544TH STRATEGIC INTELLIGENCE WING CELEBRATES TWO HUNDRED YEARS OF FREEDOM

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP89G00720R000700880002-6
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 82
• Document Creation Date: December 23, 2016
• Document Release Date: August 22, 2012
• Sequence Number: 2
• Publication Date: November 7, 1987
• Content Type: MISC

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OFFUTT AIR FORCE BASE, NEBRASKA]
DINING
7 NOVEMBER 1987
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,territoil
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PRESIDENT OF THE MESS
COLONEL JAMES F. McKINNEY
COMMANDER, 544TH STRATEGIC INTELLIGENCE WING
DISTINGUISHED SPEAKER
MR. ROBERT M. GATES
DEPUTY DIRECTOR, CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY
MADAM VICE
LIEUTENANT ROBIN A. WRIGHT
544TH SIW/DIA
MISTER VICE
LIEUTENANT MICHAEL J. MUELLNER
544TH IES/IEG
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1800 Lounge Opens
1845 Lounge Closes
1850 Mess Convenes
1852 Posting of the Colors
1855 Invocation
1900 Formal Toasts
1905 Opening Remarks and Introductions
1925 Dinner Served and Grog Presented
2005 Break (Mess Adjourned)
2025 Mess Convenes
2030 Entertainment
2105 Guest Speaker Address
2135 Presentation and Toast to the Guest Speaker
2140 President's Closing Remarks
2150 Mess Adjourns
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1116
P''?APAA
4111??
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Caesar Salad
Breast of Chicken or Veal Cordon Bleu with Rice
or
Filet Mignon with Baked Potato
Green Beans Almondine
Strawberry Romanoff
Beverage
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CIA-RDP89G00720R000700880002-6 HE DINING-IN
The military dining-in has a very long and rich history. The pre-Christ
Roman Legions probably began the dining-in tradition. Roman military
commanders frequently held great banquets to honor individuals and
units. The second century Viking War Lords then stylized the format of
the victory feast. The leader took his place at the head of the table, with
all others to his right and left in descending order of rank. The dining-in
custom was transplanted to ancient England by Roman and Viking
Warriors. King Arthur's Knights of the Round Table surely practiced a
form of dining-in in the sixth century.
Many early American customs and traditions were British in origin;
the military was no exception. British Army and Navy units deployed to
the wilderness of America brought with them the formal military dinner
known as guest night. This pleasant custom provided an opportunity for
officers to gather for an evening of good food, drinking and fellowship.
The late General "Hap" Arnold is generally credited with starting the
Air Force's rich dining-in tradition. He is reported to have held famous
parties called "Wing Dings" in the early days of the Army Air Corps. The
long association of the U.S. Army Air Corps officers with the British
during World War II surely stimulated American interest in the dining-in
custom. This association brought the format and protocol of the Army
Air Corps dining-in in line with the British tradition as well as provided
the high point of dining-in popularity.
The dining-in is a popular tradition today, though it goes by several
names. Both the United States Navy and Air Force call this social affair
the dining-in. The Marine Corps refers to it as mess night and the Army
refers to it as a regimental dinner.
Fortunately, despite the obstacles of the twentieth century, the tradi-
tion of the dining-in has not died. Veterans of the old days remember
and revive the tradition at every opportunity. They recognize the
important role these occasions play in preserving the traditions of Air
Force service.
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all ?
TOAST: To the Commander in Chief, the President of the
United States.
RESPONSE: "To the President."
TOAST: To the Secretary of the Air Force.
RESPONSE: "To the Secretary of the Air Force."
TOAST: To the Chief of Staff, United States Air Force.
RESPONSE: "To the Chief of Staff."
TOAST: To the Chief of Staff, United States Army.
RESPONSE: "To the Chief of Staff."
TOAST: To the Chief of Naval Operations.
RESPONSE: "To the Chief of Naval Operations."
TOAST: To the Commander in Chief, Strategic Air Command.
RESPONSE: "To the Commander in Chief."
TOAST: To the United States Air Force.
RESPONSE: "To the Air Force."
During the course of dinner and near the close of the Dining-In, addi-
tional toasts will be offered. The appropriate response will be; "Hear,
hear."
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_ .
Robert M. Gates was sworn in as Deputy Director of Central Intelli-
gence on 18 April 1986. In this position he is principal deputy to the
Director, who heads the U.S. Intelligence Community and directs the
Central Intelligence Agency.
Mr. Gates, a native of Kansas, received his BA degree from the
College of William and Mary in 1965, his Masters Degree in History from
Indiana University in 1966, and his Doctorate in Russian and Soviet
History from Georgetown University in 1974.
Mr. Gates joined the Central Intelligence Agency in 1966, serving
successfully as current intelligence analyst, on the staff of the Special
Assistant to the Director of Central Intelligence for Strategic Arms
Limitations, and as one of two Assistant National Intelligence Officers
for Strategic Programs. In 1974, he was assigned to the National Secur-
ity Council Staff.
After nearly six years at the National Security Council serving the
Nixon, Ford, and Carter administrations, Mr. Gates returned to the
Central Intelligence Agency in January 1980. He subsequently was
appointed to a series of administrative positions and served as National
Intelligence Officer for the Soviet Union prior to his appointment as
Deputy Director for Intelligence in January 1982.
As DDI for nearly four and one-half years, Mr. Gates directed the
Central Intelligence Agency's component responsible for all analysis
and production of finished intelligence. In September 1983, Director
Casey appointed Mr. Gates Chairman of the National Intelligence
Council concurrent with his position as Deputy Director. As Chairman
of the National Intelligence Council, Mr. Gates directed the preparation
of all National Intelligence Estimates by the Intelligence Community.
Mr. Gates has received the Intelligence Medal of Merit and the Arthur
S. Fleming Award, which is presented annually to the ten most outstand-
ing young men and women in the Federal service.
Mr. Gates and his wife, Becky, have two children.
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41?46-
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CIA-RDP89G00720R000700880002-6 1-.?-1 1 E. McKINNEY
CJILI
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Colonel James F. McKinney is the Commander of the 544th Strategic Intelli-
gence Wing, Offutt Air Force Base, Nebraska.
Colonel McKinney was born December 23, 1942, in Philadelphia, PA. He
graduated from Saint Joseph Prep High Schol, Philadelphia, in 1960. He
received his bachelor's degree in international relations from Saint Joseph's
University in 1964. He earned a master's degree in business administration from
Boston University in 1980. Colonel McKinney has completed Squadron Officer
School, Army Command and General Staff College, Industrial College of the
Armed Forces and the Air Intelligence Officer Course.
Colonel McKinney was commissioned as a Distinguished Graduate through
the Reserve Officers' Training Corps as a second lieutenant in June 1964. After
receiving his commission, he attended Air Intelligence Officers' School, Lowry
Air Force Base, CO.
In November 1964, the colonel was assigned to the 544 SIW, Offutt AFB, as a
photo interpretor. He was reassigned in 1967 to the Deputy Chief of Staff for
Intelligence, Headquarters Strategic Air Command, Offutt AFB, as chief of
damage assessment.
The colonel was transferred in April 1971 to U-Tapao, Thailand, as a combat
intelligence team chief for the 307th Strategic Bomb Wing. In May 1972, he was
reassigned as a computer intelligence officer for Headquarters United States
Air Force, Washington D.C. He moved in May 1974 to the Current Forces
Branch, Systems Analysis and Gaming Agency, JCS, Washington D.C.
Colonel McKinney attended Army Command and General Staff College, Fort
Leavenworth, Kansas, in 1976 where he was an honor graduate. He then became
chief of the Air Section, Intelligence Division, Headquarters Allied Forces Cen-
tral Europe, Brunssum, Netherlands, in July 1977.
In August 1980, he became the chief of the Concepts Division, Targets Direc-
torate, HQ SAC, Offutt AFB. In November 1982 he was named the deputy
commander for the 6th Tactical Intelligence Group, Osan Air Base, Korea.
The colonel became the deputy commander for the Strategic Targeting Intel-
ligence Center, 544th SIW, Offutt AFB, in November 1983. In April 1986 he
became the vice commander for the 544th SIW. He assumed his present duties
May 1, 1987.
His military awards and decorations include the Bronze Star, Defense Meri-
torious Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medal with two oak leaf clusters,
Joint Service Commendation Medal with one oak leaf cluster and the Air Force
Achievement Medal.
He was promoted to the grade of colonel April 1, 1985.
Colonel McKinney is married to the former Anne Cipparone of Philadelphia.
They have two daughters, Leigh and Diana.
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AL. AA ALA Al. A V
First Lieutenant Robin A. Wright is assigned to the 544th Combat
Intelligence Applications Center as an Aircraft Survivability Analyst in
the Penetration Analysis Division. Lt Wright was born in Steubenville,
Ohio, on July 30, 1962. In 1980, she graduated from Catholic Central
High School in Steubenville and entered the U.S. Air Force Academy.
She received a Bachelor of Science degree in Engineering Mechanics in
1984 and won a Guggenheim Fellowship to Columbia University. She
completed a Master of Science degree in Mechanics and Material
Science in 1985. Lt Wright has also completed Squadron Officer
School. She assumed her initial and present duty in May 1985.
.?440P4 A
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CIA-RDP89G00720R000700880002-6 VICE
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First Lieutenant Michael J. Muellner is assigned to the 544th Intelli-
gence Squadron, Ground Forces Branch. Lieutenant Muellner was
born in St. Paul, Minnesota, on May 29, 1955. After graduation from
Burnsville High School in Burnsville, Minnesota, in 1973, he enlisted in
the Air Force. In 1982 he received a Bachelor of Science degree in
Criminal Justice from Rollins College, Winter Park, Florida, and has
completed 30 hours towards a Master's degree in Administration from
the University of Central Michigan. He was commissioned through
Officer Training School and has completed Squadron Officer School.
Lieutenant Muellner's initial assignment was to Intelligence Officer
School at Lowry AFB, Colorado. He assumed his present duty in May
1983.
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All points of order will be directed to Mister or Madam Vice. Individu-
als raising a point of order will rise; state rank, name, and organization.
? Do not smoke in the dining area.
? Do not carry drinks into the dining room.
? Adhere strictly to AFR 35-10.
? Do not toast with an uncharged glass.
? Do not start a course before the President.
? Boorishness, stuffiness, or "wet blanketness" will be considered an
affront to the mess.
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Any infraction of etiquette and protocol of the mess constitutes a trip
to the GROG bowl. The GROG bowl is the means of dispensing justice
and to insure that infractions do not happen again. If you consider a trip
to the GROG bowl to be "cruel and unusual punishment," you may ask
Madam or Mister Vice to reconsider. The originality and sincerity of
your appeal will weigh heavily on the outcome. When directed to pro-
ceed to the GROG Bowl you must:
1. March to Madam and Mr. Vice's table and state: "Mr/Madam
Vice, (state your name), a delegate from the State of (your home
state) reporting for the GROG."
2. Don the colonial three point hat and leap upon your ever
faithful steed.
3. Ride with the urgency of Paul Revere to the GROG bowl.
4. Dismount your horse, face the head table, and salute.
5. Remove the hat and fill a cup with the GROG (spirited or without
spirits).
