The 649th Combat Logistics Support Squadron, known for deploying teams worldwide to perform heavy maintenance and aircraft modifications, will be formally deactivated on Oct. 1.
The ceremony will be at 10 a.m. in the Aircraft Battle Damage Repair Training Facility, Building 748, followed by a reception. Transportation to the site, located north of the Hubbard Memorial Golf Course, will be available at Club Hill.
The 649th will also have a squadron dinner Oct. 1 in the Ogden Eccles Center, 2415 Washington Blvd., Ogden. The social begins at 5 p.m., followed by dinner at 6 p.m. The cost is $30 per person. All current and former unit members are invited.
Those planning to attend either the deactivation or the dinner should contact the 309th Maintenance Wing's Protocol Office at (801) 586-0014 or by e-mail, 309mxw.protocol@hill.af.mil. Deadline for ceremony reservations is Sept. 25, and dinner reservations are due Sept. 21.
The 2952nd Combat Logistics Support Squadron was activated in December 1967 as a means of augmenting combat units in wartime. The military personnel in the CLSS were experts in depot-level aircraft support and provided repairs, improvements or modifications in order to keep the warfighters combat-ready.
The unit was re-designated the 649th CLSS in September 1992 and at one time had more than 300 Airmen assigned. The unit is now commanded by Maj. Thomas Ruiz with the mission to "safely and efficiently provide the warfighter with highly trained Aircraft Battle Damage Repair, Crash Damage Repair and Depot Field Teams in support of worldwide F-16, A-10, and F-22 total force operational requirements at the best cost, on-time and error-free."
In one year's time, the 649th provided A-10, F-16, F-22 and F-117 crash damage repair and depot field team support through Expeditionary Depot Maintenance expertise for seven major air commands and six allied nations. The unit dispatched 61 teams, repaired 98 aircraft at 43 separate locations around the globe, and generated $2.4 million for the Ogden Air Logistics Center. Additionally, the squadron deployed two separate depot field teams to Operation Iraqi Freedom.
Air Force Materiel Command is closing the CLSS units at Hill, Robins AFB, Ga., and Tinker AFB, Okla., and transferring the work to depot repair lines as a cost-saving measure. When the 649th deactivates, members will work with civilians in the Expeditionary Depot Maintenance Flight under the 573rd Aircraft Maintenance Squadron.
