162d Combat Communications Group
The 162d Combat Communications Group was an inactive California Air National Guard unit responsible for deploying and operating tactical communications and command-and-control systems.
Last updated August 31, 2026
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Overview
The 162d Combat Communications Group, formally styled the 162d Combat Communications Group, was a California Air National Guard organization headquartered at North Highlands Air National Guard Station near Sacramento. Although it is represented in this dossier as a brand-like entity because of the requested encyclopedia format, it was fundamentally a military unit rather than a commercial company or consumer brand. Its identity was expressed through official Air Force lineage, designations, subordinate squadrons, and mission responsibilities. The organization traced its lineage to the 599th Signal Aircraft Warning Battalion, activated at Drew Field, Florida, on 30 March 1944 during the Second World War. The unit soon moved to Oahu, Hawaii, and elements associated with it supported operations in the Marshall and Mariana Islands. It was inactivated on 29 July 1946, but its lineage continued through a National Guard reactivation as the 162nd Aircraft Control and Warning Group on 13 May 1948. The group was called to federal active duty on 1 May 1951 during the Korean War period. It performed stateside service and was later inactivated on 6 February 1952. After returning to the California Air National Guard, it was reactivated in 1953 as the 162nd Tactical Control Group at Van Nuys. During this period, aircraft-control and warning squadrons formed important parts of its organization. Its mission evolved from air-warning and tactical-control functions toward mobile military communications. On 1 March 1961, headquarters moved to North Highlands Air National Guard Station and the organization became the 162nd Communications Group (Mobile). It was redesignated the 162nd Mobile Communications Group in 1968. In 1976 it adopted the Combat Communications designation, reflecting its role in providing deployable communications-electronics facilities and tactical command-and-control communications for military operational commands. A temporary redesignation as the 162nd Combat Information Systems Group occurred in 1985, followed by a return to the Combat Communications title in 1986. Under its federal mission, the group trained personnel, deployed communications capabilities, operated and maintained tactical communications-electronics facilities, and supported United States military wartime contingencies. Its components included combat communications, intelligence, space operations, and operations-support organizations located at installations across California. The group was inactivated on 1 September 2015, with its assets transferred to the 195th Wing at Beale Air Force Base. As a result, the 162d Combat Communications Group no longer operates as an active unit.
History
The lineage of the 162d Combat Communications Group began with the 599th Signal Aircraft Warning Battalion, which was activated at Drew Field, Florida, on 30 March 1944. The organization was created during the Second World War for signal and aircraft-warning duties. It subsequently moved to Oahu, Hawaii. Elements of the organization participated in operations connected with the Marshall and Mariana Islands campaigns. The wartime unit was inactivated on 29 July 1946. The lineage was continued in the National Guard when the organization was redesignated the 162nd Aircraft Control and Warning Group and activated with federal recognition on 13 May 1948. The group entered federal active service on 1 May 1951 during the Korean War period. It served in the continental United States under successive air-defense assignments before being inactivated on 6 February 1952. In 1953 the organization returned to the California Air National Guard and was reactivated as the 162nd Tactical Control Group at Van Nuys. Its associated units included aircraft-control and warning squadrons, reflecting the group's continuing connection with air surveillance and tactical control. The organization's headquarters moved on 1 March 1961 to North Highlands Air National Guard Station near Sacramento. At the same time, it was redesignated the 162nd Communications Group (Mobile), signaling a significant change toward mobile communications capabilities. The group became the 162nd Mobile Communications Group in 1968. Its designation changed again to the 162nd Combat Communications Group in 1976. In 1985 it was briefly designated the 162nd Combat Information Systems Group, but it returned to the Combat Communications title in 1986. These changes reflected shifts in military terminology and the evolving technical scope of its mission rather than the creation of an unrelated organization. Throughout its later history, the group trained, deployed, operated, and maintained tactical communications-electronics facilities. It also provided tactical command-and-control communications to operational commands supporting United States wartime contingencies. Its subordinate organizations included the 147th, 149th, 222nd, and 261st Combat Communications Squadrons, the 148th Space Operations Squadron, the 216th Operations Support Squadron, and the 234th Intelligence Squadron. These units operated from several California locations, including San Diego, Vandenberg Air Force Base, North Highlands, Costa Mesa, Van Nuys, and Beale Air Force Base. The group remained under the California Air National Guard for most of its postwar existence. It was inactivated on 1 September 2015, ending its operation as a distinct group. The organization's assets were transferred to the 195th Wing at Beale Air Force Base. Its history therefore spans wartime signal operations, postwar aircraft warning, tactical control, mobile communications, and combat communications support within the United States Air National Guard.
- 2015
Group inactivated
[1]The 162d Combat Communications Group was inactivated on 1 September 2015, with its assets transferred to the 195th Wing at Beale Air Force Base.
- 1986
Combat Communications designation restored
[1]The organization returned to the 162nd Combat Communications Group name on 1 October 1986.
- 1985
Temporary Combat Information Systems designation
[1]The group was redesignated the 162nd Combat Information Systems Group on 1 July 1985.
- 1976
Combat Communications designation adopted
[1]The organization received the 162nd Combat Communications Group designation in 1976.
- 1968
Redesignated as the 162nd Mobile Communications Group
[1]The group's designation changed on 16 March 1968 to reflect its mobile communications role.
- 1961
Headquarters moved to North Highlands
[1]On 1 March 1961, headquarters moved near Sacramento and the group became the 162nd Communications Group (Mobile).
- 1953
Reactivated as the 162nd Tactical Control Group
[1]The organization returned to the California Air National Guard and was activated at Van Nuys.
- 1952
Active-duty period ended
[1]The group was inactivated on 6 February 1952.
- 1951
Federal activation during the Korean War period
[1]The group was called to active duty on 1 May 1951 for stateside service.
- 1948
National Guard activation
[1]The lineage was redesignated the 162nd Aircraft Control and Warning Group and activated in the National Guard on 13 May 1948.
Products and positioning
A California Air National Guard organization focused on deployable tactical communications, communications-electronics operations, and command-and-control support for United States military missions.
Military communications infrastructure
Tactical communications-electronics facilities
Deployable communications-electronics facilities formed the core of the group's later mission. These capabilities were intended to support operational commands during military contingencies and could be transported, established, operated, and maintained by trained Air National Guard personnel.
Military communications service
Tactical command-and-control communications
The group provided tactical command-and-control communications services for United States military operational commands. This was a mission capability rather than a commercial product, supporting coordination and information flow in wartime or contingency environments.
Military training and operations
Combat communications training and support
Training, deployment, operation, and maintenance of tactical communications systems were central responsibilities. The group organized these activities through subordinate combat communications, intelligence, space operations, and support units located at California military installations.
Brand decisions
2015
Inactivation and asset transferStrategyBackground
The California Air National Guard ended the 162d Combat Communications Group as a separate organizational headquarters.
Action taken
The group was inactivated on 1 September 2015, and its assets were transferred to the 195th Wing at Beale Air Force Base.
Aftermath
The 162d Combat Communications Group ceased to operate as an independent unit.
Recent events
- 2015
162d Combat Communications Group inactivated and assets transferred to the 195th Wing[1]
Other · Leadership change
The California Air National Guard inactivated the 162d Combat Communications Group on 1 September 2015. Its assets were transferred to the 195th Wing at Beale Air Force Base, California.
Sources1 sources
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