12th Airborne Command and Control Squadron
12th Airborne Command and Control Squadron | |
---|---|
Vietnamese Gallantry Cross with Palm | |
Commanders | |
Current commander | Lt Col Gerry Thompson |
Insignia | |
12th Airborne Command and Control Squadron emblem[a][1] | |
12th Air Commando Squadron unofficial emblem[b] | |
2d Antisubmarine Squadron emblem |
The 12th Airborne Command and Control Squadron was a
History
Antisubmarine warfare
The first predecessor of the
In January 1943, it moved to RAF St Eval, Cornwall, being the first of four antisubmarine squadrons to arrive there to participate in the Battle of the Atlantic.[1][4] From St Eval it began flying antisubmarine patrols around England. Although the squadron remained assigned to the 25th Wing, at St Eval, it was attached to the provisional 1st Antisubmarine Group.[1]
In March 1943, the squadron moved to
The squadron returned to the United States at end of 1943 and was disbanded at
Airlift operations in the Mediterranean Theater
The 327th Ferrying Squadron, which was activated at
Operation Ranch Hand
In the fall of 1966
In October 1966, the squadron also began flying insecticide missions. These missions focused on killing malaria spreading mosquitos. A single aircraft was dedicated to this mission, since the application rate of insecticide was much lower than that for herbicides and one mission could cover a large area. Because of the corrosive effects of the insecticide on aircraft camouflage paint, an uncamouflaged aircraft was eventually settled on to fly these missions.[9][c]
In February 1967, the squadron flew its first mission in the southern portion of the Demilitarized zone (DMZ) between North and South Vietnam. Infiltration through the DMZ posed a significant threat to forces in the I Corps area, but the sensitivity of defoliation in an area so near North Vietnam had delayed operations there. By the late summer, selected targets in the northern portion of the DMZ and nearby infiltration routes within North Vietnam had been added to the target list.[10] DMZ operations were flown from the operating location the squadron maintained at Da Nang Air Base.[11]
The squadron participated in Operation Pink Rose in late 1966 and early 1967. Pink Rose was an attempt to burn forested areas. In this operation, the unit applied two treatments to the target areas with defoliants.
In addition to defoliation, the 12th also flew
In January 1968, the squadron flew 589 sorties on target, the most it would fly during the war. However, on 31 January, its base at Bien Hoa was subjected to intense rocket and
Later in 1968, the unit added Nha Trang Air Base and Phu Cat Air Base to Da Nang as staging areas for defoliation operations as missions clearing friendly lines of communication again took precedence over the area targets of the previous two years. Targets also shifted away from the heavily populated III Corps zone. In May, the squadron received its first UC-123K, equipped with two additional General Electric J85 engines, which greatly reduced the planes' vulnerability to loss of an engine. This conversion was completed by April 1969. By this time, the squadron had lost six UC-123Bs on combat missions.[16]
During February 1969, in anticipation of a repeat of the previous year's offensive, the squadron deployed to
In its four years of operations, the 12th was awarded four
Airborne command and control
In September 1985, the 2d Antisubmarine Squadron and 327th Ferrying Squadron were reconstituted and consolidated with the 12th Special Operations Squadron, and the consolidated unit designated the 12th Airborne Command and Control Squadron. However, the squadron remained inactive until January 1996, when it was activated to fly
In 2002, the JSTARS mission was transferred to the Georgia Air National Guard and the squadron was transferred to the Guard as part of the 116th Operations Group.[e] This arrangement was reversed in 2011, and the squadron returned to the regular Air Force in 2011.
