920th Rescue Wing
The 920th Rescue Wing is a United States Air Force Reserve combat search-and-rescue organization headquartered at Patrick Space Force Base, Florida.
Last updated August 26, 2026
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Overview
The 920th Rescue Wing is a unit of the United States Air Force Reserve Command and is assigned to Tenth Air Force. Based at Patrick Space Force Base in Florida, it is the Air Force Reserve’s principal combat search-and-rescue wing. Its central mission is to locate, assist, and recover military personnel in hostile or hazardous environments, including downed aircrew and isolated service members, while remaining capable of supporting domestic emergencies and humanitarian operations. The wing operates through a distributed structure. Its geographically separated organizations include the 943d Rescue Group at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Arizona; the 304th Rescue Squadron at Portland International Airport, Oregon; and the 920th Aerospace Medicine Squadron at Joint Base Langley-Eustis, Virginia. When mobilized, the wing is operationally gained by Air Combat Command. Its rescue force includes fixed-wing aircrews, helicopter crews, Combat Rescue Officers, enlisted Pararescuemen, and Survival, Evasion, Resistance and Escape specialists. Together, these personnel form the Guardian Angel recovery system. Candidates for the pararescue and Combat Rescue Officer specialties undergo highly selective and lengthy training. The wing’s aviation capabilities have evolved considerably. Its earlier rescue fleet included HC-130P/N Combat King aircraft for long-range search, command and control, aerial refueling, and support of HH-60G Pave Hawk helicopters. The last legacy HC-130P/N aircraft was retired in 2017, followed by the retirement of the final interim HC-130P in 2019. The wing began receiving HC-130J Combat King II aircraft in 2020 and has also begun replacing HH-60G helicopters with HH-60W Jolly Green Giant II aircraft. Although the current wing was established in 2003, its lineage includes earlier Air Force Reserve organizations dating to the activation of the 920th Troop Carrier Group in 1963. That group initially trained personnel for tactical airlift using C-123 Provider aircraft. The lineage later included a tactical airlift group and a weather reconnaissance group flying WC-130H Hercules aircraft, including hurricane reconnaissance missions. The rescue mission at Patrick began to expand in the 1990s, after the 301st Rescue Squadron moved there following Hurricane Andrew. The former weather reconnaissance group was reactivated as a rescue group in 1997, and the organization became a wing in 2003. The 920th has supported combat operations and contingency deployments associated with Operations Desert Storm, Southern Watch, Enduring Freedom, Iraqi Freedom, Freedom’s Sentinel, and Inherent Resolve, as well as missions in the Horn of Africa and other overseas locations. It has also provided domestic disaster response, including major operations after Hurricanes Andrew, Katrina, Rita, Hannah, and Ike. In addition, the wing has supported NASA crewed-spaceflight programs from Project Mercury through the Space Shuttle era, providing rescue coverage for launches and recovery contingencies. The organization’s public identity is defined less by commercial branding than by its specialized service role: rapid personnel recovery, long-range over-water rescue, combat readiness, and support to civil authorities. Since 1956, the wing and predecessor organizations are credited with thousands of military and civilian lives saved, including combat and peacetime rescues. The 920th remains an active reserve formation integrating part-time and full-time Airmen into national defense, emergency response, and personnel-recovery missions.
History
The organization’s lineage begins with the Air Force Reserve reorganization of the early 1960s. The Air Force had dispersed reserve flying squadrons among numerous locations under the Detached Squadron Concept, but the arrangement made partial mobilization difficult. In response, Continental Air Command established support groups for individual reserve squadrons. The 920th Troop Carrier Group was activated at Memphis Municipal Airport, Tennessee, on 11 February 1963 to support the 702d Troop Carrier Squadron. It operated C-123 Provider aircraft and trained reserve personnel for tactical airlift, including the movement and airdrop of troops, equipment, and supplies. The group was inactivated in 1965. The designation returned in 1973 at Keesler Air Force Base, Mississippi, as the 920th Tactical Airlift Group. Equipped with C-130 Hercules aircraft, the organization was soon redesignated the 920th Weather Reconnaissance Group. From 1976 to 1983, its WC-130H aircraft conducted hurricane reconnaissance missions as part of the Air Force’s Hurricane Hunter capability. The group was inactivated in 1983, and its weather-reconnaissance mission moved to the 815th Weather Reconnaissance Squadron. The modern rescue lineage developed at Patrick Air Force Base during the 1990s. In January 1993, the 301st Rescue Squadron moved from Homestead Air Force Base to Patrick after Homestead had been severely damaged by Hurricane Andrew. The squadron quickly demonstrated its domestic rescue role, including the evacuation of elderly residents