The day after Irma's passage on Saint-Martin, the “Panther” helicopter was the first means of the Navy to observe the extent of the damage, during reconnaissance flights: torn roofs, razed vegetation, ransacked marinas ... before carrying out several humanitarian aid operations in favor of the Saint-Martin population.
On August 31, the Panther 36F helicopter detachment took place aboard the surveillance frigate Ventôse for a mission to combat drug trafficking. On September 6, the hurricane approaching the islands of Saint Martin and Saint Barthélemy, the frigate had to take shelter and prepare to participate in humanitarian aid operations. On September 7, the frigate, loaded with materials and food, quickly came to the rescue of the Saint-Martinois, very badly hit by the monster Irma.
The Panther was the first means of the Navy to observe the extent of the damage, during reconnaissance flights: torn roofs, razed vegetation, ransacked marinas ... Without waiting for the rehabilitation of the landing docks, military helicopters (Panther, Alouette III, Puma) began their norias, establishing a veritable air bridge between the island and the naval units deployed offshore.
On September 9, the Ventôse had to move away from the coast because a new hurricane, José, threatened in turn the region. Immediately after its passage, the frigate managed to dock to unload its cargo. Helicopters, however, remained the preferred means of assisting populations, in an environment where almost all means of communication were broken.
In addition to their humanitarian aid missions, the Panthers carried out a crucial maritime surveillance mission, while many ships returned to sea, and despite the malfunction of the local maritime rescue antennas.
On September 19, the season of hurricanes intensifying, it was Dominica's turn to be threatened by a new storm: Maria, classified in category 5. The Ventôse, refueling in record time in Martinique, quickly set sail for Dominica.
Once again, the on-board helicopter has demonstrated its relevance in a geographic environment extremely affected by climatic events (landslides, mudslides, destruction of bridges, collapsed roads, etc.). Many villages cut off from the rest of the world relied solely on air supplies to survive, receive emergency medical aid and carry out emergency medical evacuations for the victims of the hurricane.
This humanitarian projection of the 36F flotilla detachment from September 6 to 26 was an opportunity to demonstrate the versatility of the Panther helicopter.
This is an opportunity for us to thank all of these soldiers who did remarkable work in the air and on the ground in the first days after Irma. _AF
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