AWARDED DFC: 2
CONFLICT/SPACE FLIGHT/EVENT:  -
MODEL:  HH-3F

Citation:  1.) The President of the United States takes great pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Flying Cross to Lieutenant Bruce E. Melnick for extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight during the early morning hours and ensuing day of 4 October 1980. During that period, he was serving as Copilot of Coast Guard HH-3F 1472 engaged in the rescue of survivors from the passenger liner M/V Prinsendam, which had caught fire in the Gulf of Alaska, 120 miles south of Yakutat. Dispatched from Coast Guard Air Station Sitka, the helicopter was loaded to maximum weight with a night sun device and fuel and proceeded to the scene despite darkness, rain showers, and strong, turbulent winds. Before arriving, the aircrew was advised that the fire was under control, but additional firefighting equipment was needed. The helicopter was then diverted to the T/V Williamsburgh, which was also proceeding to the scene, to pick up the equipment needed. While enroute to Williamsburg, Prinsendam reported that the fire was now out of control and that passengers were taking to the lifeboats. Immediately, a course was set for Prinsendam and, upon arrival, Lieutenant Melnick used the night sun device to illuminate the decks, as the Pilot maneuvered the helicopter about the vessel's superstructure and rigging. These efforts aided in an orderly evacuation of all but 40 passengers and crew. After departing the scene for Yakutat to refuel, the helicopter returned to Prinsendam and a dewatering pump was lowered to the ship. At this time, Williamsburgh was experiencing difficulty in retrieving survivors from the lifeboats, and the wind and sea conditions were building in intensity. Skillfully maneuvering the helicopter, Lieutenant Melnick repeatedly positioned the aircraft to hoist survivors from the lifeboats and then transported them to Williamsburgh. Lieutenant Melnick's innovative actions, expert aeronautical skill, and valor throughout this rescue mission aided in the successful evacuation of 110 survivors. 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.

2.) The President of the United States takes great pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Flying Cross to Lieutenant Commander Bruce E. Melnick for outstanding meritorious achievement in aerial flight on the afternoon of 14 August 1982 while serving as Aircraft Commander of Coast Guard HH-3F engaged in the rescue of the Pilot of a downed plane in the mountains above Icy Bay, Alaska. Dispatched from Coast Guard Air Station Sitka, Lieutenant Commander Melnick piloted the helicopter to the scene and commenced an ELT search for the wreckage site. The search area was narrowed to a one-half mile ridgelin, which was obscured by downed clouds. After several passes, a crewman caught a glimpse of the crash site. Visual contact was lost with the downed aircraft, as the cloud layer closed in. Lieutenant Commander Melnick positioned the helicopter facing into the mountain in a hover at the 1300-foot level. The aircraft was then hovered up the mountainside into the cloud layer to the crash site. Lieutenant Commander Melnick maintained a near no reference hover for a one-half hour period at the 1500-foot level, while the Flight Mechanic and Copilot hoisted the Avionicsman down and recovered the survivor. Rotor blade clearance was reduced to near contact due to the vertical mountain face. At the termination of the hoisting operation, Lieutenant Commander Melnick pedal-turned the helicopter into the cloud and executed an instrument take off from the mountainside. Lieutenant Commander Melnick's innovative actions and expert aeronautical skill throughout this mission were instrumental in the rescue of a critically injured crash survivor. His courage, judgment and devotion to duty are most heartily commended and are in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service.