14 June 2005

All in a Days Work - Fourth Rescue for Air Force Crew

An Air Force Orion has coordinated a successful rescue of two people who were on board the floundering yacht Ciru.

The pair is now on board the container ship Baltimar Boreas, which is due to arrive in Auckland on Friday.

The aircrew on board the Orion, now back at RNZAF Base Whenuapai, has been part of four successful search and rescue missions over the past five days.

A second crew on board another Orion was involved in the initial search for the Ciru late last night and early this morning.

So far this month Air Force Orions from No.5 Squadron have spent 46.2 hours flying search and rescue missions. Of that, 40.4 hours have been flown over the past five days. The other six hours were flown over Queen's Birthday weekend.

Ground crews have also worked around the clock to ensure the aircraft are serviceable.

ENDS

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