6. Reaffirm your committment to the Constitution by saying, "I
solemnly swear to defend and protect the Constitution."
7. Do an about face and give a toast, "We the people!"
8. Drink the entire cup of GROG.
9. Place the cup upside down over your head.
10. Do an about face and replace the cup on the table.
11. Don the hat again and salute the head table.
12. Leap upon your steed once more, ride to the Vice's table, dis-
mount, remove the hat, and march back to your seat.
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170/ 1J1111111R3-1111
STAT
STAT
STAT
STAT
DINING-IN PROJECT OFFICER
Major Lynn B. Reeves IAC
VICE CHAIRMAN
Capt John Larrabee DIJ
PUBLICITY
lLt Kathleen Kiernan CCE
lLt Bill Schutt TGR
PROTOCOL
lLt Larry Mastin
lLt Bill Wise
lLt Don Bacon
CLUB PREPARATION
2Lt Lee Bushie
2Lt Marta Arqumedo
IEM
IEM
IAM
IAD
IAI
ENT RTA1NMFNT
lLt Tracey Robel
lLt Vicki Boyd
lLt Wendy Routhier
2Lt Jamie Whitley
DECORATIONS
IEA
IAA
IAC
IEE
lLt Adeha Rockman
lLt Richard Klein
lLt Lynn Anderson
2Lt Susan Harwas
MR. VICE
lLt Michael J. Muellner
MADAM VICE
DIJ
SD
DIW
IEG
IEG
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GRAPHICS SUPPORT
MSgt Michael D. Rittgers
A1C Tina L. Manning
A1C Jean A. Goode
COVER DESIGN
MSgt Michael D. Rittgers
A1C Tina L. Manning
A1C Jean A. Goode
COSTUMES
Byron C. Jenkins of the Omaha Chapter #19 National Soujourners
MANNEQUINS
Richman Gordman Store, Bellevue, NE
DISPLAY
SAC Command Protocol (Large Posters)
FLAGS
Omaha Chapter #19 National Soujourners
Offutt AFB NCO Leadership School
Carl Porter, Jr., W.G.N. Flag and Decorating, Chicago, IL
ENTERTAINMENT
2nd Maryland Regiment of Foot
Strategic Air Command Band "Looking Glass"
lLt Gordon Hendrickson
lLt Debra Foss
lLt Jay Wentzell
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CIA-RDP89G00720R000700880002-6 it litAU 111-UL
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1. 0 beau-ti-ful for spacious skies, For am-her waves of grain, For
2. 0 beau-ti-ful for p11-grim feetyirhose stern im-pas-sion'd stress A
3. 0 beau-ti-ful for he-roes prov'd In lib - er - at - ing strife, Who
4. 0 beau-ti-ful for patriot dream That sees be-yond the years Thine
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more than self their coun-try loved,And mer
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bove the fruit-ed plain. A-
cross the wil- der - ness. A-
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God shed
God mend
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God shed
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His grace on thee, And
thine ev - 'ry flaw, Con-
thy gold re - fine, Till
His grace on thee, And
crown thy good with
firm thy soul in
all suc-cess be
crown thy good with
broth- er-hood From sea to shin- ing
self - con-trol, Thy lib - er - ty in
no - ble-ness, And ev 'ry gain di -
broth - er -hood From sea to shin - ing
sea.
law.
vine.
sea.
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DEPARTMENT OF THE AIR FORCE
HEADQUARTERS, 544TH STRATEGIC INTELLIGENCE WING (SAC)
OFFUTT AIR FORCE BASE, NEBRASKA 68113
Mr. Robert M. Gates
Deputy Director of Central Intelligence
Washington, DC 20505
Dear Mr. Gates
I was so pleased to learn that you would be able to attend
this year's 544th Strategic Intelligence Wing Dining-In to
help us celebrate "200 Years of Freedom." To ensure your
brief stay with us is an enjoyable one, I have enclosed
information about the wing, the dining-in theme, transportation,
and a brief biography of the officers at the head table (while
the final guest list has not been completed, it is possible
that Brigadier General Russell will attend).
During the evening, Second Lieutenant Norma Bennett and First
Lieutenant Steve Zaleski have volunteered to be your escort.
They will be seated with you at the head table to ensure all
your needs are met.
I thought it would be helpful in your speech preparation if I
included a few sentences about the theme of the dining-in.
The ballroom will be decorated with 13-star flags and posters
designed to help the dining-in "delegates" feel that they are
in Philadelphia Hall 200 years ago. Several people will be
dressed in period costume as they portray a few short narrated
scenes demonstrating major events which culminated in the
signing of the Constitution. We currently plan to include a
recitation of Patrick Henry's dramatic "Give me Liberty or
Give me Death" speech, a demonstration by the 2nd Maryland
Regiment of Foot, and finally a pantomime of the famous painting
depicting the delegates signing the Constitution.
If there is anything else you require, please do not hesitate
to ask me or my dining-in chairman, Major Lynn B. Reeves.
MES F. MCKINNEY, Colonel
mmander
Peace . .
USAF 1 Atch
Background Information
. is our Profession
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Saturday, 7 November 1987
STRAWMAN AGENDA
1400 - Depart Andrews AFB via military airlift
1730 - Arrive Offutt AFB (MGen Doyle will meet with staff car and
transport to Friendship Suite)
1815 - Begin reception line in the Nebraska Room with Colonel McKinney
1855 - Present colors
1900 - Chaplain invocation
1903 - Toasts
1910 - President welcoming speech, introduction of VIPs and entertainment
1930 - Grog bowl presented and meal begins
2005 - Break
2030 - Mess reconvenes. Constitutional entertainment begins
2110 - Introduction of guest speaker and speech
2140 - Presentation of gift to Mr. Gates
2200 - Retirement of colors
2210 - Dining-In concludes
2330 - Depart Offutt AFB (escorted to flightline by MGen Doyle
in staff car)
Sunday, 8 November 1987
0230 - Arrive Andrews AFB
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HEAD TABLE
1
2
3
4
5
6 7
8
9
1. Lt Bennett
2. Chaplain (Col) Thomas
3. Col Vincent
4. Maj Gen Doyle
5. Mr. Gates
6. Col McKinney
7. Brig Gen Russell
8. Col Root
9. Lt Zaleski
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HEAD TABLE
1
2 3 4 5 6 7 8
1.
Lt Bennett
5.
2.
Col Vincent
6.
3.
Maj Gen Doyle
7.
4.
Mr. Gates
8.
Col McKinney
Col Root
Chaplain (Col) Thomas
Lt Zaleski
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Bogphy
United States Air Force
Secretary of the Air Force, Office of Public Affairs, Washington, D.C. 2033.0
MAJOR GENERAL WILLIAM L. DOYLE JR.
Major General William L. Doyle Jr. is deputy chief of staff
for intelligence, Headquarters Strategic Air Command,
Offutt Air Force Base, Neb.
General Doyle was born Jan. 28, 1933, in Hartford, Conn.
He moved to California in 1943 and graduated in 1950 from
Santa Clara High School in Oxnard. In 1955 he received a
bachelor's degree in international relations from the
University of Southern California, Los Angeles. He earned a
master's degree in history from Creighton University, Omaha,
Neb., in 1967. The general completed Air Command and
Staff College, Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala., in 1965, and the
Industrial College of the Armed Forces, Fort Lesley J.
McNair, Washington, D.C., in 1975.
He earned his commission through the Reserve Officer
Training Corps program and entered the U.S. Air Force in
August 1955. His initial assignment was to Biggs Air Force
Base, Texas, where he served as an intelligence officer with the 1st Strategic Support Squadron,
and the 95th and 97th Bombardment Wings. In November 1958 General Doyle was assigned to
SAC headquarters at Offutt Air Force Base, in the Target Development Branch and with the
initial Joint Strategic Target Planning Staff. This tour of duty was followed by an assignment :n
May 1961 to Headquarters 16th Air Force, Torrejon Air Base, Spain, as an air targets officer and
in reconnaissance management.
After completing Air Command and Staff College in June 1965, General Doyle returned to
SAC headquarters, serving there until October 1967. During this period he served as an air
targets officer with additional duties with the Joint Strategic Target Planning Staff. For the
next year he was assigned to Headquarters Military Assistance Command Vietnam at Tan Son
Nhut Air Base, Republic of Vietnam, as a B-52 targets officer. In October 1968 he transferred to
Headquarters U.S. Air Force, Washington, D.C., as assistant executive officer to the assistant
chief of staff, intelligence, and as the director of Soviet affairs, Air Force Intelligence Service.
During the latter assignment he organized the U.S. Air Force Soviet Awareness Program. While
in Washington, General Doyle attended and graduated from the Industrial College of the Armed
Forces.
The general returned to Headquarters Strategic Air Command in August 1977 as assistant
deputy chief of staff for intelligence. In February 1979 he was named deputy director for the
National Strategic Target List, Joint Strategic Target Planning Staff at Of futt Air Force Base.
He assumed his present duties in November 1982.
His military decorations and awards include the Defense Superior Service Medal, Legion of
Merit with one oak leaf cluster, Bronze Star Medal, Meritorious Service Medal and Joint Service
Commendation Medal.
(Current as of April 1985) OVER
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I 4E19s?,
He was promoted to major general Aug 1 1984, with date of rank Nov. I, 1980.
General Doyle is married to the former Julia Ann Ransing of Lancaster, Pa. They have two
children: Melanie and Brendan.
-30-
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?
?
Biography
United Stales Air Force
Secretary of the Air Force, Office of Public Affairs, Washington, D.C. 20330
BRIGADIER GENERAL HORACE L. RUSSELL
Brigadier General Horace L. Russell is deputy director for the national
strategic target list, Joint Strategic Target Planning Staff, Offutt Air Force
Base, Neb.
General Russell was born Feb. 26, 1937, in Jamaica, Long Island,
N.Y., and graduated from Highland High School, Gastonia, N.C., in 1954.
He received a bachelor of science degree in mechanical engineering
from Bradley University in 1958, a master of science degree in aerospace
engineering from the Air Force Institute of Technology in 1965 and a
doctor of philosophy in engineering from Purdue University in 1971.
As a 1976 Air Force research associate, he attended the National Security
program at Mershon Center, Ohio State University, and was recognized
as a Mershon fellow. The general completed Squadron Officer School
in 1963, Air Command and Staff College in 1972 and the Industrial
College of the Armed Forces in 1979.
After completing the Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps program
as a distinguished graduate, General Russell was commissioned as a
second lieutenant in June 1958 and assigned to the University of Wisconsin for training in meteorology.
In July 1959 he was assigned to Seymour Johnson Air Force Base, N.C., as a base operations weather officer.
In June 1960 he became a weather officer at Headquarters 19th Air Force, also at Seymour Johnson. From
July 1962 to December 1965 he was assigned to the 341st Strategic Missile Wing, Malmstrom Air Force
Base, serving as an instructor and deputy Minuteman combat crew commander, then as a crew commander.
