551st Electronic Systems Wing
Encyclopedia
The 551st Electronic Systems Wing (551 ELSW) is a wing
of the United States Air Force
whose focus is on 'behind the scenes' electronic work. Located at Hanscom Air Force Base
, Massachusetts
, they work on AWACS, Joint STARS, MP-RTIP, Mission Planning, and weather systems.
Now responsible for the development and sustainment of command and control systems, the 551st ELSW takes its designation from a wing that laid the foundation for modern-day airborne surveillance.
Groups
Squadrons
Moved to Germany in late August 1945 and provided the basis for creation of the European Air Transport Service (Provisional) which operated under USAFE to establish air routes and carry passengers and cargo throughout western Europe and the Mediterranean, 4 September 1945-20 December 1947. Wing inactivated 5 January 1948
eastern seaboard.
The wing received its first airborne asset March 2, 1955, when an RC-121D landed at Otis Air Force Base. The plane was the first of many assigned to the 551st to patrol the skies over much of the Atlantic Ocean. The RC-121D was eventually upgraded to the EC-121H Warning Star in 1963.
The newer model supplanted the slower voice and manual Teletype data relay system previously employed by the RC-121D and instead provided instantaneous automated relay of air defense surveillance and early-warning information by data-link directly to ground-based communication facilities.
The 551 AEWC Wing provided critical surveillance data to Air Defense Command and Control computers and the North American Air Defense Combat Operations Center in Colorado Springs, Colo., for air defense evaluation and action. The data also enabled more versatile airborne control of interceptor missile and aircraft weapons systems.
During the Cold War period, the 551st provided surveillance support for major world events, including tracking over Cuba during the Cuban Missile Crisis and tracking Russian aircraft and naval vessels off Iceland and the East Coast of the United States.
The wing also provided surveillance over Johnston and Christmas islands during nuclear testing by the Atomic Energy Commission and performed a variety of surveillance services in Southeast Asia during the Vietnam War
.
In its first 10 years, the wing flew continuous missions over the Atlantic Ocean
24 hours a day, seven days a week, compiling more than 350,000 flying hours. Among other honors awarded to the wing was the Air Force Outstanding Unit Award for its significant performance.
Between 1965 and 1967, three aircraft of the wing crashed into the Atlantic killing fifty members of the wing. The tail numbers of the aircraft were 55-0136
, 55-5262
, and 53-0549
.
“The old 551st was the forerunner for the surveillance assets in service today, and we’re extremely proud of the work we accomplished in the unit,” said Floyd I. Shank, who served as an airborne radar operator in the 551st and now organizes alumni events for the wing. “We’re all excited about the new organization and we’re confident the 551st ELSW will continue the proud 551st tradition of excellence.”
The 551st Electronic Systems Group, formerly the Airborne Warning and Control Systems Group, is responsible for all aspects of modernization and sustainment of the United States and international E-3 Sentry aircraft and airborne early warning and control fleets.
The 851st Electronic Systems Group, formerly the E-10/MP-RTIP Systems Group, is responsible for developing, acquiring, testing, sustaining and improving the $1.5 billion Multi-Platform Radar Technology Insertion Program
. The group manages and coordinates support to all assigned programs from internal, functional and matrix organizations to provide the warfighter with an airborne combat system with onboard battle management that detects, tracks and targets cruise missiles and time sensitive targets for destruction by joint and coalition air, land and naval forces.
The 951st Electronic Systems Group, formerly the Mission Planning Systems Group, develops and supports a suite of mission planning systems that meet the needs of more than 40 Air Force aircraft and weapons systems. In addition, the Navy, Marines, Army, several government agencies, and 23 allied nations use these mission planning systems for daily operations.
The 551 ELSW weather systems division acquires and fields terrestrial weather and strategic systems capability, then delivers decision-quality environmental information to Air Force and Army commanders to support global military operations in peace and war.
Wing (air force unit)
Wing is a term used by different military aviation forces for a unit of command. The terms wing, group or Staffel are used for different-sized units from one country or service to another....
of the United States Air Force
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...
whose focus is on 'behind the scenes' electronic work. Located at Hanscom Air Force Base
Hanscom Air Force Base
Hanscom Air Force Base is a United States Air Force base located approximately south-southwest of Bedford, Massachusetts. The facility is a joint use civil airport/military base with Hanscom Field which provides general aviation and charter service.The host unit at Hanscom is the non-flying...
, 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...
, they work on AWACS, Joint STARS, MP-RTIP, Mission Planning, and weather systems.
Now responsible for the development and sustainment of command and control systems, the 551st ELSW takes its designation from a wing that laid the foundation for modern-day airborne surveillance.
