DOCSLIB.ORG

A Historical Chronology of the Electronic Systems Division 1947-1986 CA

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
A Historical Chronology of the Electronic Systems Division 1947-1986 CA IE F I CIII 6 ESD-TR-88-27 00 0 A Historical Chronology of the Electronic Systems Division 1947-1986 CA Dr. E. MICHAEL DEL PAPA MARY P. WARNER October 1987 *m Approved for Public Release; Distribution Unlimited DTIC ELECTE D NOV 02988 Prepared For ELECTRONIC SYSTEMS DIVISION AIR FORCE SYSTEMS COMMAND ELECTRONIC SYSTEMS DIVISION HISTORY OFFICE HANSCOM AIR FORCE BASE, MASSACHUSETTS 01731-5000 I II ( , f. r4 LEGAL NOTICE When U. S. Government drawings, specifications or other data are used for any purpose other than a definitely related government procurement operation, the government thereby incurs no responsibility nor any obligation whatsoever; and the fact that the governmert may have formulated, furnished, or in any way sup- plied the said drawings, specifications, or other data is not to be regarded by implication or otherwise as in any manner licensing the holder or any other person or conveying any rights or permission to manufacture, use, or sell any patented invention that may in any way be related thereto. OTHER NOTICES Do not return this copy. Retain or destroy. REVIEW AND APPROVAL "This technical report has been reviewed and is approved for publication." E. Michael Del Papa, GM-13 Chief, History Office FOR THE COMMANDER E. Michael Del Papa, GM-13 Chief, History Office UNCLASS!FIED SECURITY CLASSIFICATION OF THIS PAGE REPORT DOCUMENTATION PAGE 'Ia. REPORT SECURITY CLASSIFICATION 1b. RESTRICTIVE MARKINGS 1Tmi.AqTRT~tPn Za. SECURITY CLASSIFICATION AUTHORITY 3. DISTRIBUTION/AVAILABIUTY OF REPORT /Approved for public release; '2b. DECLASSIFICATION IDOWNGRADING SCHEDULE distribution unlimited 4. PERFORMING ORGANIZATION REPORT NUMBER(S) S. MONITORING ORGANIZATION REPORT NUMBER(S) ESD-TR-88- 276 6a. NAME OF PERFORMING ORGANIZATION 6b. OFFICE SYMBOL 7a. NAME OF MONITORING ORGANIZATION Electronic Systems Division (if applicable) History Office ESD/HO ESD/HO 6c. ADDRESS (City, State, and ZIPCode) 7b ADDRESS (City, State, and ZIP Code) Hanscom AFB. Hanscom AFB. Massachusetts 01731-5000 Massachusetts, 01731-5000 Ba. NAME OF FUNDING/SPONSORING 8b. OFFICE SYMBOL 9. PROCUREMENT INSTRUMENT IDENTIFICATION NUMBER ORGANIZATION (Ifapplicable) ESDI HO ESD/HO 8c. ADDRESS (City, State, and ZIPCode) 10 SOURCE OF FUNDING NUMBERS PROGRAM PROJECT TASK WORK UNIT Hanscom AFB ELEMENT NO. NO. NO. ACCESSION NO. 11. TITLE (Include Security Classification) A Historical Chronology of the Electronic Systems Division 1947-1986 (U) 12 PERSONAL AUTHOR(S) Del Papa, Dr. E. Michael, and Warner, Mary P. 13aH YS iILNRT _13b. TIME COVERED '4. DATE OF REPORT (ear Month, Day 15 PAiCOUNT I FROM 1947 TO 1986 1987 October "iz 16. SUPPLEMENTARY NOTATION 17. / COSAT1 CODES 18.SUBJECT TERMS (Continue on reverse if necessary and identify by block number) *IELD GROUP SUB-GROUP Historical Chronology of the Electronic Systems DivisionO 19. PSTRACT (Continue on reverse ifnecessary and identify by block number) An Historical Chronology of the Electronic Systems Division, its predecessor organizations, its major programs in the field of Command, Control, Communications and Intelligence (C,,I), its relationship with Air Force Systems Command and the United States Air Force, and its present and past commanders and authorized and assigned strength, p / 20. DISTRIBUTION/ AVAILA8ILITY OF ABSTRACT 21 ABSTRACT SECURITY CLASSIFICATION 12UNCLASSIFIED/UNLIMITED 0 SAME AS RPT. 0QDTIC USERS Unclassified -22a NAME OF RESPONSJrE N IV'UAL .Aiea Code) 22c. OFFICE SYMBOL Dr. E. Ichael 1e1 rapa ''' ESD/HO DD FORM 1473.84 MAR 83 APR edition may be used until exhausted. SECURITY CLASSIFICATION OF HIS PAGE All other editions are obsolete. U,,.,LASDUl'b F, O I E FOREWORD The Electronic Systems Division (ESD) of Air Force Systems Com- mand (AFSC), with headquarters at Hanscom AFB, Massachusetts, is the United States Air Force center of command, control, communications and intelligence (C3 1) expertise. The background, development, and matur- ity of this vitally important segment of America's armed forces is of concern and interest to all students of American military history. The following chronology traces the historical background of ESD from its earliest origins in post-World War II America up to 1986. The record of ESD's achievement in the C3 1 field is a testament and tribute to the talent of all of its members, both civilian and military. It is the hope of the author that this chronology will aid the reader to de- velop an appreciation for the significant contributions made by ESD to the defense and welfare of the United States. 