380th Space Control Squadron

380th Space Control Squadron

380th Space Control Squadron Heraldry
Active 1942-Present
Country United States
Branch United States Air Force
Type Space Control
Role Electronic Warfare / Space Control
Size 119 (32 AGR, 87 TR)
Part of AFRC / 10th Air Force / 310th Space Wing / 310th Operations Group
Garrison/HQ Peterson AFB, Colorado
Nickname "Blue Squadron", "The Blue Team", "The Blues"
Motto FORTE FORTUNA JUVA - "Fortune Favor the Bold"
Colors Corsican Blue and Gold
Commanders
Current
commander		 Lt Col Scott McLean
SAC 380th Bombardment Squadron emblem
World War II squadron emblem (1945)
Unofficial 380th BS logo c. 1944
Four B-25J Mitchells of the 380th Bombardment Squadron, 310th Bombardment Group, beginning their attack run over a target in Northern Italy in late 1944.

The United States Air Force's 380th Space Control Squadron (380 SPCS) is a space control unit located at Peterson AFB, Colorado.

Mission

The 380 SPCS is the Reserve Associate Unit to the 16th Space Control Squadron. They jointly conduct space electronic warfare support operations to enable and enhance U.S. offensive and defensive space control capabilities. 380SPCS and 16SPCS utilize the Rapid Attack Identification Detection Reporting System Block 10 systems to rapidly achieve flexible and versatile space superiority in support of theater COCOMs and USSTRATCOM's space superiority mission.

Equipment Operated

The 380 SPCS will operate the RB-10 Central Operating Location, five RAIDRS Deployable Ground Segments. The units monitor, intercept and geolocate satellite communications jammers, sources of electromagnetic interference and other signals of interest. When fully operational, RB-10 will detect and geolocate signals in the C-, X-, Ku- and UHF frequency bands.

History

Activated in mid-1942 as a B-25 Mitchell medium bomber squadron, trained by Third Air Force in the southeastern United States. Deployed initially to England in September 1942 and flew some missions under VIII Bomber Command over German-occupied France attacking enemy troop formations, bridges and airfields. Was part of the Operation Torch invasion of North Africa in November 1942, being deployed to the new Mediterranean Theater of Operations (MTO), being assigned to Twelfth Air Force in French Morocco in November. In North Africa, the squadron engaged primarily in support and interdictory operations, bombing marshalling yards, rail lines, highways, bridges, viaducts, troop concentrations, gun emplacements, shipping, harbors, and other objectives in North Africa.

The squadron also engaged in psychological warfare missions, dropping propaganda leaflets behind enemy lines. Took part in the Allied operations against Axis forces in North Africa during March–May 1943, the reduction of Pantelleria and Lampedusain islands during June, the invasion of Sicily in July, the landing at Salerno in September, the Allied advance toward Rome during January–June 1944, the invasion of Southern France in August 1944, and the Allied operations in northern Italy from September 1944 to April 1945. Inactivated in Italy after the German Capitulation in September 1945.

Reactivated as part of the Air Force Reserve in 1947, it is unclear whether or not the squadron was manned or equipped. Inactivated in 1949.

Reactivated in 1952 as a Strategic Air Command squadron, receiving B-29 Superfortress bombardment training from 90th Bombardment Wing, April–August 1952. Acted as a training squadron until 1954 when it replaced the propeller-driven B-29s with new B-47E Stratojet swept-wing medium bombers, capable of flying at high subsonic speeds and primarily designed for penetrating the airspace of the Soviet Union. In the early 1960s, the B-47 was considered to be reaching obsolescence, and was being phased out of SAC's strategic arsenal. B-47s began being sent to AMARC at Davis-Monthan in early 1965; was inactivated in March.

Reactivated as a Space Control squadron in 2008.

Lineage

Activated on 15 March 1942
Inactivated on 12 September 1945
Activated in the reserve on 9 August 1947
Inactivated on 27 June 1949
Activated on 28 March 1952
Inactivated on 25 March 1965
Organized and activated on 7 March 2008, assuming personnel and equipment of Detachment 1, 310th Space Group

Assignments

Stations

RAF Hardwick, England, September–November 1942 (air echelon)

Aircraft

Commanders

Name Rank Dates of Command
Aldrich (First Name not recorded) - Acting Lieutenant (1st Lt/2d Lt not recorded) 2 April 1942
Homer G. Crowden - Acting Lieutenant (1st Lt/2d Lt not recorded) 11 May 1942
James A. Plant - Acting Captain 19 May 1942
Earl E. Batten - Acting Lieutenant (1st Lt/2d Lt not recorded) 20 May 1942
Rodney R. "Hoss" Wilder Captain 21 July 1942
Fred C. Ross, Jr. (Air Echelon) Lieutenant (1st Lt/2d Lt not recorded) 28 August 1942
Lambert J. Eichner, Jr. (Ground Echelon) Lieutenant (1st Lt/2d Lt not recorded) c. August 1942
William G. Gridley Captain 10 September 1942
Elmer N. Carlson Lieutenant (1st Lt/2d Lt not recorded) c. August 1943
Rodney R. "Hoss" Wilder Lt. Colonel c. September 1943
James J. Dent, Jr. Major 7 March 1944
Clyde L. Grow Major 29 April 1944
William T. Alexander Lt Colonel 25 May 1944 - 12 September 1945
None Inactive / Unmanned 13 September 1945 - 8 August 1947
Unknown Unknown 9 August 1947 - 27 June 1949
None Inactive / Unmanned 28 June 1949 - 27 March 1952
George W. Call Lt Colonel 28 March 1952
Samuel R. McDaniel Lt Colonel c. April 1955
Thomas W. Hopfenspirger Lt Colonel c. December 1955
Edward D. Leahy Lt Colonel 9 February 1957
Woodrow A. Abbott Major c. August 1958
Charles E. Barnett Major c. May 1959
Charles D. Gunn Major c. April 1961
David W. Holder Lt Colonel c. November 1961
Frank A. Knapp Lt Colonel c. November 1962
John P. Richards Lt Colonel c. June 1963
Jack Anderson Lt Colonel c. January 1964
Ralph A. Stapper Lt Colonel c. September 1964 - 25 March 1965
None Inactive / Unmanned 26 March 1965 - 6 March 2008
Michael A. "Drop" Assid Lt Colonel 7 March 2008 – 17 May 2011
Robert W. "Dirt" Claude Lt Colonel 17 May 2011 – 14 October 2012
Scott T. McLean Lt Colonel 14 October 2012 – 14 January 2014

References

 This article incorporates public domain material from websites or documents of the Air Force Historical Research Agency.

  1. ↑ 21st Space Wing Public Affairs: "Total Force 'RAIDRS' keep high frontier secure"

External links