Leyte (CV 32) - Naval Cruise Book

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P 1 B ' SP t 9I ?p 1 i Officers and Men VC-12 ■ 11 1 I W. I I I» Officers and Men VC-23

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Officers VC-4 ■ « ▼-, , « i ' « » i » » v ' HiMftlBMUHl Men VC-4

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Officers and Men HU-2 rpHE most outstanding addition to carrier aviation has been the use of the helicopter as the plane guard. This is most vividly brought to mind on this cruise in the pickups of Sgt. Truex, Capt. Kapsch and Lt. O ' Hare. The recovery of Lt. O ' Hare is in itself outstand- ing in that a record pickup of 90 seconds was achieved. Before the days of using helicopters, a similar rescue operation employing a destroyer took 15 or more minutes. The rescue apparatus. on the heli- copter has a belt similar to a parachute belt at the end of a lifeline. If the person being rescued is injured and unable to fasten the lifeline to himself, a crew member of the helicopter, wearing a life jacket, jumps into the water and fastens the lifeline around the injured person and continues floating in the water until the helicopter returns for him. O ' Hare Safe Home