962d Airborne Air Control Squadron

962d Airborne Air Control Squadron
E-3 Sentry (AWACS) aircraft
Active 1943–1945; 1955–1969; 1986–present
Country  United States
Branch  United States Air Force
Role Airborne Command and Control
Part of Pacific Air Forces
Garrison/HQ Elmendorf Air Force Base
Motto(s) Eyes of the Eagle[1]
Engagements European Theater of Operations[1]
Decorations Air Force Outstanding Unit Award[1]
Insignia
962d Airborne Air Control Squadron emblem (approved 23 October 1995)[1]
962 Airborne Warning & Control Sq emblem (approved 6 August 1986)[2]
Patch with 962d Airborne Early Warning and Control Squadron emblem (approved 14 February 1957)[2]

The 962d Airborne Air Control Squadron is part of the 3rd Wing at Elmendorf Air Force Base, Alaska. It operates the E-3 Sentry aircraft conducting airborne command and control missions.

Mission

The 962d Airborne Air Control Squadron provides the commander, U.S. Pacific Command, with a long-range airborne surveillance, detection, identification, and command and control platform for both local and deployed composite wing operations. It supports the commander's, North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD), commitment to defense of the Alaskan Region.[3]

History

Airborne warning and control

The second predecessor of the unit, the 962d Airborne Early Warning and Control Squadron, was reactivated on 8 July 1955, as a unit of the 551st Airborne Early Warning and Control Wing, with headquarters at Otis Air Force Base, Massachusetts. The squadron, equipped with various models of the propeller-driven Lockheed C-121 Constellation aircraft, was a unit of the Air Defense Command.[3]

The 962d participated in numerous operations to test the capability and readiness of the early warning system in order to extend radar coverage seaward beyond that provided by land radars. The unit provided navigational and communications assistance to U.S. and allied aircraft crossing the Atlantic Ocean and to units operating near Cape Canaveral, Florida.[3]

As an operational unit of the 551st Airborne Early Warning and Control Wing from 1955 to 1969, one of the 962's missions was to conduct search and rescue operations. One result of this role was the popularization of search operation patterns used while searching for a missing U.S. Navy aircraft in late February 1958.[3]

The unit was inactivated on 31 December 1969. Having been redesignated as the 962d Airborne Warning and Control Squadron, the unit was reactivated on 8 July 1986, at Elmendorf Air Force Base in support of the Alaskan NORAD Region. A tenant unit of the 21st Tactical Fighter Wing, the 962d was assigned to the 552nd Air Control Wing, Tactical Air Command, with headquarters at Tinker Air Force Base, Oklahoma.[3]

The mission of the 962 AWACS was to provide the 11th Air Force/Alaskan NORAD Region commander with a survivable radar platform that can extend the surveillance coverage of the land-based radar system operated by the Regional Operational Control Center. This enables battle commanders to see a threat at previously undetectable ranges and to position fighters to intercept them before they approach U.S. airspace. Since 1986, the squadron assisted in the interception of 68 Soviet aircraft.[3]

In October 1992, the squadron was redesignated to the 3rd Wing at Elmendorf, under Pacific Air Forces, and acquired the additional mission of being ready to deploy in support of commander, Pacific Command. In August 1994, the 962d was redesignated the 962 Airborne Air Control Squadron.[3]

On 22 September 1995, the squadron experienced its worst single accident. Aircraft Yukla 27 rolled for takeoff at 0746 Alaska Standard Time, remaining airborne only 42 seconds due to a massive birdstrike resulting in catastrophic damage. The crash resulted in the deaths of 22 U.S. Air Force and 2 Canadian Air Force personnel.[3]

Today, squadron aircrews take part in exercises such as Red Flag - Alaska, Team Spirit, Green Flag, and Tandem Thrust.[3]

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Lineage

862d Bombardment Squadron
  • Constituted as the 862d Bombardment Squadron (Heavy) on 14 September 1943
Activated on 1 November 1943
Redesignated 862d Bombardment Squadron, Heavy on 21 February 1944
Inactivated on 28 Aug 1945
  • Consolidated with the 962d Airborne Early Warning and Control Squadron as the 962d Airborne Warning and Control Squadron on 19 September 1985[1]


962d Airborne Air Control Squadron
  • Constituted as the 962d Airborne Early Warning and Control Squadron on 30 March 1955
Activated on 8 July 1955
Inactivated on 31 December 1969
  • Redesignated 962d Airborne Warning and Control Support Squadron on 31 July 1979
  • Consolidated with the 862d Bombardment Squadron as the 962d Airborne Warning and Control Squadron on 19 September 1985
Activated on 1 July 1986
Redesignated 962d Airborne Air Control Squadron on 1 August 1994[1]

Assignments

Stations

  • McCook Army Air Field, Nebraska, 1 November 1943 – 1 January 1944
  • Elveden Hall, England, 1 January 1944
  • RAF Debach, England, 17 April 1944
  • RAF Wormingford, England, 17 February 1945
  • RAF Debach, England, 18 May–6 August 1945
  • Sioux Falls Army Air Field, South Dakota, c. 13–28 Aug 1945
  • Otis Air Force Base, Massachusetts, 8 July 1955 – 31 December 1969
  • Elmendorf Air Force Base, Alaska, 1 July 1986 – present[1]

Aircraft

References

Notes

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Robertson, Patsy (March 31, 2008). "Factsheet 962 Airborne Air Control Squadron (PACAF)". Air Force Historical Research Agency. Retrieved December 24, 2017.
  2. 1 2 Endicott, p. 896
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 962 AACS Fact Sheet

Bibliography

 This article incorporates public domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency website http://www.afhra.af.mil/.

  • Maurer, Maurer, ed. (1983) [1961]. Air Force Combat Units of World War II (PDF) (reprint ed.). Washington, DC: Office of Air Force History. ISBN 0-912799-02-1. LCCN 61060979. Retrieved December 17, 2016.
  • Maurer, Maurer, ed. (1982) [1969]. Combat Squadrons of the Air Force, World War II (PDF) (reprint ed.). Washington, DC: Office of Air Force History. ISBN 0-405-12194-6. LCCN 70605402. OCLC 72556. Retrieved December 17, 2016.
  • Ravenstein, Charles A. (1984). Air Force Combat Wings, Lineage & Honors Histories 1947-1977 (PDF). Washington, DC: Office of Air Force History. ISBN 0-912799-12-9. Retrieved December 17, 2016.
  • Endicott, Judy G. (1998). Active Air Force Wings as of 1 October 1995 and USAF Active Flying, Space, and Missile Squadrons as of 1 October 1995 (PDF). Air Force History and Museums Program. Washington, DC: Office of Air Force History. ASIN B000113MB2. Retrieved July 2, 2014.
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