Oregon Guard Launches Helicopter to Aid Search for Missing Man (UPDATED)

Launching repeatedly to search for the missing man, guard crews say they will probably resume the search Monday.

Army Blackhawk UH-60 from the Oregon National Guard File photo by: Tim King

(SALEM) - The Oregon National Guard launched a UH-60 Blackhawk around 9:00 AM from the Army Aviation Support Facility in Salem today to assist the search for a man who has gone missing in Linn County.

The crew brought the helicopter back to the AASF in Salem late in the morning, then launched again to resume the search. The Blackhawk crew continued the search without finding the missing man, and returned to base early this afternoon. The man remains missing, and the Oregon National Guard may resume efforts tomorrow to find him.

Linn County Sheriff Tim Mueller reports that search and rescue teams are searching the area near Donaca Lake in east Linn County for the Springfield man.

36-year old Michael Lee Walter was reported missing on Saturday afternoon by his family during a camping trip in the remote area approximately 60 miles east of Sweet Home.

The last time Walter had been seen by his family was approximately 6:00 PM Friday. Family members initially attempted to locate Walter themselves, but were unsuccessful.

Members of the Linn County Sheriff's Search and Rescue Post and eight deputies searched the area where Walter was last seen while the Army National Guard helicopter from Salem and two fixed wing aircraft from the Civil Air Patrol searched a broad area from the air.

Teams are still searching the area at this time with additional resources scheduled to arrive Monday morning.

Each year the Oregon National Guard assists civil authorities throughout the Pacific Northwest with searches and rescues. The UH-60 Blackhawk helicopter is part of the 1042nd Medical Company (Air Ambulance). Thirty five members of the 1042nd returned from a six-month deploymnent to Afgahnistan in March.