Civic leaders from Dobbins AFB visit the 920th RQW

Civic leaders from the 94th Airlift Wing Dobbins Air Force Base Ga., get up close and personal with a HH-60G Pave Hawk rescue helicopter. The civic leaders spent two days at Patrick AFB, Fla., becoming familiar with the wing’s combat and humanitarian rescue mission. The 920th RQW is the only rescue wing in the Air Force Reserve and performs more than 20 percent of the combat rescues throughout the world and has saved more than 3,000 lives. (U.S. Air force photo/Tech. Sgt. Peter Dean)

Rescue wing hosts Atlanta-area civic leaders

Published Oct. 26, 2012
By Tech. Sgt. Peter Dean
920th Rescue Wing Public Affairs

PATRICK AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. -- The 920th Rescue Wing showcased the rescue mission to Atlanta-based businessmen and women during a civic leader tour here Oct. 24.

The 94th Airlift Wing, Dobbins Air Reserve Base, Ga., transported the group to Patrick AFB aboard one if its C-130 Hercules aircraft.

"That was a great flight," said Dr. Debra Boureau, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University. "This is the first time I have flown on a military airplane, we were allowed up on the flight deck, it was cool."

The group toured Cape Canaveral Air Station and visited several historical sites while at Patrick. One such stop was at Launch Pad 34, where it stands today as a memorial to the crew of Apollo 1, U.S. Air Force Lt. Commander Roger B. Chaffee, Lt. Col. Virgil I. Grissom, and Lt. Col. Edward H. White II, all perished in a cabin fire during a launch pad test.

Col. Jeffrey Macrander, 920th RQW commander, gave the civic leaders a mission brief then led them out to the flight line for tour of a HH-60G Pave Hawk rescue helicopter.

During lunch, the civic leaders were able to observe 920th pararescuemen performing a water rescue training exercise in the nearby Banana River. Civic leaders witnessed as PJs parachuted from a C-130P/N king personal recovery aircraft and landed in the Banana River. Once in the river, Pave Hawk rescue helicopters swooped in to recover the PJs using the hoist capabilities on the Pave Hawk.

"This is a great program," said Chris Rideout, transportation manager, Croy Engineering. "As an honorary commander, I have had the opportunity to experience many aspects of the military. It has provided me with a greater knowledge, understanding and the role our military."

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