82Nd FIGHTER CONTROL SQUADRON

82nd FIGHTER CONTROL SQUADRON MISSION To the fighter control squadron goes the responsibility of providing all VHF ground-to-air communications and all VHF navigational aids, such as fixers and homers, together with the means other than land-line (FM and HF radio) of bringing this information to the control center or forward control unit. In the squadron are the necessary technical personnel, officers and enlisted men alike, to carry out this mission. In addition, the squadron has assigned controllers who operate within the control centers and forward control units. The duty of the controller is to use all the facilities of the fighter control squadron and signal battalions to give offensive and defensive control to the fighter groups operating under the Wing, and navigational aids to any aircraft flying in the area of the Army with which the Wing is cooperating. Without perfect ground-to-air communications, the whole system of control breaks down. LINEAGE 82nd Interceptor Control Squadron Activated, 9 Feb 1942 Redesignated 82nd Fighter Control Squadron, May 1942 Inactivated, 10 Oct 1945 STATIONS Harding Field, Baton Rouge, LA California, Apr 1942-Jan 1943 Algeria, Feb 1943 Tunisia, Mar 1943 Sicily, Jul 1943 Italy, Sep 1943 St. Tropez, France, Oct 1944 Dole, France Ludres, France Xertigny, France Rougemont, France Edenkoben, Germany Schwabisch-Hall, Germany Markheidenfield, Germany ASSIGNMENTS COMMANDERS HONORS Service Streamers Campaign Streamers Armed Forces Expeditionary Streamers Decorations EMBLEM MOTTO NICKNAME OPERATIONS The 82nd Fighter Control Squadron has had its installations operating without interruption from the day it originally commenced operations in Thelepte, Africa, on March 20, 1943, up to the close of hostilities in Europe. In invasions, operations are always maintained on the mainland or island from which the assault is launched, until such time as the beachhead has developed to such an extent that operations can be organized in the newly captured area. No accurate record has been kept of the number of bearings given, and fixes made, as a result of the information rendered by the fixer and homer stations (SCR-575) of the 82nd Fighter Control Squadron, nor of the amount of homings or air-sea rescues affected. On the island of Pantelleria, immediately preceding the Sicilian campaign and for one week thereafter, an average of three pilots each day were rescued from the sea as a result of the information forwarded to the control center. This enabled the squadron controllers, Captains Bailey, Epps and Scheftel, to effect successful and speedy air-sea rescues by dispatching amphibious aircraft (Walruses) and high-speed air-sea rescue launches based on the island for that purpose. On March 18, 1945, 2506 bearings were told into the control center at Nancy, and 423 fixes were made from these bearings by the four DF stations of the 82nd Fighter Control Squadron. In addition, on that same day, 87 homings were given involving 504 aircraft. At this time, there was also another control center operating at Dole, two forward sector operations at Saverne and Ribeauville, and three forward fighter control units with the VI, XV, and XXI Corps. These units were also rendering navigational aid to aircraft, as well as the main control center. In the landing at Sicily, the first Air Corps person who hit the beach in the American sector was an SCR-575 man of this squadron. The enlisted personnel who operate all of the VHF equipment of the organization deserve great credit for the efficient, and often heroic, contributions which they have made to the war effort. Owing to the nature of VHF, the installations have to be placed, when possible, on the highest ground the immediate area from which operations are conducted. At Pantelleria, Sicily, Salerno and Anzio these installations were constantly exposed to enemy artillery fire and air attacks. In the case of Pantelleria, enemy action came solely from the air; but at Sicily, Salerno, Anzio and the forward control units in France and Germany, it came from both air and ground. The squadron has suffered many casualties, but at no time were operations abandoned. The men who operate and maintain these installations must remain at their post in an exposed position and render accurate information to the control centers or units to which they are attached. Despite the noise and confusion of our own artillery fire and the bursting of enemy shells in their midst, they must carry on. The contributions made by these silent guardians of the pilots' lives is not adequately appreciated. Unlike the ground soldier, the relief of shooting back at the enemy and keeping in constant motion is denied to them. VHF has been one of the most successful developments to come out of the present war, and as a result the ground-to-air control has been rising rapidly to its