67th Cyberspace Operations Group explained

Unit Name:67th Cyberspace Operations Group
Dates:1941–1946; 1947–1949; 1951–1957; 1993–present
Role:Information Operations
Command Structure:Air Combat Command
Garrison:Kelly Field Annex
Motto:Lux Ex Tenebris Latin Light from Darkness[1]
Battles:European Theater of Operations
Korean War
Decorations:Distinguished Unit Citation
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with Combat "V" Device
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award
Belgian Fourragère
Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation

The 67th Cyberspace Operations Group is a unit of the 67th Cyberspace Wing. Headquartered on Kelly Field Annex's Security Hill, the group is an Air Force information operations unit.

The group was first organized during World War II as the 67th Observation Group and saw combat with Eighth and Ninth Air Forces in the European Theater of Operations. It was deployed for 36 months overseas and 18 months of combat action. The group performed tactical reconnaissance during the D-Day invasion of Europe and the campaign against Germany. For its World War II operations, the group earned the Distinguished Unit Citation, two foreign decorations, and the Belgian Fourragère.

Mission

The 67th COG is the principal Air Force group conducting Offensive Cyber Operations (OCO) to "Engage the Enemy." Provides forces to conduct Air Force computer network operations for United States Strategic Command, United States Cyber Command and other combatant commands. The group conducts computer network operations and warfare planning for the Air Force, joint task forces and combatant commanders. The group also conducts Secretary of Defense-directed special network warfare missions.[2]

History

For related history, see 67th Cyberspace Wing

World War II

Flew antisubmarine patrols along the east coast of the US after the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor. Began training in January 1942 for duty overseas. Operational squadrons were the 12th, 107th, 109th, and 153d Observation Squadrons.

Moved to the European theater, August–October 1942. Assigned first to Eighth and later (October 1943) to Ninth Air Force. At RAF Membury, the group received well-used Supermarine Spitfire Vs and early Douglas A-20 Havoc and Boston aircraft from the RAF plus a few L-4B Grasshopper observation aircraft to train with until their Lockheed F-5/P-38 Lightning aircraft arrived from the United States. The 67th Group operated as the nucleus of the USAAF tactical reconnaissance organization in the UK, a task acknowledged by the redesignation as such soon after the Membury units were transferred to the Ninth Air Force in October 1943. At the time of the transfer to Ninth Air Force, the group was redesignated the 67th Reconnaissance Group.

At the time, the 107th and 109th Squadrons were converting to North American P-51 Mustangs. However, before this was completed, the 107th Squadron was moved to RAF Aldermaston and the 109th to RAF Middle Wallop so that their reconnaissance photographs and visual intelligence would be quickly available to IX Troop Carrier Command and IX Fighter Command Headquarters based there.

The group received a DUC for operations along the coast of France, 15 February – 20 March 1944, when the group flew at low altitude in the face of intense flak to obtain photographs that aided the invasion of the Continent. Flew weather missions, made visual reconnaissance for ground forces, and photographed enemy positions to support the Normandy campaign and later to assist First Army and other Allied forces in the drive to Germany. Took part in the offensive against the Siegfried Line, September–December 1944, and in the Battle of the Bulge, December 1944 – January 1945. From January to May 1945, photographed dams on the Roer River in preparation for the ground offensive to cross the river, and aided the Allied assault across the Rhine and into Germany.

Returned to the US, July–September 1945. Inactivated on 31 March 1946.

Postwar era

The group was activated as part of a service-wide, wing-base test on 19 May 1947 by Tactical Air Command. Assigned to Ninth Air Force. Formed at Shaw Field, South Carolina and equipped with RB-26's and RF-80's. Moved to Langley AFB Virginia, as photo-reconnaissance organization. Reassigned to Twelfth Air Force and moved to March AFB, California. Budget constraints, though, resulted in the wing's inactivation on 28 March 1949.

Korean War

The need for tactical reconnaissance resources became obvious when North Korea launched a surprise attack against the Republic of Korea in June 1950. In February 1951, Headquarters Far East Air Forces activated the 67th Tactical Reconnaissance Group at Komaki Air Base, Japan replacing the inactivated 543rd Tactical Support Group.

