Air Combat Command’s 16th Airborne Command and Control Squadron closed a chapter in its 27-year history during an inactivation ceremony with the 461st Air Control Wing at Robins Air Force Base, Georgia, Feb. 16, 2023.

The squadron’s inactivation follows the Air Force’s decision to divest the E-8C Joint Surveillance Target Attack Radar System fleet.

Kevin Mulberger, 461st ACW historian, said the 16th ACCS originally reported to the 93rd ACW, at Robins.

“The squadron was redesignated to the 16th ACCS Jan. 15, 1996, and reactivated Oct. 1, 1996, at Robins AFB and equipped with E-8C JSTARS ground surveillance and battle management aircraft,” he said. “On Oct. 1, 2002, the 16th ACCS was assigned to the National Guard Bureau and the 116th Air Control Wing at Robins AFB.

“The unit remained with the National Guard Bureau until Oct. 1, 2011, when the 16th ACCS was reassigned from National Guard Bureau to Air Combat Command’s 461st Air Control Wing at Robins.”

Lt. Col. Joseph Maruska, 16th ACCS current and final commander, said the unit has been “lighting the way” for 27 years.

“The 16th ACCS flew over 5,030 combat sorties, provided 51,138 intelligence surveillance and reconnaissance hours, earned eight Headquarters Air Force Air Battle Management Aircrew of the Year awards, and contributed to numerous 93rd, 116th and 461st ACW Outstanding Unit Awards,” he said.

“Additional decorations included three Presidential Unit Citations, four Air Force Outstanding Unit Awards with Combat Valor, six Meritorious Unit Awards, eleven Air Force Outstanding Unit Awards, two Cited in the Order of the Day-Belgian Army Awards, Belgian Fourragere, and the Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm,” he continued. 

During the inactivation ceremony the 16th ACCS was awarded the Air and Space Outstanding Unit Award and added one more streamer to their guidon before inactivation.

The formal inactivation ceremony was held at the Museum of Aviation Century of Flight Hangar and was followed by a ceremonial piano burning at the Warner Robins Veterans of Foreign Wars Post.

The piano burning ceremony is a longstanding tradition stemming from the Royal Air Force.

“As a part of a Bilateral Exchange Program with the United Kingdom, we have continuously had Royal Air Force officers in the 16th ACCS,” said Stramblad. “Royal Air Force Flight Lt. Steven Hagerty assisted with narrating the ceremonial piano burning and explaining the tradition to the audience.”

Mulberger said the unit has had several designations, missions and flown a variety of aircraft but can trace its origins back to World War II.