513th Air Control Group

513th Air Control Group
513th Air Control Group - Boeing E-3C Sentry 82-0007
Active	1944-1946; 1948-1949; 1955-1957; 1957-1958; 1966-1992; 1996-present
Country	United States
Branch	United States Air Force
Type	Group
Role	Air Control
Part of	Air Force Reserve Command
Garrison/HQ	Tinker Air Force Base, Oklahoma
Motto	Subsidia Ferimus Latin We Fly Men and Materiel (1955-1988)
Commanders
Current commander	Col. David Robertson
Insignia
513th Air Control Group emblem (Approved 24 October 1988)[1]
513th Troop Carrier Wing emblem(Approved 3 April 1957 for group, 8 April 1958 for wing)[2]
Unofficial 3d Combat Cargo Group emblem
Tail Code	OK
Aircraft flown
Electronic warfare	E-3 Sentry

The 513th Air Control Group is an Air Reserve Component unit of the United States Air Force. It is assigned to the Tenth Air Force, Air Force Reserve Command, and is stationed at Tinker Air Force Base, Oklahoma.

The 513th is an associate unit of the 552d Air Control Wing, Air Combat Command and if mobilized, the group is gained by ACC.

Its World War II predecessor, the 3d Combat Cargo Group was a United States Army Air Forces combat organization. It served primarily in the China Burma India Theater and Pacific Ocean Theater of World War II. In 1948, the group was redesignated as the 513th Troop Carrier Group.

Overview

In March 1996 the United States Air Force re-activated the 513th Air Control Group as an Airborne Warning and Control System (AWACS) Reserve associate unit executing the command and control mission in concert with active-duty Airmen. The 513th partners with its active-duty counterpart, the 552d Air Control Wing.

The 513th mission is to provide theater and Air Force commanders with trained aircrews and maintenance personnel and systems for airborne surveillance, warning and control of U.S. and allied military aviation assets.

The 513th's subordinate units include the 970th Airborne Air Control Squadron, the 513th Operations Support Squadron, the 513th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron and the 513th Maintenance Squadron.

History

An E-3 Sentry airborne warning and control system aircraft breaks away from a Mississippi Air National Guard KC-135 Stratotanker during a presidential support mission to Argentina

Constituted and activated in India in 1944. Supported ground forces during the battle for northern Burma and the subsequent Allied drive southward. Flew Allied troops and materiel to the front, transporting gasoline, oil, vehicles, engineering and signal equipment, and other items that the group either landed or dropped in Burma. Also evacuated wounded personnel to India. Moved to Burma in June 1945. After the liberation of Burma, the group hauled critical supplies such as gasoline to China. From late 1945, it continued airlift missions as needed in China until April 1946 when inactivated.

Redesignated 513th Troop Carrier Group (Special). Activated in Germany on 19 November 1948. Assigned to United States Air Forces in Europe. Using C-54's, transported food, coal, and other supplies during the Berlin airlift, Operation Vittles. Inactivated in Germany in October 1949.

Activated in the US on 8 November 1955. Assigned to Tactical Air Command and equipped with C-123 aircraft. From November 1955 to November 1958, participated in numerous tactical exercises and operations, including troop drops and airlift in support of construction of the Distant Early Warning (DEW) Line stations in the American Arctic.

An E-3 Sentry lands here on the Tinker runway on 23 March 2007, after completing one of the many missions done by the aircraft since its arrival at Tinker 30 years ago

From April 1966 to January 1976, provided intra-theater airlift in support of US Air Forces in Europe, European Command, and North Atlantic Treaty Organization operations and exercises, using C-130s and crews rotating to Europe from Tactical Air Command and Military Airlift Command wings based in the United States and C-124s and crews from Air Force Reserve groups. Maintained and operated EC-135s as an airborne command post and acted as host organization for American units at RAF Mildenhall to February 1992. In addition, the group collected samples from the atmosphere for the purpose of detecting and identifying nuclear explosions.

