An HH-3F helicopter from the 85th SAR Centre of Pratica di Mare rescued a Greek sailor and, subsequently, a sick individual on the island of Ponza. At 19:15, the first mission, ordered by the Operational Command of Air Operations of Poggio Renatico (COA), was to recover a patient suffering from a heart attack in serious condition, who was on board a merchant ship sailing off the Lazio coast. The HH-3F helicopter, after intercepting the Greek merchant ship ’Theodorus IV“ in the open sea off the coast of Circeo, began rescue operations at 20:20. These operations were made particularly difficult by strong winds with gusts of 35 knots, a Force 4 sea, and the complete absence of radio contact with the crew of the vessel.
The crew, comprising Captain Marco Mascari, Chief of Crew, Lieutenant Fabio D’Alessio, Lieutenant Commander Bullara Francesco and Warrant Officer Carnevalini Enrico, managed to lower the two air rescue crewmen onto the merchant ship: Warrant Officer Stefano Mattozzi and Marshal D’Elia Edmondo, the doctor from the Pratica di Mare infirmary, Lieutenant Colonel Castiglione Marco, and the health assistant, Warrant Officer Pascariello Arcangelo.
The medical staff, after stabilising the Greek sailor's critical condition, secured him to a special winching stretcher, recently acquired by the Air Force, by means of which the patient was transferred aboard the helicopter.
This allowed the immediate transfer to Latina airport, where an ambulance from the nearby “Santa Maria Goretti” hospital was waiting for the patient.
Just as the rescue operations were concluding, the operations room of the 85th C/SAR Centre received a new mission order from the COA: the urgent medical transport of a seriously ill Italian citizen from the island of Ponza to Latina.
Another crew, this time made up of Captain Grano Daniele, Lieutenant Modugno Valerio, First Marshals Molesini Mario and Egizi Alessandro, Marshal Carocci Carlos, the doctor from the Pratica di Mare infirmary, Lieutenant Colonel Castiglione Marco, and First Marshal D’Angelo Giovanni, a health assistant, then prepared for the new mission.
The HH-3F helicopter, which landed at Pratica di Mare at 9:55 PM, was promptly refuelled and inspected. The relevant pre- and post-flight safety checks were carried out in just a few minutes, and it took off again at 10:20 PM.
At 11:10 PM, the aircraft arrived on the island of Ponza, where medical personnel from the Italian Air Force assessed the patient's condition and proceeded with boarding.
At 11:40 PM, the helicopter landed again in Latina, where the man was handed over to the doctors at the “Santa Maria Goretti” hospital.
At 00:45, the return to the Pratica di Mare practice base, where the aircraft was reconditioned and prepared to resume readiness for take-off in the event of any further need.
In recent days, the 15th Wing, through the 85th SAR Centre, also contributed to the rescue operations of the ship ’Costa Concordia“, which ran aground near the island of Giglio (Grosseto). The 15th Wing of the Italian Air Force is the body responsible for the search and rescue of military crews and the civilian population.
This service guarantees 24 hours a day, every day of the year, within national territory and in overseas theatres of operations. This type of intervention, from 1965 to the present day, has enabled the rescue of almost 7000 people in imminent danger of death.
The HH-3F helicopter has been in service since 1977. Its unique capabilities, the training of its flight crews, and the quality of maintenance, guaranteed by the Air Force Departments, make it a fundamental tool within the scope of national search and rescue services.
Channel 10, 17/01/2012, 11.00 PM Channel 10, 17/01/2012, 1:30 PM TGR Lazio of 17/01/2012 at 2:00 PM 
