The U.S. Air Force Reserve's 920th Rescue Wing flew an HC-130 aircraft and two HH-60 Pave Hawk helicopters over EPCOT and Magic Kingdom around 10:30 am on July 4.
The formation departed from Patrick Space Force Base as part of Walt Disney World's celebration of America's 250th anniversary.
The HC-130 flew with two helicopters trailing below, as it crossed over Spaceship Earth having just passed Magic Kingdom.
The 920th Rescue Wing is the Air Force Reserve's only combat search and rescue unit. Its job is to locate and recover isolated personnel, whether that's downed aircrew in a war zone or a civilian in distress closer to home.
The HC-130J Combat King II is the wing's long-range aircraft. It carries pararescue teams, coordinates rescue operations from the air, and refuels helicopters mid-flight so they can reach targets far from land. That refueling link is what you saw in photos from today's flyover, with lines trailing from the HC-130J down to each helicopter.
The HH-60 Pave Hawk is the wing's recovery helicopter. It's built to fly in, hoist someone aboard, and get out, day or night, in weather that would ground most other aircraft.
Based at Patrick Space Force Base on Florida's Space Coast, the 920th has flown real-world missions well beyond the coast, including medical evacuations from cruise ships hundreds of miles out in the Atlantic and search and rescue support after hurricanes including Katrina and Harvey.
This marks the first flyover at EPCOT since the Thunderbirds passed over the park in October 2023. Magic Kingdom's last flyover before today came on July 4, 2023, when a KC-135 and four F-35s marked 100 years of aerial refueling.
Disney has supported the military since its founding. Walt and Roy Disney both served in World War I, and that tradition continues today through the daily Flag Retreat ceremony at Magic Kingdom and programs like Heroes Work Here, Heroes Supply Here, and Disney's Veterans Institute.
Get Walt Disney World News Delivered to Your Inbox