from floodwaters in the Tampa area. Its HC-130 and HH-60 crews also conducted maritime searches, assisted distressed vessels, and recovered ill sailors in coordination with the United States Coast Guard and the Air Force Rescue Coordination Center. In April 1997, the former 920th Weather Reconnaissance Group was reactivated as the 920th Rescue Group. The new group provided a headquarters for the 301st Rescue Squadron and the newly established 39th Rescue Squadron, separating fixed-wing and helicopter rescue functions into distinct units. After the attacks of 11 September 2001, the group shifted from support to Operation Southern Watch into missions associated with Operation Enduring Freedom. In 2003, it was redesignated the 920th Rescue Wing and became the Air Force Reserve’s parent organization for combat search and rescue formations, including the 943d Rescue Group in Arizona. Elements of the wing deployed to Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2003 and operated in an environment that included enemy antiaircraft artillery and surface-to-air missile threats. In 2004, the wing’s active-duty gaining command was temporarily moved from Air Combat Command to Air Force Special Operations Command as part of an effort to consolidate rescue and special-operations capabilities. The arrangement was reversed in 2006, when Air Force Reserve and Regular Air Force combat search and rescue assets were realigned under their previous geographic and functional command relationships. The wing has repeatedly responded to disasters inside the United States. Its 2005 Hurricane Katrina operations involved more than 1,000 lives saved by HC-130 and HH-60 crews, following shortly after a major overseas deployment. In 2008, subordinate rescue squadrons supported communities affected by Hurricanes Hannah and Ike in Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, and at Keesler Air Force Base. The wing has also supported Hurricane Andrew relief operations and other civil search-and-rescue cases over land and sea. Its space-support role spans the major United States crewed-spaceflight programs. The organization provided rescue support for Project Mercury, Gemini, Apollo, Skylab, the Apollo-Soyuz Test Project, and the Space Shuttle program. Its operational rescue role has also included participation in the recovery associated with Operation Red Wings in Afghanistan, including the rescue of Navy SEAL Marcus Luttrell and recovery efforts for members of his team. Modernization has been a continuing feature of the wing. The final legacy HC-130P/N Combat King was retired in August 2017, while the last interim HC-130P left service in December 2019. Personnel undertook transition training for the HC-130J Combat King II, and the wing received its first aircraft of that type on 2 April 2020. The HH-60G Pave Hawk fleet has likewise been scheduled for replacement by HH-60W Jolly Green Giant II helicopters. The wing continues to deploy personnel and aircraft in support of overseas contingency operations, including missions connected with the Horn of Africa and Southwest Asia, while retaining a domestic emergency-response role.
- 2020
First HC-130J Combat King II arrives
[1]The wing received its first HC-130J Combat King II during its transition to a modern rescue-aircraft fleet.
- 2017
Legacy HC-130P/N retired
[1]The final legacy HC-130P/N Combat King was retired from wing service.
- 2005
Hurricane Katrina rescue response
[1]Wing crews provided extensive rescue and relief support along the Gulf Coast after Hurricane Katrina.
- 2003
920th Rescue Wing established
[1]The 920th Rescue Group was redesignated as a wing and expanded to include the 943d Rescue Group.
- 1997
920th Rescue Group reactivated
[1]The former weather reconnaissance organization was reactivated as a rescue group at Patrick Air Force Base.
- 1993
301st Rescue Squadron moves to Patrick
[1]The 301st Rescue Squadron relocated to Patrick Air Force Base after Hurricane Andrew devastated its former Homestead installation.
- 1973
Tactical airlift and weather reconnaissance lineage resumes
[1]The organization was reactivated at Keesler Air Force Base as a tactical airlift group and subsequently redesignated as a weather reconnaissance group.
- 1963
920th Troop Carrier Group activated
[1]The 920th Troop Carrier Group was activated at Memphis Municipal Airport to support the 702d Troop Carrier Squadron and conduct reserve tactical-airlift training.
Products and positioning
A specialized United States Air Force Reserve personnel-recovery organization combining combat search and rescue, domestic emergency response, humanitarian assistance, and spaceflight rescue support.
Long-range rescue aircraft · 2020
HC-130J Combat King II
The HC-130J Combat King II is the wing’s modern fixed-wing rescue platform. It supports extended-range search and rescue, coordination of recovery missions, logistics, and aerial refueling of rescue helicopters. The type replaced older HC-130P/N and interim HC-130P aircraft as the wing modernized its combat search-and-rescue force.
Combat rescue helicopter
HH-60W Jolly Green Giant II
The HH-60W is the next-generation rescue helicopter replacing the wing’s HH-60G Pave Hawk fleet. It is intended to provide improved range, survivability, communications, and mission systems for personnel recovery in combat and difficult peacetime environments.
