607th Air Intelligence Squadron
Encyclopedia
The 607th Air Intelligence Squadron was redesignated the 6th Intelligence Squadron
effective 1 January 2009.
The 607th Air Intelligence Squadron is located at Osan Air Base
, home of the 51st Fighter Wing
, roughly 40 miles (64.4 km) south of Seoul
, the capital of the Republic of Korea. The squadron
comprises six flights
of approximately 180 officer
and enlisted personnel. United States
military personnel serve in the Republic of Korea (ROK), shoulder to shoulder with the ROK military, in order to ensure the continuation of the country’s democratic government
.
grew up around Osan Air Base
and was originally just four tiny farming villages. When Osan Air Base was established in 1952, the closest town of any size was Osan-eub, from which Osan Air Base got its name. Songtan officially became a city on July 1, 1981 and has since grown to a population of 110,000. As of May 10, 1995, Songtan merged with the nearby larger city of Pyeongtaek and became part of a metropolis of 310,000 people covering an area of 87168 acres (352.8 km²). The Songtan-Pyeongtaek area has become a major industrial site and is home to many factories. The merger has seen the development of Pyeongtaek
as a major port city, with access to a West Coast highway linking Incheon to Mokpo. A deep water harbor has recently been completed at Pyeongtaek. The city is rapidly becoming a major port and industrial complex on the West Coast of South Korea. References to Songtan are being changed over to Pyeongtaek, but many people (and some official signs) still use Songtan and Songtan City, and a Songtan exit was recently added on the Seoul-Busan Expressway. For the time being, any reference to Songtan is to the area just outside the main gate of Osan Air Base.
(later Peterson Air Force Base
) as the 6th Photographic Group on 5 February 1943, under the command of Lt Waymond Davis. Later that year, the unit was redesignated the 6th Reconnaissance Group and deployed to the southwest Pacific as a component of the Fifth Air Force
.
In 1944, the group was awarded the Distinguished Unit Citation and the Philippine Presidential Unit Citation for carrying out one of the most important and difficult assignments ever given to a photographic unit: to obtain 80,000 prints of Japan
ese defenses in the Philippines
in eight days. The group's F-5s and F-7s risked enemy interception and braved severe tropical weather to complete their mission all without fighter escort. The action proved critical to the successful amphibious assault of the Philippines. After moving the unit to the Philippines, the group flew missions to Formosa
and China
and provided Intelligence for U.S. ground forces concerning Japanese movements. The unit then moved to Okinawa until the war ended, and finally to mainland Japan
, where it was deactivated on 27 April 1946.
On 1 October 1981, the unit was reactivated as the 6th Tactical Intelligence Group (6 TIG), at Osan Air Base, Republic of Korea. It was tasked to provide substantive Intelligence support to U.S. and Combined Forces Combat (CFC). The 6 TIG thus brought together Intelligence collection, analysis, targeting, production, and dissemination assets assigned to the 314th Air Division of Fifth Air Force
and the KOREAN Tactical Air Control System. In February 1992, the group became part of the 51st Fighter Wing under the 5th Air Control Group and was redesignated the 6th Air Intelligence Squadron (6 AINS). Later that same year the 6 AINS fell under operational control of Seventh Air Force
(7AF) and 5th Air Control Group. On 1 October 1993, the unit was redesignated the 7th Air Operations Squadron and fell under the 7th Air Operations Group. On 15 December 1994, 7 AF reorganized, creating the 607th Air Intelligence Group (607 AIG). The squadron was then redesignated on that date as the 607th Air Intelligence Squadron (607 AIS) and subordinate to the 607 AIG, along with the 303d Intelligence Squadron, which is under operational control of the 607 AIG.
Today the 607 AIS, working with its republic of Republic of Korea Air Force
(ROKAF) counterpart, the 37th Tactical Intelligence Group, represent a key element in the U.S. commitment to the growth of combined USAF/ROKAF Intelligence capabilities. It is our combined responsibility to ensure our Intelligence products are timely, thorough, and accurate, for our enemy is one who takes his war fighting capabilities very seriously and is ever seeking the opportunity to put them to the test. We accept the challenge of the mission, carry it proudly into the future, and always stand ready and willing to continually meet the challenges faced by seventh air force and the air component command.
