552 Air Control Wing
Lineage
Established as 552d Airborne Early Warning and Control Wing on 30 Mar 1955. Activated on 8 Jul 1955. Redesignated 552d Airborne Early Warning and Control Group on 1 Jul 1974. Inactivated on 30 Apr 1976. Redesignated 552d Airborne Warning and Control Wing on 5 May 1976. Activated on 1 Jul 1976. Redesignated: 552d Airborne Warning and Control Division on 1 Oct 1983; 552d Airborne Warning and Control Wing on 1 Apr 1985; 552d Air Control Wing on 1 Oct 1991.
Assignments
8th Air Division (Airborne Early Warning and Control), 8 Jul 1955; Western Air Defense Force, 1 Jul 1957; 28th Air Division (SAGE), 1 Jul 1960; Fourth Air Force, 1 Apr 1966; Tenth Air Force, 15 Sep 1969; Aerospace Defense Command, 15 Nov 1969–30 Apr 1976. Tactical Air Command, 1 Jul 1976; 28th Air Division, 1 Apr 1985; Tactical Air Command, 29 May 1992; Air Combat Command, 1 Jun 1992; Second Air Force, 1 Oct 1992; Twelfth Air Force, 1 Jul 1993–.
Components
Group. 552d Operations: 29 May 1992–.
Squadrons. 3d Airborne Command and Control: 1 Aug–1 Nov 1986. 7th Airborne Command and Control: 1 Oct 1976–1 Apr 1985. 8th Tactical Deployment Control: 1 Jan 1978–1 Mar 1986. 41st Electronic Combat: 1 Jul 1980–1 Apr 1985. 960th Airborne Warning and Control Support (later 960th Airborne Warning and Control): 1 Sep 1979–1 Apr 1985. 961st Airborne Warning and Control Support (later, 961st Airborne Warning and Control): 1 Oct 1979–1 Apr 1985. 963d: 8 Jul 1955–30 Apr 1976; 1 Jul 1976–29 May 1992. 964th: 8 Jul 1955–30 Jun 1974; 1 Jul 1977–29 May 1992. 965th: 8 Aug 1955–30 Jun 1971; 1 Jul 1978–29 May 1992. 966th Airborne Warning and Control Training: 1 May 1963–1 Jul 1969; 15 Nov–31 Dec 1969; 1 Jul 1976–29 May 1992.
Stations
McClellan AFB, CA, 8 Jul 1955–30 Apr 1976. Tinker AFB, OK, 1 Jul 1976–.
Commanders
Col Leeman J. Hipson, 8 Jul 1955; Col Richard W. DaVania, (by Dec) 1955; Col Septime S. Richard, Jr., (by Dec) 1956; Col Charles R. Heffner, 18 Oct 1957; Col Charles F. Knierim, 28 May 1959; Col Robert J. Loughry, 17 Oct 1960; Col James P. Lyle, 18 Oct 1963; Col Wright J. Sherrard, 28 Aug 1964; Col William R. Nevitt, 2 Feb 1966; Col Olin E. Gilbert, 31 May 1968; Col Henry L. Timmermans, 1 Nov 1969; Col Robert P. Halpenny, 28 Apr 1972; Col Harold P. Knutty, 26 Jul 1974; Col Francis B. Henkel, 27 Jun 1975–30 Apr 1976. Maj Gen John L. Piotrowski, 1 Jul 1976; Brig Gen Neil L. Eddins, 29 Aug 1979; Col Jerry D. Holmes, 20 Jul 1981; Brig Gen William K. James, 16 Sep 1982; Col James R. Sterk, 1 Mar 1985; Col Wylie J. Koiner, 16 Jun 1988; Col Gary A. Voellger, 17 May 1990; Brig Gen William J. Ball, 29 May 1992; Brig Gen David Oakes, 10 Aug 1992–.
Aircraft
RC–121, 1955–c. 1959, c. 1961–1963; TC–121, 1959–c. 1961, 1967–1969; EC–121, 1963–1976; C–121, 1967–1976. EC–130, 1976–1985, 1992–; WC–135, 1977–1982; E–3, 1977–; EC–135, 1979–1986, 1992–; C–135, 1979–1981, 1983–1986, 1992–.
