Airmen from the 26th Expeditionary Rescue Squadron conduct training on a .50 caliber machine gun at an undisclosed location in Afghanistan, March 7, 2013. The primary mission of the U.S. Air Force HH-60G Pave Hawk helicopter is to conduct day or night personnel recovery operations into hostile environments to recover isolated personnel. The Airmen are from the 129th Rescue Wing, California Air National Guard, Moffett Federal Airfield, Calif. (U.S. Air Force photo/Tech. Sgt. Dennis J. Henry Jr.)
129th Rescue Wing and 58th Rescue Squadron pararescuemen hoist a passenger off the bow of the Holland America cruise ship, ms Westerdam May 5, 2013, one of many saves the units have performed. (Air National Guard photo/Master Sgt. Miguel Toro)
Airmen deployed to the 26th Expeditionary Rescue Squadron, scramble after getting a training rescue call on Camp Bastion, Afghanistan, March 11, 2013. The Airmen are from the 129th Rescue Wing, California Air National Guard, Moffett Federal Airfield, Calif. (U.S. Air Force photo/Tech. Sgt. Dennis J. Henry Jr.)
A HH-60G Pave Hawk sits on a landing pad during the sunrise March 11, 2013, on Camp Bastion, Afghanistan. The primary mission of the HH-60G Pave Hawk helicopter is to conduct day or night personnel recovery operations into hostile environments to recover isolated personnel. (U.S. Air Force photo/Tech. Sgt. Dennis J. Henry Jr.)
A MC-130P Combat Shadow from the 81st Expeditionary Rescue Squadron (EQRS) prepares to take off during a training exercise March 5, 2013, in the Grand Bara Desert, Djibouti. The 81st ERQS conducts regular training exercises in support of Combined Joint Task Force-Horn of Africa. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Devin Doskey)
California Air National Guard HH-60G Pave Hawk rescue helicopter and air crew collect water in preparation for bucket drops over the Jawbone Complex Fire in Kern County, Calif., Aug. 15, 2012. During the support of the Bureau of Land Management, Kern County fire, and Cal Fire; the 129th Rescue Wing has performed more than 120 bucket drops. The air crew is assigned to the 129th Rescue Wing. (Air National Guard photo/Master Sgt. Julie Avey)
An HH-60G Pave Hawk rescue helicopter from the 129th Rescue Wing hovers over the Chinese fishing vessel Fu Yuan Yu #871, March 12, 2012. Guardian Angel Pararescuemen from the wing rescued two fishermen who were burned in a diesel fire onboard the vessel more than 700 miles off the coast of Acapulco, Mexico. (Air National Guard photo/Airman 1st Class John Pharr)
5/22/2013 - MOFFETT FEDERAL AIRFIELD, Calif. (AFNS) -- Members of the 129th Rescue Wing saved their 1,000th life May 18 when deployed aircrews and pararescuemen rescued an Afghan national policeman with a critical gunshot wound in Afghanistan.
Since its inception nearly four decades ago, the 129th RQW has launched countless missions from its home station of Moffett Federal Airfield and various deployed locations resulting in 1,000 lives saved. The wing is credited with more than 400 combat saves and nearly 600 civilian saves. In addition, the wing has assisted in more than 600 other saves.
"Perhaps more impressive than the 1,000-save milestone is the realization that 70 percent of these saves have been performed in the last 10 years," said Col. Steven J. Butow, the 129th Rescue Wing commander. "Only 40 percent of our saves were performed in combat, the rest were performed here in the homeland across a broad range of environments and conditions."
"A save involves the rescue or recovery of anyone in eminent danger of losing life, limb or eyesight," said Lt. Col. Steve Silver, the 129th Operations Group commander.
Highlights over the past 30 years include recovering injured climbers from the top of Mount Shasta, rescuing critically ill sailors from the East Pacific, rescuing hurricane survivors from floodwaters, extracting trapped motorists from beneath the collapsed Cyprus structure following the Loma Prieta Earthquake, hoisting flood victims from the Russian River, and saving firemen from wildfires in remote areas throughout the state of California.
"The 129th Rescue Wing is part of an elite force of Airmen that are specifically trained and dedicated to perform the mission of personnel recovery," Butow said. "As such, the wing is often requested to execute missions that are either too risky or beyond the capability of other forces to perform. While these missions may seem routine, they are far from it. Each mission presents unique challenges that require skill and experience aided by innovation and advanced technology.
"While we take time to celebrate this proud achievement, we must also pay tribute and honor the memories of 129th Airmen who made the ultimate sacrifice so that others may live," Butow said. "Like those they rescued, the lives of their families were forever changed and we will never forget them."
