Off to save the day

PATRICK AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. -- An Air Force Reserve helicopter pilot with the 920th Rescue Wing here prepares to fly to the Gulf region, where he and a group of wing Airmen will stand ready to provide search and rescue support for those affected by Hurricane Ike. (U.S. Air Force photo/Capt. Cathleen Snow)

Gifts From Above

PATRICK AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. -- Air Force Reserve helicopter pilots with the 920th Rescue Wing depart from the base to conduct search and rescue operations in the Gilf region following Hurricane Ike's landfall. The men and women of the 920th are no strangers to this kind of work. In 2005, wing Airmen were a key asset during the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. Within 34 hours of Katrina's landfall, crews from the 920th deployed to the Gulf region and were the first Air Force responders on scene. (U.S. Air Force photo / Capt. Cathleen Snow)

Gearing Up to Save Lives

PATRICK AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. -- An Air Force Reserve helicopter crew member with the 920th Rescue Wing readies his HH-60G Pave Hawk helicopter for service in the Gulf region. The unit's mission following Hurricane Ike's landfall is to serve affected states with qualified and immediate medical care, while bringing the ability to conduct air refueling, air lift, air drops of supplies and the ability to hoist people in need out of flooding water. (U.S. Air Force photo / Capt. Cathleen Snow)

Loading the Bird

PATRICK AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. -- Air Force Reserve helicopter pilots and crew with the 920th Rescue Wing here make final preparations moments before flying to the Gulf region where Airmen from the wing will provide search and rescue support for those affected by Hurricane Ike. (U.S. Air Force photo / Capt. Cathleen Snow)

Patrick reservists prepare to help Hurricane Ike victims

Published Sept. 12, 2008
By Tech. Sgt. Paul Flipse
920th Rescue Wing Public Affairs

PATRICK AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. -- Air Force reservists from the 920th Rescue Wing here are going to Gulfport, Miss., to preposition search and rescue aircraft to aid victims of Hurricane Ike.

Airmen in two HH-60G Pave Hawk helicopters and two HC-130P/N Hercules long-range refueling aircraft will fly to Gulfport Biloxi International Airport. The will become part of the 331st Air Expeditionary Group, a joint search and rescue unit there standing ready to deploy at a moment's notice.

Col. Steve Kirkpatrick, 920th RQW commander, will run the operation. As head of the AEG, he will direct more than 400 joint-forces people along with 20 Air Force and Navy H-60 helicopters and four HC-130s.

Their mission after the hurricane makes landfall is to serve affected states with qualified and immediate medical care, while bringing the ability to conduct air refueling, airlift, air drops of supplies and the ability to hoist people in need out of flood water.

"Our SAR crews endure specialized training to conduct humanitarian and combat search and rescues," Colonel Kirkpatrick said. "We hope there isn't a need for it, but if there is, we will do it and we will do it well."

The men and women of the 920th RQW are no strangers to this kind of work.

In 2005, they rescued hundreds of people after Hurricane Katrina struck the Gulf of Mexico coastline in Louisiana and Mississippi. Within 34 hours of Katrina's landfall, they deployed to the region and were the first Air Force responders on scene. Once in place, the unit's rescue professionals sustained 21 days of around-the-clock operations involving 200 wing reservists. The wing was credited with saving 1,043 lives, including 475 people on Sept. 1, 2005.

A typical combat SAR crew is comprised of two pilots, a flight engineer, a gunner and two pararescuemen. During humanitarian search and rescue missions, the flight engineer and gunner assist PJs in rescue operations. (Air Force Reserve Command News Service)