339th Flight Test Squadron

339th Flight Test Squadron

Eddie Minter, C-130 functional test work lead, mets with MSgt. Tony Valente, flight engineer to look over work records before a testflight of an MC-130E
Active 1942 – present
Country  United States
Branch  United States Air Force
Type Flight Testing
Garrison/HQ Robins AFB, Georgia
Engagements
Decorations

  • Distinguished Unit Citation (4x)

  • Air Force Outstanding Unit Award (2x)

  • Philippines Presidential Unit Citation
Insignia
339th Flight Test Squadron emblem
339th Fighter Squadron 3 F-82s Johnson Air Base, Japan 1950 F-82E Twin Mustang 46-353 in center.

The 339th Flight Test Squadron is a United States Air Force unit based at Robins AFB, Georgia. It is part of the Warner Robins Air Logistics Center, with a mission to certify aircraft as worthy to return to service. The squadron is responsible for conducting flight tests on the C-130 Hercules, the C-5 Galaxy and F-15 Eagle after program depot maintenance is completed.

Along with their flight test responsibilities, the squadron also picks up and delivers aircraft including battle damaged aircraft to locations where they are needed or can be repaired.

The squadron is also considered the subject matter experts for the plane's systems and many times their phone rings when Airmen around the world are having mechanical malfunctions and need to know how to fly or land safely.

History

Lineage

Activated on 3 October 1942
Redesignated: 339th Fighter Squadron (Twin Engine)on 23 February 1943
Redesignated: 339th Fighter Squadron, Two Engine, on 20 August 1943
Inactivated on 1 January 1946
Activated on 25 August 1946
Redesignated: 339th Fighter Squadron (All Weather) on 20 February 1947
Redesignated: 339th Fighter Squadron, All Weather, on 10 August 1948
Redesignated: 339th Fighter-All Weather Squadron on 20 January 1950
Redesignated: 339th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron on 25 April 1951
Inactivated on 15 January 1958
Activated on 30 December 1975
Inactivated on 1 July 1983 (personnel and aircraft reactivated as 69th Tactical Fighter Squadron)
Redesignated: 339th Test Squadron on 1 October 1992
Redesignated: 339th Flight Test Squadron on 15 March 1994

Assignments

347th Fighter Group, 3 October 1942 – 1 January 1946
347th Fighter (later, 347th Fighter-All Weather) Group, 20 February 1947
Received personnel and aircraft from inactivated 6th Night Fighter Squadron, 20 February 1947
Attached to 35th Fighter [later, 35th Fighter-Interceptor] Wing, 1 July 1949 – 1 December 1950
314th Air Division, 1 December 1950
Attached to the 6162d Air Base Wing, 1 December 1950 – 24 May 1951
Attached to the 35th Fighter-Interceptor Wing, 25 May 1951 – 20 July 1954

  • Japan Air Defense Force, 1 March 1952
Attached to 49th Fighter-Bomber Wing, 20 July – 18 November 1954
Attached to the 4th Fighter-Interceptor Wing, 18 November 1954 – 15 September 1957
39th Air Division, 1 March 1955 – 15 January 1958

Stations

Detachment operated from Kukum Field, Guadalcanal, Solomon Islands, 3 October 1942 – 1 December 1943
  • Kukum Field, Guadalcanal, Solomon Islands, 29 December 1943
  • Stirling Island, Solomon Islands, 15 January 1944
  • Sanspor, New Guinea, 15 August 1944
  • Middleburg Island, 19 September 1944
Operated from Morotai, Maluku Islands13 February – 25 March 1945
  • San Jose, Mindoro, 22 February 1945

Aircraft Operated

Operations

Combat in South and Southwest Pacific, c. 22 October 1942 – 8 August 1945. Air defense in Japan, 1946-1958. Combat in Korea, 27 June – 5 July 1950. Tested possible modifications for various weapons systems, 1988-.

See also

Wikimedia Commons has media related to 339th Fighter-All Weather Squadron.

References

 This article incorporates public domain material from websites or documents of the Air Force Historical Research Agency.

    External links

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