Rescue Wing Airmen return from duty in the Horn of Africa

By Staff Sgt. Leslie Kraushaar, 920th Rescue Wing Public Affairs / Published October 15, 2010

PATRICK AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. - 1st Lt. Patrick Woodruff, HC-130P/N King pilot, 920th Rescue Wing here, hugs his daughter Ella, 5, after returning from a deployment to Africa October 15, 2010. He piloted a wing aircraft with a crew of 5, all the way from Africa to Florida with 20 Airmen aboard. Upon landing, he was also greeted by his wife, Lauren, and black labrador retriever, Belle. The Air Force Reservists were deployed to the horn of Africa region were they provided combat search and rescue support. All together 63 Reservists were deployed for 45 days. The Wing is one of the most called upon units in the nation. Airmen deploy often supporting combat search and rescue worldwide. (U.S. Air Force Photo/Capt. Cathleen Snow)

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PATRICK AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. - 1st Lt. Patrick Woodruff, HC-130P/N King pilot, 920th Rescue Wing here, hugs his daughter Ella, 5, after returning from a deployment to Africa October 15, 2010. He piloted a wing aircraft with a crew of 5, all the way from Africa to Florida with 20 Airmen aboard. Upon landing, he was also greeted by his wife, Lauren, and black labrador retriever, Belle. The Air Force Reservists were deployed to the horn of Africa region were they provided combat search and rescue support. All together 63 Reservists were deployed for 45 days. The Wing is one of the most called upon units in the nation. Airmen deploy often supporting combat search and rescue worldwide. (U.S. Air Force Photo/Capt. Cathleen Snow)

PATRICK AIR FORCE BASE; Fla. - A crew of 5 Airmen from the 920th Rescue Wing here pilot this HC-130P/N King aircraft all from Africa to Florida with 20 Airmen aboard. The Air Force Reservists were deployed to the horn of Africa region were they provided combat search and rescue support. All together 63 Reservists were deployed for 45 days. The Rescue Wing Airmen is one of the most called upon units in the nation. Airmen deploy often supporting combat search and rescue worldwide. (U.S. Air Force Photo/Capt. Cathleen Snow)

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PATRICK AIR FORCE BASE; Fla. - A crew of 5 Airmen from the 920th Rescue Wing here pilot this HC-130P/N King aircraft all from Africa to Florida with 20 Airmen aboard. The Air Force Reservists were deployed to the horn of Africa region were they provided combat search and rescue support. All together 63 Reservists were deployed for 45 days. The Rescue Wing Airmen is one of the most called upon units in the nation. Airmen deploy often supporting combat search and rescue worldwide. (U.S. Air Force Photo/Capt. Cathleen Snow)

PATRICK AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. - A crew of five Airmen from the 920th Rescue Wing here piloted this HC-130P/N King all from Africa to Florida with 20 Airmen aboard. The Air Force Reservists were deployed to the horn of Africa region were they provided combat search and rescue support. All together 63 Reservists were deployed for 45 days. The Rescue Wing is one of the most called upon units in the nation. Airmen deploy often supporting combat search and rescue worldwide. (U.S. Air Force Photo/Capt. Cathleen Snow)

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PATRICK AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. - A crew of five Airmen from the 920th Rescue Wing here piloted this HC-130P/N King all from Africa to Florida with 20 Airmen aboard. The Air Force Reservists were deployed to the horn of Africa region were they provided combat search and rescue support. All together 63 Reservists were deployed for 45 days. The Rescue Wing is one of the most called upon units in the nation. Airmen deploy often supporting combat search and rescue worldwide. (U.S. Air Force Photo/Capt. Cathleen Snow)

PATRICK AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. - 1st Lt. Patrick Woodruff, HC-130P/N King pilot, 920th Rescue Wing here, is led by his daughter, Ella, 5, out the side of the aircraft which he just landed October 15, 2010, after piloting it, with a crew of 5, all from Africa to Florida with 20 Airmen aboard. His wife, Lauren, and black labrador retriever, Belle, were also there to greet Lt. Woodruff. The Air Force Reservists were deployed to the horn of Africa region were they provided combat search and rescue support. All together 63 Reservists were deployed for 45 days. The Wing is one of the most called upon units in the nation. Rescue Wing Airmen deploy often supporting combat search and rescue worldwide. (U.S. Air Force Photo/Capt. Cathleen Snow)

