961st Airborne Early Warning And Control (AEW&C) Squadron, USAF Patch (Large)
Item History & Price
| Reference Number: Avaluer:91344 |
New, 961st Airborne Early Warning and Control (AEW&C) Squadron Patch, USAFLarge patch and Size: 4.3/4Vintage patchRare to find one in this condition551st AEW&C WgOtis AFB, MAEC-121EC-121HConnieAir Defense CommandADC The 961st flew radar surveillance missions along East Coast of the United States from, 18 December 1954 – 31 December 1969.The 961st was a unit within the 551st Airborne Early Warning and Control Wing at Otis AFB, MA. Which was established and activated in 19...54, was charged with tracking air and sea activity along the United States eastern seaboard.The wing received its first airborne asset on 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. TheRC-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 551st AEW&C 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 surveillancesupport for major world events, including tracking over Cuba during the CubanMissile Crisis and tracking Russian aircraft and naval vessels off Iceland andthe East Coast of the United States.The wing also provided surveillance over Johnston andChristmas islands during nuclear testing by the Atomic Energy Commission andperformed a variety of surveillance services in Southeast Asia during theVietnam War.In its first 10 years, the wing flew continuous missionsover the Atlantic Ocean 24 hours a day, seven days a week, compiling more than350, 000 flying hours. Among other honors awarded to the wing was the Air ForceOutstanding Unit Award for its significant performance.Between 1965 and 1967, three aircraft of the wing crashedinto the Atlantic killing fifty members of the wing. The tail numbers of theaircraft were 55-0136, 55-5262, and 53-0549.The wing was inactivated December 31, 1969.
During the Cold War period, the 551st provided surveillancesupport for major world events, including tracking over Cuba during the CubanMissile Crisis and tracking Russian aircraft and naval vessels off Iceland andthe East Coast of the United States.The wing also provided surveillance over Johnston andChristmas islands during nuclear testing by the Atomic Energy Commission andperformed a variety of surveillance services in Southeast Asia during theVietnam War.In its first 10 years, the wing flew continuous missionsover the Atlantic Ocean 24 hours a day, seven days a week, compiling more than350, 000 flying hours. Among other honors awarded to the wing was the Air ForceOutstanding Unit Award for its significant performance.Between 1965 and 1967, three aircraft of the wing crashedinto the Atlantic killing fifty members of the wing. The tail numbers of theaircraft were 55-0136, 55-5262, and 53-0549.The wing was inactivated December 31, 1969.
