56th Rescue Squadron

Last updated

56th Rescue Squadron
United States Air Forces in Europe.svg
The 56th Rescue Squadron (16163119037).jpg
Two squadron HH-60 Pave Hawks on a Combat Search and Rescue exercise
Active1952–1960; 1972–1975; 1988–present
CountryFlag of the United States (23px).png  United States
BranchFlag of the United States Air Force.svg  United States Air Force
Role Search and Rescue
Part of United States Air Forces in Europe - Air Forces Africa
Garrison/HQ Aviano Air Base
Decorations Presidential Unit Citation (United States)
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award
Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm [1]
Insignia
56th Rescue Squadron emblem (approved 31 March 1989) [1] 56th Rescue Squadron.jpg

The 56th Rescue Squadron is part of the 31st Fighter Wing, Aviano Air Base, Italy. [2] The squadron was previously assigned to the 48th Fighter Wing at RAF Lakenheath, England. It operates HH-60G Pave Hawk helicopters conducting search and rescue missions.

Contents

Mission

The 56th Rescue Squadron is a combat-ready search and rescue squadron of HH-60G Pave Hawk helicopters capable of executing all-weather search and rescue missions day or night in hostile environments in support of USAFE, USEUCOM, and NATO operations. It employs a state-of-the-art communications and navigation system along with advanced search and rescue equipment. The squadron is capable of deploying to any theater of operations in the world.

History

Morocco

The 56th flew search and rescue, and medical evacuation, in North Africa and southern Europe from, November 1952-March 1960. [1]

Vietnam War

It flew combat missions in Southeast Asia from, 10 July 1972 – 15 August 1973, to include search and rescue, airborne mission control, and aerial refueling. The squadron continued to perform local search and rescue until February 1975. [1] On 1 April 1972 the 39th Aerospace Rescue and Recovery Squadron was inactivated and its aircraft and crews temporarily became part of Detachment 4 of the 3d Aerospace Rescue and Recovery Group at Korat Royal Thai Air Force Base. On 8 July 1972 the detachment was replaced by the 56th Aerospace Rescue and Recovery Squadron.

On 12 April 1975 the squadron's HC-130Ps supported Operation Eagle Pull, the evacuation of Phnom Penh, Cambodia. [3]

On 15 October 1975 the squadron was inactivated at Korat and its 4 remaining HC-130Ps joined the 40th Aerospace Rescue and Recovery Squadron. [4]

Operations from Iceland and the United Kingdom

A 56th RS HH-60G Pave Hawk aboard USS Ponce (LPD-15) during Operation Odyssey Dawn off the Libyan coast, 2011. HH-60G 56th RS on USS Ponce (LPD-15) off Libya 2011.jpg
A 56th RS HH-60G Pave Hawk aboard USS Ponce (LPD-15) during Operation Odyssey Dawn off the Libyan coast, 2011.

It continued the search and rescue support mission for the Iceland Defense Force from, May 1988-September 2006, [1] after being redesigned from Detachment 14, 67th Aerospace Rescue and Recovery Squadron, contributing to 958 saves and assists during the 45 year SAR mission in Iceland. [5]

On 10 January 1994, two HH-60G helicopters launched in support of the Iceland Coast Guard to rescue 6 remaining survivors of the MV Godinn that sank off the coast of Vodlavik, Iceland, during heavy seas. Both aircrews received the MacKay Trophy and 8th Air Force Historical Society Ira C. Eaker Outstanding Airmanship Award. Individual crew members received the Cheney Award, Aviator Valor Award and Jabarra Award. The squadron was recognized by the National Lifesaving Association of Iceland. [6]

In June-July 2003, a detachment of HH-60G helicopters and Pararescuemen extracted U.S. Embassy personnel and American Citizens from the U.S. Embassy in Monrovia, Liberia during Operation Shining Express.