1 11 E. MICHAEL DEL PAPA Historian October 1987 oo. Accession For ID U !t- . ]_* .... Dist TABLE OF CONTENTS Foreword..............................................................- Table of Contents.............................................*......iii-liv 1947..............................................................1 1949..................................................................I 1950................................................................. 1 1951...............................................1-2 1952.........................o.........................................2 1953..................... ........................................... 2 1954......................... ....................................... 2 1956........................................ ........................ 2 1957........................................................o..........3 1958................................................................. 3 1959................................................................ 4-5 1960................. .............................................. 5-6 1961.....o............................................................7-8 1962.................................................................8-10 1963...................................... ........................ 10-12 1964................................................................12-14 1965................................................................14-17 1966............ .................................................. 17-20 1967.........................o..........................o.............20-24 1968....................................o............................24-26 1969............o....................................................26-27 1970........................... ............o...................... 27-30 1971................................................................30-32 1972..................................................3p3 1973................................................................33-34 1974................................................................36-37 1975................................................................36-38 1976 ............................................. 37-48 1977.................................................................4-40 1978................................................................40-45 1979 ............................................. 451 50 1980................................................................5-50 1981................................................................50-53 1982................................................................53-54 1983................................................................53-54 1984..............................................................57-607 1985..............................................................657-63 1986................................................................60-63 ESD6 Commander..........................................................6 ESD Authorized and Assigned Strength (Military and Civilian).............................................67-68 Glossary............................................................69-77 Index..............................................................78-101 iv 1947 9 December General Hoyt S. Vandenberg, Vice Chief of Staff, United States Air Force, expressed concern over the state of the U. S. air defense system in a memo to Dr. Vannevar Bush, Chairman of the Research and Development Board. 1949 April The Air Force Scientific Advisory Board named Dr. Louis N. Ridenour to study Air Force research and development efforts. August General Vandenberg called the attention of the Joint Chiefs of Staff to the need for a more effective air defense system for the United States. 21 September The Ridenour report suggested the creation of the Air Research and Development Command with its commander to also be a member of the Air Staff in a position to be known as Deputy Chief of Staff for Research and Development. 