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33d Cyberspace Operations Squadron
31st Photographic Reconnaissance Squadron Lockheed F-5E Lightning "Sexy Sall" over Saint-Dizier Airfield.
Active	1943-1945; 1947-1949; 1985-1996; 2000-present
Country	United States
Branch	United States Air Force
Role	Computer Network Defense
Part of	Air Combat Command
Garrison/HQ	Lackland Air Force Base, Texas
Nickname(s)	The Mighty Griffins
Motto(s)	Command's Best
Engagements	European Theater of Operations
Decorations	Distinguished Unit Citation Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with "V" Device Air Force Meritorious Unit Award Air force outstanding Unit Award
Insignia
33rd Cyberspace Operations Squadron emblem
31st Photographic Recconnaissance Squadron emblem
Ninth Air Force fuselage code	BV

The United States Air Force (USAF)'s 33rd Cyberspace Operations Squadron is a network warfare unit located at Lackland Air Force Base, Texas.

The squadron was established as the 70th Reconnaissance Squadron during World War II and saw combat in the European Theater of Operations as the 31st Photographic Reconnaissance Squadron, where it earned a Distinguished Unit Citation for its efforts in preparing for the Normandy Invasion. After briefly serving as part of the occupation forces in Germany it was inactivated in late 1945.

The squadron was activated again in the reserves as the 31st Reconnaissance Squadron in 1947. It was redesignated the 33d Reconnaissance Squadron (apparently to avoid confusion with the regular USAF 31st Reconnaissance Squadron). The squadron never reached full strength or received aircraft before inactivation when Continental Air Command reorganized its reserve units under the wing base organization plan.

In 1985 Electronic Security Command established the 6933d Electronic Security Squadron in Panama. The squadron participated in Operation Just Cause. In 1993, as the United States Air Force (USAF) eliminated Major Command controlled (MAJCON) four digit organizations, the 6933d was consolidated with the 33rd as a single unit, the 33rd Intelligence Squadron. The squadron was inactivated as the USAF departed Panama, but was activated once again as an information operations and network warfare unit.

Mission

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The 33rd's mission, as the USAF's lone network warfare squadron dedicated to Air Force network defense, is to execute all aspects of AF network defense as an element of the distributed AF Network Operations Center. The squadron monitors, secures, and protects Air Force and Central Command global networks, ensures network integrity, reliability, availability, and confidentiality and responds to hostile network threats and attacks.

History

World War II

The squadron was established in mid-1943 as the 70th Reconnaissance Squadron, a tactical reconnaissance squadron. Shortly afterwards, the squadron converted to a photographic reconnaissance unit and was redesignated the 31st Photographic Reconnaissance Squadron. It trained in the southeast United States as an element of Third Air Force.

The squadron deployed to the European Theater of Operations in the spring of 1944. It was initially engaged in aerial photography of the French English Channel coastline and Low Countries. The squadron flew Lockheed F-4 and F-5 Lightnings, and North American F-6 Mustang reconnaissance aircraft supporting Allied buildup for the Normandy Invasion. It furnished vitally important photographs of the beaches and defenses on the Continent for briefing and training of assault troops. The unit's low-level missions under difficult weather and combat conditions led to the awarding of the Distinguished Unit Citation for the period of 6 through 20 May 1944. After D-Day, the squadron moved to France and performed battlefield tactical reconnaissance primarily for the Third Army, but also for First and Ninth Armies during the Northern France Campaign in 1944. The squadron moved into Germany in the spring of 1945 continuing to supply battlefield reconnaissance for Army ground forces.

After the German surrender the 31st remained as part of the United States Air Forces in Europe occupation forces, gradually drawing down during the fall of 1945 until inactivated.

Air Force reserve

The squadron was activated again in the reserves as the 31st Reconnaissance Squadron in 1947. It was redesignated the 33d Reconnaissance Squadron (apparently to avoid confusion with the regular USAF 31st Reconnaissance Squadron). The squadron never reached full strength or received aircraft before inactivation when Continental Air Command reorganized its reserve units under the wing base organization plan.