Following the retirement of the E-8C, the 12th ACCS was deactivated on April 12, 2024
Lineage
- 2d Antisubmarine Squadron
- Constituted as the 523d Bombardment Squadron (Heavy) on 13 October 1942
- Activated on 18 October 1942
- Redesignated 2d Antisubmarine Squadron (Heavy) on 23 November 1942
- Disbanded on 29 January 1944
- Reconstituted on 19 September 1985 and consolidated with the 327th Ferrying Squadron and the 12th Special Operations Squadron as the 12th Airborne Command and Control Squadron[1]
- 327th Ferrying Squadron
- Constituted as the 327th Ferrying Squadron on 12 May 1944
- Activated on 31 May 1944
- Inactivated on 5 October 1945
- Disbanded on 8 October 1948
- Reconstituted on 19 September 1985 and consolidated with the 2d Antisubmarine Squadron and the 12th Special Operations Squadron as the 12th Airborne Command and Control Squadron[1]
- 12th Airborne Command and Control Squadron
- Constituted as the 12th Air Commando Squadron (Defoliation) and activated on 26 August 1966 (not organized)
- Organized on 15 October 1966
- Redesignated 12th Special Operations Squadron on 1 August 1968
- Inactivated on 30 September 1970
- Consolidated with the 2d Antisubmarine Squadron and the 327th Ferrying Squadron as the 12th Airborne Command and Control Squadron on 19 September 1985
- Activated on 29 January 1996
- Allotted to the Air National Guard on 1 October 2002[1]
- Withdrawn from the Air National Guard on 1 October 2011
- Inactivated on 12 April 2024
Assignments
- 378th Bombardment Group, 18 October 1942
- 25th Antisubmarine Wing, 14 December 1942 (attached to VIII Bomber Command, c. 2 January 1942, 1st Antisubmarine Group (Provisional), 15 January 1942, 2037th Antisubmarine Wing (Provisional), 1 March 1943 – 21 June 1943)
- 480th Antisubmarine Group, 21 June 1943 – 29 January 1944
- Mediterranean Air Transport Service, 31 May 1944
- XII Air Force Service Command, c. 15 September – 5 October 1945
- Pacific Air Forces, 26 August 1966 (not organized)
- 315th Air Commando Wing(later 315th Special Operations Wing, 315th Tactical Airlift Wing), 15 October 1966 – 30 September 1970
- 93d Operations Group, 29 January 1996
- 116th Operations Group, 1 October 2002[1]
- 461st Operations Group, 1 October 2011
Stations
- Langley Field, Virginia, 18 October – 26 December 1942
- RAF St Eval (Station 129),[20] England, 2 January 1943
- Craw Field, Port Lyautey, French Morocco, c. 11 March – 25 November 1943 (air echelon operated from Agadir, French Morocco, in July 1943)
- Clovis Army Air Field, New Mexico, c. 4 – 29 January 1944
- Capodichino Air Base, Naples, Italy, 31 May 1944 – 5 October 1945[f]
- Tan Son Nhut Airport, South Vietnam, 15 October 1966
- Bien Hoa Air Base, South Vietnam, 1 December 1966
- Phan Rang Air Base, South Vietnam, 10 July – 30 September 1970
- Robins Air Force Base, Georgia, 29 Jan 1996 – present[1]
Aircraft
- Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress, 1942
- Douglas B-18 Bolo, 1942
- Lockheed B-34 Lexington, 1942
- Consolidated B-24 Liberator, 1942–1944
- Curtiss P-40 Warhawk, 1944
- Douglas C-47 Skytrain, 1944–1945
- Curtiss C-46 Commando, 1945
- Fairchild UC-123B Provider, 1966–1978
- Fairchild UC-123K Provider, 1968–1970
- Northrop Grumman E-8 Joint STARS, 1996–present[1][21]
Awards and campaigns
Award streamer | Award | Dates | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
Presidential Unit Citation | European Theater of Operations and North Africa 16 January 1943 – 28 October 1943 | 2d Antisubmarine Squadron[1] | |
Distinguished Unit Citation | Southeast Asia 15 October 1966 – 30 June 1967 | 12th Air Commando Squadron[1] | |
Distinguished Unit Citation | Southeast Asia 21 January 1968 – 12 May 1968 | 12th Air Commando Squadron[1] | |
Distinguished Unit Citation | Southeast Asia 15 May 1968 – 15 April 1969 | 12th Air Commando Squadron (later 12th Special Operations Squadron)[1] | |
Distinguished Unit Citation | Southeast Asia 1 April 1970 – 30 June 1970 | 12th Special Operations Squadron[1] | |
Combat "V" Device |
15 October 1966 – 30 April 1967 | 12th Air Commando Squadron[1] | |
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award | 29 January 1996 – 31 May 1997 | 12th Airborne Command and Control Squadron[22] | |
