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Strategic Communications Wing 1

Mission

Receive, verify and retransmit Emergency Action Messages (EAMs) to US strategic forces.

About Us

Our Wing consists of three squadrons and a Wing staff that employs over 1,300 active-duty sailors and 100 contractors to provide maintenance, security, operations, administration, training and logistic support for the E-6 Mercury aircraft fleet.

OC-ALC airframe artisans perform depot work on the Navy's E-6 Mercury aircraft, which are based on the Boeing 707 airframe. The Wing also operates alert facilities for E-6B aircraft at Travis AFB, California and Naval Air Station Patuxent River, Maryland.

The two operational squadrons, VQ-3 and VQ-4, prepared to move from their former Atlantic and Pacific bases in 1992-1993 and the Wing was formally established on 29 May 1992. Captain Andy Riddile, first commander ("Commodore") of the Wing, arrived in April 1992.

A separate Fleet Replacement Squadron (FRS), VQ-7, was later established at Tinker AFB with EC-18 and TC-18 aircraft.

E6B Mercury aircraft image


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