40th Helicopter Squadron

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40th Helicopter Squadron
HC-130P refueling HH-53B over North Vietnam.jpg
An HH-53B of the 40th ARRS refueling from an HC-130P over North Vietnam, 1969–70
Active1968–1976; 1978–1987; 1993–present
CountryFlag of the United States (23px).png  United States
BranchFlag of the United States Air Force.svg  United States Air Force
RoleICBM Defense / Rescue & Recovery
Part of Air Force Global Strike Command
Nickname(s)Pathfinders
Motto(s)Deter, Detect, and Defend (2003-present) Save (1968-1987)
ColorsBlue, Yellow, White[ citation needed ]
Engagements Vietnam War
Insignia
40th Helicopter Squadron emblem [note 1] [1] 40th Helicopter Squadron.png
40th Aerospace Rescue & Recovery Squadron emblem 40 Aerospace Rescue & Recovery Sq emblem.png
Aircraft flown
Multirole helicopter Boeing MH-139A Grey Wolf
Utility helicopter Bell UH-1N Twin Huey

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

Contents

History

The squadron was activated as the 40th Aerospace Rescue and Recovery Squadron at Udorn Royal Thai Air Force Base in March 1968 with Sikorsky HH-3s which were nicknamed "Nitnoy." Later Sikorsky HH-53s arrived and these were nicknamed "BUFF."

In March 1968, Detachment 2 of the 37th Aerospace Rescue and Recovery Squadron at Udorn RTAFB operating HH-3s and HH-53Bs, was transferred to the 40th ARRS. [2]

The 40th moved to Nakhon Phanom Royal Thai Air Force Base on 21 July 1971.

20 August 1972, the local base rescue detachments of the 3d Aerospace Rescue and Recovery Group each operating 2 HH-43s were transferred to the 40th ARRS, comprising: [2] : 115 

30 November 1972, with the inactivation of the 37th ARRS at Danang Air Base, 5 of its HH-53s were transferred to the 40th ARRS, while its two HH-43s remained at Danang as Detachment 7 of the 40th ARRS to provide base rescue during Operation Linebacker II. [2] : 127 

Following the Paris Peace Accords all remaining US Forces were withdrawn from South Vietnam by 27 March 1973. Detachment 7 at Danang Air Base and Detachment 14 at Tan Son Nhut Air Base were inactivated during this period. Following the withdrawal from South Vietnam the 40th's force level was 11 HH-53s and 14 HH-43s. [2] : 128 

The USAF continued combat operations over Cambodia until 15 August 1973 and the 40th provided CSAR support during this period. Following the end of combat operations the 40th kept 2 HH-53s at Nakhon Phanom on 15-minute alert during daylight and 45-minute alert at night. [2] : 135 

In July 1974 Detachment 10 at Takhli was disbanded, followed in August by Detachment 3 at Ubon. On 20 February 1975, Detachment 1 at Nakhon Phanom was disbanded. At this time the 40th's force level had dropped to 8 HH-53Cs and 4 HH-43Fs. [2] : 136 

The 40th moved to Korat Royal Thai Air Force Base on 1 October 1975. On 15 October 1975 with the inactivation of the 56th ARRS its 4 HC-130Ps joined the 40th. [2] : 154 

On 31 January 1976 the 40th ARRS was inactivated at Korat RTAFB. [2] : 155 

Operations and losses

HH-53B of the 40th ARRS which participated in the Son Tay Raid Former Son Tay raider Apple 1.jpg
HH-53B of the 40th ARRS which participated in the Son Tay Raid

[20]

40th ARRS HH-53 as seen from a 21st SOS CH-53 in 1972 Sideview of an HH-53 helicopter, 1972.jpg
40th ARRS HH-53 as seen from a 21st SOS CH-53 in 1972

Lineage

Inactivated on 31 January 1976
Activated on 1 July 1978
Inactivated on 31 December 1987
Activated on 1 May 1993

