23rd Wing deploys rescue forces for Hurricane Ike response

As Hurricane Ike approached the Texas coast, the 23rd Wing began moving units on Sept. 11 to pre-stage for rapid rescue relief operations. The 23rd Wing is the only active-duty combat search and rescue wing in the Air Force. Units from the wing's two rescue groups, the 347th Rescue Group here and the 563rd RQG co-located at Davis-Monthan AFB, Ariz., and Nellis AFB, Nev., were responsible for more than 1,700 saves during Hurricanes Katrina and Rita in 2005. Read More