70th Intelligence Wing
Encyclopedia
The 70th Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Wing (70th ISR Wing) is a United States Air Force
unit assigned to the Air Force Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Agency. It is stationed at Fort George G. Meade
, Md.
.
Known as "America's Cryptologic Wing", is the only Air Force wing that supports the National Security Agency
, Air Force Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Agency and the entire United States Air Force
with cryptologic intelligence.
The 70th ISR Wing predecessor World War II
unit, the 70th Reconnaissance Group conducted observation, artillery
adjustment and fighter and bomber support training with United States Army
ground forces. During the Cold War
, the 70th was a component wing of Strategic Air Command
's deterrent force as a strategic reconnaissance organization and heavy bombardment wing. It is commanded by Colonel John D. Bansemer; its Command Chief Master Sergeant is Chief Master Sergeant Eddie J. Compton.
by gaining and exploiting information as a major component of the Air Force and DoD global intelligence mission.
, Texas. The 70th ISR Wing trains and equips cryptologic and information operations specialists to carry out AF ISR Agency and National Security Agency
tri-service operations.
70th Reconnaissance Group, which was activated at Gray Army Airfield
, Washington in September 1941. The 70th Recon Group was primarily a Fourth Air Force
training unit in observation and artillery
adjustment, supporting Army ground units at Fort Lewis
. After the Pearl Harbor Attack, the unit began antisubmarine patrols along the Pacific Coast, and provided support to II Bomber Command
heavy bomber training units. It was largely unmanned after August 1943 when the United States Navy
took over antisubmarine duty.
The group was reassigned to Will Rogers Field, Okla.
under Third Air Force
in November 1943, and was programmed for training as a photo-reconnaissance unit, but the unit was never manned or equipped and was inactivated 30 Nov. 1943.
The group was reactivated as part of the Air Force Reserve in 1947 as a reconnaissance group at Hill Air Force Base
, Utah
. It was assigned to Fourth Air Force
, but it is unclear whether or not the unit had any assigned aircraft of personnel. It was inactivated in 1949 due to budgetary reductions.
on 23 March 1953, at Little Rock Air Force Base
, Ark.
; however, Little Rock AFB was still under construction at the time, so the unit was temporarily stationed at Lockbourne Air Force Base, Ohio
until October. Few wing components were manned until October when Little Rock was ready for operational use.
The 70th SRW's mission was to gather intelligence on a global scale as part of the strategic reconnaissance force of SAC. Equipped with RB-47E Stratojets, the wing conducted a variety of spectacular overflights of the Soviet Union
during the 1950s, including overflying Murmansk
. RB-47s had a fairly low operational ceiling of 40,000 feet and relied on speed, as opposed to altitude, to evade interception. Some of these flights were mounted from Thule
, Greenland
, and probed deep into the heart of the Soviet Union, taking a photographic and radar recording of the route attacking SAC bombers would follow to reach their targets. The risks involved in mounting these dangerous sorties speaks volumes for the courage and skill of the crews involved. Flights that involved penetrating mainland Russia were termed SENSINT (Sensitive Intelligence) missions. One RB-47 even managed to fly 450 miles inland and photograph the city of Igarka in Siberia
.
The 70th SRW also assumed an air refueling
mission in 1955 and was deployed at Sidi Slimane Air Base
, Morocco, from 26 Oct. to 17 Dec. 1956.
Beginning in February 1958, operations with the RB-47 were reduced, primarily as the aircraft was determined to be vulnerable to Soviet air defenses, but also its mission was being taken over by the Lockheed U-2. From June 1958 to September 1961, the wing became a B-47 bombardment and reconnaissance organization, providing B/RB-47 combat crew training for other SAC units, while undertaking RB-47 and KC-97 operations. The refueling squadron transferred in August 1961, and the final RB-47 class graduated in October 1961. It converted to B-47s in late 1961 but inactivated prior to becoming combat ready.
established the 4123d Strategic Wing at Clinton-Sherman Air Force Base
, Okla.
as part of SAC's plan to disburse its B-52 Stratofortress
heavy bombers over a larger number of bases, thus making it more difficult for the Soviet Union
to knock out the entire fleet with a surprise first strike. The wing consisted of the 98th Bombardment Squadron, consisting of 15 B-52Es, and the KC-135-equipped 902d Air Refueling Squadron. Half of the aircraft were maintained on fifteen minute alert, fully fueled, armed, and ready for combat. SAC strategic wings were considered provisional units by Headquarters Air Force and could not carry a permanent history or lineage.
In 1962, in order to retain the lineage of its four-digit combat units and to perpetuate the lineage of many currently inactive bombardment units with illustrious World War II
records, Headquarters SAC received authority from Headquarters Air Force to discontinue its strategic wings that were equipped with combat aircraft and to activate Headquarters Air Force Controlled, or AFCON, units, most of which were inactive at the time which could carry a lineage and history.
