16 SURS, 1st Space Wing (SPC), Shemya AFB, AK

The **16th Space Surveillance Squadron (16 SURS)** was a United States Air Force unit assigned to the 1st Space Wing (SPC), stationed at Shemya Air Force Base, Alaska. Activated during the Cold War, 16 SURS operated as a key component of the Air Force Space Command's space surveillance network, utilizing the Cobra Dane radar system to track and identify objects in Earth's orbit and monitor Soviet missile activity. Their mission was vital for missile warning, space object identification, and supporting national security objectives. The squadron’s strategic location on Shemya Island enabled it to provide early warning and intelligence critical to U.S. defense throughout its period of operation.