76th Helicopter Squadron

The 76th Helicopter Squadron is an inactivated United States Air Force unit that was based at Vandenberg Air Force Base, California assigned to the 30th Operations Group, 30th Space Wing that was tasked to support range operations as well as search and rescue missions. The squadron operated the UH-1N Huey helicopter.

76th Helicopter Squadron
UH-1 Huey as flown by the squadron at Vandenberg AFB
Active1952–1975; 1993–2007
Country United States
Branch United States Air Force
Roleairlift support
Motto(s)Samaritans of the Sky (1952-1975)
DecorationsNavy Meritorious Unit Commendation
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award
Insignia
76th Helicopter Flight emblem (approved 26 July 1995)[1]
76th Aerospace Rescue & Recovery Squadron emblem

History

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Provided search, rescue, and recovery services in central and southern Pacific Ocean areas. Supported space recovery operations for Discoverer, Gemini, Apollo, and Skylab programs. Maintained aircraft at Johnson Island during atomic bomb tests in the Pacific. Search, rescue, recovery, and other missions in the area of Vandenberg Air Force Base, especially during periods of missile launches.

The unit logged more than 35,000 hours of accident free flying hours. The helicopter squadron has supported high profile rescue and fire suppression missions, including humanitarian relief in the Gulf States in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina.[2]

Lineage

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  • Constituted as the 76th Air Rescue Squadron on 17 October 1952
Activated on 14 November 1952
Redesignated 76th Aerospace Rescue and Recovery Squadron on 8 January 1966
Inactivated on 1 August 1975
  • Redesignated 76th Rescue Flight on 1 April 1993
Activated on 1 May 1993
Redesignated 76th Helicopter Flight on 1 May 1998[3]
Redesignated 76th Helicopter Squadron on 21 October 2005[4]
Inactivated on 31 August 2007[5]

Assignments

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Stations

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Aircraft

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References

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Notes

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  1. ^ Haulman, Daniel (20 December 2007). "Factsheet 76 Helicopter Flight (AFSPC)". Air Force Historical Research Agency. Retrieved 18 November 2019.
  2. ^ Cadetta, SRA Stephen (2 August 2007). "76th HS deactivates [sic]: 49-year "Huey" legacy concludes". 30th Space Wing Public Affairs. Archived from the original on 2 May 2014. Retrieved 18 November 2019.
  3. ^ a b c d Lineage, including assignments and stations, through August 2005 in Haulman, Factsheet, 76 Helicopter Flight
  4. ^ Research Division, Air Force Historical Research Agency, Air Force Organization Change Status Report, October 2005, Maxwell AFB, AL
  5. ^ a b c d Research Division, Air Force Historical Research Agency, Air Force Organization Change Status Report, August 2007, Maxwell AFB, AL

Bibliography

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  This article incorporates public domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency