- 337th Test and Evaluation Squadron
Infobox Military Unit
unit_name= 337th Test and Evaluation Squadron
caption= Insignia of the 337th Test and Evaluation Squadron.
Approved29 August 1967 .
dates=1942 -1945 1947 -1949 1953 -1994 2004 -
country=United States
allegiance=
branch=United States Air Force
type=
role=
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command_structure=Air Combat Command (ACC)
53d Wing
garrison=Dyess AFB , TX
garrison_label= Garrison/HQ
nickname=
patron=
motto=
colors=
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equipment=B-1 Lancer
equipment_label=
battles=
anniversaries=
decorations=
battle_honours=
commander1= Lt. Colonel Pete VanDeusen
commander1_label= Commander
commander2=
commander2_label=
commander3=
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notable_commanders=
identification_symbol=
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aircraft_attack=
aircraft_bomber=
aircraft_electronic=
aircraft_fighter=
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aircraft_patrol=
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aircraft_transport=The 337th Test and Evaluations Squadron is a squadron of the
United States Air Force . It is a part of the53d Test and Evaluation Group of the53d Wing . Its primary task is to test and evaluate modifications on the B-1 bomber, as well as to train future aircrews to fly upgraded B-1s Unit: 337th Test and Evaluation Squadron. USAFEngineers.com. Accessed: 3 November 2007. [http://usafengineers.com/modules.php?name=Units&file=details&id=290&unit=Test] ] . The 337th is headquartered atDyess AFB , Texas, though it operates out of a number of bases throughout the United States53rd Wing official website. Accessed: 3 November 2007. [http://www.53wg.acc.af.mil/units/] ] .Lineage
* Constituted 337th Bombardment Squadron (Heavy) on
28 January 1942 .
* Activated15 July 1942 .
* Redesignated 337th Bombardment Squadron, Heavy on22 June 1943 .
* Inactivated29 November 1945 .
* Redesignated 337th Bombardment Squadron, Very Heavy on13 May 1947
* Activated in the Reserve on29 May 1947 .
* Inactivated27 June 1949 .
* Redesignated 337th Bombardment Squadron, Medium on6 November 1953 .
* Activated18 November 1953 .
* Inactivated15 March 1963 .
* Redesignated 337th Bombardment Squadron, Heavy.
* Activated20 March 1963 .
* Organized15 September 1963 .
* Redesignated 337th Bomb Squadron on1 September 1991 .
* Inactivated1 October 1994 .
* Redesignated 337th Test and Evaluation Squadron on8 April 2004 .
* Activated14 May 2004 .Operations
From
14 May 1943 to21 Apr 1945 , the squadron conducted strategic bombardment ofshipyard s,submarine bases, marshaling yards, oil facilities, airfields, and aircraft plants. On occasion, it flew tactical sorties against gun emplacements, rocket sites, enemy troops, and communications centers.On
17 August 1943 , it earned its firstDistinguished Unit Citation (DUC), striking targets atRegensburg andSchweinfurt ,Germany . Soon after, on14 October 1943 , the squadron participated in the war's single most important raid on ball-bearing factories at Schweinfurt.On
9 April 1944 , it earned a second DUC in an attack on aircraft component factories atPoznań ,Poland . The squadron subsequently attacked enemy field batteries and miscellaneous targets in support of Normandy operations on6 June 1944 .Beginning in 1968,
B-52 aircraft and crews deployed toSoutheast Asia (SEA) for bombardment operations. For much of the conflict, the squadron furnished aircraft and crews toSAC organizations based in SEA. When the Air Force switched to the B-1 Lancer, the 337th was the first unit to fly the new bomber.As part of the 53d Test and Evaluation Group, the 337th conducts testing of various upgrades to the B-1, as well as trains aircrews to operate and maintain the upgraded aircraft. The squadron has been currently working on the increasing the B-1's weapons payload, attempting to increase the bomber's ability to deliver weapons into heavily defended areas .
tations, Assignments, & Aircraft
Decorations
Distinguished Unit Citations
* Germany,
17 August 1943
*Poznań , Poland,9 April 1944 Air Force Outstanding Unit Awards
*
1 January 1959 -31 December 1960
*1 July 1974 -30 June 1975
*1 July 1978 -30 June 1979
*1 July 1988 -30 June 1990
*1 July 1990 -29 May 1992
*1 June 1992 -30 May 1994 References
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