76th Air Rescue Squadron
Hickam Air Force Base, Hawaii
Click on the "Thumbnail" to see a full-sized photo.
The notation at the bottom of the photograph reads:
"76th Air Rescue Squadron - Lt. Colonel A.T. Ward Commander - Hickam Air
Force Base Hawaii - Sept. 11th, 1963"
This photograph was provided to the ARA and is the property of Tom Beck.
Tom...Thank you for the memories.
About the 76th. This picture was taken Sept. 11, 1963. Our Commander was LT. Colonel Ward. I was at Hickam 1960 - 1964. In addition to our normal search and rescue, we helped develop the floatation devices for the satellite recovery during the 1960's. I'm not sure what year the squadron was deactivated, but I think it may have been in the late 1970's. There was a lot of local guys in the squadron then. I haven't been in touch with any of them, but would like to get together and talk story.
As added interest the hangar in which the picture was taken suffered major damage Dec. 7, 1941. It had a plane loaded with bombs in it and suffered a direct hit. The explosion took out the suspended concrete ceiling and the glass windows on the hangar doors. The hangar is one of a kind at Hickam no ceiling and no widows on the doors.
I can be reached through e-mail, beck@cfht.hawaii.edu or through the CFHT home page http://www.cfht.hawaii.edu I have a page under staff.
Good job Bill, and keep up the good work.
Aloha,
Tom Beck