The 963d's mascot is the Blue Knight which is represented on the unit's insignia as a blue colored winged chess knight. The background is a series of black and white squares that resembles a chess board. Three bolts of lightning emitted from the knight's eye shows the lightning fast deployability of the AWACS, and the knight's wings represents the flying mission of the unit.
HistoryEdit
EC-121 aircraft
The 963d Airborne Early Warning and Control Squadron was activated, on 8 July 1955 at McClellan Air Force Base, California.[2] The squadron flew the EC-121 Warning Star, which was a military version of the Lockheed Constellation aircraft, until the unit's inactivation in April 1976.[1]
The inactivation lasted less than a week however, as the Air Force again activated the unit on 5 May 1976 and redesignated it as the 963d Airborne Warning and Control Squadron (963 AWACS). On 1 July 1976, the squadron relocated to Tinker AFB, Oklahoma. The squadron was under the command of the 552 AWACW, which reported directly to Headquarters, Tactical Air Command.[2] The squadron began flying the new E-3 Sentry aircraft upon being reactivated. This new airframe is a military version of the Boeing 707 aircraft.
963d aircraft on the flight line
During the 1980s the squadron flew training missions in Saudi Arabia and throughout the Middle East.
In 1990 the squadron deployed to Riyadh AB, Saudi Arabia with the military build-up prior to Operations Desert Shield/Desert Storm.
In 1992, the unit (and its superior unit the 552 Wing) came under the authority of the newly formed Air Combat Command. Throughout the early to mid-1990s, 963d aircrews routinely deployed to Incirlik AB, Turkey to support the northern Iraqi no-fly zone (Operation Provide Comfort). Crews from the 963d also continued operations in Saudi Arabia on the southern no-fly zone (Operation Southern Watch). They were also deployed to other trouble spots around the world as a modern form of Gunboat diplomacy. On April 14, 1994, an aircraft and crew from the 963d operating out of Incirlik Air Base, Turkey featured prominently in the 1994 Black Hawk shootdown incident.
In 1994, the squadron's name was redesignated to 963d Airborne Air Control Squadron.[1]
The 963d AACS also participated in the invasion of Iraq in Operation Iraqi Freedom.
Constituted as the 3d Sea-Search Attack Squadron (Heavy) on 7 December 1942
Activated on 10 December 1942
Redesignated 3d Search Attack Squadron (Heavy) on 22 November 1943
Disbanded on 10 April 1944
Reconstituted on 19 September 1985 and consolidated with the 163d Liaison Squadron and the 963d Airborne Warning and Control Squadron as the 963d Airborne Warning and Control Squadron[1]
163d Liaison Squadron
Constituted as the 163d Liaison Squadron on 11 May 1944
Activated on 15 May 1944
Inactivated on 27 January 1946
Activated on 3 October 1946
Inactivated on 1 April 1949
Consolidated on 19 September 1985 with the 3d Search Attack Squadron and the 963d Airborne Warning and Control Squadron as the 963d Airborne Warning and Control Squadron[1]
963d Airborne Air Control Squadron
Constituted as the 963d Airborne Early Warning and Control Squadron on 8 December 1954
Activated on 8 March 1955
Inactivated on 30 April 1976
Redesignated 963d Airborne Warning and Control Squadron on 5 May 1976
Activated on 1 Jul 1976
Consolidated on 19 September 1985 with the 3d Search Attack Squadron and the 163d Liaison Squadron
Redesignated 963d Airborne Air Control Squadron on 1 July 1994[1]
AssignmentsEdit
1st Sea–Search Attack Group (later 1st Sea-Search Attack Unit; 1st Search Attack Group), 10 December 1942 – 10 April 1944
552d Airborne Warning and Control Wing (later 552d Airborne Warning and Control Division, 552d Airborne Warning and Control Wing, 552d Air Control Wing), 1 July 1976
^ abcdefghijk"Factsheet 963 Airborne Air Control Squadron". Air Force Historical Research Agency. March 31, 2008. Retrieved October 4, 2016.
^ abLaFayette, MSG Kenneth K.; Newberry, J. Scott. (PDF). 552d Air Control Wing History Office. Archived from the original (PDF) on June 13, 2007. Retrieved October 4, 2016.
External linksEdit
. Air Force Link. Archived from the original on April 17, 2009. Retrieved October 4, 2016.
