33rd Rescue Squadron (PACAF)

Lineage. Constituted 33 Air Rescue Squadron on 17 Oct 1952. Activated on 14 Nov 1952. Discontinued on 18 Mar 1960. Organized on 18 Jun 1961. Redesignated: 33 Air Recovery Squadron on 1 Jul 1965; 33 Aerospace Rescue and Recovery Squadron on 8 Jan 1966. Inactivated on 1 Oct 1970. Activated on 1 Jul 1971. Redesignated: 33 Air Rescue Squadron on 1 Jun 1989; 33 Rescue Squadron on 1 Feb 1993. 

Assignments. 2 Air Rescue Group, 14 Nov 1952 (attached to Twentieth Air Force, 14 Nov 1952-1 Mar 1955; 3 Air Rescue Group, 1 Mar-19 Sep 1955); 3 Air Rescue Group, 20 Sep 1955; 2 Air Rescue Group, 18 Jun 1957; Air Rescue Service, 24 Jun 1958-18 Mar 1960 (attached to Pacific Air Forces, 24 Jun 1958-17 Mar 1959; Detachment 2, Air Rescue Service [Pacific Recovery Operations Center], 18 Mar 1959-18 Mar 1960). Air Rescue (later, Aerospace Rescue and Recovery) Service, 18 Jun 1961 (attached to Detachment 1, Air Rescue Service [Pacific Recovery Operations Center], 18 Jun-8 Oct 1961; Pacific Air Rescue Center [later, Pacific Aerospace Rescue and Recovery Center], 8 Oct 1961-31 Mar 1967); Pacific Aerospace Rescue and Recovery Center (later, 41 Aerospace Rescue and Recovery Wing), 1 Apr 1967-1 Oct 1970. 41 Aerospace Rescue and Recovery (later, 41 Rescue and Weather Reconnaissance) Wing, 1 Jul 1971; Air Rescue Service, 1 Aug 1989; 18 Operations Group, 1 Feb 1993-. 

Stations. Kadena AB, Okinawa, 14 Nov 1952; Naha AB, Okinawa, 14 Apr 1955-18 Mar 1960. Naha AB, Okinawa, 18 Jun 1961-1 Oct 1970. Kadena AB, Okinawa, 1 Jul 1971-. 

Commanders. Maj Malcolm E. Frazee, 14 Nov 1952; Lt Col Raleigh C. Smith, 7 May 1954; Lt Col Donald R. Calof, 6 Jul 1956; Maj Horatio L. Holton Jr., 1 Jul 1958; Maj Bill C. Musick, 25 Jul 1958; Maj Horatio L. Holton Jr., Oct 1958; Lt Col Clyde W. Bradley Jr., 11 Nov 1958-18 Mar 1960. Lt Col Ernest M. McGee, 18 Jun 1961; Lt Col Robert P. Ash Sr., 8 Nov 1962; Lt Col Kenneth J. Mask, 13 Dec 1963; Col Donald E. Godbey, 24 Feb 1964; Lt Col Roy E. Jacobsen, 28 May 1966; Lt Col Anthony Saenz Jr., 15 Jul 1968; Lt Col Ronald L. Ingraham, 14 Aug 1968; Lt Col Donald G. Simpson, 23 Apr-1 Oct 1970. Lt Col Roy L. Crawford, 1 Jul 1971; Lt Col Ned L. Cagle, 18 Nov 1972; Lt Col James R. Lisko, 12 Jun 1974; Lt Col James L. Butera, 11 Jul 1975; Col Ryland R. Dreibelbis, 15 Jul 1977; Col John H. Denham, 31 May 1979; Lt Col Peter J. Connelly, 7 Jan 1981; Lt Col Walter R. Peacock Jr., 9 Nov 1982; Lt Col George H. Dash Jr., 13 Jun 1984; Lt Col David M. Myers, 24 Jun 1986; Lt Col Thomas A. Samples, 24 Nov 1987; Lt Col James C. Johnson, unkn; Lt Col Herbert R. Smith, 1 Jun 1993; Lt Col Michael J. Iltis, 26 May 1995; Lt Col Derek Wheeler, 25 May 1996; Lt Col Mark Bracich, 8 Jun 1998; Lt Col Michael A. Corbett, 18 Jan 2000; Lt Col Neil R. Elton, 26 Nov 2001; Lt Col Billy D. Thompson, 29 May 2003; Lt Col Gary W. Henderson, 17 May 2005-. 

Aircraft. SA-16, 1952-1960; SH-19, 1952-1960; SC-47, 1952-1956. SA-16 (later, HU-16), 1961-1968; SH-19 (later, HH-19), 1961-1964; HH-43, 1964-1966; C-54, 1966; HH-3, 1968-1970; HC-97, 1968-1969. HH-43, 1971-1972; HH-3, 1971-1975, 1982-1994; HC-130, 1972-1989; HH-53, 1975-1982; CH-3, 1982-1994; HH-60,1993-. 

Operations. Search, rescue and recovery, 1952-1960, 1961-1970, 1971-, including Vietnam, 1965-1967; following the seizure of the USS Pueblo by North Korea, 29 Jan-16 Sep 1968; and search efforts and salvage operations, Sep-Oct 1983, after a Soviet fighter aircraft shot down South Korean airliner KAL 007. Provided search, rescue and recovery services supporting US national interests in the Pacific theater, 1993-. 

Service Streamers. Korean Theater. 

Campaign Streamers. Vietnam: Vietnam Advisory; Vietnam Defensive; Vietnam Air; Vietnam Air Offensive; Vietnam Air Offensive, Phase II. 

Armed Forces Expeditionary Streamers. None. 

Decorations. Air Force Outstanding Unit Awards: 1 Jul 1956-31 Dec 1958; 15 Jun 1964-31 May 1965; 1 Jun 1965-30 Jun 1966; 1 Jul 1966-31 May 1968; 1 Jun 1969-30 Sep 1970; 1 Jun 1973-31 May 1975; 1 Sep 1975-1 May 1977; 16 Jul 1977-16 Jul 1979; 17 Jul 1979-15 Jun 1981; 1 Apr 1984-31 Mar 1986; 1 Apr 1987-31 Mar 1988; 1 Jun 1991-31 May 1993; 1 Jun 1993-31 Aug 1994; 1 Sep 1995-31 Aug 1997; 1 Oct 1998-30 Sep 2000; 1 Oct 2000-30 Sep 2002; 1 Oct 2002-30 Sep 2004. Navy Meritorious Unit Commendation: 1 Jul 1967-26 Jul 1969. Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm: 1 Apr 1966-17 Jan 1967. 

Lineage, Assignments, Stations, and Honors through 17 Oct 2007. 

Commanders, Aircraft, and Operations through Oct 2007. 

Supersedes published information contained in: Judy G. Endicott (ed.), USAF Active Flying, Space, and Missile Squadrons as of 1 October 1995 (Washington: USPGO, 1999). 

Emblem. Approved on 21 Mar 1978. 

Prepared by Patsy Robertson. 

Reviewed by Daniel Haulman.

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