The 4123rd Strategic Wing was redesignated as the 70th Bombardment Wing (70th BW) 1 Feb. 1963, in a name-only redesigation and was assigned to SAC's Second Air Force
, 816th Air Division. The 70th BW was placed on operational status upon activation with the 98th Bombardment Squadron being redesignated as the 6th Bombardment Squadron
, the wing's former RB-47 squadron. The 902nd ARS designation was unchanged, and component support units were also redesignated to the 70th numerical designation of the newly-established wing. As under the Tri-Deputate organization, all flying components were directly assigned to the wing, no operational group element was activated.
The 70th BW conducted strategic bombardment training and air refueling missions from February 1963 to December 1969. It was upgraded to the B-52D in 1968 by SAC along with receiving some older B-52Cs, which had limited use for training new aircrews. For several months in both 1968 and 1969, all of the 70th BW aircraft, most of the aircrew and maintenance personnel and some of its support people were loaned to other SAC units engaged in combat operations in the Far East and Southeast Asia. It was one of 11 SAC bomb wings that rotated such combat duty under the program known as Arc Light
.
By 1969, Intercontinental ballistic missile
s (ICBM) had been deployed and become operational as part of the United States' strategic triad, and the need for B-52s had been reduced. In addition, funds were also needed to cover the costs of combat operations in Indochina
. The 70th Bombardment Wing was inactivated 31 Dec. 1969, and its aircraft were reassigned to other SAC units. As part of the inactivation, Clinton-Sherman AFB was closed.
United States Air Force
The 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...
unit assigned to the Air Force Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Agency. It is stationed at Fort George G. Meade
Fort George G. Meade
Fort George G. Meade is a United States Army installation that includes the Defense Information School, the United States Army Field Band, and the headquarters of United States Cyber Command, the National Security Agency, and the Defense Courier Service...
, Md.
Maryland
Maryland is a U.S. state located in the Mid Atlantic region of the United States, bordering Virginia, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia to its south and west; Pennsylvania to its north; and Delaware to its east...
.
Known as "America's Cryptologic Wing", is the only Air Force wing that supports the National Security Agency
National Security Agency
The National Security Agency/Central Security Service is a cryptologic intelligence agency of the United States Department of Defense responsible for the collection and analysis of foreign communications and foreign signals intelligence, as well as protecting U.S...
, Air Force Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Agency and the entire United States Air Force
United States Air Force
The 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...
with cryptologic intelligence.
The 70th ISR Wing predecessor World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
unit, the 70th Reconnaissance Group conducted observation, artillery
Artillery
Originally applied to any group of infantry primarily armed with projectile weapons, artillery has over time become limited in meaning to refer only to those engines of war that operate by projection of munitions far beyond the range of effect of personal weapons...
adjustment and fighter and bomber support training with United States Army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
ground forces. During the Cold War
Cold War
The Cold War was the continuing state from roughly 1946 to 1991 of political conflict, military tension, proxy wars, and economic competition between the Communist World—primarily the Soviet Union and its satellite states and allies—and the powers of the Western world, primarily the United States...
, the 70th was a component wing of Strategic Air Command
Strategic Air Command
The Strategic Air Command was both a Major Command of the United States Air Force and a "specified command" of the United States Department of Defense. SAC was the operational establishment in charge of America's land-based strategic bomber aircraft and land-based intercontinental ballistic...
's deterrent force as a strategic reconnaissance organization and heavy bombardment wing. It is commanded by Colonel John D. Bansemer; its Command Chief Master Sergeant is Chief Master Sergeant Eddie J. Compton.
Mission
Provide multi-source, multi-service intelligence products for Department of DefenseUnited States Department of Defense
The United States Department of Defense is the U.S...
by gaining and exploiting information as a major component of the Air Force and DoD global intelligence mission.
Units
The wing has six groups, 19 squadrons, 10 detachments and 26 operating locations spanning four continents. The wing falls under the Air Force ISR Agency at Lackland Air Force BaseLackland Air Force Base
Lackland Air Force Base is a United States Air Force base located west-southwest of San Antonio, Texas. The base is under the jurisdiction of the 802d Mission Support Group, Air Education and Training Command ....
, Texas. The 70th ISR Wing trains and equips cryptologic and information operations specialists to carry out AF ISR Agency and National Security Agency
National Security Agency
The National Security Agency/Central Security Service is a cryptologic intelligence agency of the United States Department of Defense responsible for the collection and analysis of foreign communications and foreign signals intelligence, as well as protecting U.S...
tri-service operations.
- 373d Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Group373d Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance GroupThe United States Air Force's 373d Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Group is a unit located at Misawa AB, Japan.-Mission:...
at Misawa Air BaseMisawa Air Baseright|thumb|A US Navy C-2 at Misawa is a United States military facility located northeast of the railway station in Misawa, west of the Pacific Ocean, northeast of Towada, northwest of Hachinohe, and north of Tokyo, in Aomori Prefecture, in the Tōhoku region in the northern part of the...
, Japan - 543d Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Group543d Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance GroupThe United States Air Force's 543d Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Group is an intelligence unit located at Lackland AFB, Texas.-Previous designations:...
at the Medina Annex, Lackland Air Force BaseLackland Air Force BaseLackland Air Force Base is a United States Air Force base located west-southwest of San Antonio, Texas. The base is under the jurisdiction of the 802d Mission Support Group, Air Education and Training Command ....
