58th Rescue Squadron

58th Rescue Squadron
200px 58th Rescue Squadron Patch
Active	14 November 1952 – 18 September 1960 18 June 1961 – 15 February 1970 14 June 2002 - Present
Country	United States
Branch	United States Air Force
Type	Search and Rescue
Part of	Air Combat Command Air Force Warfare Center 57th Wing
Garrison/HQ	Davis-Monthan Air Force Base
Decorations	75 px Navy MUC AFOUA

File:58th Rescue Squadron exercise.jpg

Pararescuemen from the 58 RQS participate in an exercise at Nellis AFB.

The 58th Rescue Squadron (58 RQS) is one of only five active-duty Guardian Angel squadrons under the command of the 563d Rescue Group at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Arizona but located at Operating Site Alpha, Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada.

History

The 58th flew search and rescue in parts of the Middle East, Africa, Southwest Asia, and Southern Europe, especially at the El Uotia gunnery range in Libya from, 1952–1960 and 1961-1970. It also stood downrange alert during manned space missions, performed some overwater escort, and provided humanitarian assistance during natural disasters.

Lineage

• 58th Air Rescue Squadron (1952–1966)
• 58th Aerospace Rescue and Recovery Squadron (1966–2002)
• 58th Rescue Squadron (2001 – present)

Assignments

• 7th Air Rescue Group (1952–1957)
  • Attached: HQ United States Air Forces in Europe (14 November 1952 – 15 November 1953)
  • Attached: 7th Air Force (15 November 1953 – 1 August 1954)
  • Attached: HQ United States Air Forces in Europe (1 August 1954 - unknown)
• 12th Air Rescue Group (1956–1958)
• Air Rescue Service (1958–1960)
• Aerospace Rescue and Recovery Service (1961–1967)
• 40th Aerospace Rescue and Recovery Wing (1967–1970)
• 57th Wing (2002–????)
• 563d Rescue Group (????-present)

Bases stationed

• Wheelus Air Base, Libya (1952–1960, 1961–1970)
• Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada (2002 – present)

Aircraft Operated

• H-5 Dragonfly (1952–1953)
• SA-16 Albatross (1952–1960)
• C-82 Packet (1952–1953)
• C-47 Skytrain (1953–1956)
• H-19 Chickasaw (1953–1960)
• SC-54 Skymaster (1957–1960)
• HH-19 Chickasaw (1961–1963)

• HU-16 Albatross (1961–1968)
• HC-54 Skymaster (1961–1964)
• HH-43 Huskie (1963–1970)
• KC-97 Stratotanker (1964)
• HC-97 Stratofreighter (1964–1966, 1968)
• HC-130 Hercules (1966–1967)
• HH-3 (1968–1969)

References

Pararescuemen from the 58 RQS exercise recovering a downed pilot.

Bibliography

• USAF 58th Rescue Squadron History

See also

Air Rescue Service