I'm researching units formed within the Texas Air National Guard, in preparation for a paper for my Master's thesis. I am using some of my father's military papers, newspaper articles, and unit histories. I can't seem to find anything at all on the following units that were formed in 1951; 158th Aircraft Conrol and Warning group, 134th Aircraft control Squadron, 108th Radar Calibration Detachment. All three were activated and went into regular service at the Air Force Control and Warning Center in LaPorte, Texas, for 24 months. This info came from newspaper articles in my father's files. He was Col. K.K. Black, the commander of these groups. One article says the 158th was based at Ellington Field, as part of the 63rd Fighter Wing headquarters. There is also menton of the 136th AC&W Squadron at Beaumont, TX, which my father commanded at one point. The Air Force History Research Center was no help, and most of the online Guard info isn't very complete.
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 Kathryn Morrow Research |
Texas Air national Guard units |
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Posts: 1 (12/18/01 15:48:40) |
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Unregistered(d) |
Texas Air National Guard | ||
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Posts: 0 (03/11/02 07:15:47) |
I know that the unit at Beaumont evolved into the 273 EI Squadron and is located at the Jefferson County
Airport, and the unit at Laporte evolved into the 272 EI Squadron. I believe if you contacted these two units that they can provide you their linage and more. |
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Unregistered(d) |
TANG Units | ||
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Posts: 0 (03/11/02 09:54:55) |
Al, you said the units I was interested in evolved in the 272 and 273 EI Squadrons. What is the EI designation? Thank you for your reply. I will contact the Jefferson County Airport, and try to track down the unit at LaPorte. This is important to me.
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Unregistered(d) |
TXANG Units | ||
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Posts: 0 (03/13/02 06:24:40) |
Kathryn, the acronymn stands for Electronics Installation.
Both units were formed as Communications Squadrons, and then in 1961 were converted to Ground Electronics Engineering Installation Agency (GEEIA) Squadrons. You might want call Master Sergeant Violet Fountenot at the 273rd (Phone 409-749-3200) and Master Sergeant Rosemary Mier at the 272nd (Phone 281-929-2572). This ladies are both recruiters and should have access to the history of the unit. I can tell you that the 273rd was formed and Federally recognized on 19 June 1956. I joined that unit 25 January 1961 and became the unit First Sergeant then was commissioned and transferred to the Headquarters in Austin. I retired in 1997 as a Colonel. I would be happy to help you in your research if you wanted me to. I live in Austin, Texas and my phone number is 512-837-4459. I am generally available every day except Wednesday when I do shopping and errand running. I would love to get the history the units from 1951 until they became the 272nd and 273rd if you would share it with me. |
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Unregistered(d) |
EI Units | ||
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Posts: 0 (03/13/02 08:38:19) |
Thank you for your reply. Communications makes sense, as my father was in AFCS and headquarters EAME, etc, most of his 39 year career in the Air Force. He began his own company, the Navigation Instrument Company, in Houston in the late 40's, developing radar techology in a commercial marine application. He kept being called up in the reserves to help prepare radar defenses for our coastlines, so he finally gave up and stayed in. He retired in 1963. I have written a history of Ellington Field, into which I want to weave the contributions and significance of radar development and some of my father's part in it. I will glady share anything I have. Do you have email? Mine is kathrynblack.morrow@att.net. Black is my maiden name. My father was Col. K.K. Black, although I am sure you would not know him.
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Unregistered(d) |
134th AC&WS TXANG | ||
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Posts: 0 (01/24/03 09:30:35) |
Ms Morrow - I expect your research and thesis are complete but I'm also doing research on the ANG aircraft control and warning squadrons, including work with the National Guard Bureau in DC and assistance to the current KSANG 134th Air Control Squadron at McConnell AFB. I'd be glad to send along anything I turn up on the 134th during the Korean War; if you have any material on the 158th AC&WG at the control and warning center in LaPorte I'd love to see it.
I'm the historian for the Western Air Defense Sector at McChord AFB and am therefore responsible for researching and maintaining air defense history for everything west of the Red River of the North to Brownsville and west. If I can be of assistance please let me know. |
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Unregistered(d) |
Texas ANG Units | ||
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Posts: 0 (03/24/03 08:47:59) |
I came across your year-old post looking for additional information on Radar Calibration Detachments. Here is some info that may help.
