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| The 505th Search and Rescue Group; so "That Others May Live", PAF Angels | |
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| Topic Started: Dec 2 2004, 05:34 PM (13,673 Views) | |
| Dreamrider | Dec 2 2004, 05:34 PM Post #1 |
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At lowest point for AFP, ‘angels’ save the day RECTO MERCENETODAY Reporter Without fanfare or publicity stunts, a branch of the Armed Forces (AFP) has been silently going about its tasks with sterling performance, thus saving what little is left of the discipline and other values left in shambles by its wayward members. The 505th Search and Rescue Group and the 205th Tactical Helicopter Wing of the Air Force (PAF) have been responding to disasters and saving lives for years—and in the current disasters caused by a string of three typhoons, they remain a beacon of hope in an otherwise battered institution that is the military. While the AFP has to cope with charges of corruption and other acts of misdemeanor by its members, the 505th SARG remains above the fray and continues doing life-saving gestures in line with the SARG international motto: “That others may live.” Forget for the moment the headlines that blare the celebrated plunder cases against Maj. Gen. Carlos Garcia; against the former chief of staff Gen. Lisandro Abadia; the shoplifting charges against 2nd Lt. Rolly Angeles Joaquin and the salacious homosexual acts attributed to Maj. Ferdinand Ramos. Think of the the 505th group, headed by Col. Ricardo Banayat and the 205th headed by Brig. Gen. Horatio Tolentino who remained untouched by all these venal acts. Recognizing the invaluable contributions of the choppers, Air Force Chief, Lt. Gen. Jose Reyes has seen to it that 35 helicopters of various types remain in operation. Since assuming office in July, he has refurbished 10 mothballed choppers and purchased 10 more from Singapore. Twenty more operable choppers in the flightline remain grounded for lack of funds, he said. “The PAF had yet to tally the number of survivors or victims of disasters airlifted this year but the number would be in the hundreds, including the tons of foodstuff, medicine and clothing that were airlifted not only by the helicopters but also the bigger C-130 ‘Hercules’,” Gen. Reyes said. During this whole year and the past years that the country has been visited by natural and made-made disasters, it is the PAF, with its arsenal of helicopters and paramedics, that has been the first to be alerted by local government units (LGU) or affected citizens. To maintain closeness to future disaster sites, the 505th SAR Group distributed its units not only in Manila but also in the alternate International Airports in Mactan, Davao, Laoag and in Puerto Princesa Airport in Palawan. The LGUs and citizens who have known of the agencies’ capabilities always call on the PAF or the 505th itself whenever they are in need of somebody to save. When a house was being eaten up by flames in Paranaque, it was the 505th that the owner had to call so that its chopper, equipped with a water bucket, could douse the fire that is out of reach of ground firemen because of the labyrinth of squatters surrounding the resident. When brushfire spread out over a wide area of Quezon Province at the height of the summer season, the same men and women of the 505th and the 205th put their lives on the line to prevent the fire from eating huge chunks of tropical forest. The water bucket-equipped chopper rushed to the scene and continued to douse the fire from the air, but while doing its job, the tricky mountain downdraft forced the chopper down and damaged it. The pilot and his crew survived, but the expensive helicopter was wrecked almost beyond repair. In the celebrated case of the sinking of the “Star Ferry” off Corrigidor about two years ago, or the sinking of another interisland ship that collided with an oil tanker between Marinduque and Mindoro, again it was the PAF choppers that scoured the seas, picking up survivors clinging to dear life from lifesavers and other flotsam and bringing them to dry land. Following the train disaster in Bicol, PAF choppers based in Camp Nakar, Lucena City, were among the first to arrive on the scene to airlift more than 50 victims and survivors, and sophisticated equipment of the 505th lifted the fallen coaches to extract those pinned to the ground. “It appears