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58th Rescue Squadron
Pararescuemen from the 58th exercise recovering a downed pilot
In the fall of 1952, Air Rescue Service, expanded its existing squadrons to groups. Its 7th Air Rescue Squadron, which had responsibility for rescue support in an area stretching from the middle Atlantic and across North Africa to the Middle East, became the 7th Air Rescue Group. Air Rescue Service formed new squadrons, which replaced existing flights of the old squadrons. The 58th Air Rescue Squadron was activated at Wheelus Air Base, Libya, where it assumed the mission and took over the resources of Flight E, 6th Air Rescue Squadron.
Until about 2000, Air Force rescue units were frequently composite units (as shown by the number of fixed- and rotary-wing aircraft flown by the squadron at Wheelus). At that time, rescue units were organized as fixed-wing, helicopter, or pararescue units. The squadron, now the 58th Rescue Squadron, was activated at Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada, in June 2002 as a pararescue squadron, often called a "Guardian Angel" squadron. The squadron possesses no aircraft; its rescue personnel fly on the helicopters of the 66th Rescue Squadron.
Lineage
Constituted as the 58th Air Rescue Squadron on 17 October 1952
Activated on 14 November 1952
Discontinued on 18 September 1960
Organized on 18 June 1961
Redesignated 58th Aerospace Rescue and Recovery Squadron on 8 January 1966
