| 129th Rescue Wing | |
|---|---|
 129th Rescue Wing Emblem |
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| Active | 1955-Present |
| Branch | Air National Guard |
| Type | Wing |
| Role | Combat/Civilian Search and Rescue |
| Part of | Air National Guard/Air Combat Command |
| Garrison/HQ | Moffett Federal Airfield |
| Motto | In Pace Et Bello—Noctem Et Diem "In Peace and War—Night and Day" |
| Commanders | |
| Commander | Colonel Amos Bagdasarian |
| Vice Commander | Colonel Wayne H. Albright |
| Command Chief Master Sergeant | Chief Master Sergeant Kristina P. Keck |
| Aircraft flown | |
| Helicopter | 6 HH-60G Pave Hawk |
| Transport | 4 Lockheed MC-130P Combat Shadow |
The 129th Rescue Wing (129 RQW) is an Air National Guard combat search and rescue (CSAR) unit operationally gained by the Air Combat Command (ACC). The unit's history dates to April 1955, when it was activated as the 129th Air Resupply Group[1] of the California Air National Guard. In 1975, the 129th transitioned to a new mission, air rescue, and was operationally gained within the U.S. Air Force by the then-Tactical Air Command (TAC). The 129th moved to Naval Air Station Moffett Field (now Moffett Federal Airfield), its current location, in May 1980. In 1992, the unit received its current designation as the "129th Rescue Wing."[2] By the end of July 2008, it had 560 saves[3] including the longest air-sea rescue, first combat save of ANG rescue service, over 20 combat saves, and more than 530 civilian saves. The 129th "starred" in The Perfect Storm supplying aircraft and aircrew in support of the film's production. The film includes the story of exceptional rescues by the New York Air National Guard's 106th Rescue Wing.
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Located in the heart of the Silicon Valley, the 129th Rescue Wing's mission is to train and prepare to perform its wartime mission of combat search and rescue anywhere in the world. The unit also works closely with the Coast Guard and various civil agencies on state missions. Equipped with MC-130P Combat Shadow variants of the C-130 Hercules, HH-60G Pave Hawk rescue helicopters, and the Guardian Angel weapon system, the 129th has performed a wide variety of civilian search and rescue missions, including distressed persons aboard ships, lost or injured hikers, and medical evacuations.
The primary mission is to prepare for wartime taskings as specified by applicable gaining commands. The peacetime mission is under the control of the Governor of California. Upon mobilization, primary specified mission is combat search and rescue (CSAR). When directed by the California State Office of Emergency Services (OES) and/or the Department of Defense (DoD), the mission is to provide disaster relief support as required. This includes search and rescue (SAR) assistance to civil authorities, including International Civil Aeronautics Organization (ICAO) signatories, and foreign governments.
Federal Mission (United States Air Force): To provide manpower, material and equipment resources to conduct and complete combat search and rescue operations on a worldwide basis. To provide manpower, material and equipment to conduct and complete peacetime search operations.
State Mission (California Air National Guard): To furnish trained personnel to respond to state emergencies, such as natural disasters, and to assist civil authorities in the enforcement of the law.
July 2, 2008, crews from the 129th Rescue Squadron were certified to perform water bucket operations, making the 129th the only rescue unit in the Air Force and Air National Guard qualified to fight fires.[4]
The 129th has been routinely assigned to support Operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom.
The Air Force Shield, bordered in white, a gold and blue background with two elongated stars in the blue field. A silver braid sword with red handle and hand protector divides the gold and blue fields. Superimposed over the sword and both fields is an olive wreath in green. The unit name is in blue on a white scroll.
Par pale or and azure, a sword in pale, point up, blade argent, hilt gules, surmounted by an olive wreath vert; in sinister flank two mullets of four points of the third, all within a diminished bordure of the first.
The emblem bears the colors of deep blue and gold for the Air Force and the colors red, white and blue for our nation. The sword symbolizes our strength in war, the wreath our peacetime mission. The deep blue field with the two stars and the gold field signify the nighttime and daytime environments in which we operate.
 Golden Gate rescue training mission |
 TSgt Mike Sampognaro, flight engineer, keeps an eye on the Pacific ocean waves 20 feet below an HH-60G Pave Hawk |
 Airmen load a HH-60G Pave Hawk rescue helicopter onto a Russian Volga-Dnepr AN-124 |
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   | 129th Rescue Wing (129th RQW) - 129th Rescue Wing [129th RQW] |
| | Official YouTube account - YouTube - 129thRescueWing's Channel |
| | Risky rescue: Fisherman counts on ocean maneuver by valley-based team - Risky rescue: Fisherman counts on ocean maneuver by valley-based team - San Jose Mercury News |
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