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      563d RQG Airmen rescue injured Mexican sailors563d RQG Airmen rescue injured Mexican sailors
                        
                        
                        Pararescuemen from the 48th Rescue Squadron at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Ariz., along with injured fishermen, are transported from the fishing vessel Tamara to Socorro Island, Mexico, July 12, 2019. The pararescuemen intercepted and boarded the Tamara, and provided trauma care for two injured fishermen. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Kristine Legate)
                
                Photo Details /
                        Download Hi-Res
        


        563d RQG Airmen rescue injured Mexican sailors563d RQG Airmen rescue injured Mexican sailors
                        
                        
                        Pararescuemen from the 48th Rescue Squadron, Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Ariz., prepare to parachute into the ocean from a deployed HC-130J Combat King II aircraft from the 79th RQS to Mexican fishing vessel Tamara as it sailed to Socorro Island, Mexico, July 10, 2019. The pararescuemen intercepted and boarded the Tamara, and provided trauma care for two injured fishermen. Due to the severity of the injuries and the ship’s isolated location, an urgent request was made for the specialized skills of U.S. Air Force Rescue. They quickly stabilized the patients and offered continued care for the rest of the voyage to Socorro Island. (Courtesy photo)
                
                Photo Details /
                        Download Hi-Res
        


        563d RQG Airmen rescue injured Mexican sailors563d RQG Airmen rescue injured Mexican sailors
                        
                        
                        Pararescuemen from the 48th Rescue Squadron at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Ariz., along with injured fishermen, are transported from the fishing vessel Tamara to Socorro Island, Mexico, July 12, 2019. The pararescuemen intercepted and boarded the Tamara, and provided trauma care for two injured fishermen. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Kristine Legate)
                
                Photo Details /
                        Download Hi-Res
        


        563d RQG Airmen rescue injured Mexican sailors563d RQG Airmen rescue injured Mexican sailors
                        
                        
                        An Airman from the 79th Rescue Squadron, Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Ariz., provides direction to a Polaris MRZR driven by pararescuemen from the 48th RQS on Davis-Monthan AFB, as it exits an HC-130J Combat King II at Socorro Island, Mexico, July 12, 2019. Pararescuemen arrived at Socorro Island to help transport injured fishermen from the Mexican fishing vessel Tamara, to the medical center on the island. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Kristine Legate)
                
                Photo Details /
                        Download Hi-Res

563d RQG Airmen rescue injured Mexican sailorsPublished July 16, 2019
                    
                    By Airman 1st Class Kristine Legate
                    
                    
                    355th Wing Public Affairs
            **DAVIS-MONTHAN AIR FORCE BASE, Ariz. (AFNS) --**Airmen from Davis-Monthan Air Force Base’s 563rd Rescue Group traveled more than 1700 miles to save two critically injured Mexican fishermen onboard the Mazatun fishing vessel, July 10.The fishermen were injured when their vessel’s crane collapsed more than 1300 miles southwest of San Diego in international waters at approximately 8 p.m., July 9. Fishing nets obstructed Mazatun’s propellers during the incident making the boat unable to transit under its own power. The two severely injured fishermen were transferred to Mazatun’s sister ship, Tamara, who began making the three day journey to the nearest land, a Mexican naval outpost on Socorro Island located approximately 840 miles away.Due to the severity of the injuries and the ship’s isolated location, an urgent request was made for the specialized skills of U.S. Air Force Rescue. In response, the 563rd RQG deployed multiple HC-130J Combat King II aircraft from the 79th Rescue Squadron to Tamara as it sailed to Socorro Island, July 10. Pararescuemen from the 48th Rescue Squadron parachuted from the HC-130J into the ocean. They intercepted and boarded the Tamara, and provided trauma care for the injured fishermen. They quickly stabilized the patients and offered continued care for the rest of the voyage to Socorro Island.“The relationship that was built with the captain of the ship allowed a seamless integration of our (pararescuemen’s) medical capabilities to be able to provide the best treatment for the two injured fishermen,” said Capt John Conner, 48th RQS Flight 3 flight commander. “It also allowed us the opportunity to work how we were going to transfer the patient on the ship to Socorro Island. That relationship was key.”Tamara reached Socorro harbor on the evening of July 12. The pararescuemen transferred the fishermen to the Mexican naval medical clinic on the island where they would stay overnight. The next day an air ambulance transported them to Mazatlan, Mexico, for further treatment.“The unsaid skill Air Force Rescue offers is the ability to solve difficult problems in a timely fashion. This mission highlights rescue professionals’ ability to network within the 563d RQG, 355th Wing and a greater Tucson medical community to solve an incredibly difficult problem and continue solving problems throughout the mission’s execution which can be seen by the infil methods, follow-on aerial resupply and transfer of care/exfil conditions,” said Capt. Michael Erickson, 48th RQS director of operations. “Air Force Rescue’s successful execution of the mission demonstrates one of the ways Davis-Monthan (AFB’s) culture of readiness and problem-solving skills can support the greater joint force and our mission partners.”“This is the longest domestic rescue the 563d RQG has accomplished,” said Lt. Col. Scott Williams, 79th RQS commander. “The unique nature and location of the accident required specialized care, and I’m proud of the job our entire team did to ensure these men returned home to their families.”Air Force 



aid 



Humanitarian 



rescue 



Air Combat Command 



AF 



ACC 



Sailor 



Davis-Monthan AFB 



Mexico 



HC-130J 



48th RQS 



Air Force Base 



combat king 



injured 



48th Rescue Squadron 



563rd Rescue Group 



563rd RQG 



355th Wing 



Mexican 



fisherman 



LR Featured News
        Senior Leader Priorities
                SecAF, CSAF, CMSAF begin Indo-Pacific trip focused on ACE
                    
                    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 fightInnovation
                F-16s arrive to be modified for autonomous testing
                    
                    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 finalistsMAJCOM 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