Helicopters from Vandenberg Air Force Base evacuates sick sailor 140 miles offshore

VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. (AP) A sailor needing medical treatment for appendicitis got a helping hand from Vandenberg Air Force Base when it dispatched helicopter crews to evacuate him from a tanker 140 miles offshore.

The 76th Helicopter Flight Unit sent two choppers Tuesday afternoon to transfer the sailor from a Norwegian tanker to Marian Medical Center in Santa Maria for treatment of acute appendicitis, base officials said Friday.

The sailor was not identified and his condition was not immediately available Saturday.

The 70-minute rescue operation began shortly before 1 p.m. after Coast Guard officials in Los Angeles contacted Vandenberg requesting help with a distress call because it had no available units.

Two helicopters carrying eight people, including medical and fire personnel, were dispatched to the tanker, NCC Mekka, which was west of the base.

With seas pitching at about 10 feet, one of the crews lowered a medical-rescue basket to the cargo ship's deck below and strapped the sailor into a gurney.

Vandenberg's helicopter unit is the only one in Air Force Space Command trained and equipped to perform over-water rescues, according to the base.

The rescue was the 155th for Vandenberg's helicopter unit in its 30-year history. The unit has 39 members and flies five UH-1N Huey helicopters. It was targeted for disbanding earlier this summer by top Air Force officials, but no final decision has been made.

The helicopters are the only aircraft based at the classified installation, which focuses on space and missile operations.

(Copyright 2003 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)