Archive image: A U.S. Air Force HH-60W Jolly Green II, assigned to the 210th Rescue Squadron, 176th Wing, Alaska Air National Guard, flies over Southcentral Alaska during the final training mission and flight of the AKANG’s HH-60G Pave Hawk helicopters, July 8, 2026.
Since 1990, the 176th Wing’s Rescue Squadrons used the HH-60G Pave Hawk aircraft for personnel recovery operations and to provide lifesaving support during combat and civil search and rescue missions around the world.
The AKANG’s HH-60G Pave Hawk helicopters have since been replaced with the HH-60W Jolly Green II model.
Alaska National Guard photo by Alejandro Peña.
Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska. — At the request of the Alaska State Troopers, an Alaska Air National Guard (AKANG), 176th Wing, 210th Rescue Squadron HH-60W Jolly Green II helicopter aircrew with 212th Rescue Squadron Guardian Angel Pararescuemen (PJs) conducted the rescue of an injured hiker from steep terrain in the Hatcher Pass area, approximately 40 nautical miles north of Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson (JBER), August 18, 2026.
When the Alaska Rescue Coordination Center (AKRCC) received the request for assistance, an HH-60W Jolly Green II helicopter aircrew assigned to the 210th Rescue Squadron was conducting a training mission in the area with Guardian Angel Pararescuemen from the 212th RQS already aboard.
The HH-60W Jolly Green II rescue helicopter aircrew quickly transitioned from training to the search and rescue (SAR) mission.
After locating the injured hiker, the HH-60W aircrew lowered the Guardian Angels and performed hoist operations to extract the injured person from the mountainside.
The victim was transported aboard the HH-60W Jolly Green II rescue helicopter to Mat-Su Regional Medical Center in Palmer.
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