67th Network Warfare Wing
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| 67th Network Warfare Wing | |
|---|---|
 67th Network Warfare Wing Insignia |
|
| Active | November 6, 1947 |
| Country | United States |
| Branch | United States Air Force |
| Role | Information Operations |
| Size | Wing |
| Part of | Air Combat Command |
| Garrison/HQ | Lackland Air Force Base |
| Motto | LUX EX TENEBRIS Light from Darkness |
The 67th Network Warfare Wing, Lackland Air Force Base, Texas, was reactivated 1 October 1993 as the 67th Information Operations Wing. On 5 July 2006, the wing was rededicated as the first and only Network Warfare Wing. The wing is charged with executing Air Intelligence Agency's global mission of information operations. As the Air Force's largest operational wing and only intelligence 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.
Contents |
[edit] History
The 67 IOW's distinguished legacy goes back more than 50 years. Throughout its existence, the wing has compiled an illustrious record in combat and peace.
[edit] Cold War
The 67th Reconnaissance Wing was activated as part of a service-wide, wing-base test. Budget constraints, though, resulted in the wing's inactivation in March 1949.
[edit] 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. 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. The 67 TRW received the Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation, the Air Force Outstanding Unit Award and seven campaign streamers. 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.
[edit] 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 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.
[edit] 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.
[edit] 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.
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.
[edit] Mission
The 67 NWW assumed a worldwide mission with responsibility for overseeing the majority of AIA 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.
Five 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 AIA'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 AIA forces in contingencies, low-intensity conflict, counterdrug activities and special operations. The wing executes information operations geographically through its five groups and 31 squadrons located in the continental United States, Hawaii and Germany.
[edit] Groups
- 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 Combat Command. The group also participates with Air Force Special Operations Command, providing customized intelligence products for their missions.
- 694th Intelligence Group, (Fort George G. Meade, Maryland): The 694 IG executes information operations by conducting command and control warfare, electronic combat, securities and information warfare operations. The 694 IG also provides personnel and logistical support to National Security Agency to fulfill its mission.
- 26th Information Operations Group, (Ramstein Air Base, Germany): The 26 IG is a multidisciplined information operations organization building and maintaining the Information Warfare weapons for the European theater. As AIA's sole component in Europe, the 26 IG is a unique asset with peacetime, exercise and wartime operational roles in Europe, Africa and the Middle East. The group actively participates with the U.S. Air Forces in Europe, United States European Command, U.S. Naval Forces Europe, North Atlantic Treaty Organization and other agencies, allowing them to address their security needs.
- 690th Information Operations Group, (Lackland Air Force Base, Texas):
