55th Rescue Squadron

The 55th Rescue Squadron (55 RQS) is an aviation unit of the United States Air Force. It operates the HH-60G Pavehawk 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.

Mission
Since 2003, the squadron provided rapidly deployable combat search and rescue forces worldwide; and deployed aircraft and crews in response to national disasters, domestic search and rescue, and MEDEVAC missions.

History
Originally, the 55th Aerospace Rescue and Recovery Squadron was activated on 14 November 1952, at Thule Air Force Base, Greenland, and remained there until its inactivation on 18 June 1960. The squadron was reactivated again at Kindley Air Force Station, Bermuda, on 10 May 1961. The squadron was relocated to McCoy Air Force Base, Florida (USA) in February 1970, and to Eglin Air Force Base on 3 June 1971. Twenty-two years later, on 25 February 1993, the 55th ARRS moved to Hurlburt Field, where the squadron was inactivated on 11 November 1999. On 22 January 2003 the squadron was reactivated at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, AZ (USA).

Operations
The 55th ARS trained and performed rescue and recovery missions from 1952 to 1960. Between June 1961 and January 1966 the unit supported manned spacecraft recovery operations. In 1988 the rescue role changed to special operations missions. During Operation Just Cause the 55th SOS performed combat search and rescue in Panama between 20 December 1989 and 14 January 1990. This was repeated during the 1991 Gulf War between January and March 1991, and again in the Persian Gulf region and the Kosovo, in 1998-1999. Since 2003, the squadron provided rapidly deployable combat search and rescue forces worldwide; and deployed aircraft and crews in response to national disasters, domestic search and rescue, and MEDEVAC missions, like during Hurricane Katrina.

Lineage

 * 55th Air Rescue Squadron (17 October 1952 - 18 June 1960; 10 May 1961 - 8 January 1966).
 * 55th Aerospace Rescue and Recovery Squadron (8 January 1966 - 1 March 1988)
 * 55th Special Operations Squadron (1 March 1988 - 11 November 1999)
 * 55th Rescue Squadron (22 January 2003–Present)

Assignments

 * 6th Air Rescue Group (14 November 1952)
 * Air Rescue Service (18 February 1958 - 18 June 1960)
 * Military Air Transport Service (10 May 1961)
 * Air Rescue (later, Aerospace Rescue and Recovery) Service (18 June 1961)
 * 39th Aerospace Rescue and Recovery (later, 39th Special Operations) Wing (1 January 1970)
 * 1st Special Operations Wing (18 April 1989)
 * 1st Special Operations (later, 16th Operations) Group (22 September 1992 - 11 November 1999)
 * 355th Operations Group (14 March 2003)
 * 563d Rescue Group (1 October 2003–Present)

Bases stationed

 * Thule Air Force Base, Greenland (14 November 1952)
 * Kindley Air Force Base, Bermuda (17 March - 18 June 1960; 18 June 1961 - 27 February 1970)
 * McCoy Air Force Base, Florida (27 February 1970 - 25 June 1971)
 * Eglin Air Force Base, Florida (25 June 1971 - 25 February 1993)
 * Hurlburt Field, Florida (25 February 1993 - 11 November 1999)
 * Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Arizona (14 March 2003–Present)

Aircraft operated

 * SB-17G Flying Fortress (1952–1955)
 * SC-47 Skytrain (1952–1954)
 * H-19 Chickasaw (1953–1957, 1961–1963)
 * SA-16A Albatross (1953–1959)
 * YH-21/SH-21B Work Horse (1953–1955, 1956–1960)
 * SC-54D/HC-54D Skymaster (1956–1957, 1959–1960, 1961–1964)
 * HH-43 Huskie (1963–1964)
 * HC-97G Stratofreighter (1964–1966)
 * HC-130P/N Hercules (1966–1988)
 * HH-53C Super Jolly Green Giant (1973–1980)
 * HH-3E Jolly Green Giant (1980–1982)
 * UH/MH-60 Black Hawk (1982–1999)
 * HH-60G Pave Hawk (2003–Present)