966th Airborne Air Control Squadron
966th Airborne Air Control Squadron
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Active | 1942–1944; 1944–1945; 1961–1969; 1976–present |
Country | United States |
Branch | United States Air Force |
Role | Airborne Command and Control |
Part of | Air Combat Command |
Garrison/HQ | Tinker Air Force Base |
Motto(s) | Protection by Professionals (1963-1989) Sweat more... Bleed Less (unk-present) |
Engagements | China-Burma-India Theater[1] |
Decorations | Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with Combat "V" Device Air Force Outstanding Unit Award Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm[1] |
Commanders | |
Current commander | Lt Col Tysen Pina |
Insignia | |
966th Airborne Air Control Squadron emblem (approved 14 May 1989)[1] | |
966th Airborne Early Warning & Control Squadron emblem (approved 14 June 1963)[1] |
The 966th Airborne Air Control Squadron is an active United States Air Force unit is assigned to the , 552d Air Control Wing at Tinker Air Force Base, Oklahoma. It operates the E-3 Sentry (AWACS) aircraft conducting airborne command and control missions.
The squadron is the E-3 Sentry formal training unit (FTU) for all Airborne Warning and Control System aircrew and currently falls under the authority of Air Combat Command and Fifteenth Air Force.[2][3]
Mission[]
The 966th Airborne Air Control Squadron is Air Combat Command's largest flying training unit, providing training for all active and reserve E-3 Sentry pilots and mission crew. Training approximately 500 students every year.[4]
Provide the Combat Air Force with airborne systems and personnel for surveillance, warning and control of strategic, tactical, and special mission forces.[5]
History[]
World War II[]
The squadron conducted replacement training from August 1942 – November 1943 and flew evacuation missions and light transport services for ground forces in Burma from 13 November 1944 – 10 May 1945.[1]
Airborne warning and control[]
It provided airborne radar surveillance from 1962 to 1969 and rotated aircrews to Southeast Asia from c. 4 April 1965 – c. December 1969. The 966th has trained aircrews since 1977.[1]
Lineage[]
- 466th Bombardment Squadron
- Constituted as the 466th Bombardment Squadron (Heavy) on 9 July 1942
- Activated on 15 July 1942
- Inactivated on 1 April 1944
- Consolidated with the 166th Liaison Squadron and the 966th Airborne Warning and Control Training Squadron as the 966th Airborne Warning and Control Training Squadron on 19 September 1985[1]
- 166th Liaison Squadron
- Constituted as the 166th Liaison Squadron (Commando) on 9 August 1944
- Activated on 3 September 1944
- Inactivated on 3 November 1945
- Consolidated with the 466th Bombardment Squadron and the 966th Airborne Warning and Control Training Squadron as the 966th Airborne Warning and Control Training Squadron on 19 September 1985[1]
966th Airborne Early Warning and Control Squadron
- Constituted as the 966th Airborne Early Warning and Control Squadron and activated on 18 December 1961 (not organized)
- Organized on 1 February 1962
- Inactivated on 31 December 1969
- Redesignated 966th Airborne Warning and Control Training Squadron on 5 May 1976
- Activated on 1 July 1976
966th Airborne Air Control Squadron
- Consolidated with the 166th Liaison Squadron and the 466th Bombardment Squadron on 19 September 1985
- Redesignated 966th Airborne Air Control Squadron on 1 July 1994[1]
Assignments[]
- 333d Bombardment Group, 15 July 1942 – 1 April 1944
- 1st Air Commando Group, 3 September 1944 – 3 November 1945
- Air Defense Command, 18 December 1961 (not organized)
- 551st Airborne Early Warning and Control Wing, 1 February 1962
- 552d Airborne Early Warning and Control Wing, 1 May 1963
- 551st Airborne Early Warning and Control Wing, 1 July 1969
- 552d Airborne Early Warning and Control Wing, 15 November-31 December 1969
- 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 1976
- 552d Operations Group, 29 May 1992 – present[1]
Stations[]
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Aircraft[]
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Operations[]
B-17 Flying Fortress (1942) |
B-24 Liberator (1943–1944) |
L-5 Sentinel (1944–1945) |
UC–64 Norseman (1944–1945) |
RC-121 (1962–1963) |
EC-121 Warning Star (1963–1969) |
WC-135 (1977–1979) |
E-3 Sentry (since 1977) |
References[]
Notes[]
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l "Factsheet 966 Airborne Air Control Squadron". Air Force Historical Research Agency. 31 March 2008. Retrieved 4 January 2021.
- ^ "Unit Spotlight on 966th Airborne Air Control Squadron". Retrieved 8 March 2020.[dead link]
- ^ Rangel, 2Lt Danny (11 May 2020). "966th Airborne Air Control Squadron Continues Mission Despite COVID-19". 72nd Air Base Wing Public Affairs. Retrieved 3 January 2021.
- ^ "966 Airborne Air Control Squadron" (PDF). USAF Unit History. 18 March 2020. Retrieved 8 March 2020.
- ^ "Library: Factsheets 552nd Operations Group". 552nd Air Control Wing Public Affairs. 1 June 2007. Archived from the original on 24 January 2016. Retrieved 4 January 2021.
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 17 December 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.
- 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 17 December 2016.
- Military units and formations in Oklahoma
- Air control squadrons of the United States Air Force
- 1942 establishments in Kansas