5th TAC Group Honors & Lineage

Source: Documents (USAFHRC Form 24) provided by HQ PACAF/SCI (FOIA,) August 28, 2001, under the Freedom of Information Act.

All the information on this page was gathered by Larry Litteral, the group moderator for the 5th TAC Yahoo Group.

Established as:

• 5th Communications Group, October 29, 1951 and activated on November 25, 1951.
• Redesigned as: 5th Communications and Control Group, April 15, 1959.
• 5th Tactical Control Group, October, 1961 and inactivated December 31, 1971.
• 5th Tactical Control Group, December 18, 1979 and activated January 8, 1980,
• 5th Tactical Control Group, October 1, 1990.
• 5th Air Control Group, February 7, 1992 and inactivated July 1, 1993.

5th TAC Group Assignments

•  November 25, 1951, Fifth Air Force.
•  March 15, 1955, 314th Air Division.
•  October 22, 1955 to June 25, 1957, attached to Fifth Air Force.
•  November 15, 1955, 6101st Air Base Wing.
•  June 25, 1955, Fifth Air Force.
•  July 1, 1957, 313th Air Division.
•  July 1, 1957 to September 23, 1958, attached to Fifth Air Force.
•  September 24, 1958 to September 30, 1958, attached to Thirteenth Air Force.
•  October 1, 1959 to December 31, 1971, Thirteenth Air Force, Clark AB, PI.
•  December 1, 1959 to December 31, 1971, attached to Thirteenth Air Force, Clark AB, PI.
•  January 8, 1980, 51st Composite Wing (Tactical,) Osan AB, Korea.
•  June 20, 1982, 314th Air Division.
•  September 8, 1986, Seventh Air Force.
•  October 1, 1990, 51st Tactical Fighter Wing, Osan AB, Korea.
•  February 7, 1992 to July 1, 1993, 51st Wing.'

5th TAC Group Honors

Campaign Streamers

 Korean War

•  UN Summer-Fall Offensive
•  Second Korean Winter
•  Korea Summer-Fall, 1952
•  Third Korean Winter
• Korea Summer-Fall, 1953

Decorations

United States of America

•  Air Force Outstanding Unit Award, 1 September, 1959 through 1 June, 1961.
•  Air Force Outstanding Unit Award, 1 August, 1963 through 14 July, 1965.
•  Air Force Outstanding Unit Award, 15 July, 1965 through 30 April, 1967.
•  Air Force Outstanding Unit Award, 2 May, 1970 through 31 December, 1971. {Department of the Air Force Special Order GB-38, January 17, 1973.}
•  Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with Combat “V” Device, 10 August 1966
• through 10 August, 1968.
•  Air Force Outstanding Unit Award, 1 July, 1982 through 30 June, 1984.
•  Air Force Outstanding Unit Award, 1 July, 1984 through 30 April, 1986.
•  Air Force Outstanding Unit Award, 1 December, 1982 through 2 October,
  1988.

Foreign

•  Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation, 25 November, 1951 through 30
  September, 1952.
• Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation, 1 October, 1952 through 27 July,
  1953.

•  Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm, 10 August, 1966 through 10
  August, 1968.

