514th Flight Test Squadron

514th Flight Test Squadron
Active	31 October 1942 - Present
Country	United States
Branch	United States Air Force
Type	Squadron
Role	Flight Testing
Part of	Air Force Materiel Command
Garrison/HQ	Hill Air Force Base, Utah
Motto(s)	"Quaerite Optimum Seek the Optimum"
Engagements	World War II Korean War
Decorations	DUC AFOUA
Insignia
514th Flight Test Squadron emblem
Aircraft flown
Fighter	F-16 Fighting Falcon
Transport	C-130 Hercules

The 514th Flight Test Squadron (514 FLTS) is a United States Air Force squadron. It is assigned to the Ogden Air Logistics Center (OO-ALC), Air Force Materiel Command, stationed at Hill Air Force Base, Utah.

Overview

The 514th FLTS' current mission is to accomplish high-risk acceptance flights on F-16 Fighting Falcon and C-130 Hercules aircraft following depot level maintenance. 514th FLTS aircrews provide the final quality control checks to ensure aircraft are airworthy and capable of returning to combat units. As the OO-ALC Center Test Authority, the 514th FLTS is the focal point for managing and providing test process expertise and support for all test and evaluation at the OO-ALC.

History

World War II

Established in the Middle East during late 1942 to aid British Forces during the Western Desert Campaign. Initially equipped with obsolete B-17C/D Flying Fortresses transferred from Tenth Air Force. Replaced with B-24 Liberators flown from Florida via South America; over to then across Central Africa then north to Egypt in early 1943. Became part of United States Middle East Air Forces (USMEAF), later Ninth Air Force.

Operating from bases in British Palestine, Egypt, Libya and Tunisia, attacked shipping in the Mediterranean and harbor installations in Libya, Tunisia, Sicily, and Italy to cut enemy supply lines to North Africa. Struck airdromes, marshalling yards, and other objectives in Sicily and Italy after the fall of Tunisia in May 1943. Reassigned to Fifteenth Air Force in late 1943, and moved to southern Italy. Squadron flew long range strategic bombardment missions to targets in Italy, France, Germany, Czechoslovakia, Austria, Hungary, and the Balkans to bomb factories, marshalling yards, oil refineries, oil storage facilities, airdromes, bridges, harbors, and other objectives.

After the German Capitulation in May 1945, returned to the United States; was re-equipped with B-29 Superfortress bombers and trained under Second Air Force for deployment to the Pacific Theater. However with the Japanese Capitulation in August, the training ended and most personnel demobilized by the end of October. Remained in active status but not fully manned or equipped, and subsequently inactivated in early 1946 due to budget restrictions. The squadron was not fully manned or equipped between 10 November 1945 and 26 March 1946 and was unmanned from, 23 May 1947–20 September 1948.

Lineage

• Constituted 514th Bombardment Squadron (Heavy) on 19 October 1942

Activated on 31 October 1942

Re-designated 514th Bombardment Squadron (Very Heavy) on 23 May 1945

Inactivated on 7 March 1946

• Re-designated 514th Reconnaissance Squadron (Very Long Range, Weather) on 16 September 1947

Activated on 15 October 1947

Inactivated on 20 Feburary 1951

• Re-designated 514th Bombardment Squadron (Medium) on 25 May 1951

Activated on 1 June 1951

Inactivated on 15 March 1965

• Consolidated (1 October 1992) with the 6514th Test Squadron

Designated, and activated, on 15 May 1970

Re-designated: 514th Test Squadron on 2 October 1992

Organized on 1 July 1993, assuming personnel and equipment of the 15th Test Squadron (Inactivated)

Re-designated: 514th Flight Test Squadron on 1 March 1994

Assignments

• 376th Bombardment Group, 31 October 1942
• 498th Bombardment Group, 10 November 1945-26 March 1946
• 376th Reconnaissance Group, 23 May 1947
• Air Weather Service, 16 September 1947
• 308th Reconnaissance Group, 14 October 1946-20 September 1948; 1 February 1949
• 2143d Air Weather Wing, 14 November 1949-20 February 1951
• 376th Bombardment Group, 1 June 1951

Attached to 376th Bombardment Wing, 1 June 1951-15 June 1952

• 376th Bombardment Wing, 16 June 1952-15 March 1965
• 6512th Test Group (later, 6510th Test Wing), 15 May 1970
• Air Force Flight Test Center, 1 January 1973
• 6510th Test Wing, 1 March 1978
• 6545th (later, 545th) Test Group, 1 January 1979
• Ogden Air Logistics Center, 30 September 1995-Present

Stations

• RAF Lydda, British Mandate of Palestine, 31 October 1942
• RAF Abu Sueir, Egypt, 8 November 1942
• RAF Gambut (Kambut), Libya, 10 February 1943
• Soluch (Suluq) Airfield, Libya, 25 February 1943
• Benina Airport, Benghazi, Libya, 16 April 1943
• Enfidaville Airfield, Tunisia, c. 26 September 1943

Detachment operated from Benina Airport, Benghazi, Libya, 3-11 October 1943

• San Pancrazio Airfield, Italy, 19 November 1943-19 April 1945
• Harvard Army Airfield, Nebraska, 8 May 1945

• Grand Island Army Airfield, Nebraska, 25 June 1945
• March Field, California, 10 November 1945
• MacDill Field, Florida, 22 December 1945-7 March 1946
• North Field, Guam, 15 October 1947-20 Feburary 1951
• Forbes AFB, Kansas, 1 June 1951
• Barksdale AFB, Louisiana, 10 October 1951
• Lockbourne AFB, Ohio, 1 December 1957-15 March 1965
• Edwards AFB, California, 15 May 1970
• Hill AFB, Utah, 18 September 1973–Present

Aircraft

• B-17 Flying Fortress, 1942
• B-24 Liberator, 1942–1945
• B-29 Superfortress, 1945, 1951–1954
• B\TB\RB\WB-29, 1947–1951

• C-54 Skymaster, 1948–1951
• C-47 Skytrain, 1949–1950
• B-47 Stratojet, 1954–1961
• E(later, EB)-47 Stratojet, 1961-1965

References

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