, Surveillance
, and Reconnaissance
(ISR) management, and combat readiness of 7AF and subordinate units to include theater gained assets. The 607 AIS is primarily an Aerospace Operations Center (AOC)unit. The 607 AIS provides substantive Intelligence support to 7AF, Air Component Command (ACC), United States Forces Korea (USFK) and in-country and deployed unit Intelligence staffs. Day-to-day the squadron commander organizes trains and equips his personnel to perform their roles and missions in the KOREAN AOC (KAOC). He ensures the squadron: develops and maintains the ability to immediately support theater combat operations; develops, tests, refines, documents, and exercises armistice/wartime operational procedures; establishes working relationships with members of ROK, allied and other U.S. forces which will enhance wartime effectiveness.
, the world’s largest air base ground defense exercise; and other exercises as required; plans Intelligence portion of time phased force deployment data document; coordinates the development and implementation of Intelligence annexes to commander, Pacific Command
, PACAF, USFK/CFC, ACC and 7AF casop, oplans and operational orders; serves as the point of contact to ensure all 7AF and acc Intelligence exercise procedures are realistic, meet command objectives, unit readiness requirements, and coordinates development of scenarios and procedures which are realistic, meet command objectives, test wartime procedures and readiness, and provide a method for identifying serious war fighting procedural problems; focal point for Intelligence support to peninsula wings and units tasked to deploy to theater in response to oplan tasking; responsible for 7AF training range imagery requirements; acts as theater point of contact for unit deployment/contingency issues; reviews and coordinates on a semi-annual basis with provisional wings all co-located operating base (COB) base support plans (chapter 14, Intelligence); focal point for Joint Worldwide Intelligence Communications System
(JWICS) secure video-teleconferencing; during exercises, is responsible for the development and execution of the acc Intelligence control cells and evaluation functions.
6th Intelligence Squadron
The United States Air Force's 6th Intelligence Squadron is an intelligence unit located at Osan AB, Korea.-Mission:The mission of the 6 IS is to execute 24/7 imagery and analytical operations, as part of the Distributed Ground System-Three , to support Seventh Air Force during armistice and...
effective 1 January 2009.
The 607th Air Intelligence Squadron is located at Osan Air Base
Osan Air Base
Osan Air Base , is a United States Air Force facility located in the Songtan section of Pyeongtaek City, South Korea, south of Seoul. Despite its name, Osan AB is not within Osan City, which is to the north. The base is the home of the Pacific Air Forces' 51st Fighter Wing, and a number of tenant...
, home of the 51st Fighter Wing
51st Fighter Wing
The 51st Fighter Wing is a wing of the United States Air Force and the host unit at Osan Air Base, South Korea.The 51st Fighter Wing is under Pacific Air Forces' Seventh Air Force...
, roughly 40 miles (64.4 km) south of Seoul
Seoul
Seoul , officially the Seoul Special City, is the capital and largest metropolis of South Korea. A megacity with a population of over 10 million, it is the largest city proper in the OECD developed world...
, the capital of the Republic of Korea. The squadron
Squadron (aviation)
A squadron in air force, army aviation or naval aviation is mainly a unit comprising a number of military aircraft, usually of the same type, typically with 12 to 24 aircraft, sometimes divided into three or four flights, depending on aircraft type and air force...
comprises six flights
Flight (military unit)
A flight is a military unit in an air force, naval air service, or army air corps. It usually comprises three to six aircraft, with their aircrews and ground staff; or, in the case of a non-flying ground flight, no aircraft and a roughly equivalent number of support personnel. In most usages,...
of approximately 180 officer
Officer (armed forces)
An officer is a member of an armed force or uniformed service who holds a position of authority. Commissioned officers derive authority directly from a sovereign power and, as such, hold a commission charging them with the duties and responsibilities of a specific office or position...
and enlisted personnel. United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
military personnel serve in the Republic of Korea (ROK), shoulder to shoulder with the ROK military, in order to ensure the continuation of the country’s democratic government
Government
Government refers to the legislators, administrators, and arbitrators in the administrative bureaucracy who control a state at a given time, and to the system of government by which they are organized...
.
