53d Electronic Warfare Group

53d Electronic Warfare Group
Emblem of the 53d Electronic Warfare Group
Active	1941–1944; 1951–1982; 1993—present
Country	United States
Branch	United States Air Force

The 53d Electronic Warfare Group (53 EWG) is a component unit of the United States Air Force 53d Wing, stationed at Eglin Air Force Base, Florida.

The 53 EWG is a non-flying unit responsible for providing operational, technical and maintenance electronic warfare expertise for the CAF and for systems engineering, testing, evaluation, tactics development, employment, capability and technology assessment. This includes the wartime responsibility for emergency reprogramming and dissemination of EW system mission data software for CAF aircraft. The group manages the Combat Shield Electronic Warfare Assessment Program for CAF aircraft EW systems. Combat Shield provides operational units a system-specific capability assessment for their radar warning receivers, electronic attack pods, and integrated EW systems.

Established in 1941, the unit traces its lineage and heritage the 68th Strategic Reconnaissance Group; the 68th Air Refueling Group; the 68th Bombardment Wing, Heavy, and the 68th Electronic Combat Group

Units

• 16th Electronic Warfare Squadron
• Det. 1, 16th Electronic Warfare Squadron
• 36th Electronic Warfare Squadron
• 68th Electronic Warfare Squadron
• 453d Electronic Warfare Squadron
• 513th Electronic Warfare Squadron
• Det. 1, 53d Electronic Warfare Group

History

World War II

Emblem of the 68th Strategic Reconnaissance Group

Established as the 68th Observation Group in 1941 at Brownwood, Texas, on 1 September 1941. Its primary mission was observation aircraft training and antisubmarine patrols. The group moved to several different U.S. locations in preparation for overseas deployment in 1942.

Moved to the Mediterranean Theater of Operations (MTO), October–November 1942, and assigned to Twelfth Air Force. Shortly after the group began operations most of its squadrons were detached for separate duty in order to carry out diverse activities over a wide area. Operating from bases in North Africa until November 1943, the group, or elements of the group, engaged in patrolling the Mediterranean; strafing trucks, tanks, gun positions, and supply dumps to support ground troops in Tunisia; training fighter pilots and replacement crews; and flying photographic and visual reconnaissance missions in Tunisia, Sicily, and Italy to provide information needed to adjust artillery fire.

Moved to Italy and assigned to Fifteenth Air Force, in November 1943. Continued visual and photographic reconnaissance and began flying weather reconnaissance missions in Italy, France, Germany, Austria, Hungary, and the Balkans. Also engaged in electronic-countermeasure activities, investigating radar equipment captured from the enemy, flying ferret missions along the coasts of Italy and southern France, and accompanying bomber formations to detect approaching enemy fighters. Inactivated in 1944,

Strategic Air Command

Strategic reconnaissance

The unit trained in the Reserve as the 68th Reconnaissance Group at Hamilton Field, California between, 1947–1949, when it was inactivated as a result of budget reductions.

The 68th Strategic Reconnaissance Wing was established by Strategic Air Command on 4 October 1951, with an initial cadre of 16 people from 44th Bombardment Wing. The group was assigned as a subordinate unit to the new wing at Lake Charles AFB, Louisiana. Assigned to Second Air Force, the organization was a paper unit, with token personnel assigned on additional duty to keep it active and with its flying squadrons controlled by the wing.

It was not until May 1952 that the unit received RB-29 Superfortress aircraft. Its primary mission was gathering intelligence on the Soviet Union. It added a KC-97 refueling mission in November 1953.

Strategic bombardment

Emblem of the 68th Bombardment Wing

Emblem of the 4241st Strategic Wing

Replaced the propeller-driven RB-29s with new B-47E Stratojet swept-wing medium bombers in October 1953, being redesignated as the 68th Bombardment Wing. The B-47 was capable of flying at high subsonic speeds and primarily designed for penetrating the airspace of the Soviet Union. Becoming operationally ready with the B-47 in May 1954, the wing conducted strategic bombardment training and air refueling to meet SAC's global commitments. Performed REFLEX deployments to Fairford RAF Station, England, 14 June – 7 August 1954 and at Brize Norton AB, England, 27 September 1957 – 8 January 1958. The B-47s were reaching the end of their operational lifetime in the late 1950s, and the wing's aircraft were sent to Davis-Monthan AFB in April 1963 with the closure of Chennault AFB.