Beginning March 1996, trained to fulfill an air control mission through the use of airborne warning and control system (AWACS) aircraft. Took part in worldwide contingency operations and counter-drug missions. From March 1996 to April 1997, the 513th Air Control Group was assigned to the U.S. Air Force Reserve's 507th Air Refueling Wing. In 1997, the 513th was transferred to the active duty 552nd Air Control Wing. Despite this transfer, the 513th remained a part of the Air Force Reserve. It is currently the only reserve unit to fly the E-3 Sentry AWACS aircraft.

The Air Force's fiscal year 2015 budget request called for the inactivation of the 513th and the retirement of seven E-3 Sentrys.^[3] The House Armed Services Committee passed an amenedment in May 2014 to block the inactivation of the 513th and save three E-3s slated for retirement.^[4]

Lineage

513th Troop Carrier Group

• Established as the 3d Combat Cargo Group on 1 June 1944

Activated on 5 June 1944

Redesignated 513th Troop Carrier Group on 19 September 1945

Inactivated on 15 April 1946

• Redesignated 513th Troop Carrier Group, Special and activated on 19 November 1948

Inactivated on 16 October 1949

• Redesignated 513th Troop Carrier Group, Assault, Fixed Wing on 30 June 1955

Activated on 8 November 1955

Inactivated on 8 October 1957

• Consolidated with the 513th Tactical Airlift Wing as the 513th Tactical Airlift Wing on 31 January 1984^[1]

513th Air Control Group

• Established as the 513th Troop Carrier Wing, Assault, Fixed Wing on 26 September 1957

Activated on 8 October 1957

Redesignated 513th Troop Carrier Wing, Assault on 1 July 1958

Inactivated on 1 December 1958

• Redesignated 513th Troop Carrier Wing and activated on 6 April 1966 (not organized)

Organized on 15 April 1966

Redesignated 513th Tactical Airlift Wing on 1 July 1967

• Consolidated with the 513th Troop Carrier Group on 31 January 1984

Redesignated 513th Airborne Command and Control Wing on 18 June 1987

Inactivated on 1 February 1992

• Redesignated 513th Air Control Group on 7 March 1996

Activated in the Reserve on 15 March 1996^[1]

Assignments

Army Air Forces, India-Burma Sector, China-Burma-India Theater, 5 June 1944 Attached to Third Tactical Air Force, 5 June 1944-unkn, Tenth Air Force, c. 20 August-21 September 1944 Tenth Air Force, 22 September 1944 Attached to: Air Cargo Headquarters, Tenth Air Force, 1 November 1944 – 30 April 1945, North Burma Air Task Force, Tenth Air Force, 1 May – 11 June 1945 Army Air Forces, India-Burma Theater, 12 June 1945 Attached to: India-China Division, Air Transport Command Tenth Air Force, 16 June-1 August 1945 Remained attached to India-China Division, Air Transport Command Unknown (probably Army Air Forces, India-Burma Theater), 1 August - c. 1 November 1945 Remained attached to India-China Division, Air Transport Command Tenth Air Force, c. 1 November 1945 Army Air Forces, China Theater, c. 12 November 1945 – 15 April 1946 1st Airlift Task Force, 19 November 1948 Attached to 61st Troop Carrier Wing, 19 November 1948, Airlift Wing [Provisional], 26 November 1948, 7497 Airlift Wing, 20 January – 9 July 1949, 61st Troop Carrier Wing, 10 July 1949

United States Air Forces in Europe, 26 September - 16 October 1949 Attached to 61st Troop Carrier Wing Eighteenth Air Force, 8 November 1955 Attached to 314th Troop Carrier Wing Ninth Air Force, 1 September 1957 Attached to 314th Troop Carrier Wing 839th Air Division, 8 October 1957 – 1 December 1958 United States Air Forces in Europe, 6 April 1966 Attached to 322d Air Division after 15 April 1966 Third Air Force, 1 July 1966 Attached to 322d Air Division United States Air Forces in Europe, 1 July 1967 Attached to 322d Air Division Third Air Force, 1 November 1968 – 1 February 1992 Attached to 322d Air Division until 24 December 1968 507th Air Refueling Wing, 15 March 1996 Tenth Air Force, 1 April 1997 – present[1]

