10th Airborne Command and Control Squadron
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| 10th Airborne Command and Control Squadron | |
|---|---|
,_USA_-_Air_Force_AN1131030.jpg?lang=en) Boeing EC-135 landing at RAF Mildenhall | |
| Active | 1942–1944; 1951–1955; 1967–1957; 1970–1991 |
| Country |  United States |
| Branch |  United States Air Force |
| Role | command and control |
| Part of | United States Air Forces Europe |
| Motto(s) | Skoshi Tiger (1966 –1967) Silk Purse (1970-1991) |
| Engagements | Korean War Vietnam War |
| Decorations | Presidential Unit Citation Air Force Outstanding Unit Award Vietnamese Gallantry Cross with Palm |
| Insignia | |
| 10th Airborne Command and Control Squadron emblem |  |
| 10th Fighter Squadron, Commando emblem |  |
The 10th Airborne Command and Control Squadron in an inactive United States Air Force unit that flew airborne command post aircraft from RAF Mildenhall, England from January 1970 to December 1991. Through a unit consolidation in September 1985, the squadron has roots in units that participated in World War II, the Korean War and the Vietnam War
The first predecessor of the squadron was the 10th Transport Squadron, which flew distinguished visitors to all areas of the globe where the Allies of World War II operated. It was disbanded in the spring of 1944 in a reorganization of Army Air Forces units.
The 10th's second predecessor was the 10th Liaison Squadron, which provided light airlift support to Fifth Air Force units during the Korean War, this squadron was inactivated in 1955.
The final predecessor was the 10th Fighter Squadron, Commando, which performed combat testing of the Northrop F-5 Freedom Fighter from April 1966 until the planes were transferred to the Viet Nam Air Force in April 1967. These three units were consolidated into a single unit in September 1985.
History
World War II
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The first predecessor of the squadron was activated on 1 March 1942 as the 10th Air Corps Ferrying Squadron at Bolling Field and equipped with a variety of transport aircraft. The squadron transported equipment and high ranking officials on trans-Atlantic flights. It flew missions to support Operation Torch, the invasion of North Africa in late 1942 and early 1943.[1]
In March 1943, the squadron became the 10th Transport Squadron and moved to General Billy Mitchell Field, Wisconsin. It flew high ranking personnel to locations in the Americas, the Far East and the Southwest Pacific, notably, in October a squadron Douglas C-54 Skymaster transported ambassador Averill Harriman from Washington, DC to Moscow. The squadron became non-operational at the beginning of 1944, when most its personnel were transferred to the headquarters of the 26th Transport Group.[1] Although the squadron nominally remained behind at General Mitchell Field, the group moved to Gravelly Point, Virginia, where it continued transporting distinguished visitors.
However, the Army Air Forces was finding that standard military units, based on relatively inflexible tables of organization not well adapted to support missions. Accordingly it adopted a more functional system in which each base was organized into a separate numbered unit.[2] Air Transport Command personnel at General Mitchell Field when the squadron disbanded there were merged into the 567th AAF Base Unit (14th Ferrying Service Station), while those at Gravelly Point became the 503d AAF Base Unit (26th Transport Group, Washington National Airport).[note 1]
Korean War
The 10th Liaison Squadron served as a light transport and communications unit in Korea from 1951 to 1955.[1]
Skoshi Tiger
The 10th Fighter Squadron, Commando was activated at Bien Hoa Air Base, South Vietnam to test the Northrop F-5 Freedom Fighter in operational missions. After a year of testing, its aircraft were turned over to the Vietnamese Air Force.[1]
Airborne Command and Control
The 10th Airborne Command Control Squadron was activated at RAF Mildenhall in January 1970, where it replaced the 7120th Airborne Command Control Squadron to provide an airborne command post for United States Air Forces Europe. The 7120th had performed this mission since 1 December 1961, when it was activated at Chateauroux Air Base France under the 322d Air Division. Seven months later, the squadron was assigned to the host organization at Chateauroux, the 7322d Air Base Group. The 7120th was redesignated as an airborne command control squadron on 1 October 1965, and moved to Mildenhall the following month,[3] where it became part of the 513th Troop Carrier Wing on 1 July 1966.[4]
Lineage
- 10th Transport Squadron
- Constituted as the 10th Air Corps Ferry Squadron on 18 February 1942
- Activated on 1 March 1942
- Redesignated 10th Transport Squadron on 9 March 1943
- Disbanded on 31 March 1944[1]
- Reconstituted and consolidated with the 10th Liaison Squadron, 10th Fighter Squadron, Commando and 10th Airborne Command Control Squadron as the 10th Airborne Command Control Squadron on 19 September 1985[5]
