576th Flight Test Squadron

576th Flight Test Squadron
576th FLTS LGM-30G Minuteman III test launch at Vandenburg AFB, California, 25 February 2012
Active	1943-1966; 1991-present
Country	United States
Branch	United States Air Force
Type	Squadron
Role	Intercontinental ballistic missile
Garrison/HQ	Vandenburg AFB, California
Engagements	World War II (EAME Theater)
Decorations	Distinguished Unit Citation Air Force Outstanding Unit Award
Insignia
576th Flight Test Squadron emblem

Consolidated B-24H-15-CF Liberator 41-29433 576th Bomb Squadron, 392nd Bomb Group, 8th Air Force

The 576th Flight Test Squadron (576 FTS) is a United States Air Force direct reporting unit (DRU) assigned to Air Force Global Strike Command (AFGSC). The 576 FTS is stationed at Vandenberg Air Force Base, California.

Overview

The mission of the 576 FTS is to execute Air Force Global Strike Command's Force Development Evaluation program for America's Intercontinental Ballistic Missile Force and serve as the command's experts for missile systems capability and Air Force application demonstrations.

In executing the Intercontinental Ballistic Missile Initial Operational Test and Evaluation and Force Development Evaluation programs, the 576th Flight Test Squadron prepares for and conducts ground and flight tests to collect, analyze, and report performance, accuracy, and reliability data for the Joint Staff, USSTRATCOM, Air Staff, and AFGSC. The 576th Flight Test Squadron identifies missile system requirements, demonstrates current and future war fighting capabilities, and validates missile system improvements and upgrades.

History

World War II

The 576th Flight Test Squadron was first activated at Davis-Monthan Field, Arizona, on 26 January 1943 as the 576th Bombardment Squadron (Heavy) where it participated in the strategic bombardment campaigns of Europe and Germany as part of Eighth Air Force. Their involvement during the Normandy invasion and the Battle of the Bulge resulted in seven European-African-Middle Eastern Theater campaign streamers and one Distinguished Unit Citation.

The 576th was inactivated on 13 September 1945 with the close of World War II. It was reactivated on 24 September 1947 as a very heavy bombardment squadron at Barksdale Field Louisiana, the squadrons mission was changed in November 1947 to a light jet bomber squadron. It was again inactivated in November 1949.

Intercontinental Ballistic Missile Squadron

The squadron was reactivated on 6 March 1958 as the 576th Strategic Missile Squadron (SMS) assigned to Cooke Air Force Base (later renamed Vandenberg AFB). On 1 April 1958, the 576th was assigned to the Strategic Air Command (SAC) as an SM-65 Atlas ICBM unit, the nation's first ICBM unit. On 2 April 1966, the 576th was once again inactivated.

ICBM Testing Squadron

Re-designated the 576th Test Squadron on 29 August 1991, it was again activated on 1 September 1991 as part of the activation of the Twentieth Air Force, America's only ICBM numbered Air Force. The 576th designation was chosen to ensure the history and lineage of the 576th would continue with the important job of testing ICBMs. The 576th has almost made a complete circle since the 576th Strategic Missile Squadron tested the Atlas missile in the late 50's and early 60's. In July 1993, the 576th was assigned to the Fourteenth Air Force at Vandenberg AFB. The squadron was re-designated the 576th Flight Test Squadron (FLTS) on 1 July 1994. Then, on 22 February 1996 the squadron was reassigned from the Fourteenth Air Force to Space Warfare Center (SWC) at Schriever AFB, Colorado.

On 14 March 1996, the 576th, the 30th Maintenance Squadron (MXS), and portions of the 30th Logistics Squadron (LSS) merged to form the new 576 FLTS. Whereas the three organizations previously reported, through different commanders, to the 30th Space Wing at Vandenberg AFB, this merger aligned all personnel directly involved with Intercontinental Ballistic Missile (ICBM) testing at Vandenberg under one commander. As part of the merger, the 576 FLTS also became a direct reporting unit to the Space Warfare Center, which later became the Space Innovation & Development Center (SIDC).

