563d Rescue Group

563d Rescue Group
The crew of the first HC-130J in front of their plane on Davis-Monthan AFB
Active	1944–1957, 1966–1976, 2003 – present
Country	United States
Branch	United States Air Force
Role	Combat Search and Rescue
Part of	Air Combat Command
Garrison/HQ	Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Arizona
Motto(s)	Per Adversa ad Ereptionem Through Adversity to the Rescue
Decorations	Distinguished Unit Citation Presidential Unit Citation Air Force Meritorious Unit Award Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with Combat "V" Device Air Force Outstanding Unit Award Philippine Republic Presidential Unit Citation Korean Presidential Unit Citation Vietnamese Gallantry Cross with Palm
Insignia
563d Rescue Group emblem (Approved 18 March 1968 for 3d Aerospace Rescue & Recovery Group)
3d Emergency Rescue Squadron emblem during World War II

The 563d Rescue Group is a United States Air Force unit stationed at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Arizona. The group also controls the rescue squadrons at Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada. It is assigned to the 23d Wing at Moody Air Force Base, Georgia. The group directs flying operations dedicated to personnel recovery and is part of Air Combat Command. The group was activated under its current designation at Davis-Monthan in 2003 to command rescue units in the western United States.

The group was first activated during World War II as the 3d Emergency Rescue Squadron at Keesler Field, Mississippi. After training on the Gulf Coast, the squadron moved to the Southwest Pacific Theater in the fall of 1944, and served in combat until the surrender of Japan, earning a Philippine Presidential Unit Citation. After the war, the squadron moved to Japan, where it became part of the occupation forces, and was located there when the Korean War began. It again served in combat, expanding to become the 3d Air Rescue Group in 1952, and earning two Distinguished Unit Citations and two Korean Presidential Unit Citations during the war. The group was inactivated in 1957, when Air Rescue Service eliminated its groups and assigned its squadrons directly to its regional rescue centers.