Lineage. Constituted as 56 Air Rescue Squadron on 17 Oct 1952. Activated on 14 Nov 1952. Discontinued, and inactivated, on 18 Mar 1960. Activated on 8 Jul 1972. Redesignated as 56 Aerospace Rescue and Recovery Squadron on 10 Jul 1972. Inactivated on 15 Oct 1975. Activated on 1 May 1988. Redesignated as: 56 Air Rescue Squadron on 1 Jun 1989; 56 Rescue Squadron on 1 Feb 1993.
Assignments. 7 Air Rescue Group, 14 Nov 1952 (attached for operational control to 5 Air Division, 14 Nov 1952-28 Feb 1953); 12 Air Rescue Group, 8 Dec 1956; Air Rescue Service, 18 Feb 1958-18 Mar 1960 (attached to Detachment 3, 8 Air Rescue Group [European Rescue Operations Center], 18 Feb 1958–18 Mar 1959 and to Detachment 3, Air Rescue Service [European Recovery Operations Center], 18 Mar 1959-18 Mar 1960). 3 Aerospace Rescue and Recovery Group, 8 Jul 1972; 41 Aerospace Rescue and Recovery (later, Rescue and Weather Reconnaissance) Wing (attached to 3 Aerospace Rescue and Recovery Group), 20 Aug 1972-15 Oct 1975. 39 Special Operations Wing, 1 May 1988; 41 Rescue and Weather Reconnaissance Wing, 1 Apr 1989; Air Rescue Service, 1 Aug 1989; Air Forces Iceland, 1 Feb 1993; 35 Operations Group, 31 May 1993; 85 Operations Group, 1 Oct 1994; 85 Group, 1 Jul 1995; 48 Operations Group, 28 Jun 2006; 31 Operations Group, 1 Jun 2018-.
Stations. Sidi Slimane, French Morocco, 14 Nov 1952–18 Mar 1960. Korat RTAFB, Thailand, 8 Jul 1972–15 Oct 1975. Keflavik, Iceland, 1 May 1988; RAF Lakenheath, UK, 1 Jun 2006; Aviano AB, Italy, 1 Jun 2018-.
Service Streamers. None.
Campaign Streamers. Vietnam: Vietnam Ceasefire. Afghanistan: Consolidation II; Consolidation III.
Armed Forces Expeditionary Streamers. None.
Decorations. Presidential Unit Citation: Southeast Asia, 8 Jul 1972-27 Jan 1973. Meritorious Unit Awards: 1 Oct 2008-30 Sep 2009; 1 Oct 2009-30 Sep 2010; 1 Mar 2015-29 Feb 2016. Air Force Outstanding Unit Awards: 1 Aug 1991-31 May 1993; 1 Jun 1993–31 Jul 1994; 1 Oct 1994-31 May 1996; 1 Jun 1996-31 May 1997; 1 Jun 1997-31 May 1998; 1 Jun 1998-31 May 1999; 1 Jun 2000-31 May 2001; 1 Jun 2001-31 May 2002; 1 Jun 2002-30 Sep 2003; 1 Oct 2003-30 Sep 2004; 1 Oct 2004-31 Oct 2005; 1 Jan-31 Dec 2007; 1 Jan-31 Dec 2008; 1 Jan 2009-31 Dec 2010; 1 Jan 2014-31 Dec 2015; 1 Jan 2020-31 Dec 2021. Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm: 8 Jul 1972-28 Jan 1973.
Lineage, Assignments, Stations, and Honors through 16 Aug 2023.
Supersedes statement prepared on 2 Aug 2016.
Emblem. Approved on 31 Mar 1989; latest rendering, 30 Apr 2007.
Prepared by James Musser.
Reviewed by Margaret Ream.