Air Combat Command Shield

U-2 Dragon Lady

The U-2 provides high-altitude, all-weather surveillance and reconnaissance, day or night, in direct support of U.S. and allied forces.

T-38 Talon

The T-38A Talon is a 2-seat, twin-engine, supersonic jet trainer used in a variety of roles because of its design, economy of operations, ease of maintenance, high performance and exceptional safety record. Air Education and Training Command is the primary user of the T-38C for joint specialized undergraduate pilot training. Air Combat Command, Air Force Materiel Command and the National Aeronautics and Space administration also use the T-38A in various roles. The T-38A is used at Beale AFB as the companion trainer to the U-2 program.

PAVE PAWS

PAVE PAWS is a radar system operated for missile warning and space surveillance, primarily to detect and track sea-launched (SLBM) and intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs).

ACC Fact Sheet

Air Combat Command, with headquarters at Langley Air Force Base, Va., is a major command created June 1, 1992, by combining its predecessors Strategic Air Command and Tactical Air Command. ACC is the primary provider of combat air forces to America's unified combatant commands. Learn more about ACC.

9th Reconnaissance Wing

The wing also maintains a high state of readiness in its expeditionary combat support forces for potential deployment in response to theater contingencies. The 9th RW is composed of more than 3,000 personnel in four groups at Beale and multiple overseas operating locations. At any given moment, day or night, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, there is probably a U-2 aircraft from the 9th RW flying an operational mission somewhere in the world.

Beale's History

Camp Beale opened in October 1942 as a training site for the 13th Armored and the 81st and 96th Infantry Divisions. During World War II, Camp Beale's 86,000 acres were home for more than 60,000 soldiers, a prisoner-of-war encampment and a 1,000-bed hospital. In 1948, the camp transferred from the Army to the Air Force.

More Air Force Fact Sheets

AIR FORCE FACT SHEETS

CBA

9th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron

Mission
Launches, recovers, and maintains USAF U-2 high-altitude reconnaissance aircraft fleet in support of operational and training sorties. Manages fleet health to meet peacetime requirements and ensure aircraft availability for all peacetime and wartime taskings. Deploys aircraft, personnel, and equipment in support of contingency operations and other presidential and SECDEF taskings throughout the world.
 
Organization
Over 350 active duty and civilian members are assigned to the 9th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron. The unit consists of three flights: CSS/Programs Flight, Sortie Support Flight, and Sortie Generation Flight.
 

Lineage
Constituted as 9th Periodic Maintenance Squadron on 4 Jun 1952. Activated on 16 Jun 1952. Redesignated as 9th Organizational Maintenance Squadron on 1 Oct 1958. Inactivated on 30 Apr 1992. Redesignated as 9th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron on 20 Aug 2002. Activated on 18 Sep 2002.

Assignments
9th Bombardment (later 9th Strategic Aerospace; 9th Strategic Reconnaissance) Wing, 16 Jun 1952; 9th Logistics Group, 1 Sep 1991-30 Apr 1992. 9th Maintenance Group, 18 Sep 2002-present.

Stations.
Travis AFB, CA, 16 Jun 1952; Mountain Home AFB, ID, 1 May 1953; Beale AFB, CA, 25 Jun 1966-30 Apr 1992. Beale AFB, CA, 18 Sep 2002-present.

Decorations. Presidential Unit Citation: Southeast Asia, 31 Mar-31 Dec 1968. Air Force Outstanding Unit Award With Combat "V" Device: 1 Jul 1972-30 Jun 1973. Air Force Outstanding Unit Awards: 1 Jan 1957-31 Jan 1958; 1 Jul 1967-30 Jun 1968; 1 Jul 1970-30 Jun 1971; 1 Jul 1971-30 Jun 1972; 1 Jul 1975-30 Jun 1977; 1 Jul 1981-30 Jun 1982; 1 Jul 1983-30 Jun 1984; 1 Jul 1985-30 Jun 1986; 1 Jul 1986-30 Jun 1987; 1 Jul 1989-30 Jun 1990; 1 Jun 2002-31 May 2004; 1 Jun 2005-31 May 2007; 1 Jun 2007-31 May 2009.

Lineage, Assignments, Stations, and Honors through 1 Nov 2009.