Skip to main content (Press Enter).
 News
    
        Photos

    Week in Photos

    Air Force TV

    Commentaries

    Features

    Art

    About Us
    
        Air Force Senior Leaders
    
        SECAF

    CSAF

    CMSAF

    Biographies

    Fact Sheets

    SECAF Reading List

    CSAF Leadership Library
    
        CSAF Leadership Library 2022

    CSAF Leadership Library 2021

    CSAF Reading List Pre-2020 Archive
    
        2018 CSAF Reading List

    2017 CSAF Reading List

    2016 CSAF Reading List

    CSAF Leadership Library 2023

    CMSAF Leadership Library

    50 Years of the CMSAF

    Adjunct Professors

    Air Force Strategic Documents

    Arctic Strategy

    Empowered Airmen

    State Licensure Portability

    Careers

    AF Federal Advisory Committees

    AF 75th Anniversary

    Policy Updates

    AF Content Management

    Contact Us

    AF Sites
    
        Site RegistrationU.S. Air Force LogoAir Force

        Policy UpdatesNewsroomReoptimizationBIOGRAPHIESAF Senior Leaders      Aircrew and pararescuemen with the 26th Expeditionary Rescue Squadron perform preflight inspections on medical equipment onboard an HH-60G Pave Hawk helicopter May 25, 2013, at Camp Bastion, Afghanistan. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Scott Saldukas)Aircrew and pararescuemen with the 26th Expeditionary Rescue Squadron perform preflight inspections on medical equipment onboard an HH-60G Pave Hawk helicopter May 25, 2013, at Camp Bastion, Afghanistan. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Scott Saldukas)
                
                Photo Details /
                        Download Hi-Res
        


        An HH-60G Pave Hawk helicopter assigned to the 33rd Expeditionary Rescue Squadron performs a brown out landing Sept. 24, 2010, at Bagram Airfield, Afghanistan. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Christopher Boitz)Pararescueman train to help save lives
                        
                        
                        An HH-60G Pave Hawk helicopter assigned to the 33rd Expeditionary Rescue Squadron performs a brown out landing Sept. 24, 2010, at Bagram Airfield, Afghanistan. (U.S. Air Force photo)
                
                Photo Details /
                        Download Hi-Res

Rescue squadron deactivates at Camp BastionPublished Jan. 6, 2014
                    
                    By 1st Lt. Trevor Martin
                    
                    
                    26th Expeditionary Rescue Squadron
            **CAMP BASTION, Afghanistan (AFNS) --**The HH-60G Pave Hawk helicopter aircrew of the 26th Expeditionary Rescue Squadron and pararescuemen of the 651st Expeditionary Rescue Flight, deployed here, sat alert for the last time Dec. 31, 2013.
More affectionately known by their historic call sign, PEDRO, the 26th ERQS, and the Pave Hawks they fly, have held alert 24-hours a day, maintaining constant coverage for all of the Helmand River Valley since February 2009.
In conjunction with the transition of forces in Afghanistan, the squadron deactivated on New Year's Day 2014, transferring the remaining personnel recovery and casualty evacuation responsibilities within Regional Command Southwest to the Army's Dustoff HH-60 Blackhawks and the Royal Air Force's Medical Emergency Response Team flying CH-47 Chinooks. The last remaining Air Force rescue element in Afghanistan will be the 83rd Expeditionary Rescue Squadron at Bagram Airfield, Afghanistan.
Over the past 59 months, Camp Bastion's PEDROs tallied more than 2,400 lives saved and more than 3,300 assists, all while never having more than four Pave Hawks at Camp Bastion.
Maj. Adams Darling served as the final of many active-duty, National Guard or Reserve commanders of the 26th ERQS.
"The Airmen of the 26th ERQS along with Guardian Angel Teams have accomplished some remarkably brave missions in support of the joint and coalition force," Darling said. "I am humbled to have had the chance to command these warriors." 
Col. Ed Lengel, the 651st Air Expeditionary Group commander, echoed Darling's sentiments.
"Recovery of wounded sometimes becomes an emotional subject; but there is nothing emotional about the capabilities these Airmen brought to the battlefield," Lengel said. "They flew into highly-perilous situations and were successful bringing the wounded to medical care."
The PEDROs, known as the fastest rescue in the Helmand River Valley, will be greatly missed as they depart Regional Command Southwest for the final time, Darling said. Regardless of their future location, the PEDROs, and all Air Force rescue, will continue to live by their motto, "These things we do ... that others may live."Afghanistan 



pararescue Featured News
        Senior Leader Priorities
                DAF leaders talk budget, reoptimizing the force
                    
                    DAF leaders speak at National Character and Leadership Symposium
                    
                    DAF members recognized during BEYA STEM awards
                    
                    DAF senior enlisted advisors discuss Airmen, Guardians in the fight
                    
                    SecAF Kendall AFA Warfare Symposium Q&A: Reoptimizing for Great Power CompetitionInnovation
                AFWERX director discusses role of tech startups, quick innovation in Great Power Competition
                    
                    DAF delivers lethality at the speed of data during Project Convergence Capstone 4
                    
                    DAF welcomes industry partners to HQ development program
                    
                    DAF announces Spark Tank 2024 finalists
                    
                    Chief Digital, Artificial Intelligence Office to host hackathon in HawaiiMAJCOM News
                Safety enterprise announces new mission, vision, goals in 2024 strategic plan
                    
                    Air Combat Command welcomes new commander
                    
                    USAFE-AFAFRICA commander discusses Integrated Air, Missile Defense during Munich Security Conference
                    
                    Flosi to AFMC family: Embrace change, make every day count
                    
                    AMC rises to increasing global tension
 Quick Links
AccessibilityContact UsEqual OpportunityFOIA | Privacy | Section 508Information QualityInspector GeneralJAG Court-Martial DocketLink DisclaimerNo FEAR ActOpen GovernmentOSI Tip LinePlain LanguageQuestionsResilienceRSSSite MapVeterans Crisis LineCareers
Join the Air ForceAir Force BenefitsAir Force CareersAir Force ReserveAir National GuardCivilian ServiceConnect
            Get Social with Us
            
            Official United States Air Force Website
    Hosted by Defense Media Activity - WEB.mil