563rd Rescue Group

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563rd Rescue Group
Vietnamese Gallantry Cross with Palm
Insignia
563rd Rescue Group emblem[note 1][1]
3rd Emergency Rescue Squadron emblem during World War II

The 563rd Rescue Group is a

group also controls the rescue squadrons at Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada. It is assigned to the 355th Wing. The group directs flying operations dedicated to personnel recovery and is part of Air Combat Command
. The group was activated under its current designation at Davis-Monthan in 2003 to command rescue units in the western United States.

The group was first activated during

Air Rescue Service
eliminated its groups and assigned its squadrons directly to its regional rescue centers.

The group was organized again at

Saigon
, was inactivated there in 1976.

Mission

The 563rd Rescue Group directs flying operations dedicated to personnel recovery and is part of

group is responsible for training, readiness, and operations of one Lockheed HC-130J Combat King squadron, two Sikorsky HH-60G Pave Hawk squadrons, two "Guardian Angel" squadrons, and an operations support squadron.[2]

Units

History

World War II and occupation of Japan

World War II

OA-10 Catalina

The unit was first activated at

Mokmer Airfield on Biak in the Netherlands East Indies on 2 September 1944.[1][8]

The squadron's air echelon continued training at Keesler until 5 July 1944, when it flew to the

Fairfield-Suisun Army Air Field, California on 15 August, and arrived at Archerfield Airport on 1 September 1944. It was finally reunited with the ground echelon at Mokmer on 29 September 1944.[1]

SB-17 showing the droppable life boat

The squadron's first combat mission was flown on 21 September 1944, when it picked up two downed Navy fliers. In November 1944, the squadron began operating from the Philippines. Initially the

Boeing SB-17 Dumbos, which were equipped with a 27-foot long life boat with survival equipment that could be dropped to downed aircrews, in addition to its Catalinas. This permitted the rescue of crews who were downed in seas that were too high for the Catalinas to land and pick them up.[8] The Dumbos would frequently accompany strike aircraft, orbiting off the coast during the attack, so as to be in position to accompany distressed aircraft on the return flight. If needed, the life boat, whose engines gave it a range of 500 miles, could be dropped to crews that ditched or bailed out of their aircraft.[10] The squadron also provided courier service, carried supplies and messages, evacuated allied prisoners and wounded personnel, and occasionally provided reconnaissance.[1]

The squadron's flights frequently operated at bases separated from the squadron

Ie Shima near Okinawa. During its eleven months of operating in the Pacific, it was credited with rescuing 325 persons.[8]

Occupation of Japan

The squadron was one of the first American military units to move to Japan after

From 1946 through 1950, the squadron, called the 3rd Rescue Squadron after 1948, provided rescue capabilities in Japan.

Far East Air Forces units for operational control.[1][12]

Korean War

Squadron H-5 preparing to evacuate soldier to a MASH

Deployment of elements to Korea

Following the North Korean invasion of South Korea on 25 June 1950, the squadron deployed two L-5 Sentinels and one

Pusan West Air Base to perform search and rescue missions. These were replaced a week later by Sikorsky H-5 helicopters.[13] By late August, a squadron representative was stationed with the Joint Operations Center to coordinate rescue operations. Three months later, this single officer expanded into a Rescue Control Center, under the command of the squadron's deputy commander, and was also known as "3rd Air Rescue Squadron in Korea."[14]

Operations in Korea

Combat operations in Korea, and the changing tactical situation there, soon added the missions of rescuing aircrew downed behind enemy lines, and evacuating wounded personnel with the squadron's helicopters.

Boeing SB-29 Superdumbos, which operated offshore from strike areas, much as the SB-17 Dumbos had during World War II.[17]

Group H-19 water rescue[note 2]

The squadron's Boeing SB-17 Dumbos and SC-47 Skytrains were used in the search role, with the C-47 "Gooneybirds" being commandeered on occasion to fly critical supply missions. Early in the war, both these planes began to be replaced by SB-29 Superdumbos.

