552nd Air Control Wing, US Air Force

552ND AIR CONTROL WING, US AIR FORCE

History: Established as 552 Airborne Early Warning and Control Wing on 30 March 1955. Activated on 8 July 1955. Redesignated as 552 Airborne Early Warning and Control Group on 1 July 1974. Inactivated on 30 April 1976. Redesignated as 552 Airborne Warning and Control Wing on 5 May 1976. Activated on 1 July 1976. Redesignated as: 552 Airborne Warning and Control Division on 1 October 1983; 552 Airborne Warning and Control Wing on 1 April 1985; 552 Air Control Wing on 1 October 1991. The 552 Airborne Early Warning and Control Wing 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 552 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 October–5 December 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 552 expanded operations to the eastern coast of the United States and to Iceland. Redesignated as a group on 1 July 1974 because of a reduction in components and a reduced mission; remained in this status until inactivation on 30 April 1976. Redesignated as 552 Airborne Warning and Control Wing and activated on 1 July 1976 at Tinker AFB, OK. The wing provided airborne early warning, surveillance, command, control and communications, and battlefield services for US Armed Forces and 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, October 1977–. Assisted US Customs in drug interdiction, January 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. January 1980–December 1982. Aided in the search and salvage operations 1 September–9 October 1983, of the Korean Airlines flight 007 (KAL 007) that was shot down by a Soviet fighter over the Sea of Japan on 1 September 1983. Flew intelligence missions with E–3s in Saudi Arabia during the Iran-Iraq War, 13 October 1980–17 April 1989. Elevated to division level in October 1983. With the activation of the 41 Electronic Combat Squadron at Davis-Monthan AFB, AZ, the division was tasked with the Command, Control and Communications Countermeasures mission, 1 July 1980–1 April 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, April 1985. Performed airborne warning and control operations in the Southwest Asia, August 1990– March 1991. Provided navigational support for USAF units to and from overseas deployments. In January 1993, supported deployed aircraft and crews to Southwest Asia to ensure that Iraq complied with ceasefire terms. Supported Operation Provide Comfort, Operations Northern and Southern Watch, Operation Allied Force in Kosovo and Airpower Expeditionary Force (AEF) Exercise Eager Tiger 96 during 1992-1996. E-3 aircraft provided low-altitude radar coverage over large areas vulnerable to enemy attack and flew missions that observed drug traffic routes to help reduce smuggling of narcotics into the United States. In October 2002, logged 10,000 flying hours in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. Deployed E-3 aircraft to Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2003. Flew missions in support of disaster relief efforts after Hurricanes Katrina and Rita devastated the US Gulf Coast in September 2005.


Coat of arms (crest) of the 552nd Air Control Wing, US Air Force
Official blazon
English blazon wanted

Origin/meaning

The Emblem was approved on 6 February 1956; newly rendered 12 July 2012.

Literature: Inge from Wikimedia Commons. Information from https://www.afhra.af.mil/


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