From its activation in April 1942 until it was disbanded in 1944, the 2d Ferrying Squadron received aircraft at their factory of origin and ferried them to the units to which they were assigned.[1]
The desire for an Airborne Command Post (ABNCP) to provide survivable command and control of Strategic Air Command's nuclear forces came about in 1958. By 1960, modified KC-135A command post aircraft began pulling alert for SAC under the 34th Air Refueling Squadron (AREFS). On 3 February 1961, Continuous Airborne Operations (CAO) commenced, which meant that there was always at least one Looking Glass aircraft airborne at all times. Starting in 1966, the 38th Strategic Reconnaissance Squadron took over the Looking Glass mission. Eventually, on 1 April 1970, the 2nd ACCS took over the Looking Glass mission flying EC-135C ABNCP aircraft for the duration of the Cold War as a critical member in the Post Attack Command and Control System. There continued to be at least one Looking Glass aircraft airborne at all times providing a backup to SAC's underground command post. Additionally, the 2 ACCS maintained an additional EC-135C on ground alert at Offutt AFB, NE as the EASTAUXCP (East Auxiliary Command Post), providing backup to the airborne Looking Glass, radio relay capability, and a means for the Commander in Chief of SAC to escape an enemy nuclear attack.[2][3]
The 2nd ACCS was also a major player in Airborne Launch Control System operations. The primary mission of the 2nd ACCS was to fly the SAC ABNCP Looking Glass aircraft in continuous airborne operations, however, due to its close proximity in orbiting over the central US, the airborne Looking Glass provided ALCS coverage for the Minuteman Wing located at Whiteman AFB, MO. Not only did Whiteman AFB have Minuteman II ICBMs, but it also had ERCS configured Minuteman missiles on alert. The EASTAUXCP was ALCS capable, however, it did not have a dedicated ALCS mission.[2][3]
Lineageedit
2d Ferrying Squadron
Constituted as the 2d Air Corps Ferrying Squadron on 18 February 1942
Activated on 16 April 1942
Redesignated 2d Ferrying Squadron on 12 May 1943
Disbanded on 31 March 1944
Reconstituted and consolidated with 2d Liaison Squadron and 2d Airborne Command and Control Squadron as the 2d Airborne Command and Control Squadron on 19 September 1985[1]
2d Liaison Squadron
Constituted as the 2d Liaison Flight on 27 September 1949
Activated on 25 October 1949
Redesignated 2d Liaison Squadron on 15 July 1952
Inactivated on 22 July 1952
Activated on 22 July 1952
Inactivated on 18 June 1954
Consolidated with 2d Ferrying Squadron and 2d Airborne Command and Control Squadron as the 2d Airborne Command and Control Squadron on 19 September 1985[1]
2d Airborne Command and Control Squadron
Constituted as the 2d Airborne Command and Control Squadron on 12 March 1970
Activated on 1 April 1970
Consolidated with 2d Ferrying Squadron and 2d Liaison Squadron on 19 September 1985
^Cargill indicates this emblem never received official approval. At the time he prepared the Lineage and Honors statement the emblem for the 2d Airborne Command and Control Squadron had not yet been approved. At that time the only approved emblem was that of the 2d Liaison Squadron approved on 13 April 1954 depicting a hummingbird on a yellow background, but no image of this emblem is available.
^From the abbreviation of its name (2 ACCS), the squadron was referred to as "Two Axe".