, Texas
- A unique group within the wing. Organized according to mission, rather than by geography, the 543rd ISR Group has two squadrons within the United States that are part of Regional SIGINT Operations Centers. Providing command and control, personnel, communications, computer and logistics support for all Regional SIGINTSIGINTSignals intelligence is intelligence-gathering by interception of signals, whether between people , whether involving electronic signals not directly used in communication , or combinations of the two...
Operations Centers conducting information operations, the 543rd ISR Group provides timely and accurate multi-regional SIGINTSIGINTSignals intelligence is intelligence-gathering by interception of signals, whether between people , whether involving electronic signals not directly used in communication , or combinations of the two...
to warfighters and other intelligence users.- 544th Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Group at Peterson Air Force BasePeterson Air Force BasePeterson 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...
, Colo.ColoradoColorado 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...
- 544th Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Group at Peterson Air Force Base
- Reassigned from the 67th Information Operations Wing to the 70th ISR Wing on 12 July 2006.
- 659th Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Group, activated 8 Sept. 2010.
- 691st Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Group691st Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance GroupThe United States Air Force's 691st Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Group is an intelligence unit located at RAF Menwith Hill, United Kingdom.-Mission:...
at Menwith Hill Station, United Kingdom. - 707th Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Group707th Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Group707th Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Group is a United States Air Force component of the 70th Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Wing, Fort George G. Meade, Maryland.- History :...
at Fort MeadeFort George G. MeadeFort George G. Meade is a United States Army installation that includes the Defense Information School, the United States Army Field Band, and the headquarters of United States Cyber Command, the National Security Agency, and the Defense Courier Service...
, Md.MarylandMaryland is a U.S. state located in the Mid Atlantic region of the United States, bordering Virginia, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia to its south and west; Pennsylvania to its north; and Delaware to its east... - 770th Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Group (Provisional) at Fort MeadeFort George G. MeadeFort George G. Meade is a United States Army installation that includes the Defense Information School, the United States Army Field Band, and the headquarters of United States Cyber Command, the National Security Agency, and the Defense Courier Service...
, Md.MarylandMaryland is a U.S. state located in the Mid Atlantic region of the United States, bordering Virginia, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia to its south and west; Pennsylvania to its north; and Delaware to its east...
Inactivated when the 659th ISR Group was activated.
History
The 70th ISR Wing has its origins in the World War IIWorld War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
70th Reconnaissance Group, which was activated at Gray Army Airfield
Gray Army Airfield
Gray Army Airfield , also known as Gray AAF, is a military airport located at Fort Lewis near Tacoma, Washington, USA. It is located within Fort Lewis.It should not confused with Robert Gray Army Airfield at Fort Hood in Texas.-Overview:...
, Washington in September 1941. The 70th Recon Group was primarily a Fourth Air Force
Fourth Air Force
The Fourth Air Force is a numbered air force of the United States Air Force Reserve . It is headquartered at March Air Reserve Base, California....
training unit in observation and artillery
Artillery
Originally applied to any group of infantry primarily armed with projectile weapons, artillery has over time become limited in meaning to refer only to those engines of war that operate by projection of munitions far beyond the range of effect of personal weapons...
adjustment, supporting Army ground units at Fort Lewis
Fort Lewis
Joint Base Lewis-McChord is a United States military facility located south-southwest of Tacoma, Washington. The facility is under the jurisdiction of the United States Army Joint Base Garrison, Joint Base Lewis-McChord....
. After the Pearl Harbor Attack, the unit began antisubmarine patrols along the Pacific Coast, and provided support to II Bomber Command
II Bomber Command
The II Bomber Command is an inactive United States Air Force unit. It was last assigned to Second Air Force, based at Fort George Wright, Washington. It was inactivated on 6 October 1943....
heavy bomber training units. It was largely unmanned after August 1943 when the United States Navy
United States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
took over antisubmarine duty.
The group was reassigned to Will Rogers Field, Okla.
Oklahoma
Oklahoma is a state located in the South Central region of the United States of America. With an estimated 3,751,351 residents as of the 2010 census and a land area of 68,667 square miles , Oklahoma is the 28th most populous and 20th-largest state...
under Third Air Force
Third Air Force
The Third Air Force is a numbered air force of the United States Air Forces in Europe . It is headquartered at Ramstein Air Base, Germany....
in November 1943, and was programmed for training as a photo-reconnaissance unit, but the unit was never manned or equipped and was inactivated 30 Nov. 1943.
The group was reactivated as part of the Air Force Reserve in 1947 as a reconnaissance group at Hill Air Force Base
Hill Air Force Base
Hill Air Force Base is a major U.S. Air Force Base located in northern Utah, just south of the city of Ogden, and near the towns of Clearfield, Riverdale, Roy, Sunset, and Layton. It is about north of Salt Lake City. The base was named in honor of Major Ployer Peter Hill of the U.S. Army Air...
, Utah
Utah
Utah is a state in the Western United States. It was the 45th state to join the Union, on January 4, 1896. Approximately 80% of Utah's 2,763,885 people live along the Wasatch Front, centering on Salt Lake City. This leaves vast expanses of the state nearly uninhabited, making the population the...
. It was assigned to Fourth Air Force
Fourth Air Force
The Fourth Air Force is a numbered air force of the United States Air Force Reserve . It is headquartered at March Air Reserve Base, California....
, but it is unclear whether or not the unit had any assigned aircraft of personnel. It was inactivated in 1949 due to budgetary reductions.
Strategic Reconnaissance
The 70th Strategic Reconnaissance Wing was established by Strategic Air CommandStrategic Air Command
The Strategic Air Command was both a Major Command of the United States Air Force and a "specified command" of the United States Department of Defense. SAC was the operational establishment in charge of America's land-based strategic bomber aircraft and land-based intercontinental ballistic...
on 23 March 1953, at Little Rock Air Force Base
Little Rock Air Force Base
Little Rock Air Force Base is a United States Air Force base located approximately northeast of Little Rock, Arkansas.-Overview:...
, Ark.
Arkansas
Arkansas is a state located in the southern region of the United States. Its name is an Algonquian name of the Quapaw Indians. Arkansas shares borders with six states , and its eastern border is largely defined by the Mississippi River...
; however, Little Rock AFB was still under construction at the time, so the unit was temporarily stationed at Lockbourne Air Force Base, Ohio
Ohio
Ohio is a Midwestern state in the United States. The 34th largest state by area in the U.S.,it is the 7th‑most populous with over 11.5 million residents, containing several major American cities and seven metropolitan areas with populations of 500,000 or more.The state's capital is Columbus...
until October. Few wing components were manned until October when Little Rock was ready for operational use.
The 70th SRW's mission was to gather intelligence on a global scale as part of the strategic reconnaissance force of SAC. Equipped with RB-47E Stratojets, the wing conducted a variety of spectacular overflights of the Soviet Union
Soviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
during the 1950s, including overflying Murmansk
Murmansk
Murmansk is a city and the administrative center of Murmansk Oblast, Russia. It serves as a seaport and is located in the extreme northwest part of Russia, on the Kola Bay, from the Barents Sea on the northern shore of the Kola Peninsula, not far from Russia's borders with Norway and Finland...
. RB-47s had a fairly low operational ceiling of 40,000 feet and relied on speed, as opposed to altitude, to evade interception. Some of these flights were mounted from Thule
Thule
Thule Greek: Θούλη, Thoulē), also spelled Thula, Thila, or Thyïlea, is, in classical European literature and maps, a region in the far north. Though often considered to be an island in antiquity, modern interpretations of what was meant by Thule often identify it as Norway. Other interpretations...
, Greenland
Greenland
Greenland is an autonomous country within the Kingdom of Denmark, located between the Arctic and Atlantic Oceans, east of the Canadian Arctic Archipelago. Though physiographically a part of the continent of North America, Greenland has been politically and culturally associated with Europe for...
, and probed deep into the heart of the Soviet Union, taking a photographic and radar recording of the route attacking SAC bombers would follow to reach their targets. The risks involved in mounting these dangerous sorties speaks volumes for the courage and skill of the crews involved. Flights that involved penetrating mainland Russia were termed SENSINT (Sensitive Intelligence) missions. One RB-47 even managed to fly 450 miles inland and photograph the city of Igarka in Siberia
Siberia
Siberia is an extensive region constituting almost all of Northern Asia. Comprising the central and eastern portion of the Russian Federation, it was part of the Soviet Union from its beginning, as its predecessor states, the Tsardom of Russia and the Russian Empire, conquered it during the 16th...
.
The 70th SRW also assumed an air refueling
Aerial refueling
Aerial refueling, also called air refueling, in-flight refueling , air-to-air refueling or tanking, is the process of transferring fuel from one aircraft to another during flight....
mission in 1955 and was deployed at Sidi Slimane Air Base
Sidi Slimane Air Base
Sidi Slimane Air Base is a military air base in Sidi Slimane, a city in the Gharb-Chrarda-Béni Hssen region in Morocco. It is also known as the Fifth Royal Air Force Base, operated by the Royal Moroccan Air Force.-History:...
, Morocco, from 26 Oct. to 17 Dec. 1956.
Beginning in February 1958, operations with the RB-47 were reduced, primarily as the aircraft was determined to be vulnerable to Soviet air defenses, but also its mission was being taken over by the Lockheed U-2. From June 1958 to September 1961, the wing became a B-47 bombardment and reconnaissance organization, providing B/RB-47 combat crew training for other SAC units, while undertaking RB-47 and KC-97 operations. The refueling squadron transferred in August 1961, and the final RB-47 class graduated in October 1961. It converted to B-47s in late 1961 but inactivated prior to becoming combat ready.
Strategic Bombardment
On 10 Dec. 1957, Strategic Air CommandStrategic Air Command
The Strategic Air Command was both a Major Command of the United States Air Force and a "specified command" of the United States Department of Defense. SAC was the operational establishment in charge of America's land-based strategic bomber aircraft and land-based intercontinental ballistic...
established the 4123d Strategic Wing at Clinton-Sherman Air Force Base
Clinton-Sherman Air Force Base
Clinton-Sherman Air Force Base is a former United States Air Force Strategic Air Command base located near the town of Burns Flat in Washita County, Oklahoma, 15 miles southwest of the city of Clinton, Oklahoma....
