Photo By Maj. Nicholas Erickson | Chief Warrant Officer 5 Eric Couture, Chief Warrant Officer Two Max Santiaga, and Sgt....... read more read more
On Wednesday, December 5, 2024, Maine Army Aviation unit, 1st Battalion of the 224th Aviation Regiment (1/224th) was requested to assist Maine Game Wardens search for two missing men in the Maine woods.
Chief Warrant Officer 5 Eric Couture, commander of the 1/224th and Chief Warrant Officer 2 Max Santagata had just returned from a training flight when they were alerted of the search and rescue mission. They were given a general area the men may be in, and began the search in a Maine Army National Guard Lakota Helicopter, equipped with a thermal imaging system.
“It is always satisfying as a crew to be able to utilize the skills and equipment that we train on every day to support the Maine Warden Service. Partnerships with local organizations and community support are the backbone of our program.” says Couture. “One of the most gratifying parts of any mission is a favorable outcome for all those involved. We are extremely grateful the two missing men were found safe.”
The crew returned to base to refuel their helicopter and Sgt. Caleb York joined the crew to help with the search efforts.
The Maine Warden Service received notification from a farmer he heard yelling and provided the location. As they made their way to the location, they informed the Lakota crew who also headed in that direction. The Warden found a man in a truck and provided the precise location for the Maine Army Aviation crew. They located the truck, and flew south, finding the second missing man approximately a half mile away. They informed the Warden, who then transported both men to safety.
Col. Nathan Arnold, State Army Aviation Officer, says, “the 1/ 224th Aviation crew provided outstanding assistance to the Maine Warden Service and their fellow Maine citizens by responding rapidly and leveraging the capabilities of their aircraft. It shows the high level of interoperability and cooperation between Maine Army National Guard and other Maine Government Agencies.”
1/224th provides command, control, communication, and intelligence flights and supports the State of Maine in the event of a natural or manmade disaster and Search and Rescue Missions.
| Date Taken: | 12.12.2024 |
| Date Posted: | 12.12.2024 11:22 |
| Story ID: | 487295 |
| Location: | BANGOR, MAINE, US |
| Web Views: | 958 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, Maine Army Aviation Locates Missing Person in Maine Woods Just Prior to Winter Storm, by MAJ Lena Witham, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
