303rd Expeditionary Rescue Squadron
| 303d Expeditionary Rescue Squadron | |
|---|---|
A U.S. Air Force HH-60W Jolly Green II assigned to the 303rd ERQS sits alert at an undisclosed location in the Horn of Africa | |
| Active | 1956–1993; 1997–2003; 2013–present |
| Country | United States |
| Branch | United States Air Force |
| Role | Search and Rescue |
| Part of | United States Air Forces Europe |
| Motto | Serviens Ut Servet: Latin Serving To Save |
| Mascot | Dumbo |
| Engagements | Operation Allied Force Operation Enduring Freedom Operation Iraqi Freedom Combined Joint Task Force - Horn of Africa |
| Decorations | Air Force Outstanding Unit Award |
| Insignia | |
| 303d Expeditionary Rescue Squadron emblem (Modified, 22 July 2011) | |
| 303d Expeditionary Rescue Squadron deployed emblem | |
| 303d Rescue Squadron emblem (Reinstated, 1 April 1997) | |
| 303rd Tactical Airlift Squadron emblem (Approved, 1 Apr 1985) | |
| 303rd Aerospace Rescue and Recovery Squadron emblem (Approved, c. Jan 1966) | |
| 303rd Air Rescue Squadron emblem (Approved, 4 Mar 1959) | |
The 303d Expeditionary Rescue Squadron is a provisional unit of the United States Air Force. It is permanently deployed to Camp Lemonier, Djibouti. It was reactivated in 2013 as a forward deployed umbrella organization for rotational Sikorsky HH-60 Pave Hawk and pararescue/Guardian Angel combat search and rescue units of the Air Force Reserve deployed to U.S. Africa Command, specifically to Combined Joint Task Force-Horn of Africa.
From 1997 until 2003, the 303d Rescue Squadron was a Lockheed HC-130 Combat King squadron, part of the Air Force Reserve Command's 939th Rescue Wing at Portland Air Reserve Station at Portland International Airport, Oregon. When the 939th transitioned to an air refueling mission with the KC-135 Stratotanker and became the 939th Air Refueling Wing, the 303d was inactivated. As part of the 2005 Base Realignment and Closure Commission process, the 939 ARW was itself inactivated in June 2008.