The U.S. Coast Guard has identified three air crew members who lost their lives last night. The Coast Guard is continuing a search for the fourth crewmember.

*Co-pilot Lt. Cmdr. Andrew Wischmeier, rescue swimmer
*Petty Officer 1st Class David Skimin
*Flight Mechanic Petty Officer 2nd Class Joshua Nichols

All three were pronounced dead last night at Queen's Medical Center.

The three had been recovered by HFD small boats and transferred to another Coast Guard HH-65 Dolphin helicopter for transport to the hospital. "Our hearts go out to their loved ones during this difficult time," said Coast Guard Commandant Adm. Thad Allen from Washington, D.C., in an e-mail message to all service members.

"The entire Coast Guard will provide whatever support services are necessary for the families and crew of Air Station Barbers Point."

An Air Force crew on a C-17 saw the Dolphin chopper crash about five miles south of the airport at around 8:15 p.m. Thursday. It was on a search and rescue training mission with a 47-foot Coast Guard boat at the time.

"The Coast Guard is a pretty small service. Few people know we have fewer people than the Honolulu Fire Department," said Lt. John Titchen. "So we are a very very tight family and the entire Coast Guard is grieving for the loss of our shipmates."

"You know this is a very difficult case because this is, as I say, this is a case where the rescuers are being rescued and we appreciate the great aggressive collaboration with our partners," said Rear Adm. Manson Brown with the U.S. Coast Guard.

The victims' names and ranks have not been released.

The search will continue until the fourth person is found.

"We're searching in the area where the chopper crashed and expanding out from there to cover as much area as we can," said Capt. Terry Seelig of the Honolulu Fire Department.

The U.S. Coast Guard has identified three air crew members who lost their lives on a Thursday-evening training flight five miles south of Honolulu International Airport. The Coast Guard is continuing a search for the fourth crewmember.

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All three

The three had been recovered by HFD small boats and transferred to another Coast Guard HH-65 Dolphin helicopter for transport to the hospital. "Our hearts go out to their loved ones during this difficult time," said Coast Guard Commandant Adm. Thad Allen from Washington, D.C., in an e-mail message to all service members.

"The entire Coast Guard will provide whatever support services are necessary for the families and crew of Air Station Barbers Point."

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