| 551st Electronic Systems Wing | |
|---|---|
551st Electronic Systems Wing emblem |
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| Active | 1954-1969 1985-present |
| Country | United States |
| Branch | United States Air Force |
| Type | Wing |
| Role | Work on AWACS, Joint STARS, MP-RTIP, Mission Planning, and weather systems |
| Part of | Air Force Materiel Command/Air Force Electronic Systems Center |
| Garrison/HQ | Hanscom AFB, Massachusetts |
| Motto | To see is to be prepared |
| Decorations | AFOUA |
| Commanders | |
| Current commander |
Colonel. Dwyer L. Dennis |
The 551st Electronic Systems Wing (551 ELSW) is a wing of the United States Air Force whose focus is on 'behind the scenes' electronic work. Located at Hanscom Air Force Base, Massachusetts, they work on AWACS, Joint STARS, MP-RTIP, Mission Planning, and weather systems.
Now responsible for the development and sustainment of command and control systems, the 551st ELSW takes its designation from a wing that laid the foundation for modern-day airborne surveillance.
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Activated at Pope Field, NC, on 1 June 1942. Moved to England, August-September 1942, and trained for the invasion of North Africa. Operated with Twelfth Air Force in North Africa and the Mediterranean area from November 1942 to May 1945. Scheduled transportation of supplies, ammunition and personnel to the front. Directed paratroop and supply drops. Set up system of air evacuation of the wounded. In May 1943 added a training program for combat crews in night formations, glider towing, night navigation and over-water flights in preparation for the invasion of Sicily in July 1943. Later directed glider operations for the invasion of Italy in Sep1943 and Southern France in August 1944. Lost all components and became non-operational in early June 1945.
Moved to Germany in late August 1945 and provided the basis for creation of the European Air Transport Service (Provisional) which operated under USAFE to establish air routes and carry passengers and cargo throughout western Europe and the Mediterranean, 4 September 1945-20 December 1947. Wing inactivated 5 January 1948
The 551st Airborne Early Warning and Control Wing, established and activated in 1954, was charged with tracking air and sea activity along the United States eastern seaboard.
The wing received its first airborne asset March 2, 1955, when an RC-121D landed at Otis Air Force Base. The plane was the first of many assigned to the 551st to patrol the skies over much of the Atlantic Ocean. The RC-121D was eventually upgraded to the EC-121H Warning Star in 1963.
The newer model supplanted the slower voice and manual Teletype data relay system previously employed by the RC-121D and instead provided instantaneous automated relay of air defense surveillance and early-warning information by data-link directly to ground-based communication facilities.
The 551 AEWC Wing provided critical surveillance data to Air Defense Command and Control computers and the North American Air Defense Combat Operations Center in Colorado Springs, Colo., for air defense evaluation and action. The data also enabled more versatile airborne control of interceptor missile and aircraft weapons systems.
During the Cold War period, the 551st provided surveillance support for major world events, including tracking over Cuba during the Cuban Missile Crisis and tracking Russian aircraft and naval vessels off Iceland and the East Coast of the United States.
The wing also provided surveillance over Johnston and Christmas islands during nuclear testing by the Atomic Energy Commission and performed a variety of surveillance services in Southeast Asia during the Vietnam War.
In its first 10 years, the wing flew continuous missions over the Atlantic Ocean 24 hours a day, seven days a week, compiling more than 350,000 flying hours. Among other honors awarded to the wing was the Air Force Outstanding Unit Award for its significant performance.
Between 1965 and 1967, three aircraft of the wing crashed into the Atlantic killing fifty members of the wing. The tail numbers of the aircraft were 55-0136, 55-5262, and 53-0549.
The wing was deactivated Dec. 31, 1969, but the 551st has an active alumni corps that has maintained the wing’s camaraderie, spirit and dedication to the nation’s defense over the past 36 years.
“The old 551st was the forerunner for the surveillance assets in service today, and we’re extremely proud of the work we accomplished in the unit,” said Floyd I. Shank, who served as an airborne radar operator in the 551st and now organizes alumni events for the wing. “We’re all excited about the new organization and we’re confident the 551st ELSW will continue the proud 551st tradition of excellence.”
The wing was re-designated April 18, 2006, when the Battle Management Systems Wing changed to the 551st Electronic Systems Wing. The 551st ELSW is now responsible for rapid development and fielding of airborne battle management command, control and communications systems in support of combatant commanders, special operations forces and worldwide allies.
The 551st Electronic Systems Group, formerly the Airborne Warning and Control Systems Group, is responsible for all aspects of modernization and sustainment of the United States and international E-3 Sentry aircraft and airborne early warning and control fleets.
The 751st Electronic Systems Group, formerly the Joint Surveillance Target Attack Radar System Systems Group, is responsible for all aspects of the development, acquisition and sustainment of the Joint STARS system.
The 851st Electronic Systems Group, formerly the E-10/MP-RTIP Systems Group, is responsible for developing, acquiring, testing, sustaining and improving the $1.5 billion Multi-Platform Radar Technology Insertion Program. The group manages and coordinates support to all assigned programs from internal, functional and matrix organizations to provide the warfighter with an airborne combat system with onboard battle management that detects, tracks and targets cruise missiles and time sensitive targets for destruction by joint and coalition air, land and naval forces.
The 951st Electronic Systems Group, formerly the Mission Planning Systems Group, develops and supports a suite of mission planning systems that meet the needs of more than 40 Air Force aircraft and weapons systems. In addition, the Navy, Marines, Army, several government agencies, and 23 allied nations use these mission planning systems for daily operations.
The 551 ELSW weather systems division acquires and fields terrestrial weather and strategic systems capability, then delivers decision-quality environmental information to Air Force and Army commanders to support global military operations in peace and war.
This article incorporates public domain material from websites or documents of the Air Force Historical Research Agency.
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