The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Flying Cross to Lieutenant Commander John George Denninger, Jr., United States Coast Guard, for extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight during the predawn hours of 13 February 1974 as aircraft commander of Coast Guard HH-3F 1481 helicopter engaged in the perilous rescue of four crewmen of the fishing vessel NORMAR under extremely hazardous conditions in the Shelikof Strait, Gulf of Alaska. The vessel had been trapped by a vicious storm in the Shelikof Strait, grounded in a cove along the mountainous Alaska Peninsula and capsized due to heavy superstructure icing encountered in the hurricane force wind-swept seas. The four-man crew abandoned their vessel and took refuge in a life raft tethered to her stern. Lieutenant Commander Denninger and his crew, dispatched from Kodiak Air Station, successfully battled 70-knot winds, severe turbulence and near zero visibility due to sea smoke, spray and fog, until they reached the distress scene 180 miles from Kodiak. Carefully coordinating instructions from an orbiting C-130 and information from radar, he skillfully maneuvered the helicopter along the jagged coastline into the narrow mountainous cove in which the NORMAR lay capsized and broken and located the survivors huddled in a raft. Lieutenant Commander Denninger immediately established and maintained an exact hover over the wind-driven raft in the face of the 2500-foot mountain directly in front of him and steep cliffs on two sides which restricted maneuverability. Although the NORMAR caught fire during the hoisting operation, further compounding the hazardous flying conditions as smoke and fuel vapors enshrouded the helicopter, Lieutenant Commander Denninger, undaunted, maintained his position throughout the 13-minute hover until all survivors had been hoisted to safety. With expert precision, he then maneuvered the helicopter to escape the confines of the hazardous cove before setting course for Kodiak. Lieutenant Commander Denninger’s expert aeronautical skill and dauntless valor throughout this perilous mission resulted in saving the lives of the men. His heroic courage, sound judgment and unwavering devotion to duty are in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Coast Guard.
Sponsored by:
Awards Received
-
Distinguished Flying Cross
-
Distinguished Flying Cross
Service:
United States Coast GuardRank:
Lieutenant CommanderAction Date:
October 26, 1976
The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting a Gold Star in lieu of a Second Award of the Distinguished Flying Cross to Lieutenant Commander John George Denninger, Jr., United States Coast Guard, for extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight on the evening of 26 October 1976 while serving as Aircraft Commander and pilot of Coast Guard HH-3F 1437 helicopter engaged in the successful evacuation of a critically ill crewman from the sailing vessel CHALLENGER, located 145 miles southeast of Wilmington, North Carolina. Dispatched from Air Station Elizabeth City, Lieutenant Commander Denninger proceeded to the scene despite gusting 40 knot winds and near zero visibility in heavy rain. After locating CHALLENGER, Lieutenant Commander Denninger directed the crew to prepare for a hoist from the port side between the wildly swinging 50 and 60 foot masts. Utilizing instruments and precise advisories from the hoist operator, Lieutenant Commander Denninger skillfully maneuvered the helicopter into position for the hoist. The first attempts were unsuccessful as high winds caused near horizontal streaming of the trail line. With over 20 pounds of additional weight attached, the trail line was finally passed to the sailboat. When the rescue basket was lowered it became fouled with the vessel’s antenna rigging. Displaying remarkable control and expertise Lieutenant Commander Denninger followed the directional commands of the hoist operator until the line was freed. Then, as the basket neared the deck of the sailboat, the crewman to be evacuated lunged from the deck into the basket, yanking the trail line from the grasp of the assisting boat crewman, and plunging the basket and patient into the cold sea. Instantly recognizing the severity of the situation, Lieutenant Commander Denninger applied full power to gain altitude, raising the basket and victim out of the water. The patient was then flown to Wilmington, North Carolina and transferred to medical authorities. Lieutenant Commander Denninger’s innovative actions, expert aeronautical skill, and dauntless valor throughout this perilous mission resulted in the successful evacuation of the crewman. His courage, sound judgment and unwavering devotion to duty are most heartily commended and are in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Coast Guard.