318th Cyberspace Operations Group

Mission

The mission of the 318th Group is to be an information warfare group, training and integrating advanced tactics, technologies, and tools arming America's warfighters with decisive information warfare combat power.

Units

• 39th Information Operations Squadron :: The squadron conducts training on cyberspace operations, including operational security and deception at both the initial and advanced level.
• 90th Cyberspace Operations Squadron :: The squadron produces government of the shelf (GOTS) software in support of cyber operations.
• 318th Range Squadron :: The squadron designs, builds, and provides cyber ranges for test, training, mission rehearsal, and exercise.
• 346th Test Squadron :: The squadron tests, evaluates and assesses cyberspace capabilities for operational forces, national agencies, the acquisition community and Department of Defense agencies.

History

World War II

The group was first activated at Peterson Field, Colorado as the 8th Photographic Reconnaissance Group on 1 October 1943, but was redesignated the 8th Photographic Group little more than a week later. Before the end of the month, group headquarters had moved to Gainesville Army Air Field, Texas. The group had no flying squadrons assigned,and its personnel were trained to provide photographic intelligence for air and ground forces. In February 1944, the group headquarters left the United States for the China-Burma-India Theater.

Group headquarters arrived in India at the end of March 1944, and in April established itself at Bally Seaplane Base. There it was assigned operational squadrons for the first time on 25 April:

• The 9th Photographic Reconnaissance Squadron at Barrackpore Airfield, India and primarily equipped with Lockheed F-5 Lightnings
• The 20th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron at Kisselbari, India, but operating from Dinjan Airfield, India and primarily equipped with Curtiss P-40 Warhawks
• The 24th Combat Mapping Squadron at Guskhara Airfield, India and primarily equipped with Consolidated F-7 Liberators.

Each of these squadrons maintained detachments of various sizes in India, Burma, and China and did not operate in squadron strength from a single base.

Shortly before the war's end, in June 1945, the group was redesignated the 8th Reconnaissance Group. It remained in India after V-J Day. Group headquarters and most elements departed in October 1945, while the 9th Squadron briefly remained behind in India. Upon arrival at Camp Kilmer, New Jersey, the port of embarkation, the group was inactivated. It was disbanded on 6 March 1947. In 1985, the group was reconstituted and redesignated the 318th Electronic Warfare Group, but was never active under that designation.

Cyberspace operations

The group was redesignated the 318th Information Operations Group and reactivated in August 2000. The unit took the lead in developing information operations techniques, tactics and procedures for use by the combat air forces and other agencies.

The group emblem was approved on 1 August 2011.

The group assumed its current designation in September 2013.

Lineage

• Constituted as the 8th Photographic Reconnaissance Group on 15 September 1943 : Activated on 1 October 1943
• Redesignated 8th Photographic Group, Reconnaissance on 9 October 1943
• Redesignated 8th Reconnaissance Group on 15 June 1945 : inactivated on 5 November 1945
• Disbanded on 6 March 1947
• Reconstituted and redesignated 318th Electronic Warfare Group on 31 July 1985
• Redesignated 318th Information Operations Group on 17 July 2000 : Activated on 1 August 2000
• Redesignated 318th Cyberspace Operations Group on 13 September 2013

Assignments

• III Reconnaissance Command, 1 October 1943
• 89th Reconnaissance Training Wing, 27 October 1943
• Tenth Air Force, c. 31 March 1944
• Army Air Forces, India-Burma Sector, China-Burma-India Theater (later Army Air Forces, India-Burma Theater), 18 July 1944
• Army Service Forces, Port of Embarkation, c. 8 October – 5 November 1945
• Air Force Information Operations Center (later 688th Information Operations Wing, 688th Cyberspace Wing), 1 August 2000 – unknown
• 67th Cyberspace Wing, 2018

Components

; [[File:A B-24 of the 24th Combat Mapping Squadron (BOND 0311).jpg|thumb|An [[F-7 Liberator]] of the group's [[24th Combat Mapping Squadron]] in India in 1945]]Squadrons

