▁and ▁equipment . ▁ ▁The ▁squad ron ▁mission ▁was ▁to ▁intercept ▁aircraft ▁in ▁dist ress ▁while ▁crossing ▁the ▁Atlantic ▁and ▁to ▁esc ort ▁them ▁back ▁to ▁La jes ▁Field . ▁ ▁The ▁ 5 7 th ▁also ▁provided ▁search ▁and ▁rescue ▁for ▁both ▁down ed ▁aircraft ▁and ▁for ▁ships . ▁ ▁One ▁of ▁the ▁squad ron ' s ▁most ▁notable ▁achiev ements ▁occurred ▁in ▁ 1 9 5 9 , ▁when ▁a ▁Portuguese ▁ship , ▁the ▁SS ▁Ar nel , ▁which ▁had ▁struck ▁rocks ▁near ▁the ▁island ▁of ▁Santa ▁Maria . ▁ ▁The ▁squad ron ▁ev acu ated ▁ 4 8 ▁persons ▁from ▁the ▁Ar nel . ▁ ▁By ▁the ▁early ▁ 1 9 6 0 s ▁the ▁squad ron ▁had ▁assumed ▁the ▁mission ▁of ▁providing ▁support ▁for ▁Project ▁Gem ini ▁and ▁Project ▁Apol lo ▁space ▁miss ions . ▁ ▁To ▁reflect ▁this ▁mission , ▁it ▁was ▁renamed ▁the ▁ 5 7 th ▁Air ▁Rec overy ▁Squadron ▁in ▁July ▁ 1 9 6 5 . ▁ ▁The ▁following ▁January ▁Air ▁Res cue ▁Service ▁became ▁A eros pace ▁Res cue ▁and ▁Rec overy ▁Service ▁and ▁all ▁of ▁its ▁squad rons ▁were ▁renamed , ▁no ▁matter ▁their ▁mission . ▁ ▁The ▁squad ron ▁was ▁in activ ated ▁at ▁La jes ▁in ▁late ▁ 1 9 7 2 , ▁when ▁the ▁Portuguese ▁Air ▁Force ▁assumed ▁the ▁mid - At l antic ▁rescue ▁mission . ▁ ▁The ▁ 5 7 th ▁was ▁react iv ated ▁as ▁the ▁ 5 7 th ▁Res cue ▁Squadron ▁at ▁L aken