| Unit Name: | 26th Tactical Missile Squadron |
| Dates: | 1942-1943, 1959-1972 |
| Role: | Air Defense |
| Size: | Squadron |
| Motto: | Vigilant Defender |
| Equipment: | CIM-10 Bomarc |
| Decorations: | Air Force Outstanding Unit Award |
| Identification Symbol Label: | 26th Air Defense Missile Squadron emblem |
| Identification Symbol 2 Label: | 26th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron emblem (approved 20 May 1943)[1] |
The 26th Tactical Missile Squadron is an inactive United States Air Force unit. It was activated in 1959 as the 26th Air Defense Missile Squadron to provide missile air defense for New England and was stationed at Otis Air Force Base, Massachusetts, where it was inactivated on 30 April 1972. It received its current name in 1985. when it was consolidated with the 26th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron, a World War II unit that provided reconnaissance support for ground units in training until it was disbanded in 1943.
The first predecessor of the squadron was activated at Gray Field, Washington in March 1942 as the 26th Observation Squadron and assigned to the 70th Observation Group. It was initially equipped with North American O-47s.[1] The squadron participated in maneuvers and provided reconnaissance support for Army ground forces training in the Pacific coast region. Until September 1942, the squadron also flew antisubmarine patrols off the coast.[2]
In 1943, the squadron began to fly Bell P-39 Airacobras, becoming the 26th Reconnaissance Squadron (Fighter). With these aircraft it added fighter support to its training mission. In the spring of 1943, it moved with the 70th Group to Salinas Army Air Base, California. It became the 26th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron in August, but continued its mission from Pacific bases until moving to Will Rogers Field, Oklahoma in November 1943, where it was disbanded.[1] [2]
The 26th Air Defense Missile Squadron was activated at Otis Air Force Base on 1 March 1959 and stood alert during the Cold War, equipped with IM-99 (later CIM-10) BOMARC surface to air antiaircraft missiles.[3] The squadron was tied into a Semi-Automatic Ground Environment (SAGE) direction center which could use analog computers to process information from ground radars, picket ships and airborne aircraft[4] to accelerate the display of tracking data at the direction center to quickly direct the missile site to engage hostile aircraft.[5] It was inactivated on 30 April 1972.[3]
The BOMARC missile site was located 1miles north-northwest of Otis AFB at . Although located outside of the base (but within the borders of the Massachusetts Military Reservation, it was treated as an off base facility and the squadron received administrative and logistical support from Otis.
In 1985, the squadron was consolidated with the 26th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron,[6] but has never been active with this designation.
Activated on 2 March 1942[1]
Redesignated 26th Observation Squadron on 4 July 1942[1]
Redesignated 26th Reconnaissance Squadron (Fighter) on 2 April 1943[1]
Redesignated 26th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron on 11 August 1943[1]
Disbanded on 30 November 1943[1]
Activated on 1 March 1959
Inactivated on 30 April 1972