129th Rescue Wing

The 129th ARG was initially assigned to the Military Air Transport Service. It was designated at the time as a "Psychological Warfare" unit which supported USAF unconventional warfare (guerrilla warfare), direct action (commando-type raids), strategic reconnaissance (intelligence gathering), and PSYWAR operations. Later in 1955, control was transferred to Fourth Air Force, Continental Air Command. The unit's mission was airlift of personnel and material using C-46 and SA-16 aircraft. In 1958, control was transferred to Eighteenth Air Force, Tactical Air Command with the mission remaining the same.

In 1963 the first major mission change for the 129th occurred. Situations around the world produced a need for specialized units which could insert a small group of trained combat troops on land or sea anywhere at a moment's notice. The 129th was tasked as one of the representatives of the National Guard in the Air Force's Air Commando Group structure. The C-46 was replaced with Helio U-10A and U-10D Couriers. During a three-year period starting in 1965, the U-10s belonging to the 143d and other Air National Guard units were transferred back to the Air Force for use in South Vietnam, during which the "Helio" was replaced by DeHavilland U-6 "Beavers". The 129th later acquired C-119 Flying Boxcars and was renamed the Special Operations Group.[2]

In April 1975, the 129th received a new mission, designation and Air Force Command. Shortly afterward, the Wing also changed aircraft and commenced changing operating bases. The 129th's name became the 129th Aerospace Rescue and Recovery Group (129 ARRG) and it commenced an incremental relocation / programmed move in 1975 to what was then Naval Air Station Moffett Field, California as a tenant command, totally completing said move by 1984.[2] In October 1989, the 129 ARGG was designated as the 129th Air Rescue Group (ARG). Operations began to convert from HH-3E Jolly Green Giant helicopter to the HH-60G Pave Hawk helicopter. The conversion was complete in 1991.[2]

Though the mission of search and rescue has continued, the Group has continued to reflect reorganizations within the USAF. In March 1992, the name of the 129th Air Rescue Group was shortened to simply 129th Rescue Group (129 RQG) and in June 1992, it became the 129th Rescue Wing (129 RQW). Following the closure of NAS Moffett Field due to BRAC action in 1994 and its transfer from the U.S. Navy to the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) as Moffett Federal Airfield, the 129th remained at Moffett as a tenant command. In April 1997, Air Combat Command evaluated the 129th Rescue Wing's war capability as an overall Excellent during its Operational Readiness Inspection. Today, the 129th Rescue Wing continues its search and rescue operations on a global scale.[2]

The motto of the 129th Rescue Wing, "That Others May Live", refers to the primary mission of the wing – to save lives. The members of the 129th have performed rescues under a variety of conditions – from rough Pacific seas to the rugged Sierra Nevada, using its combination of MC-130 tankers and HH-60 helicopters. Many high-risk lifesaving missions involved long-range, over-water flights, air refueling of helicopters by the HC-130 aircraft, and skilled maneuvering by ships and helicopters to recover patients from the decks of these vessels. On 3 September 1991, the 129th recovered a sailor from the merchant ship White Mana, the Group's 200th "save". Since its designation as a rescue unit in 1975, the 129th has directly saved the lives of 300 people

In 1990, the 129th began supporting U.S. Customs in the seizure of illegal drugs, as well as illegal animal and plant products, during cargo inspections. The unit has performed a number of humanitarian missions to foreign countries. From 1989 to 1991, the 129th deployed to sites in South America to assist in constructing hospital and school facilities.[2]

During Desert Shield/Storm in 1990 and 1991, the 129th deployed personnel to both overseas and stateside locations. Three pararescuemen volunteered for combat operations and teams from the 129th Medical Squadron deployed to England, Saudi Arabia and Travis AFB. Individual members of the 129th volunteered to backfill for deployed active duty members. In July 1993, 129th members deployed to Saudi Arabia and Kuwait as part of rescue force coverage for Southwest Asia.

2 July 2008, crews from the 129th Rescue Squadron were certified to perform water bucket operations, making the 129th the only rescue unit in the Air Force and Air National Guard qualified to fight fires.[3] On 6 April 2018 the squadron received the first of four new HC-130J Combat King II aircraft.[4]

The 129th has been routinely assigned to support Operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom.

As an Air National Guard unit, many of the 129th's missions involved supporting the Governor's office during times of State emergencies, including earthquakes, chemical spills, fires and floods. The 129th provided aid during floods along the Yuba River in 1959 and the Eel River in 1964–1965. During record flooding in Sonoma, Sutter and Yuba counties in Northern California, 33 lives were saved in 5 days, from 18 to 22 February 1986. In all, 44 lives were saved in 1986, a record rescue for the 129th. During the aftermath of the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake, the 129th established Command Post operations and was chosen to coordinate all military aircraft activities within the Bay Area. The 129th provided air transportation for State and Federal government officials to survey damage from the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake and the 1991 Oakland Hills fire. The unit has also been tasked with mutual aid to state law enforcement during the 1965 Watts (Los Angeles) riots and the 1992 civil disturbance in Los Angeles.[2]

• Designated 129th Air Resupply Group, and allotted to California ANG, 1955

Extended federal recognition and activated, 3 April 1955

Re-designated: 129th Troop Carrier Group, 1 November 1958

Re-designated: 129th Air Commando Group, 1 July 1963

Re-designated: 129th Special Operations Group, 8 August 1968

Re-designated: 129th Aerospace Rescue and Recovery Group, 3 May 1975

Re-designated: 129th Air Rescue Group, 1 October 1989

Re-designated: 129th Rescue Group, 16 March 1992

Status changed from Group to Wing, 1 October 1995

Re-designated: 129th Rescue Wing, 1 October 1995

• California Air National Guard, 3 April 1955

Gained by: Military Air Transport Service

Gained by: Fourth Air Force, Continental Air Command, 1955

Gained by: Eighteenth Air Force, Tactical Air Command, 1 November 1958

Gained by: Tactical Air Command, 1 July 1963

Gained by: Military Airlift Command, 3 May 1975

Gained by: Air Combat Command, 1 June 1992

Gained by: Air Force Special Operations Command, 1 October 2003

Gained by: Air Combat Command, 1 October 2005

• 129th Operations Group, 1 October 1995 – present
• 129th Rescue Squadron, 3 April 1955 – present
• 130th Rescue Squadron, 1 October 2003 – present
• 131st Rescue Squadron, 1 October 2003 – present

• Hayward Municipal Airport, California, 3 April 1955
• Naval Air Station Moffett Field, California, 1980 – 1 July 1994
• Moffett Federal Airfield, 1 July 1994 – present

• Air National Guard Meritorious Service Award, 1972
• National Guard Bureau Meritorious Service Award, 1973
• Air Force Association (Tennessee Ernie Ford Chapter), Outstanding Organization Award, 1985
• Royal Air Force Benevolence Fund (United Kingdom) Straddling Trophy for Aircraft Concours d’Elegance Competition, International Air Tattoo '85, RAF Fairfield, England, 1985
• Military Airlift Command, Distinguished Flying Unit Award
• Air National Guard, Distinguished Flying Unit, 1987
• Chuck Yeager Aerospace Education Award, 1993
• Founders & Patriots of America, Outstanding National Guard Unit Award, April 1996, March 2001 and December 2004
• Air National Guard Association, Spaatz Trophy, 1998
• Air Force Association, Outstanding Unit Award (Outstanding ANG Unit of the Year), 1999
• Air Combat Command Flight Safety Award, 10 October 2000 – 30 September 2001
• Air Force Association, Outstanding ANG Flying Unit Award, 2002
• National Guard Bureau Excellence in Diversity Award, 2014