The 31st Rescue Squadron is part of the 18th Wing at Kadena Air Base, Japan. It trains, equips and employs combat-ready pararescue specialists.
31st Special Operations Squadron was constituted as the 31st Air Rescue Squadron on 17 October 1952. They made combat rescues in Southeast Asia, 1965–1966 and also operated the Joint Rescue Coordination Center (JRCC) for Thirteenth Air Force, Apr 1967-July 1975. They took part in Disaster relief missions in the Philippines between 16–31 July 1990. As a USAF Special Operations Squadron (SOS) the 31st was forward deployed at Osan AB, Korea from 1992-2001, while its headquarters at the 353rd SOG was stationed at Kadena AB, Okinawa, Japan. Inactivated for a couple of years, in 2003 the squadron was redesignated the 31st Rescue Squadron under the 18th Wing and stationed at Kadena Air Base, Okinawa, Japan.
Constituted as the 31st Air Rescue Squadron on 17 October 1952
Activated on 14 November 1952
Discontinued on 18 September 1960
Organized on 8 July 1963
Redesignated
31st Aerospace Rescue and Recovery Squadron on 8 January 1966
Inactivated on 1 July 1975
Activated on 8 January 1981
Redesignated
31st Special Operations Squadron on 6 April 1989
Inactivated on 31 August 2001
Redesignated 31st Rescue Squadron on 16 May 2003
Activated on 31 July 2003
2d Air Rescue Group, 14 November 1952
Air Rescue Service, 24 Jun 1958 – 18 September 1960
Air Rescue Service (later Aerospace Rescue and Recovery Service), 8 July 1963 (attached to Pacific Air Rescue Center (later Pacific Aerospace Rescue and Recovery) Center, until 31 Mar 1967)
Pacific Aerospace Rescue and Recovery Center (later 41st Aerospace Rescue and Recovery Wing), 1 April 1967 – 1 July 1975
41st Rescue and Weather Reconnaissance Wing, 8 January 1981
353d Special Operations Wing (later 353d Special Operations Group) 6 April 1989 – 31 August 2001
18th Operations Group, 31 July 2003 – present
Clark Air Base, Philippines, 14 November 1952
Naha Air Base, Okinawa, 12–18 September 1960
Clark Air Base, Philippines, 8 July 1963 – 1 July 1975
Clark Air Base, Philippines, 8 January 1981
Marine Corps Air Station Futenma, Okinawa, Japan, 29 June 1991
Osan Air Base, South Korea, July 1992 – 31 August 2001
Kadena Air Base, Okinawa, Japan, 31 Jul 2003 – present
Grumman SA-16 Albatross, 1952-1960
Sikorsky H-19, 1952-1955
Sikorsky SH-19 (later HH-19), 1955-1960, 1963-1964
Douglas HC-54, 1964-1965
Kaman HH-43 Huskie, 1964-1970, 1971-1972
Boeing HC-97, 1965-1966
Lockheed HC-130 Hercules, 1966-1975
Sikorsky HH-3, 1968-1975, 1981-1990
Sikorsky CH-3, 1981-1990
Sikorsky MH-53, 1990-2001
Boeing MH-47 Chinook, 2001
