Constituted as 31st Air Rescue Squadron on 17 Oct 1952
Activated on 14 Nov 1952
Discontinued on 18 Sep 1960
Organized on 8 Jul 1963
Redesignated 31st Aerospace Rescue and Recovery Squadron on 8 Jan 1966
Inactivated on 1 Jul 1975
Activated on 8 Jan 1981
Redesignated 31st Special Operations Squadron on 6 Apr 1989
Inactivated in April 2001
Assignments
2nd Air Rescue Group, 14 Nov 1952
Air Rescue Service, 24 Jun 1958-18 Sep 1960
Air Rescue (later, Aerospace Rescue and Recovery) Service, 8 Jul 1963 (attached to Pacific Air Rescue [later, Pacific Aerospace Rescue and Recovery] Center, 8 Jul 1963-31 Mar 1967)
Pacific Aerospace Rescue and Recovery Center (later, 41st Aerospace Rescue and Recovery Wing), 1 Apr 1967-1 Jul 1975
41st Rescue and Weather Reconnaissance Wing, 8 Jan 1981
353d SOW, (later, 353d SOG) 6 Apr 1989- Apr 2001.
Stations
Clark AB, Philippines, 14 Nov 1952
Naha AB, Okinawa, 12-18 Sep 1960
Clark AB, Philippines, 8 Jul 1963-1 Jul 1975
Clark AB, Philippines, 8 Jan 1981
Osan AB, South Korea, 31 Mar 1993-5 Apr 2001.
Aircraft
SA-16, 1952-1960
H-19, 1952-1955
SH-19, 1955-1960
HH-19, 1963-1964
HC-54, 1964-1965
HH-43, 1964-1970, 1971-1972
HC-97, 1965-1966
HC-130, 1966-1975
HH-3, 1968-1975
HH-3, 1981-1990
CH-3, 1981-1990
MH-53J, 1990-2001
Operations
Combat Rescue (Southeast Asia) 1965-1966
Operated JRCC for 13th Air Force, Apr 1967-Jul 1975
Disaster Relief Missions ( Philippines) 16-31 Jul 1990
Honors
Service Streamers – None
Campaign Streamers – None
Armed Forces Expeditionary Streamers – None
Decorations
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with Combat “V” Device
12 Feb-17 May 1975
Air Force Outstanding Unit Awards
1 Jul 1964-30 Jun 1966
1 Jul 1966-31 May 1968
1 Jun 1969-31 May 1971
1 Jun 1971-31 May 1973
1 Jun 1973-31 May 1975
17 Jul 1979-15 Jun 1981
1 Apr 1984-31 Mar 1986
1 Apr 1986-31 Mar 1988
6 Apr 1989-5 Apr 1991
Meritorious Unit Citation (Navy)
1 Jul 1967-26 Jul 1969
Philippine Republic Presidential Unit Citation
21 Jul-15 Aug 1972
Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm
1 Apr 1966-17 Jan 1967
Emblem Significance
Argent (Silver Gray) a chess knight Sable, perched on a Brown demi-globe issuant from base between two pole stars Argent, all within a diminished bordure of the second.
Motto
BLACK KNIGHTS
Approved 15 Sep 93; replaced emblem approved 7 Aug 53 (K 6981)