176th Air Control Squadron
Encyclopedia
The 176th Air Control Squadron is a part of the United States Air National Guard, which provides mission-ready personnel to operate and maintain the Alaskan Region Air Operations Center (RAOC) of the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD). It integrates fixed and airborne radar into the NORAD Global Command and Control System (NGCCS), and conducts 24-hour Alaskan NORAD Region (ANR) and Eleventh Air Force
(11th AF) air sovereignty and theater air control operations.
The 176th Air Control Squadron is unique amongst the other American sectors in that it controls the only sector within its region, while the Eastern Air Defense Sector
and Western Air Defense Sector
both comprise the Continental NORAD Region
(CONR). In addition to this distinction, it is the only sector that has regular reported intercepts of foreign military aircraft, with multiple intercepts of Russian Tu-95 "Bear" aircraft through its lifetime.
(AFS), (originally situated in a mountainous region known as the Yukon-Tanana Upland, 20 miles northwest of Fairbanks, Alaska
). It was one of the ten original aircraft control and warning sites constructed during the early 1950s to establish a permanent air defense system in Alaska.
Murphy Dome was initially operated by a detachment of the 532nd Aircraft Control and Warning Group, Ladd Air Force Base (now Fort Wainwright
). When the 532nd was inactivated in 1951, the site was then operated by a detachment of the 143rd Aircraft Control and Warning Squadron, Alaska Air National Guard
. As part of HQ Alaskan Air Command
’s (HQ AAC) plan to upgrade all remote sites to full squadrons, the 744th Aircraft Control and Warning Squadron (744 ACWS) was activated at Murphy Dome on 1 February 1953 with an authorized strength of 249 personnel.
The mission of the 744 ACWS was to support, administer and train assigned personnel to perform air defense missions, support tactical missions as directed by HQ AAC, and operate and maintain the Murphy Dome AFS.
In 1977, the 744 ACWS was assigned to the newly reactivated 531st Aircraft Control and Warning Group (531 ACWG). The 531 ACWG was later redesignated the 11th Tactical Control Group (11 TCG) in 1981.
In the early 1980s, construction began on a new NORAD Region Operations Control Center (ROCC) at Elmendorf AFB, which would be responsible for managing all air defense operations in Alaska, making all manned remote radar sites redundant. The 744 ACWS was selected to man the ROCC, which achieved full operational status on 15 September 1983. All remote radar squadrons were deactivated by 1 November 1983. Under HQ AAC’s “Seek Igloo” project, civilian manning at all remote radar sites was reduced to approximately four civilian personnel per site.
In 1989, the 744 ACWS was aligned under the newly established 11th Tactical Control Wing (11 TCW). In 1992, this wing was renamed the 11th Air Control Wing (11 ACW), and the 744 ACWS was renamed the 744th Air Defense Squadron (744 ADS). The 11 ACW was reorganized on 1 July 1994 as the 611th Air Operations Group (611 AOG), and the 744 ADS was renamed the 611th Air Control Squadron (611 ACS). In 2001, the 611 ACS began a four-year transition to the Alaska Air National Guard. On 1 October 2004, the 611 ACS was officially inactivated and the 176 ACS was ceremonially recognized. Thus, the 176 ACS traces its heritage and honors from the original 744 ACWS/ADS, handed down over the past 50 years.
s for the following periods: 13 Aug 1967-21 Aug 1967, 1 Jan 1976-31 Dec 1976, 1 Jan 1978-31 Dec 1978, 1 Jul 1982-8 Nov 1983, 1 Jul 1994 – 30 Jun 1996, and 1 Oct 1999 – 30 Sept 2001
Eleventh Air Force
The Eleventh Air Force is a numbered air force of the United States Air Force Pacific Air Forces . It is headquartered at Elmendorf Air Force Base, Alaska....
(11th AF) air sovereignty and theater air control operations.
The 176th Air Control Squadron is unique amongst the other American sectors in that it controls the only sector within its region, while the Eastern Air Defense Sector
Eastern Air Defense Sector
The Eastern Air Defense Sector is a United States Air Force unit and a component of the New York Air National Guard. It is stationed at the former Griffiss Air Force Base in Rome, New York.-Overview:...
and Western Air Defense Sector
Western Air Defense Sector
The Western Air Defense Sector is a United States Air Force unit and a component of the Washington Air National Guard. It is stationed at McChord Field, Washington-Overview:...
both comprise the Continental NORAD Region
Continental NORAD Region
The Continental NORAD Region is a component of the North American Aerospace Defense Command that provides airspace surveillance and control and directs air sovereignty activities for the continental United States ....
(CONR). In addition to this distinction, it is the only sector that has regular reported intercepts of foreign military aircraft, with multiple intercepts of Russian Tu-95 "Bear" aircraft through its lifetime.
History
The 176th Air Control Squadron traces its lineage, honors and history to Murphy Dome Air Force StationMurphy Dome Air Force Station
Murphy Dome Air Force Station is a closed United States Air Force General Surveillance Radar station. It is located west-northwest of Fairbanks, Alaska....
(AFS), (originally situated in a mountainous region known as the Yukon-Tanana Upland, 20 miles northwest of Fairbanks, Alaska
Fairbanks, Alaska
Fairbanks is a home rule city in and the borough seat of the Fairbanks North Star Borough in the U.S. state of Alaska.Fairbanks is the largest city in the Interior region of Alaska, and second largest in the state behind Anchorage...
). It was one of the ten original aircraft control and warning sites constructed during the early 1950s to establish a permanent air defense system in Alaska.
Murphy Dome was initially operated by a detachment of the 532nd Aircraft Control and Warning Group, Ladd Air Force Base (now Fort Wainwright
Fort Wainwright
Fort Wainwright is a United States Army post adjacent to Fairbanks in the U.S. state of Alaska. It is part of the Fairbanks, Alaska Metropolitan Statistical Area.-History:...
). When the 532nd was inactivated in 1951, the site was then operated by a detachment of the 143rd Aircraft Control and Warning Squadron, Alaska Air National Guard
Alaska Air National Guard
The Alaska Air National Guard is the component of the United States Air National Guard operating within the state of Alaska.-Overview:Alaska Air National Guard units are trained and equipped as part of the United States Air Force. The same ranks and insignia are used and National Guardsmen are...
. As part of HQ Alaskan Air Command
Alaskan Air Command
Alaskan Air Command is an inactive United States Air Force Major Command. Established in 1945 under the United States Army Air Forces, its mission was to organize and administer the air defense system of Alaska, exercise direct control of all active measures, and coordinate all passive means of...
’s (HQ AAC) plan to upgrade all remote sites to full squadrons, the 744th Aircraft Control and Warning Squadron (744 ACWS) was activated at Murphy Dome on 1 February 1953 with an authorized strength of 249 personnel.
The mission of the 744 ACWS was to support, administer and train assigned personnel to perform air defense missions, support tactical missions as directed by HQ AAC, and operate and maintain the Murphy Dome AFS.
In 1977, the 744 ACWS was assigned to the newly reactivated 531st Aircraft Control and Warning Group (531 ACWG). The 531 ACWG was later redesignated the 11th Tactical Control Group (11 TCG) in 1981.
In the early 1980s, construction began on a new NORAD Region Operations Control Center (ROCC) at Elmendorf AFB, which would be responsible for managing all air defense operations in Alaska, making all manned remote radar sites redundant. The 744 ACWS was selected to man the ROCC, which achieved full operational status on 15 September 1983. All remote radar squadrons were deactivated by 1 November 1983. Under HQ AAC’s “Seek Igloo” project, civilian manning at all remote radar sites was reduced to approximately four civilian personnel per site.
In 1989, the 744 ACWS was aligned under the newly established 11th Tactical Control Wing (11 TCW). In 1992, this wing was renamed the 11th Air Control Wing (11 ACW), and the 744 ACWS was renamed the 744th Air Defense Squadron (744 ADS). The 11 ACW was reorganized on 1 July 1994 as the 611th Air Operations Group (611 AOG), and the 744 ADS was renamed the 611th Air Control Squadron (611 ACS). In 2001, the 611 ACS began a four-year transition to the Alaska Air National Guard. On 1 October 2004, the 611 ACS was officially inactivated and the 176 ACS was ceremonially recognized. Thus, the 176 ACS traces its heritage and honors from the original 744 ACWS/ADS, handed down over the past 50 years.
176th Operations Group
Comprises the units that directly execute the wing's missions: tactical airlift, strategic airlift, air control, and combat search and rescue:- 144th Airlift Squadron
- 176th Air Control Squadron
- 176th Operations Support Squadron
- 210th Rescue Squadron
- 211th Rescue Squadron
- 212th Rescue Squadron
- 249th Airlift Squadron
Awards
The squadron has earned four Air Force Outstanding Unit AwardOutstanding Unit Award
The Air Force Outstanding Unit Award is an award of the United States Air Force which was first created in 1954. The award is presented as a ribbon to any command of the U.S...
s for the following periods: 13 Aug 1967-21 Aug 1967, 1 Jan 1976-31 Dec 1976, 1 Jan 1978-31 Dec 1978, 1 Jul 1982-8 Nov 1983, 1 Jul 1994 – 30 Jun 1996, and 1 Oct 1999 – 30 Sept 2001
See also
- 176th Wing176th WingThe 176th Wing is the largest unit of the Alaska Air National Guard. It is a composite wing — meaning a wing which operates more than one type of aircraft — operating out of Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson in Anchorage, Alaska...
- Southeast Air Defense SectorSoutheast Air Defense SectorThe Southeast Air Defense Sector , was a unit of the US Air Force located at Tyndall Air Force Base near Panama City, Florida. It provided air defense and surveillance of the southeastern region of the US...
- Western Air Defense SectorWestern Air Defense SectorThe Western Air Defense Sector is a United States Air Force unit and a component of the Washington Air National Guard. It is stationed at McChord Field, Washington-Overview:...
- Eastern Air Defense SectorEastern Air Defense SectorThe Eastern Air Defense Sector is a United States Air Force unit and a component of the New York Air National Guard. It is stationed at the former Griffiss Air Force Base in Rome, New York.-Overview:...
- Eleventh Air ForceEleventh Air ForceThe Eleventh Air Force is a numbered air force of the United States Air Force Pacific Air Forces . It is headquartered at Elmendorf Air Force Base, Alaska....
- North American Aerospace Defense CommandNorth American Aerospace Defense CommandNorth American Aerospace Defense Command is a joint organization of Canada and the United States that provides aerospace warning, air sovereignty, and defense for the two countries. Headquarters NORAD is located at Peterson AFB, Colorado Springs, Colorado...