939th Air Refueling Wing

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939th Air Refueling Wing
Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm
Insignia
939th Air Refueling Wing emblem (approved 5 March 1969)

The 939th Air Refueling Wing is an inactive

Portland Air Reserve Station
, Oregon. It was inactivated on 30 June 2008.

History

Need for reserve troop carrier groups

After May 1959, the reserve flying force consisted of 45 troop carrier squadrons assigned to 15 troop carrier wings.

wings and the location of separate squadrons in smaller population centers would facilitate recruiting and manning.[1] However, under this concept, all support organizations were located with the wing headquarters.[2] Although this was not a problem when the entire wing was called to active service, mobilizing a single flying squadron and elements to support it proved difficult. This weakness was demonstrated in the partial mobilization of reserve units during the Berlin Crisis of 1961. To resolve this, at the start of 1962, Continental Air Command, (ConAC) determined to reorganize its reserve wings by establishing groups with support elements for each of its troop carrier squadrons. This reorganization would facilitate mobilization of elements of wings in various combinations when needed.[3]

Activation of the 939th Troop Carrier Group

As a result, the 939th Troop Carrier Group was established at

313th Troop Carrier Squadron, which had been stationed there since November 1957.[4] Along with group headquarters, a Combat Support Squadron, Materiel Squadron and a Tactical Infirmary were organized to support the 313th. The group was equipped with Fairchild C-119 Flying Boxcars for Tactical Air Command
airlift operations.

The group was one of four C-119 groups assigned to the

Paine Air Force Base
, Washington.

The 939th performed routine reserve airlift operations, being upgraded to the

C-124 Globemaster II intercontinental airlifter in 1966. On 26 January 1968 the group was activated for combat duty in the Vietnam War
. The group flew overseas missions, particularly to the Far East and Southeast Asia during that period, being relieved from active service in June 1969.

Inactivated on 1 July 1973 as part of a reorganization of Military Airlift Command assets, personnel and equipment being assigned directly to its host 349th MAW.

Air rescue operations

On 1 April 1985 the group was again activated as the 939th Aerospace Rescue and Recovery Group when the

Air Rescue Service.[5]

In December 1986, the group began converting its helicopter element to

305th Aerospace Rescue and Recovery Squadron at Selfridge Air National Guard Base, Michigan were assigned to the group.[5]

On 1 April 1990, recognizing that the group was parent for several operational squadrons, it was expanded as the 939th Air Rescue Wing. The three flying squadrons also became "air rescue" squadrons the same day. In February 1991, the 939th and its subordinate squadrons began conversion to

Sikorsky HH-60G Pave Hawk helicopters.[5]

In August 1992, the 939th Operations Group was activated and the wing's rescue squadrons were assigned to it.

Patrick Air Force Base
, Florida.

The 939th also deployed aircrews from each of its rescue squadrons to provide

Southwest Asia War and to provide combat search and rescue coverage in the Persian Gulf
area between 1993 and 2003.

In April 1997, the active duty Regular Air Force's

920th Rescue Group, which was assigned to the wing.[7]

Air refueling operations

In 2003, the 939th converted to the

Boeing KC-135R Stratotanker aircraft and was redesignated as the 939th Air Refueling Wing. Some of its rescue squadrons were inactivated while others, including the 304th Rescue Squadron (304 RQS) at Portland ARS, were reassigned to the 920th, which was expanded as the 920th Rescue Wing and became the new headquarters for Air Force Reserve rescue units.[7]

The 939th was inactivated in 2008 following the recommendations of the 2005 Base Realignment and Closure Commission and its KC-135Rs redistributed to other units.

Lineage

  • Established as the 939th Troop Carrier Group, Medium and activated on 15 January 1963 (not organized)
Organized in the Reserve on 11 February 1963
Redesignated 939th Tactical Airlift Group on 1 July 1967
Ordered to active service on 26 January 1968
Redesignated 939th Military Airlift Group (Associate) on 25 July 1968
Relieved from active duty on 15 June 1969
Inactivated on 1 July 1973
  • Redesignated 939th Aerospace Rescue and Recovery Group and activated in the Reserve on 1 April 1985
Redesignated 939th Air Rescue Wing on 1 April 1990
Redesignated 939th Rescue Wing on 1 February 1992
Redesignated 939th Air Refueling Wing on 1 April 2003
Inactivated on 30 June 2008

Assignments

Components

Groups
  • 920th Rescue Group, 1 August 1997 –1 April 2003[7]
  • 939th Operations Group, 1 August 1992 – 30 June 2008[6]
Squadrons

Stations

Aircraft

References

Notes
  1. ^ There were an additional four rescue squadrons not assigned to the wings. Cantwell, p. 156
Citations
  1. ^ Cantwell, pp. 156, 169
  2. ^ Cantwell, p. 156
  3. ^ Cantwell, pp. 189–191
  4. ^ a b Maurer, p. 381
  5. ^ a b c d "939th Air Refueling Wing History". Air Force Historical Research Agency. 2 January 2008. Archived from the original on 20 June 2006. Retrieved 24 July 2016.
  6. ^ a b Endicott, Judy G. (26 October 2007). "Factsheet 939 Operations Group (AFRC)". Air Force Historical Research Agency. Retrieved 24 July 2016.
  7. ^ a b c Robertson, Patsy (13 May 2008). "Factsheet 920 Rescue Wing (AFRC)". Air Force Historical Research Agency. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 16 July 2016.
  8. ^ a b Ravensein, p. 184
  9. ^ Ravenstein, p. 248
  10. ^ Robertson, Patsy (7 December 2012). "Factsheet 97 Airlift Squadron (AFRC)". Air Force Historical Research Agency. Archived from the original on 20 August 2016. Retrieved 24 July 2016.
  11. ^ Robertson, Patsy (6 April 2012). "Factsheet 301 Rescue Squadron (AFRC)". Air Force Historical Research Agency. Archived from the original on 18 August 2016. Retrieved 24 July 2016.
  12. ^ Robertson, Patsy (29 January 2015). "Factsheet 304 Rescue Squadron (AFRC)". Air Force Historical Research Agency. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 24 July 2016.
  13. ^ Robertson, Patsy (29 January 2015). "Factsheet 305 Rescue Squadron (AFRC)". Air Force Historical Research Agency. Retrieved 24 July 2016.
  14. ^ Mueller, p. 396

Bibliography

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

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