Kadena P-3 crew helps rescue stranded sailors

  • Published
  • 18th Wing Public Affairs
A Navy P-3 Orion crew temporarily assigned to Kadena helped rescue six sailors stranded on an outrigger canoe 300 miles south of Guam earlier this month.

The P-3 Orion flown by Combat Aircrew ONE from Kadena was dispatched in response to a U.S. Coast Guard request for assistance.

A 25-foot outrigger canoe supplied with enough food and water to make the two-day transit from Woleai Atoll to Ifalik Atoll became lost April 6 while attempting to complete the 40-mile journey. At sea for six days, the distressed crew unsuccessfully struggled to find help using a CB radio.

The P-3C Orion crew departed Kadena, refueled in Guam and then proceeded south the start the rescue operation. Within 20 minutes of arriving, at the initial search area, the aircrew located the missing outrigger canoe.