With the closing of Chennault, the unit was reassigned without personnel or equipment to Seymour Johnson AFB, North Carolina on 15 April where it replaced the 4241st Strategic Wing. On 1 October 1958, Strategic Air Command established the 4241st SW at Seymour Johnson as part of SAC's plan to disburse its B-52 Stratofortress heavy bombers over a larger number of bases, thus making it more difficult for the Soviet Union to knock out the entire fleet with a surprise first strike. The wing consisted of the 73d Bombardment Squadron, consisting of 15 B-52Gs Half of the aircraft were maintained on fifteen minute alert, fully fueled, armed, and ready for combat. SAC Strategic Wings were considered a provisional unit by HQ, USAF and could not carry a permanent history or lineage.

In 1962, in order to retain the lineage of its MAJCOM 4-digit combat units and to perpetuate the lineage of many currently inactive bombardment units with illustrious World War II records, Headquarters SAC received authority from Headquarters USAF to discontinue its MAJCOM strategic wings that were equipped with combat aircraft and to activate AFCON units, most of which were inactive at the time which could carry a lineage and history.

As part of the reactivation, the 73d BS was redesignated the 51st Bombardment Squadron, one of the unit's historical bomb squadrons and component support units were also redesignated to the 68th numerical designation of the newly-established wing. As under the Tri-Deputate organization, all flying components were directly assigned to the wing, no operational group element was activated.

The wing continued to conduct strategic bombardment training and global refueling operations to meet SAC commitments. Wing aircraft, most aircrews and maintenance personnel, and other support personnel were loaned to other SAC units for combat operations in Southeast Asia, 27 May 1972 – 15 July 1973.

Air refueling

Emblem of the 68th Air Refueling Wing

In 1982 the B-52G's of the wing were retired and the 68th became an Air Refueling Group. Elevated back to wing status in 1986, the 68 ARW participated in combat operations in Grenada (Operation Urgent Fury), October 1983, Libya (Operation Eldorado Canyon), April 1986, Panama (Operation Just Cause), December 1989. Deployed to Spain to provide airlift and air refueling during Operation Desert Shield/Desert Storm, August 1990 – March 1991.

The 68th Air Refueling Wing was inactivated on 22 April 1991, as part of the post Cold War drawdown of USAF strategic forces.

Modern era

Emblem of the 68th Electronic Warfare Group

Activated on 15 April 1993 as an Electronic Combat Group. Provided operational and technical electronic combat expertise for US combat air forces, 1993–1998. Performed electronic warfare (EW) technology assessments; tested, developed, managed, and maintained EW systems hardware and software to meet Combat Air Force (CAF) mission requirements, since 1998.

Lineage

• Established as 68th Observation Group on 21 August 1941

Activated on 1 September 1941

Redesignated: 68th Reconnaissance Group on 31 May 1943

Redesignated: 68th Tactical Reconnaissance Group on 13 November 1943

Disestablished on 15 June 1944

• Reestablished, and redesignated 68th Reconnaissance Group, on 10 March 1947

Activated in the Reserve on 9 April 1947

Inactivated on 27 June 1949

• Redesignated 68th Strategic Reconnaissance Group, Medium on 4 October 1951

Activated on 10 October 1951

Inactivated on 16 June 1952

• Consolidated (1 October 1982) with the 68th Strategic Reconnaissance Wing, Medium, which was established on 4 October 1951

Activated on 10 October 1951

Redesignated: 68th Bombardment Wing, Medium on 16 June 1952

Redesignated: 68th Bombardment Wing, Heavy on 15 April 1963 to replace the 4241st Strategic Wing

Organized on 15 April 1963 assuming the resources (Manpower, Aircraft, Equipment, Weapons, & Facilities) of the 4241st Strategic Wing (Inactivated).

Redesignated 68th Air Refueling Group, Heavy on 17 March 1982

Inactivated on 30 September 1982

• Activated on 30 September 1982

Consolidated unit redesignated 68th Air Refueling Wing, Heavy on 1 October 1986

Inactivated on 22 April 1991

• Redesignated 68th Electronic Combat Group on 9 April 1993

Activated on 15 April 1993

Inactivated on 20 November 1998

• Consolidated (25 July 2000) with the 53d Electronic Warfare Group, which was established on 1 November 1998.

