Rescue Reservists Assist in Search for Missing F-16 Pilot

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Leslie Kraushaar
  • 920th Rescue Wing
PATRICK AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. --  Air Force Reserve Airmen from the 920th Rescue Wing here are on the scene searching for an Air Force F-16 Fighter Jet pilot who ejected from his aircraft two days ago Thursday, Oct. 15 approximately 30-miles northeast of Charleston.

Missing is Air Force Capt. Nicholas Giglio from the 20th Fighter Wing at Shaw Air Force Base, S.C. Giglio's F-16 collided with a second F-16 at approximately 8:30 p.m. Thursday causing the abort.

The Rescue Wing Airmen launched two HH-60 Pave Hawk rescue helicopters from here at 7:55 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 17 to join in the on-going search.

Aircraft and surface vessels of the U.S. Coast Guard and Air Force have been combing the ocean east of Charleston since the incident, but the captain and his aircraft are still missing at this time.

Both aircraft were participating in night training maneuvers over the Atlantic.

The second F-16, piloted by Capt. Lee Bryant, was able to land safely at Charleston AFB, S.C. Captain Bryant was unharmed.

Shaw Air Force Base contacted the Coast Guard to commence the search for the pilot Thursday.  Additional support was requested from the 920th Rescue Wing today.

The 920th Rescue Wing is an Air Force Reserve Command combat-search-and-rescue unit. Commanded by Col. Steve W. Kirkpatrick, the 920th RQW trains and equips approximately 1,500 Citizen Airmen to search for, locate and recover U.S. Armed Forces personnel during military operations.

In addition, the 920th RQW also provides rescue support for all NASA space shuttle and rocket missions, including safety and security surveillance of the Eastern Range during all launches from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station and Kennedy Space Center. The unit's other peacetime missions are providing search and rescue support for civilians in any type of environment who are lost or in distress, and providing humanitarian and disaster-relief operations.