3215th Drone Squadron

The 3215th Drone Squadron is an discontinued United States Air Force unit. It was last active with the 3205th Drone Group, based at Patrick Air Force Base, Florida. It was discontinued on 22 December 1958.

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.

In April 1956, with the development of the IM-99 Bomarc surface-to-air missile, the squadron was moved from Eglin to Patrick AFB, Florida to support the Bomarc testing program. From Patrick, DB/QB-17s could take off and the missile could be test-fired from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station Launch Complex 3 over the Atlantic Missile Range. One such trial on 23 October 1957 (Bomarc 624-11) saw the unarmed missile destroy a Flying Fortress target by a direct collision, more than 100 miles from the missile's launch point.

Squadron inactivated On 5 December 1958, but it was succeeded by the 3205th Drone Group, Detachment #1, which continued flying drone targets for Bomarc tests well into 1959. Once the IM-99A portion of the program was completed, drones were no longer required. Personnel of Detachment #1 departed for Eglin on 8 June 1959.

Lineage

 * Organized as 3200th Target Drone Squadron on 1 July 1951.
 * Re-designated as: 3205 Target Drone Squadron on 1 December 1951
 * Re-designated as: 3215 Drone Squadron on 1 January 1953
 * Discontinued on 22 December 1958, became 3205th Drone Group, Detachment #1
 * Detachment inactivated 8 June 1959

Assignments

 * 3200th Drone Group, 1 July 1951
 * 3205th Drone Group, 1 December 1951 – 8 June 1959

Stations

 * Eglin AFB, Florida, 1 July 1951
 * Patrick AFB, Florida, 25 April 1956 – 8 June 1959

Aircraft

 * DB-17P Flying Fortress (Director Aircraft)
 * QB-17L Flying Fortress (Drone Aircraft)
 * QB-17N Flying Fortress (Drone Aircraft)
 * DT-33 Shooting Star (Director Aircraft)
 * QF-80 Shooting Star (Drone Aircraft)