Activated on 20 November 1998

Consolidated group retains designation 53d Electronic Warfare Group.

Assignments

68th Group, 1941–1952

• 3d Air Support Command, 1 September 1941
• Third Air Force, 17 March 1942
• III Ground Air Support Command, 19 May 1942

Attached to 3d Demonstration Air Task Force [Provisional], c. 12 June 1942-unkn

VIII Ground Air Support Command, c. 18–22 June 1942

• VIII Ground Air Support Command, 23 June 1942
• III Ground Air Support Command, c. 4 June 1942
• Third Air Force, 21 August 1942
• III Ground Air Support Command, 24 August 1942
• XII Air Support Command, c. 18 October 1942

Attached to 5th Bombardment Wing, 31 October 1942–

• Northwest African Tactical Air Force, c. 18 June 1943

Remained attached to 5th Bombardment Wing

• XII Training Command, c. March 1943

Remained attached to 5th Bombardment Wing

• XII Bomber Command, 18 October 1943

Remained attached to 5th Bombardment Wing

• Fifteenth Air Force, 1 November 1943 – 15 June 1944

Remained attached to 5th Bombardment Wing to 4 December 1943

Attached to 47th Bombardment Wing, 4 December 1943 – 24 May 1944

• 325th Reconnaissance Wing (later, 325th Air Division), 10 March 1947 – 27 June 1949
• 68th Strategic Reconnaissance Wing, 10 October 1951 – 16 June 1952

68th Wing, 1951–1982

• 37th Air Division, 10 October 1951

Attached to 21st Air Division, 10 October 1951-c. 15 May 1952

• Second Air Force, 28 May 1952
• 806th Air Division, 16 June 1952

Attached to 7th Air Division, 14 June – 7 August 1954; 27 September 1957 – 8 January 1958

• 825th Air (later, 825th Strategic Aerospace) Division, 15 June 1960

• 822d Air Division, 15 April 1963
• 57th Air Division, 1 July 1964
• 822d Air Division, 1 July 1965
• 57th Air Division, 2 September 1966
• 823d Air Division, 2 July 1969
• 42d Air Division, 30 June 1971 – 30 September 1982

Consolidated Organization

• 42d Air Division, from consolidation in 1982
• Eighth Air Force, 16 June 1988 – 22 April 1991
• USAF Air Warfare Center (later, 53d Wing), 15 April 1993 – 20 November 1998
• 53d Wing, since 20 November 1998

Components

68th Group, 1941–1952

• 15th Observation Squadron: 12 Dec 1941 – 2 Feb 1942
• 16th Observation (later, 16th Reconnaissance) Squadron: attached February–March 1942, assigned 29 March 1942 – 26 May 1944 (detached 25 September 1943 – 26 May 1944)
• 24th Reconnaissance, Photographic (later, 24th Strategic Reconnaissance, Photographic) Squadron: 12 July 1947 – 27 June 1949; 10 October 1951-16 June 1952 (detached 10 October 1951 – 16 June 1952)
• 51st Reconnaissance, Weather (later, 51st Strategic Reconnaissance, Photographic) Squadron: 1 August 1947 – 27 June 1949; 10 August 1951-16 June 1952 (detached 10 October 1951 – 16 June 1952)
• 52d Reconnaissance, Weather Scouting (later, 52d Strategic Reconnaissance, Photographic) Squadron: 12 July 1947 – 27 June 1949; 10 October 1951-16 June 1952 (detached 10 October 1951 – 16 June 1952)
• 68th Air Refueling Squadron: 8 April – 28 May 1952
• 111th Observation (later, 111th Reconnaissance, Fighter; 111th Tactical Reconnaissance): attached February–March 1942, assigned 29 March 1942 – 26 May 1944 (detached 12 March 1943 – 26 May 1944)
• 122d Observation (later, 122d Liaison; 885th Bombardment): 1 October 1941 – 15 June 1944
• 125th Observation: 15 September 1941 – 12 March 1942
• 127th Observation: 6 October 1941 – 12 March 1942
• 154th Observation (later, 154th Reconnaissance; 154th Tactical Reconnaissance; 154th Weather Reconnaissance): 1 September 1941 – 15 June 1944 (detached 12 March 1943 – 15 June 1944)

