67th Network Warfare Wing

Infobox Military Unit
unit_name= 67th Network Warfare Wing


caption= 67th Network Warfare Wing Insignia
dates= 1 September 1941
country= United States
allegiance=
branch= United States Air Force
type=
role= Information Operations
size= Wing
command_structure= Air Force Cyber Command
current_commander=
garrison= Lackland Air Force Base
ceremonial_chief=
colonel_of_the_regiment=
nickname=
patron=
motto= LUX EX TENEBRIS
Light from Darkness
colors=
march=
mascot=
battles=
anniversaries=
decorations=

The 67th Network Warfare Wing (67 NWW), Lackland Air Force Base, Texas, was reactivated 1 October 1993 as the 67th Intelligence Wing. The wing was re-designated the 67th Information Operations Wing on 1 February 2001. On 5 July 2006, the wing was again re-designated as the first and only Network Warfare Wing.

The wing is charged with executing Air Force Cyber Command's global mission of information operations. As the Air Force's largest operational wing , it has people or equipment on every continent except Antarctica. The wing is composed of five intelligence groups, 35 squadrons and detachments and more than 8,000 people serving at some 100 locations around the world to provide information to today's leaders to help shape global events.

Mission

The 67 NWW assumed a worldwide mission with responsibility for overseeing the majority of AFISRA field unit operations. Today the 67 NWW is on a path as America's first Network Warfare Wing. This path follows a parallel route forged by Air Force's Global Engagement vision — a vision to carry us into the 21st century, a vision ingraining information superiority as a core competency. The 67 IOW's domain within the Air Force vision resides in the ability to execute information operations — the capability to gain, exploit, attack and defend information.

Three groups and more than 30 squadrons around the world report to the wing, carrying out information operations to augment warfighting commands and national decision makers.

The 67 NWW executes AFISRA's global mission. Specifically stated, the mission of the wing is to conduct Information Operations. The wing directs planning of multi-source electronic combat services, information warfare and communications security. It assists the Air Force components in the development of airpower concepts, conducting exercises and employment of AFISRA forces in contingencies, low-intensity conflict, counterdrug activities and special operations. The wing executes information operations geographically through its three groups and 31 squadrons located in the continental United States, Hawaii and Germany.

Units

* 67th Network Warfare Group, (Lackland Air Force Base, Texas): The group tailors multi-source intelligence, electronic warfare and communications security products for national decision makers and Air Force Cyber Command. The group also participates with Air Force Special Operations Command, providing customized intelligence products for their missions.

* 26th Network Operations Group, (Lackland Air Force Base, Texas): The 26 IG is a multidisciplined information operations organization building and maintaining the Information Warfare weapons for the European theater.

* 690th Network Support Group, (Lackland Air Force Base, Texas):

History

Lineage

* 67th Observation Group, 1 September 1941
* 67th Reconnaissance Group, May 1943
* 67th Tactical Reconnaissance Group November 1943
* 67th Reconnaissance Group, June 1945. Inactivated March 1946.
* 67th Tactical Reconnaissance Group, June 1948. Inactivated on 28 March 1949
* 67th Tactical Reconnaissance Wing, 25 February 1951.
Discontinued, and inactivated, on 8 December 1960***
Rectivated on 2 August 1965. Organized on 1 January 1966
* 67th Reconnaissance Wing, 1 October 1991. Inactivated on 30 September 1993.
* 67th Intelligence Wing, 1 October 1993
* 67th Information Operations Wing, 1 August 2000
* 67th Network Warfare Wing, 5 July 2006.

.*** Bestowed History, lineage and honors of USAAF 67th Tactical Reconnaissance Group, 1952.

