10th Airborne Command and Control Squadron

Last updated

10th Airborne Command and Control Squadron
Boeing EC-135H (717-148), USA - Air Force AN1131030.jpg
Boeing EC-135 landing at RAF Mildenhall
Active1942–1944; 1951–1955; 1967–1957; 1970–1991
CountryFlag of the United States.svg  United States
BranchFlag of the United States Air Force.svg  United States Air Force
Role command and control
Part of United States Air Forces Europe
Nickname(s)Skoshi Tiger (1966–1967) Silk Purse (1970–1991)
Engagements Korean War
Vietnam War
Decorations Presidential Unit Citation
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award
Vietnamese Gallantry Cross with Palm
Insignia
10th Airborne Command and Control Squadron emblem 10th Airborne Command and Control Squadron.PNG
10th Fighter Squadron, Commando emblem 10 Fighter Squadron, Commando emblem.png

The 10th Airborne Command and Control Squadron is an inactive United States Air Force unit that flew airborne command post aircraft from RAF Mildenhall, England from January 1970 to December 1991. Through a unit consolidation in September 1985, the squadron has roots in units that participated in World War II, the Korean War and the Vietnam War

Contents

The first predecessor of the squadron was the 10th Transport Squadron, which flew distinguished visitors to all areas of the globe where the Allies of World War II operated. It was disbanded in the spring of 1944 in a reorganization of Army Air Forces units.

The 10th's second predecessor was the 10th Liaison Squadron, which provided light airlift support to Fifth Air Force units during the Korean War, this squadron was inactivated in 1955.

The final predecessor was the 10th Fighter Squadron, Commando, which performed combat testing of the Northrop F-5 Freedom Fighter from April 1966 until the planes were transferred to the Viet Nam Air Force in April 1967. These three units were consolidated into a single unit in September 1985.

History

World War II

Air Transport Command C-54A C54Atonewyork (4461032313).jpg
Air Transport Command C-54A

The first predecessor of the squadron was activated on 1 March 1942 as the 10th Air Corps Ferrying Squadron at Bolling Field and equipped with a variety of transport aircraft. The squadron was the flying component of the newly-formed Bolling Field Sector, Air Corps Ferrying Command and was part of the command's Foreign Wing. [1] The squadron not only ferried aircraft overseas, it transported equipment and high-ranking officials on trans-Atlantic flights. It flew missions to support Operation Torch, the invasion of North Africa in late 1942 and early 1943. [2]

In March 1943, the squadron became the 10th Transport Squadron and moved to General Billy Mitchell Field, Wisconsin. It flew high ranking personnel to locations in the Americas, the Far East and the Southwest Pacific, notably, in October a squadron Douglas C-54 Skymaster transported ambassador Averell Harriman from Washington, DC to Moscow. The squadron became non-operational at the beginning of 1944, when most its personnel were transferred to the headquarters of the 26th Transport Group. [2] Although the squadron nominally remained behind at General Mitchell Field, the group moved to Gravelly Point, Virginia, where it continued transporting distinguished visitors.

However, the Army Air Forces was finding that standard military units, based on relatively inflexible tables of organization not well adapted to support missions. Accordingly, it adopted a more functional system in which each base was organized into a separate numbered unit. [3] Air Transport Command personnel at General Mitchell Field when the squadron disbanded there were merged into the 567th AAF Base Unit (14th Ferrying Service Station), while those at Gravelly Point became the 503d AAF Base Unit (26th Transport Group, Washington National Airport). [note 1]