Intelligence activities

The 6933d Electronic Security Squadron was activated by Electronic Security Command in Panama at Howard Air Force Base on 1 October 1985. Starting in December 1989 and continuing into the end of the operation in 1990 the squadron conducted signals intelligence and other intelligence missions and supported Operation Just Cause in 1989–1990. By 1993 the USAF was eliminating its Major Command controlled (MAJCON) (four digit) units. To preserve the heritage of the 6933d, the squadron was consolidated with the 33d Reconnaissance Squadron as the 33rd Intelligence Squadron. It continued to provide intelligence support in Panama until inactivating on 30 June 1996.

The squadron was again activated on 1 August 2000 as the 33rd Information Operations Squadron at Kelly Air Force Base, Texas. It conducted information operations and after 5 July 2005, network defense operations. It was redesignated the 33rd Network Warfare Squadron in July 2007 and the 33rd Cyberspace Operations Squadron in 2022.

Lineage

33rd Reconnaissance Squadron

• Constituted as the 70th Reconnaissance Squadron (Fighter) on 15 June 1943

Activated on 20 June 1943.

Redesignated 31st Photographic Reconnaissance Squadron on 11 August 1943

Inactivated on 22 Nov 1945

• Redesignated 31st Reconnaissance Squadron (Night Photographic) on 5 September 1947

Activated in the reserve on 13 November 1947

Redesignated 33rd Reconnaissance Squadron (Night Photographic) on 25 November 1947

Inactivated on 27 June 1949

• Consolidated on 1 October 1993 with the 6933rd Electronic Security Squadron as the 33rd Intelligence Squadron

33rd Cyberspace Operations Squadron

• Designated as the 6933rd Electronic Security Squadron and activated on 1 October 1985
• Consolidated on 1 October 1993 with the 33rd Reconnaissance Squadron as the 33d Intelligence Squadron

Inactivated 30 June 1996

• Redesignated 33rd Information Operations Squadron

Activated on 1 August 2000

Redesignated 33rd Network Warfare Squadron on 26 July 2007

Redesignated 33rd Cyberspace Operations Squadron on 6 July 2022

Assignments

Stations

Aircraft

• Lockheed F-5 Lightning, 1943–1945
• Lockheed F-4 Lightning, 1943–1944
• North American F-6 Mustang, 1945

Awards and Campaigns

Award streamer	Award	Dates	Notes
	Distinguished Unit Citation	6 May 1944 - 20 May 1944	France 31st Photographic Reconnaissance Squadron
	Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with "V" Device	1 June 2002 - 30 May 2003	33rd Information Operations Squadron
	Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with "V" Device	1 October 2010 – 30 September 2012	33rd Network Warfare Squadron
	Air Force Meritorious Unit Award	17 July 2018 – 31 May 2019	33rd Network Warfare Squadron
	Air Force Outstanding Unit Award	1 July 1986 - 30 June 1988	6933rd Electronic Security Squadron
	Air Force Outstanding Unit Award	20 December 1989 - 14 February 1991	6933rd Electronic Security Squadron
	Air Force Outstanding Unit Award	15 February 1991 - 31 December 1991	6933rd Electronic Security Squadron
	Air Force Outstanding Unit Award	1 October 1993 - 30 September 1994	33rd Intelligence Squadron
	Air Force Outstanding Unit Award	1 October 1994 - 30 September 1995	33rd Intelligence Squadron
	Air Force Outstanding Unit Award	1 August 2000 - 30 September 2000	33rd Information Operations Squadron
	Air Force Outstanding Unit Award	1 June 2003 - 31 May 2005	33rd Information Operations Squadron
	Air Force Outstanding Unit Award	1 June 2001 – 31 May 2002	33rd Information Operations Squadron
	Air Force Outstanding Unit Award	1 June 2005-31 May 2007	33rd Information Operations Squadron
	Air Force Outstanding Unit Award	1 October 2012-30 September 2013	33rd Network Warfare Squadron
	Air Force Outstanding Unit Award	1 October 2013-30 September 2015	33rd Network Warfare Squadron
	Air Force Outstanding Unit Award	1 October 2015-30 September 2016	33rd Network Warfare Squadron
	Air Force Outstanding Unit Award	1 June 2019 – 31 May 2020	33rd Network Warfare Squadron
	Air Force Outstanding Unit Award	1 June 2020 – 31 May 2021	33rd Network Warfare Squadron

