Alan Fisher

The **552nd Air Control Wing (552nd ACW)**, originally activated as the 552nd Airborne Early Warning and Control Wing in 1955, is a critical component of the United States Air Force based at Tinker Air Force Base, Oklahoma. The unit's primary mission is to provide airborne surveillance, command, control, and communications using the E-3 Sentry Airborne Warning and Control System (AWACS) aircraft. Over its history, the 552nd has participated in major operations including Operation Desert Storm, Operation Iraqi Freedom, and Operation Enduring Freedom, providing vital air battle management and situational awareness. Renowned for its rapid deployability and global reach, the 552nd continues to play a pivotal role in both peacetime and combat air operations for U.S. and allied forces.

4th Fighter Wing

U.S. Air Force

The 4th Fighter Wing is a United States Air Force unit based at Seymour Johnson Air Force Base in North Carolina. It is a combat-ready fighter wing comprised of F-15E Strike Eagle aircraft which are utilized for both air-to-air and air-to-ground missions. The wing has a long and distinguished history, dating back to its activation during World War II. It has participated in numerous military campaigns and exercises, demonstrating its capabilities and dedication to the mission.

Naval Air Station (NAS) Keflavik, Iceland, was established by the United States Navy in 1951 as part of a defense agreement with Iceland and NATO. Strategically located on the North Atlantic, the unit played a critical role during the Cold War, supporting anti-submarine warfare operations and monitoring Soviet naval activity. NAS Keflavik hosted a variety of U.S. Navy, Air Force, and NATO units, serving as a key refueling, logistics, and surveillance hub. The station remained active until 2006, when U.S. forces withdrew and the base was returned to Icelandic control, though it remains available for NATO operations.

CANNON AFB

U.S. Air Force

Unit with 45 member associations.

RAF Mildenhall, located in Suffolk, England, was originally opened in 1934 as a bomber base for the Royal Air Force. During World War II, it played a significant role in Bomber Command operations, launching numerous sorties over Europe. After the war, the base transitioned to U.S. Air Force control in 1950, becoming a key hub for aerial refueling and reconnaissance missions during the Cold War and beyond. Today, RAF Mildenhall remains a vital part of U.S. and NATO operations, supporting a range of air mobility and intelligence missions.

The 9th Strategic Reconnaissance Wing (9th SRW) was activated on November 25, 1965, at Beale Air Force Base, California, as part of the United States Air Force's Strategic Air Command. Tasked with conducting high-altitude reconnaissance, the unit became renowned for operating the SR-71 Blackbird, the fastest and highest-flying operational aircraft in the world. Throughout the Cold War, the 9th SRW provided crucial intelligence gathering and surveillance capabilities, supporting national security and strategic decision-making. In 1991, the wing was redesignated as the 9th Reconnaissance Wing, continuing its legacy of intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance missions with aircraft such as the U-2 Dragon Lady.