15 Squadron in Humanitarian aid

Article by Lt D.V. Khumalo
Photo by FSgt W.W. Wiggel

Two Oryx helicopters from 15 Squadron which is stationed at AFB Durban assisted the crew of the fishing trawler, Nikko Maru No. 1 in an airlift mission a 100 miles out at sea. This happened on 31 October 2005. The purpose of this humanitarian aid mission was to retrieve a crew member from the trawler who needed urgent medical attention.
The two Oryx helicopters under command of Lt Col C.R. Opperman and Lt Col G.M. Chisholm and assisted by co-pilots Capt M. O’Donnell, Lt L.M. Atchana and flight engineers WO2 G. Webb and FSgt A.T. Walker went to assist. These pilots and crew members successfully used their knowledge and years of experience to engage a trawler caught in 4 metre high swells and winds up to 35 knots to first lower two 911 Netcare paramedics, Gary and Shaun Paul, onto the trawler to prepare the patient for safe evacuation. The patient was strapped into a stretcher and hoisted into the helicopter. The mission was successfully completed and the patient was delivered to the St Augustines Hospital in Durban.