370th Flight Test Squadron

370th Flight Test Squadron
KC-10, KC-46 and KC-135 in formation at Edwards AFB
Active	1942–1946; 1946–1965; 2001–present
Country	United States
Branch	United States Air Force
Role	Flight testing
Part of	Air Force Reserve Command
Garrison/HQ	Edwards Air Force Base
Engagements	Southwest Pacific Theater Korean War [1]
Decorations	Distinguished Unit Citation Air Force Outstanding Unit Award Philippine Presidential Unit Citation Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation [1]
Insignia
370th Flight Test Squadron emblem [lower-alpha 1] [1]
370th Bombardment Squadron emblem [lower-alpha 2] [1]

The 370th Flight Test Squadron is an active United States Air Force unit assigned to the 413th Flight Test Group, stationed at Edwards Air Force Base, California. It has been active in the flight test role since 2001.

The squadron was first activated in April 1942 as the 370th Bombardment Squadron, one of the original four squadrons of the 307th Bombardment Group. After training in the United States, it deployed to the Pacific, serving mainly in the Southwest Pacific Theater. The squadron earned two Distinguished Unit Citations for its actions in combat. Following V-J Day, it returned to the United States for inactivation.

The squadron was reactivated as a Strategic Air Command (SAC) bomber squadron in 1946. During the Korean War, it deployed to Okinawa and engaged in combat missions under the control of Far East Air Forces. Following the end of hostilities in Korea, it returned to the United States, converting to Boeing B-47 Stratojets. It flew the Stratojet until it was inactivated in 1965 as that plane was withdrawn from the SAC inventory.

Mission

The squadron is assigned to the United States Air Force Reserve and performs flight testing.

History

World War II

The squadron was activated at Geiger Field, Washington on 15 April 1942 as the 370th Bombardment Squadron, one of the original four squadrons of the 307th Bombardment Group. ^{[2] [3]} It was first equipped with Boeing B-17 Flying Fortresses, but while still in training converted to Consolidated B-24 Liberators. In addition to training with these heavy bombers, it also flew some antisubmarine patrols off the Pacific northwest coast. In October 1942, it began its movement to Hawaii. ^{[1] [3]}

B-24D Frenisi at Wakde Airfield

The squadron arrived at Kipapa Airfield, Hawaii in November 1942, continuing its training in the Liberator and flying search and antisubmarine patrols in defense of Hawaii as part of Seventh Air Force. In December 1942, it staged through Naval Air Station Midway to attack Wake Island. ^[3]

In February 1943, the squadron was relieved from assignment to Seventh Air Force and began to operate under the control of Thirteenth Air Force, although it did not move to Koli Airfield, Guadalcanal, in the Solomon Islands until March. ^[1] From Guadalcanal, it struck enemy airfields and military installations along with shipping in the Solomon Islands and Bismarck Archipelago. It helped neutralized enemy bases in Yap, Truk and Palau. On 29 March 1944, the squadron made an unescorted daylight attack on heavily defended airfields in the Truk Islands for which it was awarded a Distinguished Unit Citation (DUC). ^[3]

As American forces moved forward, it supported operations in the Philippines by strikes against enemy shipping in the southern Philippines and striking airfields on Leyte, Luzon, Negros, Ceram and Halmahera and supported Allied operations in the Netherlands East Indies. It flew an unescorted mission attacking the oil refineries at Balikpapan on Borneo on 3 October 1944, for which it was awarded a second DUC. ^[3]

In the closing months of the war in the Pacific, it supported Australian forces on Borneo and attacked targets in Indochina. After V-J Day, it ferried liberated prisoners from Okinawa to the Philippines and flew patrols along the coast of China. It moved to Clark Field in the Philippines in September 1945 and returned to the United States for inactivation at the Port of Embarkation in January 1946. ^{[3] [1]}

Strategic Air Command

The squadron was reactivated as Boeing B-29 Superfortress squadron at MacDill Field, Florida in August 1946 as part of Strategic Air Command (SAC). it acted a training unit for antisubmarine warfare. ^[1]

Korean War

The squadron deployed to Okinawa during the Korean War, carrying out combat operations over Korea throughout the conflict. ^[1] It remained in Okinawa until November 1954 when moved to the United States on paper.

