3246th Test Wing

Quality 0.50 · 1 view · Updated 2 months ago

title: "3246th Test Wing" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["military-units-and-formations-established-in-1970", "military-units-and-formations-disestablished-in-1992"] topic_path: "history/military" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/3246th_Test_Wing" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0

::data[format=table title="Infobox military unit"]

FieldValue
unit_name3246th Test Wing
image3246th Test Wing - AFSC - Emblem.png
image_size250
caption3246th Test Wing – Emblem
dates1970–1992
countryUnited States
branchUnited States Air Force
roleTesting
motto"Proof by Test"
::

|unit_name= 3246th Test Wing | image= 3246th Test Wing - AFSC - Emblem.png | image_size = 250 |caption= 3246th Test Wing – Emblem |dates= 1970–1992 |country= United States |allegiance= |branch= United States Air Force |type= |role= Testing |size= |command_structure= |current_commander= |garrison= |ceremonial_chief= |colonel_of_the_regiment= |nickname= |patron= |motto= "Proof by Test" |colors= |march= |mascot= |battles= |anniversaries= ::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/b4/3247th_Test_Squadron_General_Dynamics_F-16A_Block_15A_Fighting_Falcon_80-0573.jpg" caption="F-16A block 15, ''80-0573'', from the 3247th Test Squadron, armed with an [[AIM-9 Sidewinder]] missile and a cluster weapon in flight on 12 May 1986. Aircraft now on display at [[Air Force Armament Museum]], Eglin AFB, FL."] ::

::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/3/31/McDonnell_Douglas_RF-4C-40-MC_Phantom-_68-0594.jpg" caption="McDonnell Douglas RF-4C-40-MC Phantom II, ''68-0594'', 3247th Test Squadron, Eglin AFB, Florida, in Vietnam-era camouflage."] ::

::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/1/17/McDonnell_F-4C-23-MC_Phantom_-_64-0817.jpg" caption="McDonnell F-4C-23-MC Phantom II, ''64-0817'', 3247th Test Squadron, Eglin AFB, Florida. Note ADCOM Gray scheme. Retired about 1990, now on display at [[Air Force Armament Museum]], Eglin AFB."] ::

The 3246th Test Wing was a flight test component of the Air Proving Ground Center, later Armament Division, at Eglin Air Force Base, Florida, and was activated 1 July 1970 to provide weapon and countermeasures test duties. It was replaced by the 46th Test Wing in October 1992.

This unit is notable for operating the last active-duty USAF F-4D Phantom II (66-8800), relegated to the Eglin target range in July 1992. It carried the logo "Phantoms Phorever 1963–1992". 66-8800 has been sitting on the ramp at Pierce Field (Eglin Auxiliary Field #2) since retirement. It is there in 2012.

History

Assigned to the 3246th Test Wing was the 3247th Test Squadron, which inherited F-4C/D/E and RF-4C Phantom II aircraft formerly assigned to the Air Proving Ground Center's 4533d Test Wing. The 3247th aircraft carried AD and ET tail codes, and a white tailband with red diamonds.

Components

  • 6585th Test Group, 1 January 1984 – 1 October 1992
  • 3247th Test Squadron, 1 July 1970 – 1 October 1992 (inactivated and consolidated with 40th Tactical Fighter Squadron)

Stations

Aircraft

References

  • Martin, Patrick. Tail Code: The Complete History of USAF Tactical Aircraft Tail Code Markings. Schiffer Military Aviation History, 1994. . Image source listed as United States Air Force

References

  1. Thornbororough, Anthony M., and Davies, Peter E., "The Phantom Story", Arms and Armour Press, A Cassell Imprint, London, UK, 1994, {{ISBN. 1-85409-121-2, page 278.

::callout[type=info title="Wikipedia Source"] This article was imported from Wikipedia and is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License. Content has been adapted to SurfDoc format. Original contributors can be found on the article history page. ::

military-units-and-formations-established-in-1970military-units-and-formations-disestablished-in-1992