The 655th Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance Wing was activated Sept. 20, 2018, at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, and is assigned to 10th Air Force. The 655th ISRW currently consists of 14 squadrons and two groups. While some of the squadrons have histories that reach back into the Army Air Corps era, others are brand new Air Force units. The path to activation for the wing started with the 655th ISR Group, but only came to fruition through the strenuous effort of a cadre of idealistic leaders and Airmen who persevered through nearly endless obstacles and obstructions to ultimately see their plan fully realized a decade later with the activation of the wing.

The birth of Air Force Reserve Command’s only ISR wing came to fruition in four major waves. The first wave coincided with the 655th ISR Group’s activation in September 2013, which included the activation of the 42th Intelligence Squadron, 63rd IS, 64th IS and 71st IS, and the realignment of the 718th IS and 50th IS. This brought the initial strength of the 655th ISRG to six squadrons. The 38th IS joined the cohort of squadrons in October 2013. In April 2014, the 16th IS, 28th IS and 49th IS were reactivated and aligned to the 655th ISRG. All squadrons in this third wave of activations had legacies reaching back into the Cold War and earlier. The final three squadrons – 23rd IS, 512th IS and 820th IS – aligned with the 655th ISRG at different times in 2017. They were each brand-new squadrons with new numeric designations.

Click here for 655th ISRG history.                                Click here for 755th ISRG history.