General Russell transferred to the Air Force Aero-Propulsion Laboratory at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base,
Ohio, in December 1965 as a project engineer for advanced development of aircraft jet engines. From September
1967 to June 1970 he attended Purdue University and then returned to Wright-Patterson Air Force Base
as chief of the Aerospace Dynamics Branch, Air Force Flight Dynamics Laboratory. In June 1973 the general
was assigned to Headquarters Air Force Systems Command, Andrews Air Force Base, Md., as program manager
for energy conversion and mechanics. He then became chief of the Physical and Engineering Sciences Division.
He was assigned to the Air Force Office of Scientific Research, Bolling Air Force Base, D.C., as deputy director
for plans and operations from July 1975 to September 1976.
In June 1977 he was assigned as study director for tactical command, control, and communications in
the Office of the Assistant to the Chief of Staff for Studies and Analyses, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, Washington,
D.C. In July 1978 he transferred to the Industrial College of the Armed Forces, Fort Lesley J. McNair, Washington,
D.C., as a faculty member and student. The general served as chief, Programming Division, Office of the
Deputy Chief of Staff for Research, Development and Acquisition, Air Force headquarters, from June 1979
until July 1980. He then became director of defense programs, National Security Council staff, in the White
House. In August 1984 he became director for joint analysis, Organization of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Washington,
D.C. He assumed his present duties in September 1986.
(Current as of June 1987) OVER
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The general's military decorations and awards include the Defense Superior Service Medal with one oak
leaf cluster, Meritorious Service Medal with three oak leaf clusters, Air Force Commendation Medal, Air Force
Outstanding Unit Award with one oak leaf cluster and Combat Readiness Medal.
He was promoted to brigadier general June 1, 1984, with date of rank Oct. 1, 1983.
General Russell is ,married to the former Catherine Allen of Oxford, N.C. They have two children, Horace
Jr. and Patricia Alice. His hometown is Gastonia, N.C.
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*4 United Stales Air Force
HEADQUARTERS STRATEGIC AIR COMMAND, OFFICE OF PUBLIC AFFAIRS,
OFFUTT AFB, NE 68113 TEL [phone]
COLONEL JAMES P. ROOT
Colonel James P. Root is the assistant deputy
chief of staff for intelligence, Headquarters
Strategic Air Command, Offutt Air Force Base,
Neb.
Colonel Root was born Jan. 1, 1943 in Beloit,
Wis., graduated from Monticello High School, Mont-
icello, Ill., in 1960 and received his bachelor's
degree from the University of Illinois, Chapman,
Ill., in 1964. The colonel obtained his master's
degree through the Air Force Institute of Techno-
logy program from the Georgia Institute of Tech-
nology, Atlanta, Ga., in 1971. He completed Squa-
dron Officer School in 1973, Air Command and Staff
College in June 1977, and Air War College in June
1982, all located at Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala.
Receiving his commisssion through the Reserve
Officer's Training Corps at the University of Ill-
inois in August 1964, he attended the Signals Intelligence Officer Course, Good-
fellow Air Force Base, Texas. His first assignment began in August 1965 and
was to the 6917th Security Group, San Vito Air Base, Italy, as a flight com-
mander.
From September 1967 to May 1969, he was assigned to Westover Air Force
Base, Massachusetts, as a special security officer for Headquarters Eighth Air
Force. After obtaining his master's degree in September 1970, he completed the
Defense Intelligence School, Defense Intelligence Agency, Washington D.C. In
June 1971, he was assigned to Headquarters U.S. Military Assistance Command
Vietnam, Cambodia desk in intelligence analysis at the Current Intelligence and
Indications Center.
A year later, the colonel was transferred to Headquarters SAC, as chief of
the damage analysis section for the deputy chief of staff for Data Systems. He
was also dual hat assigned as a programmer, in the Damage Assessment Branch, for
the Joint Strategic Target Planning Staff.
After graduating from the Air Command and Staff College as a distinguished
graduate in June 1977, he was assigned to the Defense Intelligence Agency,
Washington, D. C. as the chief of Advanced Imagery Requirements and Exploitation
System Branch. He then attended and was a distinguished graduate from the Air
War College before being reassigned to SAC headquarters as the deputy director
for Plans with the Deputy Chief of Staff for Intelligence in July 1982.
In January 1983, while still assigned to the headquarters, Colonel Root
-more-
(Currant ac nf May 143A11
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became the deputy program manager and special assistant to the deputy Chief of
Staff for Intelligence and deputy program manager for the Intelligence Data
Handling System for the mid-1980s. He was named the deputy director of collec-
tion, Deputy Chief of Staff Intelligence in January 1985, director of collection
in July 1985 and assumed his present duties in May 1986.
He was promoted to colonel Jan. 31, 1985 with the same date of rank.
His military awards and decorations include the Bronze Star, the Defense
Meritorious Service Medal, the Joint Service Commendation Medal and the Air
Force Commendation Medal.
Colonel Root is married to the former Elizabeth Dyson Sykes of Dawlish,
England. They have two children: Benjamin and Jennifer.
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Biography
United Stales Air Force
Headquarters 55th Strategic Reconnaissance Wing (SAC) Public Affairs Division
Offutt Air Force Base, Nebraska 68113-5000 [phone] AV 271-3663
COLONEL JAMES F. MCKINNEY
Colonel James F. McKinney is the commander of the 544th Strategic Intelligence Wing, Offutt
Air Force Base, Neb.
Colonel McKinney was born Dec. 23, 1942, in Philadelphia, Pa. He graduated from Saint
Joseph Prep High School, Philadelphia, in 1960. He received his bachelor's degree in
international relations from Saint Joseph's University in 1964. He earned a master's degree
in business administration from Boston University in 1980. Colonel McKinney has completed
Squadron Officer School, Army Command and General Staff College, Industrial College of the
Armed Forces and the Air Intelligence Officer Course.
Colonel McKinney was commissioned as a distinguished graduate through the Reserve
Officers' Training Corps as a second lieutenant in June 1964. After receiving his
commission, he attended Air Intelligence Officers' School, Lowry Air Force Base, Colo.
In November 1964, the colonel was assigned to the 544th SIW, Offutt AFB, as a photo
interpretor. He was reassigned in 1967 to the Deputy Chief of Staff for Intelligence,
Headquarters Strategic Air Command, Offutt AFB, as chief of damage assessment.
The colonel was transferred in April 1971 to U-Tapao, Thailand, as a combat
intelligence team chief for the 307th Strategic Bomb Wing. In May 1972, he was reassigned
as a computer intelligence officer for Headquarters United States Air Force, Washington,
D.C. He moved in May 1974 to the Current Forces Branch, Systems Analysis and Gaming Agency,
JCS, Washington D.C.
Colonel McKinney attended Army Command and General Staff College, Fort Leavenworth,
Kan., in 1976, where he was a honor graduate. He then became chief of the Air Section,
Intelligence Division, Headquarters Allied Forces Central Europe, Brunssum, Netherlands, in
July 1977.
In August 1980, he became the chief of the Concepts Division, Targets Directorate, Hq.
SAC, Offutt AFB. In November 1982, he was named the deputy commander for the 6th Tactical
Intelligence Croup, Osan Air Base, Korea.
The colonel became the deputy commander for the Strategic Targeting Intelligence
Center, 544th SIW, Offutt APE, in November 1983. In pril 1986, he
commander for the 544th SIW. He assumed his present duties May 1, 1987.
became
the vice
His military awards and decorations include the Bronze Star, Defense Meritorious
Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medal with two oak leaf clusters, Joint Service
Commendation Medal with one oak leaf cluster and the Air Force Achievement Medal.
He was promoted to the grade of colonel April 1, 1985.
Colonel McKinney is married to the former Anne Cipparone of Philadelphia. They have
two daughters, Leigh and Diana.
(Current May 1987)
,
14*
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Biography
United States Air Force
55th Reconnaissance Wing Office of Public Affairs Offutt AFB, Nebraska 68113-5000
[phone] AV 271-3663
CHAPLAIN (COL) MEREDITH J. THOMAS
Chaplain (Col) Meredith J. Thomas is the installation staff chaplain for Offutt
Air Force Base, Neb.
Chaplain Thomas was born May 6, 1930, in Chicago Ill. He graduated from J.
Sterling Morton High School, Cicero, Ill. He received a bachelor's degree in
theology from St. Paul Bible College, St. Bonifacius, Minn., in 1952. He earned
a bachelor of arts degree from Shurtleff College, Alton Ill., in 1954; and
received a master's of divinity from Garett-Evangelical Theological Seminary,
Evanston, Ill., in 1957. He is a 1974 graduate of the Industrial College of the
Armed Forces, Fort McNair, Va., a 1975 graduate of the Armed Forces Staff
College and a 1978 graduate of the Air War College, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
Chaplain Thomas was commissioned Nov. 26, 1965 by presidential appointment.
His first assignment was as a Protestant chaplain for the 62nd Military Airlift
Wing, McChord AFB, Wash. From 1971 to 73, he was assigned as a Protestant
chaplain for the 3785th Field Training Wing, Sheppard AFB, Texas.
From 1973 through 1979, he was assigned to four different bases. He was the
installation chaplain at Shemya AFB, Alaska until 1974; he attended Armed Forces
Staff College, Norfolk, Va.; he was the Protestant chaplain for the 438th
Military Airlift Wing, McGuire AFB, N.J., until 1977; and he was the deputy
staff chaplain at Yongsan AB, South Korea.
After returning to the United States, he became the installation chaplain
for th 23rd Tactical Fighter Wing, England AFB, La., and he was the director of
cadet religious activities at the Air Force Academy, Colorado Springs, Colo. He
assumed his present duties June 20, 1986.
The chaplain's military awards and decorations include: the Legion of
Merit, Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medal with three
oak leaf clusters and the Air Force Commendation Medal.
He was promoted to colonel Oct 31, 1981.
Chaplain Thomas is married to the former Lenore Anita Kyle of Wichita, Kan.
They have two children, David and Deborah.
(Current Aug 86)
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Colonel Thomas E. Vincent is currently the Vice Commander, 544th Strategic
Intelligence Wing, Headquarters Strategic Air Command, Offutt Air Force
Base, Nebraska.
Born January 9, 1943 in Alva, Oklahoma, Colonel Vincent completed a
Bachelor's Degree in Business Administration from Northwestern Oklahoma
State University and later a Master's Degree in Instructional Technology
from the University of Southern California. His professional military
education includes Squadron Officer School, Air Command and Staff College
and National Security Management (Industrial College of the Armed
Forces).
After being commissioned from Officer Training School in May 1966,
Colonel Vincent served four years in the Special Services field before
crosstraining into Intelligence in 1970 via the Air Intelligence Officers
Course at Lowry AFB, Colorado. Upon graduation he was assigned to the
480th Reconnaissance Technical Group at Langley AFB, Virginia. In June
of 1974 Colonel Vincent was transferred to Kadena Air Base, Okinawa,
where he served as Chief of Target Intelligence, 18th Tactical Fighter
Wing planning strike missions in support of national war plans.
Returning to CONUS in January 1978, Colonel Vincent was assigned to
March AFB, California where he served as wing Target Intelligence Officer
and later as Chief of Target Materials/Unit Support, 15th Air Force.
