THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Wednesday, October 11, 1995 TAG: 9510110644
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B3 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY JON FRANK, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Short : 44 lines
A Marine Harrier jet pilot was rescued Tuesday afternoon by a Navy helicopter after ejecting from his plane into the Atlantic Ocean about 100 miles east of Norfolk.
Capt. J.W. O'Neill was flown to the Portsmouth Naval Hospital, where he was listed in good condition Tuesday night.
A Navy ``Seahawk'' helicopter had just picked up some weapons-system parts in Norfolk and was returning to the destroyer John Rodgers when a distress call reporting a downed pilot was broadcast at about 2 p.m.
The helicopter, piloted by Lt. David L. Rymer of Thomas, Okla., was about 25 miles from the pilot when it picked up the call for help.
Rymer said he was alerted to O'Neill's position by a red smoke signal that the pilot had activated in his vest. The helicopter, Rymer said, hovered about 70 feet above O'Neill and lowered a hook connected to a hoist. O`Neill attached the hook to a fastener on his vest and was pulled on board the helicopter at about 2:15 p.m.
``He was happy to be there, and was thirsty and wanted some water,'' Rymer said Tuesday by telephone from the destroyer. Rymer said O'Neill suffered some facial bruises and back strain but otherwise was in good condition. The Marine pilot was in the water for about 30 minutes and was admitted to the Portsmouth hospital shortly after 3 p.m.
Rymer said the other members of his crew are Lt. Clifford Souza of Blue Point, N.Y., and Petty Officer Brian Cowell. The helicopter was guided to the downed pilot by Petty Officer Mark Joslin, an air traffic controller aboard the John Rodgers.
The John Rodgers, a destroyer based in Mayport, Fla., is headed to Narragansett Bay to participate in a missile exercise.
O'Neill, flying out of the Marine air base in Cherry Point, N.C., was on a routine training mission. The cause of the accident is under investigation.
KEYWORDS: ACCIDENT MILITARY RESCUE U.S. NAVY
U.S. MARINE CORPS by CNB