1st Expeditionary Rescue Group

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1st Expeditionary Rescue Group
HH-60 Pave Hawk
Lockheed Martin C-130J Super Hercules
DecorationsPresidential Unit Citation
Commanders
Current
commander		Gregory A. Roberts
Notable commanderVirgil LO. Zoller
Insignia
1st Expeditionary Rescue Group emblem
1st Air Rescue Sq emblem[note 1][1]
1st Emergency Rescue Sq emblem

The 1st Expeditionary Rescue Group is a provisional unit of the United States Air Force assigned to Air Combat Command to activate or inactivate as necessary. It was activated in Southwest Asia in September 2015 to provide combat search and rescue for Operation Inherent Resolve.

The

VE Day
, the squadron returned to the United States and was inactivated in 1946.

The group was activated later in 1946 as the 1st Rescue Squadron and was responsible for air rescue operations in the Caribbean and mid-Atlantic area. In 1952, it expanded to become the 1st Air Rescue Group, but was inactivated in 1956 as Air Force operations in the Caribbean were reduced. It was active again in 1995 at

Eastern Test Range. It was inactivated in 1997, when its component squadrons moved to Moody Air Force Base, Georgia and were reassigned, while the Eastern Test Range support mission was assumed by Air Force Reserve Command
.

Mission

The mission of the 1st Expeditionary Rescue Group is combat search and rescue.

Units

The 1st Expeditionary Rescue Group consists of the following units:[2]

History

World War II

Rescue OA-10A Catalina

Training as the first squadron of its kind

The

Consolidated PBY-5A Catalina at Naval Air Station Pensacola and Naval Air Station Jacksonville. The training included water landings on Lake Okeechobee and navigation training. After two and a half months of training, the unit departed for overseas assignment.[4] The squadron left for overseas from Camp Patrick Henry, Virginia,[5] sailing on board the SS William L. Mitchell on 3 March.[6]

Operations in the Mediterranean

The

Port Lyautey Airfield, French Morocco.[6] The squadron flew its first operational mission from Ajaccio on 10 April. Its first rescue, of a crewmember of a Royal Air Force Vickers Wellington bomber, occurred a week later.[7]

In May 1944, the squadron began a split operation to increase the area in which it could provide rescue coverage. Headquarters and C Flight remained at Ajaccio, while B Flight left for

741st Bombardment Squadron, four days later.[8]

Not only

prisoners of war.[9]

By July 1944, B Flight acquired a

Distinguished Unit Citation for the period o 17 to 21 August 1944. During this period, with only nine aircraft to cover its area of responsibility, the squadron rescued 21 allied airmen, making open sea landings in hazardous weather conditions and heavy seas.[1]

During the month of October, A Flight temporarily operated from a French naval base. The squadron also added a boat crew to its strength, but this unit was reassigned a month later.[11][12]

In late December 1944, the squadron and C Flight moved to Foggia.

Falconara Airfield and B Flight with the squadron headquarters at Foggia.[14][15]

Return to the United States

The last combat rescue performed by the squadron, on 1 May 1945, was also the only one performed by dropping a

Keesler Field, Mississippi in late June. The squadron spent the next year at Keesler before inactivating in June 1946.[1]

Caribbean operations

The squadron was activated again as the 1st Rescue Squadron at

Howard Field, Panama Canal Zone in November 1946 and assumed responsibility for search and rescue in the Caribbean.[1]

The squadron moved to

Air Rescue Service.[1] Despite the move, the squadron's area of responsibility (the Caribbean and eastward in the mid-Atlantic to Bermuda) remained the same.[17] At MacDill the squadron became the 1st Air Rescue Squadron.[1] A Flight was located with the squadron until early 1951, when its personnel were distributed to other Air Rescue Service units.[18]