that the good deeds [of] the PAF helicopters have far outweighed the contributions of the jetfighters and warplanes to the citizens of this country,” according to Gen. Melchor Rosales, former undersecretary of the National Disaster Coordinating Center (NDCC) and now undersecretary of the Department of Interior and Local Government. In remote mountain areas harassed by bandits and insurgents with their unjust taxation and mulcting, the helicopters are called occasionally to drive them away and thus bring peace of mind to beleaguered communities, Reyes volunteered. It goes without saying that amid the average 30 typhoons that visit the country every year, one may expect the PAF whirlybirds to be on the scene, efficiently airlifting the injured, the sick, the poor, the faceless and neglected. Among other government agencies in uniform, it is the sight of the orange uniform of the 505th Rescue Squadron that elicits positive reactions from the people. Wherever they alight, especially in those remote areas that not even SUVs could reach, the people flock to them with glee, knowing that they bring good cheer and deliverance from safety. It is not surprising, therefore, if some of those who have been saved by the PAF would refer to the members of this institution as “Angels of Mercy.” The connotation has stuck so that the 505th officers from the top and down the ranks would be dubbed “Angel 1,” “Angel 2” and so on, according to PAF spokesman, Col. Resty Padilla. This week the “angels” have been kept busy by a succession of typhoons. Elements of the Army’s 202nd Infantry Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division stationed at Barangay Kapatala, Siniloan, Laguna, provided assistance to typhoon victims in the province of Quezon. Report reaching the Army Chief, Lt. Gen. Generoso S. Senga, showed that the troops of Charlie Company, 1st Infantry Battalion, were deployed to the towns of General Nakar, Infanta and Real, all in Quezon province. The troops, in coordination with the Army’s 564th Engineering Construction Battalion, conducted clearing and rescue operations at the Nagcarlan-Real road affected by landslides. They also set up a Public Assistance Center at Barangays Llavac and Maragondon in Real town, the areas severely devastated by the typhoon, to facilitate the conduct of relief operations by other government agencies. Meanwhile, a team from the 18th Special Forces Company, Special Operations Command (Socom) led by Army Cpl. Benito Fajardo conducted disaster relief among victims of flashfloods in Barangays Tatalon and Roxas in Quezon City and other barangays in Marikina City in the afternoon of November 30. Subsequently, in Central Luzon, more Army soldiers were deployed in different municipalities of Bulacan, Nueva Ecija and Aurora provinces in the wake of flashfloods caused by typhoon “Winnie.” Elements from the Army’s 7th Infantry Division and Socom rescued and evacuated several victims of flashfloods in these towns. abs-cbnnews.com :thumb: |
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| flipzi | Dec 3 2004, 09:59 AM Post #2 |
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:thumb: :thumb: for our 505th SAR Group !!! BTW, i believe it is about time we enhance our disaster preparedness. Since, we already know that the Bicol region and the Aurora and Quezon provices are the areas where typhoons usually hit, why not put up a SAR base near these areas? These will improve our response time.  We also need to consider fielding more high-performance vehicles for rescue operations. The Humvees has proven its worth in taking roads which are impassable to ordianry types of vehicles. The Humvees will help the AFP a lot in rescuing affected families in remote areas and will greatly improve the delivery of relief goods to these hapless folks. We also need to consider purchasing naval assets or Coast Guard ships that can cut through rough waters. These ships can help us a lot in saving fishermen who may not be able to have enough time to head back to shore when a typhoon strikes. Improving the Naval Station in Cagayan or setting up of another base somewhere along the shores of Bicol and Quezon or even Isabela may prove to be worthy. Since, in times like this, we know now how important the AFP's role is to us, it's about time we enhance its capabilities in handling these disasters so that we can lessen the impact of these to our less fortunate countrymen.
