RADAR Expert Rings In 2009 With Lifesaving Actions Published Jan. 27, 2009 By Capt. Lisa Dowling Western Air Defense Sector Public Affairs McCHORD AIR FORCE BASE, Wash. -- New Year's Day 2009 started on a good note for Paul Christensen, a 23-year old pilot of a Taylor Craft-21 bound for Idaho, but New Year's Eve was another story. Late on Dec. 31, John Henderson, a radar expert with the Western Air Defense Sector here received an urgent call from the Sector's Mission Crew Commander. A pilot leaving from Moscow-Pullman, Wash., never reached his destination in Slate Creek, Idaho. His family was worried, especially since it was dark and very cold along the missing pilot's route. "Once I got the call, I worked closely with the Air Force Rescue Coordination Center at Tyndall AFB, Fla., to relay any information as I got it," said Mr. Henderson. During events like this, his job is to determine the most likely location of a missing aircraft so that he can either verify a pilot landed safely somewhere, or if necessary, to direct search and rescue teams to the site. On an average day, the retired Air Force master sergeant studies gigabytes of recorded radar data to discern radar patterns resembling one created by an aircraft flying along the likely planned flight route. He combines "Google Earth" 3-D imaging with the radar feeds to get a topography map on a computer, and puts himself in a virtual cockpit of the downed aircraft, flying the same route and altitudes the missing pilot flew. Henderson then determines if a pilot failed to clear a ridge line, or if he likely flew down a valley before disappearing. He usually pinpoints the likely crash site within a few hundred feet, and tells search and rescue teams precisely where to look. "I'm a pilot myself with more than 1,000 hours of flying time, so it helps me think like the pilot," he explained. "Instead of a search area of hundreds of square miles, we're able to condense it to a matter of square feet," he said. As a result, downed pilots who survive the initial crash are often rescued before their injuries or the elements can take their lives. Henderson is no rookie at radar analysis and 3-D modeling. He's the Site Chief for the 84th Radar Evaluation Squadron, and one of only a handful of people in the country capable of this level of forensic radar analysis. His primary job is to support the radar infrastructure underlying the nation's air defense network. He processes volumes of radar raw data in real time to keep the U.S. Theater Air Control System running smoothly. Henderson and his staff developed uniquely powerful software tools to analyze the historical radar data, and those tools led directly to the 3-D software he uses for search and rescue, all for the price of a laptop. He is a true hero behind the scenes. "John is exactly the type of professional the Air Force needs on watch," said Col. Paul D. Gruver, WADS commander. "He took an extremely serious - and potentially deadly--situation on New Year's Eve and turned it into a life-saving success story. I'm proud to have him as a member of my team." Though Henderson's RADES team is rarely credited, the Search and Rescue and Recoveries mission couldn't take place without their valuable efforts. "We are like the wizard in The Wizard of Oz. We are behind the scenes making everything happen," said an excited Henderson. "I love my job, and saving lives." Along with his pilot experience, Mr. Henderson is a major in the Civil Air Patrol, and has unique skills dealing with radar data making him perfect for his job. Though not every event ends happily, 2008 ended on a happy note for uninjured pilot Paul Christiansen, thanks to this "unsung" hero.