Lineage
- Established as 51st Transport Wing on 30 May 1942
- Activated on 1 June 1942
- Redesignated 51st Troop Carrier Wing on 4 July 1942
- Inactivated on 5 January 1948
- Disestablished on 15 June 1983
- Reestablished, and consolidated (31 July 1985), with 551st Airborne Early Warning and Control Wing, which was established on 11 October 1954
- Activated on 18 December 1954
- Inactivated on 31 December 1969
- Redesignated 551st Airborne Warning and Control Wing on 31 July 1985
- Consolidated (6 April 2006), with the Battle Management Systems Wing, which was established on 23 November 2004.
- Activated on 17 December 2004
- Redesignated 551st Electronic Systems Wing on 17 April 2006.
Assignments
- Air Transport (later, I Troop Carrier) CommandI Troop Carrier CommandThe I Troop Carrier Command is an inactive United States Air Force unit. Its last assignment was with the First Air Force, based at Stout Army Air Field, Indiana.Its primary mission was theater troop and logistics transport training...
, 1 June 1942 - Eighth Air ForceEighth Air ForceThe Eighth Air Force is a numbered air force of the United States Air Force Global Strike Command . It is headquartered at Barksdale Air Force Base, Louisiana....
, c. 18 August 1942 - Twelfth Air Force, 20 October 1942
- XII Air Force Service Command, 5 January 1943
- Attached to: XII Troop Carrier Command [Provisional], 21 March 1943-19 February 1944
- Attached to: IX Troop Carrier Command [Provisional], 16 July-c. 25 August 1944
- AAF Service Command, Mediterranean Theater of Operations, 15 August 1945
- United States Air Forces in EuropeUnited States Air Forces in EuropeThe United States Air Forces in Europe is the United States Air Force component of U.S. European Command, a Department of Defense unified command, and is one of two Air Force Major Commands outside of the continental United States, the other being the Pacific Air Forces...
, 31 August 1945-5 January 1948 - 8th Air Division (Airborne Early Warning and Control), 18 December 1954
- Eastern Air Defense ForceEastern Air Defense ForceThe Eastern Air Defense Force is an inactive United States Air Force organization. Its last assignment was with Air Defense Command being stationed at Stewart Air Force Base, New York. It was inactivated on July 1, 1960.-History:...
, 1 July 1957 - 26th Air Division (SAGE), 1 July 1959
- First Air ForceFirst Air ForceThe First Air Force is a numbered air force of the United States Air Force Air Combat Command . It is headquartered at Tyndall Air Force Base, Florida....
, 1 April 1966 - 21st Air Division; 4–31 December 1969
- Electronic Systems CenterElectronic Systems CenterElectronic Systems Center is a product center of Air Force Materiel Command headquartered at Hanscom Air Force Base, Massachusetts. Its mission is to develop and acquire command and control, communications, computer, and intelligence systems. ESC consists of professional teams specializing in...
, 17 December 2004–present
Components
Wings- 302d Transport Wing: attached 4 September-c. 9 December 1945
Groups
- 27th Transport Group: 4 September-15 October 1945
- 31st Transport (later, 516th Troop Carrier) Group: 4 September 1945-30 September 1946
- 60th Transport (later, 60th Troop Carrier) Group60th Air Mobility WingThe 60th Air Mobility Wing is the host unit at Travis Air Force Base in California. It is the largest air mobility organization in the United States Air Force and is responsible for strategic airlift and aerial refueling missions around the world...
: 1 June-14 September 1942; 20 October 1942-25 May 1945 (detached 22 March-20 April 1943 and 1 April-5 October 1944); 30 September 1946-20 December 1947. - 61st Transport (later, 61st Troop Carrier) Group61st Air Base WingThe 61st Air Base Wing is a wing of the United States Air Force stationed at Los Angeles Air Force Base, El Segundo, California....
: 1 June-6 August 1942; 30 September 1946-20 December 1947 - 62d Transport (later, 62d Troop Carrier) Group62d Airlift WingThe 62d Airlift Wing is a wing of the United States Air Force stationed at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Washington. It is assigned to the Eighteenth Air Force of Air Mobility Command and is active duty host wing on McChord. The wing is composed of more than 7,200 active duty military and civilian...
: 1 June-14 September 1942; 20 October 1942-4 June 1945 - 64th Transport (later, 64th Troop Carrier) Group64th Air Expeditionary GroupThe 64th Air Expeditionary Group is a provisional United States Air Force unit assigned to the Air Combat Command. As a provisional unit, it may be activated or inactivated at any time....
