33d Rescue Squadron

Infobox Military Unit
unit_name= 33d Rescue Squadron


caption= 33d Rescue Squadron Patch
dates= 14 November 1952 - 18 March 1960
18 June 1961 - 1 October 1970
1 July 1971 - Present
country= United States
allegiance=
branch=United States Air Force
type= Search and Rescue
role=
size=
command_structure= Pacific Air Forces
5th Air Force
18th Wing
18th Operations Group
current_commander=
garrison= Kadena Air Base
ceremonial_chief=
colonel_of_the_regiment=
nickname=
patron=
motto= That Others May Live
colors=
march=
mascot=
battles=
notable_commanders=
anniversaries=
decorations=
battle_honours=

The 33d Rescue Squadron (33 RQS) is part of the 18th Wing at Kadena Air Base, Japan. It operates HH-60 Pave Hawk aircraft conducting search and rescue missions.

Mission

History

The 33d has performed search, rescue, and recovery missions from 1952–1960, 1961–1970, and since 1971. The squadron flew missions in support of the Vietnam War from 1965–1967. The 33d supported operations following the seizure of the "USS Pueblo" by North Korea between 29 January and 16 September 1968 and aided search efforts and salvage operations from September–October 1983, after a Soviet fighter aircraft shot down South Korean airliner KAL 007. [http://afhra.maxwell.af.mil/rso/squadrons_flights_pages/0033rqs.html AFHRA 33 RQS Page] ]

=Operations=

*Vietnam War

=Lineage=

*33d Air Rescue Squadron (1952 - 1965)
*33d Air Recovery Squadron (1965 - 1966)
*33d Aerospace Rescue and Recovery Squadron (1966 - 1989)
*33d Air Rescue Squadron (1989 - 1993)
*33d Rescue Squadron (1993 - Present)

=Assignments=

*2d Air Rescue Group (1952 - 1955)
**Attached: 12th Air Force (14 November 1952 - 1 March 1955)
*3d Air Rescue Group (1955 - 1957)
*2d Air Rescue Group (1957 - 1958)
*Air Rescue Service (1958 - 1960)
**Attached: Pacific Air Forces (24 January 1958 - 17 March 1959)
**Attached: Detachment 2, Air Rescue Service (Pacific Recovery Operations Center) (18 March 1959 - 18 March 1960)
*Aerospace Rescue and Recovery Service (1961 - 1967)
**Attached: Detachment 1, Air Rescue Service (Pacific Recovery Operations Center) (18 June - 8 October 1961)
**Attached: Pacific Aerospace Rescue and Recovery Center (8 October 1961 - 31 March 1967)
*41st Aerospace Rescue and Recovery Wing (1967 - 1970)
*41st Rescue and Weather Reconnaissance Wing (1971 - 1989)
*Air Rescue Service (1989 - 1993)
*18th Wing (1993 - Present)

=Bases stationed=

*Kadena Air Base, Okinawa (1952 - 1955)
*Naha Air Base, Okinawa (1955 - 1960, 1961 - 1970)
*Kadena AIr Base, Okinawa (1971 - Present)

=Aircraft Operated=

*SA-16 Albatross (1952 - 1960)
*SH-19 Chickasaw (1952 - 1960)
*SC-47 Skytrain (1952 - 1956)
*HU-16 Albatross (1961 - 1968)
*HH-19 Chickasaw (1961 - 1964)
*HH-43 Huskie (1964 - 1966, 1971 - 1972)
*C-54 Skymaster (1966)
*HH-3 (1968 - 1970, 1971 - 1975, 1982 - )
*HC-130 Hercules (1972 - 1989)
*HH-53 Super Jolly Green Giant (1975 - 1982)
*CH-3 (1982 - )
*HH-60 Pave Hawk ( - Present)

References

Notes

Bibliography

* [http://afhra.maxwell.af.mil/rso/squadrons_flights_pages/0033rqs.html USAF 33d Rescue Squadron History]
* [http://www.kadena.af.mil/library/factsheets/factsheet.asp?id=9581 18th Operatinos Group Fact Sheet]

Also See