| 415th Flight Test Flight [1] | |
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415th Flight Training Flight Patch |
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| Active | 3 February 1942 - 3 July 1945 1 September 1958 - 1 January 1962 10 March 1989 - 1 October 1994 1 October 2001 - present |
| Country | United States |
| Branch | United States Air Force |
| Type | Flight Test |
| Part of | Air Force Reserve Command, 622d Flight Test Group |
| Garrison/HQ | Randolph Air Force Base |
| Engagements | World War II |
| Decorations | DUC |
The 415th Flight Test Flight (415 FLTF) is a squadron of the United States Air Force Reserves. It has been stationed at Randolph Air Force Base, Texas, since 1 October 2001.[1]
The squadron has been active periodically throughout the 20th century, initially as a reconnaissance squadron, then later as a bombardment squadron, and finally as a flight test squadron. During World War II, the 415th Bombardment Squadron flew combat missions in the Mediterranean and the European theaters of operations as part of the 98th Bombardment Group.
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Established as a B-24 Liberator reconnaissance squadron in early 1942. Engaged initially in antisubmarine patrols over the Gulf of Mexico; redesignated as a heavy bomb squadron and trained by Third Air Force. Deployed to Egypt in June 1942 over South Atlantic Transport Route transiting from Morrision Field, Florida though the Caribbean to Brazil; performed trans-Atlantic crossing from Brazil to Liberia, then transited east across central Africa to Sudan. Lastly the group reformed with the ground echelon which traveled by ship around the Cape of Good Hope, joining with air echelon in British Palestine.
Assigned to the newly-formed IX Bomber Command, the squadron operated from airfields in Egypt; Libya and Tunisia supporting the British Eighth Army in the Western Desert Campaign. Also staged long-range strategic bombardment of enemy military and industrial targets in Sicily; Italy and the Southern Balkans, including attacking the Nazi-Controlled oilfields at Polesti, Romania.
Re-assigned to Fifteenth Air Force in southern Italy; continuing strategic bombardment raids on Occupied France; Southern Germany; Austria and targets in the Balkans. In the summer of 1944, the squadron participated in the invasion of southern France, assisted in the Soviet advance into the Balkans, and supported the partisans and guerrillas in Yugoslavia and neighboring countries.
The squadron returned to the United States in May 1945; being redesignated as a B-29 Superfortress heavy bomb squadron and began training for deployment to the Central Pacific Area and conduct strategic bombardment raids over the Japanese Home Islands. Training continued until the unit was inactivated at the end of July, it's equipment and personnel being merged into the other three squadrons of its host group.
The squadron was activated in 1959 as a result of Strategic Air Command phasing out the B-47 Stratojet, and additional squadrons were activated as part of the consolation of Stratojet wings, and the replacement of the B-47 by B-52 Stratofortresses. In March 1961, President John F. Kennedy directed that the phaseout of the B-47 be accelerated. and the squadron was inactivated on 1 January 1962 as part of the drawdown of the USAF B-47 force, with the aircraft were sent to AMARC storage at Davis-Monthan.
Reactivated in 1992 as a flight test squadron at Edwards; inactivated in 1994. Reactivated and reduced from a squadron to a flight organization in 2001.
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This article incorporates public domain material from websites or documents of the Air Force Historical Research Agency.
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