The 363rd Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Wing (363 ISRW) is a
United States Air Force
The United States Air Force (USAF) is the Aerial warfare, air military branch, service branch of the United States Armed Forces, and is one of the eight uniformed services of the United States. Originally created on 1 August 1907, as a part ...
unit. The group is assigned to the
United States Air Force
The United States Air Force (USAF) is the Aerial warfare, air military branch, service branch of the United States Armed Forces, and is one of the eight uniformed services of the United States. Originally created on 1 August 1907, as a part ...
Sixteenth Air Force
The Sixteenth Air Force (Air Forces Cyber) (16 AF) is a United States Air Force (USAF) organization responsible for information warfare, which encompasses intelligence gathering and analysis, surveillance, reconnaissance, cyber warfare and ele ...
, stationed at Joint Base Langley-Eustis, Virginia.
The mission of the wing is content-dominant multi-intelligence analysis and targeting for five distinct mission sets: Air Defenses, Counter-Space, Counter-ISR, Theater Ballistic Missile/Cruise Missile Threat, and Air Threat
In a ceremony on 11 July 2011, the group was inactivated and replaced by the AFCENT Air Warfare Center. On 13 February 2015, the 363rd Flying Training Group was redesignated as the 363rd Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Wing. The wing activated on 17 February 2015.
Mission
The 363rd Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR) Wing is based at
Joint Base Langley-Eustis
A joint or articulation (or articular surface) is the connection made between bones, ossicles, or other hard structures in the body which link an animal's skeletal system into a functional whole.Saladin, Ken. Anatomy & Physiology. 7th ed. McGraw ...
, Virginia. It is subordinate to the
Sixteenth Air Force (Air Forces Cyber). The wing conducts operations in four core missions areas: analysis for air, space, and cyber operations; full-spectrum targeting;
special operations
Special operations (S.O.) are military activities conducted, according to NATO, by "specially designated, organized, selected, trained, and equipped forces using unconventional techniques and modes of employment". Special operations may include ...
ISR; and ISR testing, tactics development, and advanced training.
[ ]
The wing comprises three groups and two detachments with a footprint spanning fifteen states, the United Kingdom and Japan. The 363rd ISRW produces tailored
geospatial
Geographic data and information is defined in the ISO/TC 211 series of standards as data and information having an implicit or explicit association with a location relative to Earth (a geographic location or geographic position).
It is also ca ...
and comprehensive threat analysis products to Air Force units employing air power. The wing's mission is to deliver integrated content-dominant analytical expertise, precision targeting, production, and special operations ISR support to the operational and tactical warfighter enabling combat power in air, space, and cyberspace.
Component units
Unless otherwise indicated, units are based at
Joint Base Langley-Eustis
A joint or articulation (or articular surface) is the connection made between bones, ossicles, or other hard structures in the body which link an animal's skeletal system into a functional whole.Saladin, Ken. Anatomy & Physiology. 7th ed. McGraw ...
, Virginia, and subordinate units are located at the same location as their commanding group.
361st Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance Group (
Hurlburt Field
Hurlburt Field is a United States Air Force installation located in Okaloosa County, Florida, immediately west of the town of Mary Esther. It is part of the greater Eglin Air Force Base reservation and is home to Headquarters Air Force Spe ...
, Florida)
*
25th Intelligence Squadron
The United States Air Force's 25th Intelligence Squadron (25 IS) is an intelligence unit located at Hurlburt Field, Florida. It provides intelligence support to Air Force Special Operations Command (AFSOC).
Mission
The 25 IS is a uniquely taske ...
(
Hurlburt Field
Hurlburt Field is a United States Air Force installation located in Okaloosa County, Florida, immediately west of the town of Mary Esther. It is part of the greater Eglin Air Force Base reservation and is home to Headquarters Air Force Spe ...
, Florida)
*
43rd Intelligence Squadron
The United States Air Force's 43d Intelligence Squadron is an intelligence unit located at Cannon Air Force Base, New Mexico. It provides intelligence support to Air Force Special Operations Command.
Mission
The squadron is a uniquely tasked uni ...
(
Cannon AFB
Cannon Air Force Base is a United States Air Force base, located approximately southwest of Clovis, New Mexico. It is under the jurisdiction of Air Force Special Operations Command (AFSOC). The host unit at Cannon is the 27th Special Operatio ...
, New Mexico)
*
306th Intelligence Squadron
The United States Air Force's 306th Intelligence Squadron (306 IS) is an intelligence unit located at Will Rogers Air National Guard Base, Oklahoma. It oversees advanced technical training and initial qualification of airborne intelligence operat ...
(
Will Rogers ANGB, Oklahoma)
* Operating Location A
* Operating Location B (
Fort Bragg, North Carolina)
* Operating Location D (Will Rogers ANGB, Oklahoma)
* Operating Location E (
Greenville, Texas)
* Operating Location F (
Denver
Denver () is a consolidated city and county, the capital, and most populous city of the U.S. state of Colorado. Its population was 715,522 at the 2020 census, a 19.22% increase since 2010. It is the 19th-most populous city in the Unit ...
, Colorado)
363rd Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance Group
The 363rd Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance Group is a United States Air Force unit stationed at Joint Base Langley-Eustis. It is assigned to the 363rd Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Wing. It was activated in Februar ...
* 17th Intelligence Squadron
*
20th Intelligence Squadron (
Offutt AFB
Offutt Air Force Base is a U.S. Air Force base south of Omaha, adjacent to Bellevue in Sarpy County, Nebraska. It is the headquarters of the U.S. Strategic Command (USSTRATCOM), the 557th Weather Wing, and the 55th Wing (55 WG) of the Air ...
, Nebraska)
*
36th Intelligence Squadron
The 36th Intelligence Squadron is an active non-flying squadron, of the United States Air Force. It is assigned to the Air Force Targeting Center at Langley Air Force Base, Virginia, where it has been stationed since 1990. The squadron has ear ...
* 363rd Intelligence Support Squadron
365th Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance Group (
Nellis AFB
Nellis Air Force Base ("Nellis" colloq.) is a United States Air Force installation in southern Nevada. Nellis hosts air combat exercises such as Exercise Red Flag and close air support exercises such as Green Flag-West flown in " Military Op ...
, Nevada)
* 15th Intelligence Squadron (
Joint Base Langley-Eustis
A joint or articulation (or articular surface) is the connection made between bones, ossicles, or other hard structures in the body which link an animal's skeletal system into a functional whole.Saladin, Ken. Anatomy & Physiology. 7th ed. McGraw ...
, Virginia)
* 51st Intelligence Squadron (
Shaw AFB
Shaw Air Force Base (Shaw AFB) is a United States Air Force (USAF) base located approximately west-northwest of downtown Sumter, South Carolina. It is one of the largest military bases operated by the United States, and is under the jurisdict ...
, South Carolina)
* 57th Intelligence Squadron (
Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, Texas)
* 526th Intelligence Squadron
*
547th Intelligence Squadron
History
363rd Reconnaissance Wing
The 363rd Reconnaissance Wing was activated on 15 August 1947 when the
Army Air Forces introduced the experimental
wing base organization which established a single wing on each base. It was stationed at
Langley Field Langley may refer to:
People
* Langley (surname), a common English surname, including a list of notable people with the name
* Dawn Langley Simmons (1922–2000), English author and biographer
* Elizabeth Langley (born 1933), Canadian perfo ...
, Virginia in December 1947 by the newly established USAF. It was redesignated the 363rd Tactical Reconnaissance Wing on 27 August 1948. President Truman's reduced 1949 defense budget required reductions in the number of groups in the Air Force to 48 and the unit was inactivated on 26 April 1949. Once North Korea invaded South Korea, this constraint was removed and the group was again activated on 1 September 1950 at Langley.
Due to the pressing needs of
Far East Air Forces
Pacific Air Forces (PACAF) is a Major Command (MAJCOM) of the United States Air Force and is also the air component command of the United States Indo-Pacific Command (USINDOPACOM). PACAF is headquartered at Joint Base Pearl Harbor–Hickam (fo ...
in Japan the 162nd TRS, flying RB-26s, and the photo-processing 363rd Reconnaissance Technical Squadron (RTS) were reassigned from Langley to
Itazuke Air Base Japan for
Korean War
, date = {{Ubl, 25 June 1950 – 27 July 1953 (''de facto'')({{Age in years, months, weeks and days, month1=6, day1=25, year1=1950, month2=7, day2=27, year2=1953), 25 June 1950 – present (''de jure'')({{Age in years, months, weeks a ...
service and began operations in August 1950 as part of the
543rd Tactical Support Group.
![Rf-4c-67-0436-363trw-10-86](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/94/Rf-4c-67-0436-363trw-10-86.jpg)
On 1 April 1951, the 363rd TRW was transferred to
Shaw Air Force Base
Shaw Air Force Base (Shaw AFB) is a United States Air Force (USAF) base located approximately west-northwest of downtown Sumter, South Carolina. It is one of the largest military bases operated by the United States, and is under the jurisdict ...
, South Carolina. The 363rd Tactical Reconnaissance Wing would remain at Shaw, under various designations, for the next 43 years. The wing's mission was to fly photographic, electronic and electronic intelligence missions to support air and ground operations by American or Allied ground forces through its operational component, the
363rd Tactical Reconnaissance Group. In addition, the 363rd provided combat crew training for reconnaissance aircrews.
In July 1954, the wing began to receive
Martin RB-57A Canberra
The Martin B-57 Canberra is an American-built, twin-engined tactical bomber and reconnaissance aircraft that entered service with the United States Air Force (USAF) in 1953. The B-57 is a license-built version of the British English Electric ...
aircraft and achieved initial operational capability before the month was over. These were the first operational RB-57As in the Air Force, although the
345th Bombardment Wing
The 345th Bombardment Group is an inactive United States Air Force unit. Its last assignment was with the Tactical Air Command at Langley Air Force Base, Virginia, where it was inactivated on 25 June 1959.
During World War II the 345th Bombardme ...
had received a handful earlier to conduct transition training for its crews.
In January 1956, the wing's
9th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron 009 may refer to:
* OO9, gauge model railways
* O09, FAA identifier for Round Valley Airport
* 0O9, FAA identifier for Ward Field, see List of airports in California
* British secret agent 009, see 00 Agent
* BA 009, see British Airways Flight 9
* ...
was the first in the Air Force to receive jet powered
Douglas RB-66B Destroyer
The Douglas B-66 Destroyer is a light bomber that was designed and produced by the American aviation manufacturer Douglas Aircraft Company.
