USAF 31st RQS Patch

USAF 31st Rescue Squadron / Pararescue Team Patch

Made in Korea

Lineage. Constituted as 31 Air Rescue Squadron on 17 Oct 1952. Activated on 14 Nov 1952. Discontinued on 18 Sep 1960. Organized on 8 Jul 1963. Redesignated as 31 Aerospace Rescue and Recovery Squadron on 8 Jan 1966. Inactivated on 1 Jul 1975. Activated on 8 Jan 1981. Redesignated as 31 Special Operations Squadron on 6 Apr 1989. Inactivated on 31 Aug 2001. Redesignated as 31 Rescue Squadron on 16 May 2003. Activated on 31 Jul 2003.

Assignments. 2 Air Rescue Group, 14 Nov 1952; Air Rescue Service, 24 Jun 1958-18 Sep 1960. Air Rescue (later, Aerospace Rescue and Recovery) Service, 8 Jul 1963 (attached to Pacific Air Rescue [later, Pacific Aerospace Rescue and Recovery] Center, 8 Jul 1963-31 Mar 1967); Pacific Aerospace Rescue and Recovery Center (later, 41 Aerospace Rescue and Recovery Wing), 1 Apr 1967-1 Jul 1975. 41 Rescue and Weather Reconnaissance Wing, 8 Jan 1981; 353 Special Operations Wing (later, 353 Special Operations Group) 6 Apr 1989-31 Aug 2001. 18 Operations Group, 31 Jul 2003-.

Stations. Clark AB, Philippines, 14 Nov 1952; Naha AB, Okinawa, 12-18 Sep 1960. Clark AB, Philippines, 8 Jul 1963-1 Jul 1975. Clark AB, Philippines, 8 Jan 1981; Marine Corps Air Station, Futemna, Okinawa, Japan, 29 Jun 1991; Osan AB, South Korea, Jul 1992-31 Aug 2001. Kadena AB, Japan, 31 Jul 2003-.

Aircraft. SA-16, 1952-1960; H-19, 1952-1955; SH-19, 1955-1960. HH-19, 1963-1964; HC-54, 1964-1965; HH-43, 1964-1970, 1971-1972; HC-97, 1965-1966; HC-130, 1966-1975; HH-3, 1968-1975. HH-3, 1981-1990; CH-3, 1981-1990; MH-53, 1990-2001; MH-47, 2001. None, 2003-.

Operations. Combat rescue in Southeast Asia, 1965-1966. Operated Joint Rescue Coordination Center for Thirteenth Air Force, Apr 1967-Jul 1975. Supported evacuation of Saigon, South Vietnam, flying 108 hours in combat search and rescue, Feb-May 1975. Provided rotary wing search and rescue capabilities in Southwest Pacific area, 1981-1989, and rotary wing unconventional warfare and special operations resources in the Far East, 1990-2001. Beginning in 2003, operated no aircraft, but trained and equipped combat-ready pararescue jumpers (PJ) and combat rescue officers (CRO) who provided combat rescue, humanitarian and civilian search and rescue, and medical assistance in the Pacific theater, 2003-.

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