ANYTIME ANYWHERE
The 305th RQS, initially established as the 305th Air Rescue Squadron on 16 January 1958, was brought into operation in the Reserve on 8 February 1958. With a fleet of four SA-16 Albatross aircraft and a team of 90 personnel, the Squadron conducted search and rescue (SAR) missions primarily in the upper mid-western United States, stationed at Selfridge AFB. Its initial assignments included the 2242d Air Reserve Flying Centre, followed by reassignments to the Tenth Air Force on 8 April 1958, the 2467th Air Reserve Flying Centre on 1 June 1958, the Tenth Air Force once again on 20 May 1960, and finally the Fifth Air Force Reserve Region on 1 September 1960.
Starting in 1965, the HC-97 took over the duties previously carried out by the SA-16 aircraft, and remained in operation until 1972. On 18 January 1966, the Squadron underwent a redesignation as the 305th Aerospace Rescue and Recovery Squadron.
Operation HICAT
Throughout 1966 and 1967, the unit played a crucial role in Operation HICAT (High Altitude Clear Air Turbulence), facilitating precise wind measurements between 45,000 and 70,000 feet using Lockheed U-2 aircraft. The U-2 undertook a total of 232 missions, spanning regions from the United States, Eastern Canada, Alaska, Hawaii, Australia, New Zealand, Puerto Rico, Panama, the UK, to France, with support from the 305th. Notably, on 22 September 1967, a U-2 was even dispatched on a surveillance mission into Hurricane Beulah, showcasing the unit's remarkable capabilities.
This painting was designed by Dick Shaw in 1967 for the HiCat operations.
On the 26 January 1968 the Squadron was reassigned to the Aerospace Rescue and Recovery Service.
Pueblo Incident
In response to the USS Pueblo incident in January 1968, the squadron was mobilized and dispatched personnel and equipment to the Far East. During its active duty, the unit received both an Air Force Outstanding Unit Award and a Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm. It was subsequently reverted to reserve status on 19 June 1969. The squadron's deployments also encompassed various locations such as Libya, Spain, North Africa, Greece, Germany, Italy, England, Iceland, and Southeast Asia.
Upon its activation, the Squadron underwent a series of reassignments, including the Fifth Air Force Reserve Region on 19 June 1969, the Central Air Force Reserve Region on 31 December 1969, the Eastern Air Force Reserve Region on 1 July 1971, and the Western Air Force Reserve Region on 1 January 1972.
In 1972, the unit underwent an upgrade to Lockheed HC-130 Hercules aircraft, enabling the squadron to refuel rescue helicopters. During this period, it played a key role in testing and evaluating the Air Force's C-130 Self-Contained Navigation System and provided support for space shuttle missions. Subsequently, four years later, the squadron incorporated its inaugural rotary wing aircraft with the assignment of HH-3 Jolly Green Giant helicopters. On 15 March 1976, the squadron was reassigned to the 403d ARRW, later known as the 403d Aerospace Rescue and Weather Reconnaissance Wing.
A HC-130N on display at RAF Mildenhall Air Fete in 1987 wearing the European one lizard camouflage. (Photo courtesy of Darren Currie)
Jonestown Massacre
The Peoples Temple Agricultural Project, commonly referred to as "Jonestown," was a secluded community in Guyana founded by the Peoples Temple, a cult led by Jim Jones. Notably, the tragic events of November 18, 1978, led to the loss of 909 lives at Jonestown, the nearby Port Kaituma airstrip, and a Peoples Temple facility in Georgetown, the capital of Guyana. Consequently, the name "Jonestown" became closely associated with the unfortunate occurrences at these sites.
A total of 918 individuals perished in Jonestown, with almost all succumbing to apparent cyanide poisoning, including a significant number who were forcibly injected. Jim Jones and some Peoples Temple members termed the tragic event "revolutionary suicide," as heard on an audio recording and in prior discussions. In response to the incident, a Combat Control Team (CCT) was dispatched to establish communications and control, conducting a comprehensive survey of the area. Given the scarcity of communication infrastructure, the CCT set up a communication network with officials in the capital, Georgetown. Although the local airstrip was deemed unsafe for C-130 operations, the 55th ARRS HH-53's were utilized to transport the deceased from Jonestown to Georgetown.
The process of relocating the bodies commenced on the fourth day following the tragic incident, involving dispatched teams responsible for body identification before their transfer to Georgetown via HH-53s. Subsequently, the bodies were transported back to the East Coast mortuary at Dover using C-141 Starlifters. The recovery of all the bodies took ten days, after which the 55th facilitated the departure of the Combat Control Team from Jonestown.
During the Jonestown mass suicide in November 1978, the 305th dispatched two HC-130Ns and personnel to maintain helicopter refueling operations. Due to limited ramp space at Timehri Airport, the HC-130s were utilized for refueling the HH-53s from the 55th ARRS, with the aircraft divided between Timehri and Naval Station Roosevelt Roads in Puerto Rico. The 305th performed nineteen air refueling operations during this time.
