The squadron's first predecessor was constituted as the 26th Reconnaissance Squadron in January 1942. However, it was redesignated the 416th Bombardment Squadron before being activated in June 1942. After training in the United States, It deployed to the Mediterranean Theater of Operations. From bases in North Africa and Italy, it engaged in the strategic bombing campaign against Germany. It earned two Distinguished Unit Citations for its performance in combat. It remained in Italy following V-E Day until inactivating in November 1945. The squadron was active in the reserves from 1947 to 1949, but was not fully manned or equipped.
The second predecessor is the 6516th Test Squadron, which was established in 1989 to test the F-16. In October 1992, the two squadrons were consolidated as the 416th Test Squadron.
The squadron arrived in the Mediterranean Theater of Operations in late March 1943, beginning operations from Navarin Airfield, Algeria, moving forward to Oudna Airfield, Tunisia after the Allies drove Axis forces from North Africa in May 1943. The squadron concentrated on targets such as airfields, harbor facilities, shipping, viaducts and bridges in North Africa, Sicily and Italy.[5] In early June 1943, the squadron participated in Operation Corkscrew, the reduction of Pantelleria Island in preparation for the invasion of Sicily.[6]
In November 1943, the 416th became part of Fifteenth Air Force, which focused on the strategic bombing campaign against Germany. The following month it moved to Tortorella Airfield, Italy. From this base, it engaged in the bombardment of enemy targets in Austria, Bulgaria, Czechoslovakia, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Romania, and Yugoslavia; attacking oil refineries, marshaling yards, aircraft factories, and other strategic objectives. On 23 April 1944, the squadron participated in an attack on aircraft factories in Wiener Neustadt, Austria, despite heavy enemy interceptor opposition. For this action, it was awarded a second DUC.[5]
Following V-E Day, the squadron became part of the occupation forces in Italy, until inactivating in November 1945.[1][5]
Reserve operations
The squadron was again activated under Air Defense Command (ADC) in the reserve at Robins Field, Georgia, on 17 July 1947 and again assigned to the 99th Group, which was located at Birmingham Municipal Airport, Alabama. Although it was nominally a very heavy bomber unit, it is not clear whether or not the squadron was fully staffed or equipped with combat aircraft.[7] In 1948 Continental Air Command assumed responsibility for managing reserve and Air National Guard units from ADC.[8] President Truman’s reduced 1949 defense budget, however, required reductions in the number of units in the Air Force,[9] and the 416th was inactivated and not replaced as reserve flying operations at Robins ceased.[10]
F-16 flight testing
A squadron F-16 flies over the Mojave desert
The second predecessor of the squadron, the 6516th Test Squadron, was activated at Edwards Air Force Base, California in March 1989 for testing weapons systems and specialized equipment for the General Dynamics F-16 Fighting Falcon. Because of this mission, the squadron is equipped with a variety of F-16 models. Weapons testing is typically conducted together with operational testing squadrons stationed at Eglin Air Force Base. Squadron F-16s involved in these tests are usually painted in a regular gray USAF scheme, while squadron aircraft used as chase planes for other aircraft test programs had red tails and ventral fins.[e] These chase planes are used to chase Lockheed Martin F-22 Raptors and Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning IIs, at Eglin and at Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base Fort Worth. Other squadron planes used to test radar sets or to conduct anechoic testing are completely white.[4]
In the 1990s the squadron helped in the development of the Mid Life Upgrade (MLU) package for older F-16A and F-16B models. This program updated planes that were primarily flown by North Atlantic Treaty Organization air forces. Although this program did not affect USAF F-16s, the squadron provided a test aircraft for this program. This plane has been used to test other enhancement packages, including the USAF Common Configuration Implementation Program program.[4]
In the 1990s the 416th led the flight test effort in the development of the AN/ASQ-213 HARM targeting system. The performance of this interim solution was instrumental in the retirement of the F-4G Wild Weasel aircraft in the mid 1990s. The Air Force planned to replace the McDonnell F-4G Phantom II but the program was cancelled and the AN/ASQ-213 remains the primary F-16 Suppression of Enemy Air Defenses (SEAD) mission sensor for the HARM missile more than 25 years later.[citation needed]
The 416th and 6516th Squadrons were consolidated on 1 October 1992 and designated the 416th Test Squadron the following day. The consolidated unit became the 416th Flight Test Squadron on 1 March 1994[1]
During early 2009, the squadron deployed to Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada and participated in Red Flag exercise 09-2 to perform operational testing for the F-16's operating system M5.1+ software. This was the first of this type of deployment for any Air Force Materiel Command unit. The squadron deployed to Nellis again in 2012 to test software for the 6.1+ operating system. Although primary deployed to test this system, the 416th was also a participant in the exercise with one of its pilots taking the top SEAD pilot award.[1]
In addition to its F-16 testing role, the squadron also trains qualified test pilots for other testing programs. In addition, F-16s being transferred to the air arms of other countries sometimes need more testing even after the first aircraft are delivered and the squadron continues these tests after the planes' delivery to the foreign military.[4]
A squadron T-38C flies over the Mojave desert
In the spring of 2015, the 445th Flight Test Squadron, which had been conducting "Test Operations" at Edwards was inactivated and its mission transferred to other test squadrons. A large portion of this mission was absorbed by the 416th, along with the 445th's F-16s and Northrop T-38 Talons.[12]
^Aircraft is General Dynamics F-16C Block 42C Fighting Falcon serial 88-0445. The Global Power Fighters Combined Test Force fired the AIM-9X, marking the variant's first guided launch from the aircraft.
^Approved 11 January 1943. Description: On a black disc, border orange, a white skeleton holding an orange bow, discharging a white aerial bomb, shaded blue, with white speed lines.
^The biographies of Carey and Walheim mention their service as F-16 test pilots or with the Combined Test Force at Edwards AFB, but do not expressly mention the 416th Squadron.
United States
United States Air Force
