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.
President Donald Trump on July 4 signed into law $150 billion in defense funds as part of the tax-and-spending package known as the “One Big, Beautiful Bill” after congressional Republicans approved the legislation in narrow, drawn-out votes earlier this week.
