12 Airborne Command and Control Squadron (ACC)

Lineage.  2 Antisubmarine Squadron (Heavy) (constituted as 523 Bombardment Squadron [Heavy] on 13 Oct 1942; activated on 18 Oct 1942; redesignated as 2 Antisubmarine Squadron [Heavy] on 23 Nov 1942; disbanded on 29 Jan 1944; reconstituted on 19 Sep 1985) and the 327 Ferrying Squadron (constituted on 12 May 1944; activated on 31 May 1944; inactivated on 5 Oct 1945; disbanded on 8 Oct 1948; reconstituted on 19 Sep 1985) consolidated (19 Sep 1985) with the 12 Special Operations Squadron (constituted 12 Air Commando Squadron [Defoliation], and activated, on 26 Aug 1966; organized on 15 Oct 1966; redesignated as 12 Special Operations Squadron on 1 Aug 1968; inactivated on 30 Sep 1970).  Redesignated as 12 Airborne Command and Control Squadron on 19 Sep 1985.  Activated on 29 Jan 1996.  Allotted to the Air National Guard on 1 Oct 2002.  Relieved from allotment to the Air National Guard and assigned to Air Combat Command on 1 Oct 2011.

Assignments.  378 Bombardment Group (Heavy), 18 Oct 1942; 25 Antisubmarine Wing, 14 Dec 1942 (attached to: VIII Bomber Command, c. 2-15 Jan 1942; 1 Antisubmarine Group [Provisional], 15 Jan-1 Mar 1943; 2037 Antisubmarine Wing [Provisional], 1 Mar-21 Jun 1943); 480 Antisubmarine Group, 21 Jun 1943-29 Jan 1944.  Mediterranean Air Transport Service, 31 May 1944; XII Air Force Service Command, c. 15 Sep-5 Oct 1945.  Pacific Air Forces, 26 Aug 1966; 315 Air Commando Wing, Troop Carrier (later, 315 Air Commando Wing, 315 Special Operations Wing, 315 Tactical Airlift Wing), 15 Oct 1966-30 Sep 1970.  93 Operations Group, 29 Jan 1996-1 Oct 2002.  461 Operations Group, 1 Oct 2011-.

Stations.  Langley Field, VA, 18 Oct-26 Dec 1942; St Eval, England, 2 Jan 1943; Craw Field, Port Lyautey, French Morocco, c. 11 Mar-25 Nov 1943 (air echelon operated from Agadir, French Morocco, Jul 1943); Clovis AAFld, NM, c. 4-29 Jan 1944.  Capodichino AB, Naples, Italy, 31 May 1944-5 Oct 1945.  Tan Son Nhut AB, South Vietnam, 15 Oct 1966; Bien Hoa AB, South Vietnam, 1 Dec 1966; Phan Rang AB, South Vietnam, 10 Jul-30 Sep 1970.  Robins AFB, GA, 29 Jan 1996-1 Oct 2002.  Robins AFB, GA, 1 Oct 2011-.

Commanders.  None (unmanned), 18 Oct-14 Nov 1942; Maj Wilkie A. Rambo, 15 Nov 1942; Maj Isaac J. Haviland, 15 Jan 1943; Maj Lawrence E. Jarnagin, c. 1 Jun 1943; Maj Gerald L. Mosier, 26 Sep 1943-unkn (at least through Nov 1943).  Maj James E. Scoggins Jr., 31 May 1944; Maj Rolland C. Swanson, 15 Jan 1945; Maj Willard E. Karschnick, 9 May 1945; Capt John E. Fernsler, 9 Sep-5 Oct 1945.  Lt Col Robert Dennis, 15 Oct 1966; Lt Col Donald S. Stewart, 21 Jul 1967; Lt Col Arthur F. McConnell Jr., 8 Jun 1968; Lt Col Rex K. Stoner Jr., 20 Dec 1968; Lt Col Joseph M. Cesario, 8 Sep 1969 (temporary); Lt Col Warner P. Fisher, 30 Sep 1969; Lt Col Keith W. West, 12 Jan 1970; Lt Col Ben V. Walker, 1 Apr-31 Jul 1970; none (umanned), 1 Aug 30 Sep 1970.  Maj Mark S. Giannini (acting), 29 Jan 1996; Lt Col Charles J. Freniere, 27 Jun 1996; Lt Col Gordon B. McKay, 8 Jan 1998; Lt Col Jeffrey M. Hall, 18 Oct 1999; Lt Col Thomas Wozniak, 20 Nov 2000; unkn, Jan 2002-. 

Aircraft.  B-17, 1942; B-18, 1942; B-34, 1942; B-24, 1942-1944.  P-40, 1944; C-47, 1944-1945; C-46, 1945.  C-123, 1966-1970.  E-8, 1996-.

Operations.  Flew antisubmarine patrols around England (Jan to Mar 1943) and French Morocco (Mar-Nov 1943), earning a Distinguished Unit Citation (DUC) for its combat contributions in the Battle of the Atlantic against German submarines.  Returned to US at end of 1943 and disbanded in Jan 1944.  Activated as the 327 Ferrying Squadron on 31 May 1944 in Italy, where it flew cargo, passengers, and mail to destinations in Italy, Sardinia, Corsica, North Africa, and southern France.  Moved to the US in late Sep 1945 and inactivated in Oct.  Between 1966 and 1970, as the 12 Special Operations Squadron, sprayed defoliant herbicides and pesticides as part of Operation RANCH HAND and flew special missions, such as dropping leaflets or flares, during Vietnam War.  Inactivated in Sep 1970.  Activated as the 12 Airborne Command and Control Squadron in Jan 1996 to fly E-8 aircraft for air control and target attack radar system.

Service Streamers.  Global War on Terrorism-Service (GWOT-S).

Campaign Streamers.  World War II:  Rome-Arno; Po Valley; Air Offensive, Europe; Rhineland; Antisubmarine, EAME Theater; Air Combat, EAME Theater.  Vietnam:  Vietnam Air Offensive; Vietnam Air Offensive, Phase II; Vietnam Air/Ground; Vietnam Air Offensive, Phase III; Vietnam Air Offensive, Phase IV; Tet 69/ Counteroffensive; Vietnam Summer-Fall, 1969; Vietnam Winter-Spring, 1969-1970; Sanctuary Counteroffensive; Southwest Monsoon.  Kosovo:  Kosovo Air.  Global War on Terrorism: GWOT-E.

Armed Forces Expeditionary Streamers.  None.

Decorations.  Distinguished Unit Citation (European Theater of Operations and North Africa) [16 Jan]-28 Oct 1943.  Presidential Unit Citations (Southeast Asia): [15 Oct] 1966-30 Jun 1967; 21 Jan-12 May 1968; 15 May 1968-15 Apr 1969; 1 Apr-30 Jun 1970. Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with Combat “V” Device: 15 Oct 1966-30 Apr 1967.  Meritorious Unit Awards: 1 Oct 2010-31 Mar 2012; 1 Apr 2012-31 May 2013; 1 Jun 2014-31 May 2015; 1 Jun 2015-31 May 2016; 1 Jun 2016-31 May 2017; 1 Jun 2018-31 May 2019.  Air Force Outstanding Unit Awards: 31 Aug 2004-31 May 2006; 1 Jun 2013- 31 May 2014.  Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm:  15 Oct 1966-31 Jul 1970.

Lineage, Assignments, Stations, Aircraft, Operations, and Honors through 10 Feb 2021.

Commanders through 1 Oct 2002.

Supersedes statement prepared on 17 Jun 2019.

Emblem.  Approved on 12 Apr 2000.

Prepared by Margaret Ream.