NAV EX 1st QTR 2018 NavEx 1st Qtr 2018 - Draft 7a | Page 8

“DID THAT PLAN
Auxiliarists in the right p
Photo by Lynn Murray
Story by Tim Darre
ABOVE: A Seaplane crashes into the water just moments after takeoff during an event on Lake Winnebago, WI. INSERT: The crew from Distr
On Thursday, 27 July, Auxiliary Facility 241080
with Russ Hoganson from 095-47-02 as Coxswain
and 095-47-02 member Greg Bergner, along with
095-39-02 members Tim and Bridget Darrey as
crew were patrolling near the Seaplane Base on
Lake Winnebago, part of the Experimental Aircraft
Association AirVenture 2017. More than 20 Auxiliarists,
traveling from as far south as Homewood, IL, and as
far north as Stevens Point, WI, supported operations
during the fly-in at Oshkosh, Wisconsin. Although
most activities took place at the airport, seaplane
operations on Lake Winnebago were supported by
shoreside and on-water Auxiliary activities.
Facility 241080 had just headed back out after briefly
touching in at the Seaplane Base when an amphibious
aircraft began its takeoff run.
“He’s taking a long time to lift off,” Russ commented.
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The sound of the plane’s engine suddenly changed,
then cut out.
“Did he crash?” asked Tim.
“He did!” exclaimed Greg, who had seen the entire
incident unfold. Russ had 241080 headed for the
floating wreck well before the emergency siren
sounded at the base.
The facility, accompanied by other boats from the
base, arrived at the crash site in about a minute. By
then, only a small part of the seaplane was out of the
water. Russ steered carefully around the plane, when
a man popped up between 080 and the wreck. Russ
directed Tim to throw a life ring over to him, then
Bridget and Greg pulled him aboard. The survivor,
although somewhat disoriented and suffering from
cuts and shock, was able to provide vital information
that there were still two additional people aboard
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