Rescue teams switch to stand-by mode

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. Jason Tudor
  • Air Force Print News
RANDOLPH AIR FORCE BASE, Texas --  Search-and-rescue aircrews here will fly as needed, but are no longer launching on pre-planned missions to find victims of Hurricane Rita, officials said Sept. 26.

The changes come as four HH-60 Pave Hawk helicopters moved from here to Ellington Field, near Houston. They also will be on stand-by status for search and rescue missions.

On missions Sept. 25, four HH-60s searched an area near Silsbee, Texas, near the Louisiana border. The effort yielded no saves or assists, said Col. Mark Noyes, commander of the search-and-rescue effort here.

Helicopter crews have flown 57 sorties supported by 36 air-refueling missions. Since the start of operations, Sept. 22, Airmen have made seven saves and assisted with five others.

A total force search-and-rescue team has been flying missions from Randolph since Sept. 22. The team includes aircrews, pararescuemen and support people from the 347th Rescue Wing, Moody Air Force Base, Ga., and the Air Force Reserve’s 920th Rescue Wing at Patrick AFB, Fla. Airmen from Davis-Monthan AFB, Ariz., and Nellis AFB, Nev., also flew on missions.

The search-and-rescue effort is part of a larger, coordinated federal effort to find Rita victims.

Including the four helicopters at Ellington, the search-and-rescue unit has nine HH-60s and three HC-130s, which provide aerial refueling capability.