Air National Guard assists with Utah mining rescue

  • Published
  • By Master Sgt. Burke Baker
  • 151st Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs
SALT LAKE CITY (AFPN) --  Air National Guard members airlifted a critical piece of equipment Aug. 9 in Salt Lake City to assist with rescue operations for six Utah miners, who have been trapped deep inside the earth since the Crandall Canyon Coal Mine collapsed Aug. 6.

Within hours of receiving the request for help from Utah Governor Jon Huntsman, an airlift operation was coordinated between Air National Guard units in Mississippi, Kansas and Utah for the vital piece of underground video equipment to use in the rescue efforts. 

"This mission is typical of what the National Guard is all about," said Col. William Crisler, the commander at the 172nd Airlift Wing in Jackson, Miss. "We're always ready to respond at a moment's notice to help our citizens in a time of need."

The Utah Air National Guard provided support at the Salt Lake Air National Guard Base. Airmen from the 151st Air Refueling Wing assisting in the arrival of a C-17 Globemaster III from the 172nd Airlift Wing of the Mississippi Air National Guard. The C-17 is transporting the equipment used by Substrata Camera Services of Knoxville, Tenn., from its current location in Topeka, Kan.

"This equipment will allow me to position a camera in the mine and assess the situation from a whole, 360-degree angle," said A.L. Clark, a technician with Substrata Camera Services. "Rescue crews will have a better idea of what they are dealing with once we are on site and online."

Substrata Camera Services employee George Rollins made the 2.5-hour trip from Salt Lake City to the mine location near Huntington with a Utah Highway Patrol escort.

"It is important for people to realize that there are Guardsmen from many states who have these families in their thoughts and prayers and are working hard to help them in any way they can," said Maj. Gen. Brian L. Tarbet, the adjutant general of the Utah National Guard. "This has been a multistate effort, and it is amazing at how fast it has gotten done." 

"It was a privilege to assist on this mission that may saves the miners lives," said Senior Master Sergeant Allen Randall, a 172nd AW loadmaster.

(Lt. Col. David Buck of 172nd Airlift Wing Public Affairs contributed to this story.)

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