Downed Pilot Training

Released by 127th Wing Public Affairs
Capt. Bryan Amara listens to his radio as Capt. William Rundell looks at a compass during search and rescue training while the two pilots were operating at the Amari Air Base in Estonia, June 15, 2012. Amara, a pilot with the 171st Air Refueling Squadron, was receiving training from Rundell, 107th Fighter Squadron, on the techniques used to contact a friendly aircraft in the event a pilot is downed in unfriendly territory. During the training, an A-10 Thunderbolt II aircraft was flying over the area, communicating with Amara via radio and looking for signals from the ground. In a real rescue situation, the A-10 pilot overhead would have coordinated rescue operations and provided close air support during the rescue, if needed. The 171st and 107th are both components of the 127th Wing, Michigan Air National Guard, home-stationed at Selfridge Air National Guard Base, Mich. (Air National Guard photo by TSgt. Dan Heaton) Hi-res