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| 58th Rescue Squadron | |
|---|---|
 Pararescuemen from the 58th exercise recovering a downed pilot | |
| Active | 1952–1960; 1961–1970; 2002–present |
| Country |  United States |
| Branch |  United States Air Force |
| Role | Search and Rescue |
| Part of | Air Combat Command |
| Garrison/HQ | Nellis Air Force Base |
| Motto(s) | Courage and Honor[1] |
| Decorations | Navy Meritorious Unit Commendation Air Force Outstanding Unit Award[1] |
| Insignia | |
| 58th Rescue Squadron emblem(approved c. 2007)[1] |  |
The58th Rescue Squadron is one of five active-dutysquadrons under the command of the563rd Rescue Group atDavis-Monthan Air Force Base, Arizona but located at Operating Site Alpha,Nellis Air Force Base,Nevada.[2]
In the fall of 1952,Air Rescue Service, expanded its existing squadrons to groups. Its 7th Air Rescue Squadron, which had responsibility for rescue support in an area stretching from the middle Atlantic and across North Africa to the Middle East, became the 7th Air Rescue Group. Air Rescue Service formed new squadrons, which replaced existing flights of the old squadrons. The58th Air Rescue Squadron was activated atWheelus Air Base, Libya, where it assumed the mission and took over the resources of Flight E, 6th Air Rescue Squadron.
The 58th flewsearch and rescue in parts of the Middle East, Africa, andSouthern Europe, especially at theEl Uotia Gunnery Range in Libya. It was briefly inactive from September 1960 until June 1961. It also stood downrange alert duringcrewed space missions, performed some overwater escort, and providedhumanitarian aid duringnatural disasters. In September 1969, a coup led byMuammar Gaddafi replaced theKingdom of Libya with theLibyan Arab Republic. The new republic terminated American base rights in Libya and the squadron was inactivated.
Until about 2000, Air Force rescue units were frequently composite units (as shown by the number of fixed- and rotary-wing aircraft flown by the squadron at Wheelus). At that time, rescue units were organized as fixed-wing, helicopter, orpararescue units. The squadron, now the58th Rescue Squadron, was activated atNellis Air Force Base, Nevada, in June 2002 as a pararescue squadron, often called a "Guardian Angel" squadron. The squadron possesses no aircraft; its rescue personnel fly on the helicopters of the66th Rescue Squadron.
This article incorporatespublic domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency
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