66th Rescue Squadron

The 66th Rescue Squadron (66 RQS) is stationed at Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada, where it operates HH-60 Pave Hawk aircraft conducting search and rescue and combat search and rescue missions. It is geographically separated unit (GSU) of the 563rd Rescue Group (563 RQG) at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Arizona, which in turn is a GSU of the 23d Wing (23 WG) at Moody Air Force Base, Georgia.

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

The squadron has been plagued by aviation accidents in recent years. An investigation of 1998 crash that killed a dozen airmen called the unit stressed out by constant combat deployments without adequate rest.

The unit was in Afghanistan in the summer of 2010. Media reported 4 aircrew deaths in June when a Pave Hawk helicopter was shot down during a rescue mission on June 9. Flight engineer David Smith was lost on impact. On July 2 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 Sept. 2010.

Lineage

 * 66th Air Rescue Squadron (1952–1993)
 * 66th Rescue Squadron (1993–Present)

Assignments

 * 9th Air Rescue Group (1952–1958)
 * Attached: HQ United States Air Forces in Europe (14 November 1952 - 15 November 1953)
 * Attached: Third Air Force (15 November 1953 - 1 August 1954)
 * Attached: HQ United States Air Forces in Europe (1 August 1954 - c. 18 January 1958)
 * Air Rescue Service (1991–1993)
 * Attached: 4404th Operations Group (Provisional) (25 January - 5 July 1993)
 * 57th Wing (1993–??)
 * 563d Rescue Group (??–present)

Bases stationed

 * RAF Manston, England (1952–1958)
 * Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada (1991–Present)
 * Deployed: Kuwait City, Kuwait (25 January - 5 July 1993)

Aircraft Operated

 * SA-16 Albatross (1952–1958)
 * SH-19 Chickasaw (1952–1958)
 * C-82 Packet (1952–1953)
 * HH-60 Pave Hawk (1991–Present)