380th Space Control Squadron
Encyclopedia
The United States Air Force
's 380th Space Control Squadron (380 SPCS) is a space control unit located at Peterson AFB, Colorado
.
medium bomber squadron, trained by Third Air Force
in the southeastern United States. Deployed initially to England
in September 1942 and flew some missions under VIII Bomber Command
over German-occupied France attacking enemy troop formations, bridges and airfields. Was part of the Operation Torch
invasion of North Africa
in November 1942, being deployed to the new Mediterranean Theater of Operations
(MTO), being assigned to Twelfth Air Force in French Morocco
in November. In North Africa, the squadron engaged primarily in support and interdictory operations, bombing marshalling yards, rail lines, highways, bridges, viaducts, troop concentrations, gun emplacements, shipping, harbors, and other objectives in North Africa.
The squadron also engaged in psychological warfare missions, dropping propaganda leaflets behind enemy lines. Took part in the Allied operations against Axis forces in North Africa during March–May 1943, the reduction of Pantelleria
and Lampedusain islands during June, the invasion of Sicily
in July, the landing at Salerno
in September, the Allied advance toward Rome
during January–June 1944, the invasion of Southern France
in August 1944, and the Allied operations in northern Italy from September 1944 to April 1945. Inactivated in Italy after the German Capitulation in September 1945.
Reactivated as part of the Air Force Reserve in 1947, it is unclear whether or not the squadron was manned or equipped. Inactivated in 1949.
Reactivated in 1952 as a Strategic Air Command
squadron, receiving B-29 Superfortress
bombardment training from 90th Bombardment Wing, April–August 1952. Acted as a training squadron until 1954 when it replaced the propeller-driven B-29s with new B-47E Stratojet swept-wing medium bombers, capable of flying at high subsonic speeds and primarily designed for penetrating the airspace of the Soviet Union
. In the early 1960s, the B-47 was considered to be reaching obsolescence, and was being phased out of SAC's strategic arsenal. B-47s began being sent to AMARC at Davis-Monthan in early 1965; was inactivated in March.
Reactivated as a Space Control squadron in 2008.
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 380th Space Control Squadron (380 SPCS) is a space control unit located at Peterson AFB, Colorado
Colorado
Colorado is a U.S. state that encompasses much of the Rocky Mountains as well as the northeastern portion of the Colorado Plateau and the western edge of the Great Plains...
.
Mission
The 380 SPCS is the Reserve Associate Unit to the 16th Space Control Squadron. They jointly conduct space electronic warfare support operations to enable and enhance U.S. offensive and defensive space control capabilities. 380SPCS and 16SPCS utilize the Rapid Attack Identification Detection Reporting System Block 10 systems to rapidly achieve flexible and versatile space superiority in support of theater COCOMs and USSTRATCOM's space superiority mission.Personnel T/A
- Total No. of Authorized Personnel: 119
- Total No. of Assigned Personnel (all categories): 31
- Active Guard Reserve: 16 (6 Officer, 10 Enlisted)
- Traditional Reserve: 15 (7 Officers, 8 Enlisted)
Equipment Operated
The 380 SPCS will operate the RB-10 Central Operating Location, six RAIDRS Fixed Ground Segments and three RAIDRS Deployable Ground Segments. The units monitor, intercept and geolocate satellite communications jammers, sources of electromagnetic interference and other signals of interest. When fully operational, RB-10 will detect and geolocate signals in the C-, X-, Ku- and UHF frequency bands.- RAIDRSRapid Attack Identification Detection Reporting SystemThe Rapid Attack Identification Detection Reporting System, also known as RAIDRS is a ground-based space control system that provides near real-time event detection.-Mission:...
(2008–Present) - SIRS
History
Activated in mid-1942 as a B-25 MitchellB-25 Mitchell
The North American B-25 Mitchell was an American twin-engined medium bomber manufactured by North American Aviation. It was used by many Allied air forces, in every theater of World War II, as well as many other air forces after the war ended, and saw service across four decades.The B-25 was named...
medium bomber squadron, trained by Third Air Force
Third Air Force
The Third Air Force is a numbered air force of the United States Air Forces in Europe . It is headquartered at Ramstein Air Base, Germany....
in the southeastern United States. Deployed initially to England
England
England 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...
in September 1942 and flew some missions under VIII Bomber Command
VIII Bomber Command
The VIII Bomber Command is an inactive United States Army Air Forces unit that is better known as the later appellation Eighth Air Force, as was popularized in post-World War II filmsand is frequently called the First Eighth Air Force by its veterans and successors in the services.The command was...
over German-occupied France attacking enemy troop formations, bridges and airfields. Was part of the Operation Torch
Operation Torch
Operation Torch was the British-American invasion of French North Africa in World War II during the North African Campaign, started on 8 November 1942....
invasion of 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...
in November 1942, being deployed to the new Mediterranean Theater of Operations
Mediterranean Theater of Operations
The Mediterranean Theater of Operations, United States Army was originally called North African Theater of Operations and is an American term for the conflict that took place between the Allies and Axis Powers in North Africa and Italy during World War II...
