Rescue unit off on mission

Friday, Nov. 30, 2001 | 9 a.m.

The 66th Rescue Squadron was deployed from Nellis Air Force Base Thursday night, but its destination remains classified.

Nellis spokesman Sgt. Jim Bianchi said he could confirm that the unit had received a deployment order, but refused to provide any details of where the squadron was going in order to protect the security of the mission.

"At this time we cannot provide specifics," Bianchi said.

The 66th Rescue Squadron is a helicopter unit that specializes in rescuing downed pilots.

The primary mission of the 66th is worldwide combat rescue in support of air forces, according to the Nellis website.

The last time the squadron responded was Oct. 23, when a Hornet fighter-attack jet crashed about 120 miles northwest of Las Vegas in the Funeral Mountains near the Nevada-California border.

Navy pilot Lt. Micah Manningham was rescued by the squadron after ejecting from the jet.

The 66th first took to the air on Nov. 14, 1952, at Royal Air Base in Manston, England. The unit deactivated on Jan. 18, 1958, and remained inactive for 33 years.

On March 1, 1991, the 66th was reborn and was equipped with the HH-60G Pave Hawk helicopter. The Pave Hawk enhances search and rescue missions in combat by its ability to operate in poor weather conditions day or night.

In 1993 the 66th became the first Air Force rescue unit to deploy to a combat zone since the Vietnam war. During Operation Southern Watch, the unit responded on rescue missions over southern Iraq.