26th Air Defense Missile Squadron

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.

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.

Air defense of New England

The 26th Air Defense Missile Squadron was activated at Otis Air Force Base on 1 March 1959 and became operational with IM-99A (later CIM-10) BOMARC surface to air antiaircraft missiles. It stood alert during the Cold War. In September 1962, it upgraded to the IM-99B. The squadron was tied into a Semi-Automatic Ground Environment (SAGE) direction center which used digital computers Kent C. Redmond and Thomas M. Smith,From Whirlwind to MITRE The R&D Story of The SAGE Air Defense Computer, MIT Press, 2000 to process information from ground radars, picket ships and airborne aircraft to accelerate the display of tracking data at the direction center to quickly direct the missile site to engage hostile aircraft. It became non operational on 1 April 1972 and was inactivated on 30 April 1972.

The BOMARC missile site was located 1 mi north-northwest of Otis AFB at . 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, but has never been active with this designation.

Lineage

; 26th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron

• Constituted as the 26th Observation Squadron (Light) on 5 February 1942 : Activated on 2 March 1942 : Redesignated 26th Observation Squadron on 4 July 1942 : Redesignated 26th Reconnaissance Squadron (Fighter) on 2 April 1943 : Redesignated 26th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron on 11 August 1943 : Disbanded on 30 November 1943
• Reconstituted on 19 September 1985 and consolidated with the 26th Air Defense Missile Squadron as the 26th Tactical Missile Squadron

; 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

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
• 35th Air Division, 1 April 1966
• 21st Air Division, 19 November 1969 – 30 April 1972

Stations

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

Awards

Aircraft and missiles

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

References

Notes

; Explanatory notes

; Citations

Bibliography

• AF Pamphlet 900-2, Unit Decorations, Awards and Campaign Participation Credits Department of the Air Force, Washington, DC, 15 June 1971
• AF Pamphlet 900-2, Unit Decorations, Awards and Campaign Participation Credits, Vol II Department of the Air Force, Washington, DC, 30 September 1976]

References

1. Maurer, ''Combat Squadrons'', p. 136
2. The squadron participated in [[military exercise. maneuvers]] and provided [[air reconnaissance. reconnaissance]] support for Army ground forces training in the Pacific coast region. Until September 1942, the squadron also flew [[anti-submarine warfare
3. Cornett & Johnson, p. 150
4. Air Defense Command Historical Data 1946-1973, Air Defense Command Office of History, Vol. II, p. 157
5. Winkler & Webster, p. 39
6. Winkler & Webster, p. 3
7. DAF/MPM Letter 662q, 19 Sep 1985, Subject: Reconstitution, Redesignation, and Consolidation of Selected Air Force Tactical Squadrons
8. AF Pamphlet 900-2, p. 147
9. AF Pamphlet 900-2, Vol. 2, p. 22