Mouwembleem 602nd Tactical Control Squadron (Sleeve badge 602nd Tactical Control Squadron) subdued

The 602nd AC&W Squadron has its roots in the 602nd Tactical Control Squadron which was re designated the 602nd AC&W Sq. on 23 November 1948 just before moving to Birkenfeld from Darmstadt. The mission of the 602nd was to provide early warning radar coverage and navigational aid to all aircraft flying over the occupied zones. The main body of troops arrived at Birkenfeld on 8 December 1948. This was the first American unit to move into the French Zone and they came to build. From 12 Quonset huts of that first winter came the permanent structures familiar to post-1953 assignees. "Cornbeef" the AC&W site had an AN/CPS-1 search radar, AN/CPS-4 height-finder, several radio relay sites (call sign: 03 Zulu) and Direction Finding sites (call sign: Cornbeef D/F) operational within a 100-mile radius of Birkenfeld. Cornbeef D/F was ultimately designated a Net Control Station (Master DF site) and directed the efforts of 5 other sites in the Northern Europe UHF D/F Net.