Air Rescue Historical Chronology
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Chronological History of “Air Rescue”
and
Events Pertaining to USAF CSAR Policy
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4 August 1943 |
Doctor
Lt Col Don Flickinger, and medics Sergeant Harold Passey, and Corporal
William MacKenzie jumped into uncharted mountainous terrain near the
China-Burma border. The SAR objective was 20 personnel who bailed out of
a C-46 flying over the "hump." Among the survivors were civilian OSI,
State Dept. officials who had intimate knowledge of the upcoming Burma
war plan, and two high ranking Chinese officers. News commentator Eric
Sevareid was one of the men rescued. In his book :Not So Wild a Dream"
Severeid pays the trio an eloquent tribute. He wrote, "Gallant is a
precious word; they deserve it." |
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25 April 1944
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The first combat save
accomplished by helicopter was accomplished in Burma by an R-4
helicopter assigned to the 1st Air Commando Group and flown by 2nd Lt
Carter Harmen . An L-1B with 3 POB was shot down in Japanese controlled
Burma. Lt Harman flew his YR-4B from Aberdeen to a clearing near the
crash site, a distance of approximately 60 miles and picked up the first
of the British wounded. With his YR-4B struggling in the heat to get
airborne with the added weight, Harman made it to an emergency strip
prepared by British commandos on a sandbar ten miles away. There the
wounded soldier was transferred to a Stinson L-5B which had brought fuel
for the helicopter. Harman then returned to the clearing and brought
back another wounded soldier. However, an overheating engine forced him
to remain overnight on the sandbar. The next morning, he went back for
the third British soldier. Before succumbing to lack of spare parts and
harsh weather in the Burmese jungle, the YR-4Bs of the 1st Air Commando
Group were credited with a total of 15 successful evacuations. |
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13 Mar 1946 |
Based on a study completed by Lt Gen Hoyt S. Vandenberg after the end of hostilities in WWII, The Air Rescue Service (ARS) was stood up under the Air Transport Command (ATC). HQ ARS was based at Washington National Airport. Source: AFSOC pamphlet titled "Heritage of the Combat Search and Rescue Professionals, Jan 05 |
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| 1946 |
In late 1946, a training and employment
concept was developed for a group that would be referred to as
paramedics or pararescue. By January 1947, the first six pararescue
teams were formed. |
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| December 1646 |
Colonel Richard T. Kight assumes command of
ARS. He is tasked to either build up ARS or shut it down. He became an
avid ARS supporter and led the most significant build up in ARS/ARRS
history. He wrote the rescue code and motto, created its emblem, and
fought hard for more resources.
Source: AFSOC pamphlet titled "Heritage of the Combat Search and Rescue
Professionals, Jan 05 |
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| 1947 |
Col. Kight initiates formal founding of USAF
Pararescue. Soon, medical parachute jumpers were added to ARS.
Source: AFSOC pamphlet titled "Heritage of the Combat Search and Rescue
Professionals, Jan 05
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Jun 1948 |
Relieved from ATC, assigned to Military Air Transport Service (MATS)
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1950
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ARS deployed to SB-29 Dumbos, SA-16
Albatross,
L-5 Sentinel, H-5 and H-19 aircraft; along with a Rescue Coordination
Center to Korea at the start of the Korean War. One of the most active
USAF CSAR squadrons of the Korean War was the 3rd Air Rescue Squadron.
The 3rd ARS penetrated multiple times deep behind enemy lines under
heavy ground fire to rescue downed airmen.
Source: AFSOC pamphlet titled "Heritage of the Combat Search and Rescue
Professionals, Jan 05 |
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1954 |
ARS composed of 12 groups and 38 squadrons.
SC-54 Rescuemaster with its MS-1 Air Rescue Kit replaced the aging B-17s
and B-29s. SH-21 helicopter added to inventory.