- 10th Liaison Squadron
- Constituted as the 10th Liaison Squadron on 1 June 1951
- Activated on 25 July 1951
- Inactivated on 15 March 1955[1]
- Consolidated with the 10th Transport Squadron, 10th Fighter Squadron, Commando and 10th Airborne Command Control Squadron as the 10th Airborne Command Control Squadron on 19 September 1985[5]
- 10th Fighter Squadron, Commando
- Constituted on 28 March 1966 as the 10th Fighter Squadron, Commando and activated (not organized)
- Organized on 8 April 1966
- Inactivated on 17 April 1967[1]
- Consolidated with the 10th Transport Squadron, 10th Liaison Squadron and 10th Airborne Command Control Squadron as the 10th Airborne Command Control Squadron on 19 September 1985[5]
- 10th Airborne Command and Control Squadron
- Constituted as the 10th Airborne Command Control Squadron on 15 September 1969
- Activated on 1 January 1970
- Consolidated with the 10th Transport Squadron, 10th Liaison Squadron and 10th Fighter Squadron, Commando on 19 September 1985[5]
- Redesignated 10th Airborne Command and Control Squadron on 18 June 1987
- Inactivated on 31 December 1991[1]
Assignments
- Bolling Field Sector, Air Corps Ferrying Command (later Transatlantic Sector, Air Corps Ferrying Command; Transatlantic Sector, Air Transport Command), 1 March 1942
- Domestic Transportation Division, Air Transport Command, 1 March 1943[1]
- 26th Transport Group, 1 April 1943 – 31 March 1944[1]
- Fifth Air Force, 25 July 1951 – 15 March 1955[1]
- Pacific Air Forces, 28 March 1966 (not organized)
- 3d Tactical Fighter Wing, 8 April 1966 – 17 April 1967[6]
- 513th Tactical Airlift Wing (later 513th Airborne Command and Control Wing), 1 January 1970 – 31 December 1991[7]
Stations
- Bolling Field, District of Columbia, 1 March 1942[8]
- General Billy Mitchell Field, Wisconsin, 1 March 1943 – 31 March 1944[1]
- Seoul Air Base, South Korea, by May 1952[9]
- Osan Air Base, South Korea, 28 January 1954 – 15 March 1955[10]
- Bien Hoa Air Base, South Vietnam, 8 April 1966 – 17 April 1967[11]
- RAF Mildenhall, England, 1 January 1970 – 31 December 1991[3]
Aircraft
- Northrop F-5 Freedom Fighter, 1966-1967
Awards and campaigns
| Award streamer | Award | Dates | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
 |
Presidential Unit Citation | 8 June 1966-16 April 1967 | 10th Fighter Squadron, Commando[12] |
 |
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award | 1 July 1969-30 June 1970 | 10th Airborne Command Control Squadron[12] |
|
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award | 1 July 1972-30 June 1973 | 10th Airborne Command Control Squadron[12] |
|
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award | 1 July 1974-30 June 1975 | 10th Airborne Command Control Squadron[12] |
|
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award | 1 July 1975-30 June 1976 | 10th Airborne Command Control Squadron[12] |
|
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award | 1 July 1977-30 June 1978 | 10th Airborne Command Control Squadron[12] |
|
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award | 1 July 1980-30 June 1981 | 10th Airborne Command Control Squadron[12] |
|
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award | 1 July 1983-30 June 1985 | 10th Airborne Command Control Squadron[12] |
|
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award[12] | 1 July 1985-30 June 1987 | 10th Airborne Command Control Squadron |
|
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award[12] | 1 July 1988-30 June 1990 | 10th Airborne Command Control Squadron |
|
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award[12] | 1 July 1990-30 June 1991 | 10th Airborne Command Control Squadron[12] |
 |
Vietnamese Gallantry Cross with Palm | 8 April 1966-17 April 1967 | 10th Fighter Squadron, Commando[12] |
| Campaign Streamer | Campaign | Dates | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
.png?lang=en){kind=small} |
American Theater without inscription | 1 March 1942–31 March 1944 | 10th Air Corps Ferry Squadron (later 10th Transport Squadron) |
 |
UN Summer-Fall Offensive | 9 July 1951-27 November 1951 | 10th Liaison Squadron[13] |
|
Second Korean Winter | 28 November 1951-30 April 1952 | 10th Liaison Squadron[13] |
|
Korea Summer-Fall 1952 | 1 May 1952-30 November 1952 | 10th Liaison Squadron[13] |
|
Third Korean Winter | 1 December 1952-30 April 1953 | 10th Liaison Squadron[13] |
|
Korea Summer-Fall 1953 | 1 May 1953-27 July 1953 | 10th Liaison Squadron[13] |
 |
Vietnam Air | 8 April 1966-28 June 1966 | 10th Fighter Squadron, Commando |
|
Vietnam Air Offensive | 29 June 1966-8 March 1967 | 10th Fighter Squadron, Commando |
|
Vietnam Air Offensive, Phase II | 9 March 1967-17 April 1967 | 10th Fighter Squadron, Commando |
References
Notes
- Explanatory notes
- ^ The 503d became the first unit to operate a presidential aircraft, the "Sacred Cow", for President Franklin D. Roosevelt.
