3d Combat Communications Group

The United States Air Force's 3d Combat Communications Group (3 CCG) is an United States Air Force combat communications unit located at Tinker AFB, Oklahoma.

History

With Allied victory in Europe and the end of World War II came the demobilization and withdrawal of all US Air Force units from the United Kingdom. Their absence, however, was short lived. In 1948, in response to the Berlin blockade, the US deployed longrange B-29 strategic bombers to four East Anglian bases. In early 1951 growing size and complexity of the American military presence required a larger command and organizational structure that could meet the needs of the increased operations (both strategic and tactical.) Third Air Force was activated on 1 May 1951 to oversee tactical air operations from the United Kingdom and provide logistics and support to the Seventh Air Division. The 3d Combat Communications Group lineage stems from the 3d Communications Group, which was active in South Ruislip, England, as part of the Third Air Force. The 3d Communications Group was established on 16 May 1957 and was activated on 8 Jul 1957. At the times of its activation in 1957 the 3d Communications Group consisted of the 603d Communications and the 605th Communications Squadrons.

The 1960s saw continuous fluctuations in the US Air Force presence in the United Kingdom. In 1961, some bases were returned and numbered air force activities merged. Support squadrons were eliminated at South Ruislip. On 1 Jul 1962 the 3d Communications Group was inactivated.

The 3d was then reactivated and redesignated as the 3d Mobile Communications Group on 20 May 1964. On 1 Jul 1964, the 3d Mobile Communications Group organized at Tinker Air Force Base, Oklahoma, and assigned to the Air Force Communications Service (later, Air Force Communications Command (AFCC)) (AFCS G-28, 26 May 1964.) Under provisions of AFP 210-1-4, the 3d Mobile Communications Group inherited the history, awards and emblem of the 3d Communications Group. The 3d Mobile Communications Group took the void of the 3d Airways and Air Communications Service Mobile Squadron that was established at Tinker AFB, OK on 1 Dec 1952. Upon establishment of AFCS, the 3d AACS was redesignated 3d Mobile Communications Squadron (AFCS G-2, 1 Jul 61), but unfortunately would not be incorporated into the 3d Mobile Communications Group history and awards. Although no former recognized lineage with the 3d AACS and 3d Mobile Communications Squadron exist, it shares a common history of people, equipment and Tinker AFB.

Upon its early reactivation in the continental United States it incorporated the 1869th Facility Checking Squadron, 1 Oct 1966 – 1 Sep 1971; 7518th Communications Squadron and the 7519th Communications Squadron, 1 Sep 1959 – 1 Jul 1962. Over the years it was redesignated many times: on 24 Mar 1976 it was designated the 3d Combat Communications Group; on 15 Aug 1984 it was designated the 3d Information Systems Group; and returned to the designation 3d Combat Communications Group on 1 Oct 1986. Since 1964 it has been assigned to various organizations of the Air Force Communications Service/Command, on 1 Oct 1990 it became part of the Tactical Air Command, and then Air Combat Command.

On 5 October 2009, the 3d CCG was realigned underneath the newly-activated 689th Combat Communications Wing, headquartered at Robins Air Force Base, Georgia. With this realignment, the group now falls under the Twenty-Fourth Air Force and Air Force Space Command.^[1]

Assignments

• 8 Jul 1957 – Activated under the Third Air Force as the 3d Communications Group
• 1 Jul 1962 – 3d Communications Group inactivated
• 20 May 1964 – Reactivated as 3d Mobile Communications Group
  • Assigned to Air Force Communications Command
• 24 Mar 1976 – Designated 3d Combat Communications Group
• 15 Aug 1984 – Designated 3d Informations Systems Group
• 1 Oct 1986 – Redesignated 3d Combat Communications Group
• 1 Oct 1990 – Assigned to Tactical Air Command (to be later acquired by Air Combat Command)
• 5 Oct 2009 – Realigned underneath the 689th Combat Communications Wing, Twenty-Fourth Air Force, Air Force Space Command

Major Command

• Air Force Space Command (2009 – present)
• Air Combat Command (1992–2009)
• Tactical Air Command (1990–1992)
• Air Force Communications Command (1964–1990)

