26th Space Aggressor Squadron
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The 26th Space Aggressor Squadron (26 SAS) is a unit of the United States Air Force located at Schriever Air Force Base, Colorado. It is part of the 310th Space Group and augments the 527th Space Aggressor Squadron.
The 26th Aggressor Squadron was located at the Former Clark Air Base near Angeles City, Pampanga, Philippines. The unit was designated as an Aggressor Squadron on 22 April 1983, the 26th Aggressor Squadron began flying the F-5E Tiger II in 1977 and added T-33's to the unit in 1986. The unit flew simulated soviet attacks to provide training to US Air Force and Allied fighter crews at several locations; mostly at PACAF (Pacific Air Force) bases throughout the far-east; The unit also participated in Team Spirit exercises at Osan Air Base and Kunsan Air Base in Korea. The 26th flew its last aggressor mission on 21 February 1990, before being deactivated on 21 February 1990. Aggressor units flew attack patterns similar to Soviet tactics in order to train allied pilots to fly air-to-air combat missions against Soviet forces. Other Aggressor units operated at Nellis AFB near Las Vegas, NV and at Lakenheath AB in the UK.
The unit was relocated to Kadena AB (Okinawa Japan) and began using F-16's to fly the Aggressor missions sometime around November of 1988; The unit was deactivated on 21 February 1990 and was inactive until 2003 when the unit was reactivated as the 26th Space Aggressor Squadron at Schriever AFB, CO.
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[edit] Lineage
- Organized as 1st Reserve Aero Squadron on 26 May 1917. Redesignated 26th Aero Squadron on 1 October 1917. Demobilized on 7 June 1919.
- Reconstituted, and consolidated (8 April 1924), with unit authorized as 26th Squadron (Attack) on 30 August 1921 and organized on 15 September 1921. Redesignated 26th Attack Squadron on 25 January 1923. Inactivated on 27 June 1924.
- Activated on 1 September 1930 and redesignated 26th Bombardment Squadron (Medium) on 6 December 1939; 26th Bombardment Squadron (Heavy) on 11 December 1940; 26th Bombardment Squadron, Heavy in 1944; 26th Bombardment Squadron, Very Heavy on 30 April 1946. Inactivated on 20 October 1948.
- Redesignated 26th Bombardment Squadron, Heavy, and activated, on 1 December 1948. Discontinued, and inactivated on 2 July 1968.
- Redesignated 26th Tactical Fighter Squadron on 24 September 1973 and activated on 30 September 1973. Redesignated 26th Tactical Fighter Training Squadron on 31 August 1975; 26th Tactical Fighter Training Aggressor Squadron on 30 November 1977; 26th Aggressor Squadron on 22 April 1983. Inactivated on 21 February 1990.
- Redesignated 26th Space Aggressor Squadron on 21 February 2003 and activated in the Reserve on 1 October 2003.
[edit] Assignments
Eastern Department, 26 May 1917;
Third Aviation Instruction Center, c. Sep 1917;
unkn, Apr-7 June 1919.
3d Attack Group, 15 September 1921-27 June 1924.
5th Composite (later, 5th Bombardment) Group, 1 September 1930 (attached to 18th Pursuit Group, 1 September 1930-);
18th Wing, 12 October 1938 (remained attached to 18th Pursuit Group to c. 10 December 1939);
11th Bombardment Group, 1 February 1940-20 October 1948. 1 December 1948 (attached to 11th Bombardment Wing, 16 February 1951-15 June 1952);
11th Bombardment Wing (later, 11th Strategic Aerospace Wing), 16 June 1952-2 July 1968.
405th Fighter Wing, 30 September 1973;
3d Tactical Fighter Wing, 16 September 1974;
18th Tactical Fighter Wing, 1 October 1988-21 February 1990.
310th Space Group, 1 October 2003-.
[edit] Stations
Hazelhurst Field, New York, 26 May-23 August 1917;
Le Havre, France, 17 September 1917;
Issoudun, France, 20 September 1917 (detachments trained at Pau and Tours, France, 28 September-Nov 1917);
Clisson, France, 13 April 1919;
St Sebastien, France, 1 May 1919;
St Nazaire, France, 5-13 May 1919;
Mitchel Field, New York, 27 May-7 June 1919.
Kelly Field, Texas, 15 September 1921-27 June 1924.
