USAF / 39th ARRW / Full Wing History / Jolly Green Giant

The 39th ARRW has a rich history, with its origins and accolades stemming from the consolidation of three distinguished organizations: the 2nd Air Commando Group (1944–1945), the 702nd Strategic Missile Wing (ICBM-Snark) (1959–1961), and the 39th Aerospace Rescue and Recovery Wing (1969–1992). Presently, the unit remains operational as the 352nd Special Operations Group (SOG) stationed at RAF Mildenhall.

The 39th Aerospace Rescue and Recovery Wing was founded on October 20, 1969, and became active on January 1, 1970, at Richards-Gebaur Air Force Base, operating under the jurisdiction of the Aerospace Rescue and Recovery Service overseen by MAC. Its primary responsibilities encompassed deploying squadrons for rescue operations in Vietnam and offering helicopter assistance to SAC across various intercontinental ballistic missile sites situated throughout the United States.

At the outset, it comprised six assigned Squadrons: the 41st ARRS (until September 1, 1975), the 42nd ARRS (until June 1973), the 43rd ARRS (until June 1, 1974), the 44th ARRS (until June 15, 1973), the 54th ARRS (until July 15, 1974), and the 55th ARRS (until April 18, 1989). Additionally, the wing initially oversaw five detachments (refer to the table below). On March 8, 1970, it welcomed the addition of the 71st ARRS (until July 1, 1974). These units were equipped with CH & HH-3’s, CH & HH-53’s, HC-130’s, UH-1’s, with the HH-43’s being part of the unit until 1973.

The Wing transitioned to Eglin Air Force Base on June 25, 1971, and later welcomed the addition of the 48th ARRS on September 15, 1972 (until January 1, 1976). Its expanded duties involved overseeing various detachments in the Western hemisphere, including those in Europe, yet the support for SAC and its missile-related operations was withdrawn.

USAF Cuts

The departure of the HH-43’s in 1973 resulted from the USAF's FY72 evaluations, which led to reductions in the Air Force's search and rescue forces, shifting the mission's focus more toward Combat Search and Rescue (CSAR). The 42nd and 44th departed the Wing in 1973, followed by the 43rd, 54th, and 71st the next year, the 41st in 1975, and the 48 ARRS in January 1976. Despite the addition of the 67th ARRS to the Wing on May 17, 1973, the deactivation of twenty-five out of the Wing's thirty-three detachments was a significant setback. Consequently, the Wing was left with two Squadrons, the 55th ARRS at Eglin AFB and the 67th ARRS at RAF Woodbridge UK, along with eight remaining detachments, including Det 1 at Homestead AFB, Det 2 at K. I. Sawyer AFB, Det 5 at Tyndall AFB, Det 9 at Zaragoza AB, Spain, Det 10 at Aviano AB, Italy, Det 11 at Myrtle Beach AFB, Det 14 at NAS Keflavik, Iceland, and Det 18 at Plattsburgh AFB.

Double Eagle

On September 9, 1977, Ben Abruzzo and Maxie Anderson attempted to cross the Atlantic in a hot air balloon, Double Eagle, marking the eleventh such endeavor. However, 65.5 hours after departing from Marchfield, Massachusetts, the balloon was compelled to make an emergency landing three miles off the coast of Iceland. Fortunately, the crew from Detachment 14 at Keflavik successfully rescued the stranded crew, who expressed their gratitude by hosting the rescue team for a dinner that evening.

The crew being picked up by a HH-3 from Det 14 crews.

Undeterred by the previous setback, on August 11, 1978, Ben Abruzzo, Maxie Anderson, and balloon pilot Larry Newman embarked on another transatlantic journey, this time aboard the Double Eagle II. On August 16, the trio accomplished the crossing, marking the successful completion of the fourteenth attempt. They continued their flight into France, ultimately landing 60 miles northwest of Paris on August 17. Although the French authorities offered them the use of Le Bourges airfield by temporarily closing the airspace, the team declined due to concerns about the safety of themselves and the people on the ground. During their remarkable journey, the balloon covered 3,099 miles in 137 hours and 6 minutes, maintaining an average speed of 22 mph. Upon their return, the crew and their wives were graciously hosted by Air France to fly back home aboard Concorde, flying supersonically at no cost. Throughout the expedition, the 39th ARRW provided support, maintaining radio contact with the Wing's HC-130's. In recognition of this assistance, two of the crew members adorned Aerospace rescue patches, either as a tribute to their initial rescue or in appreciation of their continued support during the journey.

Double Eagle II
The trio on the ground after the successful flight.	Maxie Anderson's flight suit in the Smithsonian Air & Space Museum.

