Wing answers help call for missing divers
Photo by U.S. Air Force photo/Capt. Cathleen SnowA helicopter rescue crew from the 920th Rescue Wing refuels at Patrick Air Force Base before heading back out to the Atlantic Ocean off the coast of Cape Canaveral and to continue search efforts for a missing diver July 26.
Photo by U.S. Air Force photo/Capt. Cathleen SnowA helicopter rescue crews from the 920th Rescue Wing refuels at Patrick Air Force Base before heading back out to the Atlantic Ocean off the coast of Cape Canaveral to continue search efforts for a missing diver July 26.
by Capt. Cathleen Snow
920th Rescue Wing
PATRICK AIR FORCE BASE (AFPN), FL - Airmen of the 920th Rescue Wing answered the call for help in search of a missing diver off the coast of Port Canaveral, July 26. Earlier in the day, rescue crews had also aided in the successful rescue of another diver.
HH-60G Pave Hawk helicopter crews from the Air Force Reserve Command's 920th RQW launched to help search for the missing divers.
In the first rescue, 920th RQW helicopter crews aided in the successful rescue of a missing diver off the coast of Boca Raton. The crews were conducting an exercise in Key West, and as they flew up the coast to Boca Raton to refuel, they spotted an unmanned boat dragging its anchor. Two helicopters were launched on the scene, in addition to other rescue assets. Ultimately that diver was found by the Coast Guard.
In the second search, a 60-year-old man had been diving with a friend for lobster when they became separated. The man's diving companion resurfaced without him, so he alerted authorities. A large search effort went into effect immediately.
A Coast Guard Station Port Canaveral small boat, a Coast Guard Air Station Clearwater, helicopter, Brevard County Sheriff's Office, and Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission searched for the missing man, as well as good samaritans on the scene. Two HH-60Gs aslo helped search for the missing diver.
At approximately 7 p.m., the two HH-60Gs returned to Patrick Air Force Base to refuel and, with little time to spare, turned back around to continue their search before sunset. The search was called off at 8:30 p.m.
The 920th RQW is one of the most called upon units in the Air Force Reserve, and is the only reserve rescue wing in the U.S. The wing's primary mission is combat search and rescue, but it also supports NASA and the 45th Space Wing in all rocket and space shuttle launches, as well as civilian humanitarian calls for help.
"We are always ready at a moment's notice to aid those in need. It's what we train for as Air Force Reserve search and rescue teams," said Colonel Steve Kirkpatrick, the 920th RQW commander.
(Courtesy of Air Force Reserve Command News Service)
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