7th Expeditionary Airborne Command and Control Squadron
April 27, 2024
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.
7th Expeditionary Airborne Command and Control Squadron
The squadron's first predecessor was activated at Seattle Airport, Washington in March 1942 as the 7th Ferrying Squadron. The 7th ferried lend-lease aircraft to Alaska for turnover to the Soviet Union from June 1942 until disbanding in March 1944.
Southwest Pacific combat airliftedit
The second predecessor of the squadron was activated at Syracuse Army Air Base, New York on 1 May 1944 as the 7th Combat Cargo Squadron. It deployed to the Southwest Pacific Theater later that year and performed airlift until September 1945. It became part of the Occupation Forces in Japan until inactivating in early 1946. It was disbanded in inactive status on 8 October 1948.
Special weapons airliftedit
The 7th Logistic Support Squadron is the squadron's third predecessor. It was established at Robins Air Force Base, Georgia in 1954 as an Air Materiel Command unit. Its mission was to provide worldwide airlift of nuclear weapons and related equipment, with a secondary mission to airlift other Department of Defense cargo as required when space was available, using its Douglas C-124 Globemaster IIs. The squadron also provided airlift support during Cuban Missile Crisis from 17–28 October 1962.[1]
In 1963, the squadron was transferred to Military Air Transport Service (MATS) in a trial to see if MATS airlift units could perform the special weapons transport mission. C-124 Globemaster II strategic transport squadron flying worldwide airlift operations. A year later it became the 7th Air Transport Squadron, Special. The squadron was inactivated on 8 January 1966, when MATS became Military Airlift Command and its squadrons became Military Airlift Squadrons. Its personnel and equipment were transferred to the 58th Military Airlift Squadron, which was simultaneously activated.[note 2]
Airborne command and controledit
The 7th Airborne Command and Control Squadron was activated at Da Nang Air Base, South Vietnam in March 1968 and performed airborne battlefield command and control (ABCCC) mission in Southeast Asia from its activation until 15 August 1973 and controlled airborne forces during the recovery of the SS Mayagüez in May 1975, in Grenada from, 23 October–21 November 1983, in Panama from, December 1989–January 1992, and in Southwest Asia from, 1 September 1990 – 16 March 1991.[1]
In March 2008, the unit was converted to provisional status and reactivated - this time as the 7th Expeditionary Airborne Command and Control Squadron to be the forward operating squadron for E-8 Joint STARS, supporting the United States Central Command Area of Responsibility.
Lineageedit
7th Ferrying Squadron
Constituted as the 7th Air Corps Ferrying Squadron on 18 February 1942
Activated on 24 March 1942
Redesignated 7th Ferrying Squadron on 12 May 1943
Disbanded on 1 April 1944
Reconstituted and consolidated with the 7th Combat Cargo Squadron, the 7th Air Transport Squadron and the 7th Airborne Command and Control Squadron as the 7th Airborne Command and Control Squadron on 19 September 1985[1]
7th Combat Cargo Squadron
Constituted as the 7th Combat Cargo Squadron on 25 April 1944
Activated on 1 May 1944
Inactivated on 15 January 1946
Disbanded on 8 October 1948
Reconstituted and consolidated with the 7th Ferrying Squadron, the 7th Air Transport Squadron and the 7th Airborne Command and Control Squadron as the 7th Airborne Command and Control Squadron on 19 September 1985[1]
7th Air Transport Squadron
Constituted as the 7th Logistics Support Squadron on 22 June 1954
Activated on 18 October 1954
Redesignated 7th Air Transport Squadron, Special on 1 July 1964[note 3]
Discontinued and inactivated on 8 January 1966
Consolidated with the 7th Ferrying Squadron, the 7th Combat Cargo Squadron and the 7th Airborne Command and Control Squadron as the 7th Airborne Command and Control Squadron on 19 September 1985[1]
7th Expeditionary Airborne Command and Control Squadron
Constituted as the 7th Airborne Command and Control Squadron and activated on 13 February 1968 (not organized)
Organized on 1 March 1968
Consolidated with the 7th Ferrying Squadron, the 7th Combat Cargo Squadron and the 7th Air Transport Squadron on 19 September 1985[1]
Inactivated on 1 October 1998
Redesignated 7th Expeditionary Airborne Command and Control Squadron and converted to provisional status on 19 March 2008
^Aircraft is Lockheed EC-130E-LM Hercules serial 62-1857, taken 10 May 1974. This aircraft survived the Vietnam War and was converted to C-130E-II, later EC-130E in 1976 at Davis-Monthan AFB, Arizona
^The squadron could not be redesignated as a Military Airlift Squadron because the 7th Troop Carrier Squadron took the designation 7th Military Airlift Squadron.
