BUTTE, Mont. -- It was near Maney Lake north of Butte that rescuers from Malmstrom Air Force Base's 40th Helicopter Squadron found a family of five that had gone missing while on a fishing trip last Wednesday.
In speaking with officials, they believe that a combination of smart thinking, strong communication, and advanced technology all culminated in the search being a success.
A half-hour after receiving the request for assistance from Butte Law Enforcement at 3:30 p.m., MAFB began its search in their new MH-139A Grey Wolf helicopter.
By 5 p.m., the squadron had located the missing family's disabled truck. All five fishers were then found about two miles away and swiftly taken to safety.
Butte police credit the Air Force's involvement as the major difference maker in the rescue.
The squadron points to their resources, knowledge of how to conduct the search through the area's terrain and tree cover, and a little luck, as the reasons for a successful rescue.
"They were on a fishing trip, and we realized that there wasn't a lot of water within the search area," said 40th Helicopter Squadron Capt. Angela Stella. "We were trying to find where there were access points for fishing. We ended up finding a creek, and we were following the creek up and down. That's when [we] spotted the truck, and that's kind of what ended up narrowing down our search area."
"Finding the truck--it wasn't on a road," said Senior Airman Jordan Bauer. "It was kind of off the road in the woods, and most of the woods out there are pretty heavily covered. So, seeing them in the woods was going to be hard. Luckily, the truck was white, so it was a little bit easier to spot."
The 40th Helicopter Squadron says that they had sugary snacks and a hospital plan at the ready, as three of the missing boys live with Type 1 diabetes.
And though the Grey Wolf helicopter's main purpose is for nuclear surety, the squadron wants to emphasize that their resources are ready to help in these search-and-rescue situations when needed.
"With the new helicopter, it definitely increases our capabilities to support," said Capt. Jordan Clark. "In the past year or so, we've been building a strong relationship with the state and SAR agencies, letting them know that we're here as a resource."
"It's not our primary mission, by any means, but we're always eager to help in whatever way that we can when we get the call," Stella said.