Location
SongtanSongtan
Songtan is an area in the northern end of Pyeongtaek, Gyeonggido, South Korea. Songtan achieved city status in its own right in 1981, five years earlier than Pyeongtaek, but merged, along with Pyeongtaek County, into Pyeongtaek City in May 1995. Most residents still consider it to have an identity...
grew up around Osan Air Base
Osan Air Base
Osan Air Base , is a United States Air Force facility located in the Songtan section of Pyeongtaek City, South Korea, south of Seoul. Despite its name, Osan AB is not within Osan City, which is to the north. The base is the home of the Pacific Air Forces' 51st Fighter Wing, and a number of tenant...
and was originally just four tiny farming villages. When Osan Air Base was established in 1952, the closest town of any size was Osan-eub, from which Osan Air Base got its name. Songtan officially became a city on July 1, 1981 and has since grown to a population of 110,000. As of May 10, 1995, Songtan merged with the nearby larger city of Pyeongtaek and became part of a metropolis of 310,000 people covering an area of 87168 acres (352.8 km²). The Songtan-Pyeongtaek area has become a major industrial site and is home to many factories. The merger has seen the development of Pyeongtaek
Pyeongtaek
Pyeongtaek is a city in Gyeonggi Province, South Korea. Located in the southwestern part of the province, Pyeongtaek was founded as a union of two districts in 940 AD, during the Goryeo dynasty. It was elevated to city status in 1986, and is home to a South Korean naval base and a large...
as a major port city, with access to a West Coast highway linking Incheon to Mokpo. A deep water harbor has recently been completed at Pyeongtaek. The city is rapidly becoming a major port and industrial complex on the West Coast of South Korea. References to Songtan are being changed over to Pyeongtaek, but many people (and some official signs) still use Songtan and Songtan City, and a Songtan exit was recently added on the Seoul-Busan Expressway. For the time being, any reference to Songtan is to the area just outside the main gate of Osan Air Base.
Surrounding area
Songtan has many shops and outdoor stands that offer goods at a much lower price than in the States. In the past you could barter and get a cheaper price on almost anything but now most store owners have a set price. Some will come down a small amount.History
The 607th Air Intelligence Squadron continues a devotion to duty through a period of tremendous growth and change, spanning 50 years. The unit was originally established at Colorado Springs, ColoradoColorado
Colorado is a U.S. state that encompasses much of the Rocky Mountains as well as the northeastern portion of the Colorado Plateau and the western edge of the Great Plains...
(later Peterson Air Force Base
Peterson Air Force Base
Peterson Air Force Base is a base of the United States Air Force located at Colorado Springs in El Paso County, Colorado, United States and it provides runways for the adjacent City of Colorado Springs Municipal Airport under a shared joint civil-military airport arrangement...
) as the 6th Photographic Group on 5 February 1943, under the command of Lt Waymond Davis. Later that year, the unit was redesignated the 6th Reconnaissance Group and deployed to the southwest Pacific as a component of the Fifth Air Force
Fifth Air Force
The Fifth Air Force is a numbered air force of the United States Air Force Pacific Air Forces . It is headquartered at Yokota Air Base, Japan....
.
In 1944, the group was awarded the Distinguished Unit Citation and the Philippine Presidential Unit Citation for carrying out one of the most important and difficult assignments ever given to a photographic unit: to obtain 80,000 prints of Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
ese defenses in the Philippines
Philippines
The Philippines , officially known as the Republic of the Philippines , is a country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. To its north across the Luzon Strait lies Taiwan. West across the South China Sea sits Vietnam...
in eight days. The group's F-5s and F-7s risked enemy interception and braved severe tropical weather to complete their mission all without fighter escort. The action proved critical to the successful amphibious assault of the Philippines. After moving the unit to the Philippines, the group flew missions to Formosa
Taiwan
Taiwan , also known, especially in the past, as Formosa , is the largest island of the same-named island group of East Asia in the western Pacific Ocean and located off the southeastern coast of mainland China. The island forms over 99% of the current territory of the Republic of China following...
and China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
and provided Intelligence for U.S. ground forces concerning Japanese movements. The unit then moved to Okinawa until the war ended, and finally to mainland Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
, where it was deactivated on 27 April 1946.
