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===Cold War===
===Cold War===
With the end of the war, the War Department decided that there was no longer a requirement for active defense of the areas of the North Atlantic bases. Soon after, the Greenland Base Command and the U.S. Army forces in Labrador and eastern Canada were placed under the NBC. Both the NBC and the GBC were relieved from assignment to the Eastern Defense Command on 1 April 1948 and assigned to the USAAF [[Air Transport Command]]. This became the [[Military Air Transport Service]] on 1 June 1948. This arrangement continued until late 1950.<ref name="NEAC1"/>
With the end of the war, the War Department decided that there was no longer a requirement for active defense of the areas of the North Atlantic bases. Soon after, the Greenland Base Command and the U.S. Army forces in Labrador and eastern Canada were placed under the NBC.


In 1946,the Navy built a new and much larger weather station at Thule. The Army Corps of Engineers built a 4,000-foot airstrip on the south side of the station. In the following year the Thule airstrip was used as a jump-off point for exploration and a supply point for construction of airstrips and weather stations on the Canadian side of the straits (Eureka, Resolute, and Isachsen). The first Air Transport Command aircraft landed on 9 September 1946. The SAC East Reconnaissance Group (Project Nanook) flew B-17 mapping and photography missions
⚫
In October 1950 the organization was upgraded to Major Command status, being designated '''Northeast Air Command''' (NEAC). NEAC was given several additional units. In this form it had two primary missions, its original role supporting air transport and logistics, and a new role defending the air bases under its command. This later role was organized into the 64th Air Division (Defense) and included [[F-94 Starfire]] squadrons at [[Thule AFB]] in Greenland, [[CFB Goose Bay]] in Labrador, and [[Ernest Harmon Air Force Base]] in Newfoundland, as well as a variety of Air Control Wings in the early warning role, and a single [[anti-aircraft artillery]] group at the new [[Thule Air Base]] in northwest Greenland.
from Thule’s primitive facilities. In February 1947 the airfield was used to recover the crew of the downed B-29 ''[[Key Bird]]''.


Both the NBC and the GBC were relieved from assignment to the Eastern Defense Command on 1 April 1948 and assigned to the USAAF [[Air Transport Command]]. This became the [[Military Air Transport Service]] on 1 June 1948. This arrangement continued until late 1950.<ref name="NEAC1"/>
Northeast Air Command established its headquarters at Pepperrell AFB, Newfoundland.

⚫
In October 1950 the organization was upgraded to Major Command status, being designated '''Northeast Air Command''' (NEAC). NEAC was given several additional units. In this form it had two primary missions, its original role supporting air transport and logistics, and a new role defending the air bases under its command. This later role was organized into the 64th Air Division (Defense) and included [[F-94 Starfire]] squadrons at [[Thule AFB]] in Greenland, [[CFB Goose Bay]] in Labrador, and [[Ernest Harmon Air Force Base]] in Newfoundland, as well as a variety of Air Control Wings in the early warning role, and a single [[anti-aircraft artillery]] group at the new [[Thule Air Base]] in northwest Greenland.


The mission of NEAC was to provide RADAR cover over the northwest Atlantic Ocean, to provide a fighter interceptor force to defend against approaching enemy aircraft, and to support United States Army anti-aircraft defense forces. NEAC's Area of Operations was defined as Newfoundland, Labrador, northeastern Canada, and Greenland.
Northeast Air Command established its headquarters at [[Pepperrell AFB]], Newfoundland. As a result of the [[Cold War]] the mission of NEAC was to provide RADAR cover over the northwest Atlantic Ocean, to provide a fighter interceptor force to defend against approaching enemy aircraft, and to support United States Army anti-aircraft defense forces. NEAC's Area of Operations was defined as Newfoundland, Labrador, northeastern Canada, and Greenland.