: 1 June-14 September 1942; 20 October 1942-25 May 1945 (detached 20 April-c. 20 May 1943; June-11 July 1943 and April-June 1944) - 313th Transport (later, 313th Troop Carrier) Group313th Tactical Airlift WingThe 313th Tactical Airlift Wing is an inactive United States Air Force organization. Its last assignment was with Tactical Air Command, assigned to the 834th Air Division, being stationed at Forbes Air Force Base, Kansas...
: 30 September 1946-25 June 1947 - 314th Transport (later, 314th Troop Carrier) Group314th Airlift WingThe 314th Airlift Wing is a wing of the United States Air Force based out of Little Rock Air Force Base in Little Rock, Arkansas.-World War 2 and aftermath:...
: 4 September 1945-15 February 1946 - 441st Troop Carrier Group441st Troop Carrier GroupThe 441st Troop Carrier Group is an inactive United States Air Force Reserve organization. Its last assignment was to the 441st Troop Carrier Wing, stationed at Chicago-Orchard Airport, Illinois, on 14 March 1951....
: 4 September 1945-30 September 1946 - 442d Troop Carrier Group: 4 September 1945-30 September 1946
Squadrons
- 960th Airborne Early Warning and Control Squadron: 8 March 1955-31 July 1969
- 961st Airborne Early Warning and Control Squadron: 18 December 1954-31 December 1969
- 962d Airborne Early Warning and Control Squadron: 8 July 1955-31 December 1969
- 966th Airborne Early Warning and Control Squadron: 1 February 1962-1 May 1963; 1 July-15 November 1969
- 4753d Air Defense (Training) Squadron: 22 April 1968-31 December 1969.
Stations
- Pope FieldPope Air Force BasePope Field is a United States Army facility located 12 miles northwest of the central business district of Fayetteville, in Cumberland County, North Carolina, United States.-Units:...
, North CarolinaNorth CarolinaNorth Carolina is a state located in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties. Its capital is Raleigh, and its largest city is Charlotte...
, 1 June-19 July 1942 - RAF Greenham CommonRAF Greenham CommonRAF Station Greenham Common is a former military airfield in Berkshire, England. The airfield is located approximately south-southwest of Thatcham; about west of London....
, EnglandEnglandEngland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
, c. 4 September 1942 - Tafaraoui Airfield, AlgeriaAlgeriaAlgeria , officially the People's Democratic Republic of Algeria , also formally referred to as the Democratic and Popular Republic of Algeria, is a country in the Maghreb region of Northwest Africa with Algiers as its capital.In terms of land area, it is the largest country in Africa and the Arab...
, 14 November 1942 - Maison Blanche Airport, AlgiersAlgiers' is the capital and largest city of Algeria. According to the 1998 census, the population of the city proper was 1,519,570 and that of the urban agglomeration was 2,135,630. In 2009, the population was about 3,500,000...
, AlgeriaAlgeriaAlgeria , officially the People's Democratic Republic of Algeria , also formally referred to as the Democratic and Popular Republic of Algeria, is a country in the Maghreb region of Northwest Africa with Algiers as its capital.In terms of land area, it is the largest country in Africa and the Arab...
, 23 November 1942 - La Senia Airfield, OranOranOran is a major city on the northwestern Mediterranean coast of Algeria, and the second largest city of the country.It is the capital of the Oran Province . The city has a population of 759,645 , while the metropolitan area has a population of approximately 1,500,000, making it the second largest...
, AlgeriaAlgeriaAlgeria , officially the People's Democratic Republic of Algeria , also formally referred to as the Democratic and Popular Republic of Algeria, is a country in the Maghreb region of Northwest Africa with Algiers as its capital.In terms of land area, it is the largest country in Africa and the Arab...
28 March 1943 - Mascara AirfieldMascara AirfieldMascara Airfield is an abandoned military airfield and later civilian airport in Algeria, located in the southwestern suburbs of Mascara.During World War II it was used by the United States Army Air Force Twelfth Air Force during the North African Campaign against the German Afrika...
, AlgeriaAlgeriaAlgeria , officially the People's Democratic Republic of Algeria , also formally referred to as the Democratic and Popular Republic of Algeria, is a country in the Maghreb region of Northwest Africa with Algiers as its capital.In terms of land area, it is the largest country in Africa and the Arab...
, 13 May 1943 - Goubrine AirfieldGoubrine AirfieldGoubrine Airfield is an abandoned military airfield in Tunisia, about 10 km south of Manzil Kāmil; 145 km south-southeast of Tunis. Its last known use was by the United States Army Air Force Twelfth Air Force in 1943 during the North African Campaign against the German Afrika Korps...
