966th Airborne Air Control Squadron

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966th Airborne Air Control Squadron
Air Combat Command.png
E-3 Sentry refuels (11088097443).jpg
552d Air Control Wing Boeing E-3 Sentry
Active1942–1944; 1944–1945; 1961–1969; 1976–present
CountryFlag of the United States.svg  United States
BranchFlag of the United States Air Force.svg  United States Air Force
RoleAirborne 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 Asif Kausar
Insignia
966th Airborne Air Control Squadron emblem (approved 14 May 1989) [1] 966th Airborne Air Control Squadron.jpg
966th Airborne Early Warning & Control Squadron emblem (approved 14 June 1963) [1] 966 Airborne Early Warning & Control Sq emblem.png

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.

Contents

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
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
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

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

Redesignated 966th Airborne Air Control Squadron on 1 July 1994 [1]

Assignments

Stations

Aircraft

Operations

B-17 on bomb run.jpg Maxwell B-24.jpg L-5 Sentinel Wings Over Wine Country 2007.JPG Noorduyn UC-64A Norseman.jpg
B-17 Flying Fortress
(1942)		 B-24 Liberator
(1943–1944)		 L-5 Sentinel
(1944–1945)		 UC–64 Norseman
(1944–1945)
Lockheed Constellation Topeka.jpg WC-121N 1967.jpg OC135.jpg E-3aawa.jpg
RC-121
(1962–1963)		 EC-121 Warning Star
(1963–1969)		 WC-135
(1977–1979)		 E-3 Sentry
(since 1977)

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References


Notes

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 "Factsheet 966 Airborne Air Control Squadron". Air Force Historical Research Agency. 31 March 2008. Retrieved 4 January 2021.
  2. ↑ "Unit Spotlight on 966th Airborne Air Control Squadron" . Retrieved 8 March 2020.[ dead link ]
  3. ↑ 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.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  4. ↑ "966 Airborne Air Control Squadron" (PDF). USAF Unit History. 18 March 2020. Retrieved 8 March 2020.
  5. ↑ "Library: Factsheets 552nd Operations Group". 552nd Air Control Wing Public Affairs. 1 June 2007. Archived from the original on 22 July 2011. Retrieved 4 January 2021.

Bibliography

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