In 1951 the squadron headquarters returned to the Canal Zone, moving to

Albrook Air Force Base,[1] where its B Flight was already located.[19] In November 1952 it expanded into the 1st Air Rescue Group. Its three flights, were replaced by squadrons. A and B Flights, both located at Albrook with group headquarters, became the 26th and 27th Air Rescue Squadrons, C Flight at Ramey Air Force Base, Puerto Rico, became the 28th Air Rescue Squadron, and D Flight at Kindley Air Force Base, Bermuda became the 29th Air Rescue Squadron.[20] Less than a year later, in September 1953, the second rescue squadron at Albrook was inactivated. As US operations in the Caribbean were reduced, the group and its remaining squadrons inactivated in December 1956.[1]

Patrick Air Force Base

1st Rescue Group crew approaching their HC-130P

In June 1995, the group, now designated the 1st Rescue Group, was activated at

Lockheed HC-130 Hercules tankers, although the group was not manned until the middle of July.[21] The squadrons had previously reported to the 1st Operations Group, stationed at Langley Air Force Base, Virginia.[1][22][23]

The group provided rescue, recovery and medical evacuation capability for

Eastern Test Range by government and commercial operators.[24] While stationed at Patrick, the group deployed airmen to Southwest Asia. Five members of the group were among those killed in the Khobar Towers bombing.[25]

In April 1997, the group's two flying squadrons moved to

347th Operations Group.[22][23] Air Combat Command and Air Force Reserve Command had been transitioning the Eastern Test Range support mission to the reserve 301st Rescue Squadron.[24] The group remained behind at Patrick until September 1997, when it was inactivated, as the remaining rescue mission at Patrick was transferred to the reserve 920th Rescue Wing.[1]

Expeditionary operations

An HC-130P refuels a HH-60 Pave Hawk helicopter

The group was converted to provisional status as the 1st Expeditionary Rescue Group and assigned to

ISIL. The need for a rescue capability as part of Inherent Resolve was highlighted by the failure to recover Muath al-Kasasbeh, a Royal Jordanian Air Force pilot, who was captured by ISIL, then tortured and barbarously killed after his fighter crashed in Syria.[2]
The US Navy's Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron FIVE (HSC-5) deployed with 1st ERQG during 2016 in support of OIR during their deployment with Carrier Air Wing SEVEN (CVW-7).

Lineage

  • Constituted as the 1st Emergency Rescue Squadron on 25 November 1943
Activated on 1 December 1943
Inactivated on 4 June 1946
  • Redesignated 1st Rescue Squadron on 26 September 1946
Activated on 1 November 1946
  • Redesignated 1st Air Rescue Squadron on 20 August 1950
  • Redesignated 1st Air Rescue Group on 14 November 1952
Inactivated on 8 December 1956
  • Redesignated 1st Rescue Group on 31 March 1995
Activated on 14 June 1995
Inactivated on 30 September 1997
Activated on 1 September 2015[2]

Assignments

  • Army Air Forces
    Eastern Technical Training Command
    , 1 December 1943
  • XII Fighter Command
    , 12 March 1944 (attached to Mediterranean Allied Coastal Air Force after 14 September 1944)
  • Twelfth Air Force, 1 October 1944 (remained attached to Mediterranean Allied Coastal Air Force until 12 May 1945)
  • Army Air Forces Western Technical Training Command, 18 June 1945
  • Army Air Forces Eastern Technical Training Command, 15 October 1945 – 4 June 1946
  • Caribbean Defense Command
    , 1 November 1946
  • 5600th Wing (later 5600th Composite Wing), 26 July 1948
  • Caribbean Air Command
    , 25 April 1949
  • Air Rescue Service, 1 September 1949 – 8 December 1956 (attached to Caribbean Air Command after 14 November 1952)
  • 1st Fighter Wing, 14 June 1995
  • 347th Wing, 1 April – 30 September 1997[1]
  • 386th Air Expeditionary Wing, 1 September 2015 – present

Components

  • 26th Air Rescue Squadron (later 26th Expeditionary Rescue Squadron): 14 November 1952 – 8 December 1956, 1 September 2015 – present[1][2]
  • 27th Air Rescue Squadron: 14 November 1952 – 21 September 1953[1]
  • 28th Air Rescue Squadron: 14 November 1952 – 8 December 1956[1]
  • 29th Air Rescue Squadron: 14 November 1952 – 8 December 1956[1]
  • 41st Rescue Squadron: 14 June 1995 – 1 April 1997[1]
  • 52d Expeditionary Rescue Squadron, 1 September 2015 – present[2]
  • 64th Expeditionary Rescue Squadron, 1 September 2015 – present[2]
  • 71st Rescue Squadron: 14 June 1995 – 1 April 1997[1]
  • 12th AAF Emergency Rescue Boat Crew, 29 October 1944 – 23 November 1944[11][12]

