70th Intelligence Wing

Infobox Military Unit
unit_name= 70th Intelligence Wing


caption= 70th Intelligence Wing Insignia
dates= September 1, 1941
country= United States
allegiance=
branch= United States Air Force
type=
role= Intelligence
size=
command_structure= Air Force Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Agency
current_commander= Colonel [http://www.afisr.af.mil/library/biographies/bio.asp?id=10636 John D Stauffer]
garrison= Fort Meade
ceremonial_chief=
colonel_of_the_regiment=
nickname=
patron=
motto= Strength Through Unity
colors=
march=
mascot=
battles=
anniversaries=
decorations=

The 70th Intelligence Wing (70 IW), Fort Meade, Maryland, known as "America's Cryptologic Wing", is the only wing in the United States Air Force that supports the National Security Agency, Air Force Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Agency, and the entire United States Air Force with Cryptologic Intelligence.

Mission

Provide multi-source, multi-service intelligence products for Department of Defense by gaining and exploiting information as a major component of the Air Force and DoD global intelligence mission.

ubordinate organizations

70th Mission Support Group

The 70th Mission Support Group at Fort Meade, Maryland

70th Operations Group

The 70th Operations Group at Fort Meade, Maryland

373d Intelligence Group

The 373d Intelligence Group at Misawa Air Base, Japan

543d Intelligence Group

The 543d Intelligence Group is located at the Medina Annex, Lackland Air Force Base, Texas, and is a unique group within the wing. Organized according to mission, rather than by geography, the 543 IG has two squadrons within the Continental United States which are part of Regional SIGINT Operations Centers. Providing command and control, personnel, communications, computer and logistics support for all Regional SIGINT Operations Centers conducting information operations, the 543 IG provides timely and accurate multi-regional SIGINT to warfighters and other intelligence users.

544th Information Operations Group

The 544 IOG is at Peterson Air Force Base, Colorado was transferred from the 67th Information Operations Wing to the 70th Intelligence Wing on 12 July 2006.

692d Intelligence Group

The 692d Intelligence Group located at Hickam Air Force Base, Hawaii, provides Information Operations expertise to Pacific warfighters and national decision makers. The 692 IG is responsible for all areas of traditional intelligence work, information operations and computer and communications security assessments for the Pacific. Units are scattered from Alaska to Australia, Hawaii to Thailand and many points between.

693d Intelligence Group

The 693d Intelligence Group located at Ramstein Air Base, Germany, provides Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Operations expertise to European warfighters and national decision makers. The 693 IG is responsible for all areas of traditional intelligence work, information operations and computer and communications security assessments for the Europe. Units are located at Ramstein Air Base and Mainz-Kastel Germany.

History

During World War II, the 70th Reconnaissance Group conducted observation, artillery adjustment, and fighter and bomber support training with Army ground forces from 1941-1943. It also flew antisubmarine patrols along the west coast from 7 December 1941 through September 1942.

The group was active in the reserve Fourth Air Force from, 1947-1949.

The 70th Strategic Reconnaissance Wing deployed at Lockbourne Air Force Base, Ohio, 24 January-19 October 1955, while its permanent base underwent construction. Few wing components were manned until the move to Little Rock Air Force Base, Arkansas. From there the wing flew strategic reconnaissance to meet the Strategic Air Command's (SAC) global commitments from, October 1955-1962, but on a reduced scale after February 1958. It also assumed an air refueling mission in 1955 and was deployed at Sidi Slimane Air Base, Morocco from, 26 October-17 December 1956. From June 1958 to September 1961, the wing became a 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 Aug. 1961 and the final RB-47 class graduated in Oct. 1961. It converted to B-47s in late 1961 but inactivated prior to becoming combat ready.

The 70th Bombardment Wing replaced the 4123d Strategic Wing at Clinton-Sherman Air Force Base, Oklahoma, in February 1963, to conduct strategic bombardment training and air refueling until December 1969. For several months in 1968 and 1969, all wing aircraft, most of its 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.

The 70th Air Base Wing operated and maintained Brooks Air Force Base from October 1994 through September 1998. Since August 2000, the 70th Intelligence 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 on 1 Sep 1941.
** Activated on 13 Sep 1941.
** Redesignated: 70th Reconnaissance Group on 2 Apr 1943
** Redesignated: 70th Tactical Reconnaissance Group on 11 Aug 1943
** Disestablished on 30 Nov 1943.
* Reestablished, and redesignated 70th Reconnaissance Group, on 10 Mar 1947.
** Activated in the Reserve on 26 Apr 1947.
** Inactivated on 27 Jun 1949.
* Consolidated (31 Jan 1984) with the 70th Strategic Reconnaissance Wing, which was established on 23 Mar 1953.
** Activated on 24 Jan 1955.
** Redesignated: 70th Bombardment Wing, Medium on 25 Oct 1961.
** Discontinued, and inactivated, on 25 Jun 1962.
* Redesignated: 70th Bombardment Wing, Heavy, and activated, on 15 Nov 1962.
** Organized on 1 Feb 1963.
** Inactivated on 31 Dec 1969.
* Redesignated: 70th Air Base Group on 16 Sep 1994.
** Activated on 1 Oct 1994.
** Inactivated on 1 Oct 1998.
* Redesignated: 70th Intelligence Wing on 17 Jul 2000.
** Activated on 16 Aug 2000.

Bases stationed

*Gray Field, Washington (1941 – 1943)
*Salinas Army Airfield, California (1943)
*Redmond Army Airfield, Oregon (1943)
*Corvallis Army Airfield, Oregon (1943)
*Will Rogers Field, Oklahoma (1943)
*Hill Air Force Base, Utah (1947 – 1949)
*Little Rock Air Force Base, Arkansas (1955 – 1962)
*Clinton-Sherman Air Force Base, Oklahoma (1963 – 1969)
*Brooks Air Force Base, Texas (1994 – 1998)
*Fort George G. Meade, Maryland (2000 – Present)

Aircraft operated

*O-38 (1941)
*O-46 (1941 – 1942)
*O-47 (1941 – 1943)
*O-49 Vigilant (1941 – 1943)
*P-39 Airacobra (1943)
*B-25 Mitchell (1943)
*L-5 Sentinel (1943)
*RB-47 Stratojet (1955 – 1962)
*KC-97 Stratotanker (1955 – 1961)
*B-47 Stratojet (1961 – 1962)
*L-5 Sentinel (1949 – 1951)
*B-52 Stratofortress (1963 – 1969)
*KC-135 Stratotanker (1963 – 1969)

External links

* [http://usafengineers.com/modules.php?name=Units&file=details&id=553&unit=Intelligence 70th Intelligence Wing]
* [http://www.afisr.af.mil/units/70iw/index.asp 70th IW Home Page]