6594th Test Group

The 6594th Test Group was a United States Air Force test and recovery unit stationed at Hickam Air Force Base in Hawaii. Established in 1958 to support Air Force Systems Command missile and space-development activity in the Western Pacific, it became closely associated with the recovery of reentry vehicles and reconnaissance-satellite film capsules. The unit was active under the 6594th Test Wing and, later, the Air Force Satellite Control Facility, and was inactivated on 30 September 1986. Its most distinctive work involved recovering film-return capsules launched by some of the earliest United States reconnaissance satellites, including missions associated with Project Corona. The capsules were ejected from orbit and designed to survive atmospheric reentry before descending into the Pacific. The group used aircraft, rescue swimmers, and specialized recovery crews to locate and retrieve the canisters, which were approximately the size of garbage cans. Because the descending objects could appear like shooting or falling stars, the unit adopted the motto “Catch a Falling Star.” Much of this mission remained classified until information concerning Project Corona was declassified in 1995. The group’s responsibilities extended beyond satellite film capsules. It also recovered sounding-rocket and missile nose cones during test flights and provided aviation and personnel support to the United States Coast Guard and the Honolulu Joint Rescue Coordination Center when those activities did not interfere with its primary mission. The requirement for rescue swimmers and open-water recovery expertise gave the unit a substantial secondary search-and-rescue role. It was regarded as having an unusually strong record in open-water rescues within the Air Force. The organization was formally designated the 6594th Recovery Control Group on 1 November 1959 and was redesignated the 6594th Test Group on 10 March 1966. Its associated components included the 6593rd Instrumentation Squadron and the 6593rd Test Squadron. At the time of inactivation, its personnel complement consisted of 95 officers, 409 enlisted personnel, and 16 United States Civil Service employees. Its aircraft inventory included Lockheed JC-130B and JC-130H aircraft, Sikorsky HH-53C Super Jolly helicopters, and Lockheed HC-130P aircraft. The unit’s history also includes a fatal accident on 15 January 1985, when an HH-53 helicopter crashed during a shipboard rescue attempt northwest of Honolulu, killing all seven crew members. A memorial plaque at Hickam Field commemorates them. The 6594th Test Group was inactivated in 1986 and therefore is no longer an operating military organization.

The unit originated in 1958 as a United States Air Force organization supporting missile and space-development operations in the Western Pacific. It was designated the 6594th Recovery Control Group and formally organized on 1 November 1959 under the 6594th Test Wing, later associated with the 6594th Aerospace Test Wing. Hickam Air Force Base in Hawaii remained its station throughout its existence. The group’s principal mission was the recovery of objects returning from test and space missions. It became especially important to early American reconnaissance-satellite programs, retrieving film-return capsules that had been released from orbit and reentered the atmosphere before descending into the Pacific Ocean. These capsules were among the earliest human-made objects designed to survive reentry. Recovery required aircraft crews, surface coordination, and rescue swimmers operating over large areas of open water. The group’s motto, “Catch a Falling Star,” reflected both the visual appearance of descending capsules and its specialized mission. Much of the group’s work remained classified for many years. The public record expanded after information about Project Corona was declassified in 1995, clarifying the connection between the unit’s Pacific recovery operations and early satellite reconnaissance. In addition to film capsules, the organization recovered sounding-rocket and missile nose cones during test flights. Its capabilities also made it a useful partner for civilian and military rescue authorities. The group provided support to the United States Coast Guard and the Honolulu Joint Rescue Coordination Center when those missions could be undertaken without interfering with its primary duties. Rescue swimmers were a standard part of its operational crews, and the unit developed a notable record of open-water rescues in the Air Force. On 10 March 1966, the organization was redesignated the 6594th Test Group. Its components included the 6593rd Instrumentation Squadron, active from 1959 until 1979, and the 6593rd Test Squadron, active from 1959 until 1972. From 1 July 1965 until inactivation, the group was assigned to the Air Force Satellite Control Facility. A major tragedy occurred on 15 January 1985. An HH-53 Super Jolly helicopter, operating under the call sign Arris 01, crashed while attempting a shipboard rescue mission involving the commercial vessel Asian Beauty. The aircraft was hovering above the ship when a main rotor blade broke, producing an imbalance that caused the tail to separate. All seven crew members were killed. A memorial plaque at the Hickam Field chapel commemorates them. At the time of inactivation, the group had 95 officers, 409 enlisted personnel, and 16 civil-service employees. Its aircraft consisted of seven JC-130B aircraft, three JC-130H aircraft, five HH-53C helicopters, and three HC-130P aircraft. The 6594th Test Group was inactivated on 30 September 1986, ending its organizational life at Hickam Air Force Base.

• 1995

  Project Corona material declassified

  [1]6594th Test Groupen.wikipedia.org

  Declassification of Project Corona material made more of the unit’s satellite-capsule recovery role publicly known.

• 1986

  Inactivated

  [1]6594th Test Groupen.wikipedia.org

  The 6594th Test Group was inactivated on 30 September.

• 1985

  Fatal HH-53 rescue-mission crash

  [1]6594th Test Groupen.wikipedia.org

  Seven crew members were killed when an HH-53 crashed during a shipboard rescue attempt northwest of Honolulu.

• 1966

  Redesignated as the 6594th Test Group

  [1]6594th Test Groupen.wikipedia.org

  The recovery organization adopted the 6594th Test Group designation on 10 March.

• 1965

  Assigned to the Air Force Satellite Control Facility

  [1]6594th Test Groupen.wikipedia.org

  The group came under the Air Force Satellite Control Facility on 1 July 1965.

• 1959

  Designated the 6594th Recovery Control Group

  [1]6594th Test Groupen.wikipedia.org

  The unit was formally designated and organized as the 6594th Recovery Control Group on 1 November.

• 1958

  Established for Western Pacific missile and space support

  [1]6594th Test Groupen.wikipedia.org

  The organization was established to support Air Force Systems Command missile and space-development operations in the Western Pacific.

A specialized United States Air Force space-recovery and Pacific rescue unit rather than a commercial brand.

• Space recovery operation

  Reconnaissance-satellite film capsule recovery

  The group recovered film-return capsules ejected by early reconnaissance satellites. The capsules were built to endure atmospheric reentry and descended into the Pacific, where aircraft crews and recovery personnel located and retrieved them.

• Aerospace test support

  Missile and sounding-rocket recovery

  The unit recovered nose cones and related hardware from sounding-rocket and missile test flights, extending its recovery expertise beyond satellite reconnaissance missions.

• Rescue support

  Pacific search-and-rescue support

  When primary recovery duties permitted, the group supported the United States Coast Guard and the Honolulu Joint Rescue Coordination Center. Rescue swimmers formed a standard part of its operational capability.

• 1966

  Adopted the 6594th Test Group designationStrategy

  Background

  The organization’s mission had expanded beyond recovery control to broader missile, space, and aerospace test support.

  Action taken

  The Air Force redesignated the 6594th Recovery Control Group as the 6594th Test Group on 10 March 1966.

  Aftermath

  The test-group designation remained in use until the unit was inactivated in 1986.

  Source

1. 16594th Test Groupen.wikipedia.org