PJs TSgt Elliott Holder and SSgt Robert
Christensen parachute on the polar ice cap to the scene of a crashed
navy bomber. Faint radio signals indicated that someone might have
survived the crash. They jumped to determine if there were survivors;
and if there were, to bring them aid. Unfortunately there were no
survivors. But, the PJs spent the next 12 days on the ice cap until
recovered. Then heroism of Holder and Christensen in not uncommon. It
is, in fact, typical of this special breed - the pararescue men of the
Air Rescue Service. |
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| 29Nov - 3 Dec 1954 |
First annual Pararescue competition for the
Don Flickinger Trophy Click for competition handout
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1956 |
ARS owned 12 wings (11 active, 1 reserve), highest number ever
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| 1958 |
USAF SAR changed from specialized area to a
global concept to support a USAF global aircrew recovery program. |
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| 1959 |
Parascuba techniques were pioneered by PJs
at Hickam AFB, HI. The SCUBA tanks and one man raft were carried in a
bag attached to the jump harness and were donned after entering the
water. |
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1960 |
14 air rescue squadrons deactivated. By
years end, ARS had 3 squadrons.
Source: AFSOC pamphlet titled "Heritage of the Combat Search and Rescue
Professionals, Jan 05 |
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| 14 November 1960 |
PJs parachuted into the Pacific Ocean near
Hawaii and successfully recoverd a sinking "Discover 13"
capsule. This
was the first time anyone had recovered an object from earth orbit. |
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| 1961 |
Local Base Rescue (LBR) concept begins using
the HH-43 Huskie helicopter. ARS increased to ten ARS squadrons and 70 LBR detachments with 148 HH-43s. ARS began support of the
manned National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). |
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24 May 1962 |
NASA launches Aurora 7 with astronaut Scott
Carpenter as part of the Project Mercury program. On landing, the
spacecraft overshot the intended landing area by 250 miles.
Two PJs (Ray
McClure and John Heitsch) parachuted from an ARS SC-54, attached a
flotation collar to the capsule, and secured the astronaut and capsule
until recovery by the U.S. Navy. |
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| June 1963 |
The first class of pararescue applicants
selected from basic training at Lackland AFB, Texas completed their
training under a program called "Operation Webfoot." |
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2 August 1964 |
Following the Gulf of Tonkin incident, four
ARS provisional detachments were organized for duty in Vietnam and
Thailand. This initial force was assigned to Bien Hoa AB RVN, DaNang AB
RVN, Nakhon Phanom RTAFB, and Korat RTAFB. |
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| 20 September 1965 |
ARS lost its first aircraft to hostile fire
in Vietnam. An HH-43 was shot down while attempting the rescue of a
downed F-105 pilot. The helicopter crew was Captain Tom Curtis (P), 1Lt
Duane Martin (CP), A1C William Robinson (HM), and A3C Arthur Black
(PJ). All were captured and became POWs. Lt. Martin died during an
escape attempt. The others were released as part of "Operation Home
Coming" in 1973. |
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Jan 1966 |
MATS redesignated Military Airlift Command (MAC);
ARS redesignated Aerospace Rescue and Recovery Service (ARRS).
ARRS owned 6 wings (5 active, 1 reserve), highest number during 1960s |
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15 March 1966
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An HC-54 assigned to the 79th ARrS squadron
in Guam and TDY to Naha, Japan deploys three
PJs to the Pacific Ocean 400 miles east of Okinawa to rescue the
astronauts of Gemini VIII who had to make an emergency landing far from
the planned landing area. The spacecraft splashed down in the
rolling swells and within minutes the rescue aircraft was overhead and
parachuting PJs with a flotation collar to ensure the capsule did not
sink when opened to rescue Neil A. Armstrong and David R. Scott.
Photo of capsule &
PJs in the water. In less than 20 minutes, the spacecraft and its pilot was secured and the world knew that the astronauts were A-OK. The PJs on this mission were A2C Glenn M. Moore, A1C Eldridge M. Neal and (team leader) SSgt Larry D. Huyett. They are pictured here. This photo and editing courtesy of Udo Fischer.
