Combat Wings The Great Battles Of World War Ii

[Edilma Howard]

The 552nd Air Control Wing is responsible to the commander of Air Combat Command for the operations, maintenance, logistics, training, and combat support of E-3 Sentry Airborne Warning and Control System aircraft as well as ground-based Control and Reporting Centers. The wing provides combat-ready theater battle management forces at the direction of the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. It deploys, operates, and supports these forces worldwide, ensuring combat capability for all peacetime and contingency operations.

The 552nd Air Control Wing reports to 15th Air Force headquartered at Shaw Air Force Base, SC. The wing consists of four subordinate units: the 552nd Operations Group, the 552nd Maintenance Group, the 552nd Air Control Group, and the 552nd Training Group.

The 552nd Operations Group provides the Combat Air Force with airborne systems and personnel for surveillance, warning, battle management and control of strategic, tactical, and special mission forces. The group consists of approximately 1,180 personnel assigned to the 552nd Operations Support Squadron and four operational flying squadrons; the 960th, 963rd, 964th, and 965th Airborne Air Control Squadrons.

The 552nd Air Control Group is responsible for operations, maintenance, training, and combat support for two combat-coded Control and Reporting Centers. Additionally, the group provides software and ground communications for the E-3 Airborne Warning and Control System fleet. The group consists of 940 personnel assigned to the 552d Air Control Networks Squadron, the 752nd Operations Support Squadron, and two geographically separated squadrons; the 726th Air Control Squadron at Mountain Home AFB, ID, and 729th Air Control Squadron at Hill AFB, UT.

The 552nd Training Group, activated on 17 August 2018, consists of approximately 225 personnel assigned to the 966th Airborne Air Control Squadron, the 552nd Training Support Squadron, and the geographically separated 436th Training Squadron at Dyess AFB, TX. The group trains crews for the Air Force's operational inventory of 31 E-3 Sentry aircraft and graduates over 300 E-3 crewmembers annually. The 436th Training Squadron conducts 14 different training courses, completing over 100 classes and instructing over 1,600 students annually. Additionally, the 436 TS Video Production Team produces professional-grade instructional videos for use DOD- wide.

In January 1990, the wing deployed personnel and four E-3s to Roosevelt Roads NAS, Puerto Rico, in response to the expanded drug interdiction missions assigned to the 552 AW&CW. This deployment, known as AGATE PATH, established a forward operating base for counter narcotic operations in the Central American region. Since then, the 552 ACW has provided 32,784 hours of counter-narcotics support.

In August 1990, following the invasion of Kuwait by Iraqi forces, the wing deployed E-3s and personnel to Saudi Arabia and Turkey in support of Operations DESERT SHIELD, DESERT STORM and PROVEN FORCE, respectively. On January 16, 1991, E-3 support packages of the 552d Airborne Warning and Control Wing executed airborne control over several of the initial strikes on Iraq in Operation DESERT STORM. Beginning on January 17, 1991, both deployed forces played a prominent role in the successful execution of Operation DESERT STORM. The E-3 aircraft and aircrews flew a total of 7,314.7 combat hours during DESERT STORM and controlled 20,401 air refueling sorties with tankers off-loading more than 178 million gallons of gas to 60,543 receivers.

In March 1991, after the Gulf War, the wing remained in the Persian Gulf region. Wing personnel and aircraft in Southwest Asia continued a post-war surveillance role, while wing assets in Turkey continued to provide surveillance support for Operation PROVIDE COMFORT, the protection of Kurdish refugees. 552nd personnel provided 24,798 hours of on-station support flying 3,178 sorties during the seven year operation.

In October 1991, the 552d Airborne Warning and Control Wing was redesignated the 552nd Air Control Wing. In May 1992, the 28th Air Division was inactivated and the 552nd Air Control Wing was reorganized.

During March of 2001, in an effort to bring the 552nd Air Control Wing in alignment with the needs of the Expeditionary Aerospace Force, the 960th Airborne Warning and Control Squadron was reactivated and redesignated as the 960th Airborne Air Control Squadron.

On September 11, 2001, the 552nd was one of the first units to be tasked by the North American Aerospace Defense Command to protect the airspace over North America as part of Operation NOBLE EAGLE (ONE). Within hours, AWACS was patrolling the skies over North America in homeland defense. Around-the-clock patrols continued until the Spring of 2002. Since 9/11, US E-3 crews have flown over 605 sorties, providing over 6,980 hours of coverage.

Never in its history had the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) alliance been used to defend the United States, but all that changed on October 9, 2001, when the first of five NATO E-3s and a detachment of more than 180 personnel arrived at Tinker AFB in support of Operation EAGLE ASSIST. This action was one of eight measures taken by NATO in its first execution of Article 5 of the 1949 Washington Treaty that created NATO.