Components

• Naval Air Transport Squadron 6 (VR-6): attached 19 November 1948 – 31 July 1949.
• 9th Combat Cargo Squadron (later 330th Troop Carrier Squadron): 5 June 1944 – 15 April 1946 (detached 13 July-11 August 1944); 19 November 1948 – 16 October 1949; 8 November 1955 – 1 December 1958
• 10 Airborne Command Control Squadron (later 10 Airborne Command and Control Squadron): 1 January 1970 – 31 December 1991
• 10th Combat Cargo Squadron (later 331st Troop Carrier Squadron): 5 June 1944 – 6 January 1946 (detached 15 December 1945 – 6 January 1946); 19 November 1948 – 16 October 1949; 8 November 1955 – 1 December 1958
• 11th Combat Cargo Squadron (later 332d Troop Carrier Squadron): 5 June 1944 – 2 May 1945 (detached 16 June-12 August 1944; C. 1 November 1945 – 15 April 1946; 19 November 1948 – 16 October 1949; 8 November 1955 – 1 December 1958
• 12th Combat Cargo Squadron (later 333d Troop Carrier Squadron): 5 June 1944 – 6 January 1946 (detached 5 July - 11 August 1944 and 15 December 1945 – 6 January 1946); 19 November 1948 – 16 October 1949 (detached 20 December 1948 – 26 September 1949)
• 32d Tactical Airlift Squadron: attached 5 November 1973 – 15 January 1974 and 5 September - 14 November 1975
• 36th Troop Carrier Squadron (later 36th Tactical Airlift Squadron0: attached 21 March – 22 June 1967; 26 February – 19 June 1969; 13 July-14 September 1971; 5 March-16 May 1973; 3 January-15 March 1974
• 37th Tactical Airlift Squadron: attached 21 September - 21 December 1967; 2 December 1968 – 26 February 1969; 2 March-13 May 1970; 13 January - 14 March 1972; and (by 5) September-15 November 1973
• 38th Tactical Airlift Squadron: attached 5 November 1970 – 7 January 1971; 13 September - 16 November 1971; 11 March - 6 May 1972; 7 May – 15 July 1973
• 39th Tactical Airlift Squadron: attached 27 May – 8 July 1968; 7 July - 15 September 1974; 4 July - 14 September 1975
• 40th Tactical Airlift Squadron: attached 11 March - 27 May 1968; 5 March - 15 May 1975
• 41st Tactical Airlift Squadron: attached 12 November 1971 – 17 January 1972; 3 March - 15 May 1974; 5 November 1974 – 16 January 1975
• 47th Tactical Airlift Squadron: attached 12 May – 16 July 1971
• 48th Tactical Airlift Squadron: attached 10 June-c. July 1972
• 61st Troop Carrier Squadron (later 61st Tactical Airlift Squadron]]: attached 6 May-11 August 1967; 8 April - c. 29 June 1968; 27 May – 6 July 1970; 5 January - 16 March 1973
• 345th Troop Carrier Squadron: attached 8 October 1956 – 12 November 1958
• 346th Troop Carrier Squadron: attached 8 October 1956 – 30 June 1958; 13 February-11 March 1968
• 347th Troop Carrier Squadron (later 347th Tactical Airlift Squadron]]: attached 22 June - 23 September 1967; 15 June - 6 September 1969; 5 September - 15 November 1970
• 348th Tactical Airlift Squadron: attached 6 September - 16 November 1969; 17 February - 4 March 1970; 7 May – 13 July 1970; 5 January - 15 March 1971; 6 May – 1 June 1972
• 530th Fighter Squadron: attached 15 December 1945 – 16 February 1946
• 772d Tactical Airlift Squadron: attached 5 July - 21 September 1972; 3 November 1972 – 16 January 1973; 5 January - 16 March 1975; 5 November 1975 – 15 January 1976.
• 773d Tactical Airlift Squadron: attached 1 June – 14 July 1972; 28 August - 16 November 1972; 5 July - 5 September 1973; 5 May – 15 July 1974; 5 May – 14 July 1975
• 774th Tactical Airlift Squadron: attached 5 September - 15 November 1974
• 777th Tactical Airlift Squadron: attached 6 August - 13 November 1967; 10 May - 7 August 1969; 11 January - 19 March 1970; 1 – 31 October 1970; 13 March - 12 May 1971
• 778th Tactical Airlift Squadron: attached 7 November 1967 – 13 February 1968; 18 October - 21 December 1969; 7 July - 16 September 1970
• 779th Tactical Airlift Squadron: attached 26 September - 2 December 1968; 7 August - 18 October 1969
• 970th Airborne Air Control Squadron: 15 March 1996 – present
• Military Airlift Squadron Provisional, 1648: attached 8 July 1968 – 10 May 1969
• 7120 Airborne Command Control Squadron: 1 July 1966 – 1 January 1970
• Troop Carrier Squadron Provisional, 7441: attached 20 July 1966 – 1 March 1967
• Troop Carrier Squadron Provisional, 7442: attached 20 July 1966 – 1 June 1967

