129th Rescue Wing The 129th Rescue Wing ( 129 RQW ) is a unit of the California Air National Guard , stationed at Moffett Federal Airfield , Mountain View , California . If activated to federal service , the Wing is gained by the United States Air Force Air Combat Command . Overview . 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 . Insignia . 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 . The emblem bears the colors of deep blue and gold for the Air Force and the colors red , white and blue for the United States of America . The sword symbolizes strength in war ; the wreath symbolizes the peacetime mission . The deep blue field with the two stars and the gold field signify the nighttime and daytime environment s in which the wing operates . History . Formed on 3 April 1955 as the 129th Air Resupply Group by the California Air National Guard . The 129th was a new organization with no prior history or lineage . It was granted recognition by the National Guard Bureau and was stationed at Hayward Airport , California . Special operations . The 129th ARG was initially assigned to the Military Air Transport Service . It was designated at the time as a " Psychological Warfare " unit which supported USAF unconventional warfare ( guerrilla warfare ) , direct action ( commando - type raids ) , strategic reconnaissance ( intelligence gathering ) , and PSYWAR operations . Later in 1955 , control was transferred to Fourth Air Force , Continental Air Command . The unit ' s mission was airlift of personnel and material using C - 46 aircraft . In 1958 , control was transferred to Eighteenth Air Force , Tactical Air Command with the mission remaining the same . In 1963 the first major mission change for the 129th occurred . Situations around the world produced a need for specialized units which could insert a small group of trained combat troops on land or sea anywhere at a moments notice . The 129th was tasked as one of the representatives of the National Guard in the Air Force ' s Air Commando Group structure . The C - 46 was replaced with Helio U - 10A and U - 10D Couriers . During a three - year period starting in 1965 , the U - 10s belonging to the 143d and other Air National Guard units were transferred back to the Air Force for use in South Vietnam , during which the " Helio " was replaced by DeHavilland U - 6 " Beavers " . The 129th later acquired C - 119 Flying Boxcars and its named changed to Special Operations Group . Aerospace Rescue and Recovery . In April 1975 , the 129th received a new mission , designation and Air Force Command . Shortly afterward , the Wing also changed aircraft and operating base . The Wing ' s name became the 129th Aerospace Rescue and Recovery Group ( ARRG ) and in 1984 the 129 ARRG completed its programmed move to Moffett Field , California . In October 1989 , the 129 ARGG was designated as the 129th Air Rescue Group ( ARG ) . Operations began to convert from HH - 3E Jolly Green Giant helicopter to the HH - 60G Pave Hawk helicopter . The conversion was complete in 1991 . Though the mission of search and rescue has continued , the Group has continued to reflect reorganizations within the USAF . In March 1992 , the name of the 129th Air Rescue Group was shortened to simply 129th Rescue Group and in June 1992 , it became a Rescue Wing . In April 1997 Air Combat Command evaluated the 129th Rescue Wing ' s war capability as an overall Excellent during its Operational Readiness Inspection . Today , the 129th Rescue Wing continues its search and rescue operations on a global scale . The motto of the 129th Rescue Wing , " That Others May Live " , refers to the primary mission of the Wing - to save lives . The members of the 129th have performed rescues under a variety of conditions - from rough Pacific seas to the rugged Sierra Nevada . The using its combination of HC - 130 tankers and HH - 60 helicopters . Many high - risk lifesaving missions involved long - range , over - water flights , air refueling of helicopters by the HC - 130 aircraft , and skilled maneuvering by ships and helicopters to recover patients from the decks of these vessels . On 3 September 1991 , the 129th recovered a sailor from the merchant ship White Mana , the Group ' s 200th " save " . Since its designation as a rescue unit in 1975 , the 129th has directly saved the lives of 300 people In 1990 , the 129th began supporting U . S . Customs in the seizure of illegal drugs , as well as illegal animal and plant products , during cargo inspections . The unit has performed a number of humanitarian missions to foreign countries . From 1989 - 1991 , the 129th deployed to sites in South America to assist in constructing hospital and school facilities . During Desert Shield / Storm in 1990 and 1991 , the 129th deployed personnel to both overseas and stateside locations . Three pararescuemen volunteered for combat operations and teams from the 129th Medical Squadron deployed to England , Saudi Arabia and Travis AFB . Individual members of the 129th volunteered to backfill for deployed active duty members . In July 1993 , 129th members deployed to Saudi Arabia and Kuwait as part of rescue force coverage for Southwest Asia . 2 July 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 . The 129th has been routinely assigned to support Operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom . California state support missions . As an Air National Guard unit , many of the 129th ' s missions involved supporting the Governor ' s office during times of State emergencies , including earthquakes , chemical spills , fires and floods . The 129th provided aid during floods along the Yuba River in 1959 and the Eel River in 1964 - 1965 . During record flooding in Sonoma , Sutter and Yuba counties in Northern California , 33 lives were saved in 5 days , from 18 – 22 February 1986 . In all , 44 lives were saved in 1986 , a record rescue for the 129th . During the aftermath of the 1989 Loma Prieta Earthquake , the 129th established Command Post operations and was chosen to coordinate all military aircraft activities within the Bay Area . The 129th provided air transportation for State and Federal government officials to survey damage from the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake and the 1991 Oakland Hills fire . The unit has also been tasked with mutual aid to state law enforcement during the 1965 Watts ( Los Angeles ) riots and the 1992 civil disturbance in Los Angeles .