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56th Rescue Squadron
56th Rescue Squadron
	Two squadron HH-60 Pave Hawks on a Combat Search and Rescue exercise
Active	1952–1960; 1972–1975; 1988–present
Country	United States
Branch	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
Insignia
56th Rescue Squadron emblem (approved 31 March 1989)

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

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

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

Sidi Slimane Air Base, French Morocco], 14 November 1952 – 18 March 1960
Korat Royal Thai Air Force Base, Thailand, 8 July 1972 – 15 October 1975
Naval Air Station Keflavik, Iceland, 1 May 1988 - May 2006
RAF Lakenheath, England, 1 June 2006 – April 2018 ^[1]
Aviano Air Base, Italy, May 2018 – present

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

^ 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

^ ^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.
^ ^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.
^ Dunham, p. 115
^ Tilford, p. 154
^ Sandridge, SrA Nigel. "56th RQS Paints Rescue Wall, Preserves Legacy". US Air Forces Europe, and Air Forces Africa. Retrieved 1 June 2022.
^ {cite web| url= https://www.af.mil/News/Article-Display/Article/485189/af-impossible-rescue-mission-recognized}
^ Miller, Nathanael L. "U.S. Air Force Gets Underway on USS Ponce". GlobalSecurity.org. Retrieved 1 June 2022.

Bibliography

This article incorporates public domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency

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. Archived from the original (PDF) on 17 November 2016. Retrieved 19 December 2015.

External links

"Fact Sheets: 48th Operations Group". 48th Fighter Wing Public Affairs. 1 August 2013. Archived from the original on 3 March 2016. Retrieved 15 November 2016.
Gallahan, SSG Nathan (11 September 2007). "Getting settled: 56th RQS ready for action". 48th Fighter Wing Public Affairs. Archived from the original on 3 March 2016. Retrieved 15 November 2016.