24 OVER THE BOW - Spring 2016
FLIGHT OF THE NINJA TURTLES
all in New England is always special, but
this year was outstanding. In addition to the spectacular fall foliage, spring-like temperatures persisted until Christmas. Not only did the foliage tourists extend their stay to enjoy the colors and warm temps, but so did a large number of Kemp’s ridley turtles.
This endangered species of sea turtle migrates from Florida north to the waters off New England each year and returns to the warm southern waters before winter takes hold. Apparently this year the turtles extended their stay because of the unusually warm weather. After Christmas “Old Man Winter” arrived with a vengeance, and temps, including water temps, took a nosedive.
Over 500 Kemp’s ridley turtles washed up on New England shores cold-stunned and many were rescued by the New England Aquarium (NEAQ). The Aquarium has only so much space
and needed to get 24 turtles to Sea World in Orlando, Florida.
They contacted the USCG who last year transported approximately 200 turtles in a CASA HC-144. Air Station Cape Cod felt the size of the requested shipment lent itself nicely to AuxAir. According to CAPT Timothy Tobiasz, Commander of Air Station Cape Cod “The AUX is providing a great deal of flexibility and cost efficiency for this mission and the CG, facilitating a strong partnership with NOAA and the NEAQ.”
The Auxiliary was contacted with the request and District 1 SR DSO-AV Steve Trupkin accepted the mission and enlisted Aircraft Commander Peter Lombardo and his twin engine Piper Seneca to join him. On Jan 6, 2016 at 1600 Steve and Peter took off from Islip McArthur Airport (ISP) on Long Island and flew to Marshfield, MA (GHG) to position their
F
COMO Alex Malewski