Hurlburt unit rescues missing youth

by Tech. Sgt. John Tomassi - 16th Special Operations Wing Public Affairs Office

- June 11 1999

HURLBURT FIELD, Fla. (AFNS) -- With almost four hours working against them, a 10-man crew of an AC-130U Spooky gunship diverted its aircraft from a directed training mission and steered it toward Crestview, Fla., in search of a lost boy June 11.

Less than half an hour later, 15-year-old Jason Powell was on his way back to the arms of his father.

The child had been missing for nearly four hours when the call for assistance came into the 16th Special Operations Wing command post from a County Sherriff's Department dispatcher. An aircraft with infrared sensor capabilities was specifically requested.

"We received the call at 12:50 a.m.," said Master Sgt. Jerry Cozby, senior controller with the 16th SOW command post. "The aircrew performed perfectly using its gunship's infrared sensors."

Infrared technology allows the aircrew to see anything giving off a heat source.

"An individual gives off heat - the infrared sensors in the aircraft display that heat in contrast to what is around it," said Capt. Mike D'Argenio, aircraft commander and pilot. "We have new equipment installed in our aircraft and we're very satisfied with it. Nothing can hide from us."

The aircraft, call sign Genis 6, had been flying for almost eight hours when the crew received the call.

"We used all our sensors and the individual was picked up on infrared," D'Argenio said. "We kept the flashing lights of the sheriff's cruisers and their flashlights in sight with the [All-Light Level Television system] and the boy in sight with the infrared sensor. I vectored them together with the use of night vision goggles."

The aircraft received communications from the command post which, in turn, received its information from the on-scene sheriffs by way of cellular telephone.

"This was an unusual way of communicating a search and rescue attempt," Cozby said. "No coordinates at all were available -- sometimes we just have to go manual."

The pilot was told to go 1 1/2 miles north by north east and look for the blue lights.

"Once (the aircraft) found the blue lights, I had the sheriff turn the lights off and on to identify the correct officer," Cozby said.

From the time Genis 06 received the call to the end of the operation, only 21 minutes had passed.

"This was a great team effort all around," D'Argenio said. "The crew performed admirably with very little information and the command post performed admirably -- relaying what information was available."

Powell, who is mentally challenged, wandered into the woods June 11 around 8 p.m. His father, Eugene, made the call to the Crestview Sheriff's Office around 9 p.m.

"I was surprised to see the airplane flying overhead," Powell's father said. "I don't know how they saw him from up there. I'm just glad to have my son home."

According to Crestview Sheriff's Office officials, the work of the aircrew made the job easy.

"They could tell us if he was running, sitting or standing still," said Sgt. Mike Stewart, night shift supervisor at the Crestview Sheriff's Office. "At one point they told us to turn around and there he was -- right behind us."

Powell was found in the vicinity of U. S. Highway 90 -- about four miles from home.

RELATED SITES

* AC-130 Spectre

* Hurlburt Field, Fla.

Top of Page