Misplaced Pages

419th Flight Test Squadron
Squadron B-2 Spirit
Active	1942–1945; 1958–1962; 1989–present
Country	United States
Branch	United States Air Force
Type	Squadron
Role	Flight Testing
Part of	Air Force Materiel Command
Garrison/HQ	Edwards Air Force Base, California
Motto(s)	Silent Sting
Engagements	European Theater of Operations Mediterranean Theater of Operations
Decorations	Distinguished Unit Citation Air Force Outstanding Unit Award
Insignia
419th Flight Test Squadron emblem
Patch with 419th Bombardment Squadron emblem
Tail code	ED (1992-present)
Aircraft flown
Bomber	B-2 Spirit B-1 Lancer B-52 Stratofortress

The 419th Flight Test Squadron is a United States Air Force squadron. It is assigned to the 412th Operations Group, Air Force Materiel Command, stationed at Edwards Air Force Base, California.

During World War II, the 419th Bombardment Squadron was a Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress squadron, assigned to the 301st Bombardment Group of Fifteenth Air Force. It earned two Distinguished Unit Citations. In 1958, the squadron was activated as a Boeing B-47 Stratojet squadron as part of Strategic Air Command's nuclear force, but was discontinued four years later. In 1993, the squadron was consolidated with the 6519th Test Squadron, which had been conducting test operations at Edwards since 1989.

Mission

The 419th is responsible for developmental testing of Northrop Grumman B-2 Spirit, Rockwell B-1 Lancer, and Boeing B-52 Stratofortress strategic bombers. It conducts tests to extend the usable life of these airframes, upgrade their combat capabilities, and integrate new weapons systems into their operation. It works closely with Air Combat Command operational testing elements for these systems, often flying with them on the same missions. It receives overall testing oversight from the program management offices of these systems.

History

World War II

Initial organization and training

The first predecessor of the squadron was organized as the 29th Reconnaissance Squadron, one of the four Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress squadrons of the 301st Bombardment Group in February 1942. In April 1942, it was redesignated the 419th Bombardment Squadron, a heavy bomber unit. In late May, it moved to Alamogordo Army Air Field, New Mexico, although the air echelon operated from Muroc Army Air Base, flying antisubmarine patrols off the California coast until early June 1942. The ground echelon moved to Virginia to prepare for movement overseas, leaving for Fort Dix and the Port of Embarkation on 19 July. The air echelon left for Brainard Field, Connecticut in late June. The squadron ferried its Flying Fortresses via the North Atlantic ferry route as part of Operation Bolero, the build up of American forces in the United Kingdom. The squadron and its companion squadrons of the 301st Group were the first B-17F unit to arrive in England.

Operations from England

The ground and air echelons were reunited at RAF Chelveston on 19 August 1942. The squadron flew its first mission on 5 September 1942. From England it attacked targets primarily in France, including submarine pens, airfields, railroad targets, and bridges. On 14 September, the 301st Group and its squadrons were reassigned to XII Bomber Command in preparation for Operation Torch, the invasion of North Africa, but they continued to operate under the control of VIII Bomber Command. Between 20 and 23 November 1942, the air echelon moved forward to bases in southeastern England, from which it flew directly to Tafaraoui Airfield, Algeria. The ground echelon sailed for Algeria from Liverpool on 8 December 1942.

Combat in the Mediterranean

Until August 1943, the squadron operated from airfields in Algeria, bombing docks, shipping facilities, airfields and marshalling yards in Tunisia, Sicily, and Sardinia. It also attacked enemy ships operating between Sicily and Tunisia. On 6 April 1943, the squadron withstood heavy flak from shore defenses and enemy vessels, when it attacked a merchant convoy near Bizerte, Tunisia carrying supplies essential for the Axis defense of Tunisia. For this mission it was awarded the Distinguished Unit Citation (DUC). In May and June, it participated in Operation Corkscrew, the bombing and invasion of Pantelleria, prior to the invasion of Sicily.

Starting in July 1943, the squadron began flying numerous missions to targets in Italy, moving forward to Oudna Airfield, Tunisia in early August. In November 1943, strategic and tactical forces in the Mediterranean were divided and the squadron became part of Fifteenth Air Force. It moved to Italy in December 1943 and in February 1944 it was established at Lucera Airfield, Italy, from which it would conduct combat operations for the remainder of the war. From its Italian base, it concentrated on the strategic bombing campaign against Germany, attacking oil centers, lines of communications, and industrial areas in Austria, Bulgaria, Czechoslovakia, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Poland, Romania, and Yugoslavia. On 23 February 1944, it participated in an attack on the Messerschmitt aircraft factory at Regensburg, succeeding despite "viscous" attacks by enemy interceptors. For this mission, it was awarded a second DUC.