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 " Sovereignty resides in the people and all government authority emanates from them! - Art. II Sec 1, Philippine Constitution " " People don't care what we know until they know we care. " getflipzi@yahoo.com | |
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| Kampilan | Dec 5 2004, 11:47 AM Post #3 |
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Indeed they are: :thumb:  Philippines Air Force helicopters airlift medicine, clothing, and food to thousands of displaced residents in the eastern towns of Real, General Nakar, and Infanta in Aurora province December 3, 2004. Better weather helped rescuers in the Philippines on Saturday after four heavy storms in two weeks, but supplies were short and fears of disease were spreading as the receding floodwater reveals more bodies. Picture taken December 3, 2004. REUTERS/Philippine Air Force Yahoo News |
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| Bb. Makati | Dec 5 2004, 01:53 PM Post #4 |
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the old hueys save the day :thumb: good job flyboys |
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| Duminus | Dec 29 2004, 08:12 PM Post #5 |
PDFF Admin Support
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PAF search-rescue training ends by Rutchie Cabahug-Aguhob and SSgt. Abel Idusma Cagayan de Oro City (29 December) -- There is no greater joy in life than the joy of serving others. There is no even greater satisfaction than that of extending a helping hand to persons in distress and giving a second life to those on the throes of death. Such were the inspiring words of Capt. Froilando G. Angat, commander of the 5053rd Search and Rescue Squadron, Philippine Air force when he addressed the 25 graduates of the Search and Rescue Operations Training during the closing program recently at the St. Paul Seminar House, Bonbon, Cagayan de Oro City. The 5053rd SRS has sent in a 7-man team led by PAF Capt. Jonathan B. Gastardo to train select members of Cagayan de Oro’s Carmen Barangay Disaster Coordinating Council, particularly the Carmen Rescue Team (CAREST), of the skills needed to qualify them to become SAR Auxiliaries of PAF from Nov. 22-Dec. 3, 2004 at the St. Paul Seminar House in Bonbon, this city. Angat said extending the hand “so that others may live” is such a lofty calling for well-trained and highly motivated individuals who can rise to the challenge of helping those in need and be ready to be of service when needed. “We train to our folds able citizens of the country to be part of a modest organization of multi-faceted fields as the PAF 505 Search and Rescue Group SAR Auxiliaries. We pass on to you the ‘Angel’ spirit of selfless service to save life and aid the injured and the quick and efficient performance of these duties before personal desires and comfort,” he told them. “SAR Auxiliaries are envisioned to perform pivotal role, as you are the ones who will arrive at the scene ahead of the others, being the nearest within the vicinity. On your shoulders lie the burden of extending immediate help to the victims before normal emergency services of the government will arrive,” Angat again said. Angat also called on the graduates to internalize the training and knowledge that PAF’s 5053rd SRS has given them. “Do not take them lightly. With the risks involved in carrying out your role as rescuers, any false move might be unforgiving and might spell disaster for you and the life that you will be saving,” he reminded them. He then urged the graduates to take the words of Reynold Prize, which states: “It is a pleasant thought that when you help a fellow up a steep hill, you get nearer to the top yourself.” http://news.emailpinoy.com/philippine/loca...rt_from=&ucat=& |
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| israeli | Dec 30 2004, 12:03 AM Post #6 |
Senior Member
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i salute the 505th SAR Group.  by the way, since the 505 needs twin-engined helicopters, the PAF could consider the purchase of surplus Bell 212 helicopters of the Israeli Defense Forces to re-equip the Search and Rescue Group. :) |
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| adroth | Dec 30 2004, 01:42 AM Post #7 |
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To the 505th SAR: 
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Status of AFP acquisitions: http://www.timawa.net/forum/index.php?board=34.0 Avatar c/o: http://www.proudlypinoy.org/  
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| Jim | Dec 30 2004, 07:54 PM Post #8 |
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We should enhance our disaster preparedness. I would suggest that the NDCC set up a rapid relief team and make relief goods available on stand-by during the typhoon season that could be loaded up into a C-130, Hueys and even an LSV, preferably stationed in Mactan. This way they could be in any part of the country, where the disaster area is, within a day or two. We should learn from our past experiences and the recent tsunami disaster in South Asia, wherein the respective governments weren't responsive enough to provide relief to the disaster victims. |
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| Kookie | Dec 31 2004, 11:07 AM Post #9 |
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Congratulations to the Angels of PAF. May the Lord's angels fly with you always in all of your rescue missions. :thumb: |
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| possible | Feb 9 2006, 02:10 AM Post #10 |
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another young airman, another tragic loss ________________________________________________________________________ PAF sgt. falls, dies in fall from chopper A rescue instructor of the Philippine Air Force (PAF) died in a freak accident when the cord that held him snapped during an exercise last Tuesday afternoon. Staff Sergeant Joseph Achas, 34, was demonstrating to five other Air Force servicemen how to rappel from a helicopter flying at an altitude of 60 feet at the Mactan Benito Ebuen Air Base. Achas had been in rescue operations for 13 years, serving the 505th Rescue Squadron. An investigation is being made on the accident that happened during a proficiency training. “He was the first one to jump. We saw the cord snap,” said Mactan air base spokesman Lt. Eures Montejo, who was on the ground watching the demonstration together with other PAF personnel. © Copyright 2002 - 2005 Sun.Star Publishing, Inc. http://www.sunstar.com.ph/static/ceb/2006/...om.chopper.html |
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