267th Combat Communications Squadron
Encyclopedia
The United States Air Force
's 267th Combat Communications Squadron (267 CBCS) is an Air National Guard
combat communications unit located at Otis Air National Guard Base
, Massachusetts
.
, as the 301st Signal Company, Wing, on 1 December 1942 at Pinedale California. The 301st Signal Company was subsequently assigned to the Fourth Air Force
for training, and later transferred to Foreign Service on 21 August 1943. The 301st arrived in North Africa
on 4 September 1943 and redeployed to Italy on 25 April 1944. The unit was assigned to the 304th Bombardment Wing, Heavy, on 21 June 1945. During this period, the 301st's mission was providing reliable communications to fighters and bombers. After the war, the 301st was transferred back to the United States and was inactivated on 13 October 1945 at Camp Shanks, New York.
, Massachusetts.
With the return of Air National Guard units from the Korean War
, the Headquarters 253rd Communications Group (Mobile) was organized and collocated with the 267th Communications Squadron. The 253rd remains the 267th's Group Headquarters to this day. Exercises planned by the 253rd Communications Group continued to improve the 267ths capabilities with expanding communications resources. Both the Headquarters and Squadron were relocated from Somerville to Logan International Airport, East Boston (20 August 1954), and then from Logan to Fiske School, Cedar Street Wellesley, Massachusetts (1 September 1955).
A milestone in 267th and 253rd history was achieved in June 1960 when both units moved to the Wellesley Air National Guard Station. Wellesley Air National Guard Station would be home to the 267th for 36 years.
In October 1960 the 267th's capabilities increased with the arrival of the new Technical Control and Relay Center facilities. The 267th Communications Squadron was the first Air National Guard unit to join the Air Force Space Surveillance Team with the acquisition of a Doppler
Satellite Tracking System in December 1960. The unit functioned as a Doppler Tracking Station until 1963. In 1963, a new wing was added to the Wellesley Air National Guard Station to accommodate its growing mission and training requirements in support of tactical operations.
The 1970s saw the 267th build on past experience and expand its role as a communications unit. Updated equipment and a focus on training helped develop the 267th into a modern mobile communications unit. The 267th received numerous equipment updates during this time period and personnel strength increased along with the mission.
The force modernization concept of the 1980s provided many new challenges to the 267th. Under force modernization, the 267th had the capability to deploy anywhere in the world within 72 hours by air, sea, or land in order to provide tactical communications for a Theater Force Commander. During this time, participation in Joint Chief of Staff Exercises deployed the 267th to various parts of the United States and overseas.
The late 1980s saw change come once more – this time in the form of high-speed digital equipment. The Air Force had upgraded the tactical communications equipment from old analog systems to newer, more reliable digital systems. This change brought high-tech equipment into the Air Guard and once again the 267th led the way. In the Operational Readiness Inspection of 1990, the 267th was the first Air National Guard unit to deploy newly assigned digital equipment for a command inspection.
During the late 1980s and early 1990s, numerous command changes occurred. For more than two decades the 267th had been under Air Force Communications Command. Changes within the Air Force, however, eliminated AFCC, and the 267th banner was moved to Tactical Air Command
(TAC). Growth continued under TAC. Training with Active Duty counterparts allowed the 267th to continue supporting the Joint Chief of Staff exercises worldwide. Changes came again with the reorganization of the Air Force. TAC merged with Strategic Air Command
(SAC) to form Air Combat Command
(ACC), carrying the 267th to its third major command in as many years.
The end of the cold war and collapse of the Soviet Union generated a call for a major downsizing within the Department of Defense
. The entire defense community was faced with dramatic departure from what had become the traditional mission. This brought about a new concept of operations. A prime example of the departure from the "old ways" was Operation Joint Endeavor, to which the 267th deployed personnel and equipment to Tazar, Hungary.
The 267th was downsized and restructured as a result of the Reduction In Force and new operational concepts. The 267th celebrated these changes by leaving its three and a half decade home Wellesley ANGS for its current station, a 7.1 million dollar, custom built facility on the Massachusetts Military Reservation (Otis Air National Guard Base
) on Cape Cod
.
United States Air Force
The United States Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the American uniformed services. Initially part of the United States Army, the USAF was formed as a separate branch of the military on September 18, 1947 under the National Security Act of...
