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 1952Activated on 14 November 1952Discontinued on 18 September 1960
Organized on 8 July 1963Redesignated
31st Aerospace Rescue and Recovery Squadron on 8 January 1966Inactivated on 1 July 1975
Activated on 8 January 1981Redesignated
31st Special Operations Squadron on 6 April 1989Inactivated on 31 August 2001
Redesignated 31st Rescue Squadron on 16 May 2003Activated on 31 July 2003
2d Air Rescue Group, 14 November 1952Air Rescue Service, 24 Jun 1958 – 18 September 1960Air 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 197541st Rescue and Weather Reconnaissance Wing, 8 January 1981353d Special Operations Wing (later 353d Special Operations Group) 6 April 1989 – 31 August 200118th Operations Group, 31 July 2003 – presentClark Air Base, Philippines, 14 November 1952Naha Air Base, Okinawa, 12–18 September 1960Clark Air Base, Philippines, 8 July 1963 – 1 July 1975Clark Air Base, Philippines, 8 January 1981Marine Corps Air Station Futenma, Okinawa, Japan, 29 June 1991Osan Air Base, South Korea, July 1992 – 31 August 2001Kadena Air Base, Okinawa, Japan, 31 Jul 2003 – presentGrumman SA-16 Albatross, 1952-1960Sikorsky H-19, 1952-1955Sikorsky SH-19 (later HH-19), 1955-1960, 1963-1964Douglas HC-54, 1964-1965Kaman HH-43 Huskie, 1964-1970, 1971-1972Boeing HC-97, 1965-1966Lockheed HC-130 Hercules, 1966-1975Sikorsky HH-3, 1968-1975, 1981-1990Sikorsky CH-3, 1981-1990Sikorsky MH-53, 1990-2001Boeing MH-47 Chinook, 2001