, TunisiaTunisiaTunisia , officially the Tunisian RepublicThe long name of Tunisia in other languages used in the country is: , is the northernmost country in Africa. It is a Maghreb country and is bordered by Algeria to the west, Libya to the southeast, and the Mediterranean Sea to the north and east. Its area...
, 24 June 1943
- Ponte Olivo AirfieldPonte Olivo AirfieldPonte Olivo Airfield is an abandoned pre-World War II airport and later wartime military airfield in Sicily, 3 km north of Gela. Its last known use was by the United States Army Air Force Twelfth Air Force in 1944 during the Italian Campaign.-History:...
, SicilySicilySicily is a region of Italy, and is the largest island in the Mediterranean Sea. Along with the surrounding minor islands, it constitutes an autonomous region of Italy, the Regione Autonoma Siciliana Sicily has a rich and unique culture, especially with regard to the arts, music, literature,...
, 29 August 1943 - Catania, SicilySicilySicily is a region of Italy, and is the largest island in the Mediterranean Sea. Along with the surrounding minor islands, it constitutes an autonomous region of Italy, the Regione Autonoma Siciliana Sicily has a rich and unique culture, especially with regard to the arts, music, literature,...
, 29 September 1943 - Lido di Roma, ItalyItalyItaly , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
, 29 June 1944 - Siena, ItalyItalyItaly , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
, 8 January 1945 - Wiesbaden, GermanyGermanyGermany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
, 30 August 1945-5 January 1948 - Otis AFB, MassachusettsMassachusettsThe 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...
, 18 December 1954-31 December 1969 - Hanscom AFB MassachusettsMassachusettsThe 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...
, 17 December 2004–present
Aircraft assigned
- C-47 SkytrainC-47 SkytrainThe Douglas C-47 Skytrain or Dakota is a military transport aircraft that was developed from the Douglas DC-3 airliner. It was used extensively by the Allies during World War II and remained in front line operations through the 1950s with a few remaining in operation to this day.-Design and...
, 1942–1947 - C-53 Skytrooper, 1942–1946
- CG-4 Waco Gliders, 1943–1944
- C-46 CommandoC-46 CommandoThe Curtiss-Wright C-46 Commando was a transport aircraft originally derived from a commercial high-altitude airliner design. It was instead used as a military transport during World War II by the United States Army Air Forces as well as the U.S. Navy/Marine Corps under the designation R5C...
, 1945–1946 - C-109 Liberator Express, 1945–1946
- C-54 SkymasterC-54 SkymasterThe Douglas C-54 Skymaster was a four-engined transport aircraft used by the United States Army Air Forces and British forces in World War II and the Korean War. Besides transport of cargo, it also carried presidents, British heads of government, and military staff...
, 1946–1947 - C-121 Constellation, 1955–1969
- RC-121, 1955–1962
- EC-121, 1963–1969
Operations
Activated at Pope Field, NC, on 1 June 1942. Moved to England, August-September 1942, and trained for the invasion of North Africa. Operated with Twelfth Air Force in North Africa and the Mediterranean area from November 1942 to May 1945. Scheduled transportation of supplies, ammunition and personnel to the front. Directed paratroop and supply drops. Set up system of air evacuation of the wounded. In May 1943 added a training program for combat crews in night formations, glider towing, night navigation and over-water flights in preparation for the invasion of Sicily in July 1943. Later directed glider operations for the invasion of Italy in Sep1943 and Southern France in August 1944. Lost all components and became non-operational in early June 1945.Moved to Germany in late August 1945 and provided the basis for creation of the European Air Transport Service (Provisional) which operated under USAFE to establish air routes and carry passengers and cargo throughout western Europe and the Mediterranean, 4 September 1945-20 December 1947. Wing inactivated 5 January 1948
Cold War period
The 551st Airborne Early Warning and Control Wing, established and activated in 1954, was charged with tracking air and sea activity along the United StatesUnited States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
eastern seaboard.
The wing received its first airborne asset March 2, 1955, when an RC-121D landed at Otis Air Force Base. The plane was the first of many assigned to the 551st to patrol the skies over much of the Atlantic Ocean. The RC-121D was eventually upgraded to the EC-121H Warning Star in 1963.
The newer model supplanted the slower voice and manual Teletype data relay system previously employed by the RC-121D and instead provided instantaneous automated relay of air defense surveillance and early-warning information by data-link directly to ground-based communication facilities.
The 551 AEWC Wing provided critical surveillance data to Air Defense Command and Control computers and the North American Air Defense Combat Operations Center in Colorado Springs, Colo., for air defense evaluation and action. The data also enabled more versatile airborne control of interceptor missile and aircraft weapons systems.