Most of the NEAC RADAR stations were part of the complex of stations built throughout Canada under the Canada-United States Radar Extension Plan (known as the "Pinetree" plan). In addition to the Pinetree stations located in Canada, three stations were built in Greenland. The Pinetree stations consisted of three direction centers and seven early warning stations. In Greenland, there were two early warning stations and a direction center. An air defense control center was built at Pepperrell AFB.<ref name="NEAC1"/>
Most of the NEAC RADAR stations were part of the complex of stations built throughout Canada under the Canada-United States Radar Extension Plan (known as the [[Pinetree Line]]). In addition to the Pinetree stations located in Canada, three stations were built in Greenland. The Pinetree stations consisted of three direction centers and seven early warning stations. In Greenland, there were two early warning stations and a direction center. An air defense control center was built at Pepperrell AFB.<ref name="NEAC1"/>


NEAC's first fighter-interceptor unit arrived in September 1952. This was Detachment 1 of the 59th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron, which went to Thule AB, Greenland with four F-94B's. Additional interceptor squadrons were established at Goose Bay AB in Labrador and Harmon AB in Newfoundland and were composed of F-94s and F-89s. Also, there were numerous deployments of fighter-interceptor squadrons from the Tactical Air Command and Air Defense Command to NEAC bases, along with Strategic Air Command tankers and bombers, primarily using Thule as a refueling and staging base.<ref name="NEAC1"/>
NEAC's first fighter-interceptor unit arrived in September 1952. This was Detachment 1 of the 59th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron, which went to Thule AB, Greenland with four F-94B's. Additional interceptor squadrons were established at Goose Bay AB in Labrador and Harmon AB in Newfoundland and were composed of F-94s and F-89s. Also, there were numerous deployments of fighter-interceptor squadrons from the Tactical Air Command and Air Defense Command to NEAC bases, along with Strategic Air Command tankers and bombers, primarily using Thule as a refueling and staging base.<ref name="NEAC1"/>

Revision as of 04:24, 23 February 2011

Northeast Air Command
Northeast Air Command Emblem
Active1950-1957
Country United States
BranchUnited States Air Force
TypeMajor Command (1950-1957)
Garrison/HQPepperrell Air Force Base, St John's, Newfoundland and Labrador
Northeast Air Command area showing major Air Bases
59th Figher-Inerceptor Squadron F-89D-45-NO Scorpion interceptors stationed at Goose Bay AFB
C-47 at Sondrestrom AB, Greenland.
Strategic Air Command B-36 bomber refueling at Thule AB, Greenland.

The Northeast Air Command (NEAC) was a short-lived organization in the United States Air Force tasked with the operation and defense of air bases in Greenland, Labrador and Newfoundland. It was initially created by the US Army and turned over to the Air Force on its creation in 1948, and was discontinued in 1957.

History

Origins

The Northeast Air Command (NEAC) was originally formed from the World War II United States Army Newfoundland Base Command (NBC), which formed on 15 January 1941.

The origins of the NBC began in August 1940 with the creation of the Canada-United States Permanent Joint Board on Defence. In the summer of 1940, the President began negotiating with British Ambassador Lord Lothian for the American lease of British bases, the "rental" to take the form of fifty over-age destroyers.

On 2 September 1940, the negotiations were completed. In exchange for the destroyers, the U. S. got ninety-nine-year leases for bases in Newfoundland, Bermuda, British Guiana, Antigua, Trinidad, St. Lucia, Jamaica and the Bahamas. The detailed lease agreements were not signed until March 1941. But by that time, American troops were already in Newfoundland.

The first United States troops arrived in Newfoundland on 29 January 1941. The first base occupied was a temporary tent camp near St. John's called Camp Alexander. Nearby Fort Pepperrell (renamed Pepperrell Air Force Base on 16 June 1949) received its first troops in November 1941. The Newfoundland Base Command (NBC) was assigned to the Northeastern (later Eastern) Defense Command whose area included the east coast of the United States. NBC's mission was to provide ground, antiaircraft, and harbor defense of U.S. bases in Newfoundland, to work with Canada in defending Newfoundland, and to cooperate with the Navy in Newfoundland defense.

The NBC was under the direct control of US Army General Headquarters for U.S. Troops in Newfoundland in the defense of the northeastern seaboard. The responsibility for NBC rested with the Commanding General, First Army. The Base Command was responsible for its own supply, which was to be provided by the Second Corps area to the same extent as for units of the field forces.

