Airmen return from African mission

PATRICK AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. - Twenty eight of Brevard?s Reserve Rescuers returned here May 14 from Africa where they piloted two HC-130P/N Hercules aircraft providing combat search and rescue support to the Horn of Africa region, which includes the countries of Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia and Somalia. The HC-130 shows the Reservists landing on an unimproved air strip after a mission to provide rescue support. This concludes a deployment of approximately 100 reservists: pilots, aircrew, pararescuemen, maintainers and many support Airmen who were mobilized to Camp Le Monier for up to two months. (U.S. Air Force Photo/Master Sgt. Rob Grande) The Airmen piloted two HC-130P/N Hercules Aircraft from here to Africa operating out of Camp Le Monier which is located on the south-west side of the Djibouti-Ambouli International Airport. The HC-130s provide an extended-range refueling capacity to helicopter rescue units operating in the area. They also provide a platform to insert pararescuemen and other special operators into areas where they can support ongoing operations.