445th Test Squadron: Difference between revisions

445th Flight Test Squadron [1]
445th Flight Test Squadron Patch
Active	24 February 1943 - 3 July 1946 20 March 1953 - 30 September 1968 1 October 1969 - 30 November 2001 11 March 2004 - Present
Country	United States
Branch	United States Air Force
Type	Flight Test
Part of	Air Force Material Command Air Force Flight Test Center 412th Test Wing 412th Operations Group
Garrison/HQ	Edwards Air Force Base
Decorations	AFOUA
Commanders
Current commander	Lt Col Jason Schott

The 445th Flight Test Squadron (445 FLTS) is part of the 412th Test Wing and is based at Edwards Air Force Base, California.

Activated at Orlando AAB, Florida in early 1943 as part of the Air University 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.

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 Wurthsmuth AFB, Michigan performing air defense duties over the Great Lakes area and upper Midwest. Inactivated in 1968 due to budget restraints and the general phase down of air defense interceptor units in the United States. Units F-101B Voodoos sent to AMARC.

Reactivated at Edwards AFB, California in 1969. Became a testing squadron for 412th Test Wing and operated more than 100 aircraft test and evaluation programs from, 1969-2001.^[1]

• 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.

^[1]

• 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 Sector, 1 Apr 1960
• Detroit Air Defense Sector, 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 Center, 1 Jan 1973
• 6510th (later, 412th) Test Wing, 1 Mar 1978
• 412th Operations Group, 1 Oct 1993-30 Nov 2001
• 412th Operations Group, 11 Mar 2004-Present

^[1]

• 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 Airport, 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

^[1]

• P-38 Lightning (1943–1945)
• P-39 Airacobra (1943–1944)
• P-40 Warhawk (1943–1944)
• P-47 Thunderbolt (1943–1944)
• P-51 Mustang (1943–1946)
• P-63 Kingcobra (1943–1944)
• A-24 Banshee (1943–1945)
• BT-13 Valiant (1943–1944)
• C-78 Bobcat (1943–1944)
• L-3 Grasshopper (1943–1944)
• L-4 Grasshopper (1943–1944)
• XR-3 (1943–1944)
• XR-4 (1943–1944)
• Beaufighter (1943–1944)
• YP-59A (1944–1945)
• P-59B (1945)
• A-25 Shrike (1944–1945)
• A-36 Apache (1944–1945)
• B-17 Flying Fortress (1944–1945)
• Zeke-52 (1944–1945)
• P-80 Shooting Star (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 II (1969–2001)
• A-7D Corsair II (1969–2001)
• T-38 Talon (1969–2001, 2004-present)
• KC-135 Stratotanker (1969–2001, 2004-Present)
• T-37 Tweet (1969–2001)

• World War II

^[1]

 This article incorporates public domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency

• USAF 445th Flight Test Squadron History