Stations

  • Boca Raton Army Air Field, Florida, 1 December 1943 – 18 February 1944
  • Camp Don B. Passage, Casablanca, French Morocco, 12 March 1944
  • Sidi Ahmed, Tunisia, 29 March 1944
  • Ajaccio, Corsica, France, 8 April 1944
  • Foggia Main Airfield, Italy, 19 December 1944 – 25 May 1945
  • Keesler Field, Mississippi, 18 June 1945 – 4 June 1946
  • Howard Field (later Howard Air Force Base), Panama Canal Zone, 1 November 1946
  • MacDill Air Force Base, Florida, 1 September 1949 – 15 June 1951
  • Albrook Air Force Base, Panama Canal Zone, 15 June 1951 – 8 December 1956
  • Patrick Air Force Base, Florida, 14 June 1995 – 30 September 1997[1]
  • Undisclosed location in Southwest Asia, 1 September 2015 – present[2][note 2]

Aircraft

Awards and campaigns

Award streamer Award Dates Notes
Distinguished Unit Citation
 17–21 August 1944 1st Emergency Rescue Squadron, Mediterranean Theater of Operations[1]
Campaign Streamer Campaign Dates Notes
Rome-Arno 12 March 1944 – 9 September 1944 1st Emergency Rescue Squadron[1]
Southern France 15 August 1944 – 14 September 1944 1st Emergency Rescue Squadron[1]
North Apennines 10 September 1944 – 4 April 1945 1st Emergency Rescue Squadron[1]
Po Valley 3 April 1945 – 8 May 1945 1st Emergency Rescue Squadron[1]
Rhineland 15 September 1944 – 21 March 1945 1st Emergency Rescue Squadron[1]
Air Combat, EAME Theater 12 March 1944 – 11 May 1945 1st Emergency Rescue Squadron[1]

