USAF / 41st RWRW / Full Wing History / Jolly Green Giant

The 40th Aerospace Rescue & Recovery Wing, initially known as the Pacific Air Rescue Centre, was constituted on August 2, 1961, and activated at Hickam AFB, HI, on October 8, 1961. Assigned to the Air Rescue Service, which later evolved into the Aerospace Rescue & Recovery Service, it played a crucial role in coordinating rescue and recovery missions in the western Pacific and Southeast Asia. PARC established HH-43 Huskie Local Base Rescue (LBR) and Aircrew Rescue (ACR) detachments at various air bases in the Pacific, with additional activations during the Vietnam War for combat operations.

ARRW Dets

DET	BASE	ACTIVE		AIRCRAFT	NOTES
		FROM	TO
Det. 1	Fuchu AS, Japan
	Phan Rang AB, Vietnam	15 Jan 1966	31 Jan 1972	HH-43B
Det.2	Takhli RTAFB, Thailand		15 Nov 1970	HH-43B
Det.3	Ubon RTAFB, Thailand		c. Aug 1974	HH-43B/F
	Tan Son Nhut AB, Vietnam
Det.4	Taegu AB, Korea		30 Sep 1970	HH-43B
	Korat RTAFB, Thailand		8 Jul 1972
	Hill AFB	1 Jul 1976	1978	UH-1
Det.5	Suwon AB, Korea			HH-43B
	Udron RTAFB, Thailand		30 Sep 1975	HH-43B/F
Det.6	Kadena AB, Japan		1 Jun 1970	HH-43B/F
	Bien Hoa AB, Vietnam		15 Dec 1971	HH-43B
Det.7	Misawa AB, Japan		1 Jun 1970	HH-43B
	Da Nang AB, Vietnam	29 Nov 1972	1 Feb 1973	HH-43B/F
Det.8	Yokota AB, Japan		1 Jun 1970	HH-43
	Cam Ranh Bay AB, Vietnam		15 Sep 1970	HH-43B
Det.9	Pleiku AB, Vietnam		16 Feb 1970	HH-43B
	Nakhan Phanom RTAFB, Thailand	16 Feb 1970	10 Sep 1971	HH-43B/F
	Osan AB, Korea		1 Jun 1970	HH-43B
Det.10	Kwang Ju AB, Korea		1 Jun 1970	HH-43
	Binh Thuy AB, Vietnam		c. Dec 1974	HH-43B/F
Det.11	Kunsan AB, Korea		1 Jun 1970	HH-43B
	Tuy Hoa AB, Vietnam		15 Oct 1970
Det.12	Nha Trang AB, Vietnam		28 Feb 1969	HH-43B
	Anderson AFB, Guam	15 Sep 1969
	U-Tapao RTAFB, Thailand	28 Feb 1969	c. Aug 1975
Det.13	Phu Cat AB, Vietnam		10 Nov 1971	HH-43B/F
Det.14	Tan Son Nhut AB, Vietnam		15 Sep 1972	HH-43B/F

RWRW Dets

DET	BASE	ACTIVE		AIRCRAFT	NOTES
		FROM	TO
Det.12	Anderson AFB, Guam			HH-43
Det.13	Osan AB, Korea

On January 8, 1966, the Pacific Air Rescue Centre was redesignated as the Pacific Aerospace Rescue and Recovery Centre. It replaced its detachments with the newly activated 3rd Aerospace Rescue and Recovery Group (ARRG), which took charge of rescue operations in the Vietnam area. Equipped with various aircraft, including HH-43s, HC-130s, HU-16s, and HH-3s, the 40th ARRW, along with detachments from other ARRS units, enhanced its combat search and rescue (CSAR) operations during the Vietnam War.

Furthermore, PARRC expanded its collaboration with NASA, providing support for manned space flight recovery and contributing to space program initiatives.

On February 8, 1969, the Pacific Aerospace Rescue and Recovery Centre (PARRC) underwent a redesignation, becoming the 41st Aerospace Rescue & Recovery Wing. Simultaneously, the Atlantic Aerospace Rescue and Recovery Centre was redesignated as the 40th ARRW. The wing was initially assigned the 79th ARRS with HC-130P on February 8, 1969, and later went through several changes, including the inactivation and reactivation of the 33rd ARRS with HH-43 Huskies and HH-3 Jolly Green Giant helicopters.

The 41st ARRW took on the 40th ARRS on August 20, 1972, while the 79th ARRS was transferred out on June 30, 1972, and the 36th ARRS on November 30, 1972. The wing continued its combat search and rescue (CSAR) role in support of the Vietnam War until its conclusion with the fall of Saigon in April 1975.

On July 1, 1974, the 41st Aerospace Rescue & Recovery Wing was assigned the 71st ARRS with HC-130P. Following that, there were subsequent transfers, with the 31st ARRS being transferred out on July 1, 1975, and the 76th ARRS on August 1, 1975. These changes in assignments and transfers reflect the dynamic nature of the wing's organization and operations during that period.

The 41st Aerospace Rescue & Recovery Wing relocated to McClellan AFB, California, on September 1, 1975, and was redesignated as the 41st Rescue and Weather Reconnaissance Wing. In addition to its rescue and recovery mission, it took on the worldwide weather atmospheric sampling and typhoon reconnaissance tasks of the 9th Weather Reconnaissance Wing. The transfer of the 53rd, 54th, and 55th Weather Reconnaissance Squadrons, along with their WC-130 and WC-135 aircraft, contributed to the expanded responsibilities.

Simultaneously, the wing was assigned the 41st ARRS with HC-130P. The 48th ARRS, with UH-1N Huey helicopters, joined the wing from January 1 to August 1, 1976. The 40th ARRS was transferred out on January 31, 1976, followed by the 48th ARRS on August 1, 1976. The Wing received the 38th ARRS with CH-3 helicopters on January 8, 1981. It was reassigned to the Twenty-Third Air Force on October 1, 1983. The 37th ARRS, equipped with UH-1N Huey helicopters, was assigned on February 1, 1987.

The 41st Rescue and Weather Reconnaissance Wing was eventually inactivated on August 1, 1989, marking the conclusion of its operational history.