The 419th also flew air support missions near Anzio and Monte Cassino, provided cover for Operation Dragoon, the invasion of southern France and the advance of the Red Army in the Balkans and the Allies of World War II advances in the Po Valley. It engaged in shuttle bombing missions to airfields in the Soviet Union during the summer of 1944.

Return to the United States

Following V-E Day, the squadron remained in Italy until July 1945. In August, it was designated as a "very heavy" unit in preparation for conversion to the Boeing B-29 Superfortress and deployment to Pacific Theater. Before the squadron arrived at its planned training base, Pyote Army Air Field, Texas, Japan had surrendered and there was no need for additional bomber units. The squadron was inactivated in October 1945, shortly before Pyote ended training operations and became an aircraft storage depot.

Strategic Air Command

From 1958, the Boeing B-47 Stratojet wings of Strategic Air Command (SAC) began to assume an alert posture at their home bases, reducing the amount of time spent on alert at overseas bases. The SAC alert cycle divided itself into four parts: planning, flying, alert and rest to meet General Thomas S. Power's initial goal of maintaining one third of SAC’s planes on fifteen minute ground alert, fully fueled and ready for combat to reduce vulnerability to a Soviet missile strike. To implement this new system B-47 wings reorganized from three to four squadrons. The 419th was activated at Lockbourne Air Force Base as the fourth squadron of the 301st Bombardment Wing. The alert commitment was increased to half the squadron's aircraft in 1962 and the four squadron pattern no longer met the alert cycle commitment, so the squadron was inactivated on 1 January 1962.

Flight test squadron

The second predecessor of the squadron was organized as the 6519th Test Squadron at Edwards Air Force Base in October 1989, taking over the Air Force Flight Test Center's Strategic Systems Division testing of the Boeing B-52G and B-52H Stratofortress. It gained the Rockwell B-1 Lancer program from the 6510th Test Squadron in 1991. On 1 October 1992, the 6519th and 419th squadrons were consolidated, with the consolidated unit redesignating as the 419th Test Squadron the following day.

The squadron is the Air Force element of the Global Power Bomber Combined Test Force. It also operated the Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) test program General Atomics MQ-1 Predator from 1994 until 2000, when the UAV program was realigned.

The squadron added the Northrop Grumman B-2 Spirit program from the inactivating 420th Flight Test Squadron on 30 December 1997. It has also tested external weapons loads on the B-1 Lancer, in tests to increase its weapons loads both internally and by adding an external weapons carriage capability. It has also tested the Litening targeting pod on the B-52.

The squadron has also performed tests with hypersonic vehicles, launching them from its B-52s. In May 2010, a squadron launched a Boeing X-51 Waverider experimental unmanned scramjet. On 14 May 2022, a squadron B-52 launched a AGM-183A Air-launched Rapid Response Weapon, another hypersonic weapon. However, this program was cancelled in 2023, due to repeated system failures.

In the spring of 2015, the 445th Flight Test Squadron, which had been conducting "Test Operations" at Edwards was inactivated and its mission transferred to other test squadrons. In this reorganization, the squadron gained the Beechcraft C-12 Huron Formal Training Unit.

Lineage

419th Bombardment Squadron

• Constituted as the 29th Reconnaissance Squadron (Heavy) on 28 January 1942

Activated on 3 February 1942

Redesignated 419th Bombardment Squadron (Heavy) on 22 April 1942

Redesignated 419th Bombardment Squadron, Heavy c. 6 March 1944

Redesignated 419th Bombardment Squadron, Very Heavy on 5 August 1945

Inactivated on 15 October 1945

• Redesignated 419th Bombardment Squadron, Medium on 20 August 1958

Activated on 1 December 1958

Discontinued and inactivated on 1 January 1962

• Consolidated with the 6519th Test Squadron as the 6519th Test Squadron on 1 October 1992

419th Flight Test Squadron

• Designated as the 6519th Test Squadron and activated on 10 March 1989
• Consolidated with the 419th Bombardment Squadron on 1 October 1992

Redesignated 419th Test Squadron on 2 October 1992

Redesignated 419th Flight Test Squadron on 1 March 1994

Assignments

• 301st Bombardment Group, 3 Feb 1942 – 15 Oct 1945
• 301st Bombardment Wing, 1 Dec 1958 – 1 Jan 1962
• 6510th Test Wing (later 412th Test Wing), 10 March 1989
• 412th Operations Group, 1 Oct 1993 – present