8 November Dr. George E. Valley of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) proposed to Dr. Theodore von Karman, chairman of the Air Force Scientific Advisory Board, that a study of air defense requirements be made. 15 December The Air Force Scientific Advisory Board organized the Air Defense Systems Engineering Committee with Dr. Valley as chairman. 1950 23 January The Air Research and Development Command (ARDC) was acti- vated (operational on 2 April 1951) and the post of Deputy Chief of Staff, Development was created in the Air Staff. However, the Ridenour recommendation for a single incum- bent to head both functions was not adopted. 24 October The development of an air defense system was proposed by the Air Defense Systems Engineering Committee. 15 December General Vandenberg asked MIT to establish and administer an air defense laboratory. 1951 6 February As a result of General Vandenberg's request to MIT, Project Charles was initiated. This was an intensive
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Sightings by State/Country
    11/30/12 NSID Listing by State/Country Page 1 of 335 NC Date City State or Country Cat BB flag LC Description Code Rating Mozambique and Island of Madagascar strange globe glowing with greenish light 411200 Mozambique Africa 1 about half the size of full moon. (Page 17 Ref. 1) 501202 Nanyika, Kenya Africa 1 845 pearly, iridescent object with a flattened top 510219 Mt. Kilimanjaro, Kenya Africa 11 A 5 BBU Lodestar Crew Sees Stationary Silver Elongated Object South African headquarters announced in November that on May 23, radar had tracked an unidentified object near the Cape at over 1000 mph. [Prescott Evening 530523 Capetown, Union of South Africa Africa 9 R 5 Courier, May 22; UFOE, VIII] sighted an unidentified flying object over Laketi in the Likuala Mossaka region of 540618 French Equatorial Africa 1 the middle Congo. 540719 French Equatorial Africa 1 BBU (Jan Aldrich) J. H. Flanagan (a policeman) and some friends recently observed six unidentified 540725 Southern Rhodesia Africa 1 objects in the sky over Enkeldoorn Three shiny ovals hovering nearby; headlights remained off until 10 minutes after UFOs departed. Flying Saucer Review, Vol. 16, No. 5; see Rodeghier, 1981, p. 700130 Mrewa, Zimbabwe Africa 3 48 (L) police car The UFOs in this report were seen by multiple witnesses. The objects landed and took off. They were also spotted on radar and seen visually simultaneously. 75Jan-Mar Algeria Africa 2 Message sent to Henry Kissinger, from the American embassy in Algiers, Algeria. The UFOs in this report were seen by multiple witnesses. The objects landed and took off.
    [Show full text]
  • Operation Dragon Comeback
    Operation Dragon Comeback Air Education and Training Command’s Response to Hurricane Katrina Dr. Bruce A. Ashcroft Dr. Joseph L. Mason Air Education and Training Command Office of History and Research Air Force History and Museums Program United States Air Force Washington, D.C., 2006 Preface The Air Education and Training Command’s response to Hurricane Katrina was a pivotal event in the organization’s history. Unlike previous storms that shut down training for a day or two, Katrina caused serious problems. In a fast-paced disaster response, often the information most significant to the historical record is not available in written documents, making interviews essential. This study rests solidly on a series of oral history interviews conducted at several AETC bases by the command’s historians with 65 members of the command and other participants in the relief effort. In addition, Dr Bruce Ashcroft and Dr Joseph Mason had extensive informal discussions with AETC members, and Dr Ashcroft attended meetings of the technical training reconstitution Tiger Team. Throughout the effort, AETC historians collected documents that underpinned the information gathered in interviews. The authors attempted to cover not only the hurricane, but also, and perhaps more importantly, the first few months of the recovery effort. Chapter 1 deals with the preparations and initial response to the devastation Hurricane Katrina wrought on Keesler AFB. It covers the first few days of digging out after the destructive storm, evacuating students to Sheppard AFB, and evacuating medical patients from the base, as well as the welcoming of Air Force evacuees to Maxwell and Columbus AFBs.
