347th Rescue Group

347th Wing
347th Rescue Group emblem
Active	1942-Present
Country	United States
Branch	United States Air Force
Part of	Air Combat Command
Garrison/HQ	Moody AFB, Georgia

The United States Air Force's 347th Wing was a combat search and rescue unit located at Moody AFB, Georgia. The wing was deactivated in 2006, however its operations group was renamed the 347th Rescue Group, and assigned to the 23d Wing, retaining its rescue function.

Mission

The 347th Rescue Group is tasked to organize, train and employ combat-ready security forces, pararescuemen, HH-60, and HC-130 forces totaling 6,100 military and civilian personnel. The group executes worldwide combat search and rescue operations in support of humanitarian interests, United States national security and the global war on terrorism.

Units

• 38th Rescue Squadron
• 41st Rescue Squadron
• 71st Rescue Squadron
• 347th Operations Support Squadron

History

Lineage

• 347th Fighter Group (1942-47)
• 347th Fighter Wing, All Weather (1948-50)
• 347th Fighter-All Weather Wing (1950)
• 347th Tactical Fighter Wing (1967-72, 1973-75)
• 347th Rescue Wing (1975-Present)

Bases Assigned

United States Army Air Forces

• New Caledonia (1942-43)
• Guadalcanal (1943-44)
• Stirling, Treasury Islands (Jan-August 1944)
• Sansapor, New Guinea (August-September 1944)
• Middleburg, New Guinea (1944-45)
• San Jose, Mindoro (Feburary-March 1945)
• Puerto Princesa, Palawan (March-December 1945)

United States Air Force

• Itazuke, Japan, (August-October 1948)
• Bofu Afld, Japan, (1948-49)
• Ashiya Afld (later, AB), Japan, (1949-50)
• Nagoya AB, Japan, (April-June 1950)
• Yokota AB, Japan, (1968-71)
• Mountain Home AFB, Idaho, (1971-72)
• Takhi RTAFB, Thailand, (1973-74)
• Korat RTAFB, Thailand, (1974-75)
• Moody AFB, Ga, (1975-Presnet)

Operational History

World War II

Constituted as 347th Fighter Group on 29 Sep 1942. Activated in New Caledonia on 3 Oct 1942. Detachments of the group, which was assigned to Thirteenth AF in Jan 1943, were sent to Guadalcanal, where they used P-39 and P-400 aircraft to fly protective patrols, support ground forces, and attack Japanese shipping. When the Allied campaign to recover the central and northern Solomons began in Feb 1943, the detachments, still operating from Guadalcanal and using P-38 and P-39 aircraft, escorted bombers and attacked enemy bases on New Georgia, the Russell Islands and Bougainville. Headquarters moved up from New Caledonia at the end of 1943; and the following month the group moved from Guadalcanal to Stirling Island to support ground forces on Bougainville, assist in neutralizing enemy bases at Rabaul, and fly patrol and search missions in the northern Solomons. Moved to New Guinea in Aug 1944. Equipped completely with P-38's. Escorted bombers to oil refineries on Borneo; bombed and strafed airfields and installations on Ceram, Amboina, Boeroe, Celebes, and Halmahera. Received a DUC for a series of long-range bombing and strafing raids, conducted through intense flak and fighter defense, on the airfield and shipping at Makassar, Celebes, in Nov 1944. Moved to the Philippines in Feb 1945. Supported landings on Mindanao in Mar 1945: bombed and strafed enemy installations and supported Australian forces on Borneo, attacked Japanese positions in northern Luzon, and flew escort missions to the Asiatic mainland. Moved to the US in Dec 1945. Inactivated on 1 Jan 1946.

Redesignated 347th Fighter Group (All Weather). Activated in Japan on 20 Feb 1947. Assigned to Far East Air Forces. Equipped with F-61's and later with F-82's. Inactivated on 24 Jun 1950

Cold War

Air defense in Japan, Aug 1948-Mar 1950. Air defense in Japan and South Korea, plus aerial reconnaissance and contingency operations, Jan 1968-May 1971. Not operational, 15 May-14 Jul 1971. Proficiency training in F-111 aircraft, Jul 1971-Oct 1972. Combat operations in Cambodia, 30 Jul-15 Aug 1973, then maintained F-11lAs in Southeast Asia for possible contingency actions, Aug 1973-May 1975. Participated in numerous exercises, conducted firepower demonstrations, and, Jan-May 1975, flew sea surveillance missions. Participated in the recovery of the SS Mayaguez, an American merchant ship, from the Cambodians, 13-14 May 1975. Phased down and inactivated in Jun 1975. Replaced Det 1, 363d Combat Support Group (a holding organization) at Moody AFB, Ga, in Sep 1973 and embarked on a training program to become combat ready in F-4E aircraft. Assumed responsibility for operating Moody AFB in Dec 1975. Became combat ready in Apr 1977 and deployed a force of 18 F-4s to Jever AB, West Germany, 17 May-7 Jun 1977.

References

• Official factsheet