Stations

Aircraft

Awards and campaigns

Award streamer	Award	Dates	Notes
	Distinguished Unit Citation	6 April 1943	Tunisia, 419th Bombardment Squadron
	Distinguished Unit Citation	25 February 1944	Germany, 419th Bombardment Squadron
	Air Force Outstanding Unit Award	1 January 1961–1 January 1962	419th Bombardment Squadron
	Air Force Outstanding Unit Award	1 January 2010–31 December 2011	419th Flight Test Squadron
	Air Force Outstanding Unit Award	1 January–31 December 2012	419th Flight Test Squadron
	Air Force Outstanding Unit Award	1 January–31 December 2013	419th Flight Test Squadron

Campaign Streamer	Campaign	Dates	Notes
	Antisubmarine	28 May–24 June 1942	419th Bombardment Squadron
	Air Offensive, Europe	19 August 1942–24 November 1942	419th Bombardment Squadron
	Air Combat, EAME Theater	19 August 1942–11 May 1945	419th Bombardment Squadron
	Egypt-Libya	24 November 1942 1942–12 February 1943	419th Bombardment Squadron
	Tunisia	24 November 1942–13 May 1943	419th Bombardment Squadron
	Sicily	14 May 1943–17 August 1943	419th Bombardment Squadron
	Naples-Foggia	18 August 1943–21 January 1944	419th Bombardment Squadron
	Anzio	22 January 1944–24 May 1944	419th Bombardment Squadron
	Rome-Arno	22 January 1944–9 September 1944	419th Bombardment Squadron
	Central Europe	22 March 1944–21 May 1945	419th Bombardment Squadron
	Normandy	6 June 1944–24 July 1944	419th Bombardment Squadron
	Northern France	25 July 1944–14 September 1944	419th Bombardment Squadron
	Southern France	15 August 1944–14 September 1944	419th Bombardment Squadron
	North Apennines	10 September 1944–4 April 1945	419th Bombardment Squadron
	Rhineland	15 September 1944–21 March 1945	419th Bombardment Squadron
	Po Valley	3 April 1945–8 May 1945	419th Bombardment Squadron

See also

• List of United States Air Force test squadrons
• Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress Units of the Mediterranean Theater of Operations
• List of B-47 units of the United States Air Force
• List of B-52 Units of the United States Air Force
• List of B-1 units of the United States Air Force

References

Notes

Explanatory notes

1. Approved 21 February 1990. Description: Azure, a rondel celeste fimbriated Sable, charged with a bezant of the like . Overall, a saltire couped Argent superimposed in base by a scorpion Gules; all within a diminished bordure Black.
2. Approved 11 August 1961. Description: On an Air Force blue disc bordered Air Force golden yellow, four white lightning flashes fretted, two issuing radiant from dexter chief, and two issuing radiant from sinister chief; all surmounted by an Air Force golden yellow shield, details and shading golden brown; in chief a large Air Force golden yellow star; encircling the lower half of the emblem nine small white stars.
3. The 97th Bombardment Group had arrived earlier, but was equipped with B-17Es. Freeman, p. 13.
4. The aircraft in the background is Boeing B-17F-1-BO Flying Fortress, serial 41-24352. This plane suffered severe battle damage on a mission to steel works at Lille, France (Although located in the Lille metropolitan area, the target was actually in Belgium, on the left bank of the Deûle River.) on 9 October 1942. The crew prepared to bail out but the bomber made it back to Chelveston with one engine on fire, two propellers feathered and a couple of hundred holes in it. Following this mission, it was named Holey Joe.
5. Aircraft is Lockheed Aircraft manufactured Boeing B-47E-55-LM Stratojet, serial 53-1830 parked at Langley Air Force Base in 1960. This plane was sent to the Military Aircraft Storage and Disposition Center on 18 January 1963 and scrapped on 30 October 1967. Baugher, Joe (5 August 2023). "1953 USAF Serial Numbers". Joe Baugher. Retrieved 10 November 2023.
6. Aircraft is Rockwell B-1B Lancer Lot IV, serial 85-0075, converted to Block D in 1998. Earlier named Banshee and Dakota Demolition.Baugher, Joe (10 June 2023). "1985 USAF Serial Numbers". Joe Baugher. Retrieved 8 November 2023.
7. Aircraft is Boeing B-52H-150-BW Stratofortress, serial 60-0034, Wise Guy. Sent to the Aerospace Maintenance and Regeneration Center by March 2009, but returned to service in March 2019 with the 2nd Bomb Wing. Baugher, Joe (3 October 2023). "1960 USAF Serial Numbers". Joe Baugher. Retrieved 8 November 2023.

