563d Rescue Group

563d Rescue Group

563d Rescue Group Insignia
Active 1944 - 1957, 1965 - 1976, 2003 – present
Country United States
Branch United States Air Force
Role Combat Search and Rescue
Part of 23rd Wing
Garrison/HQ Headquartered at: Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Arizona with worldwide operating locations

The United States Air Force's 563d Rescue Group (563 RQG) directs flying operations dedicated to Personnel Recovery (PR). The 563 RQG is part of the Air Combat Command (ACC) and is a geographically separated unit (GSU) of the 23d Wing (23 WG) at Moody Air Force Base, Georgia. The home station for the 563 RQG is Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Arizona and it also has responsibility for rescue squadrons operating as GSUs at Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada.

The group is responsible for training, readiness, and operations of one HC-130J squadron, two HH-60G squadrons, two Guardian Angel squadrons, and an operations support squadron operating from two geographically separated operating locations.

Units

The crew of the first HC-130J stands at attention in front of their plane on Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, AZ, 15 Nov 2012
The 563d Operations Support Squadron supports all aspects of the training and employment of the 563d Rescue Group's six combat-ready HC-130J, HH-60, Guardian Angel, and support squadrons totaling over 700 military and civilian personnel. It provides all operational support functions including weapons and tactics, current operations, intelligence, training, life support, mobility, and flying hour program management. As a worldwide deployable unit, it also is responsible for implementing contingency and theater war plans.
The 79th Rescue Squadron operates the HC-130P/E "Hercules" and provides rapidly deployable combat rescue forces to theater commanders worldwide. It conducts helicopter air refueling, airdrop and airland of Guardian Angel personnel and/or equipment in support of combat personnel recovery. Its crews are capable of landings on short, unimproved, runways and low-level operations during day or night with night vision goggles.
The 48th Rescue Squadron trains, equips and employs combat-ready pararescuemen, combat rescue officers and supporting personnel worldwide in support of U.S. national security interests. It provides survivor contact, treatment and extraction during combat rescue operations, uses various fixed and rotary wing insertion and extraction assets. It employs by any means available to provide combat and humanitarian search, rescue and medical assistance in all environments.
The 55th Rescue Squadron operates the HH-60G "Pavehawk" and provides rapidly deployable combat rescue forces to theater commanders worldwide. They tactically employ the HH-60G helicopter and its crew in hostile environments to recover downed aircrew and isolated personnel during day, night or marginal weather conditions. The squadron also conducts military operations other than war including; civil search and rescue, disaster relief, international aid, emergency medical evacuation and counter-drug activities.

The 58th Rescue Squadron trains, equips and employs combat-ready pararescuemen, combat rescue officers and supporting personnel worldwide in support of U.S. national security interests. It provides survivor contact, treatment and extraction during combat rescue operations, uses various fixed and rotary wing insertion and extraction assets. It employs by any means available to provide combat and humanitarian search, rescue and medical assistance in all environments.

The 66th Rescue Squadron operates the HH-60G "Pavehawk" and provides rapidly deployable combat rescue forces to theater commanders worldwide. They tactically employ the HH-60G helicopter and its crew in hostile environments to recover downed aircrew and isolated personnel during day, night or marginal weather conditions. The squadron also conducts military operations other than war including; civil search and rescue, disaster relief, international aid, emergency medical evacuation and counter-drug activities.

History

Flew combat rescue and evacuation missions 1944–1945 at Biak Island and in the Philippines. Provided courier service, carried supplies and messages, evacuated allied prisoners and wounded personnel, and occasionally provided reconnaissance.

From 1946–1950 provided rescue capabilities in Japan. Flew combat rescue and evacuation missions during the Korean War, 1950–1953. Credited with rescuing almost 10,000 United Nations personnel, including almost 1,000 combat saves behind enemy lines.

Returned to providing rescue capability in Japan, 1953–1957. Performed combat search, rescue, and recovery missions in Southeast Asia, 1966–1975. Credited with 3,681 saves, including 2,632 combat saves. Operated a Joint Service Rescue Center at Tan Son Nhut AB, Vietnam, for Commander, Seventh Air Force, 1966–1973.

Lineage

Activated on 15 Feb 1944
Re-designated: 3d Rescue Squadron on 28 Jan 1948
Re-designated: 3d Air Rescue Squadron on 10 Aug 1950
Re-designated: 3d Air Rescue Group on 14 Nov 1952
Inactivated on 18 Jun 1957
Organized on 8 Jan 1966
Inactivated on 31 Jan 1976
Activated on 1 Oct 2003.

Assignments

Under operational control of V Bomber Command, 26 Aug – 2 Oct 1944
Attached to Fifth Air Force, 1 May 1949 – 18 May 1951
Attached to 314th Air Division, 18 May 1951 – 14 Nov 1952
Attached to Japanese Air Defense Force; 14 Nov 1952 – 1 Aug 1954
Attached to Far East Air Forces, 1 Aug 1954 – 18 Jun 1957

Components

Stations

  • Gulfport Army Airfield, Mississippi, 15 Feb 1944
  • Keesler Field, Mississippi, 1 Apr 1944
Ground echelon left Keesler Field on 18 May 1944 and arrived at Oakland Army Base, California, 20 May 1944
Ground echelon: Archerfield Airport, Brisbane, Australia, 17 Jun 1944
Ground echelon: Oro Bay Airfield, New Guinea, 20 Jun 1944
Ground echelon: Mokmer Airfield, Biak, Netherlands East Indies, 2 Sep 1944
  • Air echelon left Keesler Field on 5 Jul 1944 and arrived at Sacramento Air Depot, CA, 6 Jul 1944
Air echelon: Fairfield-Suisun Army Airfield, California, 15 Aug 1944
Air echelon: Archerfield Airport, Brisbane, Australia, 1 Sep 1944
Air echelon: joined ground echelon at Mokmer Airfield, Biak, Netherlands East Indies, 29 Sep 1944
  • Dulag Airfield, Leyte, Philippines, Nov 1944
  • Tacloban Airfield, Leyte, Philippines, 1 Apr 1945
  • Floridablanca Airfield, Luzon, Philippines, 21 May 1945
  • Ie Shima Airfield, Okinawa, 15 Sep 1945
  • Atsugi Airfield, Japan, 6 Oct 1945
  • Nagoya Airfield, Japan, 17 Jun 1946
  • Yokota AB, Japan, 15 Jul 1947
  • Johnson AB, Japan, 1 Apr 1950
  • Nagoya AB (later, Nagoya Air Station; Moriyama Air Station), Japan, 9 Dec 1953 – 18 Jun 1957
  • Tan Son Nhut AB, South Vietnam, 8 Jan 1966
  • Nakhon Phanom RTAFB, Thailand, 15 Feb 1973
  • U-Tapao RTAFB, Thailand, 15 Sep 1975 – 31 Jan 1976
  • Davis Monthan AFB, Arizona, 1 Oct 2003 – present

References

 This article incorporates public domain material from websites or documents of the Air Force Historical Research Agency.