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DEPARTMENT OF THE AIR FORCE 

HEADQUARTERS UNITED STATES AIR FOF<1CE 

WASHINGTON, D.C. 

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10 February 1971 

MEMORANDUM FOR DR. NAKA 

DR, McLUCAS 

SUBJECT; Review of 4200 Support Squadron 

Attached is a Historical Report for the 4200 Support 

Squadron, the operating unit for TAGBOARD. At your leisure 

I thought a review of this report would provide interesting insight into the potential and accomplishments of a 

small dedicated "Blue Suit" unit operating a highly sophisticated NRO system under specialized managemenr procedures. 

1 Attachment 

Historical H.eport 

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/Z.,? FRANK W. HARTLEY, Jr. 

Colonel, USAF 

Director, Program D 

BYE-12262-7l 

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SUBJECT: 4200 Support Squadron Historical Report 

TIME PERIOD: 1 January 1968 TO 1 January 1971 

GENERAL: 

The 4200 Support Squadron is located at Beale ArB, Ca. The unit mission 

is to conduct worldwide photo reconnaissance operations using a D-21B 

vehicle launched from a B-S2H in order to collect intelligence information 

essential to the security of the United States. To accomplish the mission 

the unit is manned with 38 officers and 158 enlisted men for a total manning 

of 196 men. The unit operates and maintains two specially modified B-S2H 

aircraft and up to six D-21B vehicles at anyone time. 

BACKGROUND: 

During the initial phase of this report (1 Jan 68 to 1 Mar 69) the 4200 

Support Squadron operated out of Area 51 in the Nevada Test Area. It was 

necessary to operate out of Area 51 in the interest of security and also due 

to the lack of facilities at Beale AFB. On 1 Mar 69 the unit moved into its 

permanent facilities at Beale AFB. 

LAUNCH MISSIONS: 

Between 1 Jan 68 and 16 Jun 68 three missions were flown in what is 

referred to as the Initial Test Series. In this series the contractor had 

overall 1'esponsibility in all areas except flying the B-52. One of these 

test missions proved completely successful, covering the entire 3l00NM track 

with a successful recovery. On 1 Jul 68 the unit entered a Test Series 

nicknamed Capt Hook. There were six launch missions flown in this series. 

The prime contractor maintained responsibility for the Launch Missions during 

Capt Hook I and II and in Sep 68 the test missions became a "blue suiter" 

operation. On the initial test series missions. and the first four Capt Hook 

missions the B-S2's were flown from and recovered at Area 51. Of the six 

missions in the Capt Hook series 3 were completely successful (Hook III, V, 

VI) . The remaining three Capt Hook missions were partial successes. Information gained from the problems encountered and their solutions, was used to 

improve and in some cases modify the D-2lB system. Following the last Capt 

Hook mission the unit flew its first operational test mission over denied 

territory. The mission (Senior Bowl 02) penetrated denied air space but was 

never recovered. Following this the unit was again scheduled to fly a 

special test mission on the Pacific Missile Range (PMR). The test mission 

was nicknamed Long Drive and was completely successful. Since the successful 

completion of Long Drive the 4200 Support Squadron has been scheduled for two 

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Operational Test Missions. Senior Bowl 03 was cancelled after an extended 

delay for weather in the target area., Senior Bowl 04 was flown on the 17th 

of Dec 70. The vehicle penetrated denied territory and all indications were 

that it flew the mission as planned, it exited on time and all sequence 

points were on schedule. The recovery however could not be completed due 

to a problem which developed in the hatch parachute system. 

SQUADRON OPERATIONS: 

During the 3 year period the Squadron has encountered many new and 

challenging problems in dealing with this highly sophisticated and exotic 

reconnaissance system. Squadron personnel have used all their initiative 

and knowledge in establishing unique procedures for more effective mission 

accomplishment in the areas of operations and maintenance. The crew force 

has established and maintained proficiency in many unique areas, in 

addition to mandatory MAJCOM requirements. The maintenance personnel have 

initiated many procedures for improved reaction time in vehicle maintenance 

and generation. The squadron has also performed surveys of foreign operating locations, and coordinated mission requirements with various military 

and government agencies. 

