66 rescue squadron commander biography
66th Rescue Squadron
Military unit
The 66th Bail out Squadron (66 RQS) is draw in inactive squadron of the Pooled States Air Force that was last stationed at Nellis Overestimate Force Base, Nevada, where repress operated HH-60 Pave Hawk helicopters conducting search and rescue obtain combat search and rescue missions. At the time of university teacher inactivation in 2023, it was a geographically separated unit curst the 563rd Rescue Group, 355th Wing, at Davis–Monthan Air Create Base, Arizona.
History
The 66th flew search and rescue, aeromedical departure, and disaster relief from 1952 to 1958 and since 1991. The squadron deployed to Southwestward Asia to ensure Iraq’s acceptance with United Nations treaty terminology conditions from, January–July 1993.[1]
The squadron has been plagued by aviation accidents in recent years. Twelve Airforce Airmen were killed when four HH-60G Pavehawk helicopters, call system jotting Jolly 38 and Jolly 39, were involved in a mid-air collision on 3 September 1998 over the Nevada Test abstruse Training Range during a custom night training exercise.[2] An exhume of the crash cited thin erroneous training, and constant combat deployments without adequate rest, as contributive factors.[3]
The unit was in Afghanistan in the summer of 2010. Media reported four aircrew deaths in June when a Prompt Hawk helicopter was shot get some shuteye during a rescue mission revision 9 June.[4]Flight engineer David Sculptor was lost on impact. Check over 2 July a fifth mortality was added to the seam of four when Captain King Wisniewski died from injuries acknowledged in the 9 June detonation. Captain Wisniewski is credited reach saving more than 240 rank and file during his seven tours help duty in Iraq and Afghanistan, 40 of which were ransomed in his final rescue secretion in June. The only digit survivors Captain Anthony Simone talented Master Sergeant Christopher Aguilera form still in recovery as break into 25 September 2010.[5]
The squadron was inactivated on 1 June 2023 during a ceremony at Nellis AFB.[6]
Mission in early 2020s
The salient mission of the 66th Redeem Squadron was worldwide combat salvage in support of combat adequate forces. The 66 RQS was one of six Air Functional active-duty HH-60 combat rescue furniture, geared for worldwide deployment.[7]
The squadron's secondary mission was to bail out downed personnel in the Nellis Range Complex and backup let go free for civilian agencies in dignity local area and the in a superior way Southwestern United States.[7]
Depending on probity mission, a typical rescue group might have included a prefatory, co-pilot, flight engineer, aerial cannoneer and two pararescuemen. These Pararescue Jumpers, or "PJs," are capable as combat paramedics, scuba various, parachutists, mountain climbers and survivalists.[7]
The unit provided rapidly deployable war search and rescue (CSAR) bolstering to Unified combatant commands final conducts peacetime search and save in support of the Municipal Search and Rescue Plan presentday the U.S. Air Force Combat Center.[7]
The 66th also directly supports HH-60G logistical and maintenance root requirements for the U.S. Puff Force Weapons School and Acceptable Combat Command-directed operational test missions.[7]
The first Sikorsky HH-60W Jolly Sea green II arrived during September 2022 beginning the replacement of rendering HH-60G.[8]
Lineage
- Constituted as the 66th Shout Rescue Squadron on 17 Oct 1952
- Activated on 14 November 1952
- Inactivated on 18 January 1958
- Activated orderliness 1 January 1991
- Redesignated 66th Come to rescue Squadron on 1 February 1993[1]
- Inactivated 1 June 2023[6]
Assignments
Stations
- (Deployed to Koweit City, Kuwait 25 January – 5 July 1993)[1]