^This squadron is not related to the 7th Airlift Squadron, which was designated the 7th Air Transport Squadron, Heavy from 1 January 1965 to 8 January 1966, or to the 7th Air Transport Squadron (Transition Training Unit), which was organized by Military Air Transport Service at Great Falls Air Force Base, Montana on 1 June 48 and redesignated 1272d Transition Training Unit on 1 October 1948.
Citations
^ abcdefghijklmHaulman, Danniel L. (20 May 2019). "Factsheet 7 Expeditionary Airborne Command and Control Squadron (ACC)". Air Force Historical Research Agency. Retrieved 16 November 2019.
This article incorporates public domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency
Endicott, Judy G. (1998). Active Air Force Wings as of 1 October 1995 and USAF Active Flying, Space, and Missile Squadrons as of 1 October 1995(PDF). Air Force History and Museums Program. Washington, DC: Office of Air Force History. ASIN B000113MB2. Retrieved 2 July 2014.
Ravenstein, Charles A. (1984). Air Force Combat Wings, Lineage & Honors Histories 1947-1977. Washington, DC: Office of Air Force History. ISBN0-912799-12-9. Retrieved 17 December 2016.
April 27, 2024
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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 7th Expeditionary Airborne Command and Control Squadron news newspapers books scholar JSTOR December 2012 Learn how and when to remove this template message 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 7th Expeditionary Airborne Command and Control SquadronEC 130E Hercules of the 7th ACCS at Korat note 1 Active1942 1944 1944 1946 1954 1966 1968 1998 2008 presentCountry United StatesBranch United States Air ForceRoleAirborne Command and ControlPart ofAir Force Combat CommandNickname s Moon Beam SEA era DecorationsPresidential Unit CitationAir Force Outstanding Unit Award with Combat V DeviceAir Force Outstanding Unit AwardPhilippine Presidential Unit CitationRepublic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm 1 Insignia7th Expeditionary Airborne Command and Control Squadron emblem approved 17 February 1977 revised 1994 1 7th Airborne Command Control Squadron emblem Southeast Asia 7th Logistic Support Squadron emblem approved 28 February 1956 2 7th Combat Cargo Squadron emblem approved 5 July 1945 2 7th Ferrying Squadron emblem Contents 1 History 1 1 World War II ferrying operations 1 2 Southwest Pacific combat airlift 1 3 Special weapons airlift 1 4 Airborne command and control 2 Lineage 2 1 Assignments 2 2 Stations 2 3 Aircraft 2 4 Operations 3 See also 4 References 4 1 Notes 4 2 BibliographyHistory editWorld War II ferrying operations edit The squadron s first predecessor was activated at Seattle Airport Washington in March 1942 as the 7th Ferrying Squadron The 7th ferried lend lease aircraft to Alaska for turnover to the Soviet Union from June 1942 until disbanding in March 1944 Southwest Pacific combat airlift edit The second predecessor of the squadron was activated at Syracuse Army Air Base New York on 1 May 1944 as the 7th Combat Cargo Squadron It deployed to the Southwest Pacific Theater later that year and performed airlift until September 1945 It became part of the Occupation Forces in Japan until inactivating in early 1946 It was disbanded in inactive status on 8 October 1948 Special weapons airlift edit The 7th Logistic Support Squadron is the squadron s third predecessor It was established at Robins Air Force Base Georgia in 1954 as an Air Materiel Command unit Its mission was to provide worldwide airlift of nuclear weapons and related equipment with a secondary mission to airlift other Department of Defense cargo as required when space was available using its Douglas C 124 Globemaster IIs The squadron also provided airlift support during Cuban Missile Crisis from 17 28 October 1962 1 In 1963 the squadron was transferred to Military Air Transport Service MATS in a trial to see if MATS airlift units could perform the special weapons transport mission C 124 Globemaster II strategic transport squadron flying worldwide airlift operations