Stations

United States Army Air Forces
* Esler Afld, Louisiana
(September - December 1941, January - August 1942)
* Charleston Afld, South Carolina (December 1941)
* RAF Membury, England (September 1942 - December 1943)
* RAF Middle Wallop, England (December 1943 - July 1944)
* France/Belgium/Germany (Various ALGs)
(July 1944 - July 1945)
* Drew Afld, Florida (September - December 1945)
* MacDill Afld, Florida (December 1945 - February 1946)
* Shaw Afld, South Carolina (February - March 1946)
United States Air Force
* Langley Afld, Virginia (March - July 1947)
* March Afld (later, AFB), California (November 1947 - March 1949)
* Komaki AB, Japan (February - March 1951)
* Taegu AB, South Korea (March - August 1951)
* Kimpo AB, South Korea (August 1951 - December 1954)
* Itami AB, Japan (December 1954 - July 1957)
* Yokota AB, Japan (July 1957 - December 1960)
* Mountain Home AFB, Idaho (January 1966 - July 1971)
* Bergstrom AFB, Texas (July 1971 - September 1993)
* Kelly AFB (later, Kelly Field Annex, Lackland AFB), Texas (October 1993 - Present)

Operational History

The 67 NWW's distinguished legacy goes back more than 50 years. Throughout its existence, the wing has compiled an illustrious record in combat and peace.

World War II

Constituted as 67th Observation Group on 21 Aug 1941. Activated on 1 Sep 1941. Flew antisubmarine patrols along the east coast of the US after the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor. Began training in Jan 1942 for duty overseas. Operational squadrons were 12th, 107th, 109th, 153d.

Moved to the European theater, Aug-Oct 1942. Assigned first to Eighth and later (Oct 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 Feb-20 Mar 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, Sep-Dec 1944, and in the Battle of the Bulge, Dec 1944-Jan 1945. From Jan 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, Jul-Sep 1945. Inactivated on 31 Mar 1946.

Postwar Years

The group was activated as part of a service-wide, wing-base test in 1947 and assigned to Tactical Air Command. Equipped with RB-26's and RF-80's. Redesignated 67th Tactical Reconnaissance Group in June 1948. Budget constraints, though, resulted in the wing's inactivation in March 1949.

Korean War

The need for tactical reconnaissance resources became obvious when North 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 Wing at Komaki Air Base, Japan replacing the inactivated 543rd Tactical Support Group. Combat components of the wing were the 12th, 15th and 45th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadrons. By August, the wing had consolidated its subordinate elements at Kimpo AB. Gradually overcoming difficulties, it soon was providing adequate aerial intelligence for both air and ground units.

Over the next two and a half years, the 67 TRW served as the primary tactical reconnaissance unit in the Korean Conflict. From February 1951 to July 1953, the wing performed exceptionally well, and outstripped all existing reconnaissance records. Wing crews averaged nearly 1,500 sorties and technicians processed more than 736,000 negatives, monthly. On a recurring basis, the wing provided photographic coverage of all enemy airfields in Korea, as mandated by the FEAF policy of keeping enemy airfields unserviceable. It also flew large-scale front-line block coverage photography for the Eighth Army and provided surveillance for the interdiction of main enemy rail lines, roads and bridges. New technology permitted it to reconnoiter targets between fighter-bomber attacks, interpret wet negatives, and flash the results and flak locations to the Joint Operations Center in time to assist missions later in the day.

Innovations the 67th TRW developed while engaging in combat were creative experimentation with aircraft, cameras, night lighting, and photographic techniques; and the modification of six Sabrejets to RF-86 configuration for reconnaissance work. Flew RF-51D, RF-80A, RF-86 and RB-26 aircraft. For visual reconnaissance, the 67th TRW relied on T-6s and C-47s for a short time. It also performed weather reconnaissance on a regular basis, using the unarmed WB-26s of the attached 6166th Air Weather Reconnaissance Flight.

During 1951, the wing routinely flew armed reconnaissance with RF-51s, leading fighter sweeps and directing fighter-bomber strikes. The 67th TRW earned three Distinguished Unit Citations (DUC). The first was for the period of the First UN Counteroffensive, February-April 1951, when the tactical squadrons provided intensive medium- to low-level surveillance of enemy territory as far north as the Yalu River. In conjunction with these missions, the wing conducted 1,886 fighter sweep sorties, attacking railways, pack animals, roads, vehicles, bridges and supply dumps. The second DUC recognized contributions to the UN Summer-Fall Offensive, July-November 1951, with the 12th TRS conducting night operations in RB-26s and the 15th TRS in RF-80s sharing daytime coverage with the 45th TRS. The aircrews flew around-the-clock photo surveillance of enemy activities and provided artillery and naval gun fire direction. The group earned its third DUC during the war's final campaign. Flying continuous close surveillance of enemy activities, the group provided photographic intelligence, visual reconnaissance, and direction of fighter-bomber sweeps, to prevent the enemy an opportunity for a last-minute offensive before implementation of the armistice.