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award | 1 June 1997 – 31 May 1999 | 12th Airborne Command and Control Squadron[22] | |
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award | 31 August 2004 – 31 May 2006 | 12th Airborne Command and Control Squadron[22] | |
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award | 1 June 2006 – 31 May 2007 | 12th Airborne Command and Control Squadron[22] | |
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award | 1 June 2013 – 31 May 2014 | 12th Airborne Command and Control Squadron[22] | |
Vietnamese Gallantry Cross with Palm |
[g] | 12th Air Commando Squadron (later 12th Special Operations Squadron) |
Campaign Streamer | Campaign | Dates | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
Antisubmarine | 18 October 1942 – 26 December 1942 | 523d Bombardment Squadron (later 2d Antisubmarine Squadron)[23] | |
Air Offensive, Europe | 2 January 1943 – 25 November 1943 | 2d Antisubmarine Squadron[1] | |
Antisubmarine, EAME Theater | 2 January 1943 – 25 November 1943 | 2d Antisubmarine Squadron[1] | |
Rhineland | 15 September 1944 – 21 March 1945 | 327th Ferrying Squadron[1] | |
Air Combat, EAME Theater | 2 January 1943 – 24 November 1943, 31 May 1944 – 11 May 1945 | 2d Antisubmarine Squadron, 327th Ferrying Squadron[1] | |
Rome-Arno | 31 May 1944 – 9 September 1944 | 327th Ferrying Squadron[1] | |
Po Valley | 3 April 1945 – 8 May 1945 | 327th Ferrying Squadron[1] | |
Vietnam Air Offensive | 15 October 1966 – 8 March 1967 | 12th Air Commando Squadron[1] | |
Vietnam Air Offensive, Phase II | 9 March 1967 – 31 March 1968 | 12th Air Commando Squadron[1] | |
Vietnam Air/Ground | 22 January 1968 – 7 July 1968 | 12th Air Commando Squadron[1] | |
Vietnam Air Offensive, Phase III | 1 April 1968 – 31 October 1968 | 12th Air Commando Squadron (later 12th Special Operations Squadron)[1] | |
Vietnam Air Offensive, Phase IV | 1 November 1968 – 22 February 1969 | 12th Special Operations Squadron[1] | |
Tet 1969/Counteroffensive | 23 February 1969 – 8 June 1969 | 12th Special Operations Squadron[1] | |
Vietnam Summer-Fall 1969 | 9 June 1969 – 31 October 1969 | 12th Special Operations Squadron[1] | |
Vietnam Winter-Spring 1970 | 3 November 1969 – 30 April 1970 | 12th Special Operations Squadron[1] | |
Sanctuary Counteroffensive | 1 May 1970 – 30 June 1970 | 12th Special Operations Squadron[1] | |
Southwest Monsoon | 1 July 1970 – 31 July 1970 | 12th Special Operations Squadron[1] | |
Kosovo Air | undetermined | 12th Airborne Command and Control Squadron[1] | |
Global War on Terror Expeditionary Medal | undetermined | 12th Expeditionary Airborne Command and Control Squadron[24][h] |
Commanders of the 12th Airborne Command and Control Squadron
The commander of the 12th Airborne Command and Control Squadron is an air force position held by a lieutenant colonel. The 12 ACCS is responsible for organizing, equipping, and ensuring the combat capability of more than 200 airmen in the Air Force's first E-8C Joint Surveillance Target Attack Radar System operational squadron.
Commander | From | Through | Commander | From | Through | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Charles Freniere | June, 1996 | January, 1998 | 8 | Bill Gould | June, 2008 | April, 2010 | |
2 | Gordon McKay | January, 1998 | October, 1999 | 9 | Chris Blaney | April, 2010 | April, 2012 | |
3 | Mark Hall | October, 1999 | November, 2000 | 10 | Max Weems | April, 2012 | April, 2014 | |
4 | Tom Wozinak | November, 2000 | November, 2002 | 11 | Christopher Clark | April, 2014 | April, 2016 | |
5 | Mick Quintrall | November, 2002 | October, 2004 | 12 | Nelson Rouleau | April, 2016 | April, 2018 | |
6 | Kelly Noler | October, 2004 | June, 2006 | 13 | Bobby Hunt | April, 2018 | April, 2020 | |
7 | Henry Cyr | June, 2006 | June, 2008 | 14 | Vida Roeder | April, 2020 | April, 2022 | |
15 | Gerry Thompson | April, 2022 | Present |
References
- Explanatory notes
- ^ Approved 12 April 2000.
- ^ The emblem was previously used by 309th Air Commando Squadron Special Aerial Spray Flight. The green disc represents the jungle, while the brown bend sinister is a defoliated strip. The Chinese logogram for "purple" is in the center. Purple was the generic name used by Ranch Hand personnel for all defoliants.
