3205th Drone Squadron

The 3205th Drone Squadron is an inactive United States Air Force unit. It was last active with the Air Proving Ground Center, based at Eglin Air Force Base, Florida. It was discontinued on 25 October 1963.

History
Formed in April 1950, assuming B-17 Flying Fortress drone aerial target mission of the 550th Guided Missiles Wing. Operated QB/DB-17 Fortress drone and controller aircraft, providing aerial targets for surface-to-air and air-to-air missile development programs at Eglin AFB. Also used QF-80 Shooting Star jets for aerial gunnery targets for Air Defense Command interceptor squadrons.

The squadron deployed elements to the Atomic Energy Commission (AEC) Nevada Test Site and Pacific Proving Grounds throughout the 1950s, flying drone Flying Fortresses though atomic and nuclear testing mushroom clouds with air sampling equipment and other instrumentation for post-detonation analysis. Support for nuclear testing ended in 1957, mission taken over by 4901st Support Wing (Atomic), Kirtland AFB, New Mexico.

In the late 1950s when the available supply of drone B-17s was almost ended, began to use QB-47E Stratojets for gunnery targets for missile tests. Operated the QB-47 until early 1960s, approximately 10 aircraft were converted, missiles were programmed for near-miss in order to conserve the target drones for multiple flights.

Beginning in 1960, QF-80 Shooting Star target drones were replaced by QF-104A Starfighters deemed surplus to USAF requirements. These planes could be flown by onboard pilots or they could be flown by remote control from the ground or from other aircraft.

Squadron was inactivated in late 1963, mission taken over by USAF Tactical Air Warfare Center due to re-alignment of Air Proving Ground Center when Air Force Systems Command realigned mission at Eglin AFB. QF-104 aerial targets primarily used for air-to-air gunnery targets by Air Defense Command F-102 and F-106 interceptors. Mission continued at Eglin until June 1971; transferred to Aerospace Defense Command aerial gunnery school at Tyndall AFB, Florida.

Lineage

 * Organized as 3200th Drone Squadron on 26 April 1950
 * Re-designated as 3205th Drone Squadron on 1 December 1951
 * Discontinued on 25 October 1963

Assignments

 * 3200th Proof Test Group, 26 April 1950
 * 550th Guided Missiles Wing, 1 July 1950
 * 3200th Proof Test Group, 1 December 1950
 * 3200th Proof Test Wing, 1 April 1951
 * 3200th Drone (later, 3205th Drone) Group, 1 June 1951
 * Air Proving Ground Center, 1 February 1961-25 October 1963.

Stations

 * Eglin Air Force Base, Florida, 26 April 1950-25 October 1963

Aircraft

 * DB-17P Flying Fortress (Director Aircraft)
 * QB-17L Flying Fortress (Drone Aircraft)
 * QB-17N Flying Fortress (Drone Aircraft)


 * QB-47E Stratojet (Drone Aircraft)


 * DT-33 Shooting Star (Director Aircraft)
 * QF-80 Shooting Star (Drone Aircraft)


 * QF-104A Starfighter (Drone)