Alaska National Guard performs Back-to-Back Rescue Missions Published Sept. 27, 2010 By Pfc. Karina Paraoan Alaska National Guard CAMP DENALI, Alaska -- The Alaska Air National Guard performed two rescue missions Sunday after the Air Force 11th Rescue Coordination Center contacted them for assistance regarding a downed aircraft and an injured hunter. The first mission opened at 10:46 a.m. when the RCC received a call from a civilian pilot who overheard a transmission between the Federal Aviation Administration and a pilot of a PA-28 Piper Cherokee aircraft that was running out of fuel while flying. The civilian pilot immediately contacted the RCC to help the distressed pilot and one passenger on board. A short time following the call, the PA-28 Piper Cherokee aircraft crashed 24-miles south of Anchorage. The RCC called on Guardsmen from the 210th and 212th Rescue Squadrons, from the Alaska Air National Guard, to respond to the crash in a HH-60 Pave Hawk helicopter. The Alaska Air National Guardsmen arrived on-scene and found the pilot and passenger of the downed aircraft with minor injuries. They transported them to Providence Hospital in Anchorage for further assessment and medical treatment. A few hours later at 1:35 p.m. an injured hunter was reported to have signs of hypothermia and possible neck, and back injuries after a 400 ft. fall in the upper Lake George area. The RCC contacted the Alaska Air National Guard again to respond to the incident because of the need of a hoist-equipped aircraft. The same crew from the previous mission immediately responded with an HH-60 Pave hawk helicopter and hoisted the man on board. The injured hunter was stabilized and transported to Providence Hospital in Anchorage for medical attention. "If help was not available, this gentleman could have died," said Master. Sgt. Sal Provenzano, non-commissioned officer in charge, 11th Rescue Coordination Center. "It is our mission to help, and in both situations, timeliness was very important and we did what we could to send help right away." The Alaska National Guard was awarded three saves for these two missions, bringing the total lives saved by the Alaska National Guard to 59 for 2010.