Mission
The 363rd ISR Wing, headquartered at Joint Base Langley-Eustis, Virginia, is the only wing of its kind across the Air Force. The wing conducts lethal, resilient and ready operations across four key mission areas: analysis of air, space and cyber operations; full-spectrum targeting; special operations ISR; and ISR testing, tactics development and advanced training. The wing's dynamically adaptive, problem-centric and audaciously innovative approach provides lethal capabilities and unmatched value for our nation.
Organization
The wing is comprised of three groups, and various global locations.
361st ISR Group; Hurlburt Field, Florida
Mission: Win Today’s Conflicts & Prevail in Tomorrow’s– We will create a trusted and agile workforce. Employing fully trained, properly equipped and highly motivated Air Commandos to meet the mission. We will cherish our history and traditions, but value new approaches.
People: Develop and Care for Air Commandos and Their Families – We will train warriors with the ethos, skills and leadership to excel in joint special operations and as wingmen; create future Air Force and joint leaders; forge strong and supportive families; and foster the Air Commando culture.
Capabilities: Acquisition Agility--“Out-think, Out maneuver, Out –innovate” – We will create a workforce that moves easily within, to and from operational environments. We will invest in mission enabling technologies and resources, effectively manage our operations budgets, and take care of our mission essential equipment. Flexible, secure acquisition processes that delivers innovative integrated capabilities, data and expertise at mission pace.
• Operating Location A
• Operating Location B, Fort Bragg, North Carolina
• Operating Location D, Will Rodgers ANG Base, Oklahoma
• Operating Location E, Greenville City, Texas
• Operating Location F, Denver City, Colorado
• 25th Intelligence Squadron
• 43rd Intelligence Squadron, Cannon AFB, New Mexico
• 306th Intelligence Squadron, Will Rodgers ANG Base
363rd ISR Group; Joint Base-Langley-Eustis
Mission: The 363rd Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR) Group, headquartered at Langley Air Force Base, Virginia, is the Air Force lead in delivering expert cross-domain kinetic and non-kinetic targeting solutions for Air Component Commanders worldwide and serves as the Air Force's center of expertise for precision targeting, weaponeering, collateral damage, and battle damage assessment training, tools, and tactics.
• 17th Intelligence Squadron
• 20th Intelligence Squadron, Offutt AFB, Nebraska
• 36th Intelligence Squadron
• 363rd Intelligence Support Squadron
365th ISR Group; Nellis AFB, Nevada
Mission: The 365th Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR) Group, headquartered at Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada. The wing is the Air Force lead in delivering expert analysis of adversary weapons and tactics for the mission areas of air and air defense, cruise and ballistic missiles, and space and ISR capabilities for the purpose of Intelligence Preparation of the Operational Environment and high fidelity United States Air Force training and tactics development.
• 15th Intelligence Squadron, Langley AFB, Virginia
• 51st Intelligence Squadron, Shaw AFB, South Carolina
• 57th Intelligence Squadron, Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, Texas
• 526th Intelligence Squadron
• 547th Intelligence Squadron
History
The 363rd Reconnaissance Wing activated Aug. 15, 1947; the first Air Force wing at Langley Field, Virginia. Responsible for day and night photographic, visual, and tactical electronic reconnaissance, the wing’s squadrons maintained and flew RF-80 and RB-26 aircraft.
In 1948, the wing’s designation changed to emphasize its tactical focus. The Korean War brought an additional mission to the wing: from September 1950 through early April 1951, the wing provided replacement crews to B‑26 squadrons flying combat operations over Korea. On April 2, 1951, the 363rd Tactical Reconnaissance Wing transferred to Shaw AFB, South Carolina, where the wing would remain for more than 40 years.
From the mid-1950s through the mid-1970s, the wing served as the Air Force’s source for combat ready RF-101, RB/EB/WB-66, and RF-4 reconnaissance crews. In 1957, wing pilots flew their RF-101s into the records books setting three speed records in Operation Sun Run. Additionally, the wing deployed its own aircraft, aircrews, and intelligence Airmen for reconnaissance operations worldwide, most notably during the Cuban Missile Crisis (for which President John F. Kennedy personally presented the wing with an Air Force Outstanding Unit Award), the Dominican Republic Crisis, the war in Southeast Asia, and in the wake of North Korea’s seizure of the USS Pueblo. The wing ceased its electronic reconnaissance and electronic warfare missions in 1974, but remained focused on tactical reconnaissance.
In 1982, the 363d, now a Tactical Fighter Wing, added the F-16 to its arsenal. With its venerable RF-4 and newly fielded F-16, the wing became the only wing in Tactical Air Command with a dual fighter-reconnaissance role. In 1989, the wing transitioned to a fighter mission when it transferred its last RF‑4 aircraft to other units.
From August 1990 to March 1991, the wing deployed most of its Airmen and aircraft to Southwest Asia to participate in Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm. One of the wing’s pilots who saw his first combat action on Day 1 of Desert Storm was our current Chief of Staff, General David L. Goldfein. Following the end of Desert Storm, the wing continued to deploy its units to Southwest Asia on a rotational basis. During one such deployment in December 1992, one of the wing’s squadron commanders, Lt. Col. (later General) Gary L. North, downed an Iraqi MiG-25 over the southern no-fly zone. This aerial victory constituted the first by a U.S. Air Force F-16 pilot, the first U.S. Air Force F‑16 beyond-visual-range kill, and the first kill achieved with an AIM-120 AMRAAM.
On Jan. 1, 1994, as part of the Air Force’s post-Cold War draw down and reorganization, the Air Force inactivated the 363rd Fighter Wing and transferred the 20th Fighter Wing to Shaw AFB to serve as the host unit for the base.
The wing remained inactive until 1998 when it was re-designated and activated as the 363rd Air Expeditionary Wing at Al Kharj (later Prince Sultan Air Base), Saudi Arabia. The 363rd was among the first of several wings to be converted from permanent to provisional status and activated in an effort to perpetuate and add to the heritage of historic Air Force organizations. Replacing the inactivated 4404th Wing (Provisional) that had relocated from King Abdul Aziz Air Base after the Khobar Towers bombing, the 363rd conducted combat operations for Operations Southern Watch and Enduring Freedom. The 363rd inactivated in August 2003 when the Air Force withdrew its major operating units from Saudi Arabia.
In 2007, the 363rd activated again in Southwest Asia, this time as the 363rd Flying Training Group based at Al Dhafra Air Base, United Arab Emirates. Assuming the mission formerly performed by the Gulf Air Warfare Center, the 363rd Flying Training Group built partnerships, tactical capabilities, and improved interoperability to facilitate integrated air operations and missile defense. The Flying Training Group inactivated in August 2011.
Almost 70 years after its first activation, the 363rd returned to Langley. On Feb. 17, 2015, as part of a major transformation of its intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance forces, the Air Force activated the 363rd Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance Wing at Joint Base Langley-Eustis, Virginia.