In December 1980 Colonel Vincent again transferred overseas, this time
as Chief of Targets, US Forces Korea, Yongsan Garrison, Seoul, Korea.
During this period he was instrumental in establishing the combined
ROK/US targeting infrastructure.
Following Korea, in June 1982, he was assigned as Chief, Target Concepts
and Applications Division, Air Force Intelligence Service, Washington
DC. In this capacity Colonel Vincent worked directly with the target
intelligence functional manager in support of career field operations.
Following four years in Washington, Colonel Vincent moved to Offutt AFB
where he served as Chief, Military Branch, Target Selection Division,
Joint Strategic Target Planning Staff, working mostly the relocatable
target issue.
August 15, 1987 Colonel Vincent assumed the position of Vice Commander,
544th Strategic Intelligence Wing.
Colonel Vincent's decorations include the Defense Meritorious Service
Medal and the Meritorious Service Medal with two oak leaf clusters. He
was promoted to colonel on I May 1987.
He is married to the former Sandy Knopp from Louisville, Kentucky. The
Vincents have two children, son Jeff and daughter Samantha.
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2ND LT NORMA N. BENNETT
Second Lieutenant Norma N. Bennett is assigned to the 544th
Intelligence Exploitation Squadron, Ground Forces Branch.
Lieutenant Bennett was born in Key West, Florida on February 3,
1963, but she now calls San Antonio, Texas her home. She graduated
from Oliver Wendell Holmes High School in San Antonio in 1981.
In 1985 she received a Bachelor of Science degree in Chemistry
from Princeton University, Princeton, New Jersey.
After attending Officer Training School and Intelligence Officer
School at Lowry AFB, Colorado, she assumed her present duty in
October 1986.
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1ST LT STEVEN A. ZALESKI
1st Lt Steven A. Zaleski is a Team Chief for the Offensive Missiles
Branch, 544th Strategic Intelligence Wing (SIW), Offutt AFB, Nebraska.
Lieutenant Zaleski was born January 5, 1961 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
He graduated with honors receiving a degree in education from the
University of Wisconsin at Milwaukee.
In May 1986, Lt Zaleski went to Officer Training School at Lackland
AFB, Texas. In September 1986, he went to Lowry AFB, Colorado for
Intelligence Technical Training. Following graduation from the
Intelligence Technical school in March of 1986, he reported to
Offutt AFB to work in the Offensive Missiles Branch, 544 SIW, where
he is currently assigned. While assigned to Offutt, Lt Zaleski
was awarded the 544 SIW Superior Performer for June 1987.
Lt Zaleski is married to the former Betsy Schoeller of Milwaukee,
Wisconsin.
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THE STORY
OF THE
544TH STRATEGIC INTELLIGENCE WING
1950 -1985
111111111111111111hugliiiiiiiii
Iii
min g-'1111111it 11
PREPARED BY: MSGT GARY P. MYERS, 544 SON/HO
NOVEMBER 1985
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EMBLEM
HERALDIC DESCRIPTION
A shield divided per fess, azure and lozengy, argent
and sable; in fess, a bar dovetail on top gules, in
chief a stylized hawk's eye proper winged and
encircled with five four-pointed stars of the second,
details and shadows of the first, all within a
diminished bordure or.
SIGNIFICANCE
The Winged Hawk Eye: Symbolizes detailed intelligence
search and interpretation from aerial reconnaissance
and observation. Five Stars: Each star represents a
major mission of the organization at the time the
emblem was approved, as: mapping, intelligence, repro-
duction, interpretation and research. The Partition:
A walled battlement representing national defense
dovetailed with air power (the blue field). The
Checkered Field: The earth's surface, cultivated and
barren, bounded by a geographic grid.
MOTTO
Hic et Ubique (Here and Everywhere)
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THE STORY OF THE 544TH STRATEGIC INTELLIGENCE WING 1950 - 1985
On 16 November 1985, the 544th Strategic Intelligence
Wing celebrated its 35th anniversary. Today, this unit has
the distinction of being the only organization in the
American intelligence community with both the capabilities
and the charter to perform complete all-source intelligence
fusion. With a force of approximately a thousand officer
and enlisted personnel, it operates the largest photo proc-
essing, imagery interpretation, electronic intelligence
(ELINT) processing, and all-source analysis activities in
the Air Force. The applications side of the house is repre-
sented by the 544th's unique Strategic Targeting
Intelligence Center with its trajectory, weaponeering,
targeting, and contingency support missions.
PREDECESSORS OF THE 544TH
At the end of World War II, the results of Germany's exten-
sive photoreconnaissance operations fell into Allied hands.
Luftwaffe aircraft had been collecting imagery of the Soviet
Union since 1940; the Soviets had known but could do little
to stop it. Master photographic prints of this and other
imagery eventually wound up at Zossen, the site of German
Army Headquarters, near Berlin. Nearly 3,000 cubic feet of
prints--a large portion of the total World War II German
aerial photo collection--were ultimately found by the Allies.
This Luftwaffe photography formed only one part of a vast
amount of film and related material obtained during the war.
The task of indexing it all and processing it into more
usable intelligence was quickly recognized as an enormous
undertaking. As early as the summer of 1945, the
reconnaissance/imagery interpretation community was con-
sidering various ways to accomplish this important work.
Emphasis was placed on giving the project to an organization
in the Washington, DC area.
Accordingly, in 1946, the 10th Photo Technical Squadron (PTS)
was organized at Bolling AFB to produce maps and analyze,
classify, reproduce, and prepare for storage the many
Army Air Forces aerial photographs and negatives generated
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2
during the war years. This mission also included the cap-
tured German film and such postwar film as the Army Air
Forces' photographic coverage of Operation Crossroads--the
atomic tests conducted in July 1946.
LUFTWAFFE IMAGERY OF MOSCOW - 1943
At first, the job was primarily to process the captured
German film, but by 1947 cartographic and lithographic
operations had begun--with offset presses capable of pro-
ducing air target charts. At the time, the 10th consisted
of an analysis and classification section, a photographic
laboratory, a photo interpretation section, and a photogram-
metric and reproduction section; each with the most modern
equipment available during that period.
When film first arrived at the organization, it was sent to
the analysis and interpretation section where bad or useless
portions were separated from that which had potential mapping
or record uses. When requirements for a specific map came
through Army Air Forces headquarters, 10th Photo personnel
first checked the enormous index of aerial film to determine
if the requested area had sufficient photographic coverage.
If so, negatives from the files were sent to the laboratories
for printing. The resulting prints were then forwarded to
the photogrammetric section where the necessary maps were
produced.
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3
EARLY 10TH PTS OPERATIONS
Even though most of the work during those early years was
being assigned out of the Pentagon, the Squadron was already
under the control of the Strategic Air Command (SAC). SAC
had been created on 21 March 1946 to perpetuate the strate-
gic bombing superiority that had helped bring Allied victory
in World War II. Initially under the command of General
George C. Kenney, SAC's mandate was to build an effective
organization capable of conducting long-range offensive
operations in any part of the world. The type of strategic
intelligence being produced by the 10th PTS was an essential
element in accomplishing that mission. On 8 December 1947,
the Squadron was formally assigned to the 31st Reconnaissance
Wing at Andrews AFB. Headquarters SAC was also located at
Andrews during this period.
That winter, the Squadron began processing all aerial film
from the second atomic tests, known as Operation Sandstone.
The commander, Lt Col Charles F. Wilson, personally reviewed
most of this film immediately after it was developed.
Evaluation reports were then sent at once to the test sites
overseas.
The name of the unit was changed to 4203d Photo Technical
Squadron in 1948 and it was placed under what was then the
311th Air Division. In addition to its aerial film library,
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4
the 4203d operated a news coverage section along with car-
tographic and lithographic functions at Bolling. It also
had a photo interpretation branch housed in the Pentagon.
That year, the 4203d began producing Series 100 (Denver) air
target charts, a forerunner to the present air target chart
program.
PHOTOMAPPING OPERATIONS
Also in 1948, General Curtis E. LeMay took command of SAC,
and SAC Headquarters moved from Andrews to Offutt AFB,
Omaha, Nebraska. The 311th also relocated from the
Washington area--first to Forbes AFB, Kansas and then later
to Barksdale AFB, Louisiana.
The following year, Second Air Force undertook planning for
the creation of a reconnaissance technical outfit in the
United Kingdom to service SAC's overseas units. Accordingly,
a detachment from the 4203d was sent to West Drayton on
temporary duty in January 1950 to assist in organizing a
function known as the 8th ADVON. This eventually became the
3921st Reconnaissance Technical Squadron and, much later,
Detachment 2 of the 544th.
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5
BIRTH OF THE 544TH
In the meantime, staff studies and conferences were already
underway to create a special reconnaissance technical unit--
under the direct control of Headquarters SAC--to provide the
Command with special intelligence materials and to assist in
standardizing techniques and procedures used by SAC's other
reconnaissance technical organizations. Words and wishes
quickly evolved into specific blueprints for a technical
operation at Offutt AFB, Nebraska.
FIRST HOME OF THE 544TH - BOLLING AFB
Then, on 25 June 1950, the North Korean army launched a
surprise attack on South Korea. The outbreak of war placed
an extra load on the USAF intelligence directorate and, in
turn, on the 4203d's photo interpreters. At the same time,
target material production for SAC was increasing and the
Squadron continued its support of operations in Britain.
However, the war did not derail SAC's plans for a special
squadron. Accordingly, the 4203d was discontinued on 16
November 1950. Concurrently, the 544th Reconnaissance
Technical Squadron was activated in its place and assigned
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IT COL WILLIAM W. ROBINSON - FIRST 544TH COMMANDER
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to the 3902d Air Base Wing at Offutt. In organizational
terms, the 544 RTS was a totally new unit with no formal
historical connection to the defunct 4203d. Functionally,
however, the activation amounted to little more than a name
change. Operations went on without a break as the 544th
absorbed the mission, equipment, and personnel of its prede-
cessor. Lieutenant Colonel William W. Robinson, who had
previously been assigned as Commander of the 4203d, accord-
ingly assumed command of the new squadron and its force of
61 officers and 354 enlisted personnel.
The original mission of the 544th RTS was to provide SAC
and Headquarters USAF with technical services and support
through the production and reproduction of target material
and intelligence information, preparation of photo intelli-
gence reports, and maintenance of a target materials library
and a central library of radar and aerial materials generated
by SAC'S other reconnaissance organizations. Working
directly under the Intelligence staff at Headquarters SAC,
the 544 RTS also served as the experimental workshop for
other reconnaissance technical squadrons and acted as the
test bed for new equipment and techniques. At the same
time, a vital new mission was also assumed--electronic
intelligence exploitation.
Earlier in 1949, SAC had increased its airborne electronic
intelligence collection efforts. There were two broad
objectives in the collection of this type of intelligence
information. One was to gather raw data having immediate
operational applications such as locating enemy radars,
determining their functions, and detailing their operational
parameters. The other was to record radar signals of
research and/or strategic value that would reveal Communist
advances in radar technology. That type of highly sophisti-
cated intelligence required the employment of skilled tech-
nicians and engineers. To meet these needs, this new mission
was assigned to the 544 RTS upon its activation. Concurrent
with the activation of the Squadron at Bolling, a unique
outfit (designated Detachment 1, 544 RTS) was established at
Barksdale AFB, Louisiana to analyze those signals.
