PORT ANGELES — The Coast Guard celebrated 100 years of naval aviation Saturday by displaying its modern aircraft and wowing a crowd with a search-and-rescue demonstration in Port Angeles Harbor.
At least 200 people attended the free celebration and safe-boating exposition at Air Station/Sector Field Office Port Angeles, located at the end of Ediz Hook.
For Chester Anderson, the search-and-rescue demonstration was easily the highlight of the expo.
The 75-year-old Port Angeles man served on a Coast Guard weather ship from 1956-1960 and said seeing the servicemen in action brought tears to his eyes.
“I think it was wonderful,” he said.
“I was in the Coast Guard. I knew what it was like to be at sea.”
Anderson added, “I would join again in a minute.”
Rescue demonstration
For the demonstration, a service member jumped from a boat into the water on the south side of Ediz Hook.
One of the station’s three MH-60 rescue helicopters flew overhead before dropping a rescue swimmer about 20 feet above the water.
The swimmer released a red smoke bomb and a flare once reaching the service member acting as a stranded boater.
The helicopter then flew back overhead and hoisted the two out of the water, prompting applause from the crowd.
“I think it’s tremendous,” said Walt Hatcher after the demonstration, “to get an idea of what they are capable of doing.”
Several helicopters from the Coast Guard, U.S. Navy and Canadian Air Force were on display.
One Coast Guard MH-60 included an M240 machine gun and M14 rifle.
The helicopter carries those weapons when the Coast Guard patrols Puget Sound port, ferry terminals and other infrastructure.
The Port Angeles station began conducting those patrols more than a year ago as part of its new duties under the Department of Homeland Security, said Ryan Isam, an aviation maintenance technician.
“We’re hoping that just our presence out there will deter any potential threats,” he said.
The guns were the main attraction for some of the boys at the expo.
“It was really fun,” said 10-year-old Colton Kovell-Bratton after handling the mounted machine gun.
“I think it’s cool,” he added.
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Reporter Tom Callis can be reached at 360-417-3532 or at tom.callis@peninsuladailynews.com.
