Rescue wing gears up for Tropical Storm Ernesto

  • Published
  • By 1st Lt. Cathleen Snow
  • 920th Rescue Wing Public Affairs
PATRICK AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. (AFPN) --  Air Force Reserve Command's rescue unit here is taking measures to prepare for Tropical Storm Ernesto as it heads toward central Florida.

The 920th Rescue Wing will evacuate its aircraft to Dobbins Air Reserve Base, Ga., Aug. 29. Wing aircrews will fly their HH-60G Pavehawk helicopters and HC-130P/N Hercules aircraft to the designated base outside of Atlanta.

In the meantime, the wing has initiated safety measures to assure unit people and their families are safe, and that it secures its equipment and vehicles.

The wing's aircraft were postured for astronaut recovery efforts in preparation for the space shuttle launch Aug. 27, but due to the cancellation of the launch and the incoming weather, maintenance crews reconfigured the aircraft for potential hurricane rescue efforts.

"As a rescue wing, we are always ready to go at a moment's notice. We are trained to be flexible and are leaning forward to keep our members and their families safe, and to prepare to do what we train for every day -- rescue and recovery," said Col. Joe Trippy, 920th Rescue Wing vice commander.

Colonel Trippy's unit is one of the most called-upon units in the Air Force Reserve. During the aftermath of last year's devastating Hurricane Katrina, the wing was responsible for getting more than a thousand people to safety.

The 920th RQW is the only rescue wing in the Air Force Reserve. Wing reservists continually deploy in and around the world in support of the war on terrorism and other contingencies. The wing's primary mission is combat search and rescue, but it also provides recovery support for space shuttle and rocket launches as well as humanitarian calls for help.