Operations
The 552d operated from McClellan AFB, CA, 1955 until inactivated in 1976. Through its squadrons, detachments, and operating locations, it extended air defense radar coverage and fighter control seaward beyond the range of shore-based stations. Late in 1958, the 552d assumed the additional mission of performing gap-filler duty for temporarily inoperative ground radar stations. Tracked ballistic missiles in the Pacific after 1957 and provided support for Discoverer and Mercury space flight projects. On 11 Aug 1960 wing aircraft vectored and controlled the aircraft that recovered the Discoverer XIII capsule. Deployed aircraft and crews to McCoy AFB, FL, (19 Oct–5 Dec 1962) during the Cuban missile crisis. Operated extensively in Southeast Asia, 1965–1974, as part of the Big (later, College) Eye Task Force. During this time the 552d expanded operations to the eastern coast of the United States and to Iceland. Redesignated as a group on 1 Jul 1974 because of a reduction in components and a reduced mission; remained in this status until inactivation on 30 Apr 1976. Redesignated 552d Airborne Warning and Control Wing and activated on 1 Jul 1976 at Tinker AFB, OK. The wing provided airborne early warning, surveillance, command, control and communications, and battlefield services for US Armed Forces and its allies. Besides functions at its primary station, the wing fulfilled its mission from other geographical locations, worldwide, participating in numerous tactical exercises, such as joint training in electronic warfare environments, airborne battlefield command and control for Tactical Control Centers, search and rescue, and maritime operations, Oct 1977–. Assisted US Customs in drug interdiction, Jan 1979–. Advised NATO on activation of its AEW (Airborne Early Warning) Force Command and trained NATO crews in E–3 "Sentry" aircraft to improve the Allied air defense system in Europe, c. Jan 1980–Dec 1982. Aided in the search and salvage operations 1 Sep–9 Oct 1983, of the Korean Airlines flight 007 (KAL 007) that was shot down by a Soviet fighter over the Sea of Japan on 1 Sep 1983. Flew intelligence missions with E–3s in Saudi Arabia during the Iran-Iraq War, 13 Oct 1980– 17 Apr 1989. Elevated to division level in Oct 1983. With the activation of the 41st Electronic Combat Squadron at Davis-Monthan AFB, AZ, the division was tasked with the Command, Control and Communications Countermeasures mission, 1 Jul 1980–1 Apr 1985. Relieved of the countermeasures duty when the division was redesignated to wing. Flew Airborne Battlefield Command, Control and Communications (ABCCC) missions on airborne alert during the invasions of Grenada, Nov 1983, and Panama, Dec 1989. Trained Royal Saudi Air Force aircrews in the operations of ABCCC missions, Apr 1985. Performed airborne warning and control operations in the Southwest Asia, Aug 1990–Mar 1991. Provided navigational support for USAF units to and from overseas deployments. In Jan 1993, supported deployed aircraft and crews to Southwest Asia to ensure that Iraq complied with ceasefire terms.
Honors
Service Streamers. None.
Campaign Streamers. Southwest Asia: Defense of Saudi Arabia; Liberation and Defense of Kuwait.
Armed Forces Expeditionary Streamers. Grenada, 1983.
Decorations. Air Force Outstanding Unit Awards with Combat "V" Device: 1 Jul 1969– 30 Jun 1970; 1 Jul 1971–31 Dec 1972. Air Force Outstanding Unit Awards: 1 Jul 1961–30 Jun 1963; 15 Apr 1965–1 Jul 1966; 2 Jul 1966–1 Jul 1968; 1 Jul 1970–30 Jun 1971; 1 Jul 1974–30 Jun 1975; 1 Jul 1977–30 Jun 1978; 1 Jul 1978–30 Jun 1980; 1 Jul 1982–30 Jun 1984; 1 May 1985–30 Apr 1987; 1 May 1987–30 Apr 1989; 1 Dec 1989–1 Dec 1991. Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm: 1 Apr 1966–28 Jan 1973.
Emblem
Per bend Celeste and per bend sinister Azure and Argent a bendlet Or, in sinister chief a compass rose White shaded Sable, in base a winged tower silhouette of the last and issuant from dexter two lightning flashes radiating to fess point of the third all within a diminished bordure Yellow. Approved on 6 Feb 1956 (K 229).
Source: Organizational History Branch , maxwell.af.mil/au/afhra
