US Air Force,
CREECH AIR FORCE BASE: Royal Air Force officials activated an unmanned aerial vehicle squadron Jan. 23 in the Reaper Hangar at Creech Air Force Base.
Number 39th Squadron is the RAF's first unmanned aerial vehicle squadron, although RAF has been operating UAVs at Creech AFB since 2004 as part of the Joint Predator Task Force.
Air Marshal Iain McNicholl, the RAF Operations Air Command deputy commander in chief, presided over the unveiling ceremony and RAF chaplain Pardre Lee blessed the new squadron.
The 39th Squadron's mission is to provide persistent intelligence, surveillance, target acquisition and reconnaissance as well as offensive support to operational theaters, said Squadron Leader Nigel Meadows, the unit commander.
Prior to the squadron's activation, members of the RAF were completely embedded into 432nd Wing operations in all aspects of combat, training, maintenance and mission support activities. They have also assisted in standing up the MQ-9 Reaper training at the 42nd Attack Squadron since early 2007.
“We are very happy about the support we have received from the 432nd Wing at Creech,” Squadron Leader Meadows said. “The camaraderie in the squadrons that we operate with and within is immense.”
