The Group, initially designated as the 943d Troop Carrier Group, Medium, was activated in the Reserve on December 28, 1962. Organized at March AFB, CA, on January 17, 1963, it included the 729th Troop Carrier Squadron, Medium, operating C-119 Boxcars. This unit was among the four assigned to the 452d Troop Carrier Group based at Hill AFB.
The 943d Group carried out flying training missions and played a role in Operation Power Pack, facilitating troop and equipment transport amid the Dominican Republic crisis in 1965. It also handled troop transport in and out of Southeast Asia during the airline pilot strike in 1966, known as Operation Combat Leave. The group was redesignated as the 943d Tactical Airlift Group on July 1, 1967.
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An early C-119 Boxcar. (USAF Photo)
In 1968, the group conducted air drops of personnel and supplies for Army Special Forces training in Utah, focusing on night counter-insurgency missions. Additionally, it airlifted USMC personnel from California to Nevada. The group was subsequently inactivated on April 25, 1969.
After a brief period of inactivity, the Group was redesignated as the 943d Military Airlift Group (Associate) on July 31, 1969. It was activated in the Reserve on September 25, 1969, at Charleston AFB, SC. Transitioning from the old prop C-119, the Group operated new C-141 Starlifters with the 300th MAS (A). Subsequently, the 701st MAS (A) joined in September 1970, and the 707th MAS (A) joined in October 1972.
A C-141B Starlifter. (USAF Photo)
From 1969 to 1973, the group engaged in various operations, including transporting porpoises and a Polaris missile for the US Navy in 1971. It played a crucial role in airlifting patients from the Canal Zone and islands in the Caribbean Sea and Atlantic Ocean to hospitals. Additionally, the group supported President Nixon's meeting with Japanese Emperor Hirohito in Alaska in 1971. The 943d also provided air transport in Southeast Asia and took part in Operation Garden Plot during the Republican and Democratic conventions in 1972.
In 1973, the Starlifters were replaced by the massive C-5 Galaxy, and during the same year, the group was assigned to the 514 Military Airlift Wing (Associate) on September 25. It was inactivated on July 1, 1973, as part of an Air Force Reserve reorganization.
The impressive C-5A Galaxy. (USAF Photo)
The Group was then redesignated as the 943d Tactical Airlift Group on January 8, 1985, and activated in the Reserve on April 1. Operating C-130 Hercules from March AFB, CA, it supported the 303d TAS Reserve squadron and was assigned to the 302d Tactical Airlift Wing.
In 1985, the group was equipped with C-130H and C-130B aircraft, deploying personnel and equipment worldwide for airlifting troops, supplies, and performing aeromedical evacuation. It played a key role in supporting US operations in the Canal Zone from 1985 to 1993, rotating crews and aircraft to Panama. Two C-130Bs with firefighting modules supported firefighting operations in the Southwestern US. Additionally, personnel were deployed in support of Operation Desert Shield/Desert Storm from 1990 to 1991.
The group underwent a redesignation as the 943d Airlift Group on February 1, 1992, and was reassigned to the 445th Airlift Wing (Associate). It was subsequently inactivated on June 30, 1993.
The 943d Rescue Group was redesignated on January 13, 2005, and activated in the Reserve on February 12, 2005, at Davis-Monthan AFB, AZ, assigned to the 920th RQW. The group comprises three squadrons: the 304th, 305th, and 306th Rescue Squadrons. The 304th, a geographically separate unit, focuses on the Guardian Angel mission from Portland Air Reserve Station. The 305th operates HH-60G helicopters from Davis-Monthan, while the 306th is a pararescue unit with a mission to cultivate a warrior culture, emphasizing fitness, education, and combat skills. Their teamwork involves sharing knowledge, experience, and travel to be a full partner in their endeavours.
A couple of HH-60's refuel from a HC-130. (USAF photo/SrA Kevin Tanenbaum)
Lone Survivor
On July 2, 2005, 25 reservists from the 920th RQW rescued Petty Officer 1st Class Marcus Luttrell, part of Navy SEAL Team 10 on the run from the Taliban after the other four members of his SEAL team had been killed in an ambush during a covert operation named Operation REDWING. Luttrell had been rescued by a villager Mohammed Gulab and taken into the local villages near the Sawtalo Sar Mountains in the northeast of Afghanistan near the Pakistan border. The US Army attempted a rescue on the June 28, however a CH-47 Chinook from the 160th SOAR, callsign Turbine 33, was shot down with the loss of eight crew from the 160th SOAR and eight Navy SEALs.