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PATRICK AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. - 1st Lt. Patrick Woodruff, HC-130P/N King pilot, 920th Rescue Wing here, is led by his daughter, Ella, 5, out the side of the aircraft which he just landed October 15, 2010, after piloting it, with a crew of 5, all from Africa to Florida with 20 Airmen aboard. His wife, Lauren, and black labrador retriever, Belle, were also there to greet Lt. Woodruff. The Air Force Reservists were deployed to the horn of Africa region were they provided combat search and rescue support. All together 63 Reservists were deployed for 45 days. The Wing is one of the most called upon units in the nation. Rescue Wing Airmen deploy often supporting combat search and rescue worldwide. (U.S. Air Force Photo/Capt. Cathleen Snow)

PATRICK AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. - Ella Woodruff, 5, and her mother, Lauren, of Orlando, show up here and wait for their Airmen, 1st Lt. Patrick Woodruff, as he pilots home a wing HC-130P/N King aircraft after a 45-day deployment to the Horn Africa October 15, 2010. He and a crew of 5 Airmen from the 920th Rescue Wing flew the aircraft all from Africa to Florida with 20 Airmen aboard. The Air Force Reservists were deployed to the nation to provide combat search and rescue support. All together 63 Reservists were deployed for 45 days. The Wing is one of the most called upon units in the nation. Airmen deploy often supporting combat search and rescue worldwide. (U.S. Air Force Photo/Capt. Cathleen Snow)

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PATRICK AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. - Ella Woodruff, 5, and her mother, Lauren, of Orlando, show up here and wait for their Airmen, 1st Lt. Patrick Woodruff, as he pilots home a wing HC-130P/N King aircraft after a 45-day deployment to the Horn Africa October 15, 2010. He and a crew of 5 Airmen from the 920th Rescue Wing flew the aircraft all from Africa to Florida with 20 Airmen aboard. The Air Force Reservists were deployed to the nation to provide combat search and rescue support. All together 63 Reservists were deployed for 45 days. The Wing is one of the most called upon units in the nation. Airmen deploy often supporting combat search and rescue worldwide. (U.S. Air Force Photo/Capt. Cathleen Snow)

PATRICK AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. - 1st Lt. Patrick Woodruff, HC-130P/N King pilot, 920th Rescue Wing here, piloted a wing aircraft with a crew of 5, all the way from Africa to Florida with 20 Airmen aboard. Upon landing, he was greeted by his wife, Lauren, daughter, Ella, 5, and black labrador retriever, Belle. The Air Force Reservists were deployed to the horn of Africa region were they provided combat search and rescue support. All together 63 Reservists were deployed for 45 days. The Wing is one of the most called upon units in the nation. The Rescue Wing Airmen deploy often supporting combat search and rescue worldwide. (U.S. Air Force Photo/Capt. Cathleen Snow)

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PATRICK AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. - 1st Lt. Patrick Woodruff, HC-130P/N King pilot, 920th Rescue Wing here, piloted a wing aircraft with a crew of 5, all the way from Africa to Florida with 20 Airmen aboard. Upon landing, he was greeted by his wife, Lauren, daughter, Ella, 5, and black labrador retriever, Belle. The Air Force Reservists were deployed to the horn of Africa region were they provided combat search and rescue support. All together 63 Reservists were deployed for 45 days. The Wing is one of the most called upon units in the nation. The Rescue Wing Airmen deploy often supporting combat search and rescue worldwide. (U.S. Air Force Photo/Capt. Cathleen Snow)

Related Fact Sheets

920th Rescue Wing

PATRICK AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. -- Rescue Wing Airmen from the 920th Rescue Wing here touched down in Florida Friday night after piloting home a wing HC-130P/N King aircraft all the way from Africa where they were deployed for the past 45 days.

The extended-range-combat-search-and-rescue aircraft transported twenty Airmen and was the first of two to return from the deployment.

The 45-day deployment took approximately 63 Air Force Reservists to the region in provding combat search and rescue in support of U.S. Africa Command.

The Airmen provided a search and rescue platform for pararescue personnel and conducted air refueling for combat-search-and-rescue helicopters. They saved lives and supported various ongoing contingencies.

The King is the only dedicated fixed-wing combat search and rescue platform in the Air Force inventory.

The deployment was one of many for the 920th RQW and its Rescue Reservists. Earlier this year, Airmen provided rescue support during overseas contingency operations in Afghanistan and saved many lives from an avalanche that struck in the Salang Pass.

The second HC-130 from Africa is due to return tomorrow with the additional Airmen and they're already resetting their clocks to deploy again.

Stay up to date with the 920th Rescue Wing at http://www.920rqw.afrc.af.mil. Follow the 920th on Facebook and Twitter.