Rescue Reservists "Reign" over Ft. Lauderdale

  • Published
  • By Capt. Cathleen Snow
  • 920th Rescue Wing
Ft. Lauderdale Air & Sea Show --  Beachcombers and aviation enthusiast alike amassed on Ft. Lauderdale Florida's surf and sand by the millions for the thirteenth annual McDonald's Air & Sea Show May 5-6.

While the torrid heat of the day basked sunbathers on the beach, the sky above seared with military hardware. According to observers, things really heated up when the 920th Rescue Wing Airmen took center stage midway through the day to show off their combat search and rescue goods.

"The CSAR demonstration that these Airmen performed was awesome. I've never seen anything like it before," said Ms. Eileen Gonzalez of Fort Lauderdale. She said it gave her confidence in the U.S. military. "I didn't realize how much training went into all of this."

During the CSAR demonstration, two HH-60G Pave Hawk helicopters, known as Jollies weaved back and forth along the 3-mile stretch of air space over the beach while an A-10 Warthog provided a combat escort.

Once the Jollies finished maneuvering they performed a hover and pararescuemen begin plunging into the sapphire sea below from the Jollies' side exit, demonstrating various personal recovery techniques at sea.

"It was the most awe-inspiring part of the whole show. It shows the amazing ability and risk these men take to save others. They're wonderful people," said Ms. Jennifer Leeser of Ft. Lauderdale.

The pararescuemen or PJs and combat rescue officers train on land, in the air and at sea to perform their primary mission of rescuing downed pilots from war zones. During the Air & Sea show; the PJs demonstrated another important aspect of their personnel recovery mission, to rescue astronauts if an emergency ever occurred during a manned space flight launch.

Astronauts and fighter pilots alike continually express their deep sense of appreciation for the mission these men, known as angels of mercy, carry out.

"If I'm ever in it, these are the guys I want to get me out," said Capt. Dave "Chappie" Balmer, F-22A Raptor pilot, 1st Fighter Wing, Langley AFB, Va.

The CSAR wrapped up when a King made a royal entrance. The King is the 920th's long range refueling aircraft or HC-130P/N. King crews flew majestically in a refueling formation with a tandem of Jollies seemingly connected to each side of the airplane via a long straw like fuel probe.

The crowds below showed their enthusiasm with cheers so loud they could be heard by the crews who piloted above. The King and the Jollies egged on this beach brouhaha and took their well-deserved aerial bows marking their exit.

Mr. Mickey Markoff, MDM Group, Ltd., executive producer of the air show, at an earlier press conference, said thank you to the men and women in the U.S. Military who he referred to as the people who are below the radar screen, "who are doing the right things for the right reasons."

Although the air show showed off some of the military's most technologically advanced weapon system, "It's not about the equipment, it's about the men and women who keep the nation free," said Mr. Markoff.

Subsequently, the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Reserve Affairs, Thomas F. Hall, brought greetings from Washington and the Secretary of Defense, Robert M. Gates. "This is America's War not the military's war," said the Honorable Hall.

"We will prevail and we will win with the great men and women serving today," he said.

F-16 fighter jets from Air Force Reserve Command's 482nd Fighter Wing, Homestead Air Reserve Station, Fla., launched each day's festivities.

Other performances included the Air Force Thunderbirds F-16 aerial demonstration team and the F-22A Raptor.

The Thunderbirds were there to represent the 513,000 Airmen serving in the U.S. Air Force today and to get the message out about the troops serving overseas.

As Air Force pilots and an Air Force team, everything we do is done together; it's a joint effort, said Lt. Col. Kevin Robbins, Thunderbird 1, leader.