82nd ATRS helps rescue boaters

by Airman 1st Sergio A. Gamboa
325th Fighter Wing Public Affairs

3/19/2014 - TYNDALL AIR FORCE BASE, Fla.  -- Tyndall Airmen helped locate a boat in distress March 14, 30 miles south of Cape San Blas, Fla.

The 82nd Aerial Target Squadron team was on an E-9A Widget completing their mission when they received a distress call indicating there was a vessel taking in water with four men on board happening in their area.

"Soon after we received the coordinates of the boat we started working on finding it," said Maj. Gerardo Sanzhez, 82nd ATRS director of operations.

It didn't take long for the team to find the craft with four men on board.

"Since I was already working that area, I went and spotted them on my radar pretty quick." said Staff Sgt. Christian Smith, 82nd ARTS sea surveillance operator.

The aircrew was the first on scene and stayed flying around the boat until the U.S. Coast Guard arrived, said Sanchez.

"Once we got the location of the boat on the radar, we were able to spot it," said Staff Sgt. Joshua Nelson, 82nd ATRS telemetry operator. "I got my binoculars and was able to see the guys on the boat shoot flairs up in the air."

Maj. Michael Williamson, 82nd ATRS assistant director of operations, was the one who relayed messages between Eglin Mission Control and the U.S. Coast Guard.

"They worked really well with us," Nelson said. "They were very professional. They were happy to take our input, and we did our best to not step on their toes."
Team Tyndall is always prepared for the situation like this.

"We brief prior to every mission on rescue combat air patrol possibilities," Nelson said. "If there is a boater or civilian aircraft in distress we are going to help out and assist in whatever way possible. When somebody's life is depending on help, it's easy to prioritize and assist with the new mission."

The squadron is part of the 53rd Weapons Evaluation Group here which is part of the 53rd Wing at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla. The 82nd ATRS operates the Defense Department's only full scale aerial targets program.

The 82nd ATRS flies the Air Force's only E-9A Widgets and ensures that the Gulf of Mexico waters remain clear of boat traffic during live weapons launches and drops as well as other potentially hazardous military activities, according to a previous Tyndall article.