10th Aerospace Defense Group The 10th Aerospace Defense Group is an inactive United States Air Force ( USAF ) organization . Its last assignment was with Fourteenth Aerospace Force at Vandenberg Air Force Base , California , where it was inactivated on 31 December 1970 . The 10th Aerospace Defense Group and Squadron were the sole operators of the United States ' second nuclear - tipped anti - satellite weapon , Weapons System 437 ( WS - 437 ) . For this reason the squadron continues the group history through temporary bestowal . The United States Air Force ' s 10th Air Defense Squadron is also an inactive USAF organization , that preceded and followed the 10th group at Vandenberg as the 10th Aerospace Defense Squadron . Once WS - 437 became non - operational in the 1970s , the squadron assumed the mission of launching Defense Meteorological Satellite Program satellites into orbit until its mission was transferred . It was later activated an air defense unit and was last located at Wheeler AFS , Hawaii from 1992 to 1997 . History . Space Mission . Anti Satellite Defense . The 10th Aerospace Defense Squadron was activated in late 1963 to operate Weapons System 437 , using nuclear equipped Thor missile s . The squadron was located at Vandenberg AFB , California , but launch factilites 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 transferred its mission to support of the Defense Meteorological Satellite Program ( DMSP ) . This mission had been performed by Strategic Air Command . 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 the DMSP program was transferred to Space Division of AFSC . Unfortunately , while the squadron was responsible for DMSP launches , " the [ AFSC ] program office authorized launch of the last Block 5C satellite on 19 February 1976 with incorrect weight - to - propellant - loading calculations . Launched from Vandenberg Air Force Base , the Thor / Burner II booster rose majestically through the atmosphere , reached the edge of space , exhausted its propellant , and the DMSP satellite whistled back to Earth — a total loss . " 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 AFB 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 inctivated . The squadron coordinated air defense activities in Hawaii with the Hawaii Air National Guard and maintained operational control of ANG 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 . Squadron Emblem . On a light blue triangle within a wide Air Force yellow border edged and shaded Air Force Blue , originating from top of triangle curving through center facing viewer ' s left an Air Force Blue scorpion , claws extended grasping 2 white missiles edged and detailed black issuing diagonally one from right base , one from left pointing to center toward scorpion . Overall ten white stars edged black placed in an inverted stylized pattern of the Scorpius constellation . At base Air Force yellow border forms a scroll inscribed " Caveat Aggressor " in red capital letters . Approved 21 Nov 1963 . The light blue background is the limitless sky . The ten stars placed in a Scorpius constellation formation over a scorpion alludes to a Greek mythological legend and is symbolic of deadly powers . The missiles held by the scorpion and the motto " Beware Aggressor " refer to the mission of the squadron . The colors blue and golden yellow are the Air Force colors . Lineage . 10th Aerospace Defense Group 10th Air Defense Squadron Assignments . 10th Aerospace Defense Group 10th Air Defense Squadron Components . 10th Aerospace Defense Group Stations . 10th Aerospace Group 10th Air Defense Squadron References . Bibliography . Further Reading