Lineage. Constituted as 8 Photographic Reconnaissance Group on 15 Sep 1943. Activated on 1 Oct 1943. Redesignated as: 8 Photographic Group, Reconnaissance on 9 Oct 1943; 8 Reconnaissance Group on 15 Jun 1945. Inactivated on 5 Nov 1945. Disbanded on 6 Mar 1947. Reconstituted, and redesignated as 318 Electronic Warfare Group, on 31 Jul 1985. Redesignated as 318 Information Operations Group on 17 Jul 2000. Activated on 1 Aug 2000. Redesignated as 318 Cyberspace Operations Group on 13 Sep 2013.
Assignments. III Reconnaissance Command, 1 Oct 1943; 89 Reconnaissance Training Wing, 27 Oct 1943; Tenth Air Force, c. 31 Mar 1944; Army Air Forces (AAF), India-Burma Sector, China-Burma-India Theater (later, AAF, India-Burma Theater), 18 Jul 1944; Army Service Forces, c. 8 Oct-5 Nov 1945. Air Force Information Warfare Center, 1 Aug 2000; 688 Information Operations (later, 688 Cyberspace) Wing, 18 Aug 2009; 67 Cyberspace Wing, 4 Jun 2018-.
Operational Components. Squadrons. 9 Photographic Reconnaissance: 25 Apr 1944-Oct 1945. 20 Tactical Reconnaissance: 25 Apr 1944-Oct 1945. 24 Combat Mapping: 25 Apr 1944-Sep 1945. 40 Photographic Reconnaissance: 18 Jul 1944-Nov 1945.
Stations. Peterson AAFld, CO, 1 Oct 1943; Gainesville AAFld, TX, 26 Oct 1943-12 Feb 1944; Worli, India, c. 31 Mar 1944; Bally Seaplane Base, India, c. 15 Apr 1944-7 Oct 1945; Camp Kilmer, NJ, 3-5 Nov 1945. Kelly AFB (later Kelly Fld Annex, Lackland AFB; Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland), TX, 1 Aug 2000-.
Commanders. Lt Col Paul A. Zartman, 1 Oct 1943; Col Charles P. Hollstein, 12 Dec 1943; Col James W. Anderson Jr., 24 Jan 1945; Lt Col John R. Gee, Oct-c. 5 Nov 1945.
Aircraft. P-40, 1943-1945; F-5, F-7, 1944-1945; F-6, 1945.
Operations. Trained to provide photographic intelligence for air and ground forces. Moved to India, Feb-Mar 1944. Equipped with F-5, F-6, F-7, and P-40 aircraft which operated from various bases in India, Burma, and China. In addition to operational flying units, group consisted of a variety of components which performed combat camera, combat mapping, engineer topographic; and photo lab, intelligence, and technical functions. Group comprised the American portion of a combined AAF-Royal Air Force organization, the Photo Reconnaissance Force. Conducted photographic-reconnaissance, photographic-mapping, and visual- reconnaissance sorties. Produced maps, mosaics, terrain models, and target charts of areas in Burma, China, French Indochina, and Thailand. Also bombed and strafed enemy installations and provided escort for bombardment units. Returned to United States, Oct-Nov 1945, and inactivated on 5 Nov 1945.
Service Streamers. None.
Campaign Streamers. World War II: India-Burma; China Defensive; Central Burma.
Armed Forces Expeditionary Streamers. None.
Decorations. Air Force Outstanding Unit Awards: 1 Aug 2000-31 May 2002; 1 Jun 2006-31 May 2008; 1 Jun 2008-31 May 2009; 18 Aug 2009-1 Oct 2010; 2 Oct 2010-30 Sep 2011; 1 Oct 2013-30 Sep 2014; 1 Oct 2014-30 Sep 2015; 1 Jan 2016-31 Dec 2017; 17 Jul 2018-31 May 2019. Air Force Organizational Excellence Award: 1 Jun 2003-31 May 2004.
Lineage, Assignments, Stations, and Honors through 17 Mar 2021.
Commanders, Components, Aircraft, and Operations through Nov 1945.
Supersedes statement prepared in May 2015.
Emblem. Approved on 1 Aug 2011; latest rendering, 22 Oct 2013.
Prepared by Margaret Ream.