46th Test Wing

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title: "46th Test Wing" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["test-wings-of-the-united-states-air-force", "military-units-and-formations-in-florida", "2012-disestablishments-in-florida"] topic_path: "geography/united-states" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/46th_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_name46th Test Wing
imageF-35 AA-1 (front-view) on display at Eglin.jpg
image_size300
captionF-35 on display during its first visit to Eglin and the 46th Test Wing
dates1941–1944, 1975–1982, 1992–2012
country
branch
roleDevelopmental test and evaluation
motto(1942–1944)
Support (1975–1983)
Proof by Trial (1993–2012)
decorationsAir Force Outstanding Unit Award
identification_symbol[[Image:46th Test Wing.png
identification_symbol_label46th Test Wing emblem
identification_symbol_2[[File:46th Aerospace Defense Wing.jpg
identification_symbol_2_labelPatch with 46th Aerospace Defense Wing emblem
identification_symbol_3[[File:46 Bombardment Gp emblem.png
identification_symbol_3_label46th Bombardment Group emblem
::

|unit_name=46th Test Wing | image=F-35 AA-1 (front-view) on display at Eglin.jpg | image_size = 300 |caption=F-35 on display during its first visit to Eglin and the 46th Test Wing |dates= 1941–1944, 1975–1982, 1992–2012 |country= |branch= |type= |role=Developmental test and evaluation |size= |command_structure= |current_commander= |garrison= |nickname= |motto= (1942–1944) Support (1975–1983) Proof by Trial (1993–2012) |colors= |march= |mascot= |battles= |notable_commanders= |anniversaries= |decorations=Air Force Outstanding Unit Award |battle_honours= |identification_symbol=[[Image:46th Test Wing.png|150px]] |identification_symbol_label=46th Test Wing emblem |identification_symbol_2=[[File:46th Aerospace Defense Wing.jpg|150px]] |identification_symbol_2_label=Patch with 46th Aerospace Defense Wing emblem |identification_symbol_3=[[File:46 Bombardment Gp emblem.png|150px]] |identification_symbol_3_label=46th Bombardment Group emblem

The 46th Test Wing is an inactive wing of the United States Air Force last based at Eglin Air Force Base, Florida. The wing's 46th Test Group was a tenant unit at Holloman Air Force Base, New Mexico.

The wing's history dates from 1941, when the Army Air Forces (AAF) activated the 46th Bombardment Group. The group served in the early period of the United States' involvement in World War II flying antisubmarine missions over the Gulf of Mexico. It then served as a training unit until being disbanded in 1944 in a general reorganization of AAF units.

The 46th Aerospace Defense Wing replaced the 4600th Air Base Wing to provide administrative and logistic support to headquarters elements of Air Defense Command and North American Air Defense Command at Ent Air Force Base, Peterson Air Force Base, and the Cheyenne Mountain Complex. It was inactivated in 1983.

The wing and group were consolidated into a single unit in 1984, but remained inactive until 1992, when the consolidated unit was activated at Eglin as the 46th Test Wing. The wing managed test and development at Eglin and at Holloman until 2012 when its functions were combined with those of the 96th Air Base Wing in a reorganization of Air Force Materiel Command.

Mission

The wing executed developmental test and evaluation for Air Force air-delivered weapons, navigation, and guidance systems, command and control systems and Air Force special operations systems.

History

::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/3/33/87th_Bomb_Squadron_in_Blythe_California_September_1942.jpg" caption="The 87th Bombardment Squadron"] ::

World War II

The wing was activated as the 46th Bombardment Group (Light) and in 1941, equipped with Douglas A-20 Havoc aircraft. Its operational squadrons were the 50th, 51st, and 53d Bombardment Squadrons, and the 8th Reconnaissance Squadron. Shortly after activation in 1941, the 8th Reconnaissance Sq mission changed and it became the 87th Bombardment Squadron. The 46th participated in maneuvers, including desert maneuvers, and flew anti-submarine warfare patrol and search missions over the Gulf of Mexico in early 1942. It also served as an operational training unit, which involved the use of an oversized parent unit to provide cadres for "satellite groups." In late 1943 the group mission changed to replacement training of individual pilots and aircrews (RTU). at Morris Field in a major reorganization of the Army Air Forces in which RTUs were disbanded and training activities given to base units.