Citations
^ abcdefghijkHall, R. Cargill (16 October 1984). "USAF Lineage and Honors History (USAFHRC Form 5)" (PDF). Air Force Historical Research Center. Retrieved 24 August 2016.[permanent dead link] (updated after 1994)
^ ab[Hopkins III, Robert S. 1997. Boeing KC-135 Stratotanker: More Than Just a Tanker. Leicester, England: Midland Publishing Limited, p. 114-117, 196]
^World Airpower Journal. (1992). US Air Force Air Power Directory. Aerospace Publishing: London, UK. ISBN1-880588-01-3
Bibliography
This article incorporates public domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency
External linksedit
2d Airborne Command and Control Squadron Website
January 01, 1970
airborne, command, control, squadron, this, article, needs, additional, citations, verification, please, help, improve, this, article, adding, citations, reliable, sources, unsourced, material, challenged, removed, find, sources, news, newspapers, books, schol. This article needs additional citations for verification Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources Unsourced material may be challenged and removed Find sources 2d Airborne Command and Control Squadron news newspapers books scholar JSTOR December 2012 Learn how and when to remove this message The United States Air Force s 2d Airborne Command and Control Squadron note 2 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 2nd Airborne Command and Control SquadronActive1942 1944 1949 1952 1952 1954 1970 1994Country United StatesBranch United States Air ForceRoleCommand and controlPart ofStrategic Air CommandDecorationsAir Force Outstanding Unit AwardInsignia2d Airborne Command and Control Squadron emblem2d Ferrying Squadron emblem note 1 Contents 1 History 1 1 World War II 1 2 Liaison duties in the 1950s 1 3 Airborne Command Post 2 Lineage 2 1 Assignments 2 2 Stations 2 3 Awards and campaigns 2 4 Aircraft amp Missiles Operated 3 See also 4 References 5 External linksHistory editWorld War II edit From its activation in April 1942 until it was disbanded in 1944 the 2d Ferrying Squadron received aircraft at their factory of origin and ferried them to the units to which they were assigned 1 Liaison duties in the 1950s edit The 2d Liaison Squadron provided emergency air evacuation search and rescue courier and messenger service routine reconnaissance and transportation of personnel It regularly operated between Langley Air Force Base Virginia and Fort John Custis with one Beechcraft C 45 Expeditor and several Stinson L 13s 1 In July 1952 the squadron closed at Langley and reopened at Shaw Air Force Base South Carolina operating de Havilland Canada L 20 Beavers It operated a regular courier service to Pope Air Force Base North Carolina and Myrtle Beach Air Force Base South Carolina In 1953 the squadron also began operating Sikorsky H 19 helicopters The unit was inactivated in June 1954 1 Airborne Command Post edit The desire for an Airborne Command Post ABNCP to provide survivable command and control of Strategic Air Command s nuclear forces came about in 1958 By 1960 modified KC 135A command post aircraft began pulling alert for SAC under the 34th Air Refueling Squadron AREFS On 3 February 1961 Continuous Airborne Operations CAO commenced which meant that there was always at least one Looking Glass aircraft airborne at all times Starting in 1966 the 38th Strategic Reconnaissance Squadron took over the Looking Glass mission Eventually on 1 April 1970 the 2nd ACCS took over the Looking Glass mission flying EC 135C ABNCP aircraft for the duration of the Cold War as a critical member in the Post Attack Command and Control System There continued to be at least one Looking Glass aircraft airborne at all times providing a backup to SAC s underground command post Additionally the 2 ACCS maintained an additional EC 135C on ground alert at Offutt AFB NE as the EASTAUXCP East Auxiliary Command Post providing backup to the airborne Looking Glass radio relay capability and a means for the Commander in Chief of SAC to escape an enemy nuclear attack 2 3 The 2nd ACCS was also a major player in Airborne Launch Control System operations The primary mission of the 2nd ACCS was to fly the SAC ABNCP Looking Glass aircraft in continuous airborne operations however due to its close proximity in orbiting over the central