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337th Test and Evaluation Squadron

The 337th Test and Evaluation Squadron is a squadron of the United States Air Force. It is a part of the 53d Test and Evaluation Group of the 53d Wing. The 337th is stationed at Dyess Air Force Base, Texas, though it operates out of a number of bases throughout the United States.[3]

337th Test and Evaluation Squadron
Upgraded B-1 Lancer undergoing operational testing by the squadron
Active1942–1945; 1947–1949; 1953–1963; 1963–1994; 2004–present
Country United States
Branch United States Air Force
RoleOperational Testing
Part ofAir Combat Command
Garrison/HQDyess Air Force Base, Texas
EngagementsEuropean Theater of Operations[1]
DecorationsDistinguished Unit Citation
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award[1]
Insignia
337th Test and Evaluation Squadron emblem[note 1][1]
337th Bombardment Squadron emblem[note 2][2]
Aircraft flown
BomberRockwell B-1 Lancer

The squadron was first activated during World War II as the 337th Bombardment Squadron. It served in the European Theater of Operations, where it participated in the strategic bombing campaign against Germany and earned two Distinguished Unit Citations for its combat actions. Following V-E Day, the squadron returned to the United States and was inactivated.

This squadron was again active from 1947 to 1949 in the reserves, although it was apparently never fully manned or equipped. It was active as a Boeing B-47 Stratojet squadron in Strategic Air Command from 1953 to 1963. It later flew the Boeing B-52 Stratofortress and the Lancer before transferring its assets to another squadron in 1994.

Mission

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The squadron's primary task is to test and evaluate modifications on the Rockwell B-1 Lancer, as well as to train aircrews to fly upgraded B-1s.[4]

History

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World War II

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Initial organization and training

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The first predecessor of the squadron was activated at Salt Lake City Army Air Base in July 1942 as the 337th Bombardment Squadron, one of the original squadrons of the 96th Bombardment Group.[1][5] In early August the squadron moved to Gowen Field, Idaho, where it received its initial cadre, then, later that month to Walla Walla Army Air Base, Washington to begin training with the Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress.[1] On 1 November, the squadron moved to Pocatello Army Air Field, Idaho, where it began to act as a Operational Training Unit. It moved to Pyote Army Air Base, Texas in January 1943 and resumed training for overseas movement.[6]

The air echelon of the squadron began ferrying their B-17s via the North Atlantic ferry route, stopping at Presque Isle Army Air Field, Newfoundland, Iceland, then at Prestwick Airport, Scotland on 4 April 1943. The ground echelon left Pyote on 16 April for Camp Kilmer, New Jersey in the New York Port of Embarkation, sailing on the RMS Queen Elizabeth on 5 May and arriving in Scotland on 13 May.[6]

Combat in the European Theater

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Display aircraft marked as squadron B-17G "Reluctant Dragon"[note 3]

The squadron was established at RAF Great Saling by 12 May, and flew its first combat mission the next day, an attack against the airfield at Saint-Omer, France.[5] However, the squadron was late assembling and did not complete the mission. The following day, it made its first strike on a target, an airfield at Courtrai.[7][note 4] Eighth Air Force decided to transfer its new Martin B-26 Marauder units from VIII Bomber Command to VIII Air Support Command and concentrate them on bases closer to the European continent. As a result, the 322d Bombardment Group moved to Great Saling on 12 June, forcing the 96th Group and its squadrons to relocate to RAF Snetterton Heath, which would be its combat station for the rest of the war.[8]

The squadron engaged in the strategic bombing campaign against Germany. It attacked airdromes, aircraft factories, harbors, oil refineries, railway yards, shipyards, and other industrial targets in Germany, France, the Netherlands, Belgium, Norway, Poland, Hungary, and Czechoslovakia. Targets included airfields at Bordeaux and Augsburg; marshalling yards at Kiel, Hamm, Braunschweig, and Gdynia; aircraft factories at Chemnitz, Hanover, and Diósgyőr; oil refineries at Merseburg and Most, and chemical works in Wiesbaden, Ludwigshafen, and Neunkirchen[5]

During an attack on the Messerschmitt factory at Regensberg on 17 August 1943, the squadron was without escort after its escorting Republic P-47 Thunderbolts reached the limit of their range. It withstood repeated attacks, first by enemy Messerschmitt Bf 109 and Focke-Wulf Fw 190 interceptors, then by Messerschmitt Bf 110 and Junkers Ju 88 night fighters, to strike its target, earning its first Distinguished Unit Citation (DUC). This was a "shuttle" mission, with the squadron recovering on bases in North Africa, rather than returning to England.[5][9]