Cold War

In March 1975, 46th Aerospace Defense Wing was activated to replace the 4600th Air Base Wing at Peterson Field, where it took over the personnel, equipment, and of the 4600th and its mission of administering facilities of North American Air Defense Command (NORAD), Aerospace Defense Command (ADC), and Army Air Defense Command (ARADCOM) located on Ent Air Force Base, Peterson Air Force Base, and the Cheyenne Mountain Complex, plus various other nearby off-base facilities, which the 4600th wing had been performing from Ent Air Force Base, then from Peterson Field since April 1958. Despite its name, the wing was a "disguised" air base wing. Although the provision of administrative and logistics support was the wing's primary mission, its flying training squadron served NORAD and ADC mission requirements and provided flying training for cadets at the United States Air Force Academy until 1 October 1979,

Test Operations

The 46th was redesignated as the 46th Test Wing and replaced the 3246th Test Wing at Eglin Air Force Base, Florida in October 1992. The wing worked closely with the 53d Wing of Air Combat Command, which performed operational testing of many of the same weapons systems.

In February 2012, the wing relocated its UH-1N helicopters from Eglin to Duke Field in anticipation of a 250 percent increase in helicopter developmental test programs. The wing mission transferred to the 96th Air Base Wing, which was redesignated as the 96th Test Wing on 18 July 2012. The 46th Test Wing was subsequently inactivated on 1 October 2012.

Lineage

Bombardment Group

  • Constituted as the 46th Bombardment Group (Light) on 20 November 1940 : Activated on 15 January 1941 : Disbanded on 1 May 1944
  • Reconstituted and consolidated with the 46th Aerospace Defense Wing as the 46th Aerospace Defense Wing on 31 January 1984

Wing

  • Constituted as the 46th Aerospace Defense Wing on 10 February 1975 : Activated on 15 March 1975 : Inactivated on 1 April 1983
  • Consolidated with the 46th Bombardment Group (Light) on 31 January 1984
  • Redesignated 46th Test Wing on 24 September 1992 : Activated on 1 October 1992. : Inactivated on 1 October 2012

Assignments

Components

Groups

  • 46th Logistics Group (later 46th Maintenance Group): ca. 8 September 1993 – 1 October 2012 (attached to 96th Test Wing after 18 July 2012)
  • 46th Operations Group: 8 September 1993 – 1 October 2012 (attached to 96th Test Wing after 18 July 2012)
  • 46th Range Group 11 May 2006 – 1 October 2012 (attached to 96th Test Wing after 18 July 2012)
  • 46th Test Group: 1 October 1992 – 1 October 2012 (attached to 96th Test Wing after 18 July 2012) :: Holloman Air Force Base, New Mexico

Operational Squadrons

  • 8th Reconnaissance Squadron (later, 87th Bombardment Squadron): 15 January 1941 – 1 May 1944
  • 40th Test Squadron: 1 October 1992 – 8 September 1993
  • 46th Flying Training Squadron: 15 March 1975 – 1 October 1979
  • 50th Bombardment Squadron: 15 January 1941 – 1 May 1944
  • 51st Bombardment Squadron: 15 January 1941 – 1 May 1944
  • 53d Bombardment Squadron: 15 January 1941 – 1 May 1944 Support Units
  • 46th Civil Engineering Squadron: 15 March 1975 – 1 April 1983
  • 46th Consolidated Aircraft Maintenance Squadron: 15 March 1975 – 1 November 1981
  • 46th Security Police Squadron: 15 March 1975 – 1 April 1983
  • 46th Supply Squadron: 15 March 1975 – 1 April 1983
  • 46th Transportation Squadron: 15 March 1975 – 1 April 1983
  • 46th Weather Squadron: 1 October 1992 – 8 September 1993
  • USAF Clinic, Peterson: 15 March 1975 – 1 April 1983

