| 269th Combat Communications Squadron | |
|---|---|
 Squadron members participate in a Homeland Emergency Response Force exercise | |
| Active | 1942–1945; 1947–present |
| Country |  United States |
| Branch |  Air National Guard |
| Role | Combat Communications |
| Size | 105 personnel |
| Part of | Ohio Air National Guard |
| Garrison/HQ | Springfield Air National Guard Base, Ohio[1][2] |
| Mottos | First Then, First Now |
| Engagements | Operation Noble Eagle |
| Decorations | Air Force Outstanding Unit Award |
| Commanders | |
| Current commander | Lt Col Brian S. Marshall |
| Ceremonial chief | CMSgt Jon King |
| Insignia | |
| Subdued 269th Combat Communications Squadron emblem |  |
TheUnited States Air Force's269th Combat Communications Squadron is anOhio Air National Guard combat communications unit located atSpringfield Air National Guard Base, Ohio.
The dual mission of the 269th Combat Communications Squadron is to rapidly deploy an integrated force capable of establishing initial and build-upCommand and Control (C2); Communications; andInformation Operations (IO) capabilities to support the war fighter during times of war and Federal/State agencies during Homeland Emergencies.
The 269th Combat Communications Squadron is the oldest combat communications squadron in the Air Force and was formed three months after the attack on Pearl Harbor and the subsequent United States entry into World War II. It became the 77th Signal Platoon (Aviation), an Army communications element at Davis Monthan Field, Tucson, Arizona, with a complement of one person, a Private Bunn, who later became First Sergeant. The unit had an authorized strength of approximately two hundred personnel with all the tools and equipment essential to provide communications for a typical fighter or bomber unit headquarters and its detachments. The company trained at three stateside bases, Gowen Field, Idaho; Wendover Field, Utah; and Rapid City Army Air Base, South Dakota, before transferring to England in June 1943. They were renamed the 1077th Signal Company, Service Group and were assigned to Camp Cheddington, England. The 8th Air Force Composite Command was the first of a series of fighter and bomber units served by the company in England and Northern Ireland. Moving to Belgium with 1st Bombardment Division and the VIII AF Fighter Command in February 1945, the company was based at Charleroi, Belgium. From there they dispatched personnel to install and operate beacons and communications systems across the expanding front in France, Belgium, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, and Germany. They moved forward with the fliers and even participated in an infantry attack at Frislar.[3]
Returning to England in May 1945, the organization was assigned as a demobilization unit until its own inactivation, 4 December 1945. The 1077th was reconstituted as the 605th Signal Light Construction Company of the Ohio National Guard on 24 May 1946. However, sufficient people to achieve federal recognition were not assembled at its new home at the state Armory on East Mulberry Street in Springfield until 29 January 1948. Three officers and fifteen men were assigned to the new company. The mission and name changed, concurrent with the construction of a new facility at Springfield Municipal Airport. The buildings were located across the road from the bustling airport on land which became the home of a much larger unit, the 178th Fighter Group. The 605th was renamed the 269th Communications Squadron Operations, effective 1 July 1952. In October 1952, it was assigned to the newly formed 251st Communications Group.[3]
| Award streamer | Award | Dates | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
 | Air Force Outstanding Unit Award | 1 November 1971 – 31 December 1972 | 269th Mobile Communications Squadron[8] |
| Air Force Outstanding Unit Award | 1 January 1980 – 31 December 1981 | 269th Combat Communications Flight[8] |
| Air Force Outstanding Unit Award | 1 January 1984 – 31 December 1985 | 269th Combat Information Systems Squadron[8] |
| Air Force Outstanding Unit Award | 1 January 1991 – 31 December 1992 | 269th Combat Communications Squadron[8] |
| Air Force Outstanding Unit Award | 1 June 1994 – 31 May 1996 | 269th Combat Communications Squadron[8] |
| Air Force Outstanding Unit Award | 1 April 1997 – 31 March 1999 | 269th Combat Communications Squadron[8] |
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