Brave co-pilot who spotted flare honoured
08/11/2023
The U.S. Coast Guard Academy has honoured a brave co-pilot who spotted a flare and distinguished himself during the rescue of survivors from a Northwest Airlines flight that ditched in the Philippine Sea.
Lt. William Russell was inducted into the Hall of Heroes in the annual ceremony that honours Academy graduates who performed heroic service to the Coast Guard and the nation.
Lt. Russell helped rescue survivors of the Northwest Airlines flight from Okinawa to Manila that ditched into the sea in July 1960 and was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC).
The UF-2G Albatross brave co-pilot was assigned to the Coast Guard Air Attachment at Sangley Point in the Philippines. The UF-2G was an amphibious aircraft developed for the military by the Grumman Corporation.
The citation that accompanies Lt. Russell’s award reads, “Assisting in the search for survivors from a ditched Northwest Airlines DC-7C plane, approximately seventy miles northeast of Sangley Point, Lieutenant Russell skillfully piloted the plane, and despite adverse weather and flying conditions, his vigilance resulted in spotting a flare which led to the rescue of the fifty-seven survivors, who were located in four life rafts.”
His skilful evaluation of the sea conditions and successful open sea landing enabled him to manoeuvre the aircraft. He worked with his crew to pick up 23 of the 57 passengers who survived the ordeal. The remaining survivors were later rescued by a U.S. Navy aircraft.
The image shows the newest inductees into the Coast Guard Academy Hall of Heroes: Cmdr. Ryan Crose, Lt. Cmdr. Gregory Bukata and Capt. Mark Vislay, who were honoured for heroic actions in their Coast Guard careers. Lt. Travis Russell (far right) accepted the award on behalf of his grandfather, William Russell.
Source: USCG/US Coast Guard Academy
Image: USCG photo by Matt Thieme