The B-66 was developed for the United States Air Force (USAF) and is heavily based upon the United Stat ...
s. The RB-66B was the first operational model of the B-66. Although initially, the RB-66B had a limited all weather capability, its arrival permitted the retirement of the obsolescent RB-26s and the early retirement of the problem-ridden RB-57As. Deliveries of the RB-66Bs permitted the activation of two additional squadrons in the wing's 363rd Tactical Reconnaissance Group, the
41st and
43rd Tactical Reconnaissance Squadrons.
In 1958, the 363rd Tactical Reconnaissance Group was inactivated, and its components were assigned directly to the Wing.
In September 1957, the RF-101C began deliveries to Shaw. The C model combined the strengthened structure of the F-101C with the camera installation of the RF-101A. In addition, the RF-101C differed from the RF-101A in being able to accommodate a centerline nuclear weapon, so that it could carry out a secondary nuclear strike mission if ever called upon to do so. The RF-101Cs served for a brief time alongside the RF-101A, but quickly replaced them by May 1958.
In the autumn of 1962, the pilots of the 363rd played a major part in the
Cuban Missile Crisis. Utilizing their RF-101s for low-altitude photo-reconnaissance missions, they helped identify and track activities at Cuban missile sites, airfields, and port facilities. In awarding the wing the Air Force
Outstanding Unit Award
The Air and Space Outstanding Unit Award (ASOUA) is one of the unit awards of the United States Air Force and United States Space Force. It was established in 1954 as the Air Force Outstanding Unit Award and was the first independent Air Force d ...
for its achievements, President
John F. Kennedy
John Fitzgerald Kennedy (May 29, 1917 – November 22, 1963), often referred to by his initials JFK and the nickname Jack, was an American politician who served as the 35th president of the United States from 1961 until his assassination ...
said, "You gentlemen have contributed as much to the security of the United States as any group of men in our history."
The last USAF RF-101C was phased out of the 31st TRTS, a replacement training unit at Shaw AFB, on 16 February 1971 and turned over to the
Air National Guard.
In 1956, the
RB-66 Destroyer
The Douglas B-66 Destroyer is a light bomber that was designed and produced by the American aviation manufacturer Douglas Aircraft Company.
The B-66 was developed for the United States Air Force (USAF) and is heavily based upon the United Stat ...
was assigned to the 363rd TRW. They replaced the obsolescent RB-26 Invader. The USAF RB-66 force in the continental United States was concentrated at Shaw, with the first RB-66C arriving on 1 February 1956, and the aircraft would continue to operate from Shaw until its retirement in 1974.
Twelve RB-66Cs initially flew with the
9th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron 009 may refer to:
* OO9, gauge model railways
* O09, FAA identifier for Round Valley Airport
* 0O9, FAA identifier for Ward Field, see List of airports in California
* British secret agent 009, see 00 Agent
* BA 009, see British Airways Flight 9
* ...
(TRS), and then later with various training squadrons including the 4417th Combat Crew Training Squadron (CCTS), 4411th CCTS, and
39th Tactical Electronic Warfare Training Squadron
The 39th Flying Training Squadron is part of the 340th Flying Training Group and is the reserve associate to the 12th Flying Training Wing based at Randolph Air Force Base, Texas.
The squadron was first activated as the 39th Pursuit Squadron i ...
(TEWTS), as well as the
4416th Test Squadron (TS).
In addition to their training function, Shaw personnel participated in all major exercises and tested and evaluated the RB/EB-B66 and equipment. The wing was also to augment, within 72 hours, either of the overseas tactical air forces (PACAF and USAFE) in case of crisis or war. Most early flying of the RB-66C was devoted to getting the aircraft and crew ready for deployment and operations. It took longer than expected to have the electronic gear on the RB-66C operational, as the equipment was continually being modified. Readiness rates for the RB-66C in the late fifties and early sixties were below average, especially when compared to other new aircraft, such as the RF-101, introduced into the wing at Shaw during that same time. The RB-66 eventually became the primary night photographic reconnaissance weapon system of the
Tactical Air Command. 363rd TRW RB-66Cs carried out missions over Cuba during the
Cuban Missile Crisis of 1962.
They were first deployed for combat operations in Southeast Asia during April 1965 and shortly thereafter all were transferred to duty in Southeast Asia, where they carried most of the early electronic warfare operations during the early years of the US involvement in the war. Many B-66s were deployed on 90-day rotations to
Takhli Royal Thai Air Force Base
Takhli Royal Thai Air Force Base is a Royal Thai Air Force (RTAF) facility in central Thailand, approximately 144 miles (240 km) northwest of Bangkok in Takhli District, Nakhon Sawan Province.
Units
Takhli is the home of the Royal Tha ...
and
Korat Royal Thai Air Force Base
Korat Royal Thai Air Force Base is a base of the Royal Thai Air Force (RTAF) in northeast Thailand, approximately 200 km (125 mi) northeast of Bangkok and about 4 km (2.5 mi) south of the centre of the city of Nakhon Ratcha ...
during the
Vietnam War
The Vietnam War (also known by other names) was a conflict in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia from 1 November 1955 to the fall of Saigon on 30 April 1975. It was the second of the Indochina Wars and was officially fought between North Vietnam a ...
. In Southeast Asia, these aircraft retained the Shaw tail code "JN". During the period 1 April 1969 through 1 January 1973 there was a 39th TEWS flying EB-66's at
Spangdahlem Air Base West Germany which was a separate unit unrelated to the 39th TEWTS.
