USAF Patch Cmd USAFE d 7120 ACCS Command Control Squadron Silk Purse a

USAF Patch USAFE 7120 ACCS Airborne Command And Control Squadron ABNCP 1969 Silk Purse RAF Mildenhall Embroidered on twill cut edge 107mm by 94mm four and one quarter inches by three and eleven sixteenth inches.

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Squadron History

7120 Airborne Command and Control Squadron ACCS was activated in 1960 at Chateauroux Deols Air Base France equipped with modified Douglas C 118G transport aircraft for Operation Silk Purse with the Silk Purse Control Group to provide airborne nuclear command and control for the European theater of operations to assume authority if the EUCOM European Command Center was destroyed or rendered inoperative. The Squadrons USCINCEUR ABNCP US Commander In Chief Airborne Command Post kept aircraft airborne in case war broke out 24 hours a day 7 days a week 52 weeks a year. The Squadrons mission included providing and regular testing vital communications links with SAC Strategic Air Command weapon and communication installations while carrying a full battle crew and SAC General with the authority and capability to initiate retaliatory nuclear strikes from surviving ground based nuclear weapons.

The squadron relocated to RAF Mildenhall in November 1965 and converted to EC-135H airborne command post aircraft. From RAF Mildenhall the Squadron flew varied flight plans to Southern England Scotland or swap with another ABNCP from Lajes Field Azores and carried out air to air and air to ground communications tests air to air refuelling and training exercises. Flights were made to Rota AB Spain for the aircraft to be washed down. 7120 ACCS was redesignated 10 Airborne Command and Control Squadron in January 1970.

This patch dates from 1969.