- ^ This aircraft, built as Fairchild C-123B-17-FA, serial 56-4362, Patches is on display at the National Museum of the United States Air Force. Buckingham states that workers had stripped Patches of its camouflage paint, but there is no evidence that the plane was camouflaged while in Vietnam. Buckingham, p. 124. It was modified as UC-123B c. 1962 (spray equipment installed); UC-123K in 1968 (jet engines installed); C-123K c. Jan 1973 (spray equipment removed). When withdrawn from Vietnam in 1972, it was diverted to spray insecticide during a plague of locusts in Afghanistan and Iran, returning to the United States via Europe. It is believed to be the only C-123 to have flown completely around the world. Baugher, Joe (14 February 2023). "1956 USAF Serial Numbers". Joe Baugher. Retrieved 20 April 2023. The aircraft took almost 600 hits in combat, and it was named "Patches" for the damage repairs that covered it. Seven of its crew received the Purple Heart for wounds received in battle. It carries VNAF national markings. Patches served in the Air Force Reserve as a C-123K from 1972 until it was retired to the museum in 1980.
- ^ Dollman lists a single award. However, "AF Pamphlet 900-2, Unit Decorations, Awards and Campaign Participation Credits, Vol II" (PDF). Washington, DC: Department of the Air Force. 30 September 1976. Archived from the original (PDF) on 4 August 2015. Retrieved 11 August 2016. lists a total of five.
- ^ The squadron kept its designation, and was not renumbered in the block of numbers (101–300) allotted to the Air National Guard.
- ^ Dollman states that the squadron returned to the United States in September, but does not give a station.
- ^ Kane lists one award for 15 October 1966 – 31 July 1970. Air Force Pamphlet 900-2 lists five awards, for 15 October 1966 – 31 July 1966, 15 October 1966 – 1 August 1968, 1 May 1968 – 31 July 1970, 1 June 1969 – 1 June 1970, 1 May 1968 – 31 July 1970. The AF Personnel Center database lists two awards, for 15 October 1966 – 1 August 1968 and 1 May 1968 – 31 July 1970.
- ^ This campaign credit was earned by an expeditionary unit for which the squadron was the primary force provider and is bestowed on the squadron.
- Citations
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad ae af ag ah ai aj ak al am an Dollman, TSG Robert (18 October 2016). "Factsheet 12 Airborne Command and Control Squadron (ACC)". Air Force Historical Research Agency. Retrieved 25 May 2018.
- ^ Maurer, Combat Units, p. 266
- ^ Maurer, Combat Units, pp. 388–389
- ^ Maurer, Combat Squadrons, pp. 3, 25–26, 101
- ^ Maurer, Combat Units, p. 354
- ^ Staff writer(s), no byline (20 December 1943). "AIR: Sub Hunters' Return". Time. Retrieved 13 August 2016.
- ^ See Mueller, p. 60 (showing B-29 units at Clovis).
- ^ Buckingham, p. 123
- ^ a b Buckingham, p. 124
- ^ Buckingham, pp. 125–127
- ^ Buckingham, p. 128
- ^ Buckingham, pp. 127–128
- ^ Buckingham, p. 137
- ^ Buckingham, pp. 133–136
- ^ Buckingham, pp. 142–143
- ^ Buckingham, pp. 143–144, 149, 152
- ^ Buckingham, p. 152
- ^ Buckingham, pp. 161
- ^ Buckingham, pp. 167–168
- ^ Station number in Anderson.
- ISBN 1-880588-01-3
- ^ a b c d e "Air Force Personnel Services: Unit Awards". Air Force Personnel Center. Retrieved 15 August 2016. (search)
- ^ See Maurer, Combat Units, p. 266 (indicating that the squadrons of the 378th Bombardment Group performed patrols off the Atlantic Coast).
- ^ "Special Order G-33994" (PDF). United States Air Forces Central Command. 14 July 2014. Retrieved 21 February 2016.
Bibliography
This article incorporates public domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency
- Anderson, Capt. Barry (1985). Army Air Forces Stations: A Guide to the Stations Where U.S. Army Air Forces Personnel Served in the United Kingdom During World War II (PDF). Maxwell AFB, AL: Research Division, USAF Historical Research Center. Archived from the original (PDF) on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 7 July 2012.
- Buckingham, William A. Jr. (1982). Operation Ranch Hand: The Air Force and Herbicides in Southeast Asia 1961–1971 (PDF). Washington, DC: Office of Air Force History. ISBN 978-0-87000-466-7. Retrieved 1 February 2014.
- Maurer, Maurer, ed. (1983) [1961]. Air Force Combat Units of World War II (PDF) (reprint ed.). Washington, DC: Office of Air Force History. LCCN 61060979.
- Maurer, Maurer, ed. (1982) [1969]. Combat Squadrons of the Air Force, World War II (PDF) (reprint ed.). Washington, DC: Office of Air Force History. OCLC 72556.
- 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.