780th Aircraft Control and Warning Squadron

Infobox Military Unit
unit_name= 780th Aircraft Control and Warning Squadron


caption= Official crest of the 780th Aircraft Control and Warning Squadron
dates= April 1952–September 1979
country= United States
allegiance=
branch= United States Air Force
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size= 270 personnel at peak manning
command_structure= Air Defense Command
see "Assignments" section below
garrison= Fortuna Air Force Station
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equipment= see "Equipment" section below
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decorations= see "Lineage and honors" section below
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The 780th Aircraft Control and Warning Squadron (780 AC&W) was stationed at Fortuna Air Force Station North Dakota as part of the Pinetree Line, then as a Long Range Radar site.

History

Background of name

Mission

Operations

Lineage and honors

* 780 Aircraft Control and Warning Squadron activated, April 1952;
* Reallocated to SAGE operations, c. 1961;
* Reallocated to BUIC II operations;
* Reallocated to LRR operations;
* Reallocated to BUIC III operations, c. 1969–1 January 1974;
* Deactivated, September 1979.

Service streamers

This unit earned the following organizational service streamers:

none

Campaign streamers

This unit earned the following organizational campaign streamers:

none

Armed forces expeditionary streamers

This unit earned the following organizational expeditionary streamers:

none

Decorations

This unit earned the following organizational decorations:

none

Awards

Emblem

Description

Significance

: "The emblem of the 780th Radar Squadron depicts the mission of the unit by use of a stylized antenna, scope, and interceptor."

Approval date

Assignments

* 24th Norad Region (Malmstron Air Force Base, Montana)
* 29th Air Division, Richards-Gebaur AFB, Mo.

Components

Squadron sections include:; Motor Pool; Squadron Headquarters; Dining; Medical Aid; Mail Room; Civil Engineering; Security Police; Communications - Electronics Maintenance; AN/FPS-35 : search radar maintenance; Communications Center; Recreational Services; Long Range Radar : radar maintenance; AN/FYQ-47 : link with Regional Control Center; AN/FPS-26A : height-finder radar maintenance; Ground-to-Air Transmitter Receiver : radar communications maintenance; Library; Education Office; Family Services; Housing Office

Stations

Fortuna Air Force Station, North Dakota, August 1951.

: "DC" prefix designation = SAGE Direction Center: "P" prefix designation = Pinetree: "Z" prefix designation = SAGE LRRS

; GATR : Ground to Air Transmitter-Receiver; JSS : Joint Surveillance System; LRSS : Long Range Radar Site; SDC : Sector Direction Center

Equipment

* FPS-3 search, 1952;
* FPS-4 height, 1952–1960;
* GPS-3 search, 1957;
* TPS-10D, 1958;
* FPS-20A search, 1958–1963;
* (2x) FPS-6A height, 1960–1963, (1x) –1964;
* FPS-35 search, 1963–1964, 1967;
* FPS-90 height, 1963–1969;
* FPS-26A height, 1964;
* FPS-63 search, 1965–1967;

Commanders

* Major Phillip J. Acton
* Lt. Col. Pebles
* Major Harold E. Daniel

References

* cite book
last = Winkler
first = David Frank
authorlink =
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others = Prepared for United States Air Force Headquarters Air Combat Command
title = Searching the skies : the legacy of the United States Cold War defense radar program
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year = 1997
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publisher = Headquarters Air Combat Command
location = Langley AFB, VA
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id = LCCN|97|0|20912
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* cite book
last = Cupples
first = Major Leland
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coauthors = Lieutenant Perry Knockel, Lieutenant Gerald Kaiser
editor =
others = Chief Master Sergeant Gene Derrickson, Master Sergeant J.C. Underwood, Master Sergeant Vernon Humphries, Technical Sergeant Layton Scarbro
title = 780th Radar Squadron (Fortuna Air Force Station) Personnel Brochure
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publisher = Williston Herald
location = Williston, ND
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External links

* [http://www.radomes.org/ Air Defense Radar Veterans’ Association]
* [http://www.radomes.org/museum/index.html Online Air Defense Radar Museum]