497th Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Group

Mission

The 497th ISR Group delivers real-time high-confidence intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance products and services to Joint and Coalition forces and other designated government agencies.

The Group consists of four active duty Squadrons, the 497th Operations Support Squadron, the 45th Intelligence Squadron, the 30th Intelligence Squadron and 10th Intelligence Squadron, one Air National Guard unit, the 192nd Intelligence Squadron (VA ANG), and a new classic Air Reserve unit, the 718th Intelligence Squadron, stood up to support the total force integration of the Wing and combat ISR operations.

History

The unit was activated at Wiesbaden Air Base, West Germany in 1951 by USAFE General Order 29. Its mission was to support the tactical targeting program in Europe by furnishing photographic support such as overlays, aerial photography and photo interpretation. Remaining in Wiesbaden throughout the Cold War, the 497th increased in size and responsibility to USAFE Intelligence. It was moved from its facilities at Wiesbaden in July 1991 to RAF Molesworth, England where it was used as the basis for the formation of the current US European Command Joint Intelligent Center before being inactivated in 1992.

Reactivated in 1993 at Bolling AFB, DC, the unit has provided intelligence information in direct support of combat operations to Senior Air Force leaders, key Coalition partners and combatant commanders worldwide. Capabilities within the Group include global command and control for the collection and processing, exploitation, and dissemination of ISR data from the U-2 Dragon Lady, RQ-4 Global Hawk, MQ-1 Predator and MQ-9 Reaper, in addition to numerous other ISR platforms, utilizing the Air Force Distributed Common Ground System weapon system.

Additionally, the Group conducts real-time cryptologic and signals intelligence operations in direct support of combat operations and combatant commanders worldwide.

Lineage

Established as 497th Reconnaissance Technical Squadron, and activated on 3 May 1951

Re-designated: 497th Reconnaissance Technical Group, 22 August 1967 Organized on 1 October 1967 Inactivated on 1 July 1992

Re-designated 497th Intelligence Group, and activated, on 1 October 1993

Re-designated 497th Information Operations Group on 1 August 2000 Inactivated on 1 February 2001

Re-designated 497th Intelligence Group on 23 October 2003

Activated on 1 December 2003. Re-designated 497th Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Group, 1 January 2009

Assignments

Twelfth Air Force, 3 May 1951

Attached to: 60th Troop Carrier Wing*, 3 May-2 June 1951

Ninth Air Force, 26 July 1951

Attached to: 20th Fighter-Bomber Wing*, 24 September 1951

United States Air Forces in Europe, 7 March 1952

Attached to: Twelfth Air Force, 7 March 1952-27 April 1953

7455th Tactical Intelligence Wing, 1 September 1985-1 July 1992

Air Intelligence Agency, 1 October 1993

National Air Intelligence Center, 31 Jan 2000-1 Feb 2001

480th Intelligence Wing, 1 December 2003

Re-designated: 480th Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Wing, 1 January 2009-Present

.* Attached for logistical and personnel support

Units

10th Intelligence Squadron

30th Intelligence Squadron

45th Intelligence Squadron

497th Operation Support Squadron

31st Intelligence Squadron

192d Intelligence Squadron (VA ANG)

718th Intelligence Squadron (AFRES)

496th Reconnaissance Technical Squadron, 15 July 1959-1961 (Vogelweigh, West Germany); 1 October 1982-1 July 1991, (RAF Alconbury, England)

Detachment 1, 497th Reconnaissance Technical Squadron, 1 June 1961- 1 June 1963, (RAF Brampton, England)

Detachment 1, 497th Reconnaissance Technical Group, 1 October 1982 (Ramstein AB, West Germany)

Re-designated: 495th Reconnaissance Technical Squadron, 1 September 1989-1 July 1992

Stations

Wiesbaden Air Base, West Germany, 3 May 1951

Shaw Air Force Base, South Carolina, 26 July 1951

Schierstein Kaserne, Wiesbaden, West Germany, 7 March 1952

Operating Location-A, Ramstein Air Base, West Germany, April 1979-July 1992 (to provide expanded imagery intelligence support to Headquarters, USAFE)

RAF Molesworth, England, 1 July 1991-1 July 1992

Bolling Air Force Base, DC, 1 October 1993-1 February 2001

Langley Air Force Base, Virginia, 1 December 2003

Renamed Joint Base Langley–Eustis, 1 October 2010-Present

Decorations

Air Force Outstanding Unit Award

Air Force Outstanding Unit Awards: 1 Oct – 31 Dec 1967; 1 Jan 1971 – 30 Jun 1972; 1 Jul 1973-30 Jun 1975; 1 Jul 1976 – 30 Jun 1978; 1 Jul 1978-30 Jun 1979; 1 Jul 1983 – 30 Jun 1985; 1 Jul 1986-30 Jun 1988; 1 Jul 1988 – 30 Jun 1990; 1 Jul 1990-30 Jun 1992; 1 Oct 1994 – 30 Sep 1996.