40th Flight Test Squadron

{{Use American English|date=December 2016}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2019}}

{{more footnotes|date=December 2012}}

{{Infobox military unit

|unit_name=40th Flight Test Squadron

|image=3247th Test Squadron General Dynamics F-16A Block 15A Fighting Falcon 80-0573.jpg

|image_size=300

|caption=3247th Test Squadron F-16A Fighting FalconAircraft is General Dynamics F-16A block 15 serial 80-573 armed with an AIM-9 Sidewinder missile and a cluster weapon on 12 May 1986. This aircraft now on display at USAF Armament Museum at Eglin AFB.

|dates=1940–1970; 1971–1982; --present

|country={{USA}}

|branch={{air force|USA}}

|type=

|role=Flight Testing

|size=

|command_structure=Air Force Materiel Command

|garrison=

|nickname=Fighting Fortieth (1959–1982)

|motto=

|colors=

|march=

|mascot=

|battles=Southwest Pacific Theater
Korean War{{cite web |url= https://www.dafhistory.af.mil/About-Us/Fact-Sheets/Display/Article/434069/40-flight-test-squadron/ |title=Factsheet 40 Flight Test Squadron|date=11 December 2007|publisher=Air Force Historical Research Agency|access-date=28 February 2018}}

|decorations=Distinguished Unit Citation
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award
Philippine Presidential Unit Citation
Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation

|anniversaries=

|notable_commanders=

|identification_symbol=150px

|identification_symbol_label=40th Flight Test Squadron emblemApproved 27 July 1983.

|identification_symbol_2=File:40 Fighter-Interceptor Sq emblem.png

|identification_symbol_2_label=40th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron emblemApproved 9 July 1959.Maurer, Combat Squadrons, p. 187-188

|identification_symbol_3=150px

|identification_symbol_3_label=40th Pursuit Squadron emblemApproved 19 June 1941.Hubbard, p. 720

}}

The 40th Flight Test Squadron is a United States Air Force unit. It is assigned to the 96th Operations Group, based at Eglin Air Force Base, Florida.

History

File:40th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron Convair TF-102A-45-CO Delta Dagger 56-2360.jpg

"Combat in Southwest and Western Pacific, 2 June 1942 – 14 August 1945. Served in the occupation force in Japan, 1945–1950. Combat in Korea, 8 July 1950 – 25 May 1951. Air defense in Japan and Korea, June 1951 – June 1965. Trained cadres for transfer to Southeast Asia, 1966–1969. Not manned, 10 May 1969 – 15 October 1970 and 1 June 1972 – 30 April 1982."

Conducted test and evaluation missions, using the various aircraft, 1982–present.

In 2022, the squadron added the Kratos XQ-58A Valkyrie to its inventory. This semi-autonomous unmanned aerial vehicle is capable of determining an optimal mission flight path

based on inputs from ground stations or airborne fighter aircraft. Testing will be led by the Autonomous Aircraft Experimentation Team.{{cite web |url= https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/xq-58a-valkyrie-drone-has-joined-eglin-air-force-bases-test-wing |last1=Helfrich|first1=Emma|title=XQ-58A Valkyrie Drone Has Joined Eglin Air Force Base's Test Wing|date=November 11, 2022|publisher=The Warzone|access-date=November 12, 2022}}

Lineage

; 40th Tactical Fighter Squadron

  • Constituted as the 40th Pursuit Squadron (Interceptor) on 22 December 1939

: Activated on 1 February 1940

: Redesignated 40th Fighter Squadron on 15 May 1942

: Redesignated 40th Fighter Squadron, Single Engine on 20 August 1943

: Redesignated 40th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron on 20 January 1950

: Redesignated 40th Tactical Fighter Squadron on 20 June 1965

: Inactivated on 15 October 1970

  • Activated on 1 October 1971

: Inactivated on 30 April 1982

  • Consolidated with the 3247th Test Squadron on 1 October 1992 as the 40th Flight Test Squadron

; 40th Flight Test Squadron

  • Designated as the 3247th Test Squadron and activated on 25 June 1982
  • Consolidated with the 40th Tactical Fighter Squadron as the 40th Test Squadron on 1 October 1992

: Redesignated 40th Flight Test Squadron on 15 March 1994

=Assignments=

=Stations=

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See also

References

=Notes=

; Explanatory notes

{{Reflist|group=note}}

; Citations

{{Reflist|40em}}

=Bibliography=

{{Air Force Historical Research Agency}}

  • {{cite journal|url= http://archive.nationalgeographic.com/dynamic/National%20Geographic%20Society/National%20Geographic/Landing.aspx |last1=Hubbard|first1=Gerard|title= Aircraft Insignia, Spirit of Youth |year=1943|volume=LXXXIII |issue=6|pages=718–722|journal=The National Geographic Magazine|publisher=National Geographic Society|access-date=1 September 2017}} (subscription required for web access)
  • {{cite book|editor=Maurer, Maurer|title=Air Force Combat Units of World War II|orig-year= 1961|url= http://media.defense.gov/2010/Sep/21/2001330256/-1/-1/0/AFD-100921-044.pdf|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20161220180735/http://media.defense.gov/2010/Sep/21/2001330256/-1/-1/0/AFD-100921-044.pdf|url-status= dead|archive-date= 20 December 2016|access-date= 17 December 2016|edition=reprint|year=1983|publisher= Office of Air Force History|location=Washington, DC|isbn=0-912799-02-1|lccn=61060979}}
  • {{cite book|editor=Maurer, Maurer|title=Combat Squadrons of the Air Force, World War II|orig-year=1969|url= http://media.defense.gov/2010/Dec/02/2001329899/-1/-1/0/AFD-101202-002.pdf |archive-url= https://archive.today/20230820144531/https://media.defense.gov/2010/Dec/02/2001329899/-1/-1/0/AFD-101202-002.pdf |url-status= dead |archive-date= 20 August 2023 |edition= reprint|access-date= 17 December 2016|year=1982|publisher=Office of Air Force History|location=Washington, DC|isbn=0-405-12194-6|oclc=72556|lccn=70605402}}
  • {{cite book|last=Ravenstein|first=Charles A.|title=Air Force Combat Wings, Lineage & Honors Histories 1947–1977|url=https://archive.org/details/airforcecombatwi0000rave|access-date=17 December 2016|year=1984|publisher=Office of Air Force History|location=Washington, DC|isbn=0-912799-12-9|url-access=registration}}

{{USAF Korea}}

{{USAAF 5th Air Force World War II}}

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