497th Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Group
Encyclopedia
The United States Air Force
's 497th Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Group (497 ISRG) is an intelligence unit located at Joint Base Langley–Eustis
, Virginia
.
The Group consists of two active duty Squadrons, the 30th Intelligence Squadron and 10th Intelligence Squadron, one Air National Guard unit, the 192nd Intelligence Squadron (VA ANG), and a new classic Air Reserve unit, the 718th Intelligence Squadron, stood up to support the total force integration of the Wing and combat ISR operations.
, England where it was used as the basis for the formation of the current US European Command Joint Intelligent Center before being inactivated in 1992.
Reactivated in 1993 at Bolling AFB, DC, the unit has provided intelligence information in direct support of combat operations to Senior Air Force leaders, key Coalition partners and combatant commanders worldwide. Capabilities within the Group include global command and control for the collection and processing, exploitation, and dissemination of ISR data from the U-2 Dragon Lady, RQ-4 Global Hawk, MQ-1 Predator and MQ-9 Reaper, in addition to numerous other ISR platforms, utilizing the Air Force Distributed Common Ground System weapon system.
Additionally, the Group conducts real-time cryptologic and signals intelligence operations in direct support of combat operations and combatant commanders worldwide.
.* Attached for logistical and personnel support
Air Force Outstanding Unit Awards: 1 Oct – 31 Dec 1967; 1 Jan 1971 – 30 Jun 1972; 1 Jul 1973-30 Jun 1975; 1 Jul 1976 – 30 Jun 1978; 1 Jul 1978-30 Jun 1979; 1 Jul 1983 – 30 Jun 1985; 1 Jul 1986-30 Jun 1988; 1 Jul 1988 – 30 Jun 1990; 1 Jul 1990-30 Jun 1992; 1 Oct 1994 – 30 Sep 1996.
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...
's 497th Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Group (497 ISRG) is an intelligence unit located at Joint Base Langley–Eustis
Joint Base Langley–Eustis
Joint Base Langley–Eustis is a United States military facility located in Hampton and Newport News, Virginia. The facility is under the jurisdiction of the United States Air Force 633rd Air Base Wing, Air Combat Command...
, Virginia
Virginia
The Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there...
.
Mission
The 497th ISR Group delivers real-time high-confidence intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance products and services to Joint and Coalition forces and other designated government agencies.The Group consists of two active duty Squadrons, the 30th Intelligence Squadron and 10th Intelligence Squadron, one Air National Guard unit, the 192nd Intelligence Squadron (VA ANG), and a new classic Air Reserve unit, the 718th Intelligence Squadron, stood up to support the total force integration of the Wing and combat ISR operations.
History
The unit was activated at Wiesbaden Air Base, West Germany in 1951 by USAFE General Order 29. Its mission was to support the tactical targeting program in Europe by furnishing photographic support such as overlays, aerial photography and photo interpretation. Remaining in Wiesbaden throughout the Cold War, the 497th increased in size and responsibility to USAFE Intelligence. It was moved from its facilities at Wiesbaden in July 1991 to RAF MolesworthRAF Molesworth
RAF Molesworth is a Royal Air Force station located near Molesworth, Cambridgeshire, United Kingdom with a history dating back to 1917.Its runway and flight line facilities were closed in 1973 and demolished to support ground-launched cruise missile operations in the early 1980s...
, England where it was used as the basis for the formation of the current US European Command Joint Intelligent Center before being inactivated in 1992.
Reactivated in 1993 at Bolling AFB, DC, the unit has provided intelligence information in direct support of combat operations to Senior Air Force leaders, key Coalition partners and combatant commanders worldwide. Capabilities within the Group include global command and control for the collection and processing, exploitation, and dissemination of ISR data from the U-2 Dragon Lady, RQ-4 Global Hawk, MQ-1 Predator and MQ-9 Reaper, in addition to numerous other ISR platforms, utilizing the Air Force Distributed Common Ground System weapon system.
Additionally, the Group conducts real-time cryptologic and signals intelligence operations in direct support of combat operations and combatant commanders worldwide.
Lineage
- Established as 497th Reconnaissance Technical Squadron, and activated on 3 May 1951
- Re-designated: 497th Reconnaissance Technical Group, 22 August 1967
- Organized on 1 October 1967
- Inactivated on 1 July 1992
- Re-designated 497th Intelligence Group, and activated, on 1 October 1993
- Re-designated 497th Information Operations Group on 1 August 2000
- Inactivated on 1 February 2001
- Re-designated 497th Intelligence Group on 23 October 2003
- Activated on 1 December 2003.
- Re-designated 497th Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Group, 1 January 2009
Assignments
- Twelfth Air Force, 3 May 1951
- Attached to: 60th Troop Carrier Wing*, 3 May-2 June 1951
- Ninth Air ForceNinth Air ForceThe Ninth Air Force is a numbered air force of the United States Air Force's Air Combat Command . It is headquartered at Shaw Air Force Base, South Carolina....
