RAF Reaper Squadron Receives Standard

Date: 31 January 2008

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39 Squadron, the first Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Squadron in the UK’s Royal Air Force, has received its Squadron Standard in a ceremony that took place on 23rd January at Creech Air Force Base, Nevada in the USA.

Air Marshal Iain Mc Nicoll, Deputy Commander-in-Chief, Operations presented the Standard during the ceremony, which was conducted by the reverend Group Captain Richard Lee, Queen’s Chaplain to the Central Church of the Royal Air Force, St Clement Danes. The ceremony formally marked the reformation of 39 Squadron.

Squadron personnel dressed in desert camouflage, reflecting the operational focus of the unit. As if to highlight the point, during the ceremony other squadron personnel were engaged on an operational mission in support of ground forces taking part in Op HERRICK. With the intended delivery of more Reapers and crews the operational tempo on 39 Squadron is expected to increase to provide around the clock coverage. Unsurprisingly the Squadron motto is: “By day and by night”.

The Squadron, which is currently commanded by Wg Cdr Andy Jeffrey, is based at Creech AFB where it trains and operates alongside USAF counterparts as part of the Combined Joint Predator Task Force. And although an RAF Squadron the unit is comprised of UK personnel from all three services.

The Reaper (MQ-9) UAVs were procured as part of an urgent operational requirement to provide all weather, persistent, intelligence, surveillance, target acquisition and reconnaissance (ISTAR) capability covering a wide geographical area. The first Reaper arrived in Afghanistan in October 07.

At the time Chief of the Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal Sir Glen Torpy said: “The introduction into service of Reaper is a major milestone for the RAF, which will significantly enhance the UK’s surveillance capability in AfghanistanNorthrop Grumman's Global Hawk Unmanned Aerial System Surpasses Expectations, Establishes Delivery Record in 2007