Coast Guard #1445

October 14th 1978; a Sikorsky HH-52A Coast Guard helicopter #62-128 Register 1445 was patrolling South West of the Hawaiian islands when the crew spotted smoke of an undetermined origin on the horizon at approximately 230 degrees relative to their position.
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USCG #1445 turned to investigate, only to discover that the smoke was originating from a strange makeshift raft.  #1445 immediately radioed a USCG Cutter nearby requesting assistance, and remained on station coordinating with nearby USCG assets until the Cutter arrived. 
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These amazing images captured the moment that 7 survivors were discovered on the raft, whom apparently had been missing since taking what was meant to be a "three hour tour" on board the S.S. Minnow last sighted September 26th 1964. The castaways had reportedly been shipwrecked on an uncharted island somewhere in the Pacific Ocean for the past 15 years.
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The US Coast Guard Office of Search and Rescue (USCG-SAR) Honolulu Station reported that crew survivors; Captain Jonas Grumby, 1st mate Willy Gilligan, passengers Professor R Hinkley, Mary Ann Summers, Thurston and Lovey Howell III, and Ginger Grant were rescued by the Coast Guard cutter, and brought back to Hawaii for precautionary medical observation.
Pictured: The very same USCG helicopter #1445 that rescued the 7 castaways, also worked with the Apollo 9 Astronauts during training. S68-50989 (20 Nov. 1968) --- Astronaut James A. McDivitt, commander of the Apollo 9 prime crew, hoisted up to U.S. Coast Guard helicopter #1445 during water egress training in the Gulf of Mexico.
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