On December 1, 2009 the 576 FLTS was reassigned, along with the Air Force's ICBM mission, to Air Force Global Strike Command (AFGSC).

Lineage

• Constituted 576 Bombardment Squadron (Heavy) on 15 January 1943

Activated on 26 January 1943

Re-designated 576 Bombardment Squadron, Heavy, on 20 August 1943

Inactivated on 13 September 1945

• Re-designated 576 Bombardment Squadron, Very Heavy, on 5 September 1947

Activated in the Reserve on 24 September 1947

Re-designated 576 Bombardment Squadron, Light, Jet, on 27 June 1949

Inactivated on 10 November 1949

• Re-designated 576 Strategic Missile Squadron (ICBM-Atlas) on 6 March 1958

Activated on 1 April 1958

Discontinued, and inactivated, on 2 April 1966

• Re-designated 576 Test Squadron on 29 August 1991

Activated on 1 September 1991

Re-designated 576 Flight Test Squadron on 1 July 1994

Assignments

• 392d Bombardment Group, 26 January 1943 – 13 September 1945; 24 September 1947 – 10 November 1949
• 704th Strategic Missile Wing, 1 April 1958
• 1 Missile (later, 1 Strategic Aerospace) Division, 1 July 1959
• 392d Strategic Missile Wing, 18 October 1961
• 1st Strategic Aerospace Division, 20 December 1961 – 2 April 1966
• 310th Operations Group, 1 September 1991
• 30th Operations Group, 1 July 1993
• Space Warfare Center, 22 February 1996
• 595th Test and Evaluation (later, 595 Space) Group, 1 August 2002– January 2010
• Air Force Global Strike Command, 1 December 2009 – present

Stations

• Davis-Monthan Field, Arizona, January 26, 1943
• Biggs Field, Texas, March 1, 1943
• Alamogordo AAB, New Mexico, April 18 – July 18, 1943
• RAF Wendling (USAAF Station 118), England, July 1943 – June 15, 1945

• Charleston AAFld, South Carolina, June 25 – September 13, 1945
• Barksdale Field (later, AFB), Louisiana, June 27 – November 10, 1949.
• Cooke (later, Vandenberg) AFB, California, 1 April 1958 – 2 April 1966
• Vandenberg AFB, California, 1 September 1991–present

Aircraft and missiles

• B-24 Liberator, 1943–1945
• B-26 Invader, 1947–1949
• SM-65 Atlas Missile, 1958–1966
• Tested LGM-118 Peacekeeper, 1991–2004
• Tested LGM-30G Minuteman III, 1991–present.

Operated Five missile sites (9 total missiles):

576-A (3 SM-65D, 1960-1965), 5.7 mi SW of Casmalia CA, 34°46′42″N 120°36′00″W

576-B (3 SM-65D, 1959-1967), 4.8 mi SW of Casmalia CA, 34°47′31″N 120°35′44″W

576-C (1 SM-65E, Jul-Sep 1963), 3.7 mi WxSW of Casmalia CA, 34°48′31″N 120°35′01″W

576-D (1 SM-65F, 1963-1964), 1.9 mi SW of Casmalia CA, 34°49′13″N 120°33′25″W

576-E (1 SM-65F, 1962-1964), 4.8 mi8.5 mi SW of Casmalia CA, 34°44′22″N 120°37′08″W

576-F (operational test site for the Atlas E (OSTF 1), 4.3 miles SW of Casmalia CA, 34°47′46″N 120°35′20″W

See also

• List of United States Air Force missile squadrons

References

 This article incorporates public domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency website http://www.afhra.af.mil/.

• http://www.vandenberg.af.mil/library/factsheets/factsheet.asp?id=4581
• Mauer, Mauer (1969), Combat Squadrons of the Air Force, World War II, Air Force Historical Studies Office, Maxwell AFB, Alabama. ISBN 0-89201-097-5

External links

 This article incorporates public domain material from the United States Air Force website http://www.af.mil.