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.

Overview

The 29th Attack Squadron MQ-9 Reaper remotely piloted aircraft mission is to provide close air support, air interdiction, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance, 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 13th Observation Squadron on 5 February 1942. Activated on 10 Mar 1942 at Brooks Field, Texas, with O-52 Owl|O-52] observation aircraft and L-4 in the period 1942 to 1943. Redesignated as: 13th Observation Squadron on 4 July 1942; 13 Reconnaissance Squadron on 1 April 1943; 13th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron on 11 August 1943. Operating P-39, 1943-1944 and P-40 1944–1945. Redesignated 29th Reconnaissance Squadron on 25 January 1946. Inactivated on 29 July 1946.

Cold War tactical reconnaissance

Redesignated as 29th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron 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 29th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron on 1 October 1966.
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.

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 manned the unit. The unit replaced the 432d Operations Group, Detachment 3. It is a General Atomics MQ-9 Reaper Formal Training Unit.

Lineage

  • Constituted as the 13th Observation Squadron on 5 February 1942
  • Redesignated 29th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron on 14 January 1954
  • Redesignated 29th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron and activated on 1 October 1966
  • Redesignated 29th Attack Squadron on 20 October 2009

Assignments

Stations

Aircraft