Korean War

L-20 Beaver DeHaviland-CanadaL20BeaverCAM07.jpg
L-20 Beaver

The second predecessor of the squadron, the 10th Liaison Squadron was activated at Seoul Air Base in July 1951 and assigned to Fifth Air Force. Far East Air Forces had requested the organization of a unit that included Sikorsky H-19 helicopters to enable it to perform aeromedical evacuation missions, but the squadron was authorized only fixed wing aircraft, [4] limiting its mission to serving as a light transport and communications unit in Korea until inactivating in 1955. It was equipped with Stinson L-5 Sentinel and de Havilland Canada L-20 Beaver aircraft. It provided light airlift to forward units and provided courier service. It surveyed forward areas for potential sites for landing strips, and communications and radar sites. It performed regular reconnaissance of abandoned airstrips. On occasion it transported North Korean prisoners of war and airdropped arms and supplies to guerillas operating behind enemy lines. Following the armistice in Korea, it was inactivated in March 1955. [5]

Skoshi Tiger

F-5B at Bien Hoa AB F-5B 602TFS BienHoa 1966.jpg
F-5B at Bien Hoa AB

The 10th Fighter Squadron, Commando was activated at Bien Hoa Air Base, South Vietnam in April 1967 to test the Northrop F-5 Freedom Fighter in operational missions. Tactical Air Command had organized the Tactical Fighter Squadron, Provisional, 4503d at Williams Air Force Base, Arizona to begin testing the F-5 under the name "Skoshi Tiger" [note 2] on 22 July 1965, with pilots and maintenance personnel from the USAF Tactical Air Warfare Center. After conducting initial tests in the United States, the 4503d deployed a dozen of its fighters to Bien Hoa in October 1965, [6] although the squadron officially remained at Williams until 10 March 1966. [7] On 8 April, the provisional squadron was discontinued and its personnel and equipment were used to form the regular 10th Squadron. [6]

The squadron increased in size to 18 aircraft. It flew more than 7,000 operational missions, [note 3] earning a Presidential Unit Citation and a Vietnamese Gallantry Cross with Palm. [8] [9] Six squadron aircraft were lost to enemy fire. In October 1966, the squadron began to train Viet Nam Air Force (VNAF) personnel on the operation and maintenance of the F-5. After a year of testing, its aircraft were turned over to the 522nd Fighter Squadron of the VNAF 23rd Tactical Wing at Bien Hoa on 17 April 1967 [10] and the unit was inactivated, although some squadron personnel remained behind to continue training. [2] [6]

Airborne Command and Control

The 10th Airborne Command Control Squadron was activated at RAF Mildenhall in January 1970, where it replaced the 7120th Airborne Command Control Squadron to provide an airborne command post for United States Air Forces Europe. The 7120th had performed this mission (Operation Silk Purse) since 1 December 1961, when it was activated at Chateauroux Air Base, France under the 322d Air Division. Seven months later, the squadron was assigned to the host organization at Chateauroux, the 7322d Air Base Group. The 7120th was redesignated as an airborne command control squadron on 1 October 1965, and moved to Mildenhall the following month, [11] where it became part of the 513th Troop Carrier Wing on 1 July 1966. [12]

The squadron's crews flew the Boeing EC-135H Airborne Command Post to support the United States Commander-in-Chief, Europe. The battle staff in the planes were from another organization. Squadron EC-135s also served as aerial tankers after 1972. The aircraft provided communications support during exercises in support of NATO, and other agencies following overwater routes near Europe. The planes also stood alert for emergency launches at Mildenhall. In 1970 and 1980, they operated from RAF Lakenheath while repairs were made on the runway at Mildenhall. [2] With the end of the Cold War, the squadron was inactivated at the end of 1991.

