Lineage. 3 Search Attack Squadron (Heavy) (constituted 3 Sea–Search Attack Squadron [Heavy] on 7 Dec 1942; activated on 10 Dec 1942; redesignated 3 Search Attack Squadron [Heavy] on 22 Nov 1943; disbanded on 10 Apr 1944; reconstituted on 19 Sep 1985) consolidated (19 Sep 1985) with the 163 Liaison Squadron (constituted on 11 May 1944; activated on 15 May 1944; inactivated on 27 Jan 1946; activated on 3 Oct 1946; inactivated on 1 Apr 1949) and the 963 Airborne Warning and Control Squadron (constituted 963 Airborne Early Warning and Control Squadron on 8 Dec 1954; activated on 8 Mar 1955; inactivated on 30 Apr 1976; redesignated 963 Airborne Warning and Control Squadron on 5 May 1976; activated on 1 Jul 1976). Redesignated 963 Airborne Air Control Squadron on 1 Jul 1994.
Assignments. 1 Sea–Search Attack Group (later, 1 Sea-Search Attack Unit; 1 Search Attack Group), 10 Dec 1942–10 Apr 1944. III Tactical Air Division, 15 May 1944; Army Air Forces, Pacific Ocean Areas, 20 Jan 1945 (attached to Tenth Army for operations, 20 Jan 1945–); Seventh Air Force, 14 Jul 1945 (remained attached to Tenth Army to 10 Aug 1945); VII Bomber Command, 1 Dec 1945; Pacific Air Command, US Army, 25 Dec 1945–27 Jan 1946. Ninth Air Force, 3 Oct 1946; Tenth Air Force, 1 Dec 1948–1 Apr 1949. 8 Air Division, 8 Mar 1955 (attached to Airborne Early Warning and Control Wing, Provisional, 8 Mar–7 Jul 1955); 552 Airborne Early Warning and Control Wing (later, 552 Airborne Warning and Control Group), 8 Jul 1955–30 Apr 1976. 552 Airborne Warning and Control Wing (later, 552 Airborne Warning and Control Division; 552 Airborne Warning and Control Wing; 552 Air Control Wing), 1 Jul 1976; 552 Operations Group, 29 May 1992–.
Stations. Langley Field, VA, 10 Dec 1942–10 Apr 1944. Cox Field, TX, 15 May 1944;
Brownwood AAfld, TX, 8 Oct 1944–1 Jan 1945; Schofield Barracks, TH, 20 Jan–6 Apr 1945; Okinawa, 3 May 1945; Ft William McKinley, Luzon, c. 24 Dec 1945–27 Jan 1946. Marshall Field (later, AFB), KS, 3 Oct 1946–1 Apr 1949. McClellan AFB, CA, 8 Mar 1955–30 Apr 1976. Tinker AFB, OK, 1 Jul 1976–.
Aircraft. B–18, 1942–1943; B–24, 1943–1944. L–5, 1944–1945; UC–64, 1944; L–4, 1945. L–5, 1946–1949; C–45, 1946–1947; R–5, 1947–1949; R–6, 1947; L–13, 1948–1949; H–5, 1948–1949. RC–121, 1955–1959, 1961–1963; TC–121, 1959–1961, 1972–1975; EC–121, 1963–1972; C–121, 1969–1976. E–3, 1977–.
Operations. Tested electronic equipment and trained crews for antisubmarine operations; antisubmarine patrols, 1943. Replacement training unit, Jun–Oct 1944. Combat in Western Pacific, 16 May–c. 1 Jul 1945. Long–range surveillance, 1955–1974. Rotated aircrews to Southeast Asia, c. 4 Apr 1965–17 May 1974. Combat support in Panama, 20 Dec 1989–24 Jan 1990, and Southwest Asia, 17 Jan–6 Mar 1991.
Service Streamers. None.
Campaign Streamers. World War II: Antisubmarine, American Theater; Ryukyus. Southwest Asia: Defense of Saudi Arabia; Liberation and Defense of Kuwait. Kosovo: Air Campaign. Global War on Terrorism: GWOT-E. Iraq: Iraqi Governance; Iraqi Surge; Iraqi New Dawn.
Armed Forces Expeditionary Streamers. Panama, 1989–1990.
Decorations. Air Force Outstanding Unit Awards with Combat “V” Device: 1 Jul 1969–
30 Jun 1970; 1 Jul 1971–31 Dec 1972; 1 Jun 2002-31 May 2003. Meritorious Unit Award: 1 Jun 2006-31 May 2007. Air Force Outstanding Unit Awards: 1 Jul 1961–30 Jun 1963; 15 Apr 1965–1 Jul 1966; 2 Jul 1966–1 Jul 1968; 1 Jul 1970–30 Jun 1971; 1 Jul 1974–30 Jun 1975; 1 Jul 1977–30 Jun 1978; 1 Jul 1978–30 Jun 1980; 1 Jul 1982–30 Jun 1984; 1 May 1985–30 Apr 1987; 1 May 1987–30 Apr 1989; 1 Dec 1989–1 Dec 1991; 1 Jun 2003-31 May 2004; 1 Jun 2007-31 May 2008; 1 Jun 2011-31 May 2012; 1 Jun 2012-31 May 2013; 1 Jun 2013-31 May 2014. Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm: 1 Apr 1966–28 Jan 1973.
Lineage, Assignments, Stations, and Honors through 10 Aug 2016.
Aircraft, and Operations through 10 Aug 2016.
Supersedes statement prepared on 8 Aug 1984.
Emblem. Approved on 24 May 1977; latest rendering, 26 Nov 2018.
Prepared by TSgt David Dollman.