85 Test and Evaluation Squadron

Lineage. Constituted 85th Pursuit Squadron (Interceptor) on 13 Jan 1942. Activated on 9 Feb 1942. Redesignated: 85th Pursuit Squadron (Interceptor) (Twin Engine) on 31 Jan 1942; 85th Fighter Squadron (Twin Engine) on 15 May 1942; 85th Fighter Squadron on 10 Sep 1942; 85th Fighter Squadron, Single Engine, on 21 Aug 1944. Inactivated on 15 Jul 1947. Redesignated 85th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron on 11 Sep 1952. Activated on 1 Nov 1952. Inactivated on 1 Jul 1959. Consolidated (15 Dec 1991) with the 4485th Test Squadron, which was designated, and activated, on 12 Apr 1971. Redesignated 85th Test and Evaluation Squadron on 1 Dec 1991.

Assignments. 79th Pursuit (later, 79th Fighter) Group, 9 Feb 1942-15 Jul 1947. 33d Air Division, 1 Nov 1952; 20th Air Division, 1 Mar 1956-1 Jul 1959. USAF Tactical Air Warfare Center, 12 Apr 1971; 4443d (later, 79th) Test and Evaluation Group, 1 Aug 1988-.

Stations. Dale Mabry Field, FL, 9 Feb 1942; Morris Field, NC, 1 May 1942; East Boston Aprt, MA, 23 Jun 1942; Bedford, MA, 1 Jul-28 Sep 1942; Egypt, 12 Nov 1942; Libya, 24 Jan 1943; Tunisia, 13 Mar 1943; Malta, c. 6 Jul 1943; Sicily, 18 Jul 1943; Southern Italy, 15 Sep 1943; Salsola, Italy, 5 Oct 1943; Madna Airfield, Italy, c. 19 Nov 1943; Capodichino, Italy, 16 Jan 1944; Pomigliano, Italy, 30 Apr 1944; Corsica, c. 11 Jun 1944; Southern France, c. 22 Aug 1944; Iesi, Italy, c. 5 Oct 1944; Fano, Italy, 5 Dec 1944; Cesenatico, Italy, 24 Mar 1945; Horsching, Austria, 26 Jul 1945-25 Jun 1947; Langley Field, VA, 25 Jun-15 Jul 1947. Scott AFB, IL, 1 Nov 1952-1 Jul 1959. Eglin AFB, FL, 12 Apr 1971-.

Aircraft. P-40, 1942-1944; P-47, 1944-1947. F-51, 1952-1953; F-86, 1953-1959. Tested aircraft and weapon systems of a wide variety of aircraft, including the F-4, RF-4, F-15, F-16, and A-10, 1971-.

Operations. Combat in MTO, 14 Mar 1943-7 May 1945. Air defense in the US, 1952-1959.

Service Streamers. None.

Campaign Streamers. World War II: Egypt-Libya; Tunisia; Sicily; Naples-Foggia; Anzio; Rhineland; Rome-Arno; Southern France; North Apennines; Po Valley; Air Combat, EAME Theater. 

Armed Forces Expeditionary Streamers. None.

Decorations. Distinguished Unit Citations: North Africa and Sicily, Mar-17 Aug 1943; Italy, 16-20 Apr 1945. Air Force Outstanding Unit Award: 1 Jan 1984-31 May 1985.

Emblem. On a disc divided per saltire, Light Blue, checky Black and White, Blue, checky Black and White a sword bendwise sinister point to base blade per Pale Blue and Light Blue, grip Red detailed Black guard and pommel Blue, surmounted by a Yellow lightning flash bendwise fimbriated Black, in chief a Yellow polestar shaded Blue radiant of six and in base an arc of Red arch embattled and crenelled Yellow all within a narrow Black border. Approved on 8 Aug 1984 and slightly modified on 26 May 1987 (DFSC 87-10421); replaced emblems approved on 7 Aug 1953 (47491 A.C.) and 26 Aug 1942 (45924 A.C.).