(MTO), being assigned to Twelfth Air Force in French Morocco
French Morocco
French Protectorate of Morocco was a French protectorate in Morocco, established by the Treaty of Fez. French Morocco did not include the north of the country, which was a Spanish protectorate...
in November. In North Africa, the squadron engaged primarily in support and interdictory operations, bombing marshalling yards, rail lines, highways, bridges, viaducts, troop concentrations, gun emplacements, shipping, harbors, and other objectives in North Africa.
The squadron also engaged in psychological warfare missions, dropping propaganda leaflets behind enemy lines. Took part in the Allied operations against Axis forces in North Africa during March–May 1943, the reduction of Pantelleria
Pantelleria
Pantelleria , the ancient Cossyra, is an Italian island in the Strait of Sicily in the Mediterranean Sea, southwest of Sicily and just east of the Tunisian coast. Administratively Pantelleria is a comune belonging to the Sicilian province of Trapani...
and Lampedusain islands during June, the invasion of Sicily
Sicily
Sicily 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,...
in July, the landing at Salerno
Salerno
Salerno is a city and comune in Campania and is the capital of the province of the same name. It is located on the Gulf of Salerno on the Tyrrhenian Sea....
in September, the Allied advance toward Rome
Rome
Rome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...
during January–June 1944, the invasion of Southern France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
in August 1944, and the Allied operations in northern Italy from September 1944 to April 1945. Inactivated in Italy after the German Capitulation in September 1945.
Reactivated as part of the Air Force Reserve in 1947, it is unclear whether or not the squadron was manned or equipped. Inactivated in 1949.
Reactivated in 1952 as a 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...
squadron, receiving B-29 Superfortress
B-29 Superfortress
The B-29 Superfortress is a four-engine propeller-driven heavy bomber designed by Boeing that was flown primarily by the United States Air Forces in late-World War II and through the Korean War. The B-29 was one of the largest aircraft to see service during World War II...
bombardment training from 90th Bombardment Wing, April–August 1952. Acted as a training squadron until 1954 when it replaced the propeller-driven B-29s with new B-47E Stratojet swept-wing medium bombers, capable of flying at high subsonic speeds and primarily designed for penetrating the airspace of the Soviet Union
Soviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
. In the early 1960s, the B-47 was considered to be reaching obsolescence, and was being phased out of SAC's strategic arsenal. B-47s began being sent to AMARC at Davis-Monthan in early 1965; was inactivated in March.
Reactivated as a Space Control squadron in 2008.
Lineage
- Constituted 380th Bombardment Squadron (Medium) on 28 Jan 1942
- Activated on 15 Mar 1942
- Inactivated on 12 Sep 1945
- Redesignated 380th Bombardment Squadron (Light) on 11 Mar 1947
- Activated in the reserve on 9 Aug 1947
- Inactivated on 27 Jun 1949
- Redesignated 380th Bombardment Squadron (Medium) on 15 Mar 1952
- Activated on 28 Mar 1952
- Inactivated on 25 March 1965
- Redesignated 380th Space Control Squadron on 7 Mar 2008
- Organized and activated on 7 Mar 2008, assuming personnel and equipment of Detachment 1, 310th Space Group
Assignments
- 310th Bombardment Group, 15 Mar 1942-12 Sep 1945; 9 Aug 1947-27 Jun 1949
- 310th Bombardment (later Strategic Aerospace) Wing310th Space WingThe 310th Space Wing is a United States Air Force unit assigned to the Air Force Reserve Command Tenth Air Force. It is a tenant unit at Schriever Air Force Base, Colo....
, 28 Mar 1952-25 Mar 1965 - 310th Space Group, 7 Mar 2008-present
Stations
- Davis-Monthan Field, ArizonaArizonaArizona ; is a state located in the southwestern region of the United States. It is also part of the western United States and the mountain west. The capital and largest city is Phoenix...
, March 15, 1942 - Jackson AABHawkins Field (airport)Hawkins Field is a city-owned public-use airport located three miles northwest of the central business district of Jackson, a city in Hinds County, Mississippi, United States.-Facilities and aircraft:...
, MississippiMississippiMississippi is a U.S. state located in the Southern United States. Jackson is the state capital and largest city. The name of the state derives from the Mississippi River, which flows along its western boundary, whose name comes from the Ojibwe word misi-ziibi...