The wing remained in the Far East after a cease-fire was declared in 1953. In December 1960, the 67 TRW was inactivated at Yokota Air Base, Japan.

Vietnam War

By 1965, growing United States involvement in the Vietnam Conflict resulted in Tactical Air Command reactivating the 67 TRW on Aug. 2, 1965, and eventually manning it by January 1966 at Mountain Home Air Force Base, Idaho. The wing, while having operational commitments, conducted replacement training for RF-4C Phantom II crew members being deployed to Southeast Asia.

In September 1966, the wing's 12th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron transferred to the 460th Tactical Reconnaissance Wing at Tan Son Nhut Air Base, South Vietnam.

As required, the 67 TRW also supported operations when crew members ferried RF-4Cs to the theater. When U.S. forces began the drawdown from South Vietnam, the 67 TRW designation moved in July 1971 to Bergstrom Air Force Base, Texas, replacing the inactivated 75 TRW.

European Commitment

At Bergstrom Air Force Base, the wing still maintained its dual mission responsibilities of an operational commitment to the European theater and a training mission for RF-4C crew members.

Since its reactivation at Mountain Home Air Force Base, Idaho, in 1965, the 67 TRW garnered six Air Force Outstanding Unit Awards. The wing also earned the Armed Forces Expeditionary Streamer for its participation in the evacuation of U. S. civilians from Grenada in October-November 1983.

Desert Shield / Desert Storm

By 1989, the demise of the Warsaw Pact signaled an end to the Cold War. It also meant reduction in forces for the U.S. military and the transfer of the 67 TRW's training mission to George Air Force Base, California.

Despite the easing of East-West tensions, world peace gave way to regional conflicts. Iraq's invasion of Kuwait in August 1990 led to Operation Desert Shield — the largest deployment of U.S. military forces overseas since the Vietnam Conflict. On Jan. 17, 1991, Operation Desert Storm — the liberation of Kuwait and defeat of Iraqi forces — began and included a squadron of 67 TRW RF-4Cs, which were deployed to the Persian Gulf from early January to June 1991 to provide coalition forces with battlefield tactical reconnaissance.

Post Cold War

Not long after the Gulf Conflict, the drawdown of U.S. military forces continued and extended to the 67th Reconnaissance Wing (renamed 67 TRW) and Bergstrom Air Force Base.

As part of the drawdown, the base was programmed for closure in 1993 concurrent with inactivation of the 67 RW. In the meantime, restructuring of Air Force intelligence gave the 67 RW new life.

On Oct. 1, 1993, personnel of the former Air Force Intelligence Command and 693d Intelligence Wing formed the nucleus of the Headquarters 67th Intelligence Wing. The 67 IW assumed a worldwide mission with responsibility for overseeing the majority of AIA field unit operations. For its accomplishments since 1993 as the largest operational wing in the Air Force, the 67 NWW received its eighth and ninth Air Force Outstanding Unit Awards.

Commanders

67th Reconnaissance Wing
* Col Arthur R. DeBolt, November 1947
* Lt Col Charles F. Scott Jr., Oct. 4, 1948

