Brit commands U.S. Predator squadron

[unhappycamper]

Brit commands U.S. Predator squadron
Staff report
Posted : Tuesday Jan 29, 2008 6:16:50 EST

A British Royal Air Force officer is commanding a U.S. Air Force squadron.

British Maj. Keven Gambold is commanding 361st Expeditionary Reconnaissance Squadron at Ali Air Base. The 361st flies remote-controlled MQ-1 Predators.

"We have made some close liaisons with the Army here on base and have helped them in a few very successful operations recently," Gambold said in an Air Force press release.

Like the other members of the 361st, Gambold is deployed from Creech Air Force Base, Nev., where he was assigned in an exchange program. Royal Air Force pilots began flying Predators at Creech in 2004.

Since the 361st stood up in October at Ali in southern Iraq, the squadron has flown more than 300 sorties, according to the release. On a typical Predator mission, the deployed pilots and sensor operators handle the Predator’s takeoffs and landings while aircrews in Nevada fly the rest of the mission.


Rest of article at: http://www.airforcetimes.com/news/2008/01/airforce_raf_predator_080129w/