User:Lineagegeek/99th Range Group

The 99th Range Group is an inactive United States Air Force (USAF) unit. It was last stationed at Nellis AFB, Nevada, where it was responsible for the Nevada Test and Training Range (NTTR).

The group was first activated in 1954 as the 1st Radar Bomb Scoring Group when it assumed the radar bomb scoring mission previously performed by the 3903d Radar Bomb Scoring Group. In 1961 the group was redesignated the 1st Combat Evaluation Group as its mission expanded to absorb the crew standardization/evaluation mission and the resources of the 3908th Strategic Standardization Group, which was simultaneously discontinued.

The group was redesignated as the 1st Electronic Combat Range Group in 1989 and as the 99th Electronic Combat Range Group in 1992 when USAF required subordinate groups to carry the same number as their parent wings. In 1995 it moved to Nellis AFB, Nevada and assumed the mission of management of the NTTR and its most recent name.

1st Radar Bomb Scoring Group
The group was first activated at Carswell AFB, Texas in 1954 as the 1st Radar Bomb Scoring Group, when it assumed the radar bomb scoring mission previously performed by the 3903d Radar Bomb Scoring Group. The 3903d had been performing this mission for Strategic Air Command (SAC) as a squadron and later as a group at Carswell since 1948. The group performed the RBS function primarily through its three assigned radar bomb scoring squadrons, which were positioned in the eastern, central, and western United States. The three RBS squadrons manned the three RBS Express trains and controlled the RBS detachments.

In July 1961, the group moved to Barksdale AFB, Louisiana in preparation for the expansion of its mission.

1st Combat Evaluation Group
At Barksdale the group was redesignated the 1st Combat Evaluation Group (1 CEVG) and added SAC's military simulation, evaluation, and standardization function. Its Radar Bomb Scoring Division assumed the radar bomb scoring of simulated strategic bombing missions previously performed by the group. Its Standardization/Evaluation Division absorbed the functions and personnel of the 3908th Strategic Standardization Group, which had been stationed at Barksdale since 1958, and provided command level standardization/evaluation of SAC aircrews. 1 CEVG included standardization/evaluation divisions, a Radar Bomb Scoring Division, and an Office of History.

In July 1984, the group added a Radar Bomb Scoring Plans and Programs Division to assist in the development of the Strategic Training Range Complex (STRC) and the Strategic Training Center (STC). The division was also responsible for the proposed establishment of a multinational Aircrew Electronic Warfare Tactics Facility to provide a realistic realistic electronic training environment.

Radar Bomb Scoring Division
After the inactivation of its three radar bomb scoring squadrons in 1966, their RBS detachments were replaced by detachments of the group. The group's Radar Bomb Scoring Division directly oversaw the RBS detachments and included a maintenance office.

Standardization/Evaluation
In addition to standardization and evaluation for SAC bomber crews, 1 CEVG "evaluated the RC-135 units at Eielson, Kadena, and Offutt [and oversaw] the flight crew standardization of the U-2, the DC-130 reconnaissance drone program, CH-3 helicopter drone recovery program, [and] the SR-71 program at Beale AFB."

Operation Combat Sky Spot
Sky Spot (later Combat Sky Spot) was the nickname for ground radar directed bombing in Southeast Asia during the Vietnam War. Using radar, 1CEVG personnel directed bombers along a designated route to a bomb drop point, providing in route corrected headings and speed as needed. Then, at the proper moment, the pilot received a signal to release his bombs.

Comnbat Sky Spot was used particularly in target areas that lacked suitable aiming points. It was also used during periods of inclement weather and low visibility. It was used on an emergency basis to direct rescue helicopters during inclement weather. Combat SkySpot not only provided flexibility in targeting, but its accuracy soon surpassed that of the previously used radar synchronous bombing. In time, practically all combat areas of Southeast Asia were within range of one or more of the growing number of Combat Sky Spot facilities.

The first Sky Spot site at Bien Hoa AB (Sky Spot One) became operational on 1 April 1966. Later that month Sky Spot Two at Pleiku became operational. The first location outside the Republic of Viet Nam, Sky Spot Three, at Nakorn Phanom RTAFB, became operational in June as did Sky Spot Four at Dong Ha. There was some indecision as to the location of Sky Spot Five. Ultimately, the equipment for this site was colocated with Sky Spot Three, although its equipment provided a longer range. A new Sky Spot Five was established at Dalat and became operational on 26 Sep 1966

Viet Nam operations resulted in the group's first combat losses. On 5 June 1966, six members of the group headquarters and a detachment of the 10th RBS were killed in an ambush near Dong Ha, Viet Nam, close to the DMZ, while conducting a survey in connection with Operation Sky Spot.

