31st Rescue Squadron

The 31st Rescue Squadron is part of the 18th Wing at Kadena Air Base, Japan. It trains, equips and employs combat-ready pararescue specialists.

31st Rescue Squadron
31st Aerospace Rescue & Recovery Squadron HH-3E retrieving a Firebee drone in 1984
Active	1952–1960; 1963–1975; 1981–2001; 2003–present
Country	United States
Branch	United States Air Force
Role	Search and Rescue
Part of	Pacific Air Forces
Garrison/HQ	Kadena Air Base
Decorations	Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with Combat "V" Device Air Force Outstanding Unit Award Navy Meritorious Unit Commendation Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm Philippine Presidential Unit Citation
Insignia
31st Rescue Squadron emblem (approved 15 September 1993)

History

The 31st Rescue Squadron was constituted as the 31st Air Rescue Squadron on 17 October 1952. They made combat rescues in Southeast Asia, 1965–1966 and also operated the Joint Rescue Coordination Center for Thirteenth Air Force, Apr 1967 – July 1975. They took part in disaster relief missions in the Philippines between 16–31 July 1990. As a USAF Special Operations Squadron the 31st was forward deployed at Osan Air Base, Korea from 1992–2001, while its headquarters at the 353d Special Operations Group was stationed at Kadena Air Base, Okinawa, Japan. Inactivated for a couple of years, in 2003 the squadron was redesignated the 31st Rescue Squadron under the 18th Wing and stationed at Kadena Air Base, Okinawa, Japan.

Lineage

• Constituted as the 31st Air Rescue Squadron on 17 October 1952

Activated on 14 November 1952

Discontinued on 18 September 1960

• Organized on 8 July 1963

Redesignated 31st Aerospace Rescue and Recovery Squadron on 8 January 1966

Inactivated on 1 July 1975

• Activated on 8 January 1981

Redesignated 31st Special Operations Squadron on 6 April 1989

Inactivated on 31 August 2001

• Redesignated 31st Rescue Squadron on 16 May 2003

Activated on 31 July 2003

Assignments

• 2d Air Rescue Group, 14 November 1952
• Air Rescue Service, 24 June 1958 – 18 September 1960
• Air Rescue Service (later Aerospace Rescue and Recovery Service), 8 July 1963 (attached to Pacific Air Rescue Center (later Pacific Aerospace Rescue and Recovery) Center, until 31 March 1967)
• Pacific Aerospace Rescue and Recovery Center (later 41st Aerospace Rescue and Recovery Wing), 1 April 1967 – 1 July 1975
• 41st Rescue and Weather Reconnaissance Wing, 8 January 1981
• 353d Special Operations Wing (later 353d Special Operations Group) 6 April 1989 – 31 August 2001
• 18th Operations Group, 31 July 2003 – present

Stations

• Clark Air Base, Philippines, 14 November 1952
• Naha Air Base, Okinawa, 12–18 September 1960
• Clark Air Base, Philippines, 8 July 1963 – 1 July 1975
• Clark Air Base, Philippines, 8 January 1981
• Ching Chuan Kang Air Base, Taiwan, 10 May 1965 – 31 May 1975
• Marine Corps Air Station Futenma, Okinawa, Japan, 29 June 1991
• Osan Air Base, South Korea, July 1992 – 31 August 2001
• Kadena Air Base, Okinawa, Japan, 31 July 2003 – present

Aircraft

• Grumman SA-16 Albatross, 1952–1960
• Sikorsky H-19 Chickasaw, 1952–1955
• Sikorsky SH-19 (later HH-19), 1955–1960, 1963–1964
• Douglas HC-54, 1964–1965
• Kaman HH-43 Huskie, 1964–1970, 1971–1972
• Boeing HC-97, 1965–1966
• Lockheed HC-130 Hercules, 1966–1975
• Sikorsky HH-3, 1968–1975, 1981–1990
• Sikorsky CH-3, 1981–1990
• Sikorsky MH-53, 1990–2001
• Boeing MH-47 Chinook, 2001

See also

• List of United States Air Force rescue squadrons

External links

• 31st Special Operations Squadron History
• The PAVE Cave (unofficial PAVE LOW website)