6007th Reconnaissance Group
RB-57A-1 Heartthrob reconnaissance aircraft
Active1950-1957
CountryUnited States
BranchUnited States Air Force
Rolereconnaissance
Insignia
6007th Reconnaissance Group emblem

The 6007th Reconnaissance Group is an inactive United States Air Force unit. Its last was assigned to the 6007th Reconnaissance Wing, stationed at Yokota Air Base, Japan. It was discontinued on 9 August 1957.

History

Performed highly classified missions over the Soviet Union and Communist China and reconnaissance monitoring of the Korean De-militarized Zone (DMZ) during the early years of the Cold War. In 1955, the unit was equipped with Martin RB-57A-1 Canberra aircraft. The RB-57A-1s were RB-57A modified under Project Lightweight (later Project Heartthrob) with more powerful J65 engines, crew reduced from two to one, and all items not essential for the daytime photographic mission removed.[1]

Inactivated in 1957, mission taken over by the 67th Tactical Reconnaissance Wing

Much of this unit's history remains classified as of 2012.[2]

Lineage

  • Designated as the 6007th Composite Reconnaissance Group, and organized on 11 August 1954
Redesignated 6007th Reconnaissance Group (Composite) on 1 September 1954
Discontinued on 9 August 1957

Assignments

Components

  • 6021st Photographic Mapping Flight (Tactical Reconnaissance), 1 December 1953 (Attached from Fifth Air Force)
Redesignated: 6021st Reconnaissance Squadron, 1 March 1955-9 August 1957
Attached to 67th Tactical Reconnaissance Wing: 1 July-9 August 1957
  • 6023d Radar Evaluation Flight, 18 March 1954 – 3 July 1956 (Attached from Fifth Air Force)
  • 6091st Reconnaissance Flight, 1 December 1953 (Attached from Fifth Air Force)
Redesignated: 6091st Reconnaissance Squadron, 20 December 1954-9 August 1957
Attached to 67th Tactical Reconnaissance Wing: 1 July-9 August 1957

Stations

  • Yokota AB, Japan, 11 August 1954 – 9 August 1957

Aircraft

6091st Reconnaissance Squadron

6021st Reconnaissance Squadron

6023d Radar Evaluation Flight

See also

References

Notes

  1. ↑ Knaack, p. 315
  2. ↑ AFHRA Search 6007/RECONNAISSANCE
  3. ↑ Robertson, Patsy (April 20, 2012). "Factsheet 548 Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Group (AFISRA)". Air Force Historical Research Agency. Archived from the original on September 27, 2015. Retrieved January 20, 2016.

Bibliography

Public Domain This article incorporates public domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency

  • Knaack, Marcelle Size (1988). Encyclopedia of US Air Force Aircraft and Missile Systems. Vol. 2, Post-World War II Bombers 1945-1973. Washington, DC: Office of Air Force History. ISBN 0-912799-59-5.

Further reading

  • Brugioni, Dino A (2010), Eyes in the Sky: Eisenhower, the CIA and Cold War Aerial Espionage, Naval Institute Press, ISBN 159114082X
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