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3246th Test Wing

Field	Value
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
branch	United States Air Force
role	Testing
motto	"Proof by Test"

McDonnell Douglas RF-4C-40-MC Phantom II, ''68-0594'', 3247th Test Squadron, Eglin AFB, Florida, in Vietnam-era camouflage.

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

Eglin Air Force Base, Florida, 1 July 1970 – 1 October 1992

Aircraft

A-10A Thunderbolt II
YA-10B Thunderbolt II
C-131B Samaritan
C-130 Hercules
F-4 Phantom II
RF-4C Phantom II
F-15 Eagle
F-15E Strike Eagle
F-16 Fighting Falcon
F-100D Super Sabre
General Dynamics F-111A
General Dynamics F-111E
T-38 Talon
CT-39A Sabreliner
HH-1H, UH-1N Huey
UH-60 Black Hawk

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

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.

Info: 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.

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