319th Reconnaissance Wing

The 319th Reconnaissance Wing is a United States Air Force unit assigned to the Air Combat Command. It is stationed at Grand Forks Air Force Base, North Dakota. The wing is the host unit at Grand Forks.

The wing operates the E-11A Battlefield Airborne Communications Node and the E/RQ-4B Global Hawk remotely piloted aircraft, delivering surveillance and reconnaissance to combatant commands. The wing comprises two groups and nine squadrons operating globally. Additionally, the 319th supports the U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s (CBP) Office of Air and Marine–North Dakota Air Branch and its National Air Security Operations Center that operate MQ-9 Reapers out of Grand Forks AFB.

Carries out the RQ-4 Global Hawk High Altitude surveillance and reconnaissance mission; ensures strategic command and control through operation of the Nation's High Frequency Global Communication System.

The 4th Reconnaissance Squadron of the 319th Operations Group is based at Andersen AFB in Guam, however the units RQ-4B Global Hawks deploy to Yokota AB in Japan during typhoon season, normally June to December.

Unless otherwise indicated, units are based at Grand Forks Air Force Base, North Dakota, and subordinate units are located at the same location as their commanding group.

The 319th Bombardment Wing was first activated in the reserve on 27 June 1949 at Reading Municipal Airport, Pennsylvania, when Continental Air Command reorganized its flying units under the wing base organization system, which put combat and support organizations on an installation under a single wing. The 319th Bombardment Group, which had been stationed at Mitchel Air Force Base, New York, moved on paper to Reading and became the wing's combat organization. The 319th Wing replaced the 322d Bombardment Group and other reserve organizations at Reading. The wing began training under the supervision of the regular 2237th Air Force Reserve Training Center, but the reserve program changed and it was decided that Reading would be home to troop carrier units. The wing was inactivated on 2 September and its personnel and some of its equipment were transferred to the 512th Troop Carrier Wing, which was activated in its place.

The wing did not remain inactive long, but was reactivated on 10 October at Birmingham Municipal Airport, Alabama, where it replaced the 514th Troop Carrier Wing. It flew Douglas B-26 Invader light bombers and a variety of training aircraft, guided by the 2587th Air Force Reserve Flying Training Center. Unlike active duty combat groups, which were authorized three squadrons, the 319th's flying group controlled four combat squadrons. However, these squadrons were manned at only 25% of their authorized strength.

The 319th performed reserve training until ordered to active service along with two other reserve light bomber wings on 10 March 1951 due to the Korean War. Once activated, wing personnel and aircraft were deployed as replacements to other units. It was inactivated two weeks later on 28 March.