9th Reconnaissance Wing

9th Reconnaissance Wing

The 9th Reconnaissance Wing (9 RW) is a United States Air Force unit assigned to the Air Combat Command Twelfth Air Force. It is stationed at Beale Air Force Base, California. The wing is also the host unit at Beale.

Its mission is to organize, train and equip U-2R Dragonlady, RQ-4 Global Hawk, and MC-12 Liberty combat elements for peacetime intelligence gathering, contingency operations, conventional war fighting and Emergency War Order support.

Its 9th Operations Group is a descendant organization of the 9th Group (Observation), one of the 13 original combat air groups formed by the Army before World War II.

During World War II, the 9th Bombardment Group (Very Heavy) was an air combat unit of the United States Army Air Forces. Active for over 60 years, the 9 RW was a component wing of Strategic Air Command's deterrent force throughout the Cold War, performing strategic reconnaissance on a worldwide basis.

The 9 RW is commanded by Colonel Phillip A. Stewart. Its Command Chief Master Sergeant is Chief Master Sergeant Robert White.