339th Flight Test Squadron

339th Flight Test Squadron
Eddie Minter, C-130 functional test work lead, mets with MSgt. Tony Valente, flight engineer to look over work records before a testflight of an MC-130E
Active	1942 – present
Country	United States
Branch	United States Air Force
Type	Flight Testing
Garrison/HQ	Robins AFB, Georgia
Engagements	World War II Asia-Pacific Theater Korean War
Decorations	Distinguished Unit Citation (4x) Air Force Outstanding Unit Award (2x) Philippines Presidential Unit Citation
Insignia
339th Flight Test Squadron emblem

339th Fighter Squadron 3 F-82s Johnson Air Base, Japan 1950 F-82E Twin Mustang 46-353 in center.

The 339th Flight Test Squadron is a United States Air Force unit based at Robins AFB, Georgia. It is part of the Warner Robins Air Logistics Center, with a mission to certify aircraft as worthy to return to service. The squadron is responsible for conducting flight tests on the C-130 Hercules, the C-5 Galaxy and F-15 Eagle after program depot maintenance is completed.

Along with their flight test responsibilities, the squadron also picks up and delivers aircraft including battle damaged aircraft to locations where they are needed or can be repaired.

The squadron is also considered the subject matter experts for the plane's systems and many times their phone rings when Airmen around the world are having mechanical malfunctions and need to know how to fly or land safely.

History

Lineage

Constituted 339th Fighter Squadron on 29 September 1942

Activated on 3 October 1942

Redesignated: 339th Fighter Squadron (Twin Engine)on 23 February 1943

Redesignated: 339th Fighter Squadron, Two Engine, on 20 August 1943

Inactivated on 1 January 1946

Redesignated 339th Fighter Squadron, Single Engine, on 13 July 1946

Activated on 25 August 1946

Redesignated: 339th Fighter Squadron (All Weather) on 20 February 1947

Redesignated: 339th Fighter Squadron, All Weather, on 10 August 1948

Redesignated: 339th Fighter-All Weather Squadron on 20 January 1950

Redesignated: 339th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron on 25 April 1951

Inactivated on 15 January 1958

Redesignated: 339th Tactical Fighter Squadron on 19 December 1975

Activated on 30 December 1975

Inactivated on 1 July 1983 (personnel and aircraft reactivated as 69th Tactical Fighter Squadron)

Consolidated (1 October 1992) with the 2875th Test Squadron, which was designated, and activated, on 15 January 1988.

Redesignated: 339th Test Squadron on 1 October 1992

Redesignated: 339th Flight Test Squadron on 15 March 1994

Assignments

Thirteenth Air Force

347th Fighter Group, 3 October 1942 – 1 January 1946

Thirteenth Air Force, 25 August 1946

347th Fighter (later, 347th Fighter-All Weather) Group, 20 February 1947

Received personnel and aircraft from inactivated 6th Night Fighter Squadron, 20 February 1947

Attached to 35th Fighter [later, 35th Fighter-Interceptor] Wing, 1 July 1949 – 1 December 1950

Fifth Air Force, 24 June 1950

314th Air Division, 1 December 1950

Attached to the 6162d Air Base Wing, 1 December 1950 – 24 May 1951

Attached to the 35th Fighter-Interceptor Wing, 25 May 1951 – 20 July 1954

Japan Air Defense Force, 1 March 1952

Attached to 49th Fighter-Bomber Wing, 20 July – 18 November 1954

Fifth Air Force, 1 September 1954

Attached to the 4th Fighter-Interceptor Wing, 18 November 1954 – 15 September 1957

39th Air Division, 1 March 1955 – 15 January 1958

347th Tactical Fighter Wing, 30 December 1975 – 1 July 1983
Warner Robins Air Logistics Center, 15 January 1988–present

Stations

New Caledonia, 3 October 1942

Detachment operated from Kukum Field, Guadalcanal, Solomon Islands, 3 October 1942 – 1 December 1943

Kukum Field, Guadalcanal, Solomon Islands, 29 December 1943
Stirling Island, Solomon Islands, 15 January 1944
Sanspor, New Guinea, 15 August 1944
Middleburg Island, 19 September 1944

Operated from Morotai, Maluku Islands13 February – 25 March 1945

San Jose, Mindoro, 22 February 1945

Puerto Princesa, Palawan, 6 March – 11 December 1945
Camp Stoneman, California, 30 December 1945 – 1 January 1946
Fort William McKinley, Luzon, 25 August 1946
Johnson AB, Japan, 15 December 1946
Yokota AB, Japan, 1 April 1950
Johnson AB, Japan, 4 August 1950
Chitose AB, Japan, 20 July 1954 – 15 January 1958
Moody AFB, Georgia, 30 December 1975 – 1 July 1983
Robins AFB Georgia, 15 January 1988–present

Aircraft Operated

P-400 Airacobra, 1942
P-39 Airacobra, 1942–1943
P-38 Lightning, 1942–1945
P(later F)-61 Black Widow, 1947–1950
F-82 Twin Mustang, 1949–1951

F-94 Starfire, 1951–1955
F-80 Shooting Star, 1953–1954
F-86 Sabre, 1955–1957
F-4 Phantom II, 1976-1983.

Operations

Combat in South and Southwest Pacific, c. 22 October 1942 – 8 August 1945. Air defense in Japan, 1946-1958. Combat in Korea, 27 June – 5 July 1950. Tested possible modifications for various weapons systems, 1988-.

References

This article incorporates public domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency website http://www.afhra.af.mil/.

Northrop P-61 Black Widow—The Complete History and Combat Record, Garry R. Pape, John M. Campbell and Donna Campbell, Motorbooks International, 1991.
Maurer, Maurer, ed. (1982) [1969]. 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.

External links

Wartime Service of Northrop P-61 Black Widow

USAAF Thirteenth Air Force in World War II

Airfields

Pacific	USAAF in the South Pacific USAAF in the Southwest Pacific

Units

Commands

Groups

Fighter	18th Fighter 347th Fighter 414th Fighter

Bomber	5th Bombardment 11th Bombardment 42d Bombardment 307th Bombardment

Reconnaissance	4th Reconnaissance

Troop Carrier	403d Troop Carrier

Squadrons

Bombardment	100th Bombardment 868th Bombardment

Night Fighter	418th Night Fighter 419th Night Fighter 550th Night Fighter

Reconnaissance	4th Photographic Charting 17th Photographic Reconnaissance 36th Photographic Reconnaissance 38th Photographic Reconnaissance

Troop Carrier	13th Troop Carrier

United States Army Air Forces

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