1st Air and Space Test Squadron

Infobox Military Unit
unit_name= 1st Air and Space Test Squadron


caption= 1st Air and Space Test Squadron emblem
dates= 2006-Present
country= United States
allegiance=
branch= United States Air Force
type=
role=
size=
command_structure=30th Space Wing
current_commander=
garrison= Vandenberg AFB
ceremonial_chief=
colonel_of_the_regiment=
nickname=
patron=
motto= First Into The Future
colors=
march=
mascot=
battles=
anniversaries=The 1st Air and Space Test Squadron is a part of the 30th Space Wing of the United States Air Force, responsible for spacelift and test operations.

The squadron's operations include launches of the Minotaur I and Pegasus rockets, and testing of the Boeing Interceptor and Minotaur II target vehicle.

Mission

Provide full service launch and test operations for current and future space launch vehicles, targets and interceptors, and experimental space systems

Lineage

*Constituted 1 Photographic Squadron on 22 Dec 1939. Activated on 1 Feb 1940. Redesignated: 1 Mapping Squadron on 13 Jan 1942; 1 Photographic Mapping Squadron on 9 Jun 1942; 1 Photographic Charting Squadron on 11 Aug 1943; 1 Photographic Reconnaissance Squadron, Very Heavy on 10 Nov 1944; 1 Reconnaissance Squadron, Very Long Range, Photographic-RCM on 4 Oct 1945; 1 Reconnaissance Squadron, Very Long Range, Photographic on 13 Nov 1945. Inactivated on 10 Mar 1947. Disbanded on 8 Oct 1948. Reconstituted, and consolidated (19 Sep 1985) with 1 Test Squadron, which was constituted on 12 Sep 1969. Activated on 15 Oct 1969. Inactivated on 30 Oct 1991. Redesignated 1 Air and Space Test Squadron on 28 Oct 2003. Activated on 1 Dec 2003.

Assignments

*Office of Chief of Air Corps, 1 Feb 1940; 1 Photographic (later, 1 Mapping; 1 Photographic Charting) Group, 10 Jun 1941; 11 Photographic Group, 1 Dec 1943; 311 Photographic Wing, 5 Oct 1944; Second Air Force, 10 Nov 1944 (attached to Eighth Air Force, c. 9 Sep 1945); 311 Reconnaissance Wing, 4 Oct 1945 (attached to United States Army Strategic Air Forces, 4 Oct 1945; Far East Air Forces, 21 Nov 1945; VII Bomber Command, 10 Dec 1945; Eighth Air Force, Mar 1946; 1 Air Division, 7 Jun 1946); Far East Air Forces, 3 Feb 1947; Thirteenth Air Force (attached to 5 Reconnaissance Group), 11 Feb-10 Mar 1947. 6 Air Division, 15 Oct 1969; Thirteenth Air Force 15 Dec 1969; 405 Fighter Wing, 20 Apr 1970; 3 Tactical Fighter Wing, 16 Sep 1974; 6200 Tactical Fighter Training Group, 1 Jan 1980-30 Oct 1991. 30 Launch Group, 1 Dec 2003-.

tations

*Bolling Field, DC, 1 Feb 1940; Bradley Field, CT, 5 Dec 1941; MacDill Field, FL, 15 Jan 1944 (deployed to Accra, Gold Coast, British West Africa, 11 Mar-13 Oct 1944); Smoky Hill AAFld, KS, 26 Oct 1944-31 Jul 1945; Kadena, Okinawa, 9 Sep 1945; Clark Field, Philippines, 11 Feb-10 Mar 1947. Clark AB, Philippines, 15 Oct 1969-30 Oct 1991. Vandenberg AFB, CA, 1 Dec 2003-.

Commanders

*Maj Donald G. Stitt, 1 Feb 1940; Maj Minton W. Kaye, 15 Nov 1940; Capt Charles P. Hollstein, 10 Jun 1941; Maj Richard W. Philbrick, by May 1942; Maj Albert M. Welsh, Dec 1942; Maj Foster S. Randle Jr., Apr 1944; Lt Col Albert M. Welsh, 16 Nov 1944; Maj Foster S. Randle Jr., 10 Oct 1945; Maj Howard E. Brown, 17 Dec 1945; unkn, Jan-Mar 1947. Lt Col William E. Powers, 15 Oct 1969; Lt Col William R. Martin, 21 Aug 1970; Lt Col William J. Watson, 27 Jun 1972; Lt Col Don O. Quane, 30 Jun 1973; Lt Col Jerry N. Hoblit, 17 Jan 1975; Lt Col James R. Alley, 25 Feb 1977; Lt Col Charles N. Nielsen, 20 Nov 1978; Lt Col Charles H. Holden, 30 Jun 1980; Lt Col Roger L. Prather, 21 Jun 1982; Lt Col Michael F. Tedesco, 1 Jun 1984; Lt Col Willard H. Whitley, by Jan 1986; Lt Col Robert F. Fischer, by Feb 1987; unkn, Jan 1988-30 Oct 1991.

Aircraft. C-8, 1940; B-10, 1940; C-45/F-2, 1940; 1946-1947; A-29, 1941-1942; A-20/F-3, 1942; B-24/F-7, 1942-1945; B-34, 1942-1944; B-25, 1943; B-17/F-9, 1943-1944; B-29/F-13, 1944-1947; L-4, 1946; L-5, 1946-1947. F-4, 1969-unkn (at least thru 1989); BQM-34A, 1969-1989; F-15, 1980-unkn (at least thru 1989); F-16, 1982-unkn (at least thru 1989); MQM-107D, 1989-unkn.

Operations. Mapped areas of the United States, 1940-1943; Alaska, Canada, Newfoundland, Labrador, and Greenland, 1941-1943; Africa, Middle East, India, and China, 1943-1944; Italy, Sicily, and Sardinia, 1944; and the Far East, 1945-1947. Conducted weapons system evaluation, known as COMBAT SAGE, of F-4 aircraft from 1969, of F-15 aircraft from 1980, and of F-16 aircraft from 1982, until shortly before inactivation. Also trained visiting aircrews in weapons employment and tactics.

Service Streamers. World War II American Theater; World War II European-African-Middle Eastern Theater; World War II Asiatic-Pacific Theater.

Campaign Streamers. None.

Armed Forces Expeditionary Streamers. None.

Decorations. Air Force Outstanding Unit Awards: 3 Apr-31 May 1975; 1 Jul 1976-30 Jun 1977; 1 Apr 1980-31 Mar 1982; 1 Jul 1985-30 Jun 1987; 1 Jun 1988-1 Jun 1990. Philippine Republic Presidential Unit Citation: 21 Jul-15 Aug 1972.

Lineage, Assignments, Components, Stations, and Honors through 3 Dec 2003.

Commanders, Aircraft, and Operations through Dec 1989.

Supersedes statement prepared on 3 Oct 1985.

Emblem. Approved on 3 Oct 1941; however, emblem does not meet current standards, and unit may submit a new design in accordance with AFI 84-105.

ystems Operated

*Pegasus
*Minuteman II OSP Target
*SpaceX
*Ground-based Interceptor
*SCUD-B
*X-37
*Minotaur
*Falcon
*Taurus
*Ground-based Target
*Peacekeeper

External links

* [http://www.vandenberg.af.mil/library/factsheets/factsheet.asp?id=4674 Fact Sheet: 1st Air and Space Test Squadron]