Air Force Reserve Command’s 920th Rescue Wing at Patrick AFB, Fla., dispatched an HC-130P/N to aid the Coast Guard in a search for 31 Dominican migrants over the weekend, reports Capt. Cathleen Snow. The Coast Guard asked for help to search more than 2,400 square miles between the Dominican Republic and Puerto Rico. The 920th RQW aircrew had to fly about 3.5 hours to reach their search area and flew another 1.5 hours on scene before hearing that the Coast Guard had spotted the missing people. They continued their patrol to ensure all had been picked up.
F-35As from the Vermont Air National Guard have deployed to Puerto Rico in recent days, continuing a major buildup of U.S. Air Force assets in Latin America aimed at combating drug trafficking and pressuring the regime of Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro.
