552d Airborne Early Warning and Control Wing

552d Air Control Wing
E-3 Sentry refueling during Operation Enduring Freedom
Active	1955–1976; 1976–present
Country	United States
Branch	United States Air Force
Role	Air Command and Control
Part of	Air Combat Command
Garrison/HQ	Tinker Air Force Base
Motto(s)	Robur Ex Vigilantia Latin In Vigilance is Strength
Decorations	Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with Combat "V" Device Air Force Outstanding Unit Award Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm
Commanders
Current commander	Col David M. Gaedecke
Notable commanders	Maj Gen John L. Piotrowski
Insignia
552d Air Control Wing emblem (approved 6 February 1956)

The 552d Air Control Wing is an operational wing of the United States Air Force. It has been based at Tinker Air Force Base, Oklahoma since July 1976, operating the Boeing E-3 Sentry.

From 1955 through 1976, the wing was located at McClellan Air Force Base, California, where it operated the Lockheed EC-121 Warning Star aircraft providing radar coverage off the Pacific coast of the United States.

The 552d Air Control Wing is responsible to the commander of Air Combat Command for the operation, maintenance, logistics, training, and combat support of E-3 Sentry Airborne Warning and Control System (AWACS) aircraft and Control and Reporting Centers (CRCs). The wing provides combat-ready theater battle management forces and mobile command control, and communications radar element at the direction of the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. It deploys, operates and supports these forces worldwide ensuring combat capability for all peacetime and contingency operations.

The 552d Airborne Early Warning and Control Wing was activated on 8 July 1955 at McClellan Air Force Base, California, when it assumed command of the 963d and 964th Airborne Air Control Squadrons, which had been activated that March.The wing's third operational squadron, the 965th Airborne Early Warning and Control Squadron was activated the next month. The wing replaced the Airborne Early Warning and Control Wing, Provisional, which had been organized at McClellan on 1 January.

Initially, the wing was assigned to the 8th Air Division, which also controlled the 551st Airborne Early Warning and Control Wing at Otis Air Force Base, Massachusetts, which performed the same mission off the Atlantic seaboard. In July 1957, Air Defense Command (ADC) inactivated the 8th Division and the wing was assigned to Western Air Defense Force. In July 1963, the 966th Airborne Early Warning and Control Squadron at McCoy Air Force Base, Florida was transferred from the 551st Wing. The 966th's mission was to provide expanded coverage off the Florida coastline, which included possible intrusions into American airspace from Cuba. This assignment continued with a brief interruption until the 966th was inactivated in December 1969. At the end of 1969, with the inactivation of the 551st Wing, the 552d assumed the responsibility for deploying EC-121s to Icerland.