• 7th Photographic Technical Squadron: c. 1 Oct 1943 – 1944 :: Will Rogers Field, Oklahoma
• 9th Photographic Reconnaissance Squadron: 25 April 1944 – Oct 1945
• 20th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron; 25 April 1944 – Oct 1945
• 23d Information Operations Squadron: 1 August 2000 – c. 7 December 2011
• 24th Combat Mapping Squadron, 25 April 1944 – September 1945
• 34th Photographic Reconnaissance Squadron: 9 October 1943 – 15 January 1944
• 39th Information Operations Squadron: 1 August 2000 – present :: Hurlburt Field, Florida
• 40th Photographic Reconnaissance Squadron: 18 July 1944 – 2 Nov 1945
• 90th Information Operations Squadron (later 90th Cyberspace Operations Squadron): 18 August 2009 – present
• 92d Information Warfare Aggressor Squadron (later 92d Information Operations Squadron): 1 November 2000 – unknown
• 315th Information Operations Squadron: 16 May 2005 – 12 June 2006
• 318th Range Squadron: C. 1 October 2019 – present
• 346th Test Squadron: 1 August 2000 – present
• 453d Electronic Warfare Squadron: c. 1 August 2000 – 5 August 2009

; Other

• 2d Combat Camera Unit: attached c. 18 July 1944–26 October 1944
• 3d Photographic Technical Unit: 18 July 1944 – 5 November 1945
• 10th Combat Camera Unit: c. 25 April 1944 – 5 November 1945

Stations

• Peterson Field, Colorado, 1 October 1943
• Gainesville Army Air Field, Texas, 26 October 1943 – 12 February 1944
• Worli, India, 31 March 1944
• Bally Seaplane Base, India, 15 April 1944 – 7 October 1945
• Camp Kilmer, New Jersey, 3 – 5 November 1945)
• Lackland Air Force Base (later Joint Base San Antonio), Texas, 1 August 2000 – present

Aircraft

• Lockheed F-5 Lightning (1944–1945)
• North American F-6 Mustang (1945)
• Consolidated F-7 Liberator(1944–1945)
• Curtiss P-40 Warhawk (1943–1945)

Awards and campaigns

References

Notes

; Explanatory notes

; Citations

Bibliography

References

1. (April 21, 2007). "Library: Factsheets 318th Information Operations Group". Eighth Air Force Public Affairs.
2. (October 2008). "Library: Factsheets 39th Information Operations Squadron". 1st Special Operations Wing Public Affairs.
3. (June 16, 2015). "Factsheet 90 Information Operations Squadron (AFSPC)". Air Force Historical Research Agency.
4. "'Bricks in the Loop' provides cyber Airmen an innovative, low-cost training option".
5. (August 16, 2019). "Library: Factsheets 67th Cyberspace Wing". Sixteenth Air Force Public Affairs.
6. "SAM.gov - Air Force Cyber Operational Testing, Engineering, and Range Support (AFCOTERS) II".
7. Maurer, ''Combat Units'', p. 48
8. Maurer, ''Combat Squadrons'', p. 53
9. Maurer, ''Combat Squadrons'', pp. 108-109
10. Maurer, ''Combat Squadrons'', pp. 126-127
11. Maurer, ''Combat Squadrons'', pp. 53, 108-109, 126-127
12. Maurer, ''Combat Squadrons'', 188-189
13. (September 22, 2015). "Factsheet 318 Cyberspace Operations Group (ACC)". Air Force Historical Research Agency.
14. (September 22, 2015). "Factsheet 318 Cyberspace Operations Group (ACC)". Air Force Historical Research Agency.
15. Maurer, ''Combat Squadrons'', pp. 165-166
16. (February 6, 2012). "Factsheet 92 Information Operations Squadron (ACC)". Air Force Historical Research Agency.
17. (July 15, 2015). "Factsheet 315 Cyberspace Operations Squadron (AFSPC)". Air Force Historical Research Agency.
18. (April 30, 2018). "Factsheet 2 Audiovisual Squadron (AFPAA)". Air Force Historical Research Agency.
19. (July 8, 2019). "Factsheet 3 Intelligence Squadron (AFISRA)". Air Force Historical Research Agency.