On 1 October 1981, the unit was reactivated as the 6th Tactical Intelligence Group (6 TIG), at Osan Air Base, Republic of Korea. It was tasked to provide substantive Intelligence support to U.S. and Combined Forces Combat (CFC). The 6 TIG thus brought together Intelligence collection, analysis, targeting, production, and dissemination assets assigned to the 314th Air Division of Fifth Air Force
Fifth Air Force
The Fifth Air Force is a numbered air force of the United States Air Force Pacific Air Forces . It is headquartered at Yokota Air Base, Japan....
and the KOREAN Tactical Air Control System. In February 1992, the group became part of the 51st Fighter Wing under the 5th Air Control Group and was redesignated the 6th Air Intelligence Squadron (6 AINS). Later that same year the 6 AINS fell under operational control of Seventh Air Force
Seventh Air Force
The Seventh Air Force is a numbered air force of the United States Air Force Pacific Air Forces . It is headquartered at Osan Air Base, Republic of Korea....
(7AF) and 5th Air Control Group. On 1 October 1993, the unit was redesignated the 7th Air Operations Squadron and fell under the 7th Air Operations Group. On 15 December 1994, 7 AF reorganized, creating the 607th Air Intelligence Group (607 AIG). The squadron was then redesignated on that date as the 607th Air Intelligence Squadron (607 AIS) and subordinate to the 607 AIG, along with the 303d Intelligence Squadron, which is under operational control of the 607 AIG.
Today the 607 AIS, working with its republic of Republic of Korea Air Force
Republic of Korea Air Force
The Republic of Korea Air Force is the air force of South Korea...
(ROKAF) counterpart, the 37th Tactical Intelligence Group, represent a key element in the U.S. commitment to the growth of combined USAF/ROKAF Intelligence capabilities. It is our combined responsibility to ensure our Intelligence products are timely, thorough, and accurate, for our enemy is one who takes his war fighting capabilities very seriously and is ever seeking the opportunity to put them to the test. We accept the challenge of the mission, carry it proudly into the future, and always stand ready and willing to continually meet the challenges faced by seventh air force and the air component command.
Mission
The 607 AIS provides the Combined Forces Air Component Command (CFACC)/Commander, Seventh Air Force (7AF) with the Intelligence support necessary to plan, conduct, control and coordinate air operations in accordance with the tasks assigned by the commander, Air Component Command (CACC) and the commander, Pacific Air Forces (PACAF). These activities are accomplished through the commander, 607th Air Intelligence Group (607 AIG). Specific functions include indications and warning, analysis, targeting, collection management support, exploitation, and dissemination of all-source Intelligence information in support of combat planning, combat operations, IntelligenceIntelligence (information gathering)
Intelligence assessment is the development of forecasts of behaviour or recommended courses of action to the leadership of an organization, based on a wide range of available information sources both overt and covert. Assessments are developed in response to requirements declared by the leadership...
, Surveillance
Surveillance
Surveillance is the monitoring of the behavior, activities, or other changing information, usually of people. It is sometimes done in a surreptitious manner...
, and Reconnaissance
Reconnaissance
Reconnaissance is the military term for exploring beyond the area occupied by friendly forces to gain information about enemy forces or features of the environment....
(ISR) management, and combat readiness of 7AF and subordinate units to include theater gained assets. The 607 AIS is primarily an Aerospace Operations Center (AOC)unit. The 607 AIS provides substantive Intelligence support to 7AF, Air Component Command (ACC), United States Forces Korea (USFK) and in-country and deployed unit Intelligence staffs. Day-to-day the squadron commander organizes trains and equips his personnel to perform their roles and missions in the KOREAN AOC (KAOC). He ensures the squadron: develops and maintains the ability to immediately support theater combat operations; develops, tests, refines, documents, and exercises armistice/wartime operational procedures; establishes working relationships with members of ROK, allied and other U.S. forces which will enhance wartime effectiveness.
