ILWG supports ILARNG

By: 1st Lt. JIM GRIGGS, CAP Palwaukee Composite Squadron

On Thursday 19 July at approximately 1519 hrs, the Illinois Wing initiated a REDCAP alert. The initial alert stated that an Aircrew and Ground team were needed for a SARSAT 'hit' located North of Poplar Grove, Illinois.

At approximately 1700hrs, and an additional SARSAT pass, an update was issued now locating the 'hit' to be SE of Beloit, Wisconsin, and that we still needed an aircrew and GTM members.

Then, at approximately 1900 hrs, the AFRCC issued another upgrade - ALNOT, and stated that an Illinois ARNG helicopter was overdue between Camp McCoy, Wisconsin and Midway Airport in Chicago. The ELT was being detected on multiple frequencies.

Palwaukee Composite Squadron Ground Team members 1st Lt. Scott Murphy, 1st Lt. Jim Griggs, and 2d Lt. Chris Gillman responded to the IC at this time, joined by Group 22 Commander, Major Bob Williams. The rally point was to be at Poplar Grove Airport, and staging was handled by 1st. Lt. James Kalemis, McHenry County Composite Squadron Commander and Deputy Emergency Services Officer for the Wing.

Palwaukee Composite Squadron Aircrew members also participated in the alert. CAPFLIGHT 1131, Lt. Col. Lou Wipotnik as MO, and Capt. Ken Stone as MP, also performed as the High Bird which relayed communications between the Ground Teams. Capt. Joe Long also responded to the IC as an available aircrew initially.

By the time most were nearing the rally point, the IC informed us that the ARNG reported a clerical error on their flight paperwork, and they were not actually missing an aircraft. A general aviation ELT was found at the Beloit Airport, which could not be silenced, and was turned over to the Wisconsin Wing for follow-up. The mission, 07-M-1292, was closed out at 2138 hrs.