961st Airborne Air Control Squadron

Infobox Military Unit
unit_name= 961st Airborne Air Control Squadron


caption= 961st Airborne Air Control Squadron Patch
dates= 15 January 1941 - 27 December 1945
18 December 1954 - 31 December 1969
1 October 1979 - Present
country= United States
allegiance=
branch=United States Air Force
type= Airborne Command and Control
role=
size=
command_structure= Pacific Air Forces
5th Air Force
18th Wing
18th Operations Group
current_commander=
garrison= Kadena Air Base
ceremonial_chief=
colonel_of_the_regiment=
nickname=
patron=
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The 961st Airborne Air Control Squadron (961 AACS) is part of the 18th Wing at Kadena Air Base, Japan. It operates the E-3 Sentry aircraft conducting airborne command and control missions.

Mission

Provide airborne command and control, long-range surveillance, detection and identification information for commanders in support of U.S. goals. [http://www.kadena.af.mil/library/factsheets/factsheet.asp?id=9581 18 OG Fact Sheet] ]

History

The squadron was an operational and later replacement training unit from, 1942–1944. It went on to fly combat missions in the Western Pacific from, c. 6 April–14 August 1945. [http://afhra.maxwell.af.mil/rso/squadrons_flights_pages/0961aacs.html AFHRA 961 AACS Page] ]

The 961st flew radar surveillance missions along East Coast of the United States from, 18 December 1954–31 December 1969. The squadron assisted with the coverage of salvage operations of downed Korean Air Lines Flight 007, 1–10 September 1983. It has served as the airborne command and control for the commander, United States Pacific Command and supported US forces counter air interdiction, close air support, search and rescue, reconnaissance, and airlift operations since 1980.

=Operations=

*World War II

=Lineage=

*61st Bombardment Squadron (Heavy) (1940 - 1944)
*61st Bombardment Squadron, Very Heavy (1944 - 1954)
*961st Airborne Early Warning and Control Squadron (1954 - 1979)
*961st Airborne Warning and Control Support Squadron (1979 - 1982)
*961st Airborne Warning and Control Squadron (1982 - 1994)
*961st Airborne Air Control Squadron (1994 - Present)

=Assignments=

*39th Bombardment Group (1941 - 1945)
*551st Airborne Early Warning and Control Wing (1954 - 1969)
*552d Airborne Warning and Control Division (1979 - 1985)
*28th Air Division (1985 - 1990)
*313th Air Division (1990 - 1991)
**Attached: 5th Air Force (1990 - 1991)
*18th Wing (1991 - Present)

=Bases stationed=

*Fort Douglas, Utah (1941)
*Felts Field, Washington (1941)
*Geiger Field, Washington (1941 - 1942)
*Davis-Monthan Field, Arizona (1942 - 1944)
*Dalhart Army Air Field, Texas (1944)
*Smoky Hill Army Air Field, Kansas (1944 - 1945)
*North Field, Guam (1945)
*Camp Anza, California (1945)
*Otis Air Force Base, Massachusetts (1954 - 1969)
*Kadena Air Base, Japan (1979 - Present)

=Aircraft Operated=

*B-17 Flying Fortress (1941 - 1942)
*B-24 Liberator (1942 - 1944)
*B-29 Superfortress (1944 - 1945)
*C-121 Constellation (1955 - 1969)
*E-3 Sentry (1979 - Present)

References

Notes

Bibliography

* [http://afhra.maxwell.af.mil/rso/squadrons_flights_pages/0961aacs.html AFHRA 961st Airborne Air Control Squadron History]
* [http://www.kadena.af.mil/library/factsheets/factsheet.asp?id=9581 18th Operations Group Fact Sheet]

Also See