Wheeler Field, TH, 1 September 1930;
Hickam Field, TH, 1 February 1940;
Wheeler Field, TH, 20 December 1941-19 July 1942 (operated from Midway Island, 30 May-2 June 1942 and 5-c. 8 June 1942);
Efate, New Hebrides, 25 July 1942 (forward echelon operated from Espiritu Santo, New Hebrides, Aug 1942, and from Guadalcanal, Sep 1942);
Espiritu Santo, New Hebrides, 22 December 1942-28 March 1943 (forward echelon operated from New Guinea, Jan 1943);
Bellows Field, TH, 12 April 1943; Wheeler Field, TH, 11 May 1943 (operated from Canton Island, Aug-Sep 1943);
Nukufetau, Ellice Islands, 11 November 1943 (air echelon operated from Canton Island, 12 November-31 December 1943);
Tarawa, Gilbert Islands, 25 January 1944 (air echelon operated from Eniwetok Atoll, Marshall Islands, 29 March-17 April 1944);
Kwajalein, Marshall Islands, 14 April 1944 (air echelon operated from Eniwetok Atoll, Marshall Islands, Jul 1944);
Guam, Marianas Islands, 21 October 1944; Yonton Airfield, Okinawa, Ryukyus Islands, 2 July 1945;
Ft McHenry, Luzon, 13 December 1945;
Northwest AAB, Guam, Marianas Islands, 15 May 1946;
Harmon Field AAB (later, AFB),
Guam, Marianas Islands, 1 May 1947-20 October 1948.
Carswell AFB, Texas, 1 December 1948 (deployed at Nouasseur AB, French Morocco, 28 June-29 July 1954 and 3 May-3 July 1955);
Altus AFB, Oklahoma, 13 December 1957-2 July 1968 (deployed at Clinton-Sherman AFB, OK, 13 August-25 November 1958).
Clark AB, Philippines, 30 September 1973;
Kadena AB, Japan, 1 October 1988-21 February 1990.
Schriever AFB, Colorado, 1 October 2003-.
[edit] Commanders
Maj Raynal C. Bolling, 26 May 1917;
Capt Phillip A. Carroll, 16 June 1917;
Capt James E. Miller, 27 September 1917;
1 Lt Charles E. Reed, c. 25 October 1917;
1 Lt Douglas Campbell, c. Nov 1917;
1 Lt Howard W. Schultz, c. 1917;
1 lt Carroll D. Weatherly, c. 1917-c. May 1918;
none (not manned), c. 31 May-c. 4 June 1918;
1 Lt Heath A. Melton, c. 5 June 1918;
Capt Roy A. Noggle, Oct 1918;
Capt James C. Calvert, Nov 1918;
2 Lt A. Evan Hughes, 1919;
1 Lt Thomas W. Ward, 1919.
1 Lt Lotha A. Smith, 15 September 1921;
1 Lt Byron E. Gates, 14 September 1922;
unkn, 26 January 1923-27 June 1924.
1 Lt Nathan F. Twining, 1 September 1930;
1 Lt Leonard H. Rodieck, 8 March 1932;
Maj Samuel G. Frierson, 1 March 1934;
Maj George A. McHenry Jr., 3 December 1936;
Capt George R. Acheson, 25 November 1938;
2 Lt Alvord Rutherford, 26 December 1939;
Maj Richard E. Cobb, 1 May 1940;
1 Lt R. P. Salzarulo, 12 November 1941;
Maj Andrew Meulenberg, 13 November 1941;
Maj Richard E. Cobb, c. 20 December 1941;
Lt Col Lawrence C. Coddington, c. 15 January 1942;
Maj Allan J. Sewart Jr., 29 June 1942;
Capt John J. Thornhill, 18 November 1942;
Capt Nicholas H. Lund, 20 May 1943;
Maj Wesley A. Anderson, 6 July 1943;
Maj Robert W. Holland, 27 January 1944;
Capt Vernon B. Warren, 29 July 1944;
Maj Robert W. Holland, c. 1 December 1944;
Capt Vernon B. Warren, Jan 1945 (acting), 11 February 1945 (permanent);
Maj Wilber E. Dehne, 1 March 1945;
Maj George R. Haysel, May 1945;
Maj Wilber E. Dehne, Jul 1945;
l Lt Robert N. Chalman, c. Dec 1945;
none (not manned), c. 13 December 1945-14 May 1946;
Capt William E. Conger, 15 May 1946;
Capt Aloyisius A. Norton, c. Oct 1946;
none (not manned), 15 November 1946-Oct 1948.