While the 544th was stationed at Bolling, it served par-
tially as a monitoring and pioneering organization insofar
as new equipment and production were concerned. At that
time, the reconnaissance technical aspect of the Air Force
was still in its infancy and specially designed and tested
equipment was required to facilitate production.
The planned move of the Squadron to Offutt created consider-
able concern within the Pentagon about photo interpreter
assistance for USAF Intelligence--especially in light of
the critical information needed to support operations in
Korea. Although the 544th was not responsible for provid-
ing either personnel or equipment to the USAF Director
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8
of Intelligence or USAF's Photographic Records and Services
Division, an agreement was reached to fill the void with
temporary duty personnel for at least six months after relo-
cating to Offutt.
While the move to Omaha (originally scheduled for 1951)
hovered in the distance, the 544th continued its support of
detachment operations at West Drayton. However, the shortage
of personnel caused by this commitment severely limited
the Squadron's production of target materials for SAC.
Colonel Robinson urged General LeMay to have part of the
reconnaissance task force returned and was informally
assured that more equitable arrangements would be made. On
20 March, the 7th Air Division was activated in England, but
it was October before the 3921st Reconnaissance Technical
Squadron took over operations at West Drayton and the 544th
was able to bring its people home.
As the bond with the Headquarters at Offutt grew stronger
day by day, more and more work was being assigned by SAC
rather than the Pentagon. Detachment 1, with its ELINT
operations, moved from Barksdale to Offutt in March 1951,
but the rest of the Squadron functions continued at Bolling.
Then, on 19 September 1951, a phone call from Headquarters
USAF notified the Squadron that it was to be out of the
Washington area no later than 26 October. The 544th imme-
diately notified SAC. SAC, in turn, began efforts to have
the move postponed until space was available at Offutt.
In the meantime, the Squadron had to proceed on the assump-
tion that the move would take place by the October date. All
personnel worked without regard to hours to prepare the
detailed movement plans and accomplish some packing. But by
the end of September, the date had been slipped to January
1952.
As plans for the big relocation were refined, it became
apparent that a residual force would have to remain in the
Washington, DC area to research and reproduce source
materials needed for the preparation of target materials.
This future detachment began separate operations in December
1951 to develop the precise procedures and operations that
would become critical after the impending transfer of the
rest of the Squadron to Omaha. Meanwhile, the 544th's air-
men continued to dream of the new, modern SAC-style dor-
mitories (with semi-private rooms) promised at Offutt.
OFF TO OMAHA
The scheduled move was later postponed again until the
spring of 1952. The first major step in the transfer came
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PACKING FOR THE MOVE TO OFFUTT BEGAN IN SEPTEMBER 1951
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in March 1952 when Colonel Robinson departed for Offutt to
make the initial arrangements for a move the following
month. At the same time, the paperwork began to fly fast
and thick at Bolling as people processed out and began relo-
cating their families. About half of the Squadron's equip-
ment was shipped that month.
Photo lab vans arrived at Offutt on 12 March. Lab person-
nel unloaded both heavy and delicate equipment and started
the process of setting up a workable unit. As the historian
noted: "Morale and interest in this movement. . .(were) sur-
passed only by eagerness to start the operation of the unit
on schedule. It won't be long before the sounds of trucks,
hammers, and saws give way to the hum of print dryers and
the click of contact printers."
An efficient procedure for briefing all incoming Squadron
personnel was quickly devised at Offutt. It operated on a
24-hour basis and furnished everything from security badges
to lists of available off-base housing for married members.
About half of the 544th's equipment was shipped during March
and people began moving. After a trip that averaged five
days, some families found quarters in Wherry housing and
others located accommodations in surrounding communities.
A major logistical challenge was the movement of the unit's
mountainous collection of classified material. The most
sensitive and highly classified documents were flown to
Offutt on 7 April, couriered by a senior officer, and turned
over to the 544th's Top Secret Control Officer. But the
Squadron's voluminous Target Library and other materials
could not be so easily dealt with. The decision finally was
to send it all by one rail shipment in two sealed steel box-
cars. In addition to the protection afforded by the sealed
boxcars, the documents were also locked inside safes that
weighed several hundred pounds each--when empty.
Getting the heavily loaded safes into the boxcars took a day
and a half of sweating assisted by a degree of ingenuity.
Then the cars were sealed. One officer and seven airmen
accompanied the shipment as couriers and made frequent checks
on the door seals throughout the trip. They rode part of the
way in a caboose and the rest of the way in a pullman-type
car of 1910 vintage.
The shipment pulled out of Washington on 10 April with the
document cars and caboose at the end of a 110-car freight
train. whose freight (for a major part of the trip) consisted
mainly of cattle. After arriving in Omaha on 17 April,
another day and a half was required for unloading.
The organizational transfer was officially accomplished on
7 April. Detachment 1, which had moved to Omaha a year
earlier, was disbanded and its ELINT operations were absorbed
by the Squadron now in place at Offutt. With the discon-
tinuance of ELINT operations as a separate activity, the
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11
small element left behind in Washington was activated as the
new Detachment 1. The last van carrying the remainder of
the unit's luggage rolled into Omaha on 21 April. The 544th
was in its new home at last!
Based on the preliminary relocation literature which had
painted an elegant picture of life at Offutt, the majority
of the Squadron's airmen had awaited the move with eager
anticipation. As the historian of that time reported:
Some months prior to the scheduled arrival
of the 544 RTS, plans had been made and
construction started for facilities to meet
the requirements of the organization . . .
With the scheduled completion of the new
type barracks, it appeared that adequate
housing would be ready for occupancy on or
before 15 April 1952.
But hopes of luxurious living were quickly dashed. The
promised new barracks were not even close to being finished
and combined working/sleeping areas had been set up inside a
monstrous hangar called MOD-B.
COMBINED WORKING/LIVING AREA IN MOD-B
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For some, who at Bolling had been located apart from the main
unit, there was the routine of getting the feel of new faces,
a new squadron, and a new base. Faces that had earlier been
buried in the basement of the Pentagon or in the vault of
the Bolling Target Library now appeared to many for the first
time. But the feelings of nervousness soon wore off as the
unfamiliar faces soon became familiar. People that peered
at each other over drafting tables during the day, likewise
surveyed each other at night from bunks located not many
feet away from those same drafting tables.
The somewhat disillusioned troops were quickly introduced
to the fickle and often violent nature of weather in
Nebraska. They had arrived just as Omaha was battling to
contain the largest flood in its history. The normally
sedate Missouri River--"Old Muddy"--was doing its best to
inundate Omaha and the lowlands surrounding Offutt.
Yet, most of the people in the 544th took the situation in
stride and managed to look upon it as a great adventure.
Airman Second Class Lou Gros Louis, in his memoirs of early
life in the 544th, aptly described the Squadron's encounter
with Old Muddy:
When we arrived in Omaha the area was under
the worst flood conditions in many years and
the end of the runway was under water as well
as the lower parking lot. Landing short we
taxied to a hangar called MOD B, which was to
be the home of the 544th. . . ..... Taking
our gear we were taken inside to an area
which was. . . .both sleeping quarters and
work quarters. We were told to get some rest
as we were pulling duty in downtown Omaha
piling sand bags and working on the flood.
For some it was
piling sand bags on the dikes and for others
like myself. . . , we volunteered to go out
on the canal on a barge and drop sand bags
and I-beams to try and fill holes in the
dikes. It was a long night and everyone
thought they would sleep for days when they
got back to MOD B. Of course this was
foolish thinking when you have a crew like
the 544th!
But the 544th did more than just put up with the incon-
venience caused by the greatest flood in the history of the
Missouri River. In cooperation with the Army Corps of
Engineers, the Squadron took an active part in Operation
Flood Control. To evaluate the flood regions under water,
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Several survey missions were flown by aircraft of the 91st
Reconnaissance Wing. The 544th's laboratory facilities were
quickly and efficiently brought up to the necessary operat-
ing levels, and the survey film was promptly developed,
printed, titled, and plotted. By the 14th of April, the
laboratory was operating round-the-clock. Reliefs were
arranged, but few slept.
THE 544TH SUPPORTED OPERATION FLOOD CONTROL IN 1952
During this period, all personnel worked 12-hour schedules,
but that normally slipped into several additional hours.
Requirements for sand bagging details became even more
demanding. The Missouri finally crested at its all-time
high. But thanks to the almost superhuman work on the
levees and dikes, the waters were prevented from rushing out
to flood additional thousands of acres.
After the flood crisis passed, the 544th's people agreed
that they had gained much experience from the operation.
They were justly proud of reaching maximum operational effi-
ciency after starting from the bare, unequipped walls of the
hangar just thirty days before.
As the river receded, things began to once again take
on a semblance of normalcy. By early June, everyone pre-
viously quartered in the technical operations area had been
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moved to the second floor of the hangar. While this was a
small improvement, the conditions remained unsatisfactory.
They were not significantly improved until the spring of
1953 when the 544th was finally permitted to move to one
floor of a new dormitory.
EARLY YEARS AT OFF VII
Technical operations continued on the first floor of MOD-B
for almost three years before a like amount of work space
became available on the second level. While the expansion
relieved overcrowding, conditions of extreme heat in summer
and wide variations in humidity played havoc with equipment
and personnel alike. These difficulties were overcome, to a
degree, by working during the very early morning hours and
installing various means of humidity control.
During that period, some combat reporting from Korea was
being accomplished and the photo interpreters were back in
the routine of exploiting radar imagery. But training
remained a major problem as the Squadron continued losing
experienced people--either through transfer to other recon-
naissance technical organizations or separation from the Air
Force. The problem was compounded by the fact that prac-
tically no formal training was available for the type of
pioneering intelligence work being performed by the 544th.
Accordingly, the Squadron established its own training
program divided between four hours of classroom work and
four hours of on-the-job training each day. Additionally,
some personnel were sent to a limited number of schools--
both military and civilian--that provided instruction in
different phases of reconnaissance technical production.
Ingenuity played a vital role in the 544th's early opera-
tions since the Squadron was heavily involved in developing
and testing new pieces of equipment, new processing tech-
niques, and new intelligence products. On occasion,
existing equipment, procedures, or products could not meet
operational requirements. When that happened, Squadron per-
sonnel fabricated, improvised, or developed new ones and
passed the specifications and instructions on to the other
reconnaissance technical units. Among these numerous inno-
vations was a copy camera called "THE THING" which was ini-
tially devised at Bolling and later replicated at Offutt.
Developed by the 544th's photo lab technicians, "THE THING"
was capable of copying faster than any piece of equipment
being used anywhere in the armed forces at that time.