, Okla.
Oklahoma
Oklahoma is a state located in the South Central region of the United States of America. With an estimated 3,751,351 residents as of the 2010 census and a land area of 68,667 square miles , Oklahoma is the 28th most populous and 20th-largest state...
as part of SAC's plan to disburse its B-52 Stratofortress
B-52 Stratofortress
The Boeing B-52 Stratofortress is a long-range, subsonic, jet-powered strategic bomber operated by the United States Air Force since the 1950s. The B-52 was designed and built by Boeing, who have continued to provide maintainence and upgrades to the aircraft in service...
heavy bombers over a larger number of bases, thus making it more difficult for the Soviet Union
Soviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
to knock out the entire fleet with a surprise first strike. The wing consisted of the 98th Bombardment Squadron, consisting of 15 B-52Es, and the KC-135-equipped 902d Air Refueling Squadron. Half of the aircraft were maintained on fifteen minute alert, fully fueled, armed, and ready for combat. SAC strategic wings were considered provisional units by Headquarters Air Force and could not carry a permanent history or lineage.
In 1962, in order to retain the lineage of its four-digit combat units and to perpetuate the lineage of many currently inactive bombardment units with illustrious World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
records, Headquarters SAC received authority from Headquarters Air Force to discontinue its strategic wings that were equipped with combat aircraft and to activate Headquarters Air Force Controlled, or AFCON, units, most of which were inactive at the time which could carry a lineage and history.
The 4123rd Strategic Wing was redesignated as the 70th Bombardment Wing (70th BW) 1 Feb. 1963, in a name-only redesigation and was assigned to SAC's Second Air Force
Second Air Force
The Second Air Force is a numbered air force of the United States Air Force Air Education and Training Command . It is headquartered at Keesler Air Force Base, Mississippi....
, 816th Air Division. The 70th BW was placed on operational status upon activation with the 98th Bombardment Squadron being redesignated as the 6th Bombardment Squadron
6th Bombardment Squadron
The 6th Bombardment Squadron is an inactive United States Air Force unit, which was last assigned to the 70th Bombardment Wing, and was inactivated at Clinton-Sherman Air Force Base, Oklahoma on 31 December 1969.-History:...
, the wing's former RB-47 squadron. The 902nd ARS designation was unchanged, and component support units were also redesignated to the 70th numerical designation of the newly-established wing. As under the Tri-Deputate organization, all flying components were directly assigned to the wing, no operational group element was activated.
The 70th BW conducted strategic bombardment training and air refueling missions from February 1963 to December 1969. It was upgraded to the B-52D in 1968 by SAC along with receiving some older B-52Cs, which had limited use for training new aircrews. For several months in both 1968 and 1969, all of the 70th BW aircraft, most of the aircrew and maintenance personnel and some of its support people were loaned to other SAC units engaged in combat operations in the Far East and Southeast Asia. It was one of 11 SAC bomb wings that rotated such combat duty under the program known as Arc Light
Arc Light
Arc Light is the debut novel by Eric L. Harry, a techno-thriller about limited nuclear war published in 1994 and written in 1991-2.As China and Russia clash in Siberia in June 1999, nuclear missiles strike the United States. The U.S. retaliates against Russia, and World War III begins...
.
By 1969, Intercontinental ballistic missile
Intercontinental ballistic missile
An intercontinental ballistic missile is a ballistic missile with a long range typically designed for nuclear weapons delivery...
s (ICBM) had been deployed and become operational as part of the United States' strategic triad, and the need for B-52s had been reduced. In addition, funds were also needed to cover the costs of combat operations in Indochina
Indochina
The Indochinese peninsula, is a region in Southeast Asia. It lies roughly southwest of China, and east of India. The name has its origins in the French, Indochine, as a combination of the names of "China" and "India", and was adopted when French colonizers in Vietnam began expanding their territory...
. The 70th Bombardment Wing was inactivated 31 Dec. 1969, and its aircraft were reassigned to other SAC units. As part of the inactivation, Clinton-Sherman AFB was closed.
Modern era
The 70th Air Base Wing operated and maintained Brooks Air Force Base, Texas from October 1994 through September 1998. Since August 2000, the 70th Intelligence Wing, then later the 70th ISR Wing, has managed the Air Force portion of the Defense Department's cryptology mission, exploiting intelligence, integrating it into air and space operations, and assisting commanders and others with intelligence requirements.Lineage
- Established as 70th Observation Group 1 Sept. 1941
- Activated 13 Sept. 1941
- Redesignated: 70th Reconnaissance Group 2 April 1943
- Redesignated: 70th Tactical Reconnaissance Group 11 Aug. 1943
- Disestablished 30 Nov. 1943
- Reestablished, and redesignated 70th Reconnaissance Group 10 March 1947
- Activated in the Reserve 26 April 1947
- Inactivated 27 June 1949
- Consolidated (31 Jan. 1984) with the 70th Strategic Reconnaissance Wing, which was established 23 March 1953
- Activated 24 Jan. 1955
- Redesignated: 70th Bombardment Wing, Medium 25 Oct. 1961
- Discontinued and inactivated 25 June 1962
- Redesignated: 70th Bombardment Wing, Heavy and activated 15 Nov. 1962 replacing 4123d Strategic Wing
- Organized 1 Feb. 1963 assuming the resources (manpower, aircraft, equipment, weapons and facilities) of the 4123d Strategic Wing (inactivated)
- Inactivated 31 Dec. 1969
- Redesignated: 70th Air Base Group 16 Sept. 1994
- Activated 1 Oct. 1994
- Inactivated 1 Oct. 1998
- Redesignated: 70th Intelligence Wing 17 July 2000
- Activated 16 Aug. 2000
- Redesignated: 70th Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Wing 1 Jan. 2009
Assignments
- 4th Air Support (later, 4th Ground Air Support; IV Ground Air Support; IV Air Support) CommandIV Air Support CommandThe VI Air Support Command is an inactive United States Air Force unit. It was last assigned to Second Air Force, based at Biggs Field, Texas...
, 13 Sept. 1941 - II Air Support CommandII Air Support CommandThe II Air Support Command is an inactive United States Air Force unit. It was last assigned to Second Air Force, based at Biggs Field, Texas...
, November 1942 - III Air Support (later, III Reconnaissance) CommandIII Reconnaissance CommandThe III Reconnaissance Command is an inactive United States Air Force unit. Its last assignment was with Third Air Force stationed at Rapid City Army Air Base, South Dakota. It was inactivated on 8 April 1946.-Lineage:...
, c. 6 Aug. – 30 Nov. 1943 - 325th Reconnaissance Wing (later, 325th Air Division, Reconnaissance)325th Air DivisionThe 325th Air Division is an inactive United States Air Force unit. Its last assignment was with Fourth Air Force, based at Hamilton Air Force Base, California...
, 26 April 1947 – 27 June 1949 - Second Air ForceSecond Air ForceThe Second Air Force is a numbered air force of the United States Air Force Air Education and Training Command . It is headquartered at Keesler Air Force Base, Mississippi....
, 24 Jan. 1955
- Attached to 801st Air Division801st Air DivisionThe 801st Air Division is an inactive United States Air Force organization. Its last assignment was with Strategic Air Command, assigned to Eighth Air Force, being stationed at Lockbourne Air Force Base, Ohio...
, 24 Jan. 1955-c. 19 Oct. 1955
- 825th Air (later, 825th Strategic Aerospace) Division, 1 Aug. 1955 – 25 June 1962
- Attached to 5th Air Division, 26 Oct. – 17 Dec. 1956
- Strategic Air CommandStrategic Air CommandThe Strategic Air Command was both a Major Command of the United States Air Force and a "specified command" of the United States Department of Defense. SAC was the operational establishment in charge of America's land-based strategic bomber aircraft and land-based intercontinental ballistic...
, 15 Nov. 1962 - 816th Strategic Aerospace Division816th Strategic Aerospace DivisionThe 816th Strategic Aerospace Division is an inactive United States Air Force organization. Its last assignment was with Strategic Air Command, assigned to Second Air Force, being stationed at Altus Air Force Base, Oklahoma...
, 1 Feb. 1963 - 17th Strategic Aerospace Division, 1 July 1965 – 31 Dec. 1969
- Human Systems Center, 1 Oct. 1994 – 1 Oct. 1998
- Air Intelligence AgencyAir Intelligence Agency-External links:* * * *...
, 16 Aug. 2000 - Eighth Air ForceEighth Air ForceThe Eighth Air Force is a numbered air force of the United States Air Force Global Strike Command . It is headquartered at Barksdale Air Force Base, Louisiana....
, 1 Feb. 2001 - Air Force Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Agency, 5 July 2006–present
- Strategic Air Command
Components
Squadrons- 6th Strategic Reconnaissance (later, 6th Bombardment) Squadron6th Bombardment SquadronThe 6th Bombardment Squadron is an inactive United States Air Force unit, which was last assigned to the 70th Bombardment Wing, and was inactivated at Clinton-Sherman Air Force Base, Oklahoma on 31 December 1969.-History:...
: 24 June 1955 – 25 June 1962 (detached 1 May-c. October 1955); 1 Feb. 1963 – 31 Dec. 1969 - 26th Tactical Reconnaissance: 2 March 1942 – 30 Nov. 1943
- 26th Photographic Reconnaissance (later, 26th Strategic Reconnaissance; 681st Bombardment) Squadron681st Bombardment SquadronThe 681st Bombardment Squadron is an inactive United States Air Force unit. It was last assigned to the 70th Bombardment Wing. It was last stationed at Little Rock Air Force Base, Arkansas, and was inactivated on 25 June 1962.-History:...