NBC provided ground, antiaircraft, and harbor defense of U.S. bases in Newfoundland and Labrador, to work with Canada in defending Newfoundland, and to cooperate with the United States Navy in Newfoundland defense.[1]

Newfoundland Base Command was located at Fort Pepperrell, St. John's Newfoundland, Canada. The same terminology for Base Command was used later for the Bermuda and Trinidad garrisons and then later Greenland and Iceland.

The first USAAF presence in Newfoundland was in May 1941 when six B-18 Bolos from the First Air Force 21st Reconnaissance Squadron arrived at RCAF Station Gander. Later, the Army Air Forces Antisubmarine Command (AAFAC) used both Gander and RCAF Station Torbay near St. John's for antisubmarine patrols over the North Atlantic and to provide convoy overflights over the shipping lanes, patrolling for U-Boats.[1] Both Canada and the United States built radar stations in Newfoundland. Beginning in the spring of 1944, the American stations were phased over to the RCAF so that American personnel could be moved to more active theaters.

In addition, the United States obtained rights to build bases in Greenland. In July 1941, a task force of service troops arrived at Narsarsuaq. This site had been chosen as a major staging base between Labrador and Newfoundland. Work began at once on the base, which was given the code name Bluie West One (BW-1), and the first plane set down on 24 January 1942. Work on a second west coast base further north, at Sondrestrom or Bluie West Eight, began in September 1941. A third field was placed on the east coast almost directly across from BW-1 at Angmagssalik. A Greenland Base Command (GBC) with headquarters at Narsarsuaq was established to take charge of the U.S. forces and facilities.[1]

Cold War

With the end of the war, the War Department decided that there was no longer a requirement for active defense of the areas of the North Atlantic bases. Soon after, the Greenland Base Command and the U.S. Army forces in Labrador and eastern Canada were placed under the NBC.

In 1946,the Navy built a new and much larger weather station at Thule. The Army Corps of Engineers built a 4,000-foot airstrip on the south side of the station. In the following year the Thule airstrip was used as a jump-off point for exploration and a supply point for construction of airstrips and weather stations on the Canadian side of the straits (Eureka, Resolute, and Isachsen). The first Air Transport Command aircraft landed on 9 September 1946. The SAC East Reconnaissance Group (Project Nanook) flew B-17 mapping and photography missions from Thule’s primitive facilities. In February 1947 the airfield was used to recover the crew of the downed B-29 Key Bird.

Both the NBC and the GBC were relieved from assignment to the Eastern Defense Command on 1 April 1948 and assigned to the USAAF Air Transport Command. This became the Military Air Transport Service on 1 June 1948. This arrangement continued until late 1950.[1]

In October 1950 the organization was upgraded to Major Command status, being designated Northeast Air Command (NEAC). NEAC was given several additional units. In this form it had two primary missions, its original role supporting air transport and logistics, and a new role defending the air bases under its command. This later role was organized into the 64th Air Division (Defense) and included F-94 Starfire squadrons at Thule AFB in Greenland, CFB Goose Bay in Labrador, and Ernest Harmon Air Force Base in Newfoundland, as well as a variety of Air Control Wings in the early warning role, and a single anti-aircraft artillery group at the new Thule Air Base in northwest Greenland.

Northeast Air Command established its headquarters at Pepperrell AFB, Newfoundland. As a result of the Cold War the mission of NEAC was to provide RADAR cover over the northwest Atlantic Ocean, to provide a fighter interceptor force to defend against approaching enemy aircraft, and to support United States Army anti-aircraft defense forces. NEAC's Area of Operations was defined as Newfoundland, Labrador, northeastern Canada, and Greenland.

Most of the NEAC RADAR stations were part of the complex of stations built throughout Canada under the Canada-United States Radar Extension Plan (known as the Pinetree Line). In addition to the Pinetree stations located in Canada, three stations were built in Greenland. The Pinetree stations consisted of three direction centers and seven early warning stations. In Greenland, there were two early warning stations and a direction center. An air defense control center was built at Pepperrell AFB.[1]

NEAC's first fighter-interceptor unit arrived in September 1952. This was Detachment 1 of the 59th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron, which went to Thule AB, Greenland with four F-94B's. Additional interceptor squadrons were established at Goose Bay AB in Labrador and Harmon AB in Newfoundland and were composed of F-94s and F-89s. Also, there were numerous deployments of fighter-interceptor squadrons from the Tactical Air Command and Air Defense Command to NEAC bases, along with Strategic Air Command tankers and bombers, primarily using Thule as a refueling and staging base.[1]