Sikorsky H-19 greatly extended the range of the squadron's rotary wing elements.[11]

The squadron's helicopters frequently flew wounded soldiers to Army Mobile Army Surgical Hospital (MASH) units, typically stationing one H-5 and one L-5 with each MASH.[13][note 3] In December 1951, the squadron successfully evacuated troops to a Navy hospital ship sailing off the Korean coast.[11] Dr. Elmer Henderson, a former chairman of the American Medical Association, credited the drop in the mortality rate for wounded soldiers to half that experienced during World War II to their quick evacuation by rescue helicopters.[20] Over 7,000 casualties were evacuated by the 3rd during the war.[21] Squadron elements operated out of Paengnyong-do and Cho-do islands off the coast of North Korea, enabling its limited range helicopters to rescue aircrew far behind enemy lines.[22]

Associated in part with these forward locations, the squadron assumed a secondary mission of

guerillas) from behind enemy lines. During November 1950, squadron SB-17s dropped a number of agents near the Chinese border, along with radio equipment, to provide intelligence data on enemy components. In April 1951, the unit recovered components of a MiG-15 that had crashed near Sinanju for study by military intelligence.[23]

Squadron to group

38th Squadron Albatross taking off[note 4]

While still flying combat missions, in November 1952, the squadron was expanded, becoming the 3rd Air Rescue Group. Each of the squadron's flights was replaced by a newly-activated squadron, assigned to the new group:

A Flight at
36th Air Rescue Squadron
B Flight at
37th Air Rescue Squadron
C Flight at
38th Air Rescue Squadron
D Flight at
39th Air Rescue Squadron

At the same time, Detachment 1 of the squadron at Seoul, Korea was expanded into the 2157th Air Rescue Squadron[11]

The group was credited with rescuing almost 10,000 United Nations personnel during the Korean War, including almost 1,000 combat saves from behind enemy lines, and 200 water rescues. Its actions earned the unit a

Korean Presidential Unit Citations.[1][note 5]

Following the war, the group returned to providing rescue capability in Japan. As Air Rescue Service shrank from a peak of 50 squadrons in 1954, the 37th Squadron was inactivated in May 1955.

Douglas SC-54 Skymasters. The SC-54 carried four 40-man inflatable rafts that were safer to drop than the single wooden boat carried by the SB-29.[26] In 1957, group headquarters and the 38th Squadron were inactivated, and the 36th and 39th Squadrons were transferred to the 2nd Air Rescue Group.[1][27] By 1961 Air Rescue Service would have only eleven squadrons assigned.[24]

Vietnam War

HH-43 Huskie picking up fire suppression kit at Cam Ranh Bay

Buildup of rescue forces

Coordination of USAF rescue operations in Southeast Asia had begun with the establishment of Detachment 3, Pacific Air Rescue Center, which was replaced in July 1965 by the 38th Air Rescue Squadron,

Seventh Fleet rescue operations in the Gulf of Tonkin.[28]

Rising aircraft losses in late 1965 led to the expansion of Air Force rescue assets in Southeast Asia. The group was reactivated as the 3rd Aerospace Rescue and Recovery Group, with Detachment 1 at Da Nang, and Detachment 2 at Udorn, manning the regional rescue centers. The 38th Squadron became responsible for local base rescue detachments at bases in Vietnam and Thailand, using

Sikorsky HH-3 Jolly Green Giants for combat rescue, and Lockheed HC-130s as command and control aircraft to coordinate rescue operations.[29] It was also assigned HU-16s[note 8] for long range water rescue over the Gulf of Tonkin.[30] Later, the HC-130s at Da Nang and Udorn were combined to form the group's third squadron, the 39th Aerospace Rescue and Recovery Squadron.[31]

Improved equipment

HC-130 refuels HH-3 over Southeast Asia

The capabilities of the "off the shelf" rescue helicopters assigned to it limited the group's effectiveness. The HH-43 could not hover at higher altitudes, and the HH-3 needed to stage from forward bases in Laos to provide rescue coverage for North Vietnam. This deficiency was partially remedied by the addition of air refueling capability to the HH-3s. Within a few months after the first combat refueling in June 1967, in flight refueling became standard, but staging bases in Laos continued to be used. In addition to extending the range of the group's refuelable helicopters, air refueling permitted them to dump fuel when needed to lighten the aircraft, and to enable it to hover for rescues at high altitudes, knowing that it would be able to connect with a tanker after the rescue attempt and on-load sufficient fuel to return to its home base.[32]

