PHOTO RELEASE: Coast Guard Air Station Cape Cod holds memorial for crew of Aircraft 1432

U.S. Coast Guard sent this bulletin at 02/14/2019 12:04 PM EST

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U.S. Coast Guard 1st District Northeast
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Coast Guard Air Station Cape Cod holds memorial for crew of Aircraft 1432

Coast Guard Auxiliarist Chaplain Buddy Washburn reads the invocation for the 40th anniversary memorial for the crew of Aircraft 1432 in Cape Cod, Massachusetts, Wednesday, Feb. 13, 2019. The crew of HH-3F Pelican 1432 gave the ultimate sacrifice during a medevac case when the aircraft lost power and crashed into the sea. (U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 2nd Class Nicole J. Groll) U.S. Coast Guard Cmdr. Steven F. Jensen leads the formation of the Air Station Cape Cod crew who are formed up in honor the 40th anniversary of the crew lost on Aircraft 1432, Wednesday, on Cape Cod, Massachusetts, Feb. 13, 2019. The crew lost their lives on Feb. 18, 1979 during a medevac mission when the HH-3F Pelican lost power and crashed into the sea. (U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 2nd Class Nicole J. Groll) First Coast Guard District Commander Rear Adm. Andrew Tiongson gives remarks during the 40th anniversary memorial service of the crew who lost their lives on Aircraft 1432, Wednesday, Feb. 13, 2019. The crew of HH-3F Pelican 1432 gave the ultimate sacrifice during a medevac case when the aircraft lost power and crashed into the sea. (U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 2nd Class Nicole J. Groll)
Standing are the crew who stood the watch at Air Station Cape Cod back on Feb. 18, 2019, when the crew of Aircraft 1432 gave the ultimate sacrifice, Wednesday, Feb. 13, 2019. Both pilots, one crewmember, and a corpsman lost their lives in the accident, while the flight mechanic survived and was rescued by the fishing vessel. (U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 2nd Class Nicole J. Groll) U.S. Coast Guard Lt. Cmdr. John Filipowicz and Royal Canadian Air Force Capt. Pete Wright present the wreath marking the 40th anniversary four aircrew members of Aircraft 1432 gave the ultimate sacrifice, Wednesday, Feb. 13, 2019, Cape Cod, Massachusetts. Both pilots, one crewmember, and a corpsman lost their lives in the accident, while the flight mechanic survived and was rescued by the fishing vessel. (U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 2nd Class Nicole J. Groll) U.S. Coast Guard Lt. Cmdr. John Filipowicz and Royal Canadian Air Force Capt. Pete Wright salute the memorial wreath honoring the 40th anniversary of the crew of Aircraft 1432 who gave the ultimate sacrifice, Wednesday, Feb. 13, 2019, Cape Cod, Massachusetts. Both pilots, one crewmember, and a corpsman lost their lives in the accident, while the flight mechanic survived and was rescued by the fishing vessel. (U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 2nd Class Nicole J. Groll)

Editors' Note: Click on images to download high-resolution version.

BOSTON — The crew of Air Station Cape Cod held a 40th anniversary memorial service Wednesday for the crew of Aircraft 1432 who gave the ultimate sacrifice on Feb. 18, 1979.

Coast Guard Lt. Cmdr. Jim Stiles, Royal Canadian Air Force Captain George Burge, Petty Officer 2nd Class John Tait, Petty Officer 2nd Class Bruce Kaehler and Petty Officer 2nd Class Mark Torr launched 40 years ago to rescue a fisherman from the Japanese fishing boat Kaisei Maru. The weather was severe: winds in excess of 30 knots, seas over 20 ft., and reduced visibility from snow. This was the third attempt to medevac the crew member, the other attempts proving unsuccessful due to weather conditions and not knowing the exact position of the fishing boat. At 5 a.m., the boat was located and the rescue basket lowered. During the rescue, the HH-3F Pelican experienced a sudden loss of power and fell into the turbulent seas, claiming four out of the five lives. Torr was the sole survivor. 

The crew of Air Station Cape Cod, family, friends, and past shipmates gathered to honor the memory of this fatal accident, where four crew members gave their lives.

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