29th Attack Squadron

The 29th Attack Squadron is a remotely piloted vehicle training unit of the United States Air Force. Assigned to the 49th Operations Group, 49th Wing at Holloman Air Force Base, New Mexico. Flying the General Atomics MQ-9 Reaper. It was activated on 23 October 2009.[1]

29th Attack Squadron
Active1942–1946; 1954–1971; 2009–present
Country United States
Branch United States Air Force
RoleRemote Piloted Aircraft operations
Part ofAir Combat Command
Garrison/HQHolloman Air Force Base
DecorationsAir Force Outstanding Unit Award[1]
Insignia
29th Attack Squadron emblem (approved 12 December 1956)[1]
13th Observation Squadron emblem[2]

Overview

The 29th Attack Squadron MQ-9 Reaper Remotely Piloted Aircraft (RPA) mission is to provide close air support (CAS), air interdiction, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR), and attack to eliminate threats when present. The multi-role capabilities of these RPAs allows Combat Search and Rescue operations and extended time over targets to locate, track, target, strike, and assess time-sensitive targets

History

World War II

Constituted as 13 Observation Squadron (Medium) on 5 February 1942. Activated on 10 Mar 1942 at Brooks Field, TX with O-52 observation aircraft and L-4 in the period 1942-1943. Redesignated as: 13 Observation Squadron on 4 July 1942; 13 Reconnaissance Squadron (Fighter) on 1 April 1943; 13 Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron on 11 August 1943. Operating P-39, 1943-1944 and P-40 1944-1945. Redesignated 29 Reconnaissance Squadron (Night Photographic) on 25 Jan 1946. Inactivated on 29 Jul 1946.[1]

Cold War tactical reconnaissance

Redesignated as 29 Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron (Photo-Jet) on 14 January 1954. Under Tactical Air Command and equipped with RF-80A Shooting Stars at Shaw AFB, South Carolina. Performed training of reconnaissance pilots; being upgraded to the Republic RF-84F Thunderflash in 1955 and the McDonnell RF-101C Voodoo in 1957 as a component of the 432d Tactical Reconnaissance Group. Remained at Shaw when the 432d was inactivated and reassigned to the 363d Tactical Reconnaissance Wing. Redesignated as 29 Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron on 1 October 1966.[1]

Equipped with the McDonnell RF-4C Phantom II due to a critical need for reconnaissance pilots due to the Vietnam War. Performed training on the RF-4C until 24 January 1971 when inactivated due to the USAF drawdown in Vietnam and budget reductions.[1]

Remotely Piloted Vehicle operations

On 23 October 2009, the 29th Attack Squadron stood up under the 49th Wing at Holloman Air Force Base, New Mexico under the command of Lt Colonel James S. Merchant. An initial cadre of twelve instructors (six Instructor Pilots and six instructor sensor 0perators) manned the unit. The unit replaced the 432d Operations Group, Detachment 3.[3] It is a General Atomics MQ-9 Reaper Formal Training Unit.[4]

Lineage
  • Constituted as the 13th Observation Squadron (Medium) on 5 February 1942
Activated on 10 March 1942[5]
Redesignated 13th Observation Squadron on 4 July 1942
Redesignated 13th Reconnaissance Squadron (Fighter) on 1 April 1943[6]
Redesignated 13th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron on 11 August 1943
Redesignated 29th Reconnaissance Squadron (Night Photographic) on 25 January 1946
Inactivated on 29 July 1946
  • Redesignated 29th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron (Photographic-Jet) on 14 January 1954
Activated on 18 March 1954
  • Redesignated 29th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron and activated on 1 October 1966
Inactivated 24 January 1971
  • Redesignated 29th Attack Squadron on 20 October 2009
Activated on 23 October 2009[1]

Assignments

Stations

Aircraft
  • Curtiss O-52 Owl, 1942–1943
  • Piper L-4 Cub, 1942–1943;
  • Bell P-39 Airacobra, 1943–1944
  • Curtiss P-40F Warhawk, 1944–1945
  • North American P-51 Mustang, 1945–1946
  • North American F-6 Mustang, 1945–1946
  • Douglas A-26 Invader, 1946
  • Lockheed RF-80A Shooting Star, 1955
  • Republic RF-84F Thunderflash, 1955–1958
  • McDonnell RF-101C Voodoo, 1957–1971
  • McDonnell RF-4C Phantom II, 1968–1971
  • General Atomics MQ-9 Reaper, 2009–present[1]

References
Notes
  1. Kane, Robert B. (18 May 2017). "Factsheet 29 Attack Squadron (ACC)". Air Force Historical Research Agency. Retrieved 2 September 2017.
  2. Hubbard, p. 719
  3. Escutia, A1C Sondra (8 October 2009). "MQ-9 Reaper makes first local flight". Air Force Print News Today. Archived from the original on 12 March 2012. Retrieved 3 September 2017.
  4. "U.S. Air Force Begins Training on New MQ-9 Reaper Block 5". Retrieved 25 March 2020.
  5. Maurer says 2 March 1942. Maurer, Combat Squadrons, pp. 74–75
  6. Maurer says 2 April 1942. Maurer, Combat Squadrons, pp. 74–75
  7. Maurer says assignment began 18 February. Maurer, Combat Squadrons, pp. 74–75

Bibliography

 This article incorporates public domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency website http://www.afhra.af.mil/.

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