Return to Strategic Air Command

B-47E Stratojet as flown by the 370th at Lincoln AFB

The squadron eformed at Lincoln Air Force Base, Nebraska, as a Boeing B-47 Stratojet medium jet bomber squadron, performed Operation Reflex deployments to North Africa . With the phaseout of B-47 in 1965 it was inactivated. ^[1]

Flight Testing

The squadron was reactivated as a flight test squadron in 2001. ^[1]

Lineage

• Constituted as the 370th Bombardment Squadron (Heavy) on 28 January 1942

Activated on 15 April 1942

Redesignated 370th Bombardment Squadron, Heavy c. March 1944

Inactivated on 18 January 1946

• Redesignated 370th Bombardment Squadron, Very Heavy on 15 July 1946

Activated on 4 August 1946

Redesignated 370th Bombardment Squadron, Medium on 28 May 1948

Discontinued and inactivated, on 25 March 1965

• Redesignated 370th Flight Test Squadron on 24 September 2001

Activated in the reserve on 1 October 2001 ^[1]

Assignments

• 307th Bombardment Group, 15 April 1942 – 18 January 1946
• 307th Bombardment Group, 4 August 1946
• 307th Bombardment Wing, 16 June 1952 – 25 March 1965
• 413th Flight Test Group, 1 October 2003 – present ^[1]

Stations

Geiger Field, Washington, 15 April 1942 Ephrata Army Air Base, Washington, 27 May 1942 Sioux City Army Air Base, Iowa, 29 September-21 October 1942 Kipapa Airfield, Hawaii, 2 November 1942 (operated from Henderson Field (Midway Atoll), 22–24 December 1942; Luganville Airfield, Espiritu Santo, New Hebrides, after c. 6 February) Koli Airfield, Guadalcanal, Solomon Islands, 18 March 1943 Munda Airfield, New Georgia, Solomon Islands, 22 February 1944 Momote Airfield, Los Negros, Admiralty Islands, 13 May 1944 Wakde Airfield, Netherlands East Indies, 22 August 1944 (operated from Kornasoren (Yebrurro) Airfield, Noemfoor, Schouten Islands, c. 20 September-12 November 1944)

Wama Airfield, Morotai, Netherlands East Indies, 14 November 1944 Clark Field, Luzon, Philippines, 10 September-27 December 1945 Camp Stoneman, California, 16–18 January 1946 MacDill Field (later MacDill Air Force Base), Florida, 4 August 1946 (operated from Kadena Air Base, Okinawa, after c. 4 August 1950) Kadena Air Base, Okinawa, 15 August 1953 Lincoln Air Force Base, Nebraska, 19 November 1954 – 25 March 1965 (operated from RAF Lakenheath, England, 11 July-5 October 1956) Edwards Air Force Base, California, 1 October 2001 – present [1]

Aircraft

• Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress, 1942
• Consolidated B-24 Liberator, 1942–1945
• Boeing B-29 Superfortress, 1946–1954
• Boeing B-47 Stratojet, 1955–1965 ^[1]
• Beechcraft C-12 Huron, 2001–present^{[ citation needed ]}
• General Dynamics F-16 Fighting Falcon, 2001–present^{[ citation needed ]}
• McDonnell Douglas KC-10 Extender, 2001–present^{[ citation needed ]}
• Boeing KC-135 Stratotanker 2001–present^{[ citation needed ]}

References

Notes

Explanatory notes

1. Approved 19 June 2002.
2. Approved 27 March 1943. Description: On a blue disc, border gold, a gold aerial bomb dropping to dexter base behind a white lightning flash, point to sinister base.
3. Aircraft is Consolidated B-24D-50-CO, serial 42-40323. This aircraft flew 104 combat missions in the Pacific. Photo taken: 8 September 1944, Wakde Airfield, Netherlands East Indies. It was condemned on 31 October 1944. Baugher, Joe (7 September 2023). "1942 USAF Serial Numbers". Joe Baugher. Retrieved 30 November 2023.
4. Aircraft is Boeing B-47E-55-BW Stratojet, serial 51-2394. In March 1960, it was modified as an NB-47E.

Citations

1. Kane, Robert B. (29 June 2010). "Factsheet 370 Flight Test Squadron (AFRC)". Air Force Historical Research Agency. Retrieved 22 July 2017.
2. Maurer, Combat Squadrons. pp. 457-461, 520-521
3. Maurer, Combat Units, pp. 181-182

Bibliography

 This article incorporates public domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency

• 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.
• Ravenstein, Charles A. (1984). Air Force Combat Wings, Lineage & Honors Histories 1947–1977 . Washington, DC: Office of Air Force History. ISBN   0-912799-12-9 . Retrieved 17 December 2016.