67th Tactical Reconnaissance Wing
* Lt Col Charles F. Scott Jr.
* Lt Col Jack W. Hayes Jr., Oct. 11, 1948
* Lt Col Horace A. Hanes, Nov. 1, 1948
* Lt Col Charles F. Scott Jr., Nov. 12, 1948
* Col William H. Clark, Jan. 7, 1949
* Col Loren G. McCollom, Jan. 13, 1949
* Col Charles E. Marion, Jan. 16 to March 1949
* Col Karl L. Polifka, Feb. 25, 1951
* Col Bert N. Smiley, July 1, 1951
* Col Vincent Howard, July 4, 1951
* Col Edwin S. Chickering, Oct. 31, 1951
* Col Russell A. Berg, Aug. 13, 1952
* Col Charles F. Knierim, July 1953
* Col Loren G. McCollom, August 1953
* Col Bernice S. Barr, circa July 1954
* Col Prescott M. Spicer, Aug. 11, 1954
* Col Gwen G. Atkinson, Nov. 8, 1956
* Col Dalene E. Bailey, Aug. 22, 1959
* Col John G. Foster, June 15 to Dec. 8, 1960
* Not Manned Aug. 2 to Dec. 31, 1965
* Col Robert G. Williams, Jan. 1, 1966
* Col Wendell L. Bevan Jr., Nov. 21, 1966
* Col Joseph Schreiber, July 1, 1968
* Col Henry L. Warren, Sept. 1, 1970
* Col Walter F. Daniel, July 15, 1971
* Col George A. Edwards Jr., July 28, 1972
* Col Thomas C. Pinckney Jr., April 8, 1974
* Col George M. Sauls, July 2, 1975
* Col Davis C. Rohr, May 19, 1976
* Col Robert L. Pearson, Aug. 3, 1977
* Col Charles R. Peters, Feb. 12, 1979
* Col Thomas L. Craig, May 25, 1979
* Col David H. Reiner, Oct. 31, 1980
* Col Alan P. Lurie, June 7, 1981
* Col Charles P. Sloan Jr., June 18, 1982
* Col John D. Logeman Jr., March 15, 1984
* Col Carl E. Franklin, Jan. 30, 1986
* Col Charles E. Loflin, Jan. 25, 1988
* Col Michael C. Short, Jan 12, 1990
* Col Charles R. Harr, circa 1991

67th Reconnaissance Wing
* Col Charles R. Harr
* Col Scott W. Madole, Sept 1, 1992

67th Intelligence Wing
* Col James R. O'Brien Jr., Oct. 1, 1993
* Col Robert D. Anderson, June 28, 1994
* Col Alan B. Thomas, Aug. 30, 1995
* Col Gary R. Harvey, Aug. 26, 1996
* Col James C. Massaro, Aug. 13, 1999

67th Information Operations Wing
* Col James C. Massaro
* Col Roger Gaebel, June 25, 2001
* Col Bruce A. Bingle, Aug. 28, 2003
* Col Kathryn L. Gauthier, June 25, 2004

67th Network Warfare Wing
* Col Kathryn L. Gauthier
* Col Joseph J. Pridotkas, Aug. 10, 2006

See also

* Air Combat Command
* Ninth Air Force
* Eighth Air Force
* United States Air Force In South Korea

References

* [http://www.fas.org/irp/agency/aia/cyberspokesman/97aug/67iw.htm AIA Spokesman magazine online]
* Endicott, Judy G. (1999) Active Air Force wings as of 1 October 1995; USAF active flying, space, and missile squadrons as of 1 October 1995. Maxwell AFB, Alabama: Office of Air Force History. CD-ROM.
* Freeman, Roger A. (1994) UK Airfields of the Ninth: Then and Now 1994. After the Battle ISBN 0900913800
* Freeman, Roger A. (1996) The Ninth Air Force in Colour: UK and the Continent-World War Two. After the Battle ISBN 1854092723
* Maurer, Maurer (1983). Air Force Combat Units Of World War II. Maxwell AFB, Alabama: Office of Air Force History. ISBN 0892010924.
* Mueller, Robert (1989). Active Air Force Bases Within the United States of America on 17 September 1982. USAF Reference Series, Maxwell AFB, Alabama: Office of Air Force History. ISBN 0-912799-53-6
* Ravenstein, Charles A. (1984). Air Force Combat Wings Lineage and Honors Histories 1947-1977. Maxwell AFB, Alabama: Office of Air Force History. ISBN 0912799129.
* Rogers, Brian (2005). United States Air Force Unit Designations Since 1978. Hinkley, England: Midland Publications. ISBN 1-85780-197-0.
* [http://www.armyairforces.com/dbgroups.asp?Group=89] ArmyAirForces.com 67th Reconnaissance Group

External links

* [http://www.8af.acc.af.mil/units/67nww/ 67th Network Warfare Wing]
* [http://www.af.mil/history/67nww.asp 67th Network Warfare Wing Heritage Site]
* [http://afhra.maxwell.af.mil/korean_war/usaf_organizations_korea/reconnaissance.html#0067trw 67th Tactical Reconnaissance Wing In Korea]