IN-HOUSE PROJECTS: 

The unit has performed numerous self-help projects for improving 

existing facilities. In addition~ two major in-house projects have been 

accomplished to improve mission effectiveness. The first was the design 

and construction of a simulator for use in training and maintaining proficiency of Special System Operators (SSO's). The simulator took eight 

months in planning and construction, at total cost of $5,000.00. The 

contractor estimate for the same project was $100,000.00. The savings on 

this project are included in the totals for the A. F. Suggestion Program 

discussed later in the report. The second major in-house project was the 

completion of a D-21B Operators Manual for use by the SSO's. The SSO's 

required a document that would fill in the gaps in existing Tech Data and 

at the same time be operator oriented. The project started in Mar 69 and 

the first edition was given to the Contractor Project Director for review 

in Jan 70. Additional information became available subsequent to the 

review period and a second edition was submitted in Jun 70. Lockheed 

reviewed, printed, and bound the manual, however it has not yet been 

approved to supplement the existing Tech Data. While no dollar value has 

been set on compiling the manual, the knowledge gained and ultimately the 

time and manpower saved will more than compensate for the man-hours 

invested. 

MILITARY AND CIVILIAN EDUCATION: 

The personnel of the 4200 Support Squadron are all high calibre and 

highly motivated toward improving their military as well as their 

personal education levels. During the past three years one officer has 

been selected for the AFIT program, another officer has been assigned 

to the Armed Forces Staff College and five officers have attended Squadron 

Officers School in residence. In the enlisted ranks, 12 men have 

attended the NCO Academy and 4 junior airmen, the NCO Prep School. This 
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is in addition to the numerous technical and contractor schools attended. 

Also numerous USAFr and EC I courSes ha,ve been completed by 4200 persoTlneL 

In the area civilian education all enlisted personnel are either high 

school graduates or graduate qualified. Many of these individuals have 

credits toward a Bachelor's Degree. The officer's education level 

reflects 28 of the assigned officers (75%) h;3.ve a Bachelor's Degree. The 

remaining 2 of the officers have college credits with some within 1 year 

of being awarded a degree. Of the officers holding a Bachelor's Degree 

nine (35%) are working toward a Masters. Seven of these officers expect 

to be awarded their Master I s Degrees by Sep 71. 

AWARDS: 

Since Jan 68 there bas been 1 Legion of Merit, 7 Meri tor-ious Service 

Medals and 9 Commendations Medals earned by personnel of the 4200 Support 

Squadron. The Squadron has also won the SAC Minuteman Award and the 

Department of Treasury ;;,HarG for Patriotic Service for its participation 

in the U.::;. Savings 30nd p'Ggram. The Squadron also received '(he Base 

Personal Affairs Orientat ie,; /;,vJard for the unit that had the most complete 

and act iv':,: orientat i::r; ()l'ogram during 1970. The 4200 Support 

SquadroL ertered the A. F. :.dgg(-;s::ion Program at Beale ArB in Jun 69. 

Many ObS~ .. i,::.c.les \.Jere ,:mcountered in participating in the program, in 

particular, the lem of security. The first award came in May 70. 

Since this time 11 monetary awards have been presented to members of the 

4200 Support Squadron. The total money awarded has been $2,735.00. the 

total savings realized from this program has been $111,215.00. 

SQUADRON ACTIVITIES: 

The 4200 Support Squadron achieved 245% of its assigned dollar goal 

in the Combined Federal Campaign for 1970. This was the highest percentage 

on Beale ArB. In addition, the unit had the highest per capita contribution 

average and was the only one with 100% individual participation. The total 

amount collected for the campaign was $2,733.00 or $15.89 per man. Since 

3 Apr 69 the unit has participated in 17 Blood Drives on Beale ArB. It 

has given a total of 139 pints of blood for Vietnam and 19 pints of blood 

for the local (Sacramento Blook Bank) driVe. The squadron personnel are 

active in the base sports program and have already won trophies for golf 

and bowling in the Beale AFB championship playoffs. 

As would be expected, the distaff members of this high calibre military 

unit are also extremely active in local affairs. Mrs. Dale Brummund the 

wife of the 4200 Chief of Standardization is the Beale ArB Officers Wives 

Club (OWN) candidate for Military Wife of the Year. The wives of the 

4200 Support Squadron officers hold 3 of the 7 elected offices in the 

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Beale ArB OWC. In addition 3 of the 10 committee chairman, the editor of 

the wives club magazine (The Airborne Electic), the Choral director, and 

instructors in club special activities are wives of 4200 officers. 1be 

4200 Spt Sq wives have also founded the Base Gourmet Club and the Base 

Antique Club. The wives of the Squadron's NCOs are also extremely involved 

in their wives club functions. Three of the elected officers in the NCOWC 

are from this unit and approximately 75% of the NCO wives are general 

members. Both officer and NCO wives are active in various local programs 

such as Red Cross Volunteers, family Services Volunteers, Youth Club. Scouts, 

Teachers Aids and Nursery to name just a few. The wives of the 4200 Support 

Squadron complement their husbands and are an asset to the unit, the base, 

the local community and the Air force.