Lineage. Established as 70 Observation Group on 1 Sep 1941. Activated on 13 Sep 1941. Redesignated: 70 Reconnaissance Group on 2 Apr 1943; 70 Tactical Reconnaissance Group on 11 Aug 1943. Disestablished on 30 Nov 1943. Reestablished, and redesignated 70 Reconnaissance Group, on 10 Mar 1947. Activated in the Reserve on 26 Apr 1947. Inactivated on 27 Jun 1949. Consolidated (31 Jan 1984) with the 70 Strategic Reconnaissance Wing, which was established on 23 Mar 1953. Activated on 24 Jan 1955. Redesignated 70 Bombardment Wing, Medium on 25 Oct 1961. Discontinued, and inactivated, on 25 Jun 1962. Redesignated 70 Bombardment Wing, Heavy, and activated, on 15 Nov 1962. Organized on 1 Feb 1963. Inactivated on 31 Dec 1969. Redesignated 70 Air Base Group on 16 Sep 1994. Activated on 1 Oct 1994. Inactivated on 1 Oct 1998. Redesignated 70 Intelligence Wing on 17 Jul 2000. Activated on 16 Aug 2000.
Assignments. 4 Air Support (later, 4 Ground Air Support; IV Ground Air Support; IV Air Support) Command, 13 Sep 1941; II Air Support Command, Nov 1942; III Air Support (later, III Reconnaissance) Command, c. 6 Aug-30 Nov 1943. 325 Reconnaissance Wing (later, 325 Air Division, Reconnaissance), 26 Apr 1947-27 Jun 1949. Second Air Force, 24 Jan 1955 (attached to 801 Air Division, 24 Jan 1955-c. 19 Oct 1955); 825 Air (later, 825 Strategic Aerospace)Division, 1 Aug 1955-25 Jun 1962 (attached to 5 Air Division, 26 Oct-17 Dec 1956). Strategic Air Command, 15 Nov 1962; 816 Strategic Aerospace Division, 1 Feb 1963; 17 Strategic Aerospace Division, 1 Jul 1965-31 Dec 1969. Human Systems Center, 1 Oct 1994-1 Oct 1998. Air Intelligence Agency, 16 Aug 2000; Eighth Air Force, 1 Feb 2001-.
Components. 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.
Stations. Gray Field, WA, 13 Sep 1941; Salinas AAB, CA, 13 Mar 1943; Redmond AAFld, OR, 15 Aug 1943; Corvallis AAFld, OR, 25 Oct 1943; Will Rogers Field, OK, 14 Nov-30 Nov 1943. Hill Field (later, AFB), UT, 26 Apr 1947-27 Jun 1949. Little Rock AFB, AR, 24 Jan 1955-25 Jun 1962. Clinton-Sherman AFB, OK, 1 Feb 1963-31 Dec 1969. Brooks AFB, TX, 1 Oct 1994-1 Oct 1998. Ft George G. Meade, MD, 16 Aug 2000-.
Commanders. Maj Hillford R. Wallace, 13 Sep 1941; Maj Wallace J. O'Daniels, 1 Apr 1942; Maj G. Robert Dodson, 3 May 1942; Col Don W. Mayhue, 9 May 1942; Lt Col G. Robert Dodson, 3 Nov 1942; Lt Col Stanley R. Stewart, 3 Dec 1942; Lt Col G. Robert Dodson, 3 Jan-30 Nov 1943. Unkn, 26 Apr 1947-27 Jun 1949. Col Lester C. Hess, 24 Jan 1955; Maj Lewis P. Gaby, 14 Feb 1955; Lt Col Albert S. Harwell Jr., 14 Apr 1955; Col Lester C. Hess, 10 May 1955; Col William Burke, 26 Jun 1955; Col Donald O. Tower, 26 May 1958; Col John H. Kunkel Jr., 6 Aug 1958; Col Irby V. Tedder, 1 Apr 1960; Col James O. Britt, 16 Apr 1960; Col George E. Glober, by 4 May 1961-c. 25 Jun 1962. Col Paul N. Bacalis, 1 Feb 1963; Col Orie O. Schurter, 12 Jun 1964; Col William R. Brown, 15 Nov 1965; Col Therwin S. Walters, 13 Apr 1968; Col William R. Brown, 5 Oct 1968; Col Raymond P. Lowman, 30 Nov 1968; Col Robert T. Calhoun, 26 Mar 1969; Col Raymond P. Lowman, 30 Sep-31 Dec 1969. Col Robert M. Hudson, 1 Oct 1994; Col Klaus Bartels, 24 Jun 1996-30 Sep 1997; unkn, 1 Oct 1997-1 Oct 1998. Col Harold J. Beatty, 16 Aug 2000; Col James O. Poss, 11 Jul 2002; Col Fred W. Gortler III, 15 Jan 2004;Col Jim H. Keffer, 29 Sep 2005-.
Aircraft. O-38, 1941; O-46, 1941-1942; O-47, 1941-1943; O-49, 1941-1943; P-39, 1943; B-25, 1943; L-5, 1943. Unkn, 1947-1949. RB-47, 1955-1962; KC-97, 1955-1961; B-47, 1961-1962. B-52, 1963-1968, 1968-1969; KC-135, 1963-1968, 1968-1969.
Operations. During World War II, the 70th Reconnaissance Group conducted observation, artillery adjustment, and fighter and bomber support training with Army ground forces, 1941-1943. It flew antisubmarine patrols along the west coast from 7 Dec 1941 through Sep 1942. The group was active in the reserve Fourth Air Force, 1947-1949. The 70th Strategic Reconnaissance wing deployed at Lockbourne AFB, OH, 24 Jan-19 Oct 1955, while permanent base underwent construction. Few wing components were manned until the move to Little Rock AFB, AR. Then, the wing flew strategic reconnaissance to meet the Strategic Air Command's (SAC) global commitments, Oct 1955-1962, but on a reduced scale after Feb 1958. It also assumed an air refueling mission in 1955 and was deployed at Sidi Slimane AB, Morocco, 26 Oct-17 Dec 1956. From Jun 1958 to Sep 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. It converted to B-47s in late 1961 but inactivated prior to becoming combat ready. The 70th Bombardment Wing replaced the 4123d Strategic Wing at Clinton-Sherman AFB, OK, in Feb 1963, to conduct strategic bombardment training and air refueling until Dec 1969. For several months in 1968 and 1969, all wing aircraft, most of its 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. The 70th Air Base Wing operated and maintained Brooks AFB from Oct 1994 through Sep 1998. Since Aug 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.
Service Streamers. None.
Campaign Streamers. World War II: Antisubmarine, American Theater.
Decorations. Air Force Outstanding Unit Awards: 15 Feb-30 Dec 1957; 15 Apr-1 Oct 1968; 1 Jan-31 Dec 1995; 1 Jan-31 Dec 1997; 1 Jun 2001-31 May 2003.
Lineage, Assignments, Components, Stations, and Honors through 13 Dec 2005.
Commanders, Aircraft, and Operations through 29 Sep 2005.
Supersedes statement prepared on 26 Apr 2001.
Emblem. Approved on 5 Jan 1943.
Prepared by A. Timothy Warnock.
Reviewed by Carl E. Bailey.