15 RS reaches combat flying hours milestone

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Alice Moore
  • 432d Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs
CREECH AFB, Nev. --  A 432d Air Expeditionary Wing squadron recently marked a significant flying milestone. 

The 15th Reconnaissance Squadron accumulated more than 5,000 combat flight hours during the month of May. 

Crews flying the MQ-1B Predator built up to 5,397 combat hours flying Intelligence Surveillance, and Reconnaissance missions, Close Air Support missions, as well as ground forces, convoy, and raid support over watch missions. The 15th RS flies missions in support of Overseas Contingency Operations in both Iraq and Afghanistan. 

The recent milestone is a first for the squadron. Prior to flying more than 5,000 hours in a single month, the 15th RS average monthly combat flight hours were 3,552 in 2008. So far in 2009, the average monthly combat hours flown has been 4,711 before the unit surpassed this number in May. 

Colonel Pete Gersten, 432d Wing and 432d Air Expeditionary Wing commander, said the milestone of the 15th RS shows how the Predator's capabilities are vital to the combatant commanders in theater. 

"The ISR capabilities of the Predator provide that persistent over watch, which ensures the ground troops in theater can see over the next hill," Colonel Gersten said. "This milestone is a true testament of the increased demands of the unblinking eye the Predator provides. The men and women of the 15th RS provided ground forces with more than 5,000 hours of persistent full motion video 24 hours a day seven days a week. This accomplishment is a tribute to the dedication that the 432d 'Hunters' and the Air Force have to the joint warfighter." 

Lieutenant Colonel Robert Kiebler, 15th RS commander, said the milestone couldn't have been possible without the level of dedication and hard work of each and every member of the squadron. 

"I'm extremely proud of the all of the men and women of the 15th RS," Colonel Kiebler said. "Their continuous dedication, commitment and professionalism to the mission has enabled us to continuously support the troops on the ground 24 hours a day, 356 days a year. Our eyes never stop watching." 

The 15th RS and other combat flying units assigned to the 432d fly missions in theater from Creech through Remote Split Operations 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year. RSO starts in theater with the Launch and Recovery Element. The aircrew in the LRE will launch an aircraft, get it to a specified altitude, accomplish a systems check and via multi-user Internet Relay Chat, or a phone call, will hand off the aircraft to an aircrew in the U.S., either at Creech or at one of the numerous Air National Guard locations around the U.S. Once handed off to the stateside aircrew, the aircraft is then controlled via a Ku-band Satellite uplink. The aircrews in the U.S. will fly the aircraft, directly supporting troops on the ground, until it is time to bring the aircraft back to its home base for refueling and maintenance, reversing the hand-off. 

The 15th Reconnaissance Squadron is one of the first armed UAS squadrons. The squadron provides combatant commanders with persistent ISR, full-motion video, and precision weapons employment. In February 2009, the squadron flew the 500,000th flying hour for the Predator during combat operations in Southwest Asia.