 | This article'slead sectionmay be too short to adequatelysummarize the key points. Please consider expanding the lead toprovide an accessible overview of all important aspects of the article.(June 2022) |
| 939th Air Refueling Wing | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Active |
|
| Country |  United States |
| Branch |  United States Air Force |
| Role | Aerial refueling |
| Decorations | Air Force Outstanding Unit Award Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm |
| Insignia | |
| 939th Air Refueling Wing emblem[a] |  |
The939th Air Refueling Wing is an inactiveUnited States Air Force Reserve unit. It was last active with theFourth Air Force, based at thePortland Air Reserve Station, Oregon. It was inactivated on 30 June 2008.
After May 1959, the reserve flying force consisted of 45 troop carrier squadrons assigned to 15 troop carrier wings.[b] The squadrons were not all located with their parent wings, but were spread over thirty-five Air Force, Navy and civilian airfields under what was called the Detached Squadron Concept. The concept offered several advantages. Communities were more likely to accept the smallersquadrons than the largewings 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 theBerlin 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]
As a result, the939th Troop Carrier Group was established atPortland International Airport, Oregon on 11 February 1963 as the headquarters for the313th Troop Carrier Squadron, which had been stationed there since November 1957.[4] Along with groupheadquarters, a Combat Support Squadron, Materiel Squadron and a Tactical Infirmary were organized to support the 313th. The group was equipped withFairchild C-119 Flying Boxcars forTactical Air Command airlift operations.
The group was one of four C-119 groups assigned to the349th Troop Carrier Wing in 1963, the others were the938th Troop Carrier Group atHamilton Air Force Base, California,940th Troop Carrier Group atMcClellan Air Force Base, California, and the941st Troop Carrier Group atPaine Air Force Base, Washington.
The 939th performed routine reserve airlift operations, being upgraded to theC-124 Globemaster II intercontinental airlifter in 1966. On 26 January 1968 the group was activated for combat duty in theVietnam 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.
On 1 April 1985 the group was again activated as the939th Aerospace Rescue and Recovery Group when the304th Aerospace Rescue and Recovery Squadron at Portland International Airport equipped withLockheed HC-130 Hercules aircraft transferred fromMarch Air Force Base, California in addition to itsBell HH-1 Hueys. The mobilization gaining command for the group wasMilitary Airlift Command, with the intermediate command beingTwenty-Third Air Force until August 1989, thenAir Rescue Service.[5]
In December 1986, the group began converting its helicopter element toSikorsky HH-3 Jolly Green Giants.[5] In October 1987, the group became the headquarters for all reserve rescue units, when the301st Aerospace Rescue and Recovery Squadron atHomestead Air Force Base, Florida and the305th Aerospace Rescue and Recovery Squadron atSelfridge 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 the939th 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 toSikorsky 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.[6] Following the devastation ofHurricane Andrew in the same month, the 301st Rescue Squadron provided extensive service, but was forced to abandon Homestead and move toPatrick Air Force Base, Florida.
The 939th also deployed aircrews from each of its rescue squadrons to providesearch and rescue coverage worldwide, including toNaval Air Station Keflavik, Iceland, during and after theSouthwest Asia War and to provide combat search and rescue coverage in thePersian Gulf area between 1993 and 2003.
In April 1997, the active duty Regular Air Force's1st Rescue Group at Patrick AFB inactivated and a second reserve rescue squadron to strictly fly the HC-130, the39th Rescue Squadron, was formed there. Both squadrons were placed under the920th Rescue Group, which was assigned to the wing.[7]
In 2003, the 939th converted to theair refueling mission withBoeing KC-135R Stratotanker aircraft and was redesignated as the939th 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 the2005 Base Realignment and Closure Commission and its KC-135Rs redistributed to other units.
|
|
This article incorporatespublic domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency
| Leadership |  | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Structure |
| ||||||||||
| Personnel and training | |||||||||||
| Uniforms and equipment | |||||||||||
| History and traditions |
| ||||||||||
| Air Forces |  | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bases | |||||||||
| Command | |||||||||
| Wings/Groups |
| ||||||||
