255th Air Control Squadron

On 15 May 1971, the 255th was organized and activated as the 255th Mobile Communications Squadron, with a compliment of 195 members. Lt Col Amos S. Pollard was named the unit's first commander. The unit was originally housed in a multitude of old World War II buildings on the Combat Readiness Training Center (CRTC) in Gulfport, MS. In April, 1976, the unit moved into a newly constructed facility on Hewes Ave, just adjacent to the CRTC. Concurrently, its name changed to the 255th Combat Communications Squadron. During its 16 years as a Combat Communications Squadron, the 255th became the lead unit of the 254th Combat Communications Group, and successfully participated in 83 exercises and deployments. In May 1987, the squadron was given its current mission of managing air-combat operations, making it one of only six such squadrons in the Air National Guard and one of eight in the Air Force. In 1993, the squadron received new equipment enabling it to transmit radar pictures and other data to theater commanders. In 1996, the unit became the first MCE-CRC Air Control Squadron to undergo an ORI, during a major Joint Service Exercise, Roving Sands 96. In 1998 the unit was the first to upgrade to version 3 of the MCE-CRC. In 1999 the unit underwent a partial presidential activation sending approximately 100 members to Kuwait.