303rd Expeditionary Rescue Squadron

303d Rescue Squadron
303d Rescue Squadron Patch
Active	8 October 1956 – 30 June 1993 15 April 1997 - 1 April 2003 1 February 2013 - Present
Country	United States
Branch	United States Air Force
Type	Search and Rescue
Part of	Air Force Reserve Command Combined Joint Task Force-Horn of Africa
Garrison/HQ	Portland International Airport
Decorations	AFOUA

The 303d Expeditionary Rescue Squadron (303 ERQS) is an Air Force Reserve Command (AFRC) unit permanently deployed to Camp Lemonier, Djibouti. It was reactivated in 2013 as a forward deployed umbrella organization for rotational HH-60 Pave Hawk combat search and rescue (CSAR) units of the Air Force Reserve deployed to U.S. Africa Command, specifically to Combined Joint Task Force-Horn of Africa (CJTF-HOA).

Until 2003, the then 303d Rescue Squadron (303 RQS) was an HC-130 Hercules "Combat King" squadron, part of the 939th Rescue Wing (939 RQW) at Portland Air Reserve Station at Portland International Airport, Oregon. When the 939th transitioned to an air refueling mission with the KC-135 Stratotanker and became the 939th Air Refueling Wing (939 ARW), the 303d was disestablished. As part of the BRAC process, the 939 ARW was itself inactivated in June 2008.

Mission

Combat search and rescue (CSAR and personnel recovery (PR) capability for USAFRICOM, AFAFRICA and CJTF-HOA, to include a rescue alert mission, utilizing the HH-60 Pave Hawk helicopter.

History

The 303d performed search and rescue (SAR), as well as medical evacuation missions, in the Southwestern United States and occasionally into Central America from, 1956-1985. During this period the squadron also performed escort missions for aircraft deploying to the Pacific. Its mission changed to airlift in 1985 in addition to also providing fire-fighting support to the U.S. Forest Service in the Western U.S. from, 1985-1993. Beginning in 1997 the 303d once again trained for combat search and rescue and SAR and helicopter aerial refueling missions primarily in the Northwestern United States. Members of the 303rd were mobilized and deployed to Italy from May - August 1999 in support of Operation Allied Force.

The unit was inactivated in 2003 when the 939 RQW changed missions and became the 939th Air Refueling Wing.

The unit was reactivated in 2013 as an expeditionary squadron for rotational Air Force Reserve HH-60G Pave Hawk units at Camp Lemonier, Djibouti.

Lineage

• 303d Air Rescue Squadron (1952–1966)
• 303d Aerospace Rescue and Recovery Squadron (1966–1985)
• 303d Tactical Airlift Squadron (1985–1992)
• 303d Airlift Squadron (1992–1997)
• 303d Rescue Squadron (1997–2003)
• 303d Expeditionary Rescue Squadron (2013-present)

Assignments

• 2347th Air Reserve Flying Center (1956–1958)
• 2350th Air Reserve Flying Center (1958–1960)
• 4th Air Force (1960)
• 6th Air Force Reserve Region (1960–1969)
• Western Air Force Reserve Region (1969–1976)
• 403d Rescue and Weather Reconnaissance Wing (1976–1985)
• 943d Airlift Group (1985–1993)
• 939th Rescue Wing (1997–2003)
• Combined Joint Task Force-Horn of Africa (2013-present)

Bases stationed

• Long Beach Municipal Airport, California (1956–1960)
• March Air Force Base, California (1960–1993)
• Portland International Airport, Oregon (1997–2003)
• Camp Lemonier, Djibouti (2013-present)

Aircraft Operated

• HU-16 Albatross (1956–1965)
• HC-97 Stratofreighter (1965–1972)
• KC-97 Stratotanker (1965–1966)
• HC-130 Hercules (1972–1985, 1997–2003)
• C-130 Hercules (1984–1993)
• HH-60 Pave Hawk (2013-present)

References

Bibliography

• USAF 303d Rescue Squadron History