of active emergency signals emanating from the proximity of Long Island Sound. According to Lt. Colonel Heath, “The emergency signals were picked up by local air traffic and reported to Boston Air Route Traffic Control Center, which then notified AFRCC. Neither signal was picked up by satellite because they transmitted on the older 121.5 MHz frequency.” AFRCC’s satellites scan the newer digital 406 MHz frequency which allows the craft of origin to be determined and false alarms to be quickly verified.     

The first Civil Air Patrol crew launched out of Hartford-Brainard Airport late afternoon on July 15 in a Cessna 182 and headed towards Bridgeport where the signal seemed strongest. The crew consisted of Captain Robert McGuire Jr. (Meriden Squadron) piloting the aircraft, and Captain Charles Kruzshak (Stratford Eagles Composite Squadron) serving as observer. As they approached Bridgeport the crew determined the signal was emanating from a position in Long Island Sound and contacted U.S. Coast Guard Long Island Sound Sector for assistance. The CAP aircrew directed the USCG vessel to the location of the signal where a floating Emergency Position-Indicating Radio Beacon (EPIRB) was retrieved from a floating debris field, and silenced. The Civil Air Patrol aircrew remained on station until they verified the unit was no longer transmitting and then returned to home base. 

The July 16 mission was initiated when AFRCC notified Lt. Colonel Heath of an emergency signal emanating again from Long Island Sound. An aircrew from the 399th Danbury Composite Squadron launched early evening out of Danbury Municipal Airport in a Cessna 182. The crew consisted of Captain Robert Murphy Jr. piloting, and Captain Johnny Burke performing observer duties. The crew quickly narrowed the signal locus to Brookhaven Airport, notified the airfields Fixed Base Operator (FBO) of the situation, and landed. Utilizing a hand held scanner the Civil Air Patrol crew determined the signal was coming from a parked Cessna 152. The Emergency Locator Transmitter (ELT) was turned off by the FBO and the crew returned to 399th HQ at Danbury Municipal Airport.

Both missions highlight the readiness of Connecticut Wing to quickly and effectively respond to emergency situations and the ability to work efficiently with various organizations in the region.