Analysis Flight
The 607 AIS, Intelligence Analysis Flight (INA) is the focal point for all-source Intelligence Preparation of the Battlespace (IPB) and the Predictive Intelligence Analysis for the 607 AIS and the Korean Air Operations Center (KAOC). INA provides daily assessments to the commander, Seventh Air Force (7AF), his staff, Korean counterparts, and the theater-gained units. During armistice, the analysis flight is designated as INA. During wartime, the analysis flight integrates as one of the five specialty teams into the Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance division (ISRD) as the Analysis, Correlation, and Fusion (ACF) Flight. The mission of INA is to provide the Air Operations Center (AOC) ISRD an accurate picture of the battlespace and deliver predictive battlespace awareness to enable air component command's war fighting capabilities.Operations Flight
Provide the commander, staff and subordinate units of 7AF/acc with fused, multi-source indications & warning. Provide support for theater SRO missions, ad hoc collections and time-sensitive targeting. Build and validate ISR collection strategies and manage validated component collection plans and requirements during armistice, crisis and wartime.Imagery Flight
Provides IMINT support to Pacific Command (PACOM), United States Forces Korea (USFK), 7AF, Air Combat Command (ACC), and subordinate units for production of special imagery requirements. During crisis/wartime, supports the IMINT collection efforts of the acc/a-2.Readiness Flight
The Readiness Flight exists to prepare all CFACC Intelligence units to execute combat operations. Specific responsibilities include: serves as point of contact responsible for overall management and development of all 7AF and acc Intelligence exercise participation; evaluates contingency and wartime plans, polices, procedures, and personnel augmentation; Intelligence planning and participation for exercise Ulchi Focus Lens (UFL), the world’s largest command post exercise; Foal EagleFoal Eagle
Foal Eagle is an annual combined Field Training Exercise conducted between the Republic of Korea and United States armed forces under the auspices of Combined Forces Command within the Korean Theater of Operations . It is one of the largest military exercises conducted annually in the world...
, the world’s largest air base ground defense exercise; and other exercises as required; plans Intelligence portion of time phased force deployment data document; coordinates the development and implementation of Intelligence annexes to commander, Pacific Command
Pacific Command
Pacific Command may refer to:*United States Pacific Command*Pacific Command *Pacific Command is an informal name for the British Columbia and Yukon Territory branch of the Royal Canadian Legion...
, PACAF, USFK/CFC, ACC and 7AF casop, oplans and operational orders; serves as the point of contact to ensure all 7AF and acc Intelligence exercise procedures are realistic, meet command objectives, unit readiness requirements, and coordinates development of scenarios and procedures which are realistic, meet command objectives, test wartime procedures and readiness, and provide a method for identifying serious war fighting procedural problems; focal point for Intelligence support to peninsula wings and units tasked to deploy to theater in response to oplan tasking; responsible for 7AF training range imagery requirements; acts as theater point of contact for unit deployment/contingency issues; reviews and coordinates on a semi-annual basis with provisional wings all co-located operating base (COB) base support plans (chapter 14, Intelligence); focal point for Joint Worldwide Intelligence Communications System
Joint Worldwide Intelligence Communications System
The Joint Worldwide Intelligence Communications System , is a system of interconnected computer networks used by the United States Department of Defense and the United States Department of State to transmit classified information by packet switching over TCP/IP in a secure environment.It is cleared...
(JWICS) secure video-teleconferencing; during exercises, is responsible for the development and execution of the acc Intelligence control cells and evaluation functions.
Target Development Flight
Provide 7AF/CC and the Korean Theater Air Control System (KTACS) with all-source target Intelligence to plan, direct and control air operations with combined forces command components and allies during armistice, war or contingency.Systems Flight
Provide superior Intelligence systems support to ensure the combat effectiveness of the 607th Air Intelligence Squadron during armistice and wartime through timely and focused customer support of small computers, theater battle management systems, and national and theater sensor systems and through proactive advocacy and planning for Intelligence-related systems requirements. Provide effective augmentation to Intelligence and shelter management work centers as required during exercise and contingency.See also
- Department of DefenseUnited States Department of DefenseThe United States Department of Defense is the U.S...
(DoD) - United States Air ForceUnited States Air ForceThe United States Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the American uniformed services. Initially part of the United States Army, the USAF was formed as a separate branch of the military on September 18, 1947 under the National Security Act of...
(USAF) - Air Force ISR Agency
- 480th Intelligence Wing480th Intelligence WingThe 480th Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance Wing is headquartered at Langley Air Force Base, Va..-Overview:The 480th ISR Wing is the Air Force leader in globally networked ISR operations...
- 607th Air Intelligence Group (AIG)