728th ACS Demons

Constituted in August 1950, the 728th Aircraft Control and Warning Squadron (AC&W) was activated on 2 September 1950 at Turner AFB, Albany, Ga., under Ninth Air Force. Initial equipment included the AN/TPS-1B light weight, transportable, early warning radar along with the AN/CPS-1 long range, fixed, early warning radar. The initial communication used consisted of the AN/TRC-7 portable short range, two-channel radios. The squadron completed its first exercise, Operation SICILY, later that year at Fort Bragg, NC.

During the 1980s, the 728 TCS deployed to southwest Asia for Exercise PROUD PHANTOM in Egypt and Operation ELF-ONE in Saudi Arabia. They returned to Korea in 1984 for Exercise TEAM SPIRIT. The Demons also participated in several local and CONUS exercises, many involving the 33 TFW at Eglin AFB, Fla.

The Demons experienced their first casualty of OIF on 13 May, near Diwaniyah, Iraq. Staff Sergeant Patrick L. Griffin, Jr., died as a result of wounds received from an unexploded ordinance while on a 387 mile convoy movement from Kuwait to Baghdad. The Demons named their deployed bivouac "Camp Griffin" in honor of the fallen comrade. Three months after their return in November 2003 form Iraq, the unit was again engaged in multiple deployments in support of both the Vice President and President of the United States.

The squadron once again proudly returned from war in September 2010 completing their seventh combat deployment to control the skies of Iraq. In 2011 they were tasked with their first and now final missiona in suport of Operation ENDURING FREEDOM, sending Airmen to Afghanistan, Qatar and Kuwait.

The 728th's Demon's proud heritage includes two Meritorious Unit Awards and 14 Outstanding Unit Awards (one with valor).

As directed by Headquarters Air Combat Command (ACC) Special Order GB-77, effective 1 May 2008, HQ 552d Air Control Group (ACG) was activated at Tinker AFB, OK and assigned to the 552d Air Control Wing. The order also directed that the 728 ACS was relieved of their present assignment under the 33rd Operations Group, Eglin AFB, FL and reassigned to the 552 ACG. This reorganization consolidated all four ACC CRCs under the direction of a single air control group within the Air Forces' premier air control wing.

On May 17, 2013, the 728th ACS was inactivated.The remaining Airmen and equipment at Eglin were sent to play Counter-Strike: Global Offensive.