56th Rescue Squadron | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Two squadronHH-60 Pave Hawks on aCombat Search and Rescue exercise | |
| Active | 1952–1960; 1972–1975; 1988–present |
| Country |  United States |
| Branch |  United States Air Force |
| Role | Search and Rescue |
| Part of | United States Air Forces in Europe - Air Forces Africa |
| Garrison/HQ | Aviano Air Base |
| Decorations | Presidential Unit Citation (United States) Air Force Outstanding Unit Award Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm[1] |
| Insignia | |
| 56th Rescue Squadron emblem(approved 31 March 1989)[1] |  |
The56th Rescue Squadron is part of the 31st Fighter Wing,Aviano Air Base,Italy.[2] The squadron was previously assigned to the48th Fighter Wing atRAF Lakenheath,England. It operatesHH-60G Pave Hawk helicopters conductingsearch and rescue missions.
The 56th Rescue Squadron is a combat-ready search and rescue squadron of HH-60G Pave Hawk helicopters capable of executing all-weather search and rescue missions day or night in hostile environments in support of USAFE, USEUCOM, and NATO operations. It employs a state-of-the-art communications and navigation system along with advanced search and rescue equipment. The squadron is capable of deploying to any theater of operations in the world.
The 56th flewsearch and rescue, and medical evacuation, inNorth Africa and southern Europe from, November 1952-March 1960.[1]
It flew combat missions inSoutheast Asia from, 10 July 1972 – 15 August 1973, to include search and rescue, airborne mission control, andaerial refueling. The squadron continued to perform local search and rescue until February 1975.[1]On 1 April 1972, the39th Aerospace Rescue and Recovery Squadron was inactivated and its aircraft and crews temporarily became part of Detachment 4 of the3d Aerospace Rescue and Recovery Group atKorat Royal Thai Air Force Base. On 8 July 1972 the detachment was replaced by the 56th Aerospace Rescue and Recovery Squadron.
On 12 April 1975, the squadron'sHC-130Ps supportedOperation Eagle Pull, the evacuation ofPhnom Penh,Cambodia.[3]
On 15 October 1975, the squadron was inactivated at Korat and its 4 remaining HC-130Ps joined the40th Aerospace Rescue and Recovery Squadron.[4]
_off_Libya_2011.jpg)
It continued the search and rescue support mission for theIceland Defense Force from, May 1988-September 2006,[1] after being redesigned from Detachment 14, 67th Aerospace Rescue and Recovery Squadron, contributing to 958 saves and assists during the 45 year SAR mission in Iceland.[5]
On 10 January 1994, two HH-60G helicopters launched in support of the Iceland Coast Guard to rescue 6 remaining survivors of the MV Godinn that sank off the coast of Vodlavik, Iceland, during heavy seas. Both aircrews received the MacKay Trophy and 8th Air Force Historical Society Ira C. Eaker Outstanding Airmanship Award. Individual crew members received the Cheney Award, Aviator Valor Award and Jabarra Award. The squadron was recognized by the National Lifesaving Association of Iceland.[6]
In June–July 2003, a detachment ofHH-60G helicopters andPararescuemen extracted U.S. Embassy personnel and American Citizens from the U.S. Embassy in Monrovia, Liberia duringOperation Shining Express.
In 2011, a detachment of helicopters from the 56th deployed on board theUSS Ponce (LPD-15).[7]
This article incorporatespublic domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency
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