798AC&W & 931AC&W

• Origins and Designation: Both the 798th Aircraft Control and Warning Squadron (AC&W) and the 931st Aircraft Control and Warning Squadron were part of the United States Air Force's network of radar units during the Cold War, tasked with early warning and airspace control. • Cold War Mission: Their primary mission was to detect and track potential Soviet bomber and missile threats entering North American airspace, providing information to interceptor aircraft and command centers. • Location – 798th AC&W: The 798th AC&W Squadron was activated at Belleville Air Force Station, Illinois, serving as a crucial radar site within the central United States defense grid. • Location – 931st AC&W: The 931st AC&W Squadron was based at Crystal Springs Air Force Station, Mississippi, playing a vital role in the Southeastern air defense sector. • Radar Technology: Both units operated various radar systems, including the AN/FPS-20 search radar and AN/FPS-6 height-finder, representing state-of-the-art technology of their time. • Integration into SAGE: In the late 1950s and early 1960s, these squadrons were integrated into the Semi-Automatic Ground Environment (SAGE) system, a revolutionary command and control network that automated air defense data processing. • Personnel: Each squadron was manned by dozens of officers, airmen, radar technicians, and support staff, often working around the clock in isolated locations far from major population centers. • Interesting Incident: There are stories of radar operators mistaking flocks of birds or weather phenomena for potential threats, leading to tense moments and rapid scrambling of interceptor jets. • Deactivation: As the threat of Soviet bombers diminished and technology advanced, the 798th and 931st AC&W Squadrons were eventually inactivated in the 1960s as part of a broader reorganization of North American air defenses. • Legacy: The sites of both squadrons remain points of local historical interest, and their contributions to national defense are commemorated by veteran’s groups and local museums.