Description
Computer made/mounted on velcro 3.0 inch-77mm
563rd RESCUE GROUP
Lineage. Constituted as the 3rd Emergency Rescue Squadron on 14 Feb 1944. Redesignated 3rd Rescue Squadron on 28 Jan 1948; 3rd Air Rescue Squadron on 10 Aug 1950; 3rd Air Rescue Group on 14 Nov 1952; Inactivated on 18 Jun 1957. Redesignated 3rd Aerospace Rescue and Recovery Group on 14 Dec 1965, Organized on 8 Jan 1966. Inactivated on 31 Jan 1976. Redesignated 563rd Rescue Group on 1 Oct 2003-.
Assignments. Army Air Forces Training Command, 15 Feb 1944; AAF Eastern Technical Training Command, 4 Mar 1944; Thirteenth Air Force, 28 Jul 1944; Fifth Air Force, 17 Aug 1944; Under operational control of V Bomber Command, 26 Aug-2 Oct 1944; 5276th Rescue Composite Group (Provisional), 2 Oct 1944; 5th Emergency Rescue Group, 16 Mar 1945; V Bomber Command, 21 Nov 1945; 314th Composite Wing, 31 May 1946; Fifth Air Force, 6 Jun 1946; Air Rescue Service, 1 May 1949-18 June 1957; Military Air Transport Service, 14 Dec 1965; Military Airlift Command, 1 Jan 1966; Pacific Aerospace Rescue and Recovery Center (later 41st Aerospace Rescue and Recovery Wing, 41st Rescue and Weather Reconnaissance Wing), 8 Jan 1966-31 Jan 1976; 347th Rescue Wing, 1 Oct 2003; 23rd Wing, 29 Jul 2003-. (attached to Fifth Air Force, 1 May 1949, 314th Air Division, 18 May 1951, Japanese Air Defense Force, 14 Nov 1952, Far East Air Forces, 1 Aug 1954-18 Jun 1957)
Components. Squadrons. 33rd Air Rescue, 20 Sep 1955-18 Jun 1957; 36th Air Rescue, 14 Nov 1952-18 Jun 1957; 37th Air Rescue, (later 37th Aerospace Rescue and Recovery): 14 Nov 1952-8 May 1955; 8 Jan 1966-20 Aug 1972; 38th Air Rescue, (later, 38th Aerospace Rescue and Recovery): 14 Nov 1952-18 Jun 1957; 8 Jan 1966-1 Jul 1972; 39th Air Rescue, (later, 39th Aerospace Rescue and Recovery): 14 Nov 1952-18 Jun 1957; 18 Jan 1967-30 Apr 1972; 40th Aerospace Rescue and Recovery, 18 Mar 1968-20 Aug 1972; 48th Rescue, 1 Oct 2003-; 55th Rescue, 1 Oct 2003-; 56th Aerospace Rescue and Recovery, 8 Jul-20 Aug 1972; 58th Rescue, 1 Oct 2003-; 60th Air Rescue, 8 Apr 1956-18 Jun 1957; 66th Rescue, 1 Oct 2003-; 79th Rescue, 1 Oct 2003-; 2157th Air Rescue Squadron: 1 Mar 1953-8 Apr 1956. Detachments. Detachment F, 14 Sep 1950-22 June 1951; Detachment 1, 22 Jun 1951-1 Mar 1953; Detachment 1, 8 Jan 1966-15 Dec 1966; Detachment 2, 8 Jan 1966-15 Dec 1966.
Stations. Gulfport Army Air Field, MS, 15 Feb 1944; Keesler Field, MS, 1 April 1944; Mokmer Airfield, Biak, Netherlands East Indies, Sep 1944; Dulag Airfield, Leyte, Philippines, 3 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 Air Base, Japan, 15 Jul 1947; Johnson Air Base, Japan, 1 Apr 1950; Nagoya AB (later Nagoya Air Station; Moriyama AS), Japan, 9 Dec 1953-18 Jun 1957; Tan Son Nhut Airport, South Vietnam, 8 Jan 1966; Nakhon Phanom Royal Thai AFB, Thailand, 15 Feb 1973; U-Tapao Royal Thai Naval Airfield, Thailand, 15 Sep 1975-31 Jan 1976; Davis Monthan AFB, AZ, 1 Oct 2003-.
Operations. WW-II. Provide water recovery of downed aircrews. During the occupation of Japan, the primary mission was to intercept distressed aircraft and escort them over the Japanese Home Islands and the adjacent waters. Korea. Perform search and rescue missions, rescuing aircrew downed behind enemy lines and evacuating wounded personnel with the squadron’s helicopters. Vietnam. Responsible for rescue missions in North Vietnam, Laos and for Air Force rescue efforts in the Gulf of Tonkin. Provied airlift in support of Operation Eagle Pull, the evacuation of Americans from Phnom Penh, Cambodia and Operation Frequent Wind, the evacuation of Saigon, Vietnam. Provide personnel recovery as part of ACC, and responsible for training, readiness, and operations of HC-130J Combat King, HH-60G Pave Hawk and “Guardian Angel” squadrons. Since reactivating in 2003 as the 563d Rescue Group, the group has deployed airmen and aircraft almost annually in support of Operation Enduring Freedom, Operation Iraqi Freedom, and Combined Joint Task Force – Horn of Africa.
Service Streamers. None.
Campaigns. WW-II: New Guinea; Western Pacific; Leyte; Luzon; Southern Philippines; China Defensive; China Offensive; Ryukus; World War II Army of Occupation (Japan). Korea: UN Defensive; UN Offensive; CCF Intervention; 1st UN Counteroffensive; CCF Spring Offensive; UN Summer-Fall Offensive; Second Korean Winter; Korea Summer-Fall 1952; Third Korean Winter; Korea Summer-Fall 1953. Vietnam. Vietnam Defensive; Vietnam Air; Vietnam Air Offensive; Vietnam Air Offensive, Phase II; Vietnam Air/Ground; Vietnam Air Offensive, Phase III; Vietnam Air Offensive, Phase IV; Tet 1969/Counteroffensive; Vietnam Summer-Fall 1969; Vietnam Winter-Spring 1970; Sanctuary Counteroffensive; Southwest Monsoon; Commando Hunt V; Commando Hunt VI; Commando Hunt VII; Vietnam Ceasefire Campaign.
Decorations. Distinguished Unit Citation: 25 Jun 1950-25 Dec 1950; 22 Apr 1951-8 Jun 1951; 1 May 1953-27 Jul 1953; 1 Aug 1965-30 Jun 1966; 1 Aug 1965-30 Jun 1966; 1 Feb 1969-30 Apr 1970; 1 May 1970-31 Mar 1972; 1 Apr 1972-31 Jan 1973. Meritorious Unit Award: 1 Jun 2008-31May 2010.
Air Force Outstanding Unit Awards: w/ Combat “V” Device, 1 Jul 1966-31 Dec 1966; 1 Oct 2003-31 Oct 2004; 1 Nov 2004-31 Jul 2006; 1 Jun 2006-31 May 2008; w/ Combat “V” Device 1 Jan 2010-31 Dec 2010. Philippine Republic Presidential Unit Citation: 17 Oct 1944-4 July 1945. Korean Presidential Unit Citation: 25 Jun 1950-30 Jun 1951; 1 Jul 1951-31 Mar 1953. Vietnamese Gallantry Cross with Palm: 8 Jan 1966-28 Jul 1969; 1 Apr 1966-28 Jan 1973.