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| 1970 |
First Military
Jumpfest held at Hurlburt Field, FL. This parachute competition began in
1970 as an effort to publicize the plight of POW-MIA personnel, and it
continued following the end of the war in SEA. Personnel of the Army,
AF, Marines, Canadian Forces, and anyone else qualified to parachute -
participated in this annual event. |
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| 20 November 1970 |
Son Tay POW camp raid in North Vietnam. Two
ARRS HH-53s and one HH-3E transported 56 U.S. Army Special Forces troops
to the Son Tay POW camp. Their mission was to rescue 75 or more POWs
believed to be held in that camp. The force successfully infiltrated to
to camp, landed, and deployed the SF troops. The troops seized the camp,
searched the cells, and all enemy troops were killed. Unfortunately, the
POWs had been moved earlier due to nearby flooding. Read this incredible
story at
http://www.sontayraider.com/history.htm |
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1970-71 |
ARRS owned 5 wings (4 active, 1 reserve), highest number during 1970s
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July - Aug 72
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31st ARRS Clark AB RP transported food and relief supplies to flood victims in the Philippines | ||
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Aug 72
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Det 1, 33 ARRS Osan AB ROK save nearly 750 persons from drowning during floods along the Han River | ||
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15 Sept 72 |
48 ARRS activated at Fairchild AFB WA | ||
| 6 Oct 72 |
ARRS ordered to make a sizable reduction in the number of LBR
detachments during FY 73 |
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Oct - Nov 72 |
71 ARRS searched for House Majority Leader Hale Boggs, Congressman Nick
Begich and two other men who disappeared in Alaska during a flight
between Anchorage and Juneau. No trace of the victims was found in spite
of an intensive 40 day search. |
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| 30 Nov 72 |
36 ARRS (formally at Yokota AB JA inactivated at Kadena AB Okinawa |
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1 Dec 72 |
57 ARRS inactivated at Lajes Field Azores | ||
| 21 December 1972 |
First night CSAR
with LNRS. A 40th ARRS HH-53 accomplished the first (and only) night
combat rescue using the Pave Imp Limited Night Recovery System (LNRS).
Spectre 17, an AC-130 was shot down in Laos. JG 32 used NVG's, a LLLTV
system, in cockpit CRT displays, and a hover coupler to accomplish two
night hoist recoveries from rugged terrain in hostile territory. The
mission was flown by Captain Shipman AC, 1Lt Rabaja CP, Sgt Bryant FE,
Sgt Stephens and TSgt Walker PJs. |
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| Feb - Jul 73 |
ARRS received 30 new HH-1H helicopters |
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12 Feb 73 |
Six ARRS personnel who had been prisoners of war were released in SEA.
They were : Captain Thomas J. Curtis, Captain Warren R. Lilly, 1 Lt
Jerry A. Singleton, SSgt Arthur Cormier, A1C William A. Robinson, and
A2C Arthur N. Black. |
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1 Mar 73 |
Brig. Gen. Glenn R. Sullivan assumed command of ARRS. 1550 Technical Training Squadron activated at Hill AFB UT |
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| 23 Mar 73 |
Fire Suppression Kits (FSK's) deleted from ARRS mission requirments. |
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1 Apr - 24 Jun 73 |
A total of 35 ARRS LRB detachments inactivated | ||
| 11-15 June 73 |
An annual US -
Canadian Pararescue competition began when the US hosted it in 1972. In
1973 the Canadian's hosted the event at Prince William Island. In order
to decide who would represent the US, a contest was held at Hill AFB UT.
Teams represented the 39th, 41st, and 1550th Wings and the 303rd ARRS (AFRES).
