PREDATOR HISTORY PAGE

Kat Adoption Rescue Education Predators have flown over 400,000 flight hours. 214th Reconnaissance Group logged over 70,000 combat hours.

Damage Done by Predators
Number Target Destroyed Assisted in destruction Other Accomplishments
2,200, including:
  • Saeed al-Shihri
  • Badruddin Haggani
  • Fahd al-Quso
  • Anwar al-Aulaqi
  • Salem bin Arfaaj
  • Ilyas Kashmiri
  • Midhat Mursi al-Sayid Umar
  • Abu Obaidah al-Masri
  • Abdul Rehman al-Maghribi
  • Hamza Rabia
  • Haitham al-Yemeni
  • Abu Laith al-Libi
  • Abdirizaq Abdi Saleh aka Saleh al-Somali
  • Sally Jones
Also may have killed two US troops with a Hellfire missile.		 Ememy combatants 42 Assisted in capturing 4 enemy combatants, 5 criminal suspects, and 1,800 attempting to enter the U.S. Illegally
3 Trucks 2 Assisted in the capture of 8,200 pounds of marijuana
1 Radar Site   Struck sniper position
1 Bunker & Caves 1  
3 Other targets 3  
9 (includes 2 x VBIED) Other vehicles 1  
1 VBIED 1  
4 IED    
1 AAA    
1 Radar Dish    
1 Arms Cache    
3 Firing positions    
1 Compounds 1 Assisted in destroying
  Buildings 1 Assisted in destroying
1 Multiple Rocket Launcher    
1 SA8    
1 Mortar    
Serial Number Comments
96-3027 flew Operation Enduring Freedom missions.
97-034 Predator at the Air and Space Museum Flew 196 Operation Enduring Freedom missions. Was the first Predator to fire a Hellfire missile in combat. Is at the National Air & Space Museum.
98-3052 May 25, 2002 - crashed as it was preparing to land in Kuwait.
AF99-058 flew Operation Iraqi Freedom missions.
00-3065 October 25, 2002 - 00-3065, 57th Wing, 11th Reconnaissance Squadron crashed, Nevada Test and Training Range.
AF01-075 flew Operation Iraqi Freedom missions.
AF01-078 flew Operation Iraqi Freedom missions.
107 flew Operation Enduring Freedom missions. The first Predator to reach 20,000 flight hours.
AF03-116 flew Operation Iraqi Freedom missions.
119 flew Operation Iraqi Freedom missions.
AF04-129 flew Operation Iraqi Freedom missions.
1185 flew Operation Enduring Freedom missions.
137 flew Operation Enduring Freedom missions.
AF05-141 flew Operation Iraqi Freedom missions.
AF06-159 flew Operation Iraqi Freedom missions.
AF06-168 flew Operation Enduring Freedom missions.
AF06-172 flew Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Missions missions.
080 flew an Operation Iraqi Freedom mission on July 21, 2003.
AF08-3237 An engine failure caused it to crash on May 27, 2015
268 The last Predator delivered on March 3, 2011.
From January 2016-July 2017 MQ-1 Predators of 361st EATKS flew over 2,000 combat missions and 36,000 combat hours. They have fired 358 AGM-114s against ISIS targets.
Predators flew 103,000 combat hours on OPERATION ENDURING FREEDOM and OPERATION IRAQI FREEDOM missions. In July 2005 Predators flew 4,700 combat hours.
Since 2001 102 Predators were in Class A crashes.

LYBIA

September 11, 2012 - Two Predators provided real time imagery during the attack on the US Embassy in Benghazi.
A Predator drone assisted in stopping Khadafy's convoy. Khadafy was captured and summarily executed by rebels.
April 23, 2011 - Predators flew their first missions against Lybian government forces.

