37^th ARRS

 The 37th ARRS has been in service since January 1966 and carried out numerous search and rescue operations in combat areas throughout Southeast Asia, participated in the evacuations of Phnom Penh, Cambodia, Saigon, Vietnam and also provided service during the assault on Koh Tang Island during the Mayaguez incident. 

After the Vietnam War, 37th ARRS was deactivated in November 1972, only to be reactivated in December 1973. 

Detachment 5 of the 37th Air Rescue and Recovery Squadron assigned to Malmstrom AFB, Montana was one of seven detachments in the 37th ARRS under Military Airlift Command. The Detachments flew UH-1F and later UH-1N in support of ICBM Missile sites.  They also performed Search and Rescue missions in their respective areas. Their call sign was “Bever”.

Det.1 had HH-1H at Davis-Monthan AFB for missile site support during the mid 70s until closing in late 1985
Det.2 had UH-1F at Ellsworth AFB
Det.3 had HH-1H at Grand forks AFB, later 79 RQF (Rescue Flight)
Det.4 at Little Rock AFB
Det.5 at Malmstrom AFB since 1974 until redesignated 40th Helicopter Flight in 1998
Det.7 at Minot AFB, later 54 HF
Det.8 at Vandenberg AFB, later 76 HF
Det.10 at F. E. Warren AFB, later 37 HS

In 1970 the UH-F models were being replaced by UH-1N’s.

With the START treaty between the US and Russia in 1991, the missile arsenal was downsized and only 3 bases now have ICBM’s, ie Minot AFB, Malmstrom AFB, and F.E.Warren AFB.

On August 1st 2014, the 3 remaining squadrons flying the UH-1N in support of the USAF intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) force ( 37th HS, 40th HS and 54th HS ) were merge into a single unified command, based at FE Warren AFB, Wyoming named 20th Air Force Helicopter Operations Group (20th AF HOG).