In parallel with the introduction of the HC-130H air refueling aircraft, in the spring of 1967, the group implemented Operation High Drink, which enabled the HH-3s to take on fuel from virtually any Navy ship operating in the Gulf of Tonkin, either landing on larger ships, or hovering alongside smaller ones. Combined with the Jolly Green Giant's ability to land on water, this permitted the withdrawal of the HU-16 amphibians, which flew their last combat rescue sortie on 30 September 1967.[33]

37th Squadron HH-53s in revetments at Da Nang Air Base

In the fall of 1967, the group received its first

40th Aerospace Rescue and Recovery Squadron.[30]

Reductions in rescue operations

Reductions in the size of the group began in December 1969, when the local base rescue detachment at

Ho Chi Minh Trail in Laos, where air strikes had been concentrated since the bombing halt above the 20th parallel.[35]

Although the group did not directly participate in the

Son Tay Raid in November 1970, when the Joint Contingency Task Force arrived in theater, it used seven HH-53s from the group's 40th Squadron, and two HH-3s from the 37th Squadron.[36]

In March 1972, the HC-130Ps of the 39th Squadron left Vietnam for

56th Aerospace Rescue and Recovery Squadron was activated to manage these aircraft.[37] By late in the year, withdrawals in connection with the cease fire had resulted in the withdrawal of almost all rescue forces from Vietnam. The 37th Squadron at Da Nang Air Base was inactivated in November, and its remaining assets were absorbed by the 40th Squadron.[38] The group moved with Seventh Air Force to Nakhon Phanom, and the existing Joint Rescue Centers were replaced by a single one located with group headquarters.[1][38] Rescue operations continued in Laos and Cambodia, but the group also began to participate in training exercises.[39]

1975: Eagle Pull, Frequent Wind and the Mayaguez incident

On 3 April 1975, group forces were placed on alert for the possible implementation of

combat control team to the beleaguered city. After Marine helicopters had evacuated civilians, two group helicopters returned to the landing zone to extract the combat control team and remaining security forces. One HH-53 was hit by ground fire and badly damaged, but was able to return to base for an emergency landing.[40]

As conditions in Southeast Asia continued to deteriorate,

Defense Attaché Compound. The last flight carried as many as 97 refugees aboard one of the aircraft. By the end of the last mission, both Super Jollys were out of commission, having flown the group's last mission in Vietnam.[41]

On 12 May, Khmer Rouge forces seized the

Koh Tang Island began, additional HH-53s transported a relief force of Marines for additional security. Evacuation efforts continued under heavy enemy fire throughout the afternoon and evening in the Air Force's last combat operation in Southeast Asia.[42]

In October 1975, the 56th Squadron was inactivated, and its remaining HC-130s absorbed by the 40th Squadron. As the United States continued its withdrawal from Southeast Asia, the Rescue Coordination Center was shut down on 15 December 1975, and the group and the 40th Squadron were inactivated at the end of January 1976.[43] The group was credited with 3,681 saves during the war, including 2,632 combat saves.[1]

Reactivation

Since reactivating in 2003 as the 563rd Rescue Group at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, the group has deployed airmen and aircraft almost annually in support of

355th Fighter Wing
, later the 355th Wing, collocated at Davis-Monthan.

Medal of Honor, Distinguished Service Cross and Air Force Cross

Three members of the group received the second highest award for heroism awarded by the United States military. After a later review, one of these awards was upgraded to the nation's highest award, the Medal of Honor.[45]

During June 1951, Lt John J. Najarian landed his SA-16 amphibian in the Taedong River, which was not only shallow, but filled with floating debris, while low-hanging high-tension power lines ran over the river, to rescue a Mustang pilot, who had bailed out of his plane at twilight. Assisted by covering flights of Mustangs to suppress enemy flak, Lt Najarian was able to make the difficult night landing, pick up the pilot and take off successfully. For this mission, he was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross.[46]

Airman First Class

Staff Sergeant.[48]

Airman First Class Duane D. Hackney, a PJ with the 37th Squadron, was awarded the Air Force Cross for actions on 13 March 1967 in a rescue operation for two Marine helicopters, a Sikorsky CH-37 Mojave that had been shot down, and a Boeing Vertol CH-46 Sea Knight that had crashed while attempting to aid the first Marine chopper, when it reported that enemy forces were closing in on the crash site. Airman Hackney made multiple trips to the ground while exposed to enemy fire, loading as many Marines on his HH-3's Stokes litter as possible each trip. The HH-3 was struck by enemy fire, losing hydraulic pressure, and forcing the pilot to head for an emergency landing field. Airman Hackney continued to tend to the wounded on board, even after being rendered temporarily unconscious from a bullet that had struck his helmet.[49][note 9]