US the airborne Looking Glass provided ALCS coverage for the Minuteman Wing located at Whiteman AFB MO Not only did Whiteman AFB have Minuteman II ICBMs but it also had ERCS configured Minuteman missiles on alert The EASTAUXCP was ALCS capable however it did not have a dedicated ALCS mission 2 3 Lineage edit2d Ferrying Squadron Constituted as the 2d Air Corps Ferrying Squadron on 18 February 1942 Activated on 16 April 1942 Redesignated 2d Ferrying Squadron on 12 May 1943 Disbanded on 31 March 1944 Reconstituted and consolidated with 2d Liaison Squadron and 2d Airborne Command and Control Squadron as the 2d Airborne Command and Control Squadron on 19 September 1985 1 2d Liaison Squadron Constituted as the 2d Liaison Flight on 27 September 1949 Activated on 25 October 1949 Redesignated 2d Liaison Squadron on 15 July 1952 Inactivated on 22 July 1952 Activated on 22 July 1952 Inactivated on 18 June 1954 Consolidated with 2d Ferrying Squadron and 2d Airborne Command and Control Squadron as the 2d Airborne Command and Control Squadron on 19 September 1985 1 2d Airborne Command and Control Squadron Constituted as the 2d Airborne Command and Control Squadron on 12 March 1970 Activated on 1 April 1970 Consolidated with 2d Ferrying Squadron and 2d Liaison Squadron on 19 September 1985 Inactivated on 19 July 1994 1 Assignments edit Midwest Sector Air Corps Ferrying Command later 5th Ferrying Group 16 April 1942 31 March 1944 Ninth Air Force 25 October 1949 attached to 4th Fighter Wing later 4th Fighter Interceptor Wing Tactical Air Command 1 August 1950 22 July 1952 remained attached to 4th Fighter Interceptor Wing to 1 September 1950 attached to 363d Tactical Reconnaissance Wing 1 September 1950 47th Bombardment Wing 12 March 1951 4430th Air Base Wing after 12 February 1952 Ninth Air Force 22 July 1952 18 June 1954 attached to 363d Tactical Reconnaissance Wing 1 55th Strategic Reconnaissance Wing 1 April 1970 55th Operations Group 1 September 1992 19 July 1994 1 Stations edit Hensley Field Texas 18 February 1942 Love Field Texas 8 September 1942 Fairfax Airport Kansas 16 January 1943 31 March 1944 Langley Air Force Base Virginia 25 October 1949 22 July 1952 Shaw Air Force Base South Carolina 22 July 1952 18 June 1954 Offutt Air Force Base Nebraska 1 April 1970 19 July 1994 1 Awards and campaigns edit Air Force Outstanding Unit Award 1 July 1970 30 June 1971 1 July 1972 30 June 1974 1 July 1974 30 June 1976 1 July 1976 30 June 1978 1 July 1978 30 June 1980 1 Aircraft amp Missiles Operated edit Various aircraft 1942 1944 Beechcraft C 45 Expeditor 1949 1952 Stinson L 13 1949 1952 de Havilland Canada L 20 Beaver 1952 1954 Sikorsky H 19 1953 1954 1 Boeing EC 135 1970 1994 4 See also editAirborne Launch Control System Survivable Low Frequency Communications System Ground Wave Emergency Network Minimum Essential Emergency Communications Network Emergency Rocket Communications System The Cold War Game theory Continuity of governmentReferences editNotes Cargill indicates this emblem never received official approval At the time he prepared the Lineage and Honors statement the emblem for the 2d Airborne Command and Control Squadron had not yet been approved At that time the only approved emblem was that of the 2d Liaison Squadron approved on 13 April 1954 depicting a hummingbird on a yellow background but no image of this emblem is available From the abbreviation of its name 2 ACCS the squadron was referred to as Two Axe Citations a b c d e f g h i j k Hall R Cargill 16 October 1984 USAF Lineage and Honors History USAFHRC Form 5 PDF Air Force Historical Research Center Retrieved 24 August 2016 permanent dead link updated after 1994 a b ALCS Article page 14 15 a b Hopkins III Robert S 1997 Boeing KC 135 Stratotanker More Than Just a Tanker Leicester England Midland Publishing Limited p 114 117 196 World Airpower Journal 1992 US Air Force Air Power Directory Aerospace Publishing London UK ISBN 1 880588 01 3 Bibliography nbsp This article incorporates public domain material from the Air Force Historical Research AgencyExternal links edit2d Airborne Command and Control Squadron Website Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title 2d Airborne Command and Control Squadron amp oldid 1220340433, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
