3246th Test Wing

3246th Test Wing
	3246th Test Wing – Emblem
Active	1970–1992
Country	United States
Branch	United States Air Force
Role	Testing
Motto(s)	"Proof by Test"

The 3246th Test Wing was a flight test component of the Air Proving Ground Center, later Armament Division, at Eglin Air Force Base, Florida, and was activated 1 July 1970 to provide weapon and countermeasures test duties. It was replaced by the 46th Test Wing in October 1992.

F-16A block 15, 80-0573, from the 3247th Test Squadron, armed with an AIM-9 Sidewinder missile and a cluster weapon in flight on 12 May 1986. Aircraft now on display at Air Force Armament Museum, Eglin AFB, FL.

McDonnell Douglas RF-4C-40-MC Phantom II, 68-0594, 3247th Test Squadron, Eglin AFB, Florida, in Vietnam-era camouflage.

McDonnell F-4C-23-MC Phantom II, 64-0817, 3247th Test Squadron, Eglin AFB, Florida. Note ADCOM Gray scheme. Retired about 1990, now on display at Air Force Armament Museum, Eglin AFB.

This unit is notable for operating the last active-duty USAF F-4D Phantom II (68-8800), relegated to the Eglin target range in July 1992. It carried the logo "Phantoms Phorever 1963–1992". 68-8800 has been sitting on the ramp at Pierce Field (Eglin Auxiliary Field #2) since retirement. It is there in 2012.[1]

History

Assigned to the 3246th Test Wing was the 3247th Test Squadron, which inherited F-4C/D/E and RF-4C Phantom II aircraft formerly assigned to the Air Proving Ground Center's 4533d Test Wing. The 3247th aircraft carried AD and ET tail codes, and a white tailband with red diamonds.

Components

6585th Test Group, 1 January 1984 – 1 October 1992
3247th Test Squadron, 1 July 1970 – 1 October 1992 (inactivated and consolidated with 40th Tactical Fighter Squadron)

Stations

Eglin Air Force Base, Florida, 1 July 1970 – 1 October 1992

Aircraft

A-10A Thunderbolt II
YA-10B Thunderbolt II
C-131B Samaritan
C-130 Hercules
F-4 Phantom II
RF-4C Phantom II
F-15 Eagle
F-15E Strike Eagle
F-16 Fighting Falcon
F-100D Super Sabre
General Dynamics F-111A
General Dynamics F-111E
T-38 Talon
CT-39A Sabreliner
HH-1H, UH-1N Huey
UH-60 Black Hawk

References

This article incorporates public domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency website http://www.afhra.af.mil/.

Thornbororough, Anthony M., and Davies, Peter E., "The Phantom Story", Arms and Armour Press, A Cassell Imprint, London, UK, 1994, ISBN 1-85409-121-2, page 278.

Martin, Patrick. Tail Code: The Complete History of USAF Tactical Aircraft Tail Code Markings. Schiffer Military Aviation History, 1994. ISBN 0-88740-513-4. Image source listed as United States Air Force

External links

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[1] Thornbororough, Anthony M., and Davies, Peter E., "The Phantom Story", Arms and Armour Press, A Cassell Imprint, London, UK, 1994, ISBN 1-85409-121-2, page 278.