586th Flight Test Squadron
Encyclopedia
46th Test Wing
The 46th Test Wing is a wing of the United States Air Force based out of Eglin Air Force Base, Florida. The wing operates as tenant unit at Holloman AFB, NM.-Mission:...
based at Holloman Air Force Base
Holloman Air Force Base
Holloman Air Force Base is a United States Air Force base located six miles southwest of the central business district of Alamogordo, a city in Otero County, New Mexico, United States. The base was named in honor of Col. George V. Holloman, a pioneer in guided missile research...
, New Mexico
New Mexico
New Mexico is a state located in the southwest and western regions of the United States. New Mexico is also usually considered one of the Mountain States. With a population density of 16 per square mile, New Mexico is the sixth-most sparsely inhabited U.S...
.
Overview
The 586th Flight Test Squadron (586th FLTS) plans, analyzes, coordinates and conducts flight tests of advanced weapons and avionics systems primarily on the White Sands Missile Range (WSMR).It provides deployable operational support for test aircraft staging out of Holloman AFB. The squadron flight tests guidance systems, laser systems, air-to-air/air-to-ground systems, long-range and standoff weapons, live warheads, and provides target and photo/safety chase.
The 586th FLTS operates three AT-38B aircraft. These aircraft are modified for test, test support, target, and photo/safety chase. Capabilities of the squadron's AT-38B's include: chaff, flares, Global Positioning System (GPS) navigation and precision data recording and telemetry, electronic counter- measures (ECM), towed target, threat and cruise missile simulation, Air Combat Maneuvering Instrumentation (ACMI) pods, and multiple format photographic coverage (including helmet-mounted video cameras. They are equipped with an internal Fighter Instrumentation and Navigation System (FINS) which relies on inertial navigation and global positioning inputs to develop a reference for time-space-position information. Each aircraft has a 200-ft AGL capability utilizing radar altimeters and moving map displays. For specialized tests, customer provided test equipment may be rack mounted and installed in place of the rear ejection seat or externally in a pod.
Externally, the aircraft has a modified centerline pylon to enable carriage of many types of test and operational stores such as the ALQ-167 Electronic Counter Measures (ECM) pod, which is programmable with a wide variety of electronic jamming techniques as well as an ALE-40 chaff and flare pod. External stores can be provided with AC and DC power. Another test capability under development is a Low Observable Instrumented Tow Target system that will support many different types of tests. Flight cleared pods are available for carriage of additional customer defined stores.
History
Formed under III Bomber CommandIII Bomber Command
The III Bomber Command is an inactive United States Air Force unit. Its last assignment was with Third Air Force stationed at MacDill Field, Florida. It was inactivated on 8 April 1946.-Lineage:...
in early 1943 as a B-26 Marauder
B-26 Marauder
The Martin B-26 Marauder was a World War II twin-engine medium bomber built by the Glenn L. Martin Company. First used in the Pacific Theater in early 1942, it was also used in the Mediterranean Theater and in Western Europe....
medium bomber squadron. Trained for duty in Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
with Ninth Air Force
Ninth Air Force
The Ninth Air Force is a numbered air force of the United States Air Force's Air Combat Command . It is headquartered at Shaw Air Force Base, South Carolina....
. Engaged in combat beginning in early 1944, attacked tactical targets in France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
, Low Countries
Low Countries
The Low Countries are the historical lands around the low-lying delta of the Rhine, Scheldt, and Meuse rivers, including the modern countries of Belgium, the Netherlands, Luxembourg and parts of northern France and western Germany....
and Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
supporting Allied ground forces advancing after D-Day
D-Day
D-Day is a term often used in military parlance to denote the day on which a combat attack or operation is to be initiated. "D-Day" often represents a variable, designating the day upon which some significant event will occur or has occurred; see Military designation of days and hours for similar...
in Northern France Campaign and the Western Allied invasion of Germany, 1945. Received A-26 Invader
A-26 Invader
The Douglas A-26 Invader was a United States twin-engined light attack bomber built by the Douglas Aircraft Co. during World War II that also saw service during several of the Cold War's major conflicts...
s in April 1945, however did not use in combat. After V-E Day, demobilized personnel while being part of the Army of Occupation in Germany and inactivated in early 1946.
It provided operational and maintenance support for all Department of Defense
United States Department of Defense
The United States Department of Defense is the U.S...
test aircraft staging out of Holloman Air Force Base
Holloman Air Force Base
Holloman Air Force Base is a United States Air Force base located six miles southwest of the central business district of Alamogordo, a city in Otero County, New Mexico, United States. The base was named in honor of Col. George V. Holloman, a pioneer in guided missile research...
from, 1982-1990. The squadron flew developmental test and evaluation missions and has supported DOD test flights on White Sands Missile Range
White Sands Missile Range
White Sands Missile Range is a rocket range of almost in parts of five counties in southern New Mexico. The largest military installation in the United States, WSMR includes the and the WSMR Otera Mesa bombing range...
since 199l.
Lineage
- Constituted as 586th Bombardment Squadron (Medium) on 15 Feb 1943
- Activated on 5 Mar 1943
- Re-designated: 586th Bombardment Squadron, Medium, on 9 Oct 1944
- Re-designated: 586th Bombardment Squadron, Light, on 3 Dec 1945
- Inactivated on 31 Mar 1946
- Consolidated (1 Oct 1992) with the 6586th Test Squadron, which was designated, and activated, on 15 Dec 1982
- Re-designated: 586th Test Squadron on 1 Oct 1992
- Re-designated: 586th Flight Test Squadron on 15 Mar 1994
Assignments
- 394th Bombardment Group394th Bombardment GroupThe 394th Bombardment Group is an inactive United States Army Air Force unit. Its last assignment was with the XII Fighter Command stationed at AAF Station Kitzingen, Germany. It was inactivated on 15 February 1946...
, 5 Mar 1943-31 Mar 1946 - 6585th (later 46th) Test Group46th Test WingThe 46th Test Wing is a wing of the United States Air Force based out of Eglin Air Force Base, Florida. The wing operates as tenant unit at Holloman AFB, NM.-Mission:...
, 15 Dec 1982-Present
Stations
- MacDill Field, Florida, 5 March 1943
- Ardmore AAFld, 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...
, 12 July 1943 - Kellogg Field, MichiganMichiganMichigan is a U.S. state located in the Great Lakes Region of the United States of America. The name Michigan is the French form of the Ojibwa word mishigamaa, meaning "large water" or "large lake"....
, 19 August 1943 – 15 February 1944 - RAF BorehamRAF BorehamWith the facility released from military control, in 1946, the West Essex Car Club developed the 4.76 kilometre perimeter track for motor racing. Although not on the official Grand Prix calendar, Boreham Racing Circuit hosted competitive races between 1949 and 1952. Among the teams that raced at...
(AAF-161), England c. 11 March 1944 - RAF Holmsley SouthRAF Holmsley SouthRAF Station Holmsley South is a former World War II airfield in Hampshire, England. The airfield is located approximately northeast of Christchurch; about southwest of London...
(AAF-455), England, 24 July 1944 - Tour-en-Bessin AirfieldTour-en-Bessin AirfieldTour-en-Bessin Airfield is an abandoned World War II military airfield, located near the commune of Tour-en-Bessin in the Basse-Normandie region of northern France. It lies to the southeast of Tour-en-Bessin....
(A-13), France, 25 August 1944 - Orleans/Bricy Airfield (A-50), France, 18 September 1944
- Cambrai/Niergnies Airfield (A-74), France, 8 October 1944
- Venlo Airfield (Y-55), Netherlands, 2 May 1945
- AAF Station Kitzingen, Germany, September 1945 – 15 February 1946
- Holloman AFB, New MexicoNew MexicoNew Mexico is a state located in the southwest and western regions of the United States. New Mexico is also usually considered one of the Mountain States. With a population density of 16 per square mile, New Mexico is the sixth-most sparsely inhabited U.S...
, 15 Dec 1982-Present
Aircraft
- B-26 MarauderB-26 MarauderThe Martin B-26 Marauder was a World War II twin-engine medium bomber built by the Glenn L. Martin Company. First used in the Pacific Theater in early 1942, it was also used in the Mediterranean Theater and in Western Europe....
, 1943-1945 - A-26 InvaderA-26 InvaderThe Douglas A-26 Invader was a United States twin-engined light attack bomber built by the Douglas Aircraft Co. during World War II that also saw service during several of the Cold War's major conflicts...
, 1945-1946 - AT-38 Talon, 1991-Present
- C-12 HuronC-12 HuronThe C-12 Huron is the military designation for a series of twin-engine turboprop aircraft based on the Beechcraft Super King Air and Beechcraft 1900. C-12 variants are used by the United States Air Force, United States Army, United States Navy and United States Marine Corps...
, 1997-Present