Unit Name: | 76th Helicopter Squadron |
Dates: | 1952–1975; 1993–2007 |
Role: | airlift support |
Motto: | Samaritans of the Sky (1952-1975) |
Decorations: | Navy Meritorious Unit Commendation Air Force Outstanding Unit Award |
Identification Symbol Label: | 76th Helicopter Flight emblem (approved 26 July 1995)[1] |
Identification Symbol 2 Label: | 76th Aerospace Rescue & Recovery Squadron emblem |
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.
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]
Activated on 14 November 1952
Redesignated 76th Aerospace Rescue and Recovery Squadron on 8 January 1966
Inactivated on 1 August 1975
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]
49-year "Huey" legacy concludes]
. Cadetta. SRA Stephen. August 2, 2007. 30th Space Wing Public Affairs. https://web.archive.org/web/20140502003634/http://www.vandenberg.af.mil/news/story.asp?id=123063194 . May 2, 2014. November 18, 2019.