34th Weapons Squadron

Two 34th Weapons Squadron HH-60 Pave Hawks maneuver into position to "rescue a downed pilot" during a firepower demonstration

Active| 1952–1954; 2003–present
Branch|  United States Air Force
Type| Squadron
Role| Advanced Air Rescue Training
Part of| Air Combat Command
Garrison/HQ| Nellis AFB, Nevada
Tail Code| "WA"
Engagements| Korean War[1]
Decorations| Air Force Outstanding Unit Award[2]
Insignia
34th Weapons Squadron emblem (approved 5 August 2003)[1][note 1]|

Military unit

The 34th Weapons Squadron is a United States Air Force unit. It is assigned to the USAF Weapons School, stationed at Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada.

The mission of the squadron is to provide HH-60 Pave Hawk instructional flying for air rescue missions.

## History

[edit]

### Rescue operations

[edit]

The squadron was first activated at Kadena Air Base, Okinawa on 17 October 1952, when Air Rescue Service expanded its existing squadrons into groups and replaced their flights with new squadrons. The squadron absorbed the mission, personnel and equipment of D Flight of the 2d Air Rescue Squadron. The 34th flew the Boeing SB-29 Super Dumbo, a rescue version of the B-29. Its Super Dumbos accompanied Boeing B-29 Superfortresses of Twentieth Air Force, providing strike force rescue escort for bombers flying combat missions to Korea until combat operations ceased in July 1953. The squadron also flew search and rescue missions in the Okinawa area.[1]

The 34th participated in "Duckbutt" missions, flying 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. With the reduction of US forces in the Pacific following the end of hostilities in Korea, the 34th was inactivated on 8 September 1954.

### Advanced training

[edit]

The USAF Weapons School HH-60G Division had its origins in the establishment of the USAF Combat Rescue School at Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada 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 organized. In 2003, the division was replaced by the 34th Weapons Squadron, which became an instructional squadron at the Weapons School, equipped with HH-60 Pave Hawk for PJ and helicopter pilot rescue training.

## Lineage

[edit]

* Constituted as the 34th Air Rescue Squadron on 17 October 1952

Activated on 14 November 1952
Inactivated on 8 September 1954

* Redesignated 34th Weapons Squadron on 24 January 2003

Activated on 3 February 2003[1]

### Assignments

[edit]

* 2d Air Rescue Group, 14 November 1952 – 8 September 1954 (attached to Twentieth Air Force, 1 June 1953 – 31 July 1954)
* USAF Weapons School, 3 February 2003 – present[1]

### Stations

[edit]

* Kadena Air Base, Okinawa, 14 November 1952 – 8 September 1954
* Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada, 3 February 2003 – present[1]

### Aircraft

[edit]

* Boeing SB-29 Super Dumbo, 1952–1954
* Sikorsky H-5 Dragonfly, 1952–1954
* Sikorsky H-19 Chickasaw, 1952–1953
* Douglas C-47 Skytrain, 1952–1954
* Douglas SC-47 Skytrain, 1952–1954[1]

## References

[edit]

### Notes

[edit]

Explanatory notes

1. ^ Endicott gives 7 August 1953, the date for the earlier emblem approved for the 34th Air Rescue Squadron.

Citations

1. ^ a b c d e f g Endicott, Judy G. (10 December 2007). "Factsheet 34 Weapons Squadron (ACC)". Air Force Historical Research Agency. Retrieved 10 February 2018.
2. ^ "Air Force Personnel Services: Unit Awards". Air Force Personnel Center. Retrieved 10 February 2018. (search)

### Bibliography

[edit]

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

* Marion, Forrest L. (2004). That Others May Live: USAF Air Rescue in Korea (PDF). Washington DC: Air Force History and Museums Program. ISBN 978-1477549926. Retrieved 17 December 2016.

* v
* t
* e

United States Air Force

Leadership|

* Department of the Air Force
* Secretary of the Air Force
* Under Secretary of the Air Force
* Air Staff
* Chief of Staff
* Vice Chief of Staff
* Director of Staff
* Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force
* Four-star generals
* Three-star generals
* 1940–1959
* 2000–2009
* 2010–2019
* 2020–present
* House Armed Services Committee
* House Subcommittee on Tactical Air and Land Forces
* House Armed Services Subcommittee on Strategic Forces
* Senate Committee on Armed Services
* Senate Subcommittee on Airland
* Senate Armed Services Subcommittee on Strategic Forces

Structure|

| Commands|

* Reserve
* Air National Guard
* Field Operating Agencies
* Installations

|

Direct reporting units|

* District of Washington
* Operational Test and Evaluation Center
* USAF Academy

Major commands|

* ACC
* AETC
* AFGSC
* AFMC
* AFRC
* AFSOC
* AMC
* PACAF
* USAFE–AFAFRICA

Numbered Air Forces|

* First
* Second
* Third
* Fourth
* Fifth
* Seventh
* Eighth
* Ninth
* Tenth
* Eleventh
* Twelfth
* Thirteenth Expeditionary
* Fifteenth
* Sixteenth
* Eighteenth
* Nineteenth
* Twentieth
* Twenty-Second

* Wings
* ANG
* Groups
* ANG
* Squadrons
* ANG
* Security Forces
* Civilian auxiliary: Civil Air Patrol

Personnel and
training|

* Personnel
* Rank
* officers
* cadets
* enlisted
* Specialty Code
* Aeronautical ratings
* Judge Advocate General's Corps
* RED HORSE
* Security Forces
* Medical Service
* Chief of Chaplains
* Chief Scientist

* Training: Air Force Academy
* Officer Training School
* Reserve Officer Training Corps
* Basic Training
* Airman Leadership School
* SERE
* Fitness Assessment

Uniforms and
equipment|

* Awards and decorations
* Badges
* Equipment
* Aircraft
* Uniforms

History and
traditions|

* History
* Aeronautical Division / Aviation Section / Division of Military Aeronautics / Army Air Service / Army Air Corps / Army Air Forces
* "The U.S. Air Force"
* Air Force Band
* Airman's Creed
* Core Values
* Flag
* Symbol
* Memorial
* National Museum
* Women Airforce Service Pilots
* Air Force One / Air Force Two
* Honor Guard
* Thunderbirds
* Service numbers
* Air & Space Forces Association

* Category

* v
* t
* e

Air Combat Command (ACC)

Air Forces|

* First (Northern)
* Ninth (Central)
* Twelfth (Southern)
* Fifteenth
* Sixteenth (Cyber)

Centers|

* 601st Air Operations
* 609th Air Operations
* 612th Air Operations
* 616th Operations
* Air Force Technical Applications
* Cyberspace Capabilities
* United States Air Force Warfare

Bases|

* Beale
* Creech
* Davis–Monthan
* Grand Forks
* Langley–Eustis (Langley)
* Moody
* Mountain Home
* Nellis
* Offutt
* Seymour Johnson
* Shaw
* Tonopah
* Tyndall

Wings|

| Composite|

* 23rd
* 53rd
* 55th
* 57th
* 355th
* 432nd

|

Fighter|

* 1st
* 4th
* 20th
* 325th
* 366th
* 388th

Cyberspace|

* 67th
* 688th

Other|

* 9th Reconnaissance
* 70th ISR
* 93rd Air Ground Operations
* 99th Air Base
* 319th Reconnaissance
* 363rd ISR
* 461st Air Control
* 480th ISR
* 505th Command and Control
* 552nd Air Control
* 557th Weather
* 633rd Air Base

*[v]: View this template
*[t]: Discuss this template
*[e]: Edit this template