67th Network Warfare Group
Encyclopedia
The 67th Network Warfare Group (67 NWG) is a sub-unit under the 67th Network Warfare Wing
. Headquartered on Lackland Air Force Base
's Security Hill, the 67 NWG is the Air Force
's premier Information Operations unit.
The group's World War II
predecessor unit, the 67th Reconnaissance Group was assigned to Eighth
and Ninth Air Force
s in Western Europe. It was deployed for 36 months overseas and 18 months of combat action. The group spearheaded the tactical reconnaissance effort during the D-Day
Invasion of Europe and the eventual defeat of Hitler's Nazi forces. For its World War II operations, the group earned the Distinguished Unit Citation, two foreign decorations, and seven campaign streamers.
Moved to the European theater, August–October 1942. Assigned first to Eighth
and later (October 1943) to Ninth Air Force
. At RAF Membury
, the group received well-used Supermarine Spitfire Vs
and early Douglas A-20 Havoc and Boston
aircraft from the RAF plus a few L-4B Grasshopper observation aircraft to train with until their Lockheed F-5/P-38 Lightning aircraft arrived from the United States. The 67th Group operated as the nucleus of the USAAF tactical reconnaissance organization in the UK, a task acknowledged by the redesignation as such soon after the Membury units were transferred to the Ninth Air Force in October 1943. At the time of the transfer to Ninth Air Force, the group was redesignated the 67th Reconnaissance Group.
At the time, the 107th and 109th Squadrons were converting to North American P-51A Mustangs. However, before this was completed, the 107th Squadron was moved to RAF Aldermaston
and the 109th to RAF Middle Wallop so that their reconnaissance photographs and visual intelligence would he quickly available to IX Troop Carrier Command and IX Fighter Command Headquarters based there.
The group received a DUC for operations along the coast of France, 15 February – 20 March 1944, when the group flew at low altitude in the face of intense flak to obtain photographs that aided the invasion of the Continent. Flew weather missions, made visual reconnaissance for ground forces, and photographed enemy positions to support the Normandy campaign and later to assist First Army and other Allied forces in the drive to Germany. Took part in the offensive against the Siegfried Line, September–December 1944, and in the Battle of the Bulge, December 1944 – January 1945. From January to May 1945, photographed dams on the Roer River in preparation for the ground offensive to cross the river, and aided the Allied assault across the Rhine and into Germany.
Returned to the US, July–September 1945. Inactivated on 31 March 1946.
launched a surprise attack against the Republic of Korea in June 1950. In February 1951, Headquarters Far East Air Force activated the 67th Tactical Reconnaissance Group at Komaki Air Base, Japan replacing the inactivated 543rd Tactical Support Group.
Used RB-26, RF-80, RF-86, and RF-84 aircraft. Made photographic reconnaissance of front lines, enemy positions, and installations; took pre-strike and bomb-damage assessment photographs; made visual reconnaissance of enemy artillery and naval gun positions; and flew weather missions. Received an AFOUA for the period 1 December 1952-30 April 1953 when, in the face of enemy opposition and adverse weather, the group performed reconnaissance missions on a 24-hour-a-day, 7-day-a¬week basis to provide valuable intelligence for UN forces.
After the Korean armistice, reassigned to Japan in December 1954. Performed various reconnaissance as needed. Inactivated on 1 October 1957 when parent wing adopted Tri-Deputate organization and assigned all flying components directly to wing.
67th Network Warfare Wing
The 67th Network Warfare Wing , Lackland Air Force Base, Texas, was reactivated October 1, 1993 as the 67th Intelligence Wing. The wing was re-designated the 67th Information Operations Wing on February 1, 2001...
. Headquartered on Lackland Air Force Base
Lackland 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 ....
's Security Hill, the 67 NWG is the 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...
's premier Information Operations unit.
