Airmen transport helo crash survivors to hospital

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MOFFETT FEDERAL AIRFIELD, Calif. (AFPN) --  California Air National Guardsmen from the 129th Rescue Wing here rescued two survivors of a civilian helicopter crash Aug. 5 near Junction City, Calif.  

The Sikorsky S-61 firefighting helicopter that went down was assigned to the Buckhorn Fire in the Iron Complex.

A Moffett-based HH-60G Pave Hawk helicopter aircrew and pararescue team responded to the call from the California Office of Emergency Services. 

The crews picked up the two patients at approximately 9:15 p.m. from the Weaverville, Calif. airstrip and transported them to a hospital in Redding. 

129th RQW rescue teams have been in Redding on search and rescue alert in support of Operation Lightning Strike since late July, and performed two other rescue missions in the previous week. 

The first was a July 31 medevac mission of a firefighter who suffered a concussion while battling the Iron Complex wildland fire. The second mission occurred Aug. 4 near French Bear, Calif., for a heat stroke victim who had been fighting the Feather River Complex wildland fire. 

The primary mission of the 129th RQW is to train and be prepared to perform its federal mission of combat search and rescue anywhere in the world. In addition, the unit also works closely with the Coast Guard and various civilian agencies on state missions. 

Equipped with MC-130P Combat Shadow tankers and HH-60G Pave Hawk rescue helicopters, 129th aircrews have performed a wide variety of civilian search and rescue missions, including distressed persons aboard ships, lost or injured hikers and medical evacuations. The total number of people saved by the 129th RQW is 563. 

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