Helicopter and fixed-wing aircrews from the Air Force Reserve's 920th Rescue Wing at Patrick Air Force Base, Fla. will evacuate four HH-60G Pave Hawk helicopters and four HC-130P/N extened-range search-and-rescue C-130s to Maxwell-Gunter Air Force Base, Ala. Sept. 3 as part a hurricane alert measure. The wing is in the projected path of Tropical Storm Hanna, projected to become a hurricane and storm by the area later this week. (U.S. Air Force File Photo)

Florida rescue wing evacuates aircraft as Hanna approaches

2 Sep 2008 | Capt. Cathleen Snow

PATRICK AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. -- Due to the projected path of Tropical Storm Hanna, the U.S. Air Force Reserve's 920th Rescue Wing repositioned eight helicopter and fixed wing aircraft to Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala., Sept. 3 and rescheduled its monthly unit training assembly.

Aircrews will ferry the aircraft to the base in Montgomery, Ala., and return here to finalize hurricane preparations for their own homes.

Approximately 70 wing Airmen who were tasked to provide Hurricane Gustav search-and-rescue efforts in the hurricane's path were temporarily suspended due to the Hanna's impending projected path. In the mean time, wing members from one of the wing's geographically separated units at Davis-Monthan AFB, Ariz. are pre-positioned at Ellington, Texas, for any needed search and rescue in the area impacted by Gustav.