See also

References

Notes

Explanatory notes
  1. ^ Approved 23 January 1951
  2. Diyarbakir Air Base. "The Rescue Triad". Incirlik Air Base Facebook page. 26 April 2016. Archived
    from the original on 18 August 2016. Retrieved 18 August 2016.
Citations
  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac Haulman, Daniel L. (8 July 2015). "Factsheet 1 Expeditionary Rescue Group (ACC)". Air Force Historical Research Agency. Archived from the original on 24 November 2016. Retrieved 2 January 2017.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g Watson, Racheal E. (3 September 2015). "There is always a first: The 1st Expeditionary Rescue Group Activation". 386th Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs. Archived from the original on 2 January 2017. Retrieved 12 July 2016.
  3. ^ Teegarden, Jim Bob (1 May 2015). "2d Emergency Rescue Squadron". Archived from the original on 20 October 2001. Retrieved 6 May 2015.
  4. ^ "History the 1st Emergency Rescue Squadron, part 2" (PDF). PBT.org The 1st and 7th Emergency Rescue Squadron. February 1944. Archived from the original (PDF) on 26 December 2016. Retrieved 10 July 2016.
  5. ^ "History the 1st Emergency Rescue Squadron, part 3" (PDF). PBT.org The 1st and 7th Emergency Rescue Squadron. Archived from the original (PDF) on 17 May 2016. Retrieved 10 July 2016.
  6. ^ a b "History the 1st Emergency Rescue Squadron, part 4" (PDF). PBT.org The 1st and 7th Emergency Rescue Squadron. March 1944. Archived from the original (PDF) on 17 May 2016. Retrieved 10 July 2016.
  7. ^ "History the 1st Emergency Rescue Squadron, part 5" (PDF). PBT.org The 1st and 7th Emergency Rescue Squadron. April 1944. Archived from the original (PDF) on 16 May 2016. Retrieved 10 July 2016.
  8. ^ "History the 1st Emergency Rescue Squadron, part 6" (PDF). PBT.org The 1st and 7th Emergency Rescue Squadron. May 1944. Archived from the original (PDF) on 17 May 2016. Retrieved 20 August 2016.
  9. ^ "History the 1st Emergency Rescue Squadron, part 7" (PDF). PBT.org The 1st and 7th Emergency Rescue Squadron. June 1944. Archived from the original (PDF) on 16 May 2016. Retrieved 20 August 2016.
  10. ^ "History the 1st Emergency Rescue Squadron, part 8" (PDF). PBT.org The 1st and 7th Emergency Rescue Squadron. July 1944. Archived from the original (PDF) on 16 May 2016. Retrieved 21 August 2016.
  11. ^ a b "History the 1st Emergency Rescue Squadron, part 9" (PDF). PBT.org The 1st and 7th Emergency Rescue Squadron. October 1944. Archived from the original (PDF) on 16 May 2016. Retrieved 21 August 2016.
  12. ^ a b "History the 1st Emergency Rescue Squadron, part 10" (PDF). PBT.org The 1st and 7th Emergency Rescue Squadron. November 1944. Archived from the original (PDF) on 16 May 2016. Retrieved 21 August 2016.
  13. ^ "History the 1st Emergency Rescue Squadron, part 12" (PDF). PBT.org The 1st and 7th Emergency Rescue Squadron. December 1944. Archived from the original (PDF) on 16 May 2016. Retrieved 21 August 2016.
  14. ^ "History the 1st Emergency Rescue Squadron, part 13" (PDF). PBT.org The 1st and 7th Emergency Rescue Squadron. January 1945. Archived from the original (PDF) on 16 May 2016. Retrieved 21 August 2016.
  15. ^ "History the 1st Emergency Rescue Squadron, part 14" (PDF). PBT.org The 1st and 7th Emergency Rescue Squadron. February 1945. Archived from the original (PDF) on 16 May 2016. Retrieved 21 August 2016.
  16. ^ "History the 1st Emergency Rescue Squadron, part 17" (PDF). PBT.org The 1st and 7th Emergency Rescue Squadron. May 1945. Archived from the original (PDF) on 16 May 2016. Retrieved 21 August 2016.
  17. ^ "Abstract, History 1 Air Rescue Squadron Sep 1949". Air Force History Index. Archived from the original on 1 September 2020. Retrieved 18 August 2016.
  18. ^ "Abstract, History 1 Air Rescue Squadron May 1951". Air Force History Index. Archived from the original on 1 September 2020. Retrieved 18 August 2016.
  19. ^ "Abstract, History 1 Air Rescue Squadron". Air Force History Index. 16 March 1951. Archived from the original on 1 September 2020. Retrieved 18 August 2016.
  20. ^ "Abstract, History 1 Air Rescue Group Jul–Dec 1952". Air Force History Index. Archived from the original on 1 September 2020. Retrieved 18 August 2016.
  21. ^ "Abstract, Vol. I (of 8), History 1 Fighter Wing (undated)". Air Force History Index. Archived from the original on 3 January 2017. Retrieved 18 August 2016.
  22. ^ a b Dollman, David (11 October 2016). "Factsheet 41 Rescue Squadron (ACC)". Air Force Historical Research Agency. Retrieved 2 January 2017.
  23. ^ a b Bailey, Carl E. (27 March 2015). "Factsheet 71 Rescue Squadron (ACC)". Air Force Historical Research Agency. Archived from the original on 27 September 2015. Retrieved 2 January 2017.
  24. ^ a b "Abstract, Vol. I (of 9) History 1 Fighter Wing (undated)". Air Force History Index. Archived from the original on 26 August 2016. Retrieved 18 August 2016.
  25. ^ Forshaw, Leslie (28 June 2015). "Fallen Rescue Warriors Remembered at Patrick Air Force Base". Space Coast Daily. Archived from the original on 24 July 2015. Retrieved 18 August 2016.

Bibliography

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

External links
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