: 1 Aug. 1947 – 27 June 1949; 24 Jan. 1955 – 25 June 1962 - 57th Reconnaissance Squadron57th Reconnaissance SquadronThe 57th Reconnaissance Squadron is an inactive United States Air Force Reserve squadron. Its last assignment was with the 9th Weather Reconnaissance Wing, based at Hickam Air Force Base, Hawaii...
: 1 Aug. 1947 – 27 June 1949 - 61st Reconnaissance (later, 61st Strategic Reconnaissance; 61st Bombardment) Squadron61st Bombardment SquadronThe 61st Bombardment Squadron is an inactive United States Air Force unit. It was last assigned to the 70th Bombardment Wing. It was last stationed at Little Rock Air Force Base, Arkansas, and was inactivated on 25 June 1962.-History:...
: 26 April 1947 – 27 June 1949; 24 Jan. 1955 – 25 June 1962 (detached 15 July-c. October 1955) - 70th Air Refueling Squadron70th Air Refueling SquadronThe 70th Air Refueling Squadron is part of the 349th Air Mobility Wing at Travis Air Force Base, California. It operates the KC-10 Extender aircraft conducting aerial refueling missions as the reserve associate to the 60th Air Mobility Wing....
: 1 Aug. 1955 – 1 Aug. 1961 (detached 27 Jan. – 16 Aug. 1956; 24 June-c. 24 Sept. 1957, 3 Sept. 1958 – 12 Jan. 1959, and 5 Oct. 1960 – 11 Jan. 1961) - 112th Liaison Squadron112th Fighter SquadronThe 112th Fighter Squadron flies the F-16C/D Fighting Falcon. It is a unit of the Ohio Air National Guard. Its parent unit is the 180th Fighter Wing.-History:...
: 30 April – 11 Aug. 1943 - 116th Observation (later, 116th Reconnaissance; 116th Tactical Reconnaissance) Squadron116th Air Refueling SquadronThe 116th Air Refueling Squadron flies the KC-135 Stratotanker. It is a unit of the Washington Air National Guard. Its parent unit is the 141st Air Refueling Wing.-Federal mission:...
13 Sept. 1941 – 30 Nov. 1943 - 123rd Observation (later, 123rd Reconnaissance; 35th Photographic Reconnaissance) Squadron assigned 15 Sept. 1941 – 10 Aug. 1943, attached 11 Aug. – 31 Oct. 1943
- 902d Air Refueling Squadron902d Air Refueling SquadronThe 902d Air Refueling Squadron is an inactive United States Air Force unit. It was last assigned to the 70th Bombardment Wing, stationed at Clinton-Sherman Air Force Base, Oklahoma. It was inactivated on 31 December 1969....
: 1 Feb. 1963 – 31 Dec. 1969
Stations
- Gray Army AirfieldGray Army AirfieldGray Army Airfield , also known as Gray AAF, is a military airport located at Fort Lewis near Tacoma, Washington, USA. It is located within Fort Lewis.It should not confused with Robert Gray Army Airfield at Fort Hood in Texas.-Overview:...
, Wash., 13 Sept. 1941 - Salinas Army Air Base, Calif.CaliforniaCalifornia is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
, 1 March 1943 - Redmond Army Airfield, Ore.OregonOregon is a state in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States. It is located on the Pacific coast, with Washington to the north, California to the south, Nevada on the southeast and Idaho to the east. The Columbia and Snake rivers delineate much of Oregon's northern and eastern...
, 15 Aug. 1943 - Corvallis Army Airfield, Ore.OregonOregon is a state in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States. It is located on the Pacific coast, with Washington to the north, California to the south, Nevada on the southeast and Idaho to the east. The Columbia and Snake rivers delineate much of Oregon's northern and eastern...
, October 1943 - Will Rogers Field, Okla.OklahomaOklahoma is a state located in the South Central region of the United States of America. With an estimated 3,751,351 residents as of the 2010 census and a land area of 68,667 square miles , Oklahoma is the 28th most populous and 20th-largest state...
, 14–30 Nov. 1943 - Hill Air Force BaseHill Air Force BaseHill Air Force Base is a major U.S. Air Force Base located in northern Utah, just south of the city of Ogden, and near the towns of Clearfield, Riverdale, Roy, Sunset, and Layton. It is about north of Salt Lake City. The base was named in honor of Major Ployer Peter Hill of the U.S. Army Air...
, UtahUtahUtah is a state in the Western United States. It was the 45th state to join the Union, on January 4, 1896. Approximately 80% of Utah's 2,763,885 people live along the Wasatch Front, centering on Salt Lake City. This leaves vast expanses of the state nearly uninhabited, making the population the...
, 26 April 1947 – 27 June 1949
- Little Rock Air Force BaseLittle Rock Air Force BaseLittle Rock Air Force Base is a United States Air Force base located approximately northeast of Little Rock, Arkansas.-Overview:...
, Ark.ArkansasArkansas is a state located in the southern region of the United States. Its name is an Algonquian name of the Quapaw Indians. Arkansas shares borders with six states , and its eastern border is largely defined by the Mississippi River...