present peak of efficiency. This is borne out by the numerous testimonials received from the ground forces, and by such statements as the one made by the captured German general, Lt. Gen. Heinz Guderian, who stated that the success of the Allies was due to the fact that they had mastered the trick of cooperative operations in the field of action between the air forces and the motorized infantry. THE GENERAL HISTORY OF THE 82ND FIGHTER CONTROL SQUADRON By 1st Lt. Norman Nierenberg War, with all its attendant ill effects in a great measure creates as indispensable for victory and achievement of everlasting peace, a harmonious cooperation of men, groups and organizations throughout the whole structure of a warring nation. Total war must be fought by total war efforts on the part of every class, section, economic, political and social unit. The army of the United States has an enviable record in victory of arms. The birth, development and subsequent functioning of the military art and science in the great democracy has survived and flowered such as is rarely discovered in the histories of other armies of the world. As a whole is determined by its parts, so the army in organization and performance is a product and an entity reflecting the manner of structure, function, and cooperation of the various units within the vast organization-special and temporal. In this exposition we will attempt to cover the inception, growth and development, and work of one of these component parts of the army. In the last war, and more so in the present war, in the battles raging on the far-flung fields of Africa, Europe, Asia, and the South Pacific, it has been proven that the Signal Corps is an important adjunct in the efficient performance of the Air Corps. The great strides that the Army Air Forces have made in this struggle Have called for even greater activities on the part of Air Raid Warning Groups and Interceptor Squadrons. The 82nd Fighter Control Squadron as one of the most important parts in the Air Raid Warning setup has beyond any reasonable doubt convinced the military authorities of its "raisorn d'etre". The 82nd Fighter Control Squadron was born at Harding Field, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, without any flurry or excitement accompanying it and littles suspicion manifested itself at the time concerning how the outfit would carry out its share in the victory in North Africa and following campaigns. In the early days it was recognizable as the 82nd Interceptor Control Squadron. This squadron was activated as an intrinsic part of the 82nd Pursuit Group which later due to its courageous and noble exploits in Africa was to make it the favorite of General Jimmy Doolittle. The 82nd Pursuit Group, however, remained in name only until sometime after that. The personnel of the unit consisted of Cpls. Kimmel and Mercandetti, Pfc. Kosch and Pvts. Tebeleff, Moddy, Munn and Moyes, and was commanded by Lieutenant Charles Duke. Not much is known of these pioneer soldiers of the outfit but apparently they did a sound job because they created a concrete foundation upon which the 82nd was to build a thriving, vital organization. On March 6, 1942, the organization had 92 enlisted men on its roll, working and planning and carrying on usual squadron duties. Some 158 men joined later, and the days rolled on until April 3, when the squadron was ordered on the alert and received orders to pack and load all equipment preparatory to departure by rail. The unit entrained for March Field, California, with three assigned officers, one attached Medical Corps officer, and 205 enlisted men, and crossed the Mississippi via ferry in three sections. At Anchorage, Louisiana, orders were received a few hours later, changing the destination to Muroc, California. Throughout the trip the officers and men indulged in the usual calisthenics and marching, which is a familiar sight at any station through which troop trains are moving. On April 30, the squadron arrived at Muroc Bombing and Gunnery Range and then the squadron was dissipated, broken up with various elements of it going to the 82nd Pursuit Group. Thus, in a sense the 82nd Interceptor Squadron was instrumental in creating the 82nd Pursuit Group which hitherto had been existent in name only. Other cadres were taken from training centers and the 1st Pursuit Group and then the group sprung into activity under the able guidance of Lieutenant Colonel Robert Israel (now Brigadier General). From May 5 to May 10, the squadron operated with four men in virtual obscurity. The squadron gained new life when Cpl. Malone was transferred from the 82nd Pursuit Group to the 82nd Interceptor Control Squadron. It was like renewed recognition, and significant in the fact that the 82nd would not be inactivated. Further life was pumped into its veins when Lt.

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