USAF / 54th ARRS / Full Squadron History / Jolly Green Giant

WINGS OF MERCY

The 54th originated when the Air Rescue Service directed Air Rescue Groups that operated Flights to establish squadrons in November 1952. It was initially D Flight of the 6th Air Rescue Group, and all aircraft and personnel from this flight transitioned to the 54th after the 54th Air Rescue Squadron was constituted on October 17 and activated on November 14, 1952. Despite becoming a separate squadron, it was still assigned to the 6th Air Rescue Group on November 14, 1952.

A couple of early Air Rescue Squadron patches showing the bottom scroll variations.

Dumbo

The Squadron had previously operated from Goose Bay Airport, Newfoundland & Labrador, Canada, & continued to operate from here with SA-16 Albatross & SB-17’s. The SB-17’s was replaced by SC-47’s in 1952 & were in turn replaced by the SC-54 in 1957.  

“Dumbo” was the code name used by the United States Navy during the 1940s and 1950s to signify SAR missions, conducted in conjunction with military operations, by long-range aircraft. The purpose of Dumbo missions was to rescue downed American aviators as well as seamen in distress. Dumbo aircraft were originally land-based heavy bomber aircraft converted to carry an airborne lifeboat to be dropped in the water near survivors like the B-17 & B-29. The name "Dumbo" came from Walt Disney's flying elephant, the main character of the animated film Dumbo, appearing in October 1941.

By extension, "Dumbo" became the unofficial nickname for any air-sea rescue aircraft, including flying boats that had less need to drop heavy lifeboats since the aircraft could land on the water and perform rescues directly. "Dumbo" was also an unofficial nickname for any variant of the PBY Catalina patrol bomber which operated in a wide variety of roles & was also given to the SB-17 & the SB-29 was the Super Dumbo.

After the 1950s with development and greatly increased use of helicopters for air-sea rescue operations, the Dumbo aircraft were retired & the term was no longer used. It was also when the elderly bombers were replaced by dedicated transport aircraft.

An early SB-17 which clearly shows the lifeboat that is under the belly of the aircraft & which would be dropped for survivors. This also had supplies in there plus a motor for power.

The converted bombers were replaced by transport aircraft, this being the SC-47. (USAF Photo/Lt. Eugene H. Sabelman)

The Squadron received a rotary element in 1952 with the arrival of the H-5 in 1952, which were replaced by the H-19 in 1955, which in turn were replaced by the SH-21B.

The H-5 arrived in 1952 & provided limited airlift recovery.

The H-19 replaced the H-5 & had more power, range & passenger space.

The SH-21B replaced the H-19.

The Squadron was re-assigned to the Air Rescue Service, 18 February 1958 & was inactivated on 18 June 1960.

The Squadron was reactivated on June 18, 1961, and joined the Air Rescue Service at Goose AFB. It operated SA-16 Albatross and SH-19 until 1963, with the SH-21B (until 1962), SC-54 (until 1966), and SH-43 (until 1967). From around 1964 to 1966, Det 2 operated from Earnest Harmon AFB, Newfoundland, with two HH-54Bs, though specific activation and deactivation dates for the detachment are unclear.

Initially assigned to the Military Air Transport Service (MATS) on May 10, 1961, the Squadron later became part of the Air Rescue Service on June 18, 1961.

On July 1, 1965, the Squadron was redesignated as the 54th Air Recovery Squadron, signifying its expanded mission to recover capsules ejected by reconnaissance platforms. In a broader restructuring on January 8, 1966, all rescue and recovery units, including the 54th, were redesignated as the 54th Aerospace Rescue and Recovery Squadron. Subsequently, on August 1, 1967, the Squadron relocated to Pease AFB, operating solely with the HC-130.

A 54th ARRS HC-130 taxies into park after a local sortie. The HC-130 has the capability of picking up crews from the ground using a set of forks on the nose, however these have been removed from this machine. (USAF photo)

The Squadron joined the 39th Aerospace Rescue and Recovery Wing (ARRW) with global rescue capabilities on January 1, 1970. Although the official history notes HH-3 operation between 1972 and 1973, former crew members haven't confirmed the presence of helicopters at Pease AFB. However, a detachment at Loring AFB, known as Detachment 2, was established in July 1972 with HH-3Es to support the NASA Skylab program. Additionally, Detachment 6 of the 39th ARRW operated from Loring between February 1973 and April 1974, suggesting a potential connection between the Squadron and the Wing, given the 54th ARRS was assigned to the 39th ARRW.

The photographs below are a few from Kelly Schell who has kindly given me permission to use them on the blog. I can't find any pictures of 54th ARRS HH-3E's anywhere, so suspect this is a first. The first three pictures were taken in late July or early August 1972 with the unloading of the HH-3's at Loring from a MAC C-5A Galaxy. A massive thanks to Kelly for his help with some tremendous photographs.

The Squadron was inactivated on 1 July 1974.

The squadron was reactivated at Minot AFB on the 1 May 1993 as the 54th Rescue Flight was assigned to the 91^st Operations Group & provided security for the 91st Missile Wing's missile complex. It also transported security forces and equipment throughout the wing's missile fields & supported medical evacuation & rescue searches. To perform this role the 54^th uses the UH-1 Iroquois & HH-1.

A U.S. Air Force Bell UH-1N Huey helicopter (s/n 69-6619) from the 54th Helicopter Squadron, 91st Missile Wing Rough Riders, takes off at Minot Air Force Base, North Dakota (USA), on 2 September 2005 for Columbus Air Force Base, Mississippi (USA), to assist in the Hurricane Katrina disaster relief efforts. Thirteen people and a helicopter from the 54th Helicopter Squadron were deployed to aid the recovery. (SSgt. Joe Laws)

The Squadron was then reassigned to the 91st Missile Group on the 1 July 1994, the 91st Operations Group on the 1 February 1996. It was then redesignated as the 54th Helicopter Flight on 1 May 1998.

It was redesignated 54th Helicopter Squadron on 8 October 2005 & ten years later reassigned to the 582d Helicopter Group, this taking place on the 5 January 2015.

A thanks to Kelly Schell for the information & pictures of the HH-3E's being delivered.