| 128th Airborne Command and Control Squadron | |
|---|---|
128th Airborne Command and Control Squadron emblem |
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| Active | 1940-Present |
| Country | United States |
| Branch | United States Air Force |
| Type | Squadron |
| Role | Combat Support |
| Part of | Air National Guard/Air Combat Command |
| Garrison/HQ | Robins Air Force Base |
| Colors | Lime Green |
| Engagements | World War II Korean War Vietnam War Operation Desert Storm Kosovo Operation Enduring Freedom Operation Iraqi Freedom |
| Commanders | |
| Current commander |
Lt. Col. John Verhage |
The 128th Airborne Command and Control Squadron is a unit of the Georgia Air National Guard that flies the E-8C Joint STARS. Its parent unit is the 116th Air Control Wing.
The unit is one of the oldest in the United States Air Force, its origins dating to February 1918. During World War II, as the 840th Bombardment Squadron, it was one of the last B-17 Flying Fortress heavy bomber squadrons deployed to Southern Italy as part of the Fifteenth Air Force 483d Bombardment Group in March, 1944.
Reactivated after the war in the Georgia Air National Guard, it has served continuously for over 60 years.
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Established during World War I as the 840th Aero Squadron in February 1918. The 840th was a non-flying Air Service support unit, formed in Texas. Deployed to England in May 1918, then serving in the rear area behind the Western Front in France as an aircraft repair squadron beginning in August. Remained in France after the November 1918 Armistice, returning to Langley Field, Virginia in March 1919 and was demobilized.
Re-established in 1940 at Atlanta Airport as a Georgia National Guard Army observation squadron, equipped with numerous light observation aircraft of the 1930s era. Was activated to Federal Service in May 1941 as the United States mobilized prior to World War II. After the Pearl Harbor Attack, was equipped with B-25 Mitchells and performed antisubmarine patrols over both the Southeast Atlantic coast as well as the Gulf of Mexico as part of Antisubmarine Command.
Realigned in late 1943 as a B-17 Flying Fortress heavy bombardment squadron, trained under Third Air Force in Florida. Was deployed to the Mediterranean Theater of Operations (MTO), being assigned to Fifteenth Air Force in Southern Italy. Engaged in long-range strategic bombardment of enemy military, industrial and transport targets, including oil refineries and production oilfields in Italy; France; Southern Germany; Austria and the Balkans. Continued strategic bombardment until German capitulation in May 1945.
After V-E Day, was assigned to Air Transport Command Green Project which was the movement of troops from Pisa Airfield staging area in Morocco. B-17s were dearmed with flooring and seats for 25 passengers installed. Crew consisted of Pilot, Co-Pilot, Navigator and Flight Engineer. Carried passengers from Pisa to Port Lyautey Airfield, French Morocco where ATC transports moved them across the Atlantic or to Dakar for movement via South Atlantic Transport Route. Inactivated in Italy in September 1945.
Returned to Georgia Air National Guard service in 1946, being assigned to Dobbins AFB in 1950 with F-51 Mustangs. Over the past 60 years has been a Fighter Squadron; Air Transport Squadron, B-1B Lancer bombardment squadron, and now operated the E-8C Joint Stars reconnaissance aircraft. Moved to Robins AFB in 1996.
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This article incorporates public domain material from websites or documents of the Air Force Historical Research Agency.
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