On august 3rd, 2009, their brave actions resulted in the saving of four lives from the fishing vessel, Alexander II, sinking offshore in the Atlantic Ocean. Facing a dense blanket of fog and deteriorating weather conditions, the crew demonstrated keen situational awareness, risk reduction savvy and skillfully balanced aircraft capabilities. The helicopter was flown in instrument conditions the entire ninety miles to the scene with the crew learning en route that requested air support would be unable to participate which made communications with the SAR Mission Controller all the more challenging. The crew was able to establish communications via a relay through another fishing vessel which permitted the passing of pertinent case information in real time. Battling darkness, fog and haze, the crew located the vessel still afloat with the crew in a nearby life raft. Conducting power checks, the crew realized all four survivors could not be recovered without exceeding aircraft weight limitations. After hoisting two survivors, the crew recalculated fuel burn, winds and distance to shore and made the difficult decision to jettison fuel to allow for the rescue of the remaining two survivors. Once all the rescued were safely on board, the crew then faced deteriorating weather conditions all along the eastern seboard with fog on the surface, visibility less than one eighth of a mile and fuel critical. An alternate landing site was necessary. The crew zeroed in on an uncontrolled airfield just within range and arrived at the initial approach fix with only enough fuel for one instrument approach. Landing with mere seconds to spare, the four mariners were safely transferred to waiting medical personnel. The crew’s superlative aeronautical abilities, extraordinary bravery, and impressive teamwork throughout this perilous mission have been described as beyond heroic.