IRAQ

August 12, 2014 - A Predator destroyed a mortar position.
August 10, 2014 - F/A-18s and MQ-1s destroyed 4 APCs and 1 truck.
December 19, 2011 - Prdators based in Turkey are flying over Northern Iraq in support of Turkey's operations against PKK terrorists.
December 18, 2011 - A Predator flew guard over the last convoy to leave Iraq.
December 3, 2008 - An MQ-1B Predator fired a Hellfire missile at enemy forces.
May 3, 2008 - Predators fired Hellfire missiles into an enemy building.
April 30, 2008 - An MQ-1 destroyed a building.
April 26, 2008 - MQ-1Bs fired Hellfire missiles onto enemy combatants and destroyed a vehicle.
April 20, 2008 - A Predator attacked enemy forces with a Hellfire missile.
April 15, 2008 - Predators attacked an RPG team and a vehicle with Hellfire missiles.
April 14, 2008 - Predators attacked an enemy mortar team and a vehicle with Hellfire missiles.
April 12, 2008 - Predators attacked enemy combatants with a Hellfire missile.
April 11, 2008 - Predators killed enemy combatants and destroyed a mortar with Hellfire missiles.
April 10, 2008 - Destroyed an enemy mortar position and killed 12 combatants with Hellfire missiles.
April 8, 2008 - Attacked an artillery position and enemy combatants with Hellfire missiles.
April 2, 2008 - Destroyed an enemy vehicle.
March 31, 2008 - Destroyed an enemy road block with a Hellfire missile.
March 30, 2008 - Killed combatants with a Hellfire missile.
March 29, 2008 - Attacked a mortor crew and an IED emplacement crew with Hellfire missiles.
March 10, 2008 - Attacked enemy combatants who were placing an IED with a a Hellfire missile.
December 14, 2007 - Engaged the enemy with a Hellfire missile.
October 20, 2007 - Struck a vehicle with a Hellfire missile.
October 11, 2007 - Fired a rocket at enemy combatants.
October 9, 2007 - Fired Hellfire missiles at enemy combatants.
September 28, 2007 - Fired Hellfire missiles at IED emplacers and a building.
August 27, 2007 - Struck an enemy ground unit.
August 17, 2007 - Struck an enemy ground unit.
July 11, 2007 - A Predator struck a target with a Hellfire missile in Ad Diwaniyah.
July 9, 2007 - A Predator struck a target with a Hellfire missile in Al Amarah.
July 4, 2007 - A Predator targeted an enemy positions for an F/A-18 strike.
May 2007 - A Predator struck insurgents placing an IED. Provided SAR for downed OH-58D. Struck insurgents with helfire missile.
April 2007 - A Predator struck a target with a Hellfire missile.
January 29, 2007 - A Predator spotted a group of 100 enemy fighter massing in Najaf.
December 2006 - A Predator carried out an air strikes in Hawijah and Hit.
November 2006 - A Predator carried out an air strike in Ramadi.
October 2006 - A Predator carried out an operation in Fallujah & Ramadi.
September 2006 - A Predator supported ground forces in Balad.
July 31, 2006 - A Predator supported ground forces in Al Taji.
June 2006 - Predators carried out search operations for two DUSTUN soldiers. The soldiers were later found murdered. Provided air support in the vicinities of Al Amarah, Al Hillah, Al Iskandariyah, Al Mahmudiya, Baqubah, Ramadi, Samarra, and Tikrit.
March 27, 2006 - A Predator successfully fired an AGM-114 Hellfire missile at at enemy forces.
December 2005 - Predators supported ground operations in Balad & Ramadi.
November 2005 - Predators supported ground operations in Balad, Basra, Karabilah, Salman Park, Tacit.
November 14, 2005 - Supported ground troops as part of Operation Steel Curtain.
August 28, 2005 - A Predator supported ground forces in Al Qaim & Baghdad.
August 21, 2005 - Provided close air support in Baghdad, Baqubahi, & Tuz Khurmatu.
May 27, 2005 - A Predator provided full-motion video surveillance of the area during the search-and-recovery of the pilots killed in an OH-58 shootdown.
August 18, 2004 - Predators flew recconaissance missions to support ground forces.
April 12, 2004 - A Predator team successfully engaged insurgents on when it called in an F-16 for a Close Air Support strike.
October 14, 2002 - a Roland fired a SAM at a Predator.
August 4, 2001 - Two MiG-23s flew 100Km inside the "no-fly" zone. A USAF Predator was in the area.
May, 2001 = An Iraqi Roland fired a SAM at a Predator.
April 4, 2008 - A Predator ran of the runway while landing.
August 10, 2017 - An MQ-1 crashed near Adana, Turkey.
February 3, 2016 - An MQ-1 crashed in southern Turkey.
January 7, 2016 - Mechanical failure in the primary control module caused an MQ-1 Predator to crash.
October 19, 2015 - Mechanical failure caused an MQ-1 Predator to crash in Turkey.
October 17, 2015 - An MQ-1 Predator crashed in Iraq. A lightning strike apparently caused the crash.
June 22, 2015 - A Predator crashed in Iraq.
March 17, 2015 - Syrian defenses shot down a Predator over Syria.
March 1, 2015 - An electrical fire caused an MQ-1B Predator to crash.
August 13, 2009 - An MQ-1 Predator crashed in central Iraq.
October 19, 2008 - A quill shaft bearing failure caused a Predator to crash.
May 2, 2008 - An ignition module failure caused an MQ-1B Predator to crash east of Ali Base, Iraq.
December 4, 2008 - An MQ-1 Predator crashed on the Balad Air Base runway.
June 2, 2008 - A Predator crashed near Balad Air Base.
April 9, 2008 - A MQ-1 Predator crashed northwest of Balad, Iraq.
December 17, 2007 - An MQ-1 Predator crashed near Al Muqdadiya.
March 21, 2006 - An MQ-1 crashed.
March 30, 2005 - A failed pilot bearing caused an MQ-1 crash.
January 14, 2005 - Loss of control cause a Predator to crash.
