556th Test and Evaluation Squadron
Encyclopedia
The 556th Test and Evaluation Squadron is a United States Air Force
unit. It is assigned to the 53d Test and Evaluation Group
, Detachment. 4 at Creech Air Force Base
, Nevada.
for its lineage and history of surveillance.
for combat training by the Royal Air Force
; remainder of squadron received aircraft and ground training in Oklahoma
.
Deployed to Algeria
in early December 1942 as part of Operation Torch
invasion forces, squadron becoming main source of aerial intelligence for Twelfth Air Force in North African Campaign
. Supported United States Fifth Army in its drive across Algeria
and during the Tunisian Campaign, 1942–1943. Flew air reconnaissance and mapping missions over Sicily
and Southern Italy
prior to Allied invasions during 1943.
Reassigned to Fifteenth Air Force
in December 1943, flying numerous long distance reconnaissance flights over the Balkans
; Occupied Europe and Nazi Germany
, photographing targets for later attack by Fifteenth Air Force and Twelfth Air Force bombers. Squadron obtained intelligence about enemy fortifications, armored units, infantry concentrations and other tactical intelligence. These flights were extremely hazardous, being flown without escort and in unarmed aircraft. Squadron gradually demobilized after the German Capitulation; inactivated in Italy in the fall of 1945.
Reactivated as a Tactical Air Command
Photographic Reconnaissance Squadron in 1947, being assigned to several groups, however funding and manpower shortages led to units inactivation, its assigned resources being merged into the senior 15th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron in December 1947.
in the wake of the 1962 Cuban Missile Crisis
at Davis-Monthan AFB, Arizona. The unit was established after several losses of U-2
reconnaissance planes over the USSR, China
and Cuba
forced the United States to find the ways of learning more about Soviet S-172/SA-2 SAM systems.
The squadron was used to develop unmanned reconnaissance drones for the USAF, for use on highly hazardous missions during the Cold War
. The drones were named "Lightning Bug“ and "Compass Cookie“. Both used Ryan Model 124 Firebee I for reconnaissance tasks and were initially planned for operations over Cuba. However, the situation there stabilized, thus the first unit equipped with Q-2C Firebee (later developed into AQM-34) namely the squadron deployed to South Vietnam
in 1966 and began flying operational missions over North Vietnam
, looking for SAM-sites.
Operating from Bien Hoa AB in South Vietnam the 4025th RS soon started monitoring the work of North Vietnamese air defences and - especially - the SA-2 sites. Each mission was regularly escorted by either USAF or - in most cases - United States Navy
fighters, as well as other specialized (manned) reconnaissance aircraft, like RB-47Hs of 55th Strategic Reconnaissance Wing (SRW), and - later - highly classified EB-57Ds or C-130A-IIs of the 6091st RS, mainly based at Don Muang AB, in Thailand.
All the drones were carried and started from specially modified GC-130As, MC-130AS and - finally - DC-130A and DC-130E control aircraft, each of them being equipped with systems for carriage, start, control and guidance of drones. The drones were always pre-programmed, but after release their progress was monitored and the drone controller could override the programme manually if necessary. The carrier aircraft had a console for two controller pilots equipped with all the usual flight-instruments, which read the data sent to them from the drone. All the data about the navigation, planned route, the actual flight pad and position of the drone and the carrier aircraft were feed into a single system, which showed them on one display. On their return the drones deployed a parachute and were snared by specially modified HH-3E recovery helicopters.
From 1969, first serious encounters with North Vietnamese (manned) interceptors followed. In 1969 alone, Vietnamese fighters - mostly MiG-21s - were scrambled no less than 540 times in order to intercept drones, claiming to have shot down ten Firebees. Actually, there were kills, but they were scored by Americans - and indirectly. In May 1970, an AQM-34L was on a mission over Hanoi
area, acting as a manned reconnaissance aircraft. Finishing its photo-run, the drone turned toward the Tonkin Gulf, where it was to ditch after spending its remaining fuel. Almost everything was going according to plan - down to one detail: the drone was intercepted by an MiG-21. The fighter closed and tried to shot it down by two K-13/AA-2 Atoll air-to-air missiles. Both malfunctioned however, and the Vietnamese continued the pursuit, trying to down the drone by tackling its wing. By doing so, the SRVAF-pilot forgot to control his fuel reserves: after the drone fell harmlessly into the sea, he found out that he had not enough fuel to return to base. The Vietnamese ejected while flying back toward the coast. This was the first air-to-air kill scored by an unmanned aircraft in the history of air warfare.
