214th Reconnaissance Group

The 214th Reconnaissance Group (214 RG) is a unit of the Arizona Air National Guard's 162d Fighter Wing (162 FW), stationed at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Arizona, with an additional operating location at Libby Army Airfield at Fort Huachuca, Arizona.[1][2] If activated to federal service with the United States Air Force, the 214 RG is operationally gained by the Air Combat Command (ACC).

214th Reconnaissance Group
214th Reconnaissance Squadron - General Atomics MQ-1B Predator, AF Ser. No. 06-3168
Active2007-Present
Country United States
Allegiance Arizona
Branch  Air National Guard
TypeGroup
RoleUAV Reconnaissance
Part ofArizona Air National Guard
Garrison/HQDavis-Monthan Air Force Base, Tucson, Arizona.
Insignia
214th Reconnaissance Group emblem
Aircraft flown
ReconnaissanceMQ-1 Predator

Overview

The 214th Reconnaissance Group flies the MQ-1B Predator over Afghanistan via satellite from ground control stations in Tucson. Arizona Air Guardsmen fly 24/7 operations saving American lives through the vital information they provide to troops on the ground.[3]

Operations

Currently, the unit flies over Afghanistan on a continual basis flying 20 hours per day, seven days per week. Predator operations provide troops on the ground with both daylight and infrared video of selected targets. In addition, the aircraft is equipped with two laser-guided AGM-114 Hellfire missiles.[4]

Arizona Air National Guard Predator operations will first fill worldwide theater requirements, but will also likely evolve into providing direct defense for the homeland in conjunction with the Department of Homeland Security and U.S. Northern Command.

A permanent facility located at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base was completed in 2009.

Fraud scandal

A 2009 investigation found that some members of the 214 RG may have fraudulently collected reimbursement for living expenses from the government over several years. In response, Colonel Gregg Davies was removed from command of the 214 RG on 23 November 2009 by Arizona Air National Guard commander, Brigadier General Michael Colangelo. A state inspector general investigation later concluded that Davies' relief constituted "retaliation," but declined to reinstate him into the Air National Guard. Brigadier General Michael Colangelo was subsequently relieved from his post in command of the Arizona ANG.[5]

In late 2013, following his retirement from the Air Force and Air National Guard, Colonel Davies was indicted by the Arizona Attorney General, Tom Horne on fraud charges. Also indicted were seven other officers and thirteen enlisted airmen from the 12 RG. The indictment contends that all named defendants falsified their home addresses so they could collect temporary duty allowances (per diem, etc.) while performing Federalized service at their home station.[6] The charges were subsequently dropped in 2014. Some cases were dropped via prosecution diversion agreements, some were dropped with prejudice and in at least one case the prosecution and Pima county judge ruled that an accused officer was wrongfully indicted.[7]

Specifics
  • Lineage: Designated 214th Reconnaissance Group, and allotted to Arizona ANG, 2007
Extended federal recognition and activated, 29 August 2007
  • Assignment: 162d Fighter Wing, Tucson Air National Guard Base, Arizona
  • Components: 214th Reconnaissance Squadron
  • Station: Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Arizona
    • Additional operating location at Libby Army Airfield / Fort Huachuca, Arizona
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References

 This article incorporates public domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency website http://www.afhra.af.mil/.

  1. http://www.military.com/daily-news/2014/12/19/air-guard-christens-new-home-for-arizona-drones.html
  2. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 8 March 2016. Retrieved 7 March 2016.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  3. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 22 July 2011. Retrieved 12 August 2010.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  4. Arizona activates ANG Predator unit at D-M Archived 18 May 2008 at the Wayback Machine
  5. Wagner, Dennis, Arizona Republic, "Scandals led to Arizona Air Guard firings", Military Times, 17 September 2012
  6. https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2013/10/21/arizona-national-guard-indictments/3145471/
  7. http://tucson.com/news/local/crime/former-arizona-air-national-guard-commander-takes-plea-deal/article_76be4cb3-06cd-57e8-b7ff-86b5e05caf97.html
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