34th Weapons Squadron
Encyclopedia
The 34th Weapons Squadron is a United States Air Force
unit. It is assigned to the USAF Weapons School
, stationed at Nellis AFB, Nevada.
The mission of the squadron is to provide HH-60 Pave Hawk
instructional flying for air rescue missions.
The 34th was well known for participation in the “DUCKBUTT” mission of holding rescue and recovery orbits to assist damaged or lost aircraft recovering to Japan after missions during the Korean War. The SB-29 dropped wooden boats and parajumpers to recover lost aircrew. The 34th was inactivated on 8 September 1954.
The Weapons School HH-60G Division had its beginning with the establishment of the USAF Combat Rescue School at Nellis AFB in 1993. In 1995 Air Combat Command consolidated the mission of the Rescue School within the 57th Wing. On 7 July 1995, the HH-60G Division of the USAF Weapons School was activated. In 2003, the division was re-designated as the 34th Weapons Squadron and reactivated on 3 February as an instructional squadron at the USAF Weapons School], equipped with HH-60 Pave Hawk for PJ and helicopter pilot rescue training.
United States Air Force
The United States Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the American uniformed services. Initially part of the United States Army, the USAF was formed as a separate branch of the military on September 18, 1947 under the National Security Act of...
unit. It is assigned to the USAF Weapons School
USAF Weapons School
The USAF Weapons School is a unit of the United States Air Force, assigned to the 57th Wing. It is stationed at Nellis AFB, Nevada.-Mission:...
, stationed at Nellis AFB, Nevada.
The mission of the squadron is to provide HH-60 Pave Hawk
HH-60 Pave Hawk
The Sikorsky MH-60G/HH-60G Pave Hawk is a twin turboshaft engine helicopter in service with the United States Air Force. It is a derivative of the UH-60 Black Hawk and incorporates the US Air Force PAVE electronic systems program...
instructional flying for air rescue missions.
History
Activated on 17 October 1952 at Kadena AB, Okinawa, Japan, replacing Flight D, 2nd Air Rescue Squadron. The 34th ARS flew the SB-29 Superfortress, a rescue version of the B-29, and was tasked with search and airdrop missions. Provided strike force rescue escort for Okinawa-based B-29s flying combat missions to Korea, Nov 1952-Jul 1953 and search and rescue missions in the Okinawa area.The 34th was well known for participation in the “DUCKBUTT” mission of holding rescue and recovery orbits to assist damaged or lost aircraft recovering to Japan after missions during the Korean War. The SB-29 dropped wooden boats and parajumpers to recover lost aircrew. The 34th was inactivated on 8 September 1954.
The Weapons School HH-60G Division had its beginning with the establishment of the USAF Combat Rescue School at Nellis AFB in 1993. In 1995 Air Combat Command consolidated the mission of the Rescue School within the 57th Wing. On 7 July 1995, the HH-60G Division of the USAF Weapons School was activated. In 2003, the division was re-designated as the 34th Weapons Squadron and reactivated on 3 February as an instructional squadron at the USAF Weapons School], equipped with HH-60 Pave Hawk for PJ and helicopter pilot rescue training.
Lineage
- Constituted 34th Air Rescue Squadron on 17 Oct 1952
- Activated on 14 Nov 1952
- Inactivated on 8 Sep 1954
- Re-designated 34th Weapons Squadron on 24 Jan 2003
- Activated and organized on 3 February 2003, assuming resources of HH-60G Division, USAF Weapons School
Assignments
- 2d Air Rescue Group, 14 Nov 1952-8 Sep 1954
- Attached to Twentieth Air ForceTwentieth Air ForceThe Twentieth Air Force is a numbered air force of the United States Air Force Global Strike Command . It is headquartered at F.E. Warren Air Force Base, Wyoming.20 AF's primary mission is Intercontinental Ballistic Missile operations...
, 1 Jun 1953-31 Jul 1954- USAF Weapons SchoolUSAF Weapons SchoolThe USAF Weapons School is a unit of the United States Air Force, assigned to the 57th Wing. It is stationed at Nellis AFB, Nevada.-Mission:...
, 3 Feb 2003–Present
- USAF Weapons School
Stations
- Kadena AB, Okinawa, 14 Nov 1952-8 Sep 1954
- Nellis AFB, NV, 3 Feb 2003–Present
Aircraft
- SB-29 Superfortress, 1952–1954
- H-5 Dragonfly (Helicopter), 1952–1954
- H-19 ChickasawH-19 ChickasawFor other uses of "H19" see H19 .The Sikorsky H-19 Chickasaw, was a multi-purpose helicopter used by the United States Army and United States Air Force. It was also license-built by Westland Aircraft as the Westland Whirlwind in the United Kingdom...
, 1952–1953 - SC/C-47 Skytrain, 1952–1954
- HH-60 Pave HawkHH-60 Pave HawkThe Sikorsky MH-60G/HH-60G Pave Hawk is a twin turboshaft engine helicopter in service with the United States Air Force. It is a derivative of the UH-60 Black Hawk and incorporates the US Air Force PAVE electronic systems program...
, 2003–present