Rescue efforts combine in force during Red Flag 12-4

by Master Sgt. Sonny Cohrs
23d Wing Public Affairs

7/27/2012 - NELLIS AIR FORCE BASE, Nev. -- Air combat exercises like Red Flag 12-4 puts pilots to the test in the air, but for one B-1B Lancer pilot his skills were tested on the ground as well.

The Nevada Test and Training Range serves as the aerial playground for war games during Red Flag. With more than 12,000 square miles of airspace and 2.9 million acres of land, NTTR offers pilots and other aircrew members a unique environment and terrain coupled with training scenarios that are not possible elsewhere.

Their mission July 24: recover two isolated personnel from the remote Nevada desert.

Acting as downed aircrew for this combat search and rescue exercise was U.S. Air Force 1st Lt. Kyle Harrington, a B-1 bomber pilot with the 34th Bomb Squadron at Ellsworth Air Force Base, S.D.

"I'll be playing [with] a simulated injury - a broken leg," Harrintgon said. "You've got guys hunting you down, and this tests evasions skills and the recovery skills of the A-10 and HH-60. I'll call them and let them know where I'm at and vector them in."

In addition to survival training for Harrington, the mission also served as an upgrade qualification for the A-10 pilot calling the shots from the air. Typically, the slow-moving A-10 is a natural platform for coordinating air assets as the rescue mission commander. Fighters, bombers, refuelers, helicopters and Airborne Warning and Control System aircraft were all dispatched for the rescue effort.

"Yesterday was an upgrade for me, and my first look at being a rescue mission commander," said Capt. Ryan Allen, an A-10C pilot with the 74th Fighter Squadron at Moody Air Force Base, Ga.

"We coordinated all of the assets to rescue isolated personnel or downed aircrew. We had air-to-air, air-to-ground and a rescue mission. We had 50-plus aircraft that were out there - F-15s, F-16s, tankers and AWACS."

As Harrington scrambled to get to a designated rendezvous spot for pickup, Allen orchestrated more than 50 aircraft into position in the NTTR airspace.

This was my fist time leading the rescue mission effort," he said. "The biggest takeaway was the mission integration; being able to have a lot of people who could tell me what they can bring to the fight."

Once Harrington's location was confirmed by Allen, he relayed that information to other aerial assets in the area to coordinate the pickup at the landing zone.

"His position was about 150 meters northeast of our original coordinates," said Capt. Brian Campbell, 66th Rescue Squadron HH-60 pilot at Nellis. "There was a little bit of a delay - 15-30 seconds of searching when we came over that ridge line. It's a lot more difficult to see him in that terrain. Our gunner got eyes on first and the co-pilot made the approach to the landing zone."

Campbell said typical training with the 66th RQS consists of a two-ship helicopter formation, with man simulations for other airframes, but having the fast-moving fighters interact with the much slower helicopters adds a certain realism.

"We don't get to do CSAR task forces a lot. The opportunity to participate in a large force exercise is somewhat unique. They're used to a quick air war, but with the helos it takes us longer," he said.

And although Harrington wasn't in control of his B-1B for this scenario, he still understands how important training like this at Red Flag is.

"The biggest thing I take away is how the B-1 flows with the other platforms and the specific piece it fills during a combat mission. Back home, it's just us. We very rarely get dissimilar aircraft training. This is great training for integration."

After nearly three hours of evading simulated enemy personnel, Harrington successfully made his way 1.8 miles to the extraction zone. By his side for safety was a survival, evasion, resistance and escape specialist.

"I'm there for safety and making sure he gets to the right spot to conduct training for the guys in the air," said Senior Airman Kevin Webb, a SERE specialist deployed from the 22nd Training Squadron at Fairchild Air Force Base, Wash.

"I think he did great," Webb said. "He followed all of his communications procedures - that's one of the most important things: staying in contact with the recovery personnel. As long as you have comm, they can suppress fire and bring in resources. He signaled at the proper time - that's why the helicopter came straight to us. Speed is always security with a CSAR task force."