66th Rescue Squadron

HH-60 from the 66 RQS flying over the Las Vegas Strip

The 66th Rescue Squadron (66 RQS) is stationed at Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada, where it operates HH-60 Pave Hawk aircraft conducting search and rescue and combat search and rescue missions. It is geographically separated unit (GSU) of the 563rd Rescue Group (563 RQG) at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Arizona, which in turn is a GSU of the 23d Wing (23 WG) at Moody Air Force Base, Georgia.

Mission^[1]

The primary mission of the 66th Rescue Squadron is world-wide combat rescue in support of combat air forces. The 66 RQS is one of six Air Force active-duty HH-60 combat rescue units and is geared for worldwide deployment.

The 66 RQS performs other vital functions in addition to worldwide combat rescue. The unit's secondary mission is to provide rescue support for air operations over the Nellis Range Complex and backup rescue for civilian agencies in the local area and the greater Southwestern United States.

Depending on the mission, a typical rescue crew may include a pilot, co-pilot, flight engineer, aerial gunner and two pararescuemen. These Pararescue Jumpers, or "PJs," are qualified as combat paramedics, scuba divers, parachutists, mountain climbers and survivalists.

The unit provides rapidly deployable combat search and rescue (CSAR) forces to theater CINCs worldwide and conducts peacetime search and rescue in support of the National Search and Rescue Plan and the U.S. Air Force Warfare Center.

The 66 RQS also directly supports HH-60G logistical and maintenance support requirements for the U.S. Air Force Weapons School and Air Combat Command-directed operational test missions.

History

The 66th flew search and rescue, aeromedical evacuation, disaster relief from, 1952–1958 and since 1991. The squadron deployed to Southwest Asia to ensure Iraq’s compliance with United Nations treaty terms from, January–July 1993.^[2]

The squadron has been plagued by aviation accidents in recent years. An investigation of 1998 crash that killed a dozen airmen called the unit stressed out by constant combat deployments without adequate rest.^[3]

The unit was in Afghanistan in the summer of 2010. Media reported 4 aircrew deaths in June when a Pave Hawk helicopter was shot down during a rescue mission on 9 June.^[4] Flight engineer David Smith was lost on impact. On 2 July a fifth death was added to the list of four when Captain David Wisniewski died from injuries received in the 9 June crash. Captain Wisniewski is credited with saving more than 240 soldiers during his seven tours of duty in Iraq and Afghanistan, 40 of which were saved in his final rescue mission in June. The only two survivors Captain Anthony Simone and Master Sergeant Christopher Aguilera are still in recovery as of 25 Sept. 2010.^[5][6]

Lineage^[7]

• 66th Air Rescue Squadron (1952–1958)
• 66th Rescue Squadron (1991 – present)

Assignments^[2]

• 9th Air Rescue Group (1952–1958)
  • Attached: HQ United States Air Forces in Europe (14 November 1952 – 15 November 1953)
  • Attached: Third Air Force (15 November 1953 – 1 August 1954)
  • Attached: HQ United States Air Forces in Europe (1 August 1954 - c. 18 January 1958)
• Air Rescue Service (1991–1993)
  • Attached: 4404th Operations Group (Provisional) (25 January - 5 July 1993)
• 57th Wing (1993–??)
• 563d Rescue Group (??–present)

Bases stationed^[2]

• RAF Manston, England (1952–1958)
• Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada (1991 – present)
  • Deployed: Kuwait City, Kuwait (25 January - 5 July 1993)

Aircraft Operated^[2]

• SA-16 Albatross (1952–1958)
• SH-19 Chickasaw (1952–1958)
• C-82 Packet (1952–1953)
• HH-60 Pave Hawk (1991 – present)

References

Notes

Bibliography

• USAF 66th Rescue Squadron History

See also

Air Combat Command (ACC) Air Forces First Ninth Twelfth Twenty-Fifth Center United States Air Force Warfare Center Bases Beale Creech Davis-Monthan Holloman Langley–Eustis (Langley Field) Moody Mountain Home Nellis Offutt Seymour Johnson Shaw Tonopah Wings Composite 23d 49th 53d 55th 57th 432d Fighter 1st 4th 20th 325th 355th 366th 388th Other 9th Reconnaissance 93d Air-Ground Operations 99th Air Base 461st Air Control 505th Command and Control 552d Air Control 633d Air Base