WESTHAMPTON BEACH, NY (02/24/2010)(readMedia)-- The Cub Scouts of Westhampton Pack 1, and special needs individuals from Saddle Rock Ranch day program in Old Bethpage, visited the Citizen Airmen of the New York Air National Guard's 106th Rescue Wing on Thursday, Feb. 18 to learn more about the wing's mission and it's men and women.

The Cub Scouts and campers visited with members of the wings Security Force Squadron, and toured one of the HC-130s the wing employs in search and rescue, and helicopter refueling operations.

Based at Francis S. Gabreski Airport Air National Guard Base in Westhampton Beach, the 106th Rescue Wing's airmen provide rescue services to Airmen downed behind enemy lines, as well as perform other search and rescue missions when deployed overseas. Here at home they assist the United States Coast Guard with search and rescue in the North Atlantic and have provided the rescue capability at over 100 launches of NASA Space Shuttles.

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Cub Scouts of Pack 1 sit on the tail ramp of a New York Air National Guard HC-130 on Thursday, Feb. 18 during a visit to Francis S. Gabreski Airport Air National Guard Base at Westhampton Beach. The Cub Scouts and their leaders learned about the mission of the 106th Rescue Wing and the Wing's Security Forces Squadron before exploring the insides of the HC-130 search and rescue aircraft. Photo by Staff Sgt. David J. Murphy, 106th Rescue Wing (Released)

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Cub Scout Jackson Radcliffe, age10, poses with a rubber replica of an M-4 rifle, helmet and flak jacket during a tour of the Security Forces area at the 106th Rescue Wing on Thursday, Feb. 18. Jackson is a member of Cub Pack 1 in Westhampton. The Cub Scouts and residents from the Saddle Rock Ranch day program in Old Bethpage visited Francis S. Gabreski Airport Air National Guard Base. Photo by Staff Sgt. David J. Murphy, 106th Rescue Wing (Released)

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Staff and program participants from the Saddle Rock Ranch day program at Old Bethpage pose with 106th Rescue Wing Executive Office Paul Salas in front of an HC-130 during a visit to Francis S. Gabreski Air National Guard Base on Thursday, Feb. 18. The group got a chance to learn about the wing's Security Forces squadron and explore one of the HC-130 aircraft employed in search and rescue operations. Saddle Rock Ranch serves special needs individuals. Photo by Staff Sgt. David J. Murphy, 106th Rescue Wing (Released)

Posted Wednesday February 24, 2010 at 08:59 am by New York State Division of Military & Naval Affairs
Last Updated Thursday August 26, 2010 at 09:30 am