106th Rescue Wing

106th Rescue Wing
106th Rescue Wing HC-130 refuleling an HH-60 Pave Hawk over Long Island, New York
Active	1943–1945; 1947-1952; 1952-present
Country	United States
Allegiance	New York
Branch	Air National Guard
Type	Wing
Role	Combat Search and Rescue
Size	About 1,000
Part of	New York Air National Guard
Garrison/HQ	Francis S. Gabreski Air National Guard Base, Westhampton Beach, New York
Patron	So that others may live
Engagements	World War II
Insignia
106th Rescue Wing emblem

The 106th Rescue Wing (106th RQW) is a unit of the New York Air National Guard, stationed at Francis S. Gabreski Air National Guard Base, Westhampton Beach, New York. If activated to federal service, the Wing is gained by the United States Air Force Special Operations Command.

The 102d Rescue Squadron, assigned to the 106th Operations Group (OG) of the 106th RQW, is a descendant organization of the World War I 102d Aero Squadron, established on 23 August 1917. It was reformed on 4 November 1922, as the 102d Observation Squadron, and is one of the 29 original National Guard Observation Squadrons of the United States Army National Guard formed before World War II. The squadron has a history going back to 30 April 1908, and is the oldest unit of the New York Air National Guard.

The 106th Rescue Wing deploys worldwide to provide combat search and rescue coverage for U.S. and allied forces. Combat search and rescue missions include flying low-level, preferably at night aided with night vision goggles, to an objective area where aerial refueling of a rescue helicopter is performed, or pararescue teams are deployed.

During peacetime, the unit also provides search and rescue services to the maritime community, supports the US Coast Guard in missions outside their capabilities as well as NASA.

The 106th Rescue Wing consists of the following major units

* Note: In 2004, Air Force Special Operations Command re-organized Air National Guard rescue wings, establishing separate squadrons for fixed-wing, helicopter and pararescue

Constituted as 394th Bombardment Group (Medium) on 15 February 1943. Activated on 5 March 1943. Trained with B-26's. Moved to RAF Boreham England, February–March 1944, and assigned to Ninth Air Force. Their group marking was a white diagonal band across the fin and rudder.