August 17, 2004 - A fire cause a Predator.
March 26, 2005 - an MQ-1 crashed near Balad, Iraq.
23 December, 2002 - An Iraqi MiG-25 shot down a Predator.
October 10, 2001 - Iraqi defenses shot down a Predator.
September 11, 2001 - Iraqi defenses shot down a Predator.
August 27, 2001 - Iraqi defenses shot down a Predator.
OPERATION ENDURING FREEDOM
RAF Predators have flown 34,750 hours and fired 281 missiles.
December 13, 2008 - Fired Hellfire missiles at enemy forces.
December 9, 2008 - Fired a Hellfire missile at enemy forces.
December 5, 2008 - Fired a Hellfire missile at enemy forces.
November 16, 2008 - Attacked enemy forces who were preparing for an IED attack.
October 12, 2008 - Fired a Hellfire at enemy forces who were carrying a mortar.
September 9, 2008 - Fired Hellfire missiles to disarm enemy combatants.
July 2008 - Fired Hellfire missiles at enemy combatants.
February 2008 - Fired Hellfire missile at enemy combatants.
January 2008 - Fired Hellfire missiles at enemy combatants.
December 2007 - Fired Hellfire missiles.
November 2007 - Fired Hellfire missles at enemy personnel.
September 30, 2007 - Fired a Hellfire missile at enemy personnel.
May 2007 - Predators fired Hellfire missiles at fleeing terrorists.
April 2007 - A Predator struck enemy targets with Hellfire missiles in the vicinities of Gereshk, Qalat, Sangin.
September 2006 - Predators supported ground operations in the vicinity of Kandahar.
August 31, 2006 - Predators participated in the Search and Recovery of a crashed RHAF F-16.
August 2006 - Predators supported ground operation in the vicinities of Kandahar, Khowst, Khod Valley, & Orgun-E.
July 2006 - Predators supported ground operations in the vicinities of Deh Rawood, Musah Qal'eh, Now Zad & Tarin Kowt
June 2006 - Predators supported ground operation in Deh Rawood, Gereshk, Kandahar, and Tarin Kowt.
May 2006 - Predators supported ground operations in Asadabad, Deh Rawood, Gereshk, Ghazni, Kabul, Kandahar, Oryzgan, Qalat, and Tarin Kowt.
March 22, 2006 - A Predator successfully attacked a building where insurgents were.
March 2006 - An MQ-1 supported ground forces in Asadabad and Deh Rawood.
January 14, 2006 - A CIA Operated Predator launched a strike against al Qaeda.
November 16, 2005 - A Predator flew supported ground operations over Asadabad, Ghazni, and Kabul.
A CIA controlled Predator killed some of Gulbuddin Hekmatyar's troops.
October 22, 2005 - A Predator supported ground operations in Asadabad, Baghtu, Oruzgan, and Shkin.
August 2005 - Predators supported ground operations in Asadabad, Chaghasaray, & Jalalabad.
August 18, 2004 - Predator aircraft flew survellance missions.
March 2004 - Predator aircraft supported Pakistani forces during Operation Kaloosha II.
Predators are flew Operation Anaconda missions.
3 January, 2002 - Predators discovered activity at al-Qaeda's Zawar Kili camp. The US responded by dropping 100 2,000 bombs on the camp.
Predators spotted al-Qaeda troops reinforcing the surrounded troops during Operation Anaconda. The US Military decided to permit the reinforcing troops to enter the trap.
Predators provided real time intelligence to AC-130 gunships in the Tora Bora operation.
Predators have flown missions during the Tora Bora operation.
A Predator also took pictures of Taliban leader Moohammed Omar and the licence plate of his car. These pictures were included in propaganda leaflets.
2009 - Taliban hackers hacked into a USAF Predator's live video feed.
July 14, 2014 - An engine failure caused an MQ-1B to crash near Kandahar.
June 25, 2014 - A turbocharger failure in severe turbulence caused an MQ-1B to crash.
April 26, 2014 - An oil leak caused an MQ-1B to crash.
June 27, 2013 - The failure of a turbocharger caused an MQ-1 to crash in Afghanistan.
September 18, 2012 - A Predator crashed after the pilot lost a satellite link with the aircraft.
August 22, 2012 - An electrical systems failure caused an MQ-1B to crash in Afghanistan.
April 14, 2012 - An ignition cable failure forced the USAF to crash an MQ-1B Predator.
February 12, 2012 - A combination of mechanical failure and human error caused a Predator to crash.
August 20, 2011 - A Predator crashed in Afghanistan. It damaged two buildings when it crashed. A broken variable-pitch propeller quill shaft caused the crash
March 14, 2010 - A Predator crashed in Afghanistan..
February 21, 2010 - A Predator attack killed 23 civilians.
February 9, 2010 - A Predator crashed in Afghanistan.
January 15, 2010 - A Predator crashed in Afghanistan.
November 21, 2009 - A Predator crashed in Afghanistan.
September 4, 2009 - A Predatory crashed in Afghanistan.
May 14, 2009 - A Predator crashed in Afghanistan.
April 21, 2009 - A Predator crashed in eastern Afghanistan.
February 22, 2009 - An Electical failure caused a Predator to crash in Balad, Afghanistan.
November 2, 2008 - Pilot error caused a Predator to crash.
July 21, 2008 - A short ciruit caused a Predator crashed in Afghanistan.
February 23, 2007 - An MQ-1 Predator crashed apparently from mechanical failure.
December 11, 2003 - An RQ-1L Predator crashed.
January 2, 2003 - A USAF RQ-1 crashed, Serial Number 98-3029, in Pakistan.
September 17, 2002 - A Predator crashed in Afghanistan.
May 17, 2002 - A Predator crashed in Pakistan.
January 24, 2002 - A USAF RQ-1 crashed on landing.
January 22, 2002 - The USAF lost an RQ-1 over Afghanistan.
November 2, 2001 - USAF lost an RQ-1 over Afghanistan.
OPERATION ALLIED FORCE

