Rescue wing sends replacements to Afghanistan

Air Force Reserve Command Airmen from the 920th Rescue Wing at Patrick Air Force Base, Fla., who maintain and fly the HH-60G Pave Hawk helicopter, are deploying to Afghanistan to support the U.S. Army medical evacuation operation there. Normally involved in combat search and rescue, this will be the first time the unit is involved with medevac missions. (U.S. Air Force Photo/Jim Massoni)

Iraqi aeromedical evacuation mission continues to evolve

Master Sgt. Ana Ortiz (left) and Master Sgt. Diana Nelson transport Mustafa Jasim to an Iraqi air force Mi-17 Hip helicopter at Joint Base Balad, Iraq, Dec. 20. Mustafa, his brother Ali and an Iraqi police officer were transported from Balad to the 86th Combat Support Hospital in Baghdad. Sergeant Ortiz, the 332nd Expeditionary Logistics Readiness Squadron Personnel Support for Contingency Operations superintendent, and Sergeant Nelson, the PERSCO NCO in charge, are deployed from the Connecticut Air National Guard's 103rd Airlift Wing. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class Jason Epley)

Airmen lead effort to rescue injured crewman at sea

An HH-60G Pave Hawk with the 56th Rescue Squadron takes off to fly more than 500 miles west of Ireland for a real-world rescue mission Dec. 10 at Royal Air Force Lakenheath, England. A crew member of a cargo ship suffered a serious head injury requiring a medical evacuation, and U.S. forces were called upon to help. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Nathan Gallahan)

Don't lose your flippers

After completing zodiac deployment training, pararescuemen from the 23rd Special Tactics Squadron climb a ladder into a U.S. Army MH-60 Blackhawk over Gator Lake, Fla., Oct. 16 near Hurlburt Field. Boarding via the ladder saves critical moments that may be needed in a rescue. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Julianne Showalter)

HH-60Gs integrate with Army AH-64s for war missions

An HH-60G Pave Hawk conducts combat search and rescue training mission Sept. 25 near Bagram Air Field, Afghanistan. The training mission was conducted with support from the Army's AH-64 Apaches in an effort to integrate operations in high-threat environments. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Rachel Martinez)

The last mission

Aerial gunner Staff Sgt. William Sell of the 20th Expeditionary Special Operations Squadron checks his 50-caliber machine gun before the last combat mission of the MH-53 Pave Low helicopter Sept. 27 in Iraq. The Pave Low was retired after nearly 40 years of service to the Air Force. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Aaron Allmon)