1 Expeditionary Rescue Group (ACC)

Lineage.  Constituted as 1 Emergency Rescue Squadron on 25 Nov 1943.  Activated on 1 Dec 1943.  Inactivated on 4 Jun 1946.  Redesignated as1 Rescue Squadron on 26 Sep 1946.  Activated on 1 Nov 1946.  Redesignated as: 1 Air Rescue Squadron on 20 Aug 1950; 1 Air Rescue Group on 14 Nov 1952.  Inactivated on 8 Dec 1956.  Redesignated as 1 Rescue Group on 31 Mar 1995.  Activated on 14 Jun 1995.  Inactivated on 30 Sep 1997.  Redesignated as 1 Expeditionary Rescue Group, converted to provisional status, and assigned to Air Combat Command to activate or inactivate at any time on or after 9 Jun 2015.

Assignments.  Army Air Forces Eastern Technical Training Command, 1 Dec 1943;  XII Fighter Command, 12 Mar 1944 (attached to Mediterranean Allied Coastal Air Force, 14 Sep 1944-);  Twelfth Air Force, 1 Oct 1944 (remained attached to Mediterranean Allied Coastal Air Force to 12 May 1945); Army Air Forces Western Technical Training Command, 18 Jun 1945;  Army Air Forces Eastern Technical Training Command, 15 Oct 1945-4 Jun 1946.  Caribbean Defense Command, 1 Nov 1946; 5600 Wing (later, Composite Wing), 26 Jul 1948;  Caribbean Air Command, 25 Apr 1949;  Air Rescue Service, 1 Sep 1949-8 Dec 1956 (attached to Caribbean Air Command, 14 Nov 1952-8 Dec 1956).  1 Fighter Wing, 14 Jun 1995; 347 Wing, 1 Apr-30 Sep 1997.    

Components.  Squadrons. 26 Rescue: 14 Nov 1952-8 Dec 1956. 27 Rescue: 14 Nov 1952-21 Sep 1953.  28 Rescue: 14 Nov 1952-8 Dec 1956.  29 Rescue:  14 Nov 1952-8 Dec 1956. 41 Rescue: 14 Jun 1995-1 Apr 1997. 71 Rescue: 14 Jun 1995-1 Apr 1997.

Stations.  Boca Raton, FL, 1 Dec 1943-18 Feb 1944;  Casablanca, Morocco, 12 Mar 1944;  Sidi Ahmid, Tunisia, 29 Mar 1944;  Ajaccio, Corsica, 8 Apr 1944;  Foggia, Italy, 19 Dec 1944-25 May 1945;  Keesler Field, MS, 18 Jun 1945-4 Jun 1946.  Howard Field (later, AFB),
Canal Zone, 1 Nov 1946-1 Sep 1949;  MacDill AFB, FL, 1 Sep 1949-15 Jun 1951;  Albrook AFB, Canal Zone, 15 Jun 1951-8 Dec 1956.  Patrick AFB, FL, 14 Jun 1995-30 Sep 1997.

Commanders.  Capt Merrick A. Gray, 2 Dec 1943;  Lt Col Zoller, 15 Dec 1943;  Lt Col Littleton J. Pardue, 4 Jan 1944; unkn, Jul-Dec 1945;  Maj Thomas M. Ruckman, by 1 Jan 1946; Capt P.H. Dwyer, 28 Mar-4 Jun 1946. Lt Col Robert L. Rizon, 1 Nov 1946; Lt Col Theo R. Diltz, May 1948;  Lt Col J.C. Bailey, 1 Sep 1949;  Lt Col George T. Prior, 14 Nov 1950;  Lt Col James T. Cousin, 31 Jan 1952;  Lt Col Joseph C. Ware Jr., 14 Jun 1952;  Col Edwin M. Ramage, 10 Aug 1954-8 Dec 1956.  None (not manned), 14 Jun-13 Jul 1995; Col Thomas R. Friers, 14 Jun 1995-30 Sep 1997.

Aircraft. OA-10, 1944-1945;  L-5, 1944-1945;  B-25, 1944-1945;  B-17, 1944-1945.  B (later TB; SB)-17, 1946-1952; C-47, 1946-1950; L-1, 1946-1948; L-13, 1946-1949; OA (later, SA)-10, 1946-1953; L-5, 1947-1949; R (later, H)-5, 1947-1953;  C-82, 1949-1952; SB-29, 1952-1956; SA-16, 1952-1956; SH-19, 1954-1956; SC-54, 1956.   HH-60, 1995-1997;  C-130, 1995-1997;  HC-130, 1995-1997.

Operations. Conducted long-range air-sea rescue operations from North Africa, Italy, Corsica and Southern France, 1944-1945.  Conducted long-range air-sea rescue operations in Central America and Caribbean region, 1946-1956.  Provided personnel and aircraft conducting combat search and rescue operations in Southwest Asia, 1995-1997. 

Service Streamers.  None.

Campaign Streamers.  World War II: Rome-Arno; North Apennines;  Po Valley; Southern France; Rhineland; Air Combat, EAME.

Armed Forces Expeditionary Streamers.  None.

Decorations: Distinguished Unit Citation, Mediterranean Theater of Operations, 17-21 Aug 1944. 

Lineage, Assignments, Components, Stations, and Honors through 9 Jun 2015.

Commanders, Aircraft, and Operations through 30 Sep 1997. 

Supersedes statement prepared on 15 Apr 1997. 

Emblem.  Approved on 23 Jan 1951. Emblem must be modified to meet the standards of AFI 84-105, chapter 3. 

Prepared by Daniel L. Haulman

Reviewed by