49 Test and Evaluation Squadron (ACC)

Lineage. Organized as 49 Aero Squadron on 6 Aug 1917. Demobilized on 22 Mar 1919. Reconstituted and consolidated (16 Oct 1936) with 166 Aero Squadron which was organized on 18 Dec 1917 and redesignated as 49 Squadron on 14 Mar 1921. Redesignated as: 49 Bombardment Squadron on 25 Jan 1923; 49 Bombardment Squadron (Heavy) in 6 Dec 1939. Inactivated on 28 Feb 1946. Redesignated as 49 Bombardment Squadron, Very Heavy, on 5 Apr 1946. Activated on 1 Jul 1947. Redesignated as 49 Bombardment Squadron, Medium, on 28 May 1948. Inactivated on 1 Apr 1963. Redesignated as 49 Test Squadron on 12 Feb 1986. Activated on 1 Jul 1986. Redesignated as 49 Test and Evaluation Squadron on 20 Nov 1998.

Assignments. 49 Aero Squadron: Unkn, 6 Aug 1917-28 Jul 1918; 3 Pursuit Group, 28 Jul 1918; 2 Pursuit Group, 2 Aug-Dec 1918; unkn, Dec 1918-22 Mar 1919. 166 Aero (later 49 Bombardment) Squadron: Unkn, 17 Dec 1917-Sep 1918; 1 Day Bombardment Group, Sep-Nov 1918; unkn, Nov 1918-18 Sep 1919; 1 Day Bombardment (later 2 Bombardment) Group, 18 Sep 1919 to consolidation in 1936 (detached for operations with 1 Provisional Air Brigade, May-Oct 1921; attached Ordnance Department for service, Aug 1922-Jan 1928.
Consolidated squadron: 2 Bombardment Group, from consolidation in 1936 to 28 Feb 1946 (attached to Newfoundland Base Command, Dec 1941-Jun 1942). 2 Bombardment Group, 1 Jul 1947 (attached 2 Bombardment Wing, Medium, 10 Feb 1951-15 Jun 1952); 2 Bombardment Wing, Medium, 16 Jun 1952-1 Apr 1963. Strategic Air Command, 1 Jul 1986 (attached to Strategic Air Combat Operations Staff, 1 Jul 1986-1 Jun 1992); USAF Air Warfare Center, 1 Jun 1992; 79 Test and Evaluation Group, 15 Apr 1993; 53 Test and Evaluation Group, 20 Nov 1998-.

Stations. 49 Aero Squadron: Kelly Field, TX, 6 Aug-28 Dec 1917; Castle Bromwich, UK, c. 1 Feb-24 Jun 1918; Issoudun, France, 2 Jul 1918; Vaucouleurs, France, 28 Jul 1918; Toul, France, 2 Aug 1918; Bebrain, France, 23 Sep 1918; Souilly, France, 7 Nov 1918; Colombey-les-Belles, France, c. 7 Dec 1918-unkn; Garden City, NY, Mar-22 Mar 1918. 166 Aero (later 49 Bombardment) Squadron: Kelly Field, TX, 18 Dec 1917; Wilbur Wright Field, OH, 24 Dec 1917-20 Feb 1918; Catterick Bridge, UK, 25 Mar-7 Aug 1918; Delouze, France, 26 Aug 1918; Vinets-sur-Aube, France, 1 Sep 1918; Colombey-les-Belles, France, 12 Sep 1918; Amanty, France, 21 Sep 1918; Maulan, France, 25 Sep 1918; Joppecourt, France, 22 Nov 1918; Trier, Germany, 5 Jan 1919; Colombey-les-Belles, France, 17 Apr 1919; Le Mans, France, 3 May 1919; Brest, France, 19 May-3 Jun 1919; Mitchel Field, NY, 17 Jun 1919; Ellington Field, TX, Jul 1919; Kelly Field, TX 26 Sep 1919 (operated from Langley Field, VA, 20 May-26 Oct 1921); Langley Field, VA, 30 Jun 1922; Aberdeen Proving Ground, MD, 17 Aug 1922; Langley Field, VA, 18 Jan 1928 to consolidation in 1936.
Consolidated squadron: Langley Field, VA, from consolidation in 1936 to 23 Nov 1941; Newfoundland AB, Newfoundland, 13 Dec 1941 (air echelon, en route to Newfoundland, arrived Mitchel Field, NY, 1 Dec 1941; ordered to west coast for emergency duty, 8 Dec 1941; operated from Geiger Field, WA in conjunction with 12 Reconnaissance Squadron until echelon dissolved in late Dec 1941); Argentia, Newfoundland, 16 Jan-Jun 1942; Langley Field, VA, 24 Jun 1942; Ephrata, WA, 29 Oct 1942; Lewistown, MT, 28 Nov 1942-c. 13 Mar 1943; Navarin, Algeria, 25 Apr 1943; Chateaudun-du-Rhumel, Algeria, 27 Apr 1943; Ain M'lila, Algeria, 17 Jun 1943; Massicault, Tunisia, 31 Jul 1943; Amendola, Italy, c. 10 Dec 1943; Foggia, Italy, 29 Oct 1945-28 Feb 1946. Andrews Field, MD, 1 Jul 1947; Davis-Monthan Field (later Davis-Monthan AFB), AZ, 24 Sep 1947; Chatham AFB, GA, 1 May 1949 (deployed at Lakenheath RAF Station, UK, 9 Aug-16 Nov 1948; Sculthorpe RAF Station, UK, 21 Feb-c. 20 May 1950); Hunter AFB, GA, 29 Sep 1950-1 Apr 1963 (deployed at Mildenhall RAF Station, UK, 4 May-4 Sep 1951; Upper Heyford RAF Station, UK, 4 Sep-3 Dec 1952; Sidi Slimane AB, Morocco, 7 Aug-23 Sep 1954 and 6 Jul-25 Aug 1956). Barksdale AFB, LA, 1 Jul 1986-.

Commanders. 49 Aero Squadron: Maj Harvey B. S. Burwell, 6 Aug 1917; Maj John H. Reynolds, 9 Nov 1917; 2 Lt William B. Schultz, c. 31 Jan 1918; 2 Lt Richard D. Waller, c. 4 Apr 1918; 1 Lt John H. Sutton, Jr., 27 Jun 1918; Capt George F. Fisher, 18 Jul-c. Nov 1918; unkn, c. Nov 1918-Mar 1919. 166 Aero (later 49 Bombardment) Squadron: 1 Lt D. E. Miller, 18 Dec 1917; Capt Victor Parks, Jr., 26 Aug 1918-Jun 1919; unkn, Jul 1919-Oct 1936.
Consolidated Squadron: Unkn, Oct 1936-Jan 1938; Maj Caleb V. Haynes, (by Feb) 1938; Capt Alvord Van P. Anderson, Jr., (By Sep) 1940; Lt Col Robert E. Haynes, 10 Nov 1942; Maj George A. Robinson, 26 Sep 1943; Maj R. T. Headrick, 12 Oct 1943; Capt J. W. Bigham, 30 Nov 1943; Maj Robert F. Stafford, 20 Mar 1944; Lt Col Richard S. Abbey, 13 Jan 1944; Lt Col Luther M. Bevens, Jan 1945; Lt Col Walter Flora, Jr., 21 Apr 1945; Maj Sumner W. Peterson, 2 Oct 1945; Capt Jay E. Murphy, 3 Dec 1945; Capt William N. J. Cotter, 18 Jan 1946; Maj Reginald B. Munson, 27 Jan-28 Feb 1946. Lt Col Frank L. Luschen, 27 Sep 1947; Lt Col George L. Newton, Jr., 1 Jun 1948; Lt Col Robert T. Calhoun, (by 1 Jul) 1950; Lt Col Hugh B. Vail, 21 Mar 1951; Lt Col Walter H. Heath, Jr., Nov 1951; Lt Col Thomas H. Schnebly, 16 Jane 1953; Maj George H. McKee, Jun 1953; Lt Col Floyd I. Robinson, 9 Jun 1955; Lt Col Elmer, H. Hammer, Jr., 1 Jun 1956; Lt Col Sug E. Roberts, 1 Aug 1958; Lt Col Paul A. Wiles, 1 Aug 1962-1 Apr 1963.

Aircraft and Missiles. 49 Aero Squadron: JN-4, 1917; Spad XIII, 1918. 166 Aero (later 49 Bombardment) Squadron: DH-4, 1918-1919; included DH-4, Caproni bomber, and MB-2 (NBS-1), during 1919-1929; included LB-5, LB-7, B-3, and B-5 during period 1928-1932; in addition to B-6, c. 1931-1936, included Y1B-9 during period 1932-1936.
Consolidated squadron: in addition to B-10, B-17, and B-18, included A-20, XB-15, and B-23, during period 1936-1942; B-17, 1942-1945; B-29, 1947-1950; B-50, 1949-1954; B-47, 1954-1963.

Operations. 49 Aero Squadron: Primary flying training unit, Sep-Nov 1917; combat on Western Front as pursuit unit with First Army, 10 Aug-10 Nov 1918. 166 Aero (later 49 Bombardment) Squadron: Combat on Western Front as day bombardment unit with First Army, 18 Oct-5 Nov 1918; subsequently served with Third Army as part of army of occupation until Apr 1919. Participated in General Billy Mitchell's demonstration of effectiveness of aerial bombardment on warships off Virginia coast, Jun-Sep 1921; mercy mission in relief of marooned inhabitants of islands in the frozen Chesapeake, 9-11 Feb 1936.
Consolidated Squadron: Participated in good-will flights to Argentina, 15-27 Feb 1938; Columbia, 3-12 Aug 1938; Mexico, 9-15 Jun 1939; and Brazil, 10-28 Nov 1939; participated in interception of Italian liner Rex while it was 725 miles at sea, on 12 May 1938, to demonstrate long-range capabilities of B-17; mercy mission in relief of earthquake victims in Santiago, Chile, 4-14 Feb 1939. Antisubmarine patrols off Pacific coast, Dec 1941, and Atlantic coast, 25 Jul-c. 28 Oct 1942; combat in Mediterranean and European theaters of operation, 28 Apr 1943-1 May 1945. After activation on 1 Jul 1947 at Andrews Field, MD and transfer to Davis-Monthan Field, AZ, without personnel and equipment, received B-29s and began training in Nov as part of Strategic Air Command's long-range strike force. Deployed to Lakenheath RAF Station, UK, 9 Aug-16 Nov 1948. Deployed to UK in Feb 1950 to learn British system of refueling. After transfer to Hunter AFB, GA, in Sep 1950, reequipped with B-50s for training missions over eastern United States. Deployed to UK, 2 May-4 Sep 1951 and 4 Sep-3 Dec 1952. In Sep 1953, sent aircraft and crews to participate in NATO exercises and RAF bombing competition in England. Transitioned to B-47s in Feb 1954. Deployed aircraft and crews to Morocco. UK, and Spain on several occasions between 1954 and 1962. Served on alert during Cuban Missile Crisis, 24 Oct-27 Nov 1962. Inactivated on 1 Apr 1963.

Service Streamers. None.

Campaign Streamers. World War I: Lorraine (earned by 49 Aero Squadron); St Mihiel, (earned by 49 Aero Squadron); Meuse-Argonne (earned by 49 Aero and 166 Aero Squadrons). World War II: Antisubmarine, American Theater; Air Offensive, Europe; Tunisia; Sicily; Naples-Foggia; Anzio; Rome-Arno; Normandy; Northern France; Southern France; North Apennines; Rhineland; Central Europe; Po Valley; Air Combat, EAME Theater.

Armed Forces Expeditionary Streamers. None.

Decorations. Distinguished Unit Citations: Steyr, Austria, 24 Feb 1944; Germany 25 Feb 1944. Air Force Outstanding Unit Award: 1 Nov 1956-1 Apr 1957; 1 Jul 1985-30 Jun 1987; 1 Jul 1989-30 Jun 1991; 1 Jul 1992-30 Jun 1994; 1 Jul 1994-31 May 1996; 1 Jun 1998-31 May 2000; 1 Jun 2002-31 May 2004; 1 Jun 2004-31 May 2006.

Lineage, Assignments, Stations, and Honors through 9 Dec 2009.

Commanders, Aircraft, and Operations through 1 Apr 1963.

Emblem. Approved on 3 Mar 1924, latest rendering, 15 Feb 2019.

Supersedes statement prepared on 5 Jun 1986.

Prepared by Robert B. Kane.

Reviewed by Daniel L. Haulman.