432d Wing

432d Wing

Emblem of the 432d Wing
Active 1943–1959; 1966–1979; 1984–1994; 2007 – present
Country United States
Branch United States Air Force
Role UAV Reconnaissance
Part of Air Combat Command
Garrison/HQ Creech Air Force Base, Nevada
Motto VICTORIA PER SCIENTIAM-Victory through knowledge

alternate motto= If you can't lower Heaven, raise Hell

Commanders
Current
commander
Col Pete Gersten
Notable
commanders
John G. Lorber
Michael E. Ryan

The 432d Wing is a United States Air Force unit assigned to Air Combat Command, stationed at Creech Air Force Base, Nevada. The group operates unmanned reconnaissance aircraft which provide real-time reconnaissance, surveillance, and precision attack against fixed and time-critical targets. The 432d Air Expeditionary Wing is a provisional unit assigned to Air Combat Command and is the designation for components of the 432d Wing when deployed into combat areas as part of the Global War on Terror.[1]

Contents

Overview

The 432d Wing is the first United States Air Force wing dedicated to unmanned aircraft systems. The wing stood up 1 May 2007 at Creech Air Force Base, Nevada.[2][3] The wing has dual reporting responsibilities to Ninth Air Force and U.S. Air Forces Central Command (USAFCENT) (as the 432d AEW) at Shaw AFB, South Carolina, as well as to Twelfth Air Force and U.S. Air Forces Southern Command at Davis-Monthan AFB, Arizona.[4]

The 432d is the first wing totally dedicated to operating the RQ-1 Predator and MQ-9 Reaper, both of which are currently being used in Operations Enduring and Iraqi Freedom for intelligence surveillance reconnaissance and tactical missions, flown by pilots and sensor operators in the United States.[5]

The 432d is authorized 160 Predator and 60 Reapers. As of May 2007, 6 Reapers and about 85 Predators have been delivered with half of the Predators deployed forward in the United States Central Command area of operations. The wing is expected to fly 12 combat air mission in Iraq and Afghanistan each day.[6]

Units

The wing includes six operational squadrons and a maintenance squadron. There are 440 aircrew members, about half of whom are pilots and the other half sensor operators. There are also 450 maintenance personnel, half of whom are contractors.[6][7]

11th Reconnaissance Squadron
15th Reconnaissance Squadron
17th Reconnaissance Squadron
18th Reconnaissance Squadron
20th Reconnaissance Squadron
42d Attack Squadron
432d Operations Support Squadron
432d Aircraft Maintenance Squadron
The 432 AMXS has 350 personnel maintaining RQ-1/MQ-1 Predator systems, including 28 remotely piloted aircraft, ground control stations, and Predator Primary Satellite Links. It generates 575 sorties annually for worldwide intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance and strike capability for three reconnaissance squadrons and the 53d Test and Evaluation Group.
The 99 GCTS provides warrior skills training for all ACC security forces and combat support elements at Creech AFB. This squadron provides advanced ground combat weapons and tactics instruction that enhance the combat capabilities of U.S. Air Force ground forces essential to sortie generation who are confronted with a potential for combat during hostilities.
Reactivated on 29 July 1995, at Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada. The 98th Southern Ranges Support Squadron is responsible for the day-to-day support of Creech AFB, Point Bravo logistics site and the Nevada Test and Training Range southern ranges.
The Center of Excellence is designed to improve interoperability and use, and examines the use of sensors and intelligence collection assets to meet joint operational requirements of U.S. forces in any combat environment. The COE is an operationally focused organization concentrating on UAV systems technology, joint concepts, training, tactics, and procedural solutions to the warfighters’ needs.

History

World War II

The 432d Observation Group was activated on 22 February 1943. It served as the operational training unit (OTU) of the USAAF School of Applied Tactics at Keystone AAF, Florida. The group trained and provided reconnaissance to assist fighter, bombardment, and ground units with their training. Aircraft included Bell P-39 Airacobra fighter and Aeronca L-3 Grasshopper light observation aircraft. The group was disbanded on 1 November 1943.[8]

Tactical Air Command

On 23 March 1953, the 432d Tactical Reconnaissance Group was activated at Shaw AFB, South Carolina. The 432d's mission at Shaw AFB was to assume the reconnaissance training mission that was handled previously by the 363d Tactical Reconnaissance Wing.[10]

The group initially conducted training with two squadrons (20th, 29th) flying the Republic RF-84F "Thunderflash" and two squadrons (41st, 43d) flying the Martin RB-57A "Canberra". In 1957, the group upgraded the 20th and 29th to the McDonnell RF-101C "Voodoo", and the 41st and 43d transitioned to the electronic warfare Douglas EB-66C Destroyer.[8]

When elevated to the 432d Tactical Reconnaissance Wing on 8 February 1958, the wing operated the USAF Advanced Flying Training School, Tactical Reconnaissance. With the elevation to wing status, the 432d TFW was realigned to a four squadron RF-101C wing (17th, 18th, 20th, 29th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadrons).[8][10] From 8 February 1958 to 18 June 1959 the wing was supervised by the 837th Air Division.