Lineage

The lineage of the 563rd Rescue Group from organization to today:[50]

  • Constituted as the 3rd Emergency Rescue Squadron on 14 February 1944
Activated on 15 February 1944
Redesignated 3rd Rescue Squadron on 28 January 1948
Redesignated 3rd Air Rescue Squadron on 10 August 1950
Redesignated 3rd Air Rescue Group on 14 November 1952
Inactivated on 18 June 1957
  • Redesignated 3rd Aerospace Rescue and Recovery Group and activated on 14 December 1965 (not organized)
Organized on 8 January 1966
Inactivated on 31 January 1976
  • Redesignated 563rd Rescue Group on 29 July 2003
Activated on 1 October 2003

Assignments

Assignments of the 563rd Rescue Group from organization to today:[50]

  • Army Air Forces Training Command, 15 February 1944
  • Eastern Technical Training Command
    , 4 March 1944
  • Thirteenth Air Force
    , 28 July 1944
  • Fifth Air Force, 17 August 1944 (under operational control of V Bomber Command, 26 August – 2 October 1944)
  • 5276th Rescue Composite Group (Provisional), 2 October 1944
  • 5th Emergency Rescue Group, 16 March 1945
  • V Bomber Command, 21 November 1945
  • 314th Composite Wing
    , 31 May 1946
  • Fifth Air Force, 6 June 1946
  • Air Rescue Service, 1 May 1949 – 18 June 1957 (attached to Fifth Air Force, 1 May 1949, 314th Air Division, 18 May 1951, Japanese Air Defense Force, 14 November 1952, Far East Air Forces, 1 August 1954 – 18 June 1957)
  • Military Air Transport Service, 14 December 1965 (not organized)[note 10]
  • Military Airlift Command, 1 January 1966 (not organized)
  • Pacific Aerospace Rescue and Recovery Center (later 41st Aerospace Rescue and Recovery Wing, 41st Rescue and Weather Reconnaissance Wing), 8 January 1966 – 31 January 1976
  • 347th Rescue Wing, 1 October 2003
  • 23rd Wing, 1 October 2006[51]
  • 355th Fighter Wing (later 355th Wing), 1 October 2018 – present[52][53]

Components

Operational Squadrons

Operational squadrons of the 563rd Rescue Group from 1952 to today:[50]

  • 33rd Air Rescue Squadron
    : 20 September 1955 – 18 June 1957
  • 36th Air Rescue Squadron: 14 November 1952 – 18 June 1957
  • 37th Air Rescue Squadron (later
    37th Aerospace Rescue and Recovery Squadron
    ): 14 November 1952 – 8 May 1955; 8 January 1966 – 20 August 1972
  • 38th Air Rescue Squadron (later, 38th Aerospace Rescue and Recovery Squadron): 14 November 1952 – 18 June 1957; 8 January 1966 – 1 July 1972
  • 39th Air Rescue Squadron (later, 39th Aerospace Rescue and Recovery Squadron): 14 November 1952 – 18 June 1957; 18 January 1967 – 30 April 1972
  • 40th Aerospace Rescue and Recovery Squadron: 18 March 1968 – 20 August 1972
  • 48th Rescue Squadron: 1 October 2003 – present
  • 55th Rescue Squadron: 1 October 2003 – present
  • 56th Aerospace Rescue and Recovery Squadron: 8 July – 20 August 1972
  • 58th Rescue Squadron: 1 October 2003 – present
  • 60th Air Rescue Squadron: 8 April 1956 – 18 June 1957
  • 66th Rescue Squadron: 1 October 2003 – present
  • 79th Rescue Squadron: 1 October 2003 – present
  • 2157th Air Rescue Squadron: 1 March 1953 – 8 April 1956
Maintenance Squadrons
  • 563rd Maintenance Squadron: 1 October 2003 – c. 2005[54]
  • 763rd Maintenance Squadron: 1 October 2003 – c. 2005[54]
Detachments
  • Detachment F, 14 September 1950 – 22 June 1951[55]
  • Detachment 1, 22 June 1951 – 1 March 1953[11][20]
  • Detachment 1, 8 January 1966 – 15 December 1966[50]
  • Detachment 2, 8 January 1966 – 15 December 1966[50][note 11]

Stations

Stations of the 563rd Rescue Group from organization to today:[50]

  • Gulfport Army Air Field, Mississippi, 15 February 1944
  • Keesler Field, Mississippi, 1 April 1944 – May/July 1944
  • Mokmer Airfield, Biak, Netherlands East Indies, September 1944
  • Dulag Airfield, Leyte, Philippines, 3 November 1944
  • Tacloban Airfield
    , Leyte, Philippines, 1 April 1945
  • Floridablanca Airfield, Luzon, Philippines, 21 May 1945
  • Ie Shima Airfield, Okinawa, 15 September 1945
  • Atsugi Airfield, Japan, 6 October 1945
  • Nagoya Airfield, Japan, 17 June 1946
  • Yokota Air Base, Japan, 15 July 1947
  • Johnson Air Base
    , Japan, 1 April 1950
  • Nagoya Air Base (later Nagoya Air Station; Moriyama Air Station), Japan, 9 December 1953 – 18 June 1957
  • Tan Son Nhut Airport, South Vietnam, 8 January 1966
  • Nakhon Phanom Royal Thai Air Force Base, Thailand, 15 February 1973
  • U-Tapao Royal Thai Naval Airfield, Thailand, 15 September 1975 – 31 January 1976
  • Davis Monthan Air Force Base, Arizona, 1 October 2003 – present

Aircraft

Aircraft of the 563rd Rescue Group from organization to today:[50]

  • Consolidated OA-10 Catalina, 1944–1947
  • Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress, 1945–1957
  • Boeing SB-17 Dumbo, 1945–1957
  • Douglas C-47 Skytrain, 1945–1957
  • Douglas SC-47 Skytrain, 1945–1957
  • Stinson L-5 Sentinel, 1947–1957
  • Sikorsky R-6 (later H-6), 1947–1949
  • Sikorsky H-5, 1948–1954
  • Boeing SB-29 Superdumbo 1949–1955
  • Grumman SA-16 (later HU-16) Albatross, 1950–1957, 1966–1967
  • Sikorsky H-19, 1951–1957
  • Sikorsky SH-19, 1951–1957
  • Douglas SC-54 Skymaster, 1956–1957
  • Kaman HH-43 Huskie, 1966–1975
  • Sikorsky HH-3 Jolly Green Giant, 1966–1970
  • Sikorsky HH-53 Super Jolly Green Giant, 1967–1975
  • Bell UH-1N Twin Huey, 1975
  • Lockheed HC-130 Hercules, 1966–present[note 12]
  • Sikorsky HH-60G Pavehawk, 2003–present

Awards and campaigns

Award streamer Award Dates Notes
Distinguished Unit Citation
25 June 1950 – 25 December 1950 Korea 3rd Rescue Squadron (later 3rd Air Rescue Squadron)[1]
Distinguished Unit Citation 22 April 1951 – 8 June 1951 Korea 3rd Air Rescue Squadron[1]
Distinguished Unit Citation 1 May 1953 – 27 July 1953 Korea 3rd Air Rescue Squadron[1]
Presidential Unit Citation 1 August 1965 – 30 June 1966 3rd Aerospace Rescue and Recovery Group[1]
Presidential Unit Citation 1 July 1967 – 31 January 1969 3rd Aerospace Rescue and Recovery Group[1]
Presidential Unit Citation 1 February 1969 – 30 April 1970 3rd Aerospace Rescue and Recovery Group[1]
Presidential Unit Citation 1 May 1970 – 31 March 1972 3rd Aerospace Rescue and Recovery Group[1]
Presidential Unit Citation 1 April 1972 – 31 January 1973 3rd Aerospace Rescue and Recovery Group[1]
Air Force Meritorious Unit Award
1 June 2008 – 31 May 2010 563rd Rescue Group[56]
Combat "V" Device
1 July 1966 – 31 December 1966 3rd Aerospace Rescue and Recovery Group[1]
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with Combat "V" Device 1 January 2010 – 31 December 2010 563rd Rescue Group[56]
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award 1 October 2003 – 31 October 2004 563rd Rescue Group[56]
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award 1 November 2004 – 31 July 2006 563rd Rescue Group[56]
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award 1 June 2006 – 31 May 2008 563rd Rescue Group[56]
Philippine Republic Presidential Unit Citation 17 October 1944 – 4 July 1945[57] 3rd Emergency Rescue Squadron[1]
Korean Presidential Unit Citation
25 June 1950 – 30 June 1951 3rd Rescue Squadron (later 3rd Air Rescue Squadron)[1]
Korean Presidential Unit Citation 1 July 1951 – 31 March 1953 3rd Air Rescue Squadron (later 3rd Air Rescue Group)[1]
Vietnamese Gallantry Cross with Palm
8 January 1966 – 28 July 1969 3rd Aerospace Rescue and Recovery Group[1]
Vietnamese Gallantry Cross with Palm 1 April 1966 – 28 January 1973 3rd Aerospace Rescue and Recovery Group[1]
Campaign Streamer Campaign Dates Notes[1][58]
New Guinea 2 September 1944 – 31 December 1944 3rd Emergency Rescue Squadron
Western Pacific 17 April 1944 – 2 September 1945 3rd Emergency Rescue Squadron
Leyte 17 October 1944 – 1 July 1945 3rd Emergency Rescue Squadron
Luzon 15 December 1944 – 4 July 1945 3rd Emergency Rescue Squadron
Southern Philippines 27 February 1945 – 4 July 1945 3rd Emergency Rescue Squadron
China Defensive 2 September 1944 – 4 May 1945 3rd Emergency Rescue Squadron
China Offensive 5 May 1945 – 2 September 1945 3rd Emergency Rescue Squadron
Ryukus 26 March 1945 – 2 July 1945 3rd Emergency Rescue Squadron
World War II Army of Occupation (Japan) 3 September 1945 – 27 April 1952 3rd Emergency Rescue Squadron (later 3rd Rescue Squadron,
3rd Air Rescue Squadron, 3rd Air Rescue Group)
UN Defensive 27 June 1950 – 15 September 1950 3rd Rescue Squadron (later 3rd Air Rescue Squadron)
UN Offensive 16 September 1950 – 2 November 1950 3rd Air Rescue Squadron
CCF Intervention 3 November 1950 – 24 January 1951 3rd Air Rescue Squadron
1st UN Counteroffensive 25 January 1951 – 21 April 1951 3rd Air Rescue Squadron
CCF Spring Offensive 22 April 1951 – 9 July 1951 3rd Air Rescue Squadron
UN Summer-Fall Offensive 9 July 1951 – 27 November 1951 3rd Air Rescue Squadron
Second Korean Winter 28 November 1951 – 30 April 1952 3rd Air Rescue Squadron
Korea Summer-Fall 1952 1 May 1952 – 30 November 1952 3rd Air Rescue Squadron (later 3rd Air Rescue Group)
Third Korean Winter 1 December 1952 – 30 April 1953 3rd Air Rescue Group)
Korea Summer-Fall 1953 1 May 1953 – 27 July 1953 3rd Air Rescue Group)
Vietnam Defensive 8 January 1966 – 30 January 1966 3rd Aerospace Rescue and Recovery Group)
Vietnam Air 31 January 1966 – 28 June 1966 3rd Aerospace Rescue and Recovery Group)
Vietnam Air Offensive 29 June 1966 – 8 March 1967 3rd Aerospace Rescue and Recovery Group)
Vietnam Air Offensive, Phase II 9 March 1967 – 31 March 1968 3rd Aerospace Rescue and Recovery Group)
Vietnam Air/Ground 22 January 1968 – 7 July 1968 3rd Aerospace Rescue and Recovery Group)
Vietnam Air Offensive, Phase III 1 April 1968 – 31 October 1968 3rd Aerospace Rescue and Recovery Group)
Vietnam Air Offensive, Phase IV 1 November 1968 – 22 February 1969 3rd Aerospace Rescue and Recovery Group)
Tet 1969/Counteroffensive 23 February 1969 – 8 June 1969 3rd Aerospace Rescue and Recovery Group)
Vietnam Summer-Fall 1969 9 June 1969 – 31 October 1969 3rd Aerospace Rescue and Recovery Group)
Vietnam Winter-Spring 1970 3 November 1969 – 30 April 1970 3rd Aerospace Rescue and Recovery Group)
Sanctuary Counteroffensive 1 May 1970 – 30 June 1970 3rd Aerospace Rescue and Recovery Group)
Southwest Monsoon 1 July 1970 – 30 November 1970 3rd Aerospace Rescue and Recovery Group)
Commando Hunt V 1 December 1970 – 14 May 1971 3rd Aerospace Rescue and Recovery Group)
Commando Hunt VI 15 May 1971 – 31 July 1971 3rd Aerospace Rescue and Recovery Group)
Commando Hunt VII 1 November 1971 – 29 March 1972 3rd Aerospace Rescue and Recovery Group)
Vietnam Ceasefire Campaign 39 March 1972 – 28 January 1973 3rd Aerospace Rescue and Recovery Group)

See also

Media related to 563d Rescue Group (United States Air Force) at Wikimedia Commons


References

Notes

  1. ^ Approved 18 March 1968 for 3rd Aerospace Rescue & Recovery Group.
  2. North American F-86E Sabre serial 51-2753. Although the helicopter is marked as an Air Rescue Service aircraft, it was actually being operated by the 581st Air Resupply and Communications Wing
    , which operated a helicopter detachment alongside the 3rd's detachment on Cho do. Marion, p. 19.
  3. ^ Eventually, the Army began using its own Bell H-13 Sioux in this mission as well. By the war's end, approximately 25,000 wounded had been evacuated to MASH units, with almost 8,400 of them by helicopters of the 3rd. Marion, p. 17
  4. ^ Aircraft is Grumman SA-16A Albatross serial 51-6.
  5. ^ The squadron was the first United States Air Force unit to earn a Distinguished Unit Citation. Tilford, p. 14
  6. ^ After 8 January 1966, this squadron was the 38th Aerospace Rescue and Recovery Squadron.
  7. ^ These helicopters were more commonly referred to as "Pedros", after their radio call sign.
  8. ^ When the Department of Defense adopted a single aircraft designation system, the SA-16 became the HU-16
  9. ^ Airman Hackney's Air Force Cross was the first not awarded posthumously. He has been called the most decorated airman in Air Force history, with a Silver Star, four Distinguished Flying Crosses, 18 Air Medals, two Purple Hearts and the Cheney Award among his awards. "This Week in PACAF and USAF History 7–13 September 2009" (PDF). Pacific Air Forces Office of History. p. 2. Archived from the original on 8 April 2014. Retrieved 20 December 2015.
  10. ^ Active, but unorganized, Military Air Transport Service and Military Airlift Command units were assigned to command headquarters between 27 December 1965 and 8 January 1966. See Kane, Robert B. (29 April 2010). "Factsheet 60 Air Mobility Wing (AMC)". Air Force Historical Research Agency. Retrieved 12 March 2016.
  11. ^ In addition to these detachments, during the Vietnam War, various local base rescue detachments were assigned directly to the group after July 1971. Bailey. However, for most of the period, they operated as detachments of the group's squadrons. See generally Tilford.
  12. ^ included HC-130H, HC-130P and HC-130J

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 Bailey, Carl E. (2 January 2008). "Factsheet 563 Rescue Group (AFSOC)". Air Force Historical Research Agency. Retrieved 5 May 2015.
  2. ^ a b c "563rd Rescue Group". Davis-Monthan AFB Public Affairs. Archived from the original on 22 December 2015. Retrieved 26 February 2016.
  3. ^ a b Davis-Monthan AFB Public Affairs"48th Rescue Squadron Mission Spotlight". Davis-Monthan AFB Public Affairs. 6 November 2015. Archived from the original on 22 December 2015. Retrieved 26 February 2016.
  4. ^ "563rd Rescue Group, Operating Location-Alpha (OL-A)". 99th Air Base Wing Public Affairs. 5 June 2015. Archived from the original on 18 September 2015. Retrieved 27 February 2016.
  5. ^ "66th Rescue Squadron". 99th Air Base Wing Public Affairs. 5 June 2015. Archived from the original on 22 December 2015. Retrieved 17 December 2015.
  6. ^ "79th Rescue Squadron Spotlight". Davis-Monthan AFB Public Affairs. 6 November 2015. Archived from the original on 21 January 2016. Retrieved 6 January 2016.
  7. ^ "563rd OSS Mission Spotlight". Davis-Monthan AFB Public Affairs. 9 November 2015. Archived from the original on 21 January 2016. Retrieved 6 January 2016.
  8. ^ a b c d e f MacDermott, Bill (18 December 2009). "3rd Emergency Rescue Squadron: A Brief History, 1944–1946". Third Emergency Rescue Squadron – 3rd ERS. Retrieved 18 December 2015.
  9. ^ Tilford, p. 6
  10. ^ a b Tilford, p. 7
  11. ^ a b c d e f g Endicott, pp. 84–85
  12. ^ Tilford, pp. 8–9
  13. ^ a b Marion, p. 2
  14. ^ Marion, p. 3
  15. ^ Tilford, pp. 9, 13
  16. ^ Marion, pp. 3–4
  17. ^ Tilford, p. 9
  18. ^ Marion, pp. 21–22
  19. ^ Marion, p. 8
  20. ^ a b Tilford, p. 12
  21. ^ Marion, p. 1
  22. ^ Tilford, p. 13
  23. ^ Marion, pp. 11, 40
  24. ^ a b Tilford, p. 15
  25. ^ Robertson, Patsy (25 May 2010). "Factsheet 37 Helicopter Squadron (AFGSC)". Air Force Historical Research Agency. Retrieved 5 August 2014.
  26. ^ Tilford, p. 17
  27. ^ Haulman, Daniel L. (15 May 2015). "Factsheet 582 Helicopter Group (AFGSC)". Air Force Historical Research Agency. Retrieved 22 June 2021.
  28. ^ Tilford, p. 70, 73
  29. ^ Tilford, pp. 75-76
  30. ^ a b Tilford, p. 81
  31. ^ Tilford, p. 76
  32. ^ Tilford, pp. 81–83, 85–86
  33. ^ Tilford, p. 86
  34. ^ Tilford, pp. 90–92
  35. ^ Tilford, pp. 113–114
  36. ^ Tilford, p. 107
  37. ^ Tilford, p. 115
  38. ^ a b Tilford, p. 127
  39. ^ Tilford, pp. 133–135
  40. ^ Tilford, pp. 139-140
  41. ^ Tilford, pp. 142–145
  42. ^ Tilford, pp. 146–154
  43. ^ Tilford, pp. 154–155
  44. ^ "55th Rescue Squadron Mission Spotlight". Davis-Monthan AFB Public Affairs. 9 November 2015. Archived from the original on 22 December 2015. Retrieved 12 March 2016.
  45. ^ Marion, p. 24. Tilford, pp. 88-89
  46. ^ Marion, p. 24
  47. ^ Tilford, p. 88
  48. ^ "Vietnam War Period Medal of Honor recipients". Medal of Honor citations. United States Army Center of Military History. 16 July 2007. Archived from the original on 24 April 2008. Retrieved 29 November 2007.
  49. ^ Tilford, pp. 88–89
  50. ^ a b c d e f g Lineage, including assignments, components and aircraft in Bailey, AFHRA Factsheet, except as noted
  51. ^ Robertson, Patsy (6 February 2015). "Factsheet 23 Wing (ACC)". Air Force Historical Research Agency. Retrieved 12 March 2016.
  52. ^ Musser, James M. (30 March 2021). "Factsheet 355 Wing (ACC)". Air Force Historical Research Agency. Retrieved 22 June 2021.
  53. ^ Sims, SRA Giovanni; Moore, Amn Frankie (3 January 2019). "One base, one boss: 355th wing strengthens mission competence". 355th Wing Public Affairs.
  54. ^ a b "About Us: 563rd Rescue Group". 23d Wing Public Affairs. Archived from the original on 27 March 2017. Retrieved 26 May 2019.
  55. ^ This date is from Tilford, p. 12. Endicott gives the date as circa 24 September. Endicott, p. 85.
  56. ^ a b c d e "Air Force Personnel Services: Unit Awards". Air Force Personnel Center. Retrieved 4 January 2016. (search)
  57. ^ AF Pamphlet 900-2, Unit Decorations, Awards and Campaign Participation Credits, p. 46
  58. ^ Campaign dates in AF Pamphlet 900-2 (Vol. 1) pp. 25-26

Bibliography

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

Further reading

External links