LT Robert A. Perchard Memorial Trophy

Last updated

Outstanding Aircrew Member's Award (LT Robert A. Perchard Memorial Trophy). This award was established in 1963 by the parents and friends of the late Lieutenant Perchard, who died in company with his fellow crewmembers while serving as co-pilot aboard an HU-16E on a rescue mission in Alaska. Through this award, each aviation unit is able to recognize an assigned enlisted aircrew member as having demonstrated exemplary performance and superior technical, aviation, professional, and leadership abilities. The selection of personnel to be honored with the Outstanding Aircrew Member's award is made on a semiannual basis using criteria in keeping with the intent of the award. [1] [2]

Contents

3 July 1964

Five Coast Guardsmen were killed when their Grumman HU-16E Albatross, CG Number 7233, crashed on a mountainside near Ketchikan while searching for a grounded fishing vessel. The plane was searching for the fishing vessel Jean, which had grounded on Nunez Rocks and sank. The aircraft was returning to the Coast Guard Air Station on Annette Island when it apparently crashed on Dall Head on Gravina Island, only three miles from the Air Station. The pilot had radioed for landing instructions just prior to the crash. Crash related deaths: LCDR Joseph N. Andrassy (CG Aviator #852), LT Robert A. Perchard (CG Aviator #896), AO1 Harry W. Olson, AM2 Don G. Malena, AT3 Edward A. Krajniak [3]

Notable Recipients

Related Research Articles

The Observer Badge is a military badge of the United States armed forces dating from the First World War. The badge was issued to co-pilots, navigators, and flight support personnel who had received a variation in the training required for the standard Pilot's Badge. The Observer Badge survived through the Second World War and into the 1950s, at which time the concept of an Observer Badge was phased out in favor of the modern Aircrew Badge and Navigator-Observer Badges. In addition to wings for Naval Aviators and Naval Flight Officers, the United States Navy still maintains an "Observer Badge" which is issued to flight-qualified mission specialists, such as a select number of meteorologists and intelligence officers in both the U.S. Navy and U.S. Marine Corps. The U.S. Air Force awards its USAF Observer Badge, which is identical to the USAF Navigator Badge, to Air Force officers who have qualified as NASA Space Shuttle Mission Specialists, have flown an actual mission aboard the shuttle and/or the International Space Station and who are otherwise not previously aeronautically rated as an Air Force pilot or navigator.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">United States Aviator Badge</span> US military aviation badge

A United States Aviator Badge refers to three types of aviation badges issued by the United States Armed Forces, those being for Air Force, Army, and Naval aviation.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Naval Air Station Pensacola</span> US Navy training base in Florida

Naval Air Station Pensacola or NAS Pensacola, "The Cradle of Naval Aviation", is a United States Navy base located next to Warrington, Florida, a community southwest of the Pensacola city limits. It is best known as the initial primary training base for all U.S. Navy, Marine Corps and Coast Guard officers pursuing designation as naval aviators and naval flight officers, the advanced training base for most naval flight officers, and as the home base for the United States Navy Flight Demonstration Squadron, the precision-flying team known as the Blue Angels.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Badges of the United States Navy</span> Military badges of the US Navy

Insignias and badges of the United States Navy are military badges issued by the United States Department of the Navy to naval service members who achieve certain qualifications and accomplishments while serving on both active and reserve duty in the United States Navy. Most naval aviation insignia are also permitted for wear on uniforms of the United States Marine Corps.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Grumman HU-16 Albatross</span> American seaplane

The Grumman HU-16 Albatross is a large, twin–radial engined amphibious seaplane that was used by the United States Air Force (USAF), the U.S. Navy (USN), the U.S. Coast Guard (USCG), and the Royal Canadian Airforce RCAF primarily as a search and rescue (SAR) aircraft. Originally designated as the SA-16 for the USAF and the JR2F-1 and UF-1 for the USN and USCG, it was redesignated as the HU-16 in 1962. A new build G-111T Albatross with modern avionics and engines was proposed in 2021 with production in Australia to commence in 2025.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Coast Guard Air Station Clearwater</span> US Coast Guard base in Clearwater, Florida

United States Coast Guard Air Station Clearwater is the United States Coast Guard's largest air station. It is located at the St. Petersburg-Clearwater International Airport in Clearwater, Florida and is home to nearly 700 USCG aviation and support personnel. As of March 2021, there are ten MH-60T Jayhawk helicopters and four HC-130H Hercules aircraft assigned to CGAS Clearwater. Also on static display is USCG 1023, a restored Grumman HU-16 Albatross.

