The Air Force’s new search-and-rescue helicopter is proving its worth on its first combat deployment to Africa.
HH-60W Jolly Green II crews saved the lives of two foreign troops on a December rescue mission in the Horn of Africa, on the continent’s eastern shore, the service said Thursday.
It’s the first publicized instance of a real-world overseas save for the HH-60 “Whiskey” since it was declared combat-ready in October.
According to a press release from the 435th Air Expeditionary Wing, rescue crews were on alert before dawn. They quickly picked up injured service members and left the area without incident.
“Pararescuemen performed their own stabilizing emergency medical care in the aircraft’s cabin,” the Air Force said.
Airmen headed for the nearest medical facility so that one of the wounded could undergo trauma surgery. HC-130J Combat King II planes, used to recover troops from the field, ferried the more seriously wounded person to another location for further treatment.
The Air Force did not provide details of the incident that caused the injuries.
“While personnel may be behind enemy lines, or far from needed support, this team is equipped to travel great distances and fight their way in and out if necessary to make the mission happen,” Personnel Recovery Task Force commander Lt. Col. Thaddeus Ronnau said in the release.
“Even in the vast expanses of Africa, this combined team was able to pull a critical patient from the battlefield with the Air Force’s newest rescue vehicle and place them in the hands of skilled trauma surgeons, ultimately saving two lives,” he said.
The HH-60Ws belong to the 449th Air Expeditionary Group at Camp Lemonnier. The group handles personnel recovery, regional airlift, base support, intelligence collection and airfield operations in support of U.S. Africa Command, U.S. Central Command and foreign militaries in East Africa.
U.S. troops have long been stationed in Djibouti to help stabilize countries in the region and support local militaries in the fight against terror groups like Al-Shabaab. Around 4,500 Americans currently live at Camp Lemonnier.
First published in U.S. Air Force Times