Detachment 15 at Tan Son Nhut Airport served as an "administrative link between [the Vietnam Operating Locations] and Headquarters 1st Combat Evaluation Group" after Reeves AN/MSQ-77 Bomb Directing Centrals were produced and deployed in 1965 for Combat Skyspot bomber operations by the Tactical Fighter, B-52 units, and other organizations (e.g., Seventh Air Force). Personnel from stateside 1 CEVG units (e.g., after Bergstrom AFB training) manned operating locations at Bien Hoa AB, Binh Thuy AB, Pleiku AB, Thuy, Da Lat, Huế, Hue Phu Bai Airport, Son Tray, Da Nang AB, Quảng Trị, and Dong Ha. Thailand locations included Nakhon Phanom Royal Thai Air Force Base, Udorn Royal Thai Air Force Base, and Ubon Royal Thai Air Force Base; and a Laos site for Skyspot was captured in the 1968 Battle of Lima Site 85.

Sky Spot used AN/MSQ-77 Bomb Directing Central Radar(Det 23 Udorn Thailand used a TSQ-96)

The last Combat Sky Spot mission ws flown on 15 August 1973

ESD 806L systems
The Electronic Systems Division 806L "Range Threat" systems for electronic warfare simulation were developed for use by 1 CEVG late in the Cold War such as the US Dynamics AN/MST-T1 Multiple Threat Emitter Simulator (MUTES), for which the group evaluated the prototype in 1977 (operational in October 1978). Similarly, AN/TLQ-11 jammer improvements were in 1978, and in 1979 1 CEVG members completed a prototype study and testing of the new Threat Reaction Analysis Indicator System (TRAINS) for analyzing how aircrews and avionics reacted to ground-based threats. The solid-state US Dynamics AN/TPQ-43 Bomb Scoring Set (SEEK SCORE) was developed c. 1980 from the AN/TPB-1C Course Directing Central


 * OLA-7 BusySkyspot. Matagorda Island Air Force Base

Nevada Test and Training Range
In October 1995, the group moved to Nellis AFB, Nevada and was redesignated the 99th Range Group. There it assumed the mission of managing the Nevada Test and Training Range from the 554th Support Group's 554th Range Squadron. To perform this mission it was assiged two subordinate squadrons, the 99th Range Squadron and 99th Range Support Squadron. It continued this task until its mission was transferred to its parent 99th Air Base Wing, and then a year later to the 98th Range Wing.

Lineage

 * Constituted as the 1st Radar Bomb Scoring Group on 9 June 1954
 * Activated on 10 August 1954
 * Redesignated 1st Combat Evaluation Group on 1 August 1961
 * Redesignated 1st Electronic Combat Range Group on 1 July 1989
 * Redesignated 99th Electronic Combat Range Group on 1 July 1992
 * Redesignated 99th Range Group on 1 October 1995
 * Inactivated on 7 February 2000.

Assignments

 * Strategic Air Command, 10 August 1954
 * 99th Strategic Weapons Wing (later 99th Tactics and Training Wing, 99th Wing, 99th Air Base Wing), 10 August 1989 - 7 February 2000

Subordinate Units
Squadrons
 * 10th Radar Bomb Scoring Squadron, 10 August 1954 - 19 September 1966
 * Carswell AFB, Texas


 * 11th Radar Bomb Scoring Squadron, 10 August 1954 - 10 September 1966
 * March AFB, California


 * 12th Radar Bomb Scoring Squadron, 10 August 1954 - 19 September 1966
 * Turner AFB, Georgia


 * 99th Range Squadron, 1 October 1995 - 7 February 2000
 * 99th Range Support Squadron, 1 October 1995 - 7 February 2000

Flight
 * 10th SHORAN Beacon Flight, 10 August 1954 - 25 July 1966

Detachments and Operating Locations

Stations

 * Carswell AFB, Texas, 10 August 1954
 * Barksdale AFB, Louisiana, 21 July 1961
 * Nellis AFB, Nevada, 1 October 1995 - 7 February 2000

Awards

 * Air Force Outstanding Unit Award Streamer.jpg
 * Air Force Outstanding Unit Award


 * 1 August 1961 - 31 August 1963
 * 1 July 1969 - 31 July 1971
 * 1 July 1978 - 30 June 1980


 * 1 July 1984 - 30 June 1986
 * 10 August 1989 - 30 June 1991


 * 1 July 1991 - 15 April 1993
 * 1 October 1995 - 31 May 1997


 * Although the group is not itself entitled to them several Detachments and Operating Locations of the group earned additional awards.
 * Streamer PUC Army.PNG
 * Presidential Unit Citation
 * Detachment 15: 2 June 1967 - 31 March 1969


 * [[Image:AFOUA with Valor.jpg|325px]]
 * Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with V
 * Detachment 15: 1 April 1969 - 30 June 1970


 * Vietnamese Gallantry Cross with Palm
 * VGCP Streamer.jpg
 * Detachments 15, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27
 * Operating Locations 15, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27