In addition to the drone operations, the squadron received significant amounts of intelligence operating a RB-57F Canberra from Yokota AB, Japan detached from the MAC 9th Weather Reconnaissance Wing at McClellan AFB, California. The RB-57 provided very high altitude intelligence with regards to SA-2 locations for mission planning with the Firebees.
As part of the drawdown of United States forces from South Vietnam, the 556th moved to Yokota AB, Japan in 1971, although operations continued from South Vietnamese air bases until 30 Jun 1972 when the squadron was inactivated.
United States Air Force
The United States Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the American uniformed services. Initially part of the United States Army, the USAF was formed as a separate branch of the military on September 18, 1947 under the National Security Act of...
unit. It is assigned to the 53d Test and Evaluation Group
53d Test and Evaluation Group
The 53d Test and Evaluation Group is a group of the United States Air Force. It is a part of the 53d Wing, and is headquartered at Nellis Air Force Base in Nevada. The unit consists of seven squadrons, two detachments, and a named flight...
, Detachment. 4 at Creech Air Force Base
Creech Air Force Base
Creech Air Force Base , formerly known as Indian Springs Air Force Auxiliary Field, is a United States Air Force base located one mile north of the central business district of Indian Springs, in Clark County, Nevada, United States. It is about northwest of Las Vegas and northwest of Nellis Air...
, Nevada.
Overview
The 556th Test and Evaluation Squadron is the Air Force's first operational test squadron for unmanned aircraft. It provides support to UAS operations worldwide, through force development evaluations, the development of training, tactics and procedures, systems expertise and meeting warfighters' urgent need requests.History
The 556th TES was chosen by Air Combat CommandAir Combat Command
Air Combat Command is a major command of the United States Air Force. ACC is one of ten major commands , reporting to Headquarters, United States Air Force ....
for its lineage and history of surveillance.
World War II
Established in mid-1942 as a photographic mapping squadron, being formed at Colorado Springs AAB. Components of the squadron deployed to EnglandEngland
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
for combat training by the Royal Air Force
Royal Air Force
The Royal Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Formed on 1 April 1918, it is the oldest independent air force in the world...
; remainder of squadron received aircraft and ground training in Oklahoma
Oklahoma
Oklahoma is a state located in the South Central region of the United States of America. With an estimated 3,751,351 residents as of the 2010 census and a land area of 68,667 square miles , Oklahoma is the 28th most populous and 20th-largest state...
.
Deployed to Algeria
Algeria
Algeria , officially the People's Democratic Republic of Algeria , also formally referred to as the Democratic and Popular Republic of Algeria, is a country in the Maghreb region of Northwest Africa with Algiers as its capital.In terms of land area, it is the largest country in Africa and the Arab...
in early December 1942 as part of Operation Torch
Operation Torch
Operation Torch was the British-American invasion of French North Africa in World War II during the North African Campaign, started on 8 November 1942....
invasion forces, squadron becoming main source of aerial intelligence for Twelfth Air Force in North African Campaign
North African campaign
During the Second World War, the North African Campaign took place in North Africa from 10 June 1940 to 13 May 1943. It included campaigns fought in the Libyan and Egyptian deserts and in Morocco and Algeria and Tunisia .The campaign was fought between the Allies and Axis powers, many of whom had...
. Supported United States Fifth Army in its drive across Algeria
Algeria
Algeria , officially the People's Democratic Republic of Algeria , also formally referred to as the Democratic and Popular Republic of Algeria, is a country in the Maghreb region of Northwest Africa with Algiers as its capital.In terms of land area, it is the largest country in Africa and the Arab...
and during the Tunisian Campaign, 1942–1943. Flew air reconnaissance and mapping missions over Sicily
Sicily
Sicily is a region of Italy, and is the largest island in the Mediterranean Sea. Along with the surrounding minor islands, it constitutes an autonomous region of Italy, the Regione Autonoma Siciliana Sicily has a rich and unique culture, especially with regard to the arts, music, literature,...
and Southern Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
prior to Allied invasions during 1943.
Reassigned to Fifteenth Air Force
Fifteenth Air Force
The Fifteenth Expeditionary Mobility Task Force is one of two EMTFs assigned to the United States Air Force Air Mobility Command . It is headquartered at Travis Air Force Base, California....
in December 1943, flying numerous long distance reconnaissance flights over the Balkans
Balkans
The Balkans is a geopolitical and cultural region of southeastern Europe...