About this time, the 544th was devising an official emblem
for approval by the Department of the Air Force. The
winning design was one submitted by MSgt Conway J. Jocks
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IN-HOUSE TRAINING WAS AN ESSENTIAL ELEMENT OF EARLY OPERATIONS
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16
of the Photomapping Branch. It showed a winged hawk eye
symbolizing detailed intelligence search and interpretation
from aerial reconnaissance. Its five stars represented the
major missions of the unit at that time: mapping, intelli-
gence, reproduction, interpretation, and research. A walled
battlement represented national defense dovetailed with air
power, symbolized by the blue sky. In the foreground, a
checkered field represented the earth's surface, cultivated
and barren, bound by a geographic grid. The emblem was
approved in January 1953.
Generally, overall production capabilities and requirements
gradually increased during those early years at Offutt. The
exception was electronic analysis operations which skyrocketed
in terms of personnel strength, volume of production, variety
of production, and authorized equipment. ELINT support
quickly became an increasingly critical factor in carrying
out the mission of the Strategic Air Command. However, the
Squadron's overall mission--at that time--still centered on
the production of detailed air target materials.
At this point in its history, the 544th was organized
around four divisions--Intelligence, Operations, Material,
and Administration. Additionally, Detachment 1 was still
functioning at full speed back in Washington. The five
operational branches (Photographic Laboratory,
Reconnaissance Interpretation, Electronic Analysis,
Photomapping, and Reproduction) remained basically the
same as when the Squadron first moved to Nebraska.
A NEW HOME . . . FINALLY!
The organization's first Open House took place in 1956 while
the 544th was still conducting its operations in MOD-B.
But the new SAC Control Center (Building 500) was nearing
completion. The Squadron moved into its new basement
facilities in Building 500 during the last week of January
1957. The contrast with MOD-B was dramatic. According to
the Squadron Historian, the new reconnaissance technical area
was ". . .planned by our own personnel and was laid out in
such a manner that the work flow can be easily accomplished
in the least possible time."
Some of the initial excitement of moving into the new facil-
ity wore off rapidly with the discovery of a few flaws. In
late March, heavy snows caused power and communications
failures throughout the building. To its utter surprise,
the 544th quickly discovered that it was not connected to
the Control Center's emergency power. Arrival of summer
presented a new problem--the lack of humidity control for
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11
the basement where the Squadron was located. As a
result, the paper used in producing air target charts began
soaking up the extra moisture and started stretching during
the print process.
By that time, however, the 544th had ceased being just an
ordinary reconnaissance technical outfit. This was
acknowledged with the presentation of the young squadron's
first Air Force Outstanding Unit Award. Covering the period
of 1 July 1956 through 30 June 1957, the Award cited ". . .
meritorious service of great national significance. . . ."
and noted that "Quantity and quality of target material pro-
duction was increased to the extent that it surpassed that
of any other reconnaissance technical squadron within SAC."
As proud as the 544th's officers and airmen were at that
time, few would have ventured to predict that the organiza-
tion would go on to garner eight more over the next 26
years.
PHOTO INTERPRETATION - 1957
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The pace of this evolution increased significantly during
1957 as the Electronic Analysis Division was redesignated as
the Electronic Intelligence Division to reflect a major
change in mission and capabilities precipitated by the addi-
tion of new ELINT collection aircraft to SAC'S inventory.
Concurrently, many expensive pieces of state-of-the-art
electronic equipment were installed to support the divis-
ion's expanded operations. By the end of the year, the
ELINT work load had almost doubled and the space in the
basement of the SAC Control Center was beginning to look too
small for projected needs. Accordingly, plans were sub-
mitted for the construction of a new addition to Building
500 to be occupied solely by elements of the 544th.
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CONSTRUCTION OF THE 544 RTG WING - 1959
EXPANDING OPERATIONS
In the meantime, another challenge for the 544th was just
coming into view. SAC was becoming increasingly involved in
the development of missiles as a means of increasing its
long-range striking power and the Air Force was given sole
responsibility for the operation of intermediate and inter-
continental range ballistic missiles. Since these were
developed for strategic bombing purposes, SAC was assured
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19
a primary role within the Air Force missile program. The
544th's initial missile mission was later proclaimed con-
cisely in the Omaha World Herald: "Gun Sight for SAC
Missiles To Be Constructed at Offutt--Will Figure Aiming
Data for ICBMs."
Immediately afterward, in April, the SAC Director of
Intelligence announced plans for placing an ALWAC IIIE com-
puter in the 544th, along with Nistri Stereo Comparators.
The ALWAC was a drum-type memory computer, while the stereo
comparators were refined mensuration and viewing instru-
ments. Though the 544th had been experimenting with data
automation for several years, the ALWAC represented the
first true computer in SAC Intelligence. It arrived and was
installed during June 1958.
In the midst of all this excitement, the 544th made a
momentous organizational leap. On 11 July 1958, it was
redesignated as the 544th Reconnaissance Technical Group
(RTG) with assignment directly to Headquarters SAC under the
operational supervision of the Director of Intelligence.
Concurrently, several operational centers were established
to carry the Group's work load. The Collection Center com-
bined the functions of Detachment 1 (which remained in place.
at Bolling) and the former Intelligence Library Division.
Its mission was to select, evaluate, and disseminate all
available source material pertinent to SAC reconnaissance
technical operations. The Target Center took over the mission
of the Target Intelligence Production Division which was
responsible for the "factory work" done by the 544th. The
Electronic Center (normally referred to simply as the ELINT
Center) provided ELINT support to SAC. The Trajectory Center
was not yet in place; it would have the new and unique mission
of preparing the target trajectories, flight tables, and
target kits required for the Air Force's strategic missiles.
This massive mission expansion was accompanied by a four-fold
average increase in target materials production. At the
same time, collection activity jumped to new high levels;
$5,000,000 worth of new and complex equipment was installed;
and ELINT operations accomplished by the 544th attained
even greater emphasis. The Trajectory Center became opera-
tional in October 1958 and a flood of people began to pour
in as personnel authorizations skyrocketed from 517 in July
1958 to 1,300 by July 1959. As the new people and equipment
began arriving, floorspace became an increasing problem.
However, no relief was possible until completion of the new
544th addition to Building 500.
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ALL-SOURCE MISSION
The organizational metamorphosis of the 544th into an "all-
source" intelligence unit began in late 1959 when the mission
was again increased--this time to assume many of the opera-
tions previously accomplished by SAC Intelligence.
Particularly significant was the added responsibility for
performing all-source intelligence analysis. In addition to
the detachment already in existance at Bolling, the 544th
was also assigned four new detachments scattered around the
world. These included two in the United Kingdom, one in
Japan, and one in Turkey. Another detachment, this one in
Alaska, was added soon after.
To support those new responsibilities, the 544th's organi-
zational structure was once more altered; this time to
include a fifth operational element called the Analysis
Center. Concurrently, the Collection Center was redes-
ignated as the Data Center and the Photo Exploitation
Branch of the Target Center was transferred to provide the
nucleus of the new Analysis Center.
The long-awaited move into G-Wing finally materialized in
February 1960. The ELINT Center relocated to the second
floor and the Data Center moved to the third floor.
Portions of the ELINT Center and Trajectory Center occupied
the first floor--although most of Trajectory was in the
basement. The basement floor of the new wing quickly became
home for the new computer equipment that was then beginning
to arrive in quantity.
Five months later, the 544 RTG undertook a series of name
changes intended to reflect the actual functions of the dif-
ferent centers. As a result, the Data Center became the
Data Systems Center; the ELINT Center became the Defense
Analysis Center; the Target Center became the Target
Materials Center; and the Analysis Center became the
Research Center. These were name changes only with no
alteration to organizational structure or mission respon-
sibilities.
A particularly significant event in the Group's history
occurred on 16 August 1960 when the Secretary of Defense
announced the creation of the Joint Strategic Target
Planning Staff (JSTPS). Composed of representatives from
all branches of the armed forces, the JSTPS was charged with
the responsibility for preparing and maintaining a National
Strategic Target List and a Single Integrated Operational
Plan (SIOP) that would specify which weapons would be com-
mitted against which targets in the event of nuclear war.
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ALL-SOURCE ANALYSIS RESPONSIBILITIES WERE ASSIGNED IN 1959
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Creation of the JSTPS precipitated another major expansion
of the 544th's mission--particularly within the Research
Center. Specifically, the Research Center was given the new
task of preparing and maintaining all-source intelligence
summaries for the myriad targets the JSTPS had to consider
when prioritizing targets and allocating weapons.
In a little over a decade, the size of the 544th had more
than tripled and the increased mission responsibilities had
outstripped even that phenomenal growth. In late 1960, the
detachment in Turkey was discontinued, but it was quickly
replaced in early 1961 by a new detachment at Vandenberg
AFB, California.
New equipment and upgraded capabilities abounded during
this period. The Minicard Data Processing System (which
permitted massive storage and expedited retrieval of docu-
ments, photos, etc.) was declared operational. In addition,
the Defense Analysis Center was trying out a new computer
system called the Ferret Intelligence Data Evaluator
(FINDER) and the 438L Advanced Intelligence Data System
began providing operational support.
MISSILES IN CUBA
By the summer of 1962, events were gradually building
toward an international crisis in which the Group was
destined to play an historic part. It came in October. For
months, indications had suggested that the Soviets were
constructing offensive missile sites in Cuba. Along with
the rest of the American intelligence community, the 544th
meticulously searched photo coverage of the island and eval-
uated other all-source data looking for definative proof.
It finally came after a SAC U-2 reconnaissance aircraft,
piloted by Major Richard S. Heyser, made a pass over Cuba on
14 October. The resulting photography clearly showed Soviet
intermediate range ballistic missiles being installed.
The 544th played a central role in making that historic
call. In fact, the high-quality intelligence support pro-
vided by the 544th was so timely and complete throughout the
crisis that Secretary of Defense Robert S. McNamara was
reported as having stated at one point, "The next time I
want to know what's going on, I'll ask the 544th."
On 22 October, President John F. Kennedy made a formal
demand that the Soviets remove all offensive missiles sited
in Cuba. At the same time, he announced the imposition of a
naval quarantine of further arms shipments destined for the
island. The die was cast and the world waited in anxious
anticipation of what would happen next.
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With the President's announcement, SAC quickly intensified
its alert posture. Leaves were cancelled, personnel were
recalled to duty, and battle staffs began operating 24 hours
a day. The Command's B-47s were dispersed, a portion of the
B-52 force assumed airborne alert status, additional bombers
and tankers were put on ground alert, and SAC's operational
force of intercontinental ballistic missiles was prepared to
respond immediately. Within the 544th, photo interpreters
and intelligence analysts continued working round-the-clock
to provide vital intelligence to both SAC and the national
intelligence community.
CUBAN MISSILE CRISIS SUPPORT - 1962
By the 25th of October, SAC reconnaissance aircraft had
joined other forces in searching the seas for Soviet ships
bound for Cuba. Two days later, a SAC U-2 piloted by Major
Rudolph Anderson, Jr., was shot down while conducting a
reconnaissance flight over the island. The situation became
increasingly tense as the various response options were con-
sidered.
The ice finally broke on 28 October when the Soviet Union
agreed to remove the missiles. To the relief of the rest of
the world, the showdown had ended and the immediate crisis
was over.
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IMAGERY OF CUBAN MISSILE SITE - 1962
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However, Group personnel continued to be heavily involved
in verifying the dismantling and removal of the missile com-
ponents over the next several weeks. Operations within the
544th remained at the crisis support level with many ele-
ments still functioning 24 hours a day. This pace slowed as
the crisis receded. By the end of November, most people had
returned to their normal tasks--although the Photo Lab was
still providing continuous support to the Defense Analysis
Center through December, and the Research Center was still
analyzing Cuban material.
The 544th later received its second Air Force Outstanding
Unit Award in recognition of the exceptional support pro-
vided during the crisis. But the satisfaction of being
proved right had come earlier. Looking back with all the
evidence available at the end of October, officials esti-
mated that the first strategic missiles--or parts of them--
had begun arriving in Cuba about 10 September and sections
of the missiles had started to the launch sites a few days
later. This conformed almost exactly with the 544th's ini-
tial conclusions.
GROWING DEMANDS
Following the end of the Cuban missile crisis, the tempo,
magnitude, and complexity of SAC collection activities
increased dramatically. Those expanded activities were
reflected in correspondingly high levels of production
within the 544th.
By January 1963, total Group authorizations had climbed to
1,510. The importance of the 544th's mission and its
increased size in support of that mission was recognized by
granting the organization wing status. Accordingly, on 1
January 1963, the 544th Reconnaissance Technical Group was
redesignated as the 544th Aerospace Reconnaissance Technical
Wing (ARTW). Colonel Thomas F. Osborne, who was the Group
Commander at the time of the redesignation, continued to
direct the 544th as its first Wing Commander.
During this period, the escalation of American involvement
in South Vietnam produced constantly growing demands for
timely intelligence support. A part of the answer was the
Strategic Air Relocatable Photographic Facility (SARPF).
This was a self-sustaining mobile photo processing facility
which could be utilized wherever required as a complete
full-time photo processing laboratory or as a backup for
existing fixed photo facilities. The 544 ARTW received the
first SARPF in September 1964. It was later deployed to
South Vietnam where it served with great effectiveness.
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STRATEGIC AIR RELOCATABLE PHOTOGRAPHIC FACILITY- 1964
A new photo interpretation mission was accepted in 1964 with
the introduction of B-58s modified for photoreconnaissance.
The first operational B-58 reconnaissance flight took place
in late March 1964 following a devastating earthquate in
Alaska. During the period of 28 - 29 March, RB-47s and
reconnaissance-modified B-58s flew numerous low-level, high-
speed sorties photographing damage that had been inflicted
on Gulkana, Valdez, Seward, Whittier, and Anchorage.
The resulting imagery, exploited by the 544th, proved of
great importance in assessing the damage and assisting
rescue teams.
By. November 1964, another 544th detachment had been
activated--this one at Beale AFB, California. As a result,
authorized personnel levels reached an all-time high of
1,601. However, the requirement to man these outposts began
to decline in 1965 with the discontinuance of detachments in
Japan, the United Kingdom, Alaska, and at Vandenberg AFB.
In the meantime, the 544th was committing large portions of
its assigned personnel to support temporary duty require-
ments in Southeast Asia.
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,
B-58 PHOTORECONNAISSANCE OPERATIONS BEGAN IN 1964
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Ever since 1958, the 544th's operations had been accomplished
by personnel assigned to various "Centers." In 1968, however,
Headquarters USAF directed that "Center" nomenclatures be
changed to "Division." Throughout 1969, the 544th and Head-
quarters SAC made numerous attempts to get an exception to
this policy--but to no avail. After exhausting all avenues of
appeal, the 544 ARTW operational centers were redesignated as
"Divisions" on 12 January 1970.
January 1970 additionally marked the transfer of even more
SAC Intelligence functions to the 544th. These new
responsibilities included Chart Production Control,
Contingency and Future Target Planning, the Airborne Data
Automation Project, operation of the 1410 Computer Complex,
and maintenance of a special supply account.
During April and May of 1970, the 544th's target materials
production activities relocated to Building 301-D (the old
Martin Bomber Plant) on the other side of Offutt. This was
done to consolidate all target materials production in one
area. Previously, this work had been dispersed between
Building 500, Building 301-D, MOD-A, and MOD-B.
Major upgrades to the Wing's automated intelligence data
handling capabilities also occurred that year. Up until
this time, the 544th had employed an assortment of different
computers (an IBM 7094, two IBM 1401s, a Control Data
Corporation 3800, and a Control Data Corporation 160) in
accomplishing its increasingly complex mission. Those
systems, however, soon became saturated with work. Accord-
ingly, they were replaced with an IBM 360/85 to support
ELINT analysis and missile targeting. With four processor
storage units, this third-generation system had a storage
capacity of 466.8 million characters and the ability to
operate 15 different programs simultaneously at a maximum
speed of 12.5 instructions per second. Since it became
operational in July 1970, SAC appropriately named it System
70. At the time, System 70 had the distinction of being the
largest computer system of its kind in the entire Department
of Defense.
As System 70 was beginning operations, a separate system
called PACER (Program Assisted Console Evaluation and Review)
was completing its final months of test and evaluation.
Consisting of a General Electric 635 central processing unit
and 48 remote consoles, PACER provided the Wing with auto-
mated capabilities to perform order of battle analysis, pho-
tographic interpretation, and selected ELINT functions using
a single, integrated data base. When PACER became opera-
tional in November 1970, the Wing was able to manipulate
intelligence data in ways never before possible. This system
eventually evolved into what is known today as the SAC
On-Line Analysis and Retrieval System (SOLARS).
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SYSTEM 10 - 1910
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PACER. 1970
BIRTH OF THE SQUADRONS
In early 1971, the 544 ARTW Commander directed that a study
be accomplished to develop an organizational alternative
that could be adopted to provide better management of the
Wing's personnel. The problem was that the 544th--with more
than 1,500 people authorized--had grown too large to be
effectively managed from an administrative standpoint.
Under the current "division" structure, the vast majority of
formal administrative and disciplinary actions could only be
accomplished at the Wing Headquarters level because they
required "Commander" action. Since the divisions were not
assigned commanders, the 544 ARTW Commander had to assume
the entire burden. The problem was further aggravated by
the requirement to manually sort through and redirect per-
sonnel paperwork down to the individual divisions.
The resulting study presented four possible options. The
one finally selected called for the creation of four
distinct squadrons--a Data Systems Squadron, a Defense
Analysis Squadron, a Target Materials Squadron, and a
Research Squadron. This arrangement offered the advantage
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31
of having four "Squadron Commanders" to handle many of the
routine responsibilities of command and permitted the auto-
matic distribution of personnel paperwork directly to the
squadrons without having to be sorted and redistributed by
the Wing first. Accordingly, a formal request for reorgani-
zation under a squadron structure was forwarded to
Headquarters SAC. It got no further due to a temporary
moratorium on the reorganization of reconnaissance and
intelligence activities.
While the reorganization request was collecting dust, con-
solidation of the Research Division and Defense Analysis
Division was undertaken. Over the years, these two divi-
sions had grown independently and in relative isolation with
little or no thought to the personnel, structural, or
intelligence benefits that could be gained from consolida-
tion. It was believed that combining certain functions
would result in more efficient use of personnel and
floorspace. The driving force, however, was the desire to
provide the 544th's ELINT analysts with on-line access to
the new PACER system. Location was the big problem since
the PACER equipment was situated in the basement while the
Analysis Branch of the Defense Analysis Division was located
on the third floor. Collocation of ELINT analysts with the
photo interpreters in the basement was the only logical
alternative.
Such a move offered several significant advantages such as
more efficient use of the limited space in Building 500,
more timely updates to the PACER data base, and the imme-
diate availability of PACER to support ELINT analytical
operations. Another was the overall benefit of con-
solidation as it impacted the basic missions of the two
divisions. This revolved around a theory called "Analysis
of Entity" which held that operations could be improved if
all intelligence was processed and exploited in one divi-
sion, but evaluated and analyzed in another. Basically,
this provided the Research Division with new responsibilities
for processing and exploiting raw intelligence data,
while the Analysis Division (the new name) performed
the integration and analysis of all-source intelligence.
This internal reorganization and realignment of functions,
which went into effect on 1 October 1972, served as the
basic structure for the future creation of the squadrons.
Meanwhile, the idea of reorganizing the Wing to accommodate
a squadron structure had not died. Problems cited in the
1971 reorganization request were mirrored in the findings of
a SAC Inspector General (IG) Management Effectiveness
Inspection in November 1972.
That report provided the Wing Commander with the ammunition
he had been waiting for since October 1971. Backed by the
formal IG findings, paperwork was again submitted requesting
reorganization under a squadron concept. This request,
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32
however, was slightly different from the previous one. With
the earlier consolidation of division functions, only three
squadrons were now required. Under the new proposal, the
Research Division would become the 544th Intelligence
Exploitation Squadron; the Analysis Division would be con-
verted into the 544th Intelligence Analysis Squadron; and
the Target Materials Division would become the 544th Target
Materials Squadron.
This time, the plan encountered no major roadblocks and
quickly won approval. Accordingly, those three operational
divisions were dissolved and the 544th's three squadrons
were activated on 1 October 1973. The Trajectory Division,
never a part of the reorganization effort, remained assigned
directly to the Headquarters Squadron Section.
ADDITIONAL RESPONSIBILITIES
During the almost three years that it took for the squadron
concept to develop from its embryonic stage to final activa-
tion, the Wing continued to provide exceptional support for
SAC and National requirements. Mission taskings jumped
significantly with the advent of COMBAT SENT RC-135 opera-
tions in 1972. While support of the Single Integrated
Operational Plan had grown steadily since 1960, intelligence
support for Southeast Asia activities (in particular SAC
LINEBACKER bombing operations) demanded an increasingly
larger share of the Wing's time and resources. The Data
Systems Division--which had previously operated all of the
SAC intelligence computers--was discontinued on 1 July 1972
and a large segment of the division's personnel was
reassigned to Headquarters SAC as part of a major data auto-
mation consolidation. That same day, the 544th assumed
Emergency War Order responsibilities from the 9th RTS. By
the end of 1972, all of the Wing's detachments had been
discontinued--except Detachment 1 at Bolling. As a result,
authorized personnel levels continued a downward trend.
From a high of 1,601 authorizations in 1964, the numbers
were down to 1,185 by the beginning of 1973.
The withdrawal of American forces from Vietnam in 1975 pro-
duced drastic cuts in the overall defense budget. The Air
Force was given its share of the cut back burden and
responded by ordering a 25 percent reduction in unit
manpower authorizations.
For the 544th, already short of experienced personnel, the
scheduled reductions took on crisis proportions. The Wing's
Exploitation and analysis requirements had just recently
skyrocketed with the addition of BURNING WIND RC-135
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? ??
?-;
***" r
.?;R:f
?
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rr;
4
LINEBACKER EXPLOITATION
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34
BURNING WIND AND COMBAT SENT OPERATIONS INCREASED TASKING
missions in 1974. Additionally, imagery exploitation
taskings had increased dramatically in response to National-
level direction. Those expanded missions were accompanied
by new and larger requirements in support of the National
Strategic Target Data Base, and scheduled major increases in
ELINT activities, precision photo processing, and required
support for a new imagery system.
