FRANCIS S. GABRESKI AIR NATIONAL GUARD BASE, WESTHAMPTON BEACH, N.Y. – Airmen assigned to the New York Air National Guard 106th Rescue Wing celebrated 250 years of American independence by participating in the Sail4th 250 International Aerial Review flyover along the Hudson River on July 4 and by demonstrating the wing’s combat search and rescue capabilities at the FourLeaf Air Show over Jones Beach, July 5, 2026.
The 106th opened the FourLeaf Air Show with its annual combat search and rescue demonstration, showcasing the integration of one HC-130J Combat King II aircraft, two HH-60W Jolly Green II helicopters and Guardian Angel personnel, consisting of pararescuemen and combat rescue officers, in a simulated personnel recovery mission.
“For as long as I’ve been here, we’ve been doing a combat search and rescue demonstration to start off the show,” said Lt. Col. Matthew Forbes, 106th Rescue Wing director of staff, and HH-60W pilot. “From there, we also provide an aircraft on alert with the Guardian Angel team, in the event that one of the air show participants finds themselves in the water, we are able to assist with extrication, recovery, and transport to higher medical care.”
The annual FourLeaf Air Show provides the 106th with an opportunity to showcase the rescue mission performed by the wing every day.
According to Forbes, the demonstration began with a low pass and aerial maneuvering by the HC-130J to highlight the aircraft’s capabilities. The HC-130J then joined the HH-60Ws for an aerial refueling demonstration before concluding with a simulated day-water rescue executed by Guardian Angel personnel and HH-60W teams.
As well as the air show, the 106th participated in the Sail4th 250 International Aerial Review, a historic gathering of the largest fleet of U.S. and international ships and aircraft in honor of America’s 250th birthday, according to the Freedom 250 website.
The event featured approximately 200 military aircraft flying over the Hudson River in coordinated formations, while more than 70 U.S. and international naval vessels sailed below, explained Forbes.
The 106th’s HC-130J flew as part of the second formation alongside a C-130J Super Hercules aircraft assigned to the 62nd Airlift Squadron, 314th Airlift Wing, Little Rock Air Force Base, Arkansas, said Major Nick Williams, 106th HC-130J pilot and planner for the event.
“Flying down the Hudson River with all the fanfare, all the aircraft, and Navy ships, it was an amazing sight to see. It was an amazing way to celebrate America’s 250th anniversary,” said Williams.
The HH-60Ws flew in the fifth wave with a U.S. Coast Guard MH-60T Jayhawk helicopter. The formation also included aircraft from the U.S. Army, U.S. Marine Corps and U.S. Navy, said Forbes.
The aerial review required more than a year of planning and extensive coordination across the joint force, according to Forbes. Nearly 200 aircraft flew along the Hudson River in approximately 30 minutes, with the U.S. Navy leading the effort, using multiple E-2D Hawkeye aircraft to provide command and control and ensure safety and efficiency along the route.
Airman 1st Class Richard Horton, an HH-60W crew chief with the 106th, also participated in the event.
“This was a once-in-a-lifetime experience,” said Horton. “Being in formation with 20-plus helicopters flying through Manhattan to celebrate America’s 250th, being able to take part in a flyover like that was a dream come true.”
Forbes explained that participating in both the FourLeaf Airshow and the historic International Aerial Review was an opportunity to celebrate America’s 250th anniversary while showcasing the 106th’s mission alongside joint and international partners.
“Both of these events are right in our backyard so getting to fly up the Hudson, pass the Statue of Liberty on America’s 250th birthday is pretty special,” Forbes said.
“It’s a lot of work for everybody involved but I think it’s well worth it to see the execution and be a part of something that has, either never been done before, or will never be done again in the near future,” he continued. “It’s a great opportunity for us to display the professionalism and capabilities of the unit and integrate with all of our joint and international partners.”
The 106th Rescue Wing based at Francis S. Gabreski Air National Guard Base in Westhampton Beach, New York, operates and maintains the HC-130J Combat King II search and rescue aircraft, and the HH-60W Jolly Green II rescue helicopter. The 106th Rescue Wing is home to a special warfare squadron with pararescuemen and combat rescue officers, specializing in rescue and recovery, and deploys for domestic and overseas operations.