GlobalSecurity.org 963d Airborne Air Control Squadron (963 AACS)
GlobalSecurity.org 552d Air Control Wing (552 ACW)
October 19, 2023
963rd, airborne, 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, scholar. 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 963rd Airborne Air Control Squadron news newspapers books scholar JSTOR December 2012 Learn how and when to remove this template message The 963d Airborne Air Control Squadron is a squadron of the United States Air Force based at Tinker Air Force Base Oklahoma The squadron is a subordinate unit of the 552d Operations Group and it flies the Boeing E 3 Sentry radar surveillance aircraft The squadron currently falls under the authority of Air Combat Command and Twelfth Air Force 963d Airborne Air Control SquadronE 3 AWACS AircraftActive1942 1944 1944 1946 1946 1949 1954 1976 1976 presentCountry United StatesBranch United States Air ForceTypeSquadronRoleAirborne command and controlPart ofAir Combat CommandGarrison HQTinker Air Force BaseMascot s Blue KnightsEngagementsDesert Storm Desert ShieldIraq WarDecorationsAir Force Outstanding Unit Award with Combat V DeviceAir Force Outstanding Unit AwardRepublic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with PalmInsignia963d Airborne Air Control Squadron emblem approved 24 May 1977 1 963d Airborne Air Control Squadron emblem approved 24 May 1977 Patch with 963d Airborne Early Warning and Control Squadron emblem approved 15 August 1956 1 Contents 1 Emblem 2 History 2 1 Operations 3 Lineage 3 1 Assignments 3 2 Bases stationed 3 3 Aircraft 4 References 5 External linksEmblem EditThe 963d s mascot is the Blue Knight which is represented on the unit s insignia as a blue colored winged chess knight The background is a series of black and white squares that resembles a chess board Three bolts of lightning emitted from the knight s eye shows the lightning fast deployability of the AWACS and the knight s wings represents the flying mission of the unit History Edit nbsp EC 121 aircraftThe 963d Airborne Early Warning and Control Squadron was activated on 8 July 1955 at McClellan Air Force Base California 2 The squadron flew the EC 121 Warning Star which was a military version of the Lockheed Constellation aircraft until the unit s inactivation in April 1976 1 The inactivation lasted less than a week however as the Air Force again activated the unit on 5 May 1976 and redesignated it as the 963d Airborne Warning and Control Squadron 963 AWACS On 1 July 1976 the squadron relocated to Tinker AFB Oklahoma The squadron was under the command of the 552 AWACW which reported directly to Headquarters Tactical Air Command 2 The squadron began flying the new E 3 Sentry aircraft upon being reactivated This new airframe is a military version of the Boeing 707 aircraft nbsp 963d aircraft on the flight lineDuring the 1980s the squadron flew training missions in Saudi Arabia and throughout the Middle East In 1990 the squadron deployed to Riyadh AB Saudi Arabia with the military build up prior to Operations Desert Shield Desert Storm In 1992 the unit and its superior unit the 552 Wing came under the authority of the newly formed Air Combat Command Throughout the early to mid 1990s 963d aircrews routinely deployed to Incirlik AB Turkey to support the northern Iraqi no fly zone Operation Provide Comfort Crews from the 963d also continued operations in Saudi Arabia on the southern no fly zone Operation Southern Watch They were also deployed to other trouble spots around the world as a modern form of Gunboat diplomacy On April 14 1994 an aircraft and crew from the 963d operating out of Incirlik Air Base Turkey featured prominently in the 1994 Black Hawk shootdown incident In 1994 the squadron s name was redesignated to 963d Airborne Air Control Squadron 1 The 963d AACS also participated in the invasion of Iraq in Operation Iraqi Freedom Operations Edit World War II Vietnam War Operation Just Cause Operation Earnest Will Operation Desert Storm 1 Lineage Edit3 Search Attack SquadronConstituted as the 3d Sea Search Attack Squadron Heavy on 7 December 1942 Activated on 10 December 1942Redesignated 3d Search Attack Squadron Heavy on 22 November 1943Disbanded on 10 April 1944 