European Stars And Stripes (Newspaper) - January 5, 1987, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Monday january 5, 1987 the stars and stripes pages a of Mode daring hotel rooftop Rescue san Juan Pucylo Rico not he dropped out or Hie sky life in Angel of mercy. When his Job was done he left that Way and no one knew his name. In he first agonizing minutes of the new year s eve fire at the Dupon Plaza hotel the Man later identified As Pat Walter a 41-year-old helicopter Pilot initiated a daring rooftop Rescue of trapped guests until larger Navy helicopters could reach die scene Waller who operates a Charier helicopter service based in is Thomas in the Virgin stands plucked hysterical women and children from the burning 22 Story building and deposited them safely on the Beach below. By his own count he rescued at least 21 guests in his five Seal aircraft before Clearing out to let Large military helicopters pick up victims Walter had no hoist aboard. He had to Man Euver his Craft perilously dose to the Edge of the roof blinded Al times by a column of smoke and heat pouring out of the hotel encouraging terrified guests to hop aboard his shuddering Rescue vessel. "1 could get Only one skid Down on the roof Walter said saturday in Telephone interview from is. Thomas which is about 120 Miles cast of Sanjuan. Tha chopper Pilot did one hell of a Job of Fly ing said Charles r Hinojosa a private Pilot who flew Over the scene in a winged aircraft in the Earl moments of wednesday s disaster Hinojosa. A sales Engineer said he was taking a company plane up for a spin from Ula Grande private Airport near the Condado Beach resort Here when he saw a lowering column of smoke about one mile away. I thought Al first a fuel truck had exploded or perhaps an air plane had crashed he said. Once up on the air he had a close View of the disaster scene. The burning hotel like a ill Square Spike planted at he Edge of the Blue sea was engulfed in smoke. About this time about five Miles away at san Juan inc rational Airport Walter also saw the Black smoke column. He had just unloaded a charter flight of four people travelling from the Virgin islands to a new years eve party in san Juan. Returning aloft he communicated by radio with the authorities who said his helicopter was needed he was Given clearance to land at Isla Grande and refuelled on the ground with one engine running. He was quickly Back in the air and headed to the Dupon Plaza. A police helicopter was already at the scene but the Pilot did not think he could land on the roof because it was not Flat said Hinojosa who was monitoring radio transmissions As he circled the area. There is a Penthouse restaurant cantilevered from the Walls of the hotel and on the Penthouse roof is atall Structure housing engineering machinery. On top of that Are Ciha ust pipes and other obstacles that could Snag n helicopter s Blades and Send it crashing. We heard on the radio thai the Navy and the coast guard could t gel to the scene for 40 minutes or so Hinojosa said. Waller observing growing numbers of trapped guests huddled in terror decided something had to be done right away i realized could gel in there he recoiled. But the closest he dared approach the building was to put one Landing skid Down on the Edge of the roof. After coaxing four women and children aboard and bringing them Down safely to the ground he returned to the roof with a police officer who helped Calm guests and organic the evacuation. Hinojosa said the Pilot of the police helicopter apparently emboldened by Waller s daring joined the shuttle service lining victims and ferrying More Rescue personnel. Meanwhile a National guard colonel flying a Hughes helicopter whose Rotor Blades were too Long to enable a close approach to the roof hovered 500 feet above hit scene and directed air traffic can ainu ing to do so when the powerful Navy helicopter arrived. La. Tent City closed As insurance policy expires los Angeles