by Bea Peterson
Congenial author and retired Colonel Edward Fleming never had a desire to fly helicopters or to write a book. Life doesn’t always work that way he explained as he talked about his military career at the Cheney Library on Thursday, February 20. Unfortunately bad weather kept some people from attending. However, those who did attend were enthralled by his easy going manner, his role in history and his many daring rescues.
In his 30 year career in the Air Force and Air National Guard he took part in the rescue of 293 people in various places around the world. [private]With the 31st Air Force Rescue Squad in the Philippines in 1972, he flew Charles Lindbergh, who had been lost for 10 days, out of the jungle of Mindanao. He piloted the last active Japanese soldier of World War II, Lt. Hiroo Onoda, off Lubang Island in 1974. In 1999, while stationed with the NY Air National Guard Stratton Air Guard Base in Scotia he organized the mission that airlifted physician and Antarctic researcher Dr. Jerri Nielsen from the South Pole so she could receive life saving breast cancer treatment. The base is the home of the NY Air Guard’s 109th Airlift Wing and 139th Airlift Squadron, the only military unit in the world that flies ski-equipped transport airplanes to and from both polar icecaps.
Fleming told his audience that when he was drafted in 1970 he chose the Air Force instead, and his recruiter suggested he train for the Air Force’s newly formed Air Rescue Service. That is when and how he learned to fly a helicopter. He said he has been asked many times why risk a crew of many to save just one person. His answer is, if it was your son or daughter or family member, wouldn’t you want everything possible to be done to save him or her. Alexander Taranov, one of two survivors of the 450 foot Ukrainian motor vessel Salvador Allende that sank in the North Atlantic, is grateful to be the one saved when he was floating 820 miles out at sea south of Newfoundland’s Grand Banks. His rescue resulted in the longest helicopter flight on record. It lasted 17 hours and required seven in-air refuelings. This was all done in weather that was used to describe the weather conditions in the book and movie “The Perfect Storm.” Fleming had an eight minute clip filmed by the History Channel of that event. It was riveting and insightful.
When the rescue flight began, the two helicopters, one piloted by Fleming, and the fuel tanker that flew with them were anticipating the possible rescue of 20 or more survivors. Weather conditions were horrendous. Ships could not get anywhere near the area where the ship had capsized. Waves at sea were 40 to 50 feet high. Space in a HH-3E Jolly Green Giant helicopter is cramped, Fleming said. There are no creature comforts. Helicopter flights are usually two hours or less. Flying this far out to sea and trying to connect to a hose that is whipping in the wind hanging from a plane that is very close overhead to refuel takes steady nerves. When they finally reached the rescue area they found empty life rafts, flotsam, sharks feasting on bodies and, unbelievably, one dark head floating in the water with arms waving. Fleming explained that to rescue someone in these conditions the helicopter must ride the waves. It goes down when the person and the wave goes down and rises as the wave comes up 40 or 50 feet. A pararescue jumper went into the water and eventually he and Taranov were hauled into the craft and they could head home. A second Salvador Allende crew member was rescued by a ship many miles from where Taranov was found. They were the only survivors.
Fleming said he receives a card from Taranov every Christmas with a photo of him and his family.
Hearing from Fleming about the idiosyncrasies of helicopters, their capabilities and problems was enlightening, frightening and thrilling.
His book is an exciting read. It is available at the Library. It’s filled with the history of the time, his family life and career and many of his harrowing experiences.
Fleming and his wife Jean, who was at the Library with him, live in Eagle Bridge. Today Fleming is an adjunct professor at Empire State College. His class reaches students in Tokyo, Moscow and Beirut. He is currently on leave from the University and researching Tai Chi and aging.
[/private]