586th Flight Test Squadron

The squadron's first predecessor, the 586th Bombardment Squadron, was activated at MacDill Field, Florida as one of the original four squadrons of the 394th Bombardment Group.[3][6][7] It began to train with the Martin B-26 Marauder, performing most of its training at Kellogg Field, Michigan. It departed for the European Theater of Operations (ETO) in mid-February 1944.[3]

The squadron was established at RAF Boreham, which was to be its station until after D-Day, in mid March,[3] and flew its first combat mission on 23 March, less than two weeks after its arrival in the ETO.[8] It helped prepare for the invasion of Normandy by participating in Operation Crossbow, striking V-1 flying bomb and V-2 rocket launch sites. It also carried out attacks on marshalling yards, bridges, gun emplacements and airfields. Not all targets were near the intended invasion landing areas. For example, in April, the squadron participated in a heavy attack on the marshalling yard at Mechlen, Belgium. Later that month, it encountered particularly heavy flak in an attack on Heuringhem, in which the airplane leading the group formation received 264 holes.[9] However, bombing results were not as accurate as desired, and the squadron was removed from operations for a week for additional training.[10] On D-Day it attacked gun emplacements at Cherbourg, afterwards striking lines of communications, fuel storage sites and enemy strong points.[6]

The squadron moved to RAF Holmsley South on 24 July, in a general move by the units of the 98th Bombardment Wing to bases closer to the invasion area,[11] and on the following day supported Operation Cobra, the breakout at Saint Lo. Between 7 and 9 August, the squadron made five attacks on strongly defended targets in northern France. This operation resulted in the award of the Distinguished Unit Citation to the squadron. Later that month, the squadron moved to its first base on the continent, Tour-en-Bessin Airfield, in France. From this base, the 586th attacked strong points at Brest, France and later began attacking targets in Germany from its bases on the continent. During the Battle of the Bulge, the squadron attacked lines of communications to prevent reinforcements from reaching the attacking German forces. it participated in Operation Clarion, intended to destroy the remaining elements of the German transportation system.[12] In addition to attacking transportation and storage facilities, toward the end of the war, the squadron dropped propaganda leaflets over occupied territory, which included the squadron's last combat mission.[6][13]

Following V-E Day, the squadron moved to Kitzingen Airfield, Germany, where it became part of the Army of Occupation. In December, it began to transition into the Douglas A-26 Invader. However, most personnel were rotating home for separation from the military, and in February, the squadron was transferred on paper to Bolling Field, District of Columbia and was inactivated there at the end of March.[3][6]

AT-38B of the 586th Test Squadron

The second predecessor of the squadron was activated at Holloman Air Force Base in December 1982 as the 6586th Test Squadron. It provided operational and maintenance support for all Department of Defense (DOD) test aircraft staging out of Holloman Air Force Base from 1982 until 1990. Starting in 1991, it flew developmental test and evaluation missions and has supported DOD test flights on the White Sands Missile Range.[1]

The squadron operates three AT-38B and one C-12J aircraft. The T-38s are modified for test, test support, target, and photo and safety chase missions. They are equipped with chaff, flares, Global Positioning System (GPS) navigation, precision data recording and telemetry and electronic countermeasures. They are equipped with an internal fighter instrumentation and navigation system which uses inertial navigation and GPS inputs. They can simulate towed targets, threat and cruise missiles. They have air combat maneuvering Instrumentation pods, and multiple format photographic capability. For specialized tests, test equipment can be mounted and installed in place of the rear ejection seat or externally in a pod. The centerline pylon can also carry operational stores.[5]

The C-12J, a modified Beech 1900C, is a low cost testbed aircraft used for evaluating navigation and guidance components and systems. It also provides slow speed photo and safety chase. Its onboard time space position instrumentation provides a reference for systems under test. Electrical power is available for onboard test equipment. It can carry up to four fully powered, independent test racks with an operator for each rack. Each test rack is configurable with customer equipment. Antenna modifications include 2 controlled and 3 fixed Radiated Pattern Antennas, a C Band Beacon antenna, and a dedicated ultra high frequency antenna for test communication radio. It can deploy for off-station requirements.[5]

In October 1992, the two squadrons were consolidated as the 586th Test Squadron. The squadron was renamed in 1994 as a flight test unit.[1]

• 394th Bombardment Group, 5 March 1943 - 31 March 1946
• 6585th Test Group (later 46th Test Group), 15 December 1982
• 96th Test Group, 1 October 2012
• 704th Test Group, 1 December 2016 – present[1]

• MacDill Field, Florida, 5 March 1943
• Ardmore Army Air Field, Oklahoma, 12 July 1943
• Kellogg Field, Michigan, 19 August 1943 – 15 February 1944
• RAF Boreham (AAF-161),[14] England c. 11 March 1944
• RAF Holmsley South (AAF-455),[15] England, 24 July 1944
• Tour-en-Bessin Airfield (A-13),[16] France, 25 August 1944
• Orleans/Bricy Airfield (A-50),[17] France, 18 September 1944
• Cambrai/Niergnies Airfield (A-74),[18] France, 8 October 1944
• Venlo Airfield (Y-55),[19] Netherlands, 2 May 1945
• AAF Station Kitzingen (R-6),[20] Germany, September 1945 – 15 February 1946
• Bolling Field, District of Columbia, 15 February 1946 – 31 March 1946
• Holloman Air Force Base, New Mexico, 15 Dec 1982 – present[21]

• Martin B-26 Marauder, 1943-1945
• Douglas A-26 Invader, 1945-1946
• Northrop AT-38 Talon, 1991–present
• Beechcraft C-12J Huron, 1997–present[1]

Explanatory notes

Citations

 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. Archived from the original (PDF) on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 7 July 2012.
• Endicott, Judy G. (1998). Active Air Force Wings as of 1 October 1995 and USAF Active Flying, Space, and Missile Squadrons as of 1 October 1995 (PDF). Air Force History and Museums Program. Washington, DC: Office of Air Force History. ASIN B000113MB2. Retrieved 2 July 2014.
• Johnson, 1st Lt. David C. (1988). U.S. Army Air Forces Continental Airfields (ETO) D-Day to V-E Day (PDF). Maxwell AFB, AL: Research Division, USAF Historical Research Center. Archived from the original (PDF) on 29 September 2015.
• Maurer, Maurer, ed. (1983) [1961]. 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. Retrieved 17 December 2016.
• 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. Retrieved 17 December 2016.
• Rust, Kenn C. (1967). The 9th Air Force in World War II. Fallbrook, CA: Aero Publishers, Inc. LCCN 67-16454.
• Watkins, Robert (2008). Battle Colors. Vol. III Insignia and Markings of the Ninth Air Force In World War II. Atglen, PA: Shiffer Publishing Ltd. ISBN 978-0-7643-2938-8.