ANGEL THUNDER to take place May 4-17

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  • By 020514
DAVIS-MONTHAN AIR FORCE BASE, Ariz. --  Davis-Monthan Air Force Base welcomes Air Combat Command's 7th annual ANGEL THUNDER Personnel Recovery and Rescue Exercise May 4-17.

ANGEL THUNDER is the world's largest Personnel Recovery exercise, integrating sister services and numerous state, national, multinational and interagency assets dedicated to saving lives in incredible circumstances. Various exercises will take place, including high-altitude rescues and urban-irregular warfare, contested operations and air-sea battles.

This year's exercise will involve over 1,800 personnel from all of the services, 23 non-military agencies, eight international partners, over 70 aircraft, and ships from the Carl Vinson Carrier Strike Group, operating across Arizona and off the coast of California. Aircrews operating out of D-M will follow all standard D-M flight procedures throughout the exercise.

"The exercise is designed to provide a safe and realistic training environment for personnel recovery units from the U.S. Air Force, Army, Marine Corps, Navy and international partners," said Colonel Sean Choquette, ANGEL THUNDER director and 563rd Rescue Group Commander.

Davis-Monthan provides an ideal training location due to its close proximity to a variety of training areas such as the easy access to many military ranges, a variety of environments with higher elevations, and access to the California coastline.

Air operations will include a variety of native and visiting aircraft including the A-10 Thunderbolt II, HH-60G Pave Hawk, HC-130J Combat King II, C-12 Huron, A-29 Super Tucano, EC-725 Super Cougar, and the B-212 Twin Huey helicopter.

ANGEL THUNDER integrates local, state and federal agencies, including the National Park Service, U.S. Forest Service, Apache County Sheriff, Coconino County Sheriff, Chino Valley Fire Department, Desert Mountain Region Search and Rescue and Volunteer Urban Search and Rescue, to obtain training that allows them to save lives in incredible circumstances.

All media representatives wishing to cover Angel Thunder events must RSVP by no later than 4 p.m. May 5 th. To RSVP, call (520) 228-4452. Also any resident wishing to report a flight operations concern may contact (520) 228-5091.