445th Flight Test Squadron
Encyclopedia
The 445th Flight Test Squadron (445 FLTS) is part of the 412th Test Wing
and is based at Edwards Air Force Base
, California
.
Army Air Force School of Applied Tactics
(AAFSAT). It initially trained pilots and furnished cadres to night fighter units. Later, it trained personnel in fighter tactics under simulated combat conditions. Remained at the AAFSAT until it closed down in March 1944.
Reassigned to Muroc AAB, California, assigned to the 412th Fighter Group, Fourth Air Force. Performed testing of aircraft and tactics
from, March 1943-March 1944, operational training from, March 1944-January 1946, and operated as a fighter Squadron at March Field, California between January and July 1946 flying P-80 Shooting Star jet aircraft.
In August 1954, "Project Arrow" replaced the 445th FIS with the 497th FIS that was moved up from Portland, Oregon. The 445th FIS was transferred, on paper only, to Wurtsmith AFB, Michigan in 1955 performing air defense duties over the Great Lakes area and upper Midwest equipped with F-89D Scorpions. The 445th FIS was upgraded to the new F-89G Scorpion in March 1956 (the first F-89G squadron in ADC); and upgraded to the F-89J in September 1957.
Was re-equipped with new McDonnell F-101B Voodoo supersonic interceptor, and the F-101F operational and conversion trainer in 1960. The two-seat trainer version was equipped with dual controls, but carried the same armament as the F-101B and were fully combat-capable. Operated the Voodoos until September 1968, the aircraft being passed along to the Air National Guard
and the squadron inactivated as part of the general drawdown of the ADC active-duty interceptor force.
and operated more than 100 aircraft test and evaluation programs from, 1969-2001.
412th Test Wing
The 412th Test Wing is a wing of the United States Air Force, assigned to the Air Force Flight Test Center at Edwards Air Force Base, California.-Overview:...
and is based at Edwards Air Force Base
Edwards Air Force Base
Edwards Air Force Base is a United States Air Force base located on the border of Kern County, Los Angeles County, and San Bernardino County, California, in the Antelope Valley. It is southwest of the central business district of North Edwards, California and due east of Rosamond.It is named in...
, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
.
Overview
The 445th FTS part of the Air Force Flight Test Center. The squadron formulate the test program, develop the criteria for flight test missions, execute flight test missions, analyze data from the test flights and report on the results. The military personnel, government civilians, and contractors all work together as a team. This concept enables a cheaper, faster, and more effective test program and produces a more effective aerospace system for the warfighter.World War II
Activated at Orlando AAB, Florida in early 1943 as part of the Air UniversityAir University
The United States Air Force Air University is a component of the United States Air Force's Air Education and Training Command, headquartered at Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama. Air University is the U.S. Air Force's primary center for professional military education.-Organization:Air Force...
Army Air Force School of Applied Tactics
Army Air Force School of Applied Tactics
The Army Air Forces School of Applied Tactics was a military training organization of the United States Army Air Forces during World War II...
(AAFSAT). It initially trained pilots and furnished cadres to night fighter units. Later, it trained personnel in fighter tactics under simulated combat conditions. Remained at the AAFSAT until it closed down in March 1944.
Reassigned to Muroc AAB, California, assigned to the 412th Fighter Group, Fourth Air Force. Performed testing of aircraft and tactics
Military tactics
Military tactics, the science and art of organizing an army or an air force, are the techniques for using weapons or military units in combination for engaging and defeating an enemy in battle. Changes in philosophy and technology over time have been reflected in changes to military tactics. In...
from, March 1943-March 1944, operational training from, March 1944-January 1946, and operated as a fighter Squadron at March Field, California between January and July 1946 flying P-80 Shooting Star jet aircraft.
Air Defense Command
Reactivated under Air Defense Command in March 1953 at Geiger Field, Washington. In July, the first F-86D Sabre interceptors were assigned. The pilots and airmen were relatively inexperienced and the maintenance crew small. Within eighteen months, this group became the finest combat unit in the Western Air Defense Force. The highpoint in July 1954 was "Operation Checkpoint," a joint SAC-ADC exercise that extended for 3 days. With sunny days and early takeoffs, the pilot’s proficiency increased rapidly and aircraft maintenance became the best in ADC.In August 1954, "Project Arrow" replaced the 445th FIS with the 497th FIS that was moved up from Portland, Oregon. The 445th FIS was transferred, on paper only, to Wurtsmith AFB, Michigan in 1955 performing air defense duties over the Great Lakes area and upper Midwest equipped with F-89D Scorpions. The 445th FIS was upgraded to the new F-89G Scorpion in March 1956 (the first F-89G squadron in ADC); and upgraded to the F-89J in September 1957.
