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| 46th Test Wing | |
|---|---|
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| Active | 20 November 1940 — present |
| Country | United States |
| Branch | Air Force |
| Type | Developmental Test and Evaluation |
| Part of | Air Force Material Command |
| Garrison/HQ | Eglin Air Force Base |
| Motto | Proof by Trial |
| Decorations |  AFOUA |
| Commanders | |
| Current commander |
Colonel Gary Plumb |
The 46th Test Wing (46 TW) is a wing of the United States Air Force based out of Eglin Air Force Base, Florida.
Contents |
Mission
The 46 TW Executes Developmental Test and Evaluation Enabling the Warfighter to put Weapons on Target in all Battlespace Media
History
The 46th participated in anti-submarine warfare in 1942 and flew patrol and search missions off the Gulf of Mexico. In late 1943 the group mission changed to replacement training until it was deactivated in May 1944.
The 46th was reactivated, replacing the 4600th Air Base Wing in March 1975, where it took over the mission of administering facilities of North American Air Defense Command (NORAD), Air Defense Command (ADC), and Army Air Defense Command (ARADCOM) located on Ent Air Force Base, Peterson Air Force Base, and Cheyenne Mountain Complex, plus various other nearby off-base facilities. Although the provision of administrative and logistical support was the wing's primary mission, its flying training squadron served NORAD and ADC mission requirements and provided flying training for cadets at the United States Air Force Academy until 1 October 1979.
The 46th replaced the 3246th Test Wing at Eglin Air Force Base, Florida in October 1992. It designed and performed flight and ground developmental tests with uniquely modified aircraft and facilities for conventional weapons and electronic combat systems. The wing also supported other Department of Defense components and numerous allied nations during test and exercises and managed the largest test range in the free world.
Operations
Previous designations
- 46th Bombardment Group (1940 – 1944)
- 46th Aerospace Defense Wing (1975 – 1983)
- 46th Test Wing (1992 – Present)
Assignments
Major Command
- Air Force Material Command (1992 – Present)
Numbered Air Force
- Ninth Air Force (1941 – 1942)
- Third Air Force (1942)
- Second Air Force (1942 – 1944)
- Air Armament Center (1992 – Present)
Subordinate Organizations
46th Operations Group (46 OG)
46th Test Group (46 TG)
46th Maintenance Group (46 MXG)
Bases stationed
- Savannah Air Base, Georgia (1941)
- Bowman Field, Kentucky (1941 – 1942)
- Barksdale Field, Louisiana (1942)
- Galveston Municipal Airport, Texas (1942)
- Blythe Army Air Field, California (1942)
- Will Rogers Army Air Field, Oklahoma (1942 – 1943)
- Morris Field, North Carolina (1943 – 1944)
- Peterson Air Force Base, Colorado (1975 – 1983)
- Eglin Air Force Base, Florida (1992 – Present)
Aircraft and Launch Vehicles Operated
- A-20 Havoc (1941 – 1944)
- B-25 Mitchell (1944)
- C-118 Liftmaster (1975)
- C-131 Samaritan (1975)
- T-33 Shooting Star (1975 – 1979)
- T-37 Tweet (1975 – 1979)
- T-39 Sabreliner (1975)
- U-4 (1975 – 1979)
- UH-1 Iroquois (1992 – Present)
- C-130 Hercules (1992 – Present)
- F-111 Aardvark (1992 – 1995)
- RF-4 (1992 – 1993)
- F-15 Eagle (1992 – Present)
- F-16 Falcon (1992 – Present)
- A-10 Thunderbolt II (1994 – Present)
Unit Shields
 46 OG |
 46 TS |
 46 WS |
 46 OSS |
 46 TG |
 46 TG Det 1 |
 746 TS |
 586 FTS |
External links
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