Unit Name: | 566th Intelligence Squadron |
Dates: | 1944–58; 1993–present |
Country: | United States |
Role: | Military intelligence |
Command Structure: | Air Combat Command |
Current Commander: | Lt Col Alma Hernandez |
Nickname: | Blue Train |
Garrison: | Buckley Space Force Base, Colorado |
Motto: | All Aboard |
Battles: | European Theater of Operations |
Decorations: | Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with Combat "V" Device Army Meritorious Unit Commendation Air Force Outstanding Unit Award[1] |
Identification Symbol Label: | 566th Intelligence Squadron emblem (approved 6 July 1999) |
The 566th Intelligence Squadron is a support unit to the Aerospace Data Facility in conjunction with the Buckley Garrison, Buckley Space Force Base, Colorado. The 566th is part of the 544th Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Group, headquartered at Buckley Space Force Base, Colorado.[2]
The squadron's mission is to provide the Aerospace Data Facility-Colorado with information and technical support in the performance of joint national system missions.[3]
The 566th Information Operations Squadron (IOS) began during World War II, when the 16th Photographic Technical Unit was activated on 5 November 1944, at Charleroi, Belgium. The 16th was a squadron to the 67th Tactical Reconnaissance Group and the 16th was assigned to several bases in Europe: Vogelsang, Limburg, and Eschwege, Germany, and France. After World War II, the unit moved to MacDill Field, Florida, where it was decommissioned on 21 December 1945. The 66th Reconnaissance Technical Squadron was Constituted on 15 November 1952 and Activated on 1 January 1953 at Shaw AFB. SC relocated to Shaw AFB, SC: 1 Jan–25 June 1953; Sembach AB, West Germany on 7 July 1953 and moved to Kaiserslautern, West Germany on 13 August 1953 till the unit was Inactivated on 8 February 1958. While the unit was inactive the 66th Reconnaissance Technical Squadron was Consolidated on 16 October 1984 and the New Unit was designated as the 16th Reconnaissance Technical Squadron.
The unit remained inactive until 7 September 1993, when the 16th Intelligence Squadron was activated at Buckley Air National Guard Base, Colorado. The unit was re-designated the 566th Operations Support Squadron (OSS) on 1 October 1995. Renamed later as the 566th Information Operations Squadron (IOS) on 1 August 2000, this unit aided Buckley in its transition from an Air National Guard base to an active duty Air Force base.
Inactivated on 21 December 1945
Activated on 1 January 1953
Inactivated on 8 February 1958
Activated on 7 September 1993
Redesignated 566th Operations Support Squadron on 1 October 1995
Redesignated 566th Information Operations Squadron on 1 August 2000
Redesignated 566th Intelligence Squadron on 1 April 2007[1]