The last two HH-60G Pave Hawk helicopters departed on their final flight after nearly three decades as a cornerstone of CSAR operations for the 920th Rescue Wing.

The Pave Hawk carried a specialized crew that includes two pilots and two special mission aviators who operate the hoist and onboard weapons. Together, these teams, alongside pararescuemen, perform rapid insertion, extraction and lifesaving medical care in dense urban environments, over water and in combat zones.

The 301st and 305th RQS have logged tens of thousands of flight hours and conducted thousands of sorties in both training and operational missions. In the past decade alone, records show that the 301st RQS totaled more than 20,000 flight hours across 11,000 sorties while the 305th RQS flew more than 12,600 flight hours across 5,000 sorties. Combined, they leave a legacy of more than 5,000 lives saved through CSAR, humanitarian operations and disaster responses.

“The HH-60G Pave Hawk has carried this wing’s rescue mission for decades and its impact is measured though the thousands of lives saved. From rescues overseas to disaster relief at home, the aircraft proved itself time and again as a platform we could rely on. Every mission we launched reflected the dedication of our aircrew and maintainers who kept these helicopters flying in some of the most demanding conditions imaginable,” said Lt. Col. Melvin Bonifacio, 301st RQS commander.

Over their many years of service, HH-60G Pave Hawk crews from the 301st and 305th RQS deployed worldwide in support of nearly every major U.S. contingency operation. In the 1990s, aircrews participated in Operations Southern Watch and Northern Watch. Following the September 11th attacks, they supported Operation Noble Eagle as well as Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan and the Horn of Africa. Subsequent missions included Operation Iraqi Freedom from Kuwait, Tallil and Baghdad, Operation Inherent Resolve in Jordan, Operation Freedom’s Sentinel in Afghanistan, and Operation Octave Shield from Baledogle, Somalia. These deployments showcased the wing’s CSAR across multiple theaters. 

As the HH-60G Pave Hawk completes its retirement, the wing will convert to the HH-60W Jolly Green II. The new model brings extended range, improved survivability, and advanced avionics to meet the demands of future missions.

“The conversion to the HH-60W Jolly Green II, ensures we are taking the next step in ensuring our Airmen can save even more lives in the years ahead. The mission has always been about bringing people home, and this new platform ensures we will continue to do that,” said Bonifacio.

The 920th Rescue Wing is Air Force Reserve Command’s only combat search and rescue wing, whose mission is to plan, lead and conduct military rescue operations to deny competitors and adversaries the exploitation of isolated personnel.