The squadron provides mission-ready personnel to operate and maintain the Alaskan Region Air Operations Center (RAOC) of the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD). It integrates fixed and airborne radar into the NORAD Global Command and Control System (NGCCS), and conducts 24-hour Alaskan NORAD Region (ANR) and Eleventh Air Force (11th AF) air sovereignty and theater air control operations.[1]
The 176th Air Defense Squadron is unique amongst the other American sectors in that it controls the only sector within its region, while the Eastern Air Defense Sector and Western Air Defense Sector both comprise the Continental NORAD Region (CONR). In addition to this distinction, it is the only sector that has regular reported intercepts of foreign military aircraft, with multiple intercepts of Russian Tu-95 "Bear" aircraft through its lifetime.
History
The 176th Air Defense Squadron traces its lineage, honors and history to Murphy Dome Air Force Station (AFS), (originally situated in a mountainous region known as the Yukon-Tanana Upland, 20 miles northwest of Fairbanks, Alaska). It was one of the ten original aircraft control and warning sites constructed during the early 1950s to establish a permanent air defense system in Alaska.
Murphy Dome was initially operated by a detachment of the 532d Aircraft Control and Warning Group, Ladd Air Force Base (now Fort Wainwright). When the 532d was inactivated in 1951, the site was then operated by a detachment of the 13rd[clarification needed]
Aircraft Control and Warning Squadron, Alaska Air National Guard. As part of HQ Alaskan Air Command's (HQ AAC) plan to upgrade all remote sites to full squadrons, the 744th Aircraft Control and Warning Squadron (744th ACWS) was activated at Murphy Dome on 1 February 1953 with an authorized strength of 249 personnel.
The mission of the 744th ACWS was to support, administer and train assigned personnel to perform air defense missions, support tactical missions as directed by HQ AAC, and operate and maintain the Murphy Dome AFS.
In 1977, the 744th ACWS was assigned to the newly reactivated 531st Aircraft Control and Warning Group (531st ACWG). The 531 ACWG was later re-designated the 11th Tactical Control Group (11th TCG) in 1981.
In the early 1980s, construction began on a new NORAD Region Operations Control Center (ROCC) at Elmendorf AFB, which would be responsible for managing all air defense operations in Alaska, making all manned remote radar sites redundant. The 744th ACWS was selected to man the ROCC, which achieved full operational status on 15 September 1983. All remote radar squadrons were inactivated by 1 November 1983. Under HQ Alaskan Air Command's SEEK IGLOO program, civilian manning at all remote radar sites was reduced to approximately four civilian personnel per site.
In 1989, the 744th ACWS was aligned under the newly established 11th Tactical Control Wing (11 TCW). In 1992, this wing was renamed the 11th Air Control Wing (11 ACW), and the 744 ACWS was renamed the 744th Air Defense Squadron (744th ADS). The 11th ACW was reorganized on 1 July 1994 as the 611th Air Operations Group (611th AOG), and the 744th ADS was renamed the 611th Air Control Squadron (611th ACS).
In 2001, the 611th ACS began a four-year transition to the Alaska Air National Guard. On 1 October 2004, the 611th ACS was officially inactivated and the 176th ACS was ceremonially recognized. Thus, the 176th ACS traces its heritage and honors from the original 744 ACWS/ADS, handed down over the past 50 years. In September 2013, the 176th ACS was re-designated as the 176th Air Defense Squadron (176th ADS).
Lineage
Emblem of the 744th Aircraft Control and Warning Squadron.
Activated as 744th Aircraft Control and Warning Squadron, 1 February 1953
Re-designated: 744th Air Defense Squadron, 1 October 1992
Re-designated: 611th Air Control Squadron, 1 July 1994
Inactivated on 1 October 2004
Established as: 176th Air Control Squadron and allocated to Alaska ANG in 2004
Received federal recognition on 1 October 2004, assuming personnel and equipment of 611th Air Control Squadron (Inactivated)
Re-Established as:176th Air Defense Squadron in August 2013.
Note: No direct lineage or history between 611th ACS and 176th ACS
Assignments
532d Aircraft Control and Warning Group, 1 February 1953
531st Aircraft Control and Warning Group, 1 October 1977
The squadron has earned four Air Force Outstanding Unit Awards for the following periods: 13 August 1967 – 21 August 1967, 1 January 1976 – 31 December 1976, 1 January 1978 – 31 December 1978, 1 July 1982 – 8 November 1983, 1 July 1994 – 30 June 1996, and 1 October 1999 – 30 September 2001
The Eleventh Air Force (11 AF) is a Numbered Air Force of the United States Air Force Pacific Air Forces (PACAF). It is headquartered at Joint Base Elmendorf–Richardson, Alaska.