During the Cold War period, the 551st provided surveillance support for major world events, including tracking over Cuba during the Cuban Missile Crisis and tracking Russian aircraft and naval vessels off Iceland and the East Coast of the United States.
The wing also provided surveillance over Johnston and Christmas islands during nuclear testing by the Atomic Energy Commission and performed a variety of surveillance services in Southeast Asia during the Vietnam War
Vietnam War
The Vietnam War was a Cold War-era military conflict that occurred in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia from 1 November 1955 to the fall of Saigon on 30 April 1975. This war followed the First Indochina War and was fought between North Vietnam, supported by its communist allies, and the government of...
.
In its first 10 years, the wing flew continuous missions over the Atlantic Ocean
Atlantic Ocean
The Atlantic Ocean is the second-largest of the world's oceanic divisions. With a total area of about , it covers approximately 20% of the Earth's surface and about 26% of its water surface area...
24 hours a day, seven days a week, compiling more than 350,000 flying hours. Among other honors awarded to the wing was the Air Force Outstanding Unit Award for its significant performance.
Between 1965 and 1967, three aircraft of the wing crashed into the Atlantic killing fifty members of the wing. The tail numbers of the aircraft were 55-0136
1965 EC-121H Warning Star crash
The 1965 EC-121H Warning Star crash refers to an incident when a EC-121H Warning Star from the 551st Airborne Early Warning and Control Wing at Otis Air Force Base crashed off of the island of Nantucket, killing sixteen crewmembers aboard. There were three survivors.-External links:*...
, 55-5262
1966 EC-121H Warning Star crash
The 1966 EC-121H Warning Star crash refers to an incident when a EC-121H Warning Star from the 551st Airborne Early Warning and Control Wing at Otis Air Force Base crashed off of the island of Nantucket, killing all nineteen crewmembers aboard.-External links:*...
, and 53-0549
1965 EC-121H Warning Star crash
The 1965 EC-121H Warning Star crash refers to an incident when a EC-121H Warning Star from the 551st Airborne Early Warning and Control Wing at Otis Air Force Base crashed off of the island of Nantucket, killing sixteen crewmembers aboard. There were three survivors.-External links:*...
.
Deactivation
The wing was deactivated Dec. 31, 1969, but the 551st has an active alumni corps that has maintained the wing’s camaraderie, spirit and dedication to the nation’s defense over the past 36 years.“The old 551st was the forerunner for the surveillance assets in service today, and we’re extremely proud of the work we accomplished in the unit,” said Floyd I. Shank, who served as an airborne radar operator in the 551st and now organizes alumni events for the wing. “We’re all excited about the new organization and we’re confident the 551st ELSW will continue the proud 551st tradition of excellence.”
Re-designation
The wing was re-designated April 18, 2006, when the Battle Management Systems Wing changed to the 551st Electronic Systems Wing. The 551st ELSW is now responsible for rapid development and fielding of airborne battle management command, control and communications systems in support of combatant commanders, special operations forces and worldwide allies.The 551st Electronic Systems Group, formerly the Airborne Warning and Control Systems Group, is responsible for all aspects of modernization and sustainment of the United States and international E-3 Sentry aircraft and airborne early warning and control fleets.
Other similar units
The 751st Electronic Systems Group, formerly the Joint Surveillance Target Attack Radar System Systems Group, is responsible for all aspects of the development, acquisition and sustainment of the Joint STARS system.The 851st Electronic Systems Group, formerly the E-10/MP-RTIP Systems Group, is responsible for developing, acquiring, testing, sustaining and improving the $1.5 billion Multi-Platform Radar Technology Insertion Program
Multi-Platform Radar Technology Insertion Program
The Multi-Platform Radar Technology Insertion Program , a U.S. Air Force project led by contractor Northrop Grumman to develop the next generation of airborne air-to-air and air-to-ground radar systems...
. The group manages and coordinates support to all assigned programs from internal, functional and matrix organizations to provide the warfighter with an airborne combat system with onboard battle management that detects, tracks and targets cruise missiles and time sensitive targets for destruction by joint and coalition air, land and naval forces.
The 951st Electronic Systems Group, formerly the Mission Planning Systems Group, develops and supports a suite of mission planning systems that meet the needs of more than 40 Air Force aircraft and weapons systems. In addition, the Navy, Marines, Army, several government agencies, and 23 allied nations use these mission planning systems for daily operations.
The 551 ELSW weather systems division acquires and fields terrestrial weather and strategic systems capability, then delivers decision-quality environmental information to Air Force and Army commanders to support global military operations in peace and war.