68th Wing, 1951–1982

• 68th Strategic Reconnaissance Group: 10 October 1951 – 16 June 1952

• 24th Strategic Reconnaissance, Photographic (later, 24th Bombardment) Squadron: attached 10 October 1951 – 15 June 1952, assigned 16 June 1952 – 16 January 1953
• 51st Strategic Reconnaissance, Photographic (later, 51st Bombardment) Squadron: attached 10 October 1951 – 15 June 1952, assigned 16 June 1952 – 30 September 1982
• 52d Strategic Reconnaissance, Photographic (later, 52d Bombardment) Squadron: attached 10 October 1951 – 15 June 1952, assigned 16 June 1952 – 15 April 1963
• 68th Air Refueling Squadron: attached 8 April – 28 May 1952; assigned 25 November 1953 – 3 September 1957
• 656th Bombardment Squadron: 16 January 1953 – 15 April 1963
• 657th Bombardment Squadron: 1 December 1958 – 1 January 1962
• 911th Air Refueling Squadron: 15 April 1963 – 30 September 1982

Consolidated organization

• 16th Test (later, 16th Electronic Warfare) Squadron: 15 April 1993 – 20 November 1998; since 20 November 1998
• 36th Engineering and Test (later, 36th Electronic Warfare) Squadron: 15 April 1993 – 20 November 1998; since 20 November 1998
• 51st Bombardment Squadron: 30 September – 1 October 1982
• 68th Test Support (later, 68th Electronic Warfare) Squadron: 15 April 1993 – 20 November 1998; since 20 November 1998
• 87th Electronic Warfare Aggressor Squadron: 15 April 1993 – 1 July 1997
• 344th Air Refueling Squadron: 1 October 1986 – 22 April 1991
• 453d Electronic Warfare Squadron: -Present
• 513th Electronic Warfare Squadron: since 1 April 2010
• 911th Air Refueling Squadron: 30 September 1982 – 22 April 1991.

Stations

• Bowie AAF, Texas, 1 September 1941
• New Orleans AAB, Louisiana, 17 December 1941
• Daniel Field, Georgia, 8 February 1942
• Smith Reynolds APT, North Carolina, 9 July 1942
• Morris Field, North Carolina. c. 17 August – 18 October 1942
• Casablanca Airfield, French Morocco November 1942
• Oujda Airfield, French Morocco c. November 1942
• Berrechid Airfield, French Morocco 24 March 1943
• Berteaux Airfield, Algeria 5 September 1943

• Massicault Airfield, Tunisia October 1943
• Manduria Airfield, Italy November 1943
• Blida Airfield, Algeria, November 1943-15 June 1944
• Hamilton Field (later, AFB), California, 9 April 1947 – 27 June 1949
• Lake Charles (later, Chennault) AFB, Louisiana, 10 October 1951
• Seymour Johnson AFB, North Carolina, 15 April 1963 – 30 September 1982; 30 September 1982-22 April 1991
• Eglin AFB, Florida, 15 April 1993 – 20 November 1998; since 20 November 1998

Aircraft

68th Group

1941–1952: O-38, 1941–1942; O-46, 1941–1942; O-47, 1941–1942; O-49, 1941–1942; YO-50, 1941–1942; O-52, 1941–1942; O-57, 1941–1942; O-58, 1941–1942; O-59, 1941–1942; A-20, 1942–1943; DB-7, 1942; L-4, 1942; O-43, 1942; P-39, 1942–1943; P-40, 1942–1943; P-43, 1942; A-36, 1943; B-17, 1943–1944; P-38, 1943; P-38/F-4, 1943; P-51, 1943; P-51/F-6, 1943; Spitfire, 1943. A-6, 1947–1949; A-7, 1947–1949; A-11, 1947–1949.

68th Wing

1951–1982: B-29, 1952–1953; B-47, 1953–1963; KC-97, 1953–1957; B-52, 1963–1972, 1973–1982; KC-135, 1963–1972; 1973–1985.

Consolidated organization: KC-10, 1982–1991; KC-135, 1982–1991. None, 1993–1998

See also

• List of B-29 units of the United States Air Force
• List of B-47 units of the United States Air Force
• List of B-52 Units of the United States Air Force

References

 This article incorporates public domain material from websites or documents of the Air Force Historical Research Agency.

• 53d Electronic Warfare Group Factsheet