Campaign Streamer	Campaign	Dates	Notes
	Air Offensive, Europe	23 March 1944 – 5 June 1944	31st Photographic Reconnaissance Squadron
	Normandy	6 June 1944 – 24 July 1944	31st Photographic Reconnaissance Squadron
	Northern France	25 July 1944 – 14 September 1944	31st Photographic Reconnaissance Squadron
	Rhineland	15 September 1944 – 21 March 1945	31st Photographic Reconnaissance Squadron
	Ardennes-Alsace	16 December 1944 – 25 January 1945	31st Photographic Reconnaissance Squadron
	Central Europe	23 March 1944 – 21 May 1945	31st Photographic Reconnaissance Squadron
	Air Combat, EAME Theater	23 March 1944 – 11 May 1945	31st Photographic Reconnaissance Squadron
	Global War on Terror Service Medal	11 September 2001–	33rd Information Operations Squadron (later 33rd Network Warfare Squadron)

See also

• List of cyber warfare forces

References

Notes

Explanatory notes

1. Approved 14 October 1988.
2. Approved 30 May 1944.

Citations

1. ^ Lahue, Melissa (3 October 2022). "Factsheet 33 Cyberspace Operations Squadron (ACC)". Air Force Historical Research Agency. Retrieved October 7, 2018.
2. ^ Maurer, Combat Squadrons, pp. 154–155
3. Watkins, pp. 130–131
4. Myers et al., p. 31
5. Station number in Anderson, p. 31.
6. Station number in Johnson, p. 16.
7. Station number in Johnson, p. 17.
8. Station number in Johnson, p. 20.
9. Station number in Johnson, p. 50.
10. Station number in Johnson, p. 54.
11. Station number in Johnson, p. 67.
12. Station number in Johnson, p. 37.

Bibliography

 This article incorporates public domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency

• Anderson, Capt. Barry (1985). Army Air Forces Stations: A Guide to the Stations Where U.S. Army Air Forces Personnel Served in the United Kingdom During World War II (PDF). Maxwell AFB, AL: Research Division, USAF Historical Research Center. Archived from the original (PDF) on March 4, 2016. Retrieved July 7, 2012.
• Johnson, 1st Lt. David C. (1988). U.S. Army Air Forces Continental Airfields (ETO) D-Day to V-E Day (PDF). Maxwell AFB, AL: Research Division, USAF Historical Research Center. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2015-09-29.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
• Maurer, Maurer, ed. (1982) . Combat Squadrons of the Air Force, World War II (PDF) (reprint ed.). Washington, DC: Office of Air Force History. ISBN 0-405-12194-6. LCCN 70605402. OCLC 72556.
• Watkins, Robert (2008). Battle Colors. Vol. III Insignia and Markings of the Ninth Air Force In World War II. Atglen, PA: Shiffer Publishing Ltd. ISBN 978-0-7643-2938-8.
• Myers, Harold P.; Williamson, John P.; Marshall, Gabriel P.; Jones, Benjamin T., eds. (2016). Twenty-Fifth Air Force, A Continuing Legacy: Chronology 1948-2016 (PDF). Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, TX: Twenty-Fifth Air Force Office of History. Retrieved February 4, 2018.

External links

• 37th Training Wing Public Affairs: Lackland AFB, Texas

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