347th Rescue Group: Difference between revisions
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==== Cold War ==== |
==== Cold War ==== |
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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 |
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 at Mountain Home AFB, Idaho. |
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===== Takhli RTAFB ===== |
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| ⚫ | On [[1 December]] [[1975]] the '''347th Tactical Fighter Wing''' relocated to Moody |
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On 30 July 1973 347th Tactical Fighter Wing was transferred from [[Mountain Home AFB]], [[Idaho]], to Takhli Royal Thai Air Force Base, Thailand, inheriting two squadrons of F-111As from the deactivating of the 474th TFW. These were: |
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* 428 Tactical Fighter (Tail Code: HG - Red Tail Fin) |
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* 429 Tactical Fighter (Tail Code: HG - Yellow Tail Fin) |
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For a brief two-week period the 347th flew combat operations into Cambodia until 15 August, when the last wartime mission of the Vietnam Era was flown into Cambodia for final mission of Constant Guard. After the cease-fire, the wing was maintained in a combat-ready status for possible contingency actions. |
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During January 1974 the Secretary of Defense announced a realignment of Thailand resources, with the final pullout of air resources by the end of 1976. In June 1974, Four F-111s from the 347 TFW flew from Takhli to Osan Air Base South Korea and conducted live weapons demonstrations for Republic of Korea and US officials at Nightmare Range. |
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===== Korat RTAFB ===== |
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On 12 July 1947, two F-111A squadrons of the 347th Tactical Fighter Wing were transferred to Korat Royal Thai Air Force Base, Thailand from Takhli Royal Thai Air Force Base. |
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Squadrons assigned were: |
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* 428th Tactical Fighter (F-111A Tail Code: HG) |
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* 429th Tactical Fighter (F-111A Tail Code: HG) |
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Participated in the recovery of the SS Mayaguez, an American merchant ship, from the Cambodians, 13-14 May 1975. |
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On 30 June 1975, the 347th TFW F-111A's and their two squadrons (428th and 429th TFS) were deactivated. The F-111's were sent to the 422d Fighter Weapon Squadron at [[Nellis Air Force Base]], [[Nevad]]a. The 347th was reassigned to [[Moody AFB]], Georgia. |
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===== Moody AFB ===== |
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* 68th Tactical Fighter Squadron (red tail stripe) |
* 68th Tactical Fighter Squadron (red tail stripe) |
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Revision as of 16:02, 7 September 2007
| 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 (1967-94)
- 347th Wing (1994-2001)
- 347th Rescue Wing (2001-06)
- 347th Rescue Group (2006-Present)
Bases Assigned
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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 at Mountain Home AFB, Idaho.
Takhli RTAFB
On 30 July 1973 347th Tactical Fighter Wing was transferred from Mountain Home AFB, Idaho, to Takhli Royal Thai Air Force Base, Thailand, inheriting two squadrons of F-111As from the deactivating of the 474th TFW. These were:
- 428 Tactical Fighter (Tail Code: HG - Red Tail Fin)
- 429 Tactical Fighter (Tail Code: HG - Yellow Tail Fin)
For a brief two-week period the 347th flew combat operations into Cambodia until 15 August, when the last wartime mission of the Vietnam Era was flown into Cambodia for final mission of Constant Guard. After the cease-fire, the wing was maintained in a combat-ready status for possible contingency actions.
During January 1974 the Secretary of Defense announced a realignment of Thailand resources, with the final pullout of air resources by the end of 1976. In June 1974, Four F-111s from the 347 TFW flew from Takhli to Osan Air Base South Korea and conducted live weapons demonstrations for Republic of Korea and US officials at Nightmare Range.
Korat RTAFB
On 12 July 1947, two F-111A squadrons of the 347th Tactical Fighter Wing were transferred to Korat Royal Thai Air Force Base, Thailand from Takhli Royal Thai Air Force Base.
Squadrons assigned were:
- 428th Tactical Fighter (F-111A Tail Code: HG)
- 429th Tactical Fighter (F-111A Tail Code: HG)
Participated in the recovery of the SS Mayaguez, an American merchant ship, from the Cambodians, 13-14 May 1975.
On 30 June 1975, the 347th TFW F-111A's and their two squadrons (428th and 429th TFS) were deactivated. The F-111's were sent to the 422d Fighter Weapon Squadron at Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada. The 347th was reassigned to Moody AFB, Georgia.
Moody AFB
On 1 December 1975 the 347th Tactical Fighter Wing relocated to Moody as an active tactial fighter wing under Tactical Air Command. Operational tactical fighter squadrons at Moody were:
- 68th Tactical Fighter Squadron (red tail stripe)
- 69th Tactical Fighter Squadron (silver tail stripe)
- 70th Tactical Fighter Squadron (blue/white checkered tail stripe)
The 347th flew the McDonnel-Douglas F-4E until 1988, upgrading to the Block 15 General Dynamics F-16A/B. In 1990 the wing upgraded again to the Block 40 F-16C/D. Moody won the Commander-in-Chief's Installation Excellence Award for 1991, and the 1994 Verne Orr Award, which is presented by the Air Force Association to the unit that most effectively uses human resources to accomplish its mission. In June 1997, the 347th TFW was awarded the Air Force Outstanding Unit Award for the eighth time in its illustrious history.
On 1 June 1992 the 347th TFW was assigned to the newly-activated Air Combat Command.
As a result of the August 1992 destruction of Homestead AFB Florida by Hurricane Andrew, the 31st Fighter Wing's 307th and 308th Fighter Squadrons were initially evacuated to Moody AFB prior to the hurricane making landfall. With Homstead unusable for an extended period after the hurricane, on 20 November the squadrons were permanently assigned to the 347th TFW. On 1 April 1994, the 308th FS was moved without personnel or equipment to the 56th Fighter Wing at Luke AFB, Arizona, replacing the 311th FS. The squadrons Block 40 F-16s were sent to USAFE.
On 1 July 1994, the Air Force converted the 347th Fighter Wing to the 347th Wing, a force projection, air/land composite wing. Squadrons of the 347th Wing were:
- 52d Airlift Squadron (C-130E) (green tail stripe)
Transferred from deactivated 63d MAW, Norton AFB, California 1 May 1994. Was a C-141B squadron at Norton. - 68th Fighter Squadron (F-16C/D) (red tail stripe - LANCERS)
- 69th Fighter Squadron (F-16C/D) (black tail stripe - WEREWOLVES)
- 70th Fighter Squadron (F-16C/D) (blue/white tail stripe)
- 307th Fighter Squadron (F-16C/D) (black tail stripe - STINGERS)
The 307th FS was inactivated on 31 August 1995 when F-16 operations at Moody were reduced in size.
On 1 April 1997 the 347th Wing added a search-and-rescue component with the addition of the 41st Rescue Squadron with HH-60G helicopters and the 71st Rescue Squadron with specialized HC-130P aircraft from Patrick AFB, Florida. To make room for these squadrons, the 52d Airlift Squadron was deactivated, with its C-130s being transferred to the 71st RQS.
The F-16s of the 347th began to be transferred out as the "Composite Wing" concept ended at Moody. The 70th FS was deactivated on 30 June 2000. The 69th FS was deactivated on 2 February 2001, and the 68th FS was deactivated on 1 April. The F-16s were transferred to various active-duty, reserve and Air National Guard squadrons both in the CONUS as well as overseas.
On 1 May 2001, the 347th Wing stood down as a composite wing and stood up as the 347th Rescue Wing, becoming the Air Force's only active-duty combat search and rescue wing. The 347th RQW was transferred from ACC to the Air Force Special Operations Command on 1 October 2003.
See Also
References
External links
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