412th Test Wing

Infobox Military Unit
unit_name=412th Test Wing


caption=
dates= 20 November 1943 — present
country=United States
allegiance=
branch=Air Force
type=Developmental Test and Evaluation
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size=5,000
command_structure=Air Force Material Command
current_commander=Colonel William J. Thornton
garrison=Edwards Air Force Base
ceremonial_chief=
colonel_of_the_regiment=
nickname=
patron=
motto=Proof by Trial
colors=
identification_symbol=
march=
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The 412th Test Wing (412 TW) is a wing of the United States Air Force based out of Edwards Air Force Base, California.

Mission

The 412 TW plans, conducts, analyzes, and reports on all flight and ground testing of aircraft, weapons systems, software and components as well as modeling and simulation for the USAF.

History

The 412th tested a wide variety of Army Air Force aircraft from 1943-1946. It was the first U.S. jet fighter group to be activated, and spent most of its early existence in experimental testing of the P-59A and P-80 aircraft. The group developed training programs and trained aircrew and ground personnel as cadres for newly formed jet aircraft-equipped units. It was deactivated in 1946.

The group was reactivated from 1955 – 1960 and served in an air defense role in Michigan.

From 1 March 1978, the wing managed flight operations for the Air Force Flight Test Center at Edwards Air Force Base, California. Using a mixed fleet of support aircraft, the wing annually tested both experimental and USAF inventory aircraft, as well as others on loan from US government agencies and foreign governments. Component systems flight-testing included weapons and ordnance, avionics and sensors, flight controls, and aircrew life-support equipment. It operates the Air Force Test Pilot School, training students from around the world. It performed free-flight testing of the Space Transportation System (STS) for NASA from 1978-1980, and in April 1981 recovered the shuttle Columbia following the first-ever orbital mission of a reusable spacecraft. The wing continues to provide an alternate landing site services for STS recovery, most recently for the Atlantis during its STS-117 mission.

The wing deployed support personnel and equipment to Southwest Asia for Operation Desert Shield and Operation Desert Storm from, August 1990-March 1991. While deployed, it performed tests on radar and weapons system accuracy. On 2 October 1992 the 6510th Test Wing, the previous Edwards test organisation, deactivated and the 412th took its place. It transitioned into an objective test wing in 1992 to enhance its mission of air vehicle development, testing, and evaluation. It has tested and evaluated both manned and unmanned aerospace vehicles for U.S. and foreign governments.

Operations

*World War II

Previous designations

*412th Fighter Group (1943 – 1985)
*412th Tactical Fighter Group (1985 – 1992)
*412th Test Wing (1992 – Present)

Assignments

Major Command

*Tactical Air Command (1946)
*Air Force Material Command (1992 – Present)

Numbered Air Force

*12th Air Force (1946)
*Air Force Flight Test Center (1992 – Present)

ubordinate Organizations

412th Operations Group (412 OG)

412th Maintenance Group (412 MXG)

Test Pilot School

Engineering Division

Electronic Warfare Division

Project Management Division

Resource Management Division

Bases stationed

*Muroc Army Airfield, California (1943 – 1944)
*Palmdale Army Airfield, California (1944)
*Bakersfield Municipal Airport, California (1944 – 1945)
*Santa Maria Army Airfield, California (1945)
*March Field, California (1945 – 1946)
*Wurtsmith Air Force Base, Michigan (1955 – 1960)
*Edwards Air Force Base, California (1978 – Present)

Aircraft and Launch Vehicles Operated

*F-89 Scorpion (1955 – 1960)
*T-33 Shooting Star (1955 – 1960)
*F-102 Delta Dagger (1956 – 1960)
*F-101 Voodoo (1959 – 1960)
Tested from 1978 – 1992:

*A-7 Corsair II
*A-10 Thunderbolt II
*A-37 Dragonfly
*B-1 Lancer
*B-2 Spirit
*B-52 Stratofortress
*C-17 Globemaster III
*C-23 Sherpa
*C-130 Hercules (several variants)
*NC-131 Samaritan
*F-4 Phantom II
*F-15 Eagle
*F-16 Falcon
*F-111 Aardvark
*HH-60 Pave Hawk
*HH-53 Super Jolly Green Giant
*KC-135 Stratotanker
*T-33 Shooting Star
*T-38 Talon
*T-39 Sabreliner
*T-46 Eaglet
Tested from 1993 – Present:

*C-130 Hercules (several variants)
*F-15 Eagle
*F-16 Falcon
*T-38 Talon
*T-39 Sabreliner
*B-2 Spirit
*C-17 Globemaster III
*F-22 Raptor
*F-117 Nighthawk
*B-1 Lancer
*U-2 Dragon Lady
*C-18 Stratoliner
*C-135 Stratolifter (several variants)
*F-35 Lightning II

Unit Shields

External links

* [http://www.edwards.af.mil/ Edwards AFB Home Page]
* [http://usafengineers.com/modules.php?name=Units&file=details&id=105&unit=Test 412th Test Wing]