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  • Rescue wing reservists return from tour of duty in Iraq

    Air Force Reservists from the 920th Rescue Wing here arrived home safely today after completing a six-month deployment to Kirkuk Air Base, Iraq. The team of 12 reservists, all members of the 920th Security Forces Squadron here, arrived at Orlando International Airport early evening Feb. 29. They left Patrick AFB Aug. 20 and served as ground-defense
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    920th Public Affairs wins eight command awards

    Rescue Wing journalists here cleaned up in the 2007 Air Force Reserve Command Media Contest, taking home five first-place awards, including best feature story, sports story, graphic, combat documentation photo and best photo by a stringer. In all, the 920th Public Affairs Office won eight awards, the most of any unit in the command. The winners by
  • PATRICK AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. -- A small group of reservists from the 920th Rescue Wing here departed today on the first-leg of a 14-month deployment in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. Before they left, the deploying reservists were visited on the flightline by John Patterson, a pitcher for the Washington Nationals baseball team, which plays its spring-training games at nearby Space Coast Stadium. Mr. Patterson gave out hats and baseballs, signed autographs, visited with family members and personally thanked each Airman for their service. After saying their goodbyes, the reservists boarded one of the unit’s HC-130 Hercules aircraft en route to Arizona, where they will join helicopter pilots, aircrew and support personnel from the wing’s subordinate unit at Davis-Monthan AFB. The group of approximately 80 wing personnel will then head for Afghanistan for the first half of a mobilization to support the U.S. Army medical evacuation operation. Later this year, the 920th will send another group of reservists from here to pick up the second half of the mission. The wing’s primary wartime job is combat search and rescue, which involves locating and rescuing servicemembers isolated in combat—such as pilots shot down behind enemy lines. The medevac deployment, called an “in-lieu-of” mission, marks the first time the 920th will undertake the role for the Army. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Paul Flipse)

    Reservists deploy, receive 'National' attention

  • Capt. Greg Lowdermilk, a 920th Rescue Wing Combat Rescue Officer, spent his 27-year Air Force career in the elite pararescue field saving lives and breaking new ground. He retired Feb. 15 from a legendary career as a pararescueman and combat rescue officer. His brother, Maj. Eldon Scott Lowdermilk, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Tikrit, Iraq, was the presiding officer who presented him with the Meritorious Service Medal. Although retired, Captain Lowdermilk will begin a new adventure in New York City as a project manager for a New York City company. (U.S. Air Force Photo/Mr. James Laviska)

    First generation CRO begins new adventure

    If one's career were to best be summed up using a car metaphor, then Capt. Greg Lowdermilk's would surely be a Porsche. Quality. Enduring. Professional. Legendary. Captain Lowdermilk spent his 27-year Air Force career in the elite pararescue field saving lives and breaking new ground, but he recently retired from this legendary life to begin a new
  • PATRICK AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. -- Senior Master Sgt. Thomas Mendenhall administers a vaccination to Army Capt. Scott Newman at the immunization clinic here. The immunization staff keeps servicemembers ready for deployment by maintaining shot currency for more than 1,200 wing personnel. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Heather Kelly)

    Airmen get point of immunizations

  • Air Force Reserve aircrews and pararescuemen from the 920th Rescue Wing conduct astronaut recovery training during the World Space Expo on the Banana River next to Kennedy Space Center Nov. 2. (U.S. Air Force Photo/Staff Sgt. Paul Flipse)

    Count down means gear up for Air Force Reservists

    As NASA begins its countdown for the launch of space shuttle Atlantis Feb. 7, Air Force Reservists from the 920th Rescue Wing here gear up to save the astronaut's lives. At 3-2-1 liftoff, these Airmen get ready, set, and wait in the wings to commence a rescue operation if the astronauts encounter danger during the critical seconds of a launch.
  • PATRICK AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. -- A former rescue-helicopter pilot took command of the 920th Rescue Wing's pararescue squadron during a change-of-command ceremony held at the professional development center here today. Lt. Col. Joel Kinnunen, seen here accepting the pararescue squadron guidon, succeeded Lt. Col. Coy Speer, who is retiring after 20 years of service to teach science at a high school in Arizona. Colonel Kinunnen comes to Patrick from one of the wing's geographically-separated units at Portland, Ore. Air Force pararescue men provide combat search and rescue support for special operations units and pilots shot down behind enemy lines, search and rescue service for civilian mariners, humanitarian relief during natural disasters and provide emergency medical support for every NASA shuttle and rocket launch. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Paul Flipse)

    Reserve pararescuemen welcome new commander

    A former rescue-helicopter pilot took command of the 920th Rescue Wing's pararescue squadron during a change-of-command ceremony held at the professional development center here today.Lt. Col. Joel Kinnunen succeeded Lt. Col. Coy Speer, who is retiring after 20 years of military service to teach science at a high school in Arizona.Colonel Kinnunen
  • Reserve Airman Diane Lopes, a security forces specialist with the 920th Rescue Wing, was deployed to Kirkuk Air Base, Iraq only four weeks before being wounded in a rocket attack. Now recovering at Walter Reed Army Medical Center, Md., the Tampa resident joined the 920th two years ago and has no plans to leave. The attack, she said, won't chase her away. "It's not going to keep me from doing this," she said of her job as a reservist. (Courtesy photo)

    Reservist wounded in Iraq gets big honor

    Purple heart awardee and Air Force Reservist Senior Airman Diane Lopes, 920th Rescue Wing security specialist here, was selected to sit with Laura Bush during President Bush's last State of the Union address Jan. 28. Airman Lopes is currently undergoing extensive physical therapy at Walter Reed Army Medical Center in the D.C. area and was singled
  • Air Force Reservist Master Sgt. Tom Trommater, 920th Maintenance Squadron, maintains the APR 39 Radar Warning Receiver and the AAR 47 missile approach warning system on an HH-60G Pave Hawk Helicopter during a Unit Training Assembly weekend at Patrick Air Force Base, Fla. (U.S. Air Force Photo/Master Sgt. Ray Padgett)

    Combat Rescue Maintenance Warriors

  • PATRICK AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. -- Staff Sgt. John Alimenti, a Reservist with the 920th Rescue Wing propulsion shop here, secures the igniter assembly on T-701C engine, used on the H-60 Pave Hawk helicopter. The propulsion shop is responsible for inspecting and removing engines, replacing bad components, then reinstalling and performing efficientcy tests. The Pave Hawks, along with pararescuemen and HC-130P/N refuelers, are part of the triad of assets used by the 920th for combat search and rescue, NASA launch support, civilian search and rescue, and humanitarian relief. (U.S. Air Force photo/Master Sgt. Chance C. Babin)

    Reserve mechanics keep rescue helicopters flying

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