In 2011 a detachment of helicopters from the 56th deployed on board the USS Ponce (LPD-15). [7]

Lineage

Activated on 14 November 1953
Discontinued and inactivated on 18 March 1960
Redesignated 56th Aerospace Rescue and Recovery Squadron on 10 July 1972
Inactivated on 15 October 1975
Redesignated 56th Air Rescue Squadron on 1 June 1989
Redesignated 56th Rescue Squadron on 1 February 1993. [1]

Assignments

Stations

Aircraft

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sikorsky HH-60 Pave Hawk</span> Combat Search and Rescue Helicopter

The Sikorsky MH-60/HH-60 Pave Hawk is a four-blade, twin-engine, medium-lift utility military helicopter manufactured by Sikorsky Aircraft. It is a derivative of the UH-60 Black Hawk and incorporates the US Air Force PAVE electronic systems program. The HH-60/MH-60 is a member of the Sikorsky S-70 family.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">352nd Special Operations Wing</span> US Air Force formation

The 352nd Special Operations Wing is an operational unit of the United States Air Force Special Operations Command currently stationed at RAF Mildenhall, United Kingdom. The unit's heritage dates back to 1944 as an air commando unit.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">United States Air Force Combat Rescue School</span> Military unit

The United States Air Force Combat Rescue School, was an organization of the United States Air Force.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">31st Rescue Squadron</span> Military unit

The 31st Rescue Squadron is part of the 18th Wing at Kadena Air Base, Japan. It trains, equips and employs combat-ready pararescue specialists.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">41st Rescue Squadron</span> Military unit


The 41st Rescue Squadron is part of the 347th Rescue Group at Moody Air Force Base, Georgia. It operates HH-60W Jolly Green II aircraft conducting search and rescue missions.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">33rd Rescue Squadron</span> Military unit

The 33rd Rescue Squadron is part of the 18th Wing at Kadena Air Base, Japan. It operates Sikorsky HH-60 Pave Hawk aircraft conducting search and rescue missions.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">36th Rescue Squadron</span> Military unit

The 36th Rescue Squadron at Fairchild Air Force Base, Washington is part of the 58th Operations Group. It was formerly part of the 336th Training Group at Fairchild. It operates Bell UH-1N Twin Huey aircraft conducting search and rescue missions in support of the US Air Force Survival School. The squadron was redesignated as the 36th Rescue Squadron on 14 August 2015.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">38th Rescue Squadron</span> Search and rescue unit of the United States Air Force

The 38th Rescue Squadron is an active United States Air Force Pararescue squadron. Part of the 347th Rescue Group, 23rd Wing, it is stationed at Moody Air Force Base, Georgia. The squadron flew combat search and rescue missions during the Korean War and the Vietnam War.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">39th Rescue Squadron</span> Military unit

The 39th Rescue Squadron is an Air Force Reserve Command unit of the 920th Rescue Wing at Patrick Space Force Base, Florida. Until December 2019, it operated the Lockheed HC-130P/N Combat King aircraft conducting search and rescue and combat search and rescue/personnel recovery missions. The squadron is currently transitioning to the Lockheed Martin HC-130J Combat King II aircraft, which will provide significant increases in the squadron's capabilities. An Air Force Reserve Command unit, the 39th Rescue Squadron is operationally-gained by the Air Combat Command (ACC) upon mobilization.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">48th Rescue Squadron</span> US Air Force unit

The 48th Rescue Squadron is part of the 563d Rescue Group at Davis–Monthan Air Force Base, Arizona. PJs/CROs fly on HH-60 Pave Hawk and HC-130 aircraft to conduct combat rescue and search and rescue missions.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">66th Rescue Squadron</span> Military unit

The 66th Rescue Squadron is an inactive squadron of the United States Air Force that was last stationed at Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada, where it operated HH-60 Pave Hawk helicopters conducting search and rescue and combat search and rescue missions. At the time of its inactivation in 2023, it was a geographically separated unit of the 563rd Rescue Group, 355th Wing, at Davis–Monthan Air Force Base, Arizona.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">55th Rescue Squadron</span> US Air Force unit

The 55th Rescue Squadron is an aviation unit of the United States Air Force. It operates the Sikorsky HH-60W Jolly Green II helicopter and provides rapidly deployable combat search and rescue forces to theater commanders worldwide. 55th used to use the HH-60G Pave Hawk until switching to the HH-60W Jolly Green II. They tactically employ the HH-60W helicopter and its crew in hostile environments to recover downed aircrew and isolated personnel during day, night, or marginal weather conditions. The squadron also conducts military operations other than war including civil search and rescue, disaster relief, international aid, emergency medical evacuation, and counter-drug activities.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">301st Rescue Squadron</span> Military unit

The 301st Rescue Squadron is an Air Force Reserve Command unit, part of the 920th Rescue Wing at Patrick Space Force Base, Florida. The squadron operates the HH-60G Pave Hawk helicopter, conducting both peacetime and combat search and rescue missions. As a reserve unit, it is operationally-gained by the Air Combat Command (ACC).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">303rd Expeditionary Rescue Squadron</span> Military unit

