780th Aircraft Control and Warning Squadron

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This article or section is currently in the middle of an expansion or major revamping.
However, you are welcome to assist in its construction by editing it as well. Please view the edit history should you wish to contact the person who placed this template. If this article has not been edited in a while please remove this template. While actively editing, consider adding {{inuse}} to reduce edit conflicts.


780th Aircraft Control and Warning Squadron

Official crest of the 780th Aircraft Control and Warning Squadron
Active April 1952–September 1979
Country United States
Branch United States Air Force
Size 270 personnel at peak manning
Part of Air Defense Command
see "Assignments" section below
Garrison/HQ Fortuna Air Force Station
Equipment see "Equipment" section below
Decorations see "Lineage and honors" section below

The 780th Aircraft Control and Warning Squadron (780 AC&W) was stationed at Fortuna Air Force Station North Dakota as part of the Pinetree Line, then as a Long Range Radar site.

Contents

[edit] History


[edit] Background of name


[edit] Mission


[edit] Operations


[edit] Lineage and honors

  • 780 Aircraft Control and Warning Squadron activated, April 1952;
  • Reallocated to SAGE operations, c. 1961;
  • Reallocated to BUIC II operations;
  • Reallocated to LRR operations;
  • Reallocated to BUIC III operations, c. 1969–1 January 1974;
  • Deactivated, September 1979.


[edit] Service streamers

This unit earned the following organizational service streamers:

none

[edit] Campaign streamers

This unit earned the following organizational campaign streamers:

none

[edit] Armed forces expeditionary streamers

This unit earned the following organizational expeditionary streamers:

none

[edit] Decorations

This unit earned the following organizational decorations:

none

[edit] Awards

[edit] Emblem

[edit] Description

[edit] Significance

The emblem of the 780th Radar Squadron depicts the mission of the unit by use of a stylized antenna, scope, and interceptor.

[edit] Approval date

[edit] Assignments

  • 24th Norad Region (Malmstron Air Force Base, Montana)
  • 29th Air Division, Richards-Gebaur AFB, Mo.

[edit] Components

Squadron sections include:

Motor Pool
Squadron Headquarters
Dining
Medical Aid
Mail Room
Civil Engineering
Security Police
Communications - Electronics Maintenance
AN/FPS-35 
search radar maintenance
Communications Center
Recreational Services
Long Range Radar 
radar maintenance
AN/FYQ-47 
link with Regional Control Center
AN/FPS-26A 
height-finder radar maintenance
Ground-to-Air Transmitter Receiver 
radar communications maintenance
Library
Education Office
Family Services
Housing Office


[edit] Stations

Fortuna Air Force Station, North Dakota, August 1951.

780 AC&W Components and Stations
Designation Location Equipment Operational Purpose Notes
P-27 / Z-27 Fortuna AFS, ND FPS-3/-20A
TPS-10D
FPS-4
GPS-3
FPS-35
(FPS-64)
FPS-6
FPS-6A/-90
FPS-35
FPS-26A		 August 1951–1979 Main Site BUIC-III. FPS-35 antenna blown over in fierce wind storm, winter 1964.
- - - 1951–1984 GATR Retained after radar site closed until JSS switchover, early 1980's.
R-19 / DC-19 Minot AFB, ND AN/FSQ-7
(AN/FSQ-8 cancelled)		 June 1961–May 1963 SAGE SDC Minot Air Defense Sector (MiADS)
"DC" prefix designation = SAGE Direction Center
"P" prefix designation = Pinetree
"Z" prefix designation = SAGE LRRS
GATR 
Ground to Air Transmitter-Receiver
JSS 
Joint Surveillance System
LRSS 
Long Range Radar Site
SDC 
Sector Direction Center


[edit] Equipment

  • FPS-3 search, 1952;
  • FPS-4 height, 1952–1960;
  • GPS-3 search, 1957;
  • TPS-10D, 1958;
  • FPS-20A search, 1958–1963;
  • (2x) FPS-6A height, 1960–1963, (1x) –1964;
  • FPS-35 search, 1963–1964, 1967;
  • FPS-90 height, 1963–1969;
  • FPS-26A height, 1964;
  • FPS-63 search, 1965–1967;


[edit] Commanders

Major Phillip J. Acton Lt. Col. Pebles

[edit] References

    • Winkler, David Frank (1997). Searching the skies : the legacy of the United States Cold War defense radar program, Prepared for United States Air Force Headquarters Air Combat Command, Langley AFB, VA: Headquarters Air Combat Command. LCCN 97-20912. 
    • Cupples, Major Leland; Lieutenant Perry Knockel, Lieutenant Gerald Kaiser. 780th Radar Squadron (Fortuna Air Force Station) Personnel Brochure, Chief Master Sergeant Gene Derrickson, Master Sergeant J.C. Underwood, Master Sergeant Vernon Humphries, Technical Sergeant Layton Scarbro, Williston, ND: Williston Herald. 


    [edit] External links

    Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org../../../7/8/0/780th_Aircraft_Control_and_Warning_Squadron_dfd5.html"