Maj Charles T. Moreland Jr., 1 December 1948;
Lt Col Richard T. Black, 16 March 1949;
Lt Col Louis W. Rohr, 15 August 1949;
Lt Col Robert E. Thacker, 16 January 1950;
Lt Col Howard F. Hugos, 9 March 1950;
Col William R. Calhoun Jr., c. Nov 1950;
Lt Col Thomas J. Rogers, 16 February 1951;
Lt Col Carroll H. Payne, 21 April 1952;
Lt Col John C. Harrington, 25 March 1953;
Lt Col Clay E. Thompson Jr., 15 August 1954;
Lt Col Roderick G. Darelius, 23 December 1954;
Lt Col George J. Savage, Jul 1955;
Lt Col Fred D. McKinney, c. 24 September 1956;
Maj Ray H. McAllister, c. Jan 1958;
Maj Marvin E. Carver, c. Feb 1958;
Lt Col Fred D. McKinney, c. Mar 1958;
Lt Col Robert W. Johnson, 13 May 1960;
Col Farley A. Latta, c. 9 March 1962;
Lt Col Armand L. Monteverde, May 1963;
Lt Col Oliver W. Lewis, 1 January 1964;
Lt Col Jonathan H. Hughes, c. Jun 1965;
Lt Col John J. Murphy, Apr 1966;
Lt Col Glen T. Noyes, c. 21 April 1967;
Lt Col Frank E. Birtciel, c. May-c. 2 July 1968.
none (not manned), 30 September 1973-30 August 1975;
Lt Col Ralph A. Riddell, 31 August 1975;
Lt Col Harry L. McKee, 30 December 1976;
Lt Col Thomas W. Williams, 16 October 1978;
Lt Col Ronald N. Running, 18 July 1980;
Lt Col Burton R. Moore, 24 March 1981;
Lt Col Ralph B. Femrite, 6 July 1981;
Lt Col Harold S. Storer Jr., 21 October 1983;
Lt Col Edward H. Allen, 10 July 1985;
Lt Col William H. Finocchio, 10 July 1987;
Lt Col William J. Heitzig, 14 July 1989;
none (not manned), by Jan-21 February 1990;
Lt Col Guy H. Morley, Jr., 1 October 2003;
Lt Col Deborah H. McCarty, 7 January 2006.
[edit] Aircraft
Included DH-4 and various experimental models including the "flying tank," 1921-1924.
A-3, 1930-1936;
PW-9, 1931;
A-12, 1936-1939;
B-18, 1940-1942;
B-17, 1941-1943;
B-24, 1943-1945.
B-36, 1949-1957;
B-52, 1958-1968.
T-38, 1975-1980;
F-5, 1977-1988;
T-33, 1986-1987;
F-15 and F-16 (borrowed), 1988-1989.
[edit] Operations
Assembled, serviced, and repaired aircraft, 1917-1919.
Search missions from Hawaii, 20 December 1941-8 July 1942 and May-Oct 1943; took part in Battle of Midway in Jun 1942.
Combat in South and Southwest Pacific, 30 July 1942-Feb 1943; in Central Pacific, Jul, Sep 1943; and in Central and Western Pacific, 14 November 1943-12 August 1945.
Ferried former prisoners of war to Manila, Sep 1945.
Trained in heavy bombardment operations, 1949-1968.
Provided PACAF aircrews with realistic training in dissimilar aerial combat and current intelligence on enemy air-to-air capabilities and tactics, 1976-1989;
minimally manned after move to Kadena AB in 1988.
Service Streamers World War I Theater of Operations.
Campaign Streamers World War II: Central Pacific; Air Offensive, Japan; Papua; Guadalcanal; Northern Solomons; Eastern Mandates; Western Pacific; Ryukyus; China Offensive; Air Combat, Asiatic-Pacific Theater.
Armed Forces Expeditionary Streamers None.
[edit] Decorations
Distinguished Unit Citation: South Pacific, 31 July-30 November 1942. Navy Presidential Unit Citation: Pacific Theater, 7 August-9 December 1942. Air Force Outstanding Unit Awards: 6 August 1954-15 July 1957; 27 October 1958-16 September 1960; 1 May 1980-30 April 1982; 22 March-1 April 1986; 1 June 1987-31 May 1989.