Lineage

Assignments

Stations

Aircraft

Awards and campaigns

Award streamerAwardDatesNotes
Streamer PUC Army.PNG Presidential Unit Citation 8 June 1966 – 16 April 196710th Fighter Squadron, Commando [19]
AFOUA Streamer.JPG Air Force Outstanding Unit Award 1 July 1969 – 30 June 197010th Airborne Command Control Squadron [19]
AFOUA Streamer.JPG Air Force Outstanding Unit Award1 July 1972 – 30 June 197310th Airborne Command Control Squadron [19]
AFOUA Streamer.JPG Air Force Outstanding Unit Award1 July 1974 – 30 June 197510th Airborne Command Control Squadron [19]
AFOUA Streamer.JPG Air Force Outstanding Unit Award1 July 1975 – 30 June 197610th Airborne Command Control Squadron [19]
AFOUA Streamer.JPG Air Force Outstanding Unit Award1 July 1977 – 30 June 197810th Airborne Command Control Squadron [19]
AFOUA Streamer.JPG Air Force Outstanding Unit Award1 July 1980 – 30 June 198110th Airborne Command Control Squadron [19]
AFOUA Streamer.JPG Air Force Outstanding Unit Award1 July 1983 – 30 June 198510th Airborne Command Control Squadron [19]
AFOUA Streamer.JPG Air Force Outstanding Unit Award1 July 1985 – 30 June 198710th Airborne Command Control Squadron [19]
AFOUA Streamer.JPG Air Force Outstanding Unit Award1 July 1988 – 30 June 199010th Airborne Command Control Squadron [19]
AFOUA Streamer.JPG Air Force Outstanding Unit Award1 July 1990 – 30 June 199110th Airborne Command Control Squadron [19]
VGCP Streamer.jpg Vietnamese Gallantry Cross with Palm 8 April 1966 – 17 April 196710th Fighter Squadron, Commando [19]
Campaign StreamerCampaignDatesNotes
Streamer AC.PNG American Theater without inscription1 March 1942 – 31 March 194410th Air Corps Ferry Squadron (later 10th Transport Squadron)
Streamer KS.PNG UN Summer-Fall Offensive9 July 1951 – 27 November 195110th Liaison Squadron [8]
Streamer KS.PNG Second Korean Winter28 November 1951 – 30 April 195210th Liaison Squadron [8]
Streamer KS.PNG Korea Summer-Fall 19521 May 1952 – 30 November 195210th Liaison Squadron [8]
Streamer KS.PNG Third Korean Winter1 December 1952 – 30 April 195310th Liaison Squadron [8]
Streamer KS.PNG Korea Summer-Fall 19531 May 1953 – 27 July 195310th Liaison Squadron [8]
Streamer VS.PNG Vietnam Air8 April 1966 – 28 June 196610th Fighter Squadron, Commando
Streamer VS.PNG Vietnam Air Offensive29 June 1966 – 8 March 196710th Fighter Squadron, Commando
Streamer VS.PNG Vietnam Air Offensive, Phase II9 March 1967 – 17 April 196710th Fighter Squadron, Commando

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Third Air Force</span> Numbered air force of the United States Air Force responsible for the European region

The Third Air Force (Air Forces Europe) (3 AF) is a numbered air force of the United States Air Forces in Europe - Air Forces Africa (USAFE-AFAFRICA). Its headquarters is Ramstein Air Base, Germany. It is responsible for all U.S. air forces in Europe and Africa, and operations and support activities in the U.S. European Command and U.S. Africa Command's areas of responsibility. It also has a unique mission as the U.S. military's primary liaison to the British government, which is conducted through the command's 3 AF-UK headquarters at RAF Mildenhall, England.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">8th Weapons Squadron</span> Military unit

The 8th Weapons Squadron is a non-flying United States Air Force unit, assigned to the USAF Weapons School at Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">352nd Special Operations Wing</span> US Air Force formation

The 352nd Special Operations Wing is an operational unit of the United States Air Force Special Operations Command currently stationed at RAF Mildenhall, United Kingdom. The unit's heritage dates back to 1944 as an air commando unit.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">50th Troop Carrier Wing</span> Military unit

The 50th Troop Carrier Wing is an inactive United States Air Force unit. The wing was formed in 1941 as the 50th Transport Wing, a headquarters for air transport organizations of the Air Corps. In 1942, it became a training organization for troop carrier units deploying overseas. In 1943, it moved overseas, where its units participated in combat in the Mediterranean and European Theaters of Operations. Following V-E Day it remained in Europe until the fall of 1945. Its last assignment was with Third Air Force at Pope Field, North Carolina, where it was inactivated on 31 July 1946. It was redesignated the 50th Air Division in 1959, but was not activated.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">513th Air Control Group</span> Military unit

