512th Rescue Squadron

Infobox Military Unit
unit_name= 512th Rescue Squadron


caption= 512th Rescue Squadron Patch
dates= 31 October 1942 - 26 March 1946
23 May 1947 - 20 September 1948
13 February 1949 - 20 February 1951
1 June 1951 - 15 March 1965
1 April 1994 - Present
country= United States
allegiance=
branch=United States Air Force
type= Search and Rescue
role=
size=
command_structure= Air Force Reserve Command
19th Air Force
58th Special Operations Wing
58th Operations Group
current_commander=
garrison= Kirtland Air Force Base
ceremonial_chief=
colonel_of_the_regiment=
nickname=
patron=
motto=
colors=
march=
mascot=
battles= Operation Tidal Wave
notable_commanders=
anniversaries=
decorations=
battle_honours=

The 512th Rescue Squadron (512 RQS) is part of the 58th Special Operations Wing based at Portland International Airport, Oregon. It operates UH-1 Iroquois and HH-60 Pave Hawk aircraft conducting search and rescue missions.

Mission

History

The 512th flew combat missions in the Mediterranean Theater of Operations and the European Theater of Operations from, 1 November 1942–15 April 1943. The squadron was not fully manned or equipped between 10 November 1945 and 26 March 1946 and was unmanned from, 23 May 1947–20 September 1948. [http://afhra.maxwell.af.mil/rso/squadrons_flights_pages/0512sos.html AFHRA 512 RQS Page] ] [http://www.aetc.af.mil/library/factsheets/factsheet.asp?id=6195 512 RQS Fact Sheet] ]

Based in Japan at the beginning of the Korean War, the 512 RS, flying RB/WB-29s, performed daily strategic weather reconnaissance missions over the combat zone, conducted shipping surveillance and visual reconnaissance, and accomplished electronic countermeasures reconnaissance until 20 February 1951. In the early days of the conflict, the squadron also dropped leaflets. Initially unarmed, and later only lightly armed with two .50-caliber machine guns in the tail turret, the WB-29s flew daily missions over enemy-held territory. During 27 June through 27 December 1950, the squadron flew over 200 combat missions, making over 5,000 vitally needed weather observations. These missions were exceptionally hazardous because of extremely varying weather conditions and exposure to attack over enemy territory. One of the squadron's WB-29s served as an aerial command post and weather station, giving on-the-spot weather data and directions to incoming bombers on the first B-29 strike (13 July 1950) against North Korean installations. On this and several later such missions, the WB-29 carried Major General Emmett O'Donnell, Jr., USAF, Commander, FEAF Bomber Command. The 512 RS was replaced by the 56th Strategic Reconnaissance Squadron in February 1951.

It primarily trained in electronic countermeasures from, c. November 1952–March 1965. Current the 512th participates in Special Operations contingencies, exercises, and humanitarian rescue helicopter training.

=Operations=

*World War II
*Korean War

=Lineage=

*512th Bombardment Squadron (Heavy) (1942 - 1944)
*512th Bombardment Squadron, Heavy (1944 - 1945)
*512th Bombardment Squadron, Very Heavy (1945 - 1947)
*512th Reconnaissance Squadron, Very Long Range, Weather (1947 - 1951)
*512th Bombardment Squadron, Medium (1951 - 1994)
*512th Special Operations Squadron (1994 - 2000)
*512th Rescue Squadron (2000 - Present)

=Assignments=

*376th Bombardment Group (1942 - 1945)
*468th Bombardment Group (1945 - 1946)
*376th Reconnaissance Group (1947)
*Air Weather Service (1947)
*308th Reconnaissance Group (1947 - 1948, 1949)
*2143d Air Weather Wing (1949 - 1951)
*376th Bombardment Wing (1951 - 1965)
*58th Special Operations Wing (1994 - Present)

=Bases stationed=

*Lydda, Palestine (1942)
*Abu Sueir, Egypt (1942 - 1943)
*Gambut, Libya (1943)
*Soluch, Libya (1943)
*Bengasi, Libya (1943)
*Enfidaville, Tunisia (1943)
**Detachment at: Bengasi, Libya (3 - 11 October 1943)
*San Pancrazio (1943 - 1945)
*Harvard Army Air Field, Nebraska (1945)
*Grand Island Army AIr Field, Nebraska (1945)
*Tarrant Field, Texas (1945 - 1946)
*Roswell Army Air Field, New Mexico (1946)
*Gravelly Point, Virginia (1947 - 1948)
*Fairfield-Suisun Air Force Base, California (1949 - 1950)
*Yokota Air Base, Japan (1950)
*Misawa Air Base, Japan (1950 - 1951)
*Forbes Air Force Base, Kansas (1951)
*Barksdale Air Force Base, Louisiana (1951 - 1957)
**Deployed: RAF Upper Heyford, England (8 July - 16 October 1955)
*Lockbourne Air Force Base, Ohio (1957 - 1965)
*Kirtland Air Force Base, New Mexico (1994 - Present)

=Aircraft Operated=

*B-17 Flying Fortress (1942)
*B-24 Liberator (1942 - 1945)
*B-29 Superfortress (1945, 1949 - 1954)
*RB/WB-29 (1949 - 1951)
*C-47 Skytrain (1949 - 1950)
*C-54 Skymaster (1950 - 1951)
*B-47 Stratojet (1954 - 1961)
*EB-47 Stratojet (1961 - 1965)
*UH-1 Iroquois (1994 - Present)
*HH-60 Pave Hawk (1994 - Present)

References

* [http://afhra.maxwell.af.mil/rso/squadrons_flights_pages/0512sos.html USAF 512th Rescue Squadron History]
* [http://www.aetc.af.mil/library/factsheets/factsheet.asp?id=6195 512th Rescue Squadron Fact Sheet]
* Futrell, Robert Frank (1983) The United States Air Force In Korea, 1950-1953, Maxwell AFB, Alabama Office of Air Force History, ISBN 0912799714
* Maurer, Maurer (1983). Air Force Combat Units Of World War II. Maxwell AFB, Alabama: Office of Air Force History. ISBN 0892010924.
* Ravenstein, Charles A. (1984). Air Force Combat Wings Lineage and Honors Histories 1947-1977. Maxwell
* [http://afhra.maxwell.af.mil/rso/rso_index.html] Air Force Historical Research Agency

External Links