The New York Air National Guard’s 106th Rescue Wing is assisting the U. S. Coast Guard search and rescue operation for the missing submersible that had been on a mission to explore the wreckage of the Titanic. Based at F.S. Gabreski Air National Guard Base in Westhampton Beach on Long Island, the 106th is one of three Air National Guard search and rescue units in the country and the only one based on the East Coast. The 106th flies fixed-wing search and rescue aircraft and rescue helicopters and has a unit of pararescue jumpers who are trained to rescue people on sea and on land.
“The women and men of New York’s Air National Guard are always ready to lend a helping hand,” Gov. Kathy Hochul said. “I commend the members of the 106th Rescue Wing for their efforts to assist the U.S. Coast Guard in this search and rescue operation.”
On Monday, June 19, the 106th Rescue Wing launched an HC-130J Combat King search and rescue aircraft at 3:18 p.m. at the request of the Coast Guard. There were 13 Airmen on board including a team of pararescue jumpers. The aircraft flew 900 miles out into the Atlantic Ocean and searched a designated area using forward looking infrared radar and onboard observers. The plane returned to base at 2 a.m. June 20. The wing was been asked to fly another mission assist in the search in the afternoon.
CNNN provided the video below that reports events as of mid-afternoon on June 20.
