70th Intelligence Wing
70th Intelligence Wing Insignia
Active	September 1, 1941
Country	United States
Branch	United States Air Force
Role	Intelligence
Part of	Air Force Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Agency
Garrison/HQ	Fort Meade
Motto(s)	Strength Through Unity
Decorations	AFOUA
Commanders
Current commander	Colonel John D Stauffer

The 70th Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Wing (70 ISRW) is a United States Air Force unit assigned to the Air Combat Command Eighth Air Force. It is stationed at Fort George G. Meade, Maryland.

Known as "America's Cryptologic Wing", is the only USAF wing that supports the National Security Agency, Air Force Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Agency, and the entire United States Air Force with Cryptologic Intelligence.

The wing has a long and distinguished history. Active for almost 70 years, the 70 ISRW predecessor World War II unit, the 70th Reconnaissance Group conducted observation, artillery adjustment, and fighter and bomber support training with United States Army ground forces. During the Cold War, the 70th was a component wing of Strategic Air Command's deterrent force as a strategic reconnaissance organization and heavy bombardment wing.

The 70 ISRW Wing Commander is Colonel John D. Bansemer. Its Command Chief Master Sergeant is Chief Master Sergeant Eddie J. Compton.

Provide multi-source, multi-service intelligence products for Department of Defense by gaining and exploiting information as a major component of the Air Force and DoD global intelligence mission.

The Wing has seven groups, 21 squadrons, nine detachments and more than 38 operating locations spanning four continents around the world. The wing falls under the Air Force ISR Agency at Lackland Air Force Base, Texas. The 70th ISR Wing trains and equips cryptologic and information operations specialists to carry out AF ISR Agency and National Security Agency Tri-Service Operations.

• 70th Mission Support Group at Fort Meade, Maryland
• 373d Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Group at Misawa Air Base, Japan
• 543d Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Group at the Medina Annex, Lackland Air Force Base, Texas

A unique group within the wing. Organized according to mission, rather than by geography, the 543 IG has two squadrons within the Continental United States which are part of Regional SIGINT Operations Centers. Providing command and control, personnel, communications, computer and logistics support for all Regional SIGINT Operations Centers conducting information operations, the 543 IG provides timely and accurate multi-regional SIGINT to warfighters and other intelligence users.

• 544th Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Group at Peterson Air Force Base, Colorado

Reassigned from the 67th Information Operations Wing to the 70th ISR Wing on July 12, 2006.

• 691st Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Group at Menwith Hill Station, United Kingdom. ^[1]
• 707th Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Group at Fort Meade, Maryland

• Established as 70th Observation Group on September 1, 1941.

Activated on September 13, 1941.

Redesignated: 70th Reconnaissance Group on April 2, 1943

Redesignated: 70th Tactical Reconnaissance Group on August 11, 1943

Disestablished on November 30, 1943.

• Reestablished, and redesignated 70th Reconnaissance Group, on March 10, 1947.

Activated in the Reserve on April 26, 1947.

Inactivated on June 27, 1949.

• Consolidated (January 31, 1984) with the 70th Strategic Reconnaissance Wing, which was established on March 23, 1953.

Activated on January 24, 1955.

Redesignated: 70th Bombardment Wing, Medium on October 25, 1961.

Discontinued, and inactivated, on June 25, 1962.

• Redesignated: 70th Bombardment Wing, Heavy, and activated, on November 15, 1962 replacing 4123rd Strategic Wing

Organized on February 1, 1963 assuming the resources (Manpower, Aircraft, Equipment, Weapons, & Facilities) of the 4123d Strategic Wing (inactivated)

Inactivated on December 31, 1969.

• Redesignated: 70th Air Base Group on September 16, 1994.

Activated on October 1, 1994.

Inactivated on October 1, 1998.

• Redesignated: 70th Intelligence Wing on July 17, 2000.

Activated on August 16, 2000.

Redesignated: 70th Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Wing on January 1, 2009.

Squadrons

• 6 Strategic Reconnaissance (later, 6 Bombardment): 24 Jun 1955-25 Jun 1962 (detached 1 May-c. Oct 1955); 1 Feb 1963-31 Dec 1969
• 26 Tactical Reconnaissance: 2 Mar 1942-30 Nov 1943
• 26 Photographic Reconnaissance (later, 26 Strategic Reconnaissance; 681 Bombardment): 1 Aug 1947-27 Jun 1949; 24 Jan 1955-25 Jun 1962
• 57 Reconnaissance: 1Aug 1947-27 Jun 1949
• 61 Reconnaissance (later, 61 Strategic Reconnaissance; 61 Bombardment): 26 Apr 1947-27 Jun 1949; 24 Jan 1955-25 Jun 1962 (detached 15 Jul-c. Oct 1955)
• 70 Air Refueling: 1 Aug 1955-1 Aug 1961 (detached 27 Jan-16 Aug 1956; 24 Jun-c. 24 Sep 1957, 3 Sep 1958-12 Jan 1959, and 5 Oct 1960-11 Jan 1961)
• 112 Liaison: 30 Apr-11 Aug 1943
• 116 Observation (later, 116 Reconnaissance; 116 Tactical Reconnaissance): 13 Sep 1941-30 Nov 1943
• 123 Observation (later, 123 Reconnaissance; 35 Photographic Reconnaissance): assigned 15 Sep 1941-10 Aug 1943, attached 11 Aug-31 Oct 1943
• 902 Air Refueling: 1 Feb 1963-31 Dec 1969.

During World War II, the 70th Reconnaissance Group was primarily a training unit in the United States. It conducted observation, artillery adjustment, and fighter and bomber support training with United States Army ground forces from 1941–1943. It also flew antisubmarine patrols along the west coast from December 7, 1941 through September 1942. It was inactivated in 1943.

The group reactivated as part of the Air Force Reserve in 1947 at Hill AFB, Utah. It was assigned to Fourth Air Force, but it is unclear whether or not the unit had any assigned aircraft of personnel. It was inactivated in 1949 due to budgetary reductions.

The 70th Strategic Reconnaissance Wing deployed at Lockbourne Air Force Base, Ohio, January 24 – October 19, 1955, while its permanent base underwent construction. Few wing components were manned until the move to Little Rock Air Force Base, Arkansas. From there the wing flew strategic reconnaissance to meet the Strategic Air Command's (SAC) global commitments from, October 1955–1962, but on a reduced scale after February 1958. It also assumed an air refueling mission in 1955 and was deployed at Sidi Slimane Air Base, Morocco from, October 26 – December 17, 1956. From June 1958 to September 1961, the wing became a bombardment and reconnaissance organization, providing B/RB-47 combat crew training for other SAC units, while undertaking RB-47 and KC-97 operations. The refueling squadron transferred in August 1961 and the final RB-47 class graduated in October 1961. It converted to B-47s in late 1961 but inactivated prior to becoming combat ready.

The 70th Bombardment Wing (Heavy) replaced the 4123d Strategic Wing at Clinton-Sherman Air Force Base, Oklahoma, in February 1963.

he 70 BW was placed on operational status upon activation with the 61st and 98th Bombardment Squadrons being its operational flying squadrons. On 1 February 1963, the 98 BS was inactivated with its personnel and equipment being transferred to the newly established 6th Bombardment Squadron. Initially equipped with B-52E models, the 70 BW was upgraded to the B-52D in 1968 along with some older B-52Cs which had limited use. It conducted strategic bombardment training and air refueling missions from Feb 1963 to Dec 1969.

For several months in both 1968 and 1969, all of the 70 BW aircraft, most of the aircrew and maintenance personnel and some of its support people were loaned to other SAC units engaged in combat operations in the Far East and Southeast Asia. It was one of eleven SAC bomb wings that rotated such combat duty under the program known as Arc Light.

In 1969, military operations were de-emphasized and Clinton-Sherman AFB was designated for closure. Due to budgetary restrictions, the 70th Bombardment Wing was inactivated on 31 December 1969 and the USAF closed Clinton-Sherman AFB.

The 70th Air Base Wing operated and maintained Brooks Air Force Base from October 1994 through September 1998. Since August 2000, the 70th Intelligence Wing has managed the Air Force portion of the Defense Department's cryptology mission, exploiting intelligence, integrating it into air and space operations, and assisting commanders and others with intelligence requirements.

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

• 70th Intelligence Wing
• 70th IW Home Page
• Ravenstein, Charles A. Air Force Combat Wings Lineage and Honors Histories, 1947–1977. Maxwell AFB, Alabama: Office of Air Force History, 1984. ISBN 0-91279-912-9.
• Rogers, Brian. United States Air Force Unit Designations Since 1978. Hinkley, UK: Midland Publications, 2005. ISBN 1-85780-197-0.

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Air Forces	First (Northern) Ninth (Central) Twelfth (Southern) Fifteenth Sixteenth (Cyber)
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v t e United States Air Force Intelligence Units
Air Forces	16 AF
Wings	70th Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Wing 102nd Intelligence Wing 181st Intelligence Wing 184th Intelligence Wing 363rd Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Wing 480th Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Wing 655th Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Wing
Groups	Numbered 361 ISRG 373 ISRG 480 ISRG 497 ISRG 543 ISRG 544 ISRG 548 ISRG 655 ISRG 659 ISRG 691 ISRG 692 ISRG 693 ISRG 694 ISRG 707 ISRG 755 ISRG Named Air & Cyberspace Intelligence Group Geospatial and Signatures Intelligence Group Global Exploitation Intelligence Group Space, Missiles and Forces Intelligence Group
Squadrons	3 IS 6 IS 7 IS 8 IS 9 IS 10 IS 13 IS 14 IS 16 IS 18 IS 19 IS 20 IS 22 IS 23 IS 24 IS 25 IS 27 IS 28 IS 29 IS 30 IS 31 IS 32 IS 35 IS 37 IS 38 IS 41 IS 42 IS 43 IS 48 IS 49 IS 50 IS 63 IS 64 IS 71 IS 93 IS 94 IS 101 IS 117 IS 123 IS 126 IS 137 IS 139 IS 152 IS 161 IS 192 IS 201 IS 234 IS 301 IS 303 IS 306 IS 324 IS 381 IS 450 IS 451 IS 485 IS 512 IS 566 IS 718 IS 792 ISS 820 IS
Centers	Air Force Technical Applications Center National Air Intelligence Center