Crew load bodies onto a HH-53 from the 55th ARRS, the victims of the
Jonestown tragedy. (USAF Photo/Jose L. Sanchez)
The squadron maintained operations using a mix of HC-130s and HH-3s until 1992. During this time, it also utilized the CH-3 cargo model alongside the HH-3 version, with the HH-3 featuring a refueling probe, distinguishing it from the CH-3 variant.
Top: The patch shows both HC-130 & HH-3.
Above: A Squadron jacket for the helicopter part of the Squadron.
Mount St. Helens Eruption
The 305th provided assistance to its sister rescue squadron, the 304th ARRS, as well as the 303d and 129th ARRS, during the period of May to June 1980 in response to the volcanic eruption of Mount St. Helens. Throughout the ten-day operation, the 304th conducted 111 sorties and successfully rescued 61 individuals. The eruption of Mount St. Helens remains the deadliest and most economically destructive volcano eruption in United States history.
Between 1981 and 1982, the unit played a vital role in supporting space shuttle launches in Florida, beginning with the launch of the first space shuttle, Columbia, for STS-1 in April 1981, followed by STS-2 in December of the same year. In 1982, they provided support for STS-3, STS-4, and STS-5, all of which were Columbia missions occurring in March, June, and November, respectively. Notably, all shuttle flights landed at Edwards AFB, with the exception of STS-3, which recovered at White Sands in New Mexico.
Koren Kolligian Trophy
The Koren Kolligian Jr. Trophy recognizes outstanding feats
of airmanship by aircrew members who by extraordinary skill, exceptional
alertness, ingenuity, or proficiency, averted accidents or minimized the
seriousness of the accidents in terms of injury, loss of life, aircraft damage,
or property damage. On November 8, 1985 Major Larry Brooks and his crew
earned the trophy for successfully landing their severely disabled HH-3
helicopter after one of the engines exploded.
In the 1980s, the 305th continued to offer rescue coverage for tactical fighter and Army units during their deployment from the United States to Europe. Additionally, in 1988, the unit resumed its support for NASA, providing assistance during the STS-26 mission for the space shuttle Discovery and the STS mission for the space shuttle Atlantis, both of which landed at Edwards AFB.
The Squadron was reassigned to the 939th ARRG (later,
939th Air Rescue Wing) on the 1 October 1987 before being redesignated as the 305th
Air Rescue Squadron on the 1 April 1990.
In 1991, the squadron's pararescue personnel were deployed to the Persian Gulf to contribute to the Liberation of Kuwait campaign. Following the Gulf War, the unit was stationed in Keflavik, Iceland, to provide essential Search and Rescue (SAR) operations and refueling capabilities.
In 1992, due to the reduction of active and reserve forces, the squadron's HC-130 Hercules aircraft were transferred to active-duty units, and the HH-3 Jolly Green helicopters were retired. Although the squadron functioned as an ARS for a brief period, it was redesignated as the 305th Rescue Squadron on 1 February 1992. Subsequently, in August of the same year, it was reassigned to the 939th Operations Group. However, the squadron was ultimately inactivated on 1 September 1992.
On 1 October 1993, the squadron was reactivated at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Arizona, serving as a Reserve Squadron under the command of the 939th Operations Group and operating HH-60G helicopters. The 305th assumed its mission, personnel, and assets following the return of the 71st from a six-month tasking for Operation Provide Comfort II. Notably, on 19 May 1994, the 305th was credited with its first successful rescue since reactivation. Using night vision goggles and a Stokes litter, one of its crews executed a rescue operation, hoisting an injured Army specialist from a steep mountain slope encompassed by 40 to 60-foot trees.
The Squadron use the 71st SOS patch as their unofficial squadron patch, after taking over the personnel, aircraft & role when they were reactivated. Note the stars & moon representing the 3-0-5. It also denotes the Squadrons mission flying day and night.
Pavehawk Ops
Within ten months of commencing its transition to HH-60G Pave Hawk helicopters, the squadron received the task of supporting Provide Comfort II. During this deployment, the squadron dispatched three HH-60G Pave Hawks and 95 personnel, successfully executing 315 combat sorties.
Furthermore, from 1994 onward, the 305th extended its support to civilian agencies for counterdrug operations.
War on Terror
In 2002, the 305th Rescue Squadron was activated for a period of one year under a partial mobilization order, contributing to Operations Enduring Freedom and Southern Watch at Al Jaber Air Base in Kuwait.
Subsequently, on 1 April 2003, it was reassigned to the 920th Rescue Wing, followed by another reassignment to the 943d Rescue Group on 12 February 2005.
Between April and July 2005, the squadron underwent deployment for Operation Enduring Freedom, undertaking numerous rescue missions, which notably included the recovery of a lone surviving SEAL team member in the mountains east of Bagram, Afghanistan. Upon returning to the United States in August, the unit was deployed to Louisiana and Texas, actively engaging in the rescue of thousands of individuals affected by the aftermath of hurricanes Katrina and Rita.