ICBM's then NASA

Starting on January 1, 1978, the Wing's operations were expanded to include the 37th ARRS equipped with UH-1 and HH-1’s at missile site detachments, the 38th ARRS with UH-1’s at Homestead AFB, and the 40th ARRS with UH-1’s stationed at Holloman AFB. However, the Wing experienced the departure of the 38th ARRS on January 8, 1981.

On the same date, January 8, 1981, three detachments were reactivated under the Wing's jurisdiction, with Det 15 providing support for NASA and the Space Shuttle program. The reactivated detachments included Det 5 at Tyndall, Det 11 at Myrtle Beach, and Det 15 at Patrick.

The patch to the above was worn by the crews of the detachment for the launch of STS-1 (Space Transportation System-1) which was the first orbital spaceflight of NASA's Space Shuttle program. The first orbiter, Columbia, launched on 12 April 1981 and returned on 14 April, 54.5 hours later, having orbited the Earth 36 times. Columbia carried a crew of two – mission commander John W. Young and pilot Robert L. Crippen. It was the first American crewed space flight since the Apollo–Soyuz Test Project in 1975. STS-1 was also the only maiden test flight of a new American spacecraft to carry a crew.

The 48th ARRS, equipped with UH-1’s at Homestead, re-joined the Wing on October 1, 1985, but the Wing experienced the loss of the 37th ARRS on February 1, 1987.

Here comes AFSOC

A new chapter began for the Wing on February 1, 1987, with the addition of the 7th Special Operations Squadron (SOS), equipped with MC 130E Combat Talon aircraft at Rhein Main AB in Germany, following the deactivation of the 2nd Air Division. Subsequently, the 40th and 48th ARRS were both deactivated on December 31, 1987, leaving the Wing with the 7th SOS, 55th ARRS, and 67th ARRS, all of which eventually evolved into special operations units.

Moreover, the 55th ARRS began utilizing the UH-60, marking the initiation of the Credible Hawk program, which eventually culminated in the development of today's HH-60G’s with the assistance of the Air Force Special Operations Command (AFSOC).

On March 1, 1988, the Wing underwent a redesignation as the 39th Special Operations Wing. It welcomed the 56th ARRS into its ranks from May 1, 1988, until April 1, 1989. Later, on June 1, 1989, the Wing relocated to Rhein-Main AB, Germany, and acquired the 7th SOS MH-53J’s, becoming the air component of Special Operations Command Europe (SOCEUR). In May 1990, the Wing transitioned from Military Airlift Command (MAC) to the newly formed Air Force Special Operations Command (AFSOC), continuing its mission as a Special Operations unit until its inactivation on December 1, 1992.

Subsequently, on August 17, 1998, the 39th was consolidated with the 352nd Special Operations Group.

DETACHMENT	BASE	PATCH	DATE
Det 1	Elmendorf AFB, AK		1 Jan 1970-1 Jul 1971
	Homestead AFB, FL		1 Feb 1973-15 May 1974
			1 Sep 1975-1 Jul 1978
	Ramstein AB, Germany		1 Feb 1990-1 Dec 1992
Det 2	Albrook AFB, CZ		1 Jan 1970-15 Jul 1975
	K. I. Sawyer AFB, MI		1 Sep 1975-1 Oct 1977
Det 3	Patrick AFB, FL		1 Jan-8 Jun 1970
	Sondrestrom AB, Greenland		1 Dec 1971-1 Jul 1973
Det 4	Thule AB, Greenland		1 Jan 1970-31 Jul 1975
Det 5	Tyndall AFB, FL		1 Jan-8 Jun 1970
			1 Feb 1973-1 Jul 1978
			8 Jan 1981-1 Feb 1987
Det 6	Loring AFB, ME		1 Feb 1973-15 Apr 1974
Det 7	Ramstein AB, Germany		15 May 1973-1 Nov 1974
	Rhein-Main AB, Germany		5 Nov-1 Dec 1992
Det 9	Zaragoza AB, Spain		15 May 1973-30 Sep 1977
Det 10	Aviano AB, Italy		15 May 1973-1 Jul 1974
	MacDill AFB, FL		1 Sep 1975-1 Jul 1978
Det 11	Myrtle Beach AFB, SC		1 Sep 1975-1 Jul 1978
			8 Jan 1981-1 Feb 1987
Det 14	Keflavik AB, Iceland		15 May 1973-30 Sep 1977
Det 15	Patrick AFB, FL		1 Feb 1973-1 Jul 1978
			8 Jan 1981-1 Feb 1987
Det 18	Plattsburgh AFB, NY		1 Sep 1975-1 Jul 1978