964th Airborne Air Control Squadron

The 964th Airborne Air Control Squadron (964 AACS) is assigned to the 552d Operations 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.

964th Airborne Air Control Squadron
552d Air Control Wing Boeing E-3 Sentry
Active	1942-1944; 1944–1945; 1955–1974; 1997-present
Country	United States
Branch	United States Air Force
Role	Airborne Command and Control
Part of	Air Combat Command 12th Air Force 552d Air Control Wing 552d Operations Group
Garrison/HQ	Tinker Air Force Base
Decorations	Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with V Device Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm
Insignia
964th Airborne Air Control Squadron emblem
18th Antisubmarine Squadron emblem (approved 10 April 1943)[1]

Mission

Provide the Combat Air Force with airborne systems and personnel for surveillance, warning and control of strategic, tactical, and special mission forces.^[2]

History

The squadron was an operational training unit for 25th Antisubmarine Wing from November 1942–October 1943. It went on to train B-17 Flying Fortress replacement crews from, November 1943–April 1944.^[1]

It conducted visual reconnaissance, medical evacuation, and light transport services for ground forces in Burma from 19 December 1944 until 3 May 1945.^[3]

The 964th flew long range surveillance missions in the late 1950s. It rotated aircrews to Southeast Asia from c. 4 April 1965 – 17 May 1974. The 964th also flew combat support missions in Southwest Asia from 17 January–6 March 1991.

Lineage

4th Search Attack Squadron

• Constituted as the 362d Bombardment Squadron (Heavy) on 28 January 1942

Activated on 15 July 1942

Redesignated 18th Antisubmarine Squadron (Heavy) on 29 November 1942

Redesignated 4th Sea Search Attack Squadron (Heavy) on 23 October 1943

Redesignated 4th Search Attack Squadron (Heavy) on 22 November 1943

Disbanded on 10 April 1944^[1]

• Reconstituted on 19 September 1985 and consolidated with the 164th Liaison Squadron (Commando) and the 964th Airborne Warning and Control Squadron as the 964th Airborne Warning and Control Squadron ^[4]

164th Liaison Squadron

• Constituted as the 164th Liaison Squadron (Commando) on 9 August 1944

Activated on 3 September 1944

Inactivated on 3 November 1945^[3]

• Consolidated with the 4th Search Attack Squadron and the 964th Airborne Warning and Control Squadron as the 964th Airborne Warning and Control Squadron^[4]

964th Airborne Air Control Squadron

• Constituted as the 964th Airborne Early Warning and Control Squadron on 8 December 1954

Activated on 8 March 1955

Inactivated on 30 June 1974

Redesignated 964th Airborne Warning and Control Squadron on 7 February 1977

Activated on 1 July 1977

• Consolidated with the 4th Search Attack Squadron and the 164th Liaison Squadron ^[4]

Assignments

• 304th Bombardment Group, 15 July 1942
• 25th Antisubmarine Wing, 30 December 1942
• Army Air Forces Antisubmarine Command, 24 August 1943 (attached to 1st Sea-Search Attack Unit after 30 September 1943)
• 1st Search Attack Group, 23 October 1943 – 10 April 1944^[1]
• 1st Air Commando Group, 3 September 1944 – 3 November 1945^[3]
• 8th Air Division, 8 March 1955
• 552d Airborne Early Warning and Control Wing, 8 July 1955 – 30 June 1974
• 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 1977
• 552d Operations Group, 29 May 1992–present

Stations

Salt Lake City Army Air Base, Utah, 15 July 1942 Geiger Field, Washington, 15 September 1942 Ephrata Army Air Base, Washington, 1 October 1942 Langley Field, Virginia, 29 October 1942 – 10 April 1944[1] Burnpur Airfield, India, 3 September 1944 Inbaung Airfield, Burma, 19 December 1944 Kan Airfield, Burma, 15 January 1945 Burnpur Airfield, India, 31 January 1945 Shwebo Airfield, Burma, 20 February 1945

Ondaw Airfield, Burma, 12 March 1945 Burnpur Airfield, India, 31 March 1945 Sinthe Airfield, Burma, 20 April 1945 Magwe Airfield, Burma, 4 May 1945 Burnpur Airfield, India, 10 May-6 October 1945 Camp Kilmer, New Jersey, 1–3 November 1945[3] McClellan Air Force Base, California, 8 March 1955 – 30 June 1974 Tinker Air Force Base, Oklahoma, 1 July 1977–present

Aircraft operated

B-18 Bolo (1942–1943) A-20 Havoc (1942–1943) B-24 Liberator (1942–1943) B-34 Lexington (1942–1943) B-17 Flying Fortress (1942–1944)[1]

L-5 Sentinel (1944–1945) C-64 Norseman (1944–1945)[3] RC-121 (1955–1963) EC-121 Warning Star (1963–1974) E-3 Sentry (1977–present)

Operations

• World War II
• Vietnam War
• Operation Desert Shield
• Operation Desert Storm
• Operation Deliberate Force
• Operation Enduring Freedom
• Operation Iraqi Freedom
• Operation Unified Protector
• Operation Inherent Resolve

References

Notes

1. Maurer, Combat Squadrons, p. 30
2. 552 OG Fact Sheet Archived 2011-07-22 at the Wayback Machine
3. Maurer, Combat Squadrons, p. 363
4. Department of the Air Force/MPM Letter 662q, 19 September 85, Subject: Reconstitution, Redesignation, and Consolidation of Selected Air Force Tactical Squadrons

Bibliography

 This article incorporates public domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency

• Maurer, Maurer, ed. (1982) [1969]. Combat Squadrons of the Air Force, World War II (PDF) (reprint ed.). Washington, DC: Office of Air Force History. ISBN 0-405-12194-6. LCCN 70605402. OCLC 72556.

External links

• AFHRA 964th Airborne Air Control Squadron History^{[dead link‍]}
• 552d Operations Group Fact Sheet