, 26 July 1951
- Ninth Air Force
- Attached to: 20th Fighter-Bomber Wing*, 24 September 1951
- United States Air Forces in EuropeUnited States Air Forces in EuropeThe United States Air Forces in Europe is the United States Air Force component of U.S. European Command, a Department of Defense unified command, and is one of two Air Force Major Commands outside of the continental United States, the other being the Pacific Air Forces...
, 7 March 1952
- United States Air Forces in Europe
- Attached to: Twelfth Air Force, 7 March 1952-27 April 1953
- 7455th Tactical Intelligence Wing7455th Tactical Intelligence WingThe 7455th Tactical Intelligence Wing is an inactive United States Air Force unit. It was last assigned to the United States Air Forces in Europe, stationed at Ramstein Air Base, Germany...
, 1 September 1985-1 July 1992 - Air Intelligence AgencyAir Intelligence Agency-External links:* * * *...
, 1 October 1993 - National Air Intelligence Center, 31 Jan 2000-1 Feb 2001
- 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...
, 1 December 2003
- 7455th Tactical Intelligence Wing
- Re-designated: 480th Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Wing480th Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance 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...
, 1 January 2009-Present
.* Attached for logistical and personnel support
Units
- 10th Intelligence Squadron10th Intelligence SquadronThe United States Air Force's 10th Intelligence Squadron is an intelligence unit located at Langley AFB, Virginia.-Mission:The 10th Intelligence Squadron , teaming with 30 IS, Air Combat Command , operates the multisource intelligence collection and dissemination Contingency Airborne...
- 30th Intelligence Squadron
- 31st Intelligence Squadron
- 192d Intelligence Squadron (VA ANG)
- 718th Intelligence Squadron (AFRES)
- 496th Reconnaissance Technical Squadron, 15 July 1959-1961 (Vogelweigh, West Germany); 1 October 1982-1 July 1991, (RAF Alconbury, England)
- Detachment 1, 497th Reconnaissance Technical Group, 1 October 1982 (Ramstein AB, West Germany)
- Re-designated: 495th Reconnaissance Technical Squadron, 1 September 1989-1 July 1992
Stations
- Wiesbaden Air Base, West Germany, 3 May 1951
- Shaw Air Force BaseShaw Air Force BaseShaw Air Force Base is a United States Military facility located approximately west-northwest of Sumter, South Carolina. It is under the jurisdiction of the United States Air Force Air Combat Command...
, South Carolina, 26 July 1951 - Schierstein KaserneSchierstein KaserneSchierstein Kaserne was a NATO facility located near Wiesbaden, Germany. It was closed as a NATO facility on 1 July 1991. Today the facility has been redeveloped as part of the Schierstein borough of Wiesbaden.-History:...
, Wiesbaden, West Germany, 7 March 1952
- Operating Location-A, Ramstein Air BaseRamstein Air BaseRamstein Air Base is a United States Air Force base in the German state of Rheinland-Pfalz. It serves as headquarters for the United States Air Forces in Europe and is also a North Atlantic Treaty Organization installation...
, West Germany, April 1979-July 1992 (to provide expanded imagery intelligence support to Headquarters, USAFE)- RAF MolesworthRAF MolesworthRAF Molesworth is a Royal Air Force station located near Molesworth, Cambridgeshire, United Kingdom with a history dating back to 1917.Its runway and flight line facilities were closed in 1973 and demolished to support ground-launched cruise missile operations in the early 1980s...
, England, 1 July 1991-1 July 1992 - Bolling Air Force BaseBolling Air Force BaseJoint Base Anacostia-Bolling is a military installation, located in Southeast Washington, D.C., established on 1 October 2010 in accordance with congressional legislation implementing the recommendations of the 2005 Base Realignment and Closure Commission...
, DC, 1 October 1993-1 February 2001 - Langley Air Force Base, Virginia, 1 December 2003
- RAF Molesworth
- Renamed Joint Base Langley–EustisJoint Base Langley–EustisJoint Base Langley–Eustis is a United States military facility located in Hampton and Newport News, Virginia. The facility is under the jurisdiction of the United States Air Force 633rd Air Base Wing, Air Combat Command...
, 1 October 2010-Present
Decorations
- Air Force Outstanding Unit Award
Air Force Outstanding Unit Awards: 1 Oct – 31 Dec 1967; 1 Jan 1971 – 30 Jun 1972; 1 Jul 1973-30 Jun 1975; 1 Jul 1976 – 30 Jun 1978; 1 Jul 1978-30 Jun 1979; 1 Jul 1983 – 30 Jun 1985; 1 Jul 1986-30 Jun 1988; 1 Jul 1988 – 30 Jun 1990; 1 Jul 1990-30 Jun 1992; 1 Oct 1994 – 30 Sep 1996.