| Unit Name: | 23rd Intelligence Squadron |
| Dates: | 1942–1945; 1986–1996; 2000–2011; 2017–present |
| Role: | Military intelligence |
| Command Structure: | Air Force Reserve Command |
| Garrison: | Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland |
| Nickname: | "Fightin' Knights" |
| Motto: | Lights On, Fights On[1] la|Per Lucem Vincimus|We Conquer Through Light (World War II)[2] |
| Battles: | Mediterranean Theater of Operations |
| Decorations: | Distinguished Unit Citation Air Force Outstanding Unit Award French Croix de Guerre with silver gilt star air Force Organizational Excellence Award Air Force Outstanding Unit Award |
| Identification Symbol Label: | 23d Intelligence Squadron emblem[3] |
| Identification Symbol 2 Label: | 23rd Photographic Reconnaissance Squadron emblem |
The United States Air Force's 23d Intelligence Squadron is a military intelligence unit located at Joint Base San Antonio, Texas. Its first predecessor was organized during World War II as the 23rd Photographic Reconnaissance Squadron. After training in the United States, the squadron deployed to the Mediterranean Theater of Operations, until V-E Day, earning a Distinguished Unit Citation and French Croix de Guerre. It inactivated in theater in September 1945.
The squadron's second predecessor is the 6947th Electronic Security Squadron, which was organized at Key West Naval Air Station in 1986. In 1993 the two squadrons were consolidated as the 23d Intelligence Squadron in 1993. The squadron was inactivated in 1996, but activated again as the 23d Information Operations Squadron at Kelly Annex from 2000 to 2011. The squadron returned to the 23d Intelligence Squadron designation and was activated in the reserves in 2017.
The squadron was first activated as the 23d Photographic Reconnaissance Squadron in 1942. It served in combat in the Mediterranean Theater of Operations, where it earned a Distinguished Unit Citation and a French Croix de Guerre for combat operations.[4]
The 6947th Electronic Security Squadron was activated at Key West Naval Air Station in 1986 as an electronic intelligence squadron. In 1993, the two squadrons were consolidated as the 23rd Intelligence Squadron. The consolidated squadron was inactivated in 1996.[1]
The squadron was again activated as the 23rd Information Operations Squadron in 2000.[1] The mission of the squadron was to deliver full spectrum information operations tactics to the warfighter. The squadron was inactivated in 2011[1] and its resources and personnel transferred to the 318th Operations Support Squadron.
The squadron was activated in the reserve in 2017 as the 23rd Intelligence Squadron.[1]
Redesignated 23rd Photographic Squadron (Light) on 6 February 1943
Redesignated 23rd Photographic Reconnaissance Squadron on 13 November 1943
Inactivated on 12 September 1945[4]
Consolidated with the 6947th Electronic Security Squadron on 1 October 1993 as the 23rd Intelligence Squadron[1]
Consolidated with the 23rd Photographic Reconnaissance Squadron on 1 October 1993 as the 23rd Intelligence Squadron
Redesignated 23rd Information Operations Squadron on 17 July 2000
Inactivated on 7 December 2011
Redesignated 23rd Intelligence Squadron on 4 August 2017