Used RB-26, RF-80, RF-86, and RF-84 aircraft. Made photographic reconnaissance of front lines, enemy positions, and installations; took pre-strike and bomb-damage assessment photographs; made visual reconnaissance of enemy artillery and naval gun positions; and flew weather missions. Received an AFOUA for the period 1 December 1952 – 30 April 1953 when, in the face of enemy opposition and adverse weather, the group performed reconnaissance missions on a 24-hour-a-day, 7-day-a¬week basis to provide valuable intelligence for UN forces.

After the Korean armistice, reassigned to Japan in December 1954. Performed various reconnaissance as needed. Inactivated on 1 October 1957 when parent wing adopted Tri-Deputate organization and assigned all flying components directly to wing.

Cyberspace operations

Reactivated October 1991 when parent wing implemented Objective Wing organization. Ended flying operations in August 1992. Between 1993 and 2000, mission included directing planning of all-source intelligence, electronic combat, and security support for the Air Intelligence Agency. Since 2000, collected and analyzed intelligence and provided it to war-fighters, national decision-makers, and the test and acquisition community.

Lineage

Activated on 1 September 1941

Redesignated 67th Reconnaissance Group in May 1943

Redesignated 67th Tactical Reconnaissance Group in November 1943

Redesignated 67th Reconnaissance Group on 15 June 1945

Inactivated on 31 March 1946

Redesignated 67th Tactical Reconnaissance Group on 22 August 1948

Inactivated on 28 March 1949

Inactivated on 1 October 1957

Redesignated 67th Information Operations Group on 1 August 2000

Redesignated 67th Network Warfare Group on 5 July 2006

Redesignated 67th Cyberspace Operations Group on 1 October 2013[1]

Assignments

Stations

Components

Aircraft

See also

References

Notes
Citations

Bibliography

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Factsheet 67 Cyberspace Operations Group (AFSPC). Lacoma. John. 10 July 2017. Air Force Historical Research Agency. 25 July 2017.
  2. Web site: Twenty-Fourth Air Force Units: 67th Cyberspace Wing. Twenty-Fourth Air Force Public Affairs. 9 June 2016.
  3. Lacoma lists these as separate units. But see Maurer, Combat Units, p. 448 (IX Air Support Command redesignated IX Tactical Air Command in April 1944).
  4. Station number in Anderson.
  5. Station number in Johnson.
  6. Web site: Factsheet 11 Attack Squadron (ACC). Dollman. TSG Davis. 16 October 2016. Air Force Historical Research Agency. 25 July 2017.
  7. Web site: Factsheet 12 Reconnaissance Squadron (ACC). Bailey. Carl E.. 10 April 2017. Air Force Historical Research Agency. 25 July 2017.
  8. Not related to the next unit, this squadron was originally the 15th Observation Squadron. Maurer, Combat Squadrons, pp. 85-87.
  9. Web site: Factsheet 15 Attack Squadron (ACC). Dollman. TSG David. 18 October 2016. Air Force Historical Research Agency. 25 July 2017.
  10. Not related to the previous unit, this squadron was originally the 15th Photographic Mapping Squadron. Maurer, Combat Squadrons, pp. 84-85.
  11. Web site: Factsheet 24 Intelligence Squadron (ACC). Bailey. Carl E.. 6 April 2017. Air Force Historical Research Agency. 1 May 2017.
  12. Maurer, Combat Squadrons, pp. 343-344
  13. Web site: Factsheet 45 Reconnaissance Squadron (ACC) . Robertson . Patsy . 6 May 2013 . Air Force Historical Research Agency . 24 July 2017.
  14. Web site: Factsheet 352 Cyberspace Operations Squadron (AFSPC). Haulman. Daniel L.. 24 July 2015. Air Force Historical Research Agency. 25 July 2017.
  15. Component information in Lacoma, Factsheet 67th Cyberspace Operations Group, except as noted.

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