26th Air Defense Missile Squadron

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26th Air Defense Missile Squadron
later 26th Tactical Missile Squadron
Otis Air Force Base Bomarc-B missile.jpg
Bomarc missile at Otis AFB
Active1942-1943, 1959-1972
CountryFlag of the United States (23px).png  United States
BranchFlag of the United States Air Force.svg  United States Air Force
Role Air defense
SizeSquadron
Motto(s)Vigilant Defender (1960-1972)
EquipmentCIM-10 Bomarc
Decorations Air Force Outstanding Unit Award
Insignia
26th Air Defense Missile Squadron emblem [a] 26th Tactical Missile Squadron.PNG
26th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron emblem [b] [1] 26 Tactical Reconnaissance Sq emblem.png

The 26th Air Defense Missile Squadron is an inactive United States Air Force unit. It was activated in 1959 as the 26th Air Defense Missile Squadron to provide missile air defense for New England and was stationed at Otis Air Force Base, Massachusetts, where it was inactivated on 30 April 1972. It received its current name in 1985. when it was consolidated with the 26th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron, a World War II unit that provided reconnaissance support for ground units in training until it was disbanded in 1943.

Contents

History

World War II

The first predecessor of the squadron was activated at Gray Field, Washington in March 1942 as the 26th Observation Squadron and assigned to the 70th Observation Group. It was initially equipped with North American O-47s. [1] The squadron participated in maneuvers and provided reconnaissance support for Army ground forces training in the Pacific coast region. Until September 1942, the squadron also flew antisubmarine patrols off the coast. [2]

Bell P-39D Airacobra Bell P-39D (16114458896).jpg
Bell P-39D

In 1943, the squadron began to fly Bell P-39 Airacobras, becoming the 26th Reconnaissance Squadron (Fighter). With these aircraft it added fighter support to its training mission. In the spring of 1943, it moved with the 70th Group to Salinas Army Air Base, California. It became the 26th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron in August, but continued its mission from Pacific bases until moving to Will Rogers Field, Oklahoma in November 1943, where it was disbanded. [1] [2]

Air defense of New England

The 26th Air Defense Missile Squadron was activated at Otis Air Force Base on 1 March 1959 and became operational with IM-99A (later CIM-10) BOMARC surface to air antiaircraft missiles. [3] [4] It stood alert during the Cold War. In September 1962, it upgraded to the IM-99B. [4] The squadron was tied into a Semi-Automatic Ground Environment (SAGE) direction center which used digital computers [5] to process information from ground radars, picket ships and airborne aircraft [6] to accelerate the display of tracking data at the direction center to quickly direct the missile site to engage hostile aircraft. [7] It became non operational on 1 April 1972 and was inactivated on 30 April 1972. [3] [4]

The BOMARC missile site was located 1 mile (1.6 km) north-northwest of Otis AFB at 41°40′56″N070°32′21″W / 41.68222°N 70.53917°W / 41.68222; -70.53917 (26th ADMS) . Although located outside of the base (but within the borders of the Massachusetts Military Reservation, it was treated as an off base facility and the squadron received administrative and logistical support from Otis.

In 1985, the squadron was consolidated with the 26th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron, [8] but has never been active with this designation.

Lineage

26th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron
Activated on 2 March 1942 [1]
Redesignated 26th Observation Squadron on 4 July 1942 [1]
Redesignated 26th Reconnaissance Squadron (Fighter) on 2 April 1943 [1]
Redesignated 26th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron on 11 August 1943 [1]
Disbanded on 30 November 1943 [1]
26th Air Defense Missile Squadron
Activated on 1 March 1959
Inactivated on 30 April 1972

Assignments

Stations

Awards

Award streamerAwardDatesNotes
AFOUA Streamer.JPG Air Force Outstanding Unit Award 1 January 1967 – 30 June 196826th Air Defense Missile Squadron [9]
AFOUA Streamer.JPG Air Force Outstanding Unit Award 1 January 1970 – 30 June 197126th Air Defense Missile Squadron [10]
Campaign StreamerCampaignDatesNotes
World War II - American Campaign Streamer (Plain).png American Theater without inscription2 March 1942 - 30 November 194326th Observation Squadron (later 26th Reconnaissance Squadron, 26th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron) [1]

Aircraft and missiles

See also

References

Notes

Explanatory notes
  1. ↑ Approved 27 October 1960. Description: On a disc per pale Air Force blue spattered with white stars, and white; two Air Force golden yellow lightning flashes conjoined in base and arched to middle chief point, one in dexter, one in sinister; over all in pale throughout a silver-gray missile, highlighted white, in flight to chief leaving red exhaust to base; outlines and details Air Force blue throughout. On a white scroll edged and inscribed Air Force blue, [the motto]. Significance: Over a background of deep blue, spattered with stars, and white to represent the night and day sky or 24-hour operations, two lightning bolts are displayed, one against the night sky, one against the day sky to indicate the unit's operational ability to intercept around the clock. The missile provides the center of interest in the design to indicate this is a missile squadron.
  2. ↑ Approved 20 May 1943. Description: Over and through a blue triangle, a gold hawk, shaded black, in flight, grasping a machine gun black in dexter claw and a telescope black in sinister claw.
Citations
  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Maurer, Combat Squadrons, p. 136
  2. 1 2 Maurer, Combat Units, pp. 137-138
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Cornett & Johnson, p. 150
  4. 1 2 3 Air Defense Command Historical Data 1946-1973, Air Defense Command Office of History, Vol. II, p. 157
  5. ↑ Kent C. Redmond and Thomas M. Smith,From Whirlwind to MITRE The R&D Story of The SAGE Air Defense Computer, MIT Press, 2000
  6. ↑ Winkler & Webster, p. 39
  7. ↑ Winkler & Webster, p. 3
  8. 1 2 3 DAF/MPM Letter 662q, 19 Sep 1985, Subject: Reconstitution, Redesignation, and Consolidation of Selected Air Force Tactical Squadrons
  9. ↑ AF Pamphlet 900-2, p. 147
  10. ↑ AF Pamphlet 900-2, Vol. 2, p. 22

Bibliography

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