The group's 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...
predecessor unit, the 67th Reconnaissance Group was assigned to Eighth
Eighth Air Force
The 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....
and Ninth Air Force
Ninth Air Force
The 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....
s in Western Europe. It was deployed for 36 months overseas and 18 months of combat action. The group spearheaded the tactical reconnaissance effort during the D-Day
D-Day
D-Day is a term often used in military parlance to denote the day on which a combat attack or operation is to be initiated. "D-Day" often represents a variable, designating the day upon which some significant event will occur or has occurred; see Military designation of days and hours for similar...
Invasion of Europe and the eventual defeat of Hitler's Nazi forces. For its World War II operations, the group earned the Distinguished Unit Citation, two foreign decorations, and seven campaign streamers.
Emblem Significance
The stars allude to the Wing's mission of network attack, exploitation, defense, and the training of cyberspace warriors to defeat any adversary. The dark blue background symbolizes the shroud of secrecy that surrounds a cyberspace adversary. The red lightning bolt represents the applied speed, strength, power, and precision of Air Force network warfare. The sun in the light blue background depicts our mission to operate the Air Force network through the ground, air, and space domains; ensuring the right info at the right place at the right time. We deny the adversary the use of cyberspace while maximizing our own use of the net; hence, the Motto: LUX EX TENEBRIS (Light from Darkness). http://www.8af.acc.af.mil/library/factsheets/factsheet.asp?id=4926Mission Statement
Execute AF network operations, defense, attack, and exploitation to create integrated cyberspace effects for Air Force Network Operations Commander and combatant Commands.http://www.8af.acc.af.mil/library/factsheets/factsheet.asp?id=4924Lineage
- Constituted as 67th Observation Group on 21 August 1941
- Activated on 1 September 1941
- Redesignated as: 67th Reconnaissance Group in May 1943
- Redesignated as: 67th Tactical Reconnaissance Group in November 1943
- Redesignated as: 67th Reconnaissance Group in June 1945
- Inactivated on 31 March 1946
- Activated on 19 May 1947
- Redesignated as: 67th Tactical Reconnaissance Group in June 1948
- Inactivated on 28 March 1949
- Activated in Japan on 25 February 1951
- Inactivated on 1 October 1957
- Redesignated as: 67th Tactical Intelligence Group on 31 July 1985 (Remained inactive)
- Redesignated as: 67th Intelligence Group and activated on 1 October 1993
- Redesignated as: 67th Information Operations Group on 1 August 2000
- Redesignated as: 67th Network Warfare Group on 5 July 2006
Assignments
- Third Air ForceThird Air ForceThe Third Air Force is a numbered air force of the United States Air Forces in Europe . It is headquartered at Ramstein Air Base, Germany....
, 1 September 1941 - 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....
, September 1942 - 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....
, 1 October 1943 – July 1945 - Third Air ForceThird Air ForceThe Third Air Force is a numbered air force of the United States Air Forces in Europe . It is headquartered at Ramstein Air Base, Germany....
, September 1945 - 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....
, 21 March 1946 - Twelfth Air Force, 25 July 1947
- 67th Reconnaissance (later Tactical Reconnaissance) Wing67th Network Warfare WingThe 67th Network Warfare Wing , Lackland Air Force Base, Texas, was reactivated October 1, 1993 as the 67th Intelligence Wing. The wing was re-designated the 67th Information Operations Wing on February 1, 2001...
, 25 November 1947 – 28 March 1949 - 67th Tactical Reconnaissance Wing67th Network Warfare WingThe 67th Network Warfare Wing , Lackland Air Force Base, Texas, was reactivated October 1, 1993 as the 67th Intelligence Wing. The wing was re-designated the 67th Information Operations Wing on February 1, 2001...
, 25 February 1951 – 1 October 1957 - 67th Intelligence (later Information Operations; Network Warfare) Wing67th Network Warfare WingThe 67th Network Warfare Wing , Lackland Air Force Base, Texas, was reactivated October 1, 1993 as the 67th Intelligence Wing. The wing was re-designated the 67th Information Operations Wing on February 1, 2001...
