49th Test and Evaluation Squadron
| 49th Test and Evaluation Squadron | |
|---|---|
A United States Air Force B-2 Spirit, B-1B Lancer and B-52 Stratofortress flying in formation
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| Active | 1917-present |
| Country |
 United States
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| Branch |
 United States Air Force
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| Type | Squadron |
| Role | Test and Evaluation |
| Part of | Air Combat Command |
| Garrison/HQ | Barksdale Air Force Base, Louisiana. |
| Engagements |
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| Decorations |
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| Insignia | |
| 49th Test and Evaluation Squadron emblem |  |
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The 49th Test and Evaluation Squadron is an active United States Air Force unit. Its current assignment is with the 53d Wing, based at Barksdale Air Force Base, Louisiana.
During World War II, the 49th Bombardment Squadron was a B-17 Flying Fortress squadron, assigned to the 2d Bombardment Group, Fifteenth Air Force. It earned Two Distinguished Unit Citations.
The 49th Test and Evaluation Squadron is home to several bomber operational test programs. Primary among these are the Nuclear Weapon System Evaluation Program, the bomber portion of the Air to Ground Weapon System Evaluation Program, and initial operational test of the Joint Direct Attack Munition and the Wind Corrected Munitions Dispenser. The squadron is an Air Combat Command (ACC) unit tasked to support and conduct operational testing from all three Air Force bombers. The squadron’s main focus is on the B-52 with additional testing being conducted on the B-1 and B-2. To accomplish its mission, the squadron must use operational bombers as there are no test coded bombers in ACC.
Formed at Kelly Field #1, San Antonio, Texas on 6 August 1917. During its initial indoctrination training at Kelly Field, many squadron members were reassigned to other squadrons, however on 25 August, personnel from the 68th Aero Squadron were assigned to the 49th. After about a month of basic training as soldiers, the squadron was moved to the newly opened Kelly Field #2 where they began training with Curtiss JN-4 Jennys as a school squadron.
Deployed to England in late November 1917, spent six months training with the Royal Flying Corps, then an additional month of training at the Third Air Instructional Center at Issoudun Aerodrome, France for combat training.
Equipped with new Spad XIIIs, the 49th began flying operations with the First Army and was credited with participation in the Lorraine, St Mihiel, and the Meuse-Argonne campaigns. During its time in combat, the 49th Aero Squadron downed 25 enemy aircraft, losing six pilots killed, wounded, or missing.
The squadron was organized at Kelly Field, San Antonio, Texas on 18 December 1917. After several days, the squadron was moved to Wilbur Wright Field, Dayton Ohio where it received its first training in the handling of Curtiss JN-4 and Standard J-1 aircraft.
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Wikipedia