Plans were made in 1952 to station anti-aircraft units at Thule for the protection of the base. The first Army anti-aircraft personnel arrived on 3 July 1953, with the main body of troops arriving on 27 August. The units deployed were the 549th AAA Gun Battalion (90mm), 428th AAA Battery (Light) (75mm), 429th AAA Battery (Light) (75mm), 177th AAA Operations Detachment, 357th Signal Radar Maintenance Unit, 128th Ordnance Artillery Repair Detachment, and 162nd Ordnance Integrated Fire Control Repair Detachment.[1]

Inactivation

In mid-1956, the Joint Chiefs of Staff completed a world-wide reorganization plan which they called the Unified Command Plan. Its aim was a more efficient structure and reduced cost. It achieved this by consolidating organizations and eliminating excess superstructures.

On 1 April 1957 the USAF discontinued NEAC. Air Defense Command and Strategic Air Command divided the Air Force units and equipment that had been under NEAC. ADC took over the USAF defense forces (including the 64th Air Division). ADC also took possession of Pepperrell AFB and all U.S. RADAR stations. SAC assumed ownership of Goose, Harmon, Thule, Narsarssuak, Sondrestrom, and Frobisher Bay Airport. Finally, ADC succeeded NEAC in its responsibilities for supporting and operating the DEW Line radar stations in Canada and Greenland.[1]

The Army anti-aircraft group in the area, the 7th at Thule, had been assigned to the U.S. Army Air Defense Command in 1956.

Lineage

  • Established as Newfoundland Base Command on 15 January 1941
  • Established as Greenland Base Command on 1 September 1941
Greenland Base Command became subordinate organization to Newfoundland Base Command, 1 September 1945
Redesignated Northeast Air Command on 1 October 1950, at which time it was elevated to major command status
Greenland Base Command discontinued, 19 October 1950
Discontinued on 1 April 1957.

Assignments

*Note: United States Northeast Command (USNEC) operated as a joint-service unified command under direct operational control of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. NEAC was the only component of USNEC. Neither the Army nor the Navy ever established component commands, however Army and Navy officers served on the staff of USNEC. Air Force officers served in dual positions on the staff of NEAC and on the staff of USNEC until USNEC was abolished on 1 September 1956.

Stations

Newfoundland Base Command

411th Bombardment Squadron (NBC), 1 May–30 August 1941 (B-18 Bolo)
49th Bombardment Squadron (NBC), 13 December 1941-June 1942 (B-18 Bolo)
429th Bombardment Squadron (NBC), 28 August 1941–29 October 1942 (B-18 Bolo)
847th Bombardment Squadron (later 20th Antisubmarine Squadron) (AAFAC), 29 October 1942–25 June 1943 (B-17 Flying Fortress)
19th Antisubmarine Squadron (AAFAC), 19 March–25 June 1943 (B-17 Flying Fortress)
6th Antisubmarine Squadron (AAFAC), 12 April–21 August 1943 (B-24 Liberator)
4th Antisubmarine Squadron (AAFAC), 8–23 June 1943 (B-24 Liberator)

Greenland Base Command

Northeast Air Command

references for components and stations[2][3][4]

NEAC Components

Division

20 December 1952-15 April 1957

The 64th Air Division was the primary operational component of the Northeast Air Command

Aircraft Squadrons

(1952-1967) (F-94B F-89D/J, F-102A)
(1953-1957) (F-89D)
(1953-1958) (F-89B/D)
(1953-1954) (F-94A)
  • 6614th Air Transport, Harmon
  • 6615th Air Transport, Goose Bay
  • 6622d Transportation, Pepperrell

RADAR Squadrons

See also

Fictional film based upon 1943 Air Corps Ferrying Command Labrador incident

References

Public Domain This article incorporates public domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h US Air Defense in the Northeast, Lydus H. Buss, USAF Continental Air Defense Command, 1957
  2. ^ NEAC Stations
  3. ^ NEAC Units
  4. ^ USAF Aerospace Defense Command publication, The Interceptor, January 1979 (Volume 21, Number 1)

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