Reconstituted on 19 September 1985 and consolidated with the 163d Liaison Squadron and the 963d Airborne Warning and Control Squadron as the 963d Airborne Warning and Control Squadron 1 163d Liaison SquadronConstituted as the 163d Liaison Squadron on 11 May 1944Activated on 15 May 1944 Inactivated on 27 January 1946 Activated on 3 October 1946 Inactivated on 1 April 1949Consolidated on 19 September 1985 with the 3d Search Attack Squadron and the 963d Airborne Warning and Control Squadron as the 963d Airborne Warning and Control Squadron 1 963d Airborne Air Control SquadronConstituted as the 963d Airborne Early Warning and Control Squadron on 8 December 1954Activated on 8 March 1955 Inactivated on 30 April 1976Redesignated 963d Airborne Warning and Control Squadron on 5 May 1976Activated on 1 Jul 1976Consolidated on 19 September 1985 with the 3d Search Attack Squadron and the 163d Liaison Squadron Redesignated 963d Airborne Air Control Squadron on 1 July 1994 1 Assignments Edit 1st Sea Search Attack Group later 1st Sea Search Attack Unit 1st Search Attack Group 10 December 1942 10 April 1944 III Tactical Air Division 15 May 1944 Army Air Forces Pacific Ocean Areas 20 January 1945 attached to Tenth Army for operations Seventh Air Force 14 July 1945 remained attached to Tenth Army until 10 August 1945 VII Bomber Command 1 December 1945 Pacific Air Command United States Army 25 December 1945 27 January 1946 Ninth Air Force 3 October 1946 Tenth Air Force 1 December 1948 1 April 1949 8th Air Division 8 March 1955 attached to Airborne Early Warning and Control Wing Provisional until 7 July 1955 552d Airborne Early Warning and Control Wing later 552d Airborne Warning and Control Group 8 July 1955 30 April 1976 552d Airborne Warning and Control Wing later 552d Airborne Warning and Control Division 552d Airborne Warning and Control Wing 552d Air Control Wing 1 July 1976 552d Operations Group 29 May 1992 present 1 Bases stationed Edit Langley Field Virginia 10 December 1942 10 April 1944 Cox Field Texas 15 May 1944 Brownwood Army Air Field Texas 8 October 1944 1 January 1945 Schofield Barracks Hawaii 20 January 6 April 1945 Kadena Air Force Base Okinawa 3 May 1945 Fort William McKinley Luzon Philippines c 24 December 1945 27 January 1946 Marshall Field later Marshall Air Force Base Kansas 3 October 1946 1 April 1949 McClellan Air Force Base California 8 March 1955 30 April 1976 Tinker Air Force Base Oklahoma 1 July 1976 present 1 Aircraft Edit Douglas B 18 Bolo 1942 1943 Consolidated B 24 Liberator 1943 1944 Stinson L 5 Sentinel 1944 1945 1946 1949 Noorduyn C 64 Norseman 1944 Piper L 4 Grasshopper 1945 Beechcraft C 45 Expeditor 1946 1947 Sikorsky R 5 later H 5 1947 1949 Sikorsky R 6 1947 Stinson L 13 1948 1949 Lockheed RC 121 Constellation 1955 1959 amp 1961 1963 Lockheed TC 121 1959 1961 amp 1972 1975 Lockheed EC 121 Warning Star 1963 1972 Lockheed C 121 Constellation 1969 1976 Boeing E 3 Sentry 1976 Present 1 nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp B 18 Bolo 1942 1943 B 24 Liberator 1943 1944 L 5 Sentinel 1944 1945 UC 64 Norseman 1944 nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp L 4 Grasshopper 1945 C 45 Expeditor 1946 1947 R 5 Dragonfly 1947 1949 R 6 Hoverfly II 1947 nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp L 13 Grasshopper 1948 1949 RC 121 1955 1959 amp 1961 1963 EC 121 Warning Star 1963 1972 E 3 Sentry 1976 Present References Edit a b c d e f g h i j k Factsheet 963 Airborne Air Control Squadron Air Force Historical Research Agency March 31 2008 Retrieved October 4 2016 a b LaFayette MSG Kenneth K Newberry J Scott Operational History of the 552d Air Control Wing 1955 2000 PDF 552d Air Control Wing History Office Archived from the original PDF on June 13 2007 Retrieved October 4 2016 External links Edit Heritage to Horizons Series presents 552d Air Control Wing Air Force Link Archived from the original on April 17 2009 Retrieved October 4 2016 GlobalSecurity org 963d Airborne Air Control Squadron 963 AACS GlobalSecurity org 552d Air Control Wing 552 ACW Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title 963rd Airborne Air Control Squadron amp oldid 1163215424, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