In a budgetary move, the 432d TRW was deactivated on 8 April 1959. The RF-101C equipped 17th and 18th TRSs were deployed to NATO, being reassigned to the 66th Tactical Reconnaissance Wing at Laon-Couvron Air Base, France and the 20th and 29th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadrons continued their training missions under the 363d TRW.[8][11]

Vietnam War

On 18 September 1966, the 432d Tactical Reconnaissance Wing (TRW) was activated at Udon RTAFB, Thailand as an McDonnell Douglas RF-4C Phantom II wing. At Udon, it became one of the most diversified units of its size in the Air Force.

The mission of the wing was to provide intelligence information about hostile forces through tactical reconnaissance and use its fighter elements to destroy the targets earmarked by the intelligence data provided. The wing had numerous missions in the support area. The 432d TRW accounted for more than 80 percent of all reconnaissance activity over North Vietnam.

In addition to the reconnaissance the 432d also had a tactical fighter squadron component, with two (13th, 555th) F-4C/D squadrons assigned. The squadrons flew strike missions over North Vietnam, and the pilots of the 13th TFS were credited with two MIGs kills.

In 1968, the 7th Airborne Command and Control Squadron (7th ACCS), flying specialized Lockheed C-130 Hercules aircraft, became part of the 432d. The squadron had been attached to the wing as a temporary duty unit from Da Nang Air Base, South Vietnam. Another unit assigned was the 4th Special Operations Squadron (4th SOS) flying various (AC-47, AC-119) gunships that supported ground units.[8]

In the fall of 1970 the wing was phased down as part of the overall American withdrawal from the Vietnam War; however, in 1972 tactical fighter strength was augmented by deployed Tactical Air Command CONUS-based squadrons being attached to the 432d in response to the North Vietnamese invasion of South Vietnam. In addition, the 421st TFS was reassigned trom Takhli RTAFB. During Operation Linebacker, between May and October 1972, the 432d TRW had seven F-4 tactical fighter squadrons assigned or attached, (13th, 56th, 308th, 414th, 421st, 523d and 555th) making it the largest wing in the USAF. The three Vietnam era Aces all came from the 432d – two from the 555th and one from the 13th. The CONUS-based squadrons returned to the United States in the fall of 1972.

As a result of the Paris Peace Accords of 1973, the numbers of USAF personnel and aircraft at Udon were reduced. The 421st TFS was deactivated in August and the 555th was reassigned to Luke AFB in 1974. By the spring of 1975, two operational squadrons remained, the 14th TRS (RF-4C) and the 13th TFS (F-4D/E).

Forces from the 432d participated in the SS Mayaguez action in May 1975, sinking two Cambodian Khmer Rouge ships. By 1975, the political climate between Washington and Bangkok had become sour and the Royal Thai Government wanted the USAF out of Thailand by the end of the year. Palace Lightning was the plan under which the USAF would withdraw its aircraft and personnel from Thailand.[13]

The 423nd TFW was inactivated on 23 December 1975. The 13th TFSs F-4E aircraft and some support personnel were reassigned to the 3d TFW at Clark AB, Philippines and the F-4D aircraft and support personnel to the 18th TFW at Kadena Air Base, Okinawa. The 14th TRS was inactivated and the RF-4Cs were sent to Shaw AFB, South Carolina. The last USAF personnel departed Udon RTAFB on 8 January 1976.[8]

Tactical Drone Group

The 432d was reactivated at Davis-Monthan AFB, Arizona on 1 July 1976 as the 423d Tactical Drone Group. The 432d performed photographic reconnaissance to support tactical air and surface forces with tactical drones. Used AQM-34L/M/V drones, DC-130 launch vehicles, and CH-3 recovery helicopters. The group conducted follow-on testing and evaluation of the AQM-34V model drone and the initial operational testing and evaluation and developmental testing and evaluation of the DC-130H "mother ship." The 432d also supported testing and evaluation of the BQM-34C drone at Hill AFB, Utah.

The group was inactivated in April 1979.[8]

Pacific Air Forces

In July 1984 the 432d was again reactivated as the 432d Tactical Fighter Wing at Misawa AB, Japan. The 432d controlled two F-16 Fighting Falcon squadrons (13th Fighter Squadron, 14th Fighter Squadron) and a rescue squadron (39th RQS) flying the HH-53 "Super Jolly Green Giant" helicopter.

