Leaves Behind Legacy Of Service And Valor in USAF History

The U.S Air Force's 920th Rescue Wing out of Patrick Space Force Base near Cocoa Beach, Florida, announced that its last two HH-60G Pave Hawk helicopters departed on their final flight after almost thirty years of service as a workhorse of combat search and rescue operations for the Wing.

The flight of two Pave Hawks made their way to the 309th Aerospace Maintenance and Regeneration Group at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base in Tucson, Arizona.

The Sikorsky HH-60G Pave Hawk, derived from the U.S. Army UH-60 Black Hawk, is a four-blade, twin-engine helicopter modified for CSAR operations. As such it was designed to locate and recover personnel from isolated locations in remote or hostile environments during day or night and in all weather conditions.

The Pave Hawk is equipped with an aerial refueling probe, advanced avionics, radar and infrared sensor systems, and a crew-served weapons package to protect air crew and rescued personnel.

Making up the crew complement on the Pave Hawk are two pilots and two special mission aviators to operate the hoist and weapons systems. These teams work with pararescue personnel to perform rapid insertion, extraction, and lifesaving medical care in all environments including dense urban areas, combat zones, and over water.

Lt. Col. Melvin Bonifacio, 301st Rescue Squadron commander said, “The HH-60G Pave Hawk has carried this wing’s rescue mission for decades and its impact is measured though the thousands of lives saved. From rescues overseas to disaster relief at home, the aircraft proved itself time and again as a platform we could rely on. Every mission we launched reflected the dedication of our aircrew and maintainers who kept these helicopters flying in some of the most demanding conditions imaginable.”

FMI:  www.919sow.afrc.af.mil/