5th TAC Group Component Units

• Headquarters, 5th Communications (Later, 5th Communications and Control; 5th Tactical Air Control, 5th Tactical Control) Group: November 25, 1951 to December 31, 1971; January 8, 1980 to {N/A}.
• 1st Mobile Communications Group: Attached c. October 1, 1961 to c. January 8, 1962.
• 1st Radio Squadron (later, 601st Communications Squadron [Radio]): November 25, 1951 to July 15, 1956.
• 1st Telephone and Carrier Squadron (later, 611th Communications Squadron [Telephone and Carrier]): November 25, 1951 to July 15, 1956.
• 2nd Communications Squadron, Operations (later, 602nd Communications Squadron [Operations]): November 25, 1951 to April 15, 1956, (detached October 22, 1955 to April 15, 1956).
• 2nd Radio Relay Squadron: November 25, 1951 to October 1, 1961.
• 5th Tactical Control Maintenance Squadron: July 8, 1964 to October 1, 1968.
• 7th Communications Squadron, Operations (later, 607th Communications Squadron [Operations]): November 25, 1951 to July 15, 1956.
• 19th Tactical Air Support Squadron (Light): January 8, 1980 to October 1, 1990.
• 22nd Tactical Air Support Squadron (Light): May 15, 1971 to September 30, 1971.
• 24th Communications Construction Squadron (Moble): July 15, 1956 to April 15, 1959.
• 603rd Direct Air Support Squadron: May 15, 1968 to May 1, 1970.
• 603rd Tactical Air Control Center Squadron: January 8, 1980 to December 15, 1989; October 1, 1990 to {N/A.}
• 604th Direct Air Support Squadron (later, 604th Air Support Operations Center Squadron): September 15, 1968 to May 17, 1971; January 8, 1980 to {N/A.}
• 605th Combat Support Squadron: December 15, 1989 to October 1, 1990.
• 605th Tactical Control Squadron: April 15, 1959 to October 1, 1961; April 8, 1964 to December 31, 1971.
• 608th Communications Squadron (Operations-Mobile): July 15, 1956 to October 1, 1961.
• 608th Tactical Control Squadron: July 8, 1965 to May 31, 1971.
• 619th Tactical Control Squadron: April 8, 1964 to November 8, 1965; December 15, 1989 to {N/A.}
• 621st Tactical Control Squadron: January 8, 1980 to {N/A.}
• 623rd Tactical Control Squadron: April 1, 1983 to February 17, 1987.
• 6151st Consolidated Aircraft Maintenance Squadron: August 1, 1989 to November 22, 1989.
• 6170th Combat Support Squadron: August 1, 1989 to December 15, 1989.
• 81st Tactical Control Flight (Later, 81st Tactical Control Squadron): April 1, 1981 to April 1, 1983; February 17, 1987 to October 1, 1990.
• Detachment 1, Headquarters, 5th Communications Group (Johnson AB, Japan): February 26, 1955 to July 2, 1956.
• Detachment 1, Headquarters, 5th Tactical Control Group (Don Muang Airport, Bankok, Thailand): November 15, 1961 to October 1, 1963.
• Detachment 1, Headquarters, 5th Tactical Control Group (Taipei AS, Taiwan):September 1, 1970 to September 30, 1971.
• Detachment 1, Headquarters, 5th Tactical Control Group (Wonju, South Korea):January 8, 1980 to May 1, 1980.
• Detachment 1, Headquarters, 5th Tactical Control Group (Camp Red Cloud, South Korea): May 1, 1983 to December 15, 1989.
• Detachment 2, Headquarters, 5th Tactical Control Group (Tan Son Nhut Afld, South Vietnam): November 15, 1961 to April 8, 1964.
• Detachment 2, Headquarters, 5th Tactical Control Group (Taegu [later, Suwon] AB, South Korea): September 1, 1970 to December 31, 1971.
• Detachment 2, Headquarters, 5th Tactical Air Control Group (Schofield Bks, HI): February 15, 1989 to October 1, 1990.
• Detachment 3, Headquarters, 5th Tactical Control Group (Da Nang AB, South Vietnam): January 8, 1962 to April 8, 1964.
• Detachment 4, Headquarters, 5th Communications Group (Pusan East AB, South Korea): November 15, 1953 to November 15, 1955.
• Detachment 4, Headquarters, 5th Tactical Control Group (Ubon Afld, Thailand):April 23, 1962 to April 8, 1964.
• Detachment 5, Headquarters, 5th Communications Group (Taegu AB, South Korea): unknown to November 15, 1955.
• Detachment 5, Headquarters, 5th Tactical Control Group (Pleiku Aprt, South Vietnam): July 24, 1962 to October 1, 1963.
• Combined Field Army Air Liaison Office: December 15, 1989 to {N/A.}

5th TAC Group Operations

November, 1951 to mid-October, 1955, supported Fifth Air Force and other Far East Air Forces agencies in Korea by installing, operating and maintaining radio, telephone and teletype communications networks linking Air Force and other military installations in Korea with bases in Japan. Operated communications centers serving Fifth Air Force’s headquarters at Seoul and Taegu, until 1954 and at Osan-Ni thereafter.

