244th History 1975

Year 1975 1956 1957 1958 1959 1960 1961 1962 1963 1964 1965 1966 1967 1968 1969 1970 1971 1972 1973 1974 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980 1981

1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006

AFCS

244 Mobile Communications Squadron

LtCol Benjamin W. Faber

For the third time, Lieutenant Colonel Benjamin W. Faber assumed Command of the 244th Mobile Communications Squadron on 1 October 1974. Colonel Garvin said, "Maybe he'll get it right this time."

The 252nd Mobile Communications Group was awarded the AIR FORCE OUTSTANDING UNIT AWARD for the period 1 January 1974 to 31 December 1975, with the 244th Mobile Communications Squadron sharing in the award.

'Cold' was the word for exercise Jack Frost 75, in which the 244th participated during January-February 1975. The exercise drew units from the active duty Army, Navy and Air Force, the Reserves and National Guard and the Canadian Armed Forces. The 244th Mobile Communications Squadron was designated as the project unit from within the 252nd Mobile Communications Group, with the responsibility of establishing a link from Eielson AFB to Pedro Dome, Alaska, an Alaskan communications system "White Alice" site. The 244th also supplied personnel to help with the expanded workload in the Eielson AFB Communications Center and CEMC. In addition, the 244th supplied a secure Communications Center and personnel to support the Joint Unconventional Warfare Task Force participating in the exercise at Elmendorf AFB, Alaska. The capability and experience demonstrated by the 244th personnel resulted in an AAC request for their participation in the planning and engineering phase of exercise Jack Frost 76.

A Letter of Commendation from Headquarters, Alaskan Command, LtGeneral Hill, Commander in Chief, was sent to Director, Air National Guard, Washington, D.C. and in part he stated, "All personnel who participated in this exercise are to be commended. The professionalism and dedication displayed by these men and women in the outstanding performance of their duties reflect great credit on the individuals themselves and their units. Neither the demanding requirements of the exercise nor the severity of the arctic winter conditions could deter them from mission accomplishment."

Major General Pesch, Director, Air National Guard, National Guard Bureau, Washington, D.C., stated in part, "Please convey our congratulations to appropriate members of the 244th Mobile Communications Squadron and assure them of the important role the Air National Guard has assumed on today's Total Force Team."

Major General Miller, the Adjutant General, Military Department, State of Oregon, endorsed General Pesch's congratulations. In his letter, he stated, "Please extend to the members of the 244th Mobile Communications Squadron my personal congratulations for the outstanding manner in which the participated in exercise Jack Frost 75."

Major General Doolittle, Commander, Oregon Air National Guard, endorsed the letter and in part stated, "The members of your unit that participated in exercise Jack Frost 75, have earned my most sincere congratulations for their outstanding performance during this most important exercise. Once again forces of the Oregon Air National Guard have demonstrated their ability to execute assigned duties in an outstanding manner in a shoulder-to-shoulder atmosphere with our active counterparts. Your success in this exercise is commendable."

The 244th participated in Gallant Shield 75 in New Mexico and Texas during April 1975. Personnel were deployed to McGregor Range Camp, Biggs Army Air Field, Wade Hill, Holloman AFB and Kirtland AFB, New Mexico.

In less than eight months, the 244th participated in its THIRD exercise. Annual Field Training in July-August 1975 was in support of the 153rd TAC control Group tactical exercise in Washington and Oregon. The 244th deployed its main complex to Camp Rilea, and personnel and equipment to relay sites at K.O. Point, Crawford Mountain, Grass Mountain, Capitol Peak, Grant County Airport and Raven's Roost, Washington, with a communications team at PIA, Oregon. The overall system provided telephone, teletype and voice channels in support of the tactical control of aircraft, utilizing Portland ANG, Oregon and Yakima Firing Center, Grant County Airport, McNary Field and McChord AFB, Washington.

As part of its ongoing response to meeting community needs whenever possible, the 244th participated in "Operation Second Wind". Air and ARmy National Guard men and women helped local high school students collect food for the needy. Members of the 244th also took part in "Summer 75", which involved transporting city youth organizations to recreation and learning activities.

In April 1975, the 244th Mobile Communications Squadron (Contingency) received the TRIBUTARY OF THE YEAR AWARD for outstanding duty performance in telecommunications processing.

Technical Sergeant Richard K. Barnekoff was recognized as the Outstanding Unit Airman of 1975.

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1975 Photos

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1975 AFT Photo 01	1975 AFT Photo 02	1975 AFT Photo 03	1975 AFT Photo 04
1975 AFT Photo 05	1975 AFT Photo 06	1975 AFT Photo 07	1975 AFT Photo 08
1975 AFT Photo 09	1975 AFT Photo 10	1975 AFT Photo 11	1975 AFT Photo 12
1975 Gallant Shield Photo 01	1975 Gallant Shield Photo 02	1975 Gallant Shield Photo 03	1975 Gallant Shield Photo 04
1975 Gallant Shield Photo 05	1975 Gallant Shield Photo 06	1975 Gallant Shield Photo 07	1975 Gallant Shield Photo 08
1975 Gallant Shield Photo 09	1975 Gallant Shield Photo 10	1975 Gallant Shield Photo 11	1975 Gallant Shield Photo 12
1975 Gallant Shield Photo 13	1975 Gallant Shield Photo 14	1975 Gallant Shield Photo 15	1975 Gallant Shield Photo 16
1975 Gallant Shield Photo 17	1975 Gallant Shield Photo 18	1975 Gallant Shield Photo 19	1975 Gallant Shield Photo 20
1975 Jack Frost Photo 1	1975 Jack Frost Photo 2	1975 Jack Frost Photo 3	1975 Jack Frost Photo 4
1975 Jack Frost Photo 5	1975 Jack Frost Photo 6