Assignments

Detachments

Detachment 1, Homestead Air Force Base, Florida: 8 January 1981 – 1 October 1985

Stations

Aircraft

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References

Notes

Explanatory notes
  1. ↑ Approved 10 July 2003.
  2. ↑ Aircraft, serial 68-10357, is pictured after it was converted to an MH-53M Pave Low IV. During the Son Tay raid its call sign was Apple 1. It is on display at the National Museum of the United States Air Force
Citations
  1. 1 2 3 4 5 Robertson, Patsy (26 April 2011). "Factsheet 40 Helicopter Squadron (AFGSC)". Air Force Historical Research Agency. Retrieved 3 April 2015.PD-icon.svg This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Tilford, Earl (1980). Search and Rescue in Southeast Asia 1961–1975 (PDF). Office of Air Force History. p. 81. ISBN   9781410222640.PD-icon.svg This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain .
  3. ↑ "SGT Thomas A Newman, Air Force Cross". Military Times.
  4. ↑ "COL Charles R Brownlee". The Virtual Wall.
  5. ↑ "A1C Charles King, Air Force Cross". Military Times.
  6. ↑ "CMS Charles Douglas King". The Virtual Wall.
  7. ↑ "Vietnamese Air-to-Air Victories, Part 2". Archived from the original on 4 March 2013. Retrieved 10 February 2010.
  8. ↑ "MAJ Holly G Bell". The Virtual Wall.
  9. ↑ "Capt Leonard C Leeser". The Virtual Wall.
  10. ↑ "Ssgt William C Shinn". The Virtual Wall.
  11. ↑ "SMS William D Pruett". The Virtual Wall.
  12. ↑ "Msgt William C Sutton". The Virtual Wall.
  13. ↑ "Ssgt Gregory L Anderson". The Virtual Wall.
  14. ↑ "Capt Leroy C Schaneberg". The Virtual Wall.
  15. ↑ "MAJ John W Goeglein". The Virtual Wall.
  16. ↑ "SSGT Marvin E Bell". The Virtual Wall.
  17. ↑ "MSGT Paul L Jenkins". The Virtual Wall.
  18. ↑ "SSGT Michael F Dean". The Virtual Wall.
  19. ↑ "Capt Leroy Schaneberg Air Force Cross". Military Times Hall of valor.
  20. ↑ "Callsign 'Apple 1'". National Museum of the United States Air Force. 6 March 2015. Archived from the original on 9 April 2015. Retrieved 3 April 2015.
  21. ↑ "COL Warner Britton, Air Force Cross". Military Times.
  22. ↑ "CAPT David E Pannabecker". The Virtual Wall.
  23. ↑ "CAPT Richard E Dreher". The Virtual Wall.
  24. ↑ "SGT James Manor". The Virtual Wall.
  25. ↑ "SGT Raymond J Crow". The Virtual Wall.
  26. ↑ "A1C Raymond A Wagner". The Virtual Wall.
  27. ↑ "CAPT Bennie D Orrell, Air Force Cross". Military Times.
  28. ↑ "Biography: Brigadier General Dale E Stovall". U.S. Air Force website.
  29. ↑ "Valor: A good thought to sleep on". Air Force Magazine.
  30. ↑ "CAPT Dale Stovall, Air Force Cross". Military Times.
  31. ↑ "SGT Charles McGrath, Air Force Cross". Military Times.
  32. ↑ "CAPT Gilbert A Rovito". The Virtual Wall.
  33. ↑ "1LT Francis E Meador". The Virtual Wall.
  34. ↑ "MSGT David V McLeod". The Virtual Wall.
  35. 1 2 3 Dunham, George R (1990). U.S. Marines in Vietnam: The Bitter End, 1973–1975 (Marine Corps Vietnam Operational Historical Series). Marine Corps Association. p.  115. ISBN   978-0-16-026455-9.PD-icon.svg This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain .
  36. ↑ https://www.stripes.com/branches/air_force/2024-03-17/mh-139-grey-wolf-malmstrom-afb-13347062.html
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