56th Rescue Squadron

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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
Country United States
Branch United States Air Force
RoleSearch and Rescue
Part ofUnited States Air Forces in Europe - Air Forces Africa
Garrison/HQAviano Air Base
DecorationsPresidential 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.

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.

It flew search and rescue support to the Iceland Defense Force from, May 1988-September 2006.[1]

In 2011 a detachment of helicopters from the 56th deployed on board the USS Ponce (LPD-15).[5]

Lineage[]

  • Constituted as the 56th Air Rescue Squadron on 17 October 1952
Activated on 14 November 1953
Discontinued and inactivated on 18 March 1960
  • Activated on 8 July 1972
Redesignated 56th Aerospace Rescue and Recovery Squadron on 10 July 1972
Inactivated on 15 October 1975
  • Activated on 1 May 1988
Redesignated 56th Air Rescue Squadron on 1 June 1989
Redesignated 56th Rescue Squadron on 1 February 1993.[1]

Assignments[]

  • 7th Air Rescue Group, 14 November 1952 (attached to 5th Air Division until 28 February 1953)
  • 12th Air Rescue Group, 8 December 1956
  • Air Rescue Service, 18 February 1958 - 18 March 1960 (attached European Rescue Operations Center)[note 1]
  • 3d Aerospace Rescue and Recovery Group, 8 July 1972
  • 41st Aerospace Rescue and Recovery Wing (later 41st Rescue and Weather Reconnaissance Wing, 20 Aug 1972-15 Oct 1975 (attached to 3d Aerospace Rescue and Recovery Group)
  • 39th Special Operations Wing, 1 May 1988
  • 41st Rescue and Weather Reconnaissance Wing, 1 April 1989
  • Air Rescue Service, 1 August 1989
  • Air Forces Iceland, 1 February 1993
  • 35th Operations Group, 31 May 1993
  • 85th Operations Group, 1 October 1994
  • 85th Group, 1 July 1995
  • 48th Operations Group, 28 June 2006 – April [1]
  • 31st Operations Group, May 2018 – present[2]

Stations[]

Aircraft[]

  • Sikorsky H-5 Dragonfly (1952–1953)
  • Grumman SA-16 Albatross (1952–1960)
  • Douglas SC-47 Skytrain (1953–1956)
  • Sikorsky SH-19 (1953–1960)
  • Lockheed HC-130 Hercules (1972–1975)
  • Kaman HH-43 Huskie (1972–1975)
  • Sikorsky HH-3 Jolly Green Giant (1988–1992)
  • Sikorsky HH-60 Pave Hawk (1992 – present)[1]

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. ^ a b c d e f g h i Robertson, Patsy (6 May 2013). "Factsheet 56 Rescue Squadron (USAFE)". Air Force Historical Research Agency. Retrieved 15 November 2016.
  2. ^ a b 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. ^ Miller, Nathanael L. "U.S. Air Force Gets Underway on USS Ponce". GlobalSecurity.com. Retrieved 15 November 2016. (from Navy News Service)

Bibliography[]

Public Domain This article incorporates public domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency website http://www.afhra.af.mil/.

  • Dunham, George R. (1990). U.S. Marines in Vietnam: The Bitter End, 1973-1975. Marine Corps Vietnam Operational Historical Series. Quantico VA: Marine Corps Association. ISBN 978-0-16-026455-9.
  • Tilford, Earl H. Jr. (1992). Search and Rescue in Southeast Asia (PDF). USAF in Southeast Asia. Bolling AFB, DC: Center for Air Force History. ISBN 978-1782664284. LCCN 92-37232. Retrieved 19 December 2015.

External links[]

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