Stations

Aircraft and Launch Vehicles Operated

Awards and campaign

|award_image1=AF OUA |award_name1=Air Force Outstanding Unit Award |award_date1=1 July 1975–30 June 1977 |award_notes1=46th Aerospace Defense Wing |award_image2=AF OUA |award_name2=Air Force Outstanding Unit Award |award_date2=1 July 1977–30 June 1979 |award_notes2=46th Aerospace Defense Wing |award_image3=AF OUA |award_name3=Air Force Outstanding Unit Award |award_date3=1 October 1992-31 December 1992 |award_notes3=46th Test Wing |award_image4=AF OUA |award_name4=Air Force Outstanding Unit Award |award_date4=1 January 1992–31 December 1993 |award_notes4=46th Test Wing |award_image5=AF OUA |award_name5=Air Force Outstanding Unit Award |award_date5=1 January 1994–31 December 1994 |award_notes5=46th Test Wing |award_image6=AF OUA |award_name6=Air Force Outstanding Unit Award |award_date6=1 January 1995–31 December 1995 |award_notes6=46th Test Wing |award_image7=AF OUA |award_name7=Air Force Outstanding Unit Award |award_date7=1 January 1997–31 December 1997 |award_notes7=46th Test Wing |award_image8=AF OUA |award_name8=Air Force Outstanding Unit Award |award_date8=1 January 1998–31 December 1999 |award_notes8=46th Test Wing |award_image9=AF OUA |award_name9=Air Force Outstanding Unit Award |award_date9=1 January 2001–31 December 2001 |award_notes9=46th Test Wing |award_image10=AF OUA |award_name10=Air Force Outstanding Unit Award |award_date10=1 January 2002–31 December 2002 |award_notes10=46th Test Wing |award_image11=AF OUA |award_name11=Air Force Outstanding Unit Award |award_date11=1 January 2000–31 December 2000 |award_notes11=46th Test Wing |award_image12=AF OUA |award_name12=Air Force Outstanding Unit Award |award_date12=1 January 2003–31 December 2003 |award_notes12=46th Test Wing |award_image13=AF OUA |award_name13=Air Force Outstanding Unit Award |award_date13=1 January 2004–31 December 2004 |award_notes13=46th Test Wing |award_image14=AF OUA |award_name14=Air Force Outstanding Unit Award |award_date14=1 January 2005–31 December 2005 |award_notes14=46th Test Wing |award_image15=AF OUA |award_name15=Air Force Outstanding Unit Award |award_date15=1 January 2006–31 December 2006 |award_notes15=46th Test Wing |award_image16=AF OUA |award_name16=Air Force Outstanding Unit Award |award_date16=1 January 2008–31 December 2008 |award_notes16=46th Test Wing |award_image17=AF OUA |award_name17=Air Force Outstanding Unit Award |award_date17=1 January 2010 – 31 December 2010 |award_notes17=46th Test Wing

::data[format=table]

Campaign StreamerCampaignDatesNotes
[[File:American Campaign Streamer.png200px]]Antisubmarine7 December 1941 – 23 May 42
::

References

Notes

; Explanatory notes

; Citations

Bibliography

References

  1. Maurer, ''Combat Units'', pp. 104–05
  2. (2008-09-22). "Factsheet 46 Test Wing (AFMC)". Air Force Historical Research Agency.
  3. Endicott, p. 125.
  4. [https://web.archive.org/web/20090817161433/http://www.eglin.af.mil/units/46thtestwing/index.asp 46th Test Wing Home Page]
  5. Maurer, ''Combat Squadrons'', pp. 214–215
  6. Maurer, ''Combat Squadrons'', p.227
  7. Maurer, ''Combat Squadrons'', pp.220–221
  8. Maurer, ''Combat Squadrons'', p. 299
  9. "Abstract, History of 46th Bomb Gp 1941–1944". Air Force History Index.
  10. Craven & Cate, Introduction, p. xxxvi
  11. "Abstract, History of Morris Field, 1940–1944". Air Force History Index.
  12. Maurer, ''Combat Units'', p. 7
  13. Ravenstein, p. 75
  14. "Abstract, History of 4600th Air Base Wing, Jan–Jun 1971". Air Force History Index.
  15. Ravenstein, p. viii
  16. "Abstract, History of 46th Aerospace Defense Wing, Jan–Mar 1983". Air Force History Index.
  17. No byline. (12 December 2011). "46th Test Wing garners Air Force award". Air Force History Index.
  18. No byline. (6 March 2012). "The 46th Test Wing's Hueys relocated to Eglin's Duke Field". Air Force History Index.
  19. No byline. (19 June 2012). "AFMC prepares for 5-center transition". Air Force Materiel Command Public Affairs.
  20. (4 September 2008). "Factsheet 46 Operations Group (AFMC)". Air Force Historical Research Agency.
  21. (5 June 2009). "Factsheet 46 Test Group (AFMC)". Air Force Historical Research Agency.
  22. (22 October 2018). "Factsheet 40 Flight Test Squadron". Air Force Historical Research Agency.
  23. Mueller, p. 474
  24. Wilson, p. 128
  25. "Air Force Recognition Programs". Air Force Personnel Center.

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