646th ACD Squadron

The 646th Aircraft Control and Warning (AC&W) Squadron was activated by the United States Air Force during the early years of the Cold War, first organized in 1950. Stationed at Highlands Air Force Station, New Jersey, the squadron was tasked with providing radar surveillance and airspace control as part of the Air Defense Command’s network along the eastern seaboard. The 646th played a critical role in monitoring for potential Soviet bomber incursions and ensuring the integrity of U.S. airspace during a period of heightened geopolitical tension. The unit was inactivated in 1966 as technological advancements and changes in air defense strategy led to the consolidation of radar sites across the country.