    [Show full text]
  • Three UFO Radar Cases
    Historical Case Studies: Three UFO Radar Cases _______________________________________ Selfridge Air Force Base, Michigan. March 9, 1950 p. 1 Bentwaters-Lakenheath RAF, Suffolk, UK. August 13-14, 1956 p. 5 Minot Air Force Base, North Dakota. October 24, 1968 p. 16 Thomas Tulien Sign Oral History Project 2018 Sign Oral History Project SELFRIDGE AIR FORCE BASE RADAR CASE March 9, 1950 On the evening of March 9, 1950, at Selfridge Air Force Base near Mount Clemens, Michigan, a crew of three radar controllers was busy monitoring the night flying units of the 56th Fighter-Interceptor Group at Selfridge Air Force Base. Shortly after sundown, Lt. Francis E. Parker arrived for duty in the radar station, relieving Lt. Frank Mattson on the AN/CPS-5 radarscope while establishing contact with the F-80 Shooting Star pilots that were already airborne. The crew, including Mattson, Sgt. McCarthy, and Cpl. Melton, mentioned to Parker that they had been observing an intermittent target on the height range indicator (HRI) scope of the AN/CPS-4 radar at 45,000 feet altitude and over. At this time, the target was not visible on either radarscope, and since the highest assigned altitude of the F-80s was limited to 24,000 feet, Parker attributed the reports to radio-frequency interference or crew inexperience. But over the next fifteen minutes the crew repeatedly reported a target rapidly changing altitudes on the HRI scope. Eventually, Parker was able to break from monitoring the F-80s long enough to observe the target, which presented “a very narrow and clear-cut presentation on the HRI scope” at 47,000 feet with a range of 70 miles.
    [Show full text]
  • Sightings by City
    11/30/12 NSID Listing by City Page 1 of 335 NC Date City State or Country Cat BB flag LC Description Code Rating 641119 220 miles NW of Puerto Rico At Sea 9 R 5 U.S.S. Gyatt Tracks Bogey 531120 36.55N 76.00 (Atlantic) At Sea 11 A 5 Silver Egg Observed By Navy Unit 481015 50 miles E of Virginia coast At Sea 1 BBU bright nearly moon-shaped object with distinct bright center 510909 50 miles off coast of North Korea At Sea 9 R 5 BBU radar tracking of multiple unidentified targets at 900 mph 370722 500 miles off US coast In Air Space 1 Lights of alleged aircraft (Page 11 Ref. 1) 590819 80 miles E of U.S. [?]. Unk 1 BBU (McDonald list) 420811-12 Aachen (near) Germany 1 A phenomenon described as a bright white light (Page 29-30 Ref. 1) Possible jet; single light; 5 free lance visuals on jets, no A.I. or G.C.I. contacts; 441105-06 Aachen/Bonn/Cologne Germany 1 several flares similar to jets. (Page 86-87 Ref.1) On this night a man with a flat tire was stopped on the highway between Abadan and Ahvaz, Iran when he suddenly felt heat from a "huge, bright object" that was very close to him. (Source: Allan Hendry, International UFO Reporter, January 770628 Abadan and Ahvaz btn. Iran 2 1981, p. 15). Dark object three times the size of a moon came over low above trees and hovered near auto causing its motor and radio to stop.
    [Show full text]
  • Comprehensive Catalog of 1500 Project BLUE BOOK UFO
    Comprehensive Catalog of 1,500 Project BLUE BOOK UFO Unknowns: Work in Progress (Version 1.7, Dec. 31, 2003) Compiled by Brad Sparks, © 2001-2003 The main purpose of this catalog at present is to help identify and fill in where possible missing or difficult-to-obtain U.S. Air Force documentation on better quality Unexplained UFO cases, not to present here the "proof" of UFO reality nor to discuss possible IFO identifications, subjects reserved for later analysis once full files can be examined. Here the goal is preliminary and to compile more complete documentation, not the perfection of the analysis or categorizations. This catalog will be used eventually to produce another catalog of UFO Best Evidence after a screening process based on Hynek's and other criteria and for that reason columns for data on Duration, No. of Witnesses, Angular Size and "Instrumentation/Scientists etc." have been separately presented from the available case data and/or calculated where possible. When Project Blue Book (BB) closed down on Jan. 30, 1970 (it was not on Dec. 17, 1969, which was merely the announcement date by the Secretary of the Air Force) the total number of Unidentified sightings was thought to be 701 and this is the number given on all subsequent press releases and so- called "fact sheets." However, based on the review by Hynek and the CUFOS staff of the released sanitized BB microfilm and Hynek's personal records which included many missing (and unsanitized) BB documents, the final number was determined to have been approximately 587, apparently reflecting an IFO elimination process carried out on old historical cases by the next-to- last BB Chief, Major Hector Quintanilla in the 60's (and of dubious scientific validity based on examples McDonald studied), which must have reduced the number of Unexplained cases by 114.