The
McDonnell RF-4C Phantom II (Model 98DF) was the unarmed photographic reconnaissance version of the USAF's F-4C. The first production RF-4Cs went in September 1964 to the 363rd TRW's 33rd Tactical Reconnaissance Training Squadron. The first operational unit to receive the RF-4C was the 16th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron of the 363rd TRW, achieving initial combat-readiness in August 1965.
The RF-4C became the main USAF tactical reconnaissance aircraft for the next 25 years, before being phased out of active service in the early 1990s at the end of the Cold War.
On 15 July 1971, two EB-57Es were transferred along with the RF-4Cs of the 22nd TRS from
Bergstrom AFB
Bergstrom Air Force Base (1942–1993) was located seven miles southeast of Austin, Texas. In its later years it was a major base for the U.S. Air Force's RF-4C reconnaissance fighter fleet.
History
Bergstrom was originally activated on ...
,
Texas
Texas (, ; Spanish: ''Texas'', ''Tejas'') is a state in the South Central region of the United States. At 268,596 square miles (695,662 km2), and with more than 29.1 million residents in 2020, it is the second-largest U.S. state by ...
, then transferred to the 16th TRS when the 22nd TRS was inactivated. These aircraft were highly adapted to carry electronic countermeasures and were frequently deployed to Europe to support USAFE fighter activities. The 363rd operated these aircraft until September 1974 then transferring them to the
Air National Guard. They were the last B-57s operated by the active-duty USAF.
363rd Tactical Fighter Wing
![F-16a-80-537-shaw](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/9c/F-16a-80-537-shaw.jpg)
The aging and phaseout of the RF-4C aircraft fleet and the utility of the
Lockheed TR-1 in Europe for tactical reconnaissance led to the decision by the USAF to realign the mission of the 363rd TRW. The reconnaissance training mission of the wing was terminated in 1981 and beginning in 1982, the wing would become 363rd Tactical Fighter Wing (363rd TFW), being equipped with
General Dynamics F-16 aircraft. On 1 October 1981, the 363rd TRW was re-designated .
The 363rd TFW received its first
F-16 on 26 March 1982. The 363rd TFW flew F-16A/B Block 10 aircraft until 1984 then converted to Block 15s; F-16C/D Block 25s in autumn 1985 and Block 42s in late 1991. All aircraft carried the "SW" Tail Code.
On 9 August 1990, the 17th and 33rd TFS of 363rd TFW became the first F-16 squadrons to deploy to the United Arab Emirates in Operation
Desert Shield. Operating from
Al Dhafra Air Base
Al Dhafra Air Base ( ar, قاعدة الظفرة الجوية) is a military installation in the United Arab Emirates. The base is located approximately south of Abu Dhabi and is operated by the United Arab Emirates Air Force.
Facilities
The a ...
as the 363rd Tactical Fighter Wing, Provisional (along with the 10th TFS from the 50th TFW,
Hahn Air Base
Hahn Air Base was a United States Air Force installation near Lautzenhausen in Germany for over 40 years. The major unit was the United States Air Force's 50th Tactical Fighter Wing during most of the years it was active.
It was originally buil ...
, Germany), the wing flew combat missions to Iraq and Kuwait during Operation
Desert Storm
The Gulf War was a 1990–1991 armed campaign waged by a 35-country military coalition in response to the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait. Spearheaded by the United States, the coalition's efforts against Iraq were carried out in two key phases: ...
between 17 January and 28 February 1991.
Following Desert Storm, the 19th and 33rd Tactical Fighter Squadrons deployed to the Persian Gulf in support of Operation Southern Watch, a coalition effort to enforce the Iraqi "No Fly Zone" south of the
32nd parallel north. The 33rd TFS made history when one of its pilots downed an Iraqi aircraft with an AIM-120 missile. The incident marked the first time an AIM-120 missile was fired in combat and was the first U.S. F-16 air-to-air kill.
With the closure of
Myrtle Beach Air Force Base
Myrtle Beach Air Force Base was a United States Air Force base located near Myrtle Beach, South Carolina.
Early history
On 16 October 1939, Myrtle Beach Town Council resolved that the community "is in dire need of a modern municipal airport". The ...
South Carolina and the inactivation of the
354th Fighter Wing
The 354th Fighter Wing is a United States Air Force wing that is part of Pacific Air Forces (PACAF). It is the host wing at Eielson Air Force Base, Alaska, and is assigned to the Eleventh Air Force (11 AF).
The wing replaced the 343d Fighter W ...
, the 21st Tactical Fighter Squadron was activated at Shaw and received 30
Republic A/OA-10 Thunderbolt IIs from the inactivating
355th Fighter Squadron on 1 April 1992. All A-10 aircraft with the 21st TFS were designated as OA-10A.
As a result of the August 1992 destruction of
Homestead AFB
Homestead Air Reserve Base (Homestead ARB), previously known as Homestead Air Force Base (Homestead AFB) is located in Miami–Dade County, Florida to the northeast of the city of Homestead. It is home to the 482nd Fighter Wing (482 FW) of th ...
Florida by
Hurricane Andrew in September 1992, the 31st Fighter Wing's 309th Fighter Squadron was initially evacuated to Shaw AFB prior to the hurricane making landfall. With Homstead unusable for an extended period after the hurricane, on 1 October 1992 the squadron was permanently assigned to the 363rd Fighter Wing.
As a result of the end of the
Cold War, the Air Force made several dramatic changes with the inactivation and re-designation of wings and their units. The 363rd FW and all of its squadrons were inactivated on 31 December 1993, being replaced at Shaw by the
20th Fighter Wing
The 20th Fighter Wing is a wing of the United States Air Force and the host unit at Shaw Air Force Base South Carolina. The wing is assigned to Air Combat Command's Fifteenth Air Force.
The wing's mission is to provide, project, and sustain c ...
, being reassigned to Shaw from
RAF Upper Heyford
RAF Upper Heyford was a Royal Air Force station located north-west of Bicester near the village of Upper Heyford, Oxfordshire, England. In the Second World War the airfield was used by Bomber Command. During the Cold War, Upper Heyford was one ...
, England.
363rd Air Expeditionary Wing
![363daew-saudi-princesltan-f16s](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/98/363daew-saudi-princesltan-f16s.jpg)
The 363rd Air Expeditionary Wing (363 AEW) was activated on 1 December 1998 and replaced the 4404th Wing (Provisional) when the
United States Air Force
The United States Air Force (USAF) is the Aerial warfare, air military branch, service branch of the United States Armed Forces, and is one of the eight uniformed services of the United States. Originally created on 1 August 1907, as a part ...
inactivated all
MAJCOM wings. The 363 AEW was the primary United States Air Force
Air Expeditionary Wing
Air Expeditionary Wings and Groups are a Wing/Group concept used by the United States Air Force. These units are activated under temporary orders by the owning Major Command (MAJCOM) for a specific purpose or mission. Once that mission is comp ...
responsible for
Operation Southern Watch
Operation Southern Watch was an air-centric military operation conducted by the United States Department of Defense from Summer 1992 to Spring 2003.
United States Central Command's Joint Task Force Southwest Asia (JTF-SWA) had the mission of mon ...
(OSW), which involved patrolling the Southern
No-Fly Zone
A no-fly zone, also known as a no-flight zone (NFZ), or air exclusion zone (AEZ), is a territory or area established by a military power over which certain aircraft are not permitted to fly. Such zones are usually set up in an enemy power's te ...
over Iraq below the
33rd Parallel. The
Wing
A wing is a type of fin that produces lift while moving through air or some other fluid. Accordingly, wings have streamlined cross-sections that are subject to aerodynamic forces and act as airfoils. A wing's aerodynamic efficiency is e ...
was inactivated after the onset of
Operation Iraqi Freedom when all American combat forces left Saudi Arabia.
Following
Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2003, US forces began to pull out of
Prince Sultan Air Base
Prince Sultan Air Base ( ar, قاعدة الأمير سلطان الجوية) (PSAB) is a military air base located in the closed-city of Al Kharj, Saudi Arabia.
History
There was formerly a large United States presence there during Opera ...
. On 28 April the
CAOC
Combined Air Operations Centres (CAOCs) are multinational headquarters for tactical and operational control of NATO Air Forces below the Joint Force Command level''. They operate within the NATO Integrated Air Defense System (NATINADS) framework. ...
was shifted from PSAB to
Al-Udeid in Qatar. On 29 April, US Secretary of Defense
Donald Rumsfeld announced that US forces would begin pulling out of Saudi Arabia and that forces in the country would be diverted to other locations.
Rear Admiral David Nichols, the deputy commander of the coalition air operations center stated that much of the assets associated with the 363rd AEW would be relocated by the end of the Summer 2003.
The 363rd AEW completed its last operational mission supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom on 28 May 2003 completing a 13-year, continuous mission USAF presence in Saudi Arabia. An
E-3 Sentry Airborne Warning and Control System deployed to the 363rd Expeditionary Airborne Air Control Squadron from
Tinker Air Force Base
Tinker Air Force Base is a major United States Air Force base, with tenant U.S. Navy and other Department of Defense missions, located in Oklahoma County, Oklahoma, surrounded by Del City, Oklahoma City, and Midwest City.
The base, origina ...
, Okla., flew the wing's last operational mission supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom.
U.S. officials transferred control of portions of Prince Sultan Air Base to Saudi officials at a ceremony 26 August 2003. The ceremony also marked the inactivation of the 363rd Air Expeditionary Wing.
363rd Flying Training Group
The Gulf Air Warfare Center was inaugurated during a ceremony on January 25, 2004.
United States State Department
The United States Department of State (DOS), or State Department, is an executive department of the U.S. federal government responsible for the country's foreign policy and relations. Equivalent to the ministry of foreign affairs of other nat ...
official cables that month said that the center "features a range that rivals the USAF Air Warfare Center Nellis training range and complex in Nevada with its size and virtually unconstrained access and training opportunities. The GAWC will provide an excellent opportunity for CENTCOM pilots and instructors to hone their skills in theater. Moreover, the GAWC directly supports our deployed units by providing long-term access to ranges and training exercises otherwise not available in the region."
On 12 March 2007, Air Combat Command designated and organized the 363rd Flying Training Group (Provisional) at
Al Dhafra Air Base
Al Dhafra Air Base ( ar, قاعدة الظفرة الجوية) is a military installation in the United Arab Emirates. The base is located approximately south of Abu Dhabi and is operated by the United Arab Emirates Air Force.
Facilities
The a ...
in the United Arab Emirates to facilitate the training of airmen from various nations. On 1 June, this organization was made permanent when the 363rd wing was redesignated the 363rd Flying Training Group and activated, assuming the mission, personnel and equipment of the provisional group.
On 21 July 2011, the 363rd Flying Training Group was inactivated. Lt. Gen. Mike Hostage, the commander of U.S. Air Force Central Command, presided over a ceremony in which the AFCENT Air Warfare Center was activated and the 363rd Flying Training Group was inactivated.
Return to reconnaissance mission
On 18 January 2015, the unit was activated again at
Joint Base Langley-Eustis
A joint or articulation (or articular surface) is the connection made between bones, ossicles, or other hard structures in the body which link an animal's skeletal system into a functional whole.Saladin, Ken. Anatomy & Physiology. 7th ed. McGraw ...
as the 363rd Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Wing uniting several units into a single wing dedicated to providing targeting information for a variety of strike platforms.
[
]
51st Intelligence Squadron at Shaw Air Force Base, South Carolina
The 51st Intelligence Squadron (51 IS), formerly known as the 21st Reconnaissance Technical Squadron, was reactivated in February 2015 after 31 years of inactivation. The 51 IS is considered a mission partner and is located at Shaw Air Force Base in South Carolina, falling under the command of the 363rd Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Wing. Its mission is to provide prompt, precise intelligence enabling warfighters to safely engage and achieve global objectives. Lt. Col. Ryan O'Neal officially assumed command of the 51 IS on 10 July 2015. Lt. Col. Jason Kulchar assumed command of the 51st IS on 10 July 2017. Lt. Col. Suzanne Barroqueiro assumed command of the 51st IS on 31 May 2019.
Lineage
* Designated as the 363rd Reconnaissance Wing on 29 July 1947
: Organized on 15 August 1947
: Discontinued on 27 August 1948
* Constituted as the 363rd Tactical Reconnaissance Wing
* Activated on 27 August 1948
: Inactivated on 26 April 1949
* Activated on 1 September 1950
: Redesignated 363rd Tactical Fighter Wing on 1 October 1981
: Redesignated 363rd Fighter Wing on 1 June 1992
: Inactivated on 31 December 1993
* Redesignated 363rd Air Expeditionary Wing, Converted to provisional status and allotted to Air Combat Command to activate or inactivate any time on 1 October 1998
: Activated on 1 December 1998
: Inactivated on 26 August 2003
: Redesignated 363rd Flying Training Group and withdrawn from provisional status on 25 March 2007
: Activated on 1 June 2007
: Inactivated on 11 July 2011
: Redesignated 363rd Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Wing
: Activated on 17 February 2015[
]
Assignments
* Ninth Air Force
The Ninth Air Force (Air Forces Central) is a Numbered Air Force of the United States Air Force headquartered at Shaw Air Force Base, South Carolina. It is the Air Force Service Component of United States Central Command (USCENTCOM), a joint De ...
, 15 August 1947 – 27 August 1948
* Ninth Air Force, 27 August 1948 – 26 April 1949
: Attached to First Air Force, 15 January-1 February 1949
* Tactical Air Command, 1 September 1950
* Ninth Air Force, 2 April 1951
* Tactical Air Division Provisional, 25 April 1951
* Ninth Air Force, 11 October 1951
: Attached to Twenty-Ninth Air Force actical rovisional 31 October-10 December 1955
* 837th Air Division
The 837th Air Division is an inactive United States Air Force organization. Its last assignment was with Tactical Air Command's Ninth Air Force at Shaw Air Force Base, South Carolina where it was inactivated on 1 February 1963.
The division wa ...
, 8 February 1958
* USAF Tactical Air Reconnaissance Center, 1 February 1963
* Ninth Air Force, 15 July 1963
* 833rd Air Division
The 833d Air Division is an inactive United States Air Force (USAF) organization. Its last assignment was with Tactical Air Command (TAC), assigned to Twelfth Air Force at Holloman Air Force Base, New Mexico. It was inactivated on 15 November ...
, 1 October 1964
* Ninth Air Force, 24 December 1969 – 30 December 1993
* United States Central Command Air Forces
United may refer to:
Places
* United, Pennsylvania, an unincorporated community
* United, West Virginia, an unincorporated community
Arts and entertainment Films
* ''United'' (2003 film), a Norwegian film
* ''United'' (2011 film), a BBC Two f ...
, 1 December 1998 – 26 August 2003
* Ninth Air Force, 26 March 2007 – 11 July 2011 (attached to 380th Air Expeditionary Wing
The 380th Air Expeditionary Wing (380 AEW) is a provisional unit of the United States Air Force Air Combat Command (ACC). It is attached to the United States Air Forces Central Command component of ACC and is stationed at Al Dhafra Air Base, Un ...
)
* Twenty-Fifth Air Force, 17 February 2015 – Oct 2019[Assignments through May 2019 in Haulman, Factsheet 363 Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance Wing.]
* Sixteenth Air Force
The Sixteenth Air Force (Air Forces Cyber) (16 AF) is a United States Air Force (USAF) organization responsible for information warfare, which encompasses intelligence gathering and analysis, surveillance, reconnaissance, cyber warfare and ele ...
, Oct 2019–present[
]
Components
Groups
* 361st Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance Group
The United States Air Force's 361st Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance Group is an intelligence unit located at Hurlburt Field, Florida. It provides intelligence support to Air Force Special Operations Command.
The group was first ...
