Complex Joint Rescue

Photo by A1C John D. Parr, III

California Air National Guardsmen from the 129th Rescue Wing at Moffett Federal Airfield near Sunnyvale, in a joint effort with the US Coast Guard, successfully rescued two ill crewmen from the Ecuadorian vessel Mirelur 1,400 miles off Acapulco, Mexico, on 2-5 September 2012. An MC-130P Combat Shadow tanker and two HH-60G Pave Hawk helicopters were flown to the vessel so that four pararescuemen could jump into the Pacific and board the Mirelur to treat the patients. The fishermen and pararescuemen were then transferred to the USCGC Morgenthau (WHEC-722). From there, the patients and pararescuemen were hoisted onto two HH-60s and flown to Cabo San Lucas, Mexico, where the fishermen were hospitalized. Two MC-130P crews provided tanker and communications support on the inbound flight.