Lineage. Constituted as 305 Air Rescue Squadron on 16 Jan 1958. Activated in the Reserve on 8 Feb 1958. Redesignated as 305 Aerospace Rescue and Recovery Squadron on 18 Jan 1966. Ordered to Active Service on 26 Jan 1968. Relieved from Active Duty on 19 Jun 1969. Redesignated as: 305 Air Rescue Squadron on 1 Apr 1990; 305 Rescue Squadron on 1 Feb 1992. Inactivated on 1 Sep 1992. Activated in the Reserve on 1 Oct 1993.
Assignments. 2242 Air Reserve Flying Center, 8 Feb 1958; Tenth Air Force, 8 Apr 1958; 2467 Air Reserve Flying Center, 1 Jun 1958; Tenth Air Force, 20 May 1960; Fifth Air Force Reserve Region, 1 Sep 1960; Aerospace Rescue and Recovery Service, 26 Jan 1968; Fifth Air Force Reserve Region, 19 Jun 1969; Central Air Force Reserve Region, 31 Dec 1969; Eastern Air Force Reserve Region, 1 Jul 1971; Western Air Force Reserve Region, 1 Jan 1972; 403 Aerospace Rescue and Recovery (later, 403 Aerospace Rescue and Weather Reconnaissance) Wing, 15 Mar 1976; 939 Aerospace Rescue and Recovery Group (later, 939 Air Rescue Wing), 1 Oct 1987; 939 Operations Group, 1 Aug-1 Sep 1992. 939 Operations Group, 1 Oct 1993; 920 Rescue Wing, 1 Apr 2003; 943 Rescue Group, 12 Feb 2005-.
Stations. Selfridge AFB (later, Selfridge ANGB), MI, 8 Feb 1958-1 Sep 1992. Davis-Monthan AFB, AZ, 1 Oct 1993-.
Commanders. Maj Dodson B. Graybeal, 8 Apr 1958; Maj Dragi C. Lazin, May 1959; Maj Charles D. Kilpatrick, Mar 1960; Maj Harry R. Stowell, 12 Jun 1964; Lt Col John C. Riley, 16 Sep 1964; Lt Col James S. Brown, 29 Jun 1969; Lt Col Charles E. Day, 31 Dec 1971; Lt Col Ralph T. Carlson, 27 Nov 1972; Lt Col Robert E. Dotson, 22 Jul 1974; Lt Col Robert C. Metzger, c. 9 May 1976; Lt Col Robert H. Troshynski, 12 Dec 1977; Col George G. McLaughlin, 1978; Col Gerard J. Braun, by Oct 1981; Col Charles F. Srull, 15 Jul 1982; Lt Col Jon E. Hannan, 1 Sep 1983; Lt Col Dennis W. Thompson, 31 Aug 1985; Lt Col Gene J. Lambert, 2 Aug 1987; Lt Col Thomas F. Spencer, 22 Oct 1989; unkn, 9 Jan-23 Mar 1991; Lt Col Paul R. Davis, 24 Mar 1991; Maj Michael G. Shook, 5 Aug 1991; Maj Robert D. Blough Jr., 23 Feb-1 Sep 1992. Col Paul R. Davis, 1 Oct 1993; Col William D. Peden, 1 Jun 1994; Lt Col Kent D. Clark, 5 May 1996; Col Michael G. Shook, 25 Aug 2002; Lt Col Clifton Shuman, 12 Feb 2005-.
Aircraft. SA (later, HU)-16, 1958-1965; HC-97, 1965-1972; HC-130, 1972-1992; CH-3, 1976-1980, 1987-1992; HH-3, 1976-1992. HH-60, 1993-.
Operations. Trained for and performed search and rescue operations primarily in the upper mid-western U.S., 1958-1992. Deployed personnel worldwide to support active duty forces, including to the Far East following the USS Pueblo incident, Jan 1968-Jun 1969, to Keflavik, Iceland, during and after the Gulf War. Maintained helicopter refueling capability, 1972-1992, including providing refueling during the removal of bodies from the Jonestown (Guyana) mass suicide in Nov 1978. Supported sister rescue squadron (304 Rescue Squadron) May-Jun 1980, following the volcanic eruption of Mt St Helens (Washington). Provided support for space shuttle launches in Florida, 1981-1982 and 1988. Trained for combat search and rescue and performed search and rescue operations primarily in the southwestern U.S., 1993-. Provided support in counterdrug operations to U.S. civilian agencies, 1994-. Supported Operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom, 2001-.
Service Streamers. None.
Campaign Streamers. Afghanistan: Consolidation I; Consolidation II.
Armed Forces Expeditionary Streamers. None.
Decorations. Air Force Outstanding Unit Awards: 26 Jan 1968-26 Jan 1969; 1 Jul 1977-31 Dec 1978; 1 Jul 1984-30 Jun 1986; [1 Oct] 1993-31 Aug 1995; 1 Sep 1997-31 Aug 1999; 1 Sep 1999-31 Aug 2001; 1 Sep 2001-31 Aug 2002; 1 Oct 2002-30 Sep 2004; 1 Oct 2004-30 Sep 2005; 1 Oct 2005-30 Sep 2006. Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm: 26 Jan 1968-18 Jun 1969.
Lineage, Assignments, Stations, and Honors through 3 Aug 2016.
Commanders, Aircraft, and Operations through Dec 2005.
Supersedes statement prepared on 13 Jun 2013.
Emblem. Approved on 16 Aug 1967.
Prepared by TSgt David Dollman.