The 513th Air Control Group is an Air Reserve Component unit of the United States Air Force. It is assigned to the Tenth Air Force, Air Force Reserve Command, and is stationed at Tinker Air Force Base, Oklahoma.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">4th Special Operations Squadron</span> Military unit

The 4th Special Operations Squadron is part of the 1st Special Operations Wing at Hurlburt Field, Florida. It operates Lockheed AC-130J aircraft providing special operations capabilities.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">127th Command and Control Squadron</span> Former unit of the Kansas Air National Guard

The 127th Command and Control Squadron was a unit of the Kansas Air National Guard 184th Intelligence Wing stationed at McConnell Air Force Base, Wichita, Kansas. The 127th was a non-flying squadron operating the Distributed Common Ground System. The unit was inactivated on 29 September 2014.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">128th Airborne Command and Control Squadron</span> Military unit

The 128th Airborne Command and Control Squadron is a unit of the Georgia Air National Guard 116th Air Control Wing located at Robins Air Force Base, Georgia. The 128th is equipped with the E-8C Joint STARS.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">193rd Special Operations Squadron</span> Pennsylvania Air National Guard unit

The 193rd Special Operations Squadron is a unit of the Pennsylvania Air National Guard 193rd Special Operations Wing located at Harrisburg Air National Guard Base, Middletown, Pennsylvania, The 193rd is equipped with the EC-130J Commando Solo.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">964th Airborne Air Control Squadron</span> Military unit

The 964th Airborne Air Control Squadron 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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">965th Airborne Air Control Squadron</span> Military unit

The 965th Airborne Air Control Squadron is part of the 552d Air Control Wing at Tinker Air Force Base, Oklahoma. It operates Boeing E-3 Sentry aircraft conducting airborne command and control missions.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">966th Airborne Air Control Squadron</span> Military unit

The 966th Airborne Air Control Squadron is an active United States Air Force unit is assigned to the 552d Training 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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">7th Expeditionary Airborne Command and Control Squadron</span> Military unit

The 7th Expeditionary Airborne Command and Control Squadron is part of the 379th Air Expeditionary Wing at Al Udeid Air Base, Qatar. It operates the E-8 Joint STARS aircraft, conducting airborne command and control missions. The squadron has performed the airborne command and control mission since 1968, when it was activated in Vietnam. In 1985, the squadron was consolidated with three earlier units: The 7th Ferrying Squadron, which helped deliver aircraft to the Soviet Union from 1942 until 1944; the 7th Combat Cargo Squadron, which performed combat airlift missions in the Southwest Pacific Theater from 1944 until V-J Day, then became part of the Occupation Forces in Japan until inactivating in 1948; and the 7th Air Transport Squadron, Special, which provided airlift support for the United States' special weapons program from 1954 to 1966.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">313th Expeditionary Operations Group</span> Military unit

The 313th Expeditionary Operations Group is a Provisional United States Air Force unit, assigned to United States Air Forces in Europe to activate or inactivate as needed. It was last active at Moron Air Base, Spain, supporting Operations Odyssey Dawn and Unified Protector to enforce a no-fly zone over Libya. It was inactivated on 31 October 2011.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">315th Operations Group</span> Military unit

The 315th Operations Group is a United States Air Force Reserve unit assigned to the 315th Airlift Wing. The unit is stationed at Charleston Air Force Base, South Carolina. The 315th Group controls all operational McDonnell Douglas C-17 Globemaster III flying squadrons of the 315th Airlift Wing. It was activated in 1992, when Air Force Reserve Command implemented the Objective Wing organization.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2d Airborne Command and Control Squadron</span> Military unit

