301st Rescue Squadron

Last updated

301st Rescue Squadron
Air Force Reserve Command.png
301st RQS Pave Hawks at Tallil Air Base.jpg
Squadron HH-60 Pave Hawks at Tallil Air Base
Active1956–present
CountryFlag of the United States.svg  United States
BranchFlag of the United States Air Force.svg  United States Air Force
Role Search and Rescue
Part of Air Force Reserve Command
Garrison/HQ Patrick Space Force Base
Motto(s)Guardian Wings
Decorations Air Force Outstanding Unit Award
Insignia
301st Rescue Squadron emblem (approved 23 January 2002) [1] 301st Rescue Squadron.png
301st Air Rescue Squadron emblem (approved 2 December 1963) [1] 301 Air Rescue Sq emblem.png

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).

Contents

Mission

History

Grumman HU-16B Albatross Grumman HU-16B Albatross (SA-16B-G-111), USA - Air Force AN1641442.jpg
Grumman HU-16B Albatross

The 301st was originally activated in August 1956 at Miami International Airport, Florida as an amphibious aircraft unit, equipped with the SA-16 (later HU-16) Albatross and began training for combat search and rescue missions. The 301st performed search and rescue and medical evacuation missions primarily over land areas and in the Atlantic and Caribbean waters off Florida. [1] It was the first of five rescue squadrons established by Continental Air Command in the Air Force Reserve in the 1950s. [2] In January 1957, the squadron performed the first rescue by a reserve unit. [3] In 1960, the Air Force moved its Air Force Reserve units from Miami International Airport, which had become one of the busiest commercial airports in the world, to nearby Homestead Air Force Base, located south of Miami. [1] From Homestead, the squadron began participating in NASA's manned space flight rescue contingency operations for Project Mercury at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station beginning with Freedom 7, the first manned Mercury launch, in 1961. [3]

Bell HH-1H of the then-301 ARRS Bell HH-1H 02469 301 ARRS Home 16.07.76 edited-2.jpg
Bell HH-1H of the then-301 ARRS
Sikorsky HH-3E Jolly Green Giant helicopter, circa 1988. Jolly-green.jpg
Sikorsky HH-3E Jolly Green Giant helicopter, circa 1988.

In the 1970s, the squadron acquired helicopters, adding former Sikorsky SH-34J Seabat helicopters from the U.S. Navy in 1971. The aircraft were stripped of their antisubmarine warfare gear and redesignated Sikorsky HH-34J. [4] The squadron became an all-helicopter unit in 1973 when it added Bell HH-1 Hueys and lost its remaining Albatross amphibians. [1] The Hueys also provided support for the U.S. Air Force Water Survival School at Homestead during training events in Biscayne Bay. [3]

In 1974, the squadron began to operate HH-3E Jolly Green Giant helicopters, which had an in-flight air refueling capability. The squadron became a composite unit in 1979 when it added HC-130P/N Hercules aircraft to refuel its HH-3Es. [1]

39th Rescue Squadron Helicopter aerial refueling.jpg
39th Rescue Squadron

HC-130P Hercules Combat King aircraft refueling a 301st Rescue Squadron HH-60G Pave Hawk helicopter. Both squadrons are assigned to the 920th Rescue Wing at Patrick Space Force Base, Florida.

Following on its support of Project Mercury, Project Gemini and Project Apollo, the squadron began to provide rescue coverage for NASA Space Shuttle launches in 1981, augmenting the active duty Air Force's 41st Rescue Squadron at Patrick. The 301st subsequently added additional launch support for unmanned space missions originating from the Eastern Space and Missile Center (ESMC), later renamed the 45th Space Wing, in 1993. [3] HH-60G Pave Hawks replaced the HH-3E Jolly Greens in 1991. [1]