The 108th Radar Cal Det was federally recognized 29 Jun 48 (?) at Ellington AFB and assigned to the 63rd Fighter Wing, about Oct 50, it was reassigned to the 158th AC&W Gp. In Oct 51 it was called to active duty, reassigned to 14th Air Force, and moved to Hamilton AFB, CA, where it was reassigned to the Western Air Defense Force the following month. It was redesignated the 108th Radar Calibration Flt on 1 Mar 52 and released from federal service on 1 feb 53. So far as I know it has not been active since then. The 134th Aircraft Control Sq was federally recognized by Mar 49 at La Porte ANG Sta, assigned to the 158th AC&W Gp. It was called to active duty in Oct 51, reassigned to 14th Air Force and moved to Geiger Fld, WA, where it was redesignated as an AC&W Sq about the 20th of that month and transferred to the 101st Fighter-Interceptor Wg until Feb 52 when it moved to Larson AFB, WA and was assigned to the 25th Air Div. In Sep 52 it returned to Geiger and in Sep 52 was reassigned to the 4702 Defense Wg. It was returned to state control on 1 Oct 53, but as Mark said, apparently was not active again until 1982, and then in the KS, not TX Air National Guard. The 158th AC&W Gp was federally recognized 23 May 48(?) at Ellington AFB, assigned to the 63rd Fighter Wg, it moved some time in 1951 to La Porte ANG Sta. In addition to the two units already mentioned, it included the 135th AC&W Sq at Jackson Barracks, New Orleans LA, the 136th AC&W Sq at Beaumont TX. The group was called to active duty in Oct 51 and assigned to 14th Air Force it was shortly reassigned to the 34th Air Div and moved to Kirtland AFB, NM, where it served until being inactivated on 6 Feb 52. I do not believe it has been active since. |
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TANG | ||
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Posts: 0 (03/24/03 13:29:09) |
Thank you for your reply. I am in the final draft of my thesis now, and then will go on to write a book on the subject. I would be happy to share what I have on the LaPorte Radar Tactical Control Centerf rom my father's papers and newpspaper articles. I will email you the chapter on it, as well. If you will return the favor by checking it for correctness of terminology, and if you use, it, cite my paper. I am always happy to share, and I have a lot of research material..
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Unregistered(d) |
134th | ||
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Posts: 0 (03/24/03 13:31:47) |
Thank you for replying. My Dad went to Kirtland, then on to Korea. I have his yearbook. For this paper, I am limiting my research to groups as they connected to Ellington, so your comments are useful. I will share what I have, as well.
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Unregistered(d) |
158th ACWG | ||
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Posts: 0 (03/25/03 06:22:20) |
I will have time in the next few days to gather info on this unit for you. Mailing paper copies is easiest,since I have them, so please send me an address. I only need info that relates directly to EllingotnField/AFB, so the Korea info might be good, but not necessary right now. I have to stay VERY focused. kathrynblack.morrow@att.net.
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Unregistered(d) |
TX ANG - 136th A.C.&W. Squadron | ||
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Posts: 0 (05/14/03 14:22:43) |
The 136th A.C.& W. Squadron consisted of two sections, one in Victoria, TX and the other in Beaumont,TX. October 1, 1951 the unit was activated into federal service. The unit was sent to Geiger Field, Spokane, WA until 16 January 52. The unit was posted to Portland Air Base, OR and remained there until the unit was discharged from federal service, 30 September 53. The mission of the unit was to provide support in the 25th Air Defense Command radar net, headquarters at McCord AFB, WA. The net was established to give warning of enemy encroachment and to protect the Hanford Nuclear Project, Hanford, WA. We worked with interceptors stationed at various bases, Portland AFB, McCord AFB, Payne Field - Everett, WA, Moses Lake AFB, WA. The net was later replaced with the DEW line in Alaska and Canada.
The 136th veterans hold reunions every two or three years. The next reunion will be June 10, 11, 12, 2003 at the Crooked River Ranch resort, OR. Planning committee consists of Ted Fuller, Bill Carr, Welmon Smith, Jr. and Hugh Shuford. Ted Fuller was one of the original members of the unit when it was formed in 1948 in Beaumont. I joined Jan 1951 and was discharged 31 July 53. Hugh Shuford |
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