Text Box: The 304th Air Reserve Squadron (ARS) was activated on 16 November 1957 at Portland International Airport, Oregon.  Lieutenant Colonel Vernon E. Acker was assigned as the first unit commander.  On 8 October 1959 the 304 ARS was reorganized and its strength increased to 24 officers and 66 airman.  As the unit began transitioning into an Air Force Reserve Squadron,  Air Reserve Technicians began replacing the cadre of regular Air Force personnel. The unit's first assigned aircraft were the SA-16A Albatross which were replaced by SA-16B models during the first quarter of 1960 and later re-designated HU-16Bs in July 1963. The HU-16s were amphibian aircraft that could land on water or land.  They also had one special HU-16 which was a tri-phibian meaning it could land on water, land or snow. Facilities were quite limited in the early 1960s. Command and operations shared an old wooden barracks and maintenance had one small wooden building but no hangar.  Nearly all the maintenance was done on the ramp with only an old tarp (with a hole in it) for cover.  Later, two engine-stand buildings were acquired which could cover the engines for maintenance. It wasn't until 1961 that Pararescuemen (PJs) were added to the unit.  Because of the Viet Nam conflict there were no qualified PJs available to fill these positions.  At that time, there were five sections; 304th in Portland OR, 302d in Phoenix AZ, 301st in Homestead FL, 305th in Selfridge ANGB MI, and 303d in March AFB CA. The PJs had only an old Quonset Hut and little else.  With strong leadership they soon got their equipment and became a top team involved in all missions. Today the 304th alone has five fulltime Air Reserve Technicians and 55 PJs. During the 1960s the 304th had many search and rescue missions in the Pacific Northwest including one spectacular night time parachute jump on Mt St Helens to rescue two survivors of a small plane crash.  They also participated in a highly classified mission to the South Pacific for two months in 1968. In October of 1961 the reserve units were called to active duty for the Berlin Air Lift.  They supported  a 60-day search and rescue coverage of the North Atlantic from Goose Bay Labrador as many AF Squadrons flew overseas.  The unit also had several SARs covering the North Pacific from Alaskan Air Strips as  Air Force Squadrons flew overseas to the Far East. On 18 January 1966, the 304 ARS was officially designated the 304th Aerospace Rescue and Recovery Squadron and became the sole Air Force Reserve flying unit in the state of Oregon in December 1968.  Host base responsibility passed to the Oregon Air National Guard and the 304 ARRS became a tenant unit.

Text Box: In 1971, the unit was again reorganized and the HU-16B aircraft were reassigned and replaced by HH-34 Seabat helicopters.  1974 saw the HH-34 being replaced by the HH-1H Huey helicopters.  The 304th was assigned to the 403d Air Rescue and Recovery Wing at Selfridge ANG, MI on 15 March 1976 and in July 1978 the unit was designated to participate in the Military Assistance to Safety and Traffic (MAST) program.  They were the first AFRES unit so designated to provide emergency helicopter transportation services to the Northern Oregon-Southern Washington region. 1979 ushered in another change in aircraft when the unit received the UH-1N Huey helicopters.  Then it received its first HC-130 H Hercules in 1985 and was 1 April 1985 was officially activated as the 939th Air Rescue and Recovery Group eventually picking up the 301 ARRS at Homestead AFB, FL.  December 1986 saw the arrival of H-3 Jolly Green Giant helicopters.  During the 80's the unit saw numerous search and rescue and medical evacuation missions mainly in the Northwest.  Most notably among these were the 100 plus missions following the eruption of Mt St Helens in May 1980. The unit was re-designated on 1 April 1990 as the 939th Rescue Wing and in 1992 the 304th and 301st were re-designated from Air Rescue Squadrons to Rescue Squadrons.  The unit assumed command of the newly-activated 305th Rescue Squadron at Davis-Monthan AFB, AZ in March 1994.  From 1985 to present the unit maintained helicopter refueling capability allowing for extended flights over the ocean.  Crews have been deployed to provide SAR coverage worldwide.  The unit has supported the Olympics, provided coverage for space shuttle launches, assisted during hurricanes and provided search and rescue for lost hikers, and crashed aircraft to mention a few. The 939th Rescue Wing with its two geographically separated units is the last bastion in the Continental United States.  On 1 April 2003, this unique unit is again being converted only this time, along with a change in aircraft, there will be a change in mission.  The 939th will convert from HH-60G helicopters and HC-130H aircraft to the KC-135 aircraft and from the Rescue Mission to the Air Refueling Mission. The first of our eight KC-135R aircraft landed at Portland International Airport, Oregon on 21 November 2002. From then to 5 August 2006, these aircraft traveled around the world refueling a multitude of military aircraft, transporting unit members, injured warriors, members of our sister services, dignitaries and employers. We were the only unit who volunteered to take the mission to return one of our MIAs from Viet Nam. We were involved in and supported Operations IRAQI FREEDOM, ENDURING FREEDOM and NOBLE EAGLE and Exercises GLOBAL GUARDIAN and NORTHERN EDGE. Our aircraft flew 9,739 hours, carried approximately 5,600 passengers, 130 patients and 4,320,470 pounds of cargo while offloading over 28,500,000 pounds of fuel. Once again we showed our ability to take on any mission and be successful. In April 2003, the 304th converted from a helicopter rescue squadron to a broader mission profile supporting the Guardian Angel Weapons (GAW) system. The GAW system allows for the squadron to employ combat rescue officers, Pararescuemen and survival, evasion, resistance and escape (SERE) personnel in an overall mission to train and provide rescue and recovery operations for both peacetime, wartime and humanitarian missions around the world. On Friday the 13th of May 2005 the Base Realignment and Closure Committee (BRAC) announced that the 939th Air Refueling Wing would be realigned to Vandenburg AFB, CA. Later, the commission decided that instead of realignment, the unit would be closed. Since that time, the operations group, maintenance group, mission support group and medical squadron, have all been inactivated. The final day for the wing is 28 June 2008. As the men and women of the 939th look to the future no matter where they go or what they do, there will be many memories that will always be with them. The 304th Rescue Squadron will continue to serve and will remain a reminder of what was. The rich and colorful history of this unit will forever be recorded in the annals of history. The Pacific Northwest was truly fortunate to have these remarkable men and women serve not only the nation but the local communities. They truly epitomize the rescue motto, "These things we do...that others may live." 304 ARS / 939 ARW