363rd Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance Group

363rd Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance Group
F-16 Fighting Falcons ready for a night mission during Operation Iraqi Freedom
Active	1943–1945; 1946–1958; 1992–1993; 1998–2003; 2015–present
Country	United States
Branch	United States Air Force
Role	Intelligence
Part of	Air Combat Command
Garrison/HQ	Joint Base Langley-Eustis, VA
Motto(s)	Voir C'est Savoir French To See is to Know
Engagements	World War II (EAME Theater) Air Offensive, Europe Campaign Normandy Campaign Northern France Campaign Rhineland Campaign Ardennes-Alsace Campaign Central Europe Campaign Air Combat, EAME Theater Armed Forces Expeditionary Operation Northern Watch Operation Southern Watch Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Operation Enduring Freedom Operation Iraqi Freedom[1]
Decorations	Air Force Meritorious Unit Award Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with Combat "V" Device Air Force Outstanding Unit Award Belgian Fourragère[1]
Commanders
Notable commanders	Col Michael G. Cosby
Insignia
363rd Intelligence Surveillance & Reconnaissance Group emblem[note 1]

The 363rd Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance Group is a United States Air Force unit stationed at Joint Base Langley-Eustis. It is assigned to the 363rd Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Wing. It was activated in February 2015, after having been returned to regular service after operating as a provisional unit. The group has its origins in the 363rd Fighter Group, activated on 1 August 1943 at Hamilton Field, California. The unit was credited with 41 victories but lost 43 of its own aircraft during World War II.

The pressing need for tactical aerial photo-reconnaissance during the Normandy Campaign led to the group's conversion to the 363rd Tactical Reconnaissance Group at Le Mans Airfield, France in late 1944. The 363rd returned to the United States after V-E Day and was inactivated.

Reactivated in 1948, the group flew photographic, electronic and electronic intelligence missions to support both air and ground operations by American or Allied ground forces during the early years of the Cold War. It was inactivated in 1958 when its parent wing reorganized under the dual deputy system and its squadrons were reassigned directly to wing headquarters.

The unit was reactivated in 1992 as part of the USAF Objective Wing organization as the 363rd Operations Group, but was inactivated the following year and its assets transferred to another unit. It served as a provisional unit in Southwest Asia as the 363rd Expeditionary Operations Group, flying a variety of fighter aircraft (F-16, A-10, F-15 and others) from 1998 to 2003.

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