Air Force continues Hurricane Rita support Published Sept. 25, 2005 WASHINGTON (AFPN) -- In response to Hurricane Rita, the Air Force has flown 82 missions supporting evacuation, relief and recovery operations. Additionally, Air Force search and rescue crews began combing the Gulf Coast Sept. 24, and the Air Force's auxiliary volunteer force continues to assist in aerial damage assessment.-- Thirteen HH-60 Pave Hawk helicopters from the 920th Rescue Wing at Patrick Air Force Base, Fla., and the 347th Rescue Wing at Moody AFB, Ga., flew 14 search and rescue missions Sept 24. The crews rescued five people and assisted with another six rescues. Pararescue crews will continue to search affected areas Sept. 25.-- Members of the Civil Air Patrol have flown 42 missions supporting Hurricane Rita aerial damage assessment, as well as search and rescue. The CAP is staging 12 aircraft and 20 aircrews out of Dallas Mission Base in Addison, Texas, and from Stinson Field near San Antonio.-- A U-2 surveillance and reconnaissance aircraft from the 99th Reconnaissance Squadron at Beale AFB, Calif., is providing imagery of the affected Gulf Coast region.-- An Air National Guard Contingency Response Group is staged at Ellington Field, Houston, to assist with relief and recovery efforts as needed.-- Airmen from the 621st CRW from McGuire AFB, N.J., evacuated nearly 2,000 of the most vulnerable people -- from new born babies to senior citizens -- who were in the hurricane’s projected path.-- About 990 servicemembers, mostly active duty Navy and their families, who had evacuated from coastal military installations to Lackland AFB in San Antonio prior to Rita's landfall, are expected to return home Sept. 25.