, March 15, 1942 - Key FieldMeridian Regional AirportMeridian Regional Airport is a public airport located on Key Field, a joint civil-military airfield located southwest of the city of Meridian in Lauderdale County, Mississippi, United States. It is owned by Meridian Airport Authority....
, MississippiMississippiMississippi is a U.S. state located in the Southern United States. Jackson is the state capital and largest city. The name of the state derives from the Mississippi River, which flows along its western boundary, whose name comes from the Ojibwe word misi-ziibi...
, c. April 25, 1942 - Columbia AABColumbia Metropolitan AirportColumbia Metropolitan Airport is the main airport for Columbia, South Carolina. The airport lies five miles southwest of Columbia's central business district, in Lexington County.-Airlines and destinations:...
, South CarolinaSouth CarolinaSouth Carolina is a state in the Deep South of the United States that borders Georgia to the south, North Carolina to the north, and the Atlantic Ocean to the east. Originally part of the Province of Carolina, the Province of South Carolina was one of the 13 colonies that declared independence...
, May 17, 1942 - Walterboro Army Airfield, South CarolinaSouth CarolinaSouth Carolina is a state in the Deep South of the United States that borders Georgia to the south, North Carolina to the north, and the Atlantic Ocean to the east. Originally part of the Province of Carolina, the Province of South Carolina was one of the 13 colonies that declared independence...
, August 14, 1942 - Greenville AABDonaldson Air Force BaseDonaldson Air Force Base is a closed facility of the United States Air Force. Currently known as Donaldson Center, the former Air Force Base is located south of Greenville, South Carolina....
, South CarolinaSouth CarolinaSouth Carolina is a state in the Deep South of the United States that borders Georgia to the south, North Carolina to the north, and the Atlantic Ocean to the east. Originally part of the Province of Carolina, the Province of South Carolina was one of the 13 colonies that declared independence...
, September 18 – October 17, 1942 (ground echelon)
- RAF HardwickRAF HardwickRAF Hardwick is a former World War II airfield in England. The field is located W of Bungay in Norfolk and a similar distance from the A140 main road from Norwich to Ipswich.-Origins:...
, 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...
, September–November 1942 (air echelon)- Mediouna AirfieldMédiouna AirfieldMédiouna Airfield is an abandoned military airfield in Morocco, located in the Casablanca area.-History:Established as a French military airfield in French Morocco during the 1920s, after the Fall of France in June, 1940, the reconstituted Vichy Air Force established a military airfield at the...
, French MoroccoFrench MoroccoFrench Protectorate of Morocco was a French protectorate in Morocco, established by the Treaty of Fez. French Morocco did not include the north of the country, which was a Spanish protectorate...
, November 18, 1942 - Telergma 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...
, December 21, 1942 - Berteaux AirfieldBerteaux AirfieldBerteaux Airfield is an abandoned World War II United States Army Air Forces military airfield in Algeria, which was located approximately 9 km east of Telerghma; 35 km southwest of Constantine....
, 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...
, January 1, 1943
- Mediouna Airfield
- Dar el Koudia AirfieldDar el Koudia AirfieldDar el Koudia Airfield is an abandoned World War II military airfield in Tunisia, located in the vicinity of Bizerte. It was used by the United States Army Air Force Twelfth Air Force during the North African Campaign...
, 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...
, c. June 6, 1943 - Menzel Temime AirfieldMenzel Temime AirfieldMenzel Temime Airfield is an abandoned military airfield in Tunisia, which was located near the city of Menzel Temine, 25 km north-northeast of Korba and 31 km east of Tāklisah...
, 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...
, c. August 5, 1943 - Philippeville 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...
, November 10, 1943 - Ghisonaccia AirfieldGhisonaccia Alzitone AirportGhisonaccia Alzitone Airport is an airport in France, located north of Ghisonaccia in the Haute-Corse department, approximately southeast of Corte on Corsica.The airport is used for general aviation, with no commercial airline service.-World War II:...
, CorsicaCorsicaCorsica is an island in the Mediterranean Sea. It is located west of Italy, southeast of the French mainland, and north of the island of Sardinia....
, c. December 10, 1943 - Fano Airfield, 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...
, April 7, 1945 - Pomigliano AirfieldPomigliano AirfieldPomigliano Airfield was a military airfield and base in Pomigliano d'Arco, southern Italy. It was attacked on several occasions by the United States Army Air Force...
, 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...
, c. August 15 – September 12, 1945 - Bedford AAFHanscom Air Force BaseHanscom 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...
, 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...
, December 27, 1946 – June 27, 1949 - Forbes AFB, KansasKansasKansas is a US state located in the Midwestern United States. It is named after the Kansas River which flows through it, which in turn was named after the Kansa Native American tribe, which inhabited the area. The tribe's name is often said to mean "people of the wind" or "people of the south...
