Royal Air Force Activates UAV Squadron at Creech AFB Published Jan. 25, 2008 By 2nd Lt. Jennifer Richard Nellis AFB Public Affairs CREECH AIR FORCE BASE, Nev. -- The Royal Air Force activated a squadron during a ceremony in the Reaper Hangar here Jan. 23. 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 Group Captain Padre Richard Lee, RAF chaplain, 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. 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 here at Creech," said Squadron Leader Meadows, "The camaraderie in the squadrons that we operate with and within is immense."
