A History of Combat Control through the Years

Below is a short synopsis of the contributions Combat Controllers have made over their 50+ year history.   Detailed historical information will be provided as time goes on.

Combat Control Teams originated during the airborne campaigns of World War II. Major parachute assaults fell well short of expectations, resulting in some cases with personnel being air dropped as much as 30 miles from their intended target areas. The shortcomings of these operations identified the need for effective guidance and control of air transported combat forces. Thus, a small parachute scout company of Army pathfinders was organized and trained. Their mission was to precede the main assault force to an objective area and, through the use of high powered lights, flares and smoke pots, provide visual guidance and critical weather information to inbound aircraft.

In September of 1943, pathfinders were first employed during the airborne reinforcement of allied troops in Italy. They parachuted in only minutes prior to the airborne assault forces to establish drop zones. Their training paid off and resulted in tremendous improvements for airborne assault operations. Later, pathfinders from the 101st and 82nd Airborne Divisions played an integral role in the Normandy invasion.

On 17 September 1944, an airborne operation code named Market Garden was conducted in Holland. Experienced pathfinder teams from the 101st Airborne were deployed 25 minutes before the first wave of airborne troops. The use of visual navigational aids, en-route radio checkpoints and properly marked objective areas enabled each aircraft to successfully drop at the pre-coordinated location.

After the establishment of the U.S. Air Force as a separate service on 18 September 1947, organizational changes resulted in tactical airlift and aerial port squadrons assuming responsibility for support of the U.S. Army ground forces. Air Force pathfinder teams, later called combat control teams, were activated in January of 1953 to provide navigational aids and air traffic control for the growing airlift forces. They were incorporated into aerial port squadrons and remained there until 1977, when they were assigned to the Director of Operations. In 1984 combat control was restructured into a system of squadrons and detachments reporting directly to numbered Air Forces and in 1991 they were placed under the control of host wing commanders.

Since their activation, combat controllers have made many contributions to Air Force operations worldwide. Combat controllers participated and distinguished themselves in the Lebanon crisis (Jul- Oct '58), the Congo crisis (Jul-Oct '60 ), the Cuban crisis (Sep '62), the China-India confrontation (Nov '62 - Sep '63), the Dominican Republic contingency, and the Southeast Asia conflict (including the evacuation of Vietnam and Cambodia).

Extensive involvement in Vietnam helped form the basis of combat control operating methods in use today. Tailpipes, as they were commonly referred to in those days, assisted during countless airlifts. They helped to assure mission safety, expedite air traffic flow, and coordinate with local agencies and airlift control elements. The first controllers went in from Okinawa and Tachikawa in 1965 and the 8th Aerial Port stood up in 1966. True to the combat control motto "First In, Last Out", they were the last American unit to be evacuated from Khe Sahn on 1 Apr 71. In addition, two American combat controllers were among the last to be lifted by helicopter from the roof of the U.S. Embassy when Saigon collapsed in 1975.

Because of their unique capabilities and quick reaction time, combat controllers have been instrumental in the resolution of several international emergencies and humanitarian relief efforts. When earthquakes devastated parts of Guatemala, Peru and Nicaragua, combat controllers were the first in and were the only communications link to relief headquarters for some time. Combat controllers worked at small airfields throughout North Africa and Bangladesh when the U.S. donated tons of food to drought stricken countries. In 1975 combat controllers were sent to Zaire and other African countries in response to contingencies in that region and in 1980 combat controllers were involved in the humanitarian attempt to rescue the American hostages held in Iran.

Combat controllers played a vital role in the 1983 Grenada rescue operation. The first airborne insertion occurred with a C-130 airdrop of 12 combat controllers and a force of U.S. Army Rangers from an altitude of only 500 feet. Each combat controller was loaded down with 90 pounds of equipment in addition to about 40 pounds of parachute gear. They quickly established a command and control radio net and air-to-ground radio communications in order to work inbound aircraft for follow-on airdrops and airland missions. They also acted as forward air controllers for U.S. Air Force gunships and U.S. Navy fighter aircraft. The primary mission of the unit was to establish usable navigational aids and provide initial air traffic control for the operation.

During operation Just Cause in 1989, combat controllers, pararescuemen and U.S. Army Rangers jointly deployed onto two separate air fields controlled by Panamanian Defense Forces. Combat controllers helped secure these air fields and then established an air traffic control capability for the fixed and rotary wing aircraft landings of assault forces. Their actions were instrumental to the success of airlift operations during this action.

Recently, combat controllers were a part of the huge pre-strike build up of the United Nation coalition during operation Desert Shield. Combat controllers were heavily involved in the air traffic control, air-to-ground operations, and assault actions that liberated Kuwait from Iraq during the ensuing Desert Storm campaign. Combat controllers also provided extensive air traffic control for the airlift that provided humanitarian relief to Kurdish refugees fleeing into northern Iraq.

Most recently, combat controllers were involved in the struggle to capture Somalian leader Mohammed Fhara Aidid. Assigned jointly with Army Rangers, a single combat controller was tasked to operate in a Search and Rescue (SAR) role on an Army helicopter. After the initial assault began, two Army helicopters were shot down. Combat control responded to the scene to assist survivors by providing close air support and vital command and control communications. A single combat controller, along with two pararescuemen and additional Army Rangers, were inserted into the firefight, established radio communications with gunship helicopters and provided direct fire calls to remove enemy threats. As a direct result of his actions, the mission was completed and many lives were saved.