Lineage

Established as 4000 Support Group, and organized, on 1 Feb 1963. Redesignated: 4000 Aerospace Application Group on 1 Jan 1973; 4000 Satellite Operations Group on 3 Apr 1981; 1000 Satellite Operations Group on 1 May 1983; 6 Space Operations Squadron on 31 Jul 1992. Inactivated on 30 Sep 1998. Activated in the Reserve on 1 Oct 1998.

Assignments

Strategic Air Command, 1 Feb 1963; 1 Strategic Aerospace Division, 1 Jan 1966; 1 Space Wing, 1 May 1983; 2 Space Wing, 1 Apr 1986; 50 Space Wing, 30 Jan 1992; 50 Operations Group, 31 Jul 1992-30 Sep 1998. 310 Space Group, 1 Oct 1998-.

Stations

Offutt AFB, NE, 1 Feb 1963-30 Sep 1998. Schriever AFB, CO, 1 Oct 1998-.

Commanders

Lt Col Gordon C. Hannaford, 1 Feb 1963; Col Eugene L. Hudson, 23 Jul 1963; Col Ardelle W. Frenk, 11 Aug 1966; Col Ivan P. Kirschman, 1 Dec 1971; Col Gerald J. Winchell, 7 Apr 1975; Col Richard D. Youngflesh, 6 Jun 1977; Col Norman A. Degenhardt, 25 May 1979; Col Lester J. Weber, 24 Aug 1982; Col John N. Shults, 6 Jul 1983; Col James C. Wheeler, 26 Jun 1985; Col Carl M. Hatlelid, 19 Jul 1988; Col Kenneth D. Riley, 10 Jul 1991; Lt Col Michael L. Jamilkowski, Jr., 17 Aug 1992; Lt Col Neil R. Wyse, 7 Sep 1994; Lt Col John E. Hyten, 21 Aug 1996-30 Sep 1998.

Space Systems

Satellites, 1963-1998.

Operations

Commanded and controlled satellites in earth orbit and collected and retrieved data from those satellites in support of the Defense Meteorological Satellite Program. First organization to control more than one satellite at a time.

Service Streamers

None.

Campaign Streamers

None.

Armed Forces Expeditionary Streamers

None.

Decorations

Air Force Outstanding Unit Awards: 1 Jul 1964-30 Jun 1966; 1 Jul 1966-30 Jun 1968; 1 Jul 1969-30 Jun 1971; 1 Jul 1971-30 Jun 1973; 1 Jul 1974-30 Jun 1976; 1 Jul 1976-26 Jun 1977; 1 Jul 1977-30 Jun 1979; 1 May 1981-30 Apr 1983; 1 May 1983-30 Apr 1984; 1 Apr 1987-31 Mar 1988; 1 Sep 1988-31 Aug 1990; 1 Sep 1990-31 Aug 1991.

Emblem

Approved on 10 Nov 1964; modified on 22 Mar 1994.

Lineage, Assignments, Components, Stations, and Honors through 22 Sep 2000.

Commanders, Aircraft, and Operations through 30 Sep 1998.