Space mission Anti-satellite defense The 10th Aerospace Defense Squadron was activated in late 1963 to operate
Weapons System 437, using nuclear equipped
Thor missiles. The squadron was located at
Vandenberg Air Force Base, California, but launch facilities were at
Johnston Island Air Force Base. Two missiles were stationed at each location. In 1961,
Air Force Systems Command (AFSC) had formed the 6595th Test Squadron to perform operational testing on the system. As the program approached operational status, AFSC transferred the 6595th to
Air Defense Command (ADC) in November 1962. ADC discontinued the test
squadron and used its personnel and equipment to activate the 10th Aerospace Defense Squadron The
group replaced the squadron in 1967. The Johnston Island location was upgraded to a subordinate squadron at the same time.
Defense Meteorological Satellite Program At the end of 1970, the 10th Squadron replaced the
group and the 24th Aerospace Defense Squadron. WS 437 was put into standby status with the squadron maintaining system components. The squadron then changed its mission to support of the
Defense Meteorological Satellite Program (DMSP). The DMSP mission was performed by
Strategic Air Command until it was transferred to ADC in 1970. The DMSP generates terrestrial and space weather data for United States operational forces worldwide. Data from this program is also furnished to the civilian community through the Department of Commerce. DMSP satellites circle the Earth at an altitude of about 500 miles in a near-polar,
Sun-synchronous orbit. The Block 5 DMSP satellites launched during the time the squadron was active used Thor launchers (similar to those used by WS 437) to boost them into orbit. In 1979, the squadron was inactivated when responsibility for management of the DMSP program was transferred to
Space Division of AFSC.
Air defense in Hawaii In 1992, the 10th squadron was again activated as the 10th Air Defense Squadron, replacing the 6010th Aerospace Defense Group at
Wheeler Air Force Base when the USAF eliminated or redesignated all existing MAJCON (major command controlled) four digit units. The 6010th had been formed by upgrading the 6010th Aerospace Defense Flight in 1989 when the
327th Air Division was inactivated. The squadron coordinated
air defense activities in Hawaii with the
Hawaii Air National Guard and maintained operational control of
Air National Guard alert aircraft. The squadron supervised aircraft control and warning units within the Pacific Islands Defense Region, directing aircraft operations and defense activities from its Air Defense Control Center. The squadron continued these activities until it was inactivated in 1997. ==Lineage==