303rd Expeditionary Rescue Squadron
The 303d Expeditionary Rescue Squadron is a provisional unit of the United States Air Force. It is permanently deployed to Camp Lemonier, Djibouti. It was reactivated in 2013 as a forward deployed umbrella organization for rotational Sikorsky HH-60 Pave Hawk and pararescue/Guardian Angel combat search and rescue units of the Air Force Reserve deployed to U.S. Africa Command, specifically to Combined Joint Task Force-Horn of Africa.
| 303d Rescue Squadron | |
|---|---|
303d Expeditionary Rescue Squadron airmen on Camp Lemonnier prepare a HH-60G Pave Hawk helicopter for shipment | |
| Active | 1956–1993; 1997–2003; 2013–present |
| Country | United States |
| Branch | United States Air Force |
| Role | Search and Rescue |
| Part of | United States Air Forces Europe |
| Decorations | Air Force Outstanding Unit Award |
| Insignia | |
| 303d Expeditionary Rescue Squadron emblem (approved 4 March 1959, reinstated 26 August 1996) | |
| 303d Tactical Airlift Squadron emblem (approved c. February 1986) | |
From 1997 until 2003, the then-303d Rescue Squadron was a Lockheed HC-130 Combat King squadron, part of the Air Force Reserve Command's 939th Rescue Wing at Portland Air Reserve Station at Portland International Airport, Oregon. When the 939th transitioned to an air refueling mission with the KC-135 Stratotanker and became the 939th Air Refueling Wing, the 303d was inactivated. As part of the 2005 Base Realignment and Closure Commission process, the 939 ARW was itself inactivated in June 2008.