66th Rescue Squadron

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66th Rescue Squadron
ACC Shield.svg
HH-60 over Las Vegas.jpg
Squadron HH-60G flying over the Las Vegas Strip in 2003
Active1952–1958; 1991–2023
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 Combat Command
Garrison/HQ Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada
Motto(s)Haec Ago Ut Alii Vivant
(Latin: "This I Do That Others May Live")
Engagements Iraq War
Global War on Terror [1]
Decorations Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with Combat "V" Device
Air Force Meritorious Unit Award
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award [1]
Insignia
66th Rescue Squadron emblem (approved 21 February 1958) [1] 66th Rescue Squadron.jpg
Aircraft flown
Helicopter HH-60G/W

The 66th Rescue Squadron (66 RQS) 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.

Contents

Mission

The primary mission of the 66th Rescue Squadron is worldwide combat rescue in support of combat air forces. The 66 RQS is one of six Air Force active-duty HH-60 combat rescue units and is geared for worldwide deployment. [2]

The squadron performs other vital functions in addition to worldwide combat rescue. The unit's secondary mission is to provide rescue support for air operations over the Nellis Range Complex and backup rescue for civilian agencies in the local area and the greater Southwestern United States. [2]

Depending on the mission, a typical rescue crew may include a pilot, co-pilot, flight engineer, aerial gunner and two pararescuemen. These Pararescue Jumpers, or "PJs," are qualified as combat paramedics, scuba divers, parachutists, mountain climbers and survivalists. [2]

The unit provides rapidly deployable combat search and rescue (CSAR) forces to theater CINCs worldwide and conducts peacetime search and rescue in support of the National Search and Rescue Plan and the U.S. Air Force Warfare Center. [2]

The 66th also directly supports HH-60G logistical and maintenance support requirements for the U.S. Air Force Weapons School and Air Combat Command-directed operational test missions. [2]

The first Sikorsky HH-60W Jolly Green II arrived during September 2022 beginning the replacement of the HH-60G. [3]

History

Memorial service for twelve killed from USAF 66th Rescue Squadron during mid-air collision of 3 September 1998 Memorial Service for twelve killed from USAF 66th Rescue Squadron during mid-air collision of 3 September 1998 (original name DF-SC-02-04290).jpg
Memorial service for twelve killed from USAF 66th Rescue Squadron during mid-air collision of 3 September 1998

The 66th flew search and rescue, aeromedical evacuation, and disaster relief from 1952 to 1958 and since 1991. The squadron deployed to Southwest Asia to ensure Iraq’s compliance with United Nations treaty terms from, January–July 1993. [1]

The squadron has been plagued by aviation accidents in recent years. Twelve USAF Airmen were killed when two HH-60G Pavehawk helicopters, call signs Jolly 38 and Jolly 39, were involved in a mid-air collision on 3 September 1998 over the Nevada Test and Training Range during a routine night training exercise. [4] An investigation of the crash cited inadequate training, and constant combat deployments without adequate rest, as contributing factors. [5]

The unit was in Afghanistan in the summer of 2010. Media reported four aircrew deaths in June when a Pave Hawk helicopter was shot down during a rescue mission on 9 June. [6] Flight engineer David Smith was lost on impact. On 2 July a fifth death was added to the list of four when Captain David Wisniewski died from injuries received in the 9 June crash. Captain Wisniewski is credited with saving more than 240 soldiers during his seven tours of duty in Iraq and Afghanistan, 40 of which were saved in his final rescue mission in June. The only two survivors Captain Anthony Simone and Master Sergeant Christopher Aguilera are still in recovery as of 25 September 2010. [7]

The squadron was inactivated on 1 June 2023 during a ceremony at Nellis AFB. [8]

Lineage

Activated on 14 November 1952
Inactivated on 18 January 1958
Redesignated 66th Rescue Squadron on 1 February 1993 [1]
Inactivated 1 June 2023 [8]

Assignments

Stations

(Deployed to Kuwait City, Kuwait 25 January – 5 July 1993) [1]

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">129th Rescue Wing</span> Military unit

The 129th Rescue Wing is a unit of the California Air National Guard, stationed at Moffett Federal Airfield in Sunnyvale, California. The wing is equipped with the HC-130J Combat King II and the HH-60G Pave Hawk helicopter. If activated to federal service, the wing is assigned to the United States Air Force's Air Combat Command (ACC).

<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">58th Special Operations Wing</span> Military unit

The 58th Special Operations Wing is a combat unit of the United States Air Force stationed at Kirtland Air Force Base, New Mexico. The 58 SOW is part of the Air Education and Training Command (AETC) Nineteenth Air Force.

<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">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">101st Rescue Squadron</span> Military unit

The 101st Rescue Squadron is a unit of the New York Air National Guard 106th Rescue Wing stationed at Francis S. Gabreski Air National Guard Base, Westhampton Beach, New York. The squadron is equipped with the HH-60G Pave Hawk helicopter, configured for combat search and rescue operations.

<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">130th Rescue Squadron</span> Military unit

The 130th Rescue Squadron is a unit of the California Air National Guard 129th Rescue Wing located at Moffett Federal Airfield, Mountain View, California. The 130th is equipped with the HC-130J Combat King II. If activated to federal service, the 130 RQS is gained within the United States Air Force by the Air Combat Command (ACC).

<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">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">58th Rescue Squadron</span> Military unit

The 58th Rescue Squadron is one of five active-duty squadrons under the command of the 563d Rescue Group at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Arizona but located at Operating Site Alpha, Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada.

<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 HH-60 Pave Hawk 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">34th Weapons Squadron</span> Military unit

The 34th Weapons Squadron is a United States Air Force unit. It is assigned to the USAF Weapons School, stationed at Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada.

<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.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Haulman, Daniel L. (21 March 2017). "66 Rescue Squadron (ACC)". Air Force Historical Research Agency . Retrieved 3 November 2016.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 "Factsheet 66th Rescue Squadron". 99th Air Base Wing Public Affairs. 5 June 2015. Archived from the original on 22 December 2015. Retrieved 17 December 2015.
  3. 1 2 AirForces Monthly . Stamford, England: Key Publishing. October 2022. p. 24.{{cite magazine}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  4. ↑ "66th RQS remembers fallen Airmen 20 years later". aerotechnews.com. 21 September 2018. Archived from the original on 28 September 2019.
  5. ↑ Radke, Jace (16 March 1999). "Few answers in crash cause". Las Vegas Sun . Archived from the original on 18 May 2021.
  6. ↑ Harding, Thomas (9 June 2010). "American troops killed when Blackhawk helicopter shot down". The Daily Telegraph . Retrieved 5 December 2017.
  7. ↑ "Capt David Anthony Wisniewski". Freedom Remembered. 3 July 2010. Archived from the original on 5 April 2012. Retrieved 5 December 2017.
  8. 1 2 "66 RQS inactivates June 1". Air Combat Command. 1 June 2023. Retrieved 15 February 2024.
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