6937 Comm Group

• USAF Intelligence Role: The 6937th Communications Group (6937th Comm Group) was a United States Air Force intelligence unit, primarily focused on signals intelligence (SIGINT) during the Cold War. • Location: The Group was stationed at San Vito dei Normanni Air Station, near Brindisi, Italy, from 1960 until its deactivation in 1994. • Strategic Position: Its base in southern Italy provided a crucial listening post for monitoring Soviet and Warsaw Pact communications across the Mediterranean, Eastern Europe, and North Africa. • Massive Antenna Fields: San Vito hosted the iconic Wullenweber AN/FLR-9 “Elephant Cage” antenna array, a circular structure more than 1,400 feet in diameter, used for direction finding and intercepting radio signals. • Part of USAFSS: The 6937th was under the United States Air Force Security Service (USAFSS), later known as the Electronic Security Command. • Multinational Operations: The station often worked with NATO allies, including the UK and Italy, sharing intelligence and collaborating on operations during the Cold War. • Role in Major Crises: The 6937th played a part in intelligence-gathering during the Cuban Missile Crisis, the Arab-Israeli conflicts, and other major events of the Cold War. • Award-Winning Service: The unit earned several Air Force Outstanding Unit Awards for its achievements in intelligence operations. • Human Stories: Veterans recall a unique “family” atmosphere at San Vito, with strong camaraderie and Italian-American community ties, despite the classified and sometimes stressful nature of their work. • Closure and Legacy: The group was deactivated in 1994 following post-Cold War drawdowns, but reunions and veteran groups remain active, preserving the history and stories of the 6937th Comm Group.