Jim Griggs, Capt., CAP
Dep. Commander / Seniors IL049
Tuesday, 30 September 2008, Palwaukee Squadron and Group 22 HQ members participated in a REDCAP mission at approximately 0700L. Initial details stated that there was an active ELT signal in the vicinity of Chicago’s Midway Airport.
Captain Joe Long (MP), 1st Lt. Bob Gould (MO), and SM Mike Grenz (MS) responded to the alert almost immediately. As the crew was preparing to launch, the Incident Commander (IC) reported that the ELT had been located and silenced on the ground at Midway. As the crew was already prepared to fly that morning, they requested a monthly ‘B’ Mission to work on proficiency, which was approved. The aircrew headed Northwest toward McHenry County to practice the self-funded sortie.
A short time into the ‘B’ Mission, a surprise was heard: “CAPFLIGHT 1130, this is Chicago Center calling on GUARD”. The crew looked at each other, wondering if they heard correctly. Upon responding to Center, they were informed to land immediately and call in to the IC. After landing at Galt (10C) and reporting in to Major Templeton, the crew was re-assigned to another active ELT…..this time in Northwestern Indiana. Captain Long, himself an accomplished Air Force Reservist, commented that “it was as if we were an Air Force Alert crew”.
One hour later, after a scenic flight along Chicago’s lakefront, the crew arrived in the vicinity of the ELT’s co-ordinates, LaPorte Airport (KPPO). At this point, no signal was found, but when almost directly over the airport the first signal was acquired. Capt. Long, went immediately into an orbit and discerned that the signal was indeed emanating from the airfield vicinity. The crew landed, and contacted the local FBO, whose reaction upon seeing CAP there was to the effect of “Oh, (expletive)”, according to Lt. Gould. Gould also commented on how friendly and helpful the folks at this FBO were, and thanked the crew for the job that they do.
The people at the FBO guessed immediately that a Piper Cherokee being worked on earlier was the offender, and directed the crew to it’s location. A call was made to the mechanic, away eating lunch, who had been working on it earlier. He confirmed that he had been working on the ELT master switch panel, which was left in the AUTO position. Upon inspection by the FBO personnel and the crew, the switch was indeed the culprit. After the mechanics switched it off, they also confirmed that the signal was quiet using another aircraft radio.
After being cleared to RTB by Major Templeton, the crew flew back to Palwaukee, where they had a chance to reflect on the morning’s events. SM Grenz stated that he felt that “it reflects well on the commitment of our Squadron personnel that we were able to be onscene for multiple missions in such a short time. It certainly was a great learning opportunity to work like this with 2 such excellent teachers as Capt. Long and Lt. Gould”.
This was the first FIND for Capt. Long, who had recently transferred to group 22 HQ. This was the second FIND in as many missions for Grenz and Gould.
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