The United States Air Force's 2d Airborne Command and Control Squadron was an airborne command and control unit located at Offutt Air Force Base, Nebraska. The squadron was an integral part of the United States' Post Attack Command and Control System, performing the Operation Looking Glass mission with the Boeing EC-135 aircraft.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">407th Air Refueling Squadron</span> Military unit

The 407th Air Refueling Squadron is an inactive United States Air Force unit. It was last assigned to the 42nd Bombardment Wing at Loring Air Force Base, Maine, where it was inactivated on 1 October 1990.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">27th Tactical Air Support Squadron</span> Military unit

The 27th Tactical Air Support Squadron is an inactive United States Air Force unit. It was last active at George Air Force Base, California, as part of the 602d Tactical Air Control Wing based at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Arizona. In 1985, the squadron was consolidated with the World War II-era 27th Ferrying Squadron and the Cold War-era 27th Air Refueling Squadron.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">922nd Expeditionary Reconnaissance Squadron</span> Military unit

The 922d Expeditionary Reconnaissance Squadron is a provisional United States Air Force unit, assigned to Air Combat Command to activate or inactivate as needed. It was last assigned to the 474th Air Expeditionary Group at San Isidro Air Base, Dominican Republic in 2010.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2nd Aircraft Delivery Group</span> Military unit

The 2nd Aircraft Delivery Group is an inactive group of the United States Air Force (USAF). While it was established in 1969—as a continuation of USAF's ferrying mission dating back to 1948—it also constituted the reactivation of a unit first established as the Northeast Sector, Air Corps Ferrying Command in February 1942. As the 2nd Ferrying Group, it was the first regular U.S. Army unit to employ the Women's Auxiliary Ferrying Squadron pilots, who flew all models of aircraft until that group was disbanded in 1944. Its role was to deliver aircraft to combat units. It was made inactivate in June 1994.

References

Notes

Explanatory notes
  1. ↑ The 503d became the first unit to operate a presidential aircraft, the "Sacred Cow", for President Franklin D. Roosevelt.
  2. ↑ Skoshi (or Skosh) was military slang for small, derived from Japanese. The F-5 was much smaller than USAF fighters in operation at the time.
  3. ↑ It is not clear if the mission total includes those flown by the 4503d Squadron as well as the 10th.
Citations
  1. ↑ Administrative History, Ferrying Command, p. 67
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 "10th Airborne Command and Control Squadron" (PDF). USAF Unit History.com. 5 September 2010. Archived (PDF) from the original on 6 November 2018. Retrieved 5 November 2018.
  3. ↑ Goss, p. 75
  4. 1 2 3 Futrell, p. 549
  5. 1 2 3 4 Endicott, p. 103
  6. 1 2 3 "The Northrop F-5E Enthusiast Page: USAF Vietnam Operation". The Northrop F-5E Enthusiast Page. Archived from the original on 6 November 2018. Retrieved 5 November 2018.
  7. ↑ Mueller, p. 595
  8. 1 2 3 4 5 6 AF Pamphlet 900-2, p. 94
  9. ↑ AF Pamphlet 900-2, Vol. 2, p. 12
  10. ↑ Tambini, p. 24
  11. 1 2 Fletcher, p.130
  12. ↑ Ravenstein, pp. 279-281
  13. 1 2 3 4 Department of the Air Force/MPM Letter 662q, 19 September 85, Subject: Reconstitution, Redesignation, and Consolidation of Selected Air Force Tactical Squadrons
  14. ↑ Ravenstein, pp. 9-12
  15. ↑ Assignment through 1977 in Ravenstein, pp. 279-281
  16. ↑ Mueller, p. 44
  17. ↑ Fletcher, p. 94
  18. ↑ See Ravenstein, pp. 9-12 (3d Tactical Fighter Wing station)
  19. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 "Air Force Personnel Services: Unit Awards". Air Force Personnel Center. Archived from the original on 1 December 2018. Retrieved 5 November 2018. (search)

Bibliography

PD-icon.svg This article incorporates public domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency

This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.