488th IS – RAF Fairford

The 488th Intelligence Squadron a component of the Air Force Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Agency, formerly the Air Intelligence Agency. Its mission is to deliver multi-source intelligence products, applications, services, and resources. It also provides IO forces and expertise in the areas of information warfare, command and control warfare, security, acquisition, foreign weapons systems and technology,

Also administratively assigned to the 488th Intelligence Squadron is Operating Location Souda Bay, Crete.

The present 488th Intelligence Squadron traces its lineage back to the 6954th Security Squadron which was originally designated Detachment 1 of the 6985th Security Squadron at RAF Upper Heyford, England, in June 1967. The unit moved to RAF Mildenhall, England, in August 1970. In 1974, Detachment 1 of the 6985th Security Squadron was designated as the 6954th Security Squadron.

In August 1979, the 6954th Security Squadron was designated as the 6954th Electronic Security Squadron to coincide with the designation of United States Air Force Security Service as the Electronic Security Command. In November 1990, with the inactivation of the 6916th Electronic Security Squadron, Hellenikon Air Base, Greece, the squadron assumed responsibility for all Electronic Security Command RC-135 support to the United States European Command. From October 1990 to March 1991, the squadron conducted operations from OL-RH, 6988th Electronic Security Squadron, Hellenikon AB, Greece.

In October 1991, the 6988th Electronic Security Squadron was subordinated to the Air Force Intelligence Command.

On 1 October 1993, the 6988th Electronic Security Squadron was designated the 488th Intelligence Squadron as part of the ongoing restructuring of Air Force Intelligence and the Air Force Intelligence Command as a field operating agency. The 488th Intelligence Squadron is under the administrative control of this field operating agency, which was designated Air Intelligence Agency on 1 October 1993.

On 1 February 2001, the Air Intelligence Agency was re-aligned under Eighth Air Force at Barksdale AFB, Louisiana. This re-alignment placed Air Intelligence Agency under Air Combat Command. In peace and war, the 488th Intelligence Squadron has earned nine Air Force Outstanding Unit Awards.

On 1 October 2002, the 488th was re-aligned from the 67th Information Operations Wing to the 55th Wing. The re-alignment placed all RC-135 assets under one wing, reinforcing the nose to tail importance of this weapons system.

TSIC-M = Tactical Surveillance Imagery Centre Mildenhall