's 267th Combat Communications Squadron (267 CBCS) is an Air National Guard
Air National Guard
The Air National Guard , often referred to as the Air Guard, is the air force militia organized by each of the fifty U.S. states, the commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the territories of Guam and the U.S. Virgin Islands, and the District of Columbia of the United States. Established under Title 10 and...
combat communications unit located at Otis Air National Guard Base
Otis Air National Guard Base
Otis Air National Guard Base is an Air National Guard installation located within the Massachusetts Military Reservation , a military training facility, located on the western portion of Cape Cod, in western Barnstable County, Massachusetts, United States...
, Massachusetts
Massachusetts
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. It is bordered by Rhode Island and Connecticut to the south, New York to the west, and Vermont and New Hampshire to the north; at its east lies the Atlantic Ocean. As of the 2010...
.
Mission
To be prepared for the challenges of providing global communications in constantly changing environments.Origins
The 267th Combat Communications Squadron's lineage begins as a part of the Army Air CorpsUnited States Army Air Corps
The United States Army Air Corps was a forerunner of the United States Air Force. Renamed from the Air Service on 2 July 1926, it was part of the United States Army and the predecessor of the United States Army Air Forces , established in 1941...
, as the 301st Signal Company, Wing, on 1 December 1942 at Pinedale California. The 301st Signal Company was subsequently assigned to the Fourth Air Force
Fourth Air Force
The Fourth Air Force is a numbered air force of the United States Air Force Reserve . It is headquartered at March Air Reserve Base, California....
for training, and later transferred to Foreign Service on 21 August 1943. The 301st arrived in North Africa
North Africa
North Africa or Northern Africa is the northernmost region of the African continent, linked by the Sahara to Sub-Saharan Africa. Geopolitically, the United Nations definition of Northern Africa includes eight countries or territories; Algeria, Egypt, Libya, Morocco, South Sudan, Sudan, Tunisia, and...
on 4 September 1943 and redeployed to Italy on 25 April 1944. The unit was assigned to the 304th Bombardment Wing, Heavy, on 21 June 1945. During this period, the 301st's mission was providing reliable communications to fighters and bombers. After the war, the 301st was transferred back to the United States and was inactivated on 13 October 1945 at Camp Shanks, New York.
Post World War II
On 24 May 1946, the 301st Signal Company, Wing, was redesignated as the 101st Communications Squadron and assigned to the newly created United States Air Force and Air National Guard. The squadron was extended Federal Recognition on 8 December 1947 at the Commonwealth Armory, BostonBoston
Boston is the capital of and largest city in Massachusetts, and is one of the oldest cities in the United States. The largest city in New England, Boston is regarded as the unofficial "Capital of New England" for its economic and cultural impact on the entire New England region. The city proper had...
, Massachusetts.
Cold War
Once established as a Massachusetts National Guard unit, the 101st Communications Squadron was assigned to the 67th Fighter Wing to provide the necessary communications link between Wing Headquarters and it s subordinate flying units during annual field training. Its mission involved the technical training of assigned personnel at various Air Force installations in the Northeast. During this period, the unit moved from Commonwealth Armory to the Somerville Armory (1 January 1952) and was redesignated as the 267th Communications Squadron (Operations) (1 July 1952).With the return of Air National Guard units from the Korean War
Korean War
The Korean War was a conventional war between South Korea, supported by the United Nations, and North Korea, supported by the People's Republic of China , with military material aid from the Soviet Union...
, the Headquarters 253rd Communications Group (Mobile) was organized and collocated with the 267th Communications Squadron. The 253rd remains the 267th's Group Headquarters to this day. Exercises planned by the 253rd Communications Group continued to improve the 267ths capabilities with expanding communications resources. Both the Headquarters and Squadron were relocated from Somerville to Logan International Airport, East Boston (20 August 1954), and then from Logan to Fiske School, Cedar Street Wellesley, Massachusetts (1 September 1955).
A milestone in 267th and 253rd history was achieved in June 1960 when both units moved to the Wellesley Air National Guard Station. Wellesley Air National Guard Station would be home to the 267th for 36 years.
