6th Air Intelligence Squadron

History

During World War II, the group operated primarily in the Southwest Pacific Theater and used F-5's and F-7's to photograph Japanese airfields, harbors, beach defenses, and personnel areas in New Guinea, the Bismarcks, Borneo, and the southern Philippines. It reconnoitered target areas and enemy troop positions to provide intelligence for air force and army units. TIn 1944, the group was awarded the Distinguished Unit Citation and the Philippine Presidential Unit Citation for carrying out one of the most important and difficult assignments ever given to a photographic unit: to obtain 80,000 prints of Japanese defenses in the Philippines in eight days. The group's F-5s and F-7s risked enemy interception and braved severe tropical weather to complete their mission all without fighter escort. The action proved critical to the successful amphibious assault of the Philippines.

After moving to the Philippines in November 1944, flew missions to Formosa and China, engaged in mapping parts of Luzon and Mindanao], and provided intelligence for US ground forces concerning Japanese movements. The unit then moved to Okinawa until the war ended, and finally to mainland Japan, where it was inactivated on 27 April 1946.

On 1 October 1981, the unit was reactivated as the 6th Tactical Intelligence Group at Osan Air Base, Republic of Korea. It was tasked to provide substantive Intelligence support to U.S. and Combined Forces Combat (CFC). The 6 TIG thus brought together Intelligence collection, analysis, targeting, production, and dissemination assets assigned to the 314th Air Division of Fifth Air Force and the Korean Tactical Air Control System. In February 1992, the group became part of the 51st Fighter Wing. In 1992 The group became a squadron and was transferred to the 5th Air Control Group. Later that same year the 6th Air Intelligence Squadron fell under operational control of Seventh Air Force when it replaced the 314th Air Division as the United States Air Force headquarters for Korea.

Lineage

Constituted as 6th Photographic Group on 5 February 1943

Activated on 9 February 1943 Redesignated: 6th Photographic Reconnaissance and Mapping Group in May 1943 Redesignated: 6th Photographic Reconnaissance Group in August 1943 Redesignated: 6th Reconnaissance Group in May 1945 Inactivated on 27 April 1946 Disbanded on 6 March 1947 Reconstituted 31 August 1981 and redesignated 6th Tactical Intelligence Group

Activated on 1 October 1981

Redesignated 6th Air Intelligence Squadron on 7 February 1992 Inactivated on 1 October 1993

Assignments

Second Air Force, 9 February–September 1943

V Bomber Command, 10 October 1943

5212th Reconnaissance Wing (Provisional), 1 March 1944

91st Reconnaissance Wing, 12 April 1944

Fifth Air Force, 10 November 1945 – 27 April 1946

314th Air Division, 1 October 1991

Seventh Air Force, 1 September 1986

5th Air Control Group, 7 February 1992 - 1 October 1993

Stations

Headquarters and Ground Echelon:

(Air Echelon deployed at stations throughout Southwest Pacific)

Units assigned

8th Reconnaissance Squadron: 13 November 1943 – 27 April 1946

Attached to: V Bomber Command, 10 December 1945 – 27 April 1946

20th Reconnaissance Squadron: 17 June-5 December 1943 (attached); 5 December 1943 – 10 November 1945

25th Reconnaissance Squadron: 9 February 1943 – 27 April 1946

Detached to: V Fighter Command, 10 February 1946

26th Reconnaissance Squadron: 9 February 1943—21 November 1945

Detached to: 308th Bombardment Wing, 22 October-21 November 1945

27th Reconnaissance Squadron: 9 February-9 October 1943

36th Reconnaissance Squadron: 23 December 1944 – 20 October 1945