Combat rescue helicopter
HH-60G Pave Hawk
The HH-60G Pave Hawk served as the wing’s principal rescue helicopter for combat recovery, disaster response, and maritime search and rescue. Its missions could include operations at night, in severe weather, and over long distances with aerial refueling support.
Long-range rescue aircraft
HC-130P/N Combat King
The HC-130P/N Combat King aircraft supported command and control, long-range search and rescue, transport, and helicopter refueling. The wing retired its final legacy aircraft in 2017 and its final interim HC-130P in 2019.
Marketing campaigns
- 2014Operation Inherent Resolve
Southwest Asia
The wing has deployed personnel in support of Operation Inherent Resolve and related regional personnel-recovery requirements.
Outcome. The wing continues to support overseas contingency operations.
- 2010Operation Red Wings recovery support
Afghanistan
The wing was involved in the mission that rescued Navy SEAL Marcus Luttrell and supported recovery efforts for members of his team.
Outcome. The operation became one of the wing’s best-known combat rescue engagements.
- 2008Hurricanes Hannah and Ike relief operations
United States
Wing rescue squadrons supported civilian rescue and relief operations in Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, and at Keesler Air Force Base.
Outcome. Helicopter, fixed-wing, and pararescue units contributed complementary capabilities to the response.
- 2005Hurricane Katrina and Rita relief operations
United States
The wing delivered search, rescue, evacuation, and humanitarian support along the Gulf Coast after Hurricanes Katrina and Rita.
Outcome. The wing reported more than 1,000 lives saved during the Katrina response.
- 2003Operation Iraqi Freedom
Iraq
Elements of the 920th deployed to Talil Air Base, Iraq, in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.
Outcome. Deployed crews conducted combat rescue operations in a hostile air-defense environment.
- 2001Operation Enduring Freedom
Afghanistan · Southwest Asia
The group shifted from earlier Southwest Asia commitments into support of Operation Enduring Freedom after the attacks of 11 September 2001.
Outcome. The wing’s rescue personnel became part of the continuing overseas personnel-recovery effort.
- 1992Hurricane Andrew relief operations
United States
The organization’s rescue lineage participated in relief and recovery operations after Hurricane Andrew.
Outcome. The disaster contributed to the relocation of the 301st Rescue Squadron to Patrick Air Force Base.
- 1981Space Shuttle rescue support
United States
The wing and predecessor organizations supported Space Shuttle recovery operations from the beginning of the program through its conclusion.
Outcome. Maintained spaceflight rescue support through 2011.
- 1975Apollo-Soyuz Test Project rescue support
United States · International
The organization supported recovery contingencies for the joint United States-Soviet Apollo-Soyuz mission.
Outcome. Provided rescue coverage for an internationally conducted crewed-spaceflight mission.
- 1973Skylab rescue support
United States
Rescue forces supported NASA’s Skylab human-spaceflight operations.
Outcome. Extended the wing’s spaceflight support role beyond lunar-era missions.
Showing the 10 most recent.
Brand decisions
2020
Modernization of helicopter rescue capabilityGeneration changeBackground
The HH-60G Pave Hawk fleet was approaching replacement after years of combat and disaster-response service.
Action taken
The wing initiated transition from HH-60G Pave Hawk helicopters to HH-60W Jolly Green Giant II aircraft.
Aftermath
The wing’s rotary-wing rescue capability is being modernized alongside the HC-130J fixed-wing fleet.
2019
Transition from HC-130P to HC-130JGeneration changeBackground
The wing’s interim HC-130P aircraft were not intended to be its long-term fixed-wing rescue fleet.
Action taken
The final interim HC-130P was retired, and personnel began transition training on the HC-130J Combat King II.
Aftermath
The first HC-130J arrived in April 2020, modernizing the wing’s long-range rescue and helicopter-refueling capability.
2017
Retirement of legacy HC-130P/N aircraftGeneration changeBackground
The wing’s older Combat King aircraft were based on modified C-130E airframes and required replacement.
Action taken
The final legacy HC-130P/N was retired and transferred to the 309th Aerospace Maintenance and Regeneration Group.
Aftermath
The wing temporarily used HC-130P aircraft transferred from the Alaska Air National Guard while preparing for the HC-130J transition.
2004
Temporary alignment with Air Force Special Operations CommandStrategyBackground
The Department of Defense and Air Force explored combining combat search and rescue with related special-operations aviation capabilities.
Action taken
The wing’s Regular Air Force gaining command was temporarily reassigned from Air Combat Command to Air Force Special Operations Command.
Aftermath
The arrangement was judged unsuitable for the command-and-control requirements of combat rescue, and rescue assets were realigned under Air Combat Command in 2006.
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