The squadron formed part of the leading 45th Combat Bombardment Wing formation on very long-range mission against the Focke-Wulf Fw 190 factory at Poznań. Heavy clouds led an entire wing and some combat boxes of the 45th Wing to abandon the mission and return to England. The 96th Group and one other combat box proceeded to the target and were surprised to find they were able to bomb visually, although the target was defended by intense flak fire, earning the squadron its second DUC.[5][10]

In addition to strategic operations, the squadron participated in air support and interdiction missions. In the preparation for Operation Overlord, the invasion of Normandy, it bombed coastal defenses, railway bridges, gun emplacements, and field batteries in the battle area prior to and during D-Day in June 1944. It attacked enemy positions in support of Operation Cobra the breakout at Saint Lo in July 1944, aiding the campaign in France in August by striking roads and road junctions, and by dropping supplies to the Maquis. During the early months of 1945, it attacked the communications supplying German armies on the western front.[5]

After V-E Day, the 337th flew food missions to the Netherlands and hauled redeployed personnel to French Morocco, Ireland, France, and Germany. The squadron was scheduled for occupation duty, but that plan was cancelled in September 1945. In November 1945 its aircraft were flown back to the United States or transferred to other units in Europe. The unit's remaining personnel returned to the United States and it was inactivated at the Port of Embarkation on 29 November 1945.[1][5][6]

Reserve operations

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The squadron was activated in the reserves under Air Defense Command (ADC) at Gunter Field, Alabama on 29 May 1947, and was again assigned to the 96th Group.[1][5] In 1948, Continental Air Command (ConAC) assumed responsibility for managing reserve and Air National Guard units from ADC.[11]

The squadron does not appear to have been fully manned or equipped with operational aircraft.[12] In 1949, as ConAC was reorganizing its operational units under the Wing Base Organization system, President Truman's reduced 1949 defense budget required reductions in the number of flying units in the Air Force,[13] and the 337th was inactivated.[1]

Strategic Air Command

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Beginning in 1968, Boeing B-52 Stratofortress aircraft and crews deployed to Southeast Asia (SEA) for bombardment operations. For much of the conflict, the squadron furnished aircraft and crews to Strategic Air Command organizations based in SEA.[1] When the Air Force switched to the B-1 Lancer, the 337th was the first unit to fly the new bomber. On 1 October 1994, the squadron was inactivated and transferred its personnel, mission and equipment to the 28th Bomb Squadron, which was simultaneously activated.

Test and evaluation

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As part of the 53d Test and Evaluation Group, the 337th conducts testing of various upgrades to the B-1, as well as trains aircrews to operate and maintain the upgraded aircraft. The squadron has been currently working on the increasing the B-1's weapons payload, attempting to increase the bomber's ability to deliver weapons into heavily defended areas.[4]

Lineage

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  • Constituted as the 337th Bombardment Squadron (Heavy) on 28 January 1942
Activated on 15 July 1942
  • Redesignated 337th Bombardment Squadron, Heavy on 22 June 1943
Inactivated on 29 November 1945
  • Redesignated 337th Bombardment Squadron, Very Heavy on 13 May 1947
Activated in the reserve on 29 May 1947.
Inactivated 27 June 1949.
  • Redesignated 337th Bombardment Squadron, Medium on 6 November 1953
Activated 18 November 1953
Discontinued and inactivated on 15 March 1963
  • Redesignated 337th Bombardment Squadron, Heavy
Activated on 20 March 1963 (not organized)
Organized on 15 September 1963
Redesignated 337th Bomb Squadron on 1 September 1991
Inactivated on 1 October 1994
  • Redesignated 337th Test and Evaluation Squadron on 8 April 2004
Activated on 14 May 2004[1]

Assignments

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  • 96th Bombardment Group, 15 July 1942 – 29 November 1945
  • 96th Bombardment Group, 29 May 1947 – 27 June 1949
  • 96th Bombardment Wing (later 9th6 Strategic Aerospace Wing), 18 November 1953 – 15 Mar 1963
  • Strategic Air Command, 20 Mar 1963 (not organized)
  • 96th Strategic Aerospace Wing (later 96th Bombardment Wing), 15 September 1963
  • 96th Operations Group, 1 September 1991
  • 7th Operations Group, 1 October 1993 – 1 October 1994
  • 53d Test and Evaluation Group, 14 May 2004[1]
  • 753rd Test and Evaluation Group, 1 May 2021 – present[14]

