About this Unit
The 1370th Photo Mapping Wing was a specialized unit of the United States Air Force, activated in 1954 to support global aerial mapping and geodetic survey missions during the Cold War. Operating a variety of aircraft such as the RB-50, RC-130, and later the RC-135, the wing provided critical cartographic data for military and civilian use, including charting remote and strategic regions. The unit played a significant role in advancing aerial reconnaissance and mapping technologies, supporting both national defense and scientific exploration. The 1370th Photo Mapping Wing was inactivated in 1972, with its missions and resources absorbed by other reconnaissance and mapping organizations.
Historical Facts
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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Geodetic Survey Innovation: The 1370th pioneered new techniques in aerial photography and geodetic surveying, contributing to advances in cartography and navigation technology.
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Support to NASA: The unit supported early NASA missions by providing precise mapping and geodetic data for launch sites, recovery zones, and tracking stations.
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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.
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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.
