1370th Photo Mapping Wing

• Specialized Mission: The 1370th Photo Mapping Wing was a unique Air Force unit responsible for aerial photographic mapping and geodetic surveys, supporting both military and civilian mapping needs during the Cold War era. • Activation: The Wing was activated on 1 May 1959, reflecting the growing importance of accurate mapping for navigation, targeting, and intelligence in the jet and missile age. • Strategic Reconnaissance: The unit's work provided critical intelligence for U.S. military planners, especially for updating maps of foreign territories where satellite imagery was not yet available or sufficiently detailed. • High-Altitude Operations: The 1370th Photo Mapping Wing operated specialized aircraft, such as the RB-50, RB-57, and later C-130s, equipped with cameras and sensors for high-altitude and long-range missions. • Global Reach: Crews from the 1370th conducted mapping flights over remote and often inaccessible regions, including the Arctic, Africa, Asia, and South America, sometimes under challenging and hazardous conditions. • Vietnam War Contributions: The Wing played a vital role in Southeast Asia, providing updated maps and terrain models for combat and navigation during the Vietnam War. • Geodetic Survey Innovation: The 1370th pioneered new techniques in aerial photography and geodetic surveying, contributing to advances in cartography and navigation technology. • Support to NASA: The unit supported early NASA missions by providing precise mapping and geodetic data for launch sites, recovery zones, and tracking stations. • Disaster Response: The Wing also assisted in domestic emergencies, such as natural disasters, by quickly producing up-to-date maps to aid rescue and recovery efforts. • Inactivation and Legacy: The 1370th Photo Mapping Wing was inactivated on 1 July 1972, but its legacy lives on in the advanced mapping and reconnaissance technologies used by today’s military and intelligence communities.