- Citations
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l "10th Airborne Command and Control Squadron" (PDF). USAF Unit History.com. 5 September 2010. Retrieved 5 November 2018.
{{cite web}}: Unknown parameter|deadurl=ignored (|url-status=suggested) (help) - ^ Goss, p. 75
- ^ a b Fletcher, p.130
- ^ Ravenstein, pp. 279-281
- ^ a b c d Department of the Air Force/MPM Letter 662q, 19 September 85, Subject: Reconstitution, Redesignation, and Consolidation of Selected Air Force Tactical Squadrons
- ^ Ravenstein, pp. 9-12
- ^ Assignment through 1977 in Ravenstein, pp. 279-281
- ^ Mueller, p. 44
- ^ Endicott, p. 140
- ^ Fletcher, p. 94
- ^ See Ravenstein, pp. 9-12 (3d Tactical Fighter Wing station)
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m "Air Force Personnel Services: Unit Awards". Air Force Personnel Center. Retrieved 5 November 2018.
{{cite web}}: Unknown parameter|deadurl=ignored (|url-status=suggested) (help) (search) - ^ a b c d e , AF Pamphlet 900-2, p. 94
Bibliography
This article incorporates public domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency
- Craven, Wesley F & Cate, James L, ed. (1955). The Army Air Forces in World War II (PDF). Vol. Vol. VI, Men & Planes. Chicago, IL: University of Chicago Press. LCCN 48003657. OCLC 704158. Retrieved 17 December 2016.
{{cite book}}:|volume=has extra text (help)CS1 maint: multiple names: editors list (link)
- Goss, William A. (1955). "The Organization and its Responsibilities, Chapter 2 The AAF". In Craven, Wesley F & Cate, James L. (ed.). The Army Air Forces in World War II (PDF). Vol. Vol. VI, Men & Planes. Chicago, IL: University of Chicago Press. LCCN 48003657. OCLC 704158. Retrieved 17 December 2016.
{{cite book}}:|volume=has extra text (help)CS1 maint: multiple names: editors list (link)
- Goss, William A. (1955). "The Organization and its Responsibilities, Chapter 2 The AAF". In Craven, Wesley F & Cate, James L. (ed.). The Army Air Forces in World War II (PDF). Vol. Vol. VI, Men & Planes. Chicago, IL: University of Chicago Press. LCCN 48003657. OCLC 704158. Retrieved 17 December 2016.
- Endicott, Judy G., ed. (2001). The USAF in Korea, Campaigns, Units and Stations 1950-1953 (PDF). Maxwell AFB, AL: Air Force Historical Research Agency. ISBN 0-16-050901-7. Retrieved 17 December 2016.
- Fletcher, Harry R (1993). Air Force Bases , Vol. II, Air Bases Outside the United States of America (PDF). Washington, DC: Center for Air Force History. ISBN 0-912799-53-6. Retrieved 17 December 2016.
- Mueller, Robert (1989). Air Force Bases, Vol. I, Active Air Force Bases Within the United States of America on 17 September 1982 (PDF). Washington, DC: Office of Air Force History. ISBN 0-912799-53-6. Retrieved 17 December 2016.
- Ravenstein, Charles A. (1984). Air Force Combat Wings, Lineage & Honors Histories 1947-1977 (PDF). Washington, DC: Office of Air Force History. ISBN 0-912799-12-9. Retrieved 17 December 2016.