MOFFETT AIR NATIONAL GUARD BASE, Calif. — The California Air National Guard’s 129th Rescue Wing successfully delivered critical medication to a woman aboard a sailboat 750 miles off the U.S. coast in the Pacific Ocean, following a complex rescue mission on Aug. 14, 2024.

The operation, which lasted eight hours, was initiated after the Air Force Rescue Coordination Center (AFRCC), the nation’s inland search and rescue coordination hub, received an urgent distress call early in the morning. The Coast Guard’s 13th District, responsible for maritime services in the Pacific Northwest, was the first to respond and coordinated with the AFRCC after learning of a medical emergency on a sailboat far at sea.

U.S. Air Force Lt. Col. Bevan Hart, 131st Rescue Squadron commander, emphasized the team’s readiness to act.

“We were ready to go,” Hart said, noting the unit’s operational efficiency and meticulous aircraft maintenance.

Recognizing the urgency, the 129th Rescue Wing quickly partnered with the Coast Guard and assembled a team of experts, including a flight surgeon and medical professionals, to assess the situation. The team decided that delivering medication rather than deploying pararescue jumpers was the most efficient course of action due to the sailboat’s remote location and the patient’s condition. The patient’s spouse, a former medic, was already aboard the sailboat and capable of administering the treatment once the medication was delivered.

The mission utilized a U.S. Air Force HC-130J Combat King II aircraft, chosen for its capabilities in long-range, over-water missions. A “line drop” procedure was planned, where the medication would be securely packaged and attached to a rope and small parachute for delivery.

With aircrews and pararescue jumpers onboard—the HC-130J departed from Moffett Air National Guard Base in the afternoon. After a lengthy flight, the crew arrived at the objective area and maneuvered to ensure the medication was dropped successfully. The patient’s spouse retrieved the package without issue.

By the time the HC-130J returned to Moffett Airfield that night, Coast Guard’s 13th District had confirmed the patient’s condition stabilized. The Coast Guard continued to monitor the patient as the sailboat made its way back to its home harbor.

Hart praised the close coordination between the agencies involved, highlighting the mission as a testament to the readiness and capability of the 129th RQW and their ongoing partnership with the Coast Guard.

The 129th RQW is credited with saving the lives of more than 1,160 people.

The wing’s federal mission is to train, prepare and conduct worldwide combat search and rescue operations over land or water. The wing leverages these skills at home by providing support to the California Governor’s office during state emergencies and contingencies, including search and rescue and aerial firefighting.