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

In late 1962 and early 1963, the Continental Air Command (ConAC) reorganized the structure of its reserve Troop Carrier Wings (as well as all Air Force Reserve units) Groups were imposed into the chain of command between the Wing and its squadrons.

As a result, the 943d Troop Carrier Group was established with a mission to organize, recruit and train Air Force Reserve personnel in the tactical airlift of airborne forces, their equipment and supplies and delivery of these forces and materials by airdrop, landing or cargo extraction systems. The group was equipped with C-119 Flying Boxcars for Tactical Air Command airlift operations.

The 943d TCG was one of four C-119 groups assigned to the 452d TCW in 1963, the others being the 942d, and 944d, at March AFB, and the 945th Troop Carrier Group, at Hill AFB, Utah.

The group flew routine tactical airlift missions in the western states, inactivating its Flying Boxcars in 1969. It then was moved east to Charleston AFB, South Carolina, where it was updated to the C-141 Starlifter heavy intercontinental transport.

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 943d Troop Carrier Group, Medium, and activated in the Reserve, on 28 Dec 1962

Organized on 17 Jan 1963

Re-designated 943d Tactical Airlift Group on 1 Jul 1967

Inactivated on 25 Apr 1969

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

Activated in the Reserve on 25 Sep 1969

Inactivated on 1 Jul 1973

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

Activated in the Reserve on 1 Apr 1985

Re-designated 943d Airlift Group on 1 Feb 1992

Inactivated on 30 Jun 1993

• Re-designated 943d Rescue Group on 13 Jan 2005

Activated in the Reserve on 12 Feb 2005.

Assignments

• 452d Troop Carrier (later, 452d Military Airlift) Wing, 17 Jan 1963-25 Apr 1969
• 514th Military Airlift Wing (Associate), 25 Sep 1969-1 Jul 1973
• 302d Tactical Airlift Wing, 1 Apr 1985
• 445th Airlift Wing (Associate) (later, 445th Airlift Wing), 1 Feb 1992-30 Jun 1993
• 920th Rescue Wing, 12 Feb 2005-Present

Components

• 943d Operations Group: 1 Aug 1992-30 Jun 1993

• 300th Military Airlift (Associate) Squadron: 25 Sep 1969-1 Jul 1973
• 303d Tactical Airlift (later, 303d Airlift) Squadron: 1 Apr 1985-1 Aug 1992
• 304th Rescue Squadron: 12 Feb 2005-Present
• 305th Rescue Squadron: 12 Feb 2005-Present
• 306th Rescue Squadron: 12 Feb 2005-Present
• 701st Military Airlift (Associate) Squadron: 25 Sep 1970-1 Jul 1973
• 707th Military Airlift (Associate) Squadron: 1 Oct 1972-1 Jul 1973
• 729th Troop Carrier, Medium (later, 729th Tactical Airlift) Squadron: 17 Jan 1963-25 Apr 1969.

Stations

• March AFB, California, 17 Jan 1963-25 Apr 1969
• Charleston AFB, South Carolina, 25 Sep 1969-1 Jul 1973
• March AFB, California, 1 Apr 1985-30 Jun 1993
• Davis-Monthan AFB, Arizona, 12 Feb 2005-Present

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