, 1 October 1993–present
Stations
- Esler Army Airfield, LouisianaLouisianaLouisiana is a state located in the southern region of the United States of America. Its capital is Baton Rouge and largest city is New Orleans. Louisiana is the only state in the U.S. with political subdivisions termed parishes, which are local governments equivalent to counties...
, 1 September 1941 - Charleston Army Air Field, South CarolinaSouth CarolinaSouth Carolina is a state in the Deep South of the United States that borders Georgia to the south, North Carolina to the north, and the Atlantic Ocean to the east. Originally part of the Province of Carolina, the Province of South Carolina was one of the 13 colonies that declared independence...
, December 1941 - Esler Army Airfield, LouisianaLouisianaLouisiana is a state located in the southern region of the United States of America. Its capital is Baton Rouge and largest city is New Orleans. Louisiana is the only state in the U.S. with political subdivisions termed parishes, which are local governments equivalent to counties...
, January–August 1942 - RAF MemburyRAF MemburyRAF Station Membury is a former World War II airfield built in the civil parish of Lambourn in Berkshire, England. The airfield is located approximately mi north-northwest of Hungerford, at the Membury services stop of the M4 motorway; about miles west-southwest of London...
(AAF-466), England, September 1942 - RAF Middle Wallop (AAF-449), England, December 1943
- Le Molay AirfieldLe Molay AirfieldLe Molay Airfield is an abandoned World War II military airfield, which is located near the commune of Le Molay-Littry in the Basse-Normandie region of northern France....
(A-9), France, July 1944 - Toussus le Noble Airfield (A-46), France, August 1944
- Charleroi Airfield (A-87), BelgiumBelgiumBelgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
, September 1944 - Vogelsang AirfieldVogelsang AirfieldVogelsang Airfield is an abandoned World War II military airfield located approximately 3 miles northwest of Schleiden ; approximately 330 miles southwest of Berlin....
(Y-51), Germany, March 1945 - Limburg AirfieldLimburg AirfieldLimburg Airfield is an abandoned World War II military airfield located in Germany approximately 2 miles north-northwest of Limburg an der Lahn ; approximately 275 miles southwest of Berlin....
(Y-83), Germany, c. 2 April 1945 - Eschwege AirfieldEschwege AirfieldEschwege Airfield is a former military airfield located in Germany in the northwest part of Eschwege ; approximately 170 miles southwest of Berlin....
(R-11), Germany, c. 10 April–July 1945 - Drew Field, Florida, c. September 1945
- MacDill Field, Florida, December 1945
- Shaw Field, South CarolinaSouth CarolinaSouth Carolina is a state in the Deep South of the United States that borders Georgia to the south, North Carolina to the north, and the Atlantic Ocean to the east. Originally part of the Province of Carolina, the Province of South Carolina was one of the 13 colonies that declared independence...
, February-31 March 1946 - Langley Field, VirginiaVirginiaThe 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...
, 19 May 1947 - March Field, California, c. 25 July 1947 – 28 March 1949
- Komaki Air Base, Japan, 25 February 1951
- Taegu Air Base (K-2), South KoreaSouth KoreaThe Republic of Korea , , is a sovereign state in East Asia, located on the southern portion of the Korean Peninsula. It is neighbored by the People's Republic of China to the west, Japan to the east, North Korea to the north, and the East China Sea and Republic of China to the south...
, 21 March 1951 - Kimpo Air Base (K-14), South KoreaSouth KoreaThe Republic of Korea , , is a sovereign state in East Asia, located on the southern portion of the Korean Peninsula. It is neighbored by the People's Republic of China to the west, Japan to the east, North Korea to the north, and the East China Sea and Republic of China to the south...
, 20 August 1951 - Itami Air Base, Japan,6 December 1954
- Yokota Air BaseYokota Air Base, is a United States Air Force base in the city of Fussa, one of 26 cities in the Tama Area, or Western Tokyo.The base houses 14,000 personnel. The base occupies a total area of and has a runway...
