Our Story
In early 2019, Stuart Douglas Michael Hirsch designed the Tango Whiskey Squadron logo and shirt as a ‘team morale’ shirt for his fellow San Juan based pilots who flew for Tradewind Aviation in Puerto Rico. The name “Tango Whiskey” was derived from the phonetics for the TW tail numbers of the Tradewind aircraft fleet. Quickly, the shirt became popular among pilots, aircraft mechanics, ground handlers, and other crew members. It sparked a sense of pride and brotherhood among the Tradewind personnel and formed a close-knit team, inspired to find a way to give back to their island. Realizing the ability of this aviator group to assist with long term disaster recovery efforts much needed in the wake of Hurricane Maria, and seeing the opportunity to serve in future disaster events, Stuart and TWS co-founder Simon Mason committed the team to working synergistically with non-profit organizations, governmental officials and Catholic/Christian community leaders.
By summer 2019, Stuart Hirsch and Simon Mason officially formed Tango Whiskey Squadron as a Disaster Relief Organization for long term recovery efforts. This mission took shape through reconstruction projects, food drives, supplies distribution and faith centric events such as ‘Los Tres Reyes’ (Three Kings Day) delivering gifts to hundreds of children in need. Focusing their efforts on the rural mountain villages, Tango Whiskey Squadron networked with the faith community leaders as ‘centers of gravity’ to discern the areas of greatest need that could be most impacted by their efforts. The organization continued to grow as many volunteers eagerly dedicated their time and efforts to alleviate the needs in these villages and communities and make a positive impact on the island.
In January of 2020, a 6.4 magnitude earthquake struck Puerto Rico, causing widespread damage in the southwest region and disrupting the power grid for the entire island. The aftershocks, or ‘earthquake clusters’ continued daily, further devastating these areas that still had not recovered from the previous disaster of Hurricane Maria. Working with Tradewind Aviation leadership, Tango Whiskey Squadron quickly re-missioned a PC-12 aircraft fleet and mobilized a team of pilots and volunteers to launch their first Airborne Relief Missions, flying medical personnel and a total of 13,000 pounds of emergency supplies, directly to the affected areas.
Long after the devastation caused by the earthquakes left the news and mainstream media, Tango Whiskey Squadron continues to rebuild and provide aid to these communities. The organization has grown to develop three distinct branches which facilitates the most efficient responses to the needs we meet. Because of the agility of our airborne response capabilities, the area we serve has extended to other islands of the Caribbean. After the 7.2 magnitude earthquake hit the nation of Haiti in August 2021, the organization operated 51 airborne relief missions, transporting food, essential supplies, rescue personnel and casualty evacuation directly to and from the affected region.
Today, we continue our efforts and commitment to serve the people directly affected by these natural disasters. Certified as a 501(c)3 nonprofit, the organization is made up of a diverse group of volunteers: seven board members, two special advisors, nineteen unit commanders, and thirty-four mission specialists. Participation in all aspects of the organization is entirely volunteer based, which ensures that all donations, both monetary and physical, go directly to the people they serve with zero overhead.
Tango Whiskey Squadron serves the forgotten, the overlooked and those who would otherwise receive no aid. The people we serve are not numbers or statistics, but valued human beings we are privileged to work with. We are committed to standing with and serving the people of Puerto Rico and beyond. Through the current difficulties and into any future disasters, we are always ready “to serve those in need, any time, any place, any where, professionally.”