Efforts by the Wing to moderate the cuts and obtain stabi-
lized manning were generally unsuccessful. Eventually, 180
slots were eliminated with the bulk of those cuts taken in
the administrative and support areas. Reductions in the
hard-core production specialties were kept to a minimum.
The cuts, however, were only in the "authorized" levels.
With the previous requirement to provide temporary duty
personnel in support of Southeast Asia activities and a
history of chronic undermanning, the Wing had seldom
managed to have more than 75 percent of its authorized
force available at Offutt at any one time. Accordingly,
the impact was felt more in the "books" than on the
operations floor. In fact, the number of people actually
available for duty increased slightly by the time
the reductions were fully implemented. As a result,
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35
the 544th was able to absorb the new responsibilities laid
upon it without having to significantly cut back in other
operational areas.
In the late afternoon of 6 May 1975, a devastating tornado
ravaged its way through the business and residential sec-
tions of Omaha. Disaster sirens sounded as radio and tele-
vision stations warned of the immediate danger. Thanks to
the advanced warning, only three people were killed in what
was called the "most destructive tornado in recorded
history." Within the Wing, there were no injuries and only
a single case of property damage reported. While the tor-
nado was of little historical interest from a mission point
of view, it became an indelible memory for the people of the
Wing who lived through it. Almost 23 years earlier, the
544th had turned out in strength to help fight back the
great flood of '52. In 1975, it again turned out in
fatigues--this time to assist in the cleanup of the tornado-
ravaged areas of Omaha.
A NEW ERA
Over the next few years, the Wing grew rapidly in terms of
increased mission responsibilities and the installation of
new state-of-the-art processing and exploitation equipment.
These ushered in a whole new era of intelligence operations
as the term "near-real time" became increasingly synonomous
with the 544th's activities.
A $1.6 million construction effort in the Wing's photo
processing facility, begun in June 1975, was completed in
October 1976 to support a newly-assigned National mission.
During that same period, major new equipment was also
installed in the imagery exploitation area to support near-
real time operations and to provide interim automated men-
suration capabilities.
In addition to the new National processing mission, the 544th
was also assigned Delegated Production responsibilities
for the maintenance of offensive and defensive order of
battle data within selected geographic areas. This immense
new mission was taken on without the benefit of additional
personnel to support it. Parallel Delegated Production
operations with the Defense Intelligence Agency began in
1977 and the Wing was assigned formal responsibility for its
portion of the program in February 1978.,
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36
NEW PRECISION PROCESSING MISSION. 1976
A major reorganization of the intelligence structure within
SAC Headquarters was required in 1977 to support those new
responsibilities. In that action, policy guidance and
direction functions were retained by the SAC staff while all
exploitation, analysis, and production tasks were centered
in the 544th. With the advent of the reorganization,
experienced analysts from the SAC Intelligence were moved to
the 544th and given additional responsibilities as supervisors.
Over a period of less than three decades, the 544th had grown
from a small squadron providing limited reconnaissance tech-
nical support for SAC to a large multifaceted intelligence
wing supporting SAC, the Joint Strategic Target Planning
Staff, and various National agencies. As a result, the
reconnaissance technical" nomenclature had gradually lost
its meaning in reflecting the true mission of the unit. After
considerable discussion, a new name was approved and the 544th
Aerospace Reconnaissance Technical Wing was redesignated as
as the 544th Strategic Intelligence Wing on 15 October 1979.
On the heels of that redesignation, the Wing's organization
was restructured in February 1980 to include the addition
of two deputates--Strategic Targeting Intelligence
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31
Center (STIC) and Operations (DO). The STIC was established
to consolidate the previously fragmented war planning func-
tions while concurrently providing a coherent SAC management
structure for those people who had dual responsibilities
within both the Wing and the JSTPS. Creation of the
Operations deputate was intended to produce more effective
management authority and more efficient control of the
544th's production activities and assets. With the respon-
sibility for daily management of the three production
squadrons vested in the new Deputy Commander for Operations,
the Wing Commander was left free to devote more time to
overall management of the 544th.
INTO THE FUTURE
The direction taken by the Wing during the first half of
the 1980s was driven by vastly expanded mission requirements
and the scheduled dramatic increase in data to be collected
by improved reconnaissance systems. Those systems, to
become operational in increments by the end of the decade,
mandated implementation of a variety of interactive and
stand-alone exploitation capabilities to handle the antici-
pated flood of near-real time information.
Improvements in the capabilities of ELINT collection
systems produced huge increases in the quantity and
quality of intercepted signals. Within the 544th, this was
met by the installation of new high-technology equipment to
facilitate improved exploitation and dissemination of the
resultant intelligence.
In the imagery exploitation arena, softcopy systems (that
permitted the display and manipulation of high-quality
digital imagery on a television-like screen) were
installed and evaluated. One of those, the Image Data
Exploitation (IDEX) System, began operational use in the
544th during 1983. To support future operations in con-
junction with the advanced reconnaissance systems, IDEX-1A
upgrades were completed in late 1984 and planning for an
even more sophisticated IDEX-II version was undertaken.
Similarly, requirements were established for fixed and
deployable digital softcopy capabilities to support con-
tingency operations and deployments of the SAC
Headquarters Emergency Relocation Team. The ability to
more quickly and accurately determine precise measurements
of items depicted in reconnaissance imagery was provided
by the activation of two new mensuration systems during
this period--the Automated Mensuration System in 1983 and
the Precision Mensuration System in 1985.
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[LINT EXPLOITATION - 1983
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NINTH AIR FORCE OUTSTANDING UNIT AWARD - 1984
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40
While System 70 and SOLARS had provided adequate data auto-
mation support for intelligence operations during the 1970s,
they did not have the capabilities required to handle the
expanded demands of the future. Accordingly, a project
known as the Intelligence Data Handling System of the
Mid-1980s (IDHS-80) was undertaken to replace the System 70
and SOLARS equipment with two IBM 3081 central processors,
associated remote terminals, and more powerful interactive
software. Installation of the IDHS-80 mainframes and
peripherals was completed between April 1982 and July 1983.
Transition of the required computer programs--necessitating
conversion of approximately one million lines of code--was
undertaken in two increments designated Partition I and
Partition II. Partition I (which contained the Imagery
Exploitation, Collection Management, and Command Support
programs) became operational in July 1984. Implementation
of Partition II is scheduled for 31 December 1985.
IDHS-80 1984
Intelligence requirements over the past three decades had
been driven by a generally static threat and relatively
inflexible, hard-wired weapons systems. The war planning
process was accordingly characterized by major annual
reviews and revisions to the war plan. Deterrence in the
future, however, depended on SAC's ability to cope with
sophisticated new strategic relocatable systems and signif-
icantly reduced warning times by rapid retargeting and
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41
improved indications and warning capabilities. For the
544th, the mission had previously revolved around describing
fixed enemy forces in terms of order of battle.or the number
of various weapon systems on hand. But that was beginning
to change.
While data basing enemy force structure remained fundamental
to the 544th's mission, the new requirements expanded that
mission to include responsibilities for identifying and
tracking strategic relocatable targets to support adaptive
retargeting. Additionally, the Wing was tasked to support
indications and warning analysis of key threats driving the
warning problem of Soviet attack on North America. Added to
those responsibilities was a major expansion of its National
mission support. The combination of these new missions and
the near-real time data explosion demanded a totally new
approach to the production of strategic intelligence.
To provide increased efficiency within both the support and
production areas, the Wing Commander directed a reorganiza-
tion of functions throughout the 544th. The previously
separate activities accomplished by the Resource Management
Division, Systems Division, Logistics Division, and the
Target Materials Squadron's Material Management Branch were
placed under the control of a newly-created Resource
Management deputate in October 1985. Within the intelli-
gence operation areas, all-source analysts and imagery
interpreters were collocated to form dedicated "Force
Structure" and "Force Posture" teams. Under that new con-
cept, the force structure people focused on the static
threat while the force posture teams directed their efforts
toward the identification and tracking of dynamic threats.
At the heart of the new Force Posture concept was the first
use of experienced "Desk Officers" beginning in October
1985. These operations were scheduled to expand to round-
the-clock coverage seven days a week in 1986.
Difficulties generated by those vastly expanded responsibil-
ities were compounded by the lack of available space to
support the projected increases of personnel and high-
technology equipment. Over the years, Building 500's G-Wing
(which was built specifically to house the 544th's operations)
had been assigned several new non-544th tenants. As a
result, various 544 SIW activities were forced out and
squeezed in together in myriad separate vaults throughout
Building 500 and across the base in Building 301-D. This
created serious space problems--especially with the
advent of new systems and greatly expanded missions. Accord-
ingly, planning began in late 1984 for the construction of
a 50,000 square foot facility adjacent to Headquarters SAC.
That building, called the Strategic Analysis Applications
Center, was designed to support adaptive planning through
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42
near-real time intelligence analysis and rapid electronic
countermeasures reprogramming. Occupancy of this critical
new facility is projected for 1988.
ARTIST CONCEPTION OF STRATEGIC ANALYSIS APPLICATIONS CENTER
With 35 years of distinguished service to SAC and the
National community behind it, the 544th Strategic
Intelligence Wing looks to the future with the conviction
that it will continue to serve as the keystone of effective
deterrence.
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COMMANDERS
LT COL WIUIAM W. ROBINSON 1950-1953
LT COL WESLEY F. WALLACE 1957-1958
43
LT COL GEORGE T. HICKS 1953-1957
COL 001140 H. AINSWORTH 1958-1962
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44
COI NOW F. OSBORNE 1962-1966
COI WAITER B. KAMP 1970-1973
COL HERBERT W. LADD, M 1966-1970
COL ROLM@ E. SABOURM 1973-1974
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45
COL MAYO H. NIELSEN 1974-1971
COL DAVID D. ANDERSON 1979-1980
COL EDWARD I. HEINZ 1977-1919
COL C. NORMAN WOOD 1910-1981
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46
COI MARK A. DELANEY 1981-1984
COL HAROLD R. NEAL 1984-
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AIR FORCE OUTSTANDING UNIT AWARDS
1
Jul
56
- 30
Jun
57
DAFSO GO-4
12
Jan
58
1
Sep 62
- 30
Nov
62
DAFSO GB-63
28
May
63
1
Jul
67
30
Jun
68
DAFSO GB-573
1
Nov
68
1
Jul
69
- 30
Jun
71
DAFSO GB-10
26
Jan
72
1
Jul
71
30
Jun
73
DAFSO GB-827
14
Nov
73
1
Jul
73
- 30
Jun
75
DAFSO GB-057
14
Jan
76
1
Jul
75
- 30
Jun
77
DAFSO GB-151
7
Mar
78
1
Jul
77
- 30
Jun
79
DAFSO GB-725
30
Nov
79
1
Jul
81
- 30
Jun
83
DAFSO GB-900
18
Nov
83
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11111111111111111111111111:1,11111111111"
II
44,44,
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