The 432d was replaced by the 35th Fighter Wing on 1 October 1994 at Misawa and again became inactive.[8]

Air Combat Command

The wing was reactivated at Creech Air Force Base, Nevada, on 1 May 2007 as the Air Force's first unmanned aircraft systems wing. It is currently commanded by Col Pete Gersten, USAF.[14] It was renamed the 432d Air Expeditionary Wing in May, 2008.[4]

In support of relief for the victims of the 2010 Haiti earthquake, on 27 January 2010 the wing began flying two RQ-1 Predator orbits over Port-au-Prince with six Predators from a training unit flying out of Rafael Hernández Airport, a civilian airport in Puerto Rico, by a detachment of about 50 wing members.[15]

Lineage

Activated on 22 Feb 1943
Redesignated: 432 Reconnaissance Group on 2 Apr 1943
Redesignated: 432 Tactical Reconnaissance Group on 11 Aug 1943
Disestablished on 1 Nov 1943
Activated on 18 Mar 1954
Inactivated on 8 Feb 1958
Activated on 8 Feb 1958
Inactivated on 18 Jun 1959
Organized on 18 Sep 1966, assuming personnel/aircraft/equipment of 6234th Tactical Fighter Wing
Redesignated 432 Tactical Fighter Wing on 15 Nov 1974
Inactivated on 23 Dec 1975
Activated on 1 Jul 1976
Inactivated on 1 Apr 1979
Activated on 1 Jul 1984
Redesignated 432 Fighter Wing on 31 May 1991
Inactivated on 1 Oct 1994

Assignments

Attached to: 363d Tactical Reconnaissance Wing, 18 Mar 1954 – 30 Oct 1955
Attached to: 6 Air Army [SAGEBRUSH], 31 Oct – 10 Dec 1955
Attached to: 363d Tactical Reconnaissance Wing, 10 Dec 1955 – 8 Feb 1958
Attached to: Seventh Air Force, 18 Sep 1966-c. 15 Aug 1973
Attached to:United States Support Activities Group/Seventh Air Force, c. 15 Aug 1973 – 30 Jun 1975
Air Combat Command to activate or inactivate at any time after 1 Jun 2008 (432d AEW)

Components

Stations

Aircraft

United States Air Force portal
Military of the United States portal
World War II portal

References

  1. ^ "432d becomes Air Expeditionary Wing" By Capt. Ed Ekpoudom, 432d Wing Public Affairs. 9 May 2008
  2. ^ Whitney, Ryan (3 May 2007). "Air Force stands up first unmanned aircraft systems wing". Air Force Link. http://www.af.mil/news/story.asp?id=123051728. 
  3. ^ Rodgers, Keith. "Reactivation creates wing for remotely controlled planes". Las Vegas Review-Journal: p. 4B. 
  4. ^ a b 432d becomes Air Expeditionary Wing
  5. ^ "First MQ-9 Reaper makes its home on Nevada flightline". Air Force Link. http://www.af.mil/news/story.asp?id=123044678. Retrieved 2 May 2007. 
  6. ^ a b Lisa Burgess (3 May 2007). "Reactivated wing is first combat unit with UAVs". Stars and Stripes. http://www.estripes.com/article.asp?section=104&article=53125&archive=true. 
  7. ^ "Creech AFB Factsheet". http://www.nellis.af.mil/library/factsheets/factsheet.asp?id=4094. 
  8. ^ a b c d e f g h AFHRA 432d Wing history page
  9. ^ a b "USAAS-USAAC-USAAF-USAF Aircraft Serial Numbers—1908 to present". http://home.att.net/~jbaugher/usafserials.html. 
  10. ^ a b "Shaw AFB Factsheet". GlobalSecurity.org. http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/facility/shaw.htm. 
  11. ^ McAuliffe, Jerome J. (2005). US Air Force in France 1950–1967. San Diego, California: Milspec Press. pp. Chapter 13, Laon-Couvron Air Base. ISBN 0-9770371-1-8. 
  12. ^ Martin, Patrick (1994). Tail Code: The Complete History of USAF Tactical Aircraft Tail Code Markings. Schiffer Military Aviation History. ISBN 0-88740-513-4. 
  13. ^ Glasser, Jeffrey D. (1998). The Secret Vietnam War: The United States Air Force in Thailand, 1961–1975. McFarland & Company. ISBN 0-7864-0084-6. 
  14. ^ http://www.creech.af.mil/library/biographies/bio.asp?id=12391
  15. ^ Predators send video feeds to help in Haiti, Air Force Times

External links

 This article incorporates public domain material from websites or documents of the Air Force Historical Research Agency.