First HC-130J Combat King II for US Air National Guard

First HC-130J Combat King II for US Air National Guard

The plane will be operated by the 211th Rescue Squadron, 176th Wing stationed at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska.

Members of the Alaska Air National Guard accepted the first HC-130J Combat King II assigned to a US Air National Guard unit at the Lockheed Martin facility in South Carolina on 1 June. The plane will be operated by the 211th Rescue Squadron (RQS), 176th Wing stationed at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska.

The 211th RQS previously operated legacy HC-130P aircraft to support personnel recovery missions in Alaska and the Pacific Theater. Its aircraft also act as aerial refuellers, providing support to the HH-60 Pave Hawk search and rescue helicopters that are also assigned to the 176th Wing. The new machine is the first of four HC-130Js that will be delivered to the Alaska Guard.