Was re-equipped with new McDonnell F-101B Voodoo supersonic interceptor, and the F-101F operational and conversion trainer in 1960. The two-seat trainer version was equipped with dual controls, but carried the same armament as the F-101B and were fully combat-capable. Operated the Voodoos until September 1968, the aircraft being passed along to the Air National Guard
Air National Guard
The Air National Guard , often referred to as the Air Guard, is the air force militia organized by each of the fifty U.S. states, the commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the territories of Guam and the U.S. Virgin Islands, and the District of Columbia of the United States. Established under Title 10 and...
and the squadron inactivated as part of the general drawdown of the ADC active-duty interceptor force.
Flight testing
Reactivated at Edwards AFB, California in 1969 as the Air Force Systems Command 6512th Test Squadron. Converted from provisional status with re-designation as 445th Test Squadron in October 1992 as part of transfer from Systems Command to Air Force Material Command. Became a testing squadron for 412th Test Wing412th Test Wing
The 412th Test Wing is a wing of the United States Air Force, assigned to the Air Force Flight Test Center at Edwards Air Force Base, California.-Overview:...
and operated more than 100 aircraft test and evaluation programs from, 1969-2001.
Lineage
- Constituted 445th Fighter Squadron (Special) on 19 Feb 1943
- Activated on 24 Feb 1943
- Re-designated: 445th Fighter Squadron (Twin Engine) (Special) on 15 Mar 1943
- Re-designated: 445th Fighter Squadron, Single Engine on 11 Mar 1944
- Re-designated: 445th Fighter Squadron, Jet Propelled on 18 Jan 1946
- Inactivated on 3 Jul 1946
- Re-designated 445th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron on 11 Feb 1953
- Activated on 20 Mar 1953
- Inactivated on 30 Sep 1968
- Consolidated (1 Oct 1992) with the 6512th Test Squadron which was designated, and activated, on 1 Oct 1969
- Re-designated: 445th Test Squadron on 2 Oct 1992
- Re-designated: 445th Flight Test Squadron on 1 Mar 1994
- Inactivated on 30 Nov 2001
- Activated on 11 Mar 2004.
Assignments
- 50th Fighter Group, 24 Feb 1943
- Tactical Air Division, AAF Tactical Center, 10 Feb 1944
- 412th Fighter Group, 11 Mar 1944-3 Jul 1946
- 530th Air Defense Group, 20 Mar 1953
- 412th Fighter Group, 18 Aug 1955
- Sault Sainte Marie Air Defense SectorSault Sainte Marie Air Defense SectorThe Sault Sainte Marie Air Defense Sector is an inactive United States Air Force organization. Its last assignment was with the 30th Air Division, being stationed at K.I. Sawyer Air Force Base, Michigan.- History :...
, 1 Apr 1960 - Detroit Air Defense SectorDetroit Air Defense SectorThe Detroit Air Defense Sector is an inactive United States Air Force organization. Its last assignment was with the Air Defense Command 26th Air Division, being stationed at Custer Air Force Station, Michigan...
, 15 Jul 1963 - 34th Air Division, 1 Apr 1966-30 Sep 1968
- 6512th Test Group (later, 6510 Test Wing), 1 Oct 1969
- Air Force Flight Test CenterAir Force Flight Test CenterThe Air Force Flight Test Center conducts research, development, test, and evaluation of aerospace systems from concept to deployment. It has test flown every aircraft in the U.S. Air Force's inventory since World War II...
, 1 Jan 1973 - 6510th (later, 412th) Test Wing412th Test WingThe 412th Test Wing is a wing of the United States Air Force, assigned to the Air Force Flight Test Center at Edwards Air Force Base, California.-Overview:...
, 1 Mar 1978 - 412th Operations Group, 1 Oct 1993-30 Nov 2001
- 412th Operations Group, 11 Mar 2004-Present
Stations
- Orlando Army Air Base, FL, 24 Feb 1943
- Muroc Army Air Field, CA, 11 Mar 1944
- Palmdale Army Air Field, CA, 1 Jun 1944
- Bakersfield AirportBakersfield AirportBakersfield Airport can refer to several airports in or near Bakersfield, California:*Meadows Field , Bakersfield's primary commercial airport, for both domestic and international flights....
, CA, 11 Oct 1944 - Santa Maria Army Airfield, CA, 10 Jul 1945
- March Field, CA, 3 Dec 1945-3 Jul 1946
- Geiger Field, WA, 20 Mar 1953
- Wurtsmith AFB, MI, 18 Aug 1955-30 Sep 1968
- Edwards AFB, CA, 1 Oct 1969-30 Nov 2001; 11 Mar 2004-Present
Aircraft
- P-38 LightningP-38 LightningThe Lockheed P-38 Lightning was a World War II American fighter aircraft built by Lockheed. Developed to a United States Army Air Corps requirement, the P-38 had distinctive twin booms and a single, central nacelle containing the cockpit and armament...