    [Show full text]
  • Chronology American Aerospace Events
    CHRONOLOGY AMERICAN AEROSPACE EVENTS HAROLD “PHIL” MYERS CHIEF HISTORIAN AIR FORCE INTELLIGENCE, SURVEILLANCE, AND RECONNAISSANCE AGENCY LACKLAND AFB, TEXAS 23 February 2009 EVOLUTION OF A CHRONOLOGY In 1981, as an Air Force enlisted historian, I worked for the Research Division of the Air Force Historical Research Agency (then Albert F. Simpson Historical Center) at Maxwell AFB, Al. For the next two years, I answered inquiries and conducted the Historian’s Development Course. While there I discovered a real “nugget,” A Chronology of American Aerospace Events from 1903-1974, gathering dust on an obscure shelf. I knew the draft document would be a handy reference for all enlisted field historians. In 1983, I took a copy of this chronology with me on my next assignment with the 39th Tactical Group in Turkey. The chronology proved to be an invaluable source in promoting Air Force history. It allowed me to prepare “Today in Aerospace History” slides for weekly staff meetings and write a weekly “Aerospace Highlights” column for the base newspaper. But at that time, the chronology was arranged by year and date, and it took considerable time to find events by specific dates. In 1985, I moved to the Ballistic Missile Office at Norton AFB, California, to write about the Peacekeeper and Small ICBM programs. The introduction of computers allowed me to convert the original chronology into a “By Date” product. I knew that the chronology was not an all inclusive listing, so I began to integrate events from other works—like the Development of Strategic Air Command, 1946-1986, The SAC Missile Chronology, and The Military Airlift Command Historical Handbook, 1941-1986—into an electronic product.
    [Show full text]
  • Air-Defense Systems in the Organization of US Nuclear Command and Control, 1940–1960
    The Computer in the Garbage Can: Air- Defense Systems in the Organization of US Nuclear Command and Control, 1940-1960 The Harvard community has made this article openly available. Please share how this access benefits you. Your story matters Citation Volmar, Daniel. 2019. The Computer in the Garbage Can: Air- Defense Systems in the Organization of US Nuclear Command and Control, 1940-1960. Doctoral dissertation, Harvard University, Graduate School of Arts & Sciences. Citable link http://nrs.harvard.edu/urn-3:HUL.InstRepos:41121266 Terms of Use This article was downloaded from Harvard University’s DASH repository, and is made available under the terms and conditions applicable to Other Posted Material, as set forth at http:// nrs.harvard.edu/urn-3:HUL.InstRepos:dash.current.terms-of- use#LAA The Computer in the Garbage Can: Air-Defense Systems in the Organization of US Nuclear Command and Control, 1940–1960 A dissertation presented by Daniel Volmar to The Department of the History of Science in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in the subject of History of Science Harvard University Cambridge, Massachusetts November 2018 © 2018 Daniel Volmar. Some rights reserved. This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License. To view a copy of the license, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/ . Dissertation Adviser: Peter Galison Daniel Volmar The Computer in the Garbage Can: Air-Defense Systems in the Organization of US Nuclear Command and Control, 1940–1960 ABSTRACT During the late 1950s, the United States Air Force initiated development on nearly two- dozen military “command and control systems.” What they shared in common was a novel application of digital electronics to the problem of nuclear warfare.
    [Show full text]