The rescue crew deployed to the 59th ERQS, based in southern Afghanistan at Kandahar, was on alert when they received news of the Chinook crash. The alert crews, flying their two HH-60G's, headed northwest to the US Special Forces compound at Bagram for a mission briefing. This mission was named Operation REDWING II, and the crews on the Pavehawks for the rescue mission were:
Halo 1 Lead
Lt. Col. Jeffrey “Skinny” Macrander (P), 305th RQS
Maj. John “JP” Phalon (CP), 305th RQS
Jason Burger (FE), 305th RQS
Josh Donnelly (Gunner), 305th RQS
John Davis (PJ’s), 308th RQS
Brett Konczal, (PJ’s), 306th RQS
Halo 2 Wingman
Maj. Jeff “Spanky” Peterson (P), 305th RQS
Gonzo Gonzales (CP), 305th RQS
Mike Cusick (FE), 305th RQS
Ben Peterson (Gunner), 301st RQS
Josh Appel (PJ’s), 306th RQS
Chris Piercecchi (PJ’s), 306th RQS
The HH-60G attempted the rescue on July 1, but due to low fuel, the aircraft had to return to base. The subsequent night, with support from A-10s and an AC-130 due to remaining hostile forces, they initiated the rescue mission. The plan involved landing at a LZ named Barracuda at 1130hrs (H-hour). The LZ was marked by an IR strobe to facilitate visibility for crews equipped with NVGs. The objective was to pick up Marcus Luttrell and transport him to Jalalabad.
Five minutes before H-hour, the AC-130 and A-10’s would fire on targets around the area, causing a distraction for the incoming Pavehawks. The lead Pavehawks flown by Skinny/JP would overfly the LZ and then pop up to perform what they called a spooky orbit around the LZ, hopefully distracting any ground forces and providing cover, while the trail Pavehawk flown by Spanky/Gonzo would land. The crews were approaching the LZ flying up a mountain canyon to the LZ when the A-10’s & AC-130’s lit up the surrounding area. Unfortunately, the carnage they delivered provided a big problem for the Pavehawks, as there was friendly special forces in the area, who didn’t want to get hit, so to prevent this switched on IR strobe lights that were on their helmets! Now the surrounding area was a trail of flashing IR strobes, how could they find the one they wanted that was on the LZ! Luckily Spanky asked for the AC-130 to point its IR light to the LZ, however the light was obscured by low cloud cover. One of the A-10 pilots heard this and pointed his laser designator onto the LZ, and both of the Pavehawks could see the laser point to the IR strobe they needed. The lead performed the spooky pop up and then Halo 2 landed on a narrow cliff ledge next to a cliff wall. At 15 feet the Pavehawk browned out, so the crew lying on the floor guided the pilots to land.
Within seconds, the crew unloaded water for the SF guys on the ground from the left door and noticed figures approaching from the rear of the helicopter. The PJ’s identified one figure as US, distinguished by the reflective flag on their front. Two individuals jumped onto the helicopter deck, with the first confirming he was "Spiderman," Luttrell's code name. The villager who rescued him also boarded. After just 30 seconds on the ground, the Pavehawk lifted off.
HH-60G #90-26227 being unloaded from a C-17 while attending RIAT at RAF Fairford in 2018. This was the Pavehawk that picked up Luttrell during Operation REDWING. (T. Richardson)
Spanky used the codeword "popcorn" for the pickup of Luttrell, but added "plus one." This caused confusion as only one person was expected to board. After clarification that Luttrell's rescuer had also jumped onboard, they were instructed to drop him off before returning to Jalalabad. The crews dropped off Gulab at Camp Blessed before flying on to Jalalabad, where Luttrell was transferred to a waiting C-130.
Marcus Luttrell meeting Maj. Jeff “Spanky” Peterson after the rescue mission.
The PJ's Josh Appel and Chris Piercecchi who picked up Luttrell and now run the Operation REDWING foundation helping the mental health of veterans.
Wing members also carried out the recovery operation to retrieve the remains of Luttrell's fallen SEAL team, including Navy Lieutenant Michael P. Murphy, who was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honour for his actions during the operation.
Since 1956, the 920th Rescue Wing has played a vital role in saving over 4,000 lives, encompassing 870 combat rescues and 3,000 peacetime rescues. This includes notable contributions, such as saving 1,043 lives during Hurricanes Katrina and Rita.
Crews prep a couple of HH-60G's prior to a training mission.
(USAF Photo)
The 943rd RQG commenced a new chapter with the Jolly Green Giant when on February 1, 2024 the first new HH-60W Jolly Green II arrived at Davis-Monthan AFB.
The first 943d Rescue
Group, 920th Rescue Wing, HH-60W Jolly Green II helicopter taxis on the flight
line at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Arizona, Feb. 1, 2024. The HH-60W is the
successor to the HH-60G Pave Hawk and is used for a variety of missions to
include combat search and rescue operations in hostile or denied territory.
Located at Davis-Monthan AFB, Arizona, the 943d RQG is one of three
geographically separated units that fall under the 920th RQW, Patrick Space
Force Base, Florida.
(USAF Photo/SrA Nicole Koreen)
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