November, 1954 to April , 1955, supported a Republic of Korea Air Force technical training school. 

January to April, 1955, occasionally sent men and equipment as far away as Formosa to support mobility exercises. 

October, 1955, moved to Japan. While continuing to survey, install, operate and maintain radio, telephone and teletype  communications in support of Fifth Air Force and Southeast Asia Treaty Organization (SEATO) operations, the group became more mobile to provide communication support anywhere in the area of Far East (later, Pacific) Air Forces when natural disasters, such as floods or typhoons, destroyed or damaged fixed facilities.

1957, moved to Okinawa, with no change in basic operations.

September, 1958, came under Thirteenth Air Force control. About the same time, the group deployed men and equipment to Formosa to augment Thirteenth Air Force communications links there during the crisis over Quemoy Island.

The group acquired a tactical air control function in April, 1959, with assignment of the 605th Tactical Control Squadron. Lost its communications construction squadron at the time, but retained both radio relay and mobile communications squadrons.

Moved to Clark Air Base, Philippines, in October, 1959, continuing communications and tactical control support for Thirteenth, Fifth and Pacific Air Forces operations. Also, trained indigenous personnel in communications and tactical control operational techniques. In October, 1961, the group lost all squadrons, although another mobile communications group was briefly attached for control until January, 1962. the 5th Tactical Control Group maintained an “operating” radar section within its headquarters, however, and retained its tactical control capability. Detachments of the group, located in Southeast Asia, provided training of indigenous Air Force personnel in operation of communications equipment for tactical control for the next several years.

Two tactical control squadrons joined the group in April, 1964,and in July, 1964, a tactical maintenance squadron was assigned. The group continued to provide tactical control support and a mobile capability to support PACAF and Thirteenth and Fifth Air Forces operations. Two direct air support squadrons joined the group in 1968. The group continued to provide emergency mobile communications and electronics facilities to replace or augment fixed PACAF installations. From late 1970 to late 1971, the group also maintained permanent detachments in Thailand and Korea, and for several month in 1971, the 22nd Tactical Air Support Squadron (Light), equipped with O-2 aircraft, was part of the group.

The group began phasing down in September 1971, when its Thailand detachment was closed and the 22nd TASS transferred. From then until its inactivation at the end of 1971, the group controlled a single tactical control squadron (the 605thth) and its detachment in Korea.

Redesigned as the 5th Tactical Air Control Group, the group activated at Osan AB, Korea, on January 8, 1980, as a component of the 51st Composite Wing (Tactical.) To perform its mission the group comprised a direct air support squadron, a tactical control squadron, a tactical air support squadron, a tactical air control center squadron, and a separate detachment.

During the late 1980s, the group supported the Korean Tactical Air Control System by maintaining ground radar sites with air and ground support provided by forward air controllers, air support operations centers, tactical air control parties and communications personnel and equipment. Served the 314th Air Division from June, 1982 to September, 1986, when it was assigned directly to Seventh Air Force. Participated in numerous PACAF training exercises in Korea and the Western Pacific, working with other branches of the U.S. armed forces and units of other nations. Its 19th Tactical Air Support Squadron converted in 1983 from OV-10A to OA-37B aircraft, but returned to OV-10s in 1985. In August, 1989, the group moved from Osan AB to Suwon AB, South Korea, but it returned to Osan in October, 1990. when it was assigned to the 51st Tactical Fighter Wing.

5th TAC Group Emblem

Description

Significance

The emblem is symbolic of the group and its mission. Against a background of sky to indicate the medium through which our mobility is made possible, an electron, which is the basic principle of radar, encircles a globe to indicate the gobal capability of the unit. An aircraft represents the weapon which is controlled by this unit in the performance its mission, and five stars indicate the group’s numerical designation. The emblem bears the Air Force colors, ultramarine blue and golden yellow.

Approved on March 30, 1962.

Photographic Negative Numbers
166292 USAF (black and white); K-12351 (color.)

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