Prior Hurricane Andrew striking south Florida in August 1992, the squadron evacuated all its flyable aircraft from Homestead to Patrick. Following the storm's landfall, the squadron rescued 137 residents during the subsequent 18-day humanitarian operation. [3] However, Andrew also devastated the 301st's home station facilities at Homestead and it performed these rescues while operating from expeditionary facilities at Tamiami Airport, Florida. Within a few months, the Air Force determined not to return the 301st to Homestead, and in January 1993 permanently moved it further north in Florida to Patrick AFB. [1] After the move, on one day in March 1993, the unit saved 93 elderly residents from rising flood waters at their Tampa area retirement community. [3]

In 1997, the Air Force split the organizational structure of its composite rescue units. The portion of the 301st flying the HH-60G was retained as the 301st Rescue Squadron and it became a helicopter unit again. [1] The HC-130P/N portion of the squadron became the 39th Rescue Squadron and the pararescue portion became the 308th Rescue Squadron (308 RQS). The three squadrons formed the operational element of the then-920th Rescue Group at Patrick AFB, which functioned as a geographically separated unit (GSU) of the then-939th Rescue Wing at Portland Air Reserve Station, Oregon. [1] [5] [6] With disestablishment of the 939 RQW, the 920 RQG was redesignated as the 920th Rescue Wing (920 RQW) and the squadron reported to the newly-formed 920th Operations Group (920 OG).

The 301st has deployed crews to provide search and rescue coverage worldwide, including to the Gulf Coast in 2005 following Hurricane Katrina, to Naval Air Station Keflavík, Iceland; to Southwest Asia during and after both the first Gulf War and Operation Desert Storm, to Camp Lemonier, Djibouti, and elsewhere in the Persian Gulf region since 1993. [1]

Lineage

Activated in the reserve on 18 August 1956

Assignments

Stations

Aircraft

  • Grumman SA-16 / HU-16 Albatross (1956–1973)
  • Sikorsky HH-34 (1971–1974, 1975)
  • Bell HH-1 Huey (1973–1979)
  • Sikorsky HH-3 Jolly Green Giant (1974–1991)
  • Lockheed HC-130 Hercules (1979–1997)
  • Sikorsky CH-3 Jolly Green Giant (1987–1991)
  • HH-60 Pave Hawk (1991–present) [1]

Related Research Articles

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

The Sikorsky MH-60G/HH-60G 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">Patrick Space Force Base</span> U.S. Space Force base near Cocoa Beach, Florida

Patrick Space Force Base is a United States Space Force installation located between Satellite Beach and Cocoa Beach, in Brevard County, Florida, United States. It is named in honor of Major General Mason Patrick, USAAC. It is home to Space Launch Delta 45, known as the 45th Space Wing (45 SW) when it was part of the Air Force. In addition to its "host wing" responsibilities at Patrick SFB, the 45 SW controls and operates Cape Canaveral Space Force Station (CCSFS) and the Eastern Range. It was originally opened and operated from 1940 to 1947 as Naval Air Station Banana River, a U.S. Navy airfield. It was then deactivated as a naval installation in 1947 and placed in caretaker status until it was transferred to the Air Force in late 1948.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">551st Special Operations Squadron</span> Military unit

The 551st Special Operations Squadron is a current Special Operations Squadron of the United States Air Force, assigned to the Air Force Special Operations Air Warfare Center until 2017 and then assigned to the 492nd Special Operations Wing. It was based out of Cannon AFB, New Mexico. The 551st had previously been based at Kirtland AFB, New Mexico as an Air Education and Training Command (AETC) unit within the 58th Special Operations Wing from 15 March 1976 until its inactivation on 10 May 2007.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">67th Special Operations Squadron</span> Military unit

The 67th Special Operation Squadron, nicknamed the Night Owls, is an active United States Air Force unit operating the Lockheed MC-130J Commando II. It is based at RAF Mildenhall, Suffolk, in the United Kingdom and assigned to the 752d Special Operations Group. It was originally activated at RAF Sculthorpe in 1952, transferred to Morón Air Base in Spain in 1966, relocated to RAF Woodbridge, Suffolk, in 1970, transferred to RAF Alconbury, Cambridgeshire in 1992 and, finally, moved to RAF Mildenhall in 1995. The 67th SOS is tasked with flying single or multi-ship low-level air refueling missions for special operations helicopters, and infiltration, exfiltration, and resupply of special operations forces by airdrop or airland.