Commanders

• Maj James M Dunn (May 1957 – Jun 1961)
• Lt Col Gilbert H Bertie (Jun 1961 – Jun 1962)
• Lt Col Stanley J Washuk (Jun 1962 – May 1964)
• Lt Col John R Coonan (May 1964 – Jul 1964)
• Col William T Judkins (Jul 1964 – Dec 1965)
• Col John T Ford (Dec 1965 – Aug 1968)
• Col Ralph E McDaniel (Aug 1968 – Sep 1969)
• Col Francis W Fender (Sep 1969 – Mar 1971)
• Col Robert W Pool (Mar 1971 – Apr 1973)
• Col John D Nolan (Apr 1973 – Dec 1973)
• Col Lowell F Bohn (Dec 1973 – Jun 1976)
• Col Paul W Edwards (Jun 1976 – Jul 1978)
• Col Ronald H McKinney (Jul 1976 – Sep 1980)
• Col James Selph (Sep 1980 – Dec 1982)
• Col Gerald L Boynton (Dec 1982 – May 1984)
• Col Phillip J Lurie (May 1984 – Jan 1986)
• Col Buford R Witt (Jan 1986 – Jul 1988)
• Col Carl E Stoops (Jul 1988 – Aug 1990)
• Col Robert A Allen Jr (Aug 1990 – Jul 1992)
• Col Dale W Meyerrose (Jul 1992 – Jun 1994)
• Col J D Wells (Jun 1994 – May 1995)
• Col Stephen R Quick (May 1995 – Jul 1997)
• Col David J Kovach (Jul 1997 – May 1999)
• Col Daniel R Dinkins (May 1999 – Jul 2001)
• Col Gregory L Brundidge (Jul 2001 – May 2003)
• Col Carl Williamson (May 2003 – Apr 2005)
• Col Tracy A Amos (Apr 2005 – Feb 2006)
• Col James H Appleyard Jr (Mar 2006 – Apr 2008)
• Col Thomas A Byrge Jr (Apr 2008 – Jun 2010)
• Col David S Babyak (Jun 2010 – present)

Decorations

• Air Force Outstanding Unit Award
  • 1 Jul 1960 – 1 Feb 1962 (DAFSO G-92/62)
  • 1 Jan 1965 – 31 Dec 1966 (DAFSO GB-239/67)
  • 1 May 1970 – 31 Dec 1971 (DAFSO GB-407/74)
  • 1 Jan 1972 – 31 Dec 1972 (DAFSO GB-602/73)
  • 1 Jan 1974 – 31 Dec 1974 (DAFSO GB-682/75)
  • 1 Jan 1975 – 31 Dec 1975 (DAFSO GB-955/76)
  • 1 Jan 1978 – 31 Dec 1978 (DAFSO GB-635/79)
  • 12 Nov 1984 – 3 Jun 1985 (DAFSO GB-61/85)
  • 1 Jan 1986 – 31 Dec 1987 (DAFSO GB-433/88)
  • 1 May 1990 – 30 Apr 1992 (TAC SO GA-50/92)
  • 1 Apr 1992 – 31 Mar 1994 (ACC SO GA-325/94)
  • 1 Apr 1994 – 31 Dec 1994 (ACC SO GA-307/95)
  • 1 Jan 1995 – 31 May 1996 (ACC SO GA-83/96)
  • 1 Jun 1996 – 31 May 1997 (ACC SO GA-61/97)
  • 1 Jun 1997 – 31 May 1999 (ACC SO GA-56/99)
  • 1 Jun 1999 – 31 May 2001 (ACC SO GA-88/01)
  • 1 Jun 2001 – 31 May 2002 (ACC SO GA-091)
  • 1 Jun 2007 – 31 May 2008 )

• Armed Forces Expeditionary Streamer for GRENADA 1983 (AFP 900-2, AFMPC/DPMASA ltr, dtd 3 Jun 1990)
• Air Force Meritorious Unit Award
  • 1 Jun 2003 – 31 May 2005 (USCENTAF G-0372)
  •  ? – 2009^[2]

References

1. ^ 3rd Herd under Space Command, new wing, Tinker Public Affairs, 2009, http://www.tinker.af.mil/news/story.asp?id=123172117 
2. ^ Factsheet