129TH RESCUE WING SUPPORTING HURRICANE RESCUE OPERATIONS

MOFFETT FEDERAL AIRFIELD, Calif., August 31, 2008 - Air National Guardsmen from the 129th Rescue Wing departed here today at noon to provide search and rescue support for Hurricane Gustav victims in the Gulf Coast Region.

The two HH-60G Pave Hawk rescue helicopters, one MC-130P Combat Shadow tanker and 19 personnel, including pararescuemen, departed here for Kirtland Air Force Base, N.M. Tomorrow they will proceed to either Ellington Field in Houston, Texas, or Meridian, Miss., where they will pre-position for Hurricane Gustav civilian search and rescue missions.

After the hurricane passes through the region, the Airmen will proceed directly to the disaster area to perform rescues.

A 129th RQW-based MC-130P Combat Shadow tanker will depart here for Ellington Field or Meridian tomorrow at 9 a.m., along with two C-130J Hercules cargo aircraft from the 146th Airlift Wing, Channel Islands Air National Guard Station, Calif. The three aircraft are slated to transport
approximately 60 129th personnel and pararescue equipment to the pre-positioning locations.

As an Air National Guard unit, many of the 129th’s past missions involved supporting the Governor’s office during state emergencies, which included earthquakes, chemical spills, fires and floods. Equipped with MC-130P Combat Shadow tankers and HH-60G Pave Hawk rescue helicopters, the 129th has 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 564.

Capt. Alyson M. Teeter/Public Affairs

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