Thanksgiving of 2002 brought another first as a single airborne air control squadron deployed to Thumrait Air Base, Oman in support of Operation ENDURING FREEDOM. In January of 2003, 5 E-3s, aircrew, and associated support personnel and equipment redeployed from Thumrait, Oman to Prince Sultan Air Base, Saudi Arabia, to join the largest deployment of AWACS aircraft, personnel, and equipment in preparation for Operation IRAQI FREEDOM.

April of 2003 marked the beginning of the return of the wing from Prince Sultan Air Base and by June all 552nd Air Control Wing aircraft, personnel, and equipment were at home station. This marked the first-ever period of reconstitution for the wing.

In 2005, following the devastation from Hurricane Katrina, the wing flew 16 contingency management missions totaling over 158 hours in 8 days. Following Hurricane Rita, the wing flew 14 missions totaling over 117 hours.

In March of 2007, the wing returned to the Middle East flying missions in support of Operations IRAQI and ENDURING FREEDOM. From September 2001 until ENDURING FREEDOM ended in 2014, 552nd crews flew 6,589 sorties providing 79,764 hours of Battle Management Command and Control in support of ENDURING FREEDOM.

On 1 May 2008, the 552nd Communications Group was inactivated, and the 552nd Air Control Group was activated in its place along with four CONUS-based Air Control Squadrons. The three combat-coded CRCs deployed regularly in support of Operations IRAQI FREEDOM and ENDURING FREEDOM.

From March-November 2011, the 552nd Air Control Wing took part in Operation ODYSSEY DAWN, later named Operation UNIFIED PROTECTOR, enforcing a no-fly zone to protect Libyan citizens under the authority of United Nations Security Council Resolution 1973. 552nd E-3 maintainers launched 284 sorties on which E-3 aircrews flew 2,446 hours in support of Operations ODESSY DAWN and UNIFIED PROTECTOR.

In March 2012, the 552 ACW received the first Block 40/45 E-3. The 40/45 modifications were the largest enhancements, modifications, and modernizations to the E-3 aircraft in its history. In June 2014, Gen Gilmary Hostage, HQ ACC Commander, approved the 40/45 E-3Gs status change to IOC, authorizing them to be utilized in support of operations world-wide. In May 2015, the 964 AACS deployed the first E-3G to Curacao in support of counter-drug operations. Later that year, in November 2015, the 964 AACS deployed the first E-3G to CENTCOM in support of combat operations. The first E-3G combat sortie took place on 20 November 2015 in support of strikes against ISIS/ISIL targets.

On 1 October 2015, HQ ACC transferred the 436 Training Squadron from the 7 BW at Dyess AFB, TX to the 552 ACW. The 436 TS provides world-class training classes and video production capabilities for units around the Air Force.

The 726 ACS and 729 ACS now also operate an upgraded Tactical Air Operations Module, the AN/TYQ-23A (V)1. This new technology enables the CRCs to provide improved command and control and tactical execution of air battles in support of component commanders in operational theaters.

In August 2017, 552 crews supported Hurricane Harvey and Hurricane Irma rescue and recovery efforts. In September 2018, the 552 ACW flew in support of the Hurricane Florence rescue and recovery mission.

In January 2017, the first E-3 with a DRAGON modified flight deck arrived at Tinker and began operational testing. In September 2017, the first Internet Protocol Enabled Comm (IPEC) modified E-3 arrived at Tinker AFB. The IPEC E-3s deployed within 3 months.

Craig Murray: "The Big Wing is very much a Duxford idea. The man behind it is Douglas Bader, who is squadron leader of 242 squadron at RAF Duxford. What it is basically, or what it becomes, is a five squadron Big wing as a name implies. A standard RAF wing is three squadrons and indeed the Big Wing starts as a standard three squadron wing but it's quite quickly up to this five squadrons. So, anything up to 60 aircraft can be in the air at one time."

Craig Murray: "Although it was used more than a demonstration purpose rather than what Bader envisions it being used for is this off high fire power large number of aircraft strike force against incoming enemy raiders. So as it's used here, it's very much Douglas Bader's brainchild with some input from Trafford Leigh Mallory as well."

Craig Murray: "They start to come into conflict with 11 Group due to the fact that they're attempting to put up these bigger and bigger wings of aircraft which take longer to form up and often to arrive in time others miscoordination between aircraft. So, in a couple of cases the 11 Group airfields are hit and the case with Debden, five people are killed in one of the raids at which they were supposed to stop."

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