, Japan, 1 July 1957 – 1 October 1957 - Kelly AFB (later, Kelly Field Annex, Lackland AFB), Texas, 1 October 1993–present
Components
- 11th Reconnaissance Squadron, 28–31 March 1946; 19 May 1947 – 28 March 1949; 18 September 1953-1 October 1957
- 12th Reconnaissance Squadron12th Reconnaissance SquadronThe 12th Reconnaissance Squadron is a United States Air Force reconnaissance unit based at Beale Air Force Base, near Marysville, California. It is a component of the 9th Reconnaissance Wing and operates the RQ-4 Global Hawk unmanned aerial vehicle...
, 29 March 1942 – 13 June 1944; 24 July 1947-28 March 1949; 25 February 1951 – 1 October 1957 - 15th Reconnaissance (formerly Observation) Squadron15th Reconnaissance Squadron15th Reconnaissance Squadron flies MQ-1 Predator UAV's and is currently stationed at Creech Air Force Base in Indian Springs, Nevada. The 15th Reconnaissance Squadron is one of the first armed Remotely Piloted Aircraft squadrons. The squadron provides combatant commanders with persistent ISR,...
, 22 Dec 1943 – 4 January 1944; 4 January 1944-13 June 1944; 25 February 1951 – 1 October 1957 - 15th Reconnaissance (formerly Photographic) Squadron, 19 May – 24 July 1947
- 30th Reconnaissance Squadron30th Reconnaissance SquadronThe 30th Reconnaissance Squadron is reconnaissance test squadron assigned to the 432d Air Expeditionary Wing at Creech Air Force Base, Nevada...
, 9 June 1944 – 7 November 1945 - 107th Reconnaissance Squadron107th Fighter SquadronThe 107th Fighter Squadron is a Michigan National Guard Squadron based at Selfridge Air National Guard Base. It is a part of the 127th Wing. Organized in 1925 as the Michigan National Guard's first flying unit, the squadron consisted of 20 officers and 90 enlisted men meeting weekly in a Detroit...
, 1 September 1941 – 9 November 1945 - 109th Reconnaissance Squadron109th Airlift SquadronThe 109th Airlift Squadron flies the C-130H Hercules. It is a unit of the Minnesota Air National Guard. Its parent unit is the 133rd Airlift Wing.-Mission:...
, 1 September 1941 – 9 November 1945 - 113th Reconnaissance Squadron, 1 September 1941 – 12 March 1942
- 153d Reconnaissance Squadron, 1 September 1941 – 14 March 1944
- 161st Reconnaissance Squadron, 3 July – 9 November 1945
Aircraft
- Various observation, 1941–1942
- F-4/P-38 Lightning, 1942–1945
- F-5/P-51 Mustang, 1942–1945
- RB-26 Invader, 1947–1949; 1951–1957
- RF-80 Shooting Star, 1947–1949; 1951–1957
- RF-86 Sabre, 1951–1957
- RF-84 Thunderstreak, 1951–1957
- RF-4C Phantom, 1991–1992
World War II
Flew antisubmarine patrols along the east coast of the US after the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor. Began training in January 1942 for duty overseas. Operational squadrons were the 12th Observation Squadron, the 107th Observation Squadron, the 109th Observation Squadron, and the 153d Observation Squadron.Moved to the European theater, August–October 1942. Assigned first to Eighth
Eighth Air Force
The 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....
and later (October 1943) to Ninth Air Force
Ninth Air Force
The 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....
. At RAF Membury
RAF Membury
RAF Station Membury is a former World War II airfield built in the civil parish of Lambourn in Berkshire, England. The airfield is located approximately mi north-northwest of Hungerford, at the Membury services stop of the M4 motorway; about miles west-southwest of London...
