USAF Patch Rescue b 48 RQS Rescue Squadron Pararescue PJ

USAF Patch 48 RQS Rescue Squadron Pararescue PJ CSAR 2008 HH 60 Pave Hawk Davis Monthan AFB Deployed OEF Velcro Embroidered on twill cut edge 88mm by 67mm three and seven sixteenth inches by two and five eighth inches.

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48 Air Rescue Squadron was activated on 14 Nov 1952 at Maxwell AFB AL assigned to 5 Air Rescue Group equipped with C 82 Packet aircraft and SB 29 Superfortress Super Dumbo adapted for air sea rescue modified to carry a droppable A 3 lifeboat under the fuselage to provide rescue support for air force units that flew long distances over water. The C 82 Packet aircraft were retired in 1953 and the Squadron reequipped with SA 16 Albatross amphibious flying boats and SH 19 Chickasaw helicopters in 1954.

48 ARS relocated to Eglin AFB FL on 10 January 1955 and added C SC HC 54 Rescuemaster to its fleet in 1956 was reassigned to Air Rescue Service on 8 December 1956. The Squadron established Det 1 at Kindley AFB Bermuda and Det 2 at Goose AB Labrador on 18 June 1960 until they were inactivated on18 Jun 1961. HH 43 Huskie helicopters replaced the Chickasaws in 1963 and were retired in 1965. HC 130 Combat King Hercules aircraft replaced the HC 54 Rescuemasters in August 1965 and began training HC 130 Combat King crews.

48 ARS was redesignated 48 Aerospace Rescue and Recovery Squadron ARRS on 8 January 1966. 48 ARRS added HH CH 3 Jolly Green Giant HH 53 Super Jolly Green Giant Buff and HH 43 Huskie helicopters to its fleet in 1966.

48 ARRS was redesignated 48 Aerospace Rescue and Recovery Squadron Training ARRTS on 8 July 1967 and commenced training HC 130 Combat King air refueling procedures on 7 November 1967. 48 ARRTS was Inactivated on 7 February 1969.

The Squadron was reactivated as 48 Aerospace Rescue and Recovery Squadron on 15 September 1972 at Fairchild AFB Washington assigned to 39 Aerospace Rescue and Recovery Wing equipped with nine UH 1N Huey helicopters to provide support to the USAF Survival School. The Squadron established Det 1 at Homestead AFB FL and Det 2 at KI Sawyer AFB Det 5 at Edwards AFB CA Det 6 at Holloman AFB NM Det 14 at MacDill AFB FL Det 15 at Myrtle Beach AFB SC Det 18 at Plattsburgh AFB NY and Det 22 at Mountain Home AFB ID on 15 May 1974. Det 5 Det 6 and Det 22 were inactivated on 1 August 1976 with Det 1 Det 2 Det 14 Det 15 and Det 18 being inactivated on 1 September 1975. The Squadron was reassigned to 41 Rescue and Weather Reconnaissance Wing on 1 January 1976. 48 ARRS was Inactivated on 1 August 1976 with its personnel and equipment being redesignated Detachment 24 41 Aerospace Rescue and Recovery Wing ARRW before becoming 36 Rescue Flight.

48 Aerospace Rescue and Recovery Squadron ARRS was reactivated on 1 October 1985 at Homestead AFB FL assigned to 39 Aerospace Rescue and Recovery Wing equipped with UH 1N Huey helicopters and undertook missions in support of South Florida Drug Interdiction Task Force. 48 Aerospace Rescue and Recovery Squadron was inactivated on 31 December 1987.

The Squadron was reactivated as 48 Rescue Squadron RQS on 1 May 1993 at Holloman AFB New Mexico assigned to 49 Fighter Wing equipped with HH 60 Pave Hawk rescue helicopters to conduct combat search and rescue operations water survival training and drug interdiction missions. 48 RQS was Inactivated on 1 February 1999.

48 Rescue Squadron RQS was reactivated on 1 April 2004 at Davis Monthan AFB Arizona assigned to 563 Rescue Group equipped with HH 60 Pave Hawk rescue helicopters to train equip and employ combat ready pararescuemen PJs combat rescue officers medical and supporting personnel and SERE survival evasion resistance and escape specialists to operate onboard rescue helicopters and aircraft operated by other Squadrons to conduct combat search and rescue operations. The Squadron has regularly deployed teams in support of Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan flying on more than 1100 combat missions in 2011 alone while also deploying in support of Combined Joint Task Force Horn of Africa CJTF HOA and Operation Unified Protector OUP Libya with 48 RQS personnel receiving hundreds of Air Medals numerous Combat Action Medals and several Bronze Stars and Distinguished Flying Crosses.

This patch dates from 2008.