Citations

1. ^ Endicott, p. 796
2. ^ "Factsheet 419 Flight Test Squadron". Air Force Historical Research Agency. 7 April 2008. Retrieved 10 July 2017.
3. Salasovich, Maj Richard and Harmer, Capt Paul, A Year of Bomber Test: Legacy and Lessons Learned, 2005
4. Maurer, Combat Squadrons, pp. 436-439, 514
5. ^ Maurer, Combat Units, pp. 173-174
6. ^ Maurer, Combat Squadrons, p. 514
7. ^ Freeman, p. 247
8. Freeman, p. 13
9. Millet,
10. Pimlott,
11. ^ Schake, p. 220 (note 43)
12. ^ "Abstract (Unclassified), History of the Strategic Bomber since 1945 (Top Secret, downgraded to Secret)". Air Force History Index. 1 April 1975. Retrieved 4 March 2014.
13. ^ No byline (16 May 2022). "Air Force conducts successful hypersonic weapon test". Space Operations Command Public Affairs. Retrieved 10 November 2023.
14. ^ Rogers,
15. No byline (9 January 2021). "The Year in Review: Edwards Air Force Base". Aerotech News. Retrieved 12 November 2023.
16. Cannon, Edward. "419th Flight Test Squadron B-52 LITENING TRG Ground Las[]er Testing". 412 Test Wing Public Affairs. Retrieved 10 November 2023.
17. Waldman, Dawn (2 June 2010). "X51 Historic Hypersonic Flight". 95th Air Base Wing Public Affairs. Retrieved 12 November 2023.
18. Losey, Stephen (31 March 2023). "US Air Force drops Lockheed hypersonic missile after failed tests". DefenseNews. Retrieved 2 November 2023.
19. ^ Fabara, Jet (7 May 2015). "Test Ops bids farewell, consolidates into three other units". 412th Test Wing Public Affairs. Retrieved 20 October 2023.
20. Station number in Anderson, p. 19.

Bibliography

 This article incorporates public domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency

• Anderson, Capt. Barry (1985). Army Air Forces Stations: A Guide to the Stations Where U.S. Army Air Forces Personnel Served in the United Kingdom During World War II (PDF). Maxwell AFB, AL: Research Division, USAF Historical Research Center. Retrieved 1 March 2021.
• Freeman, Roger A. (1970). The Mighty Eighth: Units, Men and Machines (A History of the US 8th Army Air Force). London, England, UK: Macdonald and Company. ISBN 978-0-87938-638-2.
• Maurer, Maurer, ed. (1983) . Air Force Combat Units of World War II (PDF) (reprint ed.). Washington, DC: Office of Air Force History. ISBN 0-912799-02-1. LCCN 61060979.
• Maurer, Maurer, ed. (1982) . Combat Squadrons of the Air Force, World War II (PDF) (reprint ed.). Washington, DC: Office of Air Force History. ISBN 0-405-12194-6. LCCN 70605402. OCLC 72556.
• Millet, Jeffrey R. (1986). The Fifteenth Air Force Story: A History 1943–1985. Fifteenth Air Force Association. ASIN B000WAZRJ2.
• Pimlott, Jeffrey R. (1980). B-29 Superfortress. New York, NY: Gallery Books.
• Rogers, Brian. (2005). United States Air Force Unit Designations Since 1978. Hinkley, UK: Midland Publications. ISBN 1-85780-197-0.
• Schake, Col Kurt W. (1998). Strategic Frontier: American Bomber Bases Overseas, 1950–1960 (PDF). Trondheim, Norway: Norwegian University of Science and Technology. ISBN 978-8277650241. Retrieved 27 July 2015.

v t e United States Air Force
Leadership	Department of the Air Force Secretary of the Air Force Under Secretary of the Air Force Air Staff Chief of Staff Vice Chief of Staff Director of Staff Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force Four-star generals Three-star generals 1940–1959 2000–2009 2010–2019 2020–present House Armed Services Committee House Subcommittee on Tactical Air and Land Forces House Armed Services Subcommittee on Strategic Forces Senate Committee on Armed Services Senate Subcommittee on Airland Senate Armed Services Subcommittee on Strategic Forces
Structure	Commands Reserve Air National Guard Field Operating Agencies Installations Direct Reporting Units District of Washington Operational Test and Evaluation Center USAF Academy Major commands ACC AETC AFGSC AFMC AFRC AFSOC AMC PACAF USAFE–AFAFRICA Numbered Air Forces First Second Third Fourth Fifth Seventh Eighth Ninth Tenth Eleventh Twelfth Thirteenth Expeditionary Fifteenth Sixteenth Eighteenth Nineteenth Twentieth Twenty-Second Wings ANG Groups ANG Squadrons ANG Security Forces Civilian auxiliary: Civil Air Patrol
Personnel and training	Personnel Rank officers cadets enlisted Specialty Code Aeronautical ratings Judge Advocate General's Corps RED HORSE Security Forces Medical Service Chief of Chaplains Chief Scientist Training: Air Force Academy Officer Training School Reserve Officer Training Corps Basic Training Airman Leadership School SERE Fitness Assessment
Uniforms and equipment	Awards and decorations Badges Equipment Aircraft Uniforms
History and traditions	History Aeronautical Division / Aviation Section / Division of Military Aeronautics / Army Air Service / Army Air Corps / Army Air Forces "The U.S. Air Force" Air Force Band Airman's Creed Core Values Flag Symbol Memorial National Museum Women Airforce Service Pilots Air Force One / Air Force Two Honor Guard Thunderbirds Service numbers Air & Space Forces Association
Category

v t e Air Force Materiel Command (AFMC)
Air bases	Arnold Edwards Eglin Hanscom Hill Robins Tinker Wright-Patterson (Headquarters)
Centers	Air Force Installation and Mission Support Center Air Force Civil Engineer Center Air Force Security Forces Center Air Force Life Cycle Management Center 66th Air Base Group 88th Air Base Wing Air Force Nuclear Weapons Center Air Force Research Laboratory 711th Human Performance Wing Air Force Sustainment Center 72nd Air Base Wing 75th Air Base Wing 78th Air Base Wing 448th Supply Chain Management Wing 635th Supply Chain Operations Wing Ogden Air Logistics Complex Oklahoma City Air Logistics Complex Warner Robins Air Logistics Complex Air Force Test Center 96th Test Wing 412th Test Wing Arnold Engineering Development Complex
Other	National Museum of the United States Air Force

v t e Strategic Air Command (SAC)
Bases	active (MAJCOM) CONUS Altus (AETC) Andersen (PACAF) Andrews (AMC) Barksdale (ACC) Beale (ACC) Bolling (AFDW) Cannon (AFSOC) Cape Cod (USSF) Columbus (AETC) Davis-Monthan (ACC) Dyess (ACC) Eielson (PACAF) Ellsworth (ACC) Eglin (AFMC) F. E. Warren (AFGSC) Fairchild (AMC) Forbes (ANG) Grand Forks (AMC) Grissom (AFRC) Homestead (AFRC) Lincoln (ANG) Little Rock (AETC) MacDill (AMC) Malmstrom (AFGSC) March (AFRC) McChord (AMC) McConnell (AMC) McGuire (AMC) Minot (ACC) Mountain Home (ACC) Nellis (ACC) Offutt (ACC) Patrick (USSF) Pease (ANG) Rickenbacker (ANG) Robins (AFMC) Seymour Johnson (ACC) Sheppard (AETC) Selfridge (ANG) Travis (AMC) Vandenberg (USSF) Westover (AFRC) Whiteman (ACC) Wright-Patterson (AFMC) overseas RAF Alconbury (USAFE) Diego Garcia (USN) Kadena (PACAF) RAF Fairford (USAFE) RAF Lakenheath (USAFE) RAF Mildenhall (USAFE) Thule (USSF) former / inactive CONUS Amarillo Bergstrom Biggs Calumet Air Force Station Carswell Castle Chennault Clinton-Sherman Dow Eaker Glasgow Grand Island (AAF) Griffiss Hunter K. I. Sawyer Kearney Kincheloe Larson Loring Lowry Mather McCoy Plattsburgh Presque Isle Ramey R.I. Bong (unbuilt) Schilling Stead Turner Walker Wurtsmith overseas Strategic Air Command in the United Kingdom RAF Bassingbourn Ben Guerir Boulhaut RAF Brize Norton RAF Bruntingthorpe RAF Burtonwood RAF Chelveston RAF Greenham Common Goose Ernest Harmon RAF High Wycombe RAF Upper Heyford Torrejón RAF Manston Morón Nouasseur Rabat-Salé RAF Scampton RAF Sculthorpe Sidi Slimane RAF South Ruislip U-Tapao RAF Waddington RAF Woodbridge RAF Wyton Zaragoza
Units	Air Forces Second Air Force Eighth Air Force Fifteenth Air Force Sixteenth Air Force Twentieth Air Force Divisions Air 3d 4th 5th 6th 7th 12th 14th 17th 19th 21st 36th 40th 42d 45th 47th 57th 100th 311th 801st 802d 806th 817th 822d 823d 4310th Strategic aerospace 1st 18th 22d 810th 813th 816th 818th 819th 820th 821st 825th Strategic missile 13th Wings Bombardment 2d 5th 7th 9th 17th 19th 22d 28th 39th 40th 42d 43d 68th 70th 72d 92d 93d 96th 97th 99th 303d 319th 320th 340th 379th 380th 397th 410th 416th 449th 450th 454th 456th 461st 465th 484th 494th 509th Fighter 1st 4th 12th 27th 31st 33d 56th 71st Strategic Reconnaissance (Fighter) 82d 407th 506th 508th Missile 44th 90th 91st 308th 321st 341st 351st 381st 389th 390th 392d 451st 455th 702d 703d 704th 705th 706th 4320th Strategic Wing (Missile) Reconnaissance 6th Strategic Reconnaissance 26th Strategic Reconnaissance 55th Strategic Reconnaissance 544th Aerospace Reconnaissance Technical Refueling 11th 100th 301st 305th 384th 452d 497th 499th 500th Strategic Aerospace 310th 385th 462d AFCON 95th 98th 306th 307th 376th MAJCOM 3918th 3920th 3960th 3970th 3973d 4026th 4038th 4039th 4042d 4043d 4047th 4080th 4081st 4082d 4083d 4123d 4126th 4128th 4130th 4133d 4134th 4135th 4136th 4137th 4138th 4141st 4157th 4158th 4170th 4228th 4238th 4239th 4241st 4245th 4252nd 4258th 4321st USAAF Groups *= initial assigned unit upon SAC's activation Bombardment 2d (7/47) 7th (10/46) 28th (8/46) 40th (3/46*) 43rd (10/46) 44th (3/46*) 92nd (10/46) 93d (3/46*) 97th (8/46) 98th (7/47) 301st (8/46) 307th (8/46) 444th (3/46*) 448th (3/46*) 449th (3/46*) 467th (3/46*) 485th (3/46*) 498th (3/46*) 509th Composite (3/46*) Fighter 27th (6/47) 55th (2/47) Reconnaissance 91st Strategic Reconnaissance (1/47)
Major weapon systems	Bombers Rockwell B-1 Lancer Northrop Grumman B-2 Spirit Boeing B-29 Superfortress Convair B-36 Peacemaker North American B-45 Tornado Boeing B-47 Stratojet Boeing B-50 Superfortress Boeing B-52 Stratofortress Convair B-58 Hustler General Dynamics F-111 Aardvark Command & Control Lockheed DC-130 Boeing E-4 Boeing EC-135 Boeing RC-135 Fighters North American F-2 Mustang North American F-82 Twin Mustang Republic F-84F Thunderstreak North American F-86 Sabre Convair F-102 Delta Dagger General Dynamics F-111 Aardvark Missiles ADM-20 AGM-28 AGM-69 AGM-84 AGM-86 AGM-129 HGM-16 LGM-30A/B LGM-30F LGM-30G LGM-118A SM-62 PGM-17A PGM-19A Reconnaissance Lockheed SR-71 Blackbird Lockheed TR-1 Lockheed U-2 Martin RB-57D Canberra Boeing RB-17 Boeing RB-29 Tankers Boeing KB-29 Superfortress Boeing KB-50 McDonnell Douglas KC-10 Extender Boeing KC-97 Stratofreighter Lockheed HC-130 Lockheed Martin KC-130 Boeing KC-135 Stratotanker Transport Beechcraft C-45 Douglas C-47 Skytrain Douglas C-54 Skymaster Fairchild C-82 Packet Boeing C-97 Stratofreighter Douglas C-118 Fairchild C-119 Flying Boxcar Douglas C-124 Globemaster II Convair C-131 Samaritan Boeing C-135 Stratolifter
Commanders	George Kenney Curtis LeMay Power Ryan Joseph J. Nazzaro Bruce K. Holloway John C. Meyer Russell E. Dougherty Richard H. Ellis Bennie L. Davis Larry D. Welch John T. Chain, Jr, George Lee Butler
Emblems	Strategic Air Command Emblem Gallery
United States military aircraft designation systems

v t e USAAF Twelfth Air Force in World War II
Stations Morocco Berguent Casablanca Guercif Louis Gentil Marnia Médiouna Nouasser Port Lyautey Oujda Rabat Sale Ras el Ma Algeria Ain M'lila Berteaux Biskra Canrobert Chateau-dun-du-Rhumel Constantine Es Sénia (Oran) Maison Blanche (Algiers) Matemore Montesquieu Nouvion Orleansville Philippeville Relizane Rerhaia Saint-Donat Saint-Leu Sedrata Sainte-Barbe du Tlélat Tafaraoui (Oran) Tébessa Telergma Thiersville Youks-les-Bains Tunisia Bizerte Dar el Koudia Depienne Djedeida Djilma Ebba Ksour El Djem El Bathan Enfidaville Goubrine Grombalia Hergla Kairouan Korba La Marsa La Sebala Le Sers Massicault Mateur Menzel Temime Monastir Oudna Pont du Fahs Protville Sainte Marie du Zit Souk-el-Arba Souk-el-Khemis Soliman Sousse Thelepte Italy Agrigento (Sicily) Bagnoli Barcelona LG (Sicily) Bari Boccadifalco (Sicily) Borizzo (Sicily) Capodichino (Naples) Castel Volturno Castelvetrano (Sicily) Cassibile (Sicily) Cattolica Catania (Sicily) Cercola Comiso (Sicily) Ciampino (Rome) Cesenatico Decimomannu (Sardinia) Elmas (Sardinia) Falconara Fano Florence Foggia Follonica Gaudo Gerbini (Sicily) Gioia Grosseto Grottaglie Iesi Le Banca Lecce Licata (Sicily) Manduria Marcianise Malignano Mazzara (Sicily) Milazzo (Sicily) Messina (Sicily) Montalto Di Castro Nettuno Montecorvino Ombrene Orbetello Paestum Pisa Pantelleria Pignataro Maggiore Piombino Pomigliano Ponte Galeria Pontedera Pompeii Ponte Olivo (Sicily) Reggio Calabria Rocca Bernardo Rosia San Pancrazio Santa Maria Scordia (Sicily) Sele Serretella Tarquinia Termini (Sicily) Tortorella Torrente Comunelli Tre Cancello Voltone Vesuvius France Aghione (Corsica) Amberieu (Y-5) Amiens (B-48) Clastres (A-71) Dijon (Y-9) Dôle-Tavaux (Y-7) Ghisonaccia (Corsica) Gisonochia (Corsica) Istres (Y-17) La Vallon (Y-18) Le Luc Luneville (Y-2) Loyettes (Y-25) Poretta (Corsica) Saint-Dizier (A-64) Salon de Provence (Y-16) Serragia (Corsica) Solonzara (Corsica) Tantonville (Y-1) Toul-Ochey (A-96)
Units Commands XII Bomber XII Tactical Air XXII Tactical Air XII Troop Carrier (Provisional) Wings 5th Bombardment 42d Bombardment 47th Bombardment (7th Fighter) 51st Troop Carrier 52d Troop Carrier 57th Bombardment 62d Fighter 63d Fighter 64th Fighter 87th Fighter 90th Photographic Groups Bombardment 2d Bombardment 12th Bombardment 17th Bombardment 47th Bombardment 97th Bombardment 98th Bombardment 99th Bombardment 301st Bombardment 310th Bombardment 319th Bombardment 320th Bombardment 321st Bombardment 340th Bombardment 376th Bombardment Fighter 1st Fighter 14th Fighter 27th Fighter 31st Fighter 33d Fighter 52d Fighter 57th Fighter 79th Fighter 81st Fighter 82d Fighter 86th Fighter 324th Fighter 325th Fighter 332d Fighter 350th Fighter Reconnaissance 3d Reconnaissance 5th Reconnaissance 68th Reconnaissance Troop carrier 60th Troop Carrier 61st Troop Carrier 62d Troop Carrier 64th Troop Carrier 313th Troop Carrier 314th Troop Carrier 316th Troop Carrier Squadrons 15th Bombardment 414th Night Fighter 415th Night Fighter 416th Night Fighter 417th Night Fighter 427th Night Fighter
United States Army Air Forces First Second Third Fourth Fifth Sixth Seventh Eighth Ninth Tenth Eleventh Twelfth Thirteenth Fourteenth Fifteenth Twentieth

v t e USAAF Fifteenth Air Force in World War II
Stations	Tunisia Bizerte Depienne Enfidaville Massicault Oudna Pont du Fahs Sainte Marie du Zit Soliman Italy Amendola Bari Castelltuccio Cattolica Celone Cerignola Fano Foggia Gioia del Colle Grottaglie Giulia Lesina Lucera Madna Manduria Marcianise Mondolfo Pantanella Piagiolino Pisa Rimini Salsosa San Giovanni San Pancrazio San Severo Spinazzola Sterparone Tortorella Torremaggiore Torretto Triolo Venosa Vincenzo
Units	Wings 5th Bombardment 47th Bombardment 49th Bombardment 55th Bombardment 304th Bombardment 305th Fighter (P) 306th Fighter Groups Bombardment 2d Bombardment 97th Bombardment 98th Bombardment 99th Bombardment 301st Bombardment 376th Bombardment 449th Bombardment 450th Bombardment 451st Bombardment 454th Bombardment 455th Bombardment 456th Bombardment 459th Bombardment 460th Bombardment 461st Bombardment 463d Bombardment 464th Bombardment 465th Bombardment 483d Bombardment 484th Bombardment 485th Bombardment Fighter 1st Fighter 14th Fighter 31st Fighter 52d Fighter 82d Fighter 325th Fighter 332d Fighter
United States Army Air Forces First Second Third Fourth Fifth Sixth Seventh Eighth Ninth Tenth Eleventh Twelfth Thirteenth Fourteenth Fifteenth Twentieth

v t e USAAF Eighth Air Force in World War II
Stations United Kingdom Alconbury Aldermaston Andrews Field Atcham Attlebridge Bassingbourn Bodney Bottisham Bovingdon Boxted Bungay Burtonwood Depot Bury St. Edmunds Bushey Hall Chalgrove Cheddington Chelveston Chipping Ongar Daws Hill Debach Debden Deenethorpe Deopham Green Duxford Earls Colne East Wretham Eye Fersfield Fowlmere Framlingham Glatton Goxhill Grafton Underwood Great Ashfield Great Dunmow Halesworth Hardwick Harrington Hethel Honington Horham Horsham St. Faith Ibsley Keevil Kimbolton Kings Cliffe Kirton In Lindsey Knettishall Lavenham Leiston Little Walden Martlesham Heath Membury Mendlesham Metfield Molesworth Mount Farm North Pickenham Nuthampstead Old Buckenham Podington Polebrook Rackheath Ramsbury Rattlesden Raydon Ridgewell Seething Shipdham Snetterton Heath Steeple Morden Sudbury Thorpe Abbots Thurleigh Tibenham Wattisham Watton Wendling Westhampnett Wormingford Okinawa Bolo Ie Shima Kadena Futenma Yontan
Units Commands VIII Air Support VIII Bomber VIII Air Divisions 1st 2nd 3rdf Wings Bombardment 1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th 12th 316th Fighter 6th 65th 66th 67th 301st Groups Bombardment 34th 44th 91st 92nd 93rd 94th 95th 96th 97th 100th 301st 303rd 305th 306th 310th 319th 320th 322nd 323rd 333rd 346th 351st 379th 381st 382nd 383rd 384th 385th 386th 387th 388th 389th 390th 392nd 398th 401st 445th 446th 447th 448th 452nd 453rd 457th 458th 466th 467th 482nd 486th 487th 489th 490th 491st 492nd 493rd 801st (Provisional) Fighter 1st 4th 14th 20th 31st 48th 55th 56th 78th 318th 339th 350th 352nd 353rd 354th 355th 356th 357th 358th 361st 362nd 364th 413th 479th 495th 496th 507th Troop Carrier 60th 62nd 315th Reconnaissance 3rd 7th 25th 67th
United States Army Air Forces First Second Third Fourth Fifth Sixth Seventh Eighth Ninth Tenth Eleventh Twelfth Thirteenth Fourteenth Fifteenth Twentieth

v t e USAAF Fourth Air Force in World War II
Units	Commands IV Bomber Command IV Fighter Command IV Air Support Command Wings 21st Bombardment Los Angeles Fighter San Diego Fighter San Francisco Fighter Seattle Fighter Groups Bombardment 12th Bombardment 30th Bombardment 41st Bombardment 42nd Bombardment 47th Bombardment 380th Bombardment 385th Bombardment 389th Bombardment 392nd Bombardment 399th Bombardment 449th Bombardment 450th Bombardment 451st Bombardment 453rd Bombardment 454th Bombardment 455th Bombardment 456th Bombardment 461st Bombardment 463rd Bombardment 465th Bombardment 466th Bombardment 470th Bombardment 483rd Bombardment 486th Bombardment 491st Bombardment 492nd Bombardment Fighter 1st Fighter 14th Fighter 20th Fighter 35th Fighter 51st Fighter 55th Fighter 78th Fighter 81st Fighter 82nd Fighter 328th Fighter 329th Fighter 339th Fighter 354th Fighter 360th Fighter 363rd Fighter 364th Fighter 369th Fighter 367th Fighter 372nd Fighter 412th Fighter 473rd Fighter 474th Fighter 478th Fighter 479th Fighter Reconnaissance 68th Reconnaissance 69th Reconnaissance Troop Carrier 64th Troop Carrier
United States Army Air Forces First Second Third Fourth Fifth Sixth Seventh Eighth Ninth Tenth Eleventh Twelfth Thirteenth Fourteenth Fifteenth Twentieth

• Flight test squadrons of the United States Air Force
• Military units and formations in California