962d Airborne Air Control Squadron

Infobox Military Unit
unit_name= 962d Airborne Air Control Squadron


caption= 962d Airborne Air Control Squadron Patch
dates= 1 November 1943 - 28 August 1945
8 July 1955 - 31 December 1969
1 July 1986 - Present
country= United States
allegiance=
branch=United States Air Force
type= Airborne Command and Control
role=
size=
command_structure= Pacific Air Forces
11th Air Force
3d Wing
3d Operations Group
current_commander=
garrison= Elmendorf Air Force Base
ceremonial_chief=
colonel_of_the_regiment=
nickname=
patron=
motto= Eyes of the Eagle
colors=
march=
mascot=
battles=
notable_commanders=
anniversaries=
decorations=
battle_honours=

The 962d Airborne Air Control Squadron (962 AACS) is part of the 3d 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. [http://www.elmendorf.af.mil/library/factsheets/factsheet.asp?id=7715 962 AACS Fact Sheet] ]

History

The squadron flew combat in the European Theater of Operations from, 6 June 1944–15 February 1945 and weather reconnaissance from, 17 February–7 May 1945. [http://afhra.maxwell.af.mil/rso/squadrons_flights_pages/0962aacs.html AFHRA 962 AACS Page] ]

The 962d 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 C-121 Constellation aircraft, was a unit of the Air Defense Command.

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.

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.

The unit was inactivated on 31 December 1969. Having been redesignated as the 962nd 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 962 AWACS was assigned to the 552d Air Control Wing, Tactical Air Command, with headquarters at Tinker Air Force Base, Oklahoma. 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.

In October 1992, the squadron was redesignated to the 3d Wing, Elmendorf AFB, under Pacific Air Forces, and acquired the additional mission of being ready to deploy in support of commander, Pacific Command. In August 1994, the 962 AWACS was redesignated the 962 AACS.

On 22 September 1995, the squadron experienced its worst single accident. Aircraft Yukla 27 rolled for takeoff at 0746 Alaska Standard Time (AST) 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.

Today, squadron aircrews take part in exercises such as Red Flag - Alaska, TEAM SPIRIT, GREEN FLAG, and TANDEM THRUST.

=Operations=

*World War II
*Operation Desert Storm

=Lineage=

*862d Bombardment Squadron (Heavy) (1943 - 1944)
*862d Bombardment Squadron, Heavy (1944 - 1955)
*962d Airborne Early Warning and Control Squadron (1954 - 1979)
*962d Airborne Warning and Control Support Squadron (1979 - 1985)
*962d Airborne Warning and Control Squadron (1985 - 1994)
*962d Airborne Air Control Squadron (1994 - Present)

=Assignments=

*493d Bombardment Group (1943 - 1945)
**Attached: 3d Air Division (17 February - 7 May 1945)
*551st Airborne Early Warning and Control Wing (1955 - 1969)
*28th Air Division (1986 - 1992)
*552d Air Control Wing (1992 - 1993)
*3d Wing (1993 - Present)

=Bases stationed=

*McCook Army Airfield, Nebraska (1943 - 1994)
*RAF Elveden Hall, England (1944)
*RAF Debach, England (1944 - 1945)
*RAF Wormingford, England (1945)
*Sioux Falls Army Air Field, South Dakota (1945)
*Otis Air Force Base, Massachusetts (1955 - 1969)
*Elmendorf Air Force Base, Alaska (1986 - Present)

=Aircraft Operated=

*B-24 Liberator (1944)
*B-17 Flying Fortress (1944 - 1945)
*P-51 Mustang (1945)
*C-121 Constellation (1955 - 1969)
*E-3 Sentry (1986 - Present)

References

Notes

Bibliography

* [http://afhra.maxwell.af.mil/rso/squadrons_flights_pages/0962aacs.html AFHRA 962d Airborne Air Control Squadron History]
* [http://www.elmendorf.af.mil/library/factsheets/factsheet.asp?id=7715 962d Aiborne Air Control Squadron Fact Sheet]

ee also