In October 1960 the 267th's capabilities increased with the arrival of the new Technical Control and Relay Center facilities. The 267th Communications Squadron was the first Air National Guard unit to join the Air Force Space Surveillance Team with the acquisition of a Doppler
Doppler radar
A Doppler radar is a specialized radar that makes use of the Doppler effect to produce velocity data about objects at a distance. It does this by beaming a microwave signal towards a desired target and listening for its reflection, then analyzing how the frequency of the returned signal has been...
Satellite Tracking System in December 1960. The unit functioned as a Doppler Tracking Station until 1963. In 1963, a new wing was added to the Wellesley Air National Guard Station to accommodate its growing mission and training requirements in support of tactical operations.
The 1970s saw the 267th build on past experience and expand its role as a communications unit. Updated equipment and a focus on training helped develop the 267th into a modern mobile communications unit. The 267th received numerous equipment updates during this time period and personnel strength increased along with the mission.
The force modernization concept of the 1980s provided many new challenges to the 267th. Under force modernization, the 267th had the capability to deploy anywhere in the world within 72 hours by air, sea, or land in order to provide tactical communications for a Theater Force Commander. During this time, participation in Joint Chief of Staff Exercises deployed the 267th to various parts of the United States and overseas.
The late 1980s saw change come once more – this time in the form of high-speed digital equipment. The Air Force had upgraded the tactical communications equipment from old analog systems to newer, more reliable digital systems. This change brought high-tech equipment into the Air Guard and once again the 267th led the way. In the Operational Readiness Inspection of 1990, the 267th was the first Air National Guard unit to deploy newly assigned digital equipment for a command inspection.
Post Cold War
In the early 1990s the 267th was called upon to support Desert Shield/Desert Storm. Numerous personnel were deployed to South West Asia. Throughout this mission, many members volunteered for duty in theater and were placed on augmentee listings, but due to the short nature of the war these members were never called upon to deploy.During the late 1980s and early 1990s, numerous command changes occurred. For more than two decades the 267th had been under Air Force Communications Command. Changes within the Air Force, however, eliminated AFCC, and the 267th banner was moved to Tactical Air Command
Tactical Air Command
Tactical Air Command is an inactive United States Air Force organization. It was a Major Command of the United States Air Force, established on 21 March 1946 being headquartered at Langley Air Force Base, Virginia...
(TAC). Growth continued under TAC. Training with Active Duty counterparts allowed the 267th to continue supporting the Joint Chief of Staff exercises worldwide. Changes came again with the reorganization of the Air Force. TAC merged with Strategic Air Command
Strategic Air Command
The Strategic Air Command was both a Major Command of the United States Air Force and a "specified command" of the United States Department of Defense. SAC was the operational establishment in charge of America's land-based strategic bomber aircraft and land-based intercontinental ballistic...
(SAC) to form Air Combat Command
Air Combat Command
Air Combat Command is a major command of the United States Air Force. ACC is one of ten major commands , reporting to Headquarters, United States Air Force ....
(ACC), carrying the 267th to its third major command in as many years.
The end of the cold war and collapse of the Soviet Union generated a call for a major downsizing within the Department of Defense
United States Department of Defense
The United States Department of Defense is the U.S...
. The entire defense community was faced with dramatic departure from what had become the traditional mission. This brought about a new concept of operations. A prime example of the departure from the "old ways" was Operation Joint Endeavor, to which the 267th deployed personnel and equipment to Tazar, Hungary.
The 267th was downsized and restructured as a result of the Reduction In Force and new operational concepts. The 267th celebrated these changes by leaving its three and a half decade home Wellesley ANGS for its current station, a 7.1 million dollar, custom built facility on the Massachusetts Military Reservation (Otis Air National Guard Base
Otis Air National Guard Base
Otis Air National Guard Base is an Air National Guard installation located within the Massachusetts Military Reservation , a military training facility, located on the western portion of Cape Cod, in western Barnstable County, Massachusetts, United States...
) on Cape Cod
Cape Cod
Cape Cod, often referred to locally as simply the Cape, is a cape in the easternmost portion of the state of Massachusetts, in the Northeastern United States...
.
Previous designations
- 267th Combat Communications Squadron
- 267th Communications Squadron (19xx-???)
Bases stationed
- Otis ANGB, Massachusetts (1996–Present)
- Wellesley ANGS, Massachusetts (1960–1996)