6023d Radar Evaluation Squadron

• Specialized Role: The 6023d Radar Evaluation Squadron was a United States Air Force unit tasked with evaluating and improving the performance of radar sites in the Pacific region during the Cold War. • Activation Date: The squadron was activated in 1954, during a period of heightened tensions and rapid technological advancement in radar and air defense systems. • Location: The 6023d was primarily stationed at Johnson Air Base (now Iruma Air Base) in Japan, reflecting the strategic importance of the Pacific theater during the Cold War. • Mission Focus: Its primary mission was to conduct radar coverage surveys, calibration flights, and electronic countermeasure (ECM) testing for U.S. and allied radar sites. • Aircraft Utilized: The squadron operated specially equipped aircraft such as the EB-57 Canberra, which was used for radar evaluation and electronic warfare training. • International Cooperation: The squadron frequently worked with Japanese Self-Defense Forces and other allied units to ensure interoperability and effective air defense coverage. • Cold War Context: The squadron's work was critical in maintaining early warning and air defense readiness against potential Soviet bomber incursions during the Cold War. • Deactivation: The 6023d Radar Evaluation Squadron was inactivated in 1960 as part of a broader reorganization and modernization of U.S. air defense capabilities in the Pacific. • Legacy: The techniques and procedures developed by the 6023d laid the groundwork for subsequent radar evaluation and electronic warfare units in the USAF. • Unique Insignia: The squadron had its own distinctive insignia, symbolizing its specialized electronic and radar mission within the Air Force.