26th Tactical Missile Squadron
Bomarc missile at Otis AFB
Active1942-1943, 1959-1972
Country United States
Branch United States Air Force
RoleAir Defense
SizeSquadron
Motto(s)Vigilant Defender
EquipmentCIM-10 Bomarc
DecorationsAir Force Outstanding Unit Award
Insignia
26th Air Defense Missile Squadron emblem
26th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron emblem (approved 20 May 1943)[1]

The 26th Tactical Missile Squadron is an inactive United States Air Force unit. It was activated in 1959 as the 26th Air Defense Missile Squadron to provide missile air defense for New England and was stationed at Otis Air Force Base, Massachusetts, where it was inactivated on 30 April 1972. It received its current name in 1985. when it was consolidated with the 26th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron, a World War II unit that provided reconnaissance support for ground units in training until it was disbanded in 1943.

History

World War II

The first predecessor of the squadron was activated at Gray Field, Washington in March 1942 as the 26th Observation Squadron and assigned to the 70th Observation Group. It was initially equipped with North American O-47s.[1] The squadron participated in maneuvers and provided reconnaissance support for Army ground forces training in the Pacific coast region. Until September 1942, the squadron also flew antisubmarine patrols off the coast.[2]

Bell P-39D

In 1943, the squadron began to fly Bell P-39 Airacobras, becoming the 26th Reconnaissance Squadron (Fighter). With these aircraft it added fighter support to its training mission. In the spring of 1943, it moved with the 70th Group to Salinas Army Air Base, California. It became the 26th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron in August, but continued its mission from Pacific bases until moving to Will Rogers Field, Oklahoma in November 1943, where it was disbanded.[1][2]

Air defense of New England

The 26th Air Defense Missile Squadron was activated at Otis Air Force Base on 1 March 1959 and stood alert during the Cold War, equipped with IM-99 (later CIM-10) BOMARC surface to air antiaircraft missiles.[3] The squadron was tied into a Semi-Automatic Ground Environment (SAGE) direction center which could use analog computers to process information from ground radars, picket ships and airborne aircraft[4] to accelerate the display of tracking data at the direction center to quickly direct the missile site to engage hostile aircraft.[5] It was inactivated on 30 April 1972.[3]

The BOMARC missile site was located 1 mile (1.6 km) north-northwest of Otis AFB at 41°40′56″N 070°32′21″W / 41.68222°N 70.53917°W / 41.68222; -70.53917 (26th ADMS). Although located outside of the base (but within the borders of the Massachusetts Military Reservation, it was treated as an off base facility and the squadron received administrative and logistical support from Otis.

In 1985, the squadron was consolidated with the 26th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron,[6] but has never been active with this designation.

Lineage

26th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron
  • Constituted as the 26th Observation Squadron (Light) on 5 February 1942[1]
Activated on 2 March 1942[1]
Redesignated 26th Observation Squadron on 4 July 1942[1]
Redesignated 26th Reconnaissance Squadron (Fighter) on 2 April 1943[1]
Redesignated 26th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron on 11 August 1943[1]
Disbanded on 30 November 1943[1]
  • Reconstituted on 19 September 1985 and consolidated with the 26th Air Defense Missile Squadron as the 26th Tactical Missile Squadron[6]
26th Air Defense Missile Squadron
  • Constituted as the 26th Air Defense Missile Squadron on 23 January 1959
Activated on 1 March 1959
Inactivated on 30 April 1972
  • Consolidated with the 26th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron as the 26th Tactical Missile Squadron on 19 September 1985[6]

Assignments

  • 70th Observation Group (later 70th Reconnaissance Group, 70th Tactical Reconnaissance Group), 2 March 1942 – 30 November 1943
  • Boston Air Defense Sector, 1 March 1959[3]
  • 35th Air Division, 1 April 1966[3]
  • 21st Air Division, 19 November 1969 – 30 April 1972[3]

Stations

  • Gray Field, Washington, 2 March 1942[3]
  • Salinas Army Air Base, California, 15 March 1943[3]
  • Redmond Army Air Field, Oregon, 16 August 1943[3]
  • Corvallis Army Air Field, Oregon, 31 October 1943[3]
  • Will Rogers Field, Oklahoma, 14–30 November 1943[3]
  • Otis Air Force Base, Massachusetts, 1 March 1959 – 30 April 1972

Awards

Award streamerAwardDatesNotes
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award1 January 1967 – 30 June 196826th Air Defense Missile Squadron[7]
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award1 January 1970 – 30 June 197126th Air Defense Missile Squadron[8]
Campaign Streamer Campaign Dates Notes
American Theater without inscription 2 March 1942 - 30 November 1943 26th Observation Squadron (later 26th Reconnaissance Squadron, 26th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron)[1]

Aircraft and missiles

  • North American O-47, 1942-1943
  • Bell P-39 Airacobra, 1943
  • Boeing IM-99 (later CIM-10) BOMARC, 1959 -1972

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Maurer, Combat Squadrons, p. 136
  2. 1 2 Maurer, Combat Units, pp. 137-138
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Cornett & Johnson, p. 150
  4. ↑ Winkler & Webster, p. 39
  5. ↑ Winkler & Webster, p. 3
  6. 1 2 3 DAF/MPM Letter 662q, 19 Sep 1985, Subject: Reconstitution, Redesignation, and Consolidation of Selected Air Force Tactical Squadrons
  7. ↑ AF Pamphlet 900-2, p. 147
  8. ↑ AF Pamphlet 900-2, Vol. 2, p. 22

Bibliography

Public Domain This article incorporates public domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency

  • Cornett, Lloyd H; Johnson, Mildred W (1980). A Handbook of Aerospace Defense Organization, 1946–1980 (PDF). Peterson AFB, CO: Office of History, Aerospace Defense Center. Archived from the original (PDF) on 13 February 2016. Retrieved 25 June 2012.
  • Maurer, Maurer, ed. (1983) [1961]. Air Force Combat Units of World War II (PDF) (reprint ed.). Washington, DC: Office of Air Force History. ISBN 0-912799-02-1. LCCN 61060979. Retrieved 17 December 2016.
  • Maurer, Maurer, ed. (1982) [1969]. Combat Squadrons of the Air Force, World War II (PDF) (reprint ed.). Washington, DC: Office of Air Force History. ISBN 0-405-12194-6. LCCN 70605402. OCLC 72556.
  • Winkler, David F.; Webster, Julie L (1997). Searching the skies: The legacy of the United States Cold War Defense Radar Program (PDF). Champaign, IL: US Army Construction Engineering Research Laboratories. LCCN 97020912. Archived (PDF) from the original on 29 October 2013.
  • AF Pamphlet 900-2, Unit Decorations, Awards and Campaign Participation Credits Archived 4 August 2015 at the Wayback Machine Department of the Air Force, Washington, DC, 15 June 1971
  • AF Pamphlet 900-2, Unit Decorations, Awards and Campaign Participation Credits, Vol II Archived 4 August 2015 at the Wayback Machine Department of the Air Force, Washington, DC, 30 September 1976]

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