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Home > Fact Sheets > 576 Flight Test Squadron (AFSPC)
576 FLIGHT TEST SQUADRON (AFSPC)
Posted 5/16/2008
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![576 Flight Test Squadron Emblem](https://webarchive.library.unt.edu/web/20130303225207im_/http://www.afhra.af.mil/shared/media/ggallery/webgraphic/AFG-080408-016.jpg) |
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 576 Bombardment Squadron (Heavy) on 15 Jan 1943. Activated on 26 Jan 1943. Redesignated 576 Bombardment Squadron, Heavy, on 20 Aug 1943. Inactivated on 13 Sep 1945. Redesignated 576 Bombardment Squadron, Very Heavy, on 5 Sep 1947. Activated in the Reserve on 24 Sep 1947. Redesignated 576 Bombardment Squadron, Light, Jet, on 27 Jun 1949. Inactivated on 10 Nov 1949. Redesignated 576 Strategic Missile Squadron (ICBM-Atlas) on 6 Mar 1958. Activated on 1 Apr 1958. Discontinued, and inactivated, on 2 Apr 1966. Redesignated 576 Test Squadron on 29 Aug 1991. Activated on 1 Sep 1991. Redesignated 576 Flight Test Squadron on 1 Jul 1994.
Assignments. 392 Bombardment Group, 26 Jan 1943-13 Sep 1945. 392 Bombardment Group, 24 Sep 1947-10 Nov 1949. 704 Strategic Missile Wing, 1 Apr 1958; 1 Missile (later, 1 Strategic Aerospace) Division, 1 Jul 1959; 392 Strategic Missile Wing, 18 Oct 1961; 1 Strategic Aerospace Division, 20 Dec 1961-2 Apr 1966. 310 Operations Group, 1 Sep 1991; 30 Operations Group, 1 Jul 1993; Space Warfare Center, 22 Feb 1996; 595 Test and Evaluation (later, 595 Space) Group, 1 Aug 2002-.
Stations. Davis-Monthan Field, AZ, 26 Jan 1943; Biggs Field, TX, 1 Mar 1943; Alamogordo AAB, NM, 18 Apr-18 Jul 1943; Wendling, England, 31 Jul 1943-c. 9 Jun 1945; Charleston AAFld, SC, 25 Jun-13 Sep 1945. Barksdale Field (later, AFB), LA, 24 Sep 1947-10 Nov 1949. Cooke (later, Vandenberg) AFB, CA, 1 Apr 1958-2 Apr 1966. Vandenberg AFB, CA, 1 Sep 1991-.
Commanders. Probably Capt Francis M. Zeigler, 26 Jan 1943; Maj Clyde T. Gray, 17 Apr 1943; Maj Charles L. Lowell, 29 Jan 1944; Maj Leonard Barnes, 24 Sep 1944; Capt Olen F. Lavell Jr., 22 Mar 1945-unkn. Unkn, 24 Sep 1947-10 Nov 1949. Col John J. Easton, 1 Apr 1958; Col Richard E. Barton, c. Dec 1959; Col Francis S. Manda, 30 Apr 1962; Lt Col Lorenzo Caliendo,1 Oct 1963-c.Feb 1965; None, not manned, c. Feb1965-2 Apr 1966. Lt Col John B. Perroni, 1 Sep 1991; Lt Col John M. West, 12 Jun 1992-unkn; Lt Col Larry D. Shaffer, 12 Jun 1995; Lt Col Robert E. Wood, c. Jun 1997; Lt Col James L Wyatt III, by Mar 1999; Lt Col Kenneth P. Van Sickle, c. Apr 1999; Lt Col Douglas E. Kelley, 10 May 2000; Maj Eric Batway, 18 Sep 2001; Lt Col Michael E. Fortney, 13 Nov 2001; Lt Col Anthony L. Blaylock, 9 Jul 2003-.
Aircraft. B-24, 1943-1945. B-26, 1947-1949. Atlas, 1958-1966. Tested Peacekeeper, 1991-2004 and Minuteman III, 1991-.
Operations. Combat in European Theater of Operations (ETO), 6 Sep 1943-25 Apr 1945. Trained crewmen, tested, and evaluated Atlas missiles, 1958-1966. Tested Minuteman III and Peacekeeper missiles, 1991-1994. Transferred to the Space Warfare Center in 1999 and was composed of two divisions and nine flights. These flights handled ICBM test activities, missile system improvements, launch operations, tactics, missile generation, logistics, and munitions. The squadron has the sole responsibility for collecting, analyzing and reporting the data required to verify the accuracy and reliability of deployed ICBMs.
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: Gotha, Germany, 24 Feb 1944. Air Force Outstanding Unit Awards: 1 Jul 1962-30 Jun 1964; 1 Sep 1991-15 May 1993;1 Nov 1991-30 Sep 1993; 1 Oct 1996-30 Sep 1997;1 Sep 2004-31 Aug 2005; 1 Sep 2005-31 Aug 2006; 1 Sep 2006-31 Aug 2007. Air Force Organizational Excellence Awards: 1 Aug 1999-31 Jul 2001; 1 Sep 2002-1 Sep 2003.
Lineage, Assignments, Stations, and Honors through 13 May 2008.
Commanders, Aircraft, and Operations through December 2004.
Emblem. Approved on 5 Mar 1959, modified on 2 Mar 1995.
Prepared by Carl E. Bailey.
Reviewed by Daniel L. Haulman.
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