The Commander Elmer F. Stone Fixed Wing Rescue Award is presented to the Air Station Barbers Point crew of CGNR 1703, LCDR Sean Bartonicek, LTJG Evan Swinghamer, AET2 Beau Fisch, AMT2 Ryan Cabrera, AET2 Andrew Davis, AET2 Jeremiah Strombeck, and AET3 Shawn Feleppa in recognition of their heroic efforts on 25 MAR 2018, responding to a 406 Electronic Position Indicating Radio Beacon (EPIRB) activated 550 nautical miles northeast of Oahu. The EPRIB was registered to the PRINCESS HAWAII, a 63 foot longline commercial fishing vessel that was unresponsive to satellite callout attempts from the District 14 Joint Rescue Coordination Center. The crew of 1703 launched from Air Station Barbers Point and flew to the initial EPIRB location where they located the PRINCESS HAWAII. The PRINCESS HAWAII was partially submerged with only the bow of the vessel riding above the ocean surface. After finding no signs of life in the vicinity of the vessel, the crew of 1703 performed an impromptu search of the area and found a small 10 person life raft five nautical miles south of the sunken vessel. Unable to establish communications with the life raft, the crew of 1703 configured for the aerial delivery of a radio and survival kit. Despite the harsh environmental conditions including 10 foot seas, 30 knot gusting winds, and inflight turbulence, the rescue kit was successfully deployed to the life raft. Once communications were established, 1703 ensured all survivors were accounted for and safe. 1703 instructed the survivors to secure themselves to the life raft which was being breached by the 10 foot breaking surf. After confirming the status and short-term safety of the survivors, 1703 searched the surrounding area for a vessel to render assistance. 1703 found a commercial fishing vessel 35 miles away and diverted the vessel to the survivors’ position. After diverting the rescue vessel, 1703 conducted a cruise engine shutdown in an effort to conserve fuel and provide vectors to the rescue vessel that was making way at 5.5 knots. During the shutdown, 1703 experienced a malfunction that required the crew to conduct a risky emergency air start. Following the emergency air start, the aircrew conducted a detailed risk analysis balancing the risks associated with the dangerous malfunction versus gains of staying on scene to coordinate the rendezvous efforts. Acknowledging great risks, the crew of 1703 elected to stay on scene to coordinate the rescue efforts. Unable to maintain visual contact with the life raft due to environmental conditions and darkness, the crew of 1703 contacted the life raft and asked the survivors to rig the strobe light from the rescue kit atop the life raft canopy. With the strobe light affixed, the aircrew was able to maintain intermittent visual contact with the life raft using night vision goggles. 1703 stayed on scene and provided critical vectors to the rescue vessel saving eight lives.