Contributed by John Smenner

(EDITOR`S NOTE: -- This feature is the second in a monthly series about 32D Air Division (SAGE) squadrons.)

Astride the half-mile high west ridge of Lookout Mountain, a long plateau extending southwest from Chattanooga, Tenn. to Gadsden, Ala. stands the 867th ACW Squadron, Flintstone Air Force Station.

The site overlooks a sweeping view of scenic Lookout Mountain, of the Chattanooga and Lookout Valleys, historic Chickamauga battlefield, Sand Mountain, the East Tennessee hill chain and the main range of the Great Smokey Mountains.

The station is named for the village of Flintstone, Ga., nearby at the foot of the mountain but not connected by any direct road or communication. The squadron is geographically in Georgia but postally in the town of Lookout Mountain, Tenn. Chattanooga, five miles away in the Tennessee Valley, provides all commercial contacts and is a center of education and recreation facilities.

The 867th presently under the command of Maj. Charles H. Carter, began its fourth fiscal year in July. The squadron came into existence at Dobbins AFB November 7, 1955 as a "paper unit" assigned to the 35th Air Division (Defense), which supplied personnel for the initial manning.

First Lieutenant Don Jones was its first commander, serving until January 1956 when Maj. Charles A. Krupski assumed the position. In March of that year Maj. Krupski supervised the move to the present Flintstone location where the actual buildup of personnel began. With the move the squadron was transferred to the 58th Air Division (Defense) with headquarters at Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio.

The unit was originally assigned the mission of maintaining air surveillence and aircraft control, flight follows, and giving navigational assistance to aircraft. It conducted active air defense operations as an Air Defense Command squadron within a specific area, operating as a Direction Center under the Control Center at division headquarters.

During Maj. Krupski`s tenure as 867th Commander, the 355th Fighter Group (Air Defense), located at McGhee-Tyson AFB, Tenn., was an associated fighter group. The successful deployment of the organization`s aircraft led to earning the ADC "A" Award during the squadron`s first year of operation.

Since Maj. Carter took command October 11, 1957 the squadron has met a series of higher-level changes in assignment and mission. First, the inactivation of the 355th in January 1958 entailed a decline in available aircraft control experience, which squadron training has overcome. This event also led to a change in support base from McGhee-Tyson to Dobbins AFB.

The squadron was reassigned in September 1958 from the 58th to the 35th Air Division (Defense), the present 32D Air Division (SAGE). At this time the squadron was also placed within the new Master Direction Center concept, under the Fort Knox MDC, and later under the Aiken MDC.

Finally, last April the mission was altered to allow exclusively for air surveillence. This caused a drop in personnel, even while the squadron was progressing in other fields.

For example, a new arctic tower has been installed and placed in operation. A multipurpose recreation building, a permanent NCO dormitory and a patio for the NCO Club have also been constructed. The squadron dining hall has been redecorated.

In the 1957-58 season, the squadron basketball team won the Division, EADF and ADC tournaments. They represented ADC in the Air Force world wide tourney held in Denver, going all the way to the semi-finals.

The dining hall was recently chosen the best in the division and in EADF and was recommended by each in turn for the coveted Hennessey Trophy. The final decision for this award is now at higher headquarters.

The squadron was rated "outstanding" in June`s Operational Readiness Inspection.

Twenty-seven family dwellings are currently being constructed nearby on the mountaintop which will probably be ready for occupancy in October.

Much progress is still afoot at the Flintstone Air Force Station as the 867th ACW Squadron looks forward to its future in the SAGE defense system.