Lineage. Constituted 48th Air Rescue Squadron on 17 Oct 1952. Activated on 14 Nov 1952. Redesignated: 48th Air Recovery Squadron on 1 Feb 1965; 48th Aerospace Rescue and Recovery Squadron on 8 Jan 1966; 48th Aerospace Rescue and Recovery Squadron, Training on 8 Jul 1967. Inactivated on 7 Feb 1969. Redesignated 48th Aerospace Rescue and Recovery Squadron on 14 Sep 1972. Activated on 15 Sep 1972. Inactivated on 1 Aug 1976. Activated on 1 Oct 1985. Inactivated on 31 Dec 1987. Redesignated 48th Rescue Squadron on 1 Apr 1993. Activated on 1 May 1993. Inactivated on 1 Feb 1999. Activated on or about 1 Apr 2004.
Assignments. 5th Air Rescue Group, 14 Nov 1952; Air Rescue (later, Aerospace Rescue and Recovery) Service, 8 Dec 1956-7 Feb 1969. 39th Aerospace Rescue and Recovery Wing, 15 Sep 1972; 41st Rescue and Weather Reconnaissance Wing, 1 Jan-1 Aug 1976. 39th Aerospace Rescue and Recovery Wing, 1 Oct 1985-31 Dec 1987. 49th Operations Group, 1 May 1993-1 Feb 1999.
Components. Detachments: Det 1 (Kindley AFB, Bermuda): 18 Jun 1960-18 Jun 1961. Det 1 (Homestead AFB, FL): 15 May 1974-1 Sep 1975. Det 2 (Goose AB, Labrador): 18 Jun 1960-18 Jun 1961. Det 2 (K.I. Sawyer AFB, MI): 15 May 1974-1 Sep 1975. Det 5 (Edwards AFB, CA): 15 May 1974-1 Aug 1976. Det 6 (Holloman AFB, NM): 15 May 1974-1 Aug 1976. Det 14 (MacDill AFB, FL): 15 May 1974-1 Sep 1975. Det 15 (Myrtle Beach AFB, SC): 15 May 1974-1 Sep 1975. Det 18 (Plattsburgh AFB, NY): 15 May 1974-1 Sep 1975. Det 22 (Mountain Home AFB, ID): 15 May 1974-1 Aug 1976.
Stations. Maxwell AFB, AL, 14 Nov 1952; Eglin AFB, FL, 10 Jan 1955-7 Feb 1969. Fairchild AFB, WA, 15 Sep 1972-1 Aug 1976. Homestead AFB, FL, 1 Oct 1985-31 Dec 1987. Holloman AFB, NM, 1 May 1993-1 Feb 1999.
Commanders. Lt Col Edward C. Lass, 14 Nov 1952; Maj Monroe W. Graham, 1952; Lt Col Robert W. Soderbert, 8 Jan 1953; Maj Harold T. Cunningham, 1 Jun 1953; Lt Col Jay W. Stansbury, 7 Jul 1953; Lt Col William M. McDonald, 9 Jan 1957; Lt Col Malcolm C. Frazee, 13 Jul 1959; Lt Col Marshall V. Frederickson, 1 Jun 1962; Lt Col Thomas R. Aaron, 16 Aug 1963; Lt Col Maynard R. Rhoades, 3 Jun 1965; Lt Col William P. Adams, 23 Aug 1965; Lt Col Edward M. LaDou, 21 Jul 1966; Lt Col Karo F. Rybos, 27 Sep 1966; Col Charles W. Marshall, 6 Jun 1968-c. Feb 1969. Maj Hayden C. Moore, 15 Sep 1972; Lt Col Pasco Parker, 3 Oct 1972; Lt Col Bruce M. Purvine, Jun 1973; Lt Col Dale L. Patterson, Nov 1975-1 Aug 1976. Lt Col Charles T. Gelatka, 1 Oct 1985-31 Dec 1987. Lt Col Denver L. Pletcher, 1 Feb 1993; Lt Col N. Schoeneberg, 28 Sep 1994; Lt Col Timothy R. Morris, 31 May 1996; Lt Col Douglas L. Tracy, 18 Jul 1997-1 Feb 1999.
Aircraft. SB-29, 1952-1954; C-82, 1952-1953; SA-16 (later, HU-16), 1954-1968; H/SH-19 (later, HH-19), 1954-1963; C/SC-54 (later, C/HC-54), 1956-1965; HH-43, 1963-1965, 1966-1968; HC-130, 1965-1969; HH/CH-3, 1966-1969; HH-53, 1966-1969. UH-1, 1972-1976. UH-1, 1985-1987. HH-60, 1993-1999.
Operations. Search, rescue and recovery duties mostly over water, 1952-1969, 1972-1976, 1985-1987. Supported USAF Survival School, 1972-1976 and 1985-1987. Performed interdiction missions in support of the South Florida Drug Interdiction Task Force, 1985-1987. Conducted combat search and rescue operations 1993-1999.
Service Streamers. None.
Campaign Streamers. None.
Armed Forces Expeditionary Streamers. None.
Decorations. Air Force Outstanding Unit Awards: 1 May-7 Jun 1967; [15 Sep] 1972- 30 Jun 1974; 1 Jun 1995-31 May 1997; 1 Jun 1998-1 Feb 1999.
Lineage, Assignments, Components, Stations, and Honors through 1 Feb 1999.
Commanders, Aircraft, and Operations through 1 Feb 1999.
Supersedes statement prepared on 2 Oct 1996.
Emblem. Approved on 19 May 1994.
Prepared by Carl E. Bailey.
Approved by Judy G. Endicott.