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505th Tactical Control Maintenance Sq.
Lineage Information

505th Tactical Control Maintenance Sq. was constituted, and activated, on 8 Nov 1965. i t was organized at Tan Son Nhut Afld, South Vietnam, on the same date, with assignment to the 505th Tactical Control Group. On 8 Dec 1966, it was reassigned to the 504th Tactical Support Group. It moved to Bien Hoa AB, South Vietnam, on 30 Apr 1967, then to Cam Ranh Bay AB, South Vietnam, on 30 Apr 1970, Then to Phan Rang AB, South Vietnam on 1 Oct 1971, and finally back to Tan Son Nhut on 15 Feb 1972. Reassigned to the 505th Tactical Control Group on 15 Mar 1972. It inactivated on 15 Mar 1973.

The mission of the 505 TCMS was:

1. Operate and maintain tactical air control parties for the Direct Air Request Net.

2. Provide field maintenance capability for power production units located in SEA.

The 505 TCMS had its beginnings in early 1964 as the USAF began to provide tactical air request support for the Vietnamese army. A Direct Air Request Net was established with Air Liaison Officers and Forward Air Controllers  supported by TDY radio operators, portable radio equipment obtained from Marine Corps inventory, and HF SSB  fixed station radio sets from MARS stations. In November 1964 this unit was dubbed "Project Pack-Rat." At the   time, Project Pack-Rat consisted of two officers, about 100 radio operators, 19 maintenance technicians and  several supply specialists. Project Pack-Rat became the 6250th Tactical Communications Maintenance Squadron  in August 1965 and the 505 TCMS in  November of that year. Later on, around January 1967, personnel were attached directly to the Tactical Air Support Squadron's in their respective areas of operation.

Pack Rat Pictures

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A1C Holden working on Stuff.	Packrats heading for chow.	Packrat HQ at Pleiku	Det. 3 Crew Transport is Down