943rd Rescue Group

943rd Rescue Group
943rd Rescue Group emblem
Active	12 February 2005 – present
Country	United States
Branch	United States Air Force
Garrison/HQ	Davis-Monthan AFB, Arizona

The 943rd Rescue Group (943 RQG) is a unit of the United States Air Force located at Davis-Monthan AFB, Arizona. An Air Force Reserve Command (AFRC) unit, the 943 RQG and its subordinate squadrons function as a geographically separated unit (GSU) of AFRC's 920th Rescue Wing (920 RQW) at Patrick AFB, Florida.

Mission

The mission of the 943rd Rescue Group is to provide leadership, management, policy formulation, planning, and standardization for operations, training and support of the Air Force Reserve Command's rescue assets, consisting of 3 squadrons and 3 flights at Davis-Monthan AFB and 1 geographically separated unit at Portland Air Reserve Station, Oregon. The Group is equipped with six (6) HH-60 Pave Hawk helicopters at Davis-Monthan AFB to support worldwide combat rescue operations.

As an Air Force Reserve Command unit, the 943 RQG is normally under the control of the 920 RQW at Patrick AFB, Florida and is the only Air Force Reserve rescue unit in the Southwestern United States. Upon mobilization, the 943 RQG and the 920 RQW would come under the control of the Air Combat Command (ACC).

History

The 943rd Rescue Group was officially reactivated in the Air Force Reserve on 12 February 2005 at Davis-Monthan AFB. The group inherited an illustrious lineage beginning in 1962 with the establishment of the 943rd Airlift Group, originally a troop carrier group, and has gone through many activations, re-designations and periods of inactivation since its inception.

Lineage

• Established as 943 Troop Carrier Group, Medium, and activated in the Reserve, on 28 Dec 1962

Organized on 17 Jan 1963

Re-designated 943 Tactical Airlift Group on 1 Jul 1967

Inactivated on 25 Apr 1969

• Re-designated 943 Military Airlift Group (Associate) on 31 Jul 1969

Activated in the Reserve on 25 Sep 1969

Inactivated on 1 Jul 1973

• Re-designated 943 Tactical Airlift Group on 8 Jan 1985

Activated in the Reserve on 1 Apr 1985

Re-designated 943 Airlift Group on 1 Feb 1992

Inactivated on 30 Jun 1993

• Re-designated 943 Rescue Group on 13 Jan 2005

Activated in the Reserve on 12 Feb 2005.

Aircraft

• HH-60G (12 February 2005 – present)
• C-130 (1985–1993)
• C-5 (1973)
• C-141 (1969–1973)
• C-119 (1963–1969)

References

 This article incorporates public domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency

• Ravenstein, Charles A. (1984). Air Force Combat Wings Lineage and Honors Histories 1947-1977. Maxwell AFB, Alabama: Office of Air Force History. ISBN 0-912799-12-9.
• Mueller, Robert, Air Force Bases Volume I, Active Air Force Bases Within the United States of America on 17 September 1982, Office of Air Force History, 1989
• Cantwell, Gerald (1987), Citizen Airmen, A History of the Air Force Reserve, 1946-1994. Washington, D.C.: Air Force History and Museums Program: GPO, 1997 ISBN: 0-16049-269-6
• AFHRA 943rd Rescue Group page

External links

• Air Force Historical Research Agency – 943rd Rescue Group
• Davis-Monthan AFB – Other Units & Agencies
• Citizen Airman – New Combat Rescue Group Stands Up in Arizona