California Air National Guard pararescuemen assigned to the 129th Rescue Wing jumped from an MC-130P with an inflatable boat to reach injured fishermen on a Chinese vessel 700 miles off the coast of Acapulco, Mexico. Once aboard the ship during Monday’s rescue, the airmen treated and prepared the victims for evacuation to Acapulco by a pair of the wing’s HH-60 Pave Hawks. The rescuers then readied the fishermen for a flight aboard a second MC-130P to MCAS Miramar, near San Diego, for advanced treatment at the University of California Medical Center. “I could not be prouder of our airmen’s extraordinary efforts during this mission,” said Col. Steven Butow, 129th RQW commander. He added, “This mission is a testament to the first-response capabilities our wing provides to California and the nation.” The unit, based at Moffett Federal Airfield, northwest of San Jose, flew a similar long-range rescue off of the California coast last month. (Moffett report by Capt. Donald G. LeBlanc)
Seven F-22 Raptor pilots have recently been awarded one of the military’s highest decorations for their actions during operations in the Middle East. Six of the pilots were decorated with the Distinguished Flying Cross for their role in Operation Midnight Hammer, the June 2025 strikes against Iranian nuclear facilities.