Air Force Special Operations Command crews from the 347th Rescue Wing, headquartered Moody AFB, Ga., had picked up 221 stranded Hurricane Katrina survivors as of Aug. 31, the Air Force confirmed Thursday in a statement. That is the latest date for which comprehensive data are available. Operating from the Jackson-Evers International Airport in Mississippi, the AFSOC wing sent in 14 HH-60G Pave Hawks (including nine from its units at Davis-Monthan AFB, Ariz., and Nellis AFB, Nev.), aircrews, pararescuemen, and maintainers.
Air Force depots are not typically meant for quick repair jobs, but during Operation Epic Fury, the service moved some of its stateside heavy maintenance capability forward to fix battle-damaged aircraft closer to the fight.