A year later it became the 7th Air Transport Squadron Special The squadron was inactivated on 8 January 1966 when MATS became Military Airlift Command and its squadrons became Military Airlift Squadrons Its personnel and equipment were transferred to the 58th Military Airlift Squadron which was simultaneously activated note 2 Airborne command and control edit The 7th Airborne Command and Control Squadron was activated at Da Nang Air Base South Vietnam in March 1968 and performed airborne battlefield command and control ABCCC mission in Southeast Asia from its activation until 15 August 1973 and controlled airborne forces during the recovery of the SS Mayaguez in May 1975 in Grenada from 23 October 21 November 1983 in Panama from December 1989 January 1992 and in Southwest Asia from 1 September 1990 16 March 1991 1 In 1994 the 7th flag was moved from Keesler Air Force Base Mississippi to Offutt Air Force Base Nebraska where it transitioned from Lockheed EC 130 aircraft flying the ABCCC mission to the Boeing EC 135 aircraft flying the Operation Looking Glass mission in support of nuclear command and control for United States Strategic Command 1 The EC 130E aircraft and all squadron personnel moved to Davis Monthan Air Force Base Arizona where they continued performing the ABCCC mission as the 42d ACCS In October 1998 the Looking Glass mission was transferred to the Navy s Boeing E 6 Mercury fleet the last of the US Air Force s EC 135 fleet was retired and the 7th was inactivated In March 2008 the unit was converted to provisional status and reactivated this time as the 7th Expeditionary Airborne Command and Control Squadron to be the forward operating squadron for E 8 Joint STARS supporting the United States Central Command Area of Responsibility Lineage edit7th Ferrying Squadron Constituted as the 7th Air Corps Ferrying Squadron on 18 February 1942 Activated on 24 March 1942 Redesignated 7th Ferrying Squadron on 12 May 1943 Disbanded on 1 April 1944 Reconstituted and consolidated with the 7th Combat Cargo Squadron the 7th Air Transport Squadron and the 7th Airborne Command and Control Squadron as the 7th Airborne Command and Control Squadron on 19 September 1985 1 7th Combat Cargo Squadron Constituted as the 7th Combat Cargo Squadron on 25 April 1944 Activated on 1 May 1944 Inactivated on 15 January 1946 Disbanded on 8 October 1948 Reconstituted and consolidated with the 7th Ferrying Squadron the 7th Air Transport Squadron and the 7th Airborne Command and Control Squadron as the 7th Airborne Command and Control Squadron on 19 September 1985 1 7th Air Transport Squadron Constituted as the 7th Logistics Support Squadron on 22 June 1954 Activated on 18 October 1954 Redesignated 7th Air Transport Squadron Special on 1 July 1964 note 3 Discontinued and inactivated on 8 January 1966 Consolidated with the 7th Ferrying Squadron the 7th Combat Cargo Squadron and the 7th Airborne Command and Control Squadron as the 7th Airborne Command and Control Squadron on 19 September 1985 1 7th Expeditionary Airborne Command and Control Squadron Constituted as the 7th Airborne Command and Control Squadron and activated on 13 February 1968 not organized Organized on 1 March 1968 Consolidated with the 7th Ferrying Squadron the 7th Combat Cargo Squadron and the 7th Air Transport Squadron on 19 September 1985 1 Inactivated on 1 October 1998 Redesignated 7th Expeditionary Airborne Command and Control Squadron and converted to provisional status on 19 March 2008 Activated on 27 March 2008 1 Assignments edit Northwest Sector Ferrying Command later 7th Ferrying Group 18 February 1942 1 April 1944 2d Combat Cargo Group 1 May 1944 15 January 1946 Warner Robins Air Materiel Area 18 October 1954 3079th Aviation Depot Wing 6 February 1955 39th Logistics Support Group 1 July 1962 62d Troop Carrier Wing 1 July 1963 63d Troop Carrier Wing 1 July 1964 8 January 1966 Pacific Air Forces 13 February 1968 not organized Seventh Air Force 1 March 1968 432d Tactical Reconnaissance Wing 31 October 1968 attached to Seventh Air Force 388th Tactical Fighter