01100851 SECRET 2447528 01-01-1989 2447892 12-31-1989

ALASKAN AIR COMMAND

HISTORY K484.011-1 V.1 VOL I OF XXI 43755 1391 1887 51 2449198 07-29-1993 UNITED STATES AIR FORCE CLINIC EIELSON AIR FORCE BASE AK REDESIGNATED 343 MEDICAL GROUP, 1 JAN 89; 11 TACTICAL CONTROL GROUP (TCC) REDESIGNATED AS A WING; 743 AIRCRAFT CONTROL AND WARNING SQUADRON (ACWS) REACTIVATED AS DETACHMENT 1; 743 RADAR SQUADRON, 744 AIRCRAFT CONTROL AND WARNING SQUADRON REACTIVATED, AND 3 AIR SUPPORT OPERATIONS FLIGHT REDESIGNATED AS A SQUADRON, 6 JAN 89; UNIT EFFECTIVENESS INSPECTION OF 343 TACTICAL FIRGHTER WING WAS CONDUCTED, 24 APR THROUGH 4 MAY 89; VICE PRESIDENT DAN QUAYLE AND PARTY VISITED AN OIL SPILL CLEAN UP SITE ON SMITH ISLAND, PRINCE WILLIAM SOUND, 4 MAY 89. 250 AIR FORCE PERSONNEL WERE EVACUATED FROM GALENA TO ELMENDORF AIR FORCE BASE AK WHEN FLOODING YUKON RIVER THREATENED TO CREST DIKE, 9 MAY 89; UNIT EFFECTIVENESS INSPECTION OF 5072 COMBAT SUPPORT SQUADRON CONDUCTED WITH RATING OF SATISFACTORY, 22 THROUGH 25 MAY 89; NORTH ATLANTIC TREATY ORGANIZATION (NATO) AIR CHIEFS VISITED ALASKA, 26 THROUGH 28 MAY 89; AIRCRAFT CARRIER NIMITZ VISITED ANCHORAGE AK, 2 THROUGH 5 JUL 89; ALASKAN COMMAND ACTIVATED 7 JUL 89; GEN MERRILL MCPEAK, COMMANDER IN CHIEF, PACIFIC AIR FORCES VISITED ALASKA, 11 THROUGH 14 SEP 89; 25 TACTICAL AIR SUPPORT SQUADRON AND 343 TACTICAL FIGHTER WING INACTIVATED 15 SEP 89; 21 MISSION SUPPORT SQUADRON AND 21 TACTICAL FIGHTER WING REACTIVATED 30 SEP 89; UNIT EFFECTIVENESS INSPECTION OF 5099 CIVIL ENGINEERING OPERATIONS SQUADRON CONDUCTED WITH SATISFACTORY RATING, 4 THROUGH 12 DEC 89; AND IVORY EAGLE, JOINT UNITED STATES AND SOVIET COMMUNICATIONS EXERCISE DESIGNED TO TEST CAPABILITY OF UNITED STATES AND SOVIET AIRBORNE AND GROUND BASE COMMUNICATIONS EQUIPMENT AND PROCEDURES CONDUCTED 7 DEC 89. COL DENNIS COCHEO, WHO REPLACED COL JERRY SMITH AS DEPUTY CHIEF OF STAFF/ENGINEERING AND SERVICES, WAS TRAGICALLY KILLED IN AN AUTOMOBILE ACCIDENT WITHIN A MONTH OF ASSUMING HIS NEW POSITION IN JUL 89. PRESIDENT GEORGE BUSH VISITED ELMENDORF AIR FORCE BASE AK 22 SEP 89; MAJOR FIRE OCCURRED 29 SEP 89 WHEN ALASKA AIR NATIONAL GUARD KC-135 TANKER EXPLODED AT EIELSON AIR FORCE BASE AK. EXPLOSION KILLED TWO AIR NATIONAL GUARD AIRCREWMEN BUT FIRE CAUSED NO LOSS OF LIFE AMONG MEMBERS OF COMMAND. NOFORN WNINTEL ALASKAN NORAD REGION JOINT TASK FORCE ALASKA WING/0021/TACTICAL FIGHTER WING/0343/TACTICAL CONTROL GROUP/0011/TACTICAL CONTROL GROUP/5073/AIRBASE CONTAINS NARRATIVE HISTORY WITH SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS.