Lineage. Constituted as 28 Reconnaissance Squadron (Heavy) on 28 Jan 1942. Redesignated as 418 Bombardment Squadron (Heavy) on 22 Apr 1942. Activated on 1 Jun 1942. Redesignated as 418 Bombardment Squadron, Heavy, on 20 Aug 1943. Inactivated on 19 Dec 1945. Redesignated as 418 Bombardment Squadron, Very Heavy, on 13 May 1947. Activated in the Reserve on 29 May 1947. Inactivated on 27 Jun 1949. Redesignated as 418 Bombardment Squadron, Medium, on 1 Dec 1958. Activated on 1 Mar 1959. Discontinued, and inactivated, on 1 Jan 1962. Consolidated (1 Oct 1992) with the 6518 Test Squadron, which was designated, and activated, on 10 Mar 1989. Redesignated as: 418 Test Squadron on 2 Oct 1992; 418 Flight Test Squadron on 1 Mar 1994.
Assignments. 100 Bombardment Group, 1 Jun 1942–19 Dec 1945. 100 Bombardment Group, 29 May 1947–27 Jun 1949. 100 Bombardment Wing, 1 Mar 1959–1 Jan 1962. 6510 (later, 412) Test Wing, 10 Mar 1989; 412 Operations Group, 1 Oct 1993–.
Stations. Orlando AB, FL, 1 Jun 1942; Barksdale Field, LA, 18 Jun 1942; Pendleton Field, OR, 26 Jun 1942; Gowen Field, ID, 28 Aug 1942; Walla Walla, WA, 31 Oct 1942; Wendover Field, UT, 30 Nov 1942; Sioux City AAB, IA, 6 Jan 1943; Kearney AAFld, NE, 4 Feb–1 May 1943; Thorpe Abbots, England, 2 Jun 1943–11 Dec 1945; Camp Kilmer, NJ, 17–19 Dec 1945. Miami AAFld, FL, 29 May 1947–27 Jun 1949. Pease AFB, NH, 1 Mar 1959–1 Jan 1962. Edwards AFB, CA, 10 Mar 1989–.
Service Streamers. None.
Campaign Streamers. World War II: Air Offensive, Europe; Normandy; Northern France; Rhineland; Ardennes-Alsace; Central Europe; Air Combat, EAME Theater.
Armed Forces Expeditionary Streamers. None.
Decorations. Distinguished Unit Citations: Germany, 17 Aug 1943; Berlin, Germany, 4, 6, 8 Mar 1944. Air Force Outstanding Unit Awards: 1 Jan-31 Dec 1996; 1 Jan 1997-31 Dec 1998; 1 Jan 2010-31 Dec 2011; 1 Jan-31 Dec 2012; 1 Jan-31 Dec 2013. French Croix de Guerre with Palm: 25 Jun–31 Dec 1944.
Lineage, Assignments, Stations, and Honors through 1 Jul 2021.
Emblem. Approved on 19 May 1994.
Prepared by Margaret Ream.