<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">939th Air Refueling Wing</span> Military unit

The 939th Air Refueling Wing is an inactive United States Air Force Reserve unit. It was last active with the Fourth Air Force, based at the Portland Air Reserve Station, Oregon. It was inactivated on 30 June 2008.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">920th Rescue Wing</span> Military unit

The 920th Rescue Wing is part of the Air Reserve Component (ARC) of the United States Air Force. The wing is assigned to the Tenth Air Force of the Air Force Reserve Command (AFRC).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">550th Special Operations Squadron</span> Military unit

The 550th Special Operations Squadron was a special operations flying training squadron of the United States Air Force.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">210th Rescue Squadron</span> Military unit

The 210th Rescue Squadron is a unit of the Alaska Air National Guard 176th Wing located at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Anchorage, Alaska. The 210th is equipped with the HH-60G Pave Hawk helicopter.

<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-60 Pave Hawk aircraft conducting search and rescue missions.

<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">56th Rescue Squadron</span> Military unit

The 56th Rescue Squadron is part of the 31st Fighter Wing, Aviano Air Base, Italy. 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.

<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-60G Pave Hawk helicopter and provides rapidly deployable combat search and rescue forces to theater commanders worldwide. They tactically employ the HH-60G 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">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">304th Rescue Squadron</span> United States Air Force unit

The 304th Rescue Squadron is an Air Force Reserve Command combat search and rescue unit located at Portland Air National Guard Base, Oregon. The squadron is a geographically separated unit assigned to the 943d Rescue Group at Davis–Monthan Air Force Base, Arizona, and the 920th Rescue Wing at Patrick Space Force Base, Florida.

<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 HH-60 Pave Hawk aircraft conducting peacetime and combat search and rescue missions.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">943rd Rescue Group</span> Military unit

The 943rd Rescue Group is a reserve component of the United States Air Force. It is assigned to Tenth Air Force under the Air Force Reserve Command and is based in Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Arizona. When mobilized, Air Combat Command directs group assets into theater to support wartime tasking and other operations, like humanitarian relief. United States Northern Command may gain group assets directly to support disaster relief, search and rescue tasking in the aftermath of catastrophic events like hurricane, tornado, wildfire, flooding and earthquake, when they occur in the US, or its territories.

<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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Homestead Air Reserve Base</span> United States Air Force base near Homestead, Florida

Homestead Air Reserve Base, previously known as Homestead Air Force Base is located in Miami–Dade County, Florida to the northeast of the city of Homestead. It is home to the 482nd Fighter Wing of the Air Force Reserve Command's Tenth Air Force, as well as the headquarters of Special Operations Command South.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">308th Rescue Squadron</span> Military unit

The 308th Rescue Squadron is an Air Force Reserve Command combat search and rescue unit located at Patrick Space Force Base, Florida. The squadron is assigned to the 920th Rescue Wing at Patrick Space Force Base, Florida.

References

Notes

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 Robertson, Patsy (8 August 2016). "Factsheet 301 Rescue Squadron (AFRC)". Air Force Historical Research Agency. Archived from the original on 18 August 2016. Retrieved 14 August 2017.
  2. ↑ Cantwell, p. 156
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "920th Rescue Wing almanac Vol VI" (PDF). 920th Rescue Wing.
  4. ↑ "S-58 H-34 in US Air Force".
  5. ↑ Robertson, Patsy (27 March 2012). "Factsheet 308 Rescue Squadron (AFRC)". Air Force Historical Research Agency. Retrieved 16 July 2016.
  6. ↑ Dollman, TSG David (18 October 2016). "Factsheet 39 Rescue Squadron (AFRC)". Air Force Historical Research Agency. Retrieved 16 July 2016.

Bibliography

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

This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.