Brevard reservists mobilize to give rescue support to victims of Hurricane Ike

  • Published
  • 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 scheduled to deploy, along with helicopters and long-range refueling aircraft, to the Gulf region to ensure search and rescue (SAR) forces are prepositioned to provide support for those who may be affected by Hurricane Ike. 

The Reserve Airmen, along with two HH-60G Pave Hawk helicopters and two HC-130P/N Hercules aircraft, will depart Patrick AFB today for Gulfport Biloxi International Airport, Miss., where they will become part of the 331st Air Expeditionary Group (AEG), a joint search and rescue unit there standing ready to deploy at a moment's notice.
The operation is run by the 920th Rescue Wing's own commander, Col. Steve Kirkpatrick. As head of the AEG, Colonel Kirkpatrick is in charge of more than 400 joint-forces personnel, approximately 20 Air Force and Navy HH-60 helicopters and four HC-130s. 

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.
"Our SAR crews endure specialized training to conduct humanitarian and combat search and rescues," said Colonel Kirkpatrick." 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 are no strangers to this kind of work. In 2005, wing Airman 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. Once in place, the unit's rescue professionals sustained 21 days of around-the-clock operations involving 200 wing personnel. The wing was credited with saving 1,043 lives, including 475 people in one day alone (Sept. 1). 

A typical combat SAR crew consists of two pilots, a flight engineer, a gunner and two pararescuemen (PJs). But during humanitarian search and rescue missions, the flight engineer and gunner assist PJs in rescue operations. 

Air Force pararescuemen must complete a two-year, intensive training pipeline that consists of nine specialized schools prior to conducting any rescue missions. PJs have been instrumental in the rescue of countless American troops including Capt. Scott O'Grady, whose F-16C was shot down over Bosnia June 2, 1995; Lt. Col. Darrell Zelko, pilot of the F-117 Nighthawk lost in combat shot down near Belgrade, Yugoslavia and Army Private Jessica Lynch, taken prisoner after her convoy was ambushed near Nasiriyah, Iraq. 

Pararescuemen have also been portrayed in movies such as "Iron Man," (by actor Robert Downy Jr.); "Transformers," (by actor Tyrese Gibson); "Black Hawk Down," (by actor Ty Burrell); "Air Force One," (shown rescuing survivors of damaged aircraft); "The Perfect Storm," (featured PJs from the 129th Rescue Squadron, Moffett Airfield, Calif.) and "Flight from Ashiya," (by actor Yul Brynner).