, the group received well-used Supermarine Spitfire Vs
Supermarine Spitfire
The Supermarine Spitfire is a British single-seat fighter aircraft that was used by the Royal Air Force and many other Allied countries throughout the Second World War. The Spitfire continued to be used as a front line fighter and in secondary roles into the 1950s...
and early Douglas A-20 Havoc and Boston
Douglas DB-7
The Douglas A-20/DB-7 Havoc was a family of American attack, light bomber and night fighter aircraft of World War II, that served with several Allied air forces, principally those of the Soviet Union, United Kingdom, and United States. The DB-7 was also used by the air forces of Australia, South...
aircraft from the RAF plus a few L-4B Grasshopper observation aircraft to train with until their Lockheed F-5/P-38 Lightning aircraft arrived from the United States. The 67th Group operated as the nucleus of the USAAF tactical reconnaissance organization in the UK, a task acknowledged by the redesignation as such soon after the Membury units were transferred to the Ninth Air Force in October 1943. At the time of the transfer to Ninth Air Force, the group was redesignated the 67th Reconnaissance Group.
At the time, the 107th and 109th Squadrons were converting to North American P-51A Mustangs. However, before this was completed, the 107th Squadron was moved to RAF Aldermaston
RAF Aldermaston
RAF Aldermaston was a World War II airfield. It was used by the Royal Air Force and the United States Army Eighth and Ninth Air Force as a troop carrier group base, and was assigned USAAF station No 467.-Origins:...
and the 109th to RAF Middle Wallop so that their reconnaissance photographs and visual intelligence would he quickly available to IX Troop Carrier Command and IX Fighter Command Headquarters based there.
The group received a DUC for operations along the coast of France, 15 February – 20 March 1944, when the group flew at low altitude in the face of intense flak to obtain photographs that aided the invasion of the Continent. Flew weather missions, made visual reconnaissance for ground forces, and photographed enemy positions to support the Normandy campaign and later to assist First Army and other Allied forces in the drive to Germany. Took part in the offensive against the Siegfried Line, September–December 1944, and in the Battle of the Bulge, December 1944 – January 1945. From January to May 1945, photographed dams on the Roer River in preparation for the ground offensive to cross the river, and aided the Allied assault across the Rhine and into Germany.
Returned to the US, July–September 1945. Inactivated on 31 March 1946.
Postwar era
The group was activated as part of a service-wide, wing-base test on 19 May 1947 by Tactical Air Command. Assigned to Ninth Air Force. Formed at Shaw Field, South Carolina and equipped with RB-26's and RF-80's. Moved to Langley AFB Virginia, as photo-reconnaissance organization. Reassigned to Twelfth Air Force and moved to March AFB, California. Budget constraints, though, resulted in the wing's inactivation on 28 March 1949.Korean War
The need for tactical reconnaissance resources became obvious when North KoreaNorth Korea
The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea , , is a country in East Asia, occupying the northern half of the Korean Peninsula. Its capital and largest city is Pyongyang. The Korean Demilitarized Zone serves as the buffer zone between North Korea and South Korea...
launched a surprise attack against the Republic of Korea in June 1950. In February 1951, Headquarters Far East Air Force activated the 67th Tactical Reconnaissance Group at Komaki Air Base, Japan replacing the inactivated 543rd Tactical Support Group.
Used RB-26, RF-80, RF-86, and RF-84 aircraft. Made photographic reconnaissance of front lines, enemy positions, and installations; took pre-strike and bomb-damage assessment photographs; made visual reconnaissance of enemy artillery and naval gun positions; and flew weather missions. Received an AFOUA for the period 1 December 1952-30 April 1953 when, in the face of enemy opposition and adverse weather, the group performed reconnaissance missions on a 24-hour-a-day, 7-day-a¬week basis to provide valuable intelligence for UN forces.
After the Korean armistice, reassigned to Japan in December 1954. Performed various reconnaissance as needed. Inactivated on 1 October 1957 when parent wing adopted Tri-Deputate organization and assigned all flying components directly to wing.