Hurricane Katrina
On Monday 29 August 2005 Hurricane Katrina hit the US coast with
140 mph winds, causing devastation across a wide area. Days before the
hurricane hit squadrons dispersed its aircraft, which were based at Keesler Air
Force Base, Mississippi, to other bases beyond the projected storm path. After
making landfall near Buras, it followed a northward track to the
Louisiana-Mississippi border. East of there, the counter clockwise winds pushed
a 28-foot storm surge from the Gulf of Mexico northward into the towns of
coastal Mississippi. A combination of wind, rain, and storm surge destroyed
countless buildings, leaving a scoured landscape, but floodwaters receded
quickly. West of the storm centre, the winds blew from north to south, pushing
a swollen Lake Pontchartrain into the canals of New Orleans. Failures of
floodwalls along those canals left 80% of the city flooded for weeks. Of some
485,000 residents, approximately 100,000 who had not evacuated awaited rescue
as they struggled to survive without adequate food, water, shelter, plumbing,
electricity & communications. Besides south-eastern Louisiana and southern
Mississippi, the storm also inundated parts of southwestern Alabama, including
downtown Mobile & Bayou La Batre. It eventually caused 1,304 deaths and
some $50 billion in destruction and damage.
The governors of the affected states requested federal
assistance, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), tapped the
Department of Defence for military assistance. On August 31, two days after
impact, The U.S. Northern Command set up Joint Task Force Katrina General Mayes
established the 1st Aerospace Expeditionary Task 19 Force-Katrina at Tyndall AFB.
The task force set up various air expeditionary groups for a massive disaster
relief operation.
USAF helicopters took part early in the disaster relief
effort. Their role was most important in the New Orleans area, where only
helicopters were allowed to fly below 20,000 feet. Late on the 30 August, the
Air Force Reserve Command’s 920th RQW at Patrick AFB, flew HH-60 Pavehawk’s to
Jackson, Mississippi in order to fly FEMA damage assessment teams to the
disaster zone. They & other HH-60s from the 943d Rescue Group from Davis
Monthan AFB, soon began flying SAR missions over the disaster zone, with missions
commencing on the 31 August. HC-130 tankers staging at Patrick AFB refuelled
the helicopters. At the same time, other HH-60s and HC-130s from the 347th
Rescue Wing from Moody AFB & 563d Rescue Group from Davis-Monthan AFB,
performed similar SAR missions in the disaster area. The Pavehawk helicopters
flew their missions from Jackson, Mississippi, refuelled by HC-130s staging
from elsewhere. Like the Air Force Reserve helicopter assets, they served under
the 347th Expeditionary Rescue Group under Task Force Katrina.
Between 31 August 31 & 10 September, USAF helicopter crews
rescued 4322 people, 2836 of them by HH-60G, 1461 by MH-53’s, and 25 by UH-1’s.
On the 4 September, the 347th Expeditionary Rescue Group rescued a record 791
persons in one day, with some missions lasting up to 11 hours at a time.
Among the Air Force aircraft involved were 49
C-130s, 31
KC-135s, 25 HH-60s, 16 C-5s, 15 C-17s, 31 KC-135s, 9 UH-1s, and 5 MH-53s, as
well as HC-130s, MC-130s, WC-130s, U-2s, and OC-135s. The immense contribution
of the Air Force in Hurricane Katrina disaster relief was only a fraction of
the total Defence Department effort, which involved elements of the National
Guard, the Army, Navy, Marine Corps & although not technically part of the Defence
Department, the Coast Guard also played a major role. The Pentagon flew 12,786
helicopter sorties, rescued 15,000 citizens, and transported 80,000 people in
one of the largest mass evacuations in history.
The only way is up riding the Pavehawk hoist. Due to the dreadful flooding families were plucked from the roofs of their houses. (USAF Photo)
Enduring Freedom
Between January and March 2007, the squadron was deployed once more for Operation Enduring Freedom. Notably, on 18 February, the squadron was involved in the rescue of 14 injured US military personnel from a crashed Boeing CH-47 Chinook helicopter. The Chinook, bearing the number 92-00472, was carrying 22 US servicemembers when it experienced a sudden power loss, resulting in a crash in the Shahjoi district of Zabul province, merely 50 yards from the main road connecting Kabul and Kandahar. Tragically, the crash led to the loss of eight US personnel.
The squadron was redeployed from March to September 2008, successfully conducting over 340 combat sorties and aiding in the rescue of more than 480 individuals, including two military dogs.
A patch made in 2008 for a deployment to Kandahar, Afghanistan. 'Shocker' was the callsign used by the HH-60G's when deployed in Afghanistan.
A 305th crew rescue victims of an Arizona Sheriff's helicopter crash on the 31 January 2011. The helicopter crash killed one & injured three others in the mountains northwest of Tucson. (Photo by Mr. Dean Knuth)
On March 14, 2024 the 305th became the first AFRes Rescue Squadron to conduct a training mission with the HH-60W from its home base at Davis-Monthan.
The sortie flew over Tucson to conduct night training operations using NVG's in the execution of water training, Helicopter Air-to-Air Refueling and mission system training to conduct the Find/Fix/Track (F2T) of isolated personnel.
The HH-60W's first night mission with the 305th RQS. (920th RQW Photo/Lt Col “Schwag” McDonald)
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