The Alaskan Air Command (AAC) is an inactive United States Air Force Major Command originally established in 1942 under the United States Army Air Forces. Its mission was to organize and administer the air defense system of Alaska, exercise direct control of all active measures, and coordinate all passive means of air defense. In addition, the command also supported Strategic Air Command elements operating through and around Alaska. It was redesignated Eleventh Air Force on 9 August 1990 and, concurrently, status changed from a major command of the United States Air Force to a subordinate organization of Pacific Air Forces.
The Alaska Air National Guard (AK ANG) is the aerial militia of the State of Alaska, United States of America. It is, along with the Alaska Army National Guard, an element of the Alaska National Guard.
The 343d Wing is an inactive United States Air Force unit. Its last assignment was with Pacific Air Forces at Eielson Air Force Base, Alaska, where it was inactivated on 20 August 1993. The unit was formed at Eielson as the 343d Composite Wing and activated in October 1981 to replace the 5010th Combat Support Group. It operated both fighter and forward air control aircraft. In 1991, it also became the administrator for periodic Exercise Cope Thunder operations, which moved to Alaska from the Philippines after the eruption of Mount Pinatubo resulted in the evacuation of units from Clark Air Base When the wing was inactivated, it was replaced at Eielson by the 354th Fighter Wing.
The 611th Air Operations Center is an active unit of the United States Air Force's Eleventh Air Force. Based at Joint Base Elmendorf–Richardson, Alaska, it was activated in 1994.
The 176th Wing is a unit of the Alaska Air National Guard, stationed at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson (JBER), Anchorage, Alaska. If activated to federal service, components of the Wing are gained by several United States Air Force Major Commands.
Tatalina Air Force Station is a closed United States Air Force General Surveillance Radar station. It is located 13 miles (21 km) west-southwest of McGrath, Alaska.
Campion Air Force Station is a closed United States Air Force General Surveillance Radar station. It is located 6.4 miles (10.3 km) east-southeast of Galena, Alaska.
Tin City Long Range Radar Site is a United States Air Force radar station. It is located 106.3 miles (171.1 km) west-northwest of Nome, Alaska. It is the former Tin City Air Force Station.
Murphy Dome Air Force Station is a closed United States Air Force General Surveillance Radar station 20.4 miles (32.8 km) west-northwest of Fairbanks, Alaska.
Elmendorf Air Force Base is a United States Air Force (USAF) facility in Anchorage, Alaska. Originally known as Elmendorf Field, it became Elmendorf Air Force Base after World War II.
King Salmon Air Force Station is a closed United States Air Force General Surveillance Radar station. It is located 0.4 miles (0.64 km) west of King Salmon, Alaska.
Cape Newenham Air Force Station is a closed United States Air Force General Surveillance Radar station. It is located 67.5 miles (108.6 km) west-southwest of Togiak, Alaska.
Indian Mountain Air Force Station is a closed United States Air Force General Surveillance Radar station. It is located 15.8 miles (25.4 km) east of Hughes, Alaska.
Cape Lisburne Air Force Station is a closed United States Air Force General Surveillance Radar station. It is located 276.5 miles (445.0 km) west-southwest of Point Barrow, Alaska.
Fort Yukon Long Range Radar Site is a radar site of the United States Air Force. It is located 1.6 miles (2.6 km) east-southeast of Fort Yukon, Alaska.
Kotzebue Air Force Station is a closed United States Air Force General Surveillance Radar station. It is located 4 miles (6.4 km) south of Kotzebue, Alaska.
Sparrevohn Air Force Station is a closed United States Air Force General Surveillance Radar station. It is located 356 miles (573 km) southwest of Fairbanks, Alaska.
Cold Bay Air Force Station is a closed United States Air Force General Surveillance Radar station. It is located 625 miles (1,006 km) southwest of Anchorage, Alaska.
The 11th Air Control Wing is an inactive unit of the United States Air Force, last stationed at Elmendorf Air Force Base, Alaska. It was assigned to the Pacific Air Forces' Eleventh Air Force and was inactivated in 1994.
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.
United States 
Alaska 
Air National Guard 
