Retro R-FH Water Rescue Cruisin’

Image July 27, 2021 Elaine Van Develde

Fair Haven First Aid Squad’s Water Rescue Unit circa early 1970s
Photo/FHFD media collection

It’s the heart of summer. And with summertime in the Rumson-Fair Haven area comes a tsunami of waterborne activity.

It’s the peninsula way of life. Always has been. And because of it, back in 1962, members of the Fair Haven Fire Department’s First Aid Squad created an underwater rescue team, as they referred to it. The team would exist for water rescue and recovery emergencies. It made sense.

So, the team was formed, consisting of founding members Donny Frank, Jack McQueen, Art Bennett and Bill Lang. They dove into the mission, literally, equipped with scuba gear, in 1963. They started answering the emergency calls on and in water that summer. Then, as the dive aspect of the mission waned a bit and the boating end of the endeavor was more paramount, as a boat was needed to support any divers and handle water-related emergencies in the area.

So, the First Aid Corps bought a boat in 1971 and equipped it to handle any of the situations the unit may encounter on the water.

The Retro Pic of the Day shows that boat on what appears to be the Navesink River along Navesink River Road. Driving the First Aid Corps boat was Bill Lang, a founding member of the original team. We’re not sure who the other two mates are, but it looks like a routine run on the water rather than rescue.

This boat got swamped in 2001. There have been others and the team has evolved over the years, eventually turning into a “surface rescue only” organization in 2012, no diving. The unit has responded to many calls in the area two river towns.

Can you think of a time you have seen them on the water? Emergency? Who are those other two guys? Dive in with stories!