00492449 3-1389-33A UNCLASSIFIED 2434195 07-01-1952 2434378 12-31-1952

GROUP/0005/AIR RESCUE

HISTORY K318.222-5 16287 K3299 829 1050 51 2450564 04-25-1997 REORGANIZATION OF THE UNIT FROM SQUADRON-FLIGHT STRUCTURE TO GROUP-SQUADRON STRUCTURE WAS ACCOMPLISHED. COMMANDING OFFICER GRADE UPGRADED FROM LIEUTENANT COLONEL TO COLONEL. STAFF VISITS AND INSPECTIONS CONDUCTED. SUPPORTIVE AIR RESCUE SQUADRONS INCLUDE THE 46, 47, 48, AND 49. ACTION INITIATED TO RESTRICT A PORTION OF ANCHOR BAY, LAKE SAINT CLAIR, MI, FOR AMPHIBIOUS TRANSITION TRAINING. PRELIMINARY PLANNING ON THE AIR RESCUE SERVICE PHASE OF EXERCISE COLDSPOT BEGAN. PROBLEMS ENCOUNTERED INCLUDE CONSTANT PERSONNEL TURNOVER RATES, MAINTAINING CREW PROFICIENCY, SHORTAGE OF AIRCRAFT FOR TRAINING PURPOSES, WINTER WEATHER CONDITIONS. AIRCRAFT UTILIZED INCLUDE SA-16, H-19, AND C-82. FLYING SAFETY PROGRAM BEGAN WITH CARTOON BOOKLET DEPICTING POTENTIAL ACCIDENTS RESULTING FROM TEMPORARY AMNESIA TOWARD THE PRINCIPLES OF FLYING SAFETY. CLASSES CONDUCTED ON CONTENTS OF AIR RESCUE SERVICE MANUAL TO OBTAIN A HIGH DEGREE OF FLYING AND RESCUE PROFICIENCY. OPERATIONS PARTICIPATED IN INCLUDE A RESCUE MISSION ON THE GREENLAND ICECAP, AND OPERATION HOP-A-LONG, WHICH CONSISTED OF PREPARING TOW H-19 FOR THE FIRST TRANSATLANTIC FLIGHT OF HELICOPTER TYPE AIRCRAFT. LT COL VICTOR B. BILLINGHURST, COMMANDER, 5 AIR RESCUE GROUP. NONE INCLUDES SPECIAL ORDERS, PHOTOGRAPHS, MAPS.