17th Attack Squadron


The 17th Attack Squadron is a squadron of the United States Air Force. It is assigned to the 432d Wing, and stationed at Creech [Air Force Base] in Indian Springs, Nevada. The 17th is equipped with the MQ-9 Reaper.

Overview

The 17th conducts intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance operating the MQ-9 Reaper remotely piloted aircraft.

History

World War II

Constituted as 17 Photographic Reconnaissance Squadron on 14 Jul 1942. Activated on 23 Jul 1942 with Lightning P-38/F-5 reconnaissance aircraft at Colorado Springs AAB, CO. Redesignated as: 17 Photographic Squadron on 6 Feb 1943; 17 Photographic Reconnaissance Squadron on 13 Nov 1943. Deployed to the South Pacific Area, assigned to Thirteenth Air Force. Flew hazardous unarmed reconnaissance missions over enemy-held territory in Guadalcanal; New Guinea; Northern Solomon Islands; Bismarck Archipelago; Western Pacific; Leyte; Luzon; Southern Philippines; Central Burma and southeast China. Inactivated in the Philippines, 19 April 1946.
Redesignated as 17 Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron, Photo-Jet on 1 Apr 1951. Activated on 2 Apr 1951 at Shaw AFB, South Carolina. Redesignated as 17 Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron on 1 Oct 1966. Inactivated 1 January 1979. Redesignated as 17 Reconnaissance Squadron on 4 Mar 2002. Activated on 8 March 2002 at Indian Springs AFAF, NV. Redesignated as 17 Attack Squadron on 15 May 2016.

Cold War reconnaissance

Aactivated at Shaw Air Force Base, South Carolina in 1951 as a photo-reconnaissance training squadron. Equipped with several reconnaissance aircraft during the 1950s, deploying to NATO in 1959 with the McDonnell RF-101C Voodoo. Operated from France until 1966, moving to RAF Upper Heyford, England. Remained in England until 1970, moved to Zweibrucken AB, West Germany and re-equipped with McDonnell [RF-4C Phantom II] aircraft. Remained at Zweibrücken Air Base until 1 January 1979.

Unmanned vehicle operations

The squadron was activated at what was then known as Indian Springs Air Force Auxiliary Field on 8 March 2002, flying the MQ-1 Predator. Added the larger and more heavily armed MQ-9 Reaper in 2006.
According to the 2014 documentary film Drone, since 2002 the squadron had been working for the Central Intelligence Agency as "customer", carrying out armed missions in Pakistan.

Lineage