964th Airborne Air Control Squadron

964th Airborne Air Control Squadron
964th Airborne Air Control Squadron
	552d Air Control Wing Boeing E-3 Sentry
Active	1942-1944; 1944–1945; 1955–1974; 1997-present
Country	United States
Branch	United States Air Force
Role	Airborne Command and Control
Part of	Air Combat Command; 12th Air Force ; 552d Air Control Wing ; 552d Operations Group
Garrison/HQ	Tinker Air Force Base
Decorations	Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with V Device ; Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm
Insignia
964th Airborne Air Control Squadron emblem
18th Antisubmarine Squadron emblem (approved 10 April 1943)

The 964th Airborne Air Control Squadron (964 AACS) is assigned to the 552d Operations Group, 552d Air Control Wing at Tinker Air Force Base, Oklahoma. It operates the E-3 Sentry (AWACS) aircraft conducting airborne command and control missions.

Mission[]

Provide the Combat Air Force with airborne systems and personnel for surveillance, warning and control of strategic, tactical, and special mission forces.^[2]

History[]

The squadron was an operational training unit for 25th Antisubmarine Wing from, November 1942–October 1943. It went on to train B-17 Flying Fortress replacement crews from, November 1943–April 1944.^[1]

It conducted visual reconnaissance, medical evacuation, and light transport services for ground forces in Burma from, 19 December 1944 until 3 May 1945.^[3]

The 964th flew long range surveillance missions in the late 1950s. It rotated aircrews to Southeast Asia from, c. 4 April 1965 – 17 May 1974. The 964th also flew combat support missions in Southwest Asia from, 17 January–6 March 1991.

Lineage[]

4th Search Attack Squadron

Constituted as the 362d Bombardment Squadron (Heavy) on 28 January 1942

Activated on 15 July 1942

Redesignated 18th Antisubmarine Squadron (Heavy) on 29 November 1942

Redesignated 4th Sea Search Attack Squadron (Heavy) on 23 October 1943

Redesignated 4th Search Attack Squadron (Heavy) on 22 November 1943

Disbanded on 10 April 1944^[1]

Reconstituted on 19 September 1985 and consolidated with the 164th Liaison Squadron (Commando) and the 964th Airborne Warning and Control Squadron as the 964th Airborne Warning and Control Squadron ^[4]

164th Liaison Squadron

Constituted as the 164th Liaison Squadron (Commando) on 9 August 1944

Activated on 3 September 1944

Inactivated on 3 November 1945^[3]

Consolidated with the 4th Search Attack Squadron and the 964th Airborne Warning and Control Squadron as the 964th Airborne Warning and Control Squadron^[4]

964th Airborne Air Control Squadron

Constituted as the 964th Airborne Early Warning and Control Squadron on 8 December 1954

Activated on 8 March 1955

Inactivated on 30 June 1974

Redesignated 964th Airborne Warning and Control Squadron on 7 February 1977

Activated on 1 July 1977

Consolidated with the 4th Search Attack Squadron and the 164th Liaison Squadron ^[4]

Assignments[]

304th Bombardment Group, 15 July 1942
25th Antisubmarine Wing, 30 December 1942
Army Air Forces Antisubmarine Command, 24 August 1943 (attached to 1st Sea-Search Attack Unit after 30 September 1943)
1st Search Attack Group, 23 October 1943 – 10 April 1944^[1]
1st Air Commando Group, 3 September 1944 – 3 November 1945^[3]
8th Air Division, 8 March 1955
552d Airborne Early Warning and Control Wing, 8 July 1955 – 30 June 1974
552d Airborne Warning and Control Wing (later, 552d Airborne Warning and Control Division; 552d Airborne Warning and Control Wing, 552d Air Control Wing), 1 July 1977
552d Operations Group, 29 May 1992–present

Stations[]

Salt Lake City Army Air Base, Utah, 15 July 1942
Geiger Field, Washington, 15 September 1942
Ephrata Army Air Base, Washington, 1 October 1942
Langley Field, Virginia, 29 October 1942 – 10 April 1944^[1]
Burnpur Airfield, India, 3 September 1944
Inbaung Airfield, Burma, 19 December 1944
Kan Airfield, Burma, 15 January 1945
Burnpur Airfield, India, 31 January 1945
Shwebo Airfield, Burma, 20 February 1945

Ondaw Airfield, Burma, 12 March 1945
Burnpur Airfield, India, 31 March 1945
Sinthe Airfield, Burma, 20 April 1945
Magwe Airfield, Burma, 4 May 1945
Burnpur Airfield, India, 10 May-6 October 1945
Camp Kilmer, New Jersey, 1–3 November 1945^[3]
McClellan Air Force Base, California, 8 March 1955 – 30 June 1974
Tinker Air Force Base, Oklahoma, 1 July 1977–present

Aircraft operated[]

B-18 Bolo (1942–1943)
A-20 Havoc (1942–1943)
B-24 Liberator (1942–1943)
B-34 Lexington (1942–1943)
B-17 Flying Fortress (1942–1944)^[1]

L-5 Sentinel (1944–1945)
C-64 Norseman (1944–1945)^[3]
RC-121 (1955–1963)
EC-121 Warning Star (1963–1974)
E-3 Sentry (1977–present)

Operations[]

World War II
Vietnam War
Operation Desert Shield
Operation Desert Storm
Operation Deliberate Force
Operation Enduring Freedom
Operation Iraqi Freedom
Operation Unified Protector
Operation Inherent Resolve

References[]

Notes[]

^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f Maurer, Combat Squadrons, p. 30
^ 552 OG Fact Sheet Archived 2011-07-22 at the Wayback Machine
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e Maurer, Combat Squadrons, p. 363
^ ^a ^b ^c Department of the Air Force/MPM Letter 662q, 19 September 85, Subject: Reconstitution, Redesignation, and Consolidation of Selected Air Force Tactical Squadrons

Bibliography[]

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

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.

External links[]

AFHRA 964th Airborne Air Control Squadron History^{[dead link]}
552d Operations Group Fact Sheet

[Maurer4SAS-1] ^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f Maurer, Combat Squadrons, p. 30

[552_OG_Fact_Sheet-2] 552 OG Fact Sheet Archived 2011-07-22 at the Wayback Machine

[Maurer164LS-3] Maurer, Combat Squadrons, p. 363

[DAFMPM662q-4] Department of the Air Force/MPM Letter 662q, 19 September 85, Subject: Reconstitution, Redesignation, and Consolidation of Selected Air Force Tactical Squadrons

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