: 17 February 2015 – present
* 363d Reconnaissance Group 363rd Reconnaissance (later 363rd Tactical Reconnaissance Group, 363rd Operations Group, 363rd Expeditionary Operations, 363rd Intelligence, Surveillance, Reconnaissance Group): 15 August 1947 – 27 August 1948; 27 August 1948 – 26 April 1949; 1 September 1950 – 8 February 1958 (detached 25 April-10 October 1951); 1 May 1992 – 30 December 1993; 1 December 1998 – 26 August 2003; 17 February 2015 – present
* 363rd Expeditionary Logistics Group, 1 October 1998 – 26 August 2003
* 363rd Expeditionary Support Group, 1 October 1998 – 26 August 2003
* 365th Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance Group: 17 February 2105 – present
* 432d Tactical Reconnaissance Group 43 may refer to:
* 43 (number)
* one of the years 43 BC, AD 43, 1943, 2043
* Licor 43, also known as "Cuarenta Y Tres" ("Forty-three" in Spanish)
* George W. Bush, 43rd President of the United States, nicknamed "Bush 43" to distinguish from his f ...
: attached 18 March 1954 – 30 October 1955; 10 December 1955 – 8 February 1958
* 4402nd Tactical Training Group: 1 July 1966 – 20 January 1968
* 4403rd Tactical Training Group: 1 July 1966 – 20 January 1968 (Never manned or equipped)[
Squadrons
* ]9th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron 009 may refer to:
* OO9, gauge model railways
* O09, FAA identifier for Round Valley Airport
* 0O9, FAA identifier for Ward Field, see List of airports in California
* British secret agent 009, see 00 Agent
* BA 009, see British Airways Flight 9
* ...
: 8 February 1958 – 1 July 1966; 1 February 1967 – 1 September 1969 (not operational)
* 10th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron
The 10th Flight Test Squadron is part of the 413th Flight Test Group of Air Force Materiel Command based at Tinker Air Force Base, Oklahoma. It performs acceptance testing on refurbished Rockwell B-1 Lancer, Boeing B-52 Stratofortress, Boeing ...
: attached 11 September-1 December 1950
* 16th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron
The 16th Airborne Command and Control Squadron is a United States Air Force squadron assigned to Air Combat Command's 461st Air Control Wing, 461st Operations Group, stationed at Robins Air Force Base, Georgia. The squadron previously flew t ...
: 8 February 1958 – 27 October 1965; 15 February 1971 – 15 December 1989
* 17th Tactical Fighter Squadron (later 17th Fighter Squadron): 1 July 1982 – 31 December 1993
* 18th Reconnaissance Squadron
The 18th Attack Squadron is a squadron of the United States Air Force. It is assigned to the 432d Operations Group, and has been stationed at Creech Air Force Base, Nevada since 2009. The squadron conducts strike, intelligence, surveillance a ...
: 30 January 1970 – 30 December 1979, (detached 12–29 April 1977)
* 19th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron: attached 20 July 1953 – 7 May 1954; assigned 1 September 1966 – 1 February 1967; assigned 20 January-31 December 1968
* 19th Tactical Fighter Squadron
The 19th Fighter Squadron is a United States Air Force fighter jet squadron and is a part of the Pacific Air Forces' (PACAF) 15th Wing based at Joint Base Pearl Harbor–Hickam, Hawaii.
The squadron is one of the oldest in the United States Air ...
(later 19th Fighter Squadron): 1 April 1982 – 31 December 1993
* 20th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron
020 is the national dialling code for London in the United Kingdom. All subscriber numbers within the area code consist of eight digits and it has capacity for approaching 100 million telephone numbers. The code is used at 170 telephone exch ...
: attached 8 April-17 May 1959, assigned 18 May 1959 – 12 November 1965
* 21st Tactical Fighter Squadron: 1 November 1991 – 1 April 1992; 1 April 1992 – 30 December 1993
* 22nd Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron: 15 July-15 October 1971
* 29th Reconnaissance (later Tactical Reconnaissance) Squadron: attached 8 April-17 May 1959, assigned 18 May 1959 – 1 July 1966; assigned 20 January 1968 – 24 January 1971
* 31st Tactical Reconnaissance Training Squadron
The 31st Combat Training Squadron is an active United States Air Force unit. It is currently assigned to the Nevada Test and Training Range at Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada.
The squadron was first activated as the 31st Pursuit Squadron for the ...
: 15 October 1969 – 18 February 1971
* 33rd Tactical Reconnaissance Training (later Tactical Fighter, later Fighter) Squadron: 15 October 1969 – 1 October 1982; 8 March 1985 – 15 November 1993
* 39th Tactical Reconnaissance Training (later, 39th Tactical Electronic Warfare Training) Squadron: 15 October 1969 – 15 March 1974
* 41st Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron
The 41st Electronic Combat Squadron is a United States Air Force unit. Its current assignment is with the 55th Electronic Combat Group at Davis–Monthan Air Force Base, Arizona as a geographically separated unit from its parent wing, the 55t ...
: 8 February 1958 – 18 May 1959; 1 October-20 November 1965
* 43rd Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron: 8 February 1958 – 18 May 1959 (detached c. 1 February-7 April 1959)
* 62nd Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron: 15 October 1971 – 30 June 1982
* 77th Fighter Squadron
The 77th Fighter Squadron is part of the 20th Fighter Wing at Shaw Air Force Base, South Carolina. It operates the General Dynamics F-16 Fighting Falcon aircraft conducting air superiority missions.
The squadron is one of the oldest in the Uni ...
deployed from 20th Operations Group
The 20th Operations Group (20 OG) is the flying component of the 20th Fighter Wing, assigned to the United States Air Force Air Combat Command. It is stationed at Shaw Air Force Base, South Carolina. It is a successor organization of the 20th ...
February to May 2003
* 84th Bombardment Squadron
The 84th Bombardment Squadron is an inactive United States Air Force unit. It was last assigned to the post-World War II-era 47th Bombardment Wing, stationed at RAF Sculthorpe, England. It was inactivated on 22 June 1962.
History
Antisubmarin ...
: (Attached), 1 September 1950 – 12 March 1951
* 165th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron: attached 25 March-3 May 1968
* 309th Fighter Squadron
The 309th Fighter Squadron (309 FS) is part of the 56th Operations Group at Luke Air Force Base, Arizona. It operates the F-16 Fighting Falcon aircraft conducting advanced fighter training.
Mission
The 309th FS ("Wild Ducks", Tailband: Bl ...
: 1 October 1992 – 31 December 1993
: Was temporarily deployed to Shaw from 31st Tactical Fighter Wing
The 31st Fighter Wing (31 FW) is a United States Air Force unit assigned to the United States Air Forces in Europe major command and the Third Air Force. It is stationed at Aviano Air Base, Italy, a North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) bas ...
, Homestead AFB
Homestead Air Reserve Base (Homestead ARB), previously known as Homestead Air Force Base (Homestead AFB) is located in Miami–Dade County, Florida to the northeast of the city of Homestead. It is home to the 482nd Fighter Wing (482 FW) of th ...
on 22 August 1992 due to Hurricane Andrew
* 526th Intelligence Squadron
5 (five) is a number, numeral and digit. It is the natural number, and cardinal number, following 4 and preceding 6, and is a prime number. It has attained significance throughout history in part because typical humans have five digits on eac ...
: 18 January 2015 – present
* 547th Intelligence Squadron: 18 January 2015 – present
* 2215th (later, 4400th) Combat Crew Training Squadron: attached 1 September 1950 – 12 March 1951
* 4414th Combat Crew Training Squadron: 20 January 1968 – 15 October 1969 (RF-101A/C Training Squadron)
* 4415th Combat Crew Training Squadron: 1 February 1967 – 15 October 1969 (RF-4C Training Squadron
* 4416th Test Squadron: 1 July 1963 – 1 May 1970 (EB-66 R&D squadron)
* 4417th Combat Crew Training Squadron: 1 July 1966 – 1 February 1967; 20 January 1968 – 15 October 1969 (RB/EB-66 training squadron)[
]
Stations
* Langley Field (later Langley Air Force Base), Virginia, 15 August 1947 – 27 August 1948
* Langley Air Force Base, Virginia, 27 August 1948 – 26 April 1949
* Langley Air Force Base, Virginia, 1 September 1950 – 12 March 1951
* Shaw Air Force Base
Shaw Air Force Base (Shaw AFB) is a United States Air Force (USAF) base located approximately west-northwest of downtown Sumter, South Carolina. It is one of the largest military bases operated by the United States, and is under the jurisdict ...
, South Carolina, 2 April 1951 – 31 December 1993
* Prince Sultan Air Base
Prince Sultan Air Base ( ar, قاعدة الأمير سلطان الجوية) (PSAB) is a military air base located in the closed-city of Al Kharj, Saudi Arabia.
History
There was formerly a large United States presence there during Opera ...
, Saudi Arabia, 1 December 1998 – 26 August 2003
* Al Dhafra Air Base, United Arab Emirates, 1 June 2007 – 11 July 2011
* Joint Base Langley-Eustis, 17 February 2015 – present[
]
Aircraft
* FP (later, RF)-80 and FA (later, RB)-26, 1947–1948
* Primarily RF-80 and RB-26, 1948–1949; but also included F-6, 1948
* H-5, 1949; and L-5, 1949
* Primarily B-26, 1950–1951, 1951–1952
* B-45, 1950–1951
* RB-26, 1951, 1951–1957
* RF-80, 1951, 1951–1955
* B-25, 1952–1954
* RB-45, 1954
* RB-57, 1954–1956
* RF-84, 1954–1958
* RT-33, 1955–1956
* WT-33, 1955–1956
* RB-66, 1956–1969
* WB-66, 1957–1964, 1968–1969
* RF-101, 1957–1958, 1959–1971
* RF-4, 1965–1989
* EB-66, 1966–1974
* RB-26, 1950–1951
* F-84, 1951
* L-13, 1951–1954
* L-20, 1951–1954
* T-33, 1951–1955
* TB-25, 1956–1958
* TF-101, 1966–1969
* B-57, 1971–1976
* F-16, 1982–1993, 1998–2003
* A-10, 1991–1993
* U-2, 1998–2003
* F-15, 1998–2003
* EA-6B, 1998–2003 (USN & USMC assets)
* Panavia Tornado, 1998–2003
* C-21, 1998–2003[
]
See also
References
Explanatory Notes
Footnotes
Bibliography
*
Further reading
*
*
*
*
*
External links
Stand-up of training group marks an international homecoming
(363rd Training Group), 2007-03-27, U.S. Central Command Air Forces
The Ninth Air Force (Air Forces Central) is a Numbered Air Force of the United States Air Force headquartered at Shaw Air Force Base, South Carolina. It is the Air Force Service Component of United States Central Command (USCENTCOM), a joint De ...
Public Affairs
{{Tactical Air Command
Reconnaissance wings of the United States Air Force