, 24 Jan. 1955 – 25 June 1962
- Deployed at Lockbourne AFB, OhioOhioOhio is a Midwestern state in the United States. The 34th largest state by area in the U.S.,it is the 7th‑most populous with over 11.5 million residents, containing several major American cities and seven metropolitan areas with populations of 500,000 or more.The state's capital is Columbus...
, 24 Jan. – 19 Oct. 1955- Clinton-Sherman Air Force BaseClinton-Sherman Air Force BaseClinton-Sherman Air Force Base is a former United States Air Force Strategic Air Command base located near the town of Burns Flat in Washita County, Oklahoma, 15 miles southwest of the city of Clinton, Oklahoma....
, Okla.OklahomaOklahoma is a state located in the South Central region of the United States of America. With an estimated 3,751,351 residents as of the 2010 census and a land area of 68,667 square miles , Oklahoma is the 28th most populous and 20th-largest state...
, 1 Feb. 1963 – 31 Dec. 1969 - Brooks Air Force Base, Texas, 1 Oct. 1994 – 1 Oct. 1998
- Fort George G. MeadeFort George G. MeadeFort George G. Meade is a United States Army installation that includes the Defense Information School, the United States Army Field Band, and the headquarters of United States Cyber Command, the National Security Agency, and the Defense Courier Service...
, Md.MarylandMaryland is a U.S. state located in the Mid Atlantic region of the United States, bordering Virginia, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia to its south and west; Pennsylvania to its north; and Delaware to its east...
, 17 July 2000–present
- Clinton-Sherman Air Force Base
Aircraft
- Douglas O-38Douglas O-38-References:*The complete Encyclopedia of World Aircraft Editors: Paul Eden & Soph Moeng, , 1152 pp.-External links:...
(1941) - Douglas O-46 (1941–1942)
- North American O-47North American O-47|-See also:-References:NotesBibliography* Eden, Paul and Soph Moeng. The Complete Encyclopedia of World Aircraft. London: Amber Books Ltd., 2002. ISBN 0-7607-3432-1.* Fahey, James C. U.S. Army Aircraft 1908-1946. New York: Ships and Aircraft, 1946....
(1941–1943) - O-49 VigilantStinson Vigilant|-See also:-Bibliography:* Donald, David . American Warplanes of World War II. London: Aerospace Publishing, 1995. ISBN 1-874023-72-7.* Eden, Paul and Soph Moeng . The Complete Encyclopedia of World Aircraft. Amber Books Ltd., 2002. ISBN 0-7607-3432-1* Merriam, Ray . World War II Journal #15: U.S....
(1941–1943) - P-39 Airacobra (1943)
- B-25 MitchellB-25 MitchellThe North American B-25 Mitchell was an American twin-engined medium bomber manufactured by North American Aviation. It was used by many Allied air forces, in every theater of World War II, as well as many other air forces after the war ended, and saw service across four decades.The B-25 was named...
(1943) - L-5 SentinelL-5 SentinelThe Stinson L-5 Sentinel was a World War II era liaison aircraft used by all branches of the U.S. military and by the British Royal Air Force. Along with the Stinson L-1 Vigilant, the L-5 was the only other American liaison aircraft of WWII that was purpose-built for military use and had no...
(1943)
- RB-47 StratojetB-47 StratojetThe Boeing Model 450 B-47 Stratojet was a long-range, six-engined, jet-powered medium bomber built to fly at high subsonic speeds and at high altitudes. It was primarily designed to drop nuclear bombs on the Soviet Union...
(1955–1962) - KC-97 StratotankerKC-97 StratotankerThe Boeing KC-97 Stratotanker was a United States strategic tanker aircraft based on the Boeing C-97 Stratofreighter. It was succeeded by the Boeing KC-135 Stratotanker.-Design and development:...
(1955–1961) - B-47 StratojetB-47 StratojetThe Boeing Model 450 B-47 Stratojet was a long-range, six-engined, jet-powered medium bomber built to fly at high subsonic speeds and at high altitudes. It was primarily designed to drop nuclear bombs on the Soviet Union...
(1961–1962) - L-5 SentinelL-5 SentinelThe Stinson L-5 Sentinel was a World War II era liaison aircraft used by all branches of the U.S. military and by the British Royal Air Force. Along with the Stinson L-1 Vigilant, the L-5 was the only other American liaison aircraft of WWII that was purpose-built for military use and had no...
(1949–1951) - B-52 StratofortressB-52 StratofortressThe Boeing B-52 Stratofortress is a long-range, subsonic, jet-powered strategic bomber operated by the United States Air Force since the 1950s. The B-52 was designed and built by Boeing, who have continued to provide maintainence and upgrades to the aircraft in service...
(1963–1969) - KC-135 StratotankerKC-135 StratotankerThe Boeing KC-135 Stratotanker is an aerial refueling military aircraft. It and the Boeing 707 airliner were developed from the Boeing 367-80 prototype. The KC-135 was the US Air Force's first jet-powered refueling tanker and replaced the KC-97 Stratotanker...
(1963–1969)
See also
- List of B-47 units of the United States Air Force
- List of B-52 Units of the United States Air Force
- List of inactive AFCON wings of the United States Air Force