Pave Hawk enters belly of beast

PATRICK AIR FORCE BASE, Fla.- Airmen from the 920th Rescue Wing Maintenance Group here help load a fixed-wing HH-60G Pave Hawk helicopter on a C-17 Globemaster III cargo aircraft. The C-17 is capable of rapid strategic delivery of troops and all types of cargo to main operating bases or directly to forward bases in the deployment area. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman First Class Natasha Dowridge)

Man power moves Pave Hawk

PATRICK AIR FORCE BASE, Fla.- Airmen from the 920th Rescue Wing Maintenance Group here use man power to move a fixed-wing HH-60G Pave Hawk helicopter on to the C-17 Globemaster III cargo aircraft. The primary mission of the Pave Hawk is to conduct day or night personnel recovery operations into hostile environments to recover isolated personnel during war. (U.S. Air Force photo/Capt. Cathleen Snow)

Airmen prepare Pave Hawk to load on Globemaster

PATRICK AIR FORCE BASE, Fla.- A fixed-wing HH-60G Pave Hawk helicopter is being loaded on to C-17 Globemaster III cargo aircraft. The Globemaster will transport the Reservists of the 920th Rescue Wing and their equipment overseas. The wing's primary wartime job is combat search and rescue, which involves locating and rescuing service members insolated in combat. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman First Class Natasha Dowridge)

Reservists share tender moment with family

PATRICK AIR FORCE BASE, Fla.- Reservists from the 920th Rescue Wing here say goodbye to family and friends as they get ready to board the bus that will shuttle them to the C-17 Globemaster III cargo aircraft. "This will be our fourth tour to Afghanistan since September 11, 2001," said Col. Christopher Hannon, 920th RQW Operations Group Commander. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman First Class Natasha Dowridge)

Airmen show support to deploying reservists

PATRICK AIR FORCE BASE, Fla.- Reservists share goodbyes and handshakes as they begin to board a C-17 Globemaster III cargo aircraft. The reservists from the 920th Rescue Wing here will begin their first leg of a year-long deployment to Afghanistan May 22 in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. (U.S. Air Force photo/Capt. Cathleen Snow)

Rescue Wing Airmen depart for Afghanistan

Published May 25, 2011
By Airman First Class Natasha Dowridge
920th Rescue Wing Public Affairs

PATRICK AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. -- Helicopter aviator, maintenance and support Airmen from the Air Force Reserve's 920th Rescue Wing here departed on the first leg of a year-long deployment to Afghanistan May 22 in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.

An Air Force C-17 Globemaster III cargo aircraft transported the Reservists and their equipment overseas.

"This will be our fourth tour to Afghanistan since September 11, 2001," said Col. Christopher Hannon, 920th RQW Operations Group Commander.

Wing HH-60G Pave Hawk helicopters, as well as the Air Force Reservists will deploy for four-month rotations through 2012.

Along with Rescue Wing Airmen, Team Patrick personnel are provided vital support to help get the Reservists on their way to include: aircraft fueling and cargo loading, as well as passenger, aircrew and cargo transportation, mobility bag issue, airfield operations support, weapons storage and issue, and if needed, aircraft spare parts and accountability.

Once in place, Rescue Wing Airmen will be tasked with saving lives by using their skills and equipment to perform medical evacuation operations - picking up the injured from combat zones to get them to treatment facilities.

During their last year-long deployment in 2009, tasked to support MEDEVAC operations in Afghanistan, Rescue Reservists were credited with more than 300 saves. A 'save' refers to a situation where, without immediate intervention, a person would lose their life, a limb or eyesight.

"The skill of our professional Airman allows us to live up to our air rescue creed, 'to be prepared at all times, to go into harm's way, to save life, and to aid the injured,'" said Hannon.

In 2005, Airmen from the 920th RQW were credited with saving the life of Navy Seal Marcus Luttrell who was the lone survivor of an operation resulting in the largest loss of life in the Special Forces community since the Vietnam War.

The wing's primary wartime job is combat search and rescue, which involves locating and rescuing service members isolated in combat - such as pilots shot down behind enemy lines.

While similar, MEDEVAC missions are a lot more frequent. Two to four missions a day or more are the norm.

The Wing has a 50-year history of saving lives, and the Airmen here have rescued nearly 1,500 personnel in peacetime and in combat. They live by the motto, "these things we do that others may live."

During peacetime, the 920th RQW is also tasked as the primary rescue force for NASA astronauts prior to, and during lift off and return, as well, local civilian search and rescue, and humanitarian relief.

For more information about the 920th RQW, log on to the wing's Web site: www.920rqw.afrc.af.mil or follow them on Facebook or Twitter.