The Aircrew Badge, commonly known as Wings, is a qualification badge of the United States military that is awarded by all five branches of armed services to personnel who serve as aircrew members on board military aircraft. The badge is intended to recognize the training and qualifications required by aircrew of military aircraft. In order to qualify as an aircrew member and receive the Aircrew Badge, such personnel typically undergo advanced training in aircraft in-flight support roles.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rescue swimmer</span>

Rescue swimmer is a designation given to rescue specialists, most commonly in the service of the military. Rescue swimmers usually are charged with the rescue, assessment, and rendering of medical aid to persons in distress in the sea, on the land, or in the air. This highly specialized position is extremely challenging.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Aviation Survival Technician</span> United States Coast Guard rescue swimmer

Aviation Survival Technician (AST) is a rating or job specialty in the United States Coast Guard. Rescue swimmer is the collateral duty or aircrew position of the AST. They are trained at the U.S. Coast Guard's enlisted Aviation Survival Technician/Rescue Swimmer school at Coast Guard Aviation Technical Training Center, Coast Guard Air Station Elizabeth City in Elizabeth City, North Carolina.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Charles W. Sexton</span>

Charles W. Sexton, Machinery Technician First Class, USCG, was awarded a posthumous award of the Coast Guard Medal for "extraordinary heroism."

<span class="mw-page-title-main">141st Air Refueling Wing</span> Military unit

The 141st Air Refueling Wing is a unit of the Washington Air National Guard, stationed at Fairchild Air Force Base, Spokane, Washington. If activated to federal service, the 141 ARW is gained by the United States Air Force and assigned to the Air Mobility Command (AMC). As a result of BRAC action, the 141 ARW no longer has any unit-assigned aircraft and shares KC-135R aircraft with AMC's 92d Air Refueling Wing at Fairchild AFB.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">162nd Wing</span> Arizona Air National Guard unit

The 162nd Wing is a unit of the Arizona Air National Guard, stationed at Morris Air National Guard Base, Arizona. If activated to federal service, the wing is gained by the United States Air Force Air Education and Training Command.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Eric A. Trent</span> 7th Master Chief Petty Officer of the Coast Guard

Master Chief Aviation Electronics Technician Eric Anthony "Rick" Trent served as the seventh Master Chief Petty Officer of the Coast Guard from July 1, 1994, to May 31, 1998.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2009 California mid-air collision</span> US Coast Guard aircraft Marine Corps helicopter collision

The 2009 California mid-air collision occurred at sea, west of San Diego, on October 29. It involved a Lockheed HC-130H Hercules of the United States Coast Guard and a Bell AH-1 SuperCobra of the U.S. Marine Corps. There were no survivors among the nine crewmates aboard either aircraft.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">VP-30</span> United States Navy aviation squadron

Patrol Squadron 30 (VP-30) is a maritime patrol squadron of the United States Navy, established on 30 June 1960. It is based at Naval Air Station Jacksonville, Florida.

Edward K. Beale is an author and retired United States Coast Guard Commander. He is a native of Tolland, Connecticut.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Oliver F. Berry</span> United States Coast Guard chief petty officer (1908–1991)

Oliver Fuller Berry was a chief petty officer in the United States Coast Guard who was chosen to be the namesake for the twenty-fourth cutter of the Sentinel class. He was one of the first Coast Guard aircraft technicians trained to work on helicopters.

References

  1. United States Coast Guard Manual, COMDTINST1650.25C. "Medals and Awards Manual". (25 October 2002, Paragraph 6.D. Operations Awards,6.D.2. Outstanding Aircrew Member’s Award – LT Robert A. Perchard Memorial Trophy).
  2. "Coast Guard Medals and Awards Manual" (PDF).
  3. "Coast Guard Aviation Casualties".