Photo By Maj. Michael O'Hagan | Airmen of the New York Air National Guard offload an HH-60 Pavehawk from a C-17...... read more read more
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GABRESKI AIR NATIONAL GUARD BASE, Westhampton Beach, N.Y.--For the second time in two weeks, Airmen of the New York Air National Guard’s 105th Airlift Wing and 106th Rescue Wing, deployed troops and equipment in support of a hurricane response on Thursday, Sept. 7.
Two C-17s assigned to the 105th Airlift Wing departed Gabreski Air National Guard Base at Westhampton Beach N.Y., the home of the 106th Rescue Wing, on the afternoon of Sept. 7 carrying three HH-60 Pave Hawk rescue helicopters, three Zodiac inflatable rescue boats, and a team of maintainers, pararescuemen, Combat Rescue Officers, logisticians, and other support staff, and headed for San Juan Puerto Rico.
The wing also flew two HC-130 search and rescue aircraft, which are capable of refueling the HH-60s in flight and providing command and control capability, to Puerto Rico as well. The deployment was one component of the National Guard response to Hurricane Irma’s impact on that island and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
The 106th Rescue Wing committed a total of 131 Airmen to the mission.
The 105th Airlift Wing, which is based at Stewart Air National Base outside Newburgh, N.Y, committed 12 Airmen to the Caribbean mission.
On Sept. 8, members the 106th Rescue Wing team began conducting missions in St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands, basing out of San Juan, according to Capt. Michael O'Hagan, the wing public affairs officer.
The two wings did the same thing on August 26, and headed for Fort Hood, TX, after Hurricane Harvey flooded the Houston area.
On that mission the 106th also deployed three HH-60s and sent rescue boats. But that time the wing initially deployed only one HC-130. A second was dispatched two days later when it became clear the capabilities of the aircraft were needed.
The 106th deployed 124 Airmen on that mission. Those Airmen were credited with rescuing 546 Texans using helicopters and four boats. The wing’s team returned from that deployment on Sept. 1.
More than half of the 131 Airmen who deployed to Puerto Rico on Sept. 7 also took part in the Hurricane Harvey mission, according to Capt. Linda Varela, the 106th Rescue Wing executive officer.
New York Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo said that the New York National Guard response exemplified New Yorker’s readiness to help others.
"New York has had much firsthand experience with extreme weather and the devastation it leaves behind," Cuomo said. "Just as New York stood shoulder to shoulder with Texas and Louisiana during Hurricane Harvey, we stand ready to provide any support and assistance we can for our neighbors in need. From Florida, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands, to the Dominican Republican and other Caribbean nations in Irma's path, New York is here to help."
| Date Taken: | 09.08.2017 |
| Date Posted: | 09.08.2017 16:23 |
| Story ID: | 247493 |
| Location: | WESTHAMPTON BEACH, NEW YORK, US |
| Hometown: | NEWBURGH, NEW YORK, US |
| Hometown: | WESTHAMPTON BEACH, NEW YORK, US |
| Web Views: | 324 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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