Wing 30 April 1972 attached to Seventh Air Force to 15 August 1973 U S Support Activities Group Seventh Air Force to c 21 May 1974 374th Tactical Airlift Wing 22 May 1974 attached to Thirteenth Air Force 3d Tactical Fighter Wing 31 March 1975 attached to Thirteenth Air Force 507th Tactical Air Control Group 14 August 1975 552d Airborne Warning and Control Wing later 552d Airborne Warning and Control Division 1 October 1976 28th Air Division 1 April 1985 attached to Air Division Provisional 15 5 December 1990 c 16 March 1991 552d Operations Group 29 May 1992 55th Operations Group 19 July 1994 1 October 1998 Air Combat Command to activate or inactivate any time after 19 March 2008 379th Air Expeditionary Wing 27 March 2008 present 1 dd Stations edit Seattle Airport Washington 24 March 1942 Gore Field Montana 22 June 1942 1 April 1944 Syracuse Army Air Base New York 1 May 1944 Baer Field Indiana 7 27 October 1944 Mokmer Airfield Biak Netherlands East Indies 11 November 1944 Dulag Airfield Leyte Philippine Islands May 1945 Okinawa 19 August 1945 Yokota Air Base Japan 22 September 1945 15 January 1946 Robins Air Force Base Georgia 19 October 1954 8 January 1966 Da Nang Air Base South Vietnam 1 March 1968 operated from Udorn Royal Thai Air Force Base Thailand Udorn Royal Thai Air Force Base Thailand 31 October 1968 Korat Royal Thai Air Force Base Thailand 15 April 1972 Clark Air Base Philippines 22 May 1974 14 August 1975 Keesler Air Force Base Mississippi 14 August 1975 18 July 1994 Deployed at Sharjah United Arab Emirates 1 25 September 1991 Deployed at Riyadh Saudi Arabia 25 September 1990 16 March 1991 Deployed at Aviano AB Italy Support Bosina 12 April 1993 18 July 1994 Offutt Air Force Base Nebraska 19 July 1994 1 October 1998 Al Udeid Air Base Qatar 27 March 2008 present 1 Aircraft edit Douglas C 47 Skytrain 1944 1945 Curtiss C 46 Commando 1944 1945 Douglas C 124 Globemaster II 1954 1966 Lockheed EC 130 1968 1994 Boeing EC 135 1994 1998 Boeing E 8 Joint STARS 2008 2023 1 Operations edit World War II Vietnam War Operation Urgent Fury Operation Just Cause Operation Desert Storm Operation Deny Flight Operation Deliberate Force Operation Decisive Endeavor Operation Uphold Democracy Operation Iraqi Freedom Operation Enduring FreedomSee also editOrganization of United States Air Force Units in the Gulf WarReferences editNotes edit Explanatory notes Aircraft is Lockheed EC 130E LM Hercules serial 62 1857 taken 10 May 1974 This aircraft survived the Vietnam War and was converted to C 130E II later EC 130E in 1976 at Davis Monthan AFB Arizona The squadron could not be redesignated as a Military Airlift Squadron because the 7th Troop Carrier Squadron took the designation 7th Military Airlift Squadron This squadron is not related to the 7th Airlift Squadron which was designated the 7th Air Transport Squadron Heavy from 1 January 1965 to 8 January 1966 or to the 7th Air Transport Squadron Transition Training Unit which was organized by Military Air Transport Service at Great Falls Air Force Base Montana on 1 June 48 and redesignated 1272d Transition Training Unit on 1 October 1948 Citations a b c d e f g h i j k l m Haulman Danniel L 20 May 2019 Factsheet 7 Expeditionary Airborne Command and Control Squadron ACC Air Force Historical Research Agency Retrieved 16 November 2019 a b Endicott p 380 Bibliography edit nbsp This article incorporates public domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency Endicott Judy G 1998 Active Air Force Wings as of 1 October 1995 and USAF Active Flying Space and Missile Squadrons as of 1 October 1995 PDF Air Force History and Museums Program Washington DC Office of Air Force History ASIN B000113MB2 Retrieved 2 July 2014 Ravenstein Charles A 1984 Air Force Combat Wings Lineage amp Honors Histories 1947 1977 Washington DC Office of Air Force History ISBN 0 912799 12 9 Retrieved 17 December 2016 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title 7th Expeditionary Airborne Command and Control Squadron amp oldid 1204911173, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
