JP 3-50 National Search and Rescue Manual Vol I - US Navy

(3) Passing the positions of contacts to other SRUs
for identification. This tactic is preferred when the
expected number of radar contacts is high and additional
SRUs are available as chase craft. It is especially
desirable when search conditions would otherwise render
the chase craft ineffective, that is, chase craft are not
equipped for effective search and visual sweep width is
poor. An additional advantage is that the search craft
can be a high-speed SRU, such as a fixed-wing aircraft,
that covers a large area rapidly, while chase craft can
be surface craft and helicopters better able to rescue.
f. Aircraft should photograph wreckage or distress scene
from normal search heights and directions, from low level, and
from angles taking in prominent landmarks.
2. Post-Sighting Procedures. If survivors are sighted, or the
distress scene located and marked, SRUs should effect rescue
if possible. If they are not able to rescue, they should keep
survivors in sight and inform them they have been seen, by
either using a radio or, loud hailer, flying low with landing
lights on, dropping two orange smoke signals a few seconds
apart, firing two green star shells a few seconds apart,
making two white flashes with signal lamps, or making two
distinct puffs of stack smoke one minute apart. Efforts
should be made to communicate. If only aircraft SRUs are
involved, a radio transceiver can be airdropped to survivors
for direct two-way communications. The aircraft may
communicate by voice with the survivors, using a loud hailer.
Survivors can reply using one of the surface-to-air signal
codes; message blocks should be used as a last resort.
a. If immediate rescue is not possible, the SRU should
determine the position, using several navigation aids. A
survivor sighting report should be made to the OSC as soon as
possible, giving position, survivor identity (individual
identity and parent activity), condition of survivors, wind,
weather, and sea conditions, hours of SRU fuel remaining, and
emergency equipment received, used, or needed by the
survivors. Passing this information in one message will avoid
questions and answers, but the report should not be delayed if
all the information is not readily available. SRUs should
remain on scene until relieved by the OSC, or as endurance
permits.
b. If the target is well marked and can be easily
relocated, an aircraft on scene is not required to keep
survivors in sight. It may climb to a higher
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