34th Weapons Squadron

34th Weapons Squadron
Two HH-60 Pave Hawks maneuver into position to "rescue a downed pilot" during a firepower demonstration here recently. The helicopters are assigned to the 34th Weapons Squadron
Active	1952-Present
Country	United States
Branch	United States Air Force
Type	Squadron
Role	Advanced Air Rescue Training
Part of	USAF Weapons School
Garrison/HQ	Nellis AFB, Nevada
Tail Code	"WA"
Engagements	Korean War
Insignia
34th Weapons Squadron emblem

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.

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 Force, 1 Jun 1953-31 Jul 1954

• USAF Weapons School, 3 Feb 2003–Present

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 Chickasaw, 1952–1953
• SC/C-47 Skytrain, 1952–1954
• HH-60 Pave Hawk, 2003–present

References

 This article incorporates public domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency website http://www.afhra.af.mil/.

• Maurer, Maurer, ed. (1982) [1969]. Combat Squadrons of the Air Force, World War II (PDF) (reprint ed.). Washington, DC: Office of Air Force History. ISBN 0-405-12194-6. LCCN 70605402. OCLC 72556. 
• USAFHRA 34 Weapons Squadron Factsheet

External links

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