432nd Operations Group

The 432nd Operations Group (432 OG) is an active flying component of the United States Air Force's 432nd Wing, stationed at Creech Air Force Base, Nevada.

432nd Operations Group
An MQ-1 Predator and MQ-9 Reaper of the 432nd Wing at Creech AFB in 2014
Active	1991–1994; 2007–present
Country	United States
Branch	United States Air Force
Part of	Air Combat Command Fifteenth Air Force 432nd Wing
Garrison/HQ	Creech Air Force Base, Nevada
Decorations	Air Force Meritorious Unit Award (5x) Air Force Outstanding Unit Award (4x)[1]
Insignia
432nd Operations Group emblem
432nd Operations Group Gaggle Patch[a]

The unit employs unmanned aerial vehicles to support operational needs worldwide and deploys assets globally. This includes combat command and control, tactics development, intelligence support, weather support, and standardization and evaluation oversight for units of United States Air Force's Air Combat Command, Air Forces Central, Air Force Materiel Command, Air National Guard, Air Force Reserve Command, as well as remotely piloted aircraft unit of the Royal Air Force. The unit is also responsible for air traffic control, airfield management, and weather services at Creech Air Force Base.^[2]

Units

The 432nd Operations Group consists of the following units as of 2022^[update]:^[2]

• 11th Attack Squadron
• 30th Reconnaissance Squadron
• 44th Reconnaissance Squadron
• 432nd Operations Support Squadron
• 489th Attack Squadron

History

The unit was activated in 1991 as the 432nd Operations Group under the 432nd Fighter Wing.^[1] Controlled two squadrons of F-16 Falcon tactical fighters at Misawa AB, Japan, from 1991 to 1994.^[3][4][1] Unit inactivated along with parent organization when 35th Fighter Wing was assigned to Misawa and 432nd Wing and component organizations were redesignated.^[1]

The unit activated in 2007 when the 432nd Wing was activated and assigned at Creech AFB, Nevada.^[1] The unit has control over several squadrons which operate MQ-9 Reapers.^[2] The unit's 30th Reconnaissance Squadron and 44th Reconnaissance Squadron operate the RQ-170 Sentinels.^[5]

Lineage

• Established as 432nd Operations Group and activated on 31 May 1991

Inactivated on 1 October 1994.

• Activated on 1 May 2007^[1]

Assignments

• 432nd Fighter Wing, 31 May 1991 – 1 October 1994
• 432nd Wing, 1 May 2007 – present^[1]

Components

• 11th Reconnaissance Squadron (later, 11th Attack Squadron), 1 May 2007 – present^[1][2]
• 13th Fighter Squadron, 31 May 1991 – 1 October 1994^[1]
• 14th Fighter Squadron, 31 May 1991 – 1 October 1994^[1]
• 15th Reconnaissance Squadron (later, 15th Attack Squadron), 1 May 2007 – 2 July 2018^[1]
• 17th Reconnaissance Squadron, 1 May 2007 – 10 September 2012^[1]
• 18th Reconnaissance Squadron (later, 18th Attack Squadron), 11 December 2009 – 2 July 2018^[1]
• 20th Reconnaissance Squadron (later, 20th Attack Squadron), 1 January 2011 – 11 February 2019^[1]
• 30th Reconnaissance Squadron, 1 May 2007 – 10 September 2012, 5 April 2019 – present^[1]
• 39th Rescue Squadron, 1 February 1993 – 1 August 1994^[1]
• 42nd Attack Squadron, 1 May 2007 – 5 April 2019^[b][1][2]
• 44th Reconnaissance Squadron, 5 April 2019 – present^[1]
• 50th Attack Squadron, 27 February 2018 – 2 October 2018^[6]
• 89th Attack Squadron, 1 October 2015 – 22 March 2019^[7]
• 432nd Operations Support Squadron, 1 May 2007 – present^[8]
• 489th Attack Squadron, 2 December 2016 – present^[9][2]

Stations

• Misawa AB, Japan, 31 May 1991 – 1 October 1994
• Creech AFB, Nevada, 1 May 2007 – present^[1]

Aircraft

• F-16 Falcon (1991–1994)^[1]
• HH-60 Pavehawk (1993–1994)^[1]
• RQ-1 Predator (later, MQ-1 Predator), (2007–unknown)^[1][c]
• MQ-9 Reaper, (2007–present)
• RQ-170 Sentinel, (2007–2012;^[1][11] unknown–present)^[d][2][5]

References

Footnotes

1. Gaggle consists of (clockwise from top left): 15th Reconnaissance Squadron, 42nd Attack Squadron, 11th Reconnaissance Squadron, 17th Reconnaissance Squadron, 30th Reconnaissance Squadron, 432nd Operations Support Squadron and 432nd Operations Group (center).
2. As of 2022^[update], the 42nd Attack Squadron is in dormant status and part of the 25th Attack Group.
3. The U.S. Air Force has retired the MQ-1 Predator as of 9 March 2018.^[10]
4. The RQ-170 Sentinel is operated by the 30th and 44th Reconnaissance Squadrons, both of which are part of the 432nd Operations Group as of 2022^[update].

Citations

1. Musser, James (10 May 2023). "432 Operations Group (ACC)". Air Force Historical Research Agency. Retrieved 11 June 2023.
2. "About Us". Creech Air Force Base. Archived from the original on 8 October 2022. Retrieved 24 October 2022.
3. Haulman, Daniel L. (4 September 2015). "13 Fighter Squadron (PACAF)". Air Force Historical Research Agency. Retrieved 24 October 2022.
4. Dollman, David (8 August 2016). "14 Fighter Squadron (PACAF)". Air Force Historical Research Agency. Retrieved 24 October 2022.
5. Rogoway, Tyler; Trevithick, Joseph (25 April 2018). "Shedding Some Light On The Air Force's Most Shadowy Drone Squadron". The Drive. Retrieved 23 October 2022.
6. Musser, James (2 May 2023). "50 Attack Squadron (ACC)". Air Force Historical Research Agency. Retrieved 11 June 2023.
7. Musser, James (2 May 2023). "89 Attack Squadron (ACC)". Air Force Historical Research Agency. Retrieved 11 June 2023.
8. Musser, James (16 May 2023). "432 Operations Support Squadron (ACC)". Air Force Historical Research Agency. Retrieved 11 June 2023.
9. Bailey, Carl E. (21 June 2017). "489 Attack Sq (ACC)". Air Force Historical Research Agency. Retrieved 24 October 2022.
10. Rogoway, Tyler (10 March 2018). "USAF Officially Retires MQ-1 Predator While MQ-9 Reaper Set To Gain Air-To-Air Missiles". The Drive. Retrieved 23 October 2022.
11. Haulman, Daniel L. (24 November 2017). "732 Operations Group (AETC)". Air Force Historical Research Agency. Retrieved 24 October 2022.

 This article incorporates public domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency