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Home > Fact Sheets > 461 Flight Test Squadron (AFMC)
461 FLIGHT TEST SQUADRON (AFMC)
Posted 12/19/2007
Printable Fact Sheet
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In accordance with Chapter 3 of AFI 84-105, commercial reproduction of this emblem is NOT permitted without the permission of the proponent organizational/unit commander.
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Lineage. Constituted as 361 Fighter Squadron on 8 Dec 1942. Activated on 12 Dec 1942. Redesignated 361 Fighter Squadron, Single Engine, on 20 Sep 1944. Inactivated on 11 Nov 1945. Consolidated (19 Sep 1985) with 461 Tactical Fighter Training Squadron, which was constituted as 461 Fighter-Day Squadron on 30 Dec 1955. Activated on 8 Feb 1956. Redesignated 461 Tactical Fighter Squadron on 8 Jul 1958. Inactivated on 1 Aug 1959. Redesignated 461 Tactical Fighter Training Squadron on 15 Jul 1976. Activated on 1 Jul 1977. Redesignated 461 Fighter Squadron on 1 Nov 1991. Inactivated on 5 Aug 1994. Redesignated 461 Flight Test Squadron on 23 Oct 2006. Activated on 27 Oct 2006.
Assignments. 356 Fighter Group, 12 Dec 1942-10 Nov 1945; unkn, 10-11 Nov 1945. 36 Fighter-Day Group, 8 Feb 1956 (attached to 86 Fighter-Interceptor Group, 8 Feb-2 May 1956; 36 Fighter-Day Wing, 1 Oct 1956-7 Dec 1957); 36 Fighter-Day (later, 36 Tactical Fighter) Wing, 8 Dec 1957-1 Aug 1959. 58 Tactical Training Wing, 1 Jul 1977; 405 Tactical Training Wing, 29 Aug 1979; 58 Operations Group, 1 Oct 1991; 56 Operations Group, 1 Apr-5 Aug 1994. 412 Operations Group, 27 Oct 2006-.
Stations. Westover Fld, MA, 12 Dec 1942; New Haven AAFld, CT, 2 Mar 1943; Bradley Fld, CT, 19 Apr 1943; Westhampton, NY, 8 Jun 1943; Grenier Fld, NH, 4 Jul 1943; Camp Myles Standish, MA, 15-20 Aug 1943; Goxhill, England, 27 Aug 1943; Martlesham Heath, England, 9 Oct 1943-28 Oct 1945; Camp Myles Standish, MA, 10-11 Nov 1945. Landstuhl AB, West Germany, 8 Feb 1956; Hahn AB, West Germany, 2 May 1956-1 Aug 1959. Luke AFB, AZ, 1 Jul 1977-5 Aug 1994. Edwards AFB, CA, 27 Oct 2006-.
Commanders. 1 Lt Ray P. Stewart, by 7 Jan 1943; Maj Frederick C. Roberts Jr., 30 Jan 1943; Capt Emery H. Montgomery, 23 Nov 1943 (temporary); Lt Col William Waller III, 28 Nov 1943; Lt Col James M. Cooper, 14 Jul 1944; Maj Donald J. Strait, 4 Jan 1945; Maj Donald R. Carlson, 28 Mar-at least 30 Jun 1945; unkn, 1 Jul-11 Nov 1945. Lt Col William F. Haning Jr., 8 Feb 1956; Maj William D. Locke, 8 Feb 1957; Col Frank K. Everest Jr., 11 Mar 1957; Lt Col John S. Stewart, 5 May-c. 1 Aug 1959. Lt Col James A. Thornton, 1 Jul 1977; Lt Col Arthur D. Farrington, 28 Jul 1978; Lt Col Roy O. Bates, 11 Jul 1980-unkn; Lt Col Robert D. Evans, 6 Oct 1987; Lt Col Harold J. Bennett Jr., 20 Jan 1989; Lt Col Harry C. Disbrow Jr., 25 May 1990; Lt Col Stephen H. Spencer, 6 Dec 1991; Lt Col John M. Carter Jr., 15 Jan 1993-4 Aug 1994. Lt Col Edward V. Cassidy, 27 Oct 2006-.
Aircraft. P-47, 1943-1944; P-51, 1944-1945. F-86, 1956; F-100, 1956-1959; T-33, 1956. F-15, 1977-1994.
Operations. Trained at bases in New England and New York until Aug 1943, when it moved to Britain aboard the Queen Elizabeth. From 15 Oct 1943-Apr 1945, conducted fighter sweeps and provided penetration, target and withdrawal cover for heavy bomber aircraft, escorting them to and from Nazi targets in northwestern Europe. During Market-Garden operations over Holland, supported cargo, gliders and bomber aircraft by furnishing air cover against enemy fighter aircraft and by attacking enemy ground positions. Received Distinguished Unit Citation (DUC) for operations over Holland on 17, 18 and 23 Sep 1944. In early 1945, squadron P-51 Mustangs clashed with German Me 262 jet aircraft. Between 1956-1959, conducted air superiority and general support missions as directed by Twelfth Air Force and, later, by United States Air Forces in Europe (USAFE). Also, maintained and trained forces for a limited fighter-bomber capability with basic air to air weapons. From 1977 through 1994, conducted fighter aircraft aircrew training for American and selected allied fighter pilots. Training program ended in Aug 1994. Tested aircraft systems, 2006-.
Service Streamers. None.
Campaign Streamers. World War II: Air Offensive, Europe; Normandy; Northern France; Rhineland; Ardennes-Alsace; Central Europe; Air Combat, EAME Theater.
Armed Forces Expeditionary Streamers. None.
Decorations. Distinguished Unit Citation: Netherlands, 17, 18 and 23 Sep 1944. Air Force Outstanding Unit Awards: May 1956-May 1958; 1 Jan 1978-31 Dec 1979; 1 Aug 1982-31 May 1984; 1 Apr 1992-31 Mar 1994.
Lineage, Assignments, Stations, and Honors through 30 Aug 2007.
Commanders, Aircraft, and Operations through 29 Aug 2007.
Supersedes statement prepared on 27 Oct 2006.
Emblem. Approved on 27 Aug 1957; modified on 15 Mar 2007.
Prepared by Patsy Robertson.
Reviewed by Daniel Haulman.
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