920 Rescue Wing (AFRC)

Lineage.  Established as 920 Troop Carrier Group, Assault, and activated, on 15 Jan 1963.  Organized in the Reserve on 11 Feb 1963.  Discontinued, and inactivated, on 15 Dec 1965.  Redesignated as 920 Tactical Airlift Group on 2 Mar 1973.  Activated in the Reserve on 25 Apr 1973.   Redesignated as 920 Weather Reconnaissance Group on 1 Jan 1976.  Inactivated on 1 Nov 1983.  Redesignated as 920 Rescue Group on 1 Apr 1997.  Activated in the Reserve on 15 Apr 1997.  Redesignated as 920 Rescue Wing on 1 Apr 2003.

Assignments.  445 Troop Carrier (later, 445 Air Transport; 445 Military Airlift) Wing, 11 Feb 1963-15 Dec 1965.  459 Tactical Airlift Wing, 25 Apr 1973; Eastern Air Force Reserve Region, 1 Jan 1976; Western Air Force Reserve Region, 15 Feb 1976; Fourth Air Force, 1 Oct 1976; 403 Rescue and Weather Reconnaissance Wing, 1 Jan 1977; Fourth Air Force, 1 Jul 1981; 403 Rescue and Weather Reconnaissance Wing, 1 Mar-1 Nov 1983.  Tenth Air Force, 15 Apr 1997; 939 Rescue Wing, 16 Apr 1997; Tenth Air Force, 1 Apr 2003-.

 

Operational Components.  Groups. 920 Operations: 1 Apr 2003-.  943 Rescue: 12 Feb 2005-.  Squadrons.  39 Rescue: 15 Apr 1997-1 Apr 2003.  301 Rescue: 15 Apr 1997-1 Apr 2003.  702 Troop Carrier: 11 Feb 1963-15 Dec 1965.  815 Tactical Airlift (later, 815 Weather Reconnaissance): 25 Apr 1973-1 Nov 1983.  Flights.  34 Air Weather: 1 Jan 1980-1 Nov 1983. 

 

Stations.  Memphis Muni Aprt, TN, 11 Feb 1963-15 Dec 1965.  Keesler AFB, MS, 25 Apr 1973-1 Nov 1983.  Patrick AFB, FL, 15 Apr 1997-.

 

Commanders.  Col William J. Johnson, Jr., Feb 1963-15 Dec 1965.  Col David G. Knight, 25 Apr 1973; Lt Col Charles B. Coleman III, 20 Jun 1976; Col Norman E. Buescher, by Jun 1981; Col James B. Cobb, 27 Jun-1 Nov 1983.  Col Richard R. Severson, 15 Apr 1997; Col Bruce E. Davis, 23 May 1999; Lt Col Timothy E. Tarchick, 7 Oct 2001; Col Steve W. Kirkpatrick, Apr 2006-.

 

Aircraft.  C-123, 1963-1965.  C-130, 1973-1977; WC-130, 1976-1983.  HH-60, 1997-; HC-130, 1997-.

 

Operations.  Trained for and performed military airlift missions, 1963-1965 and 1973-1975.  Flew weather reconnaissance missions, including flying into hurricanes, 1976-1983.  Trained for combat search and rescue (CSAR), performed search and rescue (SAR) and medical evacuation missions primarily over land areas of and water areas off Florida, 1997-.  In addition, provided support for space shuttle and Eastern Test Range launches and landings and deployed aircrews to stand SAR alert at Keflevik, Iceland.

 

Service Streamers.  None.

 

Campaign Streamers.  None.

 

Armed Forces Expeditionary Streamers.  None.

 

Decorations.   Air Force Outstanding Unit Awards: l Jul 1977-31 Dec 1978; 1 Sep 1997-31 Aug 1999; 1 Sep 1999-31 Aug 2001; 1 Sep 2001-31 Aug 2002; 1 Oct 2002-30 Sep 2004; 1 Oct 2004-30 Sep 2005; 1 Oct 2005-30 Sep 2006.

 

Lineage, Assignments, Components, Stations, and Honors through 23 May 2017.

 

Commanders, Aircraft, and Operations through Apr 2006.

 

Supersedes statement prepared on 17 Apr 2008.

 

Emblem.  Approved on 26 Sep 1974.

 

Prepared by Maj Tonia Stephens.

 

Reviewed by Carl E. Bailey.