The US Air Force activated the 1st Expeditionary Rescue Group on 1 September 2015 at an undisclosed location in Southwest Asia to support the efforts of Operation Inherent Resolve, the operation against ISIL terrorists in Iraq and Syria. Although the idea of locating a personnel recovery operation in the area was conceived in 2014, the need for a rescue capability in theater took on more urgency after a downed Jordanian fighter pilot was tortured and executed in early 2015. The 1st ERQG will consist of the 26th and 64th Expeditionary Rescue Squadrons, which flies HH-60 Pave Hawk helicopters, and the 52nd ERQS, which flies HC-130 Combat King personnel recovery tankers
Read More