, March 28, 1952 - Smoky Hill (later, Schilling) AFBSalina Municipal AirportSalina Municipal Airport is a public-use airport located three nautical miles southwest of the central business district of Salina, a city in Saline County, Kansas, United States. It is owned by the Salina Airport Authority....
, KansasKansasKansas is a US state located in the Midwestern United States. It is named after the Kansas River which flows through it, which in turn was named after the Kansa Native American tribe, which inhabited the area. The tribe's name is often said to mean "people of the wind" or "people of the south...
, September 4, 1952 – March 25, 1965 - Peterson AFB, ColoradoColoradoColorado is a U.S. state that encompasses much of the Rocky Mountains as well as the northeastern portion of the Colorado Plateau and the western edge of the Great Plains...
, 7 Mar 2008-Present
Aircraft
- B-25 MitchellB-25 MitchellThe North American B-25 Mitchell was an American twin-engined medium bomber manufactured by North American Aviation. It was used by many Allied air forces, in every theater of World War II, as well as many other air forces after the war ended, and saw service across four decades.The B-25 was named...
, 1942-1945 - B-29 SuperfortressB-29 SuperfortressThe B-29 Superfortress is a four-engine propeller-driven heavy bomber designed by Boeing that was flown primarily by the United States Air Forces in late-World War II and through the Korean War. The B-29 was one of the largest aircraft to see service during World War II...
, 1952-1954 - B-47 StratojetB-47 StratojetThe Boeing Model 450 B-47 Stratojet was a long-range, six-engined, jet-powered medium bomber built to fly at high subsonic speeds and at high altitudes. It was primarily designed to drop nuclear bombs on the Soviet Union...
, 1954-1965
Commanders
| Name | Rank | Dates of Command |
|---|---|---|
| Aldrich (First Name not recorded) - Acting | Lieutenant (1st Lt/2d Lt not recorded) | 2 Apr 1942 |
| Homer G. Crowden - Acting | Lieutenant (1st Lt/2d Lt not recorded) | 11 May 1942 |
| James A. Plant - Acting | Captain | 19 May 1942 |
| Earl E. Batten - Acting | Lieutenant (1st Lt/2d Lt not recorded) | 20 May 1942 |
| Rodney R. "Hoss" Wilder | Captain | 21 Jul 1942 |
| Fred C. Ross, Jr. (Air Echelon) | Lieutenant (1st Lt/2d Lt not recorded) | 28 Aug 1942 |
| Lambert J. Eichner, Jr. (Ground Echelon) | Lieutenant (1st Lt/2d Lt not recorded) | c. Aug 1942 |
| William G. Gridley | Captain | 10 Sep 1942 |
| Elmer N. Carlson | Lieutenant (1st Lt/2d Lt not recorded) | c. Aug 1943 |
| Rodney R. "Hoss" Wilder | Lt. Colonel | c. Sep 1943 |
| James J. Dent, Jr. | Major | 7 Mar 1944 |
| Clyde L. Grow | Major | 29 Apr 1944 |
| William T. Alexander | Lt Colonel | 25 May 1944 - 12 Sep 1945 |
| None | Inactive / Unmanned | 13 Sep 1945 - 8 Aug 1947 |
| Unknown | Unknown | 9 Aug 1947 - 27 Jun 1949 |
| None | Inactive / Unmanned | 28 Jun 1949 - 27 Mar 1952 |
| George W. Call | Lt Colonel | 28 Mar 1952 |
| Samuel R. McDaniel | Lt Colonel | c. Apr 1955 |
| Thomas W. Hopfenspirger | Lt Colonel | c. Dec 1955 |
| Edward D. Leahy | Lt Colonel | 9 Feb 1957 |
| Woodrow A. Abbott | Major | c. Aug 1958 |
| Charles E. Barnett | Major | c. May 1959 |
| Charles D. Gunn | Major | c. Apr 1961 |
| David W. Holder | Lt Colonel | c. Nov 1961 |
| Frank A. Knapp | Lt Colonel | c. Nov 1962 |
| John P. Richards | Lt Colonel | c. Jun 1963 |
| Jack Anderson | Lt Colonel | c. Jan 1964 |
| Ralph A. Stapper | Lt Colonel | c. Sep 1964 - 25 Mar 1965 |
| None | Inactive / Unmanned | 26 Mar 1965 - 6 Mar 2008 |
| Michael A. "Drop" Assid | Lt Colonel | 7 Mar 2008 – 17 May 2011 |
| Robert W. "Dirt" Claude | Lt Colonel | 17 May 2011 – Present |