| 15th Reconnaissance Squadron | |
|---|---|
Emblem of the 15th Reconnaissance Squadron |
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| Active | 9 May 1917 |
| Country | United States |
| Branch | United States Air Force |
| Size | over 140 combat-ready personnel |
| Part of | Air Combat Command Twelfth Air Force 432d Wing 432d Operations Group |
| Garrison/HQ | Creech Air Force Base |
| Motto | "" |
| Mascot | carrier pigeon |
| Equipment | MQ-1 Predator |
| Battle honours | World War II Korean War |
| Commanders | |
| Current Commander | Lieutenant Colonel Robert E. Kiebler |
| Current Operations Officer | Lieutenant Colonel Ken Moss |
| First Sergeant | SMSgt Steve Flatt |
| Current Squadron Superintendent | SMSgt Tim Nelson |
| Notable commanders |
General Arthur J. Lichte Lieutenant General Paul Selva Brigadier General Michelle D. Johnson |
15th Reconnaissance Squadron (15 RS) flies MQ-1 Predator UAV's and is currently stationed at Creech Air Force Base in Indian Springs, Nevada. The 15th Reconnaissance Squadron is one of the first armed Remotely Piloted Aircraft (RPA) squadrons. The squadron provides combatant commanders with persistent ISR, full-motion video, and precision weapons employment. Global operations architecture supports continuous MQ-1B Predator employment providing real-time actionable intelligence, strike, interdiction, close air support, and special missions to deployed war fighters.
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The unit traces its history back to May 9, 1917, The Aviation Section, U.S. Signal Corps, redesignated the unit as the 15th Aero Squadron on Aug. 22, 1917. Flying such historic aircraft as the Curtis "Jenny" JN-4 biplane, the squadron served as a flying training unit between 1917-1919. After a short stint on the inactive list and a series of organizational changes, the unit emerged as the 15th Observation Squadron on Jan. 25, 1923. This began a varied and unending string of intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance roles for the unit that stretched over more than eight decades. it was reactivated on August 1, 1997, at Indian Springs Air Force Auxiliary Field under command of the 57th Operations Group, 57th Wing.
During the Vietnam era the 15th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron was based at Kadena Air Base, Japan, flying the RF-101. The unit had many deployments to Southeast Asia, flying reconnaissance missions in support of US combat operations in that theatre.
From July 2005 to June 2006, the 15th Reconnaissance Squadron participated in more than 242 separate raids; engaged 132 troops in contact-force protection actions; fired 59 Hellfire missiles; surveyed 18,490 targets; escorted four convoys; and flew 2,073 sorties for more than 33,833 flying hours.[1]
Starting in 2005, the unit trained California Air National Guard's 163d Reconnaissance Wing members to operate the MQ-1.The 163d is being retasked as an MQ-1 unit.
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A carrier pigeon in natural colors with wings extended perched on a telescope white outlined in black upon a shield of blue and yellow parted diagonally from "northwest" to "southeast", the blue above, the yellow below. Approved 2 April 1924