A Predator verified an SA-6 van's targeting and destruction. A Predator targeted a tank and a military vehicle. Predators have also monitored refugee movements. Predators monitored Yugoslavian troops leaving Kosovo.
A Predator, serial number 95-3019, crashed on 4/18/99.
Yugoslavian forces shot down a Predator, serial number 95-3019, on May 13, 1999.
OTHER OPERATIONS
May 1, 2015 - A turbocharger failure cause a Predator to crash at the Nevada Test and Training Range.
June 27, 2014 - Failure of a flight control module caused an MQ-1B to crash at Creek AFB, NV.
September 3, 2013 - A Predator supported fire supression efforts at Yosemite National Park.
November 1, 2012 - A Predator survived an attack by two Iranian Su-25s.
January 2010 - Predators supported the Hatian relief operation.
June 2009 - A Predator is patroling the border area near Ft. Drum, NY.
April 4, 2014 - Wind shear and pilot inexperience cause a landing accident of a MQ-1 Predator which caused $4,5 million in damages to the aircraft.
September 22, 2004 - An MQ-16 has a hard landing which caused $2.8 million in damages to the aircraft.
September 24, 2015 - A satellite link loss caused a Predator in an undisclosed location.
May 27, 2015 - Engine failure caused an MQ-1B to crash in Nevada.
January 17, 2014 - A coolant leak caused the crash of a Predator into the Mediterranean Sea.
September 23, 2013 - A power converter failure cause a Predator supporting US Africa Command to crash into the Mediterranean Sea.
October 22, 2010 - A Predator crashed at Holloman AFB, NM.
April 20, 2010 - Pilot error caused the crash of a MQ-1B in California.
September 11, 2009 - A Predator crashed at Holloman AFB, NM.
June 2006 - A loose oil filter caused an oil leak that caused an MQ-1 to crash at Creech AFB, NV.
April 26, 2006 - A Predator B, flying for the U.S. Border Patrol crashed in Nevada.
June 14, 2004 - A Predator crashed at Indian Springs AFAF, NV.
In FY2008 the Predator was the most available USAF aircraft, available 80.6% of the time.

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Send questions or comments to: Robert Sacchi