The 303d Expeditionary Rescue Squadron is a provisional unit of the United States Air Force. It is permanently deployed to Camp Lemonier, Djibouti. It was reactivated in 2013 as a forward deployed umbrella organization for rotational Sikorsky HH-60 Pave Hawk and pararescue/Guardian Angel combat search and rescue units of the Air Force Reserve deployed to U.S. Africa Command, specifically to Combined Joint Task Force-Horn of Africa.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">305th Rescue Squadron</span> Military unit

The 305th Rescue Squadron is part of the 943rd Rescue Group at Davis–Monthan Air Force Base, Arizona, a subordinate of the 920th Rescue Wing at Patrick Space Force Base, Florida. It operates Sikorsky HH-60G Pave Hawk and HH-60W Jolly Green II aircraft conducting peacetime and combat search and rescue missions.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">563rd Rescue Group</span> US Air Force unit

The 563rd Rescue Group is a United States Air Force unit stationed at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Arizona. The group also controls the rescue squadrons at Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada. It is assigned to the 355th Wing. The group directs flying operations dedicated to personnel recovery and is part of Air Combat Command. The group was activated under its current designation at Davis-Monthan in 2003 to command rescue units in the western United States.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">40th Helicopter Squadron</span> US Air Force helicopter unit to support ICBM sites of the Air Force Global Strike Command

The 40th Helicopter Squadron is a missile support unit. As the 40th Aerospace Rescue and Recovery Squadron it was a helicopter rescue squadron of the USAF during the Vietnam War.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">76th Helicopter Squadron</span> Military unit

The 76th Helicopter Squadron is an inactivated United States Air Force unit that was based at Vandenberg Air Force Base, California assigned to the 30th Operations Group, 30th Space Wing that was tasked to support range operations as well as search and rescue missions. The squadron operated the UH-1N Huey helicopter.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">57th Rescue Squadron</span> Military unit

The 57th Rescue Squadron is part of the 31st Operations Group, 31st Fighter Wing at Aviano Air Base, Italy. As part of the 31st Operations Group it conducts pararescue operations in support of higher command directives, at times utilizing HH-60G Pave Hawk and Lockheed HC-130 Hercules aircraft flown by other rescue squadrons such as the 56th Rescue Squadron, also based at Aviano. The 57th Rescue Squadron is a combat-ready squadron of pararescue personnel capable of performing combat rescue and personnel retrieval missions in theaters of operations worldwide. The squadron does not operate any aircraft.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">54th Helicopter Squadron</span> US Air Force helicopter unit to support ICBM sites of the Air Force Global Strike Command

The 54th Helicopter Squadron is a unit of the United States Air Force based at Minot Air Force Base in North Dakota. It is currently part of the 582d Helicopter Group, headquartered at F. E. Warren Air Force Base, Cheyenne, Wyoming. Since it was first created, it has served a search and rescue and transport function at Air Force bases in three locations in North America. In its most recent format, it has been stationed at Minot Air Force Base.

References

Notes
  1. The European Rescue Operations Center was a named activity. Organizationally, it was Detachment 3, 8th Air Rescue Group until 18 March 1959, then Detachment 3, Air Rescue Service. See Robertson, 56 Rescue Squadron Factsheet
Citations
  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Robertson, Patsy (6 May 2013). "Factsheet 56 Rescue Squadron (USAFE)". Air Force Historical Research Agency. Retrieved 15 November 2016.
  2. 1 2 Rempfer, Kyle (15 May 2018). "US Air Force rescue units move closer to Africa and Eastern Europe". Air Force Times. Retrieved 21 May 2018.
  3. Dunham, p. 115
  4. Tilford, p. 154
  5. Sandridge, SrA Nigel. "56th RQS Paints Rescue Wall, Preserves Legacy". US Air Forces Europe, and Air Forces Africa. Retrieved 1 June 2022.
  6. {cite web| url= https://www.af.mil/News/Article-Display/Article/485189/af-impossible-rescue-mission-recognized}
  7. Miller, Nathanael L. "U.S. Air Force Gets Underway on USS Ponce". GlobalSecurity.org. Retrieved 1 June 2022.

Bibliography

PD-icon.svg This article incorporates public domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency