Lineage. Established as 363 Reconnaissance Wing on 29 Jul 1947. Organized on 15 Aug 1947. Redesignated as 363 Tactical Reconnaissance Wing on 14 Jun 1948. Inactivated on 26 Apr 1949. Activated on 1 Sep 1950. Redesignated as: 363 Tactical Fighter Wing on 1 Oct 1981; 363 Fighter Wing on 1 Oct 1991. Inactivated on 31 Dec 1993. Redesignated as 363 Air Expeditionary Wing and converted to provisional status on 19 Nov 1998. Activated on 1 Dec 1998. Inactivated on 25 Aug 2003. Withdrawn as provisional unit on 24 May 2007. Redesignated as 363 Flying Training Group on 25 May 2007. Activated on 1 Jun 2007. Inactivated on 1 Aug 2011. Redesignated as 363 Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance Wing on 13 Feb 2015. Activated on 17 Feb 2015.
Assignments. Ninth Air Force, 15 Aug 1947-26 Apr 1949 (attached to First Air Force, 15 Jan-1 Feb 1949). Tactical Air Command, 1 Sep 1950; Ninth Air Force, 2 Apr 1951; Tactical Air Division Provisional, 25 Apr 1951; Ninth Air Force, 11 Oct 1951; 837 Air Division, 8 Feb 1958; USAF Tactical Air Reconnaissance Center, 1 Feb 1963; Ninth Air Force, 15 Jul 1963; 833 Air Division, 1 Oct 1964; Ninth Air Force, 24 Dec 1969-31 Dec 1993. 9 Air and Space Expeditionary Task Force-Southern Watch (later, 9 Aerospace Expeditionary Task Force-Southern Watch; 9 Aerospace Expeditionary Task Force), 1 Dec 1998-25 Aug 2003. Ninth Air Force (later, Ninth Air Force [Air Forces Central]; United States Air Forces Central Command), 1 Jun 2007-1 Aug 2011. Twenty-Fifth Air Force, 17 Feb 2015-.
Operational Components. Groups. 361 Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance: 17 Feb 2015-. 363 Reconnaissance (later, 363 Tactical Reconnaissance; 363 Operations; 363 Expeditionary Operations; 363 Operations; 363 Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance): 15 Aug 1947-26 Apr 1949; 1 Sep 1950-8 Feb 1958 (detached 25 Apr-10 Oct 1951); 1 May 1992-31 Dec 1993; 1 Dec 1998-25 Aug 2003; 17 Feb 2015-. 365 Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance: 17 Feb 2015-. 432 Tactical Reconnaissance: attached 18 Mar 1954-30 Oct 1955 and 10 Dec 1955-8 Feb 1958. 4402 Tactical Training: 1 Jul 1966-20 Jan 1968. 4403 Tactical Training: 1 Jul 1966-20 Jan 1968. Squadrons. 2 Liaison: 22 Jul 1952-18 Jun 1954. 9 Tactical Reconnaissance, Electronics and Weather (later, 9 Tactical Reconnaissance, Photographic; 9 Tactical Reconnaissance): 8 Feb 1958-1 Jul 1966; 1 Feb 1967-1 Sep 1969 (not operational, 1 Feb 1967-1 Sep 1969). 10 Fighter-Interceptor: attached 11 Sep-19 Oct 1950. 16 Tactical Reconnaissance (later, 16 Tactical Reconnaissance Training; 16 Tactical Reconnaissance) 8 Feb 1958-27 Oct 1965; 15 Feb 1971-15 Dec 1989. 17 Tactical Fighter (later, Fighter): 1 Jul 1982-1 May 1992. 18 Tactical Reconnaissance: 30 Jan 1970-30 Sep 1979 (detached 12-29 Apr 1977). 19 Tactical Reconnaissance (later, 19 Tactical Electronics Warfare): attached 20 Jul 1953-7 May 1954; assigned 1 Sep 1966-1 Feb 1967; 20 Jan-31 Dec 1968. 19 Tactical Fighter (later, 19 Fighter): 1 Apr 1982-1 May 1992. 20 Tactical Reconnaissance: attached 8 Apr-17 May 1959, assigned 18 May 1959-12 Nov 1965. 22 Tactical Reconnaissance: 15 Jul-15 Oct 1971. 29 Tactical Reconnaissance, Photographic (later, 29 Tactical Reconnaissance): attached 8 Apr-17 May 1959, assigned 18 May 1959-1 Jul 1966; 20 Jan 1968-24 Jan 1971. 31 Tactical Reconnaissance Training: 15 Oct 1969-18 Feb 1971. 33 Tactical Reconnaissance Training (later, 33 Tactical Fighter; 33 Fighter): 15 Oct 1969-1 Oct 1982; 1 Jan 1985-1 May 1992. 39 Tactical Reconnaissance Training (later, 39 Tactical Electronics Warfare Training): 15 Oct 1969-15 Mar 1974. 41 Tactical Reconnaissance: 8 Feb 1958-18 May 1959; 1 Oct-20 Nov 1965. 43 Tactical Reconnaissance: 8 Feb 1958-18 May 1959 (detached c. 1 Feb-7 Apr 1959). 62 Tactical Reconnaissance: 15 Oct 1971-1 Jul 1982 (detached 5-24 Mar 1976). 72 Liaison: attached 9 Mar-1 Apr 1949. 165 Tactical Reconnaissance: attached 25 Mar-3 May 1968. 4414 Combat Crew Training: 20 Jan 1968-15 Oct 1969. 4415 Combat Crew Training: 1 Feb 1967-15 Oct 1969. 4416 Test: 1 Jul 1966-1 Jul 1967. 4417 Combat Crew Training: 1 Jul 1966-1 Feb 1967; 20 Jan 1968-15 Oct 1969. 4426 Reconnaissance Crew Training: attached 9 Jan-1 Jun 1952. Flights. 2 Liaison: attached 1 Sep 1950-2 Feb 1951. 4415 Liaison: attached c. 16 Nov 1948-20 Apr 1949.
Stations. Langley Fld (later AFB), VA, 15 Aug 1947-26 Apr 1949. Langley AFB, VA, 1 Sep 1950; Shaw AFB, SC, 2 Apr 1951-31 Dec 1993 (deployed at Langley AFB, VA, 1 Jun-1 Oct 1959; MacDill AFB, FL, 21 Oct-30 Nov 1962). Al Kharj, Saudi Arabia, 1 Dec 1998-25 Aug 2003. Al Dhafra, United Arab Emirates, 1 Jun 2007-1 Aug 2011. Joint Base Langley-Eustis, 17 Feb 2015-.
Commanders. Col Robert W. C. Wimsatt, 15 Aug 1947-26 Apr 1949. Col Willis F. Chapman, 1 Sep 1950; Lt Col Harvey J. Watkins, 12 Mar 1951; Lt Col Victor N. Cabas, 13 Mar 1951; Col John R. Dyas, c. 2 Apr-24 Apr 1951; none (not manned), 25 Apr-10 Oct 1951; Col John R. Dyas, 11 Oct 1951; Col Richard A. Knobloch, 14 Jul 1954; Col Gene H. Tibbets, 17 Jul 1954; Brig Gen Stephen B. Mack, 4 Jun 1955; Col Derwood K. Smith, 8 Feb 1958; Col Thomas D. Brown, 25 Aug 1958; Brig Gen Thomas R. Ford, 5 Jun 1959; Col John D. Bridges, 21 Jul 1959; Col Franklin A. Nichols, 15 Jun 1961; Col Arthur A. McCartan, 1 Sep 1961; Col Arthur D. Thomas, 19 Aug 1963; Col Victor N. Cabas, 25 Jun 1965; Col Leslie J. Westburg, 5 Aug 1967; Col Allan T. Sampson, 23 Jun 1968; Brig Gen Kendall S. Young, 15 Jul 1968; Col Erwin A. Hesse, 14 Jun 1969; Col Richard B. Collins, 16 May 1970; Col Philip V. Howell Jr., 10 Jun 1971; Col Mark A. Welsh Jr., 26 Jun 1972; Col William J. Bally Jr., 25 Oct 1972; Col Rolland G. Hull, 2 Aug 1974; Col Albert G. Rogers, 29 Mar 1976; Col Paul A. Henkel, 12 Aug 1977; Col Cecil W. Powell, 23 Jan 1980; Col Richard E. Carr, 15 Jan 1982; Col Bruce J. Lotzbire, 18 Jun 1984; Col Russell M. Lanning, 6 Jun 1986; Col Jay C. Callaway Jr., 24 Nov 1986; Col Ralph E. Eberhart, 19 Sep 1988; Col Raymond P. Huot, 16 Oct 1990; Brig Gen John B. Hall Jr., 20 Apr 1992-31 Dec 1993. Brig Gen Dennis R. Larson, 1 Dec 1998; Brig Gen Charles N. Simpson, 30 Jun 1999; Brig Gen Allen G. Peck, 2 Jul 2000; Brig Gen Gilmary H. Hostage III, 1 Aug 2001; Brig Gen Dale Waters, 15 Jul 2002; Col James E. Moschgat, 10 Jul-25 Aug 2003. Col Michael G. Cosby, 1 Jun 2007; Col Jonathan M. Owens, 12 Aug 2009; Col Robert C. Swaringen II, 21 Jul-1 Aug 2011. Col Michael S. Stevenson, 17 Feb 2015; Col Jonathan C. Rice IV, 7 Jul 2017; Col Patrick J. Sutherland (interim), 29 Mar 2019; Col Melissa A. Stone, 30 May 2019-.
Aircraft. Primarily FB (later RF)-80 and FA (later RB)-26, 1947-1949, but also included F-6, 1948 and H-5 and L-5, 1949. B-26, 1950-1951, 1951-1952; B-45, 1950-1951; RB-26, 1950-1951; RB-26, 1951, 1951-1957; L-13, 1951-1954; L-20, 1951-1954; RF-80, 1951, 1951-1955; T-33, 1951-1955; F-84, 1951; B-25, 1952-1954; RB-45, 1954; RB-57, 1954-1956; RF-84, 1954-1958; RT-33, 1955-1956; WT-33, 1955-1956; TB-25, 1956-1958; RB-66, 1956-1969; WB-66, 1957-1964, 1968-1969; RF-101, 1957-1958, 1959-1971; TF-101, 1966-1969; RF-4, 1965-1989; EB-66, 1966-1974; B-57, 1966-1976; F-16, 1982-1993; OA-10, 1992-1993. E-3, 1998-2003; KC-10, 1998-2003; F-15, 1998-2003; F-16, 1998-2003; C-21, 1998-2003; C-130, 1998-2001; KC-135, 1998-2003; RC-135, 1998-2003; U-2, 1998-2003; UH-60, 1998-2003; E-6, 2001-2003.
Operations. Day and night photographic and visual reconnaissance, 1947-1949. In addition to tactical electronic and photographic reconnaissance, Sep 1950-Apr 1951, controlled light bombardment and provided replacement training for B-26 crew members. Wing headquarters not operational, 25 Apr-10 Oct 1951. During this period all members of the headquarters were integrated into the Tactical Air Division Provisional, and wing components were attached to the division for control. Regained wing integrity on 11 Oct 1951. In addition to tactical reconnaissance, Oct 1951-1989, provided electronic and weather reconnaissance from Nov 1953-Mar 1974, dropping the weather mission in Dec 1964. Provided combat crew training for reconnaissance aircrews, Oct 1951-Dec 1954 and Apr 1956-Apr 1959. Deployed aircraft and aircrews in small detachments, or as part of composite squadrons, to support reconnaissance requirements in overseas areas. Played an important reconnaissance role during the Cuban Missile Crisis of 1962, earning an Air Force Outstanding Unit Award (AFOUA) as a result, the decoration being personally presented by President John F. Kennedy. Played a major reconnaissance role during the Dominican Republic Crisis of 1965-1966. Supported operations in Southeast Asia in the 1960s and early 1970s by deploying numerous detachments and transferring several highly trained squadrons to that area. Also provided replacement training of tactical reconnaissance and electronics warfare crews, and combat crew training, Jan 1966-1974. Flew numerous test projects for the Tactical Air Reconnaissance Center, 1966-1967 and again in 1970-1971. Deployed a detachment of EB-66s to the Far East during the Pueblo crisis of 1968. In Mar 1974, the wing ceased training and employing electronic warfare forces, but it continued to train for and perform tactical reconnaissance missions, including aerial photography for various federal agencies. While continuing to operate Shaw AFB, in 1982 the wing began to train for and perform fighter missions in addition to tactical reconnaissance, becoming the Tactical Air Command’s only wing with such a dual role. In 1989, the wing gave up its reconnaissance responsibilities but continued to train for fighter missions. Between Aug 1990 and Mar 1991, the wing deployed most of its aircraft and personnel to southwestern Asia, where they participated in Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm. In December 1992, a member of one of the wing’s squadrons (33 FS) earned the first USAF aerial victory credit ever scored by an F-16 pilot. The wing inactivated at the end of 1993. Conducted combat operations in support of Operations Southern Watch and Enduring Freedom, 1998-2003. Between 2007 and 2011, the 363 Flying Training Group built partnership and tactical capabilities, and improved interoperability to facilitate integrated air operations and missile defense among regional partners in the Persian Gulf area. Since 2015, the 363 Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance Wing served as the USAF’s premier source for special operations intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR); full spectrum targeting and analysis, and ISR testing, tactics development, and advanced training.
Service Streamers. Global War on Terrorism-Service (GWOT-S).
Campaign Streamers. Southwest Asia: Defense of Saudi Arabia; Liberation and Defense of Kuwait. Global War on Terrorism: GWOT-E.
Armed Forces Expeditionary Streamers. None.
Decorations. Meritorious Unit Awards: 1 Jun 2015-31 May 2016; 1 Jun 2016-31 May 2017; 1 Jun 2017-31 May 2018. Air Force Outstanding Unit Awards with Combat “V” Device: 8 Aug 1990-28 Feb 1991; 1 Jun 1999-31 May 2001; 1 Jun 2001-31 May 2002; 1 Jun 2002-31 May 2003. Air Force Outstanding Unit Awards: 23 Oct-24 Nov 1962; 10-15 Feb 1973; 1 Jul 1974-1 Jul 1976; 2 Jul 1976-30 Jun 1978; 1 Oct 1981-1 Jun 1983; 1 Jan 1988-30 Dec 1989; 1 Jan 1992-31 Dec 1993; [1 Dec 1998]-31 May 1999; 1 Jan 2008-31 May 2009.
Bestowed Honors. Authorized to display honors earned by the 363 Reconnaissance Group prior to 15 Aug 1947. Service Streamers. None. Campaign Streamers. World War II: Air Offensive, Europe; Normandy; Northern France; Rhineland; Ardennes-Alsace; Central Europe; Air Combat, EAME Theater. Decorations. Cited in the Order of the Day, Belgian Army: 1 Oct-17 Dec 1944; 18 Dec 1944-15 Jan 1945. Belgian Fourragere.
Statement Prepared on 30 May 2019.
Supersedes statement prepared on 17 Jun 2016.
Emblem. Approved on 16 Jun 1952, scroll modified on 19 May 2010.
Prepared by Daniel L. Haulman.