Each team was composed of an HC-130 crew and three PJs. The 303 won the
US competition but finshed sixth in the international event. Somewhat
chagrined, the troops "south of the border" trained harder for the 1974
event and the 1550th Wing PJs finished first place in 1974. |
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15 Jun 73 |
42 ARRS inactivated at Hamilton AFB CA 44 ARRS inactivated at Eglin AFB FL |
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30 Jun 73 |
40 ARRW inactivated at Ramstein AFB GE | ||
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15 Aug 73 |
41 ARRS moved from Hamilton AFB CA to McClellan AFB CA RCC moved from Hamilton AFB CA to McClellan AFB CA |
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1 Sept 73 - 31 Mar 74 |
Three HC-130's and six HH-53's transferred from ARRS to AFSC at Hickham
AFB HI. They would become responsible for a classified mission to
recover casettes deployed from spy satellites and returned to
earth by parachute into an area of the Pacific Ocean near Hawaii. |
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| 20 Sept 73 | First PJs HALO qualified. General Sullivan, ARRS/CC selected the pararescuemen of the 55 ARRS, Eglin AFB FL to evaluate High Altitude Low Opening (HALO) parachute insertion as a means of deploying PJs in both peace time and war. Two HQ ARRS PJs CMSgt Charles T. Walther and MSgt James L. Miller visited the HALO school at Ft. Bragg. This program resulted in xx PJs becoming HALO qualified but qualification of the entire career field was decided to not be practical. | ||
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1 Oct 73 |
37 ARRS activated at Francis E. Warren AFB, WY with nine detachments
equipped with UH-1F's to support SAC missile site support |
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8 Feb 74 |
With the completion of Skylab IV, ARRS terminated contingency rescue
operations for NASA missions that had begun in 1961 |
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15 Apr 74 |
Det 6, 39 ARRS (HH-3's in support of Skylab program) inactivated at Loring AFB ME | ||
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10 May - 15 Jun 74 |
All sub RCC's in CONUS consolidated into AFRCC at Scott AFB IL. For the
first time SAR within the CONUS had a single center for the coordination
and dissemination of rescue information in the Inland Region. |
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| May - Jun 74 |
USAF orders ARRS to use HH-53's with Universal Studios for the film
"Airport 75" |
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1 Jun 74 |
43 ARRS inactivated at Richard Gebaur AFB MI | ||
| April 1975 |
Operation "Eagle Pull." ARRS forces assist
in the evacuation of American personnel from Phnom Penh, Cambodia. |
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| April 1975 |
Operation "Frequent Wind." ARRS forces
assist in the evacuation of American personnel from Saigon, Vietnam. |
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| May 1975 |
ARRS aircraft participate in the recovery of
the SS Mayaguez and its crew from the Cambodian Khmer Rouge. |
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1980s |
ARRS fluctuated between 2-3 wings for most of the decade
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24 & 25 Apr 80 |
Operation "Rice Bowl/Eagle Claw" was an unsuccessful attempt to rescue
the American hostages from the U.S. Embassy in Iran. C-130s and HH-53s
landed in a remote desert area (named Desert 1) of Iran to refuel the
helicopters. During refuling, one of the helicopters hover taxied into a
C-130 and the result was a catastrophic fire. The
Desert One debacle focuses attention on SOF inadequacies.
Read more here |
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Dec 82-Jan 83 |
9 x HH-60A assigned to 55 ARRS (in 1985, 10 x HH-60s)
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1 Mar 1983 |
USAF
reorganizes ARRS and SOF under HQ 23rd Air Force,
Scott AFB. |
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Apr 83 |
MG Mall, 23AF/CC, tells Congress that Rescue needs H-60D
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Jul 83-Jan 84 |
Tests reveal HH-60’s greatest limitation is range: 150nm
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20 Apr 84 |
AF council scales back purchase of HH-60’s from 155 to 99, also cuts
much of Pave avionics package (high cost: $22M per a/c |
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22 May 84 |
USA-USAF MOA (Initiative 17) recommends transfer of USAF rotary-wing SOF
assets to USA (9 x HH-53H) |
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Oct-Nov 84 |
Two Class A mishaps involving USAF HH-53Hs (now 7 HH-53H)
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Aug 84 |
Planned HH-60 purchase cut from 99 to 90
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Dec 84 –Jan 85 |
Planned transfer of HH-53s from USAF to USA is shelved
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| 1985 |
Pararescue force consists of 451 personnel
which includes the fully qualified AF Reserves and AF Air National
Guard. |
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Apr 85 |
Planned HH-60 purchase reduced to 87 (20 in FY87, 30 FY88, 37 in FY89)
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20 Jun 85 |
Dpty SecDEF informs USA/USAF Chiefs of Staff that revitalization of
long-range rotary-wing SOF capability is “high priority” |
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Jul 85 |
Heightened interest in SOF throughout US following several terrorist attacks