; Occupied Europe and Nazi Germany
Nazi Germany
Nazi Germany , also known as the Third Reich , but officially called German Reich from 1933 to 1943 and Greater German Reich from 26 June 1943 onward, is the name commonly used to refer to the state of Germany from 1933 to 1945, when it was a totalitarian dictatorship ruled by...
, photographing targets for later attack by Fifteenth Air Force and Twelfth Air Force bombers. Squadron obtained intelligence about enemy fortifications, armored units, infantry concentrations and other tactical intelligence. These flights were extremely hazardous, being flown without escort and in unarmed aircraft. Squadron gradually demobilized after the German Capitulation; inactivated in Italy in the fall of 1945.
Reactivated as a Tactical Air Command
Tactical Air Command
Tactical Air Command is an inactive United States Air Force organization. It was a Major Command of the United States Air Force, established on 21 March 1946 being headquartered at Langley Air Force Base, Virginia...
Photographic Reconnaissance Squadron in 1947, being assigned to several groups, however funding and manpower shortages led to units inactivation, its assigned resources being merged into the senior 15th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron in December 1947.
4025 RS
The 4025th Reconnaissance Squadron was established by Strategic Air CommandStrategic Air Command
The Strategic Air Command was both a Major Command of the United States Air Force and a "specified command" of the United States Department of Defense. SAC was the operational establishment in charge of America's land-based strategic bomber aircraft and land-based intercontinental ballistic...
in the wake of the 1962 Cuban Missile Crisis
Cuban Missile Crisis
The Cuban Missile Crisis was a confrontation among the Soviet Union, Cuba and the United States in October 1962, during the Cold War...
at Davis-Monthan AFB, Arizona. The unit was established after several losses of U-2
Lockheed U-2
The Lockheed U-2, nicknamed "Dragon Lady", is a single-engine, very high-altitude reconnaissance aircraft operated by the United States Air Force and previously flown by the Central Intelligence Agency . It provides day and night, very high-altitude , all-weather intelligence gathering...
reconnaissance planes over the USSR, China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
and Cuba
Cuba
The Republic of Cuba is an island nation in the Caribbean. The nation of Cuba consists of the main island of Cuba, the Isla de la Juventud, and several archipelagos. Havana is the largest city in Cuba and the country's capital. Santiago de Cuba is the second largest city...
forced the United States to find the ways of learning more about Soviet S-172/SA-2 SAM systems.
The squadron was used to develop unmanned reconnaissance drones for the USAF, for use on highly hazardous missions during the Cold War
Cold War
The Cold War was the continuing state from roughly 1946 to 1991 of political conflict, military tension, proxy wars, and economic competition between the Communist World—primarily the Soviet Union and its satellite states and allies—and the powers of the Western world, primarily the United States...
. The drones were named "Lightning Bug“ and "Compass Cookie“. Both used Ryan Model 124 Firebee I for reconnaissance tasks and were initially planned for operations over Cuba. However, the situation there stabilized, thus the first unit equipped with Q-2C Firebee (later developed into AQM-34) namely the squadron deployed to South Vietnam
South Vietnam
South Vietnam was a state which governed southern Vietnam until 1975. It received international recognition in 1950 as the "State of Vietnam" and later as the "Republic of Vietnam" . Its capital was Saigon...
in 1966 and began flying operational missions over North Vietnam
North Vietnam
The Democratic Republic of Vietnam , was a communist state that ruled the northern half of Vietnam from 1954 until 1976 following the Geneva Conference and laid claim to all of Vietnam from 1945 to 1954 during the First Indochina War, during which they controlled pockets of territory throughout...
, looking for SAM-sites.
Operating from Bien Hoa AB in South Vietnam the 4025th RS soon started monitoring the work of North Vietnamese air defences and - especially - the SA-2 sites. Each mission was regularly escorted by either USAF or - in most cases - United States Navy
United States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
fighters, as well as other specialized (manned) reconnaissance aircraft, like RB-47Hs of 55th Strategic Reconnaissance Wing (SRW), and - later - highly classified EB-57Ds or C-130A-IIs of the 6091st RS, mainly based at Don Muang AB, in Thailand.
556 RS
In 1968 this unit became the 556th Reconnaissance Squadron.All the drones were carried and started from specially modified GC-130As, MC-130AS and - finally - DC-130A and DC-130E control aircraft, each of them being equipped with systems for carriage, start, control and guidance of drones. The drones were always pre-programmed, but after release their progress was monitored and the drone controller could override the programme manually if necessary. The carrier aircraft had a console for two controller pilots equipped with all the usual flight-instruments, which read the data sent to them from the drone. All the data about the navigation, planned route, the actual flight pad and position of the drone and the carrier aircraft were feed into a single system, which showed them on one display. On their return the drones deployed a parachute and were snared by specially modified HH-3E recovery helicopters.
From 1969, first serious encounters with North Vietnamese (manned) interceptors followed. In 1969 alone, Vietnamese fighters - mostly MiG-21s - were scrambled no less than 540 times in order to intercept drones, claiming to have shot down ten Firebees. Actually, there were kills, but they were scored by Americans - and indirectly. In May 1970, an AQM-34L was on a mission over Hanoi
Hanoi
Hanoi , is the capital of Vietnam and the country's second largest city. Its population in 2009 was estimated at 2.6 million for urban districts, 6.5 million for the metropolitan jurisdiction. From 1010 until 1802, it was the most important political centre of Vietnam...
area, acting as a manned reconnaissance aircraft. Finishing its photo-run, the drone turned toward the Tonkin Gulf, where it was to ditch after spending its remaining fuel. Almost everything was going according to plan - down to one detail: the drone was intercepted by an MiG-21. The fighter closed and tried to shot it down by two K-13/AA-2 Atoll air-to-air missiles. Both malfunctioned however, and the Vietnamese continued the pursuit, trying to down the drone by tackling its wing. By doing so, the SRVAF-pilot forgot to control his fuel reserves: after the drone fell harmlessly into the sea, he found out that he had not enough fuel to return to base. The Vietnamese ejected while flying back toward the coast. This was the first air-to-air kill scored by an unmanned aircraft in the history of air warfare.
In addition to the drone operations, the squadron received significant amounts of intelligence operating a RB-57F Canberra from Yokota AB, Japan detached from the MAC 9th Weather Reconnaissance Wing at McClellan AFB, California. The RB-57 provided very high altitude intelligence with regards to SA-2 locations for mission planning with the Firebees.
As part of the drawdown of United States forces from South Vietnam, the 556th moved to Yokota AB, Japan in 1971, although operations continued from South Vietnamese air bases until 30 Jun 1972 when the squadron was inactivated.
Lineage
- Constituted 15th Photographic Mapping Squadron on 9 June 1942
- Activated on 20 June 1942
- Redesignated: 15th Photographic Squadron (Heavy) on 6 February 1943
- Redesignated: 15th Combat Mapping Squadron on 21 January 1944
- Redesignated: 15th Photographic Reconnaissance Squadron on 31 August 1944
- Inactivated on 28 October 1945
- Redesignated 15th Reconnaissance Squadron (Photographic) on 29 April 1947
- Activated on 19 May 1947
- Inactivated on 3 December 1947
- Disbanded on 8 October 1948
- Consolidated (19 September 1985) with the 556th Reconnaissance Squadron, which was constituted, and activated, on 15 May 1968
- Organized on 1 July 1968
- Assuming personnel and equipment of provisional 4025th Reconnaissance Squadron, established on 1 July 1963 by Strategic Air CommandStrategic Air CommandThe Strategic Air Command was both a Major Command of the United States Air Force and a "specified command" of the United States Department of Defense. SAC was the operational establishment in charge of America's land-based strategic bomber aircraft and land-based intercontinental ballistic...
- Assuming personnel and equipment of provisional 6091st Reconnaissance Squadron6091st Reconnaissance SquadronThe 6091st Reconnaissance Squadron is an inactive United States Air Force unit. Its last was assigned to the 41st Air Division, stationed at Yokota Air Base, Japan. It was inactivated on 1 July 1968.-History:...
, established on 1 December 1953.
- Assuming personnel and equipment of provisional 4025th Reconnaissance Squadron, established on 1 July 1963 by Strategic Air Command
- Inactivated on 30 June 1972
- Consolidated unit redesignated 556th Tactical Intelligence Squadron but remained inactive, 19 September 1985
- Redesignated 556th Test and Evaluation Squadron on 16 January 2008
- Activated on 15 February 2008.
Assignments
- 3d Photographic (later Photographic Reconnaissance and Mapping, later Photographic) Group3d Reconnaissance GroupThe 3d Reconnaissance Group is an inactive United States Air Force unit. Its last assignment was with Twelfth Air Force, based at Pomigliano, Italy. It was inactivated on 12 September 1945-History:...
, 20 June 1942
- Attached to 5th Photographic Group from 21 November 1943
- 5th Photographic (later Reconnaissance) Group26th Tactical Reconnaissance WingThe 26th Tactical Reconnaissance Wing is an inactive United States Air Force unit. Its last assignment was with United States Air Forces in Europe, being stationed at Zweibrücken Air Base, Germany, where it was inactivated on 31 July 1991.-History:...
, 21 January 1944 – 28 October 1945 - 67th Reconnaissance Group, 19 May 1947
- 10th Reconnaissance Group, 24 July – 3 December 1947
- 347th Tactical Fighter Wing, 1 July 1968
- 6100st Air Base Wing, 15 May 1971
- 475th Air Base Wing475th Air Base WingThe 475th Air Base Wing is an inactive United States Air Force unit. Its last duty station was at Yokota Air Base, Japan, where it was inactivated on 1 April 1992....
, 1 November 1971 – 30 June 1972 - 53d Test and Evaluation Group53d Test and Evaluation GroupThe 53d Test and Evaluation Group is a group of the United States Air Force. It is a part of the 53d Wing, and is headquartered at Nellis Air Force Base in Nevada. The unit consists of seven squadrons, two detachments, and a named flight...
, Detachment. 4, 15 February 2008–Present
- 5th Photographic (later Reconnaissance) Group
Stations
- Colorado Springs Army Air Base, ColoradoColoradoColorado is a U.S. state that encompasses much of the Rocky Mountains as well as the northeastern portion of the Colorado Plateau and the western edge of the Great Plains...
, 20 June – 13 August 1942 - RAF MemburyRAF MemburyRAF Station Membury is a former World War II airfield built in the civil parish of Lambourn in Berkshire, England. The airfield is located approximately mi north-northwest of Hungerford, at the Membury services stop of the M4 motorway; about miles west-southwest of London...
(AAF-466), EnglandEnglandEngland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
, 7 September 1942 - RAF Steeple MordenRAF Steeple MordenRAF Steeple Morden is a former World War II airfield in England. The field was located 3½ miles W of Royston in Cambridgeshire, near the village of Steeple Morden.-RAF Bomber Command use:...
(AAF-122), EnglandEnglandEngland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
, 27 October – 21 November 1942 - Oran Es Sénia AirportOran Es Sénia AirportOran Es Sénia Airport is an airport located 4.7 nm south of Oran, near Es Sénia, in Algeria.-History:During World War II, La Sénia Airport was first used by the French Air Force as a military airfield, first by the Armée de l'Air, and after June 1940, by the Armistice Air Force of the Vichy...
, AlgeriaAlgeriaAlgeria , officially the People's Democratic Republic of Algeria , also formally referred to as the Democratic and Popular Republic of Algeria, is a country in the Maghreb region of Northwest Africa with Algiers as its capital.In terms of land area, it is the largest country in Africa and the Arab...
, 6 December 1942
- A flight of air echelon arrived at Oran Tafraoui Airport, AlgeriaAlgeriaAlgeria , officially the People's Democratic Republic of Algeria , also formally referred to as the Democratic and Popular Republic of Algeria, is a country in the Maghreb region of Northwest Africa with Algiers as its capital.In terms of land area, it is the largest country in Africa and the Arab...
, 18 November 1942, and moved to Maison Blanche Airport, AlgiersAlgiers' is the capital and largest city of Algeria. According to the 1998 census, the population of the city proper was 1,519,570 and that of the urban agglomeration was 2,135,630. In 2009, the population was about 3,500,000...
, AlgeriaAlgeriaAlgeria , officially the People's Democratic Republic of Algeria , also formally referred to as the Democratic and Popular Republic of Algeria, is a country in the Maghreb region of Northwest Africa with Algiers as its capital.In terms of land area, it is the largest country in Africa and the Arab...
, 27 November 1942 - B and C flights of air echelon at Colorado Springs Army Air Base until 12 October 1943 and afterward at Will Rogers Field, OklahomaOklahomaOklahoma is a state located in the South Central region of the United States of America. With an estimated 3,751,351 residents as of the 2010 census and a land area of 68,667 square miles , Oklahoma is the 28th most populous and 20th-largest state...
, until 21 January 1944- Maison Blanche Airport, AlgiersAlgiers' is the capital and largest city of Algeria. According to the 1998 census, the population of the city proper was 1,519,570 and that of the urban agglomeration was 2,135,630. In 2009, the population was about 3,500,000...
, AlgeriaAlgeriaAlgeria , officially the People's Democratic Republic of Algeria , also formally referred to as the Democratic and Popular Republic of Algeria, is a country in the Maghreb region of Northwest Africa with Algiers as its capital.In terms of land area, it is the largest country in Africa and the Arab...
, 25 December 1942 - Constantine Airfield, AlgeriaAlgeriaAlgeria , officially the People's Democratic Republic of Algeria , also formally referred to as the Democratic and Popular Republic of Algeria, is a country in the Maghreb region of Northwest Africa with Algiers as its capital.In terms of land area, it is the largest country in Africa and the Arab...
, 5 June 1943 - La Marsa Airfield, TunisiaTunisiaTunisia , officially the Tunisian RepublicThe long name of Tunisia in other languages used in the country is: , is the northernmost country in Africa. It is a Maghreb country and is bordered by Algeria to the west, Libya to the southeast, and the Mediterranean Sea to the north and east. Its area...
, 28 June 1943
- Maison Blanche Airport, Algiers
- Detachment operated from: Constantine Airfield, AlgeriaAlgeriaAlgeria , officially the People's Democratic Republic of Algeria , also formally referred to as the Democratic and Popular Republic of Algeria, is a country in the Maghreb region of Northwest Africa with Algiers as its capital.In terms of land area, it is the largest country in Africa and the Arab...
, until 14 July 1943 - Detachment operated from: Grottaglie Airfield, ItalyItalyItaly , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
, after 4 October 1943
- Grottaglie Airfield, ItalyItalyItaly , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
, November 1943 - Bari Airfield, ItalyItalyItaly , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
, 28 December 1943 – October 1945 - Camp KilmerCamp KilmerCamp Kilmer, New Jersey is a former United States Army camp that was activated in June 1942 as a staging area and part of an installation of the New York Port of Embarkation. The camp was organized as part of the Army Service Forces Transportation Corps. Troops were quartered at Camp Kilmer in...
, New JerseyNew JerseyNew Jersey is a state in the Northeastern and Middle Atlantic regions of the United States. , its population was 8,791,894. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York, on the southeast and south by the Atlantic Ocean, on the west by Pennsylvania and on the southwest by Delaware...
, 26–28 October 1945 - Langley Field, VirginiaVirginiaThe Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there...
, 19 May 1947 - Lawson Field, GeorgiaGeorgia (U.S. state)Georgia is a state located in the southeastern United States. It was established in 1732, the last of the original Thirteen Colonies. The state is named after King George II of Great Britain. Georgia was the fourth state to ratify the United States Constitution, on January 2, 1788...
, 8 September 1947; 8 September 1947 - Pope Field, North CarolinaNorth CarolinaNorth Carolina is a state located in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties. Its capital is Raleigh, and its largest city is Charlotte...
, 1 October – 3 December 1947. - Yokota AB, Japan, 1 July 1968 – 30 June 1972
- Continued operations from Bien Hoa AB, South Vietnam until 30 October 1971
- Operated from undisclosed locations until 30 June 1972
- Creech AFB, Nevada, 15 February 2008–Present
Aircraft
- B-17 Flying Fortress, 1942–1944
- P-38/F-4 Lightning, 1942–1943
- P-38/F-5 Lightning, 1943–1945
- Potez 540Potez 540-External links:*...
(Captured from Vichy French Air ForceVichy French Air ForceThe Vichy French Air Force was the aerial branch of the armed forces of Vichy France - the government of France that collaborated with the Axis powers following the defeat of France by Germany in 1940....
), 1943 - B-25 MitchellB-25 MitchellThe North American B-25 Mitchell was an American twin-engined medium bomber manufactured by North American Aviation. It was used by many Allied air forces, in every theater of World War II, as well as many other air forces after the war ended, and saw service across four decades.The B-25 was named...
, 1943–1944 - P-51D/F-6D Mustang, 1947.
- C-130B-II Hercules, 1968–1972
- GC-130A, MC-130A, DC-130A and DC-130E Hercules, 1968–1972
- AQM-34, 1968–1972
- RB-57F CanberraB-57 CanberraThe Martin B-57 Canberra was a United States-built, twin jet engine light bomber and reconnaissance aircraft, which entered service with the United States Air Force in 1953. The B-57 was initially a version of the English Electric Canberra built under license. However, the Glenn L...
, 1968–1972