Lineage

Established as 939 Troop Carrier Group, Medium, and activated, on 15 Jan 1963. Organized in the Reserve on 11 Feb 1963. Redesignated: 939 Tactical Airlift Group on 1 Jul 1967; 939 Military Airlift Group (Associate) on 25 Jul 1968. Inactivated on 1 Jul 1973. Redesignated 939 Aerospace Rescue and Recovery Group on 8 Jan 1985. Activated in the Reserve on 1 Apr 1985. Redesignated: 939 Air Rescue Wing on 1 Apr 1990; 939 Rescue Wing on 1 Feb 1992; 939 Air Refueling Wing on 1 Apr 2003

Assignments

349 Troop Carrier (later, 349 Military Airlift) Wing, 11 Feb 1963; 452 Military Airlift Wing, 26 Jan 1968; 349 Military Airlift Wing, 15 Jun 1969-1 Jul 1973. 403 Rescue and Weather Reconnaissance Wing, 1 Apr 1985; Fourth Air Force, 1 Oct 1987; Tenth Air Force, 1 Oct 1993-

Components

Group. 920 Rescue: 16 Apr 1997-1 Apr 2003. 939 Operations: 1 Aug 1992-.

Squadrons.97: 25 Jul 1969-1 Jul 1973. 301: 1 Oct 1987-1 Aug 1992. 304: 8 Apr 1985-1 Aug 1992. 305: 1 Oct 1987-1 Aug 1992. 313: 11 Feb 1963-1 Jul 1973.

Stations

Portland Intl Aprt, OR, 11 Feb 1963; McChord AFB, WA, 25 Jul 1968-1 Jul 1973. Portland Intl Aprt (later, ANGB), OR, 1 Apr 1985-.

Commanders

Col Vernon E. Acker, 11 Feb 1963; Col Thomas G. Bowie, 25 Jul 1969; Col Ronald C. Dunn, 17 Jan 1972; Col Donald F. Beyl, 6 Apr 1972-1 Jul 1973. Lt Col Michael J. Peters, 1 Apr 1985; Col James E. Sehorn, 1 May 1986; Lt Col William E. Hewes, 16 Sep 1987; Col Terry G. Whitnell, 15 Nov 1987; Lt Col William E. Hewes, 23 Jan 1988; Col Neil H. Schultz, 10 Apr 1988; Col William E. Hewes, 1 Nov 1990; Col Anthony Tassone Jr., 13 Jan 1991; Col Paul R. Davis, 1 Jun 1994; Col Gene E. Garton, 18 Jan 1998; Col Hanferd J. Moen Jr., 15 Feb 1998-.

Aircraft

C-119, 1963-1968; C-141, 1968-1973. HH-1, 1985-1991; UH-1, 1985-1987; HC-130, 1985- ; HH-3, 1986-1992; CH-3, 1987-1992; MH-60, 1991-1992; UH-60, 1991-1993; HH-60, 1992-.

Operations

Transported personnel and equipment in support of Air Force operations, including missions to Vietnam and numerous humanitarian missions primarily in the western United States, 1963-1973. From 1985, controlled rescue squadrons at widely separated locations: the collocated 304th Rescue Squadron; the 301st in Florida; and the 305th in Michigan until 1 Sep 1992 and in Arizona from 1 Oct 1993. Provided considerable assistance to Florida and the 301st Rescue Squadron following the devastation of Hurricane Andrew in Aug 1992. Deployed aircrews from each of the squadrons to provide search and rescue (SAR) coverage worldwide, including to Keflavik, Iceland, during and after the Southwest Asia War and to provide combat SAR coverage in the Persian Gulf area, 1993-.

Service Streamers.


None.

Campaign Streamers.


None.

Armed Forces Expeditionary Streamers.


None.

Decorations.


Air Force Outstanding Unit Awards: 23 Dec 1964-22 Jan 1965; 1 Jul 1969-30 Jun 1970; 1 Apr 1985-30 Jun 1986; 1 Sep 1993-31 Aug 1995; 1 Sep 1997-31 Aug 1999; 1 Sep 1999-31 Aug 2001. Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm: 25 Jul 1968-28 Jan 1973.
Lineage, Assignments, Components, Stations, and Honors through 1 Apr 2003

Commanders, Aircraft, and Operations through Sep 1998

Emblem

Approved on 5 Mar 1969.