Aircraft

• Douglas C-47 Skytrain, 1944–1946
• Curtiss C-46 Commando, 1945–1946
• Douglas C-54 Skymaster, 1948–1949
• Douglas R5D Skymaster, 1948–1949
• Fairchild C-119 Flying Boxcar, 1955–1956
• Fairchild C-123 Provider, 1956–1958
• Lockheed C-130 Hercules, 1966–1976
• Boeing EC-135, 1966–1992
• Douglas C-124 Globemaster II, 1968–1969
• Boeing WC-135 Constant Phoenix, 1989–1992
• Boeing E-3 Sentry, 1996–present

Stations

Sylhet Airfield, India 5 June 1944 Dinjan Airfield, India 2 August 1944 Myitkyina Airfield, Burma 3 June 1945 Shanghai Airport, China 1 November 1945 – 15 April 1946 Rhein-Main Air Base, Germany, 19 November 1948 – 16 October 1949

Sewart Air Force Base, Tennessee, 8 November 1955 – 1 December 1958 Évreux-Fauville Air Base, France, 15 April 1966 RAF Mildenhall, England, 1 July 1966 – 1 February 1992 Tinker Air Force Base, Oklahoma, 15 March 1996–present

See also

• Objective, Burma!
• Operation Silk Purse - United States Air Forces in Europe's airborne command and control mission

References

Notes

1. Haulman, Daniel L. (January 2, 2008). "Factsheet 513 Air Control Group (AFRC)". Air Force Historical Research Agency. Retrieved September 16, 2015.
2. Ravenstein, pp. 279-291
3. Quinlan, Jon (12 March 2014). "Only reserve AWACS unit to inactivate if FY15 DOD budget approved". www.dvidshub.net (USAF). Retrieved 7 May 2014.
4. Jordan, Bryant (7 May 2014). "House Panel Protects A-10, Pulls BRAC from Budget". Military.com. Retrieved 8 May 2014.

Bibliography

 This article incorporates public domain material from websites or documents of the Air Force Historical Research Agency.

• Martin, John G. Through Hell's Gate to Shanghai: History of the 10th Combat Cargo Squadron, 3rd Combat Cargo Group, CBI Theater, 1944–1946. Athens, Ohio: Lawhead Press, 1983.
• Maurer, Maurer, ed. (1983) [1961]. Air Force Combat Units of World War II (PDF) (reprint ed.). Washington, DC: Office of Air Force History. ISBN 0-912799-02-1. LCCN 61060979.
• Maurer, Maurer, ed. (1982) [1969]. Combat Squadrons of the Air Force, World War II (PDF) (reprint ed.). Washington, DC: Office of Air Force History. ISBN 0-405-12194-6. LCCN 70605402. OCLC 72556.
• Ravenstein, Charles A. (1984). Air Force Combat Wings, Lineage & Honors Histories 1947-1977 (PDF). Washington, DC: Office of Air Force History. ISBN 0-912799-12-9.

External links

• 3d Combat Cargo Group