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, 107th, 109th, and 153d Observation Squadrons.

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-51 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 be 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 Korea launched a surprise attack against the Republic of Korea in June 1950. In February 1951, Headquarters Far East Air Forces 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.

Cyberspace operations

Reactivated October 1991 when parent wing implemented Objective Wing organization. Ended flying operations in August 1992. Between 1993 and 2000, mission included directing planning of all-source intelligence, electronic combat, and security support for the Air Intelligence Agency. Since 2000, collected and analyzed intelligence and provided it to war-fighters, national decision-makers, and the test and acquisition community.

Assignments

Stations

Components

• 11th Reconnaissance Squadron (later 11th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron): 28–31 March 1946, 19 May 1947 – 28 March 1949; 18 September 1953 – 1 October 1957 (attached to 67th Tactical Reconnaissance Wing 1 June–24 November 1954 and after 1 July 1957)^[5]
• 12th Reconnaissance Squadron (later 12th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron): 29 March 1942 – 13 June 1944 (attached until c. 11 August 1944) 24 July 1947 – 28 March 1949, 25 February 1951 – 1 October 1957 (attached to 67th Tactical Reconnaissance Wing 1 June–24 November 1954 and after 1 July 1957)^[6]
• 15th Reconnaissance Squadron:^{[note 3]} 22 Dec 1943 – 4 January 1944; 4 January 1944 – 13 June 1944 (attached until 27 June 1944), 25 February 1951 – 1 October 1957 (attached to 67th Tactical Reconnaissance Wing 1 June–24 November 1954 and after 1 July 1957)^[7]
• 15th Reconnaissance Squadron:^{[note 4]} 19 May–24 July 1947
• 30th Photographic Reconnaissance Squadron: attached 9 June 1944, assigned 13 June 1944 – 7 November 1945
• 33d Photographic Reconnaissance Squadron: assigned 13 June–7 October 1944 (attached to 10th Photographic Reconnaissance Group until 11 August 1944),^[8] attached until 2 November 1944; assigned 17 May–c. 5 July 1945.
• 45th Reconnaissance Squadron (later 45th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron): see 155th Photographic Reconnaissance Squadron
• 107th Observation Squadron (later 107th Reconnaissance Squadron): 1 September 1941 – 9 November 1945
• 109th Observation Squadron (later 109th Reconnaissance Squadron): 1 September 1941 – 9 November 1945
• 113th Observation Squadron (later 113th Reconnaissance Squadron): 1 September 1941 – 12 March 1942 (attached to 69th Observation Group 12 December 1941 – 20 January 1942)^[9]
• 153d Observation Squadron (later 153d Liaison Squadron): 1 September 1941 – 12 December 1943
• 155th Photographic Reconnaissance Squadron (later 45th Reconnaissance Squadron, 45 Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron): 21 February–23 May 1945 (attached to 9th Tactical Reconnaissance Group (Provisional) after 25 April 1945),^[10] 25 February 1951 – 1 October 1957 (attached to 67th Tactical Reconnaissance Wing 1 June–24 November 1954 and after 1 July 1957)
• 161st Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron: 3 July–9 November 1945
• 305th Cyberspace Operations Squadron
• 390th Cyberspace Operations Squadron
• 352d Information Operations Squadron (later 352d Network Warfare Squadron, 352d Cyberspace Operations Squadron): 1 October 2004 – 18 August 2009, 1 December 2014 – present^[11][12]
• 91st Cyberspace Operations Squadron

Aircraft

Bibliography

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

• Anderson, Capt. Barry (1985). Army Air Forces Stations: A Guide to the Stations Where U.S. Army Air Forces Personnel Served in the United Kingdom During World War II (PDF). Maxwell AFB, AL yes: Research Division, USAF Historical Research Center. Archived from the original (PDF) on 23 January 2016. Retrieved 28 June 2017.
• Johnson, 1st Lt. David C. (1988). U.S. Army Air Forces Continental Airfields (ETO) D-Day to V-E Day (PDF). Maxwell AFB, AL: Research Division, USAF Historical Research Center. Archived from the original (PDF) on 29 September 2015. Retrieved 26 June 2017.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
• Maurer, Maurer, ed. (1983) [1961]. Air Force Combat Units of World War II (PDF) (reprint ed.). Washington, DC: Office of Air Force History. ISBN 0-912799-02-1. LCCN 61060979. Retrieved 17 December 2016.
• Maurer, Maurer, ed. (1982) [1969]. Combat Squadrons of the Air Force, World War II (PDF) (reprint ed.). Washington, DC: Office of Air Force History. ISBN 0-405-12194-6. LCCN 70605402. OCLC 72556. Retrieved 17 December 2016.
• Ravenstein, Charles A. (1984). Air Force Combat Wings, Lineage & Honors Histories 1947-1977. Washington, DC: Office of Air Force History. ISBN 0-912799-12-9. Retrieved 17 December 2016.