Stations

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  • Salt Lake City Army Air Base, Utah, 15 July 1942
  • Gowen Field, Idaho, 6 August 1942
  • Walla Walla Army Air Base, Washington, 31 August 1942
  • Rapid City Army Air Base, South Dakota, 29 September 1942
  • Pocatello Army Air Field, Idaho, 3 November 1942
  • Pyote Army Air Base, Texas, 7 January - 15 April 1943
  • RAF Great Saling (AAF-485),[15] England, 13 May 1943
  • RAF Snetterton Heath (AAF-138),[16] England, 29 May 1943 - 22 November 1945
  • Camp Kilmer, New Jersey, 27–29 November 1945
  • Gunter Field (later Gunter Air Force Base), Alabama, 29 May 1947 - 27 June 1949
  • Altus Air Force Base, Oklahoma, 18 November 1953
  • Dyess Air Force Base, Texas, 8 September 1957 - 15 March 1963
  • Dyess Air Force Base, Texas, 15 September 1963 - 1 October 1994
  • Dyess Air Force Base, Texas, 14 May 2004 – present[17]

Aircraft

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Decorations

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Distinguished Unit Citations
  • Germany, 17 August 1943
  • Poznań, Poland, 9 April 1944
Air Force Outstanding Unit Awards
  • 1 January 1959 - 31 December 1960
  • 1 July 1974 - 30 June 1975
  • 1 July 1978 - 30 June 1979
  • 1 July 1988 - 30 June 1990
  • 1 July 1990 - 29 May 1992
  • 1 June 1992 - 30 May 1994

See also

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References

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Notes

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Explanatory notes
  1. ^ Approved 29 August 1967.
  2. ^ Approved 5 May 1943. Description: On a disc dark blue, within a border light blue, piped orange, a golden aerial bomb, trimmed orange, winged red, having a nose in shape of a shark's head, falling to dexter base and emitting speed lines white, in front of a light blue cloud formation; in dexter chief four white stars of diminishing sizes.
  3. ^ Aircraft is Lockheed Vega built Boeing B-17G-95-VE Flying Fortress, serial 44-85599. This aircraft served with a training unit in the United States. Baugher, Joe (4 March 2023). "1944 USAF Serial Numbers". Joe Baugher. Retrieved 8 March 2023. Seen here on display at the Linear Air Park at Dyess Air Force Base in the markings of Douglas Aircraft built Boeing B-17G-30-DL Flying Fortress, serial 42-38133, Reluctant Dragon, which was shot down on 30 November 1944 on a mission to Berlin. Baugher, Joe (25 December 2022). "1942 USAF Serial Numbers". Joe Baugher. Retrieved 8 March 2023.
  4. ^ After action reports described the bombing as "ineffective." However, later intelligence found that damage to the facilities was severe enough to force III/Jagdgeschwader 26 to move from the field. Freeman (1970), p. 47
Citations
  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l Marion, Forrest L. (10 December 2007). "Factsheet 337 Test and Evaluation Squadron (ACC)". Air Force Historical Research Agency. Retrieved 6 December 2016.
  2. ^ Maurer, Combat Squadrons, pp. 416-417
  3. ^ "History of the 53rd Wing". 96 Test Wing Public Affairs. 2 January 2008. Archived from the original on 30 August 2009. Retrieved 6 December 2016.
  4. ^ a b "Unit: 337th Test and Evaluation Squadron". USAFEngineers.com. Archived from the original on 5 March 2012. Retrieved 3 November 2007. (access restricted)
  5. ^ a b c d e f g h Maurer, Combat Units, pp. 165-166
  6. ^ a b c Freeman (1970), pp. 245-246
  7. ^ Freeman (1970), p. 47
  8. ^ Freeman (1970), p. 50.
  9. ^ Freeman (1970), p. 68
  10. ^ Freeman (1970), p. 133
  11. ^ "Abstract, Mission Project Closeup, Continental Air Command". Air Force History Index. 27 December 1961. Retrieved 24 March 2014.
  12. ^ See Maurer, Combat Squadrons, p. 505 (no aircraft assigned); Ream (unknown what aircraft assigned).
  13. ^ Knaack, p. 25
  14. ^ Bray, Capt Savannah (1 October 2021). "53d Test Management Group now the 753d Test and Evaluation Group". 53rd Wing public Affairs. Retrieved 5 April 2022.
  15. ^ Station number in Anderson, p. 33.
  16. ^ Station number in Anderson, p. 21.
  17. ^ Station information in Marion, except as noted.

Bibliography

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  This article incorporates public domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency

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