(1943–1945) - P-39 Airacobra (1943–1944)
- P-40 Warhawk (1943–1944)
- P-47 ThunderboltP-47 ThunderboltRepublic Aviation's P-47 Thunderbolt, also known as the "Jug", was the largest, heaviest, and most expensive fighter aircraft in history to be powered by a single reciprocating engine. It was heavily armed with eight .50-caliber machine guns, four per wing. When fully loaded, the P-47 weighed up to...
(1943–1944) - P-51 MustangP-51 MustangThe North American Aviation P-51 Mustang was an American long-range, single-seat fighter and fighter-bomber used during World War II, the Korean War and in several other conflicts...
(1943–1946) - P-63 KingcobraP-63 KingcobraThe Bell P-63 Kingcobra was a United States fighter aircraft developed in World War II from the Bell P-39 Airacobra in an attempt to correct that aircraft's deficiencies...
(1943–1944) - A-24 Banshee (1943–1945)
- BT-13 ValiantBT-13 ValiantThe Vultee BT-13 Valiant was an American World War II-era basic trainer aircraft built by Vultee Aircraft for the United States Army Air Corps, and later US Army Air Forces...
(1943–1944) - C-78 Bobcat (1943–1944)
- L-3 Grasshopper (1943–1944)
- L-4 Grasshopper (1943–1944)
- XR-3 (1943–1944)
- XR-4Sikorsky R-4The Sikorsky R-4 was a two-place helicopter designed by Igor Sikorsky with a single, three-bladed main rotor and powered by a radial engine. The R-4 was the world's first large-scale mass-produced helicopter and the first helicopter to enter service with the United States Army Air Forces, Navy, and...
(1943–1944) - Beaufighter (1943–1944)
- YP-59AP-59 AiracometThe Bell P-59 Airacomet was the first American jet fighter aircraft, designed and built during World War II. The United States Army Air Forces was not impressed by its performance and cancelled the contract when fewer than half of the aircraft ordered had been produced. Although no P-59s went...
(1944–1945) - P-59BP-59 AiracometThe Bell P-59 Airacomet was the first American jet fighter aircraft, designed and built during World War II. The United States Army Air Forces was not impressed by its performance and cancelled the contract when fewer than half of the aircraft ordered had been produced. Although no P-59s went...
(1945) - A-25 Shrike (1944–1945)
- A-36 Apache (1944–1945)
- B-17 Flying Fortress (1944–1945)
- Zeke-52A6M ZeroThe Mitsubishi A6M Zero was a long-range fighter aircraft operated by the Imperial Japanese Navy Air Service from 1940 to 1945. The A6M was designated as the , and also designated as the Mitsubishi A6M Rei-sen and Mitsubishi Navy 12-shi Carrier Fighter. The A6M was usually referred to by the...
(1944–1945) - P-80 Shooting StarP-80 Shooting StarThe Lockheed P-80 Shooting Star was the first jet fighter used operationally by the United States Army Air Forces. Designed in 1943 as a response to the German Messerschmitt Me-262 jet fighter, and delivered in just 143 days from the start of the design process, production models were flying but...
(1945–1946) - F-86D Sabre Interceptor (1953–1955)
- F-89D Scorpion (1955–1956)
- F-89H Scorpion (1956–1960)
- F-101B Voodoo (1960–1968)
- F-4 Phantom IIF-4 Phantom IIThe McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom II is a tandem two-seat, twin-engined, all-weather, long-range supersonic jet interceptor fighter/fighter-bomber originally developed for the United States Navy by McDonnell Aircraft. It first entered service in 1960 with the U.S. Navy. Proving highly adaptable,...
(1969–2001) - A-7D Corsair II (1969–2001)
- T-38 TalonT-38 TalonThe Northrop T-38 Talon is a twin-engine supersonic jet trainer. It was the world's first supersonic trainer and is also the most produced. The T-38 remains in service as of 2011 in air forces throughout the world....
(1969–2001, 2004-present) - KC-135 StratotankerKC-135 StratotankerThe Boeing KC-135 Stratotanker is an aerial refueling military aircraft. It and the Boeing 707 airliner were developed from the Boeing 367-80 prototype. The KC-135 was the US Air Force's first jet-powered refueling tanker and replaced the KC-97 Stratotanker...
(1969–2001, 2004-Present) - T-37 Tweet (1969–2001)