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| 39th Rescue Squadron | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Active | 1952–1957; 1967–1972; 1992–1994; 1997–present |
| Country |  United States |
| Branch |  United States Air Force |
| Role | Search and rescue |
| Part of | Air Force Reserve Command |
| Garrison/HQ | Patrick Space Force Base |
| Nickname(s) | Crown/King[citation needed] |
| Motto(s) | That Others May Live |
| Engagements | Korean War Vietnam War Operation Iraqi Freedom Operation Enduring Freedom[1] |
| Decorations | Distinguished Unit Citation Presidential Unit Citation Air Force Outstanding Unit Award Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm[1] |
| Commanders | |
| Current commander | Lt Col David J Underwood |
| Insignia | |
| 39th Rescue Squadron emblem(approved 12 March 1992)[1] |  |
The39th Rescue Squadron is anAir Force Reserve Command unit of the920th Rescue Wing (920 RQW) atPatrick Space Force Base, Florida. Until December 2019, it operated theLockheed HC-130P/N Combat King aircraft conductingsearch and rescue andcombat search and rescue/personnel recovery missions.[2] The squadron is currently transitioning to theLockheed Martin HC-130J Combat King II aircraft, which will provide significant increases in the squadron's capabilities.[2] AnAir Force Reserve Command unit, the 39th Rescue Squadron is operationally-gained by theAir Combat Command (ACC) uponmobilization.
As anAir Force Reserve Command unit, thesquadron mission is to rapidly deploy HC-130 aircraft and personnel to austere airfields and denied territory in order to execute all-weather personnel recovery operations. 39th flight crews routinely perform high and low altitude personnel and equipment airdrops, infiltration/exfiltration of personnel, helicopterair refueling, and forward area refueling point missions. When tasked, the squadron also conductshumanitarian assistance operations, disaster response, security cooperation/aviation advisory, emergencyaeromedical evacuation, casualty evacuation, noncombatant evacuation operations.[3] During theSpace Shuttle program, the 39th also provided DoD crewed space flight support forNASA.
The squadron was first activated in November 1952 as the39th Air Rescue Squadron atAshiya Air Base, Japan when theAir Rescue Service expanded the3d Air Rescue Squadron into agroup. The squadron assumed the mission, personnel and aircraft of Flight D, 3d Air Rescue Squadron, which was discontinued when the squadron activated. The 39th conducted search, rescue, and escort missions in Japan and Korea during and following theKorean War. It also flew missions included refueling rescue helicopters and performing airborne command, control, and communications functions during combat rescue operations.[1]
On 18 January 1967, the squadron was formed atUdorn Royal Thai Air Force Base with sixLockheed HC-130 Hercules transferred from the37th Aerospace Rescue and Recovery Squadron.[4]
On 8 June 1967 the squadron relocated from Udorn toTuy Hoa Air Base, South Vietnam and began to receive HC-130Ps to replace their HC-130Hs.[5] The HC-130P was the first aircraft able to refuel helicopters and so provided a dramatic increase in range for helicopters, particularly those involved in combat search and rescue missions.[6] By mid-1969, the squadron was operating 11 HC-130Ps from Tuy Hoa.[7] On 16 September 1970 the squadron relocated from Tuy Hoa AB toCam Ranh Air Base.[8]
In March 1972 the squadron moved from Cam Ranh toKorat Royal Thai Air Force Base. On 1 April 1972, the 39th was dissolved and the aircraft and crews temporarily became part of Detachment 4 of the 3d Aerospace Rescue and Recovery Group at Korat. On 8 July 1972, the detachment was replaced by the56th Aerospace Rescue and Recovery Squadron and the .
On 10 October 1990, the squadron was reestablished as the39th Air Rescue Squadron under the Air Rescue Service and activated atMisawa Air Base, Japan on 1 January 1992 as anHH-60G Pave Hawk helicopter squadron. On 1 February 1993, the squadron was redesignated as the39th Rescue Squadron under the432d Operations Group of the432d Fighter Wing at Misawa.
The squadron was inactivated as a Regular Air Force unit in 1994 concurrent with inactivation of the432d Fighter Wing.[9]
The39th Rescue Squadron was reactivated in 1997 as anAir Force Reserve Command unit and assigned to the920th Rescue Group (later the 920th Rescue Wing), atPatrick Space Force Base, Florida, assuming operation of all Lockheed HC-130P/N aircraft and command of all HC-130 flight crews and associated support personnel previously assigned to the301st Rescue Squadron. Since that time, the squadron has provided rescue support toNASA on theEastern Range during theSpace Shuttle program, participated in domestic humanitarian operations following the landfall ofHurricane Katrina along the U.S. Gulf Coast, and following the attacks on the United States of 11 September 2001, has made repeated combat deployments of its aircraft and aircrews to Iraq and Djibouti in support ofOperations Iraqi Freedom andEnduring Freedom.[citation needed]
On 16 December 2019, the squadron retired their last HC-130 P/N Combat King aircraft. This fleet of aircraft will be replaced with new HC/MC-130J models in the spring of 2020.[10] The squadron's first HC-130J Combat King II arrived on 2 April 2020.[11]
This article incorporatespublic domain material from the United States Air Force
This article incorporatespublic domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency
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