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7 Aug 85 |
CINCMAC proposes to CINCUSAFE that all USAF H-53s be transferred to SOF
and Pave Low III-modified |
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11 Aug 85 |
AF Council Kills HH-60 purchase to make cuts in USAF FY87 budget,
leaving future of Combat Rescue in doubt (program had been cancelled 5x
and modified 48x) |
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Jan 87 |
Lt Gen McPeak, HQ USAF Deputy CoS, Programs and Resources, puts a key
AFSOF program on hold while examining
rescue forces |
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Feb 87 |
McPeak proposes additional 59 x H-60’s, modified as HH-60Gs to be
programmed for FY89 and beyond for rescue duties: At Spring 87 Corona
Conf., Gen Cassidy, CINCMAC, champions this initiative: approval granted
to add approx 10 x HH60Gs into USAF inventory per year |
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14 Oct 88 |
Concerned over loss of operational control of rescue helicopters theater
to the newly created sub-unified SOC, Gen McPeak, CINCPAC AF, writes
Gen. Welch, CSAF, recommending 23 AF rescue units (some were programmed
to redesignate as SO units) be reassigned to a reconstituted ARS
reporting directing directly to MAC. Would place theater assigned rescue
units under MAC’s command with operational control by PACAF |
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CY88 |
Two ARRS squadrons (55th, 67th) subdivide into
four SO squadrons. (55th, 9th, 67th, 21st)
(activate/redesignate); 39th ARRWg redesignated 39th
SOWg |
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1989 |
ARRS/ARS reduced to 2 wings (1 active, 1 reserve)
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Late Feb 89 |
Beginning of re-vitalization of AF CSAR: at Corona, Generals Welch,
Cassidy, McPeak, and Russ agree to a separate ARS under MAC |
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| 1989 |
USAF replaces 23 AF with a new command named
Air Force Special Operations Command (AFSOC). |
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Aug 1989 |
ARRS redesigned Air Rescue Service (ARS) assigned to MAC; HQ ARS
concurrently stands-up at McClellan AFB; most PJs reassigned to ARS
(180), some under 23 AF (90) |
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1990 |
ARS has four active duty Combat Rescue helo squadrons (33rd
/38th /56th 71st ARS), all flying H-3
at start of year; pre. For 66th ARS activation in 1991
(MH60G); ARS deploys 102 personnel in support of Dessert Shield (but no
a/c) |
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Feb 90 |
38 ARS receives 4 x HH-60Gs, the first active duty ARS unit to convert
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1 Mar 91 |
First new CONUS ARSq activates at Nellis AFB (66th ARS),
assigned 5 x HH-60Gs |
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1 Oct 91 |
39th ARS activates at Misawa AB with 5 x HH-60Gs
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Jun 1992 |
MAC redesignated as Air Mobility Command (AMC); ARS assigned to AMC.
Joint CSAR Tactics PIT #2 held at NAS North Is. CA |
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1993 |
ARS/Rescue reduced to 1 reserve wing. 33rd /41st
ARS the only H-3 ARS squadrons |
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1 Feb 1993 |
ARS transferred from AMC and assigned to Air Command (ACC)
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Late Jan 93 |
66th /71st ARS, 741st CAMS deploy to
SWA in support of OSW. 1st deployment of a Combat Rescue helo
unit (66th) tool 4 x HH-60’s; 146 consecutive days of CR
Coverage; standard procedures are now to go in sin low-level, at night,
using NVGs |
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2 Jul 1993 |
ARS redesignated USAF Combat Rescue Scholl; relieved from ACC, assigned
to 57th Wing at Nellis AFB, NV. |
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1 Feb 93 |
HQ ARS transfers from AMC to ACC; field units now under operational
control of host-base ops groups. |
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2 Jul 93 |
HQ ARS redesignated USAF Combat Rescue School (CRQS)
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Spring 94 |
Office of SecDef orders Joint CSAR Feasibility Study (J-CSAR); 9-month
study due in 1995 |
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Aug-Dec 94 |
CRQS validation courses; aircraft inadequacies, short-staffed
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1995 |
Rescue increased to 2 wings (1 active, 1 reserve)
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8 Jun 95 |
DoD approves charter for J-CSAR JT&E
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7 July 1995 |
USAF Combat Rescue School (CRQS) inactivated; CRSQ merges its HH-60G
functions into USAF Weapons School and 57th Test Dp |
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| 25 Jun 1996 |
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1996 |
Active testing of JCSAF JT&E begins under DoD direst GREEN FLAG 96-3,
BLUE FLAG; sig. Problems noted (K417.0735,Jan-Dec27-28) |
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1998 |
Rescue increased to 3 wings (2 active, 1 reserve)
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11 Sept 2001 |
America
attacked by Islamic radicals. The Global War on Terrorism (GWOT) begins. |
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1 Oct 2003 |
Stateside CSAR units become part of AFSOC |
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