961st Airborne Air Control Squadron

The 961st Airborne Air Control Squadron (961 AACS) is part of the 18th Wing at Kadena Air Base, Japan. It operates the E-3 Sentry aircraft conducting airborne command and control missions.

Mission
Provide airborne command and control, long-range surveillance, detection and identification information for commanders in support of U.S. goals.

History
The squadron was an operational and later replacement training unit from, 1942–1944. It went on to fly combat missions in the Western Pacific from, c. 6 April–14 August 1945.

The 961st flew radar surveillance missions along East Coast of the United States from, 18 December 1954–31 December 1969. The squadron assisted with the coverage of salvage operations of downed Korean Air Lines Flight 007, 1 –10 September 1983. It has served as the airborne command and control for the commander, United States Pacific Command and supported US forces counter air interdiction, close air support, search and rescue, reconnaissance, and airlift operations since 1980.

Operations

 * World War II

Lineage

 * 61st Bombardment Squadron (Heavy) (1940–1944)
 * 61st Bombardment Squadron, Very Heavy (1944–1954)
 * 961st Airborne Early Warning and Control Squadron (1954–1979)
 * 961st Airborne Warning and Control Support Squadron (1979–1982)
 * 961st Airborne Warning and Control Squadron (1982–1994)
 * 961st Airborne Air Control Squadron (1994–Present)

Assignments

 * 39th Bombardment Group (1941–1945)
 * 551st Airborne Early Warning and Control Wing (1954–1969)
 * 552d Airborne Warning and Control Division (1979–1985)
 * 28th Air Division (1985–1990)
 * 313th Air Division (1990–1991)
 * Attached: 5th Air Force (1990–1991)
 * 18th Wing (1991–Present)

Bases stationed

 * Fort Douglas, Utah (1941)
 * Felts Field, Washington (1941)
 * Geiger Field, Washington (1941–1942)
 * Davis-Monthan Field, Arizona (1942–1944)
 * Dalhart Army Air Field, Texas (1944)
 * Smoky Hill Army Air Field, Kansas (1944–1945)


 * North Field, Guam (1945)
 * Camp Anza, California (1945)
 * Otis Air Force Base, Massachusetts (1954–1969)
 * Kadena Air Base, Japan (1979–Present)

Aircraft Operated

 * B-17 Flying Fortress (1941–1942)
 * B-24 Liberator (1942–1944)
 * B-29 Superfortress (1944–1945)
 * C-121 Constellation (1955–1969)
 * E-3 Sentry (1979–Present)