About the 2951st / 652nd CLSS

  2951st/652nd Combat Logistics Support Squadron, McClellan AFB, CA

The 2951st Combat Logistics Support Squadron was activated on 1 December 1967, with about 250 officers and enlisted members under the command of Major Harvey Barbee, Jr., as one of five active duty CLSS's created at the Sacramento, Ogden, San Antonio, Oklahoma City, and Warner Robins Air Materiel Areas.

The creation of the squadron was a result of a directive from Headquarters, USAF to AFLC, to increase the military capabilities of its rapid area maintenance (RAM) and rapid area supply support (RASS) teams when they operated in combat areas or under combat conditions. These teams were formed in 1965, in response to increased demands placed on base supply personnel and civilian aircraft repair contractors working in Southeast Asia (SEA), who were experiencing logistical backlogs due to the demands of the SEA conflict.

Following the end of SEA operations, the squadron's role became that of the Air Force's organic depot logistics support organization. Under the direction of General Poe, AFLC commander, the squadrons? mission was reoriented to that of aircraft battle damage repair (ABDR) and combat packaging and supply. The goal was to have the squadrons become what General Poe envisioned as 'the green berets of AFLC,' mobile units able to deploy on short notice to provide the support needed to sustain the fighting power of combat aircraft.

In August 1990 the squadron was put to the test with the onset of Operation DESERT SHIELD.  As the situation evolved into Operation DESERT STORM, over 150 maintenance, supply, and transportation personnel were deployed to the Middle East, to sustain the war-fighting effort. The 2951st was the only CLSS tasked with actual ABDR in a combat environment, repairing aircraft and returning all but 2 damaged aircraft to combat as detailed on this website.

The 2951 CLSS was re-designated as the 652 CLSS on 1 October 1992, following the reorganization of AFLC as the Air Force Materiel Command.

The squadron got another chance to show its expertise when it was called upon to support Operation ALLIED FORCE, April-June 1999. Two ABDR teams were sent to forward operating locations in Italy in response to anticipated combat maintenance requirements and were eventually tasked with repairing three battle-damaged A-10A aircraft.  One ABDR team redeployed into Skopje, Macedonia, to recover one of the A-10s; despite suffering extensive damage, this aircraft was returned to flyable condition in only 2 weeks.

In addition to aircraft maintenance and ABDR support, the unit contributed immeasurably to the Air Force mission through the accomplishments of its rapid area distribution support (RADS) teams.  These teams were available to deploy on a moment's notice, to any location worldwide, to provide specialized supply and transportation support, including in-transit visibility.

In 1990, RADS teams assisted with the first BRAC base closure, Pease AFB NH.  In 1991 they deployed close to Clark AB, Angeles City Philippines during Operation FIERY VIGIL.  In 1994 after the devastation of Hurricane Andrew, a RADS team recovered Air Force assets at Homestead AFB FL.  In Tirana, Albania, RADS teams responded to establish supply and transportation functions, where none had existed before.  RADS teams supported the drug interdictions in Columbia, and set the precedence for logistics support during Air Expeditionary Force III and IV, in Doha, Qatar.  At numerous other locations, RADS teams were instrumental in reconfiguring supply systems to respond to changing mission needs with minimal disruption to the supported units.

No matter where or when, no matter what the job, it's well known by all who have seen the people of this unit in action that they performed above and beyond what was asked of them.  As always, they did everything with a "Touch of CLaSS"!