VIII.

129th Rescue Wing of
the California Air National Guard

Two rescue helicopters fly behind a large transport plane. They are connected to the plane with 2 long hoses that refuel the helicopters in midair.
Two HH-60G Pave Hawk rescue helicopters and an MC-130P Combat Shadow aircraft, assigned to the 129th Rescue Wing, California Air National Guard, conduct aerial refuel operations over the Pacific Ocean. Photo by Master Sgt. Miguel Toro, 2014. Courtesy National Guard News, photo no. 161115-A-YG824-001. The appearance of U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) visual information does not imply or constitute DoD endorsement.

The motto of the 129th Rescue Wing of the California Air National Guard is “In Peace and War, During Night and Day.” The motto of the Air Force Rescue community is “That Others May Live.” Since 1977, the 129th Rescue Wing and its Guardian Angel pararescue teams have saved more than 1,000 lives during successful combat and civilian search and rescue missions in the United States and around the world.

The organization’s history of service began in April 1955 when the 129th Air Resupply Group was activated at Hayward Airport, California. After a series of refinements to its name and objectives, the 129th Rescue Wing (RQW) moved to Moffett Field in 1984. Approximately 1,000 individuals currently contribute to its significant initiatives. Its federal mission is to “train, prepare and conduct worldwide combat search and rescue operations, over land or water, in both hostile and permissive environments. The 129th Rescue Wing also provides Agile Combat Support capabilities to Combatant Commanders.” Its mission for the State of California is to “support the Governor's office during state emergencies and contingencies by providing a wide range of capabilities, including specialized search and rescue and aerial fire-fighting.”

A birds-eye view of the north end of Hangars 3 and 2. The doors of Hangar 3 are open. 3 cargo planes, 3 helicopters, and 28 P-3 planes are parked outside.
Moffett Field Hangars 3 and 2 with P-3 Orion and MC-130P Combat Shadow aircraft and HH-60G Pave Hawk rescue helicopters, Wernher Krutein, circa 1994. Courtesy Photovault.com, photo no. MYNV03P01_17.1702

MC-130P Combat Shadow aircraft, HC-130J Combat King II aircraft, and HH-60G Pave Hawk rescue helicopters are at the heart of the 129th RQW’s endeavors. For many years, the 129th Maintenance Group was based in Hangar 3, where it provided around-the-clock aircraft maintenance support for all combat and peacetime operations. The hangar's offices were also utilized by various departments of the 129th RQW. Since the aging Hangar 3 structure needed extensive improvements and was almost seven times the size of what was needed by the California Air National Guard, a new Composite Maintenance Hangar was built in 2003. State-of-the-art training facilities, a six-story-high parachute drying tower, engine maintenance shops, garages, storage buildings, and other technical spaces were constructed in 2015 to support the 129th RQW’s multifaceted missions.

A rescue helicopter hovers above a white ship with U. S. Coast Guard written on its side. 2 people repel down a cable from the helicopter to the ship.
Members of the U.S. Coast Guard Maritime Safety and Security Team 91105 descend from a U.S. Air Force HH-60G Pave Hawk from the 129th Rescue Wing, California Air National Guard, Moffett Federal Airfield, California onto the Coast Guard cutter Tern in the San Francisco Bay. Photo by Petty Officer 3rd Class Melissa Hauck, U.S. Coast Guard, 2009. Courtesy National Guard News, photo no. 040209-A-YG824-012. The appearance of U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) visual information does not imply or constitute DoD endorsement.
Two rescue helicopters hover above a line of pine trees. A water bucket attached with long cables is seen hanging from the bottom of one helicopter.
An Air National Guard Pave Hawk HH-60G from the 129th Rescue Wing of Moffett Federal Airfield shares air space with an Army National Guard Black Hawk UH-60 from the 1-140th Aviation Battalion from Los Alamitos, Calif. The aircraft are loading water in their buckets from Paradise Lake in Butte County, California in support of Operation Lightning Strike. Photo by Sgt. Robert Davison, U.S. Army, 2008. Courtesy National Guard News, photo no. 160708-A-YG824-001. The appearance of U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) visual information does not imply or constitute DoD endorsement.
Two pararescuemen, with their backs to the camera, look out of the large, open, back cargo door of a transport plane flying near the surface of the sea.
Pararescuemen from the 129th Rescue Wing, Moffett Federal Airfield, California prepare to jump from an MC-130P Combat Shadow aircraft with Zodiac raft and other lifesaving gear. Photo by Airman 1st Class Julia Bates, 2014. Courtesy National Guard News, photo no. 070414-A-YG824-001. The appearance of U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) visual information does not imply or constitute DoD endorsement.
A rescue helicopter hovers above lush, hilly terrain. A man in a helmet descends from a cable with big packs of supplies to join 2 pararescuemen below.
California Air National pararescuemen begin extraction to a hovering HH60-G Pave Hawk rescue helicopter, Marine Corps Training Area Bellows, Waimanalo, Hawaii. The objective for the Guardian Angel Team assigned to the 129th Rescue Wing, Moffett Federal Airfield, California, was the recovery of civilian personnel from a downed aircraft. Photo by Staff Sgt. Kim Ramirez, 2014. Courtesy National Guard News, photo no. 141217-A-YG824-002. The appearance of U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) visual information does not imply or constitute DoD endorsement.
5 airmen, 3 with their backs to the camera, transfer large, wrapped packs of supplies from a truck into the open back cargo door of a transport plane.
U.S. Air Force Airmen with the 129th Rescue Wing load equipment and supplies onto an HC-130J Combat King II aircraft at Moffett Air National Guard Base, California in preparation for a rescue mission. Photo by Staff Sergeant Duane Ramos, 2023. Courtesy National Guard News, photo no. 230708-Z-KL412-1008. The appearance of U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) visual information does not imply or constitute DoD endorsement.
A man wearing a large headset with his back to the camera stands on the runway in front of a large approaching aircraft with huge spinning propellers.
Two MC-130P Combat Shadow tanker aircraft from the 129th Rescue Wing, Moffett Federal Airfield, California, taxi on the Moffett flightline. Photo by Master Sgt. Daniel Kacir, circa 2008. Courtesy National Guard News, photo no. 230409-A-YG824-095. The appearance of U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) visual information does not imply or constitute DoD endorsement.
A logo of a shield with a laurel wreath. It is divided by a long sword into a yellow half and blue half with 2 stars. 129th Rescue Wing is written below.
The seal of the 129th Rescue Wing, California Air National Guard. Courtesy 129th Rescue Wing, California Air National Guard. The appearance of U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) visual information does not imply or constitute DoD endorsement.

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