The U.S. Air Force Historical Foundation has conferred its prestigious 2023 James H. “Jimmy” Doolittle Award upon the 432nd Wing and 432nd Air Expeditionary Wing, stationed at Creech Air Force Base, Nevada. This recognition underscores the wing’s exceptional performance in air operations across diverse theaters, further emphasizing the critical role of its advanced unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs).
United States Air Force photo by Senior Airman Larry E. Reid Jr., Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
The Doolittle Award, named after the legendary World War II leader and daring Tokyo Raid architect, recognizes excellence in valor, determination, esprit de corps, and managing joint operations under demanding conditions. The 432nd Wing’s second claim to this honor, previously awarded in 2017, stands as a testament to its consistent excellence.
While the article acknowledges the wing’s contributions in the Central Command area of operations, it’s worth noting their wider impact. The 432nd Wing operates a multifaceted fleet encompassing the MQ-9 Reaper and the highly classified RQ-170 Sentinel, a stealth UAV developed by Lockheed Martin. These platforms have seen extensive deployments across Europe, Africa, and the Indo-Pacific Command, supporting missions with unparalleled persistence and intelligence gathering capabilities.
Chief Master Sgt. Cory Shipp, 432nd Wing command chief